Luke laughed at Dr. Wu’s choice of words. “And you can continue to call me Luke. Charles sounds so majestic.”
———
ROBERT WU WAS AS GOOD as his word, and every week or so Luke would get a progress report, which in every case indicated that Robert had come up empty. But it was through these e-mails that Luke discovered his new friend possessed a wonderfully bizarre sense of humor. Whenever Robert visited a noteworthy location, he’d shoot an eight-second video stream of each landmark. In the center of every picture Robert would set up an orange windup toy kangaroo that wore blue boxing gloves. When placed into action the boxing kangaroo would slowly lean forward, and then suddenly leap backward into the air, flipping over and magically landing on its feet once more. To this stunt Robert had added a canned drum roll that ended with a crash of cymbals as the kangaroo successfully completed the trick. The toy’s action, when set against something as austere and serious as the Great Wall, or Tiananmen Square, or the Forbidden City, was intrinsically funny. One or two of these little performances would show up on Luke’s e-mail every week or so. Usually with an accompanying note that just said, “Nothing yet. The mystery grows apace, but I’m hopeful still. All my best, Robert W.”
It was because of the leaping kangaroo that Luke and Robert, for the sake of security, began to refer to the objects of their search as “the toys.” Then, five weeks into his trip Robert sent another e-mail. This time the kangaroo was posed in front of a large stone tablet that was surrounded by ornate carving. The stone was covered with engraved texts that were difficult to make out on the video. Once again there was a drum roll, a leap, and a crash of cymbals. The e-mail simply said, “Look familiar?” Luke wrote back with one word. “Perhaps.” The word “perhaps” had become part of Luke’s code as well. It meant “yes.”
The next day another e-mail photo arrived. The kangaroo was noticeably absent this time. The e-mail shot was a picture of a Bactrian camel carved from a single large piece of dark green jade. Luke noticed at once that the camel was resting on its knees just like the pink jade giraffe in the old photograph in Dr. Gilbert’s folio. The attached note said, “Does this look anything like one of the toys?” Luke signaled back one word: “Perhaps.”
The following day Luke received another e-mail from Robert. The attached video stream showed the toy kangaroo set on a restaurant table surrounded by exotic-looking platters of Chinese food and glasses of beer. This time the kangaroo repeated his leap four times in a row, with drums and cymbals accompanying each repetition. The accompanying note said, “Due back in USA this Thursday. I should be in Monterey on Saturday around 4:00 p.m. We must talk. Can you spare the time?”
Luke e-mailed back, “Absolutely! Come to Hopkins when you get in. Anybody can tell you where to find the lab.”
THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY MORNING FOUND Luke at Hopkins Laboratory in the dissection room. Professor William Gilly was showing him and two female students how to inject dyes into the venous system of a whopping eight-foot-long Humboldt squid that recently had been donated to the lab by a local fisherman who had discovered the angry, ink-spitting beast in his nets.
Out of the corner of his eye Luke caught sight of someone standing at the glass viewing partition on the other side of the lab. When he looked up he saw Robert, sunglasses, ponytail, and all, standing there grinning at him. He was early by hours.
Robert was still waiting outside when Luke got out of class. The two of them walked toward Cannery Row to get a bite to eat. Luke said, “Have you ever seen the Monterey Bay Aquarium? It’s really a great experience. You have to see it. I love working there. The people are great, and when something big and tasty kicks the bucket, we have a grand barbecue.”
“You’re kidding, of course.”
Luke grinned. “Sort of.”
Robert smiled. “Yeah, I think I’d like to watch sushi in its natural setting. I’ll bring my chopsticks, but first I’ve got to find a hotel room somewhere nearby. I intend to stay for a few days. We’ve got our work cut out for us, and we need to make some serious plans.”
Luke winced. “A hotel room in Monterey? Save your money. You can stay at my place.” Luke pointed toward David Avenue. “It’s just up the hill over there. I’ve got a big leather couch that folds out to make a great double bed. Hell, it’s more comfortable than my own bed.”
During lunch Luke wrote out his address and drew a little map. Then he gave Robert his extra key and told him to make himself at home. “If you want to take a shower, you’ll find clean towels and stuff in the hall cupboard. Help yourself to anything you find in the fridge. I think there’re a couple of beers hiding in there somewhere.”
“Thanks, Luke.”
“When you’ve rested up, come back down to the aquarium around five o’clock, ask for me, and I’ll give you a Cook’s tour of the place. I think you’ll be impressed.”
Luke was waiting at the front entrance of the aquarium when Robert arrived. They hadn’t walked twenty feet into the foyer when a dark-eyed beauty passed nearby. She greeted Luke in passing with a beautiful smile and a wave.
Robert did a double take. “Who’s that stunning little creature?”
Luke looked up. “Oh, that’s Lorraine Yglesias. She’s from Costa Rica. She handles emerging markets for the aquarium. Pretty, isn’t she?”
Robert’s eyes widened with appreciation. “You can say that again, and in spades, and how convenient that I speak Spanish like a bloody native.”
Luke smiled. “Don’t bother, she speaks better English than you do. And besides, she’s married to a lawyer and has two children.”
“You’re kidding. She doesn’t look it.”
“Well, you don’t look like a doctor either.”
LUKE AND ROBERT HAD REFRAINED from discussing business matters where others might overhear, so after the aquarium tour Luke suggested they get a couple of takeout cheeseburgers at McFly’s up the street and go back to his place and talk.
After supper, Luke said there were a few things he thought his friend should see, but only if Robert was still interested in going into partnership on the search.
Robert quipped, “I’m here, aren’t I, and I didn’t come here for the scenery, though I must say it’s not half bad.”
