Within hours Hwang could be on a flight to Beijing with an American contingent. It was crucial he spread the word about Chongju to the people of North Korea as soon as possible, because Choi had been showing his volatility. The impounding of his mining equipment, the accusations he was involved in the assassination plot, the capture of his ICBM technology, and now the news that his intelligence chief had committed suicide. Choi was a wounded animal and everyone expected him to act as such.
And Choi had lived down to these expectations. In the past day he had launched two short-range rockets into the Sea of Japan and shelled a pair of South Korean islands.
Ryan knew the only sure bet was for Choi to be deposed from within, and the best chance for an internal uprising was convincing the elite of the nation that Choi had adversely affected all of their fortunes with his reckless obsession with nuclear missiles.
And on this Ryan and Ling were on the same page. They both felt their nations would only benefit if Choi was knocked from power. Ryan explained to Ling he knew the rare earth mineral mine’s value and its potential value to Ling’s nation. “If you could get your mining industry back inside North Korea, it would be a tremendous boon to your nation’s economy.”
Ling nodded, then asked, “How do you propose we convince Choi to allow this, without offering him missiles that would reach your California?”
Ryan said, “China has a lot of positive influence over North Korea. Hwang’s speech might force the hand of the people of the nation to sack Choi.”
“That is possible. We do maintain many friendly contacts with people in positions of power.”
Ryan knew this, and he knew the answer to the question he posed next, but he knew it only through intelligence intercepts from China. He couldn’t reveal this, of course, so he played dumb.
“Ji-hoon’s uncle, I forgot his name… he was the ambassador to China, wasn’t he? Whatever happened to him?”
Ling nodded. “Choi Sang-u. We had a most excellent relationship with him. His nephew thought the relationship was too good, unfortunately, so Ji-hoon threw Sang-u in prison.”
Ryan said, “It sounds like it would benefit China if this man was put into power in place of Ji-hoon.”
Ling agreed. “This would be the best possible outcome.” After a pause he added, “Depending, of course, on his present health and condition. You might know there is an attempt to reeducate those in prison. Not so much in the internment camps, but still we would have to evaluate him to see if he could take over the reins of power.”
Ryan said, “If this works, you might just have to take your chances. God knows he’d be better than Ji-hoon in power.”
Ling nodded thoughtfully. “You make a fair point.”
Ryan felt like the matter was dealt with. Hwang would tell the North Korean elite that China should be in North Korea operating the mineral mine. And that wouldn’t happen with Choi Ji-hoon in Ryongsong.
Ryan switched gears suddenly. “Mr. President, there is another matter I need to discuss with you.”
“Unrelated?”
“No, it’s related. I would like to ask for some help. A citizen of my country is, at present, in North Korea. He is wounded, and it is critical we retrieve him.”
Ling listened to the translation, then asked, “Do you mean to tell me you have an American secret agent inside North Korea?”
Ryan shrugged a little. “I am not prepared to say what the man’s occupation is. But I hope you will appreciate the fact I refuse to lie to you.”
The president of China nodded slightly.
“What is it you want?”
“He is less than a kilometer from your border on the southern side of the Yalu River.”
“You are asking us to open our border crossing?”
“No, Mr. President. I am asking more than that. I am asking you to send some men in to get him.”
“I am afraid what you are asking is out of the question. Despite the other matter to which we have just agreed, it is important for my country to maintain good and open relations with the DPRK. The potential for scandal in this matter is too great.”
“The success of the first matter depends on the positive resolution of the second.”
The president of China turned to his translator and had him repeat himself. Ryan saw the man was confused by the wording, but he let him figure it out on his own. Finally President Ling spoke and the translator turned it into English. “Do you mean to say the entire deal depends on this one man?”
Ryan did not hesitate. “Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. It is in both of our nations’ interests that this man is rescued, alive.”
Ling was still astonished, but Ryan could see the gears turning in his head. The man saw an opportunity. “If I agree to your request, I would like the opportunity for my intelligence officials to sit with this individual for a short interview.”
Ryan had been ready for this. “The information he has is related to the issue at hand, nothing more.”
“Be that as it may, I request—”
“It is likely this man is gravely injured. I want him delivered to us, here in Beijing. I will delay my departure, if necessary. If you do that, you have my personal assurance that an interview will be granted, provided he is in condition to give an interview and only if my own people are allowed to be present during the interview.” Ryan smiled. “I expect this man might be very confused by everything.”
Ling asked, “When do we need to rescue your agent?”
Ryan said, “Within the hour would be ideal, Mr. President.”
Ling just stared at his translator in shock.
76
Adam Yao lay in a thick copse of trees alongside the Yalu River, some fifty yards from the gravel road behind him. He heard trucks passing on the road, back and forth, over and over, for most of the day. They couldn’t see him, he was well hidden, but he knew that as soon as the army thought to dismount some troops to check the wood line he would have to crawl to the river or lie here and await capture.
And the river was too cold to ford, especially in his weakened state.
Adam’s knee was swollen like a grapefruit, and the huge gash was showing signs of infection just twenty-four hours after he dove out of the racing SUV. He had crawled the last fifty yards through a muddy rice paddy after he fell off the bicycle, and an hour earlier when he tried to stand up he had been unable to put any weight on the leg at all.
He knew he wasn’t going anywhere. It had been a bone-chilling and wretched evening, and he told himself he was ready to die. Freezing to death had always seemed so awful those few times in his life he’d ever thought about it, but now he found himself accepting his fate. At peace with it.
Occasionally he thought he heard voices, never right on top of him but certainly on the road and perhaps even on boats passing on the Yalu River. He’d not understood any of the words, and after a while he started to wonder if his mind was not just playing tricks on him.
Though he had heard the footfalls of individual men traveling on the road far below him, he did not hear the men in white at all until they were right on top of his position. He opened his eyes suddenly, aware of a presence close by, and he saw a group of armed men in white snow camouflage surrounding him here in the trees.
It was too dark to tell anything else about them, but Adam assumed they were North Korean Special Forces.