Invasion: Colorado ia-3 Page 22

  Colonel Higgins oversaw the activity and acted like a lowly cop directing traffic, waving his arms first one way and then another. He’d been running back and forth between tanks. A bullhorn hung by a strap from his neck. His throat was sore from yelling and from inhaling too much of the cold air.

  The Chinese had attacked with massed bombers and heavy drones. They must have failed to close I-70, because the President of the United States had given the order.

  We’re on our way to Salt Lake City.

  That meant I-70 must still be open, but for how long? Clearly, the President or the Joint Chiefs must believe the Chinese would eventually cut Denver’s backdoor supply route.

  “Colonel Higgins!”

  Stan turned around. The CP captain ran toward him. The man held a mobile phone.

  “There’s a call for you, sir,” the captain panted, handing him the phone.

  In the wash of Behemoth and carrier-hauler headlights, Stan raised an eyebrow. “Who is it?”

  “Colonel, it’s your son Jake.”

  A flood of emotion pulsed through Stan. He ran to the phone, his boots squelching across the snow. He snatched the receiver out of the captain’s hand.

  “Jake?” Stan asked. “Is that you, son?”

  “Hey, Dad,” Jake said. “How are you doing?”

  Stan blinked rapidly, with tears welling in his eyes. “Jake, you’re alive.”

  “Yup,” Jake said.

  “Where were you? Where are you? How did you find out where I was?”

  “I was in Texas,” Jake said. “It went bad and we lost badly. The Chinese cut us to ribbons, surrounded most of us and forced people to surrender. Some of us decided…well, to fight our way out.”

  Stan grinned and he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. This was unbelievable.

  “Trouble is,” said Jake, “the Chinese were everywhere. They’re heavily patrolling the Occupied Territories. Out of the survivors…well, I’m the only who made it out.”

  “To our lines?” asked Stan.

  “Yup. I reached Colorado, returned to the Detention Center—”

  “What?”

  “They thought I’d deserted.”

  “What?”

  “It’s a long story, Dad. I had to convince the Detention Center people that I hadn’t deserted our side.”

  “They’re crazy!”

  “I’m beginning to wonder if I am. Anyway, I asked them to add me to the Eleventh Battalion roster.”

  “Where is it?”

  “We were in Castle Rock.”

  “But…that’s where the Chinese struck,” Stan said.

  “Tell me about it. It was almost as bad as Amarillo.”

  “You can’t still be in Castle Rock. The Chinese stormed it. They haven’t captured you, have they?”

  “No. I’m in Highlands Ranch.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “It’s a suburb of Denver, west of Centennial.”

  The flood of emotion hit Stan all over again. “Jake. You’re alive. My son is alive. It’s so good to hear your voice. You have no idea, no idea.”

  “It’s good to hear you, too, sir.”

  Stan laughed. Then he sobered up. His boy was in Denver, the city the Chinese wanted bad enough to send two entire armies to capture it. The city was going to fall. That was clear to see.

  “Jake, you have to leave there. I want you to—”

  “Dad, no one is going to let me leave anywhere. I’m in a DCM Battalion. That’s almost like a Chinese penal battalion.”

  “Don’t say that.” Certainly not over an open line.

  “Dad, I’m going to die here. I might as well speak if the truth if that’s what’s stranded me here in the first place.”

  Stan squeezed the receiver.

  “Dad?”

  “I’m here,” Stan said. “Maybe I can get you released from the battalion.”

  “Sure,” Jake said. “You can call. But they’re sticklers for rules. Look, I have to go. The doctor needs the phone. Boy am I glad I got to talk to you, sir. I…I, ah, miss seeing you, Dad.”

  “I love you, Jake. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah. I… I, ah, love you too, Dad.”

  Stan blinked again, and he wiped his eyes. This was so unfair. This was horrible. His son who he thought was dead, gone or captured by the Chinese, was alive again.

  “Listen to me, son.” Stan paused. What should he tell his boy? This might be the last time he ever spoke to him. Should he tell Jake to play it safe? Stan squeezed the receiver harder than ever. For some reason, he remembered Pastor Bill from Alaska. That old soldier, his best friend, someday in heaven he planned to see Bill again. If his son died in Denver, he would see Jake again in heaven, too.

  Stan shook his head. How did people make it without God? He had no idea.

  “You listen to me, Jake. You’re a soldier of the United States of America. You fight hard. You beat those sons of bitches and survive. It’s so good to hear your voice. Jake, I’m proud of you. I’m proud how you stand up for yourself and stand up for the truth. I love you, and I know—”

  Stan couldn’t speak anymore. It was too hard. His voice almost cracked up.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Jake said in a rough voice. “That means a lot to me. I’m going to be like you, sir. I’m going to be like Grandfather.”

  “You’re a Higgins,” Stan whispered.

  “Just like my dad. I have to go now.”

  “Bye son,” Stan said.

  “Bye, Dad, and thanks for everything.”

  Stan didn’t remember handing the phone back to the captain. He didn’t remember wiping tears from his cheeks. He stared up at the stars, barely noticing a dark shape—an owl—winging through the night.

  “Help him, Jesus,” Stan whispered. “Save my son. Please, let me see him alive again.”

  Stan swallowed. He wiped his nose. Afterward, he squared his shoulders. He had a job to do, and now he was going to do it right.

  BEIJING, PRC

  Guardian Inspector Shun Li woke to the sound of heavy knocking. She was in bed in a hotel in the city. She rolled over and felt the floor for her sidearm. It was dark, with thick curtains covering the window, although the edges of the curtain showed light, meaning it must be morning.

  She was naked, with a thin blanket over her body. The room was extra warm, as she disliked smothering blankets over her or the cold.

  The knocking continued, and it surprised her that the person didn’t call out. It couldn’t be East Lighting. An operative would have said something intimidating already.

  Her fingers touched metal. She slid forward and clutched the gun. She wiped sleep from her eyes with her other hand and she sat up, aiming the gun at the door.

  She heard a card slide into the outer locking mechanism, and a big man in body armor opened the door. Shun Li recognized him. He was a Lion Guardsman, one of the Chairman’s personal security operatives. She remembered him from the Ruling Committee meeting.

  He noticed her gun, and it had no effect on his features. He didn’t even smile or lift an eyebrow.

  She lowered the weapon. “Did your wife throw you out of the house this morning?”

  The quip brought nothing, not even a flicker of annoyance. “The Chairman requests your presence, Guardian Inspector. You are to come with me.”

  The Lion Guard intrigued her for several reasons, the most important of which was that he was one of the elite men who protected the Chairman. She put the gun on the bed and drew back the covers.

  “Do you want me to come as I am?” she asked, as she revealed her nakedness.

  The right corner of his mouth twitched. Finally, he gave a reaction. “The Chairman would prefer you in your uniform, Guardian Inspector.”

  “What do you prefer?” she asked, as she stared into his eyes.

  The Lion Guard said nothing more, just returned her stare.

  Something about his eyes unsettled Shun Li. Yes, he had the eyes of a killer, and he seemed
…bored. How many people had this Lion Guardsman murdered for the Chairman, perhaps even in his presence? He protected the most powerful man in the world. What did the Guardsman see and hear that gave him this confidence and the boredom?

  Chairman Hong had climbed the rungs of power, beating out some of the most dangerous people in existence. There was a reason he had succeeded where others failed. It was more than likely that men like this were part of the reason.

  Shun Li slid off the bed and padded to her uniform on the dresser. She swam among sharks. She was a barracuda, a deadly killer in her own right, but dwarfed by their larger size and viciousness. She would need all her craft and skill to maneuver correctly among them.

  Why does Chairman Hong wish to see me? Was this an opportunity, or had she already stumbled? Unease touched the base of her neck.

  The Lion Guard said nothing more as they left the hotel room several minutes later. Two others waited outside a limousine. Each held a submachine gun, with the strap around his thick neck. One of them opened the car door for her. She thanked him, but the guard said nothing.

  She sat alone in back, and the drive took them through the eastern part of Beijing. This was the wrong way if they were taking her to Mao Square.

  A moment of panic struck. Was this an assassination team? Were they taking her to a lonely place to kill her and dump the body?

  Calm, calm, practice calm, she told herself. Try to enjoy the ride.

  The city was huge, the biggest in the world. It had the widest streets and the largest, most expensive cars. Even with the amazing war with America, people still displayed their luxury. Perhaps that was as it should be. Beijing, after all, was the heart of the greatest empire on Earth.

  The limousine hissed across wet streets. Snow from last night rested on many windowsills and she saw an elderly man slip on an undoubtedly icy sidewalk.

  Soon, they exited the suburbs and drove in the countryside. Here, huge trees dominated the landscape, clustered around three story mansions with vast yards. Party officials must live here. She doubted the Lion Guardsmen would murder her among the mansions.

  Why don’t the guards say anything?

  Shun Li kept still. She felt a hidden inspection then. Someone watched her. Probably there were video cameras recording everything. She kept still despite the seething unease building in her chest. She was innocent. Therefore, she must act like the innocent.

  Where did I make my mistake? Could it be the Behemoth Plant forgery?

  The number of trees grew. They drove through a forest of huge conifers and evergreens, several miles of them. She didn’t spy any more homes, and the troubled her. The limousine took a sharp bend in the road and slowed as they approached an elaborate iron gate. There was a guard shack to the side.

  “Is this the Chairman’s country estate?” she asked.

  None of the Lion Guardsman paid her any attention. They acted as if she didn’t exist. They stopped at the shack and the driver’s window opened. Stern-faced guardsmen looked in, big men with submachine guns. They spoke in low voices to the driver, soon waving them through.

  Shun Li allowed a small smile to play on her features. Whoever watched her through hidden cameras, she let them see how composed she was. She was innocent, and if she was riding to her death, she would do so with calm and with grace.

  Large buildings appeared. They reminded her of the French Palace of Versailles. Glass predominated as the construction material. There were towers, spires and gargantuan domes.

  The driver turned onto a different lane. Shun Li felt the vehicle dip, and she noticed walls outside. The sun disappeared and she realized they sped down an underground ramp and tunnel. It was dark, and the echo of the wheels almost unnerved Shun Li. It reminded her of a bad time in a tunnel as a young girl with her uncle.

  In moments, the limousine came to a halt in a vast underground garage. A guard opened her door. It was the man who had seen her naked. He led the way, and the other two followed close behind her. Their footsteps echoed in the empty parking garage. The lead Lion Guard reached a door and drew it open.

  Harsh eagle cries, baboon shrieks and lion roars assaulted her hearing. As she moved through, animal odors abounded. She faltered, bewildered at this.

  The big Lion Guardsman must have sensed something. He turned, and he grinned down at her. The grin was a nasty thing, full of menace.

  She opened her mouth. Maybe she would have asked a question. She wasn’t sure. One of the guardsmen from behind pushed her so she stumbled.

  “We cannot keep the Chairman waiting,” the first guard said.

  “Of course not,” Shun Li managed to say. So they’re taking me to the Chairman. If it’s a good thing, why are they acting so boorishly?

  They passed large cages. In one, an eagle sat on a branch, tracking her as if she was a rabbit. In another, a baboon troop argued on fake-looking rocks. The biggest male with a mane like a lion exposed his fangs, causing the others to grow quiet. In the third, two prime tigers snarled at each other as they ate chunks of bloody meat. In front of the fourth cage, a lone man stood watching what took place in it.

  The man was Chairman Hong. He wore a dark suit and tie. His extra-clean hands gripped the rail before the large pen. He peered down…at polar bears. That’s right. She’d heard of his mania concerning them. She could see one slept down there. The white bear curled around something, it seemed.

  “Guardian Inspector,” Chairman Hong said. “It is so good of you to arrive on time. The traffic was light then?”

  She had no idea if it had been heavy or light, but she nodded.

  “Excellent,” he said. He indicated the big bear. “What do you make of it?”

  She turned toward the polar bear. With its black nose, the huge creature nudged something small—

  “It has a cub,” she said, surprised at this.

  “Yes. It is her first. She’s nursing it.”

  Shun Li had no idea what to say.

  “If it lives,” Hong said, “the cub is yours.”

  She blinked with astonishment. “I… I thank you, sir. It is a marvelous gift.”

  “I hear the truth of your words in your voice, Guardian Inspector. Yes, I can see you love the bears as I do. They are a symbol of strength and virtuous purity. They are like China, at once savage and gentle, powerful and given to tender kindness. Only a fool antagonizes a polar bear. It is the supreme master of its domain.”

  “Where should I raise the cub?” Shun Li asked. “It must have the best facilities possible.”

  Hong turned to her. “Would you raise the cub in your home?”

  His scrutiny frightened her. What she said next seemed terribly important. “Leader, I lack the proper funds to raise the cub properly. But yes, if I could and can, I will raise the cub in my home.”

  He nodded with a gentle serenity. “I sensed this in you: that you are capable of love. This is good. Police Minister Xiao Yang cannot love. It is his greatest gift and his worst failing.”

  Frightened by the comment and thoroughly alert, Shun Li said nothing.

  “Ah, you are loyal to your chief,” Hong said. “That is admirable in an underling. Yet I am curious. Are you more loyal to him or to China?”

  “Leader, I beg to say that I love China above all else. With that said, I cannot conceive that Xiao Yang would do anything to hurt our great land. But China is always my first and abiding love.”

  “I am China and China is me,” Hong told her.

  “Yes,” Shun Li said, as if that made perfect sense.

  Hong’s gaze lingered on her face. Then he turned to the nursing polar bear. “You have earned my gratitude by your loyal service. You ferreted out the existence of the Behemoth Manufacturing Plant. Because of that, we know Denver’s importance. Last night, the tanks made their appearance, inflicting a deadly loss at precisely the correct moment—for the Americans. I have now instructed Marshal Wu to level the entire city if the enemy proves resistant to capture. We must stamp out this hatfu
l tank plant and annihilate each of the dreadful Behemoths.”

  Shun Li stood at attention, deciding to treat the Chairman as if he were a god come to Earth. There was something unsettling about him, and it horrified her to think he could sense her unease. He was like a beast, a creature, and she knew dogs could sense or sniff out discomfort. Perhaps in that way the Chairman had become like a dog, a beast.

  “Because of your diligent work,” he said, “my field commander at Denver knew the correct action to take last night. It probably saved a goodly portion of the Third Front’s bomber force. But these tanks will not escape me so easily.”

  Chairman Hong grinned, and he raised his hand before her. The oh-so-clean fingers closed into a fist, and the fist shook. “I shall crush these Behemoths. This I vow as China-in-the-flesh.”

  Shun Li made her eyes shine with expectation as she looked upon him with forced adoration.

  Hong let the arm drop to his side. He smiled. It seemed natural and ordinary. “Guardian Inspector, I trust and like you. You have earned the polar bear cub. For now, it will nurse with its mother.”

  “May I come to visit it, sir?” she asked.

  “Exactly,” he said. “You will come every day. You will learn about polar bears and you will play with the cub. I will watch, delighted with the antics. Afterward, you will tell me everything you know about Xiao Yang.”

  “Gladly, sir,” Shun Li said. Her heart beat with fear. This was intrigue against Xiao Yang. Surely, the Police Minister would soon hear of this. He eventually learned of everything involving security.

  “The Police Minister is my trusted confident,” Hong said. “Yet I have begun to feel the stirrings of unease concerning him. Something is amiss with his department. You will be my eyes and ears, Guardian Inspector.”

  “You honor me, Leader.”

  “I do. But I assure you that you will work hard for this honor. Those I favor, work.”

  “Yes, Leader,” Shun Li said.

  He studied her, and he nodded. “That is all for now. I will send Tang for you tomorrow.”

  She began to speak, but Hong had already turned away. So she remained quiet, standing at attention until the Chairman exited through a side door.