Opium Warfare

by Justin Bienvenue

  “Yung, are you not getting it?! There was opium on that ship! They probably wanted to burn the evidence of it being there.”

  “So what Ryu? There’s nothing wrong with opium, I smoke opium myself. In fact, I’m thinking of taking some of this home with me.”

  “Yung!” I shouted, outraged.

  “Calm down buddy, why are you so upset? You didn’t inhale enough of those fumes of fire and scent of opium when you were putting out the fires, did you?”

  “I don’t smoke opium Yung, it’s bad.”

  “No it’s not man; you just don’t know what you’re missing.”

  It was then that we were both interrupted by one of our men.

  “You aren’t going to believe this shit!” he said to us.

  We went over to him and saw that the fifth and final crate was opened. What was inside was not opium or any other type of commodity, it was a body.

  “Is that what I think it is?!” Yung said.

  “Yeah, someone stuffed a goddamn body in the crate!”

  I looked on in shock as some of the men tried taking the man’s body out of the crate. It took some time, because it was quite a struggle as the man was stuffed in there pretty well. When they finally were able to pry the man’s lifeless body out of the box, they laid him down. I looked down at the body and a horrific expression came across my face as I felt my heart sink in my chest.

  “CHAO!!!”

  I went over to his body and dropped to my knees. I was in shock and disbelief as tears started falling from my eyes. I looked at his body and noticed his shirt was bloody and his head had a bullet hole in it. Now I knew why Chao had been closed for most of the last week, but while I finally knew what happened to him, I was now wishing that I didn’t.

  “Looks like he’s been in there for a few days. Apparently, someone stabbed and shot him and then stuffed his body in the crate,” one of the men who opened the crate said.

  I then remembered about my last encounter with that man in front of Chao’s deli, the one who drew a weapon on me. The weapon was both a sword and pistol, and here I was before Chao’s body, which just so happened to have a bullet hole in the head and stab wound in the stomach.

  I wiped the tears from my eyes and cleared my throat before speaking, “You guys, I think I know who did this...”

  “Who Ryu?” Yung asked.

  “I’ve been wondering where Chao has been for days now, because I know he was never closed, so I thought it was kind of suspicious. I was there just the other day and there was a man in front of the building who I think works for Shin Shaojin. Well, he told me to move along, but I wanted to know what he knew about Chao being closed. Well, he kept insisting that I leave and after I refused, it was then that he drew some kind pistol with a blade on me. I didn’t want to die so after a small fight with him I backed off and left.”

  “Damn Ryu, I’m glad you’re okay. Do you really think it was the same guy?” one of the men asked.

  “Well, it would certainly explain why Chao has a bullet hole in his head and a cut in his stomach...I just can’t believe this.”

  “Alright Ryu, the authorities just got here, so why don’t you give them a statement about your encounter and what you know, and then just go home. Since you knew Chao better than any of us, I think it’s only right for you to get out of here for a while and clear your head.”

  “Okay, thanks Yung...”

  My day went from one extreme moment to another, and now the very thing in the pit of my stomach I didn’t want to believe was true...Chao was dead. I gave my statement to the authorities and they wrote it all down and told me they would contact me if they needed anything else. I definitely needed to get out of here. My mind was racing at the thought of it all. What if it was that guy? It had to be, and he more than likely worked for Shaojin after all; Mia and I had come to that conclusion as we pieced it all together. Mia...I had to see her, I had to let her know what happened. I thought about going to see her, but decided I would make a call to the hotel and ask if we could meet up, first.

  As I got to my street, I noticed some police men were there. Hmm, I wonder why they are here. As I approached my apartment building, they asked me who I was. I told them and asked what was wrong. They told me my neighbor Yugori was found dead by one of the other people on the floor. I suddenly felt ill and wanted to collapse. I asked them how it happened and when they told me the cause, I fell to my knees yet again. They said he died of an opium overdose, which didn’t make sense to me since Yugori had been an opium smoker for years. Then again, I suppose it doesn’t matter how many years you do drugs or how well you have them under control, after a while, the effects are bound to catch up with you. Also, I did only meet with him once, so he may have just told me that to reassure me. I asked them if I could go inside and they said no, but I told them I just needed to make a quick telephone call. The officer acquiesced, but told me not to disturb the crime scene. He said to just tell the men already inside who I was and what I needed to do.

  As I stepped inside I alerted the men and the woman who lived on the same floor as Yugori in the hallway of my presence, and I told them I lived there. They let me go on ahead to my apartment. I was shaking uncontrollably. I took a deep breath and then picked up the receiver and put it to my ear as I put a finger to dial zero for the operator so I could be transferred to the Astor House Hotel.

  When the called was transferred to the Astor House Hotel and I asked for Mia’s room, they told me she had not been there since yesterday afternoon. Great...as if this day could get any worse, now Mia is missing. I put the receiver down and sat for a moment to collect my thoughts, but I couldn’t as it was just too much to take all at once. First, Rafael, now Chao and Yugori, and to top it all off, Mia is missing. I didn’t know if she was missing or not, but I couldn’t imagine why she wasn’t at her hotel room since yesterday. I made my way out of the building and thought about where I could go. I decided to go over to the Hongkew market and maybe the Garden Bridge; I just knew I needed to go somewhere and clear my head. I made my way out of my place and the officer asked me what I knew about Yugori. I told him that I really never talked to him until yesterday. I told him how we had tea together and how he told me about his opium habits. He then asked me if I smoked opium with him to which I said no. He said that he had no more questions and that I could be on my way.

  I made my way outside and thanked the officer for allowing me in. I began walking down the street and looked over at the first house next to my apartment building and noticed two officers smoking opium. They simply looked over to me smiling and nodding. I stopped for a minute as if I was going to say something, but thought it would be best if I just kept walking forward. I reached the end of the street before crossing it. When I reach the corner, I noticed there were more people smoking opium. Everything suddenly fell silent. I could no longer hear cars on the street, the talking of people, the chirping of birds, I had gone completely deaf. As I stood on the corner, I slowly turned my head to the left and saw people smoking opium out in front of the building and then I looked to the right and saw the usually busy strip completely empty.

  I turned my head back forward and held my ears as I began walking without being able to hear anything. I felt like I was losing my mind. I continued walking until I reached the run down house I had come across and examined a few days before and when I looked over at it, I saw the man who threatened to kill me. I stopped and looked at him, and his eyes met mine. He gave me an evil smirk and pulled the same weapon he threatened me with from his coat pocket. I stood frozen looking at him not taking my eyes off him. As he got nearer, I closed my eyes for a brief moment and upon re-opening them, he was gone. It was as if he had vanished into thin air or wasn’t ever there at all. I removed my hands from my ears. Not only could I still not hear, but now, even my mind and eyes were playing tricks on me.

  I think I was taking in everything that had happened so far today in my own way, by completely losing it. I kept on walking an
d decided I would not stop until I reached the Hongkew market. I didn’t care if I couldn’t hear anything or I was seeing things that weren’t even there, I just knew I had to get to a place where there would be a bunch of people. As I approached the market, my hearing returned. I let out a sigh of relief, which I heard with my own ears for the first time in what seemed like hours. Finally, I made my way to the market and there was a crowd of people all around it. Thank god, I didn’t have to feel alone anymore. I walked around for a bit before stopping to sit down at a table. I then started to try to piece everything together so it made a bit more sense to me. Rafael was found dead a few days after he got into an argument with Shin Shaojin about the crates on the ship. Chao was acting suspicious when I last saw him, and Mia told me Shin told her that he owned the deli and was planning to make it the spot for his upcoming businesses. Chao then went missing for a few days and next we find his body in a crate that was on one of the burning ships. Yugori had an altercation with that American man and then is found dead the next day.

  I then realized Shin Shaojin was the common factor in all of this. Rafael fights with Shaojin, ends up dead. Chao goes missing for days after we find out his building is owned by Shaojin, we find him dead. Yugori...Yugori may or may not have known Shaojin, but he smoked opium. Mia did say that Shaojin used the back of Chao’s as an opium den. What if Shaojin is the one bringing in all this opium, it would certainly explain some things, I mean, he is quite a powerful man. Perhaps Yugori got his opium from Shaojin? Or maybe the guy fighting with Yugori was working for him? No...that doesn’t make any sense. Yugori died of an opium overdose and for all I know, it could have nothing whatsoever to do with everything else. I stood up and decided to walk around after piecing what I could together. I walked around for some time and just tried to enjoy myself as best I could, but then my head was still racing and I still felt sick.

  After walking around for a few hours I decided I should head home. Seeing as I barely made it here, I looked for a rickshaw to take me home. I spotted one a few feet away and walked my way over to it. I told the man where I wanted to go and I hopped in.

  * * * * * *

  When I got to my place, I noticed that the officers were gone. I stepped inside the building and made my way up to my apartment. I looked over to Yugori’s place and noticed the door was open. I made my way over and stepped inside and noticed everything was as it was when I was in here the other night.

  “I didn’t know you that well but I enjoyed the time we got to spend together. I will miss you my friend,” I said outloud.

  Just as I closed the door behind me, I noticed Yugori’s opium pipe was sitting on his desk near one of his chairs. I then closed the door and made my way back over to my place. What an awful day, I thought. I took my shoes off and put them over by the window. I then stood over the side of my bed and collapsed into it. I needed some sleep, oh how I just needed some sleep.

  Chapter 10 - Destination Unknown

  I woke up to someone breaking down my door as small sharp pieces flew into the air and the door fell to the floor in an abrupt slam. Alarmed, I sat up and saw a man standing in my apartment. He looked at me wide eyed and as I looked back, I realized it was the American man who had been yelling at Yugori the night before. The man that the police had taken away. Great, I’m guessing he wants to avenge himself for me standing up to him. Well, this should be fun.

  “Look if this is about the other night, I’m sorry...”

  He said nothing and just kept staring at me intently. I got out of bed and decided to confront him. As I stood straight up, he came charging at me. I saw his right arm coming at me with what appeared to be a studded covered gauntlet.

  * * * * * *

  The man knocked Ryu out with a single punch to the face. Ryu fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes. The man then removed the gauntlet from his wrist. He went over to the phone by the desk and picked up the receiver to make a call.

  “Yeah, Operator, transfer me to Shaojin Enterprises.”

  “One moment please,” the operator replied.

  “Shaojin Enterprises, this is Dahlia speaking, how may I help you?”

  “Yeah, is Mr. Shaojin in? I’d like to speak to him.”

  “He just stepped in, one moment.”

  “Hello?” Shin said.

  “Mr. Shaojin, it’s Cuddington. I’m in Yugori’s neighbor’s apartment. Just knocked the guy out. What do you want me to do with him?”

  “Marvelous! I’ll have one of my men come by in a rickshaw to pick him up. Then I want you to tell him to drop our unconscious friend in front of the teahouse along the river in Chinese City. I’ll have another rickshaw come pick you up.”

  “Very good.”

  “Have a safe trip Cuddington,” Shaojin smiled as he put down the receiver.

  The man known as Cuddington put the studded covered gauntlet back on his right arm and made a fist to get a feel for it. He then picked Ryu’s limp body off the floor, slinging him over his shoulder. As he made his way out of Ryu’s apartment, he noticed the woman who also lived on the floor standing outside the hallway. She looked up at him and dropped the satchel that was in her left hand. He flinched and took a giant step toward her to scare her to which she responded by shrieking and running to her door. He walked up to the door and waited nearby, occasionally looking out the hallway window to see when the rickshaws would show up. After a few moments it showed up, and he took a step outside and looked around to make sure the coast was clear. When he saw that it was, he put Ryu in one of the rickshaws and told the man where to bring him. The man nodded. Cuddington then got into the other rickshaw, sat down and told the driver to follow the other rickshaw.

  The two rickshaws arrived at the teahouse in less than ten minutes. Cuddington got off his and went over to pick up Ryu who was still unconscious. He once again put him over his shoulder and walked down the rustic bannister along the river right across from the teahouse, however Cuddington had no intention of crossing the street. After looking around and seeing that no one was around, Cuddington threw Ryu’s body over the bannister and he fell into the river.

  * * * * * *

  I woke up and hadn’t the slightest idea of where I was. I dreamt I was floating down a river, although when I looked at my clothes, I soon realized it was no dream. The last thing I remembered was that American guy punching me in the face. I even heard the name of Shin Shaojin mentioned, but I wasn’t certain if I really heard it as I was out of it. I took my hands out of a dirty puddle and wiped them on my pants. I then wiped my eyes with my knuckles. I then looked around me and realized I was in an opening of a tunnel. Seeing as I didn’t have any clue how I got here or what to do, I decided to venture further into the tunnel to see where it would lead me. Surprisingly, it wasn’t dreadfully dark in the tunnel as I walked further in it. I noticed torches every so often as I passed. It seemed that this tunnel was used quite frequently, but I immediately noticed it wasn’t a sewage tunnel.

  I vaguely remember hearing about a mysterious tunnel as a boy, but I never thought it actually existed. I knew wasn’t the Shanghai Tunnels as that one was in the United States, but I imagined the tunnel in which I was now walking served the same purpose. As I continued walking, a black cloaked figure appeared before me. I guessed he wasn’t friendly, because, well, come on, can a cloaked figure in a mysterious tunnel really be friendly? I did at least try asking him if he could help me, but he answered me by revealing a long sharp sword from his back. He had me at a clear disadvantage as not only did I not have a weapon, but my defensive skills more than likely lacked compared to his. However rather than attacking me, he motioned for me to follow him. Since I didn’t really know where I was going and I didn’t want to die, I decided to comply.

  As we were walking together, I realized he had not one but two swords behind his back; he was clearly an assassin, perhaps even a ninja. As we walked down two long passageways, he stopped to face me before I backed off a little. I was about to speak, but bef
ore I could, he removed the other sword from his back. Great, I thought, he just wanted to go a little further to make me believe he was going to help, so he could kill me. He then took one of the swords and dropped it by my feet. I looked at him and he merely nodded his head as if to tell me to pick it up. I picked it up, and then he got into a stance and came at me. I countered his blade by pointing mine diagonally. Hmm, so far so good. I’d heard stories and even seen some ancient battle re-enactments to have somewhat of an understanding of how to fight, but again, I knew I was no match for the man before me. I think he was toying with me as we clashed swords over and over and I knew he could more than likely either take the sword out of my hand or go for my body and slash through me and cut up my organs.

  I jumped out of the way as he tried to come at me with more power. I then surprised him by kicking him in the chest when I noticed he was off guard. He dropped his sword, but rather than surrender, he came at me with moves I couldn’t even block with my sword. He knocked the sword out of my hand, then turned around and knocked me to the ground. Sure enough, he began beating me in hand to hand combat and before I knew it, I was on the ground broken and bleeding. He then extended his hand to help me up, and once again I found myself confused. I took his hand and he helped me up. He then kneeled down and picked up one of his swords and handed it to me, but he did not pick up the other one.

  Once again, he kneeled down in front of me and for the first time, he spoke, “Kill me!”

  I was at a loss now. Not only had this man prolonged my untimely end, but now he was asking me to end his life. I stood there with the sword in hand shaking and confused at his request.

  “Wh...what...?” I asked.

  “You must kill me if you wish to proceed any further,” he explained.

  “But I’ve never killed anyone...” I was trembling now.

  Instead of saying another word, he rose from his knees, grabbed my hands, and thrust the sword I held into his chest. I tried to let go of the sword, but he tightened his grip on my hands and with what little strength he had left, he thrust the blade into himself even further.