Yun correctly guessed what lay behind the frown. "Mr. Birnbaum said he could not tell me a great deal because most of the details were still classified. He also said your resignation from the FBI had been faked, allowing you to go undercover to investigate the Mafia conspiracy."
Thank God that part had been cleared up, Burke thought. His record had been left with a big question mark until it was corrected by presidential order in the wake of Jabberwock. "That was a long time ago," he said. Then, a bit embarrassed, he stuck his fork into a bowl that had what appeared to be chunks of cabbage in a liquid, with bits of red mixed in. "What's this?"
"You had better try a small amount first," Yun said, grinning. "That is our national food, kimchi. This kind is made from Korean cabbage and radish, pickled in brine with chili peppers and garlic. Americans usually find it quite hot."
Burke sniffed at it and took a small bite. It wasn't bad, he thought. But definitely hot. And the garlic aroma was strong. He recognized it as the odd odor he had detected frequently during his stay in Seoul. Everybody, he presumed, must eat kimchi. He took another bite.
"I might get to like it, you know."
"Good. If you don't like kimchi, you may not be too well accepted here. There is a saying, a man can live without a wife, but not without his kimchi.'
Burke laughed. "I'll remember that."
Yun was obviously prepared to get down to business. "You may be interested to know I have concluded that the murder of Dr. Lee was, indeed, committed during a burglary. But not an ordinary burglary."
"What do you mean?"
"The criminal took a briefcase containing a book manuscript and related material."
Burke looked puzzled. "Something Dr. Lee had written?"
"Yes." He told about the missing manuscript and how it also had been erased from the computer.
"Erased? Damn! Somebody must really want it suppressed. Do you have any idea why?"
Yun absently shifted some of the dishes on the table into a symmetrical pattern as though sorting out his thoughts. "I have a theory, but I will need the manuscript to test it. According to Dr. Lee's son, he was working in collaboration with a professor in the United States. He says the professor probably has a copy."
Burke saw his opening and jumped in. "That's a lucky break. Could I help you track him down?"
Captain Yun nodded with a soft smile. "His name is Dr. Cabot Lowing. He is with something called the Highsmith Foundation." His look changed to one of surprise as Burke suddenly broke into a wide grin and shook his head.
Lowing, the man Dr. Robertson Ramsey had mentioned. "Talk about small worlds. That foundation was established by the president of our company, Nathaniel Highsmith. Consider you've got the manuscript, Captain. I'll call Washington when I get back to the hotel tonight."
"Excellent. Please let me know as soon as you have it."
"Be happy to. Incidentally, what's your theory? A history book hardly sounds like grounds for murder."
Captain Yun had pondered all day just how much to reveal to Burke Hill. His initial intention was merely to seek assistance in obtaining a copy of the missing manuscript. But Frederick Birnbaum, whom Yun looked upon as next to a Korean deity, had said he would trust Hill implicitly. According to the FBI agent, Hill had worked in cooperation with the CIA and the Canadian government in wrapping up the Jabberwock conspiracy. With Hill's background, it seemed reasonable that he could bring some special insight to this case. Yun had been impressed by the soft-spoken, low-key American, especially his consideration for Korean culture and customs. Most important, he had not exhibited the slightest degree of condescension, no boasts of things done better in the U.S.A., no implications that Koreans might somehow be less able than their American counterparts. This was a problem that had caused many a Korean to lose respect for an American acquaintance, particularly among the military.
So far, except for what he had told Prosecutor Park, Yun had kept his real intentions strictly under wraps. He appeared to be investigating four unrelated, somewhat baffling homicides. His normally quiet, unassuming manner effectively deceived most people, leaving the impression he was often a bit befuddled by the course of events. But those familiar with his mode of operation knew not to underestimate the mental gymnastics that took place behind those round, metal-rimmed spectacles. He was fully capable of turning one hundred and eighty degrees when the situation warranted. That was precisely what he made up his mind to do now. He would reveal the whole complicated affair to Burke Hill.
"This particular history book," Yun said in a voice that reached a new level of intensity, "may hold a clue to several murders."
Burke frowned. "As they say at home, it's a jungle out there."
"No, Mr. Hill, animals don't maul each other out of malice, or for fun and profit. This job doesn't lend itself to a belief in the innate goodness of mankind. What I am about to tell you must remain entirely confidential."
He proceeded to lay out in detail his case for a conspiracy aimed at eliminating leading Koreans who vocally supported maintaining close ties with America. Then he described the puzzling Poksu symbol and how it appeared to hint at some as yet obscure Japanese involvement.
"Dr. Lee's manuscript deals with the partisans who fought the Japanese in Manchuria," Yun explained. "I hope it may shed some light on those who crossed back into Korea as the Poksu group. Particularly, I would like to know the identities of the two who were never captured. I would like to know where they are and what they are doing now."
Burke found Captain Yun's account both fascinating and disturbing. According to the investigator's theory, which appeared to be backed by an impressive amount of circumstantial evidence, what Damon Mansfield had taken for a jinx was actually a diabolical plot by some shadowy group. Considering who might have a motive to cut America out of the picture in South Korea, he could only think of the new regime in Seoul. No doubt they would like the U.S. out of the way to protect the secrecy of their nuclear arsenal plans. But would the leaders of a supposedly responsible government go to such extremes?
"Conspiracies of this sort are usually motivated by either economics or politics," Burke said. "From what you've told me, I don't see any obvious economic gain. So that leaves us looking for a political motive."
"That sounds reasonable."
"Based on the number of people involved, and who they are, I'd say it must be masterminded by somebody pretty high up in the government."
"Somebody quite powerful," Captain Yun said.
"Yes. Somebody determined to misuse his power for reasons we can only guess at. That galls me as much as anything, the naked abuse of power. We had it with Watergate and Iran-Contra. Of course, neither of those involved a string of homicides."
"I'm afraid such things have been a problem here for many years, although conditions have been improving."
Burke knew Captain Yun would have no knowledge of what his government might be up to in the nuclear field, and there was no way he could give so much as a hint of it. But whether it might be related to Yun's conspiracy was pure conjecture at this point.
He turned to stretch his cramped legs out beside the table. "If you're right, Captain, anybody who cooperates closely with Americans could have a problem. Particularly someone making moves that would threaten to expose the conspiracy."
Yun nodded. "You refer to me, of course." He hesitated for a brief moment before continuing, as though weighing his options. "This brings me to a key development in the case, one that has proved the most difficult to deal with."