Fortune

by Ian Hamilton

  At one o’clock Wang came into his office. “The weapons that I ordered yesterday have been delivered. So whatever Wu wants to do, we’ll be ready for him,” he said.

  “That’s good news.”

  “And there’s a Mercedes-Benz for you at the curb downstairs. Sonny is there as well. I’ve explained the rules and the routine to him. He seems to understand.”

  “What are the rules?” Uncle asked.

  “He drives you wherever you want to go and then waits for you or accompanies you when you get to your destination. If you want to walk somewhere, he’ll walk with you. He’ll always be outside the office when you’re here, and he or one of the other bodyguards will always be outside your apartment building during the night. Regardless of who is at the apartment during the night, he has to be there with the car by seven in the morning.”

  “Will he be carrying a gun?”

  “There will be one in the car if he needs it, but I don’t think it’s necessary for him to have it on his person. You know how much the police frown on guns being displayed in public.”

  Uncle shook his head. “I hope this isn’t a permanent arrangement.”

  “Don’t we all,” Wang said.

  Uncle had been drinking instant coffee during the day, but around three o’clock he felt like something a bit more upscale and left the office to go to the café across the street. He saw the grey Mercedes as soon as he exited the building.

  Sonny, wearing a white shirt buttoned to the collar and black slacks, was standing off to one side with the other guards. When he saw Uncle, he hurried towards him. “Am I driving you somewhere?”

  “No, I’m going to the café for a coffee.”

  “I’ll walk with you,” Sonny said.

  “That isn’t necessary.”

  “Wang was quite specific about my orders. I don’t want to mess up the very first time I should be following them.”

  Uncle smiled. “Then walk with me, but I like to drink my coffee alone.”

  “I wouldn’t think of sitting with you,” Sonny said. “I’ll just stay close.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Uncle returned to the office. Sonny walked a few paces behind, his head swivelling in all directions.

  “Tse just phoned,” Fong said as Uncle cleared the stairs. “He wants you to call him back.”

  Tse had been on Uncle’s list of people to call, but he had given priority to the Mountain Masters in the New Territories. “I was going to call you,” he said when Tse answered the phone. “You’ve heard about what happened last night?”

  “Who hasn’t? Man and Wu have been letting everyone know. I’m surprised it hasn’t made it into the newspapers.”

  “Hopefully it never will.”

  “What happened exactly? Everything I know came from Man. As you can imagine, it was kind of one-sided.”

  “Wu sent men to our night market. They were harassing some vendors, and Ren, one of our senior men, asked them to move on. One of them pulled a knife on him, and one of our forty-niners took him and two others out.”

  “They were goading you.”

  “I know. Our man shouldn’t have overreacted, but he did.”

  “You do realize that you’ve given Wu an excuse to retaliate.”

  “I know.”

  Tse hesitated and then said, “If he does, you should assume that Man is prepared to support him. He hinted as much during our call, and then he tried to feel me out about how much support I’m prepared to give you.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That I’m not going to get involved,” Tse said. “I did add, though, that I thought a substantial group of Mountain Masters in the Territories would stand with you. He laughed when I said that.”

  “Why did he think that was funny?”

  “He said it’s easy to be supportive when the threat is just that — a threat. Contending with the reality of a gang war is a different matter.”

  “That cuts two ways, which brings me back to Wu. Did Man say what kind of support he’s prepared to give him?” Uncle asked.

  “He was vague, even when I asked him directly what he has in mind. He said there’s no point in discussing it until Wu decides what he’s going to do.”

  “The last time we did this dance with Wu, he backed off as soon as he saw we’d fight. As much as I regret what happened last night, it might have reminded him that we aren’t pushovers. We have a great Red Pole and a determined group of men on the ground, and we’ve just bought the newest weapons we could get our hands on.”

  “I assume you’d like me to pass on that message to Man.”

  “It might be helpful if you did.”

  “Consider it done,” Tse said. “On a less serious note, will I see you tomorrow at Sha Tin?”

  “If things are quiet overnight, I think you will.”

  “For all kinds of reasons, I hope you’ll be there.”

  Uncle found Wang sitting in Fong’s office. “If there’s nothing more for me to do here, I’m going home,” he said.

  “Are you going to the races tomorrow?” Fong asked.

  “Maybe. I’ll let you know if I am.”

  A moment later Uncle started down the stairs to the street, thinking that it would be a pleasant walk home. But then he remembered Sonny Kwok and the Mercedes. He thought briefly about waving Sonny off, then decided that would be setting a bad precedent.

  Sonny had moved the car so it was directly in front of the building entrance. He was sitting behind the wheel but leapt out when he saw Uncle.

  “I’d like to go home,” Uncle said. “Do you know where I live?”

  “One of the guards told me you live above the Blind Emperor Restaurant,” Sonny said. “I’ve eaten there.”

  “The guard was correct. You can take me there.”

  Sonny opened the back door of the Mercedes. Uncle hesitated, debating whether to sit up front. “I’ll feel more like a proper driver if you sit in the back,” Sonny said, as if reading his mind. “Besides, those were Wang’s orders.” Uncle slid into the back seat, quietly impressed with Sonny’s manner.

  The car pulled into light traffic and headed towards the town centre.

  “When I spoke to you this morning, you mentioned that you’ve had no family except the gang since you were sixteen,” Uncle said. “What happened to your birth family? Mine died of starvation in China.”

  “I’ve heard the men talk about that,” Sonny said, looking warily at Uncle in the rear-view mirror. “But my family didn’t die in that sense.”

  “Then what happened to them?”

  “My father threw me out of the house. He told my mother and my five sisters never to speak to me again. They haven’t,” Sonny said. “I’m dead to them, and they are dead to me.”

  “I shouldn’t have asked that question.”

  “I don’t mind,” Sonny said deliberately. “I was one of six kids, born in Kowloon Walled City. When I was thirteen, my father took me out of school and apprenticed me to a stonemason. What little money I made, he took. If I protested, he beat me. Then one day I’d had enough and I hit him back. That was it.”

  “How did you find your way from there to the brotherhood?”

  “I met a triad in jail. He explained the history of the society to me and recited the Thirty-Six Oaths from memory. The oaths struck a chord in me. I was at an age when I wanted to belong to something. He agreed to recommend me to his gang, which was here in Fanling.”

  “What was his name?”

  “Seto. He died six months after I was accepted as a Blue Lantern.”

  “I remember him. How long was it before you took the oaths?”

  “Four years. The day I did was the proudest and happiest day of my life,” Sonny said.

  “I felt the same way,” Uncle said.

  The car eased through
traffic and stopped in front of the Blind Emperor. His normal twenty-minute walk was less than a five-minute drive.

  “I’ll be here until eight if you need me,” Sonny said.

  “I doubt that I will, but I’ll see you in the morning, Sonny.”

  Uncle walked over to the entrance, then, realizing he hadn’t eaten since breakfast, made a detour into the restaurant. He ordered steamed fish with ginger and sticky rice with barbecued pork, asking the owner to bring the food upstairs when it was ready.

  When he entered his apartment, he saw there was a message on his phone. He played it and heard Liu Leji’s voice. “As promised, I have looked into the matter we discussed, concerning how the Chinese government might deal with triads after the handover. Call me.”

  There was something in Leji’s tone that made Uncle think he would be pleased with what his partner had discovered. With a sense of anticipation, he phoned Leji’s home in Beijing.

  “You caught me just as I was getting ready to leave the house,” Leji said when he answered.

  “I can call back later.”

  “No, we can talk now. It’s been an interesting day here, which ended up with my uncle speaking to Deng Xiaoping.”

  Deng? Uncle thought. Why would he be involved? “How is Deng? He must be older than ninety now. Is he enjoying retirement?”

  “He’s ninety-one, his health is good, and he’s hardly retired,” Leji said. “Jiang Zemin may be president, but that’s in name only. No one takes him seriously. Deng is still running the government from the shadows.”

  “Then I’m even more curious to know why your uncle spoke with him.”

  “That’s not something I’m permitted to share. It’s enough for you to know that they spoke,” Leji said. “I have been told, though, that the fearmongering being perpetuated by your triad colleague is complete nonsense. There are no plans to eradicate the triads after the handover.”

  “I am very pleased to hear that.”

  “We were as well. We’ve built a substantial business together, and my uncle is aware of the details. No one wants to see that business threatened or disrupted,” Leji said. “And I should add that we’re far from being the only family with similar ties to Hong Kong.”

  “Please thank your uncle for his assistance in getting to the truth. The fact that it comes from Deng eliminates all doubt.”

  “Uncle, if you decide to tell your colleagues they have nothing to fear, you can’t use Deng’s name, or my uncle’s.”

  “That’s unfortunate but I understand, and you know I’ll honour that request,” Uncle said. He was disappointed, wondering how seriously the other Mountain Masters would take assurances from an anonymous source.

  “You might want to hold off saying anything for now,” Leji said. “My uncle is working on something that may be better at allaying fear.”

  “What are you getting at?” Uncle asked, his interest spiking again.

  “I’m going to be in Shenzhen this coming Wednesday. Can you join me there?”

  “Of course.”

  “Bring Fong with you. I’ll arrange a dinner with my aunt and wife.”

  “You aren’t going to tell me what this is about?”

  “No. There are still some details to be worked out, and I don’t want to risk looking foolish if plans change,” Leji said. “I’ll be in touch about the dinner.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Despite recurring thoughts about his conversation with Liu Leji, Uncle slept well. It wasn’t like Leji to be so vague, but it was that vagueness that finally convinced Uncle there was no point in thinking about it anymore. He had spent most of the evening handicapping the Sha Tin races. It had been quiet, with only two phone interruptions from Wang to tell him that the streets were calm. Uncle woke at six-thirty, made an instant coffee, shaved, showered, and went downstairs with the racing form in hand. Sonny was outside, leaning against a wall.

  “Good morning, boss,” Sonny said.

  “Good morning. I’m going to Jia’s Congee for breakfast. It’s a short walk, so I don’t need the car.”

  “I’ll walk with you,” said Sonny.

  Uncle started to say that wasn’t necessary, but Sonny had already moved next to him with an air of determination. It was another beautiful morning and Uncle was beginning to look forward to his day at the Sha Tin track. It had opened in 1978 and, while it didn’t have the long history of Happy Valley, it was a first-class racing venue, with two huge grandstands and an audience capacity of 85,000. Uncle normally sat with Tse, who had a permanent table in the Racing Club restaurant, which overlooked the finish line. Entry to the club required a pass, and Uncle knew Sonny wouldn’t be allowed in.

  “I’m going to Sha Tin for the races today. I’ll leave here around eleven-thirty. You should drop me off and come back later to pick me up,” Uncle said.

  “Okay,” said Sonny.

  Uncle bought his papers at the newsstand, then continued on to Jia’s. “Are you coming inside?” Uncle asked.

  “No, I’ll stay out here.”

  After a leisurely breakfast and another hour poring over the selections of the Sing Tao and Oriental Daily News race handicappers, Uncle left Jia’s. When Sonny fell in about half a step behind, Uncle felt a touch of annoyance. He hadn’t realized how much having a bodyguard would impinge on his privacy. He decided to talk to Wang about making Sonny less of a constant presence.

  It was a typical early Sunday morning in Fanling, with only a few pedestrians and sparse traffic on the street. Activity would pick up by mid-morning, and by dinnertime the place would be bustling. The Blind Emperor was always packed with families on Sunday evenings, so Uncle either ate a late lunch at the racetrack or went to Dong’s Kitchen to get the numbers from the day’s betting action and a plate of Dong’s famous chicken feet. He was trying to decide which option he would prefer when Sonny said, “Boss, slow down.”

  “Why?” Uncle asked.

  “I think I saw someone moving in the doorway to your building. Let me go ahead and check.”

  “The restaurant cooks always arrive early on Sunday to prep the food for dinner,” Uncle said, continuing at the same pace.

  Sonny sped up and moved past him. Uncle’s annoyance flared and he was about to say something when Sonny stopped and his body stiffened. Uncle looked towards the doorway and saw three men coming towards them, machetes pressed against their sides.

  “Run,” Sonny said to Uncle.

  “No. I have a switchblade in my pocket and I know how to use it,” he said, reaching into his jacket.

  “Don’t come any closer,” Sonny said to the men, who were inching nearer.

  “Yes, back off. This is a mistake,” Uncle said.

  One of the men said something indistinct and his colleagues nodded. Then one screamed, “Aiiiiiiiieee!” and they charged.

  Sonny stepped towards them, shielding Uncle. The men were about a metre apart, and Uncle guessed their plan was to encircle him. Before they could reach him, though, Sonny leapt at them. Uncle froze, shocked at his protector’s audacity.

  The three men were also caught off guard. The one to the left managed to swing his machete before Sonny was on top of him. The blade bit into his forearm, but that didn’t deter Sonny. He smashed the man in the face, sending him and the machete clattering to the ground. The other two men jumped towards Sonny as he reached down to pick up the weapon. In one seamless motion, the machete in Sonny’s hand left the ground and slashed the thigh of the man closest to him. As he reeled back, his partner came to a stop.

  “C’mon, try me. I’ll cut your throat, you son of a bitch,” Sonny growled.

  The man stared at him, and Uncle could see his hand shaking. Without saying a word, he turned and ran.

  The man on the ground began to stir. Sonny walked over to him and planted a foot on his head. “Don’t move,” he said, and then
looked at the man with the bleeding thigh. He was still upright, machete in his hand. “And if you want to get away from here, I suggest you do it now.”

  The man nodded, shuffled backwards, and then charged at Sonny, his machete held head-high. Sonny waited until the man was almost on top of him before he took a quick step to the right. The blade missed him by what looked to Uncle like no more than a hair’s width. Sonny’s machete didn’t miss. As the man went past him, Sonny drove the weapon into his shoulder near the neck. Blood spurted and the man collapsed to the ground, grabbing at his neck in an attempt to stem the flow.

  “Oh my god,” Uncle heard someone say. He looked towards the restaurant and saw two of its cooks standing in the doorway.

  “Are you okay, Uncle?” one asked. “We saw the whole thing through the window. We saw them attack you first.”

  “Call for an ambulance,” Uncle said.

  “Sure, right away,” the other cook said.

  Uncle looked at the man with the neck wound. “I don’t think he’s going to make it,” he said to Sonny. Then he turned his attention to the man whose head was being pressed into the ground under Sonny’s foot. “Lift your foot, Sonny. I want to talk to this one.”

  Uncle looked down at the man. That one punch from Sonny had destroyed his nose, and whatever other damage it had done Uncle could only guess at. Blood covered the entire lower half of his face, and the man’s eyes were glazed.

  Uncle knelt down so he was close to the man’s face. “Do you know where you are and what just happened?” he asked. “Nod if you do.”

  The man’s head moved ever so slightly in the affirmative.

  “Good. There’s an ambulance on the way for you and your buddy, but before I let you get into it, you need to answer a few questions. Will you do that?”

  The man groaned as he nodded.