Page 2 of The Atlas Maneuver

The charges were ignited.

Explosions rumbled and the ground shook, the charges detonating in a predetermined sequence, each one bringing down aportion of the excavation. The final charge obliterated the main entrance in a cascade of dirt and rock. Before dawn it would be smoothed and dressed and, within a few weeks, the jungle would replace the lost foliage completing the camouflage.

They walked toward a waiting vehicle.

“What of these soldiers?” Chichibu asked of the demolition team.

“They will be dead by morning.”

Which should end the killing. And with 7,107 islands in the Philippines, even if the enemy knew what had been done, searching for those 175 caches would take decades.

But he had to wonder.

“What of me?” he asked the prince. “Am I to die as well?”

“You are a high-ranking general in the Imperial Army,” the prince said. “Sworn by oath to allegiance with the emperor.”

They reached the car.

“So were all the soldiers and engineers who died,” he said.

The prince opened the rear door and retrieved a leather satchel. From inside he withdrew a Japanese battle flag. A red disk atop a white background, with sixteen rays emanating from it, symbolizing the rising sun.

Chichibu laid it out flat across the hood. “I thought you might be apprehensive. Let us be frank. The war is over. All is lost. It is time now to prepare for the future. I have to return to Japan and work with my brother to secure that future. You have to stay here and hold the Americans at bay for as long as possible.”

Which made sense.

The younger man withdrew a small ceremonial blade from the satchel and pricked the tip of his little finger. Yamashita knew what was expected. He took the knife and punctured his own little finger. Together, they dripped blood onto the flag in a ritual that dated back centuries, one that supposedly bound the participants together in a blood oath.

“We are one,” Chichibu said.

He suddenly felt the same pride that those engineers had experienced. “I will do honor to the trust you have shown in me.”

“You will be needed,” the prince said, “once this war ends and we return to retrieve what is ours. And we will, Tomoyuki. We will be back. Japan will survive. The emperor will survive. In the meantime stay safe, and I will see you then.”

Chichibu climbed into the vehicle. The driver was already behind the wheel. The engine coughed to life and the transport drove off down the narrow, rutted road. One of the demolition experts approached, stood at attention, and saluted. He knew what the man wanted to hear. “Set the traps. Secure the site.”

Every one of the caches had been rigged with explosives and a variety of other lethal, defensive measures. If anyone dared to breach the vaults they would pay a heavy price.

In the distance he heard gunfire and mortars.

It would not be long before the enemy controlled the islands.

Thankfully, though, Golden Lily was finished.

PRESENT DAY

CHAPTER 1

BASEL, SWITZERLAND

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER3

9:40A.M.

COTTONMALONE COULD NOT DECIDE IF THE THREAT WAS REAL ORimaginary. He’d been sent to assess the situation, keep an eye on the target, and intervene. But only if necessary.

Did this qualify?