by Tony Lavely
“I doubt it,” Beckie said, much more satisfied with the final tally. “I’m pretty okay with you not taking any longer.” She turned Meili, wearing a pair of jeans and a sleeveless top, to face Sue. “How’s this look? And what did you say about victims?”
“Well, I suppose, except that they’re way too small on her.” She stood and made a study of the Chinese girl. “She’s not quite as tall as I am, but for now, she can use some of mine.” She combed her fingers through Meili’s long black hair. “And victims. Yeah. That’s the other thing Lot’s happy about.”
Meili put the rejected clothes on the bed and the three headed to Sue’s closet. “Between the harvest here and in New Mexico, we have enough in the expense fund to cover everything about twice over, including our plane tickets; gas for Patrice, Karen and Jean-Luc’s flying all around, and Kevin’s parking bills in London. We’ll be able to compensate the kids, both here and there, so they’ll get about €4.5 million after taxes, at least that’s my guess in the U. S. That’ll take a longer talk with Rou; I don’t know how taxes run, here.” She took a bright sun dress off its hanger and handed it to Meili. “Here, try this one.”
The girl looked surprised, turning to Beckie for reassurance.
Makes sense she’d be confused. Ok, let’s get her dressed so she can see how she looks. Beckie grinned, then helped her with the dress. The yellow pattern was beautiful against her skin and black hair. While they knew she was too small for the cut of the dress, few others would notice. Meili’s whole attitude was shot through with gaiety as she watched her reflection in the mirrors.
“Well,” Beckie said, “I guess I know what I’ve got to match.” She laughed. “Maybe there’s a potato sack in there; I’ll never compete with her!”
“Nonsense,” Sue retorted. “Either of the two dresses you have left will transfix the guys as much as she will, believe me. I’m the odd one out here.”
“Bull, Sue, and you know it.” Beckie laughed again, then took Meili back to their room. “Hey, the victim thing, does that mean Meili—”
“Yeah, Meili will get compensation. Mr. Lot says that, like the other girls, the money will improve the situation in which they can be placed. If—”
“Yeah. If I don’t take her back.”
“I wasn’t kidding, you know. She’s not a stray kitten, or a souvenir for you to put in a box or up on a shelf.”
“I know that, Sue, don’t you think I know that? But she’s looking to me for protection since I guess, no one’s ever done for her, and I don’t want her to be hurt again.”
“I know, I know… Jus’, I think you should think on the best way for that to happen. For both of you.”
With a little flash of anger in her eye, which didn’t hide her understanding, Beckie drew the dress she’d chosen over her head, interrupting the view between them.
The interpreter came in with breakfast; she proved quite capable in near simultaneous translation in both directions. She appeared to be twenty-five or so, dressed in a well-fitted traditional Chinese kimono. Her coloring and hair were similar to Meili’s, though, with it in a roll, Beckie couldn’t judge how long it was. Her name was Zhang Xia; or, in English, Vera. Beckie preferred the sound of Xia.
The three plus Willie plus Xia were as hungry for breakfast as they were information about Meili.
Meili’s parents had kept her all her life, until her mother had finally given birth to a boy. Only able to afford a single child—and barely that, Meili admitted—they had taken her to the nearest town where her attractive appearance provided some balance to her great age; she was exchanged for the equivalent of about eight dollars. In the back of an aged military truck, she was smuggled into Thailand, ending in Werner’s compound a couple of days earlier.
Few people in the compound could speak her language; she had little idea what offered until another Chinese girl, a veteran, explained in no uncertain terms. Meili had grown up on a farm; she was familiar with the reproductive act, but had never disobeyed her mother’s injunction against it. Being taken to the room where she’d found Beckie was her first experience.
Beckie had surmised correctly; as a farm girl, she understood rice, oxen, rabbits and little else. Her schooling was minimal: she could read and write her name, and had some arithmetic—Xia wouldn’t characterize it as mathematics.
Once breakfast was complete and Sue looked in on Derek to check his leg, the ladies went shopping to equip Meili for whatever life might throw at her, clothing wise. They had real fun, but in a burst of switching gears after hours devoted to large expenditures, they ended at the beach to play in the water and sand before the sun dropped out of sight completely.
Lying under the umbrella, Beckie wrangled Xia’s opinions, the ones the translator would share: Meili, cute as she was, was also very young, unsophisticated, uneducated and in Xia’s view, merely following Beckie’s lead. Xia explained that, like herself, Meili wasn’t worried about what was coming; they had both accepted that the Buddhist focus on the present was sensible. “Besides,” Xia said with a laugh, “do I need to tell you that she’s never been pampered at all, nothing like the way you’ve been treating her!”
The day after shopping was filled with new, complete documentation for both Meili and Xia. Because of the time difference, Boynton was able to arrange bookings for the next morning, back to New York where Jean-Luc would ferry them back to base. Today, if schedules worked out, one of Jamse’s pilots would fly to Minneapolis to fly the Sverdupe and Durst parents to the Nest. Beckie heard all the plans with undisguised pleasure and not a little trepidation. Big days were coming.
The day-long flight to Bangkok was closely approximated by the return, except it didn’t have the added zest of an upcoming mission. It was a time to relax. However, in the front seats, Beckie found pleasure in the thought that she, Meili and Xia had the future to look forward to.
Attempting to relax, her mind wove different patterns. There are too many choices. How can I pick just one? No way! But… Along with her relief that she’d lived through the past week and Werner hadn’t, she also felt an unexpected loss. There’s something else there, too. Something that I… I just can’t get my head around yet. Like it’s great that Meili and I lived, but… Maybe I should talk it over with Mom and Dad? Or…
Jamse had taken a seat by himself near the back of the cabin. When Meili dropped off to sleep, Beckie took advantage and headed to the lavatory. On her way back, she hesitated at Jamse’s seat. “May I have a word, Mr. Jamse?”
“Of course, Rebecca. You hardly need ask.”
She dropped into the empty seat beside him, making sure she could see Meili. She twisted her fingers together, her incipient feelings still not coming to the fore.
“Are you concerned about the Chinese girls?” Jamse asked.
“Yeah, I am, I guess. But—”
“Ms Zhang spoke with me earlier, as I was concerned about Mr. Lot’s reasons for having her depart Thailand.”
Beckie smiled inside, thinking back to Boynton’s ‘interview’ with her earlier. “So I guess she has no secrets left,” she said, allowing the smile to curve her lips.
“I would not go that far. However, she was quite open with me, especially regarding Mr. Lot.” His tone left Beckie no doubt that he was not going to clarify Xia’s position with Kiel Lot. “But she had a few things to say about you, of which I think you should be aware. Nothing to be concerned with,” he said as Beckie felt her face tighten into a scowl she didn’t really want to show. “Ms Zhang is pleased that you seem to have, in her words, ‘a lot of confidence and happiness’ in you. Coupled with Mr. Lot’s assurances that the position he offered her would be honorable and have value, your attitude had much to do with her decision to come with us.
“But she worries, as do I to some extent, that you may not have a clear idea what will occur once the plane lands.” He looked at her, very directly. “By which we mean, what will happen in the weeks and months following our arrival.”
&n
bsp; “You aren’t alone, for sure. It bothers me, a lot. Do you think I did the right thing? Taking them away from… From everything, I guess. Though Meili didn’t—”
“You did what you thought you had to do. Since it is done, I believe worrying further about it will have little value. Rather, we should apply ourselves to the situation at hand.” He reached across the armrest to take her hand, squeezed it. “If I had doubts about your commitment, I would have sided with Susan. Even Willie agreed that you should not be dissuaded. It is also certain that Ms Zhang will be happier almost anywhere away from Phuket.”
“But she’s more grown-up.” Beckie protested. “She’d have had a much easier time no matter what. Wouldn’t she?”
“That is true. She is not the main issue here because of it. And I believe the group will be able to keep Ms Zhang in translation work for as long as she chooses.”
“Cool! I’m glad at least one of them will be able to move on. But Meili…” She turned her hand over in his, squeezed back. “I haven’t talked to my folks yet about her, but I think they’ll agree with me, that leaving her was not a good idea. And because of that, they’ll let her come live with us. I think,” without the ringing conviction she’d felt before.
“It is a major responsibility.”
“Yeah.” Beckie sighed, then stretched in the seat without releasing Jamse’s hand. “Well, I have thought about it some, and the first thing is to get her into school, where she can learn English, and all the other stuff we take for granted. Oh, and she’s gotta learn Chinese things, too. Her heritage, that’s gotta be important to her later on.” Her confidence flowed back as she spoke. “And no matter what, she’s gonna know that I’ll be there to support her, help her… Love her.”
“That is a workable plan, I believe, and well-spoken.” He smiled. “Is that all that bothered you?”
“Well…” She sat up a little, squeezed Jamse’s hand again. “I think Meili’s waking up, so I’ll go back with her. Thanks for this, Mr. Jamse. It helps, a lot.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The Nest; Ian and Trillian
ARRIVAL AT THE NEST’S AIRSTRIP was filled with many emotions, although there was no way Beckie would make the mistake of her last arrival: her cute mini sun-dress had no room for either armor or weapons. She held Xia and Meili back until the others debarked, then followed them down the steps. Kevin and Shalin were greeting the others, but her group was patiently awaiting her.
Patiently may not be the right word, Beckie thought as Melissa ran across the tarmac toward her, trailed by first her father, then Mike and her mother. Melissa’s parents followed more sedately; Beckie lost them as Melissa grabbed her in a huge hug of greeting; Melissa instantly followed the hug with an intense ten second interrogation to determine that she really was all right. When Dad arrived, Beckie went through it again; she had it down pat for Mike and Mom.
Beckie made introductions immediately, but held off explanations. On the way to the boat landing, she stopped to ask Jamse, “Can you come to Kevin’s home again, if he’ll permit? And the others? A little later…” looking at her watch, “maybe about six.”
“I’m sure Shalin will insist on dinner,” Kevin said. “We’d be happy to let you follow dessert with a meeting.”
Beckie agreed, then protested as she counted up in her head. She’d be responsible for an additional nine people at Shalin’s table. Kevin pointed out that staff was available to handle these events; the food mightn’t be up to Shalin’s standard, but it would be no problem.
“Okay, if you’re sure?” Once Kevin nodded, Beckie turned to Jamse. “But before that, if it’s okay, I’d like to see Trillian again?”
“Certainly. You know the way; come over after you have settled in.”
The boat ride crossing the channel needed two trips. Additional time was spent in allocating rooms to people and getting them settled in. Large as the cottage was, the Dursts were staying in the main house; with them here, Melissa could move back to Beckie’s room in the cottage.
Melissa found a smaller suite for Xia, and agreed that Meili should triple up with them in the room she and Beckie had shared before. “It’ll be fine…” Beckie recognized the resignation in Melissa’s voice and questioned her with a look. “Since my staying with Mike wouldn’t be very PC.”
After a sympathetic smile, she took Meili’s hand and said, “Okay, Xia, we’re gonna get cleaned up and change. I hope you’ve got something casual in there?” She waved at the translator’s case. “That’s the order of the day.”
When she nodded, they headed to their room; Beckie and Meili chose to shower and change themselves into shorts and tee shirt wearing girls, about which Meili looked quite dubious. Beckie tried to reassure her, but it required Xia’s appearance similarly garbed and her translation of Beckie’s words before she was comfortable.
After an hour of not explaining much about the trip to Melissa… She and Mike don’t need to live that, even vicariously, she thought, Beckie made the walk across the island to Jamse’s home. Her heart was beating harder than usual. What’s that about? Jus’ gonna see Trillian. She walked up the crushed shell walk toward the porch.
She didn’t even have to knock; Boynton held the screen door open for her as she stepped up to the porch. Inside, he directed her to the lanai, where Trillian was draped over Jamse’s shoulder. When Beckie approached the glass door, Trillian turned her head and then jumped to the floor. Before she could take any action, Beckie was staggered by the impact of the ocelot, then shocked by stabbing pain as Trillian extended her claws to maintain her grip. Eight punctures in her shoulders, eight more in her belly just above the shorts’ waistband. Beckie gasped as she lifted the cat to take her weight.
“Wow! I’ve got to wear armor when I come to visit her, I guess.” She sat on the sofa. Before she’d completely settled, Trillian again washed her leg—the right, this time—then curled up on her lap. “Guess she’s comfortable, huh?”
“Indeed,” Jamse told her. I wish he’d smile like that more often. “To date, Susan and Boynton are the only other people she tolerates.” He looked at Boynton, who smiled his own tiny British smile in return. “Even with them, I have never seen her quite this… attentive.”
There was a moment of silence before Boynton asked if they would like a drink, and left them alone.
“Mr. Jamse,” Beckie began, feeling very tentative about broaching the subject of her own feelings, “I wanted to say thanks again for the… On the plane. Like I said, that was a real help.”
“There is little to thank me for. Sitting still while you work things out for yourself calls for little effort. It does provide a great deal of pleasure, however.”
She felt the warmth of her blush. Thank God it’s not burning! “That’s very nice of you. But…” Yeah, go on girl. Staring at Trillian, she said, “Well, I’ve been kinda… worried, I guess is the way to say it, and…”
Jamse sat a little straighter in his chair, but didn’t have any other reaction that Beckie could see.
“Wu Ting, I think Mr. Lot said the girl’s name was?”
“The one we failed to save? Yes, that was her name.”
Beckie’s eyes were leaking, and her nose was getting runny. Boynton handed her a tissue before placing her iced tea beside her. She gave him a grateful nod and “Thank you,” as he left them alone again. This time, Trillian rose, stretched briefly and followed him.
“It is time,” Jamse said, waving at the cat’s swishing tail.
“Yeah. For a lot of things.” She wiped her nose, too embarrassed to blow it in front of him. He stood and walked off the lanai, into the house. Maybe he does understand. Alone, she blew her nose twice.
Before she could wipe her eyes, he was back. He took the seat next to her, almost touching. He handed her a small box of tissues. “Experience teaches that one is not sufficient.” He pulled one out and wiped her cheeks. “There.”
Emotion overwhelmed her again. This time it was Jamse, acting as sh
e’d never seen him act before. She shook herself mentally, then scooted toward him. She didn’t notice much hesitation when he put his arm over her shoulder, but he did feel… Distant, I guess. Like, ‘she needs comfort,’ maybe. Well, yeah. That’s fair.
“I’ve been having trouble sleeping since…” She heaved a sigh. Long as I’m sitting here with him, and gone this far… “Since Ting died… was murdered. I dream about her, seein’ her blood all over her, all over his hand, all over the floor, and her limp body…” She felt her words coming faster and faster, like it was an infection she had to lance to get it to heal. “And watching in my dream, I can’t do anything to help her. Dammit, I couldn’t do anything to help her then! Not even move, Mr. Jamse. There must be something wrong with me, to… to…”
Her guilt and revulsion at both Werner and herself kept her from realizing for several moments that Jamse had taken her in his arms, pulling her gently into an embrace. When she did, she began weeping again. Through the tears, she said, “I wanted to stop him, but not enough so I could move to actually get to him. I just sat there. Damn! I just fucking sat there! I hate myself!”
“Rebecca.” She heard him speak under her sobbing. She realized he’d repeated her name several times. Not a dozen. Probably not a dozen. She moved her head to look up into his face. The pain she saw there took her aback. What have I brought back for him? She buried her face in his neck, willing her sobbing to stop.
“I cannot apologize enough to you for my actions. I saw you as a means to an end, not as a person—”
“No!” Beckie brought her head up sharply. Looking into his eyes—God, they’re blue!—“No. I don’t believe that. I didn’t have to go. I could have said I’m gonna stay here, or go home, and you wouldn’t have stopped me, or anything. Would you?” She waited until he shook his head, but then stopped his words with her fingertips. “I knew what Werner was. I watched that video with you, remember? That wasn’t the shock… Well, okay, it was a shock to see him just… you know, cut her throat like that. Like she wasn’t anything worth while. Not even as good as killing a rabbit for food. Just getting rid of her. Takin’ out the trash.