Honorable Enemies (1994) Read Online Free PDF Page B

United in the morning."
    Holcomb reached for his reading glasses. "United flight one eighty-seven, departing at zero-eight-twelve. One of the FBI people will be on the flight with you, and the other agent will join you during your stop in San Francisco. Any questions?"
    "Yes, sir," Wickham answered while he viewed another replay of the cold-blooded attack at Pearl Harbor. "Do you happen to know the name of the agent in Chicago?"
    "Marcus Callaway," he answered with a pronounced nasal accent. "He's a crackerjack ballistics expert and antiterrorism specialist."
    Steve scrawled as fast as he could. "General, is there anything else you can tell me about the shooting incident?"
    "You know as much as I do," Holcomb answered lightly, "but we'll have a full brief sent to the FBI agent in Chicago so you can go over it tomorrow during your flight."
    "Yes, sir."
    "Stephen." Holcomb paused for a moment. "The Chief told me that we--the CIA and FBI--had better close ranks and find out who's behind this incident, so I damn sure expect results."
    "Yes, sir."
    "We can't afford to have the situation spiral out of control," Holcomb stated flatly, "like that goddamn Rodney King fiasco."
    Wickham forced his reply to be pleasant. "I understand, General. Have a nice evening."
    "The same to you."
    "Thanks."
    Steve absently placed the receiver down and mentally replayed the Pearl Harbor video, then raised the phone and returned the call from his former wife. She was out for the evening, so he left a message and hurried to shower, pack, and drive to Andrews Air Force Base.

    Chapter 4.
    OSAKA, JAPAN
    The small air-conditioned bus followed Shinsaibashi-suji Boulevard across the river into Higashi ward, then turned toward Osaka Castle.
    An attractive, quietly gracious young Japanese woman gripped the handrail at the front of the cabin and continued her running commentary. "The original castle was built in 1586 by the Grand Chancellor--Dajo-daijin--Toyotomi Hideyoshi and was then the largest castle in Japan. Chancellor Hideyoshi, who paved the way for the feudal age, required his military commanders to contribute stones during the three-and-a-half-year construction effort."
    The group of elderly couples paid close attention to the polite guide as the bus slowed near Osaka Castle.
    "The largest rock"--her delicate mouth smiled--"is known as Higo-ishi and was brought here by the celebrated General Kato Kiyomasa from the island of Shodo. The rock is almost six meters high and fourteen and a half meters in length."
    The driver brought the vehicle to an imperceptible halt while the lady finished her narration. "After Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son, Hideyori, was defeated at the Battle of Osaka by the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the besieged castle was destroyed.
    Hideyori, the last of the Toyotomi, committed suicide while the castle was being plundered."
    She glanced at the historic building, then continued the commentary. "Later, for reasons of prestige, the Tokugawa Shoguns rebuilt the castle. When the Meiji Restoration forced the Shogunate to abdicate in 1867, the castle was burned down by the retreating Tokugawa forces. The present castle is made out of reinforced concrete and was constructed in 1931."
    She placed the microphone on its hook. "If you'll please follow me."
    The quiet passengers, some of whom were helping each other to their feet, suddenly heard an engine rev to a high-pitched scream. They turned to see an oncoming truck racing toward their compact bus. What shocked them most was the large flamethrower that was protruding from the top of the van behind the cab.
    A split second after the driver leaped from the truck, the flamethrower shot a high-pressure stream of blazing incendiary fuel straight into the side of the small tour bus.
    The American passengers and their Japanese guides screamed in panic and backed toward the far side of the vehicle. Their desperate efforts were in vain. Three seconds later, the large delivery truck plowed into the bus