The Emperor's Tomb (45 page)

Sokolov sat in one of several lacquered chairs, the furniture exquisite in both detail and design. Expensive rugs cushioned the marble floor. Apparently, the Ba believed in living comfortably.

The door opened.

He turned to see Pau Wen.

"I was told that you had returned to China," Ni said to the older man.

Pau wore a golden-yellow robe, an interesting choice in color since Ni knew it symbolized the throne. Two more younger men stood behind Pau, each carrying a loaded crossbow, held ready.

"Minister Tang is on his way," Pau said.

"For me?" Sokolov asked.

Pau nodded. "Your revolutionary discovery is vital to what he has planned."

"How do you know of my discovery?"

"Because Karl Tang is a brother of the Ba."

He recalled the phone conversation and the split between Pau and Tang. "You lie well."

Pau seemed to absorb the insult. "I have been of the brotherhood nearly my entire adult life. I was subject to the knife at age twenty-eight. I rose to Hegemon by age forty. Never doubt, though, that I love China. Its culture. Its heritage. I have done all I can to preserve it."

"You are a eunuch, as deceitful as all of them who came before you."

"But there were many of us who did great things, who performed our duties with skill and honor. In fact, Minister, history shows that there were far more of those than of the other."

"And which one are you?" Ni asked.

"I am no monster," Pau said. "I have willingly returned home."

He was not impressed. "And why is that?"

"To see who will lead China."

"That seems already decided."

"Your cynicism is self-defeating. I tried to warn you of that in Belgium."

"Where's my son?" Sokolov asked. "I was told he was here."

Pau motioned and the two brothers standing behind him parted. Another brother strode forward holding the hand of a small boy, perhaps four or five, the same hair and face as Sokolov. The boy spotted his father and rushed forward. They embraced and Sokolov began to rattle off words in Russian, both of them sobbing.

"You see," Pau said. "He is fine. He has been here all along, well cared for."

Sokolov was not listening, smothering the boy with kisses. Ni, unmarried, could only imagine the agony the father had endured.

"I have gone to a great deal of trouble to lure everyone here," Pau said.

That he did believe. "And what will that decide?"

"The fate of China, as has happened many times through the centuries. That's what has made our culture so special. It is what set us apart from all others. No emperor ever ruled solely because of his bloodline. Instead it was the emperor's responsibility to set a moral example for both his government and his people. If he grew corrupt, or incompetent, rebellion has always been regarded as a legitimate recourse. Any peasant who could gather an army could found a new dynasty. And that happened many times. If prosperity came from his rule, then he was deemed to have gained the 'mandate of Heaven.' His male heirs were expected to succeed him, but they, too, could be overthrown if judged unfit. The mandate of Heaven not only must be maintained, but must be earned."

"And the Communist Party earned theirs'?"

"Hardly. They manufactured it. But that illusion has become all too obvious. They forgot both their Legalist roots and Confucian morals. The people long ago judged them unfit to rule."

"And you now have raised the army to overthrow them?"

"Not me, Minister."

Out the window he heard a helicopter approaching.

"That is Tang," Pau said. "Finally, he arrives."

MALONE SAT PROPPED AGAINST THE RANGE ROVER'S TIRE, RUBBING his back. He recalled clearly what had happened last year in Central Asia, when he and Viktor had first squared off, and what Stephanie had said.

Viktor, if you ever get tired of freelancing and want a job, let me know.

Apparently, Viktor had taken the offer to heart.

He resented what Stephanie had not told him, but liked the fact that Ivan certainly didn't know Viktor was working every side.

Served the smug SOB right.

The street had returned to normal, the locals resuming their routines.

"That hurt," he muttered. "How long has he been gone?"

Cassiopeia knelt beside him. "Nearly an hour."

Malone's head had cleared from the dizziness, and though his spine was sore he was otherwise okay.

He stood in a half crouch.

"He said to wait an hour before we followed."

He glared at her. "He say anything else?"

"He was sorry for the cheap shot."

He glared at her.

"And for us to trust him."

"Yeah, right."

"I think he's trying to help."

"Cassiopeia, I don't know what the man is trying to do. We know the Russians want Sokolov back, but you have to realize that, if necessary, they'll kill him to keep him from the Chinese, or the Americans."

"If Stephanie is yanking Viktor's chain, she wouldn't want Sokolov dead."

"Don't sell her short. She wants him alive, but she doesn't want the Chinese to have him, either."

"You realize that Stephanie probably knew I was being tortured," she said. "Viktor was hers."

"No, she didn't. She told me she only knew Viktor nabbed you after he made contact with me. I told her about the torture."

He saw the frustration in her eyes. He felt it, too.

She told him about the Pakistanis whom Tang had involved, waiting for them in the highlands.

He forced himself to his feet. "I'll take my chances." He glanced around. "We need to find the route up."

"Not a problem."

"Let me guess. Viktor told you that, too."

Chapter
Seventy-FOUR

TANG ENTERED THE MAIN COURTYARD. EVERGREENS PLANTED during the Ming dynasty rose from breaks in the pavement. Colossal gates, which to him had always seemed to require giants to move, hung open, their doors carved with neolithic images that spoke of adventure and ruggedness. The flagstones beneath his feet had been laid centuries before, many engraved with poems, which gave the glazed structure at the courtyard's center its name--Huan yong ting, Pavilion Encircled by Songs. Water flowed in a carefully mapped course along a man-made stream, spanned by several rounded wooden bridges.

Above each of the multistoried buildings enclosing the space, an upturned eave reached out. At the corners, slender wooden pillars polished with layers of red paint and lacquer shone like glass. For centuries brothers had resided here, divided by a hierarchy defined by age and status. A place once innocent of electricity, far more suitable for birds than people, it had been transformed by the Ba into a sanctuary.

The helicopter was gone.

Only his footsteps, the trickle of the water, and a metallic din of chimes disturbed the serenity.

Two brothers waited at the end of the courtyard, up a terraced stairway, each dressed in a wool gown with a red waistband. Their hair was shaved short in front but plaited in back. Olive-black eyes barely blinked. He strode straight toward a veranda supported by more pillars painted blood red and decorated in silver and gold. He climbed three-quarters of the way up, stopping at the base of the third terrace. Behind the brothers opened double doors, flanked on either side by two massive elephant tusks.

Pau Wen stepped from the portal.

Finally, they were face-to-face. After so many years.

Pau descended the steps.

Tang waited, then bowed. "Everything went according to your plan."

"You have done well. The end is now in sight."

He enjoyed the feeling of pride. He handed Pau the watch from the imperial library chamber. "I thought you would like this back."

Pau accepted the gift with a bow. "My thanks."

"Where is Ni Yong?"

"Waiting. Inside."

"Then let us finish this and begin a new day for China."

"IT'S AWFUL QUIET UP HERE," MALONE SAID.

Their trek, so far, had been uneventful.

An ocean of jagged, snowy summits engulfed them. What had he once read? A land of black wolves and blue poppies--ibex and snow leopards. Where fairies congregated, he recalled another observer noting. Possibly even the inspiration behind James Hilton's Shangri-la.

No sign of Viktor yet, or of soldiers.

Little sound besides the scuffle of their feet on the rocky trail.

In the distance rose hardscrabble hills, washed with green and streaked in red. Herds of livestock and nomad tents flying yellow flags dotted the slopes. Down in one of the gorges he spied the decaying carcass of a donkey that had slipped to its death.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, ahead and above them.

He kept walking, as if unaware, and whispered to her, "Did you--"

"I saw it," she muttered.

Four men.

The trail ahead led into a stretch of poplars. Cassiopeia led the way.

"Get ready to move," he breathed, his hand reaching for the gun beneath his jacket.

He heard the crack of a weapon, then a bullet zipped by.

TANG ENTERED THE ROOM AND STARED AT NI YONG. PAU WEN had already removed Sokolov and the boy. Hopefully, a father-and-son reunion would calm the Russian and ensure his cooperation.

"Our battle is over," he said to Ni.

"And how will my death be explained?"

"A tragic helicopter crash. You were in Xinjiang province investigating more corruption. Isn't that what you do?"

"My staff knows where I was going and why."

"Your staff will either cooperate or be silenced."

"And what of the police in Yecheng? The two pilots on the plane I commandeered in Xi'an? They know things."

He shrugged. "All easily eliminated. Did you think me so stupid? I knew you were monitoring my satellite calls. We used that as a way to send messages. Did you enjoy the debate between Pau and myself?"

Ni shrugged. "Hardly a dramatic feat for two such accomplished liars."

"I was kept informed of everything you did. That is how I knew you were headed for Belgium."

"And the attempt on my life there?"

"That was real. I was hoping to end the problem. But you apparently were able to avoid the men I sent."

"Actually, Pau Wen saved my life."

Had he heard correctly? Pau? Viktor had been unable to learn what had happened at Pau's residence since he'd been in Antwerp, dealing with Cassiopeia Vitt. None of the men he'd sent had ever reported back, and Pau had, characteristically, offered nothing. He would have to speak with the master about the matter. For now he made clear, "The Hegemon is not afraid to shed blood. If he intervened, then there was good reason."

"Spoken like a true Legalist. Congratulations, Minister, on your victory. History will note you as the man who finally destroyed China."

MALONE DOVE TO ROCKY GROUND AND SOUGHT WHAT COVER the sparse poplars offered. Cassiopeia did the same and they belly-crawled across sharp gravel, finding a boulder large enough to provide them both protection.

More shots came their way.

"This is getting serious," Cassiopeia said.

"You think?"

"They're not Chinese," she said. "I caught a glimpse. Definitely Pakistanis. They seem to know where we're headed."

"That thought occurred to me, too." So he had to add, "I told you he was trouble."

She ignored him.

"We have to go that way." He pointed behind them. "And those soldiers are close enough to do some damage."

"We have to trust he'll handle it," she finally said.

"That was your call, not mine. You go first. I'll cover."

He gripped the Chinese double-action pistol.

Cassiopeia prepared herself, too.

Then she scampered off toward a stand of junipers.

NI GLARED AT KARL TANG.

Though Tang had tried hard to conceal it, he'd caught the surprise when he'd explained that Pau Wen had been the one to stop the gunmen. Perhaps there had been more to their debate than staged drama?

"We have led you like a bear on a leash," Tang said. "You listened in on our calls, and we fed you exactly the information we wanted you to know. You traveled to Belgium, then to Xi'an, and finally here, all at our invitation."

"Does that we include the premier?"

"He is of no importance. An old man who will soon be dead."

That prospect saddened him. He'd come to admire the premier, a moderate who'd done much to temper communist fanaticism. Not a hint of scandal had ever touched him.

"Pau Wen is our master," Tang said. "The brothers, myself included, have all pledged our allegiance. We thought a perceived war between Pau and me would lull you into a false sense of security. I do have to say that this was to have played out differently. You were to die in Belgium."