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's nothing your friend will tell you that I haven't。 Period。〃
It was time to break the tension； Justine decided。 She smiled and splashed water on him。 〃Then I think I'll take your offer。〃 They bobbed together like a pair of corks as the wild tide rushed at the coral reef like an enemy on the march； dissipating itself along the spiky ridge。 〃But right now I'm going to Japan。〃
He knew what that meant。 She had told him about Nicholas； about where he was and what had happened between them。 He smiled； and there might have been a trace of wistfulness to it。 It was the kind of smile a fine fisherman will give a valiant marlin that outfought him； snapping the cable at the end。 He might rue not making the catch but he admired the creature that had deprived him； might even be glad that independence had won that day。
〃You know；〃 he said； 〃I've been envious of the Japanese's advertising methods for years。 I hope you'll e back with a portfolio full of their trade secrets。〃
They both laughed at that。
Fortuitous Chiu made no answer but to put his forefinger up against his lips and sign for Nangi to follow him。 A block up Po Shan Road； the highrise housing structures of the Mid…Levels； built for Hong Kong's wealthy； loomed all about them； giving the impression that they were moving through some enormous spectral forest。
Mist hung heavy in the air and there were no stars or moon to be seen。 Nangi was grateful for this； he did not think that he wanted to be spotted prowling around the Colony at four in the morning。
Fortuitous Chiu took them quickly off the sidewalk as they approached one towering structure。 Silently the two of them moved down a narrow； shadow…shrouded alleyway； filled with garbage cans and other refuse。
Down a short flight of concrete steps and through a metal…paneled door。 They were inside the building； in the basement。 Light came from the low…wattage bare bulbs strung from flex along the concrete ceiling。 Two young Chinese were playing Fan Tan in the corridor。 They looked up； apparently recognized Fortuitous Chiu； and went back to their game。 Not a word was uttered by anyone。 Nangi did not have to ask his panion who the youths were。 Green Pang。 Soon； Nangi knew； they must meet Third Cousin Tok； the 438； who must still be secreted in Succulent Pien's apartment。
The Triads； who had effectively infiltrated most of the Chinese…dominated Crown Colony…and this included the corruption…riddled Royal Hong Kong Police force…were a partial acronym for San Ho Hiu； Three Harmonies Association。 This had once been the most powerful of the original Chinese secret societies。 They had been founded by fiercely patriotic men to fight an ongoing guerrilla campaign against the invading Manchus who overthrew the traditional Ming Dynasty in 1644。
Now they battled one another through the narrow streets of Hong Kong with cleaver and ax for the right of jurisdiction。 It was the spread of voracious urbanism which had broken down the Chinese family unit so successfully。 That and the too…rapid industrialization of a predominantly agricultural people。 Now the Triads offered a surrogate family； and with more prestige than running a cutter which turned out three thousand blue jean legs a shift ever could。
These were pathetic reasons to bee a street fighter for the Green Pang or the 14K； the Cantonese equivalent； Nangi thought。
They got off the elevator on the fourteenth floor； and Fortuitous Chiu led the way down the hall。 He stopped in front of a door and； extracting a set of picks from his trousers' pocket； set to work on the lock。 It popped within seconds。
An apartment laid out in pinks and warm yellows。 The color bination made Nangi bilious。 It was a spacious two…bedroom affair and he was led into one of these。
Saw the glint of reflection off an eyeball and this was his silent greeting with Third Cousin Tok。 He was a wide…shouldered man； younger than Nangi had surmised for someone of his exalted rank； with a scarred； dangerous face。 Nangi saw no resemblance whatsoever between the cousins。
Crouching down； they approached Third Cousin Tok； who； when they were near； moved away。 Nangi saw that he clutched a black…bodied Nikon with a 135mm lens。
There was a door between the bedrooms and it was open just a sliver。 Nangi could make out whisperings and； peering over Fortuitous Chiu's shoulder； eyed the next bedroom。
He saw a slice of window； the shoulder of a teak dresser laden on top with small crystal perfume bottles； several lipstick canisters。 A frame was on the wall； the print or picture itself out of his line of sight。
A bed with pink satin covers； yellow sheets。 Piles of pillows。 And two bodies。 Both were quite naked。 They contrasted badly in the same way the color scheme did。 Succulent Pien lying languorously with her yellow…toned flesh gleaming in the shaded lamplight。
Beside her； appearing enormous and grossly overwhelming； was the pinkish flesh； hairy in some places； ruddy in others； hairy and ruddy in still others； of a Westerner's body。
It was not Liu at all sharing her bed but a Caucasian well over six feet； Nangi judged； with thick ginger…colored hair； a rather high forehead； neat mustache； and clear； intelligent blue eyes。
Now where have I seen that face before？ Nangi asked himself。 At the moment； no one else could supply the needed information。 He settled down to watch and listen。 They were speaking in English。
〃They will be bringing three…quarters of a ton across next Tuesday；〃 Succulent Pien was saying。 〃As usual； it will be Liu's task to guide the property through into the Colony。〃
〃Can we intercept it？〃 the ginger…haired man said。 〃It's only been six weeks since the last raid。〃
〃There is more than bullion on this one。〃 Succulent Pien's eyes were sparkling。 〃Information is to be relayed as well。 Very secret information。〃
〃What on？〃
She giggled and stroked his hairy thigh。 〃How badly would you like to know？〃
〃Me？ I don't care one way or another。〃 It dawned on Nangi that the man spoke with a decidedly Scottish burr。
〃Then it doesn't matter that I cannot tell you。〃 Succulent Pien's voice was a rich purr now as her fingers moved down off the muscled ridge of his bare thigh。 She cupped him in the palm of her hand。 〃I am sworn to secrecy。〃
The ginger…haired man's eyes were half closed。 〃Though I don't care a fig； my darling； Her Majesty's Government might have some small interest in this very secret information。〃
Her fingers were stroking lightly。 〃But what am I to do； stuck on the horns of dilemma this way？ I cannot betray a trust。〃
The ginger…haired man gave a low groan。 〃Since you've sought my help； my darling； I think you should tell me；〃 he said through teeth gritted in pleasure。
〃It's so big。〃 Succulent Pien's gaze had dropped。 〃It constantly amazes me how big you get。〃 Her head came up。 〃Because this is so； I will tell you。〃
Nangi saw that this was all a sexual game between them。 She had every intention of telling him from the outset。 So this was how Succulent Pien supplemented her ine； he thought。 A confidante of the most powerful munist Chinese in the Crown Colony； she then selectively betrayed him to the other side。
She was stroking more stro