Khan's Legacy

Chapter 3-2

Jade decided it was time to take the heat out of the discussion. “We will take a short recess,” she announced, “When we return you all will have had the opportunity to consider the implications of what you are voting for. There must be no mistakes; our future is at stake.”

“If you follow this woman then you will all fail,” cried Zheng getting to his feet and stalking to the back of the room. “Before you is a choice between success with me or back into the dark ages.”

“That’s pretty clear,” Amethyst whispered to Jade. “The die is cast now, either to self-destruction with Zheng or survival with you. It all hinges on the next thirty minutes.”

The vote of no confidence by secret ballot organized by Amethyst was duly held. As she looked at the result of the ballot, Jade smiled and breathed a long sigh of relief; she had won. She addressed the assembly again.

“Members of the Council, the vote of ‘No Confidence in the President’ is carried by a majority vote of seven to five.”

She looked across to Amethyst raising her eyes and smiling. “So, Zheng Wan I formally declare you dismissed as President and call for a new election to be held immediately.” She was elated; the intensive lobbying had paid off, that, plus her threats to expose the pro-Jochi faction. Now she could move to the second stage of her plan. “I now move to…...”

“This is intolerable,” roared Zheng angrily banging his fist on his table.

“Only because you make it so Zheng,” retorted Jade, then moving swiftly on added. “The Chair proposes Dr Oboto from Nigeria be our new President. He is a long term member of the Elders, a philanthropist to whom we owe a great deal, and someone I believe can put us back on our original course. If you recall Zheng, I did nominate him as your mentor last year but you didn’t accept the help.”

“I am delighted to second Dr Oboto’s nomination,” said Stanton.

“Are there any other nominations?” asked Jade. She looked around the darkened hall quickly. “No other nominations? Can I have a formal vote please?” Jade smiled as this time ten lights came on. “I do believe Dr Oboto that congratulations are in order,” she said, above the applause from the members.

“Thank you, Madam Chair and the council,” smiled Dr Oboto a rotund looking medical doctor from sub Saharan Africa who had made his personal fortune through medical vaccines in the field of leprosy.

“I’ll have no part of this travesty,” snapped Zheng.

“You orchestrated an undemocratic vote.”

“Are you resigning from the Elders?” asked Jade innocently.

“No! Certainly not! I won’t give you that pleasure.”

“Very well, you will take your place with the others. Dr Oboto the floor is yours.” All heads turned to the sixty-year-old African as a light snapped on above his head.

“Thank you Councillors,” said the Doctor looking slowly around the room. He was unaccustomed to the light on his face. “We must move now to heal ourselves and, as Madam Chair has stated, avoid civil conflict at all costs. History shows us that is always the worst kind. I have given many years of my life to this cause and am proud to take the helm, though it will only be for a short while until the crisis is over and our historical objective is achieved. Then I will retire in peace and with a fulfilled mind,” He smiled broadly as he spoke. “I will deal dispassionately with this situation,” he continued. “I have always believed in being direct and forthright, it is the only way to succeed in my country so I will now say what Jade has not said. She is a true disciple of our founding father, Zheng He, and indeed what is known as the ‘Medici Inheritance’…. Stanton interrupted him. “Sorry,” he said, “I know nothing of this ‘Medici Inheritance’ what’s that all about?” The Doctor smiled at his fellow Elder. “It is the principle that rich benefactors can control and run a state from behind the scenes; Cosimo Medici did this in Venice centuries back. Our founder Zheng He went there before forming the Elders and enshrined that principle in our constitution.”

“First I’ve heard of it, especially the bit about the Medici link,” said Stanton peevishly. Doctor Oboto acknowledged the comment with a brief smile and continued. “Paternal rule is always preferable to that of violence. Far too often the rule of force has dominated. That is my greatest burden and the reason I am here. Millions have died so that selfish tin-pot rulers could enrich themselves at the expense of their people. From Bokasa in the Congo, Mugabe, Charles Taylor in Liberia, Bashir in Sudan, I could go on. I will not allow this institution to fail because of similar behaviour. We will ultimately succeed despite the efforts of men like Zheng Wan.”

His remarks provoked a wild outburst from Zheng. “Don’t lecture me when you’re from a bankrupt continent,” he shouted. “Success comes through strength of purpose not through paternalism.”

“You would break this institution, if allowed to do so,” said Oboto firmly. “Fortunately wisdom and good sense have won the day.”

“Madam Chair there is one other item,” said Zheng slyly holding up a manual for all to see. “I’m sure you will know this as a stickler for governance and regulations; I believe any outgoing leader has three months to hand over power unless fraud or murder has been committed. It’s called the period of grace.”

“He is right,” confirmed Amethyst frowning. “Technically you have the leadership, but it has no power, it is therefore meaningless.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” snapped Zheng. “So, I invoke the three months clause.” he rose from his seat and strode to the door. In that time he would make damned sure he got what he needed, after all Jade was right, this was all only a means to an end for him.

Later in the quiet of the old monastery’s atrium Jade sat sipping Earl Grey tea with Dr Oboto, sharing a peaceful moment after the tense meeting. “Well we’ve declared our hand now, it’s going to be tough to move forward when we have to second guess the damage Zheng can cause in the next three months,” pondered Oboto. “We have worked together too closely on this to fail now.”

“I should have expected something sneaky from him but it doesn’t matter, you are the officially elected leader,” replied Jade quietly. “Besides what can he do in three months?”

“Try to subvert the Elders before the next meeting without a doubt, and maybe use the authority of the Elders the wrong way.” Oboto wasn’t inclined to under-rate Zheng.

“How can he do that with a secret organisation?” queried Jade.

“You’ve seen how devious he is and unquestionably he has huge influence; a breakaway movement is possible.”

“Unlikely, his authority here is limited now and I can veto anything he seeks to do, though we do need to take pre-emptive actions. I have found an interesting lead for us in the archives.”

“And you the passive philanthropist,” smiled Dr Oboto.

“I have my moments,” smiled Jade, “Needs must, and besides he has an Achilles heel.”

“Which is?”

“He believes there is someone who can interpret his actions, almost as though he is reading his mind. We can use that person without compromising our own position. Frankly, without him and his partner we would be in a much worse position than we are. Now we must actively help them; they have already suffered a great deal but they also have some personal involvement.”

“What sort of involvement?”

“Their respective fathers have disappeared into Zheng’s organisation.”

“It is unfair to ask so much, particularly now we have raised the stakes,” said Oboto quietly. Jade replaced her tea-cup onto its saucer and put them down onto the table, a thoughtful frown on her face. “Guy Tresanton and his partner, Rose, have proved themselves immensely resilient so far,” she said.

“Perhaps, but it’s a different battle now, a real war, one where we need professionals. This lead you mentioned. What is it?”

“Something I read in my grandmother’s diary. I retrieved it from the vaults the other day or at least Amethyst did. She seems to know where everything is stored. She has been such an asset since she came here full time. Ironically the diary points us to Africa”

“The location is ideal for the person I have in mind.”

“This person must work with our friends; as I said they are Zheng’s Achilles heel.”

“Understood. I think there will be a good fit; this person is someone who knows how to fight a dirty war.”

“Who are they to link up with?” Jade knew of no group active in Africa.

“A scary lady called Tapiwa; she’s an African uncut diamond with a reputation for ruthlessness and an attitude to match,” replied Oboto smiling ruefully. “She grew up in the jungle and is lethal at unarmed combat; a professional killer. I saved her brother’s life once; we can trust her implicitly.”

~~~~~~

Zheng Wan’s private jet slowly descended into Abu Dhabi. He had just two months to find the Prophecy before the Elders turned on him. He’d bought himself a little time but was in no doubt the stakes had changed; they would fight him all the way. The Elders were purely a vehicle to him but one that was slowly coming out of a deep sleep. He might have to make a pre-emptive strike at the head of the institution before it became a threat to his plans, particularly if they started to expose his connections at the monastery. His helper within the organisation had given him a lead that could be invaluable. As always, they had met deep in the recesses of the old building when all were engaged elsewhere and this time it had paid dividends.

He had underestimated Jade, though that alone didn’t worry him unduly. Success was his for the taking. Just a little annoyance to get out of the way in the North first then he would finish the Elders once and for all. He would destroy the place just as his father, Zhou Wang, had recommended all those years ago, he, Zheng, would finish off that work. As soon as they landed, Sabine, his greatest asset, came aboard; he was pleased to see her. She was his most loyal foot soldier, someone who would use whatever means were necessary to ensure success. Above all she knew Jochi intimately and therefore knew what had to be done. She dropped into the seat opposite her master, her lithe figure clad in tight leathers, her green eyes sparkling, complementing her red hair.

“This page that Jochi has found, is it genuine?” he asked her after the briefest of greetings.

“Yes, the information comes from one of my most reliable sources,” she replied. “Jochi misused our relationship back in Aruba and will pay dearly for that.”

“You have learned a most important thing; now we need to strike fast,” Zheng advised her. “Time to show our traitor what happens to those who rebel. The Corporation ZTW is gearing up; the bases are nearing fruition so there is a small time window, the timing is critical.”

“I’ll take that as an order to proceed as we discussed,” observed Sabine unzipping her leather suit and revealing the tops of her breasts. Zheng knew she had pierced n*****s and it never failed to excite him. “I do so like a man with a plan and power,” she murmured. She got a s****l thrill out of killing people, her own personal turn on was when she saw naked terror on her victim’s face. “Have no fear Teacher we will succeed.”