Used Soya Sauce, Anyone

In the last episode, as Doug packs up his bags and plans his revenge, Ben is on a roll. He's almost cracked the code that will reveal the magic password to open Tina’s jump stick.  Things are getting hot at the ranch and in China!

There is more to come; life is never simple for Ben, and I am sure that something or someone is about to rock his world again.  Will he ever get to find out what happened to Tina and solve the case of the China affiliate?

******

He spelled out the word.   “T, ……….  E ….. D …D….Y.  That’s it.  I’ve done it”.  He jumped around the room, feeling very proud of himself.  Just like the time he went to Japan and had a special dish with soya sauce that others used. He worried about where the sauce came from. Then he thought that nothing could live in soy sauce.   

That night he had the worst diarrhea.  He didn’t think it was from the soya sauce.  More like the raw sea urchin that he was obliged to eat.

“If it is used, then other people must have had it, and they were still alive!  Anyway, back to work!” he thought.

He entered the password and closed his eyes, not really knowing why.  “Why do people do that?” he thought. “I mean, you still have to look when you open your eyes.  It is not like it is going to make any difference.”  So he opened his eyes, and there before him was a sight to behold.

[Back at the Ranch:]

“So did you do it?” inquired the voice on the other end of the phone.

“Yes, I did it,” replied Reginald Luxam the Third.  “I did your dirty work for you. Now you remember the other half of the deal, don’t you?”

“Wes, wes, I make your ploblems in China go away, stop all the hotrine calls and evly thing be good.  But I keep all my mloney!” said Mr Fuckno.

“Now just wait a minute, we didn’t agree to that.  You are lucky that we don’t turn you in to the police for bribery, corruption and - let’s not forget - two counts of kidnapping.”

“You shut your mouwf lawyer man. I help lou, lou no help, so I keep money or you get more bligger ploblems!”  replied  Fuckno, getting agitated.

“You’re a piece of work Fuckno—we are better off without you. “Keep your blood money, but make sure you disappear quietly,” Reginald emphasized. “And don’t forget to send that note to Doug.”  We need to keep him quiet.  Understand?”

“Les, les I glo now.  Make sure my money in bank today or bigger tloubles, lawyer man.”

Reginald was ready to burst.  He had never been spoken to so condescendingly in all his time.  He almost wanted to back out of the deal and take Fuckno to the cleaners, but he was a good company man.

Fuckno lounged in his chair, sipped scotch from a crystal glass, and dreamed of spending his money.  He was going to sneak off, leave his wife in China and start living the high life. 

He might go to Australia. He could buy a big house on the Gold Coast. He’d throw parties every night with sexy blonde Australian girls, just like in Crocodile Dundee!  He finished his Scotch, got up, poured another, and started to dial a number. This would be his last call, and then the money was his.

[Back in China:]

Hundreds of files sat in front of Ben.  All logically ordered in some way: a number, then letters, then another number.  He hoped and prayed they weren’t all password-protected.  The first file particularly caught his attention.  It simply said: “Friend of Ernie!”

Ben tentatively opened it, thinking the worst.  He wasn’t sure what that was, but it must be pretty bad. 

“Ben, if you get to read this, I will not be there.  I will have been kidnapped because I know too much.  I am not sure if I will ever see the world again. China faces major issues, especially with corruption. Doug has been trying to tackle this for a long time. However, it hits the core of senior management. 

The company is trying to play it down to stay in a position where they can work out what is going on.  Fuckno is the ringleader and is a bad man; be very careful of him.  He has three hitmen that do all the dirty work for him: Ding, Dong and Dang.  They are not to be trusted. Be careful because Ding, Dong and Dang are at the centre of it as well.  I have written all I know in these files, but if you read them, you will be in extreme danger.  You must get out of China, Ben, and take these files to the Chinese police. 

The company cannot be trusted; someone at head office is working with them.  I am very proud of you for ‘cracking the Code’.  You have come a long way, Ben, and I wish I had more time to work with you.  Don’t try to come and find me because I am not worth it.  I have to tell you something that you will not like, but you must know it just happened. I did not mean to hurt you.  Last time, when I was back at the office before we came to China together, I married Ernie.   Please find him and tell him that ‘I love him’.  He misses you.  Take care, my friend.”  Tina.

Ben was shattered.  His suspicions had been spot on.  First about Ding, Dong and Dang, then about Tina, who he was sure was still alive.  He hadn't seen the whole Ernie thing coming, though.  He felt like a triple B trailer* had just been driven through his heart.  He had lost the love of his life.

Ben got up and turned off his computer. He shoved the jump stick back into Teddy’s tummy, as if to say, “Eat that, tiny Teddy.” Then he paused. He realised Teddy wasn't to blame for his pain. So, he leaned down and gave Teddy a kiss on the head.  “Sorry,” he said.

Time for action. “Calvernicus, if you are out there, I need your help,' he said into thin air. “Now would be a great time! Did you know about this all along? Were you keeping it from me, you presumptuous, rat-sucking, slime-producing excuse for a pretentious piece of fly excrement?”

Ben realized that after this Calvernicus was probably not going to reply; it was all up to him now.  First thing, I am going to call Doug.

[Back at the ranch:]

“Ring, ring, ring ring,” went Doug’s mobile.  The number showed China. 

“Great,” thought Doug. “Just the person I want to talk to.” He picked up the phone angrily.

“You sneaky little Chinese dumpling - you are no worse than stinky tofu!  You will pay for this; I will make you pay for this.  We had a deal!”

“What are you talking about?” said Ben, much to Doug's shock and horror, as Doug went almost catatonic.

“Doug, I need to talk to you. Things have gone really wrong here. Also, thanks for sending out the posse to help. That was really good of you!” said Ben, finding some Dutch courage.

“You, you meddling little squirt,” snapped Doug, now almost out of control, “I don’t care anymore.  I am no longer your boss, and I don’t care.”  He hung up the phone.

[A/n: A triple B trailer combines three semi-trailers into one. It’s often called a road train. These vehicles travel across the vast Australian outback.]

Episode 35:  Wasabi has a way of sneaking up on you!

Till next time,

Calvin