Free Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Mossad Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by Michael James Gallagher

about everything from
cloud formations to the flora and fauna of the field of view below them.  Her
descriptions increased in detail once they crossed over land into Russia. 
Clearance into Russia had occurred without a hitch thanks to the pilot’s
frequent trips into their airspace.  In addition, the leaders of the Russian
Federation had decided to allow the world media to consume the peaceful people
movement out of China in the hopes that free information would defuse these
potentially destabilizing events.
     
    ****
     
    In secret phone calls between the Russian and
Chinese leadership at the highest levels, the Chinese had denied any knowledge
of the reasons for why these men were on the move.  Sue Ann and Thomas were
fortunate;  by virtue of Al Jazeera’s nonaligned reputation, the Russians
bristled less than if it had been CNN making the plea to cover the story.
    Behind the scenes, the
staff of a rogue and unknown general in China manipulated mid-level bureaucrats
to assure Sue Ann’s visa requirements met no obstacles. From a great distance
Colonel Lau’s satellite monitors tapped into the conversation on Captain
Yukimura’s helicopter, recording it for possible future reference.  On his
desktop, Colonel Lau had a picture of Sue Ann Lee from an earlier report of
hers. I’ve never felt like this about a woman before.   Lau laughed to
himself when he thought she was part of Chou's plan to employ only Chinese
journalists in his propaganda.
     
    ****
     
    “What’s that highway there?” asked Sue Ann.
    “According to the GPS,
it’s M60, better known as the road to Vladivostok,” Yuki said.
    “Can you take us in
closer?”
    “Sure.”
    “Are you getting this,
Thomas?” asked Sue Ann.
    “You should’a let me
have the co pilot's seat.  It’s not very clear through the side window.”
    “Touch your visor up
top on the right.  There’s a little canon icon there.  The nose feed will pop
up in the top left corner. Tap the icon to get zoom,” Yuki advised him.
    “Amazing footage,” both
Thomas and Sue Ann said, almost simultaneously.  “Can we copy it when we get
back?” Thomas asked.
    “It’s on a satellite
feed, so I can easily get you the link.”
    “You couldn’t by any
chance get it sent to my editor now, could you?” asked Sue Ann.
    “Probably.”  She looked
at a panel to her right.  “Let me patch through to my office,” the pilot
replied.   She punched a button on her radio and thumbed the button on the
control stick.
    Captain Yukimura talked
over a private connection for a few minutes and then opened a channel to Sue
Ann and Thomas.
    “Done,” she said. “He
can watch it right now if he opens his email.  I took the liberty of giving my
controller the email you included for your editor in your rental request,” she
added.
    “I’ll be sure he opens
the email,” Thomas grinned.
    “Thanks, Thomas,” Sue
Ann returned the smile.
    A dust cloud obscured
the camera shot until they got closer.  The mass of humanity overflowed on the
road and the fields, everywhere more clear by the second in the fluttery image
on their visors.  It took their breath away.  Foreboding chilled them.  At
first no one spoke.  Finally, Yuki said something under her breath.
    “What was that?” Sue Ann
asked as she caught the words.
    “Nothing,” replied
Yuki.
    “I heard something
about mushrooms,” said Thomas.
    “You won’t believe I
could think about mushrooms at a time like this,” said Yuki.
    “Spit it out girl,”
said Sue Ann.
    “Okay.  I always picked
mushrooms on the hillsides of Lake Khanka with my parents when I was a kid.”
    “You’re right, I don’t
get it,” said Sue Ann.  Thomas nodded in agreement.
    “After these guys pass
through, there won’t be any mushrooms for years.  They’ll trample all the
spores,” Yuki explained.
    “I dunno,” said Sue
Ann, grateful for normal things to talk about in the face of the frightening
image on her visor of millions