A big question, with no clear answer.
"How did you feel in Tibet, in the middle of that firefight?"
"Frightened. Alive."
"More alive than ever before, right? You feel confused about that?"
She looked at him. "Yes." She paused. "No."
"What would have happened if you hadn't shot that soldier, pulled the trigger?"
"You'd be dead. Maybe I would be, too. Maybe Ronnie."
"Right. You made the only right choice. You didn't do it because you wanted to go out and kill someone. You did it because you had to. When you tell me you don't feel guilty, I'd say that's a damn good adjustment. When you say you're worried about why you don't feel guilty, it tells me you're a good person."
"You sound like you have it all figured out."
He laughed. "Sure, that's why they pay me the big bucks. I've got it all figured out. Enjoy the lack of guilt while you've got it and hope it stays that way."
"The whole thing didn't change much, did it?"
"What do you mean?"
"We didn't stop Yang. All those people are dead, and what we did didn't make a damn bit of difference."
"It wasn't our job to stop him. Our job was to find out what he wanted in that book. We did that. In the long run, maybe it makes a difference, maybe not. It's a crap shoot, what we do for Harker."
He blew on the coffee. "What do you think about what she said? About making it official? You could always just go back to giving lectures."
"You don't think that we — I mean us…that it might get in the way?"
"It won't if we don't let it."
"I'm thinking about it."
"Good enough."
After a moment she said, "I never thought I'd hook up with someone like you."
"Someone like me?"
"A man who wasn't intimidated by me or afraid I knew more than he did or who could put up with my bitchiness."
"You're bitchy? I hadn't noticed."
She gave him a look that said smartass. "I thought I'd find some nice, stable guy, some professional type. Then I meet you. Someone who blows things up for a living and wouldn't know stability from an eggplant. What are the odds on that?"
"We don't need to worry about odds."
"That's easy for you to say. What were the odds we'd get out of that mine, or out of Tibet once the Chinese showed up?"
"I don't believe in odds. If it looks like things are stacked against you, you roll the dice and tell yourself you can do it."
Looking over at Selena, he wondered where it would end up. For now, he was willing to let it be what it was. A roll of the dice. A beginning.
Author's Notes and Acknowledgments
I did a lot of research for White Jade. The comments about modern weapons, Chinese arms and capabilities, the White House, etc. etc. are all as accurate as I can make them. If there are mistakes, they're all mine.
The history of the First Emperor is well documented, as is his quest for an elixir of immortality. His tomb at Li Shan has not been excavated. It's a very large building. The floor is said to be made of solid gold, laid out as a map of the Empire, with lakes and rivers of mercury. The ceiling is said to be studded with precious gems and pearls.
Of course, he might not be there.
Recently a large deposit of quality uranium ore was discovered in the Inner Mongolian region of China, vastly increasing China's reserves.
"Connorsville" is based upon a real gold rush town not far from where I live. There is a mine, it is dangerous. The Chinese did dig secret tunnels under Marysville and Sacramento. The wealth of the gold rush was often brought to light by the hard sweat of the Chinese who came to the "Golden Mountain" to build a better life for themselves and their families.
There are many people who helped with ideas and encouragement. My wife, Gayle, who read early drafts and made really good comments and who has to listen to me, again and again; Frank Macchi, formerly of the SFPD, who told me about the BART airshaft at the end of the Ferry Building pier and some cool stuff about the Chinese Triads in the Bay Area; Greg Skein, former Army Ranger; Glenn Frazier, a Vietnam Vet and neighbor, who keeps asking for the next book.
Two New York agents, Emma Sweeney and Matthew Carnicelli, took a lot of their valuable time to look at the book and made excellent comments that have helped me become (I hope) a better writer.
There are others. Thank you, all of you.
July, 2011
About the Author
Alex Lukeman is a former Marine and professional musician. He likes old, fast motorcycles, Barbados rum, playing guitar and reading mysteries and thrillers. He lives in Northern California in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.