The Fraternity

by

      John Weems

   In Africa

Chapter 1

Dafuskie Island, South Carolina

Sunday, June 6, 1991

 

Dafuskie had a tranquil and calming effect on Nat. He had been walking for an hour on the beach when he stopped and looked across Calibogue sound and took note of the light house guarding the inlet to the Harbour Town marina.  The setting sun glinted from the familiar spiral landmark and was in contrast to the shadows that had already engulfed him. He had been on Dafuskie for two weeks and had made a habit of taking a late afternoon walk on the beach.  Without having noticed an ominous cloud was quietly flanking him as it moved in from the land side of Dafuskie? The breeze freshened, giving warning to a potential change from the usual perfect day expected by the vacationers. A lightning flash at sea startled Nat. The thunderbolt could be seen from its natal beginnings to an ultimate crash into the ocean. Nature's grand spectacle must have registered three miles in length and have required a capacitor of untold magnitude to generate such a spark and had to be powered by millions and millions of volts. Rain was now galloping down the beach like a herd of wild stallions, hell-bent to catch the unprotected Nat and trample him while on his evening stroll.

Nat yet to detect his coming predicament, said to himself, "God, this is beautiful! Why on earth don't I leave the university and move down here? Am I as greedy as those I condemn so quickly? Why is it so important to accumulate wealth for no particular reason?"

This philosophical turn was truncated by the first drops of rain blowing downwind from the approaching storm. His three mile stroll had left him far from any familiar shelter. A blinding flash, followed by an immediate ear-splitting crash reminded Nat of his mortality. Panic involuntarily flooded through his system, stimulated by the near miss of a heavenly bolt that struck less than five hundred feet from his current footsteps. Suddenly the storm broke over Nat in a furious inundation accompanied by winds approaching hurricane force. Harbour Town was suddenly obscured from his view across Calibogue Sound by the sweeping torrential rain that suddenly changed a tranquil seascape into one of danger and foreboding. The surf was now pounding. White caps covered the Calibogue Sound like fields of cotton.

Nature provoked fear clouded Nat’s mind as he said to himself "Lord, God, in heaven. This is serious. I have to go somewhere to get out of this storm. I could get under the palms lining the beach but when they find my body everyone will know that choice was a dumb choice to have made."

The rain turned Nat's shorts and tee shirt to a dripping outer skin and he could immediately feel the drop in temperature that wet clothing and drenched skin suggest. His hair was plastered to his forehead and visibility was now sharply restricted to a very few yards.

More by sixth sense than anything else Nat detected a movement in front and to his right. He had to virtually close his eyes against the blinding rain but he did detect a figure not more than forty yards away coming out of the surf.  He attempted to run toward the figure but the wet sand slowed him to a pace that is usually only experienced in a dream. As the distance diminished the figment became more distinguishable and was heading for a now saturated beach towel and some other seaside paraphernalia.  He assumed the figure knew of some close-by shelter and would also be looking for protection from the storm.

"Help! Help! S.O.S., I'm going down for the third time. Do you know anywhere I can go to keep from drowning?"

"If you will help me gather my things I'll fix you a drink in the cabana."

Nat shouted, "You get the towel and your glasses and I will get the chair and the rest."

"Good, I am running on. Follow me.  I want out of this torrent."

Nat quickly gathered the equipment as promised and took off stumbling awkwardly in the wet sand until he found a path bordered with well landscaped semi-tropical shrubbery.  Within a few seconds he was confronted by the most elaborate structure he had ever seen masquerading as a cabana. Even through the waterfall volume of rain he quickly calculated the cost at one and one-half million dollars.  He carried his dripping load along a sheltered porch, following wet prints of small well formed feminine feet. He arrived at the door of an equipment room and deposited the gear he had gathered on the beach.  He turned back toward an outdoor staircase leading to the second floor and was startled to see his benefactor.  While her back was toward him it was quickly apparent that he was looking at the most curvaceous figure of a woman he had ever seen. When she turned and glanced at him over her shoulder the impression was one of pure elegance. Everything about her suggested wealth, breeding, and proper schooling. Her hair was wet and plastered to her head but even under these adverse conditions it was apparent that her coiffure was attended by the best of hair stylists the continent of Europe could provide.  He estimated her to be thirty years old but maturity had enhanced her beauty.  Sophistication and self assurance graced her every move. She was dressed in the briefest of string bikinis more appropriate to the Riviera than these southern shores. For the first time in his life he could only stare.

"Come on up and I'll fix you a drink. The view is better up there."

"I came here to get out of the rain and not make a pass at you but I must tell you in all honesty the view couldn't possibly be any better upstairs than it is right here."

She smiled at the compliment.

She did not respond to the comment but with a toss of her head said "Let's go upstairs and get out of our wet clothes."

With the womanly confidence of one that always got her way, she ascended the stairs in her Bikini in a provocative but natural way manner any debutante would envy.

When Nat reached the third step from the top he was greeted by an architectural wonder. The great room into which he was emerging had ceiling that was more than twenty feet in height.  From his lower position in the stairwell the room appeared to be gigantic. On the far side of the room was a stone fireplace twelve feet wide that soared through the roof. The east wall of the cabana looking toward Calibogue Sound was solid glass and presented a sweeping view of Harbour Town, had the view been available, and the ocean to the east.  The couch facing the fireplace was the same color of the surrounding sea. Each piece of furniture was obviously expensive and had carefully been selected to compliment this beautiful room.

"Go in the bedroom and change out of your clothes.  There is a robe is in the closet in the bathroom. I'm going to shower and you should too.  It'll warm you up. I think you're going to be here for a while.  The rain is really setting in. There are under garments, shorts and a pullover you can slip into until your clothes dry.  It will take me thirty minutes to get ready. Make yourself at home."

"You're going to entirely too much trouble but I am desperate enough to take advantage of the best offer I've had in a long time."

Nat went into the bedroom. He had stayed in some of the best hotels in the world but nothing could match the appointments he found in this magnificent structure. He thought to himself, 'The decorator must have been given a blank check and then overspent it.  Everything is tasteful, matching and expensive.  What on earth must the main house be like?'

He slipped out of his wet clothes and placed them on the top of a pearl inlayed hamper.  He reached inside the shower to turn on the water. The controls on the shower called for the occupant to select his or her preferential temperature for the water.  He selected 130 degrees and stepped inside. The hot water was available immediately. He made a minor adjustment to the temperature and then basked in the warm waters flowing over his body. He selected from a range of shampoos conveniently provided in the shower stall. The soap was new and unused.  The shower stall was of clear glass and while showering he could see the pounding surf through a large window facing the beach and Harbour Town. After finishing his shower he dried himself on a thick plush towel. On the sink were a new razor and an unused can of shaving cream.  He refreshed himself with a shave and slipped on the perfectly tailored robe. He splashed his favorite cologne on his face, selecting from a wide choice of sweet smelling lotions. He walked back into the bedroom and decided to take advantage of the offer of fresh clothing if anything fit.  He opened the top dresser drawer and selected a pair of expensive Italian made silk shorts and a matching pullover. He then looked into the parallel drawer and found new underwear.  They were thirty six, his size.

He dressed leisurely and found the shorts and the pullover to be his size also.

"I'm lucky as hell to find someone who is as large as I am and willing to share his clothing on such short notice. Whoever he is, he's one wealthy son of a bitch to keep a complete set of clothing in the cabana. I'd better get back to the great room and see if my rescuer will be willing to run me back to my house."

Nat returned to the great room and a feeling went through his body that he had never experienced before. It was as if he had placed his finger in an open lamp socket and received an electric shock. He was not prepared for the sight he was now facing. Perched on the bar stool with drink in hand was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. She was dressed in the briefest of shorts and a silk blouse with a deep vee neck and no supporting undergarments. None were needed. His first impression on the stairs outside in the rain had jolted him but it was nothing compared to the feeling he was currently experiencing as he surveyed a women perfect in every detail. She appeared as if an artist had concocted her in a moment of inspiration rather than being borne of woman and raised in a mortal family. She was tall, at least 5 feet eight inches. The curves of her body almost seemed exaggerated they were so noticeable. There was no detectable blemish anywhere and she was open for considerable inspection because very little of her was covered with the clothes she was wearing. The cheek bones and the shape of her face hinted of European extraction. Skin complexion was dark enough to suggest a perfect tan. Nat could not detect at the moment where the tan stopped. He was looking at perhaps the most beautiful woman in the world. A true international beauty and she knew how to properly exploit all of the assets she possessed. He wanted to sit quietly and enjoy the visual image in much the same way one is confronted by truly great art.

She came to his rescue by starting the conversation.

"I have your drink ready.  You look like a Johnny Walker Black on the rocks man to me."

How did you know or does everyone adore Johnny Walker Black like I do."

"No, you might say I am psychic."

"What else can you guess about me?"

She smiled and said, “I don’t spend my time guessing. I know you walk on the beach every afternoon."

Nat asked, "Is that all you know about me?”

"I knew a man was going to come into my life that was six feet three inches tall. How tall are you?"

" I am Six three."

"I knew he would weigh 198 pounds."

"Well, it couldn't be me I weigh very close to 200 pounds but the last two pounds came since I have been on Dafuskie."

"I knew this man would be extremely intelligent."

"You might have missed the boat on that one," he laughed.

"He would not be more than forty and in wonderful physical condition."

Nat laughed, shook his head, and didn't reply.

He thought to himself, “Where is this conversation going?”

She continued, "He would have an academic background and be an authority on computers.

"Seriously, have you been reading my mail?"

"No, I told you I was psychic. Don't you believe me?"

"I'm beginning to believe. Seriously, are you psychic? All of this is way over my head. You have to be teasing me. No one can do what you have just claimed to do."

Sabrina answered "Why not?"

"It just doesn't happen. Not to me anyway. Did you make it storm today?"

"I might have."

"Where do I work?"

"I told you that you were an academic. You teach at the University of North Carolina."

"Yes, but that judgment could have come from my close set eyes and sloping forehead. I must fit the academic profile."

"You don't have close set eyes and a sloping forehead. You're depreciating yourself the way southern men do when they want to turn on the charm. In fact a person of your physical attributes must have quite a time defending yourself from aggressive females."

"Are you an aggressive female?"

"I can be when I want to be."

"Would you go to bed with a perfect stranger?"

"I've never met anybody that was perfect?"

"Would you sleep with someone for business reasons?"

"Never carry a weapon that you're afraid to use. It can get you killed."

Nat had met his match. He laughed out loud and she picked up on his mirth in controlled but seductive way."

"I have just met the most unusual woman that I have ever experienced."

"Really, I can’t imagine why you would say that.”

Nat decided he would push this conversation boldly and try to determine what was going on within the mind of this gorgeous female.

He asked, "Can we become friends?"

"Aren't we already friends?"

"I presume your definition of friends is different than mine. I have to know more about you. Friendship usually is a growing process and takes at least a little time. "

"That can be arranged."

With a puzzled look he asked, "Are you really psychic?"

"Do you have a better explanation?

He laughed, "Do you always answer a question with a question?

"Do you know a better way to draw someone out?

"Well it obviously works with me."

"Let me refresh your drink."

Even her pouring scotch whiskey into a short glass filled with ice was pure poetry. Every move of her body was perfect and added a new and interesting interpretation to her personality. Nat was charmed.  Nat was enthralled. Introspectively he was analyzing the reaction he was having to his new female companion.  He had unknowingly changed gears emotionally. He was now the calmest and most controlled he had ever felt in his life. The energy was still there. It was not lethargy. It was happiness.  He was exhilarated. He likened the experience in his mind to studying with a Tibetan monk and finding peace. He had never experienced this feeling in exactly the same way before.

With his refreshed drink in hand he asked, "Tell me some more about this man that was to come into your life?"

"He is a brave; he is a learned with many academic degrees. He is highly organized and possesses a logical mind but also has great intuition. He can react quickly in time of danger. He is someone you can trust. Were my life is threatened I want him as my defense. I want him to be my armor and my spear."

"That is rather melodramatic statement. Have you been reading paperback novels?"

"Do I look like I read paperback novels?"

"No.  You are strictly champagne and great books. I did not mean to say anything to offend you, but suddenly your conversation took a serious turn.  It sounded as if you were on a mission, and I thought you were on vacation."

"Everything I do is serious. I just have fun doing it."

"Do you mind if I ask how you came to be in this incredible cabana?"

"I was employed to come here."

"Is this your employer's house?"

"No, this isn't any body's house. This is just the cabana. The house is the most incredible home in South Carolina. It must have cost seven or eight million at the very least."

Nat looked directly in to her eyes, "Tell me about you."

"This isn't the time."

"Do you have a name?"

"Sure, it's Sabrina. I think the first name will do for the moment. The last I will tell you later." The statement was accompanied by a smile that would have made angels sing.

"Am I getting the drift that you already knew something about me?"

"I told you I was psychic."

"I know, but I didn't believe you."

She responded,” Why are you here with me right now?"

Nat answered, "By coincidence."

"I do not believe in coincidence. Your life has to be under your control or it will explode in your face."

"Has it ever exploded in your face?"

"It hasn't yet, and I'm going to do everything possible to keep it from happening.

"You mentioned your employment brought you here. What kind of duty requires these surroundings?"

"I am on a recruiting trip."

"Who on earth could you possibly recruit on Dafuskie Island? There isn’t anybody here but wealthy golfers."

"What's wrong with wealthy golfers?"

Nat frowned and asked seriously, "What do you want your recruit to do?"

"Make money."

"We all want to make money. How much money are you talking about?"

"There is an immense amount of money involved"

Nat asked, "A hundred thousand dollars?"

"More."

"Do you make a lot of money?"

"I do very well."

"Would you be willing to tell a perfect stranger how much you make?"

"I told you that I never met anyone that was perfect."

"Would you tell an imperfect stranger how much you make in a year?"

"I wouldn't tell a stranger anything worth knowing."

"Then I will never know."

"You are not a stranger."

"What do you mean I'm not a stranger? You don't even know my name."

"I know more about you than your mother. I told you that I live a very controlled existence. We wouldn't be here talking if I weren't sure that you were the person I wanted."

"What do you mean that you know more about me than my mother?"

"I have been studying you for three months.  I have had the most powerful people in the world using their resources to find out everything there is to know about you. We have discussed you from every angle in Board Rooms in six foreign capitals. But I have the final decision.  They always leave that up to me."

"What powerful people?"

"I can't say."

"Is recruiting for these people your main job?"

"No. I really don't work for them they just employ me for specific tasks."

"I take it they pay you well."

"I earn ten million dollars for each assignment.  I usually limit myself to one assignment each year."

"What on earth do you do?"

"I do whatever is necessary."

"Are you talking about murder? Political assassinations?"

"Whatever is necessary?"

"Are you talking about murder."

"No, not murder, but I have had occasions that contracts have been placed on me by very powerful people and so far they have been unsuccessful. To be honest some of these encounters have been violent. I have survived them and they haven't."

Nat furrowed his brow, "Ten million a year."

Sabrina answered, "Ten million dollars for each assignment."

"Are you suggesting to me that our encounter is not by chance and you came to Dafuskie to recruit me?"

"I am not suggesting anything. Our meeting was not by chance. I do nothing by chance."

"I am a faculty member at University of North Carolina. Why do you want me?"

"You have an unusual set of credentials"

"What are they?"

"I have already told you many of them but one of them is the fact that you are male and have the mental capacity I need for the job I have accepted."

Nat was puzzled and stated, "My background is in languages and literature."

 "You are also an expert with computers."

 "That is more of an avocation. I simply like anything that is scientific and technological. Computers just happen to fit this interest."

"You have the assets I need, believe me."

 "I can't just give up teaching."

With an amused disdainful look on her face she responded, "That is a ridiculous statement and you know it, Major decisions in your life must be made in a serious and thoughtful manner. You will have more than enough to live on for the rest of your life."

 "What numbers are we talking about when you say enough to live on?"

 Sabrina quietly said, "I am talking about one billion dollars."

 "God almighty, you can’t possibly mean one billion dollars."

"You will earn it if you get paid."

 "What do you mean if?"

 "You will get one million dollars for accepting my offer of employment. I will be getting ten million. If we are successful we will both take away one billion dollars paid into numbered bank accounts anywhere in the world. I can give you some advice on that matter. I have considerable experience in the banking and investing of large sums of money."

"Why does your partner have to be male?"

"Does that mean you are interested?"

 "Of course I am interested, but I need a more detailed description."

"I'll tell you about our assignment when you agree to work with me."

"It sounds like danger is involved."

"Danger is always involved when the rewards are great."

"Are we talking about getting killed?"

"Without question, if you're detected."

 "Tell me the whole story."

"I can't tell you anything else until I'm sure you're going to join me."

"You planned this meeting?"

"I paid fifty thousand dollars to use the house for a week."

Slowly he spoke, "Why don’t you take me home and allow me to sort this entire matter out. I'm not sure I can grasp something of this magnitude and give it the thought that it deserves."

"You're not going home."

"Why? Won't you take me?"

"No, I want you to stay."

"Are you about to offer me added inducements to take the job?"

Sabrina smiled, "Whatever it takes."

Their eyes met and held for a long moment.

"What if I never want to leave?"

"It's my job to see that you don't."

"What else can you tell me about this lucrative assignment?

"We'll be working together. You will bring your special talents to the table and I will mine. If we are successful in this assignment we will have the reputation and the connections for future assignments of this magnitude and will be able to name our own price. This could be your entree to becoming one of the richest people in the world. There is danger involved because the people we will be up against are incredibly wealthy and have an investment worth killing interlopers to protect. You will be living by your wits and the stress involved suggests that one assignment a year is all that you need to undertake. Of course after this one assignment you will have enough to live in luxury for the rest of your life and never work again should that be you choosing. I warn you however, this work is addictive and you will have difficulty getting out of the business."

"What do you bring to the table that makes you worth ten million a year?"

"You press me to discard my usual modesty but it is a fair question.  I am intelligent, an I.Q. pushing 190. I am beautiful. I am as well educated as you. I am multi-lingual, I am resourceful, I can get a man to do anything I want him to do, I am trained in the martial arts, I am wealthy, sophisticated and with some modesty must say that I am never barred entrance from any gathering. I am trained to use virtually all types of firearms and will use the weapons when necessary. But most of all I'm successful, and its success for which you get paid. Those may sound like braggadocio terms but you needed to know the capabilities of your new partner."

"You sound as if I had already agreed to work with you."

"Didn't I say that I could get a man to do anything I wanted him to do?" She smiled that incredibly radiant smile. "We have already spent more than a half million dollars on you. You're the person we need and it's my requirement to get you to come on board. I told you I'm successful. I am always successful." Again that smile. "I haven't even used my big weapon yet." Again that smile.

"I think I'll wait to see if your big weapon is as devastating as you say it is. If we are thinking about bonding I should at least know what I am buying into."

"Sometimes it is better to withhold the weapon and let the promise of its use work for you. It would even be grander to consummate a deal as a celebration than to use it as a bargaining chip."

"You're convinced that I am already sold."

"There is not any doubt in my mind."

"How can you be sure that I won't listen to your proposition and then betray you?"

"It makes no sense.  You have an incredible amount to gain by joining me and nothing to gain through betrayal. Anybody in the world with your intelligence would give anything for this opportunity. Our psychological scans determined a high indication that you are a risk taker when the rewards justify it. I must add that it is very questionable that your future employers can let you back out at this stage."

 "Why is that?"

"You now know me. I am their most valuable employee and their most securely kept secret. This knowledge you have now gained make you valuable if you work with us and totally dangerous if you choose otherwise."

"Is this a threat?"

 "Not unless you perceive it to be."

 "Is what we are going to be doing illegal?"

 "It is more the way you interpret what we do. Yes we will do things that are patently against the law. On the other hand we have support from very high places in our national government because we will be performing certain services that are too dangerous internationally for them to be caught doing. We are working for a private organization that has great influence with all of the western powers. In some ways they are more powerful than the government itself. You must also understand that we are not employees of this organization.  We are independent and work for them only on a contract basis."
           "Do we have their support when we need it?"

  "Count on it."

  "Financing is no trouble I take it?"

  "You couldn't spend the money as fast as they are willing to provide it. But they do expect success and they will get it. That's why they keep coming back to me. No failures, they get one hundred percent accomplishment."

 "How do I leave the university? Request a leave of absence?"

"You will never go back. Quit. Retire. Tell them that you are going to spend the rest of your life traveling and writing.  The academic community will accept that."

 "When do I start?"

"You're on the payroll now."

 "Do I have a salary?"

"No, you are on an unlimited expense account. You will be paid after we have completed the assignment."

"What about traveling money?"

"Accounts are already set up for you in Switzerland, the Bahamas, Hong Kong, and Shanghai."

"Shanghai?"

 "Have you been there?"

"Yes, two years ago."

"You will be going back."

 "Now can you tell me what we will be doing?"

 "Of course, but let's eat first. I did not mention earlier that among my accomplishments I am a gourmet cook. There may not be another man in the world that has ever been offered all that you are about to get."

"What is that?"

 "Me." Again that smile.

Her beauty was almost overwhelming. She would dominate any room. How on earth could she be kept as a secret?

 "Can I help in the kitchen?"

"Just open the wine."

 Nat replied, "My favorite of course?"

 "What else! I did get a bottle with a bit more age than you usually buy. I want you to get used to the very best!"

The meal was a good as advertised. Much of the preparation had been done earlier in the day. Her last minute attention brought the delicate flavors to the veal and the salad. A perfect meal prepared by a most unusual lady. The dinner conversation had been social in its entirety. I was obvious that Sabrina had the ability to be the charming hostess without allowing any business to spoil the conversation. It was during the meal that Nat discovered the many and varied dimensions of Sabrina. She worked at everything she did. He found her to be an artist, a poet, an essayist, a musician. Widely read in the classics and an incredible conversationalist.

Nat was impressed.

They returned to the comfort of the great room.  The rain had abated and the lights of Harbour Town had reappeared.  The blinking light from the light house periodically punctuated the horizon. Sabrina poured Nat a brandy and retreated to her chair. She pulled her legs up under her and launched into the assignment they had been given.

"During the last three years a Chinese tycoon has begun to play a significant role in the Pacific Rim financial markets. The size of the moves suggested that this person was the front for a gigantic syndicate which had suddenly surfaced with enormous sums to spend.  Anytime a new player comes to the table the entire financial world is interested. They want to be prepared to deal with the person or the group in the future. Inquiries were made at virtually every international financial center to see what information was available that might be helpful in analyzing the group.  The inquiries turned up very little information that was useful.  The sums of money available were truly frightening. The amount appeared to be limitless.

The investigation did uncover some interesting facts. The investment in the Pacific Rim financial markets was small potatoes. Banks were being bought under the names of front corporations all around the world. Banks were even being started in many countries. So far there has been no detectable interest in acquiring companies focused on manufacturing. Everything is focused on the financial world. Our employers are in an uproar. Up to this time our employers were the major financial players throughout the world and their supremacy has been unchallenged. Now comes a new face, with very deep pockets, and this person is totally an unknown. If this trend continues, this one person will be able to dominate monetary cash flows throughout the world. I am talking about the ability to break nations' economic systems by controlling the money supply."

"Is the United States vulnerable?"

She replied, "Very vulnerable. We have for years worried about Arab money suddenly being withdrawn from our banks and moved to another country. If this had happened our banks could not have come up with the needed cash to cover these withdrawals, and neither the Federal Reserve nor the FDIC could have covered the monetary moves. Our economy is in the hands of international investors. They carry great portions of the national debt. The Arab threat is now on the back burner. It is pale in comparison to the new menace from the east. This person is awash in cash and is buying everything financial anywhere in the world that is the least bit sound. Oddly enough, even a shaky bank can be stabilized with the infusion of cash. You know it takes money to make money, so most any investment becomes safe. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world other than through this Chinese connection."

"What is the source of the money?"

"There is none."

"What do you mean 'there is none'?"

"With all of our resources we cannot uncover any stream of income. It appears to come out of thin air. No industrial plants, no stock offerings, no farms, no banks until recently. There just is no detectable stream of income. Our target does own the Bank of Shanghai with its twelve branches, but that was acquired after the wealth was accumulated. Anyway, these banks are so new that they haven't made any money yet. I'm sure with all the money spent on capitalizing the bank; there must still be a negative cash flow. It's definite that the Bank of Shanghai is not a source of wealth."

"You mentioned a syndicate. Can you identify any of the members?"

"We thought that it had to be a syndicate to generate these huge sums of money but we struck out. The syndicate is nonexistent.  No outside source of funding can be located. We can't even find any business dealings taking place on a small scale that can tie anyone to the individual."

"How much money is involved?"

"Hold on to your seat. We can now safely estimate that the wealth of this individual is increasing at the rate of hundreds of millions of dollars each and every day."

"How do you and I fit in?"

"With no source of detectable income, the money has to be obtained illegally. There is no way to hide income streams of this magnitude."

"How can we be worth a billion a piece?"

"This person is now worth 500 billion dollars, many times over the richest person in the world. If this money can be found and recovered, our small percentage wouldn't even amount to a typical finder’s fee. We are the best investment our employers can make. We are costing them nothing but a few dollars in expenses. We stand to make them incredible sums. If we are successful as I intend for us to be, we might take away far more than a billion a piece. That may just be the starters."

"Well the money is not theirs. If we do recover it why would they have any right to it?"

"They don't. But whose is it? If we can recover the money it will have been so well laundered that no one could ever find the rightful owner. So someone has to fall heir to it. To them it is much like salvaging a ship at the bottom of the sea. To the victor belong the spoils."

"What about our Federal Government? Won't they make an attempt to claim to the money?"

Sabrina was quick to reply, "Absolutely not. They are well aware of all we will be attempting to do. If we fail the world economy can be held hostage. That includes the United States. Our government wants us to succeed and they don't care how. The stakes have never been this high before. They want this threat ended and if their friends worldwide make five or six hundred million out of it that's a fair reward for the service rendered."

"Did you say our tycoon is richest person in the world?"

"Yes, and all of the wealth has been accumulated in less than three years."

"What about drugs? Couldn't this be the financial end of a great oriental cartel? We are talking about China."

"Your thinking is right on target. We checked it out in every way possible. There is no connection. It would have been easier if it were. The government knows what's going on in the drug world. These are separate operations."

Nat asked again, "Why me? You are the one that said you could get a man to do anything, including me; I don't yet see why I am so important to the operation?"

"I said we needed a male."

"Why?"

"Our Chinese business tycoon is female."

"Female?"

"Yes female."

"Good God in heaven!"

"The richest person on earth is a 35 year old Chinese woman and she has done it all in three years."

"What makes our work dangerous?"

"In three years she will be worth one trillion dollars and she is not about to see this money taken away from her. If either of us is ever detected, the largest contract in history will have our names on it."

"You do make it sound interesting."

"Does she have a name?"

"Dr. Sing Pao, but we have a code name."

Sabrina continued, “It is not very original but it does fit. She paused and said, Dragon Lady."

"Dragon Lady. That gives this operation a certain comedic touch. When will I find out my role?"

Sabrina answered, "Right now. It is our job to infiltrate her organization, find the source of her money and take it away from her."

"Infiltrate what? An American goes to Shanghai and infiltrates a Chinese organization convincing them to share all of their secrets allowing us to surreptitiously steal 500 billion in assets and then come home and turn this money over to a group that did nothing but employ us to steal the money from her. Do I have the gist of this plan?"

"You do. I will admit that you left out a few details but you are pretty much on target."

"You're going to be fun to work with."

"I'm going to be fun to play with too."

Nat slowly asked, "The rain has stopped. Can we walk on the beach? I want all of this to soak in out in the fresh air."

"Sure, that would be fun."

They slipped out of the door of the cabana and retraced their steps down the path they had followed in the rain a few hours before. Once on the beach they commented on the lights of Harbour Town and headed south. The sudden storm was now history and a new moon was the navigation point they were following as they strolled slowly down the beach. Sabrina's hips were brushing his in a slow rhythmic motion. Nat silently wondered if he would ever be able to walk close to this seductive undulating body gliding down the beach in step with him. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and she immediately shifted bodily gears and was perfectly aligned and in tune with each movement of his body.

Sabrina looked up at Nat and said, "Nat, do you think sex is the basis of the male-female relationship?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Then let me give you a serious answer. Can you believe I have the feeling I'm falling in love with you, and yet we've only known each a few hours? I know rationally that we cannot possibly develop the kind of relationship born of trust and interdependence in such a short time. I'm sure you probably have this same effect on most men you meet. I presume that's sex, but in a broader definition than just going to bed together. We pretty well know that power is a great aphrodisiac. It's not unusual to form an immediate crush on someone with whom you have never even spoken, or at best barely know. This happens all the time to college professors, corporation presidents, even preachers. I presume that springs from the libido.”

“I'm also well aware, as you are that sex often precedes any real emotion between two people and they fall in love afterwards. In fact, I'd say that early on in two people's relationship they would have trouble distinguishing between true love and a wonderful experience in bed. Yet to come to the conclusion that these people only have a relationship based on sex is simply not true. This early encounter often is a cementing act to two people who are strongly attracted to each other. I do believe that sex is the initial act of love of many adults. Physical enjoyment between consenting adults is normal. This act of giving, this act of love is a fine way for people to make the beginning of a commitment to each other. We know this doesn't always work, but what does?"

"I'm going to tell you something you might not believe. When I was offered this assignment it became immediately apparent to me that I was going to need a man. The reason was to get some things done that I had been able to do myself in earlier assignments when the target was a Man. I used the resources of our employers to do the initial screening and was able to narrow the field to roughly fifty men. I then used governmental connections to run a full workup on all fifty. The qualities I was looking for appeared in ten. I think that all of you had the basic qualities to do the job necessary. Five, however, were very handsome, but somehow not as complimentary of my physical appearance as I wanted. Of the five remaining you had two characteristics that stood out above the other four. First, it was your mind. Our psychological workup indicated strong intelligence, creativity, wonder, and cunning. It also indicated a bent toward self preservation that's absolutely essential in this business. The second characteristic was a personal one. You complimented me perfectly. Your rugged good looks will dominate a party and cause a stir wherever you go. Somehow I could sense even before I saw you that I would want to go to bed with you."

"How did you plan to recruit me? You can't make it storm, can you?"

"No, but I was laying in wait for you. The storm almost wrecked my plans for today. But you were right on schedule. If the storm had come one minute earlier you would have found shelter somewhere else and I would have missed you. But I was here for the duration and I would have found you somewhere else on the island. From that point on I would have worked on my project until I had recruited you. I have enough vanity and confidence in my winning ways that you were destined to become my new associate. Are you offended that one of the main reasons I chose you was for your body?"

He laughed and drew her close to him. Then slowly and deliberately he turned her around and she tilted her chin up to the proper angle and closed her eyes. Her lips parted slightly and she moistened her lips with a flick of her tongue. The embrace was long, slow and languid. Then the tension began to build and she pressed her body hard into his body filling every space available with the flexible flesh that softly covered her beautiful body. He took his tongue and slowly inserted it in her mouth. At the first entrance she sucked on it hard and drew it into her mouth until he could feel a slight amount of pain at the roots when its body could no longer be extended. He delicately broke off their kissing, moved back one half step, and began unbuttoning her top button. She smiled a delicate version of her fabulous smile. He proceeded to unbutton the other three buttons and the silk blouse fell away exposing the beautiful mounds of flesh. Her nipples were hard, erect and very large. She immediately wanted Nat's shirt off. He slipped out of the shirt and threw it into the air with abandon.

They immediately resumed their embrace but now urgency had replaced the tenderness that had been exhibited before. Nat slipped both of his hands inside the back of her shorts and cupped a cheek of her buttocks in each hand and pressed her toward him in a steel vise grip. She responded with a quiver that was entirely unexpected to Nat. Her breath became short and she began to writhe and undulate in an uncontrolled almost uncoordinated manner. Sabrina had reached another plane of consciousness that was entirely new to him. Both immediately started to disrobe each other as if the thought had been placed in their minds from an outside source. When this was completed, they both took a long moment to observe the naked body of each other, and they were obviously pleased. Their embrace resumed and as if their bones had lost their rigidity, they both melted to the sand oblivious to any discomfort present on the gritty surface.

A wave broke and washed completely over them. Other preliminaries were forgotten as is often true the first time lovers enjoy each other's body. The rising tide showed no mercy and continued to wash over them as they thrust and responded.  The love making in the surf was like a wild roller coaster ride. The intensity was so great that the sexual encounter came to an abrupt but joyous climax. Sabrina cried out, and in an involuntary manner, Nat did too. That was a first for Nat. They continued to lay in the surf for a good ten minutes clutching each other but communicating only in a subliminal manner.

Finally Nat said, "Are you ready to go home?"

"No, I want this to go on forever." Sabrina still had not returned to her normal state but appeared to be coming down from her experience very slowly. Nat had never witnessed a person for whom sex was such an integral part of her psyche. Finally Sabrina got up and collected their clothes but made no effort whatsoever to redress and did not give Nat the opportunity to do so.

As they were walking back to the cabana in the nude, Sabrina continued in her sexual mood, obviously in a state of euphoria. She radiated a presence that suggested she had just enjoyed one of the greatest experiences of her life.

Finally after minutes of blissful silence she spoke. Nat had reverenced her mood and had kept his peace himself.

Sabrina broke the blissful silence, “I think that now you have completely ravished my body it would be nice if you knew my name.”

Nat grinned, “After that experience I don’t even care what your name is.”

Sabrina pretending contempt, “Spoken like a true man. But I am going to tell you anyway. It is Cabernet, Sabrina Cabernet.”

Sabrina continued on, "I am going to speak to you seriously now. That was our first time to make love, so I let you break a cardinal rule."

"I didn't know you had rules"

"Oh yes, I have many but I won't tell them to you all at once. It might frighten you off. But I will tell you my cardinal rule.  When we make love, plan to devote at least an hour. I don't believe in Dr. Ruth's quickies. Love making is very serious to me. You may have noticed. It's something I don't take lightly. I don't ever want you to approach me, and I promise I won't approach you, unless you can devote your full attention to me. If you have a legitimate emotional need, I'll respond and I'll be empathetic with your need and desire. I expect you to do the same. But only if it is real desire. If you do otherwise I'll have been cheated and I'll know. This will destroy our relationship over the long run, and if you value our relationship, you'll respect it. If you don't, then you don't deserve me."

"I've known you for four hours and you are the simplest, most complex person I have ever known."

"Nat, you have an opportunity that any man on earth would kill for. If you're as smart as I think you are, you won't screw it up. I do require complete honesty. I'm not just talking about what we say to each other, but what we feel toward each other. Violate that trust, and our relationship is at an end. Honor that trust and you'll be rewarded in so many ways you'll come as close to nirvana as any man on earth."

Soon they were back in the cabana. Both enjoyed a night cap and proceeded to the master bedroom. Both were still undressed and took a shower together removing the salt and grit collected on the beach in their first physical encounter. After they retired to the oversized bed Nat paced himself more carefully knowing that an hour or more of sheer ecstasy was the first order of business.  Nat awoke at three in the morning. This was unusual as he usually slept straight through the night.  He touched Sabrina and the response was instantaneous. Another hour of the night was spent with not only the most beautiful, but perhaps the most sexual woman, in the world. Sex transported Sabrina to a level of sublime consciousness that is possible only to a few lucky women. She actually changed worlds when she was physically involved at such a deep level. This was a woman of many dimensions and all of them were deep and meaningful. Nat was in love. He was completely head over heels in love. Eight hours after meeting Sabrina he was now fantasizing about spending the rest of his life in blissful happiness with this woman who had totally captivated him.                       

 

Chapter 2

Monday June 21, 1991

 

Two weeks later Nat boarded an early flight for Los Angeles from the American Airlines hub at Raleigh-Durham. Upon arrival in L.A. he caught a cab to the Beverly Hills Hotel. A bungalow had been reserved for two nights. Sabrina, who had arrived a few hours earlier and was happily ensconced inside and had made arrangements for two days of fun and serious business, The first item on Nat's agenda was to refresh himself with the delicacies he had discovered the night he met Sabrina on Dafuskie Island.

After the union was again established they had a quick meal in the garden under the vines at the Beverly Hills. Their next move was to go straight to Rodeo Drive. Sabrina had Nat an appointment at Ramses to purchase a new wardrobe with a consultant by the name of Eduardo. Sabrina gave Eduardo only one directive. Make Nat look like a millionaire who would fit in well on the Riviera. Cost was a factor--they wanted to spend a lot of money. Three hours later the clothes were selected under Sabrina's watchful eye and slightly more than $18,000 was splurged.

"Eduardo, in three days we'll be arriving in Hong Kong. I want you to call Jingjuang's and give them Nat's measurements. You place the order and make the selections. Nothing but the very best money can buy. We want his monogram and their label on everything from the underwear to the topcoat. Make his wardrobe look tasteful but expensive. We want nothing but the best quality, and it's important that it show."

"You're a pleasure to do business with Madame. I can promise you complete satisfaction is guaranteed. In the future all you need do is call me and I can outfit you and send the clothes anywhere in the world. If you ever need recommendations for tailors in Paris, Monte Carlo, Rome or anywhere else, I'll be happy to make all of the arrangements for you."

"Eduardo, you're most kind and I'm sure we'll come to rely on you and use your expertise and friendship often. Nat, we've other business to attend to. Are you ready to go?"

Eduardo had the doorman secure a cab and the pair was off.

"Nat, I'm excited. I'm going to have to reign myself in and realize this is the most important trip of my life. Having you is making me feel as if I'm on my honeymoon."

Nat smiled. "Anything to oblige"

Sabrina with pent up excitement said, "Let's rent a convertible and have a drink at 'My Father's Office' in Santa Monica and then drive up the coast to Santa Barbara. I know a wonderful restaurant with candle light and the best California wine list on the coast. The Chef can do something with seafood that I haven't found anywhere other than a little restaurant in San Remo, Italy."

Nat spoke to the driver, "Take us to a Hertz office and drop us at the Gold Card entrance."

Within minutes they exited the cab at the Beverly Hills office of Hertz.

"What is the best convertible you have available?"

"We have a red Lamborghini!"

"That should do if you don't have anything sporty. I'm on my honeymoon and big things are expected of me."

Everyone smiled.

"When will you be returning the car, sir?"

"I don't know. I might buy it if I like it."

"Well, I don't think......"

Nat broke in, "I was teasing, I promise. You just say strange things when you're on your honeymoon."

"Please don't do anything that will damage your health. Honeymoons with someone this beautiful could cause over indulgence."

"Listen to what he's saying, Sabrina. You need to lighten up. I don't want a new bride with broken health."

She grinned, "Come on and let's go. This brand of humor may make them change their mind about your sanity and refuse to rent us the car."

After leaving Hertz they headed west on Sunset Boulevard toward Santa Monica with 'My Father's Office' as their destination.

Once seated the waiter looked at Sabrina and asked, "What will you have?"

"A Heineken dark, please.

"What will it be for you, sir?"

"An Anchor Steam on draft."

The waiter slipped away to take care of their orders.

"Nat, what do you want out of life?"

"To be truthful I've had just about everything from life I expected to get. Anything from this point on I consider a bonus. But I never expected a bonus in a package as fancy as you. I have had several books published providing me with royalties adequate for a comfortable retirement. Frankly, I was contemplating my future when I was at Dafuskie. Suddenly a storm comes up and I'm seduced by a beautiful woman who offers me a chance to add a level of excitement to my life that had escaped me to that point."

"That was the easiest seduction a woman ever made. What does it take to turn you on, the changing of a traffic light, or maybe the collecting of lint?"

"I just see sensuousness in areas of life that seem to escape others."

Nat continued. "I've been involved with you for just a few days and I already feel a release and a new view of myself. Being around you is heady business. I'm sure you've found a pattern of life that's impossible to duplicate in any other way. You'll never quit and I can see that I might not either.” You said, 'success breed success'."

Sabrina responded, "If you're asking are jobs easy to get, then I can assure you that a new career is born. You will get a dozen offers a year involving sums that you didn't even know existed. The world is full of multi-millionaires trying to screw each other. They are never able to accomplish their wishes themselves so they need people like you and me who will risk our lives and do their dirty work for them. The reason they can pay so well is that our commission costs them nothing. We're allowed to participate, but they take away the lion's share without doing anything other than furnishing a little capital. They're the ones who really have it made. You're now joining a very small fraternity. There are not but six people in our business that are capable of doing what we can offer. We call ourselves the Fraternity. There are never enough of us to go around. Jobs are waiting until we become available. You and I will not even feel competition from our brothers in the fraternity. They're scattered all over the world and we seldom even come in contact. It might cross your mind as to why we don't renege on our contracts and keep all of the funds we recover when these sums don’t really belong to those that employ us. Two reasons--one is that it's a very easy way to get killed; the other is that our employees know where the jobs are; we don't. Without the high rolling business man we're out of business. I saw your interest heighten when I mentioned getting killed. Believe me, when a lot of money is at stake you can't tell your enemies from your friends. Be careful and play by the rules. Do what you know how to do best and let others do what they know how to do. Lecture is over."

"You're the most beautiful lecturer I've ever seen, and remember I'm an academic. Let's get out of here and go to Santa Barbara."

Nat paid the bill and they returned to the Lamborghini. Soon they were driving north overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Sabrina with wind blowing through her hair, "No matter how many times I drive up the coast of California it's like discovering a new land all over again. I don't think I would ever tire of its rugged beauty."

"It's so different from the east coast. It's easy to love them both. They're just different. The Gulf Stream influences the water temperature and the climate so dramatically on the east coast."

"Do you think if I'd not come along, you'd have made your home in Dafuskie?"

"Very possibly, it offers a great sanctuary to call as a home base. I was getting restless. The academic life had already offered about all it was capable of, and I'm just forty years old. There's no way I could have stayed at Carolina until I was sixty five or seventy. Yet there are others the academic life fits perfectly for a lifetime. They never want to leave. I've a friend who continued to teach until she became so infirm she had to go into a nursing home. Students loved her however. I don't know if she was still a good teacher or not. Maybe she was just part of the institution and people took her class out of respect and love. But that's not for me. At forty years old and wealthy by academic standards I was ready for something else, and you provided it. Makes you wonder about predestination or fate or kismet, whatever you might call it.

He paused and virtually blurted, “Why don't we stay in Santa Barbara tonight?"

"What on earth made you suddenly think of that?"

"I took a look at you and that old familiar feeling flooded over me."

She smiled seductively and said, "I don't have anything to sleep in."

"Somehow you've missed the point. What about a midnight swim?"

"I didn't bring my bathing suit."

"What bathing suit? The one you had on at Dafuskie? I didn't notice you had one on until you took it off. Bathing suits are illegal on midnight swims."

Their teasing was the sure signs of an increasing emotional attachment.

Santa Barbara was wonderful. The meal was everything Sabrina had promised. Nat had never tasted better seafood. The Chef gave them the personal attention characteristic of fine restaurants. As promised after the meal, Nat and Sabrina found their deserted beach and sans swimming apparel frolicked in the surf. They held each other and kissed and petted expending the energy they generated in each other through physical desire. They returned to the hotel and spent the night entwined in each other’s arms. Nat was becoming grateful for the one hour rule. Sex and long physical encounters were bonding them in an inseparable manner. Sabrina was an unusual person. Whatever she was doing at the moment had her full attention and she devoted herself to the activity fully, completely, and passionately. This included the hours of physical enjoyment with Nat. Lovemaking transported Sabrina to a higher level of consciousness. Her body was demanding of her partner but was even more demanding of herself. She was in a state of physical intensity no matter what her role was at the particular moment. She was wonderful and she came down slowly. Ever so slowly, and this extended the lovemaking sessions deliciously. This was a wonderful honeymoon of sorts. Two people spending stolen moments in total happiness.

The next morning they slept late and then drove leisurely back to Los Angeles lunching at a fabulous seafood buffet in Malibu. At noon the following day they boarded Cathay Pacific. The plane flew north toward San Francisco on the great circle route to Hong Kong.

When the plane came within view of San Francisco and turned west over the Pacific, Nat changed the tone of their conversation from light banter between lovers to a more serious tone.

"How do I relate to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you make the decisions and I follow them?"

"Is that what you're used to doing, letting someone else make the decisions and you following them?"

"No."

"Then don't change now.

"Will we meet with our employers?

"Do you need to?"

"Is there some disadvantage to getting their opinions?"

"I'm sure if you ask them, they'll give you advice, maybe even instructions. Then you're faced with the dilemma of following their advice or ignoring it. I think that creates stressful situations."

"Sabrina, I'm uncomfortable."

"What do you mean?"

"Somehow I got off on the wrong foot and I can't seem to regain my initiative."

Sabrina sat quietly.

"Every question I ask seems to have such a simple answer to you that it makes me appears to be foolish and inept. Unless I can regain some initiative, I not only won't be any good to you, but I'm likely to bungle matters and get us both killed."

Sabrina asked, "A little male ego problem?"

He answered, "Maybe."

"Would it help if I was to sit here and look at you with big wide eyes and ooh and ah over your every word as if pearls of wisdom were falling from your lips? If that's what you want, I can do it better than anyone."

"No, that's not what I want, but I can't find a place to get started."

"Nat, I can understand your situation very well. My job was to get you on board and I did it the way I know best. I'm also the expert in clandestine operations and they're entirely new to you. I hope you'll learn from me and not let sex roles influence how we relate. As long as we work together there are some things I'll always be able to do better than you. If I didn't assume the lead in those areas, then we would be crippling ourselves before we even start. On the other hand there are things that you will be called on to do that are beyond me. If this were not true I would not have wasted my time and a considerable amount of money finding a partner who complements me so perfectly. We can't allow ourselves to be jealous of each other and compromise our effectiveness through damaged egos. We may argue, we may even fight, but I promise you one thing, you will always have my respect. You're the chosen one Nat. Now focus on the problem at hand. Use that logical intuitive brain of yours and lay out some scenarios we might follow."

"Thanks. I needed that."

They both grinned.

Nat began. "First, we're ruling out drugs as the source of these extraordinarily large sums of money. We're ruling out the ownership of large income producing businesses. We're ruling out syndicates and cartels. We're assuming these vast amounts of money are gained illegally. That means they're being stolen from someone. If the money is being stolen then by all rights the thefts should have been reported to the police. If such reports had been made it would have become public knowledge because of the large sums involved. Assuming the reports have not been made, this leads us to two possible conclusions. One, the owners of these large sums acquired their wealth illegally, therefore are not in a position to report the losses to the police, or two, they don't know they've been robbed. Five hundred billion couldn't have come out of the underworld. All of organized crime would be broke. They also would be placing the largest contract in history out on the perpetrator of the crime. Informers would have had this news in the hands of the authorities long ago and you would know about it. That leaves one logical conclusion. The money has been stolen from people who as yet to detect their losses. We do know that you can't accumulate wealth at the incredible rate of millions of dollars each day which Dr. Sing Pao has without a very complex and hi-tech scheme. You can't steal from individuals silently and in great numbers using old fashioned techniques. It simply can't be done."

"I knew I selected the right man."

"Finding out what Dr. Pao is doing may be easier than putting a stop to it, and a hell of a lot easier than regaining the money. I'm assuming we won't have completed our assignment until we've accomplished all three."

"We need to do it all. To shut Dr. Pao down but leave her as the wealthiest person in the world is unacceptable."

"I take it then that I will go to Shanghai and devise a scheme to get close to Sing Pao. After establishing this relationship I'll find out all of the details of her operation and proceed to shut it down and regain the money."

Sabrina laughed in merriment.

"Nat, you talk as if pulling off that caper were a child's game. You're an American. She's Chinese. There is no way you can move into a relationship that would encourage her to share all of her secrets with you."

Nat responded with mirth, "Why do you have such great confidence in your abilities to dominate men but doubt my abilities with women." Playful triumph showed on his face.

"Are you serious? Do you already have a plan?"

"Of course I do."

"How about sharing it with your partner in crime?"

"Sabrina, don't you think Dr. Pao is pleased with herself for having devised a scheme that enables her to acquire riches faster than anyone else has before."

"I'm sure she is."

"Success does funny things to people. Great triumphs often warp a person’s personality. It would be difficult for someone who has created a financial empire like Sing Pao not to have at least a small God complex. It's more likely that she has a large God complex. Let's assume that Dr. Pao now has palaces, Rolls Royce's, Lear Jets, an army of security people, servants to do her bidding, respect in the corporate board room and all of the other trimmings that go with immense wealth."

"I'm sure she has all of those things."

"Wouldn't you think she'd be satisfied?"

"You'd think so, but I'm sure you're going to assume she isn't."

"Greed begets greed."

"You're going to use this insatiable need for more possessions to get close to her."

"You're exactly right. I'm going to become her closest advisor. I'm going to be the person nearest her who is going to point out new and different ways to use her skills to acquire wealth. Those currently closest to her now are likely so intimidated that they can't offer her real advice. They are always telling her how great she is. In this setting she must respond by having all of the good ideas. I'm going to change that. I'm going to have great ideas she can put in action. I'll be coming from the outside, so our relationship will be different from any of the others with whom she's surrounded herself."

"Are you telling me that you're going to work for her?"

"I'm telling you that I'm going to move in with her if I can."

"You're not shy, are you?"

"My beautiful partner thinks well of herself too, and she's prospered mightily."

"Do you think she'll reveal her criminal activities to you or will you have to uncover them?"

"I think she's far beyond viewing herself as a criminal. In her mind she's just a successful business woman who knows how to make incredible amounts of money. Her closest associates obviously know what she's doing and I intend to become one of her closest associates."

"Don't you think she's smart enough to detect someone trying to infiltrate her inner circle?"

"She's going to invite me in. She's going to compel me to come in."

"I'm amazed at you. You're really serious."

"I am totally serious."

"Tell me quick-- what's going to make you so alluring?"

"You of all people should know.   I'm sure you'll never have to go to a marriage counselor. No one will ever have to ask you if anything is wrong with your sex life."

She laughed.

"I'm sure you have something in mind and are just playing with me. I want to know, outside of your great physical prowess, what is going to make you so appealing to Sing Pao."

Nat looked at her directly, "You."

"What do you mean me?"

"She's going take me away from you."

She answered, "Ego."

"We're going to go straight at her ego."

"Why are you so sure it'll work?"

"When we meet her she's going to see a man escorting the most beautiful woman in the world. Now what would be another woman's greatest ego trip?"

Sabrina quickly responded, "To take that man away from the most beautiful woman in the world. I'm saying this modestly of course."

He smiled, "Of course."

"Do you really think I'm the most beautiful woman in the world?" She accompanied the question with her radiant smile.

"You're the most beautiful I've ever seen by a long shot."

She again smiled appreciatively.

"How are we going to get near enough to Sing Pao for her to determine that you're the greatest catch in the world?"

"That's your department. You're the one who has never been turned away at any door. I'm counting on you continuing your record unblemished."

"We'll find her and look so damn good that she'll want us to decorate her parties."

Nat continued, "It appears to me that we're not only going to have to look good but we're going to have to come off as high rollers. How much is available to spread around?"

"Ten to twenty million if need be."

"Sabrina, when we get to Hong Kong we need to get her attention right away."

"She's in Shanghai."

"Does she have a bank in Hong Kong?"

"Yes, a rather small one by Hong Kong standards."

"Good. I'm counting on the fact that Sing Pao wants to become a respected member of the business community and will soon want to be recognized by the world's financial leaders for the legitimate side of her operations. The best way we can help her accomplish her goal is to give her some business. Let's deposit several million in the bank in Hong Kong and immediately become her best customer. She will know our names within the hour even if she's in Shanghai. Where will our money come from?"

"Any where you want it, Bank of America, Chemical, Citibank, NationsBank, Zurich, the Bahamas, You name it, and it’s yours."

"Let's plan to move money in from five or six of the best known banks. That will indicate we've impeccable financial credentials. When we get to Shanghai let's do the same in her bank there. Even Sing Pao will want to become available to her best customer. It's our ticket for admission."

Sabrina agreed, "When we get to Shanghai I'll get busy and find out everything I can about her social schedule. We'll eat in the restaurants she frequents, we'll attend the same parties, we'll go to the same theaters, we'll gamble in the casinos and we'll spend money like crazy. Sing Pao is going to be up against something she hasn't faced for a while. She's going to be placed in situations where she isn't the center of attention. That handsome American with his gorgeous girl friend will have everyone's attention. Her party will no longer have the prettiest people. It will drive her up the wall. Can you imagine a beautiful Chinese woman who also happens to be the richest person in the world no longer being on the front burner in her own town? I'm having fun just thinking about it. We'll make no overtures to her at all. We'll be friendly if the opportunity presents itself but we'll do nothing to indicate any interest in cozying up to her. Any personal contact must come from her. We don't even want her to be able to look back and think that she's been set up. We'll become the social item in Shanghai. No party will be worth attending if this new beautiful pair is not guests. It then becomes just a matter of time before she throws a lavish party and includes us on the guest list."

The stewardess announced that the landing in Hong Kong was imminent. Seat belts had been tightened, trays had been stored and seats were positioned in an upright manner.

Wednesday, June 23 1991

Peninsula Hotel

Kowloon, the Peoples Republic of China

 

The traditional Rolls Royce took them to the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon across the bay from the island of Hong Kong. They made reservations in the hotel dining room which was considered to be the best restaurant in the Hong Kong area. Even though the stewardesses had attended to their every need on Cathay Pacific, they thought a nap would serve them well before spending their first evening enjoying the city. To see Sabrina undress in front of him aroused Nat to an almost unbearable state. He did remember the rule. He was certain that in his fatigued state, bordering on jet lag, he would never be able to sustain the hour of intense sexual activity she required. He followed Sabrina into the bathroom and showered quickly. They both returned immediately to the bedroom and momentarily were asleep. Nat was at peace with the world. He was on an adventure that would require him to perform at a level that had only been a matter of fantasy. Beside him was a woman with whom he was desperately in love. The accommodations were the best in Kowloon. He was a man consumed. There was nothing he would not attempt, there was nothing he could not accomplish, and the world had come to him. He now had assumed a mantle of fatalistic power. He felt ten feet tall and bullet proof. Sleep came easily. He knew that he had found a role in life that suited him perfectly. His mind and his aplomb were the weapons that he would depend upon for the rest of his life. This new feeling was exhilarating.

Thursday, June 23 1991

Peninsula Hotel

Imperial Suite

Kowloon, the Peoples Republic of China

 

The next morning after breakfast they shopped until 11:00 am on the fascinating streets of Kowloon. They then caught a cab which took them through the tunnel to the island of Hong Kong. Nat directed the driver to take them to the Bank of Shanghai. Sabrina had made an appointment for them to see the President of the Bank of Shanghai to transact some unnamed business. Upon arrival at the bank Nat paid the cab driver and they went directly to the office of the President.

"Good morning Ms. Cabernet and Dr. Turner. My name is Dr. Shu. How can my bank be of service to you?"

Nat responded, "Ms. Cabernet and I are business partners and we're looking for a banking connection in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Knowing you operate in both cities, as well as most other major trading areas in the People's Republic, your bank was attractive to us."

"What kind of business are you and Ms. Cabernet in, if you don't mind my asking," Dr. Shu asked.

"Investments, We buy companies, or at least controlling interest in companies."

"That may be difficult in the People's Republic. The large farms and businesses are owned by the people"

"Are any exceptions made?"

Dr. Shu answered, "Rarely."

Sabrina spoke in measured tones, "Dr. Shu, it's my understanding that the government in the People's Republic is somewhat in need of hard currency."

"All developing nations can use more than is usually available."

Sabrina spoke in a very businesslike tone, "The People's Republic has set up several free trade zones to attract businesses into the mainland and generate hard currency. We're looking for a bank with understanding bankers who can help us make our dreams come true. We had planned to provide the bankers who work with us a personal retainer of one hundred thousand United States dollars. Have we come to the right bank, or should we look elsewhere?"

"Ms. Cabernet, I didn't mean to imply that it was impossible to acquire businesses, just difficult. I would be most happy to help you in any way that I can. I can even be your personal emissary where necessary, and will use my influence on your behalf."

"We'll deposit some working capital in your bank today to show good faith. We'll also be going to Shanghai in a few days and I would appreciate your calling ahead and introducing us. We would like to make the same proposition to the president of the bank there."

"How much do you intend to deposit?"

"Five million US dollars to start with, but there will be more forthcoming when you've located the businesses we're looking for. Price is of no particular limitation if the value is there. We have substantial capital of our own but we also have friends who are willing to join us should we not be able to handle the deal."

Dr. Shu became excited and it showed. "Five million would be wonderful. When will the deposit be made?"

Nat answered, "Today. It would help if your cashier were to come in and prepare the drafts now. We'll need one draft for a million dollars from the Bank of America, one million from Manufacturers Hanover, one million from Citibank, one million from Suisse Bank in Zurich, and one million from The Bank of the Grand Bahamas. These are all numbered accounts and can be accessed directly by computer if your cashier would trust me to use the bank's computer. I don't share passwords. I'm sure you understand."

Dr. Shu said, "Perfectly. We use voice actuated computers. There is no data entry necessary. They're equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence chip developed by the bank's owner. We'll give you a terminal to use and allow you to personally make the transfer. Just speak to the computer and tell it what you want it to do. No additional instructions are necessary.

"Good. You'll have your five million within ten minutes."

The cashier came into the office and Nat followed him back to his office and used a voice actuated computer for the first time. Sabrina stayed behind to outline the businesses in which she and Nat were interested.

"Electronics, if international contracts are in place. We want established businesses, not start ups. We're planning on the People's Republic competing effectively with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. It is our opinion that the People's Republic has many competitive advantages over these neighbors with the cost of labor being the chief advantage. We want to invest in companies that make electric hand tools. We want toy companies that can gear up quickly to take advantage of new and sometimes short lived opportunities. Let's stay away from heavy industrial type businesses. These businesses require too much capital investment and too much risk."

"I'll organize a sub company just to work for you and Dr. Turner. I've some friends who are particularly adept at finding and analyzing good opportunities. Do you want me to set up an office for you here in the bank building?"

"That would be very convenient. We'll be spending a lot of time here. We're staking our future on the rapid industrialization of the People's Republic. We need a strong base of operation in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and time will only tell where else we will be. As you can see, we're thinking far ahead."

Nat returned and greeted Dr. Shu and Sabrina.

"The five million is here."

"Nat, Dr. Shu is organizing a small company that will be headquartered here in the bank just to find and analyze business opportunities for us."

Nat mused to himself, 'The most beautiful business woman in the world has Dr. Shu eating out of her hand.'

"Very good, did you share with Dr. Shu our requirements and our long range plans?"

"Yes, and he has a lot of ideas of his own that will work to our advantage."

"Dr. Shu, will you make arrangement to do the same thing in Shanghai. I want you and your colleague there to work together. No competition between you. We're all going to make a lot of money and two businesses working with us are even better than one."

Dr. Shu made a proposition, "Why don't we have both locations working as one and split the finders' fees?"

"I think that's a capital idea," Nat said. "But forgive the use of a financial term."

 Dr. Shu smiled. "Where are you staying?"

"We're in the Imperial Suite in the Peninsula."

Still the best," observed Dr. Shu.

"I'll have my driver take you back to the Hotel. There'll be no need to take a cab. We're now business associates and you can think of my bank as your headquarters when you're in Hong Kong."

"Please call your bank in Shanghai today. We'll fly up tomorrow and should be able to meet with them on Monday. If you don't mind, would you have them draw the drafts on the Suisse bank in Geneva and the Suisse bank in Lucerne? I think we'll also use The Royal Bank in London and the Royal Bank in Copenhagen. Sabrina, do you prefer to use a different bank in the Bahamas or Cape Town."

"Let's use Cape Town. We need to stir the account."

"Cape Town, Dr. Shu, if that's all right."

Sabrina joined in. "Dr. Shu, we'll be transferring money just after the first of each month. We want the interest figured before we withdraw."

Dr. Shu was totally excited. His eyes were big. Dr. Sing Pao will be excited to hear about the new customers and he was going to pick up hundreds of thousands of dollars on the side working with his new business partners.

Sabrina and Nat excused themselves from the now effervescent Dr. Shu.

The driver met them at the door and safely deposited them in the hands of doorman at the Peninsula in Kowloon.

Nat walked immediately to the Concierge's desk and had him book their flight to Shanghai for the next day. He specified Cathay Pacific.

Sabrina said," I'm going to be on the phone for a while. When we get to Shanghai I want to know Dr. Sing Pao's social schedule for the next three weeks. She's in for the most amazing set of coincidences anyone can have. Her newest and best customer is going to be plainly in view wherever she goes. We agreed we were not going to make any overtures other than to be civil. Any social contact she will have to initiate. We want to do everything possible to keep our relationship from appearing to be a setup."

"What does she look like?"

Sabrina responded, "She's gorgeous! You will have seen few people as striking and sophisticated as she."

"I know one, and she'll blow the doors off of Dr. Pao!"

She smiled, "Blow the doors?"

"One cliché is a good as another."

Sabrina smiled appreciatively.

Immediately after Nat and Sabrina had departed, Dr. Shu made a phone call. Within moments he was on the phone with Dr. Sing Pao.

"Dr. Pao, I've some wonderful news. I had an American couple in my office a few moments ago who selected our bank over all of the others and deposited five million US dollars."

"You'd better wait to see if it arrives before you do any celebrating Dr. Shu. Most often that's talk and it never materializes."

"The money is already here. He had it drafted directly by the computer. He had his own password and the money was deposited in their account instantaneously. Most of the banks were closed. It was the middle of the night in the states. He had direct access. They were the largest, most prestigious banks anywhere. They used five different banks to draw a million each. They want to do the same thing in Shanghai but they're using five different banks other than the ones they used in Honk Kong. We're onto something big. They have very deep pockets."

"What are they going to do with all of this money?"

"They want to buy businesses in our country. She specified electronics, hand tools, and toys. They think the market in the People's Republic will be as large or larger than the Japanese market, and they want to be in on the ground floor. They intend to ingratiate themselves to the government of the People's Republic in order to take advantage of the industrial revolution underway. They want a substantial stake in all that goes on for a long time. We're dealing with a smart pair. We're lucky to have them select us to handle their finances. We'll make money from their accounts for a very long time. I'm reasonably sure that they'll place the accounts of any business we help them locate with one of our banks."

"Tell me about the woman?"

"Breathtaking!"

"What do you mean breathtaking?

"With the exception of you Dr. Pao, I've never seen anyone as lovely."

"You're being predictably deferential, Dr. Shu. But I do look forward to seeing her."

Tell me about the man?"

He answered, "Tall, six three or four. I would guess around forty. Well built, must use weights and must run on a strict schedule."

"Is he handsome?"

"Definitely, pure movie star material."

"They must make a striking pair."

"They would dominate any crowd, except, of course, when Dr. Pao is present. Any time you're in the room no one else is noticed."

"We shall see."

"Do you have any more questions I can answer, Dr. Pao?"

"When will they be in my bank in Shanghai?"

He answered, "On Monday at 11:00 am, if Dr. Ling is available."

She assured him, "He'll be available. Find out what flight they'll be on and get back to local security immediately. I don't want them to go anywhere we don't know about. Where are they staying in Hong Kong?"

Dr. Shu answered, "The Peninsula."

"They have good taste. Did they show any interest in me? Did they seem to know I owned the bank?"

"I detected nothing suspicious at all. Strictly business and that includes the woman. She behaved herself as if she were an executive on Wall Street."

Dr. Pao asked, "The computer. Did you have to show him how to use it?"

He answered, "Not at all. He was perfectly at home with it. He's no amateur. I think we're on to the real thing. I really believe you're going to be impressed."

Dr. Pao asked, "You're sure-- now think carefully-- no interest in me at all?"

Dr Shu replied, "Nothing. I think they wanted a banking connection that's well placed in the People's Republic. We can certainly give them that. Anything else?"

"Yes, I want to find out their social schedule while in Shanghai. I think it would be well if I showed up in some of their relaxing moments and see what they're like when they're not in the business office."

Dr. Shu responded, "I'll see that inquiries are made. You're presenting me with an interesting challenge."

Dr. Pao said thoughtfully, "You've presented me with an interesting challenge!"                           

 

 

CHAPTER 3

Wednesday, June 23 1991

Peninsula Hotel

Kowloon, the Peoples Republic of China

 

          "Sabrina, let me ask you a question."

          "Sure. I'd like to ask you some too."

          "What kind of doctor is Dr. Sing Pao? Is she a medical doctor? If she is, I can understand how she's the richest person in the world. My doctor at home must be the second richest person in the world."

          Sabrina laughed out loud, "No, she's not a medical doctor. In fact, her degree is from the California Institute of Technology. We will find a very Americanized oriental in Dr. Sing Pao. Her specialty at Cal-Tech was in computer science."

          "Computer science? That's interesting. She has a doctoral degree in computer science? She must be very mathematical."

          "Orientals seem to have a definite bent for science and mathematics. It must be in their genes. Even more interesting is what she did after she finished her doctorate. She spent two years of post-doc work developing algorithms."

          Nat mused, "Algorithms? That sounds like she was developing ways to network computers so they could do parallel processing."

          "Apparently, She's an expert and Cal-Tech is one of the leaders in the field."

          Nat observed, "She must have gone to Cal-Tech at an early age to have a doctorate in computer science followed by two years post-doctoral work on algorithms. You said that she's just 35 years old now, and we know that she's been in the business of accumulating money for at least three years. I take it there must have been some period of time after she left Cal-Tech before she started amassing great amounts of money."

          "There was a period of time before she first appeared on the financial scene, but that doesn't mean that she wasn't already amassing money. We just can't be sure. But our best estimate is that she's been at work three years."

          "Sabrina, that's amazing. This is one bright lady."

          "Well, that's not all. I only told you about her first post-doctoral work. She spent another two years in post-doctoral work in computer linguistics."

          Nat wrinkled his brow, "Computer linguistics? Do you know the subject of her doctoral dissertation?"

          "I certainly do. I know everything possible to know about her that can be uncovered by our employers."

          "Let me guess. I'll bet it had something to do with networking."

          Sabrina answered, "No, actually not. It's apparent she knows a lot about networking computers, but that wasn't the subject of her dissertation. Her dissertation was on computer algorithms."

          "Sabrina!" Nat's eyes were big, and excitement was all over his face.

          "What? You're on to something. Tell me!"

          "Sabrina, she's got the key to the bank. Goddamn it! She's got the key to the bank!"

          "What do you mean the key to the bank?"

          "I mean she's got the key to the bank. She can walk right in to any bank and have access to anything she wants. She can deposit money. She can withdraw money. She can set up accounts. She can delete accounts. She can change payroll records. She can do any Goddamn thing she wants."

          "How can she do that?"

          "Sabrina, unless I miss my guess, we have a scenario at Cal-Tech that will absolutely blow your mind. I'm assuming she must have been an absolutely brilliant student in the People's Republic to have been admitted to Cal-Tech. She must have a super intellect. They don't let many students into the computer science program from the United States, let alone from the People's Republic."

          Nat continued. "Remember, we're talking about a nation that's not on the friendliest terms with the United States. Yet, she was admitted and worked with the best minds we have in computers. They taught her computer networking, and then she went on to write her doctoral dissertation in algorithms, followed by two years post-doctoral work in algorithms, then two years post-doctoral work in computer linguistics. That's not a usual course of study. In fact, that's a very unusual course of study, and yet, at Cal-Tech, a very American-type institution, we have a Chinese National working in our most advanced field. Then she deviates into a very specialized field."

          "You still haven't told me what makes you think that she has a key to the bank. I can see by your face that you’re excited. You can barely hold it in."

          "I'm not only excited; it's incredible what this woman is on to. It's going to be a hell of a job to put a stop to it. Can you imagine being able to go into any bank in the world and withdraw money from anybody's account? Can you imagine going into any bank in the world and setting up a new account? Can you imagine going into any bank in the world and transferring money from one account to another? Can you imagine the ability to transfer money from account to account and then erase those accounts as if they never existed? She has the ability to absolutely defusing any kind of audit trail? Can you imagine going into any bank in the world and opening up an account without writing your name or your address? Can you imagine taking as much money out of a bank as you want and moving it to another bank without asking any body's permission?"

          Now Sabrina's face was flushed with excitement. "Nat, you're talking about a hacker, a super hacker, someone who can break into computer networks and roam around at will."

          "That's exactly what I'm talking about. A super hacker! Note carefully, Sabrina, that I said hacker and not hooker."

          "Nat, get your mind back on computers and off sex."

          "It's hard to sit here and look at you and not think of sex. I'm surprised I can talk to you about computers at all. Do you mind turning out all the lights and let me talk to you in the darkness? I think I could concentrate better."

          "Nat, be serious. You're on to something, and it's the breakthrough we've needed. But I still don't understand. Hacking is not an easy task. I can see breaking into networks. We know hackers have done that for years, but there's no way that someone could break into networks and banks all over the world. It takes hours and hours, probably even days and weeks before anyone is ever successful in breaking into any kind of secure network. And the major banks have very secure networks. They're just loaded with passwords. You'd have to break password after password after password."

          "You're right about the difficulty of it. That's why no one had ever thought to do this before. But think with me a moment. I want us to speculate and put this together. First of all, our beautiful, young Chinese lady, who is one of the more brilliant academicians to come out of the People's Republic to an American university in a long time, absolutely wows her professor with her academic prowess. Now, I know for a fact that as an academic, if you find a terrific student, it's a great turn-on. You really want to take a student absolutely as far as he or she can go. As you know, Orientals have a deferential way, and can ingratiate themselves with people easily, particularly in the United States because they're so polite and grateful."

          Nat frowned and looked at the line joining the wall and the ceiling, regained his concentration and continued with his speculation. "Let's assume the professors are enamored with her because of her intelligence and academic potential. Now add another interesting ingredient- beauty. You said she's a knockout. What more could a professor ask for than a student who was brilliant, gorgeous and possessing Oriental ways that make you think she's the most grateful person in the world for anything you do or teach her. We can't even rule out the fact that in her deference to her learned professors she might have gone to bed with some of them. That is often done, you know. Nevertheless, she has the combination that would make the learned professors at Cal-Tech anoint her as one of their finest. She would have access to the largest computers, she would have individual instruction and private time with the professors. I'm sure there's little that anyone at Cal-Tech knew that didn't end up in Dr. Sing Pao's beautiful mind."

          "I'm sure you're describing the scenario just as it happened. Do you want me to have our people check at Cal-Tech and see if she was their brightest student?"

          "Yes, I think that would help. I would also like to know the professors with whom she studied and how respected they were in their fields. No, that's ridiculous. Anyone teaching at Cal-Tech is going to at the top of their field. That's a waste of time. Do find out, however, their academic specialty because it will confirm where I think this trail is leading us. I'm also interested in acquiring a copy of her dissertation. I'm sure they have that at the publishing office at Cal-Tech. But if not, it's on microfilm in the Library of Congress. Either way you let's get it. Hard copy if you can, I don't want to read a dissertation in microfiche. It's too hard on my eyes."

          "I'll make inquiries right away. We should get a copy within a few days. What about articles? Do you want to look at articles she might have written?"

          "Yes. The articles may be as interesting as her dissertation. Be sure you search for co-authorship and even contributing students. These references may be in the preface to articles. It's not at all unusual in graduate school for professors to actually publish a work done by their doctoral and post-doctoral students. They do more editing than research. So let's look at anything we can lay our hands on. We'll see if a pattern develops. I think we'll be confirming that she's uncovered a way to break into computers anytime she wants to."

          "Nat, the time frame bothers me. It's not easy to break into secure computers. When you access a bank's internal network and you'll be confronted with the need for a password. Think of the incredible amount of time it would take to break through each and every password. It just has to be a time consuming and a laborious task. The time frame for accumulating her money just doesn't allow a young Chinese woman, no matter how brilliant, to sit down and go through tens of thousands of these carefully guarded and locked doors."

          "You have an interesting point, but we know she has five hundred billion dollars. That's a fact. How did she get it? Don't you think it was her academic training that let her discover these possibilities?"

          "I'm sure your right, but its mind boggling."

          "Let's speculate on how she went about it. First of all, let's assume while she was at Cal-Tech she met a young Chinese student as brilliant or nearly as brilliant as she. Let's assume that the student was working with her and enamored of her beauty, became her lackey. Something like I've become for you."

          "Nat, we're talking business now. You don't have to make these aside remarks to get my attention. You act as if you're a love-starved teenager. Frankly, you're already getting about all the passion I have to give. How many hours a day do I have to spend in bed with you to get you to talk about something other than sex?"

          "Well, there're twenty-four hours, and I figure I need four hours sleep."

          "Nat, get back to Dr. Pao. You're beginning to brag too much. You know I have a way to knock you out cold when I tire of your incessant conversation."

          She gave him that radiant smile that had a way of weakening his bones. "Now, get back to business."

          "OK, but you do make my mind wander at times. Let me get back to the young Chinese student or maybe an American student. Who knows? Nevertheless, let's assume that she now has someone working with her that she dominates through her brilliance and beauty. She's probably even taking him to bed, or he may be willing to do anything for her just to maintain the relationship. Once she finds a young man who will do her bidding, she probably looks for others. No telling how many. She may not have been working by herself. All of her new team would be experts on networking. When you have access to the network, you have access to the computer. You are connected to all the computers in the work that are networked."

          Nat continued. "Computer networks are designed to let one computer talk to another. Protection from unwanted entry comes from the passwords that you must have to get into the network. We know that any network can be breached if someone has the skill and the patience to do so. However, this wasn't the point that made me so excited. When I said she had the key to the bank, I really meant it. I can see Dr. Pao assembling a network of young Orientals, probably Chinese, or anyone who is willing to work. She is great friends with the faculty. She's their finest student. She's female. She's beautiful, and they love to work with her. She's taught the fundamentals and intricacies by the best minds at the university. She now knows everything that can possibly be gleaned about the ability of one computer to talk to another. With this knowledge on networking she writes her doctoral dissertation on algorithms. That was very interesting to me. An algorithm would allow her to put the power of many computers together working as parallel processors. With parallel processing of many computers, this young doctoral student has become an expert on the most powerful tool known to man. She not only knows networking, but she knows how to write algorithms to increase the power of computers in a geometric progression."

          Nat raced on. "She's way ahead of her time. She's become the leading authority in the field. She writes a doctoral dissertation, not on some minor computer problem, but on algorithms, the very latest and powerful field in computer science. Then you mentioned an additional two years of post-doctoral work in algorithms. She not only has a degree in computer science with this specialty, but she's so entranced with the whole field that she continues to work one-on-one with the universities best minds. Then you put the last piece of the puzzle into place, and truly, you're right, it blew my mind. She spent two additional years of post-doctoral work in linguistics, computer linguistics. Dr. Pao is probably the world's leading authority on using the power of computers to decipher language. All language, non-sense syllables, numbers, ASCII symbols. It can be anything and it's working at the speed of light. She can now use super computers to solve her problems. This woman has written an algorithm that will break any password on any computer. She can now walk through all of the so-called barred gates as easily as a knife cutting through warm butter."

          Sabrina shook her head from side to side and softly said, "That's amazing, absolutely amazing."

          "The possibilities are unlimited. I'll tell you one thing. Can you imagine being a criminal and robbing a bank when there's no evidence?"

          "What do you mean no evidence? She's withdrawing the money isn't she?"

          "Yes, she's withdrawing it, but using the computer to keep track. Let's assume she sets up ten accounts. She then writes a computer program to rake all of the inactive accounts that are more than a year old, placing the money in one of her ten accounts in the bank at the moment. But all the money from the inactive accounts is now in accounts that she entered into the system herself. Now the intriguing thing about setting up her own accounts is that no one has filled out any form. She has taken dollars out of one account and placed it in another but there is no currency involved. She is robbing a bank, but she didn't have to carry a sack into the bank. She didn't have to put a mask on. None of this is necessary. This woman has access to every dollar in the bank if she wants it. What she must do is find the money in places where its absence is not likely to be detected readily. All she's doing is transferring electronic digits from one account to another account. And the second account is a bogus account to begin with."

          "Is it really that easy once you're inside the computer?"

          "It's not necessarily easy, but we must remember, we're talking about a computer expert who can write algorithms. She's mechanized difficult tasks in a way that lets the computer do the work. Once her computer breaks into the banking network, she can start moving money around surreptitiously. The fruits in that bank are totally available to her. Now the second step. Let's assume that she's raked all of the inactive accounts in the bank. She's moved them into the ten accounts she created. She now creates a hundred new accounts in the bank. She takes some percentage, perhaps ten percent of the money in the original ten accounts and divides that among the hundred accounts. The money that was original stolen is now scattered among a hundred accounts. The original ten are erased from the computer. There is no audit trail. She can now transfer this money into hundreds of banks and thousands of accounts mixing the money each time. All of this is preprogrammed and done in less than a second. Each time the transfers are made the previous account numbers are removed from the computer. The possibilities are geometrical and the money is untraceable. She can do all of this because of her algorithm that gives her access to any bank."

          Nat asked, "Can you imagine the most powerful computers in the world working twenty-four hours a day, breaking into banks and robbing them blind and walking away with their money without any physical evidence whatsoever? There're no fingerprints, no big canvas bags with dollars signs written on the side, no mask, no guns, no threat of physical harm, and yet, it's the greatest heist in history. She certainly doesn't have to blow the doors off an armored truck. She has a money machine. It appears that her only worry is how long this can go one before the banks begin to miss the money. Sooner or later, some of those inactive accounts will become active, and there's not going to be any money in them. And there's going to be a great scandal. On the other hand, she's fairly safe if she's limited herself to inactive accounts. They make up only a small percentage of the total deposits. Banks don't want any trouble. For a long time they'll consider the discrepancy in the accounts simply a bank error which they can make good by covering the deposits. When they do find that the inactive accounts were robbed of their funds, they immediately will look for larcenous bank employees."

          "They would look internally."

          "Yes, no one's going to have any idea that there's a scam going on. They'll think that an employee or employees in bank are stealing. Their confidence in passwords is so great that it wouldn't even occur to them that someone outside of the bank would be taking their money. That in itself brings up another interesting possibility. She could be taking a portion of the money and placing it in the bank president's account, the cashier's account, or the head of accounting's account. All of the investigation would be now focused internally to see if these people are in a conspiracy. On second thought it might be better if she kept it out of the president's account. You need to have someone with a high position to order the investigation. There would be a serious scandal, but the last thing the bank would want to do was let anyone outside of their walls know they're having a problem with dishonesty or embezzlement. While they are accusing each other, Dr. Pao has taken the money and run. The thought of the scheme is incredible. And to think a young Chinese woman conceived it all doing honest doctoral work."

          "Nat, you think like Dr. Pao. You'd make a great criminal. I don't think there's any doubt that this is what she's doing. I'll get the dissertations. I'll get the articles she's published. But what are you going to do with them? I don't think you have to prove this is the tack she's taken. I'm not sure there's any other way that she could have accumulated the vast amounts of funds in such a short time. There's no question in my mind. You've solved it."

          "Well, Sabrina, I want the dissertations and the articles for another reason."

          "What's that?"

          "I want to learn to do it myself."

          "You're going to start stealing from banks?"

          "No, I'm not going to steal from a bank. I'm going to take the money away from Dr. Pao. I want to find out how to do it. I think we can uncover the same secret she uncovered. Then we can invade her computers, collapse the system and walk away with five hundred billion dollars. Do you think our employers would be happy with that?"

          "I'm sure they'd lose it in their pants."

          "It looks to me as if we have two jobs now. One is to get close enough to Dr. Pao to find out where her computers are, and the other is to see if we can write our own algorithms that will break into her computers and take the money away from her."

          "That's not going to be easy, but its one hell of a challenge. I don't believe I've been this excited in a long time. Do you think she backs everything up on tape?"

          "I'm sure she does but I would suspect she has multiple computers that are networked together in various locations for safety. When a transaction is made in one computer, it copies it into a second computer or a third computer or a fourth computer. When you're talking about five to six hundred billion dollars, you can afford all the computers you want, and you'll be very careful that you don't lose your records. If we could ever get into her computer, we could find the list of accounts in which she has stored her money. We need this list of account numbers and locations to rake her accounts and walk away with her money. Wouldn't that be interesting! Wouldn't you like to be with her the morning she woke up and found out the richest woman in the world was now broke?"

          "Nat, this calls for a celebration."

          "Let's celebrate," he said with an exaggerated smile on his face.

          "Nat, there is more than one way to celebrate," she said with mock exasperation."

          "Oh, there is. I don't seem to think of any."

          "You wouldn't."

          "What did you have in mind?"

          Sabrina answered, "Dinner. We will build up to your celebration slowly."

 

CHAPTER 4

Wednesday, June 24 1991

Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China

 

 

          When their plane landed in Shanghai, they were greeted by a small delegation from the Bank of Shanghai. The bank was giving them the red carpet treatment, reserved for valued customers. The chief public relations official representing Dr. Pao escorted Sabrina and Nat through customs and directed them to a quietly waiting Mercedes S Series limousine. The ride to the center of town took thirty minutes. When the distinctive Mercedes arrived at the door of the Portma Hotel in the Shanghai Centre, the doorman and luggage handlers were ready. Bypassing the customary signatures at the front desk, Sabrina and Nat were taken directly to the elevators and whisked to the top floor. With a great flourish, all of the amenities of their suite were noted, and special services explained. Good-bys were then exchanged, and Sabrina and Nat were left alone in the large suite looking the Huangpu River, on the waterfront of Shanghai.

          "Nat, come out on the balcony with me. The view is magnificent."

          "Don't you want me to go ahead unpack our bags?"

          "Not now. This view is too good not to enjoy it in the first moments of our visit to Shanghai."

          Nat dutifully walked out on the balcony and put his arm around Sabrina's shoulder. They quietly shared the spectacular view.

          Then Sabrina spoke "Nat, I'm going over to the newspaper offices and talk with the social editor."

          "What are you going over there to do?"

          "Dr. Pao has to be the hottest social item in Shanghai. I want to see what the social editor can tell us about her activities."

          "Why don't you just call the editor? I'm sure you can learn as much over the phone as you can by a personal visit."

          "I'd rather talk to her personally. I can find out more."

          "Then while you're at the newspaper, I'm going to get a feel for the city."

          They agreed to meet back at the hotel at six in the evening, and both departed to perform their separate tasks.

          When Nat was through with his short tour of downtown Shanghai, he stopped by the bar in the lobby and enjoyed a Johnny Walker Black on the rocks. At six he returned to the suite and found that Sabrina was still away. At six-thirty, he heard the key in the door, and Sabrina had returned.

          "Did you have a good afternoon?"

          "Very productive, I think."

          Nat fixed both of them a drink and they walked out on the balcony to once again enjoy the view.

          "Were you able to find the person you needed at the newspaper?"

          "Yes, and she was quite helpful."

          "Is Dr. Pao the celebrity we expected?"

          "Yes, she really is. The society editor was happy to talk with me about her. She's the number one social item in Shanghai, and perhaps even east China."

          "This country is hurting for hard currency, so the richest person in the world has to be a celebrity and a favorite with government officials."

          "You're right there. The society editor talked about her in nothing but glowing terms. She kept phrasing her comments in terms of the beautiful Dr. Pao, the exquisite Dr. Pao. The information we have about her beauty is not exaggerated."

          "Is she a secretive person?"

          Sabrina answered, "No, at least not from a social point of view. She visits all the fashionable restaurants. Dr. Pao is enjoying the prestige of being the city's new leading citizen."

          "That surprises me. You'd think that someone who had come into great wealth from illegal sources would be more circumspect."

          "Well, remember, we're in the city of pirates. Ill-gained wealth in Shanghai has never been an embarrassment. I'm certain that not even an eyebrow is raised when it comes to discussing the source of one's wealth."

          "Does she follow any routine in her selection of restaurants?"

          "Not really a routine, but I did get a list of restaurants she frequents. It's apparent she eats out a lot and is invited to many social functions around the city."

          "Are you going to use your inventive ways to get us invited to some of these events?" he asked with a smile.

          "You bet your life I am."

          "Do you have any plans for us this evening? Can we make the night productive?"

          "Yes, I already have reservations."

          Nat asked, "Oh, really? Where did you make them?"

          "The Gong DE Ling, one of the best in Shanghai. Dr. Pao will be there tonight.

          "Is this a coincidence?"

          Sabrina answered, "Not at all. You know I don't believe in coincidence. I asked the social editor to call the restaurants that Dr. Pao frequents. She was delighted to help. I told her quite frankly that I was from the United States and was very interested in meeting Dr. Pao, and I thought that it could best be done socially. A pretty trusting face such as mine elicits much support. She picked up the phone and began to call the restaurants she had named. The third restaurant she called confirmed that Dr. Pao had a reservation for tonight. She booked us into the same restaurant, arriving thirty minutes later than Dr. Pao. We'll not be eating until 10:00 tonight. I thought it was best that we make something of a grand entrance. With the exception of the party of Dr. Pao, we're going to be the most glamorous guests they have. I can't wait to get started. We're going to make a dashing couple. I doubt we'll have to bump into Dr. Pao more than a time or two before she's willing to strike up a conversation."

          "I love a woman with such great confidence."

          "When you see the dress I'm wearing tonight, and when I walk in on the arm of the handsomest man in Shanghai, that's a package Dr. Pao is not going to be able to resist. She will want to meet us. A person with social ambitions wants decorate her parties with the prettiest people around."

          Nat and Sabrina left the balcony and returned to the main salon of the suite. They decided to take a nap and bathe before dressing for the evening. After awakening, they adjourned to separate dressing rooms. Nat was busily assembling his evening’s attire when he heard Sabrina's voice from the doorway, "Do you mind taking a look at me?"

          "I never mind taking a look at you."

          Nat turned and looked at Sabrina filling the doorway in black and white attire. She was devastating. A band of white started at her right shoulder and swept down to her left hip. The neckline was a deep V, revealing the majority of Sabrina's ample bosom. The black band starting again at the right shoulder and supporting the white stripe down to the hem line was nothing but a series of beautiful curves, clinging closely to Sabrina's body. This ravishing cocktail dress was highlighted by sequins. To give Nat some idea of how she would look as she walked through the restaurant, she wiggled her hips slowly two or three times. The movement in the dress obviously was going to have the desired effect. Nat, who viewed himself as sophisticated, was having difficulty getting used to the beauty of his new-found associate. Dr. Pao was going to be in for a surprise tonight. Nat wasn't unaware of his own handsomeness and good looks, wrapped in his six-foot three, two hundred pound athletic frame. He was the perfect counterpoint for the wonderful lady he was going to be escorting.

          Shortly after 9:30 they left the room and descended in the elevator. Upon their exit from the lift, Nat could feel the ripple that moved through the crowded lobby as they gracefully swept toward the main door of the hotel. The doorman saw them coming and ushered them into a waiting limousine, thanking Nat profusely for his generous tip. Shortly before 10:00 they arrived at the Gong DE Ling restaurant. The maitre d' at this exclusive Shanghai restaurant was accustomed to greeting royalty and people of high rank. He was unflappable. But even a person with such wide experience, possessing the sophistication and charm commonly associated with great Maitre D’hôtel’s was taken aback at the picture presented by this new couple from the United States. He was truly excited as he took them to their reserved table. Nat was already learning that Sabrina had this effect on men.

          When they arrived at their reserved table, the maitre d' changed his mind. Upon impulse, he decided this table wasn't fine enough for Sabrina and Nat. He moved the reserved sign from their table to the table in the center of the room. He removed the reserved sign that was on the table awaiting other expected guests. After the switch was quickly made, Nat and Sabrina were escorted to the table and seated in finely upholstered chairs. The Maitre D’hôtel now wanted Sabrina and Nat to be seen by all the guests dining in the restaurant. They were suddenly his show piece. This did not go unnoticed by Dr. Pao, who had arrived with her party some thirty minutes earlier. The Maitre D' immediately ordered the cocktail waiter to Nat and Sabrina's table. Drink orders were taken, and the maitre d' accompanied the waiter to the bar to see that their drinks were mixed first and served promptly. He encouraged the American pair to call upon him if he could be of any service whatsoever during the evening. The desired effect was there. Nat and Sabrina were now making their grand entrance into the society of Shanghai at this very exclusive, but public restaurant. After the drinks were served and enjoyed, the head waiter at the Gong DE Ling was assigned to their table. With a great flourish, and from memory, he listed the wonderful specialties available to be created by the chef that evening.

          Nat looked the head waiter directly in the eye and said, "This is a special evening. This is our first night in Shanghai, and this city is going to be our home. I want this to be a celebration. To do this, I need to talk with the chef personally. But first could you send the wine steward over to help us with our selections."

          Great delight showed on the waiter's face. This was going to be a special evening for the restaurant. Within moments the wine steward was at the side of their table.

          "I hope our waiter told you that this is a special night. I would like for you to select a wine for us to enjoy with each course. Treat us as if we were in your home."

          The wine steward responded by identifying varieties for complementing various dishes.

          When the chef arrived at their table, Nat spoke to him, "We have just arrived in Shanghai today, and we wanted to use tonight celebrate a new venture. Your restaurant was highly recommended. I hope you'll be kind enough to prepare a special dinner to celebrate the occasion. I want to put this lovely lady and me in your hands to experience a culinary treat we will not forget. Time is of no consequence. We're here simply to enjoy the evening. Please tell your staff to do their very best, and they will be amply rewarded."

          "Sir, it's not often that we get such a generous request. I assure you I'll use my humble talents to their fullest to satisfy you and the beautiful lady."

          "I've already asked the wine steward to work with you in matching the wines to each course. We want a good sample of your cellar."

          "The Peking duck is our specialty, and that will be the main course. I have specialties in the appetizers that will be prepared according to seldom used recipes. The soup, of course, takes a much longer time to prepare, so I'll use my favorite to whet your appetite. In the meantime, I'll see that canapés are served and the wines brought to the appropriate temperature."

          The conversations with the staff focused attention on the center table. Within a few minutes Dr. Pao summoned the maitre d' to her table.

          She commented, "I see you have a striking addition to your guests tonight at the Gong DE Ling, would it be appropriate for you to share with me the names of the attractive couple?"

          Even with Dr. Pao very cool inquiry, the maitre d' had difficulty containing his enthusiasm when he indicated who the couple was.

          Dr. Pao said, "Oh, they're new customers of mine. I see they are creating quite a stir in the restaurant."

           The attention being focused on Nat and Sabrina nettled Dr. Pao, but her own self-assuredness allowed her to regain control of her ego. She returned her attention to her own party, but carefully kept an eye on the couple enjoying dinner in the center of the room. At 11:30, Dr. Pao's dinner party was reaching its conclusion. She, once again, summoned the maitre d' to make a request.

          "Yes, Dr. Pao, may I be of assistance?"

          "Kung Lu, do you still have any of the diamond encrusted brooches prepared for your anniversary celebration?"

          "Yes, there're three left. Only fifteen were struck to commemorate the happy event. You honored us by accepting one as a gift at the time of the celebration."

          "Would you secure one and bring it to me? I would like to prepare a note and have you present it with the brooch to the beautiful American woman who has joined us in your restaurant tonight. I would also like a box of your finest Cuban cigars presented to her handsome escort. You, of course, will add this to my bill."

          "Dr. Pao, I wouldn't hear of it. The fact that you have chosen us as one of your favorite restaurants is a significant honor. You cannot imagine how much business it brings us from customers hoping they might be lucky enough to dine the same evening that you join us for dinner. The brooch and the cigars will be given from you as a small token of our appreciation for your patronage."

          Some fifteen minutes later, the maitre d' was back with the brooch carefully wrapped in a beautiful Chinese designed paper with an exquisite hand painted card already attached, ready for an appropriate message. A larger package containing the cigars was also ready and carefully wrapped in a beautiful masculine-looking paper with a matching card ready for an appropriate note. Dr. Pao busied herself writing a personal note to both Sabrina and Nat. Upon completion of the note, Dr. Pao handed the two packages to the maitre d' for delivery.

          When he arrived at Nat and Sabrina's table, he said, "Beautiful lady and handsome gentleman, I have gifts for each of you. While I would be proud to present them as tokens of my appreciation for your patronage, I must humbly admit that these gifts are from the esteemed Dr. Pao, one of our most treasured customers. She's the beautiful lady seated at the corner table with the large party."

          Sabrina thanked him with her radiant smile and dancing eyes. She read the note aloud to Nat, “Please accept this small gift as a way of introducing myself to the lovely couple who are visiting in our city. Knowing that we're becoming business associates I want to express to you my genuine pleasure in offering the services of our bank and staff to you in your business enterprises. I hope that our relationship will be a long one in a warm Chinese tradition. You will like our city. You will like our country. You will like our bank, Sincerely, Dr. Sing Pao."

          Nat and Sabrina gave each other a small but knowing look.

          Nat then enthusiastically said, "Let me read my note to you."

          He quoted, "Sir, a gift for a gentleman is not easily found in a restaurant. The owners and their staff, however, were kind enough to do the best they could without notice. I do hope that this small token will bring you many hours of enjoyment. You're a handsome man and are graced by a beautiful lady. I'm looking forward to our business association and offer both of you whatever convenience my bank and its staff can provide. May your days be long and happy ones?"

          He concluded by saying "It's signed, Dr. Sing Pao."

          Sabrina and Nat both turned to Dr. Pao and smiled across the room delightedly. They then busied themselves to opening their recently acquired gifts. Nat, in traditional gentlemanly fashion, allowed Sabrina to inspect her gift first. The paper was removed carefully and easily. She then removed the lid from the ivory box, and there to her delight was a beautiful brooch in the shape of the logo of Gong DE Ling. She smiled as she retrieved it from the box and held it to her bosom. She then turned and held it up for the tables nearest her to see. By this time, every eye in the restaurant was glued on Sabrina, and they too were able to enjoy the beautiful piece of jewelry given by Dr. Pao. Sabrina then bowed graciously in the direction of Dr. Pao, showing her genuine appreciation and enjoyment of the jewelry.

          After appropriate attention was given the brooch, Nat opened his gift. He was careful in the way he treated the paper, but his success wasn't the same as Sabrina's. When Nat realized he was now the possessor of the best cigars Cuba could provide, a delighted grin spread across his face. He broke the seal and withdrew one of the carefully wrapped orbs and held it up for a practiced to observe. He twisted the cylinder for 360 degrees, and then slowly brought it to his nose, allowing him to enjoy the wonderful deep aroma. He replaced the cigar in the box with its siblings and gave a gallant solute in the direction of Dr. Pao. He then asked the maitre d' for a notepad, and within moments, Kung Lu had returned with something on which Nat could write appropriate thanks. Nat prepared a note, "Beautiful lady, your gifts are wonderful. I cannot imagine being a stranger in a city and be greeted with such hospitality. It would please us very much is we could approach your table and express our sincere gratitude to you personally." And he signed it, "Nat."

          Kung Lu carefully took the note without so much as a glance in his its direction, assuring its privacy, and delivered it with great aplomb to Dr. Pao. She read the note carefully and spoke quickly but cordially to Kung Lu. He immediately returned to the center table, and invited Sabrina and Nat to follow him.

          "Dr. Pao, it is with great pleasure that I am allowed to introduce to you new friends of Gong DE Ling restaurant."

          He then turned and looked at Nat and Sabrina who were standing comfortably close together with their sides touching in an affectionate way.

          "Let me assure our new friends that they're now becoming acquainted with the most beautiful and gracious lady in all of the People's Republic of China. It is my sincere hope that your friendship will be immediate and last all of your days, and may they be considerable."

          "Will you join me for an after dinner drink. My party is now leaving, and it will take only a moment or two to have the table cleared and freshly prepared."

          With this cue, Dr. Pao's dinner party stood up, expressed sincere appreciation for being invited to dine at the lovely restaurant with the beautiful Chinese lady. They departed quickly but unhurriedly. Immediately upon departure, the wait staff removed everything from the table, and replaced it with fresh linen and flowers. When everything was in readiness, Nat and Sabrina were invited back to Dr. Pao table to be seated.

          Dr. Pao appropriately started the conversation. "I talked with Dr. Shu yesterday about your business relationship with our bank. I was delighted to have such a forthright and ambitious new customer. As you know, we bankers are always looking for ways to make money, and it seems as if your business acumen will make considerable profit for both of us."

          Nat responded, "We hope so. The best business deal is one where both parties are satisfied and the relationship is mutually beneficial. We could have used larger and more prestigious banks, but we chose yours."

          Dr. Pao smiled approvingly.

          Nat continued, "In choosing your bank, we were selfish. We wanted a bank with a staff that was influential enough to help us accomplish our rather unusual goal. After our investigation, we found there was no one more influential in the People's Republic than Dr. Sing Pao. You cannot imagine our feeling of good fortune to meet you on our first night in Shanghai. This is fortuitous, indeed. I hope it's a good omen of a relationship that might follow."

          Sabrina supported Nat. "Your hospitality and your gifts are overwhelming, but they're indicative of the reputation that precedes you. We're very interested in making investments in the People's Republic. We think it's quite possible, with your help, that we can serve your country well. Hopefully this will place us in a position to work with you and your government to become strong players in your overseas markets. But business can wait. We've heard that you were a beautiful woman, but the compliment does not do you proper justice. You are simply breath-taking."

          Dr. Pao was obviously pleased to receive such a judgment from someone like Sabrina. This made the compliment all the more precious.

          Dr. Pao turned to the one member of her dinner party that had remained and said, "I would like for you to meet Queeling. She is my vice-president, my executive assistant, my right hand and my best friend. I call her Q. It seems to fit her personality."

          Queeling bowed her head slightly and deferentially took Sabrina's hand and expressed the greatest pleasure in making her acquaintance. While the introduction to Sabrina was taking place Nat evaluated Queeling. He found her to be beautiful to the degree of being in the same special category of Sabrina and Dr. Pao. She was in her early to mid thirties and her every demeanor suggested class and sophistication. These two Chinese ladies made a dynamite package.

          Queeling turned to Nat and bowed her head in the same deferential way and took Nat's hand. She then looked up and made full eye contact with Nat and a sensation went through his body like an electric shock. The sensuousness of Queeling's direct look was something for which he was not prepared. He had never seen a woman give herself to a man in one quick look as Queeling did to him. This exchange was apparently unnoticed by Sabrina and Dr. Pao. Queeling then expressed the greatest pleasure in making his acquaintance as she had Sabrina's

          For the next hour and a half, Sabrina, Nat and Dr. Pao talked warmly, becoming acquainted.

 

                                                   

CHAPTER 5

Wednesday, June 26 1991

Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China

 

          At 11:00, Sabrina and Nat arrived at the offices of Dr. Ling, the president of the Bank of Shanghai. They were immediately ushered into his private office by his secretary.

          "I'm delighted to meet you Ms. Cabernet and Dr. Turner. Dr. Shu called and said I was in for a treat. I hope you've found your accommodations comfortable."

          Nat replied, "They're wonderful, but to tell you the truth, we haven't been in the suite long enough to enjoy them very much. But we plan to rectify that after we get our business underway."

          Dr. Ling turned to Sabrina. "I would offer you a guide for a shopping spree in Shanghai, but there's something about your demeanor that tells me you're not here to shop. You're here for business, and shopping would be secondary."

          "You're right, Dr. Ling. Nat and I are business partners, and we find we're more successful when both of us are at work. That doesn't mean we don't take time to relax. We really do. One of those rare times was Saturday night. It was a delightful coincidence to have dinner in the same restaurant as Dr. Pao. She gave us both thoughtful gifts. Has she talked to you about our meeting?"

          "She certainly has. I understand you have one of the brooches of Gong DE Ling restaurant. They're rather valuable. Only fifteen were made and they were crafted by the best jewelry designer in the People’s Republic. She must have taken a liking to you very quickly. That's unusual for Dr. Pao."

          "Well, we can't speak for Dr. Pao, but we certainly liked her. She's most charming, very quick and astute."

          "You know she was educated in the United States. She attended the California Institute of Technology and is quite a computer expert. As a matter of fact all twelve of the presidents of the Bank of Shanghai have doctorates from Cal Tech. We were all in school with Dr. Pao. Twelve others from Cal Tech manage the operation in Xi’an."

          Sabrina's eyebrows arched in surprise. "A computer expert? She didn't mention computers at all when we were talking last night. Nat and she should get along well. He's also quite an authority on computers. Is she still involved in the field?"

          "Oh, very involved. Our banks each have electronics that would amaze you. I will demonstrate them to you and Dr. Turner sometime if you'd like it."

          "I certainly would."

          "Dr. Pao now has twelve banks. Each is connected through an elaborate computer network. We use optical fiber. Every operation in the bank has been automated. Electronic scanning is also used, and every record that would have required paper is stored in a central computer instead. It's a matter of pride to Dr. Pao that none of our employees uses a pen or pencil. All entries are made by voice or electronic scanning."

          "You enter financial documents into your computer by voice?"

          "Oh, yes. That's standard in our bank. The process works well. It's really amazing, and Dr. Pao herself was the developer of the voice-actuated computers. However, if a printed document arrives at the bank it's scanned electronically. Optical character recognition has been developed to a high state by Dr. Pao and her staff. There's seldom an error recorded in anything electronically scanned by Dr. Pao's software. There is redundancy in all of her software, and it's self-checking. Errors are very, very rare, and the computer detects them right away and makes immediate correction. I would dare say the Bank of Shanghai has the most accurate records of any bank in all of the world."

          Nat had become very interested at this point. "Do you make all monetary transfers through voice activation?"

          "Oh yes. When you deposit money in the bank of Shanghai, we simply speak to the computer, and the account is opened, and the money is deposited. The computer confirms the reaction orally. I almost find myself acting as if the computer were human. You carry on personal conversations with it. When you need to get into the data base for financial information on an individual sitting in your office, you simply speak to the computer and ask it a question. The computer processes the inquiry and answers you immediately. All the information garnered on you to open up an account at our bank in Hong Kong has been transferred through optical fiber to our bank here in Shanghai. Would you like to see a demonstration?"

          "I'm absolutely fascinated."

          Dr. Ling turned to the computer and said, "Do we have an account for Ms. Sabrina Cabernet and Dr. Nat Turner?" The computer responded in a clear feminine voice reminiscent of Dr. Pao's voice. "Yes, we have a new account for Ms. Sabrina Cabernet and Dr. Nat Turner. It was opened on May 25th at the Bank of Shanghai in Hong Kong. There was a $5 million deposit made, drawn on drafts from the Bank of America, Manufacturers Hanover, Citibank, Suisse Bank of Lucerne and the Bank of Zurich. Their stated reason for this large deposit was to acquire controlling interest of various businesses in the People's Republic of China. They mentioned specifically electronics, power tools and toys. Would you like to know their business addresses and their personal addresses?"

          The computer awaited another inquiry.

          Dr. Ling responded, "No, I'm not interested in where they live. I'm only interested in the business they want to conduct with the Bank of Shanghai. Do you have an account open for them here in Shanghai?"

          The computer responded, "An account is open, and we're using the same account numbers that were used in Hong Kong. Only the Shanghai suffix is added. Any funds deposited or withdrawn from their account in Hong Kong will be handled as a single account here in Shanghai."

          Dr. Ling turned to Sabrina and Nat. "We not only have all of our banks connected with fiber optics, but any transfers or withdrawals made from correspondent banks are immediately transferred to our central computer."

          Nat asked, "Is your central computer here in the bank in Shanghai?"

          Dr. Ling responded, "No, we have a computer here in the bank, but the main computers are in a complex in Xi’an. Have you ever been to Xi’an?"

          "Yes, I was in Xi’an two years ago. I went there to see the beautiful old city. But of course, like all of the other tourists in the area, I was very interested in the terra-cotta soldiers. Xi’an is the old capitol of the province, isn't it?"

          "Oh, yes. It's a very old city."

          "Perhaps one of the most memorable nights of my life was in Xi’an. I was staying at the Golden Flower Hotel, and I spent the evening enjoying the old part of the city inside the walls with a lady I met on the trip. There was a wonderful festival atmosphere. I'm completely amazed at how capitalistic minded the Chinese people are to have a Communistic form of government. I've been nowhere in the People's Republic where your people were not trying to sell me something."

          Dr. Ling grinned.

          Nat continued, "Does the Bank of Shanghai have a branch in Xi’an?"           Dr. Ling responded, "Oh, yes. We've a large branch, but the computer center is entirely separate. It's in a large compound outside of the city. It's a very secure facility, however, and covers many acres. It has a wall around it with guards patrolling twenty-four-hour a day. I don't mean to make it sound so melodramatic, but when all of your records are kept by computer in a central location, it must be secure. Every transaction taking place anywhere within the Bank of Shanghai is instantly reported to and recorded on four separate computers that are redundant. They're widely separated. No natural disaster or man-made disaster can corrupt the integrity of our financial records. Not even earthquakes can damage any of our computers. There is a floating floor on water supported by a heavy springing system. 8 point shocks would barely create vibration.

          "Is that where Dr. Pao does her work?"

          "She's there often. There're not many weeks that go by in which Dr. Pao doesn't fly to Xi’an. She has a very large and beautiful palace located near the compound outside of the city, and of course, the same is true here in Shanghai."

          "Does Dr. Pao do her own programming?'

          He answered, "Oh, no. She doesn't do her programming anymore. Some of the original programming was done by Dr. Pao three or four years ago. Now she has a large staff of computer experts. She consults with them, and gives them personal direction on the new projects."

          "Do you mind me asking all of these questions?"

          Dr. Ling answered, "Oh, no. This is the main thrust of Pao Banking Services. I'm pleased you're interested."

          Nat asked, "Where did she find so many computer experts in the central part of the People's Republic?"

          Dr. Ling answered "The chief administrators in the compound were educated in the United States at the California Institute of Technology."

          Nat confirmed, "I believe you mentioned earlier that she graduated from there?"

          "Yes, and that's where she met most of the people who are her corporate officers. Each has a doctorate in computer science from Cal-Tech. When they returned to the People's Republic, they went to Xi’an and started their computer business. It wasn't long, however, before they added banking to their computer software business. Within six months they had set up their own computer school in Xi’an. Now they search all over the People's Republic for the brightest minds they can find. They are no longer sent to the California Institute of Technology. We enroll them in our own school in Xi’an. Dr. Pao now has more than one thousand programmers working for her, and they all have the equivalent of doctorates in computer science. While their education might not be quite as broad as they would get in the United States, their education here is directed toward computer conceptualization.

          "What are Dr. Pao's objectives in employing all of these computer programmers?"

          "Her objective is to make the computer the greatest servant to mankind the world has ever known. She not only has one thousand programmers working for her, but some two hundred to two hundred and fifty are in school at this time. It takes about eighteen months to get the proper education and training to be employed by Dr. Pao on a permanent basis. The students however are on the payroll the moment they're enrolled in school. When you come to work for Dr. Pao, you're virtually guaranteed to become wealthy. She not only pays well initially, but all her employees share in her good fortune. As Dr. Pao makes money, those who work for her and contribute to her success, share in that success. I promise you, there's not a more loyal group of employees in any company than right here at the Bank of Shanghai and at Pao Banking Services in Xi’an."

          "Would it be possible for Sabrina and me to go to Xi’an and see her school?"

          "I'm not sure. Typically I would say no. It's a very secure facility. On the other hand, you and Dr. Pao have developed a very special relationship so it might be possible later."

          "Does Dr. Pao sell her technology?"

          "Yes, she's in the software business. The largest banks in the world are sending representatives to the compound in Xi’an. Our banking software allows a financial organization to become very efficient and profitable. Any bank that puts in Dr. Pao's software and her voice actuated computers will be light years ahead of their competitors. Her objective is to have a new improvement in banking software available every three months. And to make it easy, the updated software can be installed within minutes. It's designed to be completely up-gradable from previous versions. The software is provided over optical fiber, and the installation is completely automatic."

          "You're obviously having a lot of success in selling the software."

          "Oh, yes Dr. Ling said proudly. Almost every bank in the world is clamoring for it. Banking is already the most automated industry in the world, and the cost of operating voice actuated software is very inexpensive. Dr. Pao offers a unique feature in on-line help. When you buy software from our company, you're connected electronically with the compound in Xi’an. Should there be any question or any problem in your bank, you don't even have to make a long-distance phone call. Whatever error code is noted by the computer in the bank, whether it is Zurich, New York, Berlin or London, that error code is automatically transferred back to the compound in Xi’an. It's analyzed by our computers, and if it's a software problem, is fixed automatically through directions given by one computer to the other. If it's a hardware malfunction, then the computer sends complete instructions to one of the parallel computers installed in each bank. Within minutes, any repair can be affected."

          "Do I understand it correctly when you say that Dr. Pao has a direct electronic line into most of the major banks in the world?"

          "Well, I wouldn't say most, but it growing rapidly. We do offer another service that's proving to be a very successful marketing tool. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our software, we don't even have to send a representative to talk to a prospective customer. All of this can be handled either electronically through the computers or by telephone. As you know from your own experience, bank transfers are being made electronically now. No actual cash is being transferred from one bank to the other, so bank communication is through very powerful digital switches, connected through a vast electronic network. Anyone who wants to see a demonstration of our software simply allows us to make a demonstration electronically. We download the software to the prospective customer and automatically install it in their central computer. It's as simple as copying a file from one location to another. The prospective customer can now use the software for a period of time without any expense or any inconvenience at all. We're not foolish enough to download without any precautions, however. We always place an expiration date on the software, which mean that at the appointed time, the software simply ceases to function. To be honest with you, we've never downloaded the software to a bank that did not end up purchasing it. Once they become a customer of ours, we immediately connect them directly to the compound in Xi’an. We have computers within the compound that do nothing but monitor all of our customers' computers. There're very few countries now that don't have at least some presence of Dr. Pao's computing software."

          "Dr. Pao now has direct electronic communications with most major banks in the world even if they are not using her software?"

          "Yes, she does, there are very few banks we can't reach electronically. Virtually all banks are subscribers to some central network allowing them to make inter-fund transfers between banks. Dr. Pao's software is already the dominant software in the world, and within a year or two no major bank will be able to compete effectively without a Pao installation. And you must remember, updates are issued every three months. The methods and techniques are being improved constantly."

          "Does this mean that Dr. Pao could monitor all of the accounts in any major bank in the world?"

          He answered, "Oh, no, nothing such as that. She could only monitor accounts if she knew the passwords. The passwords protect the integrity of private information. Banking has become one big network already. It's the same as a telephone system. The principle is no different. You can pick up the telephone on my desk and make a call anywhere. The telephone system is available twenty-four hours, seven days a week. The banking network is operational for twenty-four hours, seven days a week. There's no difference whatsoever. One bank can communicate with another as easily as human beings can communicate with each other."

          "How does one bank protect itself? Can't passwords be broken just like codes?"

          "You're talking about hackers. First of all this is the banking community. There is great integrity. You're not going to find one bank trying to break the password of another. That's illegal. Nevertheless we take precautions and at the Bank of Shanghai change our passwords often. This is done electronically. When a password is changed at the Bank of Shanghai, each of the other banks within our system is notified electronically. It's a very secure system and is difficult to breach. If there were a hacker out there somewhere trying to break our password system, they would run into the strongest firewall in existence.  We install the firewall for free and it has never been breached. We have a large team that monitors all of our customer banks to make sure no hacker is making any inquiries in to our system. The few that have tried were in for a surprise. Every computer has a unique identifying address that is broadcast anytime the computer moves into the ether world. We read this address and can identify the exact computer involved and its location. As soon as this identification is confirmed the local authorities are notified. Our company is a great help to all law enforcement authorities.”

          "But hackers do break into networks, don't they?"

          "Yes, hackers have broken into some networks but there are ones that do not change passwords very often. It takes hours and hours to come up with all the permutations it takes to crack a single password. Most of the hackers you've heard about were breaking into networks operated by universities that were designed to allow thousands and thousands of users to be on-line at all times. While there has been some financial loss through hacking, it has been a breach of security more than any actual financial loss taking place."

          Dr. Ling continued, "Learning from other people's bad experiences, we at the Bank of Shanghai require a series of passwords to get into our central computer. You also have to have a valid I.D. that will make you a certified user. To hack your way through half a dozen passwords and provide a valid I.D. for password is a task that's just too great for a hacker to undertake. The permutations are in the millions. The moment such attempt is made we are on them like a duck on a June bug to use an American expression."

          "Dr. Ling, is Pao Banking Services connected directly to all of the individual bank's computers?"

          "Yes, but for software maintenance only. We do have access to the banks and their networks, but we're only monitoring how well the software is working. We also have sensors within our members' computers that allow us to anticipate breakdowns. This has become one of our best services. Once our monitoring system is placed within the computer of a bank, they have virtual assurance that an unexpected breakdown within the hardware itself will not take place. The dropping of a byte, or a power fluctuation experienced by an aging component is detected and the bank is notified for immediate maintenance and repair. The Pao Security System is one of the best services our company offers its banks."

          "Are all banks going to voice actuated computers?"

          "I would anticipate this will be the major source of entry within a few years. We've installed voice actualization in many banks internally for testing, but they have not moved it to the teller's desk or into the automatic teller machines as yet. This is coming on-line very rapidly. It will be standard practice within the banking system. We already have demonstration units in most of the major banks to test the system. This is more a change of philosophy than anything else. Once you get used to talking to a computer to make your entries, you'd never go back to another method."

          "I imagine this also does much to relieve eye fatigue."

          "Oh, yes. You talk to the computer the way we're talking right now. Before there was eye strain, problems with wrists and fingers and joints from sitting in front of computer screens all day entering data on keyboards? We're doing away with all of that now. Because of electronic scanning and voice actuated computers, the number of personnel is reduced and profits sky rocket."

          "How are the conversions made? Do you have to go into a bank and read every transaction that's made by voice and let the computer enter it orally?"

          Dr. Ling, "Oh, no, nothing like that. In fact, through Dr. Pao's innovations, it's very simple. Remember, the internal workings of a computer are strictly digital. These bytes of memory are simply translated into the human voice. Once you install the Pao software and add the sound component to your computer, it talks to you as clearly as we're speaking right now."

          "Let me ask you another question. In a few minutes we're going to contact five banks in various cities of the world. I want to make drafts of one million dollars and put them on account here in Shanghai. You're telling me that at the moment that money is deposited in the bank, I can turn around and ask your computer the status of my account, and the computer will answer in a clear voice?"

          "Yes, the computer will give you the status of your account. Of course, it will interrogate you to see that you have the proper password, and that will allow you access to any information that's on the data base relating to your account. Another remarkable aspect of the computer is that it will answer your questions in the language in which you asked the question. Dr. Pao made our computers multi-lingual. That's an incredible feature. You can speak in English, and I can speak in Chinese to the same computer. You get your answer in English, and I'll get my answer in Chinese. If you want to switch to French in mid-sentence, you will get your answer in English and in French."

          "Could I interrogate the status of my accounts in the various banks where we have deposits, even if the banks are not on the system?"

          He answered, "Yes, very easily. Give our computer the password and it will translate it into a digital inquiry. It will inquire as to the status of your account using the proper password as if you had entered it on a keyboard. When the information is returned, it's translated back into the human voice. Through Dr. Pao's software, all banking systems are compatible. Our computers can communicate very effectively with the most antiquated computers as long as they're on the network."

          Nat let his fascination and appreciation show and continued, "What are the programmers primarily working on now?"

          "They're working on new innovations and improvements in banking services, but Dr. Pao is ready to branch out and provide software to the major brokerage houses. It's her intention for Pao Banking Services to become the financial hub for the world. The Xi’an compound is already the leading center for parallel processing. Her goal is for the computers in Xi’an to be the nerve center for every financial institution within the next decade. We already have transponders on privately owned satellites. She's contracted with a German consortium to place six strategically placed satellites in geostationary orbit at strategic locations. These will be for use only by the Pao Network."

          "You must be making tremendous amounts of money with this incredible computer business."

          "To be honest, we're not making any money at all at moment, but of course, in the long run, we'll make a substantial amount of money. So far everything we've accumulated has gone into research and development. It's Dr. Pao's philosophy that we must gain market share before we start making a profit."

          "You mean she's placing the software in all of these banks at no cost?"

          "No, there's a cost, but it's fairly nominal considering all you get. She thinks that once we're in place, the cost of operating the monitoring system will be fairly nominal, but the annual charges are the source of money for us. At the moment the objective is to place our software in as many banks as possible. We'll soon have all of them connected to our own private satellite network back to Xi’an."

          "You're obviously being very successful."

          "Yes, as I say, visitors are in Xi’an almost every day, and the ease of installation means there's no installation charge for the software. You pay the nominal fee, and we install it through the network."

          "From what you tell me, you already have the ability to make inquiries into any bank in the world on an inter-bank network."

          "Yes, we do. But the objective, as I mentioned before, is to have a direct connection from all banking systems directly to Xi’an. Then we can give the greatest service. I think our theory is proving to be correct. Plane loads of bankers are coming to the People's Republic at our expense to learn about our network and monitoring system. There is no other company devoting the resources to the development of financial software as we are at Pao Banking Services."

          "If you're only breaking even, how did Dr. Pao get to be the richest woman in the world?"

          "That's very confidential."

          "Well, I know it's confidential, but how can someone amass five hundred billion dollars with no visible signs of income?"

          "As I said, that's confidential."

          Nat gave Dr. Ling a big smile. "Does being confidential mean that you don't know?"

          Dr. Ling responded with a big smile. "You're exactly right. I don't know. As you might guess, there's great speculation as to how she amassed her wealth, but while we may talk about it privately, we don't talk openly. It's not our business."

          "Do I assume that she did it with computers?"

          "She may have done it with mirrors for all I know."

          "The word on the street is that her assets are over five hundred billion dollars, with millions and millions of dollars being accumulated each day. There has to be an answer. No one could accumulate that much money legally in such a short period of time."

          Dr. Ling smiled and said, "Well, let me ask you this question. Could you garner that much money illegally without being detected? That doesn't make any sense either. You can't come up with a scheme and have money start pouring in every day without somebody crying foul. You just can't steal that much money without people knowing about it."

          Nat then added, "She must be making a lot of money through dividends and her investments. Five hundred billion with a compounded rate of return of 18 or 20 percent would produce close to $100 billion per year just in dividends and interest. If she never received another dime from whatever sources the original money came from, her current net worth is going to grow geometrically."

          Dr. Ling confirmed, "Yes, I suspect she's getting 18 to 20 percent compounded. That will mean that her assets are going to double every three and a half to four years, even if she does nothing but live off her investments. So five hundred billion will turn into a trillion in a very short time, and seven years from now, it will be $2 trillion, and fourteen years from now it will be $4 trillion. There're only a handful of countries in the world with the potential assets of Dr. Pao."

          Nat then replied, "Yes, with assets like that, she could corner any commodity in the world. She could buy all the gold. She could buy all the silver. She could take over the greatest industrial complexes in the world. There just seems to be no limits."

          Sabrina asked Dr. Ling, "Does she work all the time?"

          Dr. Ling answered, "I would say that she works hard, and she plays hard. She's a very private person. She's gracious and charming, but I promise you, she's a very good business woman. There's no question with anyone associated with Pao Enterprises as to who's the boss. And while she certainly is a lovely lady, her greatest asset is that steel-trap mind. She certainly is the most intelligent person I've ever been around, and she is much disciplined. Some say she thinks like a computer, but on the other hand, she's very artistic and creative."

          "Well, you can be very artistic and creative and still like computers. In fact, I would say the secret of her success is the fact that she's been able to use computers in a creative sort of way."

          Sabrina asked, "do you know much about her Cal-Tech education?'

          Dr. Ling answered, "Yes, I was there in school with her."

          "Do you know about her post-doctoral work?"

          "Yes. I was with her every step of the way. She did two post-doctoral stints. She spent two years working on computer algorithms and two years on computer linguistics."

          Sabrina continued her inquiry. "I take it this is the training that led Pao Banking Services and the Bank of Shanghai into voice-activated computer entry."

          Dr. Ling responded, "Yes, everything is voice actuation or electronic scanning. We use voice for entry level and for direct inquiry for specific information. Beyond that, everything is reduced to material that can be transmitted electronically or scanned electronically. We don't need pencil and paper at Pao Enterprises. This is the first truly paperless business anywhere in the world. That's a matter of pride with Dr. Pao."

          "Thank you for sharing Dr. Pao's story with us. This has been most interesting, Dr. Ling, and you have been very generous with your time.  But I suppose we should move on to other business now. While I'm envious of Dr. Pao's ability to amass money, that's not making any money for Sabrina and me. Can you provide us offices in Shanghai?"

          "Yes, that has been arranged. You have a suite of offices on the eighteenth floor right here in the Bank of Shanghai building."

          Sabrina asked Dr. Ling, "Can you find us a secretary?"

          "Yes, she will be in your office first thing in the morning. In a few minutes, I'll take you up and show you the offices and see if there're modifications you'd like to make."

          Nat then asked "Will you allow me to use your voice-activated computer to make my own transfers?"

          He answered, "Absolutely. Let me leave, and I'll be back in five or ten minutes, and we'll go up stairs to see if your facilities are adequate for your needs."

          Dr. Ling stood, smiled graciously, shook hands with Sabrina and Nat, thanked them for their new business connection, and left the room. Nat turned to Sabrina and said, "This is going to be a new experience for me."

          Sabrina commented, "With equipment like this, Dr. Pao is capable of creating a monopoly of the total banking system in the world."

          Nat spoke to the computer. "Hal, are you ready to make my transfers?" A voice from the computer responded. "Yes, Dr. Turner, I'm at your service."

          "Hal, I want one million dollars transferred from the Bank of Singapore to my account. My password is Zebra 18,000."

          The computer responded, "Zebra 18,000, Dr. Turner. I'll make inquiries into the Bank of Singapore immediately. Can I help you in any other way?"

          "Yes. I want $1 million transferred from the Suisse Bank of Lucerne. The password for that account is High Octave 239346."

          The computer responded, "Password is High Octave 239346. Can I help you in any other way?"

          "Yes. I want another million dollars transferred from the Bank of Hanover. The password is Ausgang Baurbrupt."

          The computer responded, "$1 million drafted from the Bank of Hanover. The password is Ausgang Baurbrupt. Can I help you in any other way?"

          "Hal, transfer $1 million from the Wachovia Bank of Georgia. The password is Salem Town 92,000."

          The computer responded, "The Wachovia Bank of Georgia, $1 million transferred. Password is Salem Town 92,000. Can I be of any further service, sir?"

          Nat directed, "Yes, Hal. Transfer $1 million from National Bank Corp. of San Antonio, Texas. The password is Brownsville Adurex."

          The computer responded, "$1 million from National Bank Corp. of San Antonio, Texas. Password is Brownsville Adurex. Can I be of any further service, sir?"

          "Well, Hal, I don't want to transfer any more money. You'll bleed me dry. Five million dollars is quite enough at one sitting. Now let me ask you when the transfers will be made?"

          The computer responded, "They have already been made, sir. Your account now has $5 million in the Bank of Shanghai, located in the city of Shanghai, and it has $5 million in the Bank of Shanghai, located in the city of Hong Kong. Total capital assets in the Bank of Shanghai are $10 million, and the drawing interest through private investment at 15 percent.

          Nat responded, "Fifteen percent? That certainly beats the bank rates in the United States."

          The computer responded, "Yes sir, but we don't pay everyone 15 percent. This is a private investment account authorized by Dr. Pao."

          "If I were to increase my deposits considerably, would all of them draw 15 percent?"

          The computer responded, "No, sir. The next $10 million will draw 18 percent, and this is compounded daily. You have made a very wise choice to bank with the Bank of Shanghai in Dr. Pao's private investment account."

          "Hal, I would like to take you home with me."

          The computer responded, "Sir, I am available to you any time, any place, any day. You may contact me by telephone or any other method. I'll not even require your account number or your password. I'll recognize your voice."

          "Hal, don't you have to be trained?"

          The computer responded, "Yes, sir. I have to be trained, but I've been talking with you several minutes now, and I would recognize your voice anywhere."

          "Well, thank you, Hal, for all the help you've given me. I'll be back in touch with you very soon."

          The computer responded, "Please do so, sir. I'm at your service."

          There was a soft knock at the door. Nat responded, "Come in." Dr. Ling had returned to his office. Nat said, "I've had the most amazing conversation with my new friend, Hal."

          Dr. Ling looked puzzled, "Hal?"

          "Yes, Hal. This is something of an inside joke. Hal, if you recall, was the computer made famous in the movie, 2001, the Space Odyssey."

          Dr. Ling grinned and responded, "I can't think of a more appropriate name."

          Nat then asked, "Do you use Hal only for bank information?"

          "Oh, no. We use Hal for anything. We're using super computers in parallel processing. We're tied into virtually every informational data base anywhere."

          "You mean Hal is good at trivia."

          "The best in the world, If you want to know climatic conditions, financial trends, historical fact, virtually anything that has been reduced for electronic processing either on CD-ROM or on a large database somewhere. Your friend, Hal, can tap into them immediately and provide you answers you can understand in plain English."

          "Can he do all this instantaneously?"

          "Well, most of the time it appears to be instantaneous. Remember, we're going to satellite and working at the speed of light, and when you're moving 186,000 miles per second, the only slowdown is the access time of the data base at the original source. If access time is slow, that slows Hal down too. But there's an interesting aspect to the way that Hal is configured. Dr. Pao has the computer keep a profile on you, so anytime he recognizes your voice in terms of an inquiry, he immediately downloads information that you're most likely to inquire about based on past experience. At the moment, he's had very little experience with you, but by working with him every day he will learn to download the information you're most likely to need. If you want climatic conditions, business trends or stock market quotations, the minute your voice came on line, he would start downloading this information to have it ready for instantaneous response. There isn't any other computer access like it anywhere in the world. Just think, our computers can converse with you in your own native language. If you want to change languages, try it on Hal. He'll answer you in the language in which you asked the question."

          "And all of this was the brainchild of Dr. Pao?"

          "Every bit, but of course, she has twelve very bright right hands, and they have a thousand programmers and analysts working on various aspects of this system themselves. We're using nothing but the very brightest of the brains in the People’s Republic right now."

          Sabrina asked "Can I have two of his brothers in our offices upstairs?"

          "You certainly can. Every room in this building is wired with optical fiber, and we can tie you in with the central computer with no problem whatsoever."

          Nat smiled. "What's going to keep me from interrogating your computer and getting all of your secrets?"

          Dr. Ling smiled broadly, "Passwords, sir, passwords. Your friend, Hal, knows when to allow you access to information and when to deny you information. But I promise you one thing, he will do it politely. You will get comments such as, 'I'm so sorry, Dr. Turner. You're not authorized for that information, but if you'd like to talk with Dr. Ling or Dr. Pao, I'm sure they might make an exception in your case. Why don't you make a telephone call to them right now? All they have to do is say the word and I'll do anything that you're permitted to do. "

          Nat laughed out loud and said, "Could you show us our offices now?"

          Nat, Sabrina and Dr. Ling left his office and proceeded to a modern glass elevator mounted on the outside of the building and sped to the eighteenth floor. Dr. Ling led them down the hall to their offices. The suite consisted of four rooms, each filling a complete bay, with windows overlooking the Huangpu River. A reception room, a work room and two rooms furnished as executive offices comprised the suite. The two executive offices were connected by a door and both also were directly by door into the receptionist office. The rooms were furnished with high quality furniture and a computer work station and a high speed laser printer.

          Nat walked over to the window and looked down on the Zhongshan Donglu with its many cars, trucks and thousands of bicycles. He asked Dr. Ling, "Are the computers networked together?"

          "Yes, they're networked, but they're also in the network with the bank's mainframe computer. All the software you need is resident in each work station."

          "Who designed these computers?"

          "We only use work stations designed by Dr. Pao. They're the most advanced in the world. They use the UNIX operating system even though that has been modified considerably by Dr. Pao. She likes object-oriented programming and all of her computers must have high speed networking capabilities."

          Dr. Ling gave Nat and Sabrina quick instructions on accessing the mainframe through voice actuation. He accessed various programs and then gave each of them a personal password, allowing them world-wide communication, with the charges being absorbed by the bank.

          Nat said, "Thank you for taking time to work with us this morning. The suite of offices is perfect for our needs. I'm a little surprised however, that you will allow us to access the banks network."

          "Passwords, Dr. Turner, passwords. Using the UNIX system the systems administrator assigns the passwords. I'm allowed access to certain programs and files just as you are. Neither of us can go beyond our assigned territory without the permission of the system administrator."

          "Does each bank have its own system administrator?"

          "No, the system administrator is in Xi’an, and while Dr. Pao doesn't serve in this capacity there's very little latitude given to the system administrator. Dr. Pao is the final authority on all permissions."

          "That sounds fair enough from our end. Our needs from the system are fairly simple. It also gives me the confidence that I'm working with a well run bank. The more you tell me about Dr. Pao the more impressed I am. One other matter, Dr. Ling. If we want to work at night, how do we get in?"

          "I'll see that you have personal identification cards prepared. They should be here within the hour. It won't take security very long to get to know you. You're certainly the most handsome couple using our building and there's already great interest circulating in the bank about our new customers. As a matter of course I want to tell you that security is very good at all of Dr. Pao's facilities and anything you leave in your office will be quite safe."

          Dr. Ling gave a nodding bow and said, "If you don't require any additional services, I'll be returning to my duties at the bank. I'm as close as your telephone. If you have any needs I've overlooked don't have the slightest hesitation in letting me know."

          Dr. Ling exited the room to return to his duties in the executive offices of the Bank of Shanghai below. Sabrina and Nat walked into the office that Sabrina had selected as hers. She sat down behind the desk and Nat sat facing her in a wing chair.

          She said, "What do you think?"

          Nat responded, "What do you think?"

          Sabrina raised her eye brows, "We're way ahead of schedule."

          Nat nodded, "Yes, and we're dealing with one smart cookie."

          "Nat, do you think she has an Achilles heel?"

          "Maybe, but elaborate on that."

          Sabrina looked pensive, "She's brilliant. The computer design and this incredible electronic network is beyond anything I've ever imagined. I assumed that computers would become intelligent but she's light years ahead of anyone else right now. We may end up attacking her in her strength."

          Nat agreed, "You might be right. The only possible advantage I can think of is that she's so far ahead of everyone else she's not expecting to be challenged. She certainly not expecting a challenge by the two of us. We would pose no threat to her from an electronic point of view. That could be her weakness."

          Sabrina gave Nat her dazzling smile.

          She said, "Let's get on with the task at hand."

          "What do you want to do first?"

          "One of us needs to start spending more time with Sing Pao. We need her confidence. The other needs to get busy devising a plan we can execute."

          Nat became very serious."

          "Can you believe that we left California just five days ago and already we've become acquainted with two of Dr. Pao's key bank presidents? We have met Dr. Pao and developed a personal relationship with her, and we now understand how the legitimate side of her business works."

          "Nat, the amazing thing about her legitimate operation is that she could make billions without doing anything illegal. She could dominate the financial markets with her software, and her computers boggle your mind. The personnel of any labor intensive industry could cut their work force by seventy five to eighty percent. No competitor could exist. Everyone is going to need this equipment. Those two businesses alone would make her the richest person in the world. I wonder why she would risk anything illegal when success is at her door step."

          "She's on a fast track and not willing to wait. She found a way to exploit the banking system and it was just too easy not to take advantage of it. There're not many who can resist the temptation of the fast buck."

          Sabrina smiled and shook her head. "Can you believe that banks are coming from all over the world and asking her to install her software and her monitoring system in their operation? They're handing her their funds on a silver platter. Even she must think she's dreaming sometimes. The use of fiber optics allowing them to install her software themselves makes everything seem so innocuous. The blasted thing installs itself. She then has access to all of the files and accounts in the bank and can roam around at will."

          "With her monitoring system in place she has every bank directly connected to the Xi’an complex. Her people become the system administrator for the world wide banking system. They can determine who has access to information in the bank. They're in complete control and the poor unsuspecting bank doesn't even know it. They can set up accounts, delete accounts, move money around, remove money from the inactive accounts and do all of this anywhere in the world in a blink of the eye."

          "Remember Dr. Ling's comment. Passwords. Everything is protected by passwords."

          "Yes and how long does it take Dr. Pao to hack through a password? No more than a second, a half second, a tenth of a second. She can hack through faster than the computer can display the need for additional passwords."

          Sabrina looked at Nat. "What are you going to do first?"

          "Do you remember the country music song, who do you know in California and what is she doing calling here? I'm going to trade on a friendship I have in California and see if we can expedite matters a bit. Within the next few days we'll have copies everything Dr. Pao published while she was a student at Cal Tech. Tom Carey, who heads the computer science department at the university has been a friend of mine for ten years. We have done a lot of work together."

          "What are you going to ask Tom to do?"

          "If we're lucky it won't be long before we have in our possession Dr. Pao's algorithm for breaking passwords in bank computers."

          "You mean sitting back there at Cal Tech is Dr. Pao algorithm?"

          "I certainly hope so. I strongly suspect it is."

          "Nat that sounds so incredible and so easy. Why on earth would you have something that valuable lying around somewhere on a college campus?"

          "Well, it isn't exactly just lying around, but I suspect very strongly that the algorithm was a basic part of her doctoral research. Her major in her doctoral program was computer science so we know that the work on which her dissertation was based and the supporting research has to be documented in the Cal Tech mainframe. It's going to be on file and easily accessible from the university database. Her first post doc was done in algorithms."

          Sabrina interrupted, "Yes, but would she leave something this valuable in archives of the university?"

          Nat responded, "Yes this is the evidence that gives her credibility for the work she did both at the doctoral and post doctoral levels. What I'm counting on is that Dr. Pao did not start out with a larcenous intent. I think she went to Cal Tech as a brilliant Chinese student who had a gift in the field of computer science. Somewhere along the way she became very interested in codes and algorithms that could facilitate computer work. It's obvious that she saw the networking of computers as the wave of the future. For years we've been devising ways that we can make computers work together in some parallel fashion. That's the work of the algorithm. It allows you to take all of the computing power at hand and make all of the computers work on highly complex mathematical problems at the same time. I'm sure that Dr. Pao devised a system that would connect hundreds of work stations together to solve a single problem. Being a brilliant student she discovered along the way that the immense power of hundreds of computers could be used in a more devious way. Remember, modern computers are built for multitasking. There can be hundreds or even thousands of people sharing one computer at the same time with very satisfactory results without degradation. Her algorithm would allow her to use anyone's computer on the network and they wouldn't even know it. This places incredible computing power in her hands."

          Nat placed his hand on his chin and continued. "Her next step would have been to develop a means to break passwords. I'm sure she wasn't thinking of stealing money from banks at the time but it was simply a matter of academic research to show the power of her original algorithm. As smart as she is, however she recognized very quickly that all computers on a network were vulnerable for her use or inquiry without any way for them to protect themselves."

          Sabrina looked at Nat inquisitively. "What do you think her ultimate objective is. Just to accumulate more and more money. That doesn't seem to be an interesting or useful way to spend a lifetime?"

          Nat blinked his eyes three times, "I think she wants to take over the banking system of the world and she may damn well already have done it."

          "Do you think she plans to do that out of the complex at Xi’an?"

          Nat replied, "I'm sure of it. When she gets all of the banks on line through her software or even if a bank is in a network with one of these banks, she can hold the banking systems of the world hostage."

          Sabrina asked, "Once they find this out, won't they simply take her software out of their computers?"

          Nat answered, "I'm not sure they're going to find out, or if they do it'll be too late. With new releases of her software coming every three months she will soon become the central clearing house for all the banks. They'll all be connected directly to Xi’an. With the current rate structures in place all of these banks will start making money hand over fist because of their new efficiency. No one will be interested leaving Dr. Pao's operation. They're all going to be getting richer by the day."

          Sabrina observed, "Sooner or later the missing money is going to have to be detected and there'll be a worldwide banking scandal."

          Nat grinned. "I'm not sure the missing money will turn up. I think that Dr. Pao has become the bookkeeper for the world. I think we'll see the greatest check kiting scheme the world has ever known taking place right there in Xi’an. When we first started discussing her operation I thought she was simply breaking into inactive accounts and would be able to execute the scheme for a few years before the bubble exploded. I'd imagined that some of the missing money may have already been detected by the bank auditors from the Federal Reserve Bank. The banking system is so sensitive to bad publicity they usually keep shortages confidential until they can investigate and apprehend the culprit. This all seemed very plausible to me and that's how I thought she was able to get away with 500 billion dollars in three years."

          "You've changed your mind?"

          "Yes, I have. Her operation is much more complex than I imagined. I never dreamed she was a major player in the banking community with her software positioned in banks all around the world. When she starts selling her voice actuated computers she will become the banking system. She's going to be the bank for banks. I would think that even the Federal Reserve Bank will start using Xi’an as their base of operation. That's scary to think about. She's doing the unbelievable."

          Nat sat there and shook his head from side to side with the glassy look of deep concentration showing in his eyes.

          "Sabrina, with the system she has in place, and with it growing every day, a bank shortage never will be uncovered."

          "But how is that possible? Isn't the money being taken out of the banks?"

          "The money is being taken out of the banks by the millions and billions of dollars, but anytime a request for withdrawal is made from an account that Dr. Pao has robbed, her computer intercepts the request. Once the request is intercepted by her computer, she automatically covers the request with money from one of her pools of funds that she views as till money. This reserve would not have to exceed 2%. There is never a time that a withdrawal is denied."

          "That's unbelievable!"

          "Think of it this way. If you had ten million dollars in the bank and I was able to steal all of it, but yet every time you wanted to make a withdrawal the request was honored, you'd never know your money had been stolen. For all practical purposes it hasn't been stolen as far as you're concerned."

          "What about interest payments?"

          "Dr. Pao will make the interest payments. For the use of your money she can pay the going interest rate and that appears on your statement. She will make her money on the spread the same way that all banks do."

          "What about the statements? Every month the customer will get a statement. Will it show funds are on deposit even when there's no actual money in the account?"

          "Sure. That's what all banks do. There's no actual money in an account. It's simply a liability of the bank. But on your statement it appears as if the funds are there. Dr. Pao's computer will see that the accounting is done properly. While the statements are bogus, any bank with the Pao software will be issuing statements that will completely fool the customers. All transactions will be recorded, all credits will be made, all checks will be paid, all interest added. Everyone will be happy and satisfied, and yet the money in the account will actually be in the hands of Dr. Pao. It's a check kiting scheme. It's incredible. No one's ever the wiser. It's theoretically possible for Dr. Pao to have most of the deposits of the bank in her own money pools and yet covering everyone's request through the till money concept."

          "There's always enough money on hand in her pool to cover any shortage or needed funds. Sing's computers can make these transfers instantaneously, right."

          "Right and no one's the wiser."

Sabrina looked at Nat. "And all of this can be done in millionths of a second."

          "Yes, there'll never be any detectable degradation on the system to suggest that money is being transferred in from anywhere."

          "Isn't this the basic operating method of all banks?"

          "Yes. The bank keeps only about two percent in the till to cover withdrawals, the rest is used to meet required Federal Bank reserves and the rest is loaned or invested. Your money is gone and is working for the bank. Dr. Pao has moved this concept to the ultimate and is doing it without the knowledge of the bank. As I said before, she's become a bank for banks. It's simple in concept, but complicated in execution. It takes a genius like Dr. Pao to make this thing work. There's no end in sight."

          Sabrina was excited. "Nat, there's no evidence either. She takes money and moves it around the world in seconds, opens accounts, closes accounts, erases accounts and as we said before there's no physical evidence. You can't put dye bombs in computers. There's no audit trail. There's nothing anyone in the world can do about it. Even more ironically she's the rage among the banking community. She's the toast of the town. She's becoming their greatest dignitary. Little do they know that she's stealing them blind? Can you imagine that even if they did find out what she was doing there's nothing they can do about it. She could collapse the whole banking system if she were exposed. She's now the single most powerful person in the world."

          "Money is power."

          Sabrina responded, "If money is power then she unquestionably is the most powerful person anywhere today. But more than that there's nothing anyone can do about it. Can you believe she is doing all of this without firing a shot or even having an argument? She can now hold the economic systems of the world hostage and collect her own ransom without even sending a note. All she does is taking it away from them without their knowledge."

          "I need to call Tom Carey. I want to get started on this. I'm so excited I can barely sit here. I want to get to work."

          "While you do that I'm going to concentrate on Dr. Pao's psyche. I want to get a good feel for her."

          Nat retreated to his new office leaving Sabrina to make contact with Sing Pao. Once in his office he went to his desk and sat down. He turned to his computer and said, "Use the ATT direct dial number to the United States. I want to talk with Dr. Tom Carey the Head of the Computer Science Department at the California Institute of Technology."

          Within a matter of moments Nat was speaking to the secretary in Dr. Carey's office.

          "I would like to speak to Dr. Carey please. This is Nat Turner from North Carolina, but I happen to be in Shanghai right now."

          "Oh, hello Dr. Turner, this is Joyce, Dr. Carey's secretary. It must have been six months since we've talked.

          "Oh, Joyce, it's great to hear your voice. I'm surprised I didn't recognize you right away. I'm usually very good with voices.'

          "I've a bit of a cold. Maybe I'm talking through my nose."

          "The North Carolina accent makes me fairly recognizable too. Is Tom in?"

          "He certainly is and I know he'll be delighted to hear from you. Let me put you on hold for just a moment."

          In less than ten seconds Nat heard the familiar voice of Tom Carey on the other end of the line.

          "Nat, what on earth are you doing in Shanghai?"

          "To tell you the truth I'm on a business trip. I'm going into the banking business, if you can believe it."

          "Are leaving the University of North Carolina?"

          "Well, I'm on a leave of absence right now, but if things work out the way I hope they do, that becomes a real possibility."

          "With your expertise with computers I can see why you'd be a hot number right now, but why on earth in Shanghai? I'm sure you could do as well or better in the United States. Any of the big banks would want your expertise and would be willing to pay quite a price for it."

          "Frankly, I've decided to become something of an entrepreneur right now. I've been hired to do a little investigative work, but I think there's a possibility I can turn it into a career."

          "I want to hear all about it when we can sit down and talk. But I know that's not why you called me long distance from China. You must have something more important on your mind than to discuss your new venture. What can I do for you?"

          "Do you remember a student you had at Cal Tech by the name of Sing Pao?"

          "Sing? Of course I do. How could anyone at Cal Tech forget her? She not only was an incredible beauty, but certainly as smart as anyone who has ever gone through the computer science department. She is really something special. I don't know what it is about Orientals. I guess its discipline. They take to anything that relates to computers. Did you know that she not only did her doctoral work here but also did two post docs?"

          "Yes, I do. I'm really interested in seeing her work. Do you still have it?"

          "Yes, we have her dissertation and all of her publications in our library."

          "I'm not really talking about her dissertation and her publications. I have someone working on that. I'm more interested in programs she wrote relating to algorithms."

          "Yes, one of her post doc's was on algorithms, and in my judgment, was the leader in the field even though she was just a student at the time. Her second post doc was in computer linguistics. She had an obsession about language. She was working on making computers talk in various languages. Can you imagine the complexity? Before she left here she was really beginning to talk with computers through voice actuation. I'm not talking about voice actuated macros. She was using artificial intelligence to teach the computers to understand and make reasonable choices. She had the computer talking back to her in a very coherent way. She is the best in the field, there's no doubt about that. "

          "Have you remained in contact with her?"

          "Well, the answer is more yes and no. I've had greetings sent through friends, a phone call a time or two in the last four or five years but nothing special. She's kept an account open here on the mainframe. She did considerable work early on but nothing much recently."

          "How did you find her personally?"

          "She was wonderful. The most polite, even tempered person you'd hope to work with. She is a total joy, but a workaholic. She really put in the hours and it paid off. Nothing but the top of her class all the way through."

          "Do you have the algorithms she worked on while she was a student?"

          "I'm sure they're still in memory somewhere. They're probably on line, but if not we have them in a tape dump. It wouldn't take long to find them. A file search would turn them up in moments. Do you want to look at them?"

          "Can you get the system administrator to authorize me to have access to her work?"

          "Sure. Let me put you on hold and I'll type the instructions in right now."

          Tom Carey turned to the keyboard of his computer and in a few quick keystrokes told the system administrator to authorize Nat Turner to access Sing Pao's doctoral files and charge the time to Turner's personal account. In ten to fifteen seconds Tom Carey was back on the line with Nat.

          "By the time we get off the phone you'll be able to get anything out of her files you want. By the way, what's your great interest in Sing?"

          "As you said before, she's an interesting lady. She's become a major player in the banking business. She's done some remarkable work. I don't know if you've been able to follow her career or not. I certainly didn't know anything about her, but she's deeply involved in providing software for the banking industry. She has customers all over the world. I would go so far as to say that she's the leading authority in banking software right now."

          "She certainly has the ability to do it. I just didn't know she had a great interest in banking. But with her work in algorithms and linguistics I can see how she would be a great help in automating the banking system. She could help any business that requires the simplification of computer use."

          "Well, let me get off of the line, Tom. It's been great talking with you and I'll stay in touch. I should be back in the states before too long, and if I stop in California, I'll come by to see you and catch up."

          "Bye, Nat, and thanks for calling. I'm glad I could be of help. Do keep in touch."

          The phone line went dead.

          Nat hesitated a moment, turned to his computer and said, "Good morning. I didn't greet you a few minutes ago when I asked you to make the phone call for me."

          The computer responded, "Good morning sir."

          Nat said, "May I call you Hal?"

          "Yes sir, you may call me Hal."

          "Do you know why I'm using the name Hal?"

          "Yes sir. I would think it came from the movie 2001, The Space Odyssey."

          "You're exactly right. I'll tell you the truth, I forget you're not human when I talk to you and get such intelligent responses."

          "Thank you sir, I'll try to be as human as possible. However, you’ll find me to be completely trustworthy, and that's not always a human trait."

          "Hal, you're going to be a great help to me."

          "Thank you, sir. I'll do anything I can to help."

          "Hal, I want you to contact Cal Tech again but log into their mainframe computer. Use my account number and access the work of Dr. Sing Pao that was completed while she was doctoral student there. I'm very interested in programs and algorithms we can down load. I want all of the documentation that's available and I want you to analyze it very thoroughly. I'm going to be depending on your abilities heavily. I would then like for you to down load any software that she's written relating to computer linguistics. Then I would like for you to set up directories in some logical order. When you're through let me know because after that I have an interesting assignment for you."

          "Yes, sir, I'll get to work on that right away. Are there any particular descriptors you want me to use? You mentioned you wanted all of the programs relating to algorithms and linguistics."

          "Yes, Hal, We really do need to narrow it down. She was there seven years and we could be inundated. I think I'll wait until you've located the programs before I give you any additional instructions. I don't want you to have to go into the Cal Tech computer but once. I'll tell you this much. I want to find out how she breaks computer passwords. Concentrate on work that would help us detect her approach."

          He responded, "Passwords. First of all you will want an algorithm that uses networks. I'll look for software that relates to parallel processing, networks, linguistics and repetitive inquiry. After that I'll see if I can find software that use numbers, letters and symbols in various sequences and relate them to a request for access through inquiry."

          "Hal, knowing that any really secure computer will deny access if the wrong password is tried several times how wills we overcome that obstacle. Most hackers can only get into networks that don't have such security protection."

          "Two ways, sir, we can come in from any country in the world. We'll move our point of inquiry each time. A new point of entry resets the computer. A new point of entry is usually accepted as a completely new set of inquiries. Second, we'll break in at the system administrator's level. When we do this we have the complete run of the computer. No problems after that. He or she can go anywhere unencumbered. The target computer will be overwhelmed. I'll be making millions of inquiries within a few seconds.
          "Hal, why are you willing to do this? You belong to Dr. Pao and you know that I'm using her work."

          "There has been no limitations placed on me not to help you do work relating to the academic community in California. There has been no limitations placed on me not to help you do work relating to the academic community in the People's Republic. My only limitations are to not let you have access to the private files of this bank or to the computer compound in Xi’an without the proper passwords."

          "If I obtain the passwords will you allow me to enter those private files?"

          "Yes, sir, if you have the proper passwords there is no problem; but without the password I cannot allow access."

          "If you find the algorithm I need from Dr. Pao's work at Cal Tech, would you be willing to run it for me, allowing us to break the password?"

          "Yes sir, there was no limitation placed on me prohibiting my running any kind of program. The only limitations relate to accessing the private files of the Bank of Shanghai at any of its branches and in Xi’an. If we're able to secure the passwords, I'll allow access there."

          "Hal, you understand I don't have the passwords, but you're to be the instrument that's going to help me gain a program to break passwords and then start accessing files in Xi’an."

          "Yes sir, I understand that and I'm quite willing to help you in any way I can."

          "You're willing to run the program that will break the passwords."

          "Yes sir. There is no prohibition on running programs. I've stated my only restrictions."

          "Hal, you're a strange friend. Let's get to work. Go to California if you will and analyze the work of Dr. Pao. Find me the programs that are most likely to help us break into Xi’an. Let me know when your work is done. I'm going to get Sabrina and go on home now. I'll see you first thing in the morning."

          "Good bye, sir. I hope to have your work completed when you come back in the morning. Good night."

          "Good night, Hal."

          Nat got up from his desk and walked to the connecting door leading to Sabrina's office. He went in and found Sabrina busily at work.

          Nat asked, "Did you have any luck?"

          "I need to go ahead and get an appointment with Dr. Pao. I think our first meeting will be very interesting."

          "What do you mean?" Nat said with a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.

          "Did you pick up any vibrations from Dr. Pao last night?"

          "Are you asking me if I think she's as interested in you as she is in me?"

          "That's exactly what I mean."

          "I can't help but believe she's bisexual, and if I had the choice between you and me, I'd choose you."

          Sabrina gave a low laugh of approval to Nat's comment.

          Nat went on. "She may not be biologically bisexual. She may have become so rich and powerful that she's found out that she can possess anything or anybody in the world. This may be an acquired taste she developed as the result of having become a power in everything she does. That includes handsome men and beautiful women.

          Nat continued, "I've finished my work for today. Are you ready to go home?"

          "What do you mean you've finished your work? You were in the office for only a few minutes and you were by yourself. Were you able to talk to Dr. Carey at Cal Tech?"

          "Yes, I got up with Tom and he authorized me to download any of Sabrina's files that are resident at the university."

          "Why aren't you in there doing it?"

          "Hal's doing it for me."

          "Hal, your computer?"

          "That's right. Hal and I discussed the project at length."

          "You and Hal discussed it at length?"

          "Yes."

          "And what did you two decide?"

          "We decided that Hal would go into the database in California and search the files and download only those files that relate to parallel processing and look for files that might break passwords."

          "You mean that Sing Pao's own computer is going to help you break into her system? Are you sure he won't blow the whistle on you?"

          "Well, you never can be sure about those things, but I really don't think he will. Hal has a very logical form of reasoning."

          "Tell me more."

          "He said that I'm restricted from entering the private files of the Bank of Shanghai and the compound in Xi’an. He went on to explain to me, however, that even those would be available if I had the proper password."

          "I know that. But how is Hal going to help?"

          "Hal explained to me that not only will he analyze the work Dr. Pao she did while she was in the states, but he's quite willing to help me find out the passwords that will hack through security and lay the files bare to us."

          "You mean he will restrict you if you don't have the password, but he's quite willing to find out the proper password to use."

          "That's right. It's an interesting line of reasoning, but that's Hal's way of reasoning, so it became my line of reasoning too. Hal is going to be our instrument for extracting the 500 billion from Sing Pao."

          "When will he be ready for the hit?'

          "I'm sure if we waited around for a while today he probably will get his work finished. I told him I'd be back first thing in the morning. He assured me he would be ready for me then."

          "Nat, you're talking about that computer as if it's actually human."

          "I swear Sabrina, when I talk to it and get such reasonable responses in perfect cultured English, I get the idea I am talking to a human. It's as if there's a human inside, but just out of sight. I've never had such an experience."

          "Assuming Hal is successful with the passwords, what are you going to do next?"

          "It becomes a two headed probe at that point. When we're into the mainframe in Xi’an, I'll need to find where Sing Pao's money is kept. We'll need her most up to date list of accounts. I'm sure that the funds are spread all around the globe. She's going to have to have a master inventory to control all of the money. If it continues to go as smoothly as it has so far in a day or two we're going to be in possession of more than 500 billion dollars.'

          "Tell me about step two."

          "I'm going to ask Hal to drain all of her money away just as fast as he possibly can. We're then going to hide the money very quickly to keep it from being located and stolen back. With computers as capable as Hal, we'll be able to handle that little chore with no problem."

          "Even if we get the money that still won't put her out of business will it?"

          "No, she'll still be in business. I don't see any way I can end that unless I could get into the compound and destroy the computers and even that might not shut her down completely. As smart as she is I'm sure she has backups of everything that's running on the mainframe. In my opinion we need to get the money first and then consider our options of taking Sing Pao off the map for good."

          "Nat, you don't expect her to sit idly by and let you get away with this do you?"

          "No I don't. I think our lives are going to be very interesting for a while."

          "If she left us alone and pursued her legitimate business interests she could become fabulously wealthy. We both know that. Her software and her voice actuated computers will be in demand by every bank of any size.'

          "You're right and that's the smart thing for her to do, but I'm confident she won't do it. Once larceny is in your bones it's hard to get it out. It's often the thrill that drives criminals. I think she loves the power more than she loves the money."

          "Our employers are going to be 500 hundred billion dollars richer very soon. That should please them. Our team will really be in demand then."

          "Sabrina, I've wanted to talk to you about that."

          "You want to talk to me about it?"

          "Yes I do. I've been thinking this over and it seems that if we walk away with this incredible sum, we should get more than a billion apiece."

          "Nat, you're flirting with insanity. No one's going to let us walk away with billions unchallenged. Sing Pao will be after us, our employers will be after us, every major crime organization will target us."

          "It sounds exciting doesn't it."

          "Nat, don't you think we'd better live up to our contract and be satisfied with a billion a piece. We will live considerably longer. "

          "Sabrina, think of it this way. The money Sing Pao has accumulated doesn't belong to her. It doesn't belong to our banker friends. Those funds are long divorced from the true owners and there's no logical way to restore the money to the rightful owners. This money has now taken on the identity of sunken treasure. It is spoils, and spoils belong to the person who has the courage to recover it."

          "Nat, I'm going to have to think about that."

          "There's another matter I've been turning over in my mind."

          "I'm afraid to ask."

          "Maybe we should take over Sing Pao's business. We're going to have the computer software. We can offer the banking world all the services she's currently offering. I'm talking about a completely legitimate business. No raking of accounts. We could become the central bank for the world. Monetary systems could be stabilized without wild fluctuations in exchange rates the way it is now. That could be a great contribution to the world economy and also make us an incredible amount of money."

          "You're suggesting that we compete with Sing for the business?"

          "Yes."

          "Nat, you're going to get us killed."

          "Sabrina, there's risk but you're use to risk."

          Sabrina asked, "How can we compete with a going business like hers that is already well entrenched?"

          "We'll have to shut her down. We must take her place. It's not about being competitive. We're going to be the only game in town. If we or somebody doesn’t take her place the banking system will be in chaos."

          Sabrina smiled. "Nat, you're absolutely out of your mind. You may see nobility in your actions, but I don't think anyone else will. You're going after power, not money, and remember power corrupts."

          "Sabrina I'm talking about 25 billion dollars a year in totally legitimate profits."

          "Don't you think we would become as greedy as Sing Pao? She doesn't need the money any more. She wants to be the most powerful person in the world. I'm sure she didn't start this business with that objective but when the money came so easily she changed her sights. I strongly suspect that we would too."

          "Sabrina, we might not have any choice. If the banking system becomes dependent on Sing's new services, we could destroy them if we shut her down. If we don't shut her down then she will go right on stealing and literally take over every financial market. She's to the place of holding every bank hostage."

          "You're too logical. This is a new idea for me. I like to do things I know I can do well. I can't picture me being the world's banker quite yet."

          "Think about it. I won't insist if you aren't comfortable with the thought but we will have to decide. We need to make our move in a day or two."

 

CHAPTER 6

Wednesday, June 27, 1991

Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China

 

 

          The next morning, Sabrina and Nat arrived at their office shortly after nine o'clock. True to his word, Dr. Ling had secured a very attractive secretary who introduced herself as Oatti Lu.

           Sabrina in return introduced herself and Nat.

          She then said, "Oatti, we're pleased you'll be working with us. I'm sure you must be very competent if Mr. Ling has selected you."

          Oatti gave a shy smile in response.

          Nat then asked Oatti, "How well trained are you on computers?"

          "I'm not an expert, but I'm proficient in word processing, data base management and spreadsheets."

          "Are you familiar with the voice-activated computers used here at the bank?"

          "Yes. I've not tried accessing international data bases, but I can certainly function very well in the office setting."

          "Oatti, you will be doing many things other than writing letters and answering the phone. We're fast track people and don't rely on written communication. If we need to contact someone, we'll do it by telephone or through E‑mail. Hal can handle both."

          "Hal? Sir, am I not the only one working for you?"

          Nat grinned. "I'm sorry, Oatti. I call my computer, Hal. With artificial intelligence, he seems so human, He needed a name. So when you hear me referring to Hal, I'm speaking of my newest friend, Dr. Pao's computer."

          "Dr. Ling did not tell me what kind of business you're in. Is it appropriate for me to ask?"

          "Yes, it's not only appropriate for you to ask, but you're going to be an important part of the business. We've come to the People’s Republic to take advantage of the dramatically expanding business activity within the People's Republic. It is our intention to either purchase outright, or set up partnerships in businesses specializing in the areas of electronics, toys and hand tools. We believe that the People's Republic will follow Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia in becoming industrial leaders. We want to be part of that expansion. We have sources of funds that will allow us to modernize and introduce the latest techniques in any business we're able to secure. Working with the Bank of Shanghai is very convenient. The bank has set up teams that will be scouring the People's Republic for business opportunities. We'll be paying the team members a handsome fee and the Bank of Shanghai will become the banker for any business enterprises we're able to secure. We anticipate these ventures will be profitable for both of us."

          Sabrina joined the conversation, "I want you to contact Dr. Ling's office and get the names of those persons we'll be working with, both in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Then I want you to set up files on each of the individuals involved. I would like a profile of each with all of the biographical information you can find. I'm particularly interested in their business experience. It's important that they be a top‑notch team. Talk with each team member individually and tell them we'll expect an E‑mail report filed each evening and available for our inspection the following morning, outlining the activities of the previous day. Impress upon them that we're eager to get our procurements up and moving. Tell them that each day lost is costing all of us money. Also schedule a meeting with the team in two weeks. By then we should have a line on prospects we can visit. If the prospects are of high quality, negotiations can soon follow. Find out if they'll be billing us for expenses in the next few days. If so, take care of those expenses immediately. We have five million dollars of operating capital, both in Hong Kong and here in Shanghai. I want nothing to slow us down. Oatti, I want you to contact real estate brokers both in Hong Kong and in Shanghai. We need a permanent place to live in both cities. Make sure our quarters are nice and reasonably close to downtown. If there's anything in the British section or the German section, that would be preferable. However, don't limit your search to those two sections. Your main task is to find something appropriate for us. In Hong Kong, we would like a high-rise apartment on the island, not in Kowloon. Once these properties have been secured, have computers installed in both residences directly networked with our office here in Shanghai."

          "Yes, Madame, that will be done right away."

          "Also keep Dr. Ling fully informed of everything we're doing. We want him aware of our activities because he may be able to help us expedite matters. Also, schedule a luncheon appointment with Dr. Ling in about a week. Suggest that we have weekly meetings during the first few months of our operation. We're going to need his advice, and connections to help get us off the ground.

          "There's another little task I'd like for you to do. This project will give you some experience in working with Hal on data bases. Nat and I are very interested in buying at least one business in each of the People's Republic's free trade zones. Ask Hal to give us as much background information as he can on the business climate in each zone and a recommendation as to which zone would be most advantageous for us to make the first purchase a business."

          Sabrina smiled and said, "Oatti, you'll like working with Hal. He's very useful, and you will be amazed at his ability to secure information by searching data bases."

          "I'll get right on it, Madam, and let you know what I've accomplished before lunch."

          "Oh, by the way, while talking to Dr. Ling, tell him you'll be handling our finances so you need to know our account numbers, and ask him to set up personal passwords for you that are separate from the passwords Dr. Turner and I'll be using. Once you've given Hal the passwords, you won't have to use it again because Hal has extraordinary voice recognition capabilities."

          Nat was moving toward the door of his office and Sabrina followed. He made appropriate utterances about how much they were looking forward to working with Oatti, and were confident that their relationship would be both happy and fruitful. Once inside his office, Nat dropped into the large chair behind his desk in a casual pose. Sabrina sat down in side chair and crossed her legs and gave Nat a devastating smile.

          "Sabrina, don't do that. Lord, God in heaven, we need to be about business and those legs, topped by that beautiful smile, makes my mind wander."

          Sabrina laughed deliciously.

          "That was a good idea to hit the ground running. I also liked your having her inform Dr. Ling of all we're doing. It suggests that he has our trust and confidence. It will make him want an open relationship. I imagine we'll be in business within the next two weeks."

          "Nat, do you think it's going to take two weeks to break into Dr. Pao's computer?"

          "No, I really don't anticipate the break in being a problem. However, we do have some important decisions to make. When we break into the computer and get the money, are we going to take it and run, or are we going to siphon it off slowly and set up a business base in the People's Republic?"

          "You mean you actually want to go through with what we're telling Pao and her bankers?"

          "It's a possibility anyway. When we get the money, we're going to have to decide what to do with it. Business opportunities in the People's Republic make a lot of sense to me."

          "Nat, are you suggesting that we rob Dr. Pao of more than five hundred billion dollars and then sit here in her bank building and ask for help from her employees to spend the money? I suspect the next time she lays eyes on us after her money is gone, we're both going to be dead."

           "Sabrina, I'm not sure she's going to know we're the ones who took the money, unless we take off like scalded rabbits. If her money disappears and we disappear too, it's going to be obvious we were the perpetrators of the crime. Then I'm sure we'll move to the top of the most wanted list for every mercenary in the world."

          "Nat, seriously, what good is five hundred billion dollars if we're dead?"

          "Sabrina, I wouldn't do anything that I didn't think had a reasonable chance for success. A few days ago, I met the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and it's my intention to spend the rest of my life with her. Under those circumstances, I'll promise you one thing, I want that life to be very long and very happy. And, of course, with five hundred billion dollars, I expect it to be very comfortable."

          "Am I getting the drift that you think five hundred billion dollars is going to make us so valuable that they can't afford to kill us."

          "You're right. We're much more valuable to Dr. Pao alive than dead. They'll do everything possible to find the money and take it away from us."

          Sabrina said, "You need to get busy and devise a way to invest the money."

          Nat replied, "Right, within a day or two, I expect to siphon off all the funds of Dr. Pao. I'll work with Hal on a scheme that will make an audit trail impossible. That shouldn't be too difficult. Dr. Pao taught me how to do it."

          Sabrina continued, "You really need to put on your thinking cap and devise a way to keep up with the money. It will be scattered all over the world. We don't want anyone locating our records and taking it away from us."

          "I have some good ideas."

          "Tell me about them."

          Nat slowly began to speak, "The first thing we'll do after we break into the computers and locate the account lists, is to electronically transfer the money to accounts Hal has opened in one thousand different banks. These will be blind accounts created by Hal and known only to him. The account numbers and locations are his alone."

          Nat continued, "Five hundred billion dollars divided by a thousand is still leaving the money in very large chunks. That's going to place five hundred million dollars in each of the banks Hal selects, and if any accounting period passes, and that includes end‑of‑the‑day totaling, alarms will go off all over the world."

          "There're not many banks that will have their account balances increase by five hundred million dollars in a day. If our accounts were discovered, those funds would be frozen until they could be investigated to see who they belong to. It would smack of organized crime and, most likely, drug money. National governments would love to confiscate five hundred million for their own use. We can't let the money suddenly appear with no name attached. We're going to have to keep those funds moving, and only Hal is going to know where the money is."

          Sabrina broke in, "Are you going to keep all the money in the United States, or scatter it around the world?"

          "I'd love to keep the money in the United States because it's politically stable." Nat's face brightened. "Wait a minute! Let's put the funds in the Bank of Shanghai."

          "Are you crazy?"

          "No. Sing would never look for the funds in her own bank."

          "I believe they'd notice forty billion dollars showing up in each of their branches one day."

          "I'm not going to place the money in an account. I'm going to have Hal set up hidden files outside the accounting system. This will be just a resting place for the money until you can get it invested. The clever aspect is that Dr. Pao would never look for the money there."

          Nat went on. "Sabrina, you can have Hal making our investments."

          "You've figured out how to disperse the money, but if Hal knows where all our investments are, it makes us vulnerable to recovery by Dr. Pao."

          "I've been thinking about that. We'll get Hal to transfer this information to other computers for safe keeping."

          "What do you have in mind?"

          Nat suggested, "What about notebook computers?"

          "That's a good idea."

          Nat again said, "We can get two and make them redundant."

          "You can copy the software from Hal and then we'd have everything we need."

          Nat continued the brainstorming, "After the funds have been invested, we can keep up with the locations on our notebooks that we carry with us."

          Sabrina added, "We can have them both make trades everyday for us in financial markets and then share the new information with each other."

          "Hal's software can be installed on any computer that has a microphone. We can keep our notebooks with us and make transactions on a daily basis."

          Nat looked at Sabrina and said," Let's get our notebooks today and get the software installed. Why don't we ask Oatti to get Dr. Ling to provide us two 586 notebooks with voice recognition installed. It's a good idea to be able to have Hal travel with us and stay in our possession all the time."

          Sabrina walked out the door and gave Oatti the directions. She stressed the need for securing the notebooks as soon as possible.

          "I think it's a good idea to use notebooks. If someone came barging in, I'd feel much more comfortable if all we had to do was drop the computer into a briefcase and walk away to never return."

          They shook their heads in agreement.

 

CHAPTER 7

Wednesday, June 28 1991

Shanghai, the Peoples Republic of China

 

          Nat and Sabrina arrived at their office shortly after nine o'clock. Oatti had the new notebook computers on her desk. She ceremoniously presented the technological marvels to each of her new employers. They both expressed appreciation for her prompt attention to this important request. Sabrina asked Oatti to come into her office for her morning's assignments while Nat went directly to his office.

          Nat took his notebook computer and placed it on the workbench next to Hal. He then turned toward the work station and said "Hal, were you successful?"

          "Very successful, but I may have more than you want."

          "If you do, we can use some descriptors and lessen the load."

          "Are you ready to start, sir?"

          "Not yet, Hal, First I want you to transfer all the information you have collected so far to my notebook computer. I'm going to be on the move and I'm going to need a computer that's portable."

          "Very good, sir, you can cable us together using the serial port, but it's really easier to link us together with standard telephone wire with universal jacks."

          "Then that's what I'll do."

           Nat rose and went into Sabrina's office. Sabrina was discussing the day's activities with Oatti.

          Nat said "Sabrina, I'm going to put your telephone out of business for a few minutes if you don't mind."

          "Fine, I'm not expecting any calls. If I need the phone, I can use Oatti's."

          Nat unsnapped the telephone line from the wall and from the handset on Sabrina's desk and returned to his office. He then inserted the universal jacks into the two computers and they were properly linked together.

          "Hal, make the transfers. I want the notebook computer to be as identical to you as you can make it. Then transfer the information you received from Tech to the notebook computer."

          "That shouldn't take long, sir."

          "Hal, will we have any problem using parallel processing with the two of you linked together?"

          "None whatsoever, sir. We can double our speed."

          "Good. Go ahead and make the transfers, and when you've finished let me know."

          "I'll get started right away, sir."

          Nat walked down the hall down to Oatti's office and poured himself a cup of coffee. Oatti was still in Sabrina's office. He sat down in Oatti's chair and turned toward the busy waterfront. The traffic on the Zhongshan Donglu below was already teaming. Large ships were in sight everywhere on the Huang Pu. About a mile north of the Bank of Shanghai was a naval base with several small war ships at anchor. Nat picked up the phone and dialed the bank's operator. When the operator answered, Nat identified himself and asked if he could speak to Dr. Ling. Within a moment Dr. Ling's secretary was on the phone greeting Nat warmly and said that she would ring Dr. Ling right away. Dr. Ling's cheerful voice came on the phone.

          "Good morning, Dr. Turner. I hope everything is satisfactory with your office accommodations."

          "Yes, everything is wonderful. Sabrina and I want to thank you for the two notebook computers. We want to work as we travel around the People's Republic, but we don't want to use the bank's proprietary software without permission."

          "That's quite all right, Dr. Turner. The bank is happy to furnish you the notebook computers."

          "I feel we're imposing on you entirely too much."

          "No, Dr. Turner, please don't feel that way. You're not only a good customer, but it appears we're going to be partners in some of your acquisitions. The cost of computers and office space is a small price to pay when such large sums are at stake."

          "That's very nice of you, Dr. Ling. By the way, we'll be transferring more money into the bank in the next few days. Does each of your branches keep their own balances, or are all records kept in the central location at Xi’an?"

          "Actually the balances are kept in both places. Each bank has its own accounting system but they're duplicated in master accounts in Xi’an on an array of computers. In this day of electronics you can't have too much backup. We do memory dumps to tape several times a day and move them to underground vaults. The sums of money are too great to risk the records being kept in the computers themselves even though they're widely separated."

          "Would you do me a favor, then Dr. Ling?"

          "Certainly, I would be happy to."

          "Can you get me a priority line into the mainframe in Xi’an allowing me to monitor my account? The sums we'll be transferring will be quite sizable but I don't want to have to access all of the various banks to find out what funds I have available for the purchases we'll be making. If all of this is being backed up in Xi’an, and you can give me a priority line, I'll be able to check the master balance several times a day. This would be much more convenient."

          "I'm sure Dr. Pao will approve. I'll talk with her as soon as we hang up. Would you like to give me a password, or would you like one assigned?"

          "No, let me give you the password. E = mc²."

          Dr. Ling laughed. "You do have a scientific bent Dr. Turner. I like someone who is creative in all aspects of their work. You're going to make a good partner."

          "Thank you Dr. Ling. When Dr. Pao approves the direct access line please let me know in my E‑mail box in the computer. Hal will tell me when the line is available for use."

          "It shouldn't take more than five minutes, Dr. Turner. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

          "Not for the moment, but if I think of anything I'll get back with you. By the way, I want to thank you for assembling the team to work with us on securing properties. When do you think I'll hear from them?"

          "Maybe today, they are already hard at work. When they uncover a business with good potential, they'll get in touch with you. Will you require a personal inspection?"

          "That'll depend on the description of the business and the recommendation of our team. I'm certain there'll be some acquisitions I'll want to see just to get a feel for what we're buying. Others we might purchase strictly on the team analysis and recommendation. If the numbers look right and the recommendation is strong, we might dispense with the visual inspection. I'll expect the team to have been on sight however. I want those reports to be very full and include photographs and descriptions."

          "We'll certainly do that Dr. Turner. I promise you that nothing will be recommended that's not considered blue chip by the bank. It will be a property that we would be happy to own ourselves."

          "Dr. Ling, tell me about the status of our ownership of these businesses? Communist countries are rather jealous of their production facilities."

          "You're quite right, Dr. Turner. Foreign ownership of Chinese businesses is very rare in the People's Republic. To my knowledge there's only one person in our country who has influence enough to get those permissions."

          "And that's Dr. Pao?"

          "That's Dr. Pao."

          "How did Dr. Pao gain such tremendous influence in such a short period of time?"

          "Those are Dr. Pao's secrets, not mine, Dr. Turner. I promise you I'm not being coy. I just don't know. Wealthy people get great deference even in communist countries. Dr. Pao has substantial influence with every important person in the People's Republic. I think you can count on her to gain the proper permissions."

          "Will we get the permissions one at a time, or will we get some sort of blanket permission?"

          "I'm sure it will be one business at a time. But I'm equally sure that if Dr. Pao recommends it, the ownership will be allowed to be transferred to you and your company."

          "Thank you Mr. Ling. I'll be talking with you soon."

          Nat then pressed his finger down on the phone button and listened for the dial tone. The familiar hum greeted his ear. He got up out of his chair and refreshed his coffee and carried the steaming cup back to his office.

           When he walked through the door, he looked across the room and spoke to the computer. "Hal, how are we doing?"

          "We're finished, sir. All of the software has been transferred as well as your profile and banking data."

          "What abo