Fire Cult

by R. B. Shaw

  Kless again tried to suppress the distraction. ‘Lani, come and meet Mr. Stark and his friends from Avmar Salvage.’

  She turned to the strangers in the room, savouring her hit. A smile relaxed her face, her eyes drowsy and impassive. The drug concoction was a special mix conceived by Kless. It subtly transformed strangers, making them appear well groomed, smooth skinned and physically irresistible. To Kless’s women, the mellowing release of the drug made any man seem erotic, a familiar lover desired in the past. Lani relished the fantasy; it made her sleazy life tolerable. It also made her Kless’s favourite and the most popular girl he employed.

  Lani tossed her head so that it shook her long dark hair back off the shoulder, then strode suggestively across the room. She moved with absolute poise, a lithe practiced sway. One foot overstepped the other, that graceful catwalk style models use to highlight the female figure. Side effects surfaced, a constant tremble and her speech a rapid unintelligible staccato of Thai, French and English. Another side effect was insatiable thirst and she downed Kless’s drink, poured another and curled up next to him.

  Kless turned to Dave and Jan. ‘You don’t have to sleep in your camp tent tonight. If you like you can stay here. You appreciate my coffee blend—I’m sure you’ll enjoy my other specialties. We have very interesting parties, don’t we Lani?’ His arm encircled her extremely slim waist and pulled her against him. ‘In fact, we’re celebrating my return tonight.’ Lani squirmed languidly within his embrace. Her face broke into a broad smile as he turned and repeated the audacious question to the other girls. It was a blatant show of power and Kless stared directly at Jan, fishing for a reaction.

  The women beyond the screen slid the curtain back to acknowledge him with laughter and suggestive responses. Joe was right, the house was plainly a staging point for a harem of hookers and Kless a dealer in human flesh and misery. He leered at Jan like she was an erotic toy in an adult novelty shop.

  Jan contained her revulsion. ‘Mr Kless, I think you have enough to keep you occupied tonight,’ she said tactfully, taunting him with her best sultry smile.

  There was a burning intensity in Lani’s beautiful eyes, her long lashes elaborately overdone with mascara. Her provocative gaze explored Fang’s tall muscular body and broad shoulders. It appeared she had sexually categorised him and was eager to prove her assessment. Lani smiled a professional smile through lips that were probably veterans of a thousand dubious encounters.

  Fang looked amused as he stared at the irresistible beauty. Though definitely not Tiana, the likeness was uncanny. He winked at Dave, poured himself another drink then settled further into the lounge, leaving Dave to respond.

  Dave judged the situation. ‘Thanks for your time and cooperation anyway, Mr. Kless,’ he said diplomatically, supporting Jan’s refusal and not wanting to lose Kless’s concessions.

  The clinging couple showed disappointment. Lani ignored Kless’s blatant affections, her sensuous eyes still on Fang’s face.

  Kless’s grin vanished with the refusal. His anger showed in a forced smile and firmer grip around Lani. As his visitors prepared to leave he tried to retrieve lost ground. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay overnight at my love nest?’ A hesitation, ‘I can assure you our partying will not disturb you. I have luxurious guestrooms overlooking the beach.’ His greedy eyes still lingered on Jan.

  ‘Many thanks again, Mister Kless,’ Dave shook his head. ‘We have a comfortable campsite at Kulili. If the weather turns bad I have my cabin cruiser anchored just offshore.’

  ‘Good evening then,’ said Kless, deliberately ignoring Dave and directing his comment at Jan. ‘Feel free to call me when you’re ready to visit the Sangami. I hope we meet again soon under more intimate circumstances.’ His gaze slid up and down the obvious curves beneath the denim of Jan’s jeans.

  ‘Mr Kless, what you do here is your business,’ said Jan. ‘Keep in mind, not all women are simply sex objects.’

  Kless smirked obscenely. ‘Of course they are. That’s what mother nature intended. Without sexual attraction, we’d all be extinct. Love rules supreme.’

  Jan’s anger suddenly surfaced. ‘You have a vast library, Mr. Kless, probably unused. I suggest you check your dictionary for the difference between love and lust!’

  The barbed insult from such a beautiful woman enraged Kless. He seemed jealous of Lani’s flirtation with Fang and his mood suddenly changed. He wasn’t going to let them go leaving him embarrassed and upstaged. ‘Oh, before you go, there’s someone here you might know—Lani’s sister.’ Kless aimed his taunt directly at Fang, then turned to the screened lounge. ‘I know you’re back there. There are some people here you may remember.’

  Reluctantly, Tiana entered through the curtain from the corner lounge, elegantly dressed in black like her sister. Her face could have been lifted from a sell-out cover of Vogue or Cosmo. She looked elegant, her shiny hair pulled back into a single cascade behind ears decorated with teardrop pearl earrings. She simply nodded and said nothing. Her lovely dark eyes swung to Fang, almost pleading, too scared to speak as she saw the shocked look on his face.

  Kless smiled, savouring his control of the humiliating silence, glancing from Tiana to his stunned guests.

  Tiana turned away, her lovely features contorted by the shame of exposed deceit. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at the floor without comment.

  Fang sat motionless and betrayed, a stone face that somehow looked older and drawn. Dave and Jan glanced at him knowingly.

  ‘That’s right, you met in Madang, didn’t you?’ Kless smirked sarcastically. ‘Tiana and Lani are in my employ, as are the other girls here. Let’s just say they are in the entertainment business.’

  Fang lunged with lightning speed. His giant fist caught Kless squarely in the face—everyone heard his nose break. Kless recovered quickly, blood running down his cheek and dripping from his chin. He struck out blindly at Fang and in an instant the duelling giants locked together. They tumbled through the elaborate wood chain curtain, reducing it to a mangled heap of expensive black splinters. The women screamed and fled to the sanctuary of other rooms.

  The big Buka had the reflexes of a jungle cat. He sprang from the side lounge like a black panther, his Uzi half raised. Jake jumped from his stool, caught him off balance and knocked the Uzi out of his hand. As the Buka turned on Jake, Dave took advantage of his loss of concentration and landed two good punches on the Buka’s jaw. Jake kicked the Uzi out of reach, pulled the stunned bodyguard’s belt and lashed the Buka’s hands behind his back.

  Fang cornered a weakened Kless and punched him like a man deranged. Kless gradually slid down the wall under the fusillade of punches.

  Jan shouted frantically. ‘Fang! You’ll kill him!’

  Dave tried to intervene, but Fang was crazed with emotion. He mistakenly turned on Dave in his rage, throwing wild punches. Dave had no choice. He grabbed Fang from behind, hurling him backwards onto the floor. He pinned him there and shouted directly in his face. ‘Fang! Cool it you stupid bastard! Ya gonna kill someone!’

  Fang eventually calmed enough to listen to reason, but his hand gripped the handle of his Whitehunter knife. ‘Keep that prick outa my sight or I’ll do just that! I swear it mate. I’ll open ‘im up like a butterfly steak.’

  Kless slowly recovered. He tried to stand but stumbled awkwardly and dropped to his knees again. On his second attempt, he stood immobile with a blood-smeared face and shirt. The agony of a battered chest and stomach kept him stooped. ‘Get out of my house!’ he growled, face contorted in pain.

  Jan responded first. ‘Mr. Kless, we’re terribly sorry, but you provoked him.’

  Kless ignored her and glared at them with contempt. ‘Get off my property, Stark. Be warned, if any of your team enter my estate, I’ll have them shot on sight! Now get out!’ Kless cut off any apologies from Dave with furious outbursts. When he noticed his bodyguard half-conscious near the bar, he panicked and quickly shouted orders t
o one of the girls. ‘Get my security patrol over here! Now!’

  Fang ignored the threat and ambled across the room at his own pace. He stopped and turned back briefly. ‘That’s only a sample, arsehole. You’re dead meat!’

  Without the back up of his bodyguard, Kless flinched and took shelter behind his bamboo bar. Fang then simply stared at Tiana; his swollen knuckles still red with blood. She wept in the corner lounge, her hands up to her face as Lani tried to comfort her.

  In the awkward silence, Tiana glanced up into Fang’s withering stare. ‘Chris, it’s not what you think.’ She stared into the eyes of the devil, but in the soft muted light, a tear trailed down the angry giant’s cheek.

  The silent standoff dissolved as four armed men rushed into the room waving pistols and what looked like ancient muskets. ‘What’s up, Mr. Kless?’

  ‘Cover ‘em. They’re dangerous and unpredictable.’

  Dave recognised the muskets as twelve gauge Bernadelli shotguns. The butts had been cut down to form efficient pistol grips, the barrels also sawn off in line with the wooden stock. The result provided an evil and powerful weapon that could be easily concealed.

  While one man helped Kless, another stooped and released the big Buka. The islander angrily struggled free of his bonds, found his Uzi machine pistol, then stormed over and shoved the muzzle under Fang’s chin. Fang stared back into eyes wide with hate and malice. The angry Buka trembled with rage.

  ‘No!’ A voice boomed. Kless stood unaided now and held up his hand symbolically. A froth of blood and spittle stained his mouth and chin. Kless suppressed his anger; he could not allow an incident here on his premises. It would remain a standoff, for now. ‘Escort ‘em off the property. If they give any trouble, shoot to kill!’

  Dave quickly urged his group out through the front door. As soon as they were out of earshot, he turned on Fang. ‘You stupid bastard! You really blew it this time! We had it all set up till you started throwin’ punches!’

  Fang did not reply, trying to restrain his temper as they grudgingly boarded the Thunderbox. With Dave’s continued verbal assault, a violent argument started between them.

  Jan defused the issue as she pointed to the armed guards gathering at the house. ‘Are you two going to argue all afternoon, or can you get us out of this mess?’

  Fang floored the accelerator and the powerful V8 wrenched the drive train. Cascades of dirt sprayed high in the air as the Thunderbox fishtailed down the entrance track. Fang did not stop for the elaborate bamboo entrance gate. It represented Kless and the Buka. The hefty bullbar demolished it and threw the crushed remains to one side.

  With mixed emotions and suppressed anger, they cruised back to their camp. The coast road followed the sandy beach. It led through sea-misted palms topped with faded sweeps of mountainous foothills. A sudden rush of liquid mercury invaded the shoreline and receded, trailing a million refracting mirrors of a rose and primrose sky. No one uttered a word. They all realised there would be no access to the Sangami Fire Cult through Kless’s plantation.

  One hope remained. They must persuade Joe to lead them across the volcano from the southern side.

  38

  Fang sat silently on his spread sleeping bag, his back resting against the trunk of a coconut palm. Most of the balmy evening had been wasted arguing with Dave. Sleep eluded him, in spite of the numbing effect of half bottle of black Negrita rum. In his reverie he gazed at the surf, mesmerised by the fascinating bioluminescence. The stirring of the tropical plankton lit the waves with an eerie internal glow. The bushman in him sensed the presence of someone else on the lonely beach. The bright moonlight clearly illuminated the small dark figure against the milky phosphorescence of the sand.

  Tiana stopped a few paces away. ‘Chris, I must speak with you. After you left, the doctor treated Kless for a broken nose and fractured ribs. He’s in a terrible rage. Don’t try to cross Rimbula Plantation to the Fire Cult. I heard him give the order to shoot on sight. The doctor gave him something to make him sleep, so I took the risk to slip by the guards and warn you.’

  A long silence prevailed, as though he had not heard. ‘Piss off, whore, you might be missin’ a customer!’

  Tiana did not answer. She sat down on a fallen palm trunk. She struggled to find the right words. ‘I didn’t want you to find out like this. It’s not what you think—my feelings for you were genuine.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier?’ Fang said simply.

  ‘I couldn’t. Kless is blackmailing me. He forced me to meet you somehow and find out all I could about your search for the plane wreck and the barge of gold … I didn’t know … I would fall in love with you.’ Her voice turned to a choked whisper with these words.

  Fang shuffled with indecision, but he did not look at her or comment.

  Tiana broke the long silence. ‘Is that the Lahara anchored out there?’

  ‘What of it?’

  ‘Do you remember when we first made love on the Lahara?’

  Fang could not respond, still choked with a confused mix of rage and longing.

  ‘Can we take the dinghy out and start again?’ she whispered.

  ‘Haven’t got cash on me, or d’ya take credit cards?’ he quipped.

  Tiana waited for her emotion to settle before trying one more time to explain her circumstances. ‘Chris, I understand your anger. All I ask is that you listen closely to what I’m going to say. I’ve never worked as a prostitute. I told Kless I would eventually, to pacify him. But all I’ve been doing is escort work until I can find a way out for my sister, Lani. In Chiang Mai my wage was less than a dollar a day and my father is very sick. Traditional family support is very important in Thailand because there is no government medical scheme. We were desperate to raise the money for his expensive operation.’

  Tiana moved a little closer. ‘Lani started working as an escort in Hong Kong, but it got out of hand when she met Kless. She was soon into drugs and then prostitution. I tracked her to Madang and was forced into working for Kless to repay her drug debts. I had to stay to try and dry her out. As soon as we’ve repaid her debts, we’re going. I’m ashamed of what has happened. I have no choice and can’t endanger Lani with any wrong moves. She’s Bruno Kless’s favourite and totally under his control.’

  ‘What about the Madang Hotel?’ Fang jibed. ‘The barman said you sell yourself to the sailors.’

  ‘That was Lani,’ she replied angrily. ‘As you saw, we look alike.’

  Fang said nothing in the ensuing silence as Tiana moved closer still.

  ‘Chris, I can prove what I say. If you help us I’ll secretly work for you and Dave. I can tell you all Kless knows about the gold barge, the cult and the Japanese man. Just think how important that could be. Please, give me another chance.’

  Fang’s clouded brain stumbled with these new revelations. ‘Kless knows more about the missin’ gold shipment?’

  ‘Yes, he was arranging for searches of the barge and coast before you arrived.’

  ‘And the Japanese man—what’s his name?’

  ‘Kendo Harada. He and Kless often discuss the contents of an old diary.’

  Despite his surprise, Fang grasped the opportunity. ‘Do you have access to the diary?’

  ‘It’s often left lying around,’ Tiana revealed cautiously.

  ‘I saw a photocopier in Kless’s office,’ Fang challenged, making no further concessions. ‘If he’s so drugged out at the moment, get us a copy of the diary.’

  ‘If I do, can you help us to escape from him?’

  Fang responded with Dutch courage. ‘You get the diary and I’ll get you out.’

  She leaned on his shoulder, then kissed him gently on the cheek. Fang gave no resistance as she laid her head in his lap. She felt a tremor of emotion in his muscular body. Fang’s hand brushed her cheek and his fingers combed her hair. His big hands moved gently, probing her silken tresses.

  The time seemed right. She sat up and faced him, ran her delicate fingers acr
oss his cheek and chin, then kissed him gently on the lips. ‘Chris, please try to understand. I want you, and not just because you can help me.’

  Fang’s resolve crumbled. She moved closer, put her arms around his neck and kissed him feverishly. His head lay firmly against the palm trunk. He could have eluded the passionate assault, but did not. Suddenly his arms slipped around her slim waist, one hand caressing the nape of her neck. She felt his arousal, opened his pants and began massaging him. Tiana slid her satin dress up. She wore no underwear, so simply straddled him with her smooth ivory thighs. She slid onto him, crouching in his lap. Her barrage of kisses felt overpowering and demanding, her lips full and fleshy but soft as rose petals.

  There was no tempestuous lovemaking, no furious thrusting. They simply merged. Tiana’s hips gyrated, almost imperceptibly. Fang placed a hand on each supple flank, rejoicing in the smoothness of her skin and the sensations within. Tiana’s wondrous lips ceaselessly provoked him as if they had a mind of their own and within minutes Fang convulsed in ecstasy.

  They stayed locked together for another hour, listening to nature’s rhapsody; the soothing rattle of palm fronds, a rustling tempo orchestrated by the whim of the gentle morning trade wind. The low moon sprinkled the sea with sparkling gems. Luminous bomb bursts of cloud towered above a silver thread horizon. Early morning birdcalls heralded a pale aura in the eastern sky.

  Tiana stood adjusting her dress. ‘I have to go back. If Kless wakes and I’m not there, he’ll be furious and take it out on Lani.’

  Fang said nothing, simply gazing at her beauty in the pale early light. She looked so elegant and statuesque. In another place and age she could have been an exotic Siamese princess.

  His thoughts turned to her revelations as she hurried off to the plantation.

  39

  The morning sea was as smooth as liquid amber, the sky scarlet and cloudless above a brilliant white sun. Another shimmering orb reflected perfectly in the tropic waters and trailed a dancing path of bright fragmented sunrays. From the campsite, leaning palms divided the rosy scene.