Rescuing the Republic
Yat-sen staggered as he was shoved forward, the blindfold and ropes adding to his discomfort. Roughly he was forced into a chair and the binds around his wrists loosened, but his relief was short-lived as his limbs were soon retied to the chair. Suddenly his queue was painfully yanked forcing his head back and a voice in Mandarin whispered into his ear:
“Did you really think you could so easily escape the justice of the Son of Heaven? Your death will serve as a warning to all traitors to his Majesty.”
Barely had the man finished speaking then another voice was heard, further away and in English:
“Get away from him.”
The man let go of Yat-sen and replied in heavily accent English:
“This traitor deserves the death of a thousand cuts.”
“Maybe so, but before you hand over the promised gold he is my merchandise and I will not suffer anyone damaging my goods.”
There was a long pause then footsteps could be heard walking away. Yat-sen strained his ears to try to catch any other sounds, but all he could hear were the gradually fading steps of his kidnappers until they too disappeared and he was left alone with his mounting fears.
####
Bill watched the passengers disembark from the ship, marvelling at how diverse they were. It seemed that every nation on earth was represented. He could see an Arab family talking to a dock worker, trying unsuccessfully to ask for directions, while a group of American men, talking in their colonial accents flirted with a pair of French ladies. Hundreds of voices in as many languages talked amongst the pier and Bill was fascinated by it all.
He saw a group of three people walking towards his carriage. Two of them were Chinamen with the front of their heads shaved and the back tied back into tight ponytails. They wore the long robes that were native to their people and were steadily moving through the crowd. One of them had a pair of spectacles and was bucktoothed giving of a very comical appearance, but the other one had a boyishly handsome face. Both looked to be in the late twenties and were flanking a woman as they made their to his carriage.
At first Bill thought the woman was a European as she wore western travelling clothes, but as she drew closer he saw that she was also Chinese and very pretty. With porcelain white skin and large doe like eyes she would have attracted the gaze of any red-blooded man. As the trio reached the carriage the woman spoke:
“Please take us to the train station”
Bill was shocked, not only had she spoken English but her accent was as posh as a noble. His surprise must have shown in his face for the woman's lips curled into a tiny smile which made her look all the lovelier. Snapping out of his trance Bill replied:
“Of course ma’am, please come abroad.”
As his passengers loaded their luggage Bill smiled to himself, amused at how surprising life could be.
####
Fei-hung sat down to tea and dim sim with Siu-kwan's father. The selection of food was rather limited due to the difficulty of obtaining the ingredients, but he was glad to have some of his native dishes after so many weeks of travelling. He and Siu-kwan had made the journey from China to Britain in order to ask Mok Xing for his permission to wed, but his future father-in-law's revelation had driven all thoughts of marriage from his mind:
“Doctor Sun has been kidnapped?” asked Fei-hung
“Yes about a week ago.” replied Mok Xing
“Have you told the police?” asked Siu-kwan
“We don't dare. The kidnappers just want money. Me and some of the other Chinese merchants have already raised the ransom.”
“But can we trust the kidnappers to keep their word?” asked Fei-hung
“We have no choice. Doctor Sun is to important to the rebellion to risk.”
For a moment everyone was silent then Fei-hung turned to Mok Xing:
“When is the exchange to take place?”
“Tomorrow night, we will get the location tonight.”
“How?”
“The kidnappers will pass them to me at a dinner party I am attending.”
“Then we must go with you.” declared Siu-kwan in a voice that left no room for argument.
Mok Xing smiled at his daughter, truly he had missed her boldness.
“Should I come as well Shifu?” asked Ah So.
“Best not, to many people might complicate things.” replied Fei-hung to his bucktoothed apprentice.
With the matter settled the rest of the afternoon was spent preparing for the upcoming party.
####
Arthur was really enjoying himself. The man he was fighting certainly deserved his reputation was a prized fighter. Strong, fast and skilled the ugly former warehouse worker fought as if born knowing the craft. Yet as good as the man was Arthur could have beaten him in the first round, but had allowed the fight to go on for three rings of the bells as entertainment for the audience and his own amusement.
He spared a glance at the spectators. They were all of the new wealthy middling class, men and women who had made their money through trade and industry. Arthur knew that these people viewed him like some kind of exotic animal, a member of the old aristocracy fighting for their pleasure. Although in his heart he knew that the future belonged to their kind, that didn't mean that he had to like it.
His opponent had retreated to a safe distance having just received a series of power punches to the torso and Arthur took the opportunity to reminisce on his past. Born to the noble Bourchier family he had enjoyed a privileged upbringing in the best military schools of the country where he had excelled in all forms of combat. However his father had lost the dwindling family fortune on a series of bad investments in the Australian colonies, resulting in his death and Arthur's destitution.
At the age of eighteen Arthur found himself alone in the world and so turned to his sole talent, hurting people. He soon built up a name for himself amongst the illegal bare-knuckle fighters and before long had come to the attention of his current employer, David Conner the wealthy shipping merchant. David took him on first as a guard, then later as his enforcer and finally his junior partner. However he still couldn't resist showing of his pet noble to his friends when the opportunity presented itself.
Arthur snapped his attention back to the present as his opponent went on the attack. He was very fast and the right hook he sent would have landed on most people, but Arthur was not most people. To Arthur the man seemed to be moving through water and he ducked under the blow then smashed his left fist into his ribs. As the man reeled back from the punch Arthur slammed the back of his left forearm into his temple knocking him of his feet.
The spectators cheered and Arthur raised his arms accepting their adulation. As he surveyed the crowd he saw Mok Xing arriving. The Chinese merchant was a business associate of David Conner and Arthur had recently helped him deal with the unwanted attention of some local gangs. Tonight Mok Xing had brought two companions with him, one was a Chinese woman in her mid to late twenties wearing a fashionable European dress and although she was quite beautiful, Arthur found his attention drawn to the other companion.
He was a Chinese man of about Arthur's age and although he had the small unassuming build typical to his people, there was something in the way he studied Arthur's fight that made him uneasy. He had the steady, knowing gaze Arthur had seen in the best instructors he had known in his youth. Arthur's distraction nearly cost him the fight as his opponent got to his feet and sent an uppercut into the right side of his jaw. Arthur spun with the blow then brought his left foot down hard on the man's knee, shattering the joint. As the man fell Arthur slammed his open hand into his face breaking his nose.
The man fell as if poleaxed, his face a flattened bloodied mess. There was a moment of appalled silence then a pair of servants carried the unconscious man away. Arthur wiped his hands on a towel offered by a servant then buttoning his collar and sleeves walked to where David Conner was greeting the new arrivals. Seeing Arthur, David made the introductions:
“Arthur this is Mr Mok's daughter Diana and Doctor Wong Fei-hung. Both of them have just arrived from China.”
Arthur kissed Diana's hand then turned to Wong Fei-hung and shook his. The man's grip appeared light but Arthur detected hidden strength within him and doubted that he was an ordinary doctor.
Fei-hung studied Arthur while they shook hands. The man was a head taller than him, ruggedly handsome with brown hair and blue eyes. He was clean shaven and his face unlined, but his eyes held a hardness to them that contradicted his otherwise youthful appearance. His handshake was as strong as Fei-hung had expected but there was a suppleness in his wrist that indicated his strength was complemented with great skill.
As the men released their grip Mok Xing addressed Arthur:
“Mr Bourchier, I would like to thank you for your help in recent events. Please accept this as a small token of my gratitude.”
Mok Xing signalled for a servant to come forward and presented Arthur with a polished wooden box. Opening the box Arthur's face lit up with delight for inside was a magnificently crafted sword. About two and a half feet in length it was made in the Chinese style, the pommel was a single black pearl with the hilt being made of silver bound in golden silk. The guard was circular, resembling a teacup without a handle and made of tempered steel. The sheath of made of wood stained black and polished to a mirror shine. Unsheathing the blade Arthur tested its weight.
Despite its delicate appearance the sword was quite weighty, but the balance was perfect allowing a skilled swordsman to manipulate it with both brutality and subtlety. Arthur noticed that Wong Fei-hung was looking at the sword with the same expert eye as he had the fight and decided to test his opinion of the man:
“Doctor Wong, do you have an interest in swordsmanship?” asked Arthur
“A little.” replied Fei-hung slowly, taking care to pronounce the unfamiliar words.
“Perhaps the good doctor will give us a demonstration of Chinese swordsmanship?”
“I am afraid my humble talents would just embarrass me.”
“You are to modest Doctor Wong. It would be the greatest of pleasure to witness this sword being used as it was meant to be.”
Fei-hung knew that it would be rude to continue refusing and if he was honest he was also excited at the prospects of testing such an exquisite blade, so when Arthur offered him the sword he accepted with both hands.
Siu-kwan stared at Fei-hung as he rolled up his sleeves in preparation for his display, her heart was a flutter with the usual mixture of emotions at times like this. While she deplored violence and was also terrified when Fei-hung fought, she was also excited. There was something about the fact that he could perform physical feats beyond what normal people were capable of that set her heart beating louder and her breath coming faster. At times like this she felt an almost primal sense of attraction towards him. As Fei-hung took his starting stance Siu-kwan's heart was beating so loud she was surprised nobody else could hear it.
Arthur studied the man as he took his fighting stance. The unsheathed sword was held in his right hand and pointed to the ground, while his left hand pointed upwards with all the fingers except for the middle and index held in a loose fist. His knees were slightly bent and he stood as still as a statue. Some of the party guests sniggered at this strange posture whispering that he resembled the dancing pose of a girl.
The sniggering stopped the moment he moved. Wong Fei-hung's opening move was so fast that most of them missed it. One moment the sword was pointed to the ground and the next it was thrust in front of him at chest height. Wong Fei-hung continued with a series of lightning fast thrusts and parries, leading with his feet he was always in perfect balance his entire body moving as a fluid whole. Arthur smiled as he saw his suspicions about the man proved correct and had to fight the urge to tear down one of the swords hanging from the wall in order to test himself against such a man.
Twirling his wrist Fei-hung held the sword in a reverse grip with the blade resting against the back of his right arm while his left hand was held horizontal above his head middle and index fingers thrusting out. The watching crowd erupted into thunderous applause and Fei-hung nodded his head humbly before returning the blade to Arthur.
####
Fei-hung stepped through the door with Ah So following a step behind. The apprentice looked around nervously in the dimly lit warehouse, apprehension written on his face as his grip tightened on the sack he carried. A servant had passed a note to Mok Xing during last night's party naming this place as the location for the exchange. Fei-hung had volunteered to bring the ransom and Ah So had insisted on accompanying him.
As their eyes got used to the poor light they could make out four figures in front of them. The figure standing furthest back and hidden in shadows spoke:
“Have you got the gold?”
“Right here” replied Fei-hung as he gestured for Ah So to come forwards.
“Doctor Wong is that you?” asked one of the men.
Fei-hung recognized Sun Yat-sen's voice immediately:
“Yes it is Doctor Sun, I am here to rescue you.”
“Not unless you hand over the gold?” said the same man who had first spoken.
Fei-hung took the sack from Ah So and held it in front of him:
“I will send my apprentice to retrieve Doctor Sun while you send one of your men for the gold.” he declared.
As one of the kidnappers came forward Ah So started walking, his heart pounding with every step. The kidnapper reached Fei-hung at the same time Ah So reached Yat-sen:
“How is Doctor Sun?” shouted Fei-hung.
“He's alright Shifu.” replied Ah So
Fei-hung opened the sacks to show the gold coins within. The kidnapper took one of the coins and bit into it:
“Its good boss.” the man shouted as he waved the coin over his head, then taking the sack he started walking back to his companions at the same time as Ah So and Yat-sen started walking towards Fei-hung.
When they were about to pass each other the kidnapper made a lunge for Yat-sen. Fei-hung had been expecting this and reached into his left sleeve. Something metallic flew across the warehouse and hit the kidnapper who crumbled onto the ground:
“Run!” shouted Ah So as he grabbed Yat-sen and ran for the door.
Fei-hung turned around to see a dozen men all armed with clubs and knives blocking the doorway. He hit them like a storm, his iron hard fists and feet laying into them with deadly efficiency. Within heart beats the doorway was clear and the trio made their escape. The sound of a gun being fired echoed across the warehouse but remarkably none of them were hit. Not wanting to push their luck the three of them continued their escape.
####
“What the hell are you doing!?” shouted David Conner as Arthur knocked the gun out of his hand.
“Don't worry, I'll get them. My way.” replied Arthur as he turned and walked towards the back door.
“You had better, otherwise I'll have your guts. You hear me!” Arthur ignored the torrent of curses David shouted at his back and walked out of the warehouse.
####
Fei-hung and Ah So supported Yat-sen by his arms as they fled. Three times they had ran into ambushing men and Fei-hung had left three piles of broken bodies in his wake. The thugs were no threat to him but they had slowed their flight and Fei-hung knew that every delay increased their chances of being caught. Finally they saw the road leading out of the warehouse district and picked up their pace.
Someone stepped from the shadows and stood in the middle of the road. Fei-hung was shocked when he saw the familiar features of Arthur come into view. The man held a sheathed sword in each hand and he stood in a relaxed pose as they came towards him. Fei-hung waved his companions back and continued walking alone until he was only a few yards away from Arthur. Arthur tossed one of the swords to Fei-hung who caught it easily. Fei-hung was a little surprised to see that it was the same sword that Mok Xing had given Arthur last night.
Arthur drew his own sword, a straight sword with a Gothic hilt favoured by infantry officers. Although some people thought the curved cavalry swords a more noble weapon, Arthur preferred the versatility of the straight sword. Fei-hung also unsheathed his sword and the two of them face each other, stances wide, knees bent and swords held in a relaxed guard. Arthur struck first his long strides eating up the space between them in the blink of as eye.
The barrage of blows he unleashed was staggering, swift, strong and deadly with murderous intent in his every move. Fei-hung weathered the attack expertly, deflecting rather than blocking the ferocious onslaught, thus avoiding the need to meet the strength of his powerful opponent head on. Occasionally he went on the attack with short controlled stabs testing the man's defences, but on the whole he seemed content to let his opponent do most of the work.
After the initial furious exchange both men backed away having taken the measure of their foe. Arthur was impressed, he had expected Fei-hung to be fast but not so strong. When he had parried the few attacks Fei-hung had made he could detect the hints of hidden strength within the blows that seemed impossible for a man of such small stature. However Arthur victor of countless duels and street fights was not ready to admit defeat.
Using his greater height and reach he started raining down heavy blows on Fei-hung's head and shoulders, trying to intimidate the smaller man. Fei-hung however had nerves of steel and slipped under the powerful blows. Getting in close Fei-hung used his opponent's size against him and launched a series of fast slashes at his underside forcing Arthur to use some elaborate footwork in order to avoid having his stomach split open.
Realizing that he could not rely on physical advantages alone to win this duel, Arthur decided to change tactics. He saw that fighting in the open streets gave his opponent the advantage as he had space to manoeuvre and so avoid Arthur's powerful blows, so Arthur started trying to herd the man into more restrictive surroundings. Slowly but surely Arthur drove Fei-hung back with wide but controlled sweeps, as he tried to pin him into small alleyways or against walls.
Fei-hung however was too canny to be trapped so easily and kept himself constantly on the move, his feet so light that they seemed to be gliding on clouds. Finally after several gruelling minutes Arthur succeeded in containing Fei-hung between himself and a brick wall. Steadily Arthur pushed Fei-hung back knowing that with every step he came closer to victory. When Fei-hung was only a couple of feet from the wall he leapt backwards into the air tucking his feet behind him as he went. Using the wall as a springboard he launched himself at Arthur with the speed on an arrow causing the latter to through himself to the side in order to avoid being impaled.
Rolling to his feet Fei-hung saw Arthur looming over him with his sword raised, it was the chance Fei-hung had been waiting for. His sword snaked out aiming for the tendons in Arthur's hand. Arthur saw what he intended just in time and managed to turn his wrist and save his tendons, but Fei-hung's blade bit deep into the back of his hand sending the sword flying from his hand. Shooting to his feet Fei-hung lunged at his now unarmed opponent and was amazed to see Arthur do an 180 degree turn and catch the spinning blade in his left hand. Arthur continued his turn and Fei-hung stared in horror as the tip of Arthur's sword came towards him.
Arthur sensed victory as he caught his sword, few people knew that he was ambidextrous and it was a secret move that had saved his life on more than one occasion. Now as he swung his sword around he knew that Fei-hung would not have time to get out of the way, however in his excitement Arthur had made a slight misjudgement. Not used to fighting someone of Fei-hung's small stature he had aimed his slash too high and his sword caught Fei-hung just above the left eye and not the neck where he had intended. The wound would have killed Fei-hung had it ran across his throat, but instead he was given a nasty gash on his head.
Stopping his swing mid flow Arthur stabbed quickly hoping to catch his opponent while he was still surprised. Fei-hung seemed to crumble onto the ground and Arthur thought he might have been lucky and knocked him out with the blow. Redirecting his lunge he aimed to run Fei-hung through when something hit the back of his ankles and knocked him of his feet. Tucking his chin into his chest Arthur avoided having his head smash against the ground as he fell heavily. As he moved to rise he felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck and then his body refused to obey him. He was just able to turn his eyes to see the tip of Fei-hung's sword embedded in his neck and then he saw no more.
####
David Conner was sitting at his desk when the hooded and cloaked man entered his office. Looking up as he removed his hood David stared into the face of a man well into middle age, his complexion was healthy and his goatee beard well groomed giving him an air of sophistication. His eyes however had the sharpness of a bird of prey lending an edge of savagery to his otherwise civilised appearance.
Not wasting time on greetings the man dropped a heavy sack onto the desk:
“Here's your gold, now where's the merchandise?” He asked in English. His voice was clear and easily understandable, but the strong Chinese accent was obvious.
David's right hand drifted towards the sack then suddenly darted into his open draw. As his fingers closed around the gun the desk lurched forward and crushed him against the wall. The man jumped onto the desk and grabbed David by the throat, his strong fingers choking the life out of him:
“Did you think I didn't know that Wong Fei-hung has already rescued Sun Yat-sen when you tried to double cross him. Now you shall pay for your failure.”
There was a loud snap and David's head flopped lifelessly to the side. The last thing he saw with his dying eyes was the man picking up the sack and walking calmly away.
####
Fei-hung and Siu-kwan waved as Yat-sen's ship pulled out of the harbour. It had only been three days since his rescue but the doctor had insisted on boarding the earliest ship sailing for China in order to continue his crusade for a new stronger country. As Fei-hung saw him leave his heart was filled with admiration and a sense of insignificance when he compared himself to the great man.
Turning to his side he saw Siu-kwan looking at him, her eyes drawn to the healing scar above his left eye. Fei-hung had tried to make light of the wound but could not belay her concerns. Siu-kwan gave him a forced smile:
“Shall we go home?” she asked.
“You go first. There's somewhere I need to visit.”
####
Fei-hung entered the cemetery in sombre silence and headed to Arthur's grave. He had asked Mok Xing to recover the body and give it proper burial as a sign of respect for a master swordsman. As he approached the grave he was surprised to find someone else already there. The man had his back to him, but the queue running down his back showed his ethnicity. As if detecting him the man turned and Fei-hung had to fight to keep the shock of his face. He greeted he man with a deep bow:
“Lord Nap-lan” said Fei-hung
“Shifu Wong.” replied Nap-lan Shi Jian with a nod.
“I was not aware that your Lordship was acquainted with the late Mr Bourchier”
“We were merely casual acquaintances and I had come to pay my respect to a skilled warrior.”
Nap-lan Shi Jian gave a final bow to Arthur's grave and then started walking away. As he passed Fei-hung his hand shot out. Instinctively Fei-hung caught the blow on a tiger palm. The force of the blow ran down his entire body, but Fei-hung sank into his stance and drew strength from the earth, making himself as steady as a marble statue. Nap-lan Shi Jian withdrew his fist and continued walking away as if nothing had happened.
Fei-hung kept his awareness on Nap-lan Shi Jian until he was sure the man had left the cemetery then turned back towards Arthur's grave to pay his respects.