by Taylor Lee
“So I am, Wyatt. So I am.”
He looked over at Nianzu.
“His head, Nianzu.”
A second later Nianzu was sitting on Greg’s chest straddling him with his strong thighs. He held Greg’s head firmly between his hands.
Bai knelt down beside Greg and held the burning end of the poker inches from Greg’s face. Greg’s screams were deafening. Bai moved closer to him and said softly, “I wanted to give you a taste of your life in eternity. The chariots of fire are waiting for you at the gates of hell. This is the last thing you will see, Greg. This poker and my face. Take it to your grave.”
He plunged the poker in one of Greg’s eyes then the other. The sound and smell of sizzling flesh competed with the horrific screams of the tortured man.
Elena saw the muscle in her father’s cheek twitch, his only reaction to the gruesome sight. Alex gasped and hid his eyes, his face white with horror. Elena was sure her expression was as impassive as Nianzu’s and Bai’s. Her only regret was that Bai had not handed her the poker.
Bai stood. He put his arm around Elena and walked toward the door. He looked over his shoulder and caught Alex’s eye.
“You can finish him off, Alex. You’ve earned the right.”
Alex was stunned. He looked down at the sobbing twisting heap of a man then back at Bai.
“How…how should I kill him?”
Bai smiled as in sympathy.
“That’s the advantage of having all the skills you have. Your choice.”
Bai exchanged a knowing look with Wyatt and Nianzu.
“Make it memorable. They start running together after the first dozen or so.”
~~~
Outside, Bai joined up with the rest of his men and reviewed the night. After they tallied the number of prisoners and accounted for all of the dead bodies, Bai left the group and walked over to where Quitin’s body lay. He squatted down beside him and pulled back the sheet. He reached out and smoothed Quitin’s hair back from his face, smiling to himself, remembering how Quitin tried to make his coarse hair fall softly like Bai’s to no avail.
He knelt quietly for several minutes then said in a soft voice, “Mon cher ami et mon guerrier courageux. The note your mother receives will be worthy of you. Worthy of her son, of my friend, and my warrior man--second only to Nianzu among my men. Thank you, Quitin. May your spirit live in peace.”
Bai leaned down and kissed him on his forehead, then covered him with the sheet and got to his feet. He stood for a moment, then lit a cigarette and turned back to the others.
Nianzu came up and put his arm around Bai’s shoulders.
“If Quitin lived a hundred years, Bai, he would never have a prouder moment than he did tonight. Each one of us has said that our greatest honor would be to die protecting you. Just as we know you would do the same for any one of us.”
Bai grimaced. “You’re right. I would. But that doesn’t make this any easier.”
Nianzu looked down at Quitin’s body and blinked back tears.
“You’re right. It doesn’t.”
Elena, Wyatt, and Alex stood quietly behind them. Elena didn’t try to stop the tears that streamed down her face. She remembered Quitin’s last words to her and sobbed soundlessly, knowing that he died honorably protecting her. When they got home, she would reassure Bai that both she and Quitin understood the emotion behind his angry words in the governor’s office. She would tell him that Quitin died knowing Bai trusted him with his most precious possession, herself.
She heard Alex groan and turned to see her brother standing back. She thought she understood the crush of emotions on his face.
Alex looked at her and then at his father. His face and voice were wracked with pain.
“How can I ever redeem myself? I was wrong, so wrong.”
Before either of them could speak, Bai came up and put his arm around Alex.
“You already have, Alex. We couldn’t have done it without your help tonight. Moreover, you proved that you have it. Your grandfather has it, your father has it, Nianzu and I have it. Goddamn, even your sister has it.”
“Has what?”
“The knowledge that there’s nothing more honorable than killing an evil man.”
~~~
Jim Thompson stood in the background directing his deputies, who were carting off the dead men and guarding the ones who survived. Jim puffed on his cigar, then moseyed over next to Bai.
“Sorry about Quitin, Bai. He was a good man.”
“Thanks, Jim. That he was.”
Jim looked at the stack of bodies and the cluster of disgraced deputies tied together, waiting for the paddy wagon, and shook his head.
“Fuck it, Bai. You not only toppled the emperor, you took down the whole goddamn empire. You sure as hell don’t do anything half-assed, do you?”
Bai grinned.
“No need to, Jim. I’ve discovered over the years that the message needs to be clear as glass or the fuckers don’t get it.”
“Yeah but in addition to those worthless pieces of shit over there that used to be on my payroll, you got the biggest criminal in the country and until tonight, no one knew him by name. Hell, nothing like getting the bastard that murdered the lieutenant governor, a U. S. Senator, and tried to kill the sitting governor.”
“You’re right, Jim. It’s been a big night.”
Wyatt chimed in.
“Keep your eyes on the papers, sheriff. There’s gonna be more than your ugly mug gracing those scandal sheets. What would you say, Bai? Maybe as many as fifty – sixty elected officials will be spending the rest of their lives fighting the laws that they thought didn’t apply to them.”
Jim shook his head as if in wonder.
“Hell, Bai, I think we’re gonna have to start calling you Robin Hood. Fuck if you don’t take down the rich to help the poor and the rest of us.”
Bai chuckled.
“Non, non, Jim. That analogy doesn’t work. Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor. That’s not my model. I keep my riches no matter how I got them.”
He looked over at Elena, who was holding the museum necklace and earrings in her hand.
“Don’t I, cherie?”
Elena shook her head and smiled in agreement.
Bai winked at the Sheriff.
“No, Jim, I think the ‘Frenchman’ suits me just fine.”
~~
Chapter 34
They sat around the fireplace in the private garden next to the infirmary. Platters of delicacies along with bottles of Bai’s finest brandy and his imported cigars graced the table.
Wan sat next to Bai listening to the retelling of the evening. His stern face softened when Bai told him how Quitin died. He puffed on his cigar and his sharp eyes misted.
“I loved that young man. He was always eager, willing. He never hesitated to volunteer for the most dangerous missions. He comes from a fine family. They will be devastated. I will include a note along with yours, Bai.”
“I know his family will appreciate that, Father. They honor you.”
Bai invited Jeng Ming to join the family gathering. He wanted her to hear the details of Aldo Marcello’s death and how important it was that they had taken down the Chameleon.
“You knew Aldo’s evil, Jeng Ming. But he derived his power from Greg. Greg controlled the enterprise and the politicians who sanctioned their power. And it was Greg who oversaw the slave trade that brought the young Chinese girls to this country. They were like Cerberus, the three-headed hound that guarded the gates to Hell. We had to cut off all three heads -- Aldo, Greg, and the politicians. It was the troika that made their evil so powerful. We needed to destroy them all.”
Bai turned to Alex, who snagged a seat next to Jeng Ming. He spoke to his father, but looked at Jeng Ming.
“You would be proud of your grandson, Father. Alex was a hero tonight. He stepped up and took his rightful place in this family. He and Elena showed Greg why men fear the fury of kung fu masters, and i
t was Alex who sent Greg on the final leg of his journey to Hell.”
Wan looked at Jeng Ming, then winked at his grandson.
“Ah, yes, Alex, I can see it in your eyes. Tonight you became a man. I have always been proud of you, but tonight you took an important step. As for some of the things that have happened since you returned from China, like the rest of the men in this family – and I include you, Nianzu, in that group--you are occasionally wrongheaded. You can be forgiven your concern for your sister. You have tried to protect her all her life. But as we are all aware, Elena has a tendency to test boundaries and assert herself in dangerous situations. We men have to be on our toes.”
Elena blushed then jumped up and ran over to her grandfather. She put her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. She turned back to Bai with a saucy wink.
“Now, Grandfather, you know that I am the model of a shy obedient young girl.”
Everyone laughed at that outrageous assertion. Wan swatted her on her bottom, then pulled her down next to him and held her close.
“I will defer to your husband to respond to that remark, Elena. But in addition to some questionable decisions you made, I understand you were very brave.”
Bai laughed along with the others, but threw Elena a warning look.
“No need to worry, Father, or you either, Wyatt. Elena and I will have a protracted discussion in our private quarters about her actions tonight. But, yes, Father, along with Alex, Elena was incredibly brave and skillful. She was a true kung fu master, physically and spiritually. I know Governor Sampson will never look at her the same way again. Indeed, he will likely insist on a bodyguard the next time they meet.”
A round of laughter confirmed that they all agreed.
Deshi raised his hand and looked to Bai for permission to speak. Bai had asked Wyatt to let Deshi join the group and Wyatt agreed.
Bai smiled to himself at the adoring look on the striking young man’s earnest face. He knew he was Deshi’s hero. He recognized the look. He was sure it was the same look that had been on his seventeen year old face every time he looked at Wyatt. Hell, he thought with a grin, he still looked at Wyatt that way. He nodded for Deshi to speak.
“Uncle Bai, you told me when I was skilled with the nandao, jian, and quiang I would be ready to ride with you. Now that I can use all three weapons easily, I think it is time.”
Bai smiled at the young man’s assertiveness and exchanged a quick glance with Wyatt.
“That’s a decision you and your father will need to make together, Deshi. I think you are ready but it’s up to you, Wyatt.” Seeing the pained look on Lei’s face, he added, “And, of course, your mother will have to agree.”
Wyatt reached over and took Lei’s hand.
“Bai’s right, Deshi. You have surprised both your mother and me with your skill with the weapons. The three of us will talk and decide when you can join Bai.”
Bai took a moment to light one of his Bolivian cigars, then leaned back thoughtfully in his chair. He looked over at Wan and didn’t hide the love or admiration he felt for his father. He turned back to Alex and Deshi.
“When your grandfather came to this country, the Tongs were very different organizations. There weren’t opportunities for Chinese men to create the kind of enterprises I have created. I have been fortunate to have my father and now Wyatt as mentors. Wyatt showed me how to envision a different future for the Tongs. Between the two of us, we’ve demonstrated how to take a gang known only for its violence and turn it into an economic force.
“Don’t misunderstand. There will always be evil men like Greg and Marcello. Your fighting skills will always be needed, Deshi. Both your father and I find it useful in our financial negotiations that the person sitting across from us knows that in three minutes we can ensure that they never walk again or talk again, much less negotiate again. A knife can be a compelling incentive to cement the deal.”
He grinned at Wyatt, who winked in return.
“Both you and Deshi, Alex, can be part of a new organization, one that Wyatt, Nianzu and I are creating. It’s an organization built on the best of the Tongs, but recognizes the realities of the new century.”
He leaned back in his chair and puffed on his cigar. There were many things he wanted to say to these young men, things he hoped they would understand and respect. He waited until he was sure he had their attention.
“I hope you will forgive me for being philosophical, but I want to talk about the importance of our mixed heritage. I have found it a blessing, never a curse, that I have both Chinese and European blood. Like Deshi and Lei, I am more visibly Chinese, and because of my relationship and admiration for my father, I have chosen to be Chinese. There is a need for leaders like me and someday, like you, Deshi, in this country that despises the Chinese and treats us as less than human.
“Alex, you also have the advantage of mixed blood. You have your father’s Indian blood, your mother’s Mexican heritage and the fact that you were raised by a Chinese woman. All of this racial interplay gives us an opportunity and a responsibility. I am determined that in my lifetime the downtrodden Chinese in this country will live as free and full citizens, respected not reviled. And, internationally, the banks that Wyatt and I have established will not only be acknowledged, they will be feared. Not because of our physical might, but because of our economic might.”
Wyatt stood and raised his glass of brandy. His usual twinkle was absent. Instead, his expression was solemn and Bai saw the love in his eyes.
“You are right, Bai, about so many things. Alex and Deshi do have the opportunity to be part of a new world, one in which you are the leader. Don’t think for a minute that any of us are unaware of who you are, of what you are. You will be thirty years old in three months and you are already a legend in this country and around the world. It is my honor to be in your presence.”
Wan, Nianzu, Alex, and Deshi rose next to Wyatt. They all raised their glasses to Bai. He smiled a crooked smile and bowed in return.
~~~
The conversation continued. Everyone was both exhausted and exhilarated by the events of the evening. But Quitin’s death hung like a cloak of sadness over the celebration. He was a beloved member of the family. His death underscored the fragility of life and the inherent danger of their collective lifestyle.
Bai rose and motioned to Elena to come to him. He put his arm around her and held her close to him.
“We need to say good night. I have waited as long as I can to have this beautiful woman in my arms. Thank you everyone for what you did tonight. We can all be proud. An evil man is no more and an organization that terrorized and made a mockery of our political system has been brought to the ground. On a personal level, Jeng Ming, I hope you believe that your future is more than your past. Nothing will make me happier than to see you blossom as you should. You can be a shining star for all those young girls we saved. Your example will show them their worth and prove that good is stronger than evil.
He leaned down and lifted Elena’s chin.
“We need to go, cherie. We have much to discuss.
“Good night, all.”
~~~
As everyone scattered to go to their quarters, Alex stepped up to Jeng Ming. He took a deep breath and grasped her elbow.
She started and tried to break away. He held her arm more tightly.
“I’ll walk you to your chambers, Jeng Ming.”
When she frowned, he added, “I want to talk to you.”
He ignored her attempts to free her arm. Instead, held it firmly as they walked through the beautiful gardens lit by the light of the full moon peeping through the clouds.
When they arrived at her casita, she jerked her arm free. Before she could go inside, Alex spoke.
“You were right, Jeng Ming. I was jealous of Bai. Elena and I have been inseparable all of our lives and her love for Bai threatened me. As you pointed out, I acted like a child who lost his best friend. Worst of all, I made Bai into a monster rat
her then seeing him as the great man that he is. He forgave me and brought me into his close circle. I will be grateful for the rest of my life that he was able to see the man I am rather than the spoiled child I appeared to be. I tell you this because I hope someday you also will see me as the man I am.”
Jeng Ming turned away, refusing to look at him when he was speaking. When he finished, he stood quietly waiting for her response. Her indecision was apparent. Her shoulders and neck muscles were tight knots. As always she held her head high, aloof.
When he just about gave up, she looked over her shoulder and said, “I don’t think you are a child. I can understand why you felt the loss of Elena. I have never been close to anyone since my mother died. Elena didn’t die. She fell in love with a magnificent man. But she still loves you.”
“You’re right, Jeng Ming. She loves me very much as I do her. But it is the love of a sister and brother. I want to love a woman the way a man loves a woman. The way that Bai loves Elena.”
Jeng Ming frowned. She took several steps back and her face hardened.
“Bai is unusual. Men don’t love women like that. He is an exception.”
“I disagree. My father loves Lei the way Bai loves Elena. I know that I can love a woman in that way.”
Jeng Ming felt a rush of anger. He really is a child she thought. She shook her head no and said dismissively,” I was wrong. You are a child. One that still believes in fairy tales.”
She sniffed. “I am not a child,” and added with a harsh laugh, “I never have been.”
She turned to go to her chambers, but stopped when she heard Alex’s voice. It was different than his usual way of speaking, sharper, more assertive.
