The elder Wu sipped his coffee and continued. “Should you agree, Mr. Lucas, there is also a letter of credit giving you both a commercial account to draw against. I believe it’s a two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar line, but if something promising should appear, more funding could be made available.”
Luke was stupefied. He looked at the envelope like it was a loaded pistol. “And just what do you want me to do with it, sir?”
Mr. Wu smiled. “Just what you said last night. Bring together all the available existing information, feed it to a few custom computers, and see what they come up with. You are free to hire whomever you please, and my company will lend you every credential to see that you get the very finest equipment available, and at the best prices.”
Luke looked to Robert for support, but his friend appeared just as confused. “And just where are we to set up this operation?”
“Well, you can choose any place you please, of course, but I suggest that the house in Atherton would make an ideal location. There’s room for everything and everybody in that pretentious pile of rocks, and it has the added appeal of becoming a tax write-off if used for business purposes. It’s also quite close to the Stanford campus and, most especially, a university-trained labor pool who are presently, if my informants are correct, sweeping floors, waiting tables, and flipping hamburgers to pay off their student loans. I really don’t think qualified assistance will be difficult to employ.”
Luke balked for a moment. “But I have a life in Monterey. I can’t spend all my time in Atherton.”
Mr. Wu nodded. “I’ve already thought of that. There’s no reason to give up your apartment; my company will subsidize half your rent, so you can keep the place and come and go as you like, which, I’ve no doubt, will prove advantageous in the long run. As for your work at the aquarium, I’ve also included a personal letter to Julie Packard. It requests the loan of your services, without penalties, for eight months, on a special marine research project. Since we’ve contributed substantial funds to that organization over the years, I think we can settle on an arrangement suitable for all parties. And besides, you’re going to need that affiliation to accomplish your ultimate goals. Which is, as I see it, to maintain scholastic credibility should the time come that we actually find what we’re looking for. You see, Mr. Lucas, I totally agree with your estimation of events. This is no undertaking for commercial treasure hunters. The mantle of science always disarms speculations about profit, so I see no reason to sever any professional relationships whatsoever. And as far as your studies are concerned, I believe I can be of some help there as well.” Mr. Wu nodded toward Robert and smiled. “Thanks to my son’s academic gluttony, I have channeled a great deal of money into the Stanford coffers. I believe I can induce the powers that be to allow you an extended sabbatical, especially since you will be ostensibly working and studying in your chosen field.”
Luke shook his head and looked at the envelope again. “You have the advantage on me, Mr. Wu. I really don’t know what to say just yet, but you certainly know how to get a man’s attention.” Luke looked over to Robert, who appeared to be following every detail like a cat watching a bird. “But I hope you’ll forgive me when I suggest that we’ve skipped rather gingerly over the fine print. I can be something of a pessimist at times, and I swear I smell a caveat or two in my Christmas stocking.”
Mr. Wu laughed. “You are a very perceptive young man, Mr. Lucas. But I think you’ll find this stipulation a rather tame creature. All I ask is that you both delay the publication of your papers until we have some reliable scientific information on which to base a yes or a no. After that, you may do as you please with my blessings and support.”
Luke turned to Robert and nodded toward his envelope. “You’ve been uncharacteristically quiet through all of this, Robert. What’s your considered opinion about the offer in hand?”
Robert sat back and tapped the big envelope on his knee and smiled to himself. “Since you ask, old son, I think it’s a truly amazing offer. Just think of all the toys we’ll get to play with.” He gradually grew more animated. “Throw in a top-notch, broad-spectrum laser scanner to read the rubbings, and your photographs, and we could virtually re-create the artifacts down to the slightest detail, warts and all. We could feed all the stats into a computerized milling machine and make exact copies of the artifacts in resin; that way we’ll be able to show our divers just what to look for on the bottom. And I can also harness up a calligraphy program to clean up any distortions in the various texts on the stone and seal. We could reproduce them to look just the way they did the day they were buried under that cypress centuries ago.”
Robert grinned like a boy with a new bat. “I don’t know about you, Luke, but I see a way here to use the esoteric skills my father so dearly paid for on something really remarkable and historically pertinent. Expensive toys aside, I don’t believe this is a waste of time no matter what happens. With better technologies comes a far greater chance of success.”
Robert’s father interjected a serious note. “If you’ll forgive me, Mr. Lucas, I would like to have your response before we arrive at the airport. A great deal depends on your answer, especially if matters are to be put in place without delay.”
Luke sat back, looked down, and wiped his face with his hands. When he opened his eyes he focused on the wrapped folio at his feet. Luke thought to himself, Well, my board’s already in the water, so I might as well ride this “boomer” all the way. Then he looked up as if just coming awake. “My answer is yes, sir. Yes indeed. I think I’d like to follow this as far as it can lead us. Whatever we find, it’s sure to prove a remarkable piece of science, engineering, and history all rolled into one. It will also help authenticate existing documentation. I’m extremely grateful you’ve asked us to participate, Mr. Wu. We’ll do the very best we can, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed all the same.”
Mr. Wu gave a broad smile. “In that case, would you both please sign the two copies of the contracts you’ll find in those envelopes? The checks are in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars each. Ten of that is an advance on your salaries, and the remaining five is to cover individual business expenses until the line of credit clears whatever bank you choose. Keep strict records of every transaction, no matter how small. Others will be looking over our shoulders eventually, and it’s best not to feed their envy with questionable expenses.” Mr. Wu sipped his coffee and watched his new young dragons sign their contracts. He continued speaking upon receipt of his copies.
“Now, I want Robert to accompany you back to Monterey. He can help you get your business affairs in order, and also help you pack whatever you choose to bring to Atherton. If you’ll give me your landlord’s address, I will arrange for a check to be sent every month; you will be responsible for the other half, of course.”
“That’s very handsome of you, Mr. Wu, but I wonder if you’d think it out of place if I made a couple of suggestions of my own.”
“Not at all, Mr. Lucas. I’m most interested in what you have to say.”
“Well, first I think that the less mentioned about the stones the better. For our purposes, all anyone need know is that we’re doing research in multidisciplined submarine topography, which is, in fact, exactly what we’ll be doing most of the time. And second, that we choose a name for the corporation that reveals nothing of our goals, and even less about our methods.”
