King Bongo
Page 30
“Yeah,” Bongo said cryptically, “a real tearjerker. I’m crying right now.”
Mr. Wu released another column of smoke from his lips as he spoke. “She’s crossed over. You’ve lost her again.”
“It’s the way she wanted it.”
Wu looked through the window at the parked black Plymouth. “Now that Zapata is out of the way, the nuns will no longer be doing your sister’s laundry. She’s needed elsewhere. She’s a brave girl.”
“She always was.”
“You’ve lost your twin, but I have another twin for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I lied, when I said there was only one Vanda dearei that made the journey from China to be with you. The truth is, she had a sister, and I secretly kept her.” Wu snapped his fingers.
Ming reached down onto the seat next to him, then held up a splendid orchid. The plant’s proud green stalk shot up from a clay pot, its flamboyant purple bloom filling the air with the scent of vanilla and cinnamon.
Wu sighed. “She’s the exact twin of the one you lost.”
Bongo took the orchid. Her weight in his hands was solid, the lush fragrance of her bloom beckoned. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Be good to her. I don’t want her to blow up in your face.”
“That will never happen again. I’ll protect her.”
“She’s the last, and she’s in your hands.”
“I know how valuable she is. I will repay you.”
“Promises made, promises to be kept. There will be time in the future to repay. Revolution, like Rome, is not made in a day.”
Bongo quickly turned to Mr. Wu. “Revolution?”
“Yes.” Mr. Wu grinned.
The truth was as obvious as the bloom of the flower that Bongo held in his hands. He answered his own question with a shout. “Revolution!”
PERMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following for permission to reprint previously published material: Hal Leonard Corporation: Excerpt from the song lyric “Cry” words and music by Churchill Kohlman. Copyright © 1951 by Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., New York. Copyright renewed. Excerpts from the song lyric “Marahuana” words and music by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston. Copyright © 1934 (renewed 1962) by Famous Music Corporation. Excerpts from the song lyric “Lover” from the Paramount Picture Love Me Tonight, words by Lorenz Hart and music by Richard Rodgers. Copyright © 1932, 1933 (renewed 1959, 1960) by Famous Music Corporation. International copyright secured. Excerpts from the song lyric “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls, by Frank Loesser. Copyright © 1950 (renewed) by Frank Music Corp. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard Corporation.
Seemsa: Excerpt from the song lyric “Twenty Years” by Maria Teresa Vera. Copyright © by Maria Teresa Vera. Copyright © 2000 by Seemsa, Madrid (Spain). Reprinted by permission of Seemsa.
Universal–Duchess Music Corporation: Excerpt from the song lyric “I Don’t Know Enough About You,” words and music by Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour. Copyright © 1946 by Universal–Duchess Music Corporation (BMI). International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Universal–Duchess Music Corporation.
Warner Bros. Publications U.S. Inc.: Excerpt from the song lyric “From This Moment On” by Cole Porter. Copyright © 1950 by Chappell & Co. Copyright renewed, assigned to John F. Wharton, Trustee of the Cole Porter Musical & Literary Property Trusts. Excerpt from the song lyric “It’s All Right With Me” by Cole Porter. Copyright © 1953 by Cole Porter. Copyright renewed, assigned to Robert H. Montgomery, Trustee of the Cole Porter Musical & Literary Property Trusts. All rights administered by Chappell & Co. Excerpt from the song lyric “The Lady is a Tramp” by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers. Copyright © 1937 (Renewed) by Chappell & Co. Rights for extended renewal term in U.S. controlled by The Estate of Lorenz Hart (administered by WB Music Corp.) and The Family Trust U/W Richard Rodgers and The Family Trust U/W Dorothy F. Rodgers (administered by Williamson Music). All rights outside U.S. controlled by Chappell & Co. Excerpt from the song lyric “On the Street Where You Live” by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Copyright © 1956 by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Copyright renewed. Publication and allied rights assigned to Chappell & Co. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Warner Bros. Publications U.S. Inc., Miami, FL 33014.