‘That’s the trouble. It’s a long list.’
‘Speaking of trouble, what’s your take on the crisis in Korea?’
Jianjun sounded relieved to move away from an embarrassing topic. ‘Korea? We’re going to have to get tough sooner or later.’
That was his response to everything.
Kai decided it was time to try out his idea. ‘I’ve just talked to our best source in North Korea. He says the Supreme Leader is up against the wall – running out of weapons and liable to do something desperate. We need to control him.’
‘If only we could.’
‘Or get the Americans to restrain South Korea, persuade President No not to retaliate against whatever is Kang’s next move.’
‘We can hope.’
Pretending to speak casually, Kai said: ‘Or we could level with the White House and warn President Green that the Supreme Leader is so weak that he’s desperate.’
‘Out of the question.’ Jianjun was indignant. ‘Tell the Americans how weak our ally is?’
‘A situation like this calls for exceptional measures.’
‘But not downright treason.’
Well, Kai thought, I got my answer: the old guard won’t even contemplate the idea. He pretended to be convinced. ‘I guess you’re right.’ He changed the subject quickly. ‘I don’t suppose Mother would consider leaving town? Moving somewhere safer? Somewhere less likely to be bombed?’
There was a pause, then Jianjung spoke sternly. ‘Your mother is a Communist.’
That remark baffled Kai. ‘Do you imagine I didn’t know that?’
‘Communism is more than just a theory we accept because the evidence is good, like Mendeleev’s periodic table of the elements.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Communism is a sacred mission. It comes above everything else, including our family ties and our own personal safety.’
Kai was incredulous. ‘So to you, Communism is more important than my mother?’
‘Exactly. And she would say the same about me.’
This was more extreme than Kai would have guessed. He felt a bit stunned.
His father said: ‘Sometimes I think your generation doesn’t really understand.’
You got that right, Kai thought.
He said: ‘Well, I didn’t phone you up for a discussion about Communism. Let me know if you hear anything about these manoeuvrings against me.’
‘Of course.’
‘When I find out who has been trying to get at me through my wife, I’m going to cut his balls off with a rusty knife.’ Kai hung up.
He had been right to fear that Jianjun would be against the idea of coming clean with the Americans. Jianjun had been raised to see the capitalist-imperialists as lifelong enemies. China had changed, the world had changed, but the old men were stuck in the past.
But that did not mean his idea was wrong; just that it had to be carried out clandestinely.
He picked up his phone and dialled. His call was answered immediately. ‘This is Neil.’
‘This is Kai. I need to know whether you gave President No advance consent for her attack on Sino-ri.’
Neil hesitated.
Kai said: ‘We have to be honest with one another. The situation is too dangerous for anything else.’
‘Okay,’ said Neil. ‘But if you quote me I’ll deny it.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘The answer is no, we did not know in advance, and if we had, we would not have approved it.’
‘Thank you.’
‘My turn. Did you know Supreme Leader Kang was going to attack Jeju?’
‘No. Same thing. No forewarning, or we would have tried to stop it.’
‘What is the Supreme Leader thinking?’
‘That’s what I need to talk to you about. This crisis is worse than you think.’
‘Christ,’ said Neil. ‘That’s hard to imagine.’
‘Believe it.’
‘Go on.’
‘The problem is the weakness of the regime in North Korea.’
‘Their weakness?’
‘Yes. Listen. Half the North Korean military is controlled by the rebels now. Some of the other half was destroyed at Sino-ri. The Supreme Leader has scattered his mobile missile launchers around the country –’
‘Where?’
‘Bridges and tunnels.’
‘Shit.’
‘If not for that, what remains of the North Korean military could be wiped out with another two or three missile strikes from the south.’