The Bear and the Dragon - Tom Clancy [379]
"You assassinate a government chief in a foreign land?" Fang asked, surprised at this level of boldness. "What if you fail?"
"We commit an act of war against Russia anyway. What have we to lose by this? Nothing—but there is much to gain."
"But the political implications … " Fang breathed.
"What of them?"
"What if they turn the tables on us?"
"You mean attempt to attack Xu personally?" The look on his face provided the real answer to the question: China would be better off without the nonentity. But even Zhang would not say that aloud, even in the privacy of this room. "Tan assures me that our physical security is perfect. Perfect, Fang. There are no foreign intelligence operations of consequence in our country."
"I suppose every nation says such a thing—right before the roof caves in on them. We've done well with our spying in America, for example, and for that our good Comrade Tan is to be congratulated, but arrogance falls before the blow, and such blows are never anticipated. We would do well to remember that."
Zhang dismissed the thought: "One cannot fear everything."
"That is true, but to fear nothing is also imprudent." Fang paused to mend fences. "Zhang, you must think me an old woman."
That made the other minister smile. "Old woman? No, Fang, you are a comrade of many years' standing, and one of our most thoughtful thinkers. Why, do you suppose, I brought you onto the Politburo?"
To get my votes, of course, Fang didn't answer. He had the utmost respect for his senior colleague, but he wasn't blind to his faults. "For that I am grateful."
"For that the people ought to be grateful, you are so solicitous to their needs."
"Well, one must remember the peasants and workers out there. We serve them, after all." The ideological cant was just perfect for the moment. "This is not an easy job we share."
"You need to relax a little. Get that girl Ming out there, take her to your bed. You've done it before." It was a weakness both men shared. The tension of the moment abated, as Zhang wished it to.
"Chai sucks better," Fang replied, with a sly look.
"Then take her to your bed. Buy her some silk drawers. Get her drunk. They all like that."
"Not a bad idea," Fang agreed. "It certainly helps me sleep."
"Then do it by all means! We'll need our sleep. The next few weeks will be strenuous for us—but more so for our enemies."
"One thing, Zhang. As you said, we must treat the captives well. One thing the Americans do not forgive rapidly is cruelty to the helpless, as we have seen here in Beijing."
"Now, they are old women. They do not understand the proper use of strength."
"Perhaps so, but if we wish to do business with them, as you say, why offend them unnecessarily?"
Zhang sighed and conceded the point, because he knew it to be the smart play. "Very well. I will tell Luo." He checked his watch. "I must be off. I've having dinner with Xu tonight."
"Give him my best wishes."
"Of course." Zhang rose, bowed to his friend, and took his leave. Fang took a minute or so before rising and walking to the door. "Ming," he called, on opening it. "Come here." He lingered at the door as the secretary came in, allowing his eyes to linger on Chai. Their eyes met and she winked, adding a tiny feminine smile. Yes, he needed his sleep tonight, and she would help.
"The Politburo meeting ran late this day," Fang said, settling into his chair and doing his dictation. It took twenty-five minutes, and he dismissed Ming to do her daily transcription. Then he had Chai come in, gave her an order, and dismissed her. In another hour, the working day ended. Fang walked down to his official car, with Chai in trail. Together they rode to his comfortable apartment, and there they got down to business.
Ming met her lover at a new restaurant called the Jade Horse, where the food was better than average. "You look troubled," Nomuri observed.
"Busy time at the office," she explained. "There is big trouble to come."
"Oh? What sort of trouble?"
"I cannot say," she demurred. "It will probably not affect