Reject Hétóng’s Offer

“Who are you?” Ranell demanded. “Just what are you trying to imply by that?”

Hétóng became almost supernaturally still, studying Ranell. Then he delivered his message. “Dr. Ranell, my employers are interested in becoming your benefactors and ensuring nothing unfortunate happens to your company's vulnerable holdings.”

“Becoming my benefactors?” The blood drained from Ranell’s face. “In exchange for what?”

Hétóng smiled. It was a thin, oily smile, like a snake preparing to strike. “Surely nothing of consequence! Just answer a few simple questions about your airships from time to time.”

That’s what this is about! Ranell realized with horror that he was meeting with a Chinese communist spy. “You want classified information. Military information!”

"Josef, raising your voice this way is so unbecoming.” Hétóng did not seem to be the least bit alarmed. “Please lower it. Now. We are just two businessmen having a quiet conversation. Right?”

“You go to hell!”

Again, that enigmatic smile briefly appeared on Hétóng’s face, vanishing quickly. “This is not the reception we were hoping for, Josef.” It unnerved Ranell to hear his first name used this way. “But not unexpected. Most unfortunate. The world can be such a dangerous place.”