Part 47 (1/2)
”So?”
”Okay, now compare that list with the R&D areas targeted in Ikeda's memo.” I laid Tarn's translation down next to Mori's pages. ”See?
Everything on Ikeda's MITI wish list for research in semiconductors is now being done by the American outfits named here in Mori's sorting, which is the latest revision in DNI's acquisition program.”
”What are you getting at?” He looked it over.
”It's a pattern.” Tam spoke up. ”These new buy-ups cover j.a.pan's last remaining shortfalls in R&D. I spotted it right away. But what I didn't realize till we got these memos was that the areas covered by Mori's companies exactly dovetail with MITI's goals. I probably wouldn't have noticed it without her sorting. Mixed in with all the other companies Noda's buying, he's targeted those that fill the gaps in MlTI's semiconductor push.”
Jack looked at us quizzically. ”Are you telling me MITI's behind Noda's program?”
That's where Tam and I parted company. She argued it was obviously a MITI play: why start from scratch when you can just buy what you need?
Sound business investment. For some reason, though, I wasn't so sure.
Somehow that explanation seemed too simplistic. Unfortunately, however, there's a law in science or somewhere that says you should always pick the least-complicated theory that fits all your data. Hers appeared on the face of it to address the facts perfectly. Except for one unknown: if Mori did ”accidentally” feed me the sorting that blew the whistle on Noda's design, why?
”I think this has to be what the buying program on this list is all about,” Tam answered. ”He's taking over firms whose R&D coincides with MITI's targets. Matsuo Noda has been put to work simply acquiring what they need, but to make sure n.o.body suspects the real agenda, he's worked up this elaborate 'management a.s.sistance' story, buying all kinds of companies.” Her voice was bitter. ”The next step will be to set up joint ventures between these firms he's bought and their counterparts in j.a.pan. Then all American R&D would be shared.”
”Which means”--Jack's face began to redden--”that since we always seem to lose out when it comes to commercializing what we invent, the U.S. ends up becoming one big think tank for j.a.pan in the twenty-first century.
We do the research, and they manufacture and market. They pick our brains and then cash in on it.” He turned back to Tam. ”Do you really think it was Noda who planned all this?”
”I wish I knew what to think.” Her voice grew hesitant as she continued to stare down at the memo. ”It's hard to believe Ken would do something so unethical--especially a grab like this--when I'm sure he's convinced j.a.pan ought to be advancing its own R&D.”
”Ken? Who's--”
”Did you see who auth.o.r.ed that second memo?” She pointed to the name.
”Kenji Asano is apparently a close friend of Dr. Richardson's,” I broke in, my tone unnecessarily sharp. ”Unfortunately, he seems to be an even closer friend of his cronies at MITI.”
Tam didn't respond, just sat there looking betrayed.
”Matt, let's be constructive here.” Jack walked over and shook the coffee pot, then sloshed the last dregs into his cup. ”We d.a.m.n well ought to take some kind of action.”
”That's why we wanted to talk to you.” Tam came back to life. ”Do you think you could leak something about this? Maybe to the Times?”
”And say what?” He laughed, a little sadly. ”That I've happened across a set of secret MITI memos that bear a coincidental similarity to some stolen DNI printout? Don't think that's exactly 'Fit to Print.'” He frowned. ”But I'm glad our Mr. Noda has finally let slip his true intentions. I never believed all that pious malarkey about propping up American industry.” He snorted. ”The man gets a few suckers like you to help him destabilize our bond markets, in the process of which he turns the high-tech sector of American industry into a bargain bas.e.m.e.nt for MITI.”
Tam sipped her coffee, maybe trying to act as if Jack's comment hadn't stung her the way I suspected it did. I decided to try and handle her defense.
”Jack, hold on a second. You've got to admit that a lot of these outfits Dai Nippon is buying are currently on pretty thin ice. If somebody doesn't come in here and help run them right, they're probably headed offsh.o.r.e anyway.”
”We're not talking about first aid now, Walton. We're talking about Matsuo Noda taking over the most strategic segment of our economy after pulling the biggest scam in the history of world finance.”
”That looks to be the story.” I watched his cheeks redden with frustration. ”So what do you propose we do? There's no law against foreign investment. Securities exist to be bought.”
”Well, dammit, Matt, we've both seen enough by now to realize this Noda genius is up to no good. We've got to stop him.”
”Couldn't agree more. So why don't you just arrange to have the SEC shut down trading in every stock DNI has in its gunsights.”
”You know that's out of the question.”