Kaleidocide Read Online Free Page B

the reach of the law. So if the good guy manages to thwart the attempt, he lives happily ever after, right? Well, in this case there are almost no limits on the resources and power of the one ordering the assassination. He’s not just trying to kill you—he is killing you.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œHe doesn’t send just one assassin,” Terrey explained. “He uses multiple methods simultaneously, usually five or more. And in the three cases I’ve personally investigated and confirmed, they were successful long before all the methods were exhausted. Make no mistake, kaleidocide is not just a threat … it is a death sentence. ”
    All four of us were silent for a few fearful moments, and then I broke the silence.
    â€œBut you think you can protect me?”
    â€œI’d like to try,” Terrey said. “This is like the World Cup Final in my business. If I keep you alive, we won’t be one of the top firms in the world, we’ll be at the top. Plus I owe you one.”
    â€œThat you do,” I agreed.
    â€œSo that’s the meaning of the term you’re using?” Lynn said. “Killing by a lot of different ways, like a kaleidoscope?”
    â€œYes, but by a lot of different colors, too.” Terrey started to explain this, but Min continued, probably accessing information from the net as he spoke.
    â€œZhang Sun is like many of his contemporaries in China,” the big bodyguard said, “in that he has become religious in the aftermath of the atheistic communist era, as the cultural pendulum has swung in that direction. But he is unlike most in that he embraced a rare form of cultic belief called the bin lan jiao. It’s a complex system of faith, but in short they believe that colors, or the spirits associated with them, are a source of supernatural power. And one of the more exotic uses of this power is called xing lu cai se, or ‘many-colored murder.’ As some on the net have become aware of Sun’s practice, different names for it in English have been proposed, but the one that stuck is ‘kaleidocide.’ Perhaps because it sounds something like the Chinese words.”
    â€œThe leader of the world’s largest country is into this kind of stuff?” Lynn asked.
    â€œIt’s not so hard to believe,” Terrey answered. “Famous people have often invented or adopted their own unique religion—it’s a trapping of power. And China has long been one of the most superstitious places on earth. To this day, most Chinese cover the mirrors in their bedrooms because they think they reflect evil spirits.”
    â€œAnd colors have always been very important to my people,” Min added. “Sun’s religion is merely a modern modification and conglomeration of many ancient traditions, tailored to his purposes.”
    â€œWhich are what?” Lynn asked Terrey. “Why does he want to kill Michael? Because of Taiwan?”
    â€œVery unlikely,” Terrey said. “Even if he knows of Michael’s role there, that’s not enough to drive him to this. He’s very powerful, but this move is not without its political risks.”
    â€œI agree,” Min added. “This must be something more, something personal.”
    â€œWhat risks?” Lynn asked. I was a bit surprised at how interested she was, but also felt a tinge of pride that she was.
    â€œThe ban lan jiao and the xing lu cai se are open secrets to some in the government,” Min continued. “But not to most of the people. If they became more exposed, we could possibly gain enough popular support to turn the political tide.”
    â€œWe?”
    â€œThe People’s Party. The movement I was a part of before I left China.”
    â€œBesides, Zhang Sun has mixed feelings about the Taiwan Crisis,” Terrey added. “In a way, the Allied forces, and therefore Michael, did him a favor. It was a serious embarrassment