 |
| https://jameshoustonturner.world /about-talanov/ |
Dragon Head is the longest of my Talanov novels, and is written specifically for those who enjoy lingering in Talanov’s world. The book is not a quick sprint to the finish line, but a puzzle that unlocks gradually while building in speed. I purposely lingered on one theme in particular – family (and who constitutes “family”) – because of what I’ve personally experienced over the last ten years, which is how long it’s taken me to finish writing this book. One reason was the loss of some of my own family members. Many of us have experienced that kind of pain, so I’m not unique in that regard, and like many of you, I understand how it changes us in ways we don’t comprehend for months and sometimes years. In Dragon Head, Talanov experiences a similar loss, and while he’s already been through this before, in Dragon Head his loss amplifies the blessing and triumph of what happens as a result. Thus, Dragon Head is not a story of loss and sadness, but one of exciting new beginnings. I hope you enjoy the ride.
.jpg)
“We were in Berlin during the winter of ’eighty-seven. Crummy little coffee shop, colder than hell, snow gusting out of the north. That shop is where you gave me the name of a Soviet mole in one of our embassies.” “You said the idea was preposterous.” “That’s because your information didn’t check out, and I had my people run a background check through every database we had.” “And yet . . .” “And yet, in the end, you were right. The person in question was a mole who was buried so deep she would have done irreparable damage had you not provided me with her name.” “Is that what we’re dealing with here?” “No, it’s not,” answered Wilcox, “and I bring it up here only to remind you of what you told me that day. Do you remember what it was?”
“I asked if Arthur M. Anderson meant anything to you.” “And I asked if that was a codename for one of your espionage programs.” “And I laughed outright.” “Yes, you did, in my face,” said Wilcox, “whereupon you proceeded to tell me how the Arthur M. Anderson was a Great Lakes cargo ship built by the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio, which got caught in the same storm on Lake Superior that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
“In 1975.” “Which Gordon Lightfoot memorialized the following year in his hit song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Unlike the Edmund Fitzgerald, however, the Arthur M. Anderson survived that storm, which to this day I do not know how you knew. But it led you to look me in the eye and say, ‘Only in a storm do you appreciate the kind of ship you’re on.’ When I asked what you meant, you replied, ‘You tell me.’ I remembered staring at you for the longest time until I realized you were talking about yourself, and that your performance in the storms we’d gone through together spoke louder than any words you could have said about your character and loyalty.”
“It usually takes a storm for us to realize what we’re made of,” said Talanov. “Storms reveal character. Which is the advantage of studying history. We look back so that we can look forward, either with confidence or concern.”
~~~
Talanov watched in a private room while his long-term friend, Bill Wilcox spoke to The House Intelligence Committee.
As a CIA station chief in the American Embassy in London during the Cold War, Wilcox had recruited Talanov away from the Soviets, and as his former handler and now longtime friend, was regarded as the one person who knew Talanov better than anyone. As such, his testimony was vital as to whether or not Talanov would be allowed to officially consult for the CIA.
Talanov had already been grilled for hours and as he listened, his frustration grew. It was certainly clear that there continued to be a question as to whether a former KGB officer could indeed be loyal to America.
During that session, suddenly Talanov noticed that Diane Gustaves, chair of the committee, and one of the most powerful congressional members, was glaring at him. He knew she was the only firm support she had on the committee and wanted him to keep cool rather than make things worse than they are already were. But would she be able to get the much needed support, given that the Head of National Security opposed Talanov's involvement in any type of action?!
And while arguments continued, a tall lean woman, Xin Li, on behalf of the top Chinese criminal leader, had been sent to watch Wu Chee Ming, but instead of what was planned, Wu Chee Ming, when he realized that he was being followed, knew what would happen if he were caught and held by anybody working for Dragon Head. He would be tortured and murdered, whether or not they were able to get the information they sought. He chose to jump in the way of an incoming train...
Now, the only way to move forward was to capture Talanov. The problem was that Xin Li hated Talanov and, if she had an opportunity, would torture and kill him. With strict instructions for Talanov's safety from Dragon Head, the search began...
Unfortunately...as well as fortunately, Talanov had caught sight of a young Chinese girl who startled when she saw Talanov. It was only when Wilcox and Talanov had moved on to meet an unexpected individual, did he once again see the girl and noticed that she was no longer carrying the expensive handbag she had brought it. With quick action by our hero, the bomb, which did go off, had no casualties...
But another bomb also followed!
With the heightened confusion and threat, Gustaves "authoritatively" recommended that both Talanov and Wilcox get "out of town..." While Wilcox decided to go to Hawaii for a real vacation, Talanov chose to take the opportunity to visit an old friend and mentor, Major Zakhar Babikov, now living in America under a new name. He had found God and was now head of a community center in a small town. The community now depended upon the center for support to all children and, when three children from one family found their way to the center, he had taken them in to live with he and his wife, who was a lawyer, also doing service for the community members.
While Dragon Head had the brawn to pull together and train a gang of warriors, it was Xan Li who had the genius to think through the possible escape routes of their enemies. As she did with Wu Chee Ming, she was able to pinpoint exactly where he would go to escape. They would have caught him if he had not chosen suicide. And, now Xin Li was on the tail of Talanov and actually was able to track him down...
No comments:
Post a Comment