She made up her mind. "It's Homeland Security's job to be on the lookout for an attack. We can alert them, but that's all we can do and all we have to do. We've got mobility the others don't and we need to take action. I want something to back up our analysis."
"How do we get that?" Carter reached under his jacket and adjusted his holster. He felt a headache start. He knew what was coming.
"Right from the start everything has centered on the book. Yang wanted what's in it and now he has that. He has the same directions and information we do. His best chance at finding out anything more is to look for the place where the emperor was taken. That's in Tibet. We need to get there before he does, document anything we find and block Yang from getting it."
"That area is pretty remote," Carter said. "We could get in with minimal risk of detection, but how long will it take to find this place? We don't even know for sure it exists."
"We'll run satellite images and cross reference with the map in the book. If we can get a good idea where, we'll go in."
"Who's going?"
"Don't worry, Ronnie, you're on the team."
"You need me along," Selena said.
"You don't know what you're asking," Carter said.
"You don't think a woman can do the tough stuff?"
"That's not what I mean."
"What do you mean?"
"We'll have to jump in. It's rugged terrain and high altitude. If the Chinese are there it could get bad, fast."
"I've been skydiving for years, I'm qualified. I have over seventy jumps. None of you speak the languages and you couldn't make sense of any writing you might come across. You need me."
"It's not a goddamned farmer's field. It's the Himalayas, for Christ's sake."
Selena just looked at him.
Harker said, "Anyone on that team has to be armed, Selena."
"Guns don't bother me."
"They're not guns, they're weapons. How do you feel about shooting someone? You think you could do that?"
Her heart started pounding. She took a deep breath. "If I had to."
"You have a point about the language barrier." Tap, tap.
There was silence. After a moment Carter said, "How would we go in?"
"I think a B-1B modified for Special Ops, out of Dyess. That plane is perfect for high altitude penetration. Chinese radar won't pick it up. With a small team we can give you a vehicle, supplies, everything you need. How many personnel do you want?"
"Fewer is better," said Ronnie. "If we run into opposition, more bodies won't get us out of trouble and we lose mobility with more. Keep it small."
"Nick?"
"I agree with Ronnie. One vehicle, weapons, a few days of supplies. In light and out as fast as we can. But I want to know exactly what we're getting into before we get on that plane."
"We'll get as much intel as we can." Harker's pen tapped, went still. "Selena, I'm willing to put you on the team but I want Nick to get you familiar with the weapons you'll have to carry."
"That's fine by me."
"Wait a minute," Nick said. "Selena's not combat trained."
"Then I guess you'd better get her up to speed. She goes. We don't have a lot of time. Yang and his people are going to get there as fast as they can. We have to beat them to it."
"You're putting us at risk."
"She goes." Harker's voice had an edge in it. Carter had heard it before. It was her don't-fuck-with-me voice.
He gave in. "When do we leave?"
"We have to set up transport and supplies and get a clear location. If it's a go, tomorrow night. That gives you time to work with Selena on the range. Ronnie, you get on logistics. Make sure nothing points back to us and that you've got plenty of whatever you need. Better add climbing gear. It'll be cold weather and thin air. Lay in oxygen."
"What about radiation equipment? If there's anything there, we need to know it."
"Good point. Take a counter and dosimeters for everyone."
"Are you going to tell the President?" Carter asked.
"No. Not yet. He needs to be able to deny it."
She didn't say what they were all thinking. If Rice had to deny it, something would have gone wrong. Big time wrong.
Like that, they were on their way to Tibet.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Colonel Wu made the call on his encrypted satellite phone.
"Yang."
"Sir. I am pleased to report success. I have a complete copy of the book in my possession."
"You are sure it is the correct book."
"Yes, sir."
"Is it the original?"
"No, sir, it is a computer transcription with a complete scan of the original and translation. After this call I will transmit it to your private terminal."
"Where is the original?"
"As far as I can determine it is inaccessible."
"What is the status of your negotiations with the Triads?"
"Everything has been agreed to as you wished. They are ready to carry out Summer Wind on the American holiday. I offered four hundred million American dollars and full independence, with mutual security agreements, for Taiwan. As you predicted, the money by itself would not have been enough. Offering Taiwan was irresistible. The bosses are all what the Americans call high rollers. Gamblers. They could not refuse to gamble for stakes on the world's table."
"It is a gamble they will lose. Very good, Senior Colonel Wu. You will return home immediately."
Wu flushed with pride. Senior Colonel! The hard jump in the military hierarchy.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
"You've done well, Wu. When you arrive, report directly to me."
"Yes, sir. Do you have any other instructions?"
"None at the moment. Transmit the information." Yang ended the call.
A few key strokes on his computer and the information was on its way. Wu got out a suitcase and began packing. There was a plane leaving in four hours.
In Beijing, General Yang set the phone down and allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.
The Elixir of Immortality. The goal of thousands of years of Chinese tradition. It could be his. But it was probably just another old recipe that brought death, not life.
A raid in Tibet had turned up a Sanskrit text on the First Emperor, called "The Silver Garuda". It was known that Yang collected anything about the First Emperor and his search for immortality. The book had found its way to him.
The elixir of immortality was a defining element in the life of Emperor Huang. Yang thought of the Emperor as a kindred spirit, a model to be emulated and surpassed. Huang had taken a vast land ruled by feuding warlords and beset by barbarian enemies and forged it into an empire. He had started China on the path of greatness. Anything remotely related to him was of interest.
When Yang read the translation he'd seen the possibilities. It was clear the formula used potent radioactive materials. According to the text, directions to the source of those materials could be found in a second book, the one now residing on his computer.
The quality of China's uranium made refinement time-consuming and expensive. With the location of superior deposits he'd have what he needed to bring hundreds of the new warheads on line. Lighter, more deadly. The designs were in place.
That made him think of Deng, the treasonous little dog. It was annoying that Deng had defected. Sooner or later Deng would be eliminated. Meanwhile, others carried on his work.
It would take time to ready the missiles. Perhaps two years, but Yang was patient. As for the elixir, once he had the complete formula, he'd test it on prisoners. The book was found in Tibet. He'd use Tibetans for the trials. The corners of his frog like mouth turned upward in a smile.