The wrath of the Chinese Dragon

Last Episode, Ben’s visit to China has not started off well – he has lost Tina! Now he has to tell Doug Self-righteous that Tina has gone missing.  They haven’t even been to the office yet.  He will also have to put on his ‘big boy’ pants and conduct the investigation by himself.  He knew he should have paid more attention when Tina was training him. 

"Never say you ‘read and understand’ if you don’t," Ben told himself. 

What next, he thought?

*******

Ben sat in his room trying to collect his thoughts. He was due in the office in an hour, and he had no idea what to do. Think, he told himself; "follow the British sign and ‘Stay Calm."

“Bugger that,” he said to himself, embracing his Aussie spirit. “They can’t beat us at cricket, so they won’t help me now!”  Ben looked at the room key in his hand and wondered where Tina was. What had happened to her?

He suddenly had a thought! Was there anything in Tina’s room that might help?

He recalled that taking a normal laptop into China wasn’t allowed for security reasons. However, Tina had mentioned she had plenty of information on an encrypted jump stick. Maybe that would give him some clues.

"Now you’re onto it, Benny Boy," he thought, a burst of enthusiasm rising. "I will find Tina, get to the bottom of the China affair, and cement my place in the annals of compliance. So, get the jump stick, call Doug, and then get to the office."

He opened the door and looked down the corridor. He couldn’t see anyone but felt like a hundred people were watching him. He slipped out of his room but didn't fully close the door; he wanted to get back in quickly if need be. He eased down to Tina’s room like a mouse hugging the wall.

He slipped the key in the door. Click. He walked in and shut the door quickly. He felt strange in Tina’s room, and even stranger about what he was going to do.

So far so good. He opened her closet and found her suitcase. He pulled it out and put it on the bed. As he unzipped the side, he was grateful Tina hadn't locked it.

"Poor thing," he thought; "She probably didn’t even have time to open the door." His hands were sweaty and felt like his shirt was dripping, and not because of the Shanghai humidity.

He closed his eyes as he felt through her clothes. Nothing. He opened his eyes and saw her teddy sitting on top of the case. "What a cutie", he thought!

He went back to the closet. Where could her computer case be? Maybe she put it in the safe. The safe was empty. Then he saw her backpack. “Yes!” he said to himself. He grabbed it. Her laptop was gone, but he found the jump stick in the side pocket. Then it dawned on Ben: I have the jump stick but no password!

He sat on the bed, feeling defeated, and reached for her teddy for comfort. Knock knock!!!

“Loom service," came a very Chinese voice.

Ben was so startled he dropped the teddy, and as he did, the tiniest notebook fell out onto the floor.

“Just a minute,” he said, trying to buy some time. He stuffed the notebook in his pocket and opened the door.

"Loom service," the guy said, wheeling a trolley into the room and yelling something in Chinese. Ben tried to explain that he did not speak Chinese, but the guy was not daunted.

“Chi-chi,” Ben said, trying to get his tongue around the only Chinese word he had learned. The guy left still muttering.

Ben didn’t plan to eat breakfast. He wanted to rush back to his room. But his curiosity pulled him in. When did Tina have time to order breakfast?

He approached the trolley and lifted the lid, not sure what might jump out and get him.

Nothing. He lifted the lid higher and revealed a note – “Go home” was all that it said.

Ben grabbed Tina’s things and rushed back to his room. Once inside, he decided he needed a shower; he had gotten so worked up, but first he had to fill Doug in.

*****

“All you needed to do was listen to what Tina told you, dumb-arse jelly bean! Go there and ask your stupid questions, stir the pot a bit. That is all I wanted you to do. Instead, you lost Tina, and now you are there by yourself ready to cause havoc in China!”

“Hey, I didn’t set out to lose Tina, Doug. Something very strange is going on here,” said Ben, deciding not to tell Doug the whole story.

“Do what you do best, Ben, ask the things that other people don’t even think about - that’s why I picked you. Don’t come back without some answers,” warned Doug. “Talk to you tomorrow,” he said, and hung up!

Ben headed off to the office. It was not far, just a few blocks. He felt like he had a million eyes on him, especially the guy with the black pooh-catcher pants. Every time he stopped, the guy ducked into a shop.  He couldn’t get to the office quickly enough.

When he arrived, he checked in at reception. “Hi, I am here from Laxo Smut Klump Compliance,” Ben introduced himself.

“Oh yes, we are expecting you,” said the receptionist. “Isn’t there meant to be two of you?”

“Yes, my partner is not feeling well, so she decided to stay at the hotel,” lied Ben.

Ben greeted the Country Manager, “Hi, I am…"

“I know who you are,” the Country Manager interrupted with a smile. “You are Mr Snake. Where is your beautiful partner?”

“She is not well, and I am Ben Boa, not Mr Snake,” said Ben, trying to assert himself.

“Sorry for my poor humour, and I hope that your partner will get better soon. I am Ling Foo Yung. Anything I can do? I want you to have a nice stay with us,” he added with a smirk on his face.

There was a knock, and the door opened to reveal three men who looked exactly the same.

“Ah, let me introduce you to your hosts – this is Ding, Dong, and Dang. They are identical brothers, and all three work for us.”

Well, that’s going to be confusing, thought Ben. Could this day get any better?

Next Episode: Episode 28 - “Look left, look right and then…”

Till next time

Calvin