Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

18 JEFF EDWARDS
Despite his hopes to the contrary, he had little doubt that the missile
test would be the topic of this meeting. He would know in a few seconds.
The Laws of Protocol were about to give him a final clue. He would be
able to take a reading on the disposition of the Americans according to
who was waiting to meet him at the entrance to the West Wing. If tempers
were reasonable, he would be greeted by David Spiros, the National
Security Council country officer assigned to China. If the Americans were
pleased with China, or if they wanted to ask a favor, they would send
Gregory Brenthoven, the national security advisor himself. If they were
truly angry, they would send a minor functionary from the NSC, probably
someone whom Tian would not recognize.
The limousine pulled out of the rain under the curved overhang of the
West Wing portico and stopped opposite the marble steps that led into the
White House. The rhythmic whunk-whunk of the wipers swept the
windshield uselessly a few times before the driver shut them off. Heart in
his mouth and lips pressed tightly together, Tian peered through the
steamy window toward the door at the top of the steps. It was guarded by
a pair of United States Marines in full dress uniforms. As was the custom,
one of the Marines came to attention and honored the Chinese Embassy’s
vehicle with a crisp salute. Then the guard dropped his salute and marched
down the steps to open the rear door of the limousine.
Able to learn nothing further from his vantage point in the back seat,
Tian uttered a sigh and, clutching his leather diplomatic pouch, pulled
himself from the automobile. Then, as Tian stood and straightened his
suit, the Marine came to attention again, and rendered a second salute.
Tian acknowledged the salute with a nod and started walking up the
steps. The damp night air enveloped him like an evil spell; he felt flares of
arthritic pain in his knees and hips, echoed dully by an ache of anxiety in
his chest. He concentrated on keeping his steps even and his face
implacable. One did not show weakness in the face of a potential
adversary.
The Marine remaining at the top of the steps opened the door, and Tian
caught sight of the person assigned to greet him. It was a youngish
woman, and Tian did not recognize her at all.
“Bao tian tian wu,” he said under his breath. Literally a reckless waste
of grain, but in this context it meant an ill omen. This was not going to go
well. He smiled and extended his hand for the woman to shake.
This was not going to go well at all.