Red Shark

Scott wanted to say he’d put an end to it by killing the Red Shark, but he knew that was a promise he might not be able to keep, not even to himself. If he failed and the warheads slipped through, and even if Jefferson and the spec-ops team destroyed the terrorist base, where would those weapons end up? And in whose hands? The plan would implode, but the weapons would still exist — somewhere.

Scott held Fumiko’s gaze on the monitor. She seemed to sense his need to say something else, something personal. But he was interrupted by the chirping phone, a summons to the control room. A moment later he was gone, and the screen went blank.

47

Pyongyang

Streets in the capital were deserted. Marshal Jin looked down on central Pyongyang from his office in the People’s Grand Hall, pleased to see that the planted rumors of an imminent nuclear attack by the United States had had the desired effect: People were frightened. Those who had started hoarding supplies had been shot, but already heating and cooking oil were in short supply. Protests against the United States had been scheduled to take place in Kim il Sung Square, where tomorrow over a million people would march in support of Jin’s threat to attack South Korea and, if necessary, the U.S.

He turned away from the tall, curtained windows and returned to his desk. He had finished reading General Yi’s report on Kim Jong-il’s efforts to identify the spy embedded in the Second Directorate. All that was required to initiate the interrogation of almost 3,000 individuals was his signature on a document entitled “The People’s Case Against Internal Subversion and Treachery Calculated to Overthrow the Elected Leadership of the State.”

Jin lit a Players and picked up the report. He regarded General Yi and said, “Where in this report is the spy identified by name? I don’t see it.”

Yi, seated, hands folded neatly on his lap, said, “He is not named, Dear Leader, and with good reason. He is among the two thousand nine hundred and five individuals we have in custody. As the report states, all of these individuals have connections to the scientists we rounded up earlier who, as you know, have had contact with the Danes. We intend to interrogate each of them and work our way to the hard kernel of truth at the center of this ring of subversion. I suspect that none of these individuals is innocent of crimes against the State, and that in the course of our interrogation we will make new discoveries. The point is, however, we have the main body of traitors. There, I suspect, we will find the person who has been serving the imperialists.”

Impressed, Jin said, “Kim proved as good as his word.”

“Prison life hasn’t diminished his arrogant manner, but he is a changed man and eager to assist in the interrogations.”

“Where is he now?”

“I had him moved to the lower detention center at the People’s Ministry of Internal Security. The food there is better than at Chungwa.”

“I see.” Jin tapped the report with a finger. “And my signature will initiate the interrogations.”

“And authorize Kim’s execution.”

“You are certain you no longer need his assistance?”

“Yes, Dear Leader, I am. Kim has outlived his usefulness.”

Jin grunted. He bent to the task with a gold pen plucked from a well on his desk and, with short, deft strokes, put his name to the report.

Yi placed the report in a leather portfolio, bowed, and took his leave. When he reached the door, Jin said, “One moment, General. I received a call from Admiral Woo in Nam’po.”

Yi, curious, returned to Jin’s desk. “And how is Admiral Woo?”

“He says that the Chinese have reported explosions in the Yellow Sea. As you know, the Red Shark is at present in the Yellow Sea. Admiral Woo didn’t venture what these explosions were.”