The Code War (41 page)

To his side, Jabez groaned and tried to
stand up. But his foot, still encased in Gianni's protective boot,
remained caught in the Fundial's grab handle.

The crowd of demons continued to stare
at Jabez's handsome face, his scuffed costume, his elegant shoes,
but mostly at his beautiful broken wing.

'Get him out of there. Take him below
while we think what to do with him,' shouted Bezejel to the nearest
demons. 'Quick.'

Deep Water Bay
Restaurant, Yaumati, Kowloon, Hong Kong

'Excellent noodles, don't you think
Monkey? Even in Singapore they don't make noodles like they do
here.' Fatty lo was in expansive mood. His famous paunch was
expanding too and he lay down his chopsticks for a moment to loosen
his belt.

Two of his newest and youngest hostesses
from one of his Mongkok nightclubs sat, one on each side, with
their legs drawn up underneath them. Two roses around a thorn.

'Singaporeans are amateurs when it comes
to food,' agreed Monkey, biting into the head of a deep-fried
prawn. 'And they're lazy. And they talk funny, all that Mandarin
nonsense. You may as well be in Beijing. Who'd want that?'

'Keep it quiet, Monkey,' advised Fatty
Lo in a hushed voice.' You never know who's listening. One day Hong
Kong will be part of China again and your words may come back to
haunt you.'

'That's a long way off and it may never
happen. The English may decide to stay here,' said Monkey who was
on his fourth beer of the night.

'That's why Golden Horse needs to
come under my protection,' insisted Fatty. 'The winds of change are
blowing. We need to embrace the big world, not just our little
corner of Asia. Brother is an outward-looking business, Monkey. We
aim to replicate our business model in London, New York, Moscow and
Paris. We're thinking big and you're still thinking small.' He
paused to pick up three rings of squid in his chopsticks and guide
them into his mouth. 'You know, those Italian thugs, the mafia,' he
continued. 'They tried to take over Chicago and New York like they
ran Palermo. But they weren't smart enough. They upset too many
people and brought the law down on top of them. We're not going to
make that mistake. That is, Brother is not going to make that
mistake. You understand me, Monkey? We're going to take over all
the gambling, prostitution, drugs in all those countries because
we're going to be patient and work with the system, not against it.
Now I've been patient with you Monkey, because I want you to come
into Brother and work with me. But I've made you an offer and I
haven't heard you accept it yet. I want you to accept it. Are you
with me Monkey, or against me?'

Monkey also had two of his favourite
girls seated with him. He put down his chopsticks and placed an arm
around each of them.

'You know, Fatty,' he said slowly, 'I
knew you were going to ask me again. And I'm ready to agree, but
only if my men agree. So before you say anything to anyone, let me
tell my organisation first. I'm planning a big party tomorrow night
where all my senior managers, that's my closest friends, men who've
been with me for years are coming to eat and have some fun with me.
I'm also inviting the enforcers, the street fighters and the
messengers. Everybody. I'm going to discuss the matter with them
then. So, let me do that and then I'll come back to you with a
final decision. It's best if they know up front before something
leaks out.'

'Monkey, you're testing my patience to
the limit,' said Fatty, clearly unimpressed. 'You should have done
this a long time ago. It's a bit late in the day to begin sharing
this with your people. Very well then. But I'm going to send one of
my assistants to your meeting to make sure you do as you say.'

Fatty spoke to one of his girls
who stood up and went to the back of the restaurant. She returned
with Nancy who was looking stunning in a black cheung sam with
embroidered red dragons, slit to the thigh.

'This is my western assistant Nancy. She
already speaks and understands good Cantonese. She does not have
any 'history' with any of your fighters, no-one knows her. But I
trust her completely. She will come to your meeting and report back
to me afterwards. I want you to send her back to me with your
answer. Understand Monkey?'

'I understand Fatty, completely.'

'Good. Now, have you a present for me,
Monkey?'

'Of course Fatty. But a single present
is never enough for a man like you.' Monkey motioned to the two
girls beside him who stood up and walked to Fatty's side of the
table. Fatty's girls made way for him and they sat down next to
him, each leaning against his shoulder.

'Thank you Monkey,' said Fatty Lo
smiling and putting an arm around them. 'I much appreciate your
gift. I will send them back in the morning. I will also send Miss
Nancy to you. But remember, she is not for playing with. She is my
lieutenant.'

'Of course, Fatty, I will treat her
appropriately,' assured Monkey. 'I will send her back with my
answer.'

Pearl River Dancing
Parlour, San Po Kong, Kowloon

Nancy stepped out from the
air-conditioned taxi into the heat of the October afternoon and
felt like a shrimp thrown from fridge to oven. The taxi's meter had
got stuck on 1.11 but Nancy had wearily given the driver $10
knowing that was closer to the true amount.

'Hello, I am Chu,' announced the young
man, stepping out onto the pavement from the quiet shadows of a
stairway.

The frenzy of industrial northern
Kowloon with its multitude of smells and noises was all around.
Above them were clothes factories, dyers, cutters, pressers and
weavers with their non-stop machines. To the side, knife-wielding
cooks demonstrated their skills at the front of their restaurants,
slicing grilled pork and roast chicken and allowing their aromas
t
o sally out and entice the
empty-bellied.

Nearby, a
nimated diners at street stalls recounted plumbing
disasters to friends; a magistrate's court emptied silent, brooding
witnesses and scores of unsilent hawkers loudly proclaimed fried
squid, grilled fish, baked chickens' feet, steam noodles and other
good food news. Hungry crowds gathered in worship. They sortied
purses, flicked notes, negotiated cents, crunched crisp fish-fins
and uttered burps of praise.

In the middle distance,
spanner-jangling mechanics hoisted an engine from a car by the
roadside; women bucketed slop-water into the gutter and cockroaches
splashed back to their storm drains smirking with spoil.

Ten feet from Nancy a shout went up from
a hawker pushing a trolley laden with chopped shrimps, smoking hot
oil and a flaming burner. Heads turned sharply in panic and the cry
was taken up by others. 'Patrol. Scatter.' Dozens of hawker
barrows, headless chickens, heads of broccoli, frying pans and feet
rapidly turned and pointed the same way down the street like a
shoal of herring before dolphins and accelerated to 12 mph in a
fake Rolex nano-second. Around the corner behind them appeared two
white uniforms, one of them with officer's pips on his shoulder.
San Po Kong's municipal hawker unit had struck the fear of a $HK20
fine into the heart of every unlicensed food vendor with
predictable effect. The uniforms sauntered down the suddenly empty
street, casual and victorious like Genghis Khan and his
lance-bearer after surprising a flock of sheep.

The machine noise increased. The car
mechanics hauled on their spanners. Hawkers watched the patrol from
alleyways and waited for the white uniforms to go. Kowloon stopped
for no-one.

'Nancy,' said Nancy holding out her hand
English-style.

Chu grasped and pumped it.

'Very welcome to San Po Kong. I hope you
have good visit. My boss order me to look after you nicely
happily.'

Nancy took in the sharp suit, the flying
starched collar and the highly polished shoes before replying in
Cantonese, 'Thank you Chu, I expect an interesting evening.' Chu
was clearly a slick operator but Nancy liked his civility.

'Please to rise.
' Chu indicated the stairway and Nancy plunged into its
darkness locating its steps by feel more than by sight.

At the top of the stairs she pushed open
a door and entered into a large square room, unexpectedly
well-furbished. There were classic Chinese murals of birds and
mountains, subtle wall lighting, and a plush deep pile carpet.
Around the room were quality pieces of Chinese furniture including
lacquered cabinets, bamboo screens and clay sculptures of smiling
fat men eating, playing music and carousing in the company of
pretty maidens. In the background a woman sang a haunting melody of
love and hope.

'My boss, Mr Fu, like collect
antique. Help preserve Chinese culture.'

'I see,' said Nancy looking around.

'Please to sit and enjoy Chinese tea,'
said Chu indicating a plump armchair with ebony arms carved into
playful porpoises.

The door from another room opened and an
elderly woman entered bearing a tray with a blue porcelain teapot
and two small cups. Chu took them and placed them on a table. The
woman bowed, muttered something and departed.

'She is Chiu Chau, not Cantonese. Not
speak our language,' laughed Chu. He poured tea for them both.
Nancy sipped hers, holding the little cup at the rim.

'So tell me Chu, what will happen here
tonight?' Nancy had learnt a number of Cantonese phrases in advance
that she expected would prove useful. She had also interrogated
Fatty and Jenny on the vocabulary that Monkey would use if he was
to have the type of discussion with his team that he had promised
Fatty. She was determined to show Monkey and all of his
functionaries that she would be able to understand all that was
said.

But Chu was still eager to practice his
English.

'Tonight we have feast - big
eating party - with much beer and brandy,' he said proudly. 'Also
my boss Mr Fu, Monkey, talk to us about future. I not know what he
say but I know you come from Brother.' He looked at her nervously.
'We have girls tonight, for entertainment. Working girls for
entertain the men. You understand?'

Nancy indicated that she did understand.
She was wearing a black woollen top set off with a pearl necklace
that she had chosen with Jenny's help, on top of black linen
trousers and black shoes. She hoped that she looked business-like
and professional. Certainly nobody could mistake her for the female
entertainment.

'Maybe we gamble also and maybe smoke.
You like to smoke?'

'It depends what you're smoking.'

'Maybe white powder,' he said looking at
her closely. 'Maybe not.'

Nancy knew that white powder was
heroin.

'Some day, I'll try it,' she said trying
to laugh lightly. 'But tonight I have to stay awake. So no white
powder for me.'

Chu saw that Nancy's cup was empty. 'So
sorry,' he said solicitously and reached for the teapot.

'I have enough tea. No more, thank
you.'

An older man entered wearing a suit with
open-necked shirt. Chu leapt to his feet and half-bowed.

'Mr Fu. Miss Nancy is here.'

Fu looked at Nancy for a long
moment. Nancy found herself unsettled
for
the first time since she arrived. Fu's eyes were as cold and
penetrating as they had been warm and friendly when she had first
met him with Fatty Lo the night before.

What's he about? Which is the real Mr
Fu?

'Welcome to Golden Horse, I trust you
will have a memorable evening,' he said in English.

'Thank you,' replied Nancy in Cantonese.
'I am told your hospitality is of the highest. I look forward to
meeting your team.' So far her stock of learnt phrases was holding
up well.

'Tonight you will learn my answer for Mr
Lo. Whatever it is, my answer will be clear.' Monkey was
ultra-formal and correct. He was giving nothing away in his words,
but his tone was definitely unpromising.

'I'm sure Fatty will be pleased with
your reply,' Nancy was trying to be diplomatic and positive.

'Hmm,' was the only response,
accompanied by a slight tilt of Monkey's head.

Sound of women's voices from the stairs.
Fu turned towards Chu. 'You have work to do. I will leave you to
finish the preparations. Our guests will be arriving in half an
hour.'

He bowed to Nancy. 'Please to
excuse. I must get ready.'

'Thank you sir.
Y
ou have heart,' replied Nancy formally
and not entirely convincingly.

But if Fu was aloof and curt towards
Nancy, Chu seemed aware of his boss's coldness and wanted to make
amends.

'My boss..much pressure now,' he said
earnestly. 'So sorry.'

The stairway door opened and two young
women fell giggling into the room.

'Drunk,' said Chu in disgust.

'I've always wanted to have customers on
this carpet,' said one of the girls. 'It's softer than a bed.'

'Who else is coming, Chu, you smooth
liar?' said the other.

'Come on you two, time to get ready for
work. At least you're properly dressed this time,' said Chu,
pulling the two to their feet. 'Now go to the toilet if you need
to, you won't get another chance for a while.'

Both girls were wearing skirts that
barely covered their behinds and high heels they could hardly walk
in. Their bare waists were wasp-thin and their make-up was
overdone.

'Nancy, please to help Roxy?' asked Chu,
'I help Suzy. She is not walk well.'

Together they helped the two
prostitutes through into the next room which was clearly the place
where they were due to earn their wages. Nancy took a deep breath
when she saw the walls of this rectangular chamber decorated as
they were with drawings of oriental women in a variety of
semi-naked poses. This was a room for man fun, no mistaking it. At
one end of the room a phalanx of theatre lights focused down on a
wooden dance-floor whilst nearby were clusters of easy chairs
centred around tables on which were placed sets of mah-jong tiles.
Bottles of Dimple Whisky and Remy Martin FOV Cognac were placed
within easy reach. At the other end of the room was laid out,
rather incongruously, a table tennis table with bats and a
ball.