The Lotus Code by Brian Walker

Author:Brian Walker [Walker, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Dai Li lounged in the back seat of his opulent car, meticulously leafing through a stack of confidential reports. The convoy inched its way through the metropolis, the thronged streets compelling them to maintain a frustratingly sluggish pace. Suddenly, their route was obstructed by the detour they had to take to circumvent a street that had been rendered impassable. Japanese bombers had wrought havoc just yesterday, toppling towering structures that now lay in ruin, their debris strewn across the thoroughfare.

Casting a sidelong glance at an aide occupying the front seat, Dai Li inquired about the preparations for his evening rendezvous with the enchanting woman from Beijing. The aide promptly assured him that all the arrangements had been meticulously finalized. Dai Li, wielding his power without hesitation, was accustomed to indulging his desires with almost any woman he chose, whenever he chose. The captivating lady for tonight had previously delighted him, and his appetite for her companionship remained unquenched. Perhaps he'd even add another enchantress to the mix to infuse their liaison with a fresh layer of intrigue.

Finally, Dai Li arrived at the apartment of the Generalissimo, where he was ushered inside. The room was shrouded in a dim, somber ambiance, with a pair of lamps casting patches of yellowish light that seemed to struggle against the prevailing gloom. On the coffee table, a copy of Time Magazine lay, its cover displaying the January issue bearing the title 'General & Mme. Chiang, Man & Wife of the Year.' In this portrait, the Chiangs appeared relatively informal, devoid of smiles, yet with resolute determination etched into their countenances. In the mere five months that had elapsed since that cover photo, an avalanche of events had unfurled – the ceaseless retreat from Japanese forces, the harrowing Nanking Massacre, an assassination attempt on Madame Chiang, preparations to defend Wuhan, and the perplexing German pivot to forsake the Chinese in favor of their archenemy, Japan. It was this last development that Dai Li had come to discuss with the Generalissimo.

Both the Generalissimo and Madame Chiang made their entrance into the room, settling side by side on the expansive sofa. Dai Li, the visitor, stood before them, offering a respectful bow. "General. Madame Chiang. Thank you for seeing me at such short notice. I hope it isn't an inconvenience."

"We understand that you would only come if it were necessary. Please, have a seat," replied the General.

Dai Li took a position across from them, his document case finding a place on the floor beside his chair. In this solemn setting, there was no need for notes or pleasantries. Dai Li launched straight into his report, his countenance devoid of emotion as he addressed the powerful couple. "Yesterday, we discovered two deceased German nationals here in Wuhan. We had been surveilling them for some time, knowing they were somehow entangled with German intelligence. Their lifeless bodies were found in a hotel, accompanied by a stockpile of weapons, ammunition, and grenades. It appears they may have engaged in a deadly confrontation.

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