The passengers for HongKong were a family of 7; 2 parents, 4 daughters and 1 son, the daughters ranging in age from 17 to 8, with the son being 13. They were taking with them their 3 Chinese servants and their families, which struck me as a little odd until I spotted the tong tattoos. Things then made much more sense.
Now having had trouble with pirates on the last trip, and been saved by the appearance of an Amber naval frigate - something that was unlikely to happen on this trip, I wasn't going to be caught out again. I'd therefore decided that the first leg of the trip was to collect a cargo of pistols, rifles, and ammunition. Now whilst it was possible to get any modern weapon returning the ship to Alto Mento with them would likely cause problems.
I therefore decided on acquiring Colt 45's and Winchester97's, weapons that should be appearing within 30 years if the shadow was following other general historical events - I couldn't be sure as there were already major differences the most notable being that what on my shadow would be San Francisco Bay and peninsula didn't exist. In fact the whole of the area to the west of the San-Andreas fault didn't, having slipped into the sea some 10000 or so years before. Obtaining these was therefore a case of seeking a shadow where San Francisco existed, both the Colt45 and Winchester97 had been invented, and more importantly there was a shipment waiting for me to collect.
Since this was a case of probability manipulation and pattern searching I didn't need a storm as I couldn't hellride. I therefore instructed the Captain to sail generally westwards and leave the rest to me. Hopefully we'd reach our destination sometime between 24 and 48 hours hence.
I wasn't too far out in my estimate, and we sighted land about 40 hours into the run. Apart from the vastly different coastline, the next marked difference as far as the crew were concerned was the prevalence of steel hulled steam ships and wharf cranes, otherwise the port was much as any other port they were used to. We docked 4 hours later attracting a certain amount of attention as the largest sailing vessel in harbour. I left strict instructions that nobody was to go ashore, that the Captain was to supervise loading of the cargo when it arrived and that it was to be stored in my cabin. When he started to question the orders I told him I'd explain later.
The first chore ashore was the usual one, paying the docking, wharf, and harbor fees. In addition I had to pay export duty, warehouse fees, and loading fees for the cargo. Having paid all the fees, I was given the relevant paperwork to take to the dispatch office, where I could make arrangements for the cargo to be loaded. Payment of an additional priority cargo fee, in cash, ensured that the cargo would be loaded well before the evening tide. Arrangements made I returned to the ship.
The cargo arrived shortly after 3 pm and was duly carried on board by a band of dockers where it was taken by the crew to my cabin and stowed. I then summoned the Captain and the fist mate to explain what I'd had delivered. I told them that in the morning, I'd give them a demonstration and he could arrange for the crew to practice. How and when he issued them to the crew would be down to him. I also said that the next leg of the journey would be in storm conditions so he should advise the crew accordingly and make necessary arrangements. I estimated it would take about 10 hours in the storm to get us close to our destination.
Last nights night departure was a little nerve racking for both the Captain and crew but they managed it without mishap. The advantage for me was that I could begin to shift shadow as soon as we'd left the quayside and were moving, since the darkness hid a great deal. It also meant I could shift us into a storm that much quicker. As the first of the rain arrived I left the deck and retired to my cabin. As Random had pointed out that first time, after having me stand soaking wet and cold on deck for over 10 hours, I could manipulate shadow just as easily from my cabin, especially as I had no second ship that I needed to maintain contact with.
I let the storm die just after 10 am having gauged that we were close enough to sail normally and still be able to reach San Francisco tonight. Arriving at night would help solve a few problems, not the least of which was all the media attention we were liable to get. I was banking on an intercept by the coastguard and a tow by tug to see us berthed, which would solve most of the other issues. Those of security could be solved with a phone call, but that meant my mobile had to be in range of a cell and mast.
Once the seas calmed I extracted one rifle, one pistol, a box of ammunition for each from the crates, and my shotgun from my pack. I then went on deck, sending word for the Captain to join me as I did so. He arrived a few minutes later and I had him summon the crew so that they could all see what I'd brought for them. I then set about demonstrating the differences in capabilities of the three weapons, and in the process that I'm capable of using them, if not that proficiently. The Captain was a little stunned, especially with the close quarters stopping power of the shotgun, and wanted to know if I could get him some of them as well. I said I'd be able to get him a dozen when we docked.
The next hour was spent with me teaching groups of four the basics of each weapon, each getting to spend 5 minutes with each weapon. I then left them to it, with instructions not to wake me until 7. I needed some time to recover from the night's hellride.
The final leg of the trip into San Francisco went more or less as I'd expected. We entered the local waters about 10 miles off shore, then had to make hasty turn to get out of the path of a container carrier. In many ways this was a fortuitous event as it partly prepared the crew for what came next, which was the rapid arrival of a coast guard cutter, which gaining no response from us, not surprising really as we had no modern navigation instruments, ordered us to hove to and prepare to be boarded. There was of course the problem that as soon as we furled the sails we began to drift, which forced them into moving alongside attaching bow and stern lines and then assume station keeping watch, whilst they decided what to do next.
Next was pretty much what I told them to do, after being escorted under guard to the Captain's ready room. A tug was ordered, the relevant paper work was completed that allowed us the necessary passage, a ship-to-shore phone was made available so that I could make arrangements with both the Port Authority for our berthing and with certain other individuals that would ensure that journalists and other busy bodies were kept away from the ship whilst we were docked. I was also able to fax an order to the Purple Dragon for the supplies I needed, including art materials, shotguns, and ammunition - I'd handle the export paperwork in person later.
Arrangements completed, the cutter departed leaving us to make headway towards a rendevous with the tug. We were going to have to rely on both the coastguard and tug being able to track our progress and talk to one another as we had no means of talking to either.
It took us about an hour to make the rendevous, about 2 miles off shore of the Northern end of the Golden Gate Brigde. Now accompanied/escorted by the tug we made our way towards and then under it before reefing sails. The last mile of our journey would be made under tow. It was therefore shortly after midnight before we we tied up along side, by which time we'd attracted the attention of 5 local TV stations with access to helicopters, and as a result a large crowd of sightseers.
Again I told the Captain there would be no shore leave, even though we were likely to be docked for at least 40 hours. Taking both the Captain and firstmate with me, I went ashore to finalize the security arrangements, and deal with the Port Authority.
Arrangements in hand, including a means for the Captain to contact me should the need arise, I braved the crowd and vulture pack of journalists and boarded the car that had been arranged to collect me - I needed to square a few things at the Purple Dragon, although I wasn't currently suitably atired. A little shadow shifting and a short shopping spree, allowed me to rectify the problem before arriving.
The car dropped me at the VIP entrance, which allowed me to leave the retrieval of my pack to the junior doorman, the senior doorman xxxxxxx, escorting me in. I thanked him, tipped him appropriately, and made my way upstairs to the office, priming the maitradee that I would require a booth later.
Making my way through the VIP area, I noticed that Marcus was present but alone. I'd long since lost track of his current concubine, mainly due to lack of interest on my part. I made a mental note to send him a bottle of champagne.
The office door failed to open when I entered the general access code, indicating an override in operation. I entered my personal code, which I was pleased to see was still operational, and the door swung open. There was a shriek and a female figure vanished behind one of the sofa's. The other was clearly visible, as was xxxxxxxxxx, although both had their backs to me, and by the sounds she was thoughly enjoying herself.
I was several steps across the room before my presence percolated through his consciousness. "Who the hell are you? How'd you get in here?"
"I could ask the same of you. Now get rid of those two and put your pants back on". I was now in a position to see the area between the sofa's more clearly. White powder residue, a credit card, and a couple of rolled up dollar bills littered the table, along with an assortment of half finished drinks. The first girl had finished collecting her clothes and was backing away from me.
"You can either leave now or I'll have you thrown off the premisis"
I finished crossing the room, to where the bar stood open, took down a tumbler, and filled it 3/4 full of Jack Daniels. He'd now reached the desk and thumbed the security intercom. "This is xxxxxx, I have an intruder in the office. I want her thrown off the premisis and whichever jackass let her in is sacked"
I took a drink from the glass, put it down on the bar, then walked back to the sofa's. The girl who'd been enjoying herself, had now rolled over and was watching me. As I approached she shrieked a string of obsenitties, then launched herself at me. It a simple matter to sidestep and render her unconscious as she passed. The other girl had reached the door and was frantically trying to get out, whilst xxxxxxx was trying to open one of the desk draws - I suspect in an attempt to locate a gun. Scooping a bottle off the table I threw it at him, thereby gaining enough time to cross the room as he dived sideways to avoid taking the bottle in the head. Obviously not wanting to take me on and trying to gain enough time for security to arrive he dived away from the desk, and in the process away from his clothes. In no hurry, and comfortable in the fact that I was now in control I turned my attention to the girl by the door. "Try using the door release - its on the wall to your left"
She spun looked at me, then walked to the sofa's and sat down. I'd deal with her and her friend later. This latest development had completely foxed xxxxxxx, who was now nervously looking about, attempting to work out whether to run or not. He was saved from making a decision by the arrival of three bouncers, two of which seeing me sitting on the desk stopped dead in their tracks. The third being a little slower on the uptake, and obviously unaware of who I was, continued his charge until he realised that he was now all on his own. I avoided his lunge by the simle expedient of no longer sitting on the desk, appearing behind xxxxx. A simple neck chop rendered him unconscious.
"I see somebody round here knows the score. Now throw this out. It no longer works here. When you've down that, escort the two ladies here to room Five Thirteen. The one currently on the sofa is to be given due consideration, the other one not. You understand. One of them looked blank but the other said "Yes Miss Chan. You're sure about room Five Thirteen."
"Yes. There are a few other things. This room needs a thorough clean to removal standards, there's a gentleman in the VIP suite in booth 17, send him a bottle of Bolinger with my compliments, and get your friend some medical attention, he looks like he's broken his leg. Lastly, your name is?"
"xxxxxxxxx, Miss Chan"
"There'll be something extra in your paypacket, and I'll have a commendation added to your records. Now if you'll excuse me"
xxxxxx hurried forward to pick up xxxxxx, whilst his mate made his way across the room to help mr broken leg. I crossed to the sofas, when the girl was sitting. She'd not taken any of the cocanine, and had agreed to have sex with xxxxx in exchange for VIP pass. The whole thing had been her friend's idea, but she'd gone along with it since she'd hoped it wouldn't work. She was now rather disgusted with herself, and hadn't enjoyed it. She also didn't think he'd been very good and was rather relieved when her friend pushed her off him. I considered recinding the room 513 order, but that wouldn't look good. At least I'd given her the option of saying when she'd had enough, and she could pick which of them she had sex with. Even so she was going to be vey sore by the morning. I withdrew, grabbed a pen and paper from the desk then scibbled a note. "Give this to xxxxxxxx. It entitles you to a VIP pass and a taxi home tomorrow afternoon. In other circumstances things would have been different, next time if you're not comfortable with doing something have the guts to say so."
I waited until the boouncers had escorted, and in the other case, carried the girls out, then walked back to the bar. I pressed the panel that revealed the door keypad, then entered my personal code again. The bar unit slide forward allowing me to enter the room behind.
Three of the four people I was expecting were there along with 2 I didn't know. One of these was a woman. xxxxxx stood as I entered.
"Chan Li Feng. So nice to see you again. xxxxxx and your mother send their regards. Now Wuz Hou and xxxxxx you know?" "Yes, but I've not been introduced to your other guests." "On my right is Tsai Xi Feng", the woman stood, "She is the new operations manager of the Purple Dragon". I looked quizically at him. "Wuz Hou has been promoted, he now oversees our nightclub operations here. On my left is xxxxxxxxxx.". The figure to my immediate right stood and turned to face me. He was clearly not a very happy individual. "You've just had his son sumarily thrown out, although from what we've seen and had reported you've saved us an embaressment and awkward job." I bowed slightly as I had done to the woman. He didn't return the gesture. I bowed again. Again he didn't respond. I looked to xxxxxxx. He was still standing. I bowed for a third time, a refusal this time was a direct chalenge. He moved but I was expecting it, and blocked, then kicked him in the groin. For good measure I delivered a chop to te neck as he doubled over. There was an audible snap as the blow landed and he dropped to the floor. I turned to xxxxxx and bowed. "I apologize if I have caused any offence or hardship. I will accept any punishment you deem fit."
"Apologies accepted. I shall think on the matter. Until then take the seat next to Xi Feng. xxxxxxx should be here shortly. Would you like another drink?"
"Thankyou. I'll have another Jack Daniels please." I moved around the table and took the indicated chair. Xi Feng turned to face me. "Would you mind if i ask you a personal question?" "No, but I may choose not to answer it." "Why are you sending bottles of champagne to Marcus Trent, how did you stop the girl from leaving the office, how come you know about room five thirteen, and where did you get that dress - I don't recognise the style?" "That's four questions. Three are my business and the dress I got from a designer I know. I have some questions of my own, exactly who was xxxxxx, why was his son in the managers office, and was he aware of the surveilance system?"
xxxxxx answered the first two parts of the question before Xi Feng could respond. "He was a long term employee. Usually quite reliable. His son up until recently had been making good progress. As a reward he was being given the opportunity to expand his horizons, an opportunity that it appears was wasted on him. We shall have to look for a replacement."
"The quieter of the two girls, the one who didn't take the cocaine is capable but lacks experience. Once she's recovered offer her a walker job on the VIP floor. She'll be reluctant at first but once she settles in promote her. She should make the grade in 15-18 months."
Xi Feng responded "How do you know that?"
Before Icould reply Wuz Hou responded with "You really don't want to know that. Just trust her."
Xi Feng wasn't satisfied with this and pushed the point further. "But out. I'll decide what I do or do not need to know. Why should I apply a different set of rules to her just on your say so. She thinks she's some big shot just because her step father is a xxxxxxx in New York." He smiled at her. "If you really want to know look into her eyes but don't say I didn't warn you."
I took a sip from my drink. Xi Feng had backed herself into a corner. She either had to look into my eyes and suffer the consequences or lose face. Defiantly she met my gaze, but it wasn't the mature confident young woman that returned it but a small frightented child, pertified that she would make a mistake and be shown for what she was. Mentally I smiled, and she cowered further. Then I showed her the reflection of her true self. She almost lost consciousness but not quite. When she'd recovered enough to perceive once again what I was doing I started embedding a memory engram suggesting she was far too hot dressed the way she was in here and that removing her clothes would be a good way to cool off. She'd then start to feel really horney and would prefer it if Wuz Hou fucked her on the table but would settle for an orgasm by self masturbation if he wouldn't. The sensation would then pass and she'd feel comfortable in just her jacket and skirt. In addition these events could only be discussed when either alone with me or in this room when I was present. She would also only recall the exact details of what had happened when I was present, including what had transpired to the events occuring. I triggered the engram and withdrew control.
Wuz Hou looked at me. "What did you do to her?"
I smiled again. "You'll have to wait and see. You may even have a part to play."
xxxxxxx now turned on me. "Chan Li Feng you have caused enough problems tonight. I will not tolerate any more of your childish games. if you persist then I will have your mother's protected status removed and she will have to return to serving clients rather than the occasional xxxxxxxx."
I looked directly at him. For what ever reason he chose not to look me in the eye. "Don't make threats against my mother or it'll be the last thing you ever do. You have no idea of what I'm now capable of or what forces I can bring to bear, should I have to. Why you wanted this meeting I don't yet know but I'm prepared to play the game your way for the time being. Play your cards right and I can put a lot of business your way, either through the Purple Dragon or via another subsiduary if that's what you wish, and even better the method of payment is completely untraceable by anyone. Cross me and you'll find out exactly what I can do."
Xi Feng was by now complaining about the temperature in the room and had removed her jacket and shoes. xxxxxxx was weighing his next move, whilst xxxxxx was sitting back in his chair tying not to laugh, "You didn't, you wouldn't have."
"Didn't what? Wouldn't what?". Xi Feng was now in the process of removing her hose.
"Chan Li Feng. You'll atop her from doing what ever it is she's going to do and make a formal apology for your behaviour or you'll be declared xxxxxxxx"
"With due respect, xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx, I will do neither. What is done is done. She was warned and chose to challenge me. I have no wish to embark on a path of conflict, but merely wish to conduct some business that is to our mutual benefit, and then spend an evening in the company of my choosing. I respectfully suggest that you do not persue this any further."
Two things happened next. Xi Feng removed her T-shirt, and the door at the end of the room opened, admitting two people, one of whom I recognised. The other three stood and bowed, whilst Xi Feng removed her skirt. Gulong and the other figure bowed in return. Gulong then spoke, "Would someone care to explain what is happening and why there is a body on the floor." He looked directly at me.
xxxxxx went to speak but Gulong waved his hand in a gesture of silence. "I think Chan Li Feng will do the explaining, this has the hall mark of her handiwork."
Xi Feng, now completely naked, chose this moment to climb onto the table in front of xxxxxxxx. "I know you want me? You can have me, right now, right here. One time offer only."
I turned to Gulong and bowed. "Yes I take full responsibility. The body on the floor is xxxxxxxxx. I caught his son in the office with a couple of female customers. He'd left his drugs all over the place so I had him thrown out. The father then took offence and made a very poor attempt to kill me which xxxxxxxxx condoned. Xi Feng who is currently trying to get xxxxxx to screw her brains out on the table is about to take over as Operations Manager of the Purple Dragon from him, but chose not to believe him when told to trust what I had to say. She then backed herself into a corner and challenged me and is currently undergoing her punishment. I'd respectfully suggest you let xxxxxxx screw her as I suspect he wants to but you need to decide quickly, or she'll do it herself, and the compulsion will wear off."
"I take it there's no other way"
"I'm afraid not. These things are somewhat specific."
"Next time find a more appropriate form of lesson. Now xxxxxxxx, if you're going to fuck her get on with it. Cordelia get me a drink, and xxxxxxx get someone to dispose of that body, I'll not hold a meeting with it cluttering up the place."
xxxxxxxx looked angry, he hadn't been expecting this. There were other games afoot here, so I'd have to tread a little cautiously. Getting out of my seat, I walked behind xxxxxx, "Well, are you going to or not. If you;'re going to get on with it otherwise tell her you don't want her."
"Bitch"
I crossed to the bar and poured Gulong his drink. As I handed it to him, Xi Feng gasped as xxxxx entered her. "How's my mother?"
"Well. She'd like to see you. It's been a while since you've been home."
"I'll try and get home sometime in the next few weeks, but everything's a bit hectic at the moment. I'm trying to absorb so much stuff and you wouldn't believe half of what's happened in the last month alone - well that's the last month as far as I'm concearned; I think it would be the last week here."
"Are you going to watch the entire performance?"
"Yes. But it'll be over in about 20 seconds."
"How can you know that?"
"Because she'll come about then, and he won't have any choice but to do likewise, and if he doesn't it won't matter because she'll be free of the compulsion, and push him off her. She'll probably then make some sort of venomous remark about my parentage, before putting her skirt and jacket back on. Once this meeting is over there's about a 50% chance she'll drag him off to one of the rooms for an hour or so, a 20% chance she'll go by herself, and a 30% chance she'll just pick somebody off the dance floor."
"I still don't understand how you can know that, unless you can read minds."
"And how would you react if I could?"
"I'm not sure. I guess I'd probably have to have you killed , as the alternative, leaving you alive is just too much of a threat to our security."
"I suspected as much. Most people react that way. How do you imagine I was able to get Xi Feng to strip off in front of everybody and then demand that xxxxxxxx fucked her on the table wih everyone watching?"
"I don't know? I'd assumed you'd hypnotised her somehow."
"How long would that take do you think, especially if she knew I was trying to hypnotise her into doing something she wouldn't normally do."
"Well, I.."
There were a crescendo of gasps from both parties on the table, followed by a set of expetives and an impolite request for xxxxx to get off her.
"Trying to kill me would be a bad idea. For a start I'd get a little upset, and so would my mother. You've been good for each other and I'd hate to see her widowed again this late in her life."
"I hope that wasn't a threat."
"No. just a polite warning, much along the lines I made to xxxxxxxxxx shortly before you arrived. I can bring a lot of business in, all legitimate, with payment in a form the IRS can't trace and can't do anything about. All you have to do is trust me, and not ask any questions."
"You're asking a lot, even as my step daughter. If this is going to be a regular transaction, we need some method of providing tracability as to where all the goods you're purchasing are going. The IRS take a dim view of goods vanishing into thin air, especially for transactions outside of the usual trade profile of the business, and given your current order request it's a highly irregular transaction as far as the Purple Dragon's profile is concearned."
"So you can't supply what I want then."
"No. We can supply it but we'll need to cover the transactions some how, and for that we'll need to know where the goods are going."
"Well, the art materials are bound for the School of Art on Neravaine, the booze for Dave's Tavern in Amber, and the shotguns for the Captain of the Endevor."
"If you're not going to tell us where the shipment is going we can't help."
"The shipments are going exactly where and to whom I said they are. I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, but it looks like I've a few more days travelling to get what we need. So if that's all I see no point in continuing this discussion."
The other gentleman, who'd entered with Gulong chose this moment to enter the conversation, from behind my right shoulder; "Ah I think I have a workable solution"
I turned around. "I'm listening."
"If I understand you correctly these goods are for export?"
"I suppose you could look at it like that"
"So if you were acting as a shipping agent for a foreign brokerage company, and both had valid export licenses, then with the right invoices and paperwork the goods could be obtained. You'd need bank accounts of course and to transfer the funds electronically."
"And how am I supposed to translate gems, gold, and silver into funds."
"We'll we could lend you the money at a reasonable rate of interest, which you use to pay for the goods, and then pay off the loan, the interest of which you can offset against your tax regime, and then pay off the capital using the gold, gems, and silver, you have an International Trade License to trade in precious metals and gemstones and Certification for them?"
"No. I just collect them whilst travelling and use them to pay for what I need. Works most places I go."
"Ah. I think we can solve that, but it'll require a few more companies, well need mining companies for the raw product, certified refining and cutting services, brokerage, international brokerage."
"And how long's this all going to take, and what's more, how much is it going to cost me. I want to sail on the evening tide tomorrow, either laden or knowing where I stand."
Gulong responded "Can we get her the goods then sort out the paper trail afterwards?"
"Yes, but it'll cost more, we'll have to make sure a few more people look the other way."
"How regular are these orders likely to be?"
"Every 3 months or so, and they're likely to be variable in requirements and quantities."
"And the payment will always be in gold, gems, and silver?"
"Most likely, they're easier to obtain than either bearer bonds or high denomination dollar bills."
"I did hear that correctly, you can get bearer bonds?"
"Yes, its a simple matter of probability manipulation"
"How quickly could you get say 2 million in bonds?"
"Why?"
"You expect us not to ask questions yet you do so yourself"
"Point taken. I could probably have them by the time we sailed. But it's a rather exhorbitant markup on an order which is likely to come to less than $30,000, even allowing for the overheads in setting up the paper chain you aluded to."
"The companies will be credited with apropriate startup capital, working funds, and loans at preferential rates. If you can get the bonds I think the likelyhood is that any fees necessary to put the infrastructre in place can be waived, but I'm don't have the authority to make that decision." He looked at Gulong.
"I can't make any promises, but I can make some calls. If nothing else it will stand you in good stead for the future. Now I suppose we aught to enlighten those who will make this happen." He moved to the head of the table and sat down, which prompted everyone else to do likewise.
Xi Feng pointedly sat with her back to me.
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |