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    Checkmate


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      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Copyright Page

      Acknowledgements

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      Chapter 17

      Chapter 18

      Chapter 19

      Chapter 20

      Chapter 21

      Chapter 22

      Chapter 23

      Chapter 24

      Chapter 25

      Chapter 26

      Chapter 27

      Chapter 28

      Chapter 29

      Chapter 30

      Chapter 31

      Chapter 32

      Chapter 33

      Chapter 34

      Chapter 35

      Chapter 36

      Chapter 37

      Chapter 38

      Chapter 39

      Chapter 40

      Chapter 41

      Chapter 42

      Chapter 43

      Chapter 44

      Chapter 45

      Chapter 46

      Chapter 47

      Chapter 48

      Chapter 49

      Chapter 50

      Chapter 51

      Chapter 52

      Chapter 53

      Chapter 54

      Chapter 55

      Chapter 56

      Chapter 57

      Chapter 58

      Chapter 59

      Chapter 60

      EPILOGUE

      THE BESTSELLING NOVELS OF

      TOM CLANCY

      THE TEETH OF THE TIGER

      A new generation—Jack Ryan, Jr.—takes over in Tom Clancy’s

      extraordinary, and extraordinarily prescient, novel.

      “INCREDIBLY ADDICTIVE.” —Daily Mail (London)

      RED RABBIT

      Tom Clancy returns to Jack Ryan’s early days—

      in an engrossing novel of global political drama . . .

      “A WILD, SATISFYING RIDE.” —New York Daily News

      THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON

      A clash of world powers. President Jack Ryan’s trial by fire.

      “HEART-STOPPING ACTION . . . CLANCY STILL REIGNS.” —The Washington Post

      RAINBOW SIX

      John Clark is used to doing the CIA’s dirty work.

      Now he’s taking on the world . . .

      “ACTION-PACKED.” —The New York Times Book Review

      EXECUTIVE ORDERS

      A devastating terrorist act leaves Jack Ryan

      as President of the United States . . .

      “UNDOUBTEDLY CLANCY’S BEST YET.”

      —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

      DEBT OF HONOR

      It begins with the murder of an American woman

      in the back streets of Tokyo. It ends in war . . .

      “A SHOCKER.” —Entertainment Weekly

      THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

      The smash bestseller that launched Clancy’s career—

      the incredible search for a Soviet defector

      and the nuclear submarine he commands . . .

      “BREATHLESSLY EXCITING.” —The Washington Post

      RED STORM RISING

      The ultimate scenario for World War III—

      the final battle for global control . . .

      “THE ULTIMATE WAR GAME . . . BRILLIANT.”

      —Newsweek

      PATRIOT GAMES

      CIA analyst Jack Ryan stops an assassination—

      and incurs the wrath of Irish terrorists . . .

      “A HIGH PITCH OF EXCITEMENT.”

      —The Wall Street Journal

      THE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN

      The superpowers race for the ultimate Star Wars

      missile defense system . . .

      “CARDINAL EXCITES, ILLUMINATES . . . A REAL PAGE-TURNER.” —Los Angeles Daily News

      CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

      The killing of three U.S. officials in Colombia ignites the

      American government’s explosive, and top secret, response . . .

      “A CRACKLING GOOD YARN.” —The Washington Post

      THE SUM OF ALL FEARS

      The disappearance of an Israeli nuclear weapon threatens the

      balance of power in the Middle East—and around the world . . .

      “CLANCY AT HIS BEST . . . NOT TO BE MISSED.”

      —The Dallas Morning News

      WITHOUT REMORSE

      His code name is Mr. Clark. And his work for the CIA

      is brilliant, cold-blooded, and efficient . . . but who is he really?

      “HIGHLY ENTERTAINING.” —The Wall Street Journal

      Novels by Tom Clancy

      THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

      RED STORM RISING

      PATRIOT GAMES

      THE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN

      CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

      THE SUM OF ALL FEARS

      WITHOUT REMORSE

      DEBT OF HONOR

      EXECUTIVE ORDERS

      RAINBOW SIX

      THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON

      RED RABBIT

      THE TEETH OF THE TIGER

      SSN: STRATEGIES OF SUBMARINE WARFARE

      Nonfiction

      SUBMARINE: A GUIDED TOUR INSIDE A NUCLEAR WARSHIP

      ARMORED CAV: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

      FIGHTER WING: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIR FORCE COMBAT WING

      MARINE: A GUIDED TOUR OF A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT

      AIRBORNE: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIRBORNE TASK FORCE

      CARRIER: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

      SPECIAL FORCES: A GUIDED TOUR OF U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

      INTO THE STORM: A STUDY IN COMMAND

      (written with General Fred Franks, Jr., Ret., and Tony Koltz)

      EVERY MAN A TIGER

      (written with General Charles Horner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)

      SHADOW WARRIORS: INSIDE THE SPECIAL FORCES

      (written with General Carl Stiner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)

      BATTLE READY

      (written with General Tony Zinni, Ret., and Tony Koltz)

      Created by Tom Clancy

      TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL

      TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL: OPERATION BARRACUDA

      TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL: CHECKMATE

      Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: MIRROR IMAGE

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: GAMES OF STATE

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: ACTS OF WAR

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: BALANCE OF POWER

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: STATE OF SIEGE

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: DIVIDE AND CONQUER

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: LINE OF CONTROL

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: MISSION OF HONOR

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: SEA OF FIRE

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: CALL TO TREASON

      TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: WAR OF EAGLES

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: HIDDEN AGENDAS

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: NIGHT MOVES

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: BREAKING POINT

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: POINT OF IMPACT

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: CYBERNATION

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: STATE OF WAR

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: CHANGING OF THE GUARD

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: SPRINGBOARD

      TOM CLANCY’S NET FORCE: THE ARCHIMEDES EFFECT

      Created by Tom Clancy and Martin Greenberg

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS:
    POLITIKA

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: RUTHLESS.COM

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: SHADOW WATCH

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: BIO-STRIKE

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: COLD WAR

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: CUTTING EDGE

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: ZERO HOUR

      TOM CLANCY’S POWER PLAYS: WILD CARD

      THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

      Published by the Penguin Group

      Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

      375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

      Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

      (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

      Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

      Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

      Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia

      (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

      Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India

      Penguin Group (NZ), Cnr. Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand

      (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

      Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196,

      South Africa

      Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

      TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL®: CHECKMATE

      A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with Rubicon, Inc.

      PRINTING HISTORY

      Berkley edition / November 2006

      Copyright © 2006 by Rubicon, Inc.

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

      For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

      a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

      375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

      eISBN : 978-1-101-00374-9

      BERKLEY®

      Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

      a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

      375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

      BERKLEY is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

      The “B” design is a trademark belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

      http://us.penguingroup.com

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      The name on a book’s cover rarely tells the whole story of its birth. Many thanks to the following for their energy and input. Couldn’t have done it without you . . .

      Julie, who was with me every step of the way. As always.

      The steadfast Tom Colgan and all of the good folks at Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

      Vanessa, for her dedication and creativity.

      Michael, for the vision and the opportunity.

      PROLOGUE

      SHANGHAI, CHINA, 2003

      IN retrospect, he would find it an astonishing way to start a war.

      But then again, he didn’t start this war.

      The meeting, and the information it had subsequently revealed, came to him purely by chance. Synchronicity, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung had called it. A confluence of seemingly unrelated events that have meaning—albeit hidden to all but the most discerning. It was a sophisticated concept, especially for a Western mind, Kuan-Yin Zhao thought.

      Of course, there were corollaries in his own life. Xiangqi, one of his passions, was an exercise in manipulated synchronicity. At its heart, the mastery of Xiangqi, and its lesser cousin, chess, was nothing more than recognizing the patterns your opponent was trying to hide, and creating patterns your opponent will fail to see until too late. Great Xiangqi players never move a single piece. On the board, it may be a pao moving five squares, but in the mind of a master, it is the pao’s move, combined with the myriad moves available to his opponent, combined with a countermove, and so on until victory or defeat.

      Though pleased that Xiangqi might inspire a solution to his dilemma, he was also unsurprised. All he’d needed was the hint of an opening move, and now he had it. From there his mind would expand across the board—or in this case, across nations.

      IF not for an underling’s father who had left China thirty years earlier to find greener pastures, he would have never found the linchpin of his plan. Like the rest of the world, he’d believed the public stories, but of course public stories were usually generated by governments, and governments weren’t known for their forthrightness—especially the Russians, whose natural gift for deception was second only to that of Beijing’s politicians.

      A coal mine in Evenki collapses, killing hundreds, and the world knows nothing about it; a Russian submarine sinks to the bottom of the Kara Sea with all hands, and it simply ceases to exist; a Russian death squad sneaks onto Chinese soil, breaks into a man’s home, and murders him in front of his children and it’s called war.

      Why would this secret be any different? All the better, Zhao thought.

      What better way to begin the greatest game of his life than with a move no one would ever see?

      “IT’S there, I tell you,” the old man said.

      “You’re sure of this? You’ve seen it with your own eyes?”

      The old man nodded. “I was there, with a shovel like all the rest.” The old man took a gulp of tea and timidly held out his cup for a refill. “It’s a cursed place, I can tell you that.”

      “Why do you say that?”

      “It’s haunted. I saw things . . . strange things.”

      Zhao tried not to suppress a smile. The old man was addled. Even so, his background had checked out; he was who and what he said he was. “How easy is it to find?”

      “As easy to find as your own toes. It might take a little work getting to it, but it’s there.”

      “Tell me this: You did this for how long?”

      The old man scratched his scalp. “I lived there for twenty years. When I got sick, I wanted to come home, to be buried in Chinese soil—not that garbage over there.”

      “Why did you remember this one detail? Out of everything you’d been through, why this one?”

      “Because I watched them do it and I thought how stupid they must be. I’m a simple man—not a smart man—and even I couldn’t believe what they were doing.”

      “Who else knows about this?”

      The old man pursed his lips, thinking. “Many, I imagine, but many are dead as well. Those that remember probably do their best to forget. Besides, who would want it?”

      Who indeed? Zhao thought.

      “Who have you told?”

      “No one!” the old man said, stiffening in his chair. “My son, no one else.”

      “That’s not quite true, is it, old man? You’ve told me.”

      “That’s different. It’s my granddaughter, you see—”

      “Yes, yes . . . very sick—you told me that, too.”

      “She’s all I have. I convinced her to join me there. I wanted her to go to school, make something of herself. Instead . . . They’ve done things to her. Drugs. Men. She can’t get away from them.”

      Of course she can’t, he thought. The teenage prostitution market had always been profitable, and in the right country a petite Chinese girl would bring thousands. Drugged or sober, the clientele didn’t care. In fact, drugs made them easier to handle.


      “I heard you were a decent man,” the old man said. “I don’t believe the stories. They’re all liars. You’re a decent man. You can help her.”

      He refilled the old man’s cup. “And I will. You’ll have your granddaughter back before another month passes. But first, you’re going to draw me a map, aren’t you?”

      The old man nodded vigorously.

      1

      39°00’ NORTH, 74°01’ WEST

      SIXTY miles and thirty thousand feet above Washington, D.C., the MC-130H Combat Talon began its second hour of circling in the dark night sky. Designed to covertly insert special operators into sensitive areas, the Talon could fly in rain, snow, high winds, pitch darkness, and radar-saturated environments.

      The lone man in the black Nomex bodysuit sitting in the cargo bay was worried about none of these things. He’d ridden, jumped from, and in some cases flown, the Talon dozens of times into dozens of hot spots, and it had always delivered him safely. Of course, “delivery” usually meant being dropped into a denied area full of heavily armed bad guys only too happy to kill him. It came with the job.

      Tonight what Sam Fisher was worried most about was death by boredom.

     


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