He had good memories of her, but that’s all they were.
“We have to go home,” Leo said, raising a hand in a wave. Then, looking from Mya to Allissa, he stepped out into the bright afternoon.
In the street he didn’t look back. Allissa walked beside him, and neither spoke until the café was out of sight.
“We’re the good guys,” Allissa said, breaking the silence. “There’s too many people in the world that’ll be nasty to each other. We’re here to balance that out.”
Leo stopped walking and looked at Allissa. People darted left and right to avoid them on the busy street.
Somewhere in the world a tiger ate a lamb, a soldier marched towards a child who couldn’t see for tears and a man threw a drink at a woman. A billion years of evolution and it’s not the acts themselves that are frightening, but their perpetual repetition. Somewhere else though, old friends are reunited, a child says their first words and on a street in Hong Kong, a man with a free heart pulls a woman close.
For a moment Leo nestles his face into Allissa’s shoulder and smells the coconut he’s become so fond of. Then he pulls back and looks at her. It’s entropy, is what he would have thought if his mind wasn’t cluttered with questions and desires. Watching Allissa’s lower lip curl beneath her teeth, he realizes what he’s been fighting for so long. We’re battling against the world’s ability to pull things apart and level them out, Leo thinks, leaning in.
“Come on,” Allissa said, breaking off the hug with a hand on Leo’s chest. “We’ve got work to do.”
BERLIN
Leo and Allissa’s next case will see them go to one of my favourite European cities – Berlin. This time it’ll be a little different, though. This novella (it’ll be about half the size of Kathmandu or Hong Kong) will be released exclusively and completely free of charge to those who support me through my mailing list.
My favourite part of publishing Kathmandu earlier this year has been talking to people who’ve read and enjoyed it. Before sharing my work, I didn’t realise that I only write the story – it comes to life when you guys read it. So, Berlin will be for you.
It’ll be ready around the end of 2019 and I’d love to send you a copy. If you’re not already, get on my mailing list now and I’ll keep you informed.
www.LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/mailinglist
Dedication
As always, this book is dedicated to those I travel beside. Especially Jon, Helen, James and Alex. Through you I’m rediscovering the adventure of childhood.
Thank you
Thank you for reading Hong Kong. Sharing my writing with you has been a dream of many years. Thank you for making it a reality.
As may come across in my writing, travelling, exploring and seeing the world is so important to me. As is coming home to my family and friends.
Although the words here are my own, the characters, experiences and some of the events described are wholly inspired by the people I’ve travelled beside. If we shared noodles from a street-food vendor, visited a temple together, played cards on a creaking overnight train, or had a beer in a back-street restaurant, you are forever in this book.
It is the intention of my writing to show that although the world is big and the unknown can be unsettling, there is so much good in it. Although some of the people in my stories are bad and evil – the story wouldn’t be very interesting if they weren’t – they’re vastly outnumbered by the honesty, purity and kindness of the other characters. You don’t have to look far to see this in the real world. I know that whenever I travel, it’s the kindness of the people that I remember almost more than the place itself. Whether you’re an experienced traveller, or you prefer your home turf, it’s my hope that this story has taken you somewhere new and exciting.
Despite the best efforts of me and my team, mistakes will always creep through. If your eagle eyes have picked any out, please let me know at [email protected] and I’ll get them changed straight away.
Again, thank you for coming on the adventure with me, I hope to see you again.
Luke
PS. A little warning, next time someone talks to you in the airport, be careful what you say, as you may end up in their book.
Book reviews
If you’ve enjoyed this book, I would really appreciate you leaving a review.
www.LukeRichardsonAuthor.com/reviews
Reviews are so important as they encourage people who’ve never heard of me to take a risk on a first-time author. The bookselling websites also use them to decide what books to recommend to their customers. They really are like gold dust to an author!
It will take you no longer than two minutes and will mean the world to me.
Thank you.
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