China Run

By Joseph Smetana

After discovering a secret Chinese plot to take Taiwan, Jack
James, undercover CIA agent and University English teacher, is
shot and injured badly. He manages to get his cell phone to one
of his students, Tony Xu, and tells him that he must take it to the
US Embassy in Beijing before passing out and being catpured by

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Feb 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781640882195

Book preview

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CHINA RUN

Joseph Smetana

Trilogy Christian Publishers

TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA

Contents

Chapter 1 1

Chapter 2 15

Chapter 3 37

Chapter 4 57

Chapter 5 83

Chapter 6 103

Chapter 7 133

Chapter 8 159

Chapter 9 183

Chapter 10 209

Chapter 11 233

Chapter 12 269

About the Author 289

• Chapter 1 •

Tony Xu pulled out a towel from his gym bag and pressed it against his face, wiping off the sweat. His toned muscles flexed as he shook his sweat-soaked straight black hair out of his face and looked over at Jack James. Jack was at the free weights, bench pressing what looked like about 200 pounds too many times to count. How does he do it? Tony thought. Tony had just finished an all-out Kung Fu sparring match with Jack and he was tired. Pulling off the protective chest pad, he just wanted to get to the showers. Tony was in great shape, but couldn’t keep up with Jack. Jack worked out with an intensity that was beyond anyone else Tony had ever known.

Across the gym, Lilly Li was finishing up thirty minutes on the elliptical stepper. Tony had met Lilly about three-and-a-half years earlier when they both started as freshmen business majors in the university together. They became close friends and continued that friendship into what was now their senior year at college.

Lilly had really changed from when Tony first met her. She had been a very thin, awkward, self-conscious, and insecure girl just out of high school. Today, she was a beautiful young woman. It was like the old Lilly wasn’t even there. Tony could see that this was more than just physical changes, although those were the obvious easily visible changes. Something in Lilly had transformed her. He’d never seen anything like it in anyone else he had ever met. She just shined. It affected everything she did. She was a straight A student and also worked out regularly. She always seemed to have time to fit everything in. Nothing ever seemed to fluster her at all.

Tony and Lilly met Jack at school in their sophomore year. Since everyone in China that worked in big business had to deal internationally, it was important that they studied and spoke English well. Jack was their English teacher. He had come from America to teach the Chinese students. When he taught English, he was a different guy than when they were working out together. He was unassuming and fair. He taught English from a practical standpoint and they enjoyed his teaching. It was unusual for students to become friends with their teachers. Jack was a bit younger than many of the other teachers, but he was still at least ten years older than Tony and Lilly. There was just a touch of gray starting to show in the short but somewhat curly brown hair by his temples. Otherwise, he was youthful enough that he could have passed for a graduate student, rather than a teacher.

Lilly and Jack seemed to have a special bond. It was nothing romantic and still friends, but they seemed to have a closeness Tony did not understand. It was through Lilly that Tony came to know Jack as more than a teacher. Jack seemed to almost adopt him at times, but more like an older brother. Jack even taught Tony how to drive in his blue Ford Mondeo, and occasionally even let him borrow it when there was a need. This was really special for Tony, who didn’t have any brothers or sisters and his parents had died when he was still pretty young. The three of them worked out together regularly and just enjoyed hanging out whenever they could.

They finished their workout and had a quick shower before leaving the gym. Retrieving their student IDs from the check-in station, Tony noticed how different he and Lilly looked than their pictures on the ID cards. The pictures were taken when the first came to the university as freshmen and both of them had changed dramatically. Tony not only was older, but had also put on about forty pounds of mostly muscle compared to the picture above his name Yunhu Xu. (His name really was Yunhu; but like many who worked with the West, he had adopted a Western name for ease of communication. Besides, he liked the name Tony, and preferred going by that name.) The Kung Fu and working out with Lilly and Jack had been good for him. His five-foot-five frame had filled out and he was no longer the scrawny kid he had been.

The sun was going down as they left the gym and walked across the campus towards their apartments, which were just off the campus to the south. Hey guys, you want to get together after dinner for a movie or something? Tony asked.

Jack and Lilly responded almost in unison, We can’t... and both paused laughing a little as Jack continued, I have things to do tonight before classes tomorrow.

Me too, Lilly joined in.

Tony thought it a bit odd that they each had said we rather than I when they started their reply, but let it pass. Okay, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow in class. It was Sunday night and Tony was pretty sure that both Lilly and Jack were going to sneak off to one of those meetings he’d heard about; something about a secret church. He made it a point never to ask. He really didn’t want to know. If the authorities questioned him about Lilly or Jack, he could truthfully claim ignorance. Besides, he’d been taught in the government schools since he was little that there was no God, and all of that was just someone’s imagination. It was fine with him if Lilly and Jack wanted to do that religious stuff. Just keep him out of it.

♦♦♦♦

Jack returned to his apartment just as the cell phone he had left on his dining table stopped ringing. He made a point to lock the door, and then put away his gear and picked up the phone. There was no message, but the last caller’s ID showed as 321, nothing more. Jack reached into his desk drawer across the room and pulled out what looked like a phone charger plus adapter, which he plugged into the base of his iPhone. He then flipped open the case of the charger with a press on a hidden latch and extended an antenna from the charger. An app appeared on the cell phone screen and showed Satellite Link Active and another notice that said Encryption Enabled – Input Code with an entry box.

Jack input his code into the box, pressed Enter and a normal phone dialing screen appeared. Jack selected the contact list below, which only contained three names. Beside the name Martin Smith was the number 321. Jack highlighted this name and pressed Call. A few moments later, the phone at the other end rang and a voice at the other end answered.

321, said the voice.

Martin, it’s Jack. We’re secure.

Jack, Martin said, glad you could get back to me so quickly; we really need to you to get into the toy factory tonight. Something big is happening tonight; a big meeting of higher ups or something. Our informant told us that much before they killed or captured her. In any case, she’s off the grid. We don’t even really know what this is about. The only thing we really know is that this isn’t just a toy factory.

Martin, I’ve been surveying that site pretty closely. It’s heavily guarded for a toy factory, with barbed wire fences and armed guards. There is a lot of truck traffic in and out at night, with minimal lighting. Even the trucks turn out their lights before they go in. Whatever they are doing, they don’t want anyone to know. Jack replied.

Can you get in Jack? Martin asked.

I think so, Jack said. The lack of lights will help me. If I can pick the right truck out at the intersection about a quarter of a mile from the gate, I should be able to ride it in unseen.

Be careful Jack, Martin said. If they catch you they may kill you, and it might end up being an international incident if they decide to use you as an example of an American spying in China.

American caught spying at a Chinese toy factory. That’ll make quite the international incident! Jack retorted sarcastically. Somehow, I don’t think that is one you’ll have to worry about. Anyway, I don’t plan on getting caught.

Good, then I’ll hear from you tomorrow? Martin asked.

That’s the plan. Talk to you then. Bye, Martin, Jack replied.

Bye. Jack said Martin.

The line disconnected and the dialing screen reappeared. Jack disconnected the charger, folded the antenna and closed the case of the charger, returning it to his desk. Jack put a TV dinner into the microwave and went into his bedroom to change. He returned just as the microwave signaled it was done. He was dressed in black dress pants and a black pullover long sleeve shirt with a front pocket that had Velcro to hold a flap over it down.

Jack took his time to eat his dinner. Before he ate, he said grace, but not with a short prayer, but rather he took time to cry out quietly to God before eating. He was unusually uneasy about his mission tonight. After he finished dinner and cleaned up the dishes, he put his iPhone in his shirt pocket and grabbed a tin of eye black out of his desk drawer, which he tucked into the pocket of a light jacket he pulled from the hall closet. He locked the door and took the stairs from his fourth-floor apartment for his meeting with Lilly.

♦♦♦♦

Lilly’s apartment was on the eighth floor only a couple of buildings over from where Jack lived. As she left her apartment to meet Jack just before 6:30 p.m., she turned left to take the stairs, rather than the elevator, which was down the hall to the right. She liked taking the stairs rather than the elevator. It helped her keep in shape. She reached the ground floor and headed toward Jack’s apartment building. They had a usual place that they met about halfway between the buildings when they went to their meetings. It was about a half a mile walk from their rendezvous location to the house church.

She didn’t have to wait for Jack. He was already there waiting for her. Lilly, Jack said, Let’s take my car tonight rather than walk. I need to make a stop after the meeting, but I can drop you off on the way.

Okay, Jack, Lilly replied. Are you sure you will be able to park closer than here?

I’m pretty sure, Jack replied. There’s a place near Pastor Xe’s that’s usually available.

Careful Jack, Lilly whispered. You don’t know who’s listening.

Sorry, I’ve been a bit distracted, Jack replied as they walked to where Jack’s car was parked.

Jack unlocked the car and threw his jacket in the back seat. What’s with all the black today Jack? Lilly challenged. You look like you are going to a funeral.

Maybe I am. Jack retorted. Actually, I just felt like wearing black, he lied and then felt bad about it, but didn’t say more.

It was just a quick drive over to the parking spot near the house church. One thing was nice about taking the car, they could talk freely about Jesus and the church without worrying about who might hear. Jack parked the car next to a black Mercedes.

Nice car, that Mercedes, Jack observed, motioning to the car in the adjacent space.

It looks rather expensive, Lilly replied.

It is, Jack responded.

They got out and silently walked the short distance to the church meeting, making sure that no-one was following them. It was held in the basement of a large apartment building. Lookouts were posted at various locations to keep a watch for the authorities. Jack nodded to one in recognition as they passed. He and Lilly were regulars and were well known at this church.

They entered the meeting room about ten minutes before 7:00 p.m. There were already about twenty-five to thirty people there and the room was filling up quickly. They were greeted by Pastor Gordon Xe. Pastor Xe had spent eight years in a labor camp for subversive activities against the Chinese people. This really meant he was put in the labor camp for preaching the Gospel. Since that time, he had become quite adept at avoiding the authorities. Though the authorities were sure he had an illegal church, they had been unable to catch him again. His church was growing rapidly and was meeting six nights a week, though they moved the location around frequently to reduce suspicions of the local residents and authorities.

Praise and worship in this house church were very different from an American church. There were no instruments, not that they wouldn’t like to have them, but they couldn’t afford to be heard and needed to be able to clear out rapidly if an alert came. This specific location had relatively good sound isolation, so they could sing softly without much concern over alerting the authorities. The singing of praises lasted about forty to forty-five minutes. Near the end of the worship time, a tongue came forward and the interpretation was, Fear not on the journey you are about to take, for if God is for you, who can be against you. Jack was greatly comforted by this word, but still did not have a good feeling about tonight. Lilly was overwhelmed with peace when this word came forth, but thought it strange that it ministered to her so much; since she did not have a journey to take.

Pastor Xe’s message that night was on walking in the Spirit. He explained that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms and we need to have a heavenly perspective. Walking in the Spirit was not only about walking free from sin, but in walking submitted to God in everything we did. The Bible says to keep our mind on things above and not on things of earth. This doesn’t mean that we can’t focus on other things like our jobs, family etc. but that we must have a heavenly perspective on these things. This way we can be like Jesus and do what we see the Father doing. Walking in the Spirit would not only give us a heavenly perspective, it would give us a heavenly authority. This was a powerful message. Jack conscientiously looked up every scripture on his iPhone Bible application and made mental notes throughout the service.

♦♦♦♦

It was already 7:00 p.m. at the CIS (Chinese Intelligence Service) headquarters that Sunday, but GR Hsieh was still going strong. There was no weekend off for his crew and he was in rare form that night, demanding information from the group of seven agents gathered around him. His brow was furrowed as he pored over the report before him and concern rang out in his voice at every word. There was a scar above his left eye that stood out when he scowled. This was no doubt from some vicious fight in his past. He was tough as nails and didn’t let anything get by him.

Why did we kill her before we interrogated her? he bellowed. We know she was giving information on the toy factory to someone, but we don’t know who and we don’t know what information she gave.

According to Xiaodong, she put up quite a fight started the agent to GR’s left.

Xiaodong is an imbecile! GR interrupted. He let a four-and-a-half foot woman half his weight, beat on him and then shot her without permission. Send him to guard duty at the labor camp for the next two years.

Yes sir, the agent meekly replied.

I want more agents on the ground at the toy factory tonight and for the next month, both inside and outside of the fence. GR demanded.

Sir, the agent at the far end of the table spoke up, We have a problem. Everyone that ate lunch in the cafeteria today has food poisoning. They are in really bad shape. Not a single one of them is fit for duty. The only reason we don’t have it is that we all went together to a restaurant for lunch. Thank you for that, sir.

GR considered. He was tough, but he knew food poisoning was no picnic. Okay, there are eight of us here. Two of us will each take a four-hour watch tonight, one inside and one outside the fence. You two take 8:00 p.m. to midnight, he said motioning to the two agents closest to him on the right. And we’ll relieve you at midnight, he said including the man on his left with himself. And you two take 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., he said while motioning to two others. Now get moving he ordered.

♦♦♦♦

It was after 9:00 p.m. and rather dark as Jack drove Lilly back to her apartment in silence. As they neared the apartments, Lilly broke the silence with a comment. That prophetic word today really touched me this evening, and I’m not even going on a journey, she said.

It was something I needed to hear, too, Jack replied. Pray for me tonight Lilly, he said as he let her out of the car.

Trilogy Christian Publishers

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Copyright © 2013 by Joseph Smetana, reprinting 2019

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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First Trilogy Christian Publishing hardcover edition December 2018

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