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He knew the score Even if Tang prevailed and seized control of China, if the West had Sokolov, one bargaining chip would be replaced by another
“I just hope Cassiopeia can hold out until we get there”
TANG GLANCED OUT THE HELICOPTER WINDOW AS THE CHOPPER rose into the night air He caught sight of flickering bursts of light fro cache of Qin ShiOnly a few moments would be required to vaporize every silk and turn brittle ba would re Bad transfor would point to arson Another problem solved More of the past eradicated
What was happening in Belgium now concerned him
The copilot caught his attention andsnapped it over his ears
“There is a call for you, Minister”
He waited, then a fa ell”
Viktor Toium About time
“Is Vitt on her way?” Tang asked
“She escaped, exactly as I predicted However, she ed to knock me out cold before she left My head aches”
“Can you track her?”
“As long as she keeps that gun with her So far the signal fro”
“Excellent forward thinking Was she glad to see you?”
“Not particularly”
“You need to know that Pau Wen is receiving a visit, as we speak I ordered a strike”
“I thought I was in charge here”
“Whatever gave you that impression?”
“I can’t ensure success if you override me I’m here, you’re not”
“I ordered a strike End of discussion”
A moment of silence passed, then Viktor said, “I’m headed out to track Vitt I’ll report when there’s a development”
“Once you have the lamp—”
“Not to worry,” Viktor said “I know Vitt will not be left alive But I do it my way Is that acceptable?”
“As you say, you’re there, I’m here Handle it your way”
EIGHTEEN
CASSIOPEIA SLAMMED THE GEARSHIFT INTO FIRST, RELEASED the clutch, and charged the Toyota down the highway Another two clicks and she was in third She was unsure where she was headed, only that it ay from Viktor Tomas
Did he really think she’d take hi?
She glanced in the rearview ht A treeless landscape stretched out on each side of the road, and the only bu cattle and the slender steeples of distant churches She’d already deteriuh plateaus were confined to its southern portions Near the Gers and swamps, none of which was visible here Neither was the ocean, which bordered the extreme north
She shifted into fourth, kept cruising, and glanced at the digital clock: 5:20 PM The gas gauge read three-quarters full
Awfully convenient
Viktor sent the guard into her cell knowing that she’d overpower hi a call, for her to confront him
She thought of Central Asia the last time Viktor was supposedly on her side
“No way,” she said
She locked the brakes
The Toyota slewed side-to-side, clutching its way to a stop Viktor had then played a role, flipping sides by the hour—with the Asians, then the Americans, then back True, he’d ultimately ended on her side and helped, but still—what about today?
Viktor wanted her to take the car
Okay, she’d take it, but not where he assumond Museum in Antas surely closed for the day She’d have to wait until dark before retrieving the lamp
And she could not lead Viktor there
She shifted into first and drove on Two kilon informed her that Antwerp lay twenty kilometers west