cc.goldenbuddha-第55节

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k　of　an　eye；　Halpert　had　moved　1。292　million　into　already　existing　accounts。　The　money　would　not　remain　there　long。　
　Next；　Gizo　Properties　and　Paisen　Industries；　through　a　special　shareholders'　resolution　that　Halpert　drafted　and　passed；　each　agreed　to　buy　stock　in　two　more　panies。　The　first　was　Alcato；　based　in　Lisbon；　the　second；　Tellemedics　of　Asuncion；　Paraguay。　Both　of　these　panies　were　operating　concernsAlcato　built　specialized　marine　electronics；　Tellemedics　made　telemetry　equipment　used　in　hospitals　throughout　South　America。　The　Portuguese　pany　had　a　book　value　of　3　million　U。S。；　the　Paraguayan；　nearly　10　million。　
　Both　had　been　secretly　owned　by　the　Corporation　for　nearly　a　decade。　
　Halpert　pulled　up　the　corporate　records　of　both　and　found　sufficient　cash　reserves　for　his　plan。　
　With　the　legs　now　in　place；　he　looked　for　the　torso。　
　He　would　need　a　recognizable　and　stable　platform　that　would　appeal　to　the　Corporation's　soon…to…be　partners。　For　this　he　could　only　use　Central　Europe。　Halpert　needed　a　pany　based　in　a　country　with　rock…solid　political　stability；　iron…clad　currency　and　worldwide　recognition　of　financial　wherewithal。　He　scanned　his　database　and　found　he　had　three　panies　to　choose　fromthe　first　was　based　in　Basel；　Switzerland；　the　second　in　Luxembourg；　the　third；　which　he　favored；　in　Vaduz；　Liechtenstein。　
　Liechtenstein　it　was。　
　Albertinian　Investments　S。A。　was　a　currency…and…gold…trading　concern　that　had　proved　widely　successful　since　the　recent　upward　move　in　precious　metals　prices。　The　pany；　secretly　controlled　by　the　Corporation；　owned　a　beautiful　six…story　building　in　Vaduz；　where　it　occupied　the　top　two　stories；　had　a　cash　balance　in　accounts　amounting　to　over　18　million　U。S。；　and　frequently　invested　in　other　panies　that　showed　promise。　
　Next；　Alcato　and　Tellemedics　passed　corporate　resolutions　making　loans　of　1。25　million　each　to　Albertinian　Investments。　These　were　posed　of　the　monies　transferred　from　Gizo　Properties　and　Paisen　Industries；　plus　some　cash　from　the　coffers　of　each。　Albertinian　Investments　agreed　to　pay　each　pany　7　percent　interest　for　the　loans；　as　well　as　an　option　to　convert　the　loans　to　stock　at　a　set　price　for　the　next　five　years。　The　trail　of　money　was　being　cloudier　by　the　minute。　There　was　now　an　extra　5　million　of　washed　and　clean　funds　in　Albertinian　Investments。　
　Halpert　sipped　from　a　glass　of　iced　tea。　Then　he　entered　the　mands　into　the　puter　and　Albertinian　Investments　offered　to　buy　Cataluna　Esteme　for　the　50；000　asking　price。　The　transaction　would　take　several　hours　for　the　attorney　in　Andorra　to　plete。　
　Next；　Halpert　scanned　a　base　of　lawyers　the　Corporation　had　used　in　the　past　in　Spain。　Finding　one　in　Madrid；　he　dialed　the　telephone　and　　waited。　
　〃Carlos　the　Second；　please；〃　he　said　in　Spanish　when　the　receptionist　answered。　〃Mr。　Halpert　calling。〃　
　Exactly　forty…two　seconds　later；　the　lawyer　came　on　the　line。　
　〃Sorry　for　the　wait；　Mr。　Halpert；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃What　can　I　do　　for　you？〃　
　〃I　need　you　to　fly　to　Andorra；　immediately；〃　Halpert　said。　〃We　are　buying　another　pany。〃　
　〃Standard　protocol？〃　the　lawyer　asked。　〃Open　bank　accounts；　rent　offices　and　such？〃　
　〃That's　the　idea；〃　Halpert　said；　〃and　we　need　it　done　yesterday。〃　
　〃I'll　need　to　charter　a　plane；　then；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃I　doubt　there　are　mercial　flights　available　at　this　late　hour。〃　
　〃We　will　approve　the　costs；〃　Halpert　said。　
　〃How　big　are　you　looking；　sir？〃　
　〃The　initial　funding　will　be　ten　million；〃　Halpert　said。　〃Five　will　be　a　direct　loan　from　one　of　our　divisions　in　Liechtenstein；　the　second　five　will　be　in　the　form　of　a　line　of　credit；　available　immediately。〃　
　〃I　understand；　sir；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃I'll　leave　right　away。〃　
　〃One　more　thing；〃　Halpert　said。　〃Find　us　a　public　relations　firm　in　AndorraI　have　a　feeling　what　we　are　planning　will　garner　some　press　interest。〃　
　〃Anything　else？〃　
　〃If　there　is；〃　Halpert　said；　〃I'll　contact　you　when　you　reach　Andorra。〃　
　〃Very　good；〃　the　lawyer　said　as　he　hung　up　the　telephone。　
　Then　the　lawyer　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　smiled。　He　knew　his　rather　excessive　fees　would　be　paid　in　cashwhich　he　would　fail　to　report　to　the　tax　authorities。　Reaching　for　the　telephone；　he　called　a　local　pany　to　charter　a　prop…jet　for　the　trip　north。　
　
　LIKE　BEING　KICKED　by　a　mule；〃　Cabrillo　said　over　the　noise　of　the　droning　engine。　
　Pilston　was　closing　the　side　door　of　the　Antonov。　She　wrestled　it　in　place　and　held　it　closed　while　Michaels　locked　it　down。　Cabrillo　placed　his　hand　on　the　Golden　Buddha　to　stabilize　himself；　and　then　removed　the　package　of　papers　and　the　satchel　of　food。　He　placed　them　on　the　floor；　then　unsnapped　the　harness　and　set　it　aside。　He　stared　around　the　cargo　bay　of　the　Antonov　before　walking　forward　to　the　cockpit。　〃How's　she　fly；　Tiny？〃　he　asked　as　he　slid　into　the　copilot's　seat。　〃She's　as　slow　and　steady　as　a　diesel　trawler；〃　Gunderson　answered。　〃Did　you　get　any　sleep？〃　
　〃Yep；〃　Gunderson　said。　〃Tracy　needed　to　rack　up　some　flight　time；　so　she　and　Judy　flew　us　here　from　Vietnam。〃　
　Cabrillo　nodded　and　turned　his　head　back　to　the　cargo　area。　〃How'd　it　go　with　Mr。　Silicon　Valley？〃　he　asked。　
　〃We　made　it　through；〃　Michaels　said。　
　〃I　want　to　apologize　to　both　of　you；〃　Cabrillo　said　quietly。　〃If　there　was　any　other　way　。。。〃　
　〃We　know；　sir；〃　Pilston　said。　〃It　was　just　a　joband　we　treated　it　as　such。〃　
　〃Still　。　。　。　；〃　Cabrillo　said；　〃it　was　above　and　beyond　what　we　should　ask　of　you。　I　approved　a　special　bonus　for　you　both；　and　Hanley　has　scheduled　you　for　a　month　off　with　pay　as　soon　as　we　finish　this　mission。　
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　Michaels　said。　〃And　this　helped　soften　the　blow　somewhat。〃　
　She　held　up　the　stack　of　bearer　bonds。　
　〃I　trust；〃　Gunderson　said；　〃you　mean　that　figuratively　and　not　literally。〃　
　
　THE　U。S。　AMBASSADOR　to　Russia　sipped　from　a　small　glass　of　vodka；　then　smiled　at　President　Putin。　The　men　were　seated　in　front　of　a　roaring　fire　inside　the　presidential　offices　in　Moscow。　Outside；　a　spring　storm　was　finally　exhausting　itself　after　dumping　nearly　a　foot　of　wet　snow　on　the　capital　city。　Soon　the　first　flowers　would　pop　their　heads　from　the　soil。　Then　it　would　all　turn　green。　〃How　much　are　we　talking　about？〃　Putin　asked。　〃Billions；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃And　the　structure？〃
　〃As　you　know；〃　the　ambassador　said；　taking　another　sip；　〃this　is　not　a　United　States　government　operation。　For　all　intents　and　purposes；　'i　you　will　be　making　the　agreements　with　a　separate　pany　that　we　subcontract　with。〃　
　〃But　they　work　for　you？〃　Putin　asked。　
　〃Not　on　paper；〃　the　ambassador　said；　〃but　we　have　used　them　in　the　past。〃　
　〃Give　me　some　details；〃　Putin　said　as　he　rose　to　stoke　the　fire　with　a　poker。　〃I'd　like　to　know　with　whom　I'm　getting　into　bed。〃　
　〃They　call　themselves　the　Corporation；〃　the　ambassador　noted　quietly。　〃They　handle　things　of　a　sensitive　nature　for　us　and　other　countries。　The　pany　has　specialized　skills；　huge　amounts　of　funding　and　an　unparalleled　reputation　for　integrity。〃
　〃They　can　be　trusted？〃　Putin　asked。　
　〃You　may　consider　their　word　their　bond；〃　the　ambassador　confirmed。　
　〃Who　runs　this　Corporation？〃　Putin　asked。　
　〃A　man　named　Juan　Cabrillo；〃　the　ambassador　answered。　
　〃And　when　do　I　meet　this　Juan　Cabrillo？〃　Putin　said；　turning　from　the　fire；　placing　the　poker　back　in　the　rack　and　sliding　into　the　armchair。　
　〃He　will　be　in　Moscow　late　this　evening；〃　the　ambassador　said。　
　〃Good；〃　Putin　said。　〃I　wele　the　chance　to　hear　him　out。〃　
　The　ambassador　finished　the　small　glass　of　vodka　and　waved　away　Putin's　attempt　to　refill　it。　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃how　much　hassle　are　you　getting　from　the　Chinese？〃　
　〃Enough；〃　the　Russian　president　admitted；　〃but　not　more　than　we　can　handle。〃　
　〃If　you　need　to；〃　the　ambassador　asked；　〃are　you　ready　to　go　in？〃　
　Putin　pointed　to　a　folder　of　papers　on　the　table。　〃There　is　the　plan。　In　less　than　twenty…four　hours；　we　can　cross　the　Tarim　Basin　in　a　lightning…fast　raid　and　reach　the　border　of　Tibet。〃　
　〃Let's　hope　it　doesn't　e　to　that；〃　the　ambassador　said。　
　〃If　I　have　to　order　that　approach；〃　Putin　said；　〃I　want　your　president　on　paper　supporting　that　move。　There　is　no　other　way。〃　
　〃We　don't　think　you'll　need　to　do　that；〃　the　ambassador　said。　〃It　won't　go　that　far。〃　
　〃Just　know；〃　Putin　said；　〃if　we　stand　uphe　does　too。〃
　〃I'll　let　him　know；〃　the　ambassador　said。　
　
　THEY　APPEARED　OUT　of　nowhere；〃　the　head　of　Chinese　state　security　said。　
　Chinese　president　Hu　Jintao　stared　at　the　man　with　barely　concealed　contempt。　
　〃Five　hundred　Buddhist　monks　just　materialized　out　of　the　mist　in　People's　Park　in　downtown　Beijing？〃　Jintao　said。　〃That's　some　magic。〃　The　man　sat　mute。　There　was　nothing　to　say。　
　〃And　they　are　chanting　and　calling　for　Tibetan　freedom？〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　man　from　state　security　said。　
　〃When　was　the　last　time　we　were　faced　with　a　Tibetan　protest？〃　Jintao　asked。　
　〃In　Beijing？〃　the　man　said。　〃It's　been　over　a　decadeand　then　it　was　tiny　and　easily　dispersed。〃　
　〃And　this　one？〃　
　〃It's　growing　by　the　minute；〃　the　man　admitted。　
　〃I've　got　a　massive　Russian　war　exercise　on　the　border　with　Mongolia；　Tibetan　separatists　in　downtown　Beijing