Li took Ferguson’s shotgun, then gestured for him to get in the back of the vehicle.
“Mr. Manski, again we talk,” said Park. He used English and stared out the front of the jeep, not looking at Ferguson. Li remained on the road.
“Happy to have the opportunity.”
“Why would you come to me? What could you possibly have that might be of use to me?”
“That’s for you to decide.”
“Yes. I am a businessman, Mr. Manski, not a general or a politician. Not a terrorist.”
“Of course not.”
“But you deal with terrorists.”
“I deal with businessmen,” Ferguson replied. “And I am discreet.”
“Some of your customers are not. You have a reputation.”
“I can get things done when they need to be done. I can make arrangements that a man like yourself… You could certainly do what you want, but others might question it. It might look embarrassing.”
Ferguson expected that Park would stop the conversation soon, handing him back to Li to do the dirty work.
That was really all he needed. He’d spend the rest of the day hunting, drinking. Get back, make his report.
Probably be told to come home. Play it by ear then.
“I have a vision for Korea,” Park said. “We will be reunited. We will resume our historic place in the world.”
Park twisted back to look at him.
“Do you know any Korean history, Mr. Manski?”
“Not much,” said Ferguson. “I know the Japanese raped your country.”
“That doesn’t begin to describe what they did.” Anger flashed in Park’s eyes, but he quickly controlled himself. “The history I refer to goes much deeper. Koreans ruled Asia. A small nation ruled the larger ones.”
The Chinese had actually done most of the ruling in Asia, but Ferguson didn’t think it politic to interrupt.
“Korean intelligence, work ethic, tradition… We are a great people,” continued Park. “Your country, Russia, it is large, too varied, and corrupt. There are many thieves in Russia.”
“I have to agree.”
“America… earnest but a mongrel nation.”
“At best.”
“Mongrels and thieves have no place in Korea.”
“Of course not,” said Ferguson.
Park smiled, then turned back to the front. “Mr. Li will speak with you now.”
“Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Park,” said Ferguson, leaning to get out. “Pleasure.”
The jeep jerked into motion before Ferguson was completely out. He had to do a little twist to regain his balance. When he did, he looked up and saw that Li was holding a pistol on him.
“Problem?” said Ferguson.
“There is no place for mongrels or thieves in Korea, Mr. Manski.” An SUV drove up. Li nodded toward the truck as it stopped behind him. “You will get in.”
“I don’t think so.”
“For myself, I don’t care; killing you here would be very easy. But Mr. Park fears that our hosts would not like to offend your government and desire a little time to contemplate the arrangements. So I advise you to get in, before I decide that their feelings are not worthy of consideration.”
ACT IV
Are you human, or a ghost?
1
Corporal Wanju stared at the figure, disbelieving as it seemed to rise directly from the ground. He was manning a guard post about seventy yards south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.
How had he appeared there? A tunnel?
The man ran toward the roll of barbed wire to the corporal’s left.
“An enemy!” hissed the private who shared the corporal’s observation post. “Corporal, look.”
Corporal Wanju had served in the army for more than three years, and had been stationed at this post for more than five months. He had seen North Korean soldiers before, but always at a distance, through binoculars.
What was the man doing? Attacking? He didn’t seem to have a rifle.
Spies attempted to infiltrate South Korea all the time, but never here. Besides, it was the middle of the day; only a fool would attempt to sneak across the border when he could be so easily seen.
“Corporal, we must shoot him! He is attacking!”
“Wait,” said Corporal Wanju.
As he did, one of the machine gunners at the observation post fifty yards to the west began firing.
The figure seemed to pause in midstride, turning slightly as if to begin a dance.
And then his head exploded as if it were a blood-filled gourd.
Corporal Wanju turned aside and threw up.
2
Sitting alone in the back of the SUV, Ferguson watched the countryside pass by. He determined that they were going northwest, but since he had only a general idea of North Korean geography, he had no idea where he was being taken.
There were two men in the truck with him, both in the front seat. While it was tempting to throttle one of the men and try and take his weapon, Ferguson realized that would be foolish; there was another vehicle behind him, and even if he managed to overcome the driver and his companion he’d almost certainly be outgunned.
The fact that he hadn’t been bound or blindfolded seemed significant. The North Koreans were dressed in plain work clothes, not military fatigues. They might be with the internal security force, but if that were the case, why hadn’t the pug-faced interpreter Chonjin come with them? He didn’t even seem to know what was going on.
Possibly this was simply Park’s way of testing him, though Ferguson couldn’t quite see the logic of that.
Had Park or Li realized he’d seen them meeting with the North Korean general?
Maybe, but if so it would have been much easier to dispose of him in the way Li hinted they could.
For the moment, he decided, he’d stay in character, angling to be released to the Russian embassy. That
