It took Cole longer to make the connection than it would Hoffmeyer, but not enough to make a difference. After a quick mental rundown, Cole’s memory cross-referenced the vaguely remembered names and got an answer.
Chunxiao and Longjing were unexploited gas fields within the East China Sea; unexploited because they sat in waters which were part of an ongoing territorial dispute with Japan.
‘Japan?’ Cole asked breathlessly, not quite believing the implication. ‘Have they agreed to let you have the fields?’ he asked, not wanting to think about the alternative.
Wu laughed. It was a short laugh, vicious, like the bark of a dog; and for the first time, Cole was able to see behind the pleasant façade, recognize the man for who he really was.
‘They have not agreed to anything,’ Wu said. ‘But — very soon — their agreement will not be required.’
Cole shook his head in wonder, his fears confirmed. And suddenly it all made sense. The crippling of the USS Ford, the invasion of the Senkakus and of Taiwan. The whole of the East China Sea was unmonitored, and an entire Chinese battle group could be on Japan’s doorstep with nobody ever the wiser. And by the time anyone could respond, it would be too late.
Despite himself, Cole was impressed; the sheer speed with which Wu had deployed his plans was incredible. But then again, the military was the government in China now, and Wu had to ask permission from no one. And, Cole reminded himself, invasion plans for all of China’s neighbors had been around for years, practiced and rehearsed in endless war games. All that was required was the will to give the order, which Wu had now done.
‘You’re serious,’ Cole said finally.
‘Of course I am serious, Mr. Hoffmeyer,’ Wu replied. ‘We have been sleeping for a long time, but now the dragon is awake, and we will take what is ours by divine right.’
‘But the Americans?’ Cole asked. ‘Are you not worried that they will interfere?’
Wu laughed again, waving his hand in front of his face in a signal of disdain. ‘Americans?’ He shook his head with barely concealed disgust. ‘Do not talk to me of the Americans. We tested their commitment to Japan with the Diaoyus, and look what happened — a few strongly worded communiques from the State Department, nothing more. Again with Taiwan — nothing. And don’t forget that we still hold four thousand of their people hostage, not to mention the thousands more right here in Beijing. Now, you tell me what America has done to save the people aboard the USS Ford? Not one single thing. No rescue attempts, no counterattack. Nothing. Why will Japan be any different?’
Cole knew Wu was right, to a certain extent at least. For all he knew, the United States was doing nothing. But that was all about to change, with the death of General Wu himself. Cole understood his commitment now, the absolute necessity of killing the general. Despite the presence of the other military leaders, the coup was clearly a one-man show, the regime held together purely by the force of Wu’s personality. When he died, the regime would crumble, the invasion of Japan more than likely called off altogether.
Cole knew that if it came right down to it, he would kill the man by whatever means he had to in order to get the job done, even if it meant dying himself in the process. Invading Japan would mean countless deaths if allowed to go ahead, those of Japanese and Chinese citizens alike. And the United States would get involved, would come to Japan’s aid. It was one thing for China to take the Senkakus — just uninhabited hunks of rock — or to take Taiwan back under mainland control, as the US didn’t even recognize Taiwan’s Republic of China government anyway.
It was another thing altogether, however, for China to invade a full ally of the United States, and one whose people she had pledged to protect. Abrams would give the order to assist Japan against China, as she would have no real choice to do otherwise. And then Heaven only knew where it would all end.
With a man like Wu, the nuclear annihilation of Japan — perhaps even America — could never be ruled out. Wu’s love for ‘his’ people was well reported, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t have a very different, distinctly lower, view of the sanctity of human life than Western leaders had. It was well within the man’s capacities to risk nuclear reprisals against his own nation if it meant achieving what he wanted; or even as an act of revenge.
With the thought of nuclear attack against Japan, Cole froze, his mind reeling as a horrific thought occurred to him.
Michiko.
She had been sent on an airplane to Tokyo — surely the number one target on Wu’s list.
Even without the threat of nuclear weapons, the city would be the primary target of a conventional invasion force.
He felt his heart start to beat faster and faster in his chest, hoped that Wu wouldn’t notice his efforts to control his breathing, to get a grip on his suddenly freewheeling emotions.
Centering himself, knowing that the best way to protect Michiko was to succeed in his mission to kill General Wu, Cole nodded his head in agreement with the man.
‘Perhaps you are right,’ Cole said. ‘The Americans are cowards at heart.’
Wu smiled, pleased at Hoffmeyer’s appraisal. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘That’s good.’ He laughed again. ‘And if they do suddenly become brave, we have a few thousand nice little warheads which I am sure will make them think twice.’
The look in Wu’s eyes told Cole that his earlier assessment was right — Wu would use his nukes if he felt he needed to, with none of the usual morality-induced second-guessing that inhibited any non-sociopathic world leader.
An aide came up to Wu, whispering in his ear before retreating quietly. ‘Mr. Hoffmeyer,’ Wu said, and from his tone, Cole could tell that the meeting was coming to an end, ‘I am afraid duty calls. The races are due to begin any minute, and I must return to my place outside. But does my proposal interest you?’
Cole nodded quickly. ‘Oh yes, absolutely,’ he confirmed. ‘And I am sure that I can manage to work out a similar deal to the one we proposed for the Diaoyu Island deposits.’
‘Excellent,’ Wu said. ‘Our sources indicate there may even be more untapped potential off the coast of Japan, and whoever we deal with, I would like to pursue those sources too. Full exploration of the area.’
Cole nodded. ‘Of course. I will get to work on it.’
Wu pushed himself out of his chair, surprisingly light on his feet for such a big man, and Cole also stood, heart racing despite himself, understanding that the moment of truth was almost upon him.
‘You work out your figures,’ Wu said, ‘and contact my people to arrange a further meeting in… let’s say… three days’ time?’
‘I can do that,’ Cole said confidently, extending his hand across the space between them, offering it for General Wu to shake. ‘Thank you General Wu, it’s been a pleasure to meet you.’
There was a pause, and Cole was terrified that Wu would not take his offer of the Western custom.
But then Wu smiled and extended his own hand towards Cole.
Cole could feel the sensation of relief trying to flood his body, but didn’t let it; not yet, anyway.
Like a sniper observing the target through an optical scope, he had yet to make the fatal shot. And like the sniper, Cole calmed his breathing and his heart rate, and entered the zone — an area of flawless control where everything seemed so clear, so easy, so perfect.
Cole’s hand touched Wu’s, the general’s huge paw enveloping Cole’s completely. They shook firmly, Cole’s thumb depressing a tiny nerve inside the notch between the general’s own thumb and forefinger.