First Strike Read Online Free PDF Page B

decommissioned and there’s just a small force left to guard the place.”
    â€œSo we can get going, then,” said Rich. “Washington, here we come!”
    â€œIf we’re going anywhere,” said Jade, as Mr Chang kept trying to start the car. The engine coughed and spluttered, then died.
    â€œSoon. Mr Chang’s contact says there’s been unusualactivity at the base recently. Convoys of lorries and increased security. It is also in the area where Mr Chang says Ralph had some business contacts.”
    â€œSo you want to go and take a look?” Jade guessed.
    â€œSeems sensible.”
    â€œSeems suicidal,” she said. “You can’t just wander in and ask if they’ve got any old nukes left or whether the rebels have taken them all.”
    Chance held up two small plastic cards. “Actually, I can. These are high-level security passes for a military inspection team. Mr Chang and I are going in to take a look round. If we ever get going.”
    The engine finally caught and Mr Chang smiled and gave them a thumbs up.
    â€œJust the two passes?” Rich asked as they pulled away.
    â€œThat was all he could get,” said Chance, rather too quickly.
    â€œYou mean it’s all you asked for,” said Jade.
    Mr Chang cleared his throat. “Paid for, actually. They were not cheap.”
    â€œNothing is,” said Jade. “Except slave labour.”
    â€œAnd what do we do while you’re gate-crashing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Former Nuclear Base Party?” Rich wanted to know.
    â€œI have a sister who lives not far from the base,” said Mr Chang. “She will look after you. She is a good cook. And Yoshi is good at eating.” He said something to Yoshi, who grinned, and mimed shovelling food into his mouth.
    They left the car at Mr Chang’s sister’s house. It was little more than a wooden hut, with a living space that obviously doubled as a bedroom, and a little kitchen off that. There was a toilet and washroom, which were surprisingly sophisticated compared with the antiquated kitchen. Chang’s sister bowed in welcome and loosed off a barrage of fast, unintelligible conversation.
    Chance and Mr Chang changed into Chinese military uniforms that Mr Chang’s contact at the clothes factory had also provided. Chance had to struggle into his uniform, and the jacket wouldn’t do up. But he made a passable Chinese soldier. They set off on foot as the evening was drawing in, and were soon lost to sight.
    â€œRight,” said Jade as soon as they were gone, “the big question is, can we persuade Yoshi to show us the way to this base?”
    Rich shook his head. “No way. The big question is, how quickly can Yoshi’s aunt cook us some food before he shows us the way to this base?”
    â€œActually, the big question is whether we can make Yoshi understand what we’re asking,” Jade decided.
    The boy was standing beside them outside the little house. For once, he wasn’t smiling. He pointed at Jade, then he pointed at Rich, and then he pointed at himself.
    â€œUs, all of us, yes?” said Jade.
    Yoshi pointed to them all again, then he pointed down the road in the direction his father and Chance had gone. He mimed walking on the spot.
    â€œAll of us, follow them,” Rich interpreted. “Looks like language isn’t a barrier after all.” He bent down to talk to the boy. “We need to tell your aunt that we’re going out. And any chance of something to eat first? I’m starving.”
    Yoshi shrugged and shook his head. He obviously had no idea what Rich was asking.
    They got through the main gates with no problem. If the guard wondered how the two official inspectors from Army HQ had got to the base on foot, he knew better than to ask.
    Mr Chang did the talking, while Chance kept his head down—literally, so his face could not be seen under his uniform cap.