cc.floodtide-第111部分

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　Thanks　to　the　massive　hull　of　the　United　States　acting　as　a　barrier；　the　flood　tide　that　hurtled　toward　the　Atchafalaya　was　robbed　of　the　immense　power　of　the　Mississippi。　After　spreading　across　the　marshlands；　the　wild　waters　diminished　to　a　wave　less　than　three　feet　high　when　it　reached　Morgan　City。
　
　Not　for　the　first　time　had　the　mighty　Mississippi　been　prevented　from　forging　her　way　into　a　new　channel。　The　battle　between　men　and　nature　would　go　on；　and　eventually　there　could　be　but　one　oute。
　
　April　30；　2000　Washington；　D。C。
　
　CHINA'S　AMBASSADOR　TO　THE　UNITED　STATES；　QIAN　MIANG；　was　a　portly　man。　Short；　hair　styled　in　a　crewcut；　face　fixed　in　a　constant　little　grin　that　almost　never　revealed　teeth；　he　reminded　those　who　first　met　him　of　a　sculpture　of　a　contented　Buddha　with　its　hands　supporting　a　round　stomach。　Never　behaving　like　a　dogmatic　munist；　Qian　Miang　was　a　very　gracious　man。　Supremely　confident；　he　cultivated　many　powerful　friends　in　Washington　and　moved　through　the　halls　of　the　Capitol　and　White　House　with　the　ease　of　a　Cheshire　cat。
　
　Preferring　to　do　business　capitalist…style；　he　met　with　Qin　Shang　in　the　private　dining　room　of　Washington's　finest　Chinese　restaurant；　where　he　often　entertained　the　city's　power　elite。　He　greeted　the　shipping　magnate　with　a　warm　two　handed　shake。　〃Qin　Shang；　my　dear　friend。〃　The　voice　was　jolly　and　congenial。　Instead　of　Mandarin；　he　spoke　perfect　English　with　a　trace　of　a　British　accent　absorbed　during　three　years　of　schooling　at　Cambridge。　〃You　have　neglected　me　during　your　stay　in　town。〃
　
　〃My　humble　apologies；　Qian　Miang；〃　said　Qin　Shang。　〃I　have　experienced　pressing　problems。　I　was　informed　earlier　this　morning　that　my　project　to　divert　the　Mississippi　River　past　my　port　of　Sungari　has　failed。〃
　〃I　am　quite　aware　of　your　problems；〃　replied　Qian　Miang　without　loosening　his　smile。　〃I　cannot　suggest　otherwise；　but　President　Lin　Loyang　is　not　happy。　Your　smuggling　ventures；　it　seems；　have　bee　a　substantial　embarrassment　to　our　government。　Our　long…standing　strategy　to　infiltrate　high　level　government　offices　and　influence　American　policy　toward　China　is　threatened。〃
　
　Qin　Shang　was　shown　to　a　high…backed　chair　carved　out　of　ebony　before　a　large　circular　table　and　offered　a　choice　of　Chinese　wines　the　ambassador　kept　stocked　in　the　basement　of　the　restaurant。　Only　after　a　waiter　pulled　the　cord　to　a　chime　to　announce　his　entrance；　poured　the　wine　and　exited　the　room；　did　Qin　Shang　speak。　〃My　carefully　laid　plans　were　somehow　thwarted　by　the　INS　and　NUMA。〃
　〃NUMA　is　not　an　investigative　agency；〃　Qian　Miang　reminded　him。
　〃No；　but　their　people　were　a　direct　cause　of　the　raid　on　Orion　Lake　and　the　disaster　at　the　Mystic　Canal。　Two　men　in　particular。〃
　Qian　Miang　nodded。　〃I　have　studied　the　reports。　Your　attempt　to　kill　NUMA's　special　projects　director　and　the　female　INS　agent　was　not　a　wise　judgment；　certainly　one　not　condoned　by　me。　This　is　not　our　homeland；　where　such　things　can　be　carried　out　in　secret。　You　cannot　run…what　do　they　call　it　in　the　West…roughshod　over　citizens　within　their　own　borders。　I　am　instructed　to　tell　you　that　any　attempt　to　murder　NUMA　officials　is　strictly　forbidden。〃
　〃Whatever　I　have　done；　old　friend；〃　said　Qin　Shang　bluntly；　〃I　have　done　for　the　People's　Republic　of　China。〃
　〃And　Qin　Shang　Maritime；〃　added　Qian　Miang　quietly。　〃We　go　back　too　far　to　delude　one　another。　Until　now；　as　you　have　profited；　so　has　our　country。　But　you　have　gone；　not　one　but　several　steps　too　far。　Like　a　bear　that　has　knocked　a　nest　of　bees　from　a　tree；　you　have　maddened　a　swarm　of　Americans。〃
　Qin　Shang　stared　at　the　ambassador。　〃Am　I　to　assume　you　have　instructions　from　President　Lin　Loyang？〃
　〃He　wished　me　to　convey　his　regret§；　but　I　am　to　tell　that　from　this　moment；　all　operations　by　Qin　Shang　Maritime　will　cease　within　North　America；　and　all　your　personal　ties　to　the　American　government　are　to　be　terminated。〃
　Qin　Shang's　normally　controlled　demeanor　cracked。　〃That　would　spell　the　end　of　our　smuggling　operations。〃
　〃I　think　not。　The　government's　own　shipping　pany；　China　Marine；　will　substitute　for　Qin　Shang　Maritime　in　all　smuggling　as　well　as　the　legal　transportation　of　Chinese　goods　and　materials　into　the　United　States　and　Canada。〃
　〃China　Marine　is　not　half　as　efficiently　run　as　Qin　Shang　Maritime。〃
　〃Perhaps　so；　but　since　Congress　is　demanding　public　investigations　into　Orion　Lake　and　the　debacle　on　the　Mississippi；　and　the　United　States　Justice　Department　is　in　the　process　of　building　a　case　for　your　indictment；　you　should　consider　yourself　fortunate　that　Lin　Loyang　hasn't　given　orders　to　surrender　yourself　to　the　FBI。　Already；　the　news　media　is　calling　the　destruction　of　the　levee　and　the　ocean　liner　the　United　States　an　act　of　terrorism。　Unfortunately；　lives　were　lost　and　the　ing　scandal　is　certain　to　expose　many　of　our　agents　around　the　country。〃
　The　chime　announced　the　arrival　of　the　waiter；　who　entered　the　private　room　with　a　tray　of　steaming　dishes。　He　artfully　arranged　the　dishes　around　the　table　and　retreated。
　〃I　took　the　liberty　of　preordering　to　save　time；〃　said　Qian　Miang。　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind？〃
　〃An　excellent　selection。　I　am　especially　fond　of　tomato…and…eggdrop　soup　and　squab　soong。〃
　〃So　I've　been　told。〃
　Qin　Shang　smiled　as　he　tasted　his　soup　with　the　traditional　porcelain　spoon。　〃The　soup　is　every　bit　as　good　as　your　intelligence。〃
　〃Your　gourmet　preferences　are　well　known。〃
　〃I　shall　never　be　indicted；〃　Qin　Shang　said　abruptly　and　indignantly。　〃I　have　too　many　powerful　friends　in　Washington。　Thirty　senators　and　congressmen　are　in　my　debt。　I　contributed　heavily　to　President　Wallace's　campaign。　He　considers　me　a　loyal　friend。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Qian　Miang　agreed　with　an　airy　wave　of　his　chopsticks　before　attacking　a　dish　of　noodles　with　scallions　and　ginger　prepared　in　the　authentic　manner。　〃But　any　influence　you　had　has　been　drastically　diminished。　Because　of　unfortunate　events；　my　dear　Qin　Shang；　you　have　bee　a　political　liability　to　the　People's　Republic　as　well　as　to　the
　Americans。　I'm　told　there　is　great　activity　in　the　White　House　to　disavow　any　relationship　with　you。〃
　〃The　influence　our　government　enjoys　in　Washington　was　due　in　a　large　part　to　me。　I　bought　and　paid　for　access　and　favors　that　benefited　the　People's　Republic。〃
　〃No　one　denies　your　contribution；〃　said　Qian　Miang　amicably。　〃But　mistakes　were　made；　disastrous　mistakes　that　must　be　swept　away　before　irreparable　damage　is　done。　You　must　quietly　vanish　from　America；　never　to　return。　Qin　Shang　Maritime　will　still　have　access　to　all　other　ports　around　the　world。　Your　power　base　with　the　People's　Republic　in　Hong　Kong　remains　strong。　You　will　survive；　Qin　Shang；　and　go　on　adding　to　your　incalculable　assets。〃
　〃And　Sungari？〃　asked　Qin　Shang；　picking　at　the　squab　soong　with　his　chopsticks　as　his　appetite　rapidly　waned。　〃What　of　Sungari？〃
　Qian　Miang　shrugged。　〃You　write　it　off。　Most　of　the　money　for　its　construction　was　subsidized　by　American　business　interests　and　in　part　by　our　government。　Whatever　it　cost　you；　Qin　Shang；　will　be　recouped　within　six　months。　It　is　hardly　a　reverse　that　will　affect　your　empire。〃
　〃It　pains　me　deeply　to　simply　walk　away　from　it。〃
　〃If　you　don't；　the　American　Justice　Department　will　see　that　you　go　to　prison。〃
　Qin　Shang　stared　at　the　ambassador。　〃If　I　refused　to　divorce　myself　from　all　White　House　and　congressional　contacts；　you're　saying　President　Lin　Loyang　would　turn　his　back　to　me；　or　perhaps　even　order　my　execution？〃
　〃If　it　was　in　the　best　interests　of　the　country；　he　would　not　blink　an　eye。〃
　〃Is　there　no　way　to　save　Sungari？〃
　Qian　Miang　shook　his　head。　〃Your　plan　to　divert　the　Mississippi　River　through　your　port　facility　on　the　Gulf　was　brilliant；　but　too　plex。　Better　you　should　have　built　it　on　the　West　Coast。〃
　〃When　I　originally　presented　the　plan　to　Tin　Tsang；　he　approved　it；〃　Qin　Shang　protested。　〃We　agreed　that　there　was　a　dire　need　for　our　government　to　control　a　shipping　port　on　the　Atlantic　side　of　the　United　States；　a　terminal　to　siphon　illegal　immigrants　and　goods　throughout　middle　America　and　the　eastern　states。〃
　Qian　Miang　gazed　at　Qin　Sh