Jintao by Jack Phillip Hall

Author:Jack Phillip Hall [Hall, Jack Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781982935887
Published: 2019-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

26.

Three days later, in the cold subterranean lab, Quan stood behind a metal folding chair with his hands resting on its curved backrest. Von Ang in his white lab coat and McGowen in his usual turtleneck, listened as Quan put forth his relocation plan. It would be difficult, but it was necessary.

Quan’s resolve hardened as he spoke. “The work we’re doing is important and ultimately we’ll want to share it with the rest of the world; however, we need to protect it until we’re ready to publish. We’ve been sneaking and hiding and that can’t go on. The best way forward is to move the project to a place where we can work without interference. I’ve secured a place. It’s close to several major research centers, yet remote enough so that no one will bother us. It’s several thousand kilometers from here and it lacks infrastructure. We’ll have to build what we need. I know I’m asking a lot of you—relocating for the sake of this project—but I’ll make sure you have your current salary plus all expenses. I need you both. What do you say?”

Von Ang was first to speak. “I can tell you right now I am committed to continuing the research. Here or there is the same to me. I am away from home either way.”

“How long would I be gone?” asked McGowen.

“It could be a few months or a few years. Your guess is as good as mine. I understand this is a difficult decision. It goes without saying that, if you do go, you’d be free to return at any time, but I’d like at least a six-month commitment.”

“I get that we’ll be somewhere other than China,” said McGowen. “Exactly where would we be?”

“The reasons for the move are security and freedom to operate. The United States can give us both.”

“Can you be more specific?” asked von Ang.

“California,” replied Quan.

“As long as you can square things with corporate,” said McGowen, “I’m in.”

“I’ll take care of that,” said Quan. “Of course, we’ll all need visas, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Incidentally, did you talk to Wei?”

“Yep,” said McGowen. “He feels fine—no unusual side effects. We talked for half an hour. Says he’s available anytime we need him.”

“What about Dr. Lee?” asked von Ang. “Will she go along with us?”

“No. She won’t be coming.”

Dr. Lee’s absence was conspicuous. “Lee was our bioscience expert,” said McGowen. “How are you going to replace her?”

“We’ll get whatever and whomever we need,” said Quan.

Quan figured that someone must have tipped off the Central Science Committee and he suspected Diayu Lee. She was a government pensioner and was opposed to human trials from the start. Her decision to stay behind reinforced his suspicion.

“Without her, how will we obtain the molecular scans we need?” asked von Ang.

“We’ll buy a scanner,” Quan said bluntly. “I’d like you to look into that.”

“It’s going to be extremely expensive,” said von Ang.

“And we’ll buy a new reactor, a SSTAR unit. We’ll dispose of this one.”

“It’ll mean redesign of the system and it’ll take time to integrate the sub-systems.

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