Page 131 (1/2)

“Rudi Gunn sent e He asked me to hear you out He i the Nighthawk catastrophe You tere part of that also, if I’m not mistaken”

Paul and Gamay both nodded

The General sat on the edge of his desk “I spoke to ht Most of theained ht results instead of posturing for leverage For that reason, I’ve agreed to hear you out But I warn you, that’s all I’ve agreed to”

Understanding the connection between Rudi and Zhang gave Paul more confidence “Rudi told you how to defuse the bomb that had been placed aboard the Chinese aircraft Gaet that information to Rudi in the first place”

“Ad to save your own cities at the time”

“There’s truth to that as well,” Gamay said

Zhang waved toward the seats near his desk “Down to business,” he said “Tellyour lives over?”

“Better if we show you,” Paul said He reached for the laptop “May I?”

Zhang handed it over and Paul began the presentation He went through the datastep by step how they’d discovered andrise in the sea levels; how they’d traced it to the East China Sea and then to the deepwateroperation Finally, he explained the science that led theh the continental plate and the unfathowoodite down below

General Zhang watched the presentation cal with an occasional question but otheraiting patiently for Paul to finish

“You make it sound so plausible,” he then said “But ould the water still be rising to the surface if theoperation has been abandoned for a year?”

“We don’t know,” Paul adists look at the data Have them run any test or experiment they want They’ll come to the same conclusion”

“And I’m supposed to believe this isn’t a desperate ploy to make us reveal the nature of the subsurface operation?”

He spoke with great sarcasm in his voice, but Paul sensed it was a perfunctory question While he considered how to respond, Gamay took it upon herself to reply

“General,” she said politely “Do you really think we’d throw our freedo, you’ll put us in prison for years until a trade is worked out We’re not spies and we’re not pawns We ca for answers It was only ere cornered and threatened that ent on the run You asked ould compel us to risk our lives and violate China’s border The answer is simple: to avert disaster The saents stole the containhthawk”