Hunt for Jade Dragon (22 page)

“If it's that easy then why don't you guys just take it out?” Jack asked.

“That would defeat the purpose,” Ostin said. “The Elgen need to think that we're there.”

“That's right,” the voice said. “Have you thought about who you want to send?”

“Zeus and Tessa,” I said, glancing over at the two of them. “The plan is that they attack the plant just before the
Volta
arrives, and then fly back and meet us here to help rescue Jade Dragon.”

“That will do,” the voice said. “We've already contacted our Samoan agent, and he's making preparations. Right now the
Volta
is only a little more than a week out. Zeus and Tessa will have to leave immediately. Tomorrow afternoon Ben will drive them back to the Taitung airport. That will give them some time to meet with our operative and prepare.”

“No sweat,” Tessa said.

“Just as long as it's not raining,” Zeus said.

“We've checked the weather. There is less than a five percent chance of precipitation. Is there anything else we should discuss?”

I looked around the room. No one said anything. “I don't think so,” I said.

“Then good luck, Electroclan. We'll be waiting with great anticipation.”

He hung up. For a moment we all just looked at one another. Then Ben turned to Zeus and Tessa and said, “We will leave tomorrow.”

T
hat evening Taylor and I had dinner with Zeus and Tessa at the Japanese restaurant on the tenth floor of the hotel. The food was good, but Zeus and Tessa hardly spoke. Finally Taylor asked, “Are you guys okay?”

“We're anxious about leaving the group,” Tessa said.

“I hate splitting the group up,” I said. “But I still think it's the best move. Just remember, you're only a diversion. An attempt is as good as we need.”

“You're saying that it doesn't matter if we shut the plant down?” Tessa said.

“I'm saying to come back safe,” I replied. “Shutting down the plant is a bonus.”

“I'm more worried about you guys than us,” Zeus said. He glanced around to make sure no one could hear him; then he said, “I've got a bad feeling about Nichelle. She's a bad egg. I think she's up to something.”

“If she is I can't tell,” Taylor said. “I've read her thoughts a few times. She's afraid and she's not happy to be here, but her thoughts have been in line with the mission.”

“Maybe she's purposely thinking things to throw you off,” Tessa said.

“I don't think so,” Taylor said. “I can usually tell when people do that, because part of their thoughts are about how they don't want to think about what they're hiding. Like, when Michael tries to hide something from me, I always know.”

“Are you saying you knew about the prom?” I asked.

“Maybe.”

I groaned. “At least you know I'll never throw you a surprise party.”

Tessa looked at Zeus. “Why didn't you take me to the prom?”

“What prom?” he said. “There wasn't a prom at the academy.”

“There wasn't a prom at the ranch either,” she said.

I looked at Zeus sympathetically. “Sorry, man.”

“Just be safe,” Taylor said.

“I was about to say the same thing,” Tessa replied.

* * * 

The following afternoon we ordered some Chinese dim sum up to my room and everyone but Nichelle came to say good-bye to Zeus and Tessa. I wasn't surprised that Nichelle didn't show. She was probably glad to see them go. Neither Zeus nor Tessa had tried to hide how much they hated her. Not that I could blame them. I had no idea how many times Nichelle had been made to punish them, but living with her in the academy for all those years, I'm sure it was more times than either of them would forget. I'd been tortured by her and I still remembered every second of it.

We sat around eating and talking until Ben looked at his watch and said, “Okay, it is time for us to go.”

“When will you be back?” I asked.

“I will come back with them,” Ben said. “I have friends in Taitung so I will wait until they return.”

I hugged Tessa, then Zeus. “Remember, dude,” I said to him,
“you're just a diversion. Don't take any chances. We'll see you in a few days.”

“All right,” Zeus said. “You be safe. And remember what I said about N.”

“I will.”

“While I am gone it is best you stay in the hotel,” Ben said. “Just to be safe.”

“We'll be okay,” I said.

“Please be careful. The Elgen are very smart.”

“We know,” I said. “We'll be careful. I promise.”

He looked at me doubtfully, as if he was still unsure. “Okay,” he finally said. “We go.
Dzai jyan
.”

The three of them walked out of the room. After the door shut Taylor said, “A full week cooped up in the hotel? Just shoot me now.”

O
ver the next two days the six of us spent a lot of time together in my room, playing cards and watching whatever American television shows we could find, which consisted mostly of old Clint Eastwood movies. Nichelle never came over. She was still angry about being left out of the last meeting and kept to herself.

The evening of the second day Ostin, Jack, Ian, and I watched television in the dark while McKenna read in the corner, using her finger as a book light. Taylor was just staring out the window when she suddenly broke. “I've got to get out of here,” she said, turning back. “I'm going.”

“You're going where?” I said.

“
Out
,” she replied. “I heard someone in the lobby say there's a night market only a few miles from here.”

McKenna put down her book. “I want to go.”

“Ben said not to leave the hotel,” Ostin said.

“It's not going to hurt anyone if we go out for an hour,” Taylor said. “No one will know.”

“Everyone will know,” Ostin said. “We stand out. Except McKenna.”

“They won't know who we are,” Taylor said. “It's not like we're the only foreigners in this city.” She crossed her arms. “I'm going.” She looked at McKenna. “You with me?”

McKenna glanced apologetically at Ostin. “Sorry. I've got to get out too.”

Taylor looked at me. “Will you come? Please?”

I turned to Ian. “What do you think?”

He shrugged. “I don't think it's a big deal. I think Taylor's right. There will probably be a lot of foreigners at the night market.”

I looked at Jack. “What do you think?”

“I don't think it matters.”

I knew Taylor well enough to know that she wasn't going to back down, and I wasn't about to let her go without me. “All right,” I said. “But only for an hour. And we stick together.”

“Will you come?” McKenna asked Ostin.

“If everyone else does,” he said.

“How about you?” she asked Jack.

“I'll go.”

“I'm not going,” Ian said.

“Why not?” McKenna asked.

“I'm not into shopping.”

“It's not about the shopping,” Taylor said. “It's the looking.”

“I can look from here.”

“I would feel better if you came with us,” I said. “If there's a problem, you'll see it before the rest of us.”

He didn't look too happy about it, but he said, “All right.”

“What about Nichelle?” McKenna asked.

“We'd better at least ask her,” I said. “She's still mad that we left her out last time.”

“I'll ask her,” Taylor said.

“We'll meet you by the elevator,” I said.

While Taylor walked back to her room, I turned off the television and the rest of us went out into the hall. A moment later Taylor walked out of her room followed by Nichelle.

“You're coming,” I said to Nichelle.

“Thanks for the invite,” she said. I couldn't tell from her tone if she was being snarky or sincere.

As we stepped into the elevator Taylor handed me her room key. “Would you mind holding this for me? I don't have any front pockets.”

I took the key from her.

“And my lip gloss?”

“Sure.” I just looked at her.

“What?”

“Anything else?”

She smiled. “Nope.”

The seven of us took the elevator down together. Ostin stopped at the concierge desk for directions, then met up with us near the front doors.

“She says we'll have to take a taxi. She wrote down the address.” He held up a paper covered with Chinese characters.

We showed the paper to one of the hotel's attendants, who signaled for two taxis and told each of them the address. Taylor, Nichelle, and I got in one of the cabs, while Jack, McKenna, Ostin, and Ian got in the other. We rode with the windows down, and the cool night air combined with the sounds and smells of the city to create a dizzying panorama.

“Man, we're not in Idaho,” I said.

“
Definitely
not Idaho,” Taylor said.

Nichelle glanced over at us but said nothing.

Our cabs let us off near the corner of a crowded city block. The night market was a bright pulsating beast of electric lights, music, and throngs of humanity. The pungent smells of food from sidewalk vendors filled the air. Some of the scents were definitely more pleasant than others.

The market took up at least eight city blocks, and the inner streets
were blocked off to cars. People flowed between the buildings like a river flooding its banks. Most of those around us were Chinese but, as Taylor had guessed, there were also many tourists and foreigners, which made me feel more relaxed.

“Aren't you glad we came?” Taylor said, taking in the ambience. “This is a lot funner than sitting in our rooms.”

“ ‘Funner' isn't a word,” Ostin said.

“Did you understand me?” Taylor asked.

Ostin blinked. “Yes.”

“Then it's a word,” she replied.

We joined in with the crowd's flow, letting it pull us through the labyrinth of the market. In addition to the stores that lined both sides of the streets, merchants spread blankets down in the middle of the road to display their wares: knockoff Chanel and Louis Vuitton purses, sunglasses, T-shirts, and a million other knickknacks.

As we passed a booth a man shouted something to McKenna in Chinese.

“What did he say?” she asked Ostin.

“He asked if you want a tattoo.”

“Why would I want a tattoo?” she said.

“They're not permanent,” Ostin said. “They're hemp. They'll wash off in a few days.”

“Why don't
you
get one?” McKenna said.

Ostin glanced at Jack's tattoo, then back at her. “Maybe I will.”

“Do it,” she said, making it sound like a dare.

“Okay, I will.” He walked into the man's booth. The walls were covered with black-and-white paper displays of art ranging from Chinese characters to American cartoon characters. “Check this one out,” Ostin said, pointing to a drawing of a dragon. “I want that.”

“You're getting a tattoo?” I asked.

“Yes. This one is really cool. It's kind of like Jack's.”

“Go for it, wild boy,” Taylor said.

“Why are you encouraging him?” I said.

“It might be good for him,” she said. “It's probably the most rebellious thing he's ever done.”

“I'm doing it,” Ostin said resolutely. He said to the man, “
Wo yau jei ge
.” He pointed to the tattoo.

“
Hau
,
hau
,” the man said. He gestured to a stool.
“Ching dzwo.”

Ostin sat. The man rolled Ostin's sleeve up to his shoulder, then wiped his arm with an alcohol towelette. He fished a plastic stencil out of a large box and put it up against Ostin's upper arm.

“Jeli, hau?”

“
Hau
,” Ostin said. He looked at me. “He just wants to know if this is where I want it.”