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Bloody Idols: Chapter Five
It is the next day, and everyone has had the benefit of a healing night's sleep. Xing is feeling much, much better, although he suspects he's not quite up to, say, going jogging yet. Yu-soo is less shaky and inclined to break down into tears, while Rain's been informed that Abdullah is probably able to leave quite soon. Rain has also been presented with the non-inconsiderable bill -- the medical bills for two near-death individuals, and himself.
Rain yawns over a cup of coffee. He shrugs a bit, wondering what the Company has decided to do with the Iraqi. His own inclination would be to stick a bag over his head and kick him in the general direction of the British Embassy and let them deal with that headache... but he supposes the decision isn't his to make.
The two men, Rain and Xing, are in the same room they were in just the day before, Xing with some color in his cheeks now. Yu-soo is dressed and sitting on her tidily made up bed. She asks a little nervously, "So... who should the key go to, please? I don't want it back, I know. It was bad enough pretending t-to be m-my d-deceased sister..." She takes a deep breath, then continues, "I... would like it to go back to whomever it belongs to, but I do not know. Do you?"
Rain says, "As far as I know, it belongs to that battered Iraqi upstairs."
Xing nods. "I've really no interest in it myself, either..."
Rain says, "He can have it. I don't want it... I've had enough of treasures and politics for this month. Besides, it's not mine to start with. It's against my code of ethics to claim what isn't mine."
The girl nods, looking quite relieved, "Oh, good! Thank you." She blinks at Rain, then smiles. After a moment of hesitation, she asks slowly, "M-may I ask... how you, um... how you came to be looking for me?"
Rain scratches his head absently. "Uh, your father called in a favor... are you feeling okay? We went over this last night, remember?"
Yu-soo thinks for a long moment, then makes a small 'oh' sound. Quietly she says, "He asked you to look for my sister, not me... yes?"
Rain says, "We were only told about her at the outset. But once we realized what was going on, we certainly weren't going to let the Triad have you."
Xing makes a quiet sound. "He was having your sister call him every morning. A couple of days ago she failed to call, and..." he can't very well say that the man 'panicked,' since his panic was, apparently now, justified, "...and he called in a favor with our sifu. And then, one thing led to another... We weren't even told she had a sister." He nods in agreement with Rain. "Yes. Once we started finding out what was going on, how could we possibly walk away and wash our hands?"
She smiles at Rain again, although it's a little wistful. "Thank you for that..." and nods thanks and acknowledgement to Xing also. Then she takes another deep breath, straightening her shoulders, "No matter. What's important is not keeping things that don't belong to us, right?" She smiles, although it's a bit forced, "May I... would it be all right if I came along while you returned the key to, um... the 'battered Iraqi'? I... I feel I should apologize... and... well, I'd like to see it go back where it belongs."
Rain says, "Sure. Although I doubt he'll have much to say... I did kind of, well, hospitalize him." He adds, "Well, let's go see him, then."
The girl looks relieved, standing up instantly, "All right! And... um... he'll want to know what warehouse the treasure is in, I'm guessing." She gives Rain a slightly worried look, "Could I, um... would it be all right if you came along? I... I don't want him to get angry at me, or anything?"
Rain grins a bit, "I'd insist on it. Who knows what that guy could be thinking. Won't do to have come all this way just to leave you in danger, will it?"
Yu-soo blinks -- then beams at Rain, her face lighting up, "Oh... thank you, honored s- er, Rain!" Happily she adds, "I don't know why people always tell me Koreans are so bad -- every one I've met has always been so polite!" She heads for the door with the two men, her long ponytail bobbing cheerfully behind her. Xing walks carefully up the stairs with the others, and is behind them when they enter the room.
Up on the second floor, Abdullah is sitting on the bed, obviously physically much healed. However, the despondent expression he turns to the entering three is anything but happy, though... he looks as if his world has come to an end, and he's considering ending it all.
Xing holds the key in his pocket, glancing to Rain. "Erm, you speak English a lot better than I do. I guess tell him that we have they key he's been looking for?"
Rain nods. He turns to Abdullah, "Hey. Morning. I understand you've been looking for a key, yeah? Lot of treasure from your country?"
Abdullah listens, then nods listlessly. "Yes... but a failure I am. Lost are all my companions, martyrs to the cause, and only I left, to my shame."
Rain says, "So you dead-set on giving up, or you still want that treasure?"
Abdullah looks a bit indignant, "Giving up? I am not the giving up -- I am mourning the loss of honor!" He sighs lugubriously, looking away again as he adds, "It is the will of Allah, I fear. I do not know when I shall see my family again."
Xing has absolutely no idea what the Iraqi is talking about, but he can get some idea that the conversation is going only moderately well. He wordlessly offers the key to Rain. Rain shakes his head at Abdullah, "There seems to have been a little misunderstanding. We seem to have run into each other at a bad time." He takes the key from Xing and tosses it to Abdullah. "Here. We don't want your treasure; my father raised me not to take things that aren't mine. You can take it back whenever you feel ready."
Abdullah looks around listlessly... then his eyes widen as he sees the key. He just stares at it, almost awed... then breathes almost reverently, "You... you are giving it?! You are returning simply it to me?" He reaches out with a careful hand, taking up the key, "To my homeland all our treasures will go again, where they belong?!" A little shakily he rises, stepping over to give Rain, then Xing, a fierce hug and a kiss on each cheek, "Truly Allah has blessed me! You are infidels, but most honorable of men!"
Xing blinks, feeling a couple of stitches straining -- but he's not about to complain, since the guy is hugging them and not trying to kill them. He smiles as best as he can, murmuring to Rain, "This is a good thing, right?"
Rain blinks and stiffens a little where he stands, extremely unused to people -- particularly gun-wielding (or until-recently gun-wielding) gwailo -- getting in his personal space like that. He says to Xing, "I hope so." He adds to Abdullah, while straightening his own shirt a little, "We seem to have run into your group while there was a labor riot of some kind going on. We were looking for someone in the same area that the Triad was keeping your treasure in. You can feel free to take possession of it when you're ready. I'm guessing you can't read Cantonese... I'll get you the phone number for an embassy."
The beaming, almost tearful Abdullah turns to the third person to repeat, pausing as he realizes it's a woman -- a somewhat nervous looking woman, doing her best to shy away behind Rain. Abdullah chuckles, his entire demeanor changed, "Ah, you are bringing also your lovely wife! Yes, yes, only right is it for her to share in this also!" He beams through the several-days-worth of stubble, "So, your family is who, please, so included them I can in prayers of thanks!" He pauses, then brightens even more, "Yes! Yes, generosity it is for thanks, as the Qu'ran states!" He pats Rain's shoulder, "First the treasures, yes! And you please bringing three -- no, four! Four big bags of clothes carrying, please, yes?"
Xing says, "Maybe you should tell him that the Pei Tong is still going to be looking for the treasure?"
Rain says to Xing, "I plan on getting this guy the hell out of Hong Kong before that becomes an issue. So let's get going, yeah? Before I have to pick up any more medical bills. I'm already doing this gig for practically nothing..." He nods to Abdullah, "Er, right... we'll get the treasure first."
Abdullah moves carefully -- he also is still healing -- but is extraordinarily cheerful, beaming and nodding to everyone they pass. Yu-soo seems a little nervous, sticking close to Rain's side (on the far side from the Iraqi man), but gamely smiles and keeps up with everyone else. To Rain and Xing she whispers, "Thank you so much! We can show him where the treasures are, and then I can apologize, and then... then it should be all right, yes?"
Rain nods quietly, "I certainly hope so, Yu-soo." He hefts one of the empty duffel bags and wonders how he's going to explain this to the HKPD detective who is inevitably going to show up the moment they leave the warehouse district. Xing manages to get everyone comfortably ensconced in his coupe, and the little car heads off to the location Yu-soo points them towards.
A short while later the four are standing outside one of the dock district warehouses. Yu-soo sighs, pointing, "That's it." The long warehouse is built like a reinforced Quonset hut, with an arched roof and a heavy, padlocked sliding door. The doorway is high and wide enough to drive two semi trucks through, side by side.
She adds to Xing and Rain, "It's the old section of the docks... Kai felt he could hide something here." She looks down, adding quietly, "I... I guess he was wrong..." Abdullah, who does not understand Yu-soo's language, has meanwhile stepped forward with shaking hands... and a moment later the big padlock stiffly clicks, turns... and releases.
Xing bites his lip a little and nods. "Rain? I have a bad feeling about this."
Rain sighs resignedly and pulls the USP Tactical out of the holster in the small of his back, and slides another clip into it. "Yu-soo... maybe you should wait in the car."
Yu-soo blinks, her eyes widening at sight of the gun, then gives a fearful look towards the warehouse. She looks back at the car... then says shakily, "I... I'd rather stay with you, please?" Abdullah has already murmured something formal-sounding in his native tongue, and stepped into the building. Lights turn on automatically inside, and the threesome can hear him say something with reverent anticipation, within.
Xing nods quietly, checking his Luger. "Rain... tell Abdullah that there may be trouble and he should wait out here -- er, too late... blast!"
Abdullah looks back out a moment later, his eyes shining, "Come! Come, all four are here -- Allah's fortune smiles on us!"
Rain nods and takes Yu-soo's hand as he follows, instructing her, "Stay close to me. If anything happens... just stay low and do as I tell you, and I'll get you out of here in one piece, I promise." Yu-soo nods, her eyes very large as she closely follows Rain. It's clear she has absolute faith in him. Xing also takes in a deep breath, then heads in after Abdullah, glancing back briefly before stepping warily into the warehouse. He hopes his body language tells Abdullah that he's worried about an ambush and not about to bushwhack the Iraqi.
Inside the warehouse the lighting is not of the best... but it's good enough to show four semi truck boxes neatly lined up within. Abdullah is... praying, perhaps? -in his native tongue as he excitedly works the latches to open one of the semi's. He's oblivious to the people behind him -- then the big metal door ratchets noisily up. Rain's grip tightens reflexively on his gun. It'd be just like those Pei assholes, he thinks, to leave someone behind in the trucks...
There's no room to put anything in the semi truck. It's packed full, from top to bottom, at least here at the back end of the truck... with neatly wrapped wads of paper money.
Rain's jaw drops. Jie ba! Xing gasps, "Oh, my..."
Abdullah takes a deep, nervous breath, then mutters in English, "Nonononono... no treasure this -- only money!" He runs to the next truck in line, "Here, maybe... Allah grant they be here?" Once again he wrestles with the stiff latches on the back of the semi... slowly, the door on this one swings outwards.
More money. All money!
Xing frowns deeply, and looks at Rain and Yu-soo. Abdullah swears, then runs to the next semi, his praying getting a slightly desperate tone. Rain says, "Now I'm confused..."
Rain, Xing, and Yu-soo are soon staring wide-eyed at the open back ends of three semi trucks. All three trucks are packed as tightly as possible, at least as far as can be seen at the back end of the truck... with paper money. If all three trucks are indeed full of money... this is more money than any of them have ever seen -- and yet Abdullah almost cries at the sight of the third truck's contents, "The treasure! Where is our precious country's treasures?!" A bit grimly he turns to open the back of the last remaining semi.
Yu-soo whispers a little timidly, "Is it... what nationality is the money? Maybe... maybe it's worthless?"
Rain says, "You're the money man, Xing..." Xing peers closely at one of the piles of money, not touching it but trying to gauge its nationality and the estimated denominations.
Xing makes a quiet, hissing sound. "American dollars, it looks like. At least in twenties. Some hundreds, a few thousands. We're looking at millions." He shakes his head. "This has got to be counterfeit. You just don't find American dollars in this sheer amount."
Rain says, "Don't they print non-negotiable bills like that for government use? Like to do payoffs and stuff?"
Xing says, "I don't know. I just know that you don't find thousand-dollar bills making the rounds of the general populace." He shakes his head. "If this is all from Iraq... what the hell was Hussein doing with all this American money?"
There is a cry from the fourth truck. Abdullah is standing there, looking into it, his arms outspread and tears running down his cheeks. He sounds deeply joyful, however, chanting aloud what could well be a prayer of thanksgiving. Then he clasps his hands at his chest, looking over at the others. His deep voice is relieved, "Finally... the treasures! My people now will not their history have stolen by Hussein's thieves!"
Rain says, "Actually, I'm guessing that this was just a Pei clan bolt-hole. They were probably holding it here with the rest of their blood money until they could liquidate it."
Abdullah clambers awkwardly into the truck, disappearing from sight, although his chanting voice can still be heard. Yu-soo is looking distinctly startled at the man's odd (to her) behavior, but at Rain's comment she says softly, "Why would they demand the key and the location from me if they already knew where it was, though?"
Xing glances at Rain, then walks over to peer into the truck, reasonably sure he's not going to see money. "If so, that's a hell of a lot of money, Rain. That's more money than has any right to be in circulation. You can crash a market with that much hard cash." Looking into the last truck, Xing blinks, and can see clearly why this is the greater treasure. There's some awful packing work here, but everything seems to be in order. Statuary, jewels, pillars... things that, he suspects, were ancient well before there was such a thing as a country called 'Iraq.' "Wow," is all he can manage.
Rain says, "That would mean either this cash really came from Iraq, or else Kai knew something the rest of the clan didn't. I'm not betting heavily on Kai knowing much of anything, though. Hey, Abdullah, this money part of your treasure too?"
Yu-soo blinks at Rain's comment, then smiles, "Oh, Kai knew all about what came in to the ports. He said he had a treasure for me, because the previous owner had died and no one owned it any more." She peeks into the last truck, past Xing... then she also goes silent in awe.
Beside her, Rain stares. Just... stares. "You could buy a country all your own with that..."
Abdullah has been gently touching things, whispering in quiet joy to himself. He looks up at Rain's comment, a huge, tearful smile on his face, "Oh, the money is to help our people to recover; the tyrant is no more! But these... ah, these...!" He carefully kisses one exposed golden corner, then turns to head back to the small group, his arms outspread, "Creations of these are of infidels -- but still -- still! History and past are precious -- no price can ever be paid to maintain honor of family and people! And you -- you, all of you! Thanks to you... still we are of our past in possession!"
Rain exhales deeply and clicks the safety of his gun back on, putting it away. He wipes his forehead on the back of his hand, then nods. "I'm glad it's all over. This was a bad business for everyone to be involved in, but I'm happy it all worked out for the best. Yu-soo, is there something you wanted to say to the man?"
Carefully, with a wince of pain, Abdullah slides down out of the truck, then hugs Xing tightly again, repeating the kiss on each cheek. Then he cheerfully bellows, "Now! Now for the generosity, for the thanking! Forgiveness, please, only that it is money, but for your family also we share in largesse!" He bows politely to the startled Yu-soo, then gently takes one of the duffels from her, heading to the closest money truck... then starts simply yanking wads of money out of the truck, letting it fall into the duffel, laughing as he does so. "Come! Come, hold open the clothes bag carrier, and we fill all of them -- one for each of you; one for your family!"
Yu-soo is simply standing, mouth open, staring at the strange foreign man. Xing blinks. "Rain..." he says quietly. "I've never taken a single dollar, ruble, yen, or mark from anyone that I didn't win fairly; not any that I didn't think was at least reasonably clean. Which makes me have to say... if this is Iraqi money... where the hell did it come from?"
Rain murmurs quietly, as he helps Yu-soo with her bag (and makes sure she's still breathing, etc.), "Ask him, Xing, I have... no idea at all. But if he's anti-Baath, he's already called the big H 'the tyrant' several times -- then my guess is either from oil dollars or clandestine foreign aid." He grins crookedly, "And hey, we are clandestine... and extremely foreign, at least to that guy."
Xing says wryly, "I can't ask him. You speak English; the best I can do is 'Yahoo pardner,' and that was from this Texan gambler who was making the rounds of Kowloon's casinos last year.
Rain says, "'Yahoo pardner'? What the fuck does that mean?"
"...long story."
Rain says, "Uh, right." Then he looks up and says, "Uh, Abdullah, my friend here is wondering how all this American money came to be here, since we thought the Baath party was supposed to have control of all the wealth in your country until a few months ago..."
Abdullah ah!s, nodding, then holds up a hand, "Here we have treasury of central bank of Baghdad, stolen when Americans come. Sons of Hussein, may they rot in hell forever, back trucks up to fill, then leave -- send away on ships for escape later. But this money for rebuilding of country is -- belongs to my people!" He beams at the astonished three, waiting while Yu-soo fumblingly prepares another duffel and Rain shakes the mostly filled duffel to cram the money wads down.
Casually tossing another double handful of money into Rain's duffel, Abdullah continues, "But strictly, strictly in the Qu'ran is generosity to the kind foreigner, peace to the helpful infidel. You have been of peace to me in my quest; you have greatly generous'ed, returning priceless treasures! Only can we do this -- must we do this, for only is it right, in Allah's name."
He cheerfully adds, "Would be giving a truck, but not all mine is to generous away. Please to be accepting bags of clothes-carrying instead for you brothers, your wife, and your extended family?"
Xing blinks. "Ahhh... Rain? Is it ethical to accept this? I mean... this is a lot of money!" And where the hell can I get change for a thousand dollar American bill?!
Rain nods, "Y-yes, of course, of course, this is... more than... I mean, we didn't expect..." He shakes his head, "What I mean is, thank you. And, er... I'm, um, really sorry about the boot to the head." Yu-soo says nothing at all, looking down at the duffel being filled with money... but the other two can see she's blushing furiously! Rain shrugs to Xing, "The man says God wants him to give us some of this money. I'm not going to argue with him. Religion is for the priests; I'm just a soldier." He grins. "Besides, Xing, it'd be rude to refuse. If it bothers you, you can always give it to a charity."
Abdullah chuckles, gently touching his bandaged head, "Ah, well, in narrow passage and all. Best now is that in peace we now all are!" He mutters to himself, "Must find American embassy... Iraqi still by tyrant's people may be owned..." as he continues tossing double handfuls of money into the duffel.
Rain says, "I can help you with that, Abdullah. We'll get you to the embassy, no problem." He grins, "You'll have an easier time finding what you're looking for if you have someone who can read Cantonese, I think."
Xing looks at the bag. "Rain, with this amount, I can start my own charities. And buy a tong or two."
Rain says, "So start one of your own, Xing. Make up for the gambling lifestyle; maybe you can buy your way out of a couple reincarnations." He politely glosses over the 'wife' commentary. He can't think of anything, anything at all to say that won't embarrass poor Yu-soo any more than she is already.
Some time later the small group hefts the last of the stuffed duffels into the back of Xing's little coupe. It's an odd thought to consider the car is carrying far, far more than it's worth... the semis have all been neatly closed again, and the warehouse carefully locked up again. Abdullah, who has his own much smaller bag of money, is now anxious to get to the embassy, so he can start the process of returning his country's treasures to his homeland.
Rain says, "Oh, uh, guys... one thought before we get on the expressway. Let's leave these bags with the Xiao Chu safe house for now. Something tells me if three Chinese nationals show up to the American embassy with an Iraqi national in tow, the first thing the Marines are going to do is search us. And the car. Thoroughly. Until they're convinced we aren't going to blow them up."
Xing says, "...oh... damn good point." He drives -- sedately and comfortably, so as not to attract any undue attention whatsoever. He's extremely alert. The LAST thing he needs is to be caught in an accident. The very last thing he wants is a run-in with more of the Pei Tong.
Rain leaves his gun, the knives, his web rig, and anything else he can think of with his bag at the Xiao Chu safe-house. Anything at all he can think of to leave behind that will avoid unnecessary questions... he leaves his watch, even his belt behind. And after that idiot Frenchman, I bet they still make me take my shoes off... Xing has to agree with Rain. He most assuredly leaves his gun and most of his pocket money.
Yu-soo and Abdullah both have nothing but the clothes they're standing in, currently... although Abdullah's bag has several wads of money in it. Still, he cheerfully reassures the others that it's just for making sure he can buy passage. Rain assures the others not to worry. With the removal of the former prisoner and the other non-Xiao Chu personnel, the safe-house should be empty and secured again by the time they get there to leave the bags; Xiao Chu prides itself on speed and discretion.
After dropping Abdullah off at the embassy, Xing drives the group back to the now-empty safe-house, where they retrieve everything they had left there. Yu-soo hesitates as they're lugging the last duffel into the coupe, then says softly, "I... may I invite you to my flat? I would like to say thank you to you both, please... may I make you both some tea?"
Rain murmurs to himself, "...can't believe they accepted the story... can't believe I got away without being strip-searched." He glances up, and looks at Xing, "Uh... sure? I don't see why not..."
Xing blinks, then smiles and inclines his head. "Tea would be wonderful, I think. Thank you. He checks the time, seeing it is still midday. "Ah... and there'll be more than enough time to keep a promise..."
Later they're all comfortably ensconced in Yu-soo's tiny living room. She'd remembered with shock and horror, as they were opening the door, that there had been a dead body -- Kai -- on her living room floor when she'd been last there... but Rain had reassured her everything had been taken care of. He'd already discreetly put in a call to his people.
Yu-soo is still obviously a little shaky -- she hesitantly asks the men to search the tiny flat for her, please, if they would? -and once they're sure it's safe, she'd be happy to make tea for them? Rain says, "Sure, it's the least we can do after putting you through all this." Xing also is more than willing to help search the flat. Knowing that White Dagger's body was never found, he pays especial attention to any unusual bags or packages that might explode.
The all-clear is given, and Yu-soo relaxes a bit. Soon the pleasant scent of tea is wafting through the room, along with a touch of incense, and Yu-soo seems to have calmed down, sipping her own tea quietly next to Rain. She waits until they've both had a moment to savor and appreciate the tea, then asks softly, "So... what will you both do with the money, if I may ask?"
Rain says, "Oh, I have no idea... I guess I'll... uh... invest it in something. A retirement fund or something. Maybe give some to charity or a temple or something. I... I don't really know."
Xing shakes his head as he sips the tea. "I'm not sure yet. I never spend any money I earn or win -- or am given -- within a few days of getting it. Fortune may have put it in my lap for a reason, after all. So I will wait and see and think upon it. It's not likely I'll live beyond my means; such a thing gains too much attention from the tongs."
Rain says, "What about you? What are you going to do with yours, Yu-soo?"
Yu-soo looks into her teacup and sighs quietly, "I... I think I shall give half of it to my mother. It is a poor return indeed for my beautiful, clever sister..." She looks up, smiling but with tears in her eyes, "She made me promise once... Susie said I should save all my pennies, and she would also... and if fortune smiled on us, we would be able to afford sending me to college also, just like her, so I also would make something of myself. We made the bank account together... I've been doing my best to save, but she always put in more than I did, and wouldn't let me say no. I think... I think Mother was helping on the side, so Father wouldn't know."
She sighs, looking down at her teacup again, "And... and I also promised I would always do my best to take care of our parents, if anything happened to her." She rubs her eyes, then adds quietly, "I wonder if she knew... had some premonition or something..."
Rain mms, "Yeah. That's a good use for it. Well, you know... if you need any help, you know. If you need a ride to school or anything, you can just... give a call, or something."
Yu-soo smiles warmly at Rain, then adds ruefully, "I think I was a lousy ghost anyways... people always kept nearly catching me. In the dorm the first time, her roommate -- and the second time you... and here in the apartment, I was so shocked ab-bout... about..." She stops talking, her eyes wide, and takes several deep breaths to calm herself.
Xing pauses, looking at his teacup. Dorm... apartment... two. Three? "Uh... just those two times...?"
Rain says, "Well... I hadn't planned on the Pei pulling that damned stupid stunt..." He trails off, looking at Xing questioningly.
A moment later Yu-soo nods, looking over at Xing. There's a peaceful look on her face now, and a twirl of steam from the teacup gently frames her face, almost like a caress... or a scar fading into memory, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
Xing blinks a bit to Yu-soo, then down to his teacup again. "I'm... not sure..."
Yu-soo smiles, a little curious, "What?"
Xing shakes his head. "Just... thought there was a third time... in the parking lot outside the building..." He describes briefly what it was he saw -- or thought he saw -- in the parking lot, which kept him and Rain from being perforated by the gunman.
Yu-soo shakes her head, still smiling, "No, I never went as my sister's ghost in a parking lot. Why do..." Her voice trails off and her eyes widen as she listens intently. Then she says slowly, "She... was watching out for you too? Oh... thank you, little sister!"
In the distance, soft and peaceful, there is the sound of a door gently closing.