As Gamay spoke, Melanie Anderson seemed to perk up. “Worldwide Flooding,” she said, as if imagining a headline. “How bad will it get?”
“We can’t be certain,” Gamay said. “Especially if the Chinese prevent an investigation. But if you have any concept of how important the oceans are to food production, weather patterns and even national stability, you’ll understand that this could be the opening phase in a catastrophe of unrivaled proportions.”
“‘Unrivaled proportions,’” she said. “Not bad. You could have a future in the copy game.”
“Ms. Anderson,” Gamay said.
“Call me Mel.”
“I’m telling the truth,” Gamay said. “Think about it. They’ve shut off the internet, shut off the phones and surrounded every Western consulate in Shanghai with soldiers and police. They’ve even closed the train stations and airports. This isn’t about keeping something out; it’s about keeping something in. And that something is the information we have. At this point, you and your satellite dish are the only hope we have for getting this information back to America.”
Gamay was appealing to the hero. Paul took another tactic. “It’s the story of a lifetime,” he said. “Pulitzer Prize–winning material. And, more importantly, a direct route to the big networks. You’ll be hosting 20/20 next year, not reporting on Bigfoot or alien abductions. You might even get your own show.”
She laughed. “Maybe. Assuming you two aren’t a couple of lunatics.”
“We have video and sonar data,” Gamay said, taking the laptop from Paul and handing it over. “Judge for yourself.”
32
WASHINGTON, D.C.
RUDI GUNN arrived at the White House after being summoned out of the blue. The lack of information as to why suggested it wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit.
After a brief wait, he was ushered inside the Oval Office, where he stood respectfully until directed to sit. The President sat behind the big desk, reviewing something through a pair of antique reading glasses. Vice President Sandecker stood beside him.
James Sandecker was normally a welcome sight for Rudi, since he’d run NUMA before accepting the offer to move to the second-highest position in the American government. But Sandecker’s face was stern and Rudi felt no warmth from his old boss.
The President pushed the paperwork aside, took his glasses off and looked across the desk. “Rudi, you know how much respect I have for NUMA in general and your leadership in particular. So, it pains me to ask you this, but . . . what in the name of God are your people up to in Asia?”
“Pardon me, Mr. President,” Rudi said, “but I’m not exactly sure what you’re referencing.”
“The State Department has been inundated with communiqués suggesting your Special Projects team has been wreaking havoc in Japan. They’ve been seen dealing with local gangsters, accused of getting involved with an antigovernment cult and burning down a thousand-year-old castle. Now we’re receiving intelligence out of China that all of Shanghai has gone into lockdown and a massive dragnet has been spread across the city to locate two more wayward NUMA operatives who snuck into the country like spies.”
Rudi had been expecting heat to come down sooner or later. “They’re not wayward, Mr. President. They’re working on the sea-level issue, following up leads which suggest China may be responsible for what we’ve seen globally.”
“They appear to have violated Chinese sovereignty in their efforts.”
Rudi didn’t blink. “I directed them to take whatever action was necessary in search of answers. I’ll take responsibility.”
The President appeared cross.
Sandecker offered a comment. “I told you Rudi wouldn’t pass the buck.”
“Don’t cover for him, Jim.”
“He doesn’t need me to. He’s telling it to you straight.”
The President turned to face Rudi once more. “Do you have any idea how delicate the situation is right now? How precarious Japanese–American relations are? China has been giving them the full-court press for over a year to become part of an Asian-only trading bloc and military alliance. Things are changing fast. Nine months ago, they settled the
dispute about war crimes from World War Two. Six months ago, they began treaty negotiations. Three months ago, they held joint naval exercises for the first time ever. Tomorrow, they will sign an extensive cooperation agreement. And, next week, the Japanese Parliament will vote on whether or not to remain bound by the mutual defense treaty with America.”
“I hardly see how that—”
The President cut him off. “Any untoward actions blamed on America will just fuel the fire. The burning of the ancient temple has been played on nationalistic websites in Japan over and over for the last seventy-two hours.”
Rudi waited to make sure the President was done. “Not much I can do about that, Mr. President. The castle was not burned by our people. It was, in fact, burned in an attempt to kill the occupants and the members of my team. We believe the kill order came from China.”
“I see.”