Redemption (24 page)

“It’s beautiful. Especially in this goddam
heat
.”

“Yes, the heat’s overwhelming. I guessed you’d be here. I just went surfing.”

She dove into the water and joined him at the edge. She smiled.

“You were right. It’s beautiful… Look at you, you’re all unwound. I guess you slept well?”

“Yeah, amazingly well. You?” he asked, returning her smile.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to wake you, you were sleeping like a log.”

“Kamilia, you live in paradise.”

“I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself. It’s yours too, you know, if you want it.”

She switched on the portable radio she’d left on the pool deck, then ducked under water and scooted away. He watched her go. She swam back and tread water a few centimeters in front of him.

“How do you justify the work you do?” she asked suddenly.

“What do you mean?”

“Ok… the fact that you have to kill for money, basically.”

“That’s not all I do. Every contract is different, I don’t
necessarily
have to kill anybody…”

“No, I know that, but…”

“Listen. James and I have been doing this for years, and not one time have we carried out a hit on an innocent person, Kamilia. In reality, to be frank, they were all criminals of the worst kind, unscrupulous garbage, and I didn’t mourn them one bit. I sincerely believe that the world is better without them and our job is thankless, but necessary. Some people on the planet have to be taken out to avoid bloodbaths, and that’s what we do. That we’re paid for what we do, I see no problem with it.”

“You think our team could be the best?”

“Yes… we’ve all had one hell of a hard life and I think it’s time to think about us, make some money.”

“You’d do
anything
for money?”

“You know… over the years, you realize that so many causes are not as noble as they seem. They’re all after something other than that what they say they are. The things we think are black and white, well, they’re not, there’s so much grey – and people die, all the time, defending these empty lying causes. So, there are people in the world who fill their pockets while others bleed so they can
keep
filling their pockets. It’s always been this way, and it’s never going to change! You figure this out pretty quickly after you start thinking about it.”

“So in short, you don’t believe in anything.”

“I believe in myself. I believe in
us
. Our group. I believe in my own life story. I believe in my
own
cause. Everyone else can, pardon my French, fuck off. I had to fight to get what I have and I didn’t think about what I had coming to me. But things change, Kamilia… I have every intention of taking what’s coming to me in this life.”

“You’ve seen a lot, haven’t you?”

“I guess, but I have no regrets. What I’ve lived through has made me stronger, but more than that… it woke me up. Me and James in particular, these last few years, have seen so many things that made us think, I think. If I have to die, better to die for my cause than for some other asshole’s, you know?”

“You respect him a lot, don’t you?”

“I mean, he’s a brother to me. Family that I’ve never had, I guess. I owe him a lot, he’s taken plenty of bullets for me over the years.”

“You must’ve taken some for him too.”

“A few, yeah…”

“How did you meet?”

“We were both assigned to an antidrug unit in Colombia. He taught me practically everything.”

“Have you ever been married?”

He began to laugh, completely thrown.

“What a question!”

“What!? I’m just asking!”

She smiled, but the intensity of her gaze made it clear that she wasn’t going to accept no answer.

“Really, Kamilia. What woman would look at my life and say, ‘Yeah,
that’s
the guy for me…
’
”

“But don’t you think things would be different if you found someone?”

“Honestly? No. I don’t think that. And you?” He splashed some water in her face. “Why are you single?”

“Probably a lot of reasons. Or maybe I haven’t found him. If you do find a woman who would accept your lifestyle… would you change your mind?”

He understood what she was trying to do. But her body language was completely altered. Her fierce, determined stare had changed to one of disarming gentleness, and it scared him. She moved toward him, sending undulations throughout the pool. He felt her legs against his waist and his hands, and she laced her fingers behind his neck. She pressed her lips softly against his. They shared a long kiss – it was all they wanted, for a while. He looked at her; she looked at him.

“Listen Kamilia… I…”

In front of him, the blue ocean and the blue sky met in a perfect line.

“Yeah, yeah… I know,” she said with a smile.

He held her close and kissed her again, under the burning sun, with only the wind in the palm trees and the sound of the little portable radio.

CHAPTER 33

Namara hadn’t been back to Chinatown for years, but it seemed like nothing had changed. The fish merchants were still hawking their wares at top volume to the mass of people moving unceasingly through the narrow streets of the neighborhood. Danny had returned to New York several days ago. He had decided to plunge into the crowd of the area on a day like this like he had done so many times in his former life, for nostalgia’s sake. He arrived at the park where he had wasted away his afternoons playing Chinese checkers and, to his delight, there were plenty of people milling around like they’d never left. He walked through the park and thought about playing a game, just for fun. It seemed like all the tables were occupied with games already in progress.

His gaze finally fell on a table at the other end of the park that was obscured with a huge tree. There was an old man seated alone at the table. He watched him staring into nothingness for a while. He must have been in his sixties, by the looks of it. He wore a long grey goatee that grew to the middle of his chest, and a little black hat covered his hair – it reminded him of what the Mongol warriors used to wear. There was a sallow tint to his skin and his white silk Mao-collared shirt reflected the sun’s rays. His ample shirt and roomy black pants gave the impression that he’d stepped right out of another epoch. He looked like he was sleeping with his eyes open – or dead, maybe. He approached him slowly.

“Hello, pardon me, but would you by any chance be interested in playing a game?” asked Namara when he’d reached the table.

“Do you always speak so formally or is it simply because I’m old?” he responded calmly.

“What? Oh, no, I just…”

“Yes, I’ll play, but know that I’m as young at heart as a schoolboy.”

Danny stifled his laughter and nodded.
He’s an old fool, it’s why he’s alone.
He guessed he’d pulled the short straw today. The man signaled for him to be seated.

“My name is Sanfeng.”

“I’m Danny.”

“I know… you’ve aged since I last saw you.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember ever seeing you…”

“But I know you. You fought well, but you disappeared and we never saw you again. Why?”

“I see. Another spectator. To answer your question, let’s say I had other, better offers than entertaining old rich schmucks looking for a thrill.”

“Your Pak Mei was good. You might have scared a little girl,” he sniggered.

Namara couldn’t believe such a senile rachitic old man was laughing at him. “Eh, enough of that, you’re gonna lose your teeth if you continue!”

Sanfeng smiled and picked up his pawn to begin the game.

“You are resourceful, indeed, but I think you are not ready.”

“Of course, you think. And what do you teach, gramps, walker-fu?” Namara was determined to kick his ass, if not physically, then on the checkers board. He moved a pawn.

“You dispense too much energy in your movements…”

“Yeah? Sorry if I scared you, I know how hard it must be for you to keep shit out of your pants.”

Sanfeng was delighted. He’d manage to annoy him, a welcome change from the other frequenters of the park who were only interested in immensely boring gossip. He moved a pawn.

“I don’t know… you tell me! From the way you moved I think it is you who needs the diapers.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you over that fart.”

  Sanfeng roared with laughter, his hat askew. “I’m sure one with his head up his buttocks such as you hears farts all the time.”

Namara fumed. He moved a pawn, and thought about shoving it down his throat.

“Laugh a little more and you’ll lose your fucking chef’s hat. By the way, are you wearing it to hide your baldness or to hold in what brains you have left?”

Sanfeng laughed uproariously, driving Namara insane.

“I’m very happy to have met you. You are very funny! Nothing better than a good spat to start my day. It is the beauty of having someone with whom to talk. I thank you, my friend!”

“Listen to this guy.”

“Yes, listen to me: I like your style. I practice as well, but a different style, as I have done ever since I was little.”

Danny calmed himself down and moved another pawn, scrutinizing the old man.

“And now you got to the fights for a bit of fun, is that it?”

“More or less. I observe the fighters, I learn…”

“Ok, I’ll bite. What’s your style?”

“Ohh, you know… a little of this, a little of that,” he responded evasively.

“No, really, tell me.”

“Sometimes, we call it Dim Mak, but in reality… that’s not its real name. It is very much more than Dim Mak and rather difficult to explain,” he said serenely.

“I’ve heard of it, the Touch of Death. They say it’s a legend. You know, Sanfeng, I’ve practiced martial arts my whole life and I’ve never seen a master or practitioner who can actually prove its existence. I’m thinking, if nobody can prove it, it’s got to be a myth.”

Sanfeng smiled at him and placed another pawn.

“I assure you, it is no myth. It is a true art in which we use the human points of energy to neutralize them. But perhaps some have intentionally obscured it in mystery to protect it from ill use.”

“And the Poison Hand?”

“Also real. The effects of a hit can be delayed for days, months, or years. It all depends on the context and the skill of the practitioner. It might lead to death, or paralysis, or the development of illnesses.”

“And how did you learn all this?”

“At the monastery. I was a monk on Mount Emei in China. It is there where I learned my art… there where everything is born!”

“You were a monk, and now you’re not anymore?”

“No.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Sanfeng smiled.

“I made the decision to leave the monastery to pursue independent reflection. I must see something other to attain equilibrium.”

“And you think you’ll find equilibrium in New York? You’re nuttier than I thought.”

“On the contrary. This is the ideal place to find the other, my friend!”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Yin and yang! I have lived the one, and now I am here to live the other.”

“And the other is, what, drug addicts, prostitutes, vain businessmen? That what you’re looking for?”

“Precisely,” he said, amused. He pulled a hamburger from a paper bag, took a bite and moved a pawn. Namara just stared.

“So monks aren’t supposed to eat rice and live on a mountain?”

“As you can see, no! I love hamburgers!”

“It’s unbelievable. You’re mad.” He shook his head.

“Yes, but aren’t we all, a little?”

“Maybe. But I still don’t believe you.”

“That’s understandable, but I am not taking you for a fool. You have always believed Dim Mak to be a myth and that it rests in secret. One must be ready to accept the knowledge and only those who are open in spirit and self to the universe can comprehend the true powers around us.”

“Pretty words, but proof…”

“Proof. What would you like me to prove, my friend?”

“I don’t know. Prove it exists, if you’re convinced.”

“There’s nothing to prove, only to believe! Proof is useless to blind men or those who do not wish to see. You need no proof to see what is around you, but you Westerners… you can barely see a fly in front of your face.”

“Like I said, pretty words.”

“All right, then. Proof, if you must.”

Sanfeng stood and took a stance on the ground, and signaled for Danny to join him. He stood, amused, seeing the little rachitic man watching him with those black eyes and long beard and little hat. He was about as menacing as a cartoon strip.

“I challenge you to take me to the ground. Spare me nothing. Knock me down!”

Danny wondered how many feet he could throw him with a single push. Four and a half, maybe. Anyway, he was asking for it; he deserved it. He would push, but he’d go easy; he didn’t want another death on his conscience.

“Ok, if you want.”

“Go for it.”

Danny pounced, seized his arms and pulled him forward. He grabbed his wrist and pulled. Sanfeng’s feet didn’t move a inch . He was rooted to the ground like a tree. Danny nearly fell over backwards with the force.

“Hang on…”

Namara lowered his position and tried with all his might to get him again, but to no avail. He was like a kid trying to move a boulder. Sanfeng smiled.

“Ok, I get it. Well, you asked for it,” said Danny resignedly.

Namara bounded forward with his two palms outstretched send him flying out of the park. He’d barely touched Sanfeng with his hands when a huge force like a magnet repelled him. He lost his footing as he fell. Sanfeng grabbed his arm before he could hit the ground. With his index and middle fingers, he hit Danny across the arm and pectoral. The two consecutive hits struck him like lightning and paralyzed him right away. He fell to the ground, numb, immobile.

“Aaaarrgh…
what the hell was that!?
”

“I present to you the art of Dim Mak, thank you very much,” said Sanfeng, utterly gleeful.

“You chink bastard, that
hurts
. Leave off, God, I get it!” Namara shouted from the ground.