Qin Shang stared at the ambassador. “Am I to assume you have instructions from President Lin Loyang?”

“He wished me to convey his regret§, but I am to tell that from this moment, all operations by Qin Shang Maritime will cease within North America, and all your personal ties to the American government are to be terminated.”

Qin Shang's normally controlled demeanor cracked. “That would spell the end of our smuggling operations.”

“I think not. The government's own shipping company, China Marine, will substitute for Qin Shang Maritime in all smuggling as well as the legal transportation of Chinese goods and materials into the United States and Canada.”

“China Marine is not half as efficiently run as Qin Shang Maritime.”

“Perhaps so, but since Congress is demanding public investigations into Orion Lake and the debacle on the Mississippi, and the United States Justice Department is in the process of building a case for your indictment, you should consider yourself fortunate that Lin Loyang hasn't given orders to surrender yourself to the FBI. Already, the news media is calling the destruction of the levee and the ocean liner the United States an act of terrorism. Unfortunately, lives were lost and the coming scandal is certain to expose many of our agents around the country.”

The chime announced the arrival of the waiter, who entered the private room with a tray of steaming dishes. He artfully arranged the dishes around the table and retreated.

“I took the liberty of preordering to save time,” said Qian Miang. “I hope you don't mind?”

“An excellent selection. I am especially fond of tomato-and-eggdrop soup and squab soong.”

“So I've been told.”

Qin Shang smiled as he tasted his soup with the traditional porcelain spoon. “The soup is every bit as good as your intelligence.”

“Your gourmet preferences are well known.”

“I shall never be indicted,” Qin Shang said abruptly and indignantly. “I have too many powerful friends in Washington. Thirty senators and congressmen are in my debt. I contributed heavily to President Wallace's campaign. He considers me a loyal friend.”

“Yes, yes,” Qian Miang agreed with an airy wave of his chopsticks before attacking a dish of noodles with scallions and ginger prepared in the authentic manner. "But any influence you had has been drastically diminished. Because of unfortunate events, my dear Qin Shang, you have become a political liability to the People's Republic as well as to the

Americans. I'm told there is great activity in the White House to disavow any relationship with you."

“The influence our government enjoys in Washington was due in a large part to me. I bought and paid for access and favors that benefited the People's Republic.”

“No one denies your contribution,” said Qian Miang amicably. “But mistakes were made, disastrous mistakes that must be swept away before irreparable damage is done. You must quietly vanish from America, never to return. Qin Shang Maritime will still have access to all other ports around the world. Your power base with the People's Republic in Hong Kong remains strong. You will survive, Qin Shang, and go on adding to your incalculable assets.”

“And Sungari?” asked Qin Shang, picking at the squab soong with his chopsticks as his appetite rapidly waned. “What of Sungari?”

Qian Miang shrugged. “You write it off. Most of the money for its construction was subsidized by American business interests and in part by our government. Whatever it cost you, Qin Shang, will be recouped within six months. It is hardly a reverse that will affect your empire.”

“It pains me deeply to simply walk away from it.”

“If you don't, the American Justice Department will see that you go to prison.”

Qin Shang stared at the ambassador. “If I refused to divorce myself from all White House and congressional contacts, you're saying President Lin Loyang would turn his back to me, or perhaps even order my execution?”

“If it was in the best interests of the country, he would not blink an eye.”

“Is there no way to save Sungari?”

Qian Miang shook his head. “Your plan to divert the Mississippi River through your port facility on the Gulf was brilliant, but too complex. Better you should have built it on the West Coast.”

“When I originally presented the plan to Tin Tsang, he approved it,” Qin Shang protested. “We agreed that there was a dire need for our government to control a shipping port on the Atlantic side of the United States; a terminal to siphon illegal immigrants and goods throughout middle America and the eastern states.”

Qian Miang gazed at Qin Shang queerly. “Unfortunately, Internal Affairs Minister Yin Tsang died an untimely death.”

“A great tragedy,” Qin Shang said with a straight face.

“A new directive has been approved, one that places our priorities along the West Coast for the purchase of existing facilities, such as our acquisitions of the United States naval bases in Seattle and San Diego.”

“The new directive?”

Qian Miang paused before answering to taste a stew called curried beef. “President Lin Loyang has given Project Pacifica his total blessing,” Qian Miang answered.

“Project Pacifica? I have not been informed of it.”

“Because of your recent difficulties with the Americans, all concerned thought it best if you not be involved.”

“Can you tell me its purpose, or do our nation's leaders feel I am no longer worthy of their trust?”

“Not at all,” replied Qian Miang. “You are still held in high esteem. Project Pacifica is a long-range plan to split the United States into three countries.”

Qin Shang looked puzzled. “Forgive me, but I find that nothing more than an outlandish fantasy.”

“Not fantasy, old friend, but a certainty. Pacifica may not become a reality in our lifetimes, but with the migration over the next forty to fifty years of millions of our countrymen, respected geographic scientists are predicting a new Pacific-rim nation stretching from Alaska to San Francisco.”

“The United States went to war in eighteen sixty-one to prevent the Confederacy from secession. They could easily do it again to keep their house united.”

“Not if the central government was struck from two sides instead of one. What may even come earlier than Pacifica,” Qian Miang explained, “is Hispania, another new nation of Spanish-speaking people that will spread from Southern California across Arizona, New Mexico and the lower half of Texas.”

“I find it all but impossible to think of the United States divided into three sovereign nations,” said Qin Shang.

“Look how the borders of Europe have changed in the past hundred years. The United States can no more remain united for eternity than the Roman Empire. And the beauty of Project Pacifica is that when it comes to pass, the People's Republic of China will have the power to control the entire economy of the countries surrounding the Pacific Ocean, including Taiwan and Japan.”

“As a loyal citizen of my country,” said Qin Shang, “I would like to think I helped in some small way to make it a reality.”

“You have, my friend, you have,” Qian Miang assured him. “But first, you must leave the country by no later than two o'clock this afternoon. That's when, according to my sources at the Justice Department, you will be taken into custody.”

“And accused of murder?”

“No, willful destruction of federal property.”

“It sounds rather mundane.”

“Only the first tier of the government's case. The murder conspiracy at Orion Lake comes later. They also intend to indict you for the smuggling of illegal immigrants, guns and drugs.”

“I imagine the news media must be gathering like locusts.”

“Make no mistake,” said Qian Miang, “the fallout will be great. But if you quietly disappear and keep a low profile while conducting business from your offices in Hong Kong, I believe we can weather the storm. Congress and the White House are not about to throw a shroud over relations between our two governments because of the acts of one man. We will, of course, deny all knowledge of your activities while our Information Ministry creates a flood of misleading information by throwing all blame on Taiwanese capitalists.”