Caden and Cheng exchanged salutes as he approached.
“Where is Mr. Weston?” the Chinese officer asked.
“He is coming by another vehicle and should be here momentarily.” I hope.
Seconds later a silver limousine pulled up and backed into a parking spot near the group. David Weston stepped out from the front passenger side carrying a black briefcase.
Caden looked on questioningly. Why is David riding around in a limo and who rides around in the front of one?
Weston walked briskly toward the Major. After shaking hands David said, “I have the draft letter of understanding with me here,” he patted the briefcase with his free hand, “but before we begin there are a few things I don’t understand. Why does President Durant want to give companies controlled by the Chinese military authority over our western ports?”
The Major appeared surprised. “You make it sound so menacing,”
“Well isn’t it?” Weston asked “Would you allow us to control ports in your country?”
He tilted his head back as if looking down his nose at Weston. “The situation does not warrant your country controlling our ports.”
“Why does our situation warrant your control of them?”
Major Cheng looked tired, “I do not answer to you. Come. Let us complete the business at hand.”
“Is it the price we have to pay for the food assistance? If we want to eat do we have to give up our ports and our resources?”
The Major’s eyes flared with anger and for several moments he stared at Weston. “You Americans owe my country nearly one and a half trillion dollars and now you ask us for billions more in aid to feed your peasants.” He glanced left and right. “How will you repay us for this kindness? President Durant has already advised creditors that the United States cannot make the next interest payment when it is due. Your currency is worthless; your people are in panic, your factories sit idle, you have no exports.
“Despite your situation, the Chinese government has graciously agreed to provide hundreds of tons of food and medicine on credit. However, the Chinese people do expect to be repaid.”
Weston smiled sarcastically, “You said our economy is ruined, if it is, how do you expect to get paid?”
“Why do you ask me this, you have heard the answer. Your President Durant understands the situation better than you. He has signed a new Most Favored Nation trade agreement with the People’s Republic and a second treaty granting China the right to manage your Pacific ports for the next ninety-nine years while your western states provide needed raw materials to Chinese industry.”
“What! Ninety-nine years! Why should America agree to that?”
“As I have previously said, President Durant has already agreed to the terms and, if I may be so blunt, if you refuse you will starve.”
“No treaty is binding until it is approved by the Senate.”
“Such legal niceties are no longer practical. The Chinese government has found working with President Durant more advantageous than awaiting some future restored government. Obey your President or forsake our most gracious offer of assistance.”
Caden shook his head. “America is stronger than you think. I know we can get the country back to work and feed ourselves, without sacrificing liberty or our natural resources to you.”
“The matter has already been agreed upon. As the treaty declares, Chinese troops will soon manage security for western mines, oil fields and Pacific ports. Surely, you would not want to violate the laws of your country.”
Weston stepped close to Cheng. “Yes, I think I do want to violate that treaty.”
The two Chinese guards ran toward the general.
“And when the American people hear about this treaty many of them are going to want to shove it back where it came from.”
“You are a fool.” With a shake of his head he said, “But you are not my concern. President Durant must deal with American agitators.”
“I’m no fool…”
“You and Governor Monroe should be arrested.”
“…I am a patriot.” With the last word Weston planted his finger in the Major’s chest.
At that moment the first Chinese soldier arrived at the side of the major and slammed the butt of his AK-47 across Weston’s nose.
Caden jumped forward to catch his friend, but Weston fell to the pavement with a loud thud. Blood covered much of his face.
The second soldier reached the group and raised his rifle to strike another blow.
Caden pulled out his pistol and shouted, “No!”
Major Cheng’s hand was already out to stop the second strike.
With gun still drawn, Caden stepped over his unconscious friend. “We’ll take David and leave.”
Cheng nodded and moved back.
He lifted Weston with the help of the two American soldiers. The injured man moaned as they moved him. Only then did Caden notice the microphone under David’s jacket. A wire ran down to what looked like a cellphone on his belt.
The limo that Weston arrived in sped off.
What is going on here?
David Weston’s swollen eyes blinked, opened and slowly seemed to come into focus. “Where am I?” His voice had a nasal quality.
Caden decided not to tell him that much of the left side of his face was black, blue and purple. “Olympia General Hospital.” He smiled. “Did you have a nice rest?”
“How long was I out?”
“Just over a day.” Caden pulled out his phone. “The governor was here earlier. He said to notify him when you woke up. He wants to personally thank you for getting Major Cheng to admit to the details of the treaty and then he wants to strangle you for pulling such a dangerous stunt.”
“What happened?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Most of it I do, just not why I’m here with….” He felt the bandages on his head. “I remember arriving at the port in the limo and….” He looked confused. “What happened?”
Caden had replayed the incident so many times in his head it was easy for him to retell it to David. “…so, the soldier smashed you in the face with the butt of his rifle, broke your nose, and you hit the pavement so hard you have a concussion. But what I don’t understand is why you chose to hide a news cameraman and reporter in a limo?”
“I couldn’t roll up in a news van. If Major Cheng had any idea he was being filmed he would have done his best to talk like a diplomat. I wanted him to speak frankly about the treaty and what he thought, so I needed an unmarked vehicle with plenty of space and tinted windows. When you think of ample space and tinted windows, what vehicle comes to your mind?”
Caden laughed.
“Did they get the video on the local news?”
“They sure did. Durant won’t let the networks touch it and has tried to keep it off the Internet, but the Olympia media was using it within the hour. Reporters and others friendly to Monroe’s campaign have passed it along. I know it has been seen in much of the west and perhaps the entire nation.
“Oh, and despite Durant’s best efforts, the clip of Major Cheng saying Governor Monroe should be arrested went viral about the same time President Durant’s order to do it was reported by the media. The timing made it look like Durant is a puppet of the Chinese military.”