The Beijing conspiracy

CHAPTER 83

T he US House Sergeant at Arms cleared his throat.

‘Mr Speaker, the President of the United States!’ Senators and Representatives stood and applauded President Bolton as he marched down the centre aisle of the House towards the Speaker’s podium.

‘My fellow Americans,’ the President began, ‘we are now facing the most serious threat to our freedom since the Japanese attacked us in Pearl Harbor. Back then, the Japanese made a grave mistake, just as the Muslim fundamentalists have made a grave mistake attacking us in San Francisco, as well as in London and Australia. It was a fatal mistake to murder our President. This country is now on a war footing and tomorrow I will be mobilising the National Guard and re-introducing the draft for all eligible men and women between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six.’ There were audible gasps from the gallery but the Republicans rose to their feet and applauded. President Bolton glowered at those who remained seated and when the applause slowed, he resumed his speech. ‘I can assure those who seek to destroy all that we stand for – our democracy and our freedom – that this nation and its people will not be intimidated. I am also announcing today that I will be seeking the Republican nomination for the Presidential election so that I can lead you to a greater victory against our enemies.’

The combined Senate and House applauded again but several Senators and Representatives were doing so without enthusiasm, aware that the prestige and international reputation of the United States had sunk to historic lows in Europe and in other parts of the world. More than one member of Congress harboured private doubts that President Bolton’s ‘bring it on, go it alone’ approach would work. The view of ordinary Americans would be reflected at the New Hampshire Primaries in the not too distant future. After nearly an hour, President Bolton concluded his speech with a blunt message for the Arabs, the Iranians and the Chinese.

‘In the Middle East I have deployed no fewer than five carrier groups, one of the greatest naval task forces ever assembled. For those who think they can take on the might of the United States in space I would urge them to think again. Just as we will prevent any nation from gaining nuclear capabilities that can be used against us or our interests, so we reserve the right to deny access to space to any of our adversaries.

‘I am confident we will win this war on terror and I intend to muster every resource at our disposal to ensure victory.’

The combined House and Senate rose to their feet and applauded as the President left the building.

Richard Halliwell was in his office, wondering how Bolton’s announcement might affect his own campaign which he was about to formally announce. He would need to discuss things with Esposito. The situation on the ground in Iraq was worse than at any time since the invasion, and Esposito’s polling was showing that the anti-war sentiment was growing. The announcement of the draft might be the final straw that would put many of the President’s supporters in Halliwell’s camp, although the view that it should not only be the soldiers bearing the brunt of war but the whole of the nation was still strong and the polling over the next few days would bear careful watching. At least the Democrats were in their usual disarray, Halliwell thought to himself. The New Hampshire Primary would be like the charge of the Light Brigade. Hillary Clinton had long ago declared she was ‘in it to win’, and with Bill Clinton campaigning for her, Halliwell did not underestimate her chances. Senator Barack Obama had also captured the public’s imagination. He was black, Halliwell mused, and with a name like ‘Obama’ surely unthinkable, even to the donkey vote. No fewer than six others including Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico and John Kerry’s old running mate, the former Senator John Edwards, had entered what was rapidly becoming a very crowded field. That had its advantages as it would split the votes and increase the chance that those who had the biggest war chest would win, especially on the Democratic side. Halliwell’s war chest was vast. It was almost time for the announcement.

Halliwell turned his mind back to Beijing. The vaccines would be made available through the embassy network and, for the distribution of the Ebolapox, Halliwell had set up a secure communications line between the Triad leader and Halliwell’s office in Shanghai. He’d been assured that everything was ready.

Halliwell’s target list included Beijing’s Capitol Airport as well as the underground and key airconditioning systems. Unbeknown to Halliwell, Kadeer’s list was remarkably similar. It would come down to which of the final attackers could get their hands on the deadly vials first.

Halliwell locked the plans for Beijing in his safe and headed towards the lift. Dolinsky had succeeded in combining the RNA and DNA viruses and the chimpanzees subjected to the Ebolapox supervirus had all died violent deaths. It was time to find out if the virus had a similar effect on humans.

Halliwell paid the pound man in cash and watched him leave. After the delivery door slid back into place, he turned his attention to the first of the drug-addicted vagrants strapped to the steel trolleys – a black woman in her late twenties, needle marks visible on her arms and legs. Being black, she would have a smaller brain than her white counterparts, Halliwell mused, moving to another trolley where a second woman lay. This one had dirty matted hair and mud-stained legs and when he saw the fear in her wide blue eyes, Halliwell felt a surge of power. He paused and then decided against it. She had small breasts, and in any case, she was in her early forties. That said, the human flotsam in front of him on the trolley was white, so there would be no decision needed as to which one he would inject with the vaccine.

Halliwell began to suit up. He was particularly interested to see if, in addition to the bloody pustules of smallpox, the symptoms of Ebola might also appear – blinding headache and muscle aches, excruciating abdominal pain, nausea, searing sore throat, dizziness, tachycardia, vomiting of blood and continuous bloody diarrhoea. With the prognosis for Ebolapox and the viability of the vaccine looking promising, Halliwell felt an intense satisfaction as he wandered over to the CD player, selected Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and turned up the volume. Beethoven always enhanced his feeling of power and destiny.

In China, General Ho Feng, who was chairing the monthly Olympic Security meeting, had also watched the American President’s address with interest and derision. For this meeting, Ho Feng had chosen the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre. The huge banner on the wall read:

‘One World, One Dream’.

A wooden board hung beside the banner. Under the heading ‘Days to Go’ was the number 212.

‘I see the Americans are not too pleased with our space programs,’ General Ho said as he opened the meeting. In addition to the representatives from the Beijing Organising Committee, the Police, the Peoples’ Liberation Army and Intelligence, Ho was focusing on the Qingdao Sailing Test Event and the Chinese Navy was also represented. ‘They had better get used to it,’ Ho said with a sinister smile. ‘They think they own it but not for long. Now, what progress on security of the harbour?’

The Naval Captain bowed and switched on a PowerPoint presentation with a satellite photograph of the harbour defences. ‘The principle we are following is one of “above and below”,’ the Captain said, ‘and while the police will look after things above the water, we will have 125 divers to look after the wharves and pontoons, and before any races or presentations we will do a thorough check for bombs and mines. Outside the harbour we will patrol with destroyers and other vessels.’ Even at this meeting not all of the officials were cleared to know the locations of China’s submarines but as the briefing progressed anyone present could not help but be impressed with the thoroughness of the Chinese preparations.

‘Good,’ General Ho said after the Naval Captain had finished his brief and the Chief of Police had outlined the plans for security on the surface. Even the lifejackets on the ferries would be inspected to ensure one had not been substituted with a look-alike bomb. ‘You will also be pleased to know we are training 10,000 mice to taste the athletes’ food before every course.’ No one laughed because General Ho was deadly serious. ‘And we have vaccinated 550,323 dogs in Beijing against rabies. This will not only be the greatest Games ever, it will also be the safest.’

‘You’ve seen the reports on the planned protests?’ Ho asked the Qingdao Police Chief after the meeting had finished.

‘The Human Rights groups?’ the Police Chief sneered.

Ho nodded. ‘Including the Uighurs and the Animal Rights activists, although it is hard to tell the difference between those two,’ Ho added sarcastically. ‘Crush them, but out of sight of the cameras. Make sure they are not allowed to even gather here and I want special protection paid to the big bear farm near Lao Shan. I’m sure you will be able to do that without difficulty.’

‘It will not be a problem, General Ho,’ the Police Chief said with a knowing smile. Chinese guanxi worked both ways.