by Yuriko Taira
After our tour in Changdeokgung palace, the taxi driver recommended having lunch at the Jongno-gu’s street food stalls, which offered a large range of Korean food from spicy rice cakes to spicy seafood and meat. He stopped the taxi right in front of the stalls.
Mm… mm, merely the smell made our mouths-water. I was attracted by the colours of the spicy rice cakes. These were small pillows made of rice flour and cooked with a thick, fiery red sauce. The stall owner welcome us with chopsticks, paper plates and serviettes.
Shinkichi picked up one small pillow with his chopsticks, but did not bite into it immediately which was unusual because he loved to try different type of food.
“Is it poisonous?” I asked, wondering why he had hesitated.
“No, I don’t think so, but it looks very spicy.”
Bravely, he put the little pillow into his mouth; but almost immediately, his face had turned into a bitter cucumber.
“Shinkichi-san, have some cold water.” I took a bottle of cold water out of the stall fridge, giving it to him.
He had poured all the water into his mouth and asked for more. The stall owner felt sorry for him and gave him another bottle of cold water free of charge.
The stall owner then encouraged us to try his Korean fried chicken. “Our fried chicken is better than the American KFC. The skin is very crispy and paper-thin. With our special honey-mustard sauce, it won’t burn your mouth but gives you extra flavour with the chicken.”
His promotional skills were exceptional. So, we gave the Korean fried chicken a go and it was as good as the stall owner told us.
When we returned to the hotel, Sean was already in the ballroom and had saved two seats for us. Next to him were Huang and Ibin, who gave us disapproving looks as we walked in.
An auction assistant stood by the auctioneer’s desk, and holding a velvet-lined box with a green jade seal sitting inside.
“Auction item one hundred, the bidding starts at ten US dollars,” the auctioneer called.
The assistant raised the box to show off the jade seal, then she came down the steps and let the audience have a closer look at it. I saw no light coming from the jade seal. It sat in the box like a dead stone.
“No, this isn’t my family’s Jade Seal,” I cried out, my heart was as heavy as a stone.
“Are you sure, my child?” Ibin asked me.
“I… I… I don’t know, Mister Gan.” I became doubtful.
“Silence!” The auctioneer banged his hammer.
Nevertheless, Huang put in a bid and bought the jade seal for 120 US dollars.
We left the auction quietly, gathered in a small meeting room in the business centre of the hotel; and waiting for Huang, who went to collect the jade seal. A few minutes later, Huang came in, and put the jade seal in my hand. The abnormal phenomenon that we had seen in the conference room that morning did not recur.
“Is it because I washed my hands after touching it this morning?” I said.
“Nonsense. This isn’t your Jade Seal. Look, it doesn’t have any gold strips at the edges.” Shinkichi pointed out.
“Someone has stolen our Jade Seal!” Huang said.
“One of us is the thief,” I said, looking around at everyone in the room.
“Everyone who was in the conference room at the same time with us is a suspect. We need to call the police straightaway,” Huang said.
“Father, the police won’t investigate a case like this.” Ibin disagreed.
“Then, you investigate it,” Huang told Ibin, losing his usual cheerfulness.
“Yes, Father,” Ibin replied obediently.
“So, we’ve come for nothing,” I said, disappointed.
“Don’t lose hope, my Princess. If we find out who owned this jade seal, we’d be able to find out who the thief is,” Huang said, and turned to Ibin. “Ibin, go and check this out now.”
“Yes, Father.” Ibin replied obediently, but did not leave the room to carry out his father-in-law’s order.
“Mister Huang, I’ll leave this in your capable hands. Mates, let’s go, and get packing; we'll return to Australia,” Sean said, walking towards the door.
“Go back to Australia, now?” I had not expected Sean to give up so easily.
“Yes, kid,” Sean replied, without turning his head.
“Babe, let’s go.” Shinkichi took my hand, leading me out of the meeting room.
I turned, and waved to Huang and Ibin. “Goodbye, Uncle Huang and Mister Gan.”
“Farewell, children,” Huang and Ibin said behind us.
We checked out of the hotel. The bullet-proof BMW took us to the airport. Sean led the way, walking towards a private jet with a logo of the Russian flag.
“Why are we boarding a Russian plane?” I asked.
“We’re going to Blagoveshchensk, in Russia’s far east region,” Sean replied.
“Why?” I asked.
“To get your Jade Seal back, kid,” Sean said, walking up the boarding ladder.
“What? How do you know my Jade Seal has gone to Blagoveshchensk?” I stood by the ladder, looking up at Sean.
He came back down the ladder. “Kid, the thief has boarded Russian Airlines S7 with your Jade Seal to Blagoveshchensk a few hours ago. It’s not a direct flight. He won’t get there until mid-day tomorrow. This will give us just enough time to get ready if you get on the plane now.” He gave me his hand.
“How did you find out this?” I asked, not taking his hand.
Sean did not answer me, but motioned for Shinkichi to get on the plane.
“Shinkichi-san, did you know this as well?” I turned to him.
“Hey, babe, don’t get angry at me. I’ve been by your side every minute of the day. I know as much as you do.”
Shinkichi picked me up, carrying me into the plane in spite of me kicking and screaming. All the way to Blagoveshchensk, I refused to speak to Shinkichi or Sean, no matter how hard they tried to please me.
About five hours later, we landed at Ignatyevo Airport in Blagoveshchensk. I was the last one to step out of the cabin, and was immediately struck by a severe headache. Something isn’t right. I shouldn’t be here, I thought.
The airport was illuminated like it was in daylight. I saw my parents coming towards me from a distance.
“Mum, Dad!” I cried, running to them. “Ouch…” I fell off the boarding ladder.
“Babe, are you alright?” Shinkichi asked gently, helping me to sit up.
I sat steadily, then looked around; but did not see my parents anymore.
“What are you looking for?” Shinkichi asked, squatting next to me.
“I thought my parents were here just now.”
“Your parents? Here?” Shinkichi looked around, but did not see anyone except airport personnel. “Babe, did you come here with your parents before?”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. Ouch… my head aches so much!” I held my head with both hands, trying to ease the pain.
“Mate, it’s minus twenty-seven degrees. Let’s get into a car or we’ll freeze to death,” Sean told us. “Mikhail?” he called out to a large Russian man, who got into a big car and drove it towards us.
As the vehicle came near, I realised that it was not a car but a Russian ground force light utility vehicle. Shinkichi picked me up from the ground and put me into the back seat.
“Comrade, this is Shinkichi and his girlfriend, Yuuko.” Sean introduced us to the Russian man while loading our luggage into the back of the utility.
“I’m Mikhail Platov. How do you do, Shin-Shinki—” Mikhail struggled to pronounce Shinkichi’s name.
“Comrade, just call him ‘mate’.” Sean came to his rescue.
“Yes, ‘mate’ sounds good; ha-ha, ha-ha,” Mikhail laughed.
“How do you do, Mister Platov?” Shinkichi shook hands with him.
“Please call me ‘Mikhail’, mate. Nice to meet you, and how do you do, Madam?”
Mikhail put his hand out to me, but was pulled back by S
ean. “Comrade, nodding your head will do,” Sean said. It seemed that he knew about Shinkichi’s rule of ‘No man touches my Yuuko-chan’.
Mikhail climbed into the driver’s seat like a big Siberian bear, his head was covered by a large black Cossack fur hat, and his body by a fading black Cossack long coat and boots.
Sean went into the front seat. He turned and threw us two long thermal coats and fur hats. “Put them on, they’ll keep you from getting a cold.”
I looked up, Sean had already put on a thermal coat and fur hat himself. We put on the coats and hats, and sat quietly in the back seat while Sean talked with Mikhail in Russian.
I looked out through the window. It was dark outside and there was not a soul on the streets as Mikhail drove through Blagoveshchensk city centre. However, lights were bright on the other side of the Amur River.
It was almost mid-night when the utility stopped in the front yard of an old house on the outskirt of the city. We followed Mikhail, and tip toed inside; guiding by his torch, all the way to the back of the house.
“Comrade, this is your room,” Mikhail whispered to Sean, opening the door of a room next to the laundry.
He then led the two of us into a room at the end of the passage way. He turned on all the lights and took off his big Cossack fur hat. His fine, straight blonde hair was like golden threads in the lights. He looked similar in age to Sean if not younger, had a pair of light-blue eyes that sparkled with warmth rarely seen in a Cossack soldier.
Cossack comes from the Turkic word ‘kazak’ meaning ‘someone who is free’. The free Cossacks are born soldiers in a way similar to the Samurai in Japan, who are always ready to spill blood for those who have won their unconditional support.
Sean came in and opened the window facing the backyard. An icy cold wind rushed inside.
Mikhail went over to him quickly. “Comrade, there’s no danger in the backyard. I’m sure your mates are safe.”
Sean closed the window. “Thank you, Mikhail.”
“No worries, comrade. Goodnight everyone.” Mikhail withdrew from our room.
“Goodnight, mate.” Sean patted Shinkichi’s shoulder gently.
“Goodnight, mate, and thanks for everything,” Shinkichi said.
“Goodnight, kid.” Sean did not wait for my ‘goodnight’ to him, and disappeared out of the door.
While Shinkichi was unpacking our suitcases, I opened a door, thought it was a walk-in-wardrobe, but saw a bathroom with another door on the opposite side. “Shinkichi-san, this is a bedroom with a semi-ensuite.” I closed the door.
Then, I heard Sean’s whistle and the sound of water running. “Now, I got it. The semi-ensuite separates our room from Sean’s.”
“Well, it means that we’re sharing a bathroom with him. That’s no difference from staying in a two-bedroom hotel suite,” Shinkichi replied, and continued unpacking.
“Do you want me to go to Sean’s room or sleep on the floor here? We’ve got only one bed and one quilt.” Shinkichi had checked the bedding, which was made of cotton with the fragrance of newly washed laundry.
“Hmm…” I hesitated because either way did not please me.
Shinkichi had waited for a few seconds, then took a pillow off the bed and put it on the wooden floor. “I’ll sleep on the floor with my thermal coat and fur hat on.”
“No, it’s too cold to sleep on the floor.” I picked up the pillow and put it back where it was before. “You sleep on the window side; I sleep on this side; and my decision is final.”
Shinkichi grinned.
After a hot shower, I went under the quilt and listened to the sound of water running as Shinkichi having his shower. Then the water stopped running, replaced by Shinkichi’s footsteps, the lights went off and I felt his back against mine.
I could not sleep, worrying about the Jade Seal. “How are we going to get the Jade Seal back?” I asked Shinkichi, hoping he could tell me.
“I don’t know, but I’m sure Sean has a plan.”
“I hate that man. He thinks I’m a kid and never tells me anything.”
“Babe, don’t get upset with Sean. He’s a good man. He won’t do anything to hurt you.” Shinkichi had turned and held me against his chest. “Just promise me, we’ll have our wedding when this is over,” he whispered.
“Wedding? Is it all that is in your mind?”
“Babe, you’re the only one I always want, not your Jade Seal or estate.”
“Yes, I know. You’ve told me often enough.”
“Just promise me, we’ll have our wedding as soon as this is over.”
“Hmm.” I nodded.
Shinkichi kissed me passionately. “I love you… very much,” he whispered.
CHAPTER 15
Early in the morning of the next day, we met Mikhail’s parents near the dining and kitchen area. They greeted us in Russian, with warm smiles on their wrinkled faces. I guessed that they were saying ‘good morning’ or something of that nature. We bowed at 15-degree and said “Good morning” to them.
A tall and chubby young woman came over to us. “Good morning, comrades. I’m Natasha, Mikhail’s younger sister.” Her English had an accent that sounded very familiar to me. When and where did I hear someone speaking like her?
We returned her greeting, and followed her and her parents into the dining area. Sean and Mikhail had already been sitting at the dining table, which was made of solid wood with rough craftsmanship, a typical Russian farmer-style table.
“Good morning, mates. Look, Natasha has got up early to make us a banquet for breakfast,” Sean said, getting himself a piece of toast and bacon.
“Comrades, this is the Russian way to welcome friends. Please help yourself to the food,” Mikhail said, pushing plates towards us.
The table was full with fresh milk, bread, lettuce, mushroom, tomatoes, fired eggs, cheese, and bacon. Yet, Natasha was still busy cooking.
“Comrades, please eat. These eggs and vegetables are fresh from our backyard. Natasha has grown them,” Mikhail told us proudly.
“Natasha grows these, really?” I looked at her admiringly.
“My brother and I grow them. He's built the sun-room; and I care for the chicken, plant vegetable seeds in spring and harvest the food in autumn,” Natasha said, adding more grilled tomatoes to a big plate.
She then sat next to me, and chatted about the police force where she worked and local gossip.
“Do you know why my brother hasn’t got a wife, yet?” She did not wait for an answer. “These days, more and more Russian women cross the Amur River to find a Chinese husband; and some go further, crossing the ocean to find a Japanese husband.”
“Why? Are Chinese and Japanese men better than Russian men?” I asked.
“They say Russian men drink too much,” Natasha said.
“I drink only socially,” Mikhail defended himself. “Women should be more considerate towards their comrades. There are no jobs, or activities for the men here. They have no way to spend their time except drinking.”
“Comrade, if Russian women go to the other side of the river to find husbands, you can also go there to get a wife; one that is good looking and has lots of money.” Sean smiled at Mikhail cheekily.
“No, thank you. I’m not one of those men who’d snatch a wealthy Chinese woman as wife,” Mikhail said.
Sitting next to their son, Mr and Mrs Platov had been quiet, but now joined the debate. “We’d like to find a good woman for our son,” Mr Platov said. “Not a woman who has one husband on the Chinese side of the river and another husband on this side of the river.”
“Wow, a woman with two husbands at the same time! That sounds interesting.” Sean blinked his eyes mischievously.
“Ah, a gossip says a Chinese woman who has a husband and child on the Chinese side of the river has come to our side to run a business. According to Russian law, foreigners cannot carry on businesses in Russia if they don’t have a Russian partner. So, she has married a Russian man and also had a
child with him… It’s gossip. I don’t know if it’s true,” Mikhail explained.
“It’s common for a Japanese noble man to have more than one wife at the same time, but for a woman to have two husbands at the same time is unheard of,” Shinkichi said. “That woman is totally unacceptable.” He added, putting a heavy tone on the word ‘unacceptable’.
“Well, if she’s as rich as a Japanese noble man, can afford two husbands at the same time. I can't see why is unacceptable.” Natasha supported the Chinese woman.
I nodded agreeably at Natasha.
Shinkichi saw this. “Babe, don’t get any ideas. For you, I’m the only man on Earth,” he said to me seriously.
Oops, have I ignited a fire accidentally? I turned, and gave Shinkichi a Mona Lisa smile.
“Ha-ha, ha-ha,” Sean laughed. “Mate, you’re truly a control freak! Tsar Catherine had more than half a dozen lovers before and after the death of her husband.”
“Yuuko-chan isn’t Tsar Catherine. She’s my girl, and must keep up with the Japanese traditions.” Shinkichi was obviously irritated by Sean’s comments.
“Is that so? If I was a woman, I wouldn’t have anything to do with a dominant and possessive control freak.” Sean showed no compromise.
“Mate, by god’s will, you’re not a woman,” Shinkichi said cheekily.
“Ha-ha, ha-ha,” we all burst out laughing, especially Natasha, whose pale checks had turned to a healthy glow of pink.
After breakfast, Sean called us, including Mikhail and his sister, into his room, where he unfolded his plan for recovering the Jade Seal. Then Mikhail took us to his room to inspect our weapons: three assault rifles and three semi-automatic pistols with an 18-round magazine. These guns had been used by the Russian Special Forces. Quietly, we loaded the weapons into the utility.
“Babe, take my pistol and shoot anyone who dares to attack you.”
“はい。” I took the pistol from Shinkichi, putting it into a side pocket of my coat. Gee, it’s heavy. The coat was pulled down by the weight of the pistol.
Sean came over and handed a pistol to Shinkichi. “Mate, take this pistol. I’ll use my own pistol from Australia.”