فصل 45

Chapter 45: Life and Death

As we drove farther from the plant, the fear-borne adrenaline that had pumped through our bodies dissipated, replaced by an equally potent measure of exhaustion. Ostin even gave the phenomenon a name before falling asleep: postmission fatigue.

As we entered Kaohsiung only Ben, Jack, Taylor, and I were still awake, and Ben looked as if he might doze off at the wheel. Taylor’s eyes were heavy but fixed on the child she cradled in her arms.

“What’s the plan now?” I asked Ben.

Ben unsuccessfully attempted to avert a yawn. “This afternoon I will drive Jade Dragon to the Taitung airport.” “That soon?” Taylor said.

“The more soon the better,” he said. “The plane will be waiting. I will go after I sleep. I am too tired to drive now.” “I can help drive,” Jack said.

“No,” Ben said. “Only me and Jade Dragon will go. The police and army and Elgen spies will be looking for Americans. There may be road stops.” “Roadblocks,” I said, immediately scolding myself for correcting his English. “Are they flying her back to China?” “No, they fly to America.”

“What about her parents?” Taylor asked.

“The Lung Li kill her parents.”

Taylor gasped. I figured that if Taylor didn’t know they had been killed, Jade Dragon must not have known either. My stomach knotted as I glanced at Taylor, then back at Ben. “Where will she go? The ranch?” “No,” Ben said. “Someplace secret where they will find a family for her.” Taylor looked down at the sleeping child in her arms. “You poor sweet thing,” she said softly. She looked up. “My parents would take her. I was adopted.” “Your home would not be safe,” Ben said.

“I know.” Taylor gently brushed her finger over Jade Dragon’s cheek. I noticed that her eyes were welling up with tears. “I wish I could keep you, sweetheart.” * * *

We arrived at the warehouse as the sun peeked out over the horizon, illuminating the grounds in a pink-golden hue. I unlocked the gate and Ben pulled in past the fence, then into the warehouse. Once inside, we woke everyone.

“Do we need a lookout?” I asked, wondering if it was even possible.

“I think we are all too tired,” Ben said. “I will set the alarms. We all should sleep now. We will soon have more to do.” As we climbed out of the van, Ben walked over to the garage door and manually slid a bolt through its track, then pushed some buttons on a metal control pad on the wall.

Following Taylor, I carried Jade Dragon up to the women’s sleeping quarters.

“Lay her next to me,” Taylor said, pushing two cots together. I laid Jade Dragon down on the bed, then Taylor lay down next to her. She gently kissed her forehead, then looked up at me and whispered, “Isn’t she beautiful?” I nodded. I was amazed at the bond the two of them had created in such a short time. I didn’t know exactly what had happened between them, but whatever it was, it was probably too profound for someone who had never entered someone else’s mind to understand—especially a mind as unique as Jade Dragon’s. After a few minutes I said, “I’m going to get some sleep. Do you need anything?” “No,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Sleep well.”

As I turned to go she said, “Michael.” I turned back around. Taylor was smiling. “We got her. Just like you said we would.” I smiled back. “Yeah, we did.”

After leaving the room, I stopped in the kitchen for a cup of water, then went to the men’s sleeping quarters. The room was dark with the lights out and the blinds drawn. The only illumination was the faint glow of Ian’s and Zeus’s skin. As far as I could tell everyone was already asleep except for Jack, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor next to his cot, half-concealed in shadow. His chin was up as if he was meditating. I lay down on the cot next to him.

Without looking at me he said, “What a rush.” “That’s for sure.”

He was quiet for a moment, then, still looking forward, said softly, “Wade would have liked Taiwan.” One corner of his mouth rose in an amused half smile. “He would have wanted to learn how they make those dumplings we had.” He looked up at me. “Did you know that he wanted to be a chef?” “No.”

“He was always afraid someone might find out. Sometimes I’d catch him watching those cooking shows on the Food Network. I used to make fun of him.” His smile fell. “I wish I hadn’t.” “He knew you were just teasing him.”

“I know.” Jack looked down for a moment, then back at me. “Do you believe that some part of us lives after we die?” “You mean like a soul?”

He nodded. “Yeah, something like that.”

“I think so. Why?”

“Just after the guards beat me up, I was lying there on the floor, bleeding and in pain, when I felt like someone touched me. I looked up and for just a split second, I thought I saw Wade.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I dunno. Maybe I was just delirious. They’d just hit me in the head a dozen times.” “I don’t know,” I said. “I’ve heard of things like that.” “Do you ever feel your dad near?”

My cheek began ticking. “No. Never.”

“Sorry,” he said. He was quiet for a moment, then said, “You should sleep.” “You too,” I said.

“I will in a second. I just need to unwind a little.” I lay back on my bed. What Jack had said echoed in my mind. Why haven’t I ever felt my father like that?