The Code War

by Ciaran Nagle

  'This is my western assistant Nancy. She already speaks and understands good Cantonese. She does not have any 'history' with any of your fighters, no-one knows her. But I trust her completely. She will come to your meeting and report back to me afterwards. I want you to send her back to me with your answer. Understand Monkey?'

  'I understand Fatty, completely.'

  'Good. Now, have you a present for me, Monkey?'

  'Of course Fatty. But a single present is never enough for a man like you.' Monkey motioned to the two girls beside him who stood up and walked to Fatty's side of the table. Fatty's girls made way for him and they sat down next to him, each leaning against his shoulder.

  'Thank you Monkey,' said Fatty Lo smiling and putting an arm around them. 'I much appreciate your gift. I will send them back in the morning. I will also send Miss Nancy to you. But remember, she is not for playing with. She is my lieutenant.'

  'Of course, Fatty, I will treat her appropriately,' assured Monkey. 'I will send her back with my answer.'

  Pearl River Dancing Parlour, San Po Kong, Kowloon

  Nancy stepped out from the air-conditioned taxi into the heat of the October afternoon and felt like a shrimp thrown from fridge to oven. The taxi's meter had got stuck on 1.11 but Nancy had wearily given the driver $10 knowing that was closer to the true amount.

  'Hello, I am Chu,' announced the young man, stepping out onto the pavement from the quiet shadows of a stairway.

  The frenzy of industrial northern Kowloon with its multitude of smells and noises was all around. Above them were clothes factories, dyers, cutters, pressers and weavers with their non-stop machines. To the side, knife-wielding cooks demonstrated their skills at the front of their restaurants, slicing grilled pork and roast chicken and allowing their aromas to sally out and entice the empty-bellied.

  Nearby, animated diners at street stalls recounted plumbing disasters to friends; a magistrate's court emptied silent, brooding witnesses and scores of unsilent hawkers loudly proclaimed fried squid, grilled fish, baked chickens' feet, steam noodles and other good food news. Hungry crowds gathered in worship. They sortied purses, flicked notes, negotiated cents, crunched crisp fish-fins and uttered burps of praise.

  In the middle distance, spanner-jangling mechanics hoisted an engine from a car by the roadside; women bucketed slop-water into the gutter and cockroaches splashed back to their storm drains smirking with spoil.

  Ten feet from Nancy a shout went up from a hawker pushing a trolley laden with chopped shrimps, smoking hot oil and a flaming burner. Heads turned sharply in panic and the cry was taken up by others. 'Patrol. Scatter.' Dozens of hawker barrows, headless chickens, heads of broccoli, frying pans and feet rapidly turned and pointed the same way down the street like a shoal of herring before dolphins and accelerated to 12 mph in a fake Rolex nano-second. Around the corner behind them appeared two white uniforms, one of them with officer's pips on his shoulder. San Po Kong's municipal hawker unit had struck the fear of a $HK20 fine into the heart of every unlicensed food vendor with predictable effect. The uniforms sauntered down the suddenly empty street, casual and victorious like Genghis Khan and his lance-bearer after surprising a flock of sheep.

  The machine noise increased. The car mechanics hauled on their spanners. Hawkers watched the patrol from alleyways and waited for the white uniforms to go. Kowloon stopped for no-one.

  'Nancy,' said Nancy holding out her hand English-style.

  Chu grasped and pumped it.

  'Very welcome to San Po Kong. I hope you have good visit. My boss order me to look after you nicely happily.'

  Nancy took in the sharp suit, the flying starched collar and the highly polished shoes before replying in Cantonese, 'Thank you Chu, I expect an interesting evening.' Chu was clearly a slick operator but Nancy liked his civility.

  'Please to rise.' Chu indicated the stairway and Nancy plunged into its darkness locating its steps by feel more than by sight.

  At the top of the stairs she pushed open a door and entered into a large square room, unexpectedly well-furbished. There were classic Chinese murals of birds and mountains, subtle wall lighting, and a plush deep pile carpet. Around the room were quality pieces of Chinese furniture including lacquered cabinets, bamboo screens and clay sculptures of smiling fat men eating, playing music and carousing in the company of pretty maidens. In the background a woman sang a haunting melody of love and hope.

  'My boss, Mr Fu, like collect antique. Help preserve Chinese culture.'

  'I see,' said Nancy looking around.

  'Please to sit and enjoy Chinese tea,' said Chu indicating a plump armchair with ebony arms carved into playful porpoises.

  The door from another room opened and an elderly woman entered bearing a tray with a blue porcelain teapot and two small cups. Chu took them and placed them on a table. The woman bowed, muttered something and departed.

  'She is Chiu Chau, not Cantonese. Not speak our language,' laughed Chu. He poured tea for them both. Nancy sipped hers, holding the little cup at the rim.

  'So tell me Chu, what will happen here tonight?' Nancy had learnt a number of Cantonese phrases in advance that she expected would prove useful. She had also interrogated Fatty and Jenny on the vocabulary that Monkey would use if he was to have the type of discussion with his team that he had promised Fatty. She was determined to show Monkey and all of his functionaries that she would be able to understand all that was said.

  But Chu was still eager to practice his English.

  'Tonight we have feast - big eating party - with much beer and brandy,' he said proudly. 'Also my boss Mr Fu, Monkey, talk to us about future. I not know what he say but I know you come from Brother.' He looked at her nervously. 'We have girls tonight, for entertainment. Working girls for entertain the men. You understand?'

  Nancy indicated that she did understand. She was wearing a black woollen top set off with a pearl necklace that she had chosen with Jenny's help, on top of black linen trousers and black shoes. She hoped that she looked business-like and professional. Certainly nobody could mistake her for the female entertainment.

  'Maybe we gamble also and maybe smoke. You like to smoke?'

  'It depends what you're smoking.'

  'Maybe white powder,' he said looking at her closely. 'Maybe not.'

  Nancy knew that white powder was heroin.

  'Some day, I'll try it,' she said trying to laugh lightly. 'But tonight I have to stay awake. So no white powder for me.'

  Chu saw that Nancy's cup was empty. 'So sorry,' he said solicitously and reached for the teapot.

  'I have enough tea. No more, thank you.'

  An older man entered wearing a suit with open-necked shirt. Chu leapt to his feet and half-bowed.

  'Mr Fu. Miss Nancy is here.'

  Fu looked at Nancy for a long moment. Nancy found herself unsettled for the first time since she arrived. Fu's eyes were as cold and penetrating as they had been warm and friendly when she had first met him with Fatty Lo the night before.

  What's he about? Which is the real Mr Fu?

  'Welcome to Golden Horse, I trust you will have a memorable evening,' he said in English.

  'Thank you,' replied Nancy in Cantonese. 'I am told your hospitality is of the highest. I look forward to meeting your team.' So far her stock of learnt phrases was holding up well.

  'Tonight you will learn my answer for Mr Lo. Whatever it is, my answer will be clear.' Monkey was ultra-formal and correct. He was giving nothing away in his words, but his tone was definitely unpromising.

  'I'm sure Fatty will be pleased with your reply,' Nancy was trying to be diplomatic and positive.

  'Hmm,' was the only response, accompanied by a slight tilt of Monkey's head.

  Sound of women's voices from the stairs. Fu turned towards Chu. 'You have work to do. I will leave you to finish the preparations. Our guests will be arriving in half an hour.'

  He bowed to Nancy. 'Please to excuse. I must get ready.'

  'Thank you sir.
You have heart,' replied Nancy formally and not entirely convincingly.

  But if Fu was aloof and curt towards Nancy, Chu seemed aware of his boss's coldness and wanted to make amends.

  'My boss..much pressure now,' he said earnestly. 'So sorry.'

  The stairway door opened and two young women fell giggling into the room.

  'Drunk,' said Chu in disgust.

  'I've always wanted to have customers on this carpet,' said one of the girls. 'It's softer than a bed.'

  'Who else is coming, Chu, you smooth liar?' said the other.

  'Come on you two, time to get ready for work. At least you're properly dressed this time,' said Chu, pulling the two to their feet. 'Now go to the toilet if you need to, you won't get another chance for a while.'

  Both girls were wearing skirts that barely covered their behinds and high heels they could hardly walk in. Their bare waists were wasp-thin and their make-up was overdone.

  'Nancy, please to help Roxy?' asked Chu, 'I help Suzy. She is not walk well.'

  Together they helped the two prostitutes through into the next room which was clearly the place where they were due to earn their wages. Nancy took a deep breath when she saw the walls of this rectangular chamber decorated as they were with drawings of oriental women in a variety of semi-naked poses. This was a room for man fun, no mistaking it. At one end of the room a phalanx of theatre lights focused down on a wooden dance-floor whilst nearby were clusters of easy chairs centred around tables on which were placed sets of mah-jong tiles. Bottles of Dimple Whisky and Remy Martin FOV Cognac were placed within easy reach. At the other end of the room was laid out, rather incongruously, a table tennis table with bats and a ball.

  But in the middle of the room was the most unexpected item. This was an elaborate iron construction the like of which Nancy had never seen before.

  'Old Chinese warming stove and serving table,' said Chu, seeing her surprise. 'Use for heat room and also keep dishes hot.'

  It was a bulbous iron furnace on legs with a circular metal top on which could be placed dishes and plates. In the centre, leading out of the boiler, was a cast iron flue pipe that disappeared into the ceiling.

  'Not hot now. Just for show,' reassured Chu who was once again helping Suzy to her feet.

  Chu launched into a blaze of Cantonese against the two girls. Nancy could just make out that he was telling them they would never work again if they didn't behave.

  At last, they appeared to give in. Both stood up and leant frontwards against the stove.

  'Who you?' asked Suzy looking at Nancy.

  'I know who you are,' said Roxy, with a sly smile.

  The two continued grinning at Nancy as Chu shouted at them to straighten their skirts and fix their hair. Had they never seen a western woman before? Stop staring, it's bad manners.

  When Suzy had neatened herself to Chu's satisfaction she offered up both her hands to him with a cheeky grin on her face. Chu steered her hands towards the metal flue to which Nancy could see three sets of handcuffs had been welded.

  'Old woman,' shouted Chu, 'any sign of the third girl yet?'

  The two prostitutes giggled again and looked at each other.

  Chu clipped Suzy's wrists into the handcuffs and made sure they were tight. He positioned himself behind her and held her by the hips. Then he pulled her body back half a step so that her rear projected with just the right degree of pertness.

  'Like that. OK?'

  'Uh-huh.' Chu noticed that Suzy was chewing gum. She did not bother to close her lips. He reached his hand into her mouth, removed the amoeboid blob with his fingers and after a moment's thought stuck it on the side of his heel.

  'Man repellent,' he exclaimed in disgust. 'What use is that here?'

  He stepped to the side to survey her in profile. Her feet were together, her legs were straight, her skirt was tight and her upper body ascended with a pleasing incline to where her elbows rested on the circular table. Her plum sized breasts hung nicely into space within easy reach of a gentleman's hands.

  Chu nodded slightly. She had bad breath but that wouldn't matter tonight.

  'Ho' - good - he said. Suzy's shift had begun.

  'Gwai poh,' said Suzy to Nancy. Ghost woman. Nancy returned her look evenly but without judgement. She knew that some women worked this way. Always had, always would. It was their choice. They didn't have to do it.

  Chu now took Roxy's proffered hands and clipped them into the second pair of handcuffs on the stove pipe. He smoothed down her skirt, straightened her blouse and pulled a few loose strands of hair into position. Turning to Nancy he patted Roxy on the buttock and smiled. 'Girls earn many money tonight. All our men like this entertainment.'

  Roxy smiled at Chu. Tonight her cute bum was her fortune.

  Chu turned towards the door and shouted impatiently. 'Old woman, has the third girl, Ah Siu, arrived yet?'

  Nancy turned her head in the same direction, trying to make sense of the flow of Chiu Chau dialect that came torrenting into the room in reply. Chu took her arm and lifted it. She felt a cold bracelet close on her right wrist. In the same instant an arm enveloped her waist and lifted her up. With his other hand Chu pulled Nancy's left arm forward towards the flue. As Nancy fought back he pushed her physically forward with his body, took her left forearm in his left hand and slipped the handcuff in place over it with his right.

  'How dare you? What do you think you're doing? Undo me you bastard, I'm not here for that. I'm Nancy. I'm Fatty Lo's girl.'

  Nancy pulled with all her might trying to wrench the handcuffs from the flue. They were unyielding. She was held fast.

  The two prostitutes stared at Nancy open-eyed. Whatever they thought of her before, they weren't expecting this.

  'M Ho. Gwai poh m seung jo'- It's not good. The ghost girl doesn't want to do it - said Roxy under her breath.

  Nancy was a prisoner.

  'So sorry,' said Chu. 'So sorry.' But when Nancy looked at him in fury, she saw he wasn't smiling. He wasn't gloating. He looked frightened.

  Chu stood to the side, now surveying Nancy's profile. He looked her up and down, glanced at his watch and left.

  Nancy began to scream. 'Hey, somebody help me. I'm trapped. Mr Fu. Monkey.'

  Suzy and Roxy regarded her with consternation. There was nothing they could do.

  The Chiu Chau woman entered the room bearing a tray. She showed no surprise to see Nancy chained to the flue, trying to struggle free. From the tray she took three lacquered Chinese bowls decorated with fish and flowers and placed them on the circular serving table, one in front of each of the three women. Nancy turned to her in desperation but in mute response the woman nodded towards the beautiful bowl. It contained a score of condoms. The woman left and Nancy stared down at the plastic packets in their hand-painted vessels and could think of nothing to say.

  Chu returned ten minutes later holding in his hand a plastic carrier bag. He went straight to Nancy and reached in front of her, undoing her waist button and drawing down her fly. Then he pulled her new linen trousers down to her feet. Nancy shouted and kicked but he ignored her. After removing her shoes, with some defiant resistance from Nancy, he pulled off the trousers and threw them on a nearby chair. From the bag he took a simple red tartan skirt with a top to bottom zip, wrapped it around her and zipped it up. Then from the bag he took a pair of red high-heeled shoes and stooped down.

  Nancy was ready for this. With a furious back kick she caught Chu full in the cheek with her heel and sent him flying. She accompanied this with a lacerating burst of English swear-words that she knew Chu didn't understand but made her feel better anyway.

  Chu picked himself up and stood warily beside Nancy holding the red shoes. Suzy and Roxy watched soundlessly, hardly breathing. The Chiu Chau woman came to the door and looked in.

  Chu looked at Nancy, imploring her with his eyes. 'Please to wear,' he said. 'Please. Mr Fu angry man. I not want you get hurt.'

  Nancy stared at him for a long moment. Chu
was wearing the most serious expression that she had ever seen on a man's face. She looked back in front of her. Something was going on that was much bigger than she or Fatty had expected. She considered fighting but had an odd feeling that might make matters even worse. Suzy and Roxy backed this up. They kept looking towards the door as if in fear that Monkey might come in and take a dim view of her rebellion. Nancy's body relaxed.

  Chu stooped down while Nancy slowly lifted her right foot. He slipped the foot into the elegant pump and did up the strap. She put the foot on the floor and he repeated the process with her left.

  Chu stood up and stepped back to view his handiwork. But Nancy was grim-faced and looking straight in front of her. Suzy and Roxy stood motionless and looked from Chu to Nancy and back again. The room was as quiet as a tai chi class.

  'You will understand,' he said in English. 'So sorry. Later, you will understand.'

  Paradise

  Globes flashed red on the belts of Luke, Ruth and Agatha simultaneously. It was Chan and Jo calling together. The flashing was rapid which meant only one thing: an emergency. Within a few seconds all had acknowledged and accepted the call.

  'Have any of you heard from Jabez recently?' Jo asked, her dreadlocks trailing over her face.

  'We're really worried about him, something's not right,' added Chan.

  'He dropped me off home only hours ago and went down to Hong Kong,' volunteered Agatha. 'We'd been to the Azurine to get him some boots. He was really excited about wearing them. What's happened?'

  'We're getting really strange signals from the Fundial,' said Jo. 'It's suffered some sort of damage. But..'

  'But what?' put in Luke. 'What else?'

  'Well,' said Chan. 'It may be that the damage has thrown off the auto-locators too, we just don't know. But the auto-locators are giving a very strange fix for its position.'

  'Which is what?' Ruth.

  'Well, basically they're showing that it's in the Fifth Dimension, which is good. But the precise location is, well, they're showing somewhere in Inferno.'