as good as confirmed it. ‘Why would Semyonov do that?’
‘I don’t know. As I said, Stone. You can’t analyse Semyonov. You can only listen and learn,’ said Oyang. Again, he definitely had an opinion than this. And here it came. ‘All I can say, Stone, is that once I read a story. Science fiction. The people built a giant computer, a thinking machine, and asked it to rule over them. The computer’s intelligence was so deep, so subtle, that it solved all their problems within a few years. No more war, no more famine. The economy was fixed, the people were happier than they had ever been,’ said Oyang. ‘It was an idea which appealed to Chinese people. All our problems can be solved by intelligence and logic. No needed for contending visions or ideas, or checks and balances. No need for democracy, Stone. Like the rule of the Mandarins in old China. Only the people with the highest degrees and intelligence were allowed in government.’
‘Is that the Machine? A computer that mends everything, that solves all the problems?’
‘I told you,’ said Oyang, with a glance at the girl both wistful and vulpine. ‘I don’t know what the Machine is.’
Stone could see where Oyang was going with this. ‘That’s not much of a story is it, if the Machine makes everything all right? Something went wrong with the computer, didn’t it? It got bored and turned bad. It destroyed the people, who’d lost the capacity to think for themselves.’
‘Very good, Mr Stone. Do you know the story?’
Stone didn’t know that story, but stories are like that. Because
‘Perhaps,’ replied Oyang. ‘But I have no evidence. It’s just an idea.’
That was a lie. That was exactly what Oyang thought.
‘Come on, Oyang. That’s what happened, isn’t it? The Chinese discovered what Semyonov was doing and lost their nerve,’ said Stone. ‘They waited till Semyonov transferred the money to China, and crossed the border, then the authorities got rid of him.’
Oyang gave Stone a meaningful look.
Stone sat back and made a show of enjoying his drink. He made a show of looking satisfied, but he was unconvinced. It was too neat by half, and Oyang had given it up too easily. He knew much more. The girl had escaped by swimming in the pool. Oyang pretended to be distracted by her, and clammed up for a while.
Perhaps Oyang had said obliquely what he wanted to say to Stone, and he’d stopped talking. Perhaps he was nervous he’d said too much already. Lunch was served, with the woman sitting with Oyang, touching his arm, smiling at his jokes. Oyang was back in his element, entrancing, holding forth in English and Japanese, calling for cocktails, and talking his guests through the fine cuisine.
After lunch, however, Oyang got back to business. He beckoned to Stone to follow him, and walked out past the pool and away from the servants. Oyang had something he wanted to say to Stone.
Chapter 31 — 3:14pm 2 April — Shanghai, China
Stone and Oyang stood at the end of the long garden, by a thick stand of green bamboo. It was hot in the sun, and the cicadas sang loudly in the bamboo. There were tiny green snakes the size of pencils wrapped round the bamboo stems — dozens of them.
The time had come for Oyang to say his piece.
‘My little green sentinels,’ said Oyang. ‘If anyone tries to climb in over the fence, these snakes are poisonous. A fine deterrent, I think. I am a careful man, and you should be too.’
Stone turned to Oyang. ‘You didn’t bring me here just to look at the bamboo and the snakes.’
Oyang didn’t miss a beat. ‘I want you to find the Machine, Stone. Find the Machine and tell the world all about it. Where is Miss Ying Ning?’
‘Forget Ying Ning,’ said Stone. He knew Oyang had only asked about Ying Ning because he wanted her kept out of the picture. ‘No one listens to her and China21. Communists like Ying Ning have about as much credibility as the Easter Bunny these days. If you know something, you need to tell me. What did Semyonov discover in China that brought him here?’
‘I have been through Semyonov’s papers,’ said Oyang. ‘Of the Machine, all I can give you is this. I think it refers to the location.’ Oyang passed over a single sheet of paper. ‘There’s nothing I can do with this information myself. They’re watching me, and if I get too close, there will be another “accident” with another coal truck. Don’t let anyone see this, Stone. And don’t make any Internet searches, at least until you are outside of China. They are watching you. You can be sure of it.’
Stone glanced at the slip of paper.
It made no sense. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to. But Stone recognised the distinctive writing, and the fountain pen. It was written by Semyonov all right.
‘Why should I do it, Oyang?’ asked Stone. ‘If it’s too dangerous for you, with all your connections, your protection, your money. Why should I decipher it and go looking for the Machine?
Oyang paused, giving Stone another of his meaningful looks. ‘Let me show you something,’ he said eventually. He look a small device from his pocket, the kind of device he might use to open the doors of his car. He pointed the little grey fob at the stand of bamboo and pressed it with his thumb.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Stone.
‘Be patient,’ said Oyang. ‘You’ll find it interesting. It will explain a lot.’
Oyang stood for a few seconds looking at the bamboo, while one by one, the tiny green snakes began to uncoil from the bamboo and fall lifeless to the ground. Stone had already guessed what was happening. He stepped over and picked up one of the snakes, his thumb and forefinger behind its head for safety — but he needn't have bothered. It wasn't a real snake at all.
‘What is it?’ said Stone. ‘Metal and plastic?’
‘Yes, but the teeth are stainless steel,’ said Oyang.
Stone lay the snake along his palm and forearm. It was no more than twenty centimeters long, and barely thicker than a pencil. Another remarkable manufacture, with a slight iridescence in the green of its scales — light, and very life-like.
‘More amazing technology, Oyang,’ said Stone. ‘But you said it would explain something. About the Machine.’
‘No. I said you should be patient, Stone.’
Stone’s tongue almost froze. A stupid mistake, a crass error. Curiosity and over-confidence had undone him. For a split-second, his brain was shouting at his arm to shake, to cast the snake away. But Oyang had already hit the remote control. A tiny click with his thumb. The snake was alive again, and striking. Its tiny fangs sank like needle pricks into Stone’s forearm.
Stone’s arm shook, he pulled it loose, threw the snake into the bamboo. Too late. His vision was already blurred, his legs wobbling. He collapsed to his knees. He couldn’t see, and fell face first to the ground.
‘Patience,’ said Oyang once more.
Chapter 32 — 7:43pm 2 April — ShinComm Factory City, Shanghai, China
Stone came to inside the van. The van he’d arrived in a few hours before. He was hooded, but not handcuffed. A while later the door opened, and Stone smelled the warm, humid air of Shanghai again through the
