Natesh said, “I’m not ready to conclude any of that yet… but I think it is prudent to evaluate all possibilities.”
Henry said, “Look, I don’t want to be racist or anything, but Lena is Asian. Probably Chinese ancestry. Maybe that’s a little too obvious to make that connection, and I know we aren’t supposed to profile anymore, but… I mean that’s almost too obvious. All of the stewards are Asian, too. There’s a highly freaking likely possibility that we’re in the freaking Pacific, for God’s sake. I mean, if we think of it like that, I start feeling like an idiot. They practically took us to the Sheraton in Beijing and asked us to fill out a Q&A on where America’s weaknesses lay.”
Natesh said, “Okay, let’s calm down. Lena is one person. If no one else will, I will play devil’s advocate. I highly doubt that it is within the realm of possibility that the Chinese government would place all of us here with one person from their intelligence service.”
David said, “I agree. But that doesn’t mean that this hasn’t been staged by the Chinese. To me, that just suggests that we need to watch our backs. They wouldn’t try to do something like this and leave her alone with all of us on an island. Right? Just like you are suggesting, that sounds too risky. So — who else is helping her?”
They each looked at each other.
“The Major? That guy’s weird as hell,” said Norman.
Brooke nodded. “And he’s been here from the start. I could see that. And he carries a gun. He’s also got access to the Communications building.”
“So do I,” said Natesh.
The others went quiet.
David broke the awkward silence and said, “Sorry, Natesh. It’s just—”
Natesh said, “It’s alright. Go ahead and be suspicious. Ask me anything. I would, if I was in your shoes. Again, it is only prudent. However, I can guarantee that I am most definitely not a Chinese spy. I am not a traitor.”
He was telling the truth. David could see it in his eyes. David said, “No one is accusing you of being a traitor. But — what do you think about the Major?”
Natesh grimaced. He said, “I… I can’t back anything up with facts…”
Brooke said, “Can’t back what up with facts?”
He said, “I just get this feeling. Like he is enjoying this too much. He almost enjoys being on a team that is outsmarting the US.”
Brooke said, “That’s what they said about Robert Hanssen. The FBI agent who spied for the Russians. He didn’t do it for the money. He did it because he loved the ego boost. You think Combs is like that?”
Norman said, “He’s pretty old to be just a Major. Maybe he was prior-enlisted or something. But if he wasn’t, that means he was probably passed over for promotion a lot. A guy like that would probably get disgruntled and jaded after a while. But that doesn’t mean he is a traitor.”
Henry said, “No, but maybe Lena used that as a way in.”
Natesh said, “Please, let’s remember that this is all speculation.”
Norman said, “Bill being dragged into a helicopter unconscious was speculation?”
Natesh sighed and held up his arms in surrender.
David said, “Alright, calm down. Look, I needed to tell someone. I thought I could trust this group. But if it’s all the same, let’s keep this information to ourselves for now. We need to figure out who we can trust. And personally, I just don’t think Lena’s acting alone.”
Brooke said, “You think this place is bugged?”
They all looked around the room. David said, “I honestly didn’t consider that.”
Henry said, “It’s not bugged.”
Norman said, “How do you know?”
Henry said, “Because they’d be running in here right now, guns blazing. Right? Look, we know she’s not acting totally alone. The computers transmit and receive to someone, right? The stewards, the daily resupply flights. Hell, she got a helicopter to arrive within a few hours. She must have an immense amount of support. But what I don’t know is what support she has on the island. And if she is playing for the Chinese, the isolation factor may be our greatest advantage.”
David said, “Actually, I think you’re right. Natesh, you told me that you think you could hack past the firewalls in the Comms building. Do you still think you could do that?”
Natesh glanced around the room. “Yes. I do.”
“Good. Because right now, I think you are the only way that we know of to get a warning out and send for help.”
Henry nodded, “That’s a good idea. But I would think that they’ll know somehow. I mean, Lena would know. The Major would know. Natesh might be able to get in there, but wouldn’t he get caught and shut down?”
David said, “Not if we’ve got Lena and anyone on her side as our prisoners.”
Norman said, “I’m in. I don’t even know what you’re planning yet, but I’m in. I know some of those law enforcement and military guys that are on the Defense team would have to be with us if we told them what’s going on.”
David looked at Natesh. “If we gave you the time, could you do it? I have to imagine there is some kill switch if whoever is pulling the strings finds out what you are trying to do.”
Brooke said, “That would be easy to set up.”
Natesh said, “Let’s slow down. Please. Can we first make sure that we in fact have ruled out all possible legitimate reasons for what David saw happen to Bill?”
Henry said, “Of course, but—”
Natesh held out his hands. “If we find out that Lena indeed is anything other than what she says she is, then I am confident that if you get me thirty free minutes in that Communications building, I will be able to send out a warning message, and contact friends on the outside that could lead rescuers to our location. I have seen enough of those computers and operating systems. I can do it. But please, let us continue to do our jobs until we know for sure.”
David nodded. “That’s fair. First, we need to figure out what’s really going on. If it is the worst-case scenario, then we need to come up with a plan to escape. And warn people. Right now, Natesh is our only hope. And getting him alone in that Comms room will be the goal if we confirm that Lena is not CIA. She and any of her accomplices are people that we’ll have to deal with. But I am not convinced that they are the only ones on this island that could be a problem…”
Natesh said, “What do you mean?”
David said, “The fence.”
“What about it?” Norman said.
“Why would you need a barbed wire fence on an island? Who are you trying to keep out?”
Henry said, “Animals? I don’t know, orangutans? They’re pesky beasts, if you ask me. Never trusted ’em.”
David said, “No, seriously. This island is relatively large. I don’t know exactly how far around it goes, but I don’t think that fence is for our protection. I think it is to keep us from finding out what else is here on the island. Maybe this is just part of a larger base. Maybe this is the part that was meant to hold us.”
Norman said, “So what else is out there?”
David said, “I don’t know. But I’m willing to bet it will help us figure out what’s going on. So I’m going to find out.”
Natesh said, “Find out what?”
David said, “Find out what’s beyond the fence. For now, let’s all please agree to keep this just among us. Let’s keep meeting like this at night. We can call it a poker game if anyone asks, but keep it exclusive to this group until we know who else we can trust. Keep your eyes and ears open — tomorrow night I’ll share what I’ve seen and we can decide where to go from here. But promise me that none of you will tell a soul about any of this until we come up with a plan.”