by Ed Nelson
My 707 was parked there so after admittance to the airport I drove up to it and told them to load the car and its contents in the hold. They were to fly it immediately to Hong Kong and deliver it in person to Jackson House East directly to Boris Badenov. He would know what to do with them. There would be a handsome bonus for all involved.
There were wide eyes when I showed the bonus they would receive. Each would get an ingot. The ingots were what the banks called good delivery bars and weighed about twenty-seven pounds each.
I then asked for a car to take me to the Forbidden City. As soon as I arrived, I was summoned before the Empress.
To say she was a happy Empress would be an understatement. She wanted to know all the details. She knew Haoran was dead. Her spies had seen the body. This was the first time we had been together since my little walk into North Korea.
May-ling was there. I asked if I could sign her cast. I found out this was a western tradition, but she let me autograph it. How did I know this was to start a new trend?
We talked about how life after Haoran was. It was great, she was able to go shopping with only her regular guards instead of a mechanized division. At first, I thought she was kidding.
During this conversation, I learned that with the withdrawal of Chinese support the South Koreans and the US had pulled out all stops and had invaded. The vaunted defenses in the DMZ were bypassed or the NK troops routed.
Troops were in Phyongwon already. Kim il-Sung had been killed in the fighting. I informed her of his son's death and the betrayals that had gone down. She wanted to know what happened to the car.
I informed her that it was spoils of war and was on its way to Hong Kong. I made no mention of gold.
She appeared so disappointed over the car I knew what her Christmas gift would be. Did she celebrate Christmas? I bet she would this year.
The Empress and Ann were covered, now what would I get May-ling? Then there were the British Royals. Maybe I should rethink this whole Christmas gift thing, at least on such a lavish basis.
Ann would get her tiara, but I would find another excuse.
I excused myself to get cleaned up and fresh clothes. I had to reek. When I was finished, I returned to the imperial family quarters.
There Mai-ling was waiting with the others. When I entered the room, she ran up and hugged me. Not a light hug, a full body wrapped around mine, hug.
“My hero, my knight in shining armor.”
That wasn’t true, I was wearing blue jeans and a polo shirt. I understood her sentiment though.
“I’m glad to be of service, Your Imperial Highness.”
My statement must have come across wrong as she let go and backed away.
“Duke Richard, we shall never forget how you have helped China in her time of need. When I’m married my husband and I will always look favorably upon you.”
That lowered the temperature in the room by many degrees. Her mother and grandmother both frowned at her statement. Knowing how May-ling viewed our relationship I don’t know why they were upset.
I excused myself shortly thereafter pleading tiredness from my expedition. I returned to my room and thought about the fact that I had committed two cold-blooded murders within the last week.
What bothered me, was that it didn’t bother me. Both of those guys were the epitome of human monsters and had to go. Why should I feel guilty about it?
I called home to Jackson House and had a call with Mum and Dad. I told them what had gone on recently. They were aware of Haoran’s demise but not Kim’s. They agreed that the triple betrayal would be over the top for any work of fiction.
I told them in our family-coded speech about my spoils of war. Dad wanted the car. Mum wanted the total weight. I told her about seventy-two of my little sister. She went about fifty-five pounds the last time I had seen her.
Mum was impressed.
North and South Korea would now be reunited. The UN was claiming credit for this. As far as I knew there hadn’t been one blue helmet in any of the battles.
The Empress was being quiet on the whole issue. I had to wonder if she would take both Koreas, but it was probably more trouble than it was worth.
This soldier of fortune stuff seemed profitable. Maybe I should change my line of work.
Rick, Rick Jackson, Soldier of Fortune. Nah.
Finished for now
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