“Let me guess,” interjected Franco. “There was a problem.”
“Yes and no,” said the Admiral. “They took these modified seeds and brought them out to the company’s test farm on Kauai. They were in such a rush to conduct field experiments that they didn’t declare what they were doing or obtain clearance to bring in their plants. That is against the law, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture takes that law very seriously. The HDOA found out about this relatively early on in their plan and, with the help of the USDA, they shut down the whole farm. The state laid a big fine on the company, which the company paid in a quick settlement so none of them would go to jail. They also voluntarily surrendered all their plants, seed stocks, and records of the project kept in Houston. They gave them to the USDA on condition that they would be returned to them if this protein became a commercial product and that the USDA would keep them updated on all issues related to the quarantine. All in all, it was a reasonable settlement for the company.
“The USDA took the plants to their quarantine facility on Molokai and destroyed the rest of the plants in the field on Kauai. What the USDA found with these plants was nothing short of spectacular. This strain of rice is not only drought resistant, and has about a 20 percent protein content, it also grows like a weed, and self-propagates. It’s very invasive. Instead of the usual rice growing cycle of 120 days, this rice matures in no more than 90 days and under the best conditions, as quickly as 60 days. It’s almost a completely different plant.”
“Okay, what’s the problem?” asked Franco.
“The problem is that the USDA seed stocks were stolen and smuggled out of the country. This super rice could make the sellers super rich and once again, this is U.S. technology being pirated.”
Franco asked, “Why do you think it’s this group in Hong Kong?”
“Rorke will tell you more of the story when you take the job.”
“I thought this was all private enterprise. Obviously, Rorke is government, right?”
The Admiral said, “Let’s just say that Rorke’s team works for me.”
“The warning bells are starting to go off now,” said Franco.
“No, Franco, listen to me, and remember you are just a rear echelon observer. Trust me.”
“Who do you work for these days, Admiral? I thought you were out of the Navy and settling into a quiet private life.”
“I still work for the American people. I retired from the Navy. I didn’t retire my patriotism. I do what I can when I’m asked.”
Franco changed the subject. “Okay, sir, let’s go back to the crime.”
“Sure,” said the Admiral. “Rorke’s team investigated the whole story of the theft and we think we have it all worked out.”
“When did all this happen?” asked Franco.
“We think the theft was about a year ago. We only recently confirmed a lot of the details. We figured out that an employee at the USDA facility was in on the theft. We determined that one of the Hong Kong brothers was the smuggler. By the way, the passport we think he used to come in to the U.S. never left. That helps to make the case that he smuggled himself and the seeds out of the country.”
“All right, where does your team fit in?”
“Very simply, we want to see if we can find out where the seeds went and who owns them now. Rorke’s team will be going to China to see if they can learn more about what the brothers have done. I want you to join that team in Hawaii and go to Hong Kong with them. It shouldn’t take long. Either we find the rice or the trail runs cold quickly. Any questions so far?”
“No, sir.”
“Are you in?”
Franco said, “It sounds too easy to me. Is there a catch?”
“I hope not,” said the Admiral. “I have to tell you this is getting under my skin. Although I don’t imagine we’ll be able to extradite the thieves from China, if a company imports Chinese rice with the same genetic signature as the USDA seeds, the owners will be able to make a case for patent infringement. It would be useful to know where they’re growing it so we can be better prepared for the long international legal harangue that will surely come.”
The old man shook his head and added, “This industrial theft has to stop, and we have to put these guys out of business.”
Franco listened and the old man began again. “Right now though, we are flying a little blind. When we have a better idea of the situation, we can make plans to deal with it.”
Franco kept quiet.
“Well?” asked the old man. “What’s your answer?”
“Sir, I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to you.’”
“Good. Welcome aboard.”
“Thanks,” said Franco, without much enthusiasm.
The Admiral took another sip of water before speaking. “There is another person involved in this who you need to know about.”
“Okay.”
“Remember your old friend from Chicago, Dr. Paul Sloan?”
“Yeah, I remember everything about that trip—mostly, very bad memories.”
“I understand. Well, Sloan is involved in this, too.”
Franco groaned. “I don’t know why, but I’m not surprised.”
“Sloan had serious personal problems after his Chicago project. He started to drink, then became a steady drinker, and then became a drunk. He sank pretty low.”
“That’s a shame,” said Franco.
“Yes, although the story doesn’t end there for the good professor,” continued the Admiral. “He woke up one day and saw what a shambles his life had become, and he took the cure. Apparently, he’s been dry since.”
“How is he involved in this?”
“I don’t know if you knew this… Sloan had a big job at the USDA after the Chicago situation. He was a very capable guy, and for the time before he crashed, he was well regarded. When he went on the skids, they were going to fire him, then he took the pledge, did the rehab, and they kept him on. They still didn’t trust him, though, and they gave him a window seat since he screwed up so badly. When he dried out, they arranged for him to be a “special assistant” to the USDA station chief in Hawaii. They figured it was a nice way to ease him into retirement. However, we need Sloan on this project. Evidently, if you know what you’re looking for, you can tell the super rice plants from normal rice by the veins in their leaves. It’s extremely subtle, particularly in the field. I’ve looked and I can’t tell the difference, although Sloan can determine which are the modified rice plants. Because we need his expertise, even with the security risk that he’s a recovering alcoholic, he’ll be attached to the team.”
“All right,” said Franco. “Let’s hope this turns out differently than the Chicago mission.”
“It will,” affirmed the Admiral.
“One other thing,” said Franco.
“What?”
“Why did they make this rice protein anyway? What was it going to do?”
“As far as I know,” said the Admiral, “it was going to be for an ulcer healing product. You eat the medicine and the ulcer quickly disappears.”
“It sounds interesting.”
“It was interesting enough for the rice genetics company to leap into production before the medicine was even tested in people.”
“The person making that decision must enjoy taking big risks.”
“He does. You’ll meet him in Hawaii.”
“I hope this assignment is as easy as you think it will be.”
“I’m sure it will be,” said the Admiral. He pointed out the opposite window. “The catering truck is here. Let’s have lunch. Before we eat, I have your check for coming here today.”
The Admiral removed an envelope from a seat pocket next to the desk.
“I’ll do my best for you, Admiral.”
“You’ve never let me down yet. You’re going to enjoy
working with Rorke, and I need you to stay close to Sloan.”
“How close?” asked Franco.
“Not that close. Not surveillance,” said the Admiral. “I just need you to be available if Sloan needs a friend to talk to. I don’t want Sloan speaking to anyone about the stolen rice. He knows that, but I figure if he’s interested in having a conversation with someone he shouldn’t, it would be good if he had an old friend available to talk him out of it. You saved his life once and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll trust you if he happens to have any doubts about tracking down these Chinese thieves.”
“I’ll do what I can, sir.”
“You’ll do fine. Sloan is absolutely critical to this investigation and I need for him to know you’re there for him if he wavers in any way in his commitment to helping us and his country. That is your main job.”
“It sounds easy enough. Is there any reason he wouldn’t help?”
“I hope not,” said the Admiral.
“Okay, then. I’m in.”
“There is one other thing,” said Pauling.
“Yes, sir?”
“Keep an eye on Rorke for me. I don’t expect any problems, but let me know if you see anything that bothers you.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“No, Franco, but I trust your judgment. Just let me know if you have any concerns.”
“Very well.”
“Good, your tickets and travel itinerary are in this envelope. I also included a cell phone with my private number for you to contact me if there’s an emergency. Otherwise, all communications will go through Rorke.”
“Yes, sir,” said Franco.
“Good. Welcome to the team. I’m happy we’re working together again,” said the Admiral. “Let’s eat.”
“Yes, I look forward to working with you again... I guess,” said Franco reluctantly. He left the couch to follow the Admiral to the table as the sandwiches were brought to the cabin.
***
Franco left after eating half a sandwich. Pauling said goodbye to him and as soon as he left, the Admiral picked up the phone on his desk. He dialed, and spoke.
“Are you going to be okay having my friend Franco on the team?” he asked.
The old man listened to the brief reply and said, “Franco is a very steady hand. He can keep his mouth shut, and he’ll be more than willing to take risks if you need him to. Above all, Sloan owes him his life and if things ever start to unravel, Franco might be invaluable in helping you bring the professor back to the fold. Besides, I owe Franco from the last time I used him, and I like being able to pay him back.”
After a few moments, the Admiral responded, “Good. Franco will join your team in Hawaii. Play nice.”
***
Franco’s return flight was uneventful and, on approach, the pilots called down to Stewart to arrange a taxi for him. The cab was at the airstrip when Franco arrived and it drove him back to his home. Franco entered and saw that Ani had moved everything of hers out. She left no trace, only a note.
“Be happy, be careful, and don’t let anything happen to that cute face. – Good-bye, Ani.”
Franco sighed as he realized that a chapter in his life had just been completed. He packed his bags, and checked the travel itinerary and tickets the Admiral had included in his payment envelope. The commuter flight out to Invercargill and the connections to Auckland and Honolulu were not until tomorrow. He would say an indefinite goodbye to his barman, have dinner and a couple of drinks, and think about all he was about to leave behind.
CHAPTER 4
Nine Months Earlier
Lantau Island, at the mouth of the Pearl River, was a short drive from the mainland over the Ma Wan Channel and surprisingly rural compared to the congestion of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The island was best known for two attractions—the Giant Buddha statue and Hong Kong Disneyland. Away from these tourist magnets, the low green mountains of the island, the ancient fishing villages, and the secluded beaches provided a welcome retreat from the crush of the city. The only reminder of the urban congestion was the constant flow of jets to and from the international airport on a landfill island off to the north.
Liu Jun and Liu Chao drove without speaking in the light, late morning traffic. The tunnel traffic off Hong Kong Island was mild, and the congestion across the Tsing Ma Bridge from the mainland was minimal. They exited the highway near the airport and crossed the spine of the island toward the south coast by a winding secondary road. Close to the island’s southern coastal plain, they turned onto a less traveled lane that led to a private road blocked by a steel chain-linked gate. Chao was driving, and he stopped the car to pull open the gate. He drove the car past the gate, returned to close the gate, and continued driving down the private lane lined with rows of bushes and flanked by the densely growing low scrub that was common on the island. After a few bends, the land cleared and a cultivated field came into view. Two small buildings, a modest house and a tool shed, stood close to the lane. Rice was growing in the paddy fields. A hand-lettered sign on a broken board hung on the shed. Written in traditional script, the sign read “Happy Stream Farm.”
Standing between the buildings, an old man wearing a large straw hat and tall rubber boots stood with a rake watching the car approach. As it neared, he leaned his rake against the shed and walked toward the visitors. The car stopped and the two passengers opened the car doors.
Jun walked to the old man and bowed. The farmer returned the greeting.
“Uncle Quan, how are you?” asked Liu Jun.
“Very well, and how are you? Was your trip difficult?” asked the old man.
“No. It was very easy today. Chao is an excellent driver, and he made the trip in good time.”
“I am happy to hear that,” said Uncle Quan. “I hope young Chao didn’t speed too much.”
Chao walked over to the two men. “Uncle, I am careful not to upset my older brother. I took very good care of him today.”
“I would expect nothing less, Chao,” said the old man, grinning.
Chao gestured to the paddy. “How are the children growing?”
Quan looked pleased. “You won’t believe it. I planted two mu with the seeds you gave me and the rice is doing amazingly well. Let’s have tea first, and then I will show you.”
Quan left the two without further words and they followed him to the small house.
They climbed a single wooden step onto a narrow porch and walked into the house. The simple kitchen was the entrance room and it contained a worn wooden table and four chairs off to the side. A small bedroom with a bed and a grass mat on the floor was off the kitchen. A kettle rested on the small propane cooktop. Quan warmed the kettle and prepared the tea while his visitors spoke quietly to each other.
He placed the small teacups on the table and invited his visitors to join him there.
“How is the city?” asked Quan. “Is there any exciting news?”
“There’s always exciting news,” said Chao. “Between business and the government, the newspapers are full. We have no shortage of things to talk about.”
“Is there anything that will bother an old farmer like me?”
“Probably not.”
“Good. I don’t need any extra information. My old head is too full these days to remember much anyway.” He tapped a finger against his bald scalp.
Jun spoke, “We don’t worry about that. We just need your memory to remember the family stories and to remember how to grow rice.”
Quan took a sip of his tea. “I just wish your father could have lived to be here with us to see this. It is almost too easy to grow this rice. It seems to grow itself.”
“Please explain, Uncle. What do you mean?” asked Chao.
“I’ve not seen anything like it. I plant it in water and a few weeks later I see other shoots nearby where
I didn’t touch. This rice has a mind of its own.”
“Is there any problem with that?” asked Chao.
The old man spoke. “There’s no problem except that old peasants like me who only know how to grow rice will not be needed.”
“We’ll always need you, dear uncle,” said Jun.
“Maybe for the stories of the old days when your father and I were children,” said Quan, “but not to grow rice from the seeds you gave me. They will make me even more obsolete.”
“I’m sure that is not true. Do you think we could grow this rice?”
“Well, that would be a good test for these special seeds,” replied the old man. “I’m sure your Father would be surprised in the afterlife if his two city boy sons were growing rice.”
“You could be a farmer,” said Jun to his brother.
Chao took a sip of his tea. “No, it is always the first son who receives the land. You should be the farmer.”
“Let me tell you a few other things about your seeds,” said Uncle Quan. “Not only does your rice grow almost on its own, it grows very fast and it makes flowers in weeks. The grain comes rapidly and you can see it much earlier than normal rice. These seeds are quite impressive.”
“Those are Chao’s magic seeds,” said Jun to the old man. “He found them and brought them to their rightful home.”
“Yes, we are the home of rice,” agreed the old man. He looked at Chao, “What were the Americans going to do with these seeds before you found them?”
“I don’t know. I think they were hoarding them because with their corn and wheat, they do not need rice like we do. I think their agricultural lobby of wheat and corn growers may have put pressure on their government to withhold these seeds.”
The Rice Thieves Page 4