The Bourne Retribution Read Free Page B

They can’t be trusted to think for themselves. Though, in the past that has worked in our favor.” He hesitated a moment, as if unsure whether to voice his next thought. “And then there is Maricruz.”
    Ouyang stiffened visibly. “Maceo Encarnación’s daughter is an exception to the rule.”
    “And yet,” Colonel Sun said, “she is the one who brought us into contact with the Mexicans.”
    “In the past that has worked in our favor,” Ouyang said, deliberately parroting his protégé.
    “The failure at Dahr El Ahmar to obtain the Israeli laser process for enriching uranium has not only set back our plans in Africa, but also given Cho Xilan the ammunition he needs against our long-range path for China.”
    Cho was the secretary of the powerful Chongqing Party, Ouyang’s chief rival in the Central Committee. The Chongqing was also known as the Pure Heaven party for its conservative view of continuing the Middle Kingdom’s long-standing policy of isolation and non-engagement with the West. The rift between conservative and liberal factions of the government had been blown open by the very public purging of Bo Xilai and the subsequent arrest of his wife for allegedly murdering a Westerner.
    “Listen to me, Sun. Now that the president has decided to convene the Party Congress, everything has changed,” Ouyang said. “In two weeks we will finalize plans to hand power to a new generation of leaders.
    “I am determined to be one of those leaders. I am just as determined to ensure that Cho Xilan is not one of them. He was elevated when Bo Xilai was purged. We must find a way to implicate him in conspiring with the former head of the Chongqing Party.”
    Colonel Sun considered. “That will not be easy. Cho has many powerful friends.”
    “Nothing we do is easy, Sun.” Ouyang’s fork paused on the way to his mouth, hanging in midair. “Listen to me now. The Mexicans could not be expected to deal with Jason Bourne, a man they know nothing about. Carlos did what he was ordered to do, and, as a result, Mossad has been dealt another blow. First the powerful agent Rebeka, and now Eden Mazar.”
    “Well then, it’s no wonder Yadin is talking with Bourne.”
    “The question is, why is Bourne listening?” Ouyang chewed meditatively on a bite of egg and bacon. “Why was Bourne in Las Peñas protecting Mazar? Bourne is a loner. He loathes and distrusts government agencies.” He shook his head, staring out at the glimmering high-rise skyline of Shanghai. “Something vital has changed. We need to find out, Sun.”
    The colonel shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
    Ouyang pursed his lips. “Bourne is a wild card, Sun, he always has been. We cannot afford to let him or Mossad interfere with us.”
    “I don’t understand why you’re still worried about Mossad. Their agent Rebeka is dead.”
    “Given what we know, Sun, there is every possibility that Mossad’s Director has talked Bourne into following in Rebeka’s footsteps.”
    “I still don’t—”
    “You know as much as you need to know, Sun.” Ouyang turned away. “Focus on Bourne. He’s your target now.”
      
    B ourne had booked himself into an anonymous motel on the seedier side of Caesarea, away from the posh tourist center where the rich came to play. Its whitewashed stone looked abused, as if the past had beaten it up. It was, however, not so anonymous that a man dressed as a tourist, carrying an overnight bag, wasn’t able to find it and book himself a room, paying cash for a one-night stay. While the clerk turned his back to fetch his room key, the tourist checked the computer terminal for Bourne’s room number.
    The tourist had an entirely unremarkable face. In fact, minutes after he had checked in, the clerk had forgotten what he looked like. Meanwhile, on the third floor, the tourist stopped outside Bourne’s room.
    He set down his overnight bag, unzipped it, and removed a vinyl sheet that, when shaken out, deployed as a suit, into