“Itakeityougotwhatyouwanted?”MeiLinaskedagainastheRangeRoverspeddowntheEasternHarbourExpresswaytowardsQuarryBay.
“Yes.IwasjustcheckingtheNEXTdatatrafficmonitoringserverforlargedatatransferstoNewChina.Youwon’tbelievethis.Overthepastmonthorso,onesingleinstitutionhasbeenresponsibleformorein-bounddatathanalltheotherNEXTcustomersbined.”
“Whichinstitution?”MeiLinasked,glancingsidewaysathim.
“TsinghuaUniversity.”
“Tsinghua?InBeijing?Myalmamater.NewChina’sleadingacademicinstitution.Interesting.”
“Yep.AndNEXTmanagesmirrorserversforthemtoo.Icreatedanewuserononeoftheirmirrorservers.Tsinghuaasthesourceofallthismakesawholelotofsensedoesn’tit?”Caldwellmused.
“Youcansaythatagain.GoodstuffCaldwell.Asyouprobablyfigured,thestakesjustwentskyhigh,”MeiLinwarned,withaseriouslookonherfacethatgaveCaldwellsecondthoughtsaboutwhathewasabouttosuggest.
“Thingsareabouttogetrough?”
“Iguessthatdependsonyourplans.”
“Isee.”
“”Look,Iamgoingtohavethiscarfixed.ItwillsavemealotofexplanationwhenDeWitteesback.Hecanbequiteannoyinglypedantic.”
“I’mnotsurprised.Hestrikesmeastheuptightoldschoolboytype.”
“Iguess.”
MeiLinpulledtheRangeRoverofftheEasternHarbourExpresswayontoasiderampwithasignthatsaidNorthPoint.TheydroveupKing’sRoadpastanoldyellowbuildingwithasigninEnglishandChinesethatread:NorthPointFuneralParlour&CryogenicsCenter.Severalstallsoutsideseemedtobedoingaroaringtradeinsellingbothholographicandnaturalfuneralwreathsofvariousshapesandsizes.
“Cryogenicsisbighere?”Caldwellasked.
“Agrowingtrend.TheChineseareverypragmatic.Nowthatthere’sevidencethatCryogenicsisgoingtoworktheyaremorereceptiveoftheidea.AfewdecadesagotheChinesethoughtthiswasnonsenseasdidmostpeople,actually.”
“Iwonderifmyparent’sashesarestillstoredthere.”
“Ohyeah,Irememberthat.Thatisverylikely.Theykeeptheashesthereforfiftyyearsorsomethinglikethat.It’sallgovernmentsubsidizedanyway.”Wasthatthepregnantpauseofsomeonemakingupastoryonthefly?
“ImighttaketheashesbackwithmetoLondon.”
“Thinkingofgoingbackthen?”sheasked.Therewasahintofdisappointmentinhervoice.
“Ithinkthat’sthedealwithFouler.”
“Youcanalwaysmakeanotherdealifyousucceed,”shepointedout.
“Ofcourse.We’llhavetosee.”
“Youwill,”shesaid,astheypulleduptoagarageroundthebackofKing’sRoad.MeiLintypedinacode,disabledtheRangeRover’sconsolesystemandremoveditfromitsslotbythehandlebeforetheydisembarked.
AcoupleofyoungChineseapprenticesinshortsandflip-fopswithperoxidesilverhaircameouttolookatthecar.Oneofthemwhistledloudly.Hehadsomekindofpersonalmusicimplantinhisears.Caldwellcouldseetheflesh-coloredvolumecontrolsstickingoutbehindhisearlobes.Astheyouthleanedoverthebackofthecarherevealedagianttattooofsomekindofmysticalserpentonhisback.Whenhemovedthetattooflippedbackandforthmakingitappearasthoughthesnakewasslitheringuphisback.Theotherboyhadasimilartattooofadragon.Whenhemoved,thedragonbreathedfireuphisneckintohissilvershockofspikyhair.
Aheavilytattooedhalf-nakedmiddle-agedmanwiththemostamazingpotbellyCaldwellhadseeninalongtimerolledoutfromunderasilverelectricMercedes.HeshookMeiLin’shandandnoddedhellotoCaldwell.
“YoungsisterMei,haven’tseenyouinalongtime,”themansaidinCantonese.HepulledaredpackofMarlboroMarijuanaLightsoutofthebackpocketofhisshortsandceremoniouslyofferedthepacktothembeforelightingoneandtakingabigpuff.
“Beenbusy,BossTong,”shesaid.
“Whatdowehavehere?”themanasked,hisbeadyeyesdancingovertheRangeRover’sbody.
“Gothitfrombehindbyacarintraffic.”
“Interesting,”hesaidashewalkedroundthebackoftheRangeRovertosurveythedamage.Thetwoteenagemechanicsmovedoutofhiswayliketugboatsvacatingthepathofanoceanliner.
“Itappearsyou’vebeenshotattoo.Lot’sofaccidentstoday,”BossTongobservedslyly,crinklinghisfleshyfaceandrubbinggreasyfingersalongsmallchipsinthepaintwork.
“Whydoyousaythat?”askedMeiLin.
“Well,youseethatMercedesthere?Itlookslikenothing’swrongwithitfromtheback.Wejusttoweditinaboutanhourago.ItwasinvolvedinanaccidentintheChaiWanarea.ThestupidguyscrashedintoaParkNShoplorry.Freetoiletpaperforeveryone.Thefrontofthevehicleispletelymangled.It’sgoingtobeonehellofajobputtingitbacktogether.NotthatIamplaining.TongMotorRepairsLtd.shouldmakesomegoodmoneyoutofit.”Helaughedathislittlejoke.
MeiLinandCaldwelllookedateachother.
“ForyouthoughSisterMei,weonlychargecostplusfivepercent,”headded,misconstruingthewayMeiLinandCaldwellhadlookedateachotherwhentheyrealizedthatthecarbelongedtotheJapanese.”
“Ofcourse,ofcourse.Whodoesthecarbelongto?Hopenobodywasseriouslyhurt,”MeiLinsaid,affectingsympathyfortheoccupants.
“Oh,itonlybelongstotheJapaneseconsulate.They’vegotmanywherethiscamefrom.Andthetwoconsulateguyswhoweredrivingonlysustainedminorcutsandbruises.TheyrefusedtogotothePamelaYoudeHospital,whichisjustnearby.Theywereverylucky,Ithink.Although,oneofthemlookedlikehe’sbeeninafewaccidentsofhisown.Gotafacelikethedevil’sbackside.”BossTongbrokeoutintothunderouslaughter,hishugebellyshakingviolently.
“Interesting.IhaveajournalistfriendattheXinhuaNewsAgencywhowouldpayalotofmoneytofindoutthenamesandphonenumbersofthetwoinvolvedintheaccident.Bigstoryyouknow:Japanesediplomatsinvolvedincaraccident.”
“Ohreally?Howmuchwouldyourfriendbewillingtopay?”BossTong’salcohol-dulledeyeslitupattheprospectofaquickbuck.
“I’llhavetocheck.I’dsayabouttwentythousandHongKongdollars.”
“Hey,hangonaminute.”BossTongrushedintothebackofthegarageandreturnedwithaphotocopyofaHongKongPoliceAccidentReportform.
“Everything’sonhere.Maybeyoucanpaymeforyourfriend,”theportlymechanicsaidslyly.
MeiLinreachedoutfortheformbutBrotherTongpulleditbacklikeacobrarearingbacktosprayvenominitsvictim’seyes.
“Moneyinadvance,youngsisterMei.”
“OK.Notawordthoughormyfriendgetsintrouble.Icanonlypayyouincash.Iamsureyouhavewaysofconvertingthatintocreditatreasonablerates,right?”MeiLinfishedawadofclippednotesoutofhershirtpocketandhandedBotherTongtwentythousanddollarnotes.
“Evenbetter,”BossTongsaid.“Someofmybusinessassociatesprefernottoleaveanelectronictrail.OfcoursenotawordSisterMei,youknowme.”
“YeahIdo.”MeiLinmovedtowardstheRangeRoverandopenedthedoor.
“Ithoughtyouwantedyourbumperfixed,”BossTongprotested.ThetwoyoungapprenticeshadlostinterestintheRangeRoverandwerebusylookingMeiLinupanddown.Oneofthemwasscratchinghisscrotum.
“Ineedtogetthistomyfriend,I’llbringthecaroverlater,”MeiLinexplainedwavingtheaccidentreportintheair.
CaldwellgotinthecarandwatchedthefoldofHongKongdollarsdisappeardownthebackofBossTong’sshorts.Theportlymechanicdismissedthemwithawaveofhishand.MeiLinstartedtheengineandhandedCaldwelltheaccidentreport.Thereportshowedthetime,place,occupants,vehicletyperegistration,contactnumbersandtheaddressofthepartiesinvolvedintheaccident.Mr.HideoSatoandMr.JunichiroMiyagiwerelistedaslivingataresidentialaddressinthenearbyKornhillareaofHongKongIsland.MeiLinexplainedthatitwasaresidentialdevelopmentfavoredbymiddle-rankingJapanesediplomatsandattaches.
***
WhentheyarrivedbackatNo.10ShekO,thereweretwoHYDRAagentsCaldwellhadn’tmetbeforeinattendance.They’drecentlyflowndownfromShanghai.MeiLinmadeintroductionsandexchangedpleasantriesbeforedisappearingintoherofficewhileCaldwellreluctantlymadesmalltalkwiththeagents.BothagentsseemedtobeflirtingwithMeiLin.AnthonyMawasaboutthirty-fiveyearsold,well-builtandgood-lookinginasportykindofway.Hehadafriendlysmilethathemadeuseoffrequently.HewasabittoofriendlyforCaldwell’sliking.VictorChengwastallerandmoreintellectuallooking.Hehadtheconfidentlookofsomeonefromafamilywithalonghistoryofbusinesssuccess.
Theyweresittingintheloungewiththeplasmascreen,watchingthenewsandnursingwhiskeysontherocks.TheagentsaskedseveralquestionsaboutLondonandtheUnion.TheywereparticularlyinterestedinknowingwhyHYDRAhadsenthimtoHongKong.Caldwellmadeastoryuponthespot.Theagents’apparentignorancesuggestedthatonlyMeiLinandDeWittewereprivytotherealreasonsforhispresenceinHongKong.
“Foulerfeelsthatweareabitoutoftouchwithwhat’sgoingoninNewChinaandwantedmetoedownforacoupleofweeksandgetuptospeedwithwhat’shappeninghere.”
“GoodoldFouler.Alwaysoutoftouchbutseemstoknowwhat’sgoingonallthesame.TheUnionauthoritiesthough,arelivinginsomekindofbubble,”exclaimedVictorCheng,withsomebitterness.
“Verymuchso.That’swhyIamhere.Tobursttheburble,givethemadoseofreality.”Thetwoagentseyedhimsuspiciously,notbelievingawordhewassaying.TheyhadtheirowntheoriesastowhyhewasinHongKong.
“WellwhenyoureturntotheUnionjusttellFouler,ifyouhavethatkindofclearance,thatitisgettingharderandhardertogetintelligenceinNewChina.IthinkHYDRAiswaybehindagenciesfromJapanandtheUnitedStatesinthisregard.Weneedmoreresources.JusthavingtwoguysinShanghaidoesnotcutit,”Chengplained.
“Justyoutwo?”
“Yeah,andwearenoteventhereallthetime.Weflyuponceamonthfortwoweeks.Thenexttwoweekswespendhereatourdeskswritingreportsthatresultinnothing.OccasionallywegettogouptoBeijingwhichiswheretheactionisbutnotnearlyoftenenough,”Machippedin.
“Sowhat’shappeninginShanghaithesedays?”Caldwellasked,figuringthattheywereinagoodmoodtospill.Theymightletoutsomethinguseful.
“SameoldShanghai.Centeroftheuniverse,”saidAnthonymatter-of-factly.
“Sowhat’snewtechnology-wise?”Caldwellinsisted.
“Notalot,excepttherearerumorsofabreakthroughofsomekind.”
“Whatkindofbreakthrough,wedon’tknow.SomepeoplesayitsAI,otherssayneuralnetworksVR,AR.Difficulttoknowwhotobelieveorwhattobelieve.That’swhyweneedtobeupthereinvestigatinginsteadofpushingpaperdownhere,”VictorChengadded.
“True,”Caldwellsaidabsent-mindedly.SomethingontheTVhadcaughthisattention.
NewsBulletin:
Afireravagedthe28thfloorofNEXTTowerinCentralthisafternoonat2.03PM.TheblazecamejustaftertheNewChinaElectronicXchange&Telemunicationspanyreportedtopolicethattheyhaddiscoveredanintruderinthedatacentercontrolroom.Thecontrolroomisalsolocatedonthe28thfloor.ApanyspokesmansaidthetwoincidentswerenotrelatedandthatthecauseofthefireisbeinginvestigatedwiththehelpoftheFireServicesDepartment.Arsonhasnotbeenruledout.Thefirestartedoutattheterminalofoneofthepany’semployees.Nobodywashurt.
NewChinaElectronicXchange&TelemunicationsisoneofthelargestprovidersofdataconnectivityanddatacenterservicesinHongKongandGreaterChina.ThepanyhasdirectdatalinkstomajorcitiesinNewChinaandprovidesdataservicestosomeofthelargestpaniesandinstitutionsinbothHongKongandNewChina.Aspokesmanforthepanysaidthatcustomerdataandinformationsystemswerenotaffectedasonlyasingleinternalterminalwasdestroyedinthefire.
NewChinaElectronicXchange&Telemunications,alsoknownasNEXT,isownedbyHongKong’spowerfulLeefamily.
“Bloodyhell,canyoubelievethat?”exclaimedAnthonyMa.
“Mr.Leeisgoingtobereallypissed,”VictorChengobserved.
“Yeahandsoarehiscustomers,”AnthonyMaretorted,laughing.
Caldwellwastoostunnedtosayanything.Hestoodup,walkedoutoftheloungeandheadedtotheofficearea.HeknockedonMeiLin’sdoor.Shewassittingatherdesklookingincredulouslyatherputerterminal.Herofficewindowlookedoutontoendlessexpansesofgreeneryandahillatthebackofthehouse.
“Iguessyousawthenews?”Caldwellasked.
“Yes.Itakeitthatwasn’tyou?”
“Ofcoursenot.WhywouldIdothat?”
“Justchecking.Abitofacoincidence.Don’tyouthink?”
“Yeah,itcan’thaveanythingtodowithmeaccessingthedatatrafficmonitoringservercanit?That’simpossible.IntrusiondetectionAIscan’tstartafire.”
MeiLinlookedathimasthoughmentallytryingtofigureouthowshethoughtanAIcouldgoaboutstartingafire.Sheshookherhead.
“Impossible.”
“Exactly.”
“IthinkourvisittoNEXTandtheexplosionarerelatedsomehow.Webettergettowork,”shesuggested.
“Doingwhat?”
“YouaregoingtohackTsinghuaUniversity’ssystemsright?”
“Yeah.”
“Whydon’tItakeyoudowntotheOperationsRoomandI’llseeyoudowntherelater.”
“Why,whereareyougoing?”
“I’vegotanappointmentinKornhill.”
“Kornhill?”
“Ithinkit’sabouttimewefoundoutexactlywhatyourJapanesefriendsareupto.”
w w w.x iaoshu otx t.NETT xt ～小 说天,堂