“You’re greedy, that’s the second bowl tonight.”
“It’s gorgeous that’s why. I’m on Black pepper buns next.” Nikki took another mouthful.
“We’re here tomorrow too. It’s the best one yet.” They sat at an open-air table in Tonghua Night Market. The city was buzzing and warm. “Yeah, it’s a top rocking place.” Nathan tucked into his sausage, a wrapped small sausage with rice, mustard and garlic soy sauce.
It was the third day and they’d taken in the main sights including the Taipei 101 tower.
“So, tomorrow it’s the Taroko gorge tour?” He nodded.
“We can do it, the Taiwanese woman didn’t tell me when she’s going to meet me.”
“Good, I hope it’s a week yet, I love this place. I never thought I’d visit Taiwan.” Nikki grinned.
IT HAD BEEN A SHOCK. After meeting National Security Bureau agent May Hsin in Guam, he called Admiral Kamov as she’d asked him. The CNO didn’t sound surprised, Nathan had been told to cooperate with the NSB agent. The two air tickets she passed him had said, meet me in Taiwan, it also carried a concerning message. Two tickets, we know about Nikki. If the NSB were in contact with the CNO, as they evidently were, did Kamov know about her too?
A senior Officer involved with a junior Officer under his command? The USN didn’t tolerate that, at all. He wrestled with the conundrum. What the hell?
Nathan knew it could be wheels within wheels. If the NSB did know about Nikki and the CNO didn’t, that could leave him open to blackmail by the Taiwanese agency. What a Goddamn twisted mess. He put his hands to his forehead and groaned.
He looked up before Nikki saw him.
“Waiter.”
“Yes Sir?”
“Two bottles of Zhang men beer, please.”
THE MORNING SUN LIT the bedroom shades with an orange glow.
“You’re awake sleepy head.” She snuggled up to him and rubbed her warm sensuous body against him. The bedroom phone rang. Nikki leaned over and answered.
“Hi.” She looked at him and mouthed, “it’s her.”
“Ok, yes we’ll see you soon, down in the restaurant.”
She put the phone down. “That was her, she wants to meet us downstairs.” Nathan made a sour face, “I was about to ask you to take a position under me, on my staff.”
She smiled and kissed him. “Later sir.” They got dressed and took the elevator down to the restaurant. An Asian woman sat on a chair, she got up and walked over to them. He couldn’t help his quick look up and down, this was the same woman who’d spoken to him at the store on Guam. She smiled at them, her long black hair framed an attractive smile. She was what they called a looker. Nathan tried not to ogle.
“Hi, Nathan, Nikki,” she nodded to them, “I’m May Hsin, welcome to Taiwan. Let’s eat, shall we?”
“Yes, fine,” Nathan sat at the table. She ordered.
“Is all well here Nikki?”
“Yes, it’s a great place,” she thumbed Nathan, “he can bring me back any time.”
“Good, Glad you like it. I know you’re both going to the Taroko gorge tomorrow.”
“How did you…” Nikki stopped, she knew May was with the National Security Bureau. There wouldn’t be much she didn’t know.
“I’ll take you both, I know it well.” The breakfast over, May spoke to them.
“There are thing’s you’ll want to know. It’s time we had a talk.” Nathan nodded.
“You could say that I can’t remember when I was last approached by a foreign intelligence Officer and invited to her country.”
“What do you know about the situation between Taiwan and The People’s Republic?” He took a sip of coffee. “Well, I know…”
Nikki leaned forward and looked at May. “I don’t know that much. He’s too proud to admit that there are holes in his knowledge. Tell me.”
“Ok, Nikki. Here we go. In the mid nineteen hundred’s there was a communist rebellion in China led by Mao Zedong, they eventually won, and forced the official government into exile. The government of China under Chiang Kai-shek moved to the Island of Formosa, which became Taiwan.”
“So, Taiwan is now a separate state?” asked Nikki.
May smiled. “It’s not that simple. The People’s Republic considers Taiwan as a renegade province who should be a part of China. Taiwan sees the Republic as China ruled by the rebels and should be ruled by the official government in exile in Taiwan.”
“So, both claim each other?” Nikki frowned.
“Yes, but it gets a little more complicated. There is an independence movement within Taiwan, they declare that they’re not a government in exile or a renegade province. Taiwan is an independent country.
“The People’s Republic of China, the PRC, has threatened invasion, if Taiwan declares itself independent. We all know that in actual fact it is an independent country, it just can’t say so.” May sighed.
“There are some odd internal situations developing in the PRC. The National Security Bureau, the NSB, of course has informants in the People’s Republic. We would be wise to get help, naval help among others and the US is our principal friend in the world. My government has reached out to yours for this assistance. You were recommended.”
Nathan sniggered. “We can do something right then?”
May regarded him with a wry smile. “Don’t get too smug. Many didn’t want you to be sent.”
“Oh, yeah,” he looked at her with his chin raised.
“Why?” Nikki put her fists down on the table defiantly. “Why not us?”
“They know that you’re sent as a,” May smiled faintly, “what do you say? A loose cannon. They say that where the USS Stonewall Jackson goes, shit happens.” May grinned at them.
Nathan took a breath. “You’re right,” he spread his fingers out on the table, “we’re sent when it’s about to hit the fan. May, do you know why they send us?” She shook her head.
“Because we’re the meanest bastard out there. When you need your tricks dirty, you call out the best fucking dirty tricks boat out there. We go where angels don’t just fear to tread, they’d rather roast their feet on the fires of hell. Even the Archangel Gabriel would take a quick dump if God posted him for duty aboard the Jackson.” May grinned and sniggered.
“If you need to call the SEAL Team Six of boats, that’s us.”
May ran her finger around the lip of her coffee cup. She looked at her cup and paused.
“I said that not everybody wanted you sent here.” She looked at him and said softly, “that included me. I just thought you should know, it’s only fair.”
“I see. Do you mind telling me why?” She shook her head, May looked into his eyes with sadness. A pained frown furrowed her brow. “I’m afraid for my country. Afraid of what you’ll do, what you’ll feel you have to do.” She regained her composure.
“We’ll tell you what we ask of you and your boat soon.” She tried to brighten her mood.
“In the meantime. The Taroko gorge trip, OK if I pick you up at nine AM?”
NIKKI LEANED OVER THE barrier, she looked down into the cool blue waters. The walls were near vertical and around three hundred feet from top to the flowing current below. Nikki looked up and the walls were much covered in vegetation. They’d been walking for an hour through the lush green stone maze, carved out by the blue flowing tinkling streams.
“It’s beautiful May. Taroko gorge. I’d not heard of it until recently, you must visit it regularly?”
“It’s about two years since I was here. Are you hungry? Do you need a drink?” she asked.
“Yeah, why not?” Nathan suddenly felt dry.
“There’s a café about ten minutes along this walkway, we can call there.”