Flower Girl: A Burton Family Mystery by David Marshall Hunt

Author:David Marshall Hunt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: David Marshall Hunt
Published: 2015-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8: The Tour

I continued my research on the history of women in the Silla dynasty as Reddy made arrangements with Hamish for our historical tour. On Rhyly’s behalf, I asked Reddy if we could visit some of the archaeological and historical sites that reflect women's contributions before we returned to rescue Princess Zubaida’s granddaughter. We had already scoped out the Parks' Home for Girls compound on Cheju-do during our practice sessions. Reddy had decided that a tour would provide an excellent cover story for our activities, so he built the tour into our plans for a resolution for Zubaida's case and for my first assignment.

"If we blend in with the other tourists, we won’t attract any undue attention," Reddy said, "especially not from the police."

Reddy suggested that we spend a day observing and mingling with the haenyeo (women divers) of Cheju-do Island before heading for the mainland and visiting the Silla Bell and Queen Seondeok's star gazing tower, two of Korea's oldest and most legendary artifacts. I wanted to visit the Namdaemun Gate and the Parks’ Seoul Clinic where my mother died.

"Can we add the Namdaemun Gate to our tour?" I asked.

"Namdaemun, the great south gate, officially called Sungnyemun or gate of exalted ceremonies, is one of eight original gates in the fortress wall encircling and guarding Seoul," Reddy said. "Not from the Silla dynasty; however, it is a worthy addition to our tour."

"From the gate one can see Park's OB/GYN Clinic where my mother died and where I was born," I said, mostly for Rhyly's edification.

Reddy kept a poker face, adding, "The clinic is next to the market area by the gate on the southeast side of Seoul; it can be our last stop before we fly back to Cheju-do on Friday to take care of business."

"When will we be visiting mother's grave?" I asked.

"We will be back in Cheju a few days before the second of June," Reddy said.

"Taking care of business" should have been my clue; however, I found myself thinking, finally after these many years, I’d be visiting my mother's grave and coincidentally my own grave. How bizarre is that!

"Who could possibly suspect two men and two women tourists in a rental car of anything as shocking as what we have planned for after we return to Cheju-do from our historical Tour?" I whispered to Reddy, adding aloud, "We'll need the usual colorful Hawaiian shirts and scarves, cameras, and a general air of obnoxiousness to complete the package."

Rhyly got Reddy’s and my sizes and volunteered to ride into town. An hour later, I heard the motorbike in the driveway. Rhyly was returning with her bag of tourist attire. Strapped precariously to the back of the bike was a two foot stone statue of a bearded man.

"That's dol hareubang, stone grandfather," Reddy said.

"He looks a bit like you," Rhyly joked.

Reddy replied with a smile, "Are you suggesting that I shave off my beard at the first opportunity?"

"I just saw the real thing in town near the beach," Rhyly said, "and I had to have one for my office back in River View.

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