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| BODYGUARD
IN ACTION "Protecting employer from famous bandits." |
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Shadow Travels |
We left inland from the border by cart. There
was just enough room on it for two and our goods. The elder rode while
Dai Xuan and I took turns driving the horse cart for him. The farther we
traveled from the border the safer I felt. Where as the farther we
trekked from the village, the father and son felt the opposite. The
first night we made camp and boiled water for tea and our rice. The
father made a concoction with some fish he had brought. After I took
care of the horse, we ate and listened to the elder reminiscing the good
times he had while at his old house. I took mine and Victor’s blankets
off to the side while the father and son slept under the cart. My
intention was to be out of sight of the road but in sight of my new
found friends. I was set up as we were trained on patrol duty. I took
out my pistol and cleaned it. I put its holster on my belt. No use
searching for protection if Xue and his men made an attempt to rob us.
The herbalist told us Xue knows what goes on in the villages. Everyone
is scared of him and his men. They have not only harassed and robbed but
have killed villagers too.
The second night we camped out the same way. Early in the evening three men on horseback approached our camp and asked if there was any tea left for fellow travelers. I stayed out of sight observing them. I crept closer while they tied up their horses. They were traveling exceptionally light. Their conversation would reveal whether they were harmless or dangerous. "Where are you from?" asked Dai Xuan "No place in particular. We are looking for work," answered the one wearing a leather vest. "Did you come from the village on the channel?" he asked. "Yes," answered Dai Xuan. "Then you must be Dai Xuan and the elder," said the man in the leather vest as he pointed to the father. By now I had drawn out my revolver and began to approach them from their right side. I kept diagonally to them as much as possible, maintaining my cover in the trees. Noticing the two behind the vested spokesman open up their coats, I raised my gun and took aim. "How did you know that? I have not given you our names yet. What is your name?" asked Dai Xuan. "They call me Xue." Replied the man in the long leather vest. "I have been looking for the son who sold his father’s house. You two fit that description." "Why are you looking for us, Xue?" "Because we are going to kill you two and search your belongs for your silver." His two accomplices unsheathed their knives as Xue drew out a pistol. They were so intent on the two sitting as sheep they did not notice me until it was too late. I fired two shots at Xue. The first missed him but the second one was a good headshot. My first shot was to make him turn to face me. The second entered through his mouth and smashed his spine. It was a perfect set up making him nerve dead and unable to pull the trigger on his automatic pistol. He pitched to his left side and was done for. The other two turned at me as I moved in closer. I stopped three meters in front of them and shot the one who was facing me with his long knife in hand. I squeezed off two shots at him. One hit his chest and the second penetrated his head. The third man who had a shorter knife fell down on his knees, threw his knife on the ground and pleaded for mercy. I covered him and sidestepped to see how the elder was. He was babbling and crying. "It is a bad omen that I sold my house. What will happen to us now?" He sobbed. CRACK. Dai Xuan shot the bandit who was on his knees with the Japanese pistol he took out of the hand of the now dead Xue. He shot him at the base of his head. He was dead in an instant. He waved his gun to the others who were now lifeless. "No, father, it is an unlucky omen for the bandits. It is a lucky omen we have Hongxing with us!" By now I began to reload my pistol to be sure every chamber was full. Just in case there were more bandits who came with the dead Xue. "What happens now, Dai Xuan?" "To who, Hongxing?" "To you and I. We have just killed three men. Shall we bury them and keep this a secret or do we have to report this to the authorities? Will they be civil or military? What must we do now?" was my enlarged inquiry. "There is no civil authority out here. Each community takes responsibility. We must tell everyone. Wasilly, the Hongxing will be a hero to all the villages pillaged by Xue and his bandits. Justice has been served." |
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