Hunt for Jade Dragon by Richard Paul Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

world. Men like Genghis Khan or Adolf Hitler. At one point in their climb to power all of these men could have been stopped. But once their plans gained momentum, no one could stop them until their revolution had run its course. It is a cycle too familiar in history. By the time the world starts taking these revolutions seriously, it’s already too late. They are like pythons in the jungle. The smallest child can crush a python egg. But let the snake hatch and grow and the python will squeeze and devour the child.
    â€œDr. C. James Hatch and his Elgen are on such a trajectory. In the last six months Dr. Hatch has taken complete control of the Elgen organization. He has built an elite guard of highly trained soldiers more than two thousand strong. We believe this number will double in the next six months, then double again the next year. He has an army. And they’re better equipped than most police forces and militaries.
    â€œMake no mistake, when the Elgen are ready, they will attempt to take over the world. The fact that they were prepared and willing to take over the country of Tuvalu demonstrates this.
    â€œLast week in Lima, you and your Electroclan almost put an end to Hatch’s climb. Almost. If it weren’t for you he would have attacked and conquered the island nation of Tuvalu this week. Iregret to inform you that he has not abandoned his original plans. You have slowed the Elgen but not stopped them. They will not be stopped so easily.
    â€œIn spite of your successes, we are losing this battle. The world views the Elgen as a blessing, because they promise them free, clean energy. They don’t know—they don’t want to know—the cost they will be forced to pay.
    â€œI tell you this to prepare you. As you saw in Peru, you were not celebrated for liberating their country—you were demonized. That is often the way of heroes. And why, more times than not, we build monuments to those our fathers stoned. Someday you may be celebrated, but it might not be in your lifetime. Heroes are heroes precisely because they are willing to do what everyone else won’t—oppose the popular voice. But we will know what you have done. And in your heart, so will you. And that is more than heroic. It is noble.”
    I let his words sink in. “We’ll do our best,” I said.
    Simon smiled. “And that is noble too.”

W hen I returned to the dining room the rest of the Electroclan was seated around two tables at one end of the room. A man I had never seen before was standing in front of them. He was dark-skinned, tall, and powerfully built. His hair was trimmed close to his scalp, revealing a thick scar that ran from the nape of his neck nearly to the top of his head. He had a narrow waist and biceps as large as my thighs. He reminded me of an action figure.
    As I sat down he said with a slight Hispanic accent, “Welcome, Michael. We were waiting for you.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said. “The council wanted to see me.”
    â€œI was told.” He turned back toward the group. “Let’s begin. My name is Gervaso. You don’t need to know my last name, because we don’t use them here. First, let me say that it’s an honor to meet the brave young men and women of the Electroclan. I’ve been closelyfollowing your activities and what you have done is courageous and heroic. That’s precisely what it’s going to take to stop the Elgen.”
    He put his hands behind his back. “Today, I am here to brief you on our enemy. To understand why the Elgen do what they do, it helps to understand their history. The Elgen Corporation was founded in 1984 as a medical products company specializing in electroanalgesia—the technology of relieving pain through nerve stimulation. Much like what our Abigail here does.”
    We all looked at Abigail. She smiled and bowed.
    â€œTheir technology sounds modern, but in reality it is