Silence of Ash by Smith Adrian J

Author:Smith, Adrian J.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Great Wave Ink Publishing
Published: 2022-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Kwun Yam Buddhist Temple, Hong Kong

Despite his advanced age of ninety-eight, Robert still found little things that fascinated him. Like all the technological and social changes. In many ways, the world had grown into something he had only dreamed of as a young man. He looked over the Hong Kong cityscape from his seat in the Buddhist Temple and smiled. Little things like this place of peace and contemplation, tucked away in one of the most densely populated places on Earth. He had visited this spot many times over his life and doing so always allowed him to refocus. He and the Prendergast family were at a critical stage of their ambitious plans. Nullifying the threat of Offenheim had been stage one. Now he had to deal with Ibrox and Santander. He was particularly worried about the reports of Russian troops amassing on the borders with China and down through central Europe. So far nothing had come of it, but diplomatic communiques had done little to calm his tension. When he and the other three founding members had sat down in that Parisian club in 1948, it had been part of the original modus operandi to be peaceful and share everything equally to advance humanity. Robert sighed and glanced at the statue of the sitting Buddha in front of him. “Both fools, weren’t we?” He rubbed the belly. “Both fools to think we could change the world.”

Crunching footsteps on the path behind him warned him of his son’s approach.

“You don’t still believe in this god stuff, do you?” Alastair said.

“Buddha was a teacher, not a god.”

“Potato, potahto.”

Robert gestured to a pagoda overlooking Victoria Harbor and beckoned his son to follow. “Edwards?”

“On his way. We had a little trouble on Lantan Island.”

“I told you to shut that place down and seal the vault,” Robert said, sitting on a well-worn oak bench.

“And we will. After this founding family palaver. Gregory has already started shipping out the workers.”

“To where? I never authorized this.”

Alastair pulled his lips tight and stared at Robert. “Twenty years ago, you told me you were going to retire, and for me to prepare to take over the family business.”

“You weren’t ready. You still frequented the nightclubs of Ibiza, for Pete’s sake.” The blood rushed in Robert’s ears. It did most times he talked to his eldest son. Alastair was headstrong and stubborn. Arrogant, with a tendency to think of himself as royalty. Robert disliked his son’s choice in staff. Swelling the ranks of their security detail with men and women who had little tolerance of anyone unlike them. He had noticed the tattoos, heard the snarky comments directed at some of his personal staff.

“You weren’t ready,” Robert repeated, calming his voice.

“Ten years ago, you told me the same, and five. Last year as well.”

“Good things come to those who wait.”

“Spare me your Buddhist mumbo jumbo.” Alastair glared, then softened his expression. He placed his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “Lantan Island will be dissolved as you asked. Once we’ve extracted the last shipment of palladium, we’ll have a monopoly on any future electronic development.

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