Descent from Xanadu (8 page)

“That’s one of Mr. Crane’s rules. If he feels the wheels touch, the pilot had better have a damn good excuse or start looking for another job.” Ginny rose from her chair. “Shall we be ready to go in fifteen minutes?”

“Fine,” Sofia replied.

***

As the door closed behind Sofia, Li Chuan asked, “Your Dr. Ivancich is Yugoslavian?”

“Yes,” Judd said. “How did you know?”

“I’ve heard the name. She spent time with Mao Tse-tung until he died. There was also a rumor from his wife and others of the Gang of Four that she killed him.”

Judd was silent. Then he looked out the window. “We had nothing on her computer checkout about that.” He turned back to Li Chuan. “Think you can find something out about it for me?”

“I can’t tell yet,” the Asian said. Then he laughed. “In the meantime, don’t let her give you any pills.”

Judd also laughed. “I don’t think I’ll have any problems about that.”

10

Judd looked out the window. Below he saw Sofia and Ginny enter the limousine. The telephone rang again.

Merlin was on the receiver. “Judson is calling you from San Francisco.”

“Put him through,” Judd said. There was a click. “How are you, Judson?”

“Good, Mr. Crane. I have some information about the steel for the Malaysian bridge.”

“Tell me.”

“Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will give you the steel for six million less, but there’s a kicker. They want you to use their shipping line. That will up the cost about eight hundred thousand.”

“That’s just from one pocket to another,” Judd said. “Do you have any other ideas?”

“You’re in Hong Kong,” Judson said. “If you could arrange a meeting with S. Yuan Ling. He has the largest cargo shipping line in the world. And most of his ships have been built for him by Mitsubishi. He has the clout to save us a few bucks.”

“Last I heard,” Judd said, “he was in Mexico working his oil tanker deal with Pemex.”

“He’s back in Hong Kong now,” Judson said.

“Okay, I’ll try him,” Judd said. “Anything else?”

“Nothing that can’t hold,” Judson said.

“I’ll be in touch then,” Judd said. He turned to Li Chuan. “You get to S. Yuan Ling and tell him I want to meet him this afternoon.”

“He only works in the morning,” Li Chuan said. “He takes his lunch on his yacht, swims for an hour and afterward sleeps until dinnertime.”

“I don’t care if he sits on the crapper for an hour. You tell him that I want to see him.”

“Yes, sir,” Li Chuan said. “Then I’d better get into town right away.”

“Okay,” Judd said.

“What about the pharmaceutical deal?” Li Chuan asked on the way out. Despite the impassive Oriental face, he seemed anxious.

“You heard my decision. If it’s tied to their Quaaludes, I’m not interested.”

“The Quaaludes are where the money is.”

“It may be for them,” Judd said. “But not for us. You can tell them I’ll triple the offer for the interferon, though.”

“I’ll tell them,” Li Chuan said. “I’ll call you from town the minute I hear from S. Yuan Ling.”

“Thank you,” Judd said. He watched the Asian leave the lounge, then pressed for Merlin. Fast Eddie came in before Merlin arrived.

“Need a lift, boss?”

Judd nodded. “That’s an idea.”

“Cherry Coke an’ all the fixin’s?”

“You got it.”

The glass of cherry Coke was on the table as Merlin came into the lounge. He waited until Judd spooned the cocaine into the cola drink. Judd emptied the glass. “That’s the way it was made in Atlanta when they did it first.”

Merlin nodded. He had heard it many times. Caffeine was substituted for the cocaine sometime in 1903—or was it 1912—by the Food and Drug Act.

Judd looked at him. “Telex Security for more on Dr. Ivancich. Ask them how come they had no information that the doctor spent a year with Mao Tse-tung before he died. Also have them put a blanket on Li Chuan. I have a feeling he may be trying to make the Quaalude deal for himself.”

Merlin looked at him. “Yes, sir. Anything else?”

Judd shook his head. “I’m going to get a nap. Wake me up when Li Chuan sets up a meeting with Mr. Ling.”

***

The French salesgirl looked at them haughtily, spoke in snob accent. “We have the latest magazines—
L’Officiel
, French
Vogue
and others. We can make anything you select from any photograph in twelve hours.”

Sofia replied to the girl in French. The salesgirl nodded for a moment, then gestured for two chairs for them and walked away.

“What did you ask her?” Ginny said.

“I told her that we were not interested in
haute couture
. Everything has to be
prêt à porter
and we’ve only three hours in Hong Kong.”

The salesgirl returned with another woman who seemed to be the manager. “What exactly would madame be interested in?”

Sofia replied in English. “Two simple suits, one in wool, and one in lighter fabric. Three afternoon dresses, one cocktail dress, black, and one long dress, also black. Accessories to match and shoes also to match. Three skirts, one white, beige and black. Six silk shirts, all colors. Two pairs of slacks, one navy blue, one black. Three pairs of jeans.”

“Yes, madame,” the manager said respectfully. “Would you be kind enough to follow me to a dressing room?”

A moment later Sofia was in a large dressing room. Ginny sat in a chair while Sofia undressed. The manager made a face when she saw that Sofia’s undergarments were cotton.

“Perhaps madame would like to see some of our lingerie?” she said. “We have the latest styles, French and American. Silk or nylon.”

Sofia smiled. “Thank you, madame. Perhaps I can use a selection of both kinds.”

The manager came with a tape measure and Sofia undid her brassiere and slipped from her panties. Professionally the saleswoman checked her measurements. A moment later she left the two women in the dressing room.

Ginny looked at Sofia. “I told you before, but no one would know from your clothing, what a fantastic body you have.”

“Thank you,” Sofia said.

“No wonder Mr. Crane wants you to get a new wardrobe.”

Sofia smiled. “I thought he did this for all his girl friends.”

Ginny laughed. “Not all of them. But this is the first time he’s ever done it for his doctor.”

Sofia looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She saw Ginny stand behind her.

“Did you ever have your breasts done?” Ginny asked.

She met the girl’s eyes. “Never.”

“I can’t believe it,” Ginny said. “They’re absolutely perfect.”

Sofia still watched her in the mirror. “You can check them if you don’t believe me.”

Ginny hesitated a moment, then put her arms around Sofia’s back and cupped her breasts in her hands. Sofia looked at Ginny’s eyes in the mirror. The stewardess’s hands were almost hot; Sofia felt her nipples harden.

“Do you believe me now?” Sofia asked.

Reluctantly, slowly, Ginny withdrew her hands. Their eyes were still meeting in the mirror. Ginny’s voice whispered harshly, “Yes.”

After a moment, the door to the dressing room opened. Ginny returned to her chair as several girls entered with piles of clothing.

***

The sun was hot and the air humid above the water on the far side of the island. Li Chuan and Judd stood next to the sailor driving the mahogany Riva. Li Chuan pointed out a motor yacht half a mile in front. “That’s his boat. It’s always in Repulse Bay.”

“Would he be on board?” Judd asked.

“No, according to his schedule he should be swimming,” Li Chuan replied. “He said the earliest appointment he could give you is three days from now.”

Judd’s voice was flat. “We’ll talk to him right now. Slow down to two knots and keep a sharp lookout for him.”

The powerful motors softened to a whisper. Slowly the Riva began a wide circle. Ten minutes later they saw the yellow balloon bobbing in the water and three black heads before it.

Judd began to take off his clothes. “Head as close to them as you can with safety.” He pulled off his shoes and socks when the Riva was twenty meters away from them. He stepped over the windscreen onto the prow of the Riva. He waved his arms over his head. The black heads in the water suddenly grew faces as they turned to him. “Cut the engines,” Judd ordered.

Judd stood naked except for his bikini. He could see one of the men treading water lift an Uzi submachine gun in a waterproof plastic wrapper, which he tore off expertly.

Judd dove into the water and came up close to the man. “Be careful with that toy,” he said. “Use it and we all wind up blown apart in this water.”

Another man next to the one with the Uzi spoke. There was no fear in his voice. “What do you want of us?”

“I’m Judd Crane,” he said, treading water.

The man looked at him. “Didn’t your man tell you that we gave you an appointment three days from now?”

“Yes,” Judd said. “But I thought it better that we meet immediately.”

“Here? In the river?”

“It’s as good as any other place.”

“Very irregular, I must say.” The man’s face creased into a faint smile. “Do you always hold your meetings like this?”

“Not usually,” Judd said. “But then, business doesn’t offer me many opportunities to meet such men as S. Yuan Ling.”

Mr. Ling laughed. “You are younger than I thought, Mr. Crane.”

“Thank you,” Judd said. “Do I have your ear?”

“That is a Chinese proverb,” Mr. Ling said. “A deaf ear doesn’t listen to opportunity.”

Judd moved closer to him and they tread water face to face. “My information tells me you have a twenty-million-dollar deposit on six ships that Mitsubishi is constructing for you. Also that the first three are going to make their trials next spring.”

Mr. Ling nodded. “That’s true.”

“My information also has it that Mitsubishi plans to ship the steel to my bridge project in Malaysia on those ships’ sea trials. After that the vessels will be turned over to you for the remainder of the cost you and they have already agreed on.”

The Chinese was silent for a moment. “How much are they planning to charge you for shipping your steel?”

“Eight hundred thousand dollars.”

S. Yuan Ling nodded. “Very clever, these Japanese.”

Judd nodded back. “Very clever.”

“Would you agree to four hundred thousand dollars?”

“Yes,” Judd said.

“We have a deal.” The Chinese held out his hand. “May I invite you to lunch aboard the yacht?”

“I apologize,” Judd said. “I’m running a bit late for some other appointments. May I have the honor another time?”

“Of course,” the Chinese replied. “Any time.”

Judd swam to the Riva. A sailor held out a hand and helped him aboard. Judd turned to the Chinese still swimming and waved his hand. He turned to the sailor. “Let’s go.”

Slowly the Riva reversed engines and moved away from the swimmers, then swung in a wide circle. The helmsman opened the throttle full and the speedboat raced back to shore.

11

The limousine pulled up next to the plane. Sofia and Ginny stepped out. “I’ll have everything brought to your cabin,” Ginny said.

“Thank you.” Sofia smiled. She touched her head, a tinge of nervousness came into her voice. “Do you think he’ll like the way I look?”

Ginny laughed. “If he doesn’t, he has to be crazy.”

“That was the first time I’ve been in a beauty parlor in five years,” Sofia said. “I didn’t even recognize myself in the mirror.”

“You look just fine,” Ginny said. “Stop worrying.”

“It cost a fortune.”

“Not to him,” Ginny said. “Now, go ahead. I’ll bring up your clothes and you can put on one of the new things. He’ll be knocked out.”

Li Chuan was in the lounge when Sofia entered. He bowed slightly. “Was your shopping trip successful, Doctor?”

“Very much so, thank you,” she said. “Is Mr. Crane aboard?”

“He’s in his cabin, getting a massage,” he said. He held out his hand to Sofia. “It has been a pleasure to meet you, Doctor.”

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “I have to get back to the office and the plane is leaving for the States at eight o’clock.”

She glanced at her watch. It was seven o’clock. “That’s in one hour,” she said in surprise.

He nodded. “Mr. Crane told the captain to hold until you return.” He paused for a moment; when he spoke again it was in Chinese. “I did not mention to him that we have met before.”

She looked at him. His eyes revealed nothing. “Thank you, Comrade,” she replied, also in Chinese.

He spoke quickly. “I think he would be more confident about you if you told him about your work with Mao, rather than if he has to discover it through his security check.”

She nodded, without replying.

“Also, if he should mention anything about the pharmaceutical deal, I would be grateful if you could pass his comments along to me.”

“Yes, Comrade.”

He switched back to English. “I hope we will meet again, Doctor.”

“I hope so, Mr. Li Chuan,” she said, also in English. “And again, thank you for your help.”

She watched him leave the lounge just as Ginny entered with two porters carrying the packages behind her.

***

The telephone next to her bed buzzed softly. She pressed the rheostat so the light dimmed. “Yes,” she replied huskily.

“I’m sorry,” Judd’s voice came over softly. “I didn’t want to awaken you.”

“That’s all right,” she said. “I didn’t realize that shopping was so exhausting.”

“Was it fun?”

“Much to my surprise, yes,” she said. “By the way, thank you for all the lovely things.”

“I want to do it.”

“Did you have a good massage?” she asked.

He seemed to hesitate. “Yes. Would you like one?”

She became aware of the hum of the jets and glanced out the window. The night stars were flickering. “Don’t tell me you also have a masseur on board?”

He chuckled. “Not a masseur. Two masseuses. They’re very good. They’re going only as far as Honolulu, then they go back to Hong Kong.”

She was silent.

“You can think about it later,” he said. “I called you to ask if you’d join me for dinner.”

She glanced at the blue light on the digital clock. “It’s ten-thirty.”