“A takeover, a restructure?”
“She’s keeping her cards close to her chest. She knows what I am capable of. She seems to be getting independent advice…”
“From?”
“Unknown at present. I have my suspicions.”
“And?”
“I’d be looking at Russian interests bankrolled by European central banks.”
“Has she been compromised?”
“In the usual way corporate leaders are compromised. She was invited to Davos a few years ago. I’m tracing the connections, who she had dinner with, who she met in the bar. As you can understand it’s patchy. There are protocols in place to prevent intelligence gathering at that level.”
“Is this business as usual or something more sinister?”
“Could be both. As you know Shunyata has been generating huge amounts of cash. Tatiana and the board have fought off several strategic takeover attempts; maybe she’s getting tired of the battle. The central banks keep a keen eye on the global flows of money. They don’t like it when people operate too far outside their system. They may want part of the action, force a public float so they can invest and harvest the dividends.”
He could feel a tension headache forming. It had always been Tatiana’s job to deal with the banks. This necessarily involved dining with the devil. It was a risk they had all accepted. There were dinners, charity events, invitations to stay at ski chalets or on private islands… The temptations were many and varied. Perhaps Tatiana had formed a friendship with one of the wives or been tempted by an affair. There were certainly very intelligent and physically attractive people amongst the elite. “And the nature of the threat?”
“Perhaps restructuring, trying to isolate you and cut you out.”
“So she can get more money?”
“No, not personally. I think it is more insidious than that. It is possible she has become one of them, been gradually persuaded that the best future for humanity lies in their hands. The usual arrogance of the elites.”
“What’s at risk? Shunyata’s cash flow? She doesn’t know the detail of what I’m doing in Bhutan…”
“No, but she knows you are withholding proprietorial information. I think she’s been protecting you until recently… This may be an attempt to force your hand.”
“But she can’t act without coming through you.”
“Which is why this is dangerous. If she is looking for new partners then due diligence suggests they will instruct their own networks to investigate you and they will use the best. If they are Russians then we are talking about a sophisticated, ruthless, well resourced intelligence network.”
He was feeling sick. The Russians were well known for their extensive intelligence network and their habit of promoting former operatives to the office of president. The Russian state was in effect an extension of the shadow world of espionage directed to maximising the profit of a tight network of oligarchs.
“But her father worked so hard against the oligarchs.”
“I know. I have a gut feeling that Tatiana may have been approached by people connected to her father.”
“Double agents?”
“Triple, quadruple. Maybe there was something in her father’s past. Some trigger they used to prompt a shift in allegiance or her worldview. You know it’s a world of constantly shifting shadows. Nothing is ever what it seems.”
“So we should assume we are being watched?”
“We should assume there are already people on the inside and that we have been compromised. I’ve already alerted our network in Bhutan.” She was referring to their assets: government connections, paid friends in the army and the police, ordinary citizens working in hotels, internet cafes and restaurants paid a retainer to report any suspicious activity. Anyone hoping to spy on his activities would have to establish their own networks in Bhutan.
He had a sudden thought. “The Indians!”
“Yes, that would be a way in. The Russians have strong ties with certain sections of the Indian establishment. But that would also be obvious.”
“And our team?”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to tighten our grip. I understand Tshering has been a little free with what she knows.”
He was shocked. This was the stuff of paranoia. The thought crossed his mind that Sigyel may have been compromised at university. It was also possible that the Crickets had been compromised.
“And Jing?”
“He wants to establish is own corporation to explore robotics and nano. He thinks his contribution has not been fully appreciated. Tatiana knows Jing well. He may side with her if he gets greater recognition.”
“So we have to prepare for an aggressive takeover attempt and intensified scrutiny?”
“More than that, we have to assume someone already knows.”
“Which means we have to shift to the next level?”
“Yes, the best form of defence is offence. We have to assume they are now considering the best way to commandeer your project. We must also assume that they are smarter and have better resources than us. They won’t use direct force at first. They will try to narrow your choices so that your only option will be to capitulate quietly. My guess is that they will be as concerned as we are that this information not fall into the hands of their rivals. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me that the most they’ll ask for is a slice of the action, to get their people to Eden in a kind of power and profit sharing arrangement.”
“What, give them a continent or something?”
“Or a whole planet, or at least the technology to find their own. That will be their likely first offer. It will be about access. Wars are often a last resort, after access has been denied.”
He understood the theory. Aviva had often used the analogy of the British in China and the Americans in Japan, who had used violence to force trade. “Obviously you will need more funds?”
“Not necessarily. That may alert them that we know. We will have to go underground. They can’t know we suspect a thing.”
This was the worst option. An ethical nightmare. Underground meant the black market, the shadowy world of the illegal trade in contraband, drugs, guns and people. It meant that in order to try and solve the problem he would have to contribute to it. Aviva would expand her reach into criminal networks to launder cash and move weapons and mercenaries. It was unavoidable because all the corporate conglomerates had a black ops department. It would not just be a covert war, but a proxy covert war, one manipulated to look like criminal networks or terrorists engaged in turf wars. The Russian’s mafia connections battling Aviva’s mafia connections amongst the American Latino community, most of them ignorant of who was really pulling the strings: the way big money and government had always acted to get what they wanted.
Perhaps he was being foolish but he refused to let paranoia get a hold. He quit his office and went to his apartment. He knew Tshering would be at home with Pema and Nour. He told her everything, shared all his fears. She held his hand and stroked his face.
“You understand I have my own network? We have been keeping secrets for hundreds of years, preserving the tradition. You remember that Bhutan has never been taken over by foreign power. We are not naive.”
“But how can you help?”
“We have eyes and ears everywhere husband.”
He fell into her arms. It was something that Aviva could never appreciate. There was only one reason he was able to operate in Bhutan and that was because he had married into one of the most secret societies of all.
He knew he was protected.
97
Tshentso
Tshentso had asked to see them naked, in their full glory. They stood at ease proudly, glad to be able to show off their physical perfection, the boys gloriously erect and the girls with their legs spread so that their vulvas were in full view.
“Beautiful,” she said as she looked closely at each one. “See general, Eden’s finest.” She turned to look at general Norbu Wangchu
k, his face was flushed with embarrassment. “Really general, I expect more of you. Surely you have seen the paintings and statues of the naked dakinis with their yonis on full display, and the gods proudly displaying their potency? The ancients understood something you seem to have forgotten, that power comes from a fully potentised sexuality. A human who is in full control of their sexual potency is in full control of their bodies. The human body evolved as an integrated system. You cannot deny one aspect without harming another. Come general, feel this girl’s yoni. She is wet with anticipation, at the peak of her physical and mental powers.”
The general hesitated but he dared not disobey the Kumari, the reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal, the female Buddha who had mastered human sexuality. He looked at the girl’s strange bird eyes to see if she was concerned. They revealed nothing. He reached down, swallowed nervously and closed his eyes. He felt the folds of her labia and felt the wetness.
“It is her power general. And we will use it against our enemies. It will terrify them. Now shall we watch them fight? I believe you have not seen the new grapheme armour: light and strong. Magnus Torv, will you give us a display?”
Torv looked at Tshentso Jayarama. She had seen pictures but nothing had prepared her for her physical presence. She was small, locked permanently into childhood by genetic manipulation, yet she seemed ancient, her eyes filled with deep compassion and wisdom. She was dressed in the gold and yellow silk brocade clothing of her office, but she would still have commanded just as much attention if she too were naked.
Torv ordered her unit to put on their armour and demonstrate a number of routines designed to show their speed, agility and power. She had never seen them fight so well. It was clear they wanted to impress Tshentso and she rewarded them by watching their every move with her full attention, her gaze hypnotic. The poor general just stood with his mouth agape, awed by the display of martial skill.
When they had finished they again stood before Tshentso, their bodies glistening with sweat, their eyes wide with the rush of adrenaline. One girl began to shake.
“See general, she is having an orgasm. It is not unusual. She understands it is a natural release, the body’s response to the rush of hormones. She is not ashamed to allow this to happen before me.”
She smiled at the girl and the girl smiled back.
“Come general. We will let them shower and find sexual release. Magnus Torv, will you join us for refreshments, dressed as you are if you like?”
Torv nodded and dismissed her unit. She sighed as she watched them go. She wished she could join them, she was feeling horny herself. Tshentso sensed it but must have a reason for expecting her to remain in control.
“May I call you Amy,” said Tshentso as they walked towards the administration building.
“Yes, of course.”
“I was telling the general about the fierce aspect of the dakinis. Have you heard of the ancient Indian goddess Kali? She has been worshipped in this region for thousands of years. She is known by different names: she rules sex and death.”
“There were many Earth goddesses who ruled sex and death,” Torv added. “The Valkyrie, the Morrigan, the dakini…”
“Exactly. I have been trying to explain to the general that men came to fear the raw power of Kali. They tried to tame her. Yeshe Tsogyal embraced the full power of Kali. General, tell Amy about the fierce aspect of compassion.”
The general was still flustered. He had expected Magnus Torv to dress but instead she was wearing just her armour, her lower body naked. “Um, yes, well. There is lesser and greater compassion. The lesser compassion takes the form of sympathy and is narrowly focused on appeasing transient emotions. The greater compassion demands empathy for all beings.”
“According to the Buddha, that meant compassion for all beings, animal and alien,” said Tshentso. “It encompasses all possible worlds - all.”
“The Kumari constantly reminds us to broaden our horizon. Are our actions designed to improve just our own lives and the lives of our family, friends and nation, or are they designed to benefit all beings?”
“It expands the utilitarian principle of the greatest good for the greatest number,” said Tshentso. “And sometimes the use of violence may be justified if it benefits more than it harms. But violence should never be used to assuage the negative emotions like fear, anger and envy. We must have compassion for those we kill. It is this I expect from your unit. Calmness, compassion and detachment.”
“So it is true that we are to kill?”
Tshentso nodded but did not say anything. It was a rhetorical question.
“Here we are,” said Tshentso opening the door before the general. They walked down a narrow corridor with a creaky wooden floor and into a meeting room with a large antique wooden table and chairs. Two overhead fans provided some relief from the dry heat. Tshentso indicated for them to sit and asked them if they would like some water.
The general objected, “Kumari, please let me…”
Tshentso smiled. “No general, as you serve me, let me serve you. Perhaps you can begin by outlining our problem.”
Torv removed her breastplate before she sat. The general was momentarily distracted by the sight of her breasts. She thought she should cover them but realised that Tshentso had asked her to remain naked for a good reason. Perhaps it was to teach the general detachment, or to remind him that technically he was on Edenoi diplomatic territory and he would have to get used to their ways. Perhaps it was to remind her to be proud of her Edenoi heritage.
“Um, yes, well. The Republic has been suffering an increased number of raids on its border with the Pashtun tribes. They come to collect a tribute, a tax: livestock, grains and people.”
“People?”
“Yes, to enslave and to sell.”
She was horrified. She had heard that some on Earth had reverted to slavery but it still seemed impossible.
“They pick the best, boys and girls. We have attempted to broker some sort of truce but our envoy was beheaded and only his head returned.”
Torv shook her head and looked toward Tshentso for some for of support, but she was busy pouring them glasses of water.
“The next year we attempted to stop the raids by force. We engaged one of their raiding parties but we failed. They are fierce fighters. They killed five of our men and I’m afraid to say the rest fled. It was a rout.”
Tshentso returned with the glasses on a tray. “It was a wise decision. They were outclassed.”
“It was a tactical disaster. They do not fear us and they have become bolder as a result, pushing further into our territory.”
“And you want us to stop them?” Torv asked.
Tshentso returned to side table and retrieved a cardboard folder. Tshentso noted her surprise. “You’ll get used to these primitive ways of exchanging data. Now I must warn you that the folder contains some very disturbing images.”
Torv opened the folder. She couldn’t recall ever handling paper. The first image made her feel sick.
“Some of the people resist. They are tortured and killed. This is the bloated corpse of a ten year-old girl. She resisted and was gang raped, vaginally, anally, then a sword was inserted into her vagina and she was sliced open and eviscerated, all while she was alive.”
Torv wanted to throw up. “But why?”
“To dominate, terrorise, punish. These tribes consider brutality a virtue, as a sign of strength. Look at the next picture.”
It depicted an infant skewered on a spike. The next showed a bearded man holding a head as trophy.
“They hold cancerous ideas of ethnic and religious superiority. They are able to kill because they believe their victims are inferior. They call them dogs, kufir, dirty, contaminated, worthless. They believe that they alone are superior and virtuous, guided by a divine destiny. But who is the real barbarian?”
Torv felt rage and disgust boiling inside, her heart was pounding.
“So you understand the nature of our enemy,
but what I will ask you to do now is to have compassion for these brutal men,” said Tshentso calmly, her voice soothing her rage.
“Why show these savages compassion?”
“Because each of them was once a child, a child that had been brutalised and given no choice but to become cruel in order to survive. Many of them would have been raped and beaten by men who had likewise been raped and beaten before them. An endless cycle going back thousands of years and deeply ingrained in the culture. Everyone of these men suffers from chronic traumatic stress. They live in constant fear. They know that if they show any weakness they will be ostracised and pushed to the margins, possibly even killed themselves.”
“I’m confused,” protested Torv, her face pale from the shock. “Don’t you want us to kill them?”
“Yes,” said Tshentso placing a reassuring hand on her arm. “Every single one. Each man you kill has probably killed many innocent people. If we do not stop them they will go on to kill more. It is a pragmatic problem. I have not been able to think of another way. Take one life to save many lives. But I do not want your team to do it out of anger. I want them to do it out of compassion, to end their suffering and the suffering they will cause. We have received word about a raiding party headed towards Kohat. You will attack them before they get there and you will kill everyone of them, except for the youngest. You will give him the head of the leader and tell him to return to his point of origin with a message.”
“You want us to slaughter them?”
“Yes, dressed as Edenoi. Let them see your eyes, your fangs and your cunts. They are very superstitious people, they will think you are demons, jinn. They do not fear men but they do fear ghosts, fear what they do not understand.”
Tshentso held her gaze. Torv could only see a deep compassion. “I see, a psychological tactic…”
“Yes. If we just kill them all then their masters will send a search party. Upon finding the bodies they will seek revenge by killing everyone in the nearest village. If rumours about demons, especially female demons, spread amongst the raiders, they may very well stop coming east.”
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