Citizen One (46 page)

“I gather that you will be aware of our little problem,
tong zhi
?”

A curious phrase to use, ‘our little problem’. Curious and dangerous.

“You will have seen the wild accusations that were placed on the Internet. But the situation is now all in hand,
tong zhi
.”

Citizen One not responding.

“There are, of course, concerns. The adverse publicity, the potential threat to the Olympic Games.”

The General Secretary’s eyes cast down. Too much to be seen within them.

“However, I have ordered a concerted campaign of denial,
tong zhi
. As we speak, our mighty press is denying that the video footage or the photographs within these files are genuine.”

“But they are genuine, Comrade General Secretary.”

No response from the politician.

“We are also countering strongly the allegation that prostitution, at the epidemic levels that would appear to be the case from the figures seen in the reports, actually exists.”

“But it does exist, Comrade General Secretary. And our beloved People’s Liberation Army is living off it. As are some of our most noteworthy high
cadre
.”

Exasperation now in the General Secretary’s words.

“We have also been in close touch with the International Olympic Committee. They held an emergency meeting yesterday in Geneva to discuss the situation. I have not yet had the results of that meeting, but I am extremely confident that they will find in our favour.”

“Confident, General Secretary? Extremely confident?”

“Completely, Citizen One. A number of our more prominent supporters within the movement have accepted an invitation to visit us, once the fuss has died down a bit. They will be suitably rewarded.”

“And how will they be ‘suitably rewarded’, Comrade General Secretary? Perhaps with underage whores, of whom there would seem to plenty of at the Dedo Club in the Bailemen Hotel? Or the Shanghai Moon Club? Clubs in which your colleagues, Comrade Peng and Comrade Lui, appear to be the majority shareholders.”

Laying his cup down. Staring deeply into the
tong zhi’s
eyes. Power, authority, anger, a cocktail not to be drunk lightly. Standing, the General Secretary, his arms braced solidly on the table.

“I have been patient in listening to you, Citizen One. Very patient. Even though your star has waned and your lineage is in its grave. Still I have listened. But I take no advice from one who lives on charity given over half a century ago.”

His face flushed purple as he walked toward the double doors.

“And I take no orders from one who does not have the power, the authority, or the muscle to back them up.”

Pulling the doors open. The security officers standing to attention, their cheap linen jackets tensing over slumbering pistols.

“Go back to your
mah-jongg
and your aged courtesan, Comrade Citizen One. It is safer. Die in your own bed,
tong zhi
, and not in some ugly place.”

The reply disconcerting in its calmness.

“I suggest, Comrade General Secretary, that you turn round and read what it is that I have in my hand. It could save you your position within the People’s Republic. Perhaps even your life.”

A second when everything hangs by a single thread. Out of the corner of his eye, the General Secretary recognising the seal at the top of the sharp-cornered letter. The seal of the President’s personal office. Turning, the comrade, walking back to the table. Accepting the letter from Citizen One’s hand. A nod to the security officers. The double doors closing.

“I am sure that you recognise the signature and seal of authority of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Hu Jintao.”

Halfway through reading the letter, sinking to the chair.

“Our new President is a personal friend. We often play
mah-jongg
. A thoughtful player, Comrade Jintao. Before every move, much, much thought. Never a decision made without assessing every risk and taking into account every angle.”

The letter falling onto the table.

“And much, much thought in the writing of this letter, giving me total authority, in the handling of this situation. It appears that my star has not yet waned, Comrade General Secretary. But, since fate has declared that we must work together for the greater good, let us waste no more time. This is what I require of you.”

The General Secretary, survivor of the Cultural Revolution and a dozen other purges, already adjusting to the new situation. Neatly folding the letter and handing it back to the
tong zhi
.

“First you will order the immediate arrest of Comrade Qi and his princeling associates. Your instructions on how these murderers and traitors shall be dealt with will follow. Then you will order, through the PSB, an immediate purge on the ‘old’ of prostitution. Their Vice Squad will be resurrected and afforded appropriate, no, more than appropriate funds.”

The General Secretary taking a pen and gold-cornered notebook from his inside pocket.

“You will also order an amnesty for the PLA, the PSB, and the highest
cadre
within our government and Party apparatus, to disclose and surrender any business interests that they may have in this vile ‘old’ that causes so much misery.”

Waiting for the Comrade General Secretary to finish writing.

“You will arrange for the murdered young women’s bodies, entombed in concrete, to be recovered from the waters in the vicinity of Big and Little Yangshan Island, Hangzhou Bay. The exact co-ordinates will be furnished to you. These young women’s funeral costs will be met by the Party in full.”

Citizen One taking a letter from a file.

“A letter from the International Olympic Committee. News from the meeting in Geneva. I had it intercepted. Your confidence was ill-founded, Comrade Su-Tu. It is being recommended that, on human rights grounds, the Olympics be withdrawn from our country. It is being recommended that they be held in Athens once more. Where, and I quote from the head of the IOC, ‘the atmosphere is more conducive to the ideals of the Olympic movement’.”

His gaze riveted on the General Secretary.

“For the sake of the People’s Republic, we must work together to find a way of preventing this disaster, Su-Tu.”

“I’m flattered, Comrade Citizen One, that you should regard me as a colleague.”

“Colleague! I do not regard you as a colleague. Your role in this is simple. You will find a way to push the shit back up the horse’s arse, Comrade General Secretary. Or you will find out how the will of the People’s Republic can be fashioned into the shape of a bullet.”

The General Secretary nodding submissively.

“Here are some detailed orders together with all of the necessary briefing papers, and some ideas that I have fashioned that might focus your thoughts, Su-Tu.”

Handing a substantial file to the General Secretary.

“I know that you are familiar with Golden Rice, Su-Tu, because, in the name of the People’s Republic, you contributed several million dollars towards its development, as did a number of other countries. What you do not know, however, is that although the official reports about Golden Rice were most favourable, that was only because dissenting voices were brutally repressed. In essence, Comrade General Secretary, Golden Rice is a myth. It does not deliver the promises that our Colonel Qi claimed, to you and to others.”

Su-Tu nervous, feeling his way, but still his mind functioning with the clarity that had got him to the top of the pyramid.

“The key question is, and please correct me if I am wrong, Comrade Citizen One, being whether those nations who invested in Golden Rice still believe in it?”

“Yes, they believe in Golden Rice, but the very existence of a dissenting report makes that position untenable.”

The General Secretary waiting for the point of this exchange, but not having to wait long.

“As an experienced politician, do you see how we can extricate ourselves from this situation in which we find ourselves?”

An inner-smile, but Su-Tu keeping his face of polished jade.

“Legality, the politician’s first port of call. And legally whatever contract was drawn up with these countries could simply be torn up, Comrade Citizen One. They were dealing with rogue elements within our People’s Republic. They had no official negotiations with the Party, and so no understanding exists. But to admit to such would be a great loss of face, and to tear up such a contract would alienate us from these counties.”

Standing.

“However, and if I might be permitted, Comrade Citizen One.”

A nod of the head.

“One could allow this agreement, this understanding, to still go ahead, but a rider could be added to it, unwritten, of course.”

“And what would this addition to the agreement between our countries consist of, Comrade General Secretary?”

Carefully stepping, ready to change the direction of his journey at the merest hint of disagreement or disapproval from the old
tong zhi
.

“They would be delivered their Golden Rice and the technical data to assist their own research programmes, and we would be delivered their vote within the International Olympic Committee.”

“And what about other rice-eating nations within the IOC? I refer to those who are not involved in the development of Golden Rice?”

“Of course, Comrade Citizen One, how remiss of me. Such nations would, of course, be allowed to benefit from Golden Rice, but perhaps at slightly less advantageous terms. They would understand that the initial investors would expect some reward for their risk. And of course their solidarity in respect to their dealings with the IOC.”

“And the IOC members who represent non-rice eating nations?”

“They would simply receive a substantial bonus to their consultancy fees that they received for voting for us to host the Olympics in the first place.”

The
tong zhi’s
look of disgust and reluctant admiration.

“I can see, Comrade Su-Tu, that there is some truth in the saying that the prospect of the firing squad serves to concentrate the mind.”

The General Secretary more confident now, ignoring the comment.

“However, Comrade Citizen One, if we look a few years ahead, the outcomes are even better. Either our scientists will have succeeded in solving the problems with Golden Rice – in which case we will reap the benefits of our boundless generosity, or …”

The Comrade General Secretary, with the experience of a thousand committee rooms.

“By then, Comrade Citizen One, we will have had our highly successful Olympic games, this great showcase for our nation.”

Smiling.

“And what air you breathe, cannot be taken back. And as we will undoubtedly be the strongest economic power in the world by then, we will simply smile and apologise. Voice our most profound regrets and refund all of the investments into Golden Rice at a handsome premium. Golden Rice, that at first had held so much promise, but which turned out to be rather a disappointment.”

“Yes, good Su-Tu. Very good.”

“But, Comrade Citizen One, America may be a different matter. They will wish to rub our noses in this unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in. They will wish to make political capital out of what was placed on the internet.”

Rising, the
tong zhi
, leading Su-Tu to the door by his elbow, as the master leads the hound.

“America, General Secretary Su-Tu …”

Walking through the doorway, the comrade, and into the corridor. Security officers moving into position.

“Yes, a problem America. Always a problem …”

Pushing the indented button to summon the elevator.

“But I am sure that a plan will fall into our laps. Yes, something will fall into our laps, it normally does.”

“Is there something that you know that I do not know, Citizen One?”

Elevator doors opening. Pressed steel and mirrored walls. A thousand Citizen Ones in endless ranks of reflections.

“Comrade General Secretary, there is always something that I know that you do not.”

Stepping into the elevator, Su-Tu.

“I shall expect progress reports from you, General Secretary. Every day, by 5 p.m.”

Elevator doors closing, steel slipping across steel, the elevator falling blindly into darkness.

In the background of the call, noises that the old
tong zhi
missed. A baby crying, a couple arguing, a drunk singing and a child playing at being a soldier.
Renao
… life, hot and spicy.

Shaking his head. He had grown apart from the people, with the tobacco-hued soil of the land long since scrubbed from his fingernails. A penthouse suite at the
Heping
, the Hotel of Peace, had its compensations, especially for an aged comrade as he. But what were the sounds of such a place? Just the music of the till registers, the repetitive melodies that sang from the elevators, gold-toothed crooners singing songs of other cultures and American tourists complaining about their arthritis and the water pressure on the fourth floor.

“
Ni nar
.”

“Deputy Investigator Yaobang, I got your message. You wish to talk to me.”

“Who the fuck is this?”

Laughing, the old comrade.

“Someone that you first met as a child within a painting, Comrade Yaobang.”

“Shit. Sorry Comrade Citizen …”

“Do not speak my name, Deputy. Walls, they have …”

“Ears. I know, Comrade. But this is too important to piss around.”

In the background, the sound of a child’s imaginary war. Citizen One’s voice raised above the clamour.

“What do you want of me, Deputy?”

“The Boss, Comrade. The Senior Investigator, he’s alive.”

“What?”

“Sun Piao, he’s alive.”

“You know this for sure, Deputy?”

“He’s in a
lao gai
. Facility – 4, near Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province. They call it Righteous Mountain.”

“Deputy, these details, how do you know them?”

“Qi’s computer, we intercepted an email sent to it two hours ago by the Russian, Kanatjan Pasechnik. I have it here. It says, ‘the investigator, Piao, do I have your full authority in this matter’. They’re going to fucking kill him.”