by Yuriko Taira
“Nfu, nfu…” Mrs Deng had thrown herself onto her husband’s body and began to cry aloud. Liz and her daughter followed suit.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I bit my lip to stop myself crying. The men stood in silence.
“You… you give back my husband.” Mrs Deng suddenly charged at me.
Shinkichi had pulled me behind him before she reached me.
“Step aside, Japanese devil. She’s a sign of bad luck. I knew this from the start. My husband should have let her die on the hill.” Mrs Deng pointed her bony finger at Shinkichi as if she was going to stab him with it.
Shinkichi’s hands had turned into fists. I could feel the anger rising inside him.
CHAPTER 8
Sean moved in front of us swiftly. “Mrs Deng, please calm down and step back.” He blocked her finger with the palm of his big hand, pushing her backward.
“Foreign devil, stop pushing me!” Mrs Deng screamed at Sean.
“Mama, please!” Liz pleaded.
“Ma, shut up!” Fong shouted. “Ouch…” The shout put him in pain.
The doctor went to him immediately. “Nurse, give me the morphine.”
The nurse passed it to him.
“Mate, let’s go,” Shinkichi said to Sean, putting the key to Fong’s truck on a bedside table.
He took my hand, and we walked towards the door. Sean followed us.
“Please wait, heroes, please!” Fong called out behind us.
We turned back, to Fong’s bedside.
“Brother Fong, what can I do for you?” Shinkichi asked him.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’. Please forgive my mother.”
“No hard feelings. We’re leaving. I’m taking Yan with me because she’s my girlfriend and future wife,” Shinkichi said.
“Please take good care of her,” Fong asked.
“I’ll protect her with my life.” Shinkichi promised Fong.
“Goodbye, Brother Fong. Please get well soon.” I gave him a 35-degree bow.
“Take care, Yan. Thank you for saving my life, sir.” Fong turned to look at Sean.
Sean stepped forward and patted Fong’s hand gently. “You’re welcome, please get well soon.”
We left the intensive care room, walking towards the exit of the hospital.
“Yan, wait!” Liz ran after us carrying her daughter on her back. “Please stay at the house till morning. The local inn isn’t very nice,” she said, breathing heavily.
I looked at Shinkichi and Sean. They nodded.
“Thanks, Sister Liz. We’ll stay at the house then.” I took the key to Fong’s truck from her and gave it to Shinkichi.
When everyone had got on board, Shinkichi started the engine and drove us to the Deng house. By the time we got there, it was around three o’clock in the morning. Liz made up Fong’s bedroom for Shinkichi and Sean.
However, Shinkichi came to knock on my door. “Babe…?” he enquired gently.
I was sobbing.
Shinkichi came in and took me into his arms. “Don’t let that old woman upset you.”
“No, not Mama Deng. I’m sad about Papa Deng. I can’t go to his funeral. I don’t think Mama Deng wants to see me there…”
Shinkichi did not say a word. He let me cry on his broad shoulder until I was exhausted. Then, he tucked me in bed and lay down next to me.
It was almost mid-day when I was woken by Suzie’s laughter.
“Good morning.” Shinkichi kissed me.
“Are we leaving now?” I asked him.
“No, not now but after brunch.”
We got out of bed and went into the dining room. Suzie was sitting on Sean’s broad shoulders, having a horsie ride. Liz was preparing an early lunch in the kitchen. I decided to feed the farm animals for the last time. Shinkichi, Sean and Suzie had followed me to the backyard.
“Suzie, would you feed the little animals for Granddad from now on?” I asked, throwing the grain onto the ground.
“Yes, I’ll do it with Granddad every day,” Suzie said innocently.
Tears ran down my cheeks. Shinkichi took the grain basket from my hand and put it on the ground. He pulled me into his arms.
“Aunty Yan?” Suzie looked up at me with worry in her little brown eyes, and her chubby little hands were pulling at my jeans.
“Suzie, would you like another horsie ride?” Sean asked, looking down at the little girl.
“Yes!” Suzie let go of my jeans, and raising her little hands to Sean with joy.
He picked her up, putting her on his shoulders, and walked back into the house.
Shinkichi wiped the tears off my face with the sleeve of his jumper. “Babe, we need to leave soon.”
“Hmm.” I nodded, and went into the house with him.
After we had eaten, I gave Liz a red envelope that contained a sum of money as this was a traditional way to celebrate Chinese New Year which was approaching.
“No, Yan. I can’t accept a ‘red packet’ from you because you aren’t married yet.” Liz pushed the red envelope back to me.
“Then, take it as my New Year gift to Papa and Mama,” I said, pushing the red envelope into Liz’s hands. She accepted it this time.
We said goodbye to the young mother and child, and went to the town hall where we caught a taxi for Guangzhou.
“As soon as we get to Guangzhou, we’ll take the next flight back to Perth,” Shinkichi said as we settled down into the taxi.
“No, Shinkichi-san, I’m not going back to Perth just yet. I need to do something first,” I said.
“Haven’t you done enough?” Shinkichi lost his temper.
I felt hurt and tears filled my eyes.
Sean saw this and said, “Mate, please calm down. The kid may have a good reason. Let her tell us.” He motioned for me to speak up.
I took the gold necklace out of my coat pocket. Since the last accident, I was afraid to wear any necklace. I opened the locket on the necklace chain, and showed Sean the photo.
“I think this is my family,” I said to Sean in a small voice.
“Let me have a close look.” Sean took the locket and chain from me. He had turned on a light in the taxi and looked at the tiny photo carefully, then passed the lot to Shinkichi.
“What do you think, mate?” he asked Shinkichi, who was now examining the photo.
“The photo is too small. I hesitate to draw a conclusion,” Shinkichi said in a gentle voice, giving the locket and chain back to me.
“Mate, do you want to bet on it?” Sean challenged Shinkichi.
“What’s your bet?” Shinkichi smiled at him.
“Well, the loser will pay for our New Year’s Eve dinner at a five-star hotel in Guangzhou.”
“Deal.” Shinkichi accepted the bet.
The two men bumped their fists together.
When we arrived in Guangzhou city, we saw no sign of New Year celebration. The streets were not decorated with posters, lights, flags or balloons; and the shops on the ground floor of the Garden Hotel were open until mid-night as usual. It appeared that the Chinese celebrated the lunar Chinese New Year, but not the Western New Year.
We went shopping on the ground floor of the hotel, and a bellboy took our luggage to a two-bedroom suite.
As soon as we finished shopping, and got inside our suite; “Babe, give me the locket,” Shinkichi asked, holding a magnifying glass in his hand.
“Here you are.”
Shinkichi examined the photo with the magnifying glass, checking it against my face again and again.
“Let me do it.” Sean could not wait any longer, taking the locket and magnifying glass from Shinkichi.
“Aha, mate, you owe us dinner for sure.” Sean grinned at Shinkichi.
“Okay, you won.”
On New Year’s Day, I called Huang and told him that I would like to visit my family home in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, in California.
“When will you go there, my Princess?” Huang asked.
“In a day or t
wo depending on flight availability.”
“Are you in such a hurry? I’m in Malaysia. I’ll ask Ibin to welcome you if I can’t get there before you.”
“Thanks, Uncle Huang.”
We took off to Hong Kong by express train and stayed in the Hong Kong airport hotel for a night. The following day, we boarded a Cathay Pacific flight to Los Angeles.
Ibin greeted us at the LA International Airport in the early morning of the next day. “My child and your friends, welcome home. This is my assistant, Zheng.”
Ibin’s smile always made me uncomfortable, but Zheng’s appearance was worse than his smile. He had a shaved head, wore a black suit and dark glasses even when he was indoors. His face was tight as if he did not know how to smile. His stocky body and height would pose a challenge to Shinkichi if a fight broke out between them. No matter how I looked at him from different angles, he was like a gangster from the movies. My hand went to my neck…
“My father-in-law will arrive tomorrow morning. Please allow me to take you and your friends to Santa Monica,” Ibin said, leading us to the airport carpark.
Zheng had walked a few steps ahead and opened the doors of a Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan. We sat in the back seat, and Ibin sat in the front seat. Zheng drove the car out of the airport, and smoothly down the Santa Monica freeway, reaching a classic two-storey European house in about half an hour.
Following a foot-path between tropical palm trees and ferns, shrubs, and flowering plants; we came to the front door. Ibin pressed the doorbell.
“はい。” (Yes,) a man answered the doorbell in Japanese.
A few minutes later, the door opened. In the door way, stood a Japanese man wearing all black: kimono, obi (belt), tabi (socks) and zori (sandals).
“Butler Itsuki, Yuuko has returned.” Ibin stepped aside.
“Oh, my… my Princess, you’re alive!” The grey-haired man sounded tearful, bowing his solidly body to me.
“Come, children; come in please,” Ibin said as if he was the owner of the house. He marched inside without taking off his leather shoes.
Itsuki left his zori in front of the steps and put on a pair of leather slippers. He offered us leather slippers, too. We took off our shoes and put on the slippers.
Zheng brought my suitcase into the house. He then stood by the front door.
Ibin came back to the front door. “Children, please make yourself home. If you need anything, ask the butler. I’m going to work now.” He left with Zheng.
The Yuwen home was a large house complemented with hardwood floors, archways and decorative ceilings. The wrought-iron stairs led me to the second floor which had four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a lounge room.
I went into a room at the right as if being guided by a spirit. This bedroom was decorated with fairy wallpaper in pink and purple colours, and the bed was covered with pink linen. This is my bed, I said to myself. A doll-house sat in the corner and housed Barbie dolls accompanied by brown and white bears, tiger cubs and a big ram. They’re my toys.
“Welcome home, my Princess.” It was the voice of an elderly woman.
I had turned. A chubby woman stood behind me, wearing a grey kimono with a black and silver obi that was similar to the colour of her hair.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I’m your nanny, Mio. Don’t you remember me, my Princess?”
“Mio-san, Yuuko-chan has suffered from a memory loss.” Shinkichi walked into the room, explaining to Mio.
“Oh, my poor child… but who are you?” Mio had turned, and stared at Shinkichi.
“I’m Shinkichi Abe. Yuuko-chan’s boyfriend.” Shinkichi bowed politely.
“Mio-san, do you know where my parents are?” I asked.
“My Princess, your parents went to Russia and have never returned.” Mio wept.
I bit my lip, walking into the room next door. They had followed me. A large family portrait hung on the wall facing the entry. It was the same photo as the one in my gold locket.
“They’re your parents.” Mio pointed at the couple in the portrait.
I moved a chair to the wall where the portrait hung; and climbed onto it, touching my parents’ faces. “Mama, Papa…” Tears covered my face.
“Babe…” Shinkichi raised his hands to me.
I took hold of his arms and came off the chair.
Sean came in; and stood in front of the window, surveying outside as if he wanted to pierce every piece of leaf and stick in the front garden with his eagle eyes. Then he moved away from the window, and asked Mio if there was a way to the roof of the house.
Mio had led him to the attic and we followed. “Pull that ladder down and go up, you’ll see a latch,” Mio said to Sean.
“Thank you, Mio.” Sean did as she had said, went up the ladder, undid the latch and gave it a push. A metal roof opened a hole just big enough for a man to get through. Sean had stayed on the roof for a few minutes, then came down.
“What’s on the roof?” I asked curiously.
“Babe.” Shinkichi squeezed my hand.
Just as expected, Sean did not answer my question.
“Mates, I’m hungry. Let’s see what’s on the breakfast menu,” he said, heading downstairs.
CHAPTER 9
We followed Sean in silence. Mio speeded up to lead the way to the dining room, in which a few large cushions were placed on the floor around a low table. We sat down on the cushions.
The butler, Itsuki came in. “Princess Yuuko, I ordered a Western breakfast for you and your friends,” he said, putting Western-style plates, knives and forks on the table.
Mio brought in fresh milk, fruit and vegetable juice; then toast, fried eggs, sausages, grilled tomatoes and mushroom. She served the food on our plates, then left.
“Itsuki-san, how long have you worked for my family?” I asked.
“I’ve served your family all my life, as does my wife, Mio,” Itsuki replied.
“Do you know Mister Huang well?” I asked again.
“Yes, he worked for my old master and was very loyal to him.”
“How about Mister Gan?” Shinkichi joined the questioning.
“Mister Gan used to follow Prince Yasuki around most of the time. I don’t know him well.”
When we finished breakfast, Mio had already made the beds for us in the bedrooms upstairs. We all went to bed and fell fast asleep. We missed lunch, but Mio served English afternoon tea to us in the sun-room at the back of the house.
Outside the sun-room, among the native Californian shrubs, there was a large river red-gum tree near the back fence. I was surprised to see this Australian tree growing so well in the American soil.
I took a seat facing a window with a good view to the backyard. Shinkichi and Sean sat by my sides. I invited Itsuki and Mio to have afternoon tea with us.
“Would you please tell me how my grandfather died?” I asked Itsuki.
“His car had a head-on collision with another car on the way to the office of the Yuwen Foundation. My old master and his chauffeur died before an ambulance arrived.” Itsuki’s voice was sad.
“Did he always go to the office by the same route?” Sean asked.
“No, he didn’t go to that office normally. My old master’s relationship with Mister Gan wasn’t good, especially after the young master and his family mysteriously vanished in Russia. Princess Yuuko, if you've returned sooner, my old master would be over-joyed…”
Suddenly, Sean jumped in front of me. The force that he exuded was so strong that I fell backward onto the floor with my chair. The tea cup and saucer flew out of my hands and broke into pieces on the hardwood floor. With a speed that was unhuman, Sean pinched something flying in the air with his fingers, and threw it out of the open window as fast as it had come in; then he went out of the sun-room through the same window as well.
“Babe, are you hurt?” Shinkichi put down his tea cup quickly, helping me to get up from the floor.
“I… I’m fine. What’s the matter with
Sean?” I stood up, feeling my bottom aching.
“He’s onto something for sure,” Shinkichi said, holding me steady.
While Itsuki and Mio cleaning up the mess, we went to the backyard. Sean stood under the river red-gum tree. A little man lay dead by his feet, looking like he was killed by a long needle that had gone into his throat. A bamboo pipe of about 30 centimetres long with holes at both ends lay not far from his body.
“Oh, my god!” I cried out. This was the first time that I had come face to face with a dead person.
Shinkichi put his hand over my eyes.
“Itsuki, call the police, please.” Sean ordered Itsuki, who had just come over.
“はい。Sean-san.” Itsuki bowed and went inside quickly.
I had calmed down and removed Shinkichi’s hand from my eyes. “Sean, what have you done?”
“Nothing, but returned his poisonous needle to him,” Sean said casually; and took a packet of wet tissues out of a pocket of his jeans; then squatting by the body, cleaning the end of the long needle with wet tissues.
“How do you know the needle is poisonous?” I asked.
“It’s a weapon commonly used by native South Americans,” Sean replied. As if he was annoyed by my questioning, he turned to Shinkichi, “Mate, take the kid inside and make sure she stays away from the windows.”
“Yes, mate.” Shinkichi obeyed without hesitation, taking my hand and leading me into the house.
Sean stayed in the backyard until the police came. Then, we were summoned to the ground floor lounge room by the police.
“Who found the body?” the sheriff asked.
“We did.” Shinkichi, Sean, Itsuki, Mio and I all answered at the same time.
“I meant, who saw the body first?” the sheriff clarified.
“I did. I saw something on the tree. When I came out of the sun-room, the man lay dead under the tree,” Sean answered.
