Casanova by Mark Arundel

Author:Mark Arundel [Arundel, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laughing Gulls
Published: 2014-01-12T07:00:00+00:00

17

FRIDAY: 06:50—12:00

Jemima called early the next morning.

‘The ferry has just left,’ he said. ‘I’ve rounded up the ducklings and all of them will be in Macau before the end of the day. Shall we meet?’

Tourists covered Ma Zu temple. It was busier than the previous day. We met Jemima in the courtyard. He wore a Panama hat and a cream linen suit.

‘Why don’t you just wear a badge that says British spy?’ Xing asked scornfully.

‘I look like a British tourist,’ Jemima said defensively.

Xing then spoke to him in Cantonese and Jemima answered fluently.

‘You speak Cantonese,’ I said.

‘Yes,’ he said, cheering up. ‘My father was a diplomat and I went to school in Hong Kong for several years and then I studied languages at Oxford.’

‘His accent is terrible,’ Xing said. ‘He even sounds like a British spy.’

Jemima was hurt. He turned away from her and spoke to me.

‘So, all we have is the one location,’ he said. ‘You better show it to me.’

We followed the same route Vong had taken us on. We stopped briefly at the gates. Jemima crossed to the other side. He looked up and down the road and then at the water. He nodded. It was a quick survey. We walked on.

‘It’s not the easiest location to work with,’ he said, ‘but my ducklings will make something of it.’

‘When can they start?’

‘Later today,’ he said. ‘We have two taxis, fully licensed. All the equipment we need we already have.’

‘...equipment?’ I asked.

‘Yes, you know, cameras, personal communication devices, bugs, trackers, binoculars, disguises...’

‘...disguises?’

‘Yes, disguises. One time, I dressed as a clown and did a street performance with a camera hidden in my flower and...’

Xing interrupted. ‘I’m not surprised it was a clown’s costume,’ she said.

It was time for me to stop this. We had to work together.

‘That’s enough,’ I said. ‘Jemima was only following us because he was ordered to do so. It isn’t his fault he’s good at it and that you didn’t spot him. Your professional pride is hurt, that’s all, well, get over it; we have to work together as a team. Now apologise to him and then pack it in.’

She wasn’t used to anyone telling her off. For a moment, her eyes flared and I thought she was going to talk back. She didn’t. She knew I was right. I watched her closely. Her eyes held mine and then she turned to Jemima.

‘I apologise,’ she said.

Jemima smiled. He looked relieved.

‘Oh, that’s all right,’ he said, ‘I quite understand. I probably wouldn’t like someone following me either. Shall we swop addresses?’

‘No,’ I said, ‘no addresses, it’s better for security if we don’t know. We’ll keep in touch by phone.’

‘Very well,’ Jemima said. ‘I’ll call you later.’

Xing and I waited. Jemima went on ahead. We watched him until he was out of sight.

‘Did you learn that discipline as a soldier?’ she asked.

‘Ill discipline is the quickest way to end up dead,’ I said. ‘I thought you would know that.’

‘I’ve been working on my own too long,’ she said.

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