Chapter 16 – Loose Ends

"Stay here," ordered Eda. "You'll get in the way. If you see anyone coming, duck into a room and stay down."

"Okay," said Rock. He was feeling lightheaded and leaned up against the corridor wall. He couldn't relax or drop his guard yet, there was still some scattered shooting going on outside in the parking lot. Mr. Chang's men were in the process of overwhelming the remaining Sarkhanese bodyguards.

Eda led with the gun and went in through the open door.

The room was a shambles. It smelt of blood and excrement. A pile of bodies blocked the entry way and the carpet squished beneath her shoes as she stepped in cautiously. She checked the bathroom and grimaced. The air was thick with a haze of plaster dust and smoke.

Revy had pulled herself up onto the bed, rocking slowly back and forth, arms wrapped around her knees. She didn't look up. A Cutlass Special dangled loosely from her hands.

The nun licked her lips and looked around. There were two more bodies in the space between the bed and the wall. On the far side a woman lay sprawled on her back, still and dead. Another body, one of Chang's men lay slumped in the frame of the blown out sliding door and there appeared to be more corpses on the porch.

Eda nodded, went back to the door and looked out at Rock. He looked up dazed. The encounter with Lifeng had been more traumatic than he could have imagined and with the day's earlier events he was exhausted.

"Be a dear and negotiate with Mr. Chang," she said briskly. "We'll be a second."

Before Rock could protest she closed the door firmly.

Eda went back and sat down by Revy. She lit a cigarette and lifted Revy's slumped head and slid the cigarette in between her lips. The Chinese woman's face and neck were a welter of blood and bruises. The pupils of her eyes were dilated.

"You're gonna lose your looks if you keep this up," Eda said. "What's your name? How many fingers am I holding up?"

Revy stirred, and lifted a hand. Extended her middle finger.

"You're doing great," said Eda encouragingly. "You'll be better in no time! So what was this all about anyway? Who's this Lijuan character they were all so excited about?"

"Never heard of the guy," the whisper was barely audible. Eda rolled her eyes.

"Rock's alive you know," said Eda. "That wasn't him back at the bar, you should have looked closer before going off all half-cocked. He's been trying to rescue you, if you can believe it."

There was a pause and then Revy blinked. "When you side with someone you stay with them. Son of a bitch... he did."

"I'll get him later," said Eda. "So what was this all about anyway?"

Revy looked around with an effort. She rattled the handcuffs. "Don't let him see me. Not like this. Get these damn things off me first. And where the hell are my clothes?"

Her head slumped. "I'm so tired," she said. With that Revy rolled over and with a sigh finally passed out.

Eda shrugged. As long as Revy didn't or wouldn't admit her involvement in murders in the United States, there was no point pursuing the matter.

There was a banging on the door and voices shouting. Eda got up and swung the door open, the gun held ready. Mr. Chang surrounded by armed men stared at her with dislike. Rock stood apart with a look of alarm.

"You're trespassing," Chang said finally. "Is Two-hands here? I need to speak to her?"

"She's not taking appointments," said Eda, her attempt at a smile curdling. Chang frowned and there was a rattle of guns being prepared. "Hey, hold on. Tell you what – I need to borrow your overcoat."

Chang removed his glasses. "Excuse me?"

"You'll get it back," said Eda hastily. A drop of perspiration rolled down her cheek. "It's an emergency."

Chang shrugged, "Okay then." He handed the overcoat over, "But this..."

She slammed the door in their faces. A few moments she was back. "Yeah, come on in, walk on in. Rock, be a man. Revy needs a lift. She's such a girl..."

Chang held back, motioned to Biu. "The old man in my car, take care of that one. I can't abide traitors, no matter their motivation. Let's be done with these Sarkhanese filth once and for all."

"Yes, Chan da ge."

--

"We need to get out of here," said Eda urgently to Dutch who met them on the beach, the winch boat anchored at a small pier. Rock followed behind with Revy held carefully in his arms. She was wrapped in the overcoat. "Chang's really testy. Something about this is personal. But he's going to straighten things out with Chief Watsup for chinglish here. And I got her guns and boots. Wasn't worth bothering with the other stuff."

Dutch stepped in front of the nun. "Hand it over," he rumbled. "I saw you pick it up on the dock."

Defeated Eda handed the scrap of paper over, "Hell, it's just a list..."

"I've seen your type before," said Dutch flatly. "The Church of Violence in Chau Doc in '70. Operation Phoenix. The Lagoon Company appreciates your help, but don't push it."

The wind took the scrap and blew it away.

--

Several hours past midnight. The sole vehicle in the parking lot of the Nova was the U.G. Pork van.

"Xianyu, how I should not have shunned her," babbled Rotton kneeling beside the now cold body of Liling. "I cast the damsel aside, her rosy lips to smile nevermore. A passion lost to the tides of fortune. Oh..."

"..Whatever..." said Sawyer apathetically. She pulled the cord on the chainsaw to drown out whatever else the Wizard would say.

The End