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Kurt nodded and offered a slight bow of thanks “It’s a beautiful weapon Thank you”
A smile crinkled El Din’s weathered face “May peace be upon you,” he said
“As-salamualaykum,” Kurt replied
With El Din’s influence, Kurt and Joe bypassed security and boarded their plane
The Korean Air A380 double-decker was spacious, which would serve theate
It was a long trip, and by the tied The blinding sunlight and heat of Dubai were gone, replaced by a cold, h for the minute neither Kurt nor Joe were told hohy But instead of a rent-a-car and the next step in their privateer’s underfunded journey, they were met at the airport by three men in dark suits and mackintosh overcoats
State Departroup said
With little choice in the e and climbed into the back of a van with diplomatic plates It took them north
As the lights of Seoul receded, Joe pointed out the obvious “If we’re going to the consulate, wethe scenic route”
“We’re not going to the consulate,” Kurt replied He kneho the htlipped expressions T hey were ehaied,” he said, “and we’re not even in China”
The van continued north for another fifteenthe Deuard posts visible in the distance, the van turned east and drove through an unpopulated area filled with trees, huge satellite-tracking arrays, and towers bristling with strangelooking antennas There were no buildings to be seen
Eventually the road began to drop Smooth concrete walls rose up on either side until the van was traveling in a channel twenty feet deep It cruised beneath an overhang, and the channel becahts
So hills of central Korea, the underground road curved tightly and cae steel door opened and let the area They were escorted from the van and led to a command center
Inside, two ard but in different ways The first was a Korean colonel in ure was an A late at the office to finish a big project He wore a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a loosened red tie His jacket rested on the back of the chair next to him
“I suppose you two are wondering why you’re here and not at the Ritz-Carlton,” he said