"Ken MacLeod - The Highway Men" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacLeod Ken)

Most of the British Army was in Iran already. China wasn’t exactly a
long march away. The Yanks took care of the heavy stuff, as usual. Japan
kind of weighed in, for no better reason I can see than from force of habit.

Two years into the war our boys were up to their eyebrows in shit. Not
knowing where the next attack’s coming from—Communists, Muslims,
Japanese, Falun Gong Sect, you name it.

Meanwhile, the official machinery is grinding away. Government
inquiry sifts through the wreckage of the Rosyth incident. Plods through
every surviving witness. Brings out a report.

It tells us three important things about Jin Yang.

One—he’s from China’s Muslim minority area. Hence the Koran in the
seat.

Two—he’s a businessman and a member of the Party. Hence the
book of speeches by a Communist official. All about how building up
business and getting rich is the way to the glorious future. Jin Yang has to
swot up on that sort of thing, and parrot it every now and again to keep his
bosses happy.

Three—Jin Yang was a heavy smoker, like lots of Chinese men are.
On his first visit to the Festival Fringe, he’d had a very nice time. Deals in
smoke-filled rooms and all that. At the airport he got through half a pack of
cigarettes in the departure lounge to calm his nerves. There was a special
booth just for that very purpose. All’s well. Second time, a good few years
later, the smoking ban had come in. He had a much less fun visit. He did a
lot of his deals in doorways. On his way home, he’s through security and
stuck in aeroplane land when he finds that the Airstream smoking booth has
long since been ripped out. His flight’s delayed. Nobody knows just when
it’ll be ready. Even if he could get back through security, he’s afraid he’ll
miss his flight, and then he’ll miss his connection. So he’s stuck.

For three and a half hours.

It wasn’t a hijack. There was no Al Qaeda connection. No Chinese
government connection either.

It was just air rage.

So that’s how the war started.

And that’s why we all stood around quite patient like and waited for
Euan to finish his roll-up before we got back in the truck for the long drive to
Lochcarron.

****