The Emperor's Tomb

Ni nodded. “We were taught that, too. But there are five things to remember while doing that. First, to close the door you must have an absolute superior concentration of forces. Second, there has to be a door to shut. Third, you cannot wait passively for the thief to enter. He has to be lured. Fourth, the door has to be shut at the proper time so the thief is truly shut inside. And fifth, all other outlets of escape must be closed, too.”

He realized what Ni had done. “So you rocked Pau to sleep.”

“As he tried to do to me in Belgium.”

“That whole thing of denying Tang an oil sample. He was plying every angle, trying everything he could. He didn’t give a damn about you.”

Ni nodded. “He is a liar and a cheat. I have simply used his own weapons against him. But what choice did I have? We are on his turf. This is an uncertain place. He offered to be my ally, so I accepted. But I assure you, when the time is right I shall close all the doors.”

“What about all that ‘not using violence’ stuff?”

“Men like Pau Wen are why China is failing. They are a cancer on our society. It is time they receive exactly what they so easily like to give. Legalism is nothing more than opportunism. It relies on force and terror to generate respect. I will give them what they already understand, what they have long proclaimed to be the only way to govern. That seems only right.”

Malone agreed.

“If I have to drop the pants of every man in government and the military, I will purge China of all eunuchs.”

He heard the change in Ni—a confidence that had not been there before—and asked, “You’ve thought about this a long time, haven’t you?”

“I’ve watched while stupid, selfish, petty men destroy our country. They are, to a man, corrupt. That will stop. I’ll use the Ba to my advantage, until the time is right to eliminate them.”

He hoped this man could actually do what he proposed. But he was curious, and Washington would want to know. “Is democracy in your plan?”

“That word has many negative connotations here. It has, for so long, been used to generate hate. But the people will have a say in the new government. We will be accountable from the top down.” Ni smiled. “Democracy actually owes much to Confucius.”

“You seem ready.”

Ni nodded. “I spoke to the premier a little while ago. He will have me elevated to the second post. He is glad Tang is gone, and will support my purge of the Ba, when the time is right. Pau has greatly overestimated his worth in today’s China. His day is over.”

“This is not my thing,” Malone said. “I couldn’t play all of these games.”

Ni grinned. “It is China, Malone. Our way. Unfortunately, deception is organic to our way of governing. I would like to change that, too, but that will take a little longer.”

“You do know Viktor Tomas worked for the Russians and the Americans?”

“I am not surprised. But with their agent dead, neither one of those foreign powers will learn anything.” Ni paused. “Beyond what you and Ms. Vitt report.”

He caught the word agent, as applied to Viktor.

Damn right he was an agent.

“What about Sokolov?” he asked.

Cassiopeia was with the Russian and his son, making sure they were okay.

“He will be returned to Lanzhou and his laboratory, with the oil sample. He says he will cooperate with me. Of course, the lingering threat from the Russians plays to our advantage. He understands they want him dead. He and his son are returning to Kashgar with me. His wife is anxious to see the child. I am having her flown west as we speak. I will do all I can to protect them, and gain his trust.”

“Keep a close watch on him.”

“We shall. But when I tell the world of his discovery, I doubt the danger will be there any longer.”

“You’re really going to do that?”

Ni nodded. “It is the only course. That realization should change the world, to everyone’s advantage.”

“And place China in a different light in everyone’s eyes.”

“We can only hope.”

Which should satisfy Washington. Ivan? Too damn bad. “What about Pau Wen and those four murders?”

“They will not be forgotten.”

He was glad to hear that. “Why did you trust us in Xi’an?”

Ni shrugged. “Something told me that you and Ms. Vitt were people I could rely on.”

Malone thought of Henrik Thorvaldsen and wished his old friend had died thinking the same thing.

“I’m leaving for Kashgar shortly to meet the premier,” Ni said. “He and I are returning to Beijing together. I’ll make sure a helicopter returns for you and Ms. Vitt.”

Ni stood and extended a hand. “I thank you. I owe you my life.”

Malone shook his hand and waved off the gratitude. “Just do what you said you were going to do.” But there was one other thing he wanted to know. “If I had not come along, would you have slit Pau’s throat?”

Ni did not immediately answer, as if seriously considering the inquiry. Finally, he said, “I’m not sure. Thank goodness we didn’t have to find out.”

He smiled.

“Take care, Mr. Malone.”

“You, too.”

Ni disappeared through an open doorway, heading back inside. He understood why he and Cassiopeia weren’t leaving with him.