Chung Kuo - The Marriage Of The Living Dark Part 59

'Til give you it"

She had begun to look down, but now she met his eyes again, startled by his words. "What do you mean?" "Whatever you want Pll give you it And no strings attached."

Slowly her eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he answered. "Only being kind. Giving a young woman what she wants." She stared a moment longer, then shook her head. 'If s a trick, isn't it? A game. To make me grateful to you. To get me to do things for you." "Why?" he asked, chilled by her train of thought "What would you do?"

In answer she stood again and took off her top, revealing pert white b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the nipples of which stood out like tiny almond b.u.t.tons. Despite himself, Yuan felt his p.e.n.i.s harden. Desire coursed through him. She was beautiful. More beautiful than any woman he had ever slept with. As she slipped from her briefs, that hardness at his groin became painful. He could not tear his eyes away from that small dark patch between her legs. "No strings?" she asked, her voice suddenly seductive. "Are you sure there'd be no strings?"

Li Yuan swallowed. It would be so easy. There was nothing

nothing, that was, but his loyalty to his brother - to stop him.

She stepped close, her warmth pressing against his knees, then leaned into him, so that her b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against his chest He felt her lips close upon his own and found himself responding, found himself placing his hands upon her back, his fingers slowly smoothing their way down the length of that silken flesh until they rested on her b.u.t.tocks. Her kisses were like wine. As she lowered herself into his lap, her legs wrapped about him, he groaned and, unable to stop himself, pulled her tight against him, beginning to rub himself against her.

"Slowly now," she said, moving her face back from his, her smile as different now as any smile could be from the first look she had given him. He was a customer now. And she a wh.o.r.e. An actress.

Yet even though he knew that even though he knew what he was doing was wrong - as wrong as anything he had ever done he could not pull away. He wanted her. Wanted her more than he had wanted anything, or anyone, in his life.

"Aiya," he moaned, as she reached down and freed his p.e.n.i.s from within the cloth of hispau. As her fingers gently caressed the tip of it The feel of it was indescribable.

She chuckled, then leaned into him again, her lips on his once more, her movements against him making him whimper now.And then, suddenly, she lifted herself up and he was inside her, f.u.c.king her, pushing up into her as if nothing else in the universe existed but this.

He came explosively, shuddering against her, his hands gripping her b.u.t.tocks, pulling her down into him, as if he could tear her in two, or push through her. And she, he knew, had come, too. He could feel it, and knew it was no act. And as they surfaced from that darkness, he saw the surprise in her eyes, the unfeigned shock.

"No strings," he said, moving his hands up onto her shoulders, his fingers gently caressing her neck "No strings at all."

They went down by lift, then crossed the hall and out onto a crowded walkway that, so K. later told him, was reasonably empty by the standards of this world. Kim paused a moment, noticing the heavy metallic meshes that surrounded every building, every balcony, then looked to the traffic in the skies and understood. Different ways, different rules. He walked on, keeping up with K. A walkway took them up into the heart of another ma.s.sive building, on the twenty-seventh floor of which K. had hired an office.

"I don't understand," Kim said, once they were safely inside the tiny room, the door locked behind them, the "silence baffle", as K. termed it, in place around the desk.

K. smiled. "First time I arrived here, I stepped out into the middle of a park. I almost didn't get back. But after a few visits I decided I'd have to buy my way into this world and so I stole a few things. Took them back and forged them. Then I came back and hired this place, and the apartment. Made myself an ident.i.ty in this world."

Kim laughed. "So who are we?"

"Culver. George Culver."

Kim narrowed his eyes, searching his memory, then nodded. "DeVore ... he used that name once, didn't he?"

"In our worlds. Not in this. Here he has no need for aliases. He has p.a.w.ns enough to do his business for him."

As he spoke, K. tapped out a code on the keyboard that was embossed into the desk's surface. Almost at once a pair of screens rose from the surface, lighting up as they did so.

"First, however, let me show you what he's up to. But bear with me. This gets somewhat technical..."

K. turned, looking to him, then laughed. "Forgive me, Kim. Sometimes I forget I am talking to myself."

Kim smiled. "No matter. Just show me how he means to make it all collapse."

As the exhaust from the great rockets cleared, the band started up, playing a vigorous Chinese version of the Star-Spangled Banner, the anthem of the 69 States of the great American Empire.

As the ramp came down and President Newell stepped out onto the platform of Airforce One, a cheer went up from the invited crowd. Han Ch'in, watching from his position at the front of that crowd, smiled, then began to walk across. He had met Newell on several occasions, though not since he'd been elected President. A nice man, if ineffectual: that was the official view. But Han knew better. Han knew how hard Newell had fought to keep Sino-American relationships on an even keel, especially after the Nebraska incident. Showing his pa.s.s to the two guards at the barrier, Han Ch'in stepped through, then walked across, getting to the foot of the ramp even as Newell stepped from it Han Ch'in stopped directly in front of Newell and bowed low. As he straightened up, Newell smiled broadly and put out a hand. "Major Li! How good to see you again! If s been three years, almost'" "Two years, eleven months," Han said, returning the smile even as he grasped Newell's hand firmly. "If s good to see you again, Mister President" "Call me Bob," Newell said quietly, leaning closer. "Lef s cut the s.h.i.t while we're here, eh, old friend?"Han Ch'in laughed. "Whatever you say, sir." Newell raised his head, grinning for the cameras, then walked on, speaking through the side of his mouth. "I've managed to leave the wife at home this once, Han Ch'in, so see what you can do for me, okay? I hear your army fellas are about to announce their choice of Consul for Washington, so you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. You understand?"

'Til see what I can do."

"Blonde and busty. You know the type."

Han looked down, trying to keep from laughing. "Whatever you say, sir."

Newell lowered his head, as if he'd given the cameras quite enough of his grin, and looked to Han Ch'in again. "You know, I often wonder just how many of those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds out there watching this on their screens actually bother to read our lips, or whether they just think we're talking matters of state." "Does it matter?" Han asked, interested by this insight into the man. "h.e.l.l, no. So long as my wife ain't one of them!"

Kim stared at the screen long after it had been cleared, then shook his head.

"Amazing. And you think no one suspects a thing?" "I know they don't If they did, they'd do something. His setup breaks the market's rules in every possible way."

Kim nodded. DeVore owned major companies and their subsidiaries, and their subsidiaries' subsidiaries. He also owned certain trading companies - those who specialised in buying and selling shares - and commodities agents. He owned suppliers and retailers, and the security companies that serviced all of these people. But most important of all, he owned the communications companies through which all of these people traded.

DeVore owned the numbers on this world. And tomorrow he would set off a chain reaction in the system.

"I'm only guessing," K. said, "but if I were him I'd start low down, among the little companies. Get a few of them to sell at a loss, just as if they know something that the rest of the market doesn't. Then I'd use my buyers to stoke up the process - have one or two bigger companies involved. A couple of the top hundred. Start a mild panic. Then I'd hit with one of the big boys. Botch, perhaps. Or UCM. Or, best of all, Murdoch Inc. Something basic. Something essential to everybody's lives." "A slitting of his wrists."

"His and everyone's, because once this gets going there'll be no stopping it The markets will drop like stones, especially if, at first people's attention is drawn elsewhere."

"But where?"

K. tapped at the pad a moment, then the screen lit up again. It showed the main Murdoch news channel, Channel 96. A newscaster was talking, a panel on the wall behind him showing a steaming rocket ship that had just set down at Tientsin s.p.a.ceport Two great banners flew together behind the ship. One was the red dragon on a golden background of the Chinese Empire, the other the red white and blue of the United States, the 69 stars boldly emblazoned in one corner. As the picture grew to fill the screen, a caption came up in English and Mandarin, even as the newscaster spoke again in his best mid-Pacific accent "United States President Robert Newell arrived this evening at Beijing s.p.a.ceport on his way to tomorrow's meeting with President Wei. They will meet at noon at the Imperial Palace to sign the latest draft of the Sino-American trade agreement..."

"Oh, s.h.i.t1" K. said, clearing the screen then looking to Kim. "We'd best get back immediately."

Han Ch'in saw her at once, there at the far end of the crowded reception hall, beside the trader, Wyatt Blonde, extremely busty, and with the kind of bored look on her face that said "escort" as clearly as if she'd had it tattooed on her forehead.

Excusing himself momentarily, he made his way across.

"Edmund..."

Wyatt turned, then smiled. "Han Ch'in! How are you? I hear you're escorting the President""That"s so. And that"s why I've come to speak to you. I have .. . well, a little proposition, shall we say."

Wyatfs smile broadened. "You want to deal, Han Ch'in?" "There's a room," Han answered, maintaining his dignity, "just along the corridor. If we could talk there?"

Wyatt looked to the girl. "Wait here, Susan. I'll be two minutes maximum."

She stared at him doe-eyed and nodded, then went back to sipping at her drink and looking about her, a glazed expression returning to her features. Han Ch'in studied the girl a moment, wondering what an intelligent man like Newell was doing f.u.c.king bimbos like this, then, turning back to Wyatt, he gave a tight smile and put out an arm, inviting him through.

Li Yuan took off his jacket and threw it down on the chair, then went over to the sink and, turning the tap full on, sloshed water up into his face.

What am I doing? What in f.u.c.k's name am I getting involved in? If Han Ch'in should find out1.

But it was too late now. He'd had the girl. And not just once, but three times. No. He had to go through with it now. Had to. And then, for the first time in his life, he'd have to pretend. To Han Ch'in of all people! "Aiya..."

Li Yuan turned and looked back through the door at his luxury apartment He had lived here fifteen months now, ever since Hu Sho had thrown him out. Not that he blamed her. It couldn't have been nice to come home and find your husband s.h.a.gging not only your best friend, but her daughter too! And now, once again, his d.i.c.k was getting him in trouble. Only this time he could not afford to be caught. This time he had to set things up so that he couldn't be caught.

He went over to the comset and punched out the number the woman had given him. For a moment there was no reply, and then the screen lit up. " Ahh... Mister Huang. Have you made the arrangements?" Li Yuan nodded, then sheepishly read out the details. He had bought an apartment in Shanghai, using a company account At the same time he had set up a fund to pay the woman and her daughter enough to live on for the next thirty years. And not just subsistence living, but a comfortable sum -enough to allow them many little luxuries.

But if he knew the mother, she'd find other ways to supplement her income, promise or no promise.

The girl, however, was another matter. He was determined not to share her. Not now.

No strings. The girl had been right to question that, for all relationships - even of this crude, mercantile kind - had strings. That was how it worked. Maybe it was even why it worked.

"You'll leave tomorrow morning," he said finally. "The tickets will be waiting for you at Central Station, in your name."

"First Cla.s.s?" the woman asked, a tightness born of greed in her face. "Of course. And you will be met at the other end and taken to your new apartment You will receive a decorating allowance. And there will be special payments." "Special?" The woman's eyes lit.

'Tor your silence. Which will cease the moment that a word is said about this agreement between us."

"I understand."

"Make sure you do, Madam Yin. Make doubly sure you do."

Li Yuan broke contact, then slumped down onto the sofa. He sniffed his fingers. He could still smell her on him. The very thought of what they'd done made him stiffen again.

No wonder Han Ch'in had wanted her; wh.o.r.e or not Such a woman could rob one of all sense.

Yes, and he would raise his brother's son as his own. Would do well by him. Make sure he had nothing but the best But the thought slipped into the background as he thought again of the woman and the way she had of presenting her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to him, that teasing light in her eyes, and the noises she made."Aiya ..." he said, going across and beginning to strip off, knowing that nothing but a cold shower would cure this. "The G.o.ds help me for what I've done!"

The President lay on his back, the girl astride him. As he came, he reached up, burying his head between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

As he relaxed again, the girl straightened up a little, then giggled. "That better, honey?" "f.u.c.king wonderful..." "You want me to stay? I can, if you want" Newell looked up at her. In the light from the single bedside lamp she looked magnificent A red woman, not like those tight-a.r.s.ed frigid little b.i.t.c.hes that manned his office back in Washington. That lot didn't have a decent pair of t.i.ts between them! "You stay as long as you want sweetheart I sure as h.e.l.l ain't kicking you out!"

"That"s good," she said, giving him a lascivious smile. "Because I know one or two tricks you just might like." "Oh yeah?" He raised an eyebrow, interested. "Yeah," she said lazily, reaching up to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, her erect nipples drawing his eyes. "And I ain't talking about tricks you can teach your kids." "I didn't think you were ..." He paused, then. "You ever thought of settling in Washington?" "You offering me a job?" "I might be. Depends if you pa.s.s the interview." She grinned, then reached down, gently taking his flaccid c.o.c.k in one hand, beginning to coax it back to life. "Well now, let me see if Pve got this right..."

Li Yuan was dozing in the chair by the screen when it came alive.

"What the .. .?"

Cho Yi's ancient, timeless face stared back at him. "Yuan! Wake up! If s me. I'm in the office. You must come at once. Something's happening. Something big. I need your help!"

"Master Cho?"

The screen went dead.

Yuan shook himself, then stood, feeling unsteady. He was tired. To be honest he was knackered after being with the girl. But Cho Yi had sounded desperate. Walking across, he took his jacket from the back of the chair and pulled it on, then, responding to the urgency in Cho's voice, he went back to the screen and tapped in the code for Rapidcabs.

"Yes, Shih Li? You want a glide now?"

"Yes, Hung," he answered, recognising the young man. "To go to my office. Fast as you can."

The young man looked down, checking something, then looked up again, a wide grin on his face. "One minute. He'll be there by the time you get up onto the roof." "Great!" Yuan said. "Bill me double, Hung, okay?"

Hung bowed, hands together. "Very generous, Shih Li. Any time you need us ..."

"... I'll phone you."

He cut the connection, then hurried across, turning off the lights behind him.

Something big, eh? Now what could that be?

Turner, Newell's Security Chief, was a big, uncompromising man. He stood now nose to nose with Li Han Ch'in in the corridor outside the President's suite, bellowing at the Han, his face and neck bright red with exertion. "I don't give a s.h.i.t what the President wanted! I'm not here to satisfy his f.u.c.king carnal needs, I'm here to stop the f.u.c.king a.s.shole getting topped!" Han Ch'in glowered back at the man.

"You want to do something about it, you knock the f.u.c.king door down and drag her out. But I don't think the President would be very pleased about that, do you?" "I may just f.u.c.king do that1" Turner bellowed back at him. "But from here on you b.u.t.t out, alright, Major Li? You keep your f.u.c.king nose out of our f.u.c.king business!"Han Ch'in raised his hands, as if to make peace, but Turner still wasn't satisfied.

"s.h.i.t knows what went through your f.u.c.king head, man! Why, you didn't even check the f.u.c.king woman out, did you?" Han Ch'in bristled. "She was with a reputable gentleman, who a.s.sures me he got her from one of the top escort agencies. The woman's been with them five years, and not a hint of trouble." He sneered. "What's your problem, Major Turner. You think she's going to f.u.c.k the President to death?"

Turner lifted his chin a little. He clearly wasn't used to be answered back, and besides, Han Ch'in was theoretically his equal in rank. But he was still not happy.

"Okay. But you ask me from now on. In fact, you get my f.u.c.king permission before you do anything that involves the President, okay?' "Okay." Turner eased back a little. "Then good. I'm glad we're agreed on that"

Han Ch'in stared at him a moment, then asked. "What does he usually do on these kind of trips, go in his room and w.a.n.k?"

Turner's lips curled slightly at that, amus.e.m.e.nt replacing anger. "h.e.l.l no.

Usually he doesn't have s.e.x at all."

"No?" Han Ch'in sounded incredulous. "But the guy's got a libido that"d take two firetrucks to put out!"

"What I mean is, usually he's got Mrs. Newell along with him. The Ice Queen, we call her."

"Ah ..." Han Ch'in stared at the man a moment, admiring his loyalty to Newell, then, "Hey, I'm sorry. If I'd known I was treading on your toes ..."

Turner gave a little nod. "If s in the past. We go forward from here, right?" "Right!" There was a crash. Distant but loud. Both men turned and frowned.

"What the f.u.c.k ...?"

The door to the President's rooms flew open. A security guard, gun drawn, looked out at Turner. "It was inside, sir! From inside his room!" Turner rushed through, followed closely by Han Ch'in. Two men were already at the door, trying to break it down. Turner charged it with his shoulder. The hinges gave and popped as he slammed into it.