7. Alliances in Hues
Chapter seven
Alliances in Hues
Once Banks and his crew left, we headed back.
However, Chen’s men had a different agenda. As we began our ascent, I noticed the mini army of blue didn’t fall into step behind us. Instead, they remained positioned by the massive mountain gate, like sentinels guarding a fortress.
Hopefully, Lei is more reasonable than Banks.
To my right, the sun was setting. It’s descent represented a vivid masterpiece of fiery oranges and soft pinks lathered in purples and golds.
I gazed up ahead of me.
The mountain path stretched on, a seemingly endless ribbon winding its way up to the peak. Its rugged terrain, combined with the occasional rustling of leaves and distant bird calls, heightened by the sunset’s tranquil beauty.
With each step I took, the weight of the situation bore down on me, like a cloak woven with threads of anxiety.
My heart rate quickened.
A gust of wind, swept past carrying with it the cold touch of the mountain’s altitude and making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Chen walked beside me, silent as a shadow. His face was set in a deep frown.
Every so often, I would catch him casting discreet glances back at the five men trailing us. Those men from Banks, with their green clothes and suitcases they carried, were like foreign elements in this landscape.
Yeah. . .Lei will be reasonable. Right?
The air grew thinner as we ascended, and my breaths came faster. Still, it wasn’t the altitude that bothered me but the heavy weight of uncertainty. The contents of those green suitcases, the pristine white clothes, were at the core of my dilemma.
I could feel the men’s eyes on me, their silent presence a reminder of my cousin’s protective, if overbearing, nature.
I walked closer to Chen and kept my voice low. “So. . .I’m sorry about Banks.”
Chen kept his view on the path ahead. “Banks was Banks.”
“Well, I’m not used to him being so. . .rude and threatening.”
“No, Monique.” Chen shook his head. “If anything, Banks was on his best behavior.”
“ That was good behavior?”
Chen nodded. “No one died. Probably because you were there.”
That wasn’t particularly reassuring.
Also, I didn’t want to unpack the fact that Banks killed people.
Don’t think about it. Pretend you didn’t even hear it.
We returned to silence and my mind went back to what had just occurred.
Banks had been clear. Wear white, show everyone that I was neutral.
I just need Lei to see that, but Chen. . .he thinks Lei won’t get it.
Soon, we entered the camp.
Many rushed about with hurried movements and excited chatter.
To my left, two large men struggled with a massive roasted pig on a spit as they made their way past us and further up the mountain. A mouthwatering aroma wafted by me. The pig’s skin appeared perfectly crisp. Juices dripped and left a trail.
On the right, others carried massive barrels, their contents unknown to me, but by the happy laughter and eager looks, I guessed it to be some local, perhaps intoxicating, beverage.
Others gracefully maneuvered around the busyness, carrying long wooden tables.
Among the activity, another group caught my eye as they hauled massive bushels of flowers in different shades of blue.
Damn. This feast is going to be bigger than the other one.
We moved further into the camp, and suddenly the lively chatter began to dim as everybody noticed the five Rowe Street Mob members.
Many shifted to hushed murmurs and sidelong glances.
This is so crazy.
Here and there, Lei’s people whispered behind their hands, pointing subtly but unmistakably at Banks’s men.
More concerning were the guys who responded with more than just stares. A few instinctively grabbed their weapons.
One man, with a large dragon tattoo running down his arm, pointed his knife at Silent Sal and then spit on the ground.
Wow. Can we just all relax?
I got the feeling that if Chen didn’t walk by us, this walk but have been very different.
“Chen.” I tugged at my current sky-blue attire and sighed. “Why does the color situation have to be so complicated?”
Chen looked my way. “Colors are simple. It’s the meanings we attach to them that complicate things. Plus, there’s a lot of tension between the East and South right now.”
“And. . .you still think that. . .Lei may trip?”
“It’s not that he may trip as you say. It is how we contain his certain anger to a point where bombs are not exploding in the East and South.”
I swallowed.
“However. . .” Chen let out a long breath. “I think I have a plan.”
I eyed him. “What is it?”
A neutral mask covered his face.
“Chen?”
He remained quiet.
“I thought we already had a plan?”
“Yes, Monique, but after Banks’s statements, we will need to alter the plan in some areas.”
“What areas?”
To my surprise, Chen groaned and pulled out his phone.
I stole a quick glance. “Are you going to tell me or not?”
Chen dialed a number and then placed it to his ear. “Wu? Yes. Good. I’m glad he is well. Yes, but, where is the Mountain Master now?”
I tensed.
“No. No. Extend the final medical assessment. Keep him a little bit longer. Yes. That’s what I said.”
What the hell is Chen doing?
“No. Do not worry, Wu. I will arrive and escort Lei back to his tent. Do you understand? Good.” Chen moved the phone from his ear and placed it back in his pocket.
Utterly confused, I looked at Chen. “What was that about?”
“I want Lei’s healer to extend the medical assessment of him, to buy us more time.”
“Alright. And what do you want me to do?”
“Take a very, very long shower.”
A grin hit my face. “A shower?”
“Yes. Surely, the walk down and back up has gotten dirt on your skin. We have a feast tonight. All will be watching you—”
“Hold on. I thought I wasn’t going to the feast—”
“We will have to change that.”
“To what?”
“To your going to the feast.”
“Yes, Chen, but you want me to just show up in a white gown like it’s cool?” I looked ahead, seeing Lei’s and my tent. “I don’t want to shock Lei while he is already dealing with his sister.”
“I believe that I have a solution that should keep this new situation with Rowe Street Mob on pause until my Uncle Leo is dealt with.”
A sense of urgency washed over me. “And what is it?”
Chen stopped and turned to face me. “I am glad we met you.”
The sincerity in his voice surprised me.
“O-kay. . .”
“The way everything is happening right now, I believe that you will be around us for a very long time in some capacity or another.”
“And the plan?”
“Let me handle that.” Chen gazed at my men in green and then put his view on me. “Just take your shower. I figured out what must happen.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“And it will be less complicated?”
“I am not a miracle worker, Monique. There will be complications but I see a temporary way for us to buy time.”
“And you’re not going to tell me anything?”
“I need you to trust me.”
I held out my hands. “But Chen—”
“Enjoy your shower.” He gave me a polite nod and then headed away.
Come on, dude. Tell me.
I watched Chen leave. His dark blue suit seamlessly blended into the twilight shadows of the mountain, making him appear more like a phantom than a man.
Let’s hope this plan is better than the earlier one.
Soon, Banks’s men gathered around me.
Rattlesnake Rick slid into position on my left, his fingers twisting and playing with his lengthy braided goatee. His sharp eyes darted around as if assessing the area. “Is there a problem?”
I pushed aside my unease. “I don’t think so.”
“Are we to wait for Chen to return?”
“No.”
“Then, where should we be escorting you?”
“My tent is over there.” I pointed to the large structure further ahead, its silhouette grand against the darkening sky. “Apparently, I’m about to take a shower.”
Once Rick spotted the tent, he opened his mouth in shock and exchanged glances with the other men.
What?
Next, he turned back to me. “We have only been in this camp for a few minutes. Perhaps we haven’t seen it all, but to me. . .that’s the biggest tent here.”
“I’m sure it’s the biggest one.”
“If that is the biggest, then what does Lei’s tent look like.”
I shifted my weight to the side. “That is Lei’s tent also.”
Rick widened his eyes. “Then, you both sleep in there together?”
“Yes.”
Worry creased his face. “We are supposed to give Banks reports on your safety at the top of every hour. Which means that this sleeping situation will need to be reported back to Banks.”
I sighed. “Can we delay that report?”
“Hmm.” Rick checked Silent Sal. “Can we?”
Sal remained quiet yet put his hands in his pocket.
Rick frowned at Sal. “You sure?”
Sal made no move.
“Okay then. I got it, buddy.” Rick shrugged and looked at me. “Sal thinks that we can leave that information to the final report this evening. That should give you at least three hours. However, he believes that this information is unavoidable and Banks will not be happy. He would like you to consider separate sleeping quarters and also offers his help in that situation. We can get a green tent here or personally talk to Chen and demand another tent.”
I blinked. “That’s what you got from Sal not saying anything at all?”
“Sal and I have a special way we communicate.”
“I’m just saying. That was a whole lot from him just silently standing there.”
“Still, we cannot let you sleep in the same tent with Lei this evening.”
As if on cue, Flashy Freddie materialized on my right, effortlessly stealing the spotlight.
He whipped out a pair of sparkling green sunglasses from somewhere and slid them onto his face, even though the sun had long since set. “It appears that we stepped in just in time before things got out of hand.”
“I’ll call Banks and explain.” I held up one hand. “But for now. . .let’s keep this to ourselves.”
Freddie saluted. “Until then, we will surround the tent and guard it, while you shower. No one will come close without our say-so.”
I nodded, finding a strange sense of comfort in their over-the-top loyalty.
Then, to my surprise, Freddie leaned in closer, his grin broadening. “You know, Monique, why did the fruit basket go to the doctor?”
I blinked, taken aback by the abrupt change in conversation. “Why?”
“Because it wasn’t feeling grape!” He smirked.
Despite the situation, a genuine chuckle left me. “Al-right.”
“Oh, I’ve got a ton of those.” Freddie did a dramatic spin.
Sal shook his head and frowned.
Rick cleared his throat. “Eh, Freddie. Sal wants you to get back to being official.”
Freddie glanced at Sal. “Sorry, but can I say just one more joke?”
Sal didn’t speak or move.
“Thanks, Sal. I’ll make it quick.” Freddie gestured for us to walk. “Moni, why was the math book green with envy?”
I followed him. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Because it had too many problems!” He laughed.
Once we made it to the large tent, I entered, and they remained outside.
The sound of Freddie’s laughter echoed in my ears.
I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the present colorful conflict, his jokes brought a much-needed lightness to the situation.
Okay. Time for a shower.