China Town
Chapter 3
After the jet had taken off toward San Francisco, Angelique spread out on one of the bunks, falling back to sleep quickly while Napoleon noticed his partner just looking out the window lost in thoughts that seemed to be upsetting him.
He sat next to him. "You know that you couldn't have done anything to stop them from being hurt, don't you?"
"That is the problem; it always seems that although I am around, I am unable to stop it from happening in relation to my sister. I have tried since we were young to shield her from pain but somehow she still ends up suffering." Illya sounded so miserable.
"But you weren't there when she was growing up. How can you blame yourself for that, besides you were just a young child when you were separated?"
"We had time together before that separation. I remember once when we were younger," he sighed then shared one of his memories.
….
"We were walking home together from school. Most of our classmates ignored us, as we were younger than the most of them. "
"I was trying to hold Jo's hand. She kept stopping by the side of the road to examine everything."
"'Josephina, babushka and momma will be angry with us if we do not hurry home. You know how they worry.' I warned her."
"Oh Illyusha, but look at the new fall colors and flowers, they are so beautiful. Can we take some home with us?'"
"'Sestrenku, momma has warned you about taking what does not belong to you. Those flowers are on our neighbor's property."
"I loved her and would do anything for her, but sometimes she was so aggravating. I smiled at her, she always tried so much to be like me, and I found that to be delightful."
"She smiled back at me and her sweet smile changed my mind, and I said, 'Just a few then and only if they are outside the fence.'"
"While I watched her explore every flower, searching for the perfect ones to pick, I felt someone behind me.
"Well, well if it isn't the little geniuses," one of the older boys from my class said as he pushed me hard enough to made me fall.
"'So smart but can't stand on his own two feet,'" the bully started to laugh showing off for his friends."
"Josephina ran toward the boy yelling 'Illya! Leave my brother alone.' When she got close enough, she began to hit the boy."
"The bully turned and shoved her down then kicked dirt in her face. I grabbed at his legs pulling him down beside me on the ground.'
"'Leave my sister be! If you want to fight someone then fight me not my sestrenku or are you afraid to deal with someone almost your size."
"With that, I launched myself at the boy. One of the boys held Josephina as the other fought with me. I gave as well as I received until the bigger size of my tormentor overpowered me.'
"We heard yelling from the babushka lived in the next farm over. 'You khuliganov (bullies) leave those children alone.' She then came toward the group with her broom, swinging until it made contact with the butt of some the boys. They took off leaving Josephina and me on the road."
"I stood and helped Jo up brushing her off."
"'Illya Nichovetch take your sister home, your mother will be worried about you.' The babushka told us."
"She watched shaking her head as I held my sister's hand as we left."
Napoleon smiled, "So even back then you liked to antagonize your enemies."
"I believe in taking care of those who are my responsibility." Illya returned his partner's smile, "Actually I would have let them just push me until he hit Josephina. The two of us handled anger very different even then. I would let it go as long as it was only aimed at me. Jo would be the one who would explode."
….
The plane landed in San Francisco late in the afternoon, Robert Bose from Section Three met them at the airport to drive them to a prearranged meeting place. The traffic to Chinatown was slowed because of rush hour causing them to arrive later that anticipated.
When they finally arrived at restaurant, Napoleon was apologetic to Angelique for the precaution that prevented her from entering UNCLE headquarters in the city.
"Darling we'd won't like you walking through our offices either. I understand perfectly."
Bose and his partner told the agents that Mr. Hie would meet them at this factory around 6 pm. He had refused the bodyguards that UNCLE had tried to assign to him, but instead insisted on his own security to protect him.
Angelique said nothing throughout the meeting during which both San Francisco agents kept a close watch on her.
"I don't think your colleague trust trusts me," she told the Napoleon as she leaned against him arm, leaving no doubt of what she was offering while licking her lips and looking Bose up and down.
The young man blushed at her attention.
"I'm sorry, Miss La Chien. I just have never worked with a Thrush agent before. And a very beautiful one at that."
"Darling," she said giving him a seductive smile. "I'm sure Mr. Solo can tell you that you'll find I'm like any other female."
"In the spider family," Illya quietly added.
Napoleon kicked him under the table, "Don't worry Mr. Bose, Miss LaChien will be coming with us."
He removed her hand gently from him. "Angelique, let's not have any more of that. You're embarrassing these gentlemen."
She laughed. "And we won't want anyone waiting for you at home to get the wrong idea now would we darling."
A fast frown from Napoleon made her kiss his cheek, "Sorry Darling, it's our little secret."
…..
Bose dropped them off at the beginning of Chinatown, closest to Hie's factory allowing them to survey the area.
Once more, they found themselves walking through a city within a city where an ancient culture survived in a modern society.
Pagoda style buildings surrounded them as they passed an herbal pharmacy where they could smell thescents of flowers and spices, massages with essential oils, pomades of fruits and herbs mixed in secret recipes that created myth and fantasy.
As they walked down Waverly Place, one of San Francisco most interesting alleys they passed temples, private clubs and offices of secret societies. The Buddhist temple was adorned with red lanterns, priceless gold antiques, and incense filled bronze urns. Yet, this temple was a contrast with the poor houses of those living outside the main part of Chinatown.
When they finally arrived at Hie's Fortune Cookie Factory, they were told he was on his way with his bodyguards and invited to wait in his office by the chairman's young grandson.
Angelique asked the young man questions about his life, and the men could tell he was pleased with the attention the beautiful agent was giving him.
While they awaited Hie's arrival, they were served lunch with overfilled bowls of deep fried minced pork and shrimp dumpling, platters of seasonal vegetables and chrysanthemum tea were prepared excellently and filling.
The boy returned after he answered the phone to inform them that Mr. Hie's car was coming down the alley, and he would be entering through the back door. The agents started down the stairs to the alley when Illya suddenly yelled, "Down!"
The sound of a bazooka firing was heard over the yells of fear coming from the street. A car exploding shook the building while the pieces of it rained down on them. Only the fact that they were already laying down on the ground saved them from harm.
Once the explosions seemed to stop, they were up running in the direction the shelling had come from. As they reached the end of the alley, shots rang out sending the agents to retreat farther back.
Illya pointed up toward the pagoda tiered eaves around them. He quickly scaled the building, sliding onto an eave that allowed him to move above the shooter. Napoleon followed his lead while Angelique waited behind a cart that had been left in the middle of the alley when everyone ran from the explosion.
Once everyone was in place, Illya waved his gun alerting the other two to begin firing. Within minutes, Wung's men began to retreat. Illya was the only one to see Wung head toward his car but was unable to get a clear shot at him.
Joining Napoleon and Angelique he swore, "Proklyatie, too many people were in the way to get a clear shot, but it was Wung."
They returned to the car and the police who had arrived. Showing them his gold card, Napoleon explained what had happened while waiting for an UNCLE clean up team to arrive. Once they were on site, he joined Illya in examining the wreckage. He had picked up the Russian Fedorov Avtomat Rifle and Thrush beret placing them in their car before the police arrived.
"The bazooka did its job, Napoleon. There is nothing left of the car or the bodies. Wung not only killed the man but took away the ability to bury the whole body as is traditional."
Angelique saw the young man who had served them earlier standing in the doorway in shock. He had tears in his eyes looking at remains of the attack. She went to him, offering him her open arms and the boy fell into them. She held him as he cried until others from his family arrived and took over.
As she passed him, Illya spoke, "That was nice what you did for the boy."
"Don't get used to it Kuryakin, I'll deny it if you tell anyone what you saw." Angelique continued toward Napoleon a small smile on her face.
"Do not worry, no one would believe me if I told them," Illya snapped.
Napoleon shook his head, knowing if his two companions didn't kill one another before this assignment was over, he might just do it for some peace of mind.
….
Feelers were sent out to discover where Wung had gone. While the San Francisco office attempted to locate him, the men took a room for the night while Angelique took another after losing an augment with Illya about sharing the same room.
The UNCLE agents went for supper leaving Angelique to disappear on her own.
"Illya while we're working with Angelique couldn't you try to get along with her? It'd make the job easier."
"I am sorry that I do not accept her companionship as easily as you do. I remember how many times she has attempted to kill me."
"I know having to deal with someone who's tried to do that to you isn't easy, but for the moment we're on the same side. And remember she did let us know where to find Jo and Andreas."
"For her own benefit. We will never get along why not just accept it."
Napoleon shook his head.
"Could you at least call a truce for the duration? I'm asking as you partner, friend, and boss."
"If she agrees, so will I."
Napoleon knew he wouldn't get any further concessions from the Russian so accepted what he was offered. Now if he could get Angelique to agree to the same concession, he'd be happy.
….
Angelique was sitting at the counter in a small restaurant when her contact arrived.
"I'm Dudek. How is it going?" He asked without looking at her. He seated himself beside her as he took the menu from it holder.
"We've missed him twice, but UNCLE is looking for him again. Once we find out where Wung is heading, we'll be after him."
"And Solo and Kuryakin, both are still alive?"
"They're the best, what do you expect?" she said attempting to figure out what he meant.
"I'll pass on your message, Miss LaChien, but we won't be upset if they didn't make it out of this assignment alive." The man left Angelique finishing her tea.
She suddenly became suspicious, not knowing the contact they'd sent her, and left the restaurant heading to the nearest Thrush office to have a discussion with Central.