She directed her comments to Cooper. “We have your plants growing in our greenhouse, away from the other plants. We have gradually introduced other species near them to assess their invasiveness. We are simultaneously exposing them to a battery of indigenous insects to assess if there is any effect on them. We will also alter conditions for rainfall to determine what will happen to the plant mix in semi-drought conditions. When we are satisfied with the safety of these laboratory observations, we will re-introduce the plants to the outdoors and make similar observations in USDA test plots.”
She paused again and looked at the two men and then at Sloan. “Did I cover everything, Paul?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Sloan. “Those are the broad strokes anyway. I can fill in the details with John and Andy later.”
“Buddy wanted us to ask you how long this is going to take,” said Cooper. “He’s becoming a little impatient, and you know Buddy.”
“Yes, I do know Buddy,” said Rorke, her tone was suddenly brittle and intimidating. “Let me remind you that Buddy broke the law and you’re operating under a consent decree. We’ll keep the plants for as long as we think it’s necessary, to preserve public safety. We think we might be done with the testing in three or four months or possibly a little longer. The bottom line is that we are processing this as quickly as we can, and it will take the time it takes. Now, do you have any further questions for me?”
Cooper looked at his junior colleague and back to Rorke. “No, I think we’re good here. No more questions. Godspeed to you. I’ll tell Buddy.” Cooper added, “I think Buddy knew that it would take you more time since he’s already reassigned us to a new project with corn.”
“If you have any other questions, address them later with Paul,” said Rorke.
Cooper spoke again. “Thank you. Now we’ll review for you how we became involved with this project. Andy was the project leader for our rice protein expression group before we suspended our research on the project. I’ll let him tell you what we were trying to do.”
Sloan spoke up. “Andy, I’ve told them the big picture of what you and John were trying to do, and you can move over that quickly. Try to keep it as non-technical as you can since Sam and Mike are administrators and not scientists. I think if you can concentrate on the reason for the protein and what you had hoped to achieve with this technology, that would be most helpful.”
“Sure,” Andy began, “I’ll tell you what we were trying to do, and a little bit of how we did it. If you have any additional questions or you want me to go into the details of any of these topics, I’d be more than happy to.”
Tien turned on a projector and images appeared on the screen illustrating his points.
“About two years ago, Buddy came by the laboratory and asked us if we could genetically engineer rice to make it express a specific protein. We looked up the protein’s structure in the published patents and went at it. Buddy told us he knew the CEO of the pharmaceutical company that was developing it and that we might have a partnership opportunity. The problem was to express the protein in rice so it could be manufactured cheaply. The alternative manufacturing approach was to make it in insect or mammalian cells, which would be much more expensive.
“The molecule is a small protein that is used by the body to turn on many processes that make new cells. The new cells are like a tumor only they’re well controlled. The protein does this by going into cells and once it’s in the target cells, it’s broken down to an active fragment and it turns on numerous cell genes that make the cells divide. The cells divide, differentiate, and heal the problem—whether it’s an ulcer in the stomach, or a wound on the skin.
“What makes this protein special is that when you swallow it, it retains its activity. Most proteins are rendered inactive in the stomach. That’s why, for example, a diabetic can’t just swallow insulin. It must be injected because it’s inactivated by the stomach acid and the intestines if you swallow it. Our protein resists being broken down in the normal stomach. In the ulcerated stomach or intestine, it’s cleaved inside the cells of the ulcer. These wound-healing cells absorb it, and it can accelerate the healing process there. Also, this protein can be applied topically and, again, it will be cleaved when it enters the cells of the healing wound—you just need to give it in a greater concentration. So, you can eat it or apply it topically, and heal any kind of ulcer or wound in hours, rather than in days to weeks.
“Buddy wanted us to make the rice produce this protein. In rice, we could make kilos of it for pennies, and be the sole supplier to the pharmaceutical company that owns the rights to the drug. Any questions?”
Tien paused for a moment and then started again. “Okay, that’s why we did it. Now this is what we did,” he said, and turned his attention back to the screen where he advanced the slide. “Rice is probably the most heavily studied plant on earth. It feeds about half the world, and this food supply is coming under more stress every day. The issues throughout Asia, and most acutely, in China, are a combination of more cities, less arable land, fewer people to work the land, and pollution in both the air and the water. Consequently, Chinese scientists have been creating hybrid rice for many decades to increase the production yields and the fitness of their crops. They have multiple state institutes focused on rice science and improving rice production. In short, science knows a lot about rice.
“What we did was to start our work with a typical short grain white rice strain. It’s one of the rice clones that plant scientists routinely work with. I’ll describe now on a single slide what it took ten of my staff six months to accomplish.”
Tien focused on the screen and highlighted each step on the image with a laser pointer. “In the old days, hybrids were made by crossing the female aspects of the plant with desired male variety and seeing what came out. Comparing the old techniques to what we do now is a little like comparing a Piper Cub to the Space Shuttle. We have much more powerful and faster approaches. We now use several types of methods to introduce the desired genetic characteristics. In this plant, we used a technique based on ‘agrobacterium.’ This bacterial method allows us to transfer programmed genetic material into plants. The organism infects the plant cells and leaves a little of its genetic material behind. It’s been used to create many GMOs including corn, cotton, soybean, wheat, and, yes, rice.
“We were not interested in the usual parameters of the food scientists who select strains primarily for their yield and hardiness. We just wanted to see if we could make this protein for Buddy. Frankly, we didn’t know how this new strain would do in the field. What we did know is that we succeeded in making this rice strain a real protein factory. The other feature we learned about the protein was that it would be great from a processing standpoint. After several days of sitting in water to soften the grains, the protein was unaltered. We could even boil the rice, like you would to cook it, and the protein’s structure was still unchanged. By all indications, it was going to be very easy to work with on an industrial scale. That was an unexpected bonus.
“Our initial testing did show that, in greenhouse conditions, the plant strain was robust and it grew quickly. The gene transfer improved growth as well as protein production. The amount of protein it produced continued to exceed our expectations. It was all very exciting and I guess we transmitted a little too much of our enthusiasm to Buddy. He pushed us to grow the rice in Hawaii to assess its production value in the field. That’s where you came in, and that’s about the end of the story from our end. Any questions?”
Sloan spoke. “Andy and John, every time I hear that story, I’m more impressed. What you’ve done is very special and I don’t know if Mike and Sam appreciate just how amazing this is. Although you directed your work at harvesting a single product, the aggregate of what you’ve done could be hugely important in feeding a hungry planet. This genetic modification not only increased the protein production, it also improved the fitness of the plant.
It enhanced virtually every growth and cultivation characteristic.
“Certainly, increasing the protein supply of developing nations is a major challenge and I know I speak for the Department of Agriculture when I say that when we’re able to release this strain into production, it’s going to be a huge benefit to mankind.”
“Thanks, Paul,” John Cooper said. “Andy and his team have done an amazing job, and I can tell you that we are just as excited to make this available to the world as you are. Since the plants were taken by the USDA, we’ve been working on other projects.” Cooper let his eyes linger on Rorke as he made the point. “We are very hopeful that you will finish your work quickly so we can go back to learning what the rice could do.” Rorke’s blank expression told him nothing, and Cooper continued. “Sam and Mike, do you have any further questions that we can help answer?”
Franco and Rorke both shook their heads.
“Okay,” said Cooper. “I’ll let Buddy know that you are still working on the plants and that you hope to be done in about four months.”
“Good, you tell him that,” said Rorke. “He heard it from me a few days ago. Maybe he’ll understand you better.”
Cooper smiled. “Yeah, Buddy’s got this nervous habit of asking a question over and over until he hears the answer he likes. When I say ‘nervous,’ I mean he makes us nervous. I’ll pass on that information.”
Rorke stood and said, “Thanks for your time.” She shook hands with Cooper and Tien and Franco followed her lead and stood. Rorke began to walk out the door with Franco.
“Sam, I’ll catch up with you later,” Sloan told her, “I want to ask John and Andy a few technical questions.”
She nodded and continued walking out of the room without speaking.
Rorke walked quickly and Franco followed her down the hall toward the elevator.
Midway down the hall, she turned abruptly and asked. “Did you learn anything, Franco?”
“Biology was never my strong suit. I thought it was interesting enough.”
“I wasn’t talking about the rice lecture.”
“Well, what are you talking about?”
“I was talking about Sloan.”
“What about him?”
“I’m not delighted with the way he’s behaving. He’s far too rah-rah about the benefits of the stolen rice.”
“What did you expect? That’s his life. That’s what he’s been trained to do.”
“You need to control him.”
“’Control him’? Control him how? From what?”
They passed an open meeting room and she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the room. She stood very close and locked eyes with him.
“Let me be perfectly clear. I’m not happy having Sloan on this operation and by extension, I’m not happy having you here either. Unfortunately, we need Sloan to identify the plants and confirm the extent of the theft. That’s half the mission. I don’t like it, but it can’t be helped. Your role is to keep Sloan in line. You’ve got one job. Can you understand that?”
“Yeah, I can understand that. How has he been out of line?”
“Just watch him,” she snapped back at him. “No one can know these plants came from the U.S. I don’t want him talking to his academic friends, and I don’t want him having these great thoughts about American rice saving the world.”
“I still don’t understand why you’re so jumpy about this. He hasn’t done anything.”
She stared at him in a way that made him uncomfortable. When she spoke, there was anger in her voice. “Look—Sloan is a boy scout. He doesn’t have the personality for this operation. Unfortunately, he’s the only one with the right expertise, and we don’t have the time to train another person. We also need to keep this a small circle and Sloan already knows everything. Nevertheless, his halo is too damned bright for my liking.”
Franco bristled in response to her tone. “What’s the real story here? Why are you so worked up about a few seeds stolen from the Department of Agriculture? We aren’t talking about these Chinese brothers stealing the plans of a new super computer or a new fighter jet. We’re talking about seeds! What is wrong with you?”
She narrowed her eyes at him and said, “Just do your one job, Franco, and we’ll all be fine.” She began to walk away.
“Hey,” he called to her. “What’s the other part of the mission?”
“Just do your job, Franco! Don’t get distracted with anything else.”
She turned her back on him and stormed off.
CHAPTER 13
The mid-day traffic over the Oakland Bay Bridge was minimal, and the trip from downtown San Francisco to the Oakland airport was an easy drive. Their taxi drove to the airport’s general aviation area. Chen paid the fare as Rorke walked into the building.
In the small terminal, several flight crews sat on the couches or at the surrounding desks, while a few of their well-heeled passengers floated in and out between business meetings and their private jets on the tarmac. Rorke received more than a second glance from virtually every man in the place as she entered. A large man in a business suit sitting in a side chair looked up from reading and saw her, giving a small wave. She walked over to him and the man stood and walked to the security gate at the end of the building. Rorke followed him. Chen caught up with her and the three of them walked past the security guard to a car parked on the edge of the tarmac next to the building.
The three said nothing as they entered the large sedan. Rorke and Chen sat in the back and the other man sat in the front passenger seat. The driver drove them past the line of business jets and down to the end of the long taxiway where a large, white jet was parked. The three exited the car in front of the air stairs. Rorke and Chen then climbed the jet’s stairs while the third man stood on the ground at the foot of the steps.
As they stepped inside the jet, Pauling looked up from the papers in front of him.
“Good morning, Admiral,” said Rorke.
“Hello Sam, hello Hal. Sit down. Do either of you want coffee?”
“No, thank you,” said Rorke.
“Nothing for me, sir,” said Chen.
Pauling gestured for them to sit on the divan opposite his desk in the cabin.
“Okay, to business,” said the old man brusquely. “How are we doing?”
Rorke smoothed her skirt before speaking. “Well, sir, this San Francisco jaunt has taken a few days out of the schedule. Other than that, we’re doing all right.”
“We still need to play ball with Jerome,” said the Admiral. “As long as he thinks we’re working to free his plants, he’ll keep cooperating. He’s the one thing we can’t control, and I don’t want him and his high priced legal team demanding all his plants back.”
“We could still encourage the DOJ to prosecute him and his company, or arrange for a violation of the consent decree,” said Rorke.
“No, I don’t want his lawyers climbing all over the USDA records or what we’ve left of them. That would create a publicity storm we can’t afford. Remember, the rice is just a play toy for Jerome to impress his golfing friend. He has no clue about the bigger picture. We have to keep it that way—at least for now.”
Pauling took a drink from the coffee cup on the desk and made eye contact with Rorke. “What about Sloan?”
“Nothing new,” she said. “He thinks Buddy’s rice may save the world. He loves the science, and for now, he’s still able to keep his mouth shut about the theft to China.”
“Good. Is Franco behaving?” asked the old man.
“More or less. Buddy seems to enjoy his company.”
“That takes a little pressure off you, doesn’t it?” asked the old man.
“It does. I suppose it’s nice that Buddy has found a new male friend,” she said. “You know, Admiral, with Buddy Jerome, it’s hard being a girl.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Rorke, although everything considered, you seem to pull it off pretty well.”
“Is that a compliment or harassment?”
“Take it any way you like,” said the Admiral. “Other than playing with Jerome, what else is Franco doing?”
“He’s just a part of the team. Nothing special. He seems to be able to keep his mouth shut on the project. I don’t worry about that.”
“Franco understands security,” said the Admiral. “I have no concerns there either. I still think Franco’s our best bet as a chaperone for Sloan if we need one. The good professor has contacts all over the world from his academic life, and we know about his pals in Hong Kong. I don’t want him going native when the big news comes out. Sloan will listen to Franco, or at least I hope he will.”
“Maybe it won’t come to that,” said Rorke.
“No,” said the Admiral. “I’m quite sure it will.” Pauling looked from Rorke to Chen. “Hal, how well are you prepared on the ground?”
Chen inched forward on the divan. “My network is in place both in Hong Kong and on the mainland. We can move when we need to.”
“Do we know anything more about the brothers Liu?”
“They haven’t changed their patterns as far as my people can determine,” said Chen.
“Sam, when do you see Jun again?” asked the Admiral.
“Thursday,” she said.
“How is his portfolio doing?”
“He’s up 18 percent this year. That’s after being up 20 percent if you annualize last year,” she said proudly.
The Rice Thieves Page 11