The Rising Sea (NUMA Files 15)

Han bowed slightly. “I apologize, Lao-shi.”

Wen released Han from his gaze and turned his attention back to the game. “You are partially correct,” he said, placing another black stone. “The ore, as we so blithely call it, is the key to the future. Like bronze over copper and iron over bronze. History has always been a tale of who has the sharpest and strongest sword, the lightest and most resilient armor. The nation that controls the Golden Adamant will become unassailable. But you are incorrect to suggest we dig in the same exhausted location.”

Han cocked his head to the side. “But there are no other deposits.”

“None that have yet been found,” Wen replied.

“With all due respect, Lao-shi, we’ve had people scouring the world for years. We’ve found no trace of this alloy anywhere. Not in Africa, South America or the Middle East. Nor throughout our own territory or on the volcanic islands in the South Pacific. Nowhere that we expected it to be. We’ve taken ten thousand core samples from the depths of the sea and found nothing beyond this one source.”

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“All true,” Wen said. “Nevertheless, I’ve developed information about another deposit that may exist, and far closer than one would think.” He pointed to the board. “Please, make your move.”

Han looked down at the board. He found it hard to concentrate on the game with such information hanging in the balance. Still, a quick look revealed his side was in a perilous situation. His white stones were being surrounded. Any additional moves he made would only put Wen in a better position. He had to hope the old Master would make a mistake. “Pass,” he said.

Wen nodded. “That is your right.”

“Please, my friend. Tell me, where is this other deposit?”

Across from him, Wen hesitated, rolling the smooth stone between his fingers before putting it on the board. “Somewhere on the island of Honshu.”

Han took a second to process the answer. “Japan? The home island?”

“Possibly offshore,” Wen said. “But most likely on the mainland. And if I’m correct, very near the surface.”

The words were spoken without emotion, but Han felt the wind knocked out of him. “How do you know this? And, more importantly, how can this possibly help us? Even if we find it, we can’t mine without being detected. And should we try and be discovered, all we’ll have accomplished is bringing the existence of the ore to the attention of the Japanese. And that means giving it to the Americans. We’ll be handing our adversary the very thing we seek to control ourselves.”

“Precisely,” Wen said. “And for that reason we have yet to follow up on the initial information.”

“Then we’re at an impasse,” Han said.

“Are we?”

Wen reached down into the cup and pulled a handful of black stones from the container. “Tell me,” he asked, “what is the objective of this game?”

Han tried to hide his frustration. He’d grown used to the Lao-shi trying to impart wisdom through unique methods and recognized this as one of them, though he didn’t enjoy it. “The object of the game is to surround your opponent, deny him liberty and thus deny him life.”

“Precisely,” Wen said. “And which nation has the greatest players?”

“China,” Han said. “After all, we invented the game.”

“No,” Wen said, placing a black stone. “That is ego, not wisdom.”

“If not us, then Japan.”

Wen shook his head once more, Han passed and the old man placed another black stone.

Han frowned. He was losing the game. And the argument. He passed again. “Korea is known to have many renowned players,” he said, a tinge of desperation in his voice.

“The Americans,” Wen told him. “They are the greatest players this game has ever known. More precision and mastery have they displayed than any nation on Earth.”

Han resisted the urge to scoff. “Are you sure? I can’t think of a single American expert.”

“Because you’re looking at the wrong board,” Wen said. “Look again and think of it as a map.”

Thoroughly confused, Han studied the board once more. He noticed a vague resemblance between the board and the world map. Not the Western maps with North America in the middle but the Asian where China took central stage.

His force of white stones in the middle was China. Black stones looping up one side and down the other might have been Europe and North America.