Death In Shanghai
Page 30
I lost consciousness again.
When I awoke, my chest ached and my breathing came in shallow gasps. A hand reached out to touch my face. In it, a cold cloth, stinking of fish.
The coolness of the cloth soothed my brow. A warm coolness like the kiss of a seal.
I lay there in the dark of the boat, tossing from side to side as the waves struck the side, hearing the constant throb of the engine and smelling the salt in the air.
On the wall, I saw a calendar. The dates changing as the fisherman tore off the red leaves.
Two more weeks passed before I could sit up.
The old man came in and fed me a thin, watery soup with the eyes of fish floating in it, and green fronds of soft seaweed.
He stared at the tattoo on my chest.
I took a few mouthfuls and collapsed again.
I just lay there, staring at the dark, salt-stained wood above my head.
I made so many mistakes, disappointing Di Yu, failing in my assigned task. I know now that he has forgiven me. Understood my hubris.
I underestimated Danilov.
It won’t happen again. I know now what I have to do. Di Yu has told me the importance of this new work. Nobody will stop me this time.
Now, I had to rest and build up my strength. I will have to kill the old couple eventually. A shame. But nothing must get in the way of my work.
Nothing.
Next time, I will be smarter, more determined, more ruthless. Nothing will get in my way.
Allen was now dead.
Long live Yama.
CARINA™
ISBN: 978 1 474 03559 0
Death in Shanghai
Copyright © 2015 M J Lee
Published in Great Britain (2015)
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