What is "the Himalayan Incident"?

[Yoshihiko Kihara]

The conversation between Minoru and Takeshi in _Vineland_ (146-147) 
introduces some mysterious "Himalayan incident" or "Himalayan caper" which 
involves Takeshi, Minoru, Professor Wawazume, "Chipco", and Kutsushita-san 
("Mr. Socks", what a name!). It sure has something to do with "Himalayas 
held for ransom", "the bomber", and "nuke".
Does someone, anyone, get the picture of this incident? Why were Takeshi and 
Minoru in the Himalayas? What does "Himalayas held for ransom" mean?  Why is 
it  called Minoru's first "nuke assignment"?
Or, is this incident to remain one of the undecipherable mysteries?
Or, maybe I lack paranoiac imagination, or careful reading?

Yoshihiko Kihara
graduate sudent at
Kyoto University, Japan.