"So this must be goodbye."
"That doesn't mean we won't see each other again. I travel a hell of a lot."
They kissed, and they didn't care who stared.
Chapter 7
Nick met Yun Lee at the dock. Yun Lee was a middle-aged man wearing a big straw hat, a long coolie coat, and pajamalike pants. He grinned stupidly and bowed. He had surprisingly intelligent eyes that seemed to ransack Nick's face as if to find out what type of man Nick was. He spoke a little English. There was a bundle under his arm.
It took an hour to get to Cheung Chau Island from Hong Kong by ferry. A British warship, trim and sleek, sailed across the bow of the ferry. Nick heard the water lapping at the sides of the ferry. The sky was lousy with stars. Nick wished it was all over.
The hour seemed like an eternity.
There were tourists on the ferry, on their way to visit the fishing village on the island. Nick envied them. The tourists. School teachers, businessmen and their wives, government employees — from all over the world to see Hong Kong, the exotic island, the enchanting island. On their vacation. They were interested only in having a good time.
And what the hell was wrong with that?
Nick knew he wouldn't change places with any one of the tourists on the ferry. He was doing what he wanted to do. Sure, he griped sometimes. Even the professional soldier sometimes griped. It was good for the soul. He lived in a dark world inhabited by dark people. Dark, evil people and that was inevitable. They made his world dark. And if it wasn't for the dark evil people he wouldn't be necessary. Maybe he should be grateful to them. They had helped create him. Nick Carter. N3. Killmaster. AXEman.
A breeze, shot with sea spray, cooled his face.
They were approaching the island. Another five minutes. Then the hunt would begin.
Five minutes… four minutes… three minutes.
The ferry docked, and Nick was alongside Yun Lee as the passengers disembarked. Though the streets were crowded, there wasn't the hustle and bustle one found in Hong Kong.
Yun Lee and Nick skirted the village and kept on going. Then Nick started to lag behind. Yun Lee looked back once, nodded his head at Nick and kept on going.
It was a deserted part of the island, and the village was far behind. It seemed that he and Yun Lee were alone in the world. There was no noise. Not even the sound of night birds or crickets. This part of the island was well lighted by moonlight. To Nick's left was the base of a low, sloping hill. He started for the hill, climbed it part way, and rounded it till he saw the house. He saw Yun Lee at the front door.
All he had to do was climb down, make for the back of the house, and confront Tulip. But he waited.
The front door opened and Yun Lee walked in.
It was cool and breezy and he felt a sixth sense telling him to wait… wait… wait…
The moon was low and full with a thousand stars for company.
How long did it take Yun Lee to deliver a bundle of supplies? It was almost five minutes. Was Tulip shooting the breeze with Yun Lee? Tulip spoke Chinese.
This was the time to go down and approach the house from the back. But something kept him rooted to the spot.
His hands felt clammy.
The door was opening. Yun Lee was leaving. The straw hat, the long coolie coat. Yun Lee seemed taller.
Nick drew the Luger from its holster. He started down the sloping hill He was near the base of it and Yun Lee was a few yards away, his back to Nick.
"Wait a minute," Nick called out.
Yun Lee spun around. But it wasn't Yun Lee. The moonlight was on his face. It was Tulip. And there was the gun. It jumped and barked.
Nick fired twice, and Tulip spun around, dropping his gun, his hands on his belly.
Nick ran toward the crumpling man. He saw Tulip hit the ground. Nick kicked at the gun Tulip had dropped. It sailed away and landed somewhere with a thud.
Nick knelt and saw Tulip's hands over his belly. The blood was oozing between his fingers.
Tulip grinned up at Nick, and then his face twisted in pain. His breathing came in tortured gasps. "I… knew you were going to… find me. Had to be you, Nick."
"Jimmy How crossed me."
"No. I knew… something was up. Yun Lee. His eyes. He looked at me… as if I was… already dead."
"Why did you turn double?"
Tulip's face was pasty-white in the moonlight. His voice was weak. "Money. Only live once, Nick. Might… as well live… good."
"Did you have to loll May?"
"She was… just a tramp. Did her a… favor."
"She loved you, Tulip."
"Sure. She… was weak. I wasn't… weak. I proved it Didn't I… Nick? I… proved it Had to prove it…"
"Tulip." Nick shook the man's shoulder. "Tulip. Can you hear me?" He saw the open glazed eyes. Tulip was dead. Dead on an island under the moonlight. Nick stood up and holstered the Luger.
"Sorry, Tulip," he said. "But I only played the cards you dealt me."