Finale, page 14
“You are in good hands,” said Parker. “I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll make a decision about continuing treatment then. One benefit of the private room is that if we decide to proceed, we can do it there, so you won’t have to leave your bed.”
Ten minutes later, Uncle was wheeled into a private room on the seventh floor. After he put on a hospital gown and climbed into bed, a nurse appeared at the door carrying a large bottle of water and a glass.
“You need to keep hydrated. It is important that you drink as much water as you can handle,” she said.
“What about food?”
“Someone will bring you dinner shortly. It will be something bland, I’m afraid. Eat what you can.”
Uncle nodded, and then his phone rang. It sat on top of his suit jacket, which he had left on a chair. The nurse picked up the phone and handed it to him. He saw Ava’s name again.
“I have to take this, and it is a rather private call . . . Wei, Ava,” he said as the nurse left.
“The worst is over. The plane landed full of money and we secured it,” she said. “But, Uncle, I’ve never been involved in something quite so awful.”
“What happened?” Uncle asked.
“When the plane landed, it went into a hangar and was quickly joined by a van containing the two local Italians,” she said. “As soon as the hangar door closed, the army unit surrounded it, and then a moment later they burst in through the front door. I was close enough to hear the first shot coming from inside, and then all hell broke loose.”
“The Italians?”
“Both dead, along with the pilot.”
“So they resisted?”
“I don’t know if you can call one shot resistance, but the Indonesians used that as an excuse. I’ve never seen so much blood. The hangar looked like an abattoir.”
Uncle hesitated. “No matter how it was handled, it is better that they are dead.”
“Poirier doesn’t think so. He wanted them taken alive. The Indonesians obviously did not.”
“Did he react badly?”
“He showed his displeasure to the Indonesians in a subtle way. Otherwise he was very professional.”
“It shouldn’t come as a surprise to him that someone in authority in Jakarta wouldn’t want the Italians to be interrogated,” Uncle said.
“I don’t think he was surprised, just disappointed,” she said. “He does know the game.”
“As do we.”
“Yes — as do we, Uncle,” Ava said.
“So what happens now?”
“They’re removing the bodies and the van. When that’s done, I’ll count the money, take some pictures, get as many official signatures as I can, and catch an early flight out of here tomorrow morning.”
“I am glad you made the decision to go.”
“Me too.”
“There is always a risk when you are dealing with so many moving parts, but if you had not gone it would have been very difficult for us to put the Italians behind us. Now we know for certain those that were in Indonesia won’t be pursuing us.”
“And we have the money.”
“Getting the money is all well and good, but it was the Italians who were weighing on me.”
“I know, Uncle.”
“Will the Indonesians hold onto the money for now?”
“Yes, but they have their agreement with the Canadians; the Canadians have their deal with us; and we have the information that everyone is waiting for.”
“It will be a few days then, before it arrives in our Kowloon bank?”
“I would hope it is no longer than that,” Ava said. “Now, I should get going. I have money to count.”
“Call me in the morning when everything is settled and you know which flight you are on,” Uncle said. “If for some reason you can’t reach me, talk to Sonny. He will meet you at the airport.”
Ava hesitated, and Uncle wondered if she was going to ask him why he might be out of reach. Instead, she simply said, “See you tomorrow.”
( 23 )
After speaking to Ava, Uncle felt several days of accumulated stress begin to drain from his body. The Italians were dead. Ava, Perkasa, and the others were safe. The money had been secured. His mind could stop racing.
A nurse entered his room carrying a dinner tray, but he told her he wasn’t hungry and asked her to turn off the lights. He lay in the dark and thought about how fate had once again treated him and Ava kindly. But had it been for the last time? Would there ever be another job for them as a team? The idea that this might be their last filled him with panic, until he remembered that it didn’t really matter: he and Ava would always be close.
Uncle closed his eyes, and the darkness took on a different dimension. Like the previous day, when he’d felt isolated from his physical surroundings, his mind now seemed disconnected from the body that was failing him. He accepted the need for chemotherapy, but he doubted it would make much difference. Parker had talked about buying time. The question was whether the price was worth it. As long as his mind remained sharp, he thought he could handle whatever pain the cancer imposed. It couldn’t be much worse than his reaction to chemo, could it? Without chemo, how long could he last — six months? With the chemo, how many months could he add, and what would their quality be? Since he was already in the hospital, Uncle decided he would endure another day of treatment, but then he would talk to Parker about discontinuing the chemotherapy.
Uncle’s phone rang. Has something unexpected happened in Surabaya? he thought.
“Uncle, this is Sonny.”
The unease vanished, to be replaced with irritation. “Yes, Sonny, what do you want?”
“I was just wondering if you’re going to need me tonight or tomorrow.”
There was a nuance in Sonny’s voice that wasn’t typical. The girlfriend told him I came to the hospital, Uncle thought. “No, I don’t. I’m in Guangzhou and I’m not sure when I’m getting back,” he said. “But Ava will be flying into Hong Kong from Surabaya tomorrow, and I’d like you to meet her at the airport.”
“Did it go well there?”
“Very well. In fact it couldn’t have gone much better,” he said. “I’ll tell Ava to call you when her schedule is set.”
He hung up and lay flat on his back. He started to think about the day ahead, but before it took shape, he fell into a dream.
Uncle seldom dreamt these days, but when he did Gui-San was usually his focus. This time, Ava, his mother, and his sister were with her. All the women in his life sitting together on a sunlit beach, chatting and looking at an expanse of water shaped like Shenzhen Bay, except the water was a bright blue, unlike the dark murk that filled Shenzhen.
He approached the women feeling a little self-conscious. They were smiling and seemed completely at ease with one another, and Uncle wondered if they would object to him intruding. His mother noticed him first, and her smile turned into a broad grin. “Come and sit with us,” she said.
The women, sitting side by side, moved to create a space for him between Gui-San and Ava. Uncle lowered himself onto the sand.
“We were just telling Ava that we can hardly wait for you to join us,” Gui-San said as she tucked her arm through his.
“Yes, it is so peaceful here,” his sister said. “There is nothing to cause worry or regrets about what you leave behind.”
“I missed you, of course,” Gui-San said, squeezing his arm, “but I knew you would be with me eventually. I’ve been patient, and time here passes quickly.”
Uncle tried to speak, but to his distress he couldn’t force the words from his mouth. Instead he turned his head to look at Ava.
“You seem surprised to see me here, but there’s no reason to be,” she said. “Gui-San invited me to pay her a visit, and I’ve always wanted to meet your family.”
“But how?” he finally managed to say.
“You will learn the answer to that question in good time,” Gui-San said.
Uncle woke with a start, his body cold and clammy. Was that a reaction to the dream, or a lingering side effect of the chemotherapy? And what about the dream itself? Had it been chemically induced? What did Ava’s presence signify? Had something happened in Surabaya?
He slipped out of bed, steadied himself, and walked to the bathroom. When he returned he checked the time and saw it was already past seven. He had slept through the night. He climbed back into the bed, and almost on cue the door opened and a nurse appeared.
“I checked on you during the night,” she said. “You seemed to be sleeping soundly. Did you have a good night?”
“I did.”
“Good. Someone will be by shortly with something light to eat, and Doctor Parker will be here around ten to start your next treatment.”
When the nurse left, Uncle reached for his phone, and saw there had been no missed calls during the night. If Ava hadn’t been in his dream, he wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but now he felt a touch of anxiety. He thought she should have been at least on her way to the airport in Surabaya by now, and considered calling her. Before that idea took root, his phone rang.
“Ava, where are you?” he answered.
“I’ve just arrived at the airport.”
“How did it end last night?”
“There was about seventy million U.S. on the plane. The Canadians are ready to send us thirty million as soon as tomorrow,” she said. “I have already provided Poirier with the Kowloon banking information. He was slightly surprised, but quite pleased to see Andy Cameron’s name attached to the account. It bolstered the credibility of our story.”
“That is fantastic news. Good work, my girl.”
“Thanks, Uncle, but it wasn’t just good work on my part. We are a team.”
“Yes, we are,” he said, trying to dampen his emotions. “When does your flight leave?”
“In half an hour. I’ll be in Hong Kong in time for lunch. Will you be meeting me at the airport?”
“I can’t. I’m still with my friend in Guangzhou, but Sonny is expecting you to call him with your flight information. He’ll pick you up.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t drive you to Guangzhou,” she said.
“My friend has his own driver.”
“That must have upset Sonny. He’s quite possessive when it comes to driving you.”
“Since when do I need Sonny’s approval for anything?”
“I meant no offence, Uncle. We just worry about you.”
“There is no reason for that either.”
“I know, but you can’t fault us for caring.”
Uncle thought he detected an insinuation in that comment, and quickly changed the subject. “I have to go. My friend is waiting for me. We have plans for the day, and now thanks to you I can enjoy them with a clear head and a peaceful heart. Have a safe flight. I’ll see you tomorrow or the day after,” he said, and then hung up.
I handled that badly, he thought.
( 24 )
The morning passed slowly. Parker’s strengthened concoction knocked him for a loop. Uncle threw up the plain white bread he’d had for breakfast, and felt so weak after that he needed help getting to the bathroom. Parker visited him at eleven and was so alarmed at his condition that he stopped the treatment.
“I apologize profusely,” Parker said. “It appears I’ve misjudged what you can handle.”
“And I may have misjudged what I’m actually prepared to endure,” said Uncle.
“What are you saying?”
“I’ve been thinking about all of this for the last few days,” Uncle said. “Is there really a point to it?”
“A point?” asked Parker, his expression suggesting he already knew the answer.
“The cancer can’t be cured, can it?”
Parker shook his head. “No, Mr. Chow, but it can be slowed.”
“When we talked in your office, you were vague about how much time the chemotherapy might buy me, but I remember you spoke of months, not years. Is that accurate?”
“Yes, but I also said that every patient reacts differently. There is no way of predicting accurately how much time can be added by treatment.”
Uncle closed his eyes and licked his dry lips. “I have such a thirst. Could you pour me a glass of water, doctor?”
Parker half filled a glass, and then helped Uncle sit up so he could drink. When he finished, Uncle lay down again and stared up at the doctor. “I am not afraid to die,” he said. “I have been in several situations where death was a possibility and I felt no fear. In fact, on at least one occasion I was more than prepared to accept it.”
“Not many people have that attitude. You are a fortunate man.”
“I have certainly been fortunate when it comes to the people in my life,” said Uncle. “I worry about them more than myself. It may sound egotistical to say my death will leave a hole in their lives, but I know it will.”
“Are your affairs in order?” Parker asked.
“More or less.”
“I don’t wish to suggest there is a great urgency, but I have found it helps many patients to prepare for the inevitable. It brings them closure.”
“I will take your advice,” said Uncle.
“Have you decided to stop taking chemotherapy?” asked Parker.
“I think I have, unless you can give me a compelling reason why I should continue.”
Parker shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chow.”
“Then that’s that,” said Uncle. “I will take my chances without the treatment.”
“I’ll cancel what was planned, but I still want you to stay here for the day so I can monitor you. I want to feel certain you’re strong enough to manage on your own.”
“Believe me, I don’t feel up to going anywhere right now,” Uncle said with a wan smile.
“And you will still be my patient. I’ll expect to see you every few weeks, and I’ll be available whenever you need me.”
“That is very considerate.”
Parker nodded and started to leave the room, then stopped and turned back towards Uncle. “Your family doctor, Doctor Cho, told me a little about you. He said you were a remarkable man. I now have a better understanding of what he meant.”
Shortly after Parker left, Uncle drifted off to sleep. He was awakened by the nurse’s voice saying, “He’s all yours.” Uncle opened his eyes, and to his shock saw Ava standing at the foot of his bed. He watched her walk to a chair in the corner of the room. She carried it next to the bed and sat, putting her hand on top of his. She then lowered her head onto the bed, and with her eyes tightly shut, began to whisper what he thought was a prayer that invoked the name of St. Jude.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of you being here alone,” she said, looking at him through eyes brimming with tears.
“I had a feeling you didn’t believe my story about going to Guangzhou,” he said.
“I wanted to, but other thoughts, other facts, kept intruding.”
“We know each other too well,” he said.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No, my dear. Was it Sonny who told you I was here?”
“Yes.”
“He had that girlfriend of his follow me. He probably thinks I did not notice.”
“He’s just worried about you, Uncle. We all are.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“Sonny, me, and Lourdes.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“I want to keep it that way, at least for now.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Ava said.
“Did they tell you what is wrong with me?” Uncle said, indicating the nurse’s station outside.
Ava stroked the back of his hand. “Only that you’ve been taking chemotherapy, but I know you’ve been complaining about stomach problems for some time, and when you threw up blood on the street a few days ago . . . well, I assumed the worst.”
“It started a while ago, and fool that I am, I ignored it for many months. But then I could not let it go on anymore.”
“Stomach cancer?”
“Yes.”
“What caused it?”
“Smoking, they think.”
“But you’re still smoking.”
“My family doctor, Cho, referred me to a gweilo specialist named Parker. I asked him if I should stop. He told me cigarettes couldn’t cause much more damage than they’d already done, and that withdrawal would only give me stress,” Uncle said. “I quite like Parker. He’s honest and pragmatic, a good combination.”
“But they’re treating the cancer, aren’t they?”
“There is not much they can do,” he said, trying to convey calm. “They cannot perform surgery, and even if they could, at my age it would likely kill me. Parker prescribed chemotherapy to buy me some time, but I’ve had enough of it. I don’t need time that badly.”
“Is there a different treatment available somewhere else, like in the United States or Switzerland?”
Uncle placed his free hand on top of hers and squeezed. “Ava, I am over eighty years old. Why would I want to become a desperate man now, when I have spent my entire adult life being in control? I’ve made up my mind and I am going to see things through my way. I value my dignity, and I have a reputation that I intend to uphold. So, Ava, I am telling you, as much as I respect you, do not try to change my mind, and please keep the rest of the world at bay. I understand about Sonny and Lourdes, and I know they would never dare to talk about me to anyone else. You are not quite so afraid of me.”
“Amanda gets married in January,” she said softly.
“And?”
“She needs me here. So I’ll be staying in Hong Kong until at least then.”
“I am sure she will appreciate that.”
