Zero Minus Ten

member of the Triad. It was highly likely. Woo had told him that most of the girls who worked as hostesses were prostitutes involved with these organizations. The Triads “protected” them, even though they blatantly exploited them.

“Veronica,” Bond said. “That’s not your real name, is it?”

She smirked. “What do you think?”

“I thought so. Listen, can I interview you about the changeover? I’d love to have the perspective of a woman like you.”

She laughed. “What, your paper will print the views of a nightclub hostess?”

“Why not? You’re as much a Hong Kong citizen as a wealthy banker.”

“Don’t count on that,” she replied. “Wealthy bankers can buy their way out of the colony. Many already have. Thousands of people have managed to leave over the past few years. With what’s happened in the last couple of weeks, people who had decided to stay are now considering getting out. There is a lot of fear in the air.”

“Fear of China?”

“Yes,” she said. “You know that troops are lining up across the border from the New Territories?”

Bond nodded.

“Everyone is afraid that on July the first, the troops will pour in and take command of the city. There is going to be some violence.”

“China has promised that Hong Kong will remain as it is for at least fifty years,” Bond reminded her.

She scoffed. “Do you really believe that? Does the world believe that? They’ve already demanded changes in our governmental structure. The Legislative Council will be disbanded, you wait and see. They won’t have any power. There will be a crackdown on places like this. Anything that appeals to the vices of westerners will be banned—I know it will happen.”

“But Hong Kong is Asia’s cash cow,” Bond said. “China cannot ignore that. They need Hong Kong. I honestly believe that they would lose face if they changed Hong Kong drastically.”

Bond was a little surprised to find himself having an intelligent conversation about politics with a nightclub hostess. She was not only articulate, but had eyes that could melt him if he allowed them to.

“Hey, listen,” she said, “would you like a private dance? We can go back to one of those rooms. We’d have complete privacy.”

“Maybe later,” he said. “I’m enjoying our conversation.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “You’re not like most men who come in here. Usually by now their hands are all over me.”

Bond gave her a slight bow and said dryly, “I’m an English gentleman.”

She laughed. “I can see that. You’re also very handsome … James.” She leaned closer and whispered in his ear “And I’d like to see what’s in your pants, James.”

It was a typical crude solicitation from this type of woman. For some reason, though, when she said it to Bond he became aroused. The girl was extremely sexy. He chalked it up to her genuine intelligence, usually conspicuously lacking in bar girls.

“Aren’t I one of those gweilo who are treated with such disdain?” he asked.

“I lived in America for a few years, remember? I like gweilo. ”

“How much drinking have you done today?” he asked her.

“This is my third drink, James,” she said. “Why, do I seem drunk?”

“You seem a little high on something.”

She shrugged and sniffed, unwittingly revealing what her vice might be. “A girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do to get through the working day, you know?” For a moment, she stared into her empty glass. Bond said nothing.

“I tell you what,” she said, “I’m going to re-fill our drinks, all right?”

Bond said, “Fine.” He gave her some more cash. She ran her fingers through his hair as she stood up, then sauntered back to the bar. He needed to ask her about Triads. Would she talk? She might open up to him if he played his cards right.

When she came back with new drinks, Bond asked her, “Would you leave Hong Kong if you could?”

“Are you kidding? I don’t want to live in a Communist country!”

“Can’t you go back to your relatives in California? Take up residence with them?”

She shook her head. “They aren’t there anymore. They were killed in an automobile accident. Besides, my mother is here. She’s sick. I have to take care of her.”

“If you had the right papers for the two of you, you would get out?”

“Of course!”

“Is that why you’re with a Triad?”

She blinked. “What did you say?”

“You are with a Triad, right?” he said. “Aren’t most women who work in places like this members of Triads?”

“You’ve been watching too many Chow Yun-Fat movies,” she said, obviously attempting to gloss over the truth.

“Come on, Veronica,” he said. “The Triads are acting as lifeboats for people opposed to living in a Communist country. I know they are illegally helping people to emigrate to other countries. You believe they will get you out, or at the very least protect you from … whatever. Am I right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Veronica, you can trust me. I know you’re vowed to secrecy, but you have nothing to worry about. I already know everything about it, you see. I know that Mr. Li Xu Nan is the Cho Kun of the Dragon Wing Society.”

Her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what Bond had just said. She was stunned and afraid.

“Veronica, it’s all right,” Bond said earnestly. “Really.”

“Sunni,” she said.

“What?”

“That’s my real name. I shouldn’t be telling you this. I could get in a lot of trouble.”

“Sunni?”

She nodded. “Sunni Pei.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

She leaned closer again. “How about that private dance now?” She was attempting to change the subject and get back to business.

“Not yet, Sunni. I promise I’ll pay you for a dance in a few minutes. But first I need a favour.”

“I don’t know …”

“I want to meet Mr. Li.”

She shook her head almost violently. “That’s impossible. No one meets the Cho Kun.”

Bond was right. She did know him.

“Doesn’t he come here every now and then? Will he come in here today?”

“I don’t know … look, I don’t know who you’re talking about, anyway.” She suddenly seemed very frightened. She looked around, hoping no one was near enough to hear what they were saying.

“Why not?” Bond asked. “Li Xu Nan is just another businessman.”

Her jaw dropped. “Stop it! Be quiet!” she exclaimed in a whisper.

“You know him, don’t you?”

“No,” she said. “I know who he is, that’s all. He comes in most afternoons. How do you know he’s a Dragon Head?”

“I’m in the media,” Bond said. “I have my sources.”

She was shaking with fear now. Bond was afraid he might have gone too far, too soon.

“Look, Sunni,” he said. “It’s all right. You won’t get into trouble. I want to interview him for my newspaper. I want to get his views on the handover and how it will affect his businesses. He can remain anonymous—it doesn’t matter to me—all my headline has to read is: Triad Leader Speaks Out. It’ll make a great story!”

“He will never admit being Cho Kun. Any association with a Triad is illegal in Hong Kong.”

“I know that. I don’t expect him to admit a thing.”