Chapter 12

The marina in Victoria was modest. A few dozen fishing boats lined piers and docks that jutted from the side of the beach into the Pacific. The waves lapped lightly onto the side of the hulls, bumping the boats into the cushioned buoys on the pillars that kept the docks from sinking into the ocean below.

The moon was out, and the lack of unnatural light from the town inland allowed for the stars to shine bright in the dark, cloudless sky above. Gordon was nestled in the middle of his armed escort, with both Jake and Sydney on either side of him.

The wood panels creaked under the boots of the Class 3s, marching down the dock. Their uniforms and guns blended into the darkness around them as they cut through the night.

“It should be at the end of the dock,” Gordon said.

“I hope these chinks deliver, Gordy,” Kriken said. “Because if they leave us stranded here, you’re going to have a very big problem on your hands.”

Gordon could feel a chill crawl up his spine that he chose to blame on the cool night air. Sheng had told Gordon the boat would be marked with an orange light, glowing from the inside of the cabin. He kept his eyes peeled, searching left and right, trying to locate the boat that would grant them their freedom.

The boats grew larger the farther they walked out on the dock. Jake kept looking around nervously, his hand hovering just outside his jacket for his pistol.

“Will you calm down?” Gordon asked. “Christ. You’re making me nervous.”

“I don’t like this,” Jake said. “We’re too exposed. If we get ambushed here, the only way out is on one of these boats, and I don’t know how to swim.”

“Then don’t fall out.”

Finally, Gordon saw the distinct orange glow coming through the cracks of one of the doors of a cabin. “Wait. Here,” Gordon said, pointing to the ship’s deck.

Kriken and the rest of the Class 3s aimed their rifles at the boat and slowly boarded. The moment Gordon let his foot hit the side of the boat’s hull, a man dressed in a business suit stepped out of the cabin, and the orange light flicked off.

“Mr. Reath,” the man said. “My name is Lu Feng. I’ve been instructed to walk you through the negotiations of your deal with President Sheng.”

Lu was escorted by a few armed guards himself, all of which were wielding automatic weapons. Gordon motioned for the sentries to lower their weapons, which they did so slowly and reluctantly.

“I hope Sheng didn’t think he could change the terms of our agreement at the last second, because it seems to me that I brought more guns than you did,” Gordon said.

“I’m simply here to confirm a reasonable amount of your soil data to ensure that President Sheng isn’t wasting resources on something that doesn’t exist. Do you have the sample?” Lu asked.

Gordon nudged Sydney, who extended a small thumb drive. “There should be enough gene sequences on there for you to see that we’re not bluffing. We’ve discovered a way to enhance the soil to a level with triple to quadruple the soil’s natural properties,” Sydney said.

Lu inserted the drive into a laptop, and the entire boat was silent, rocking gently back and forth, as the data was analyzed. Despite the cool demeanor, Gordon was losing control of his internal functions as he had trouble trying to breathe. Lu removed the drive from the laptop and extended it back to Sydney. “Most impressive. As agreed we will receive the full data upon your arrival in Bejing.”

“So now what?” Gordon asked. “I hope we’re not swimming to China.”

“The boats will take us just north of the city, upon where we’ll make landfall on the peninsula. We have a jet waiting for you,” Lu said.

“Well, I hope it’s a bigass jet,” Kriken said.

“I was unaware you would have so many… associates joining you,” Lu replied.

The boat rocked as Kricken’s men grew uneasy, and he stepped forward between Gordon and Lu. “What the fuck is going on here, Gordy?”

“We’ll make sure there is room,” Gordon said, his mouth suddenly drying. He could see Jake reaching for his pistol. The sentries had a mix of guns pointed at Lu and his men, Gordon, Jake, and Sydney.

“These three boats are here for our disposal,” Lu said. “One of my men will be escorting you on each boat.”