Qin Shang rose from behind his immense rosewood desk, raised on legs intricately carved hi the shape of tigers, and walked across the cavernous room toward the elevator. The office looked like the vastly expanded interior of a captain's cabin in an old sailing ship. Heavy oak planking was laid for the floor. Thick oak beams supported a skylighted ceiling with teak paneling throughout. Large builder's models of Qin Shang Maritime ships sailed on plaster seas inside glass cases on one side of the room while on the opposite wall a collection of old diver's suits with their lead boots and brass helmets hung suspended by their air hoses, as if they still contained the bodies of their owners. Qin Shang stopped in front of the elevator as its doors opened and greeted his visitor, a short man with dense gray hair. His eyes bulged as they protruded from fleshy pouches. He smiled as he came forward and shook Qin Shang's outstretched hand.

"Qin Shang," he said with a taut little grin. "Yin Tsang, always an honor to see you," Qin Shang said graciously. "I did not expect you until next Thursday."

"I hope you'll forgive this unpardonable interruption," said Yin Tsang, the minister of China's internal affairs, "but I wished to speak with you privately on a matter of some delicacy."

"I am always available anytime to you, old friend. Come and sit down. Would you like some tea?"

Yin Tsang nodded. "Your own special blend? I'd like nothing better."

Qin Shang called his private secretary and ordered the tea. "Now then, what is this delicate matter that brings you to Hong Kong a week ahead of your scheduled visit?"

"Disturbing news has reached Beijing concerning your operation at Orion Lake in the state of Washington."

Qin Shang shrugged carelessly. "Yes, an unfortunate incident beyond my control."

"My sources tell me the holding station for the immigrants was raided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service."

"It was," Qin Shang freely admitted. "My best men were killed and our security people were captured in a lightning raid that was totally unexpected."

Yin Tsang looked at him. "How could this happen? I can't believe you failed to prepare for such a possibility. Didn't your agents in Washington, D.C., alert you?"

Qin Shang shook his head. "I've since learned the raid did not originate in the INS national headquarters. It was a spur-of-the-moment operation conducted by the local district director, who took it upon himself to launch an assault on the holding station. I was given no warning by any of my agents within the American government."

"Your entire North American operation has been compromised. The Americans now have broken a link in the chain that will surely lead directly to you."