Chapter 420

Smoothly pivoting on my back foot, my front foot tucked in a little to speed up the process, I brought the spear along with me on the swing, the head pivoting from ready guard to at rest, tip pointed at the ground. It also, coincidentally, made sure that the tip pointed and potentially blocked an attack as I turned; not that I expected one that a spear would be of use here.

Not out in the real world, when guns were all too present. At least in the hands of the government. Outside of security guards in front of jewelry stores - half of which who were rumored to be firing blanks or just holding empties - guns were rare in Malaysia. Unless you were one of the criminals - and even then, only when things got serious.

Of course, that prohibition against lethal weapons was fraying as people like me began to become more and more common. While Climbers were still a tiny percentage of the population, the fear of running into one of us and the kind of damage we could do continued to grow.

Propaganda wielded all over the world - the States, of course, leading the charge - saw to the push to arm the every day person. After all, how else were they supposed to be 'safe' against a rapacious climber population. Of course you wanted a gun, to protect yourself. And maybe not, you know, ask why such individuals felt the need to attack, take or otherwise take from others. Why we ran the risk against the vast population, when only a small number would ever be affected - and that number could be made smaller; given the right tools.

Why, if triads and organised crime, corralled and limited by the government could choose to only utilize lethal means as the very last methodology, we could not train plain citizens the same? 

"Manager Kong," I greeted her. "You're back."

"I do have other things projects to handle." She inclined her head to Elsa who slipped out, after exchanging goodbyes with me and Tannah taking her place as silent observer. "I did have an answer for you, though."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Till you leave, the offer is extended." 

"Does this offer, perhaps, include the use of a cellphone?" I said, tapping my non-existent pockets on my clothing. "And maybe, a new set of clothing?"

"No and yes," Cynthia gestured to Tannah. "I believe we can show you that, later. But I'm curious, have you had a chance to read over the documents. Do you have questions?"

“A lot.” I wiped at my face, grimaced as I noted the amount of sweat I had generated. Realization that I had no towel struck me moments later. “But perhaps we can discuss this after I’ve had a shower?”

“Of course.”

The walk back to my rooms, escorted by the women was filled with a lot of meaningless conversations. I poked Manager Kong for details about the world outside, about what had happened. Outside of a major tsunami that had rolled into the East Coast causing more damage, not a lot to report on changes in Malaysia. Some rumblings about scandals, trade missions, new robots taking over the job of harvesting palm trees and rubber plantations. More noise about the clear cutting of forests in East Malaysia and the process of replacement of trees.

The usual.

Globally, there was more to be said; but by that point we had reached my rooms and I ducked in with a promise to meet up for dinner. Alone, door closed and in the shower, I took a moment to release a pent-up breath of frustration.

There was – almost definitely – something wrong with the documentation. I was too dense, too untrained in the legalese or ways of the world to notice it. A hidden trap; whether in the documents themselves or just the linkage with the government that I misunderstood – beyond, perhaps, the act itself.

It just might be that linking with the government would curtail any plans I had with Casey, with Rick and even; to some extent, push my earlier dealings with the Ghee Hin and the various organized crime groups to the side. While they had their own tendrils in the government, I would assume that there were limitations involved in all that.

I just did not have enough information to tell, and with the gentle but firm rejection of a cellphone, it was clear that I was not going to receive a chance to ask someone else. So, the question was, what the next pressure point they were going to wield – and if I was going to hang out, long enough for them to utilize it.

Rejecting the government out of hand was worrying. It made my butt tense and my stomach clench in anticipation of a strike. Once they set notice on you, it was never a good idea to anger them. Turning them down was definitely on that road of disappointment; but I also could not see a way around. So I was buying myself time, trying to think of ways to get around this offer, to decline it without angering them.

Or pushing them to take further action against those I cared about.

“Celaka!” I cursed, softly and banged my head against the wall. I let out another stream of curses, this time in Cantonese. Long and inventive and entirely nonsensical, even as the water pounded into me.

Still, the conscientious part of me could not stand under the water long. Even if I wasn’t paying the water bill, decades of habit had me finish the shower and step out soon after. Time to see what else they were about to release on me.

Dinner, at least, was a nice surprise.

“Hokkien mee?” I said, a wide smile on my face. Not that it actually was a meal made in China; more being a Malaysian invention; but the thick noodles, black with the deep coating of soya sauce and kecap manis and the addition of lard made my mouth salivate. Even more, when I realised that she had a couple more newspaper wrapped parcels beside it, and in a clear container not far away – desert in the form of a variety of kuih.

One nice thing about a semi-prisoner here; at least they were feeding me right.

“So, the first thing I had questions about was-” I dove right in, as I served the ladies after I insisted they join me. Not that I couldn’t – probably – finish all the food myself; but there was no reason not to be nice. Again, making friends with the pair, was important so inviting them to dinner was a matter of course. Something that Manager Kong probably anticipated, since she indicated the packages that were hallal for Tannah.

I did consider censoring my questions, but realised that I was as likely to get as much information in what they refused to clarify – or clarified badly – as hiding my own thoughts. So I asked, about the numerous portions of the document and offer; everything from the stipends and housing that was being offered to the types of cars, the training facilities, the building they were offering to loan me for the Clan’s headquarters in the real world and more.

Many of those initial questions on benefits were simple and quickly clarified, with some pending further details and negotiation upon signing.

Things got trickier when we got down to what they required of me and the Clan.