Christopher Golde
Date: 20th January 2000 Location: Jiayuguan - Great Wall, China
“So, do you think this is such a good idea,” asked Pietta, turning back to Jason, as she held on to the door handle of the car to stop herself from sliding across on to him?
“If you’re talking about getting into a car with this maniac driver, then no, it probably wasn’t a good idea,” he replied and smiled at her.
He patted her leg with one hand meant as a comforting gesture, while his other hand also held on to the door to prevent him from sliding across the seat on to her. The car swerved around another bend, narrowly missing a bus travelling in the opposite direction.
“Shit,” he exclaimed, as they both held on to whatever they could grasp.
“Not that,” she said, looking at him and rolling her eyes, “meeting with Fujimo way out here? You know he’s a killer.”
“I think this chauffer is working for him,” said Jason, in her ear and smiling at the facial reaction. She would normally have hit him on the arm, but she was too busy holding on.
“Jason, for once in your life, be serious about something; he does see you as a threat, surely.”
She said it now under her breath, as she considered the possibility Jason could be right about the driver.
“Don’t worry, I am being serious, this driver is a maniac, we will be lucky to get there alive.”
Jason was of course not serious. He never took the danger seriously enough. Two days earlier, when they were in Beijing on other business, they had received an invitation to join Ieko Fujimo of Futuretronics, on a two day trip to Jiayuguan City, in Western China. On arriving, they were informed that they would be having lunch with Fujimo at a tourist destination known as the Jiayuguan Pass, on ‘The Great Wall of China”.
Pietta had been against the idea from the start, but when Jason said he was going, she had decided she could not let him go alone. As a precaution, she had hired four bodyguards, who were all travelling in the car behind them.
Jiayuguan Pass was about six kilometres from Jiayuguan City, which on Chinese roads, could take nearly an hour from their hotel. With this driver, Jason expected it would be about half that. As the car swerved to miss another bus while overtaking on a bend, Jason decided not to look at the road anymore and look at Pietta instead. She could not take her eyes off the road and he could see the fear in her expression.
“I know Fujimo is a murderer, and I know that he sees me as interference, but I think it is better to confront these things,” Jason said to her calmly, as if there was no danger at all. “I have a strong feeling about coming to this meeting and I don’t know why. I just get these feelings and from previous experience, I know I have to follow my instincts.”
It had been four years since they had gone to New York together to warn Bill Gatwick about Fujimo’s plot to kill him and take over Macram’s interests in their joint project. It had only been three weeks since the two companies had announced the joint venture. A day after that, Jason’s company had let the partnership know they wanted in on the venture and gave them both an ultimatum. Jason knew Fujimo and Gatwick would rather he was not in the picture at all.
Over the last four years, he and Pietta had become business partners and almost inseparable friends. The romance was always rumoured in the press and among their close companions, but in reality, Jason was just too busy to give it any serious consideration, though he couldn’t imagine life without her.
As the car swerved again Pietta grimaced and Jason couldn’t help but laugh.
“What on earth are you laughing about,” she said, looking at him exasperated, “everything about this is serious?”
“It’s you I am laughing at,” he said, not taking his eyes off her, “not in a bad way, you are just so beautiful to look at when you are concentrating.”
She blushed and looked back at the road. She knew the feelings she had for him had never been expressed and he often quipped comments that made her blush, but she never knew for sure whether he meant them just as compliments, or if he felt the same way about her.
The driver made a comment in Cantonese they both understood and in front of them, over the rise in the road, appeared the most magnificent looking Chinese Middle ages fortress either of them had ever seen.
“Wow,” said Jason, “thank you Fujimo. I can now see why he wanted to meet here.”
“Why,” asked Pietta, not taking her eyes off the ancient structure ahead, “because it’s a magnificent place to kill you?”
“No, well maybe, I mean, this place is Fujimo all over, and probably does symbolize confrontation,” he answered, looking at Pietta, “you could be right.”
She didn’t answer but looked at Jason as he stared out of the car window at the impressive fortress as it loomed over them.
The driver pulled over next to a high tower near a gate and said.
“Luo City, I wait here.”
Jason looked at Pietta and shrugged.
“I guess that’s our cue.”
As they alighted from the limousine they saw that the other car was just pulling up and immediately it stopped, out jumped the four burly guards Pietta had brought with them from Beijing. Pietta walked towards them issuing orders in Mandarin. Two of the guards stopped and the others went past them and to the entrance to the city.
“We will follow them,” said Pietta to Jason.
“You’re the boss,” said Jason, with his usual smile, always impressed how his timid little Pietta could just take over a situation when it was needed.
He always remembered the time she had taken on four armed Chinese Mafia that had threatened Jason and had bluffed them all into submission. Jason had even felt like apologizing to the gangsters, especially since she had smashed the window in their car.
‘She could be a firecracker,’ he thought, following her and the two guards into the city.
On a sign in Chinese characters above the entrance, he read ‘The Greatest Path Under Heaven’.
‘Fujimo would like that, he is obviously putting his own meaning into this meeting,’ he thought, as they passed it. Jason knew very well that Ieko Fujimo thought of himself as a descendant of God and the future Messiah. His research into their cult had been exhaustive after the assassination in Sydney and the threat against Bill Gatwick. He knew he was a fanatic and a ruthless killer, and so did Pietta, first hand.
Jason noticed that the two guards in front had been stopped by a person of similar size to the largest of their guards and they were talking and pointing to Pietta and himself. Pietta indicated to Jason to stop and went forward speaking to the individual as well, then returned to Jason.
“Fujimo has organized a luncheon in one of the palace courtyards and is there waiting for us,” she said as if offering Jason a chance still not to go through with it.
“Then what are we waiting for,” he replied, “I’m starved, let’s go, can’t keep our host waiting, even if he is intending to kill us.”
Pietta rolled her eyes.
“And what if he poisons us?”
“I don’t think so my dear,” replied Jason, as he walked past her towards the waiting guards, “he might be a psychotic killer but I think he has better taste than that. Poison food would be just a tad obvious, don’t you think?”
She just nodded her head in frustration, turned and followed him. As Jason got closer he realized that the person waiting with their guards was, in fact, a giant Japanese sumo wrestler. As they came up to them, the Sumo turned and waddled off along a pathway leading into the city. The two bodyguards followed closely with Jason and Pietta, while some distance back at the rear, came the other two of their guards.
After about five minutes of winding paths and walls, they entered a courtyard in the middle of which there was a large table setting ready for lunch. Two men dressed as waiters stood at attention and Ieko Fujimo was seated, legs crossed at one end of the table. As they approached, he stood and walked towards Jason.
“My dear King san, how are you?”
As he reached Jason, he bowed deeply and Jason obliged in kind. After they had resumed from their bowing, Jason held out his hand and much to Pietta’s disgust. Ieko accepted it warmly.
“How have you been Fujimo San,” asked Jason, as if he was an old friend, “I am so impressed by this place you have invited us to.”
“It is impressive, is it not,” replied Fujimo, looking about them at the ancient walls of the fortress, “built in the Ming Dynasty, one of China’s finest ages, when being a warrior actually meant something glorious. The most western point of ‘The Great Wall, as I am sure you know and located in one of China’s most spiritual provinces.”
Pietta watched without saying a word until at last Fujimo turned in her direction and approached.
“Miss Pietta Chong, how wonderful to see you again,” said Fujimo, bowing slightly, “the last time must have been in Australia at our opening.”
Pietta just smiled and bowed slightly, as she felt all the blood rush to her head at the thought of the last time she saw him, standing with a bloodied blade in his hand over the body of his slain victim.
“Come let’s eat,” said Fujimo heartily, as he ignored the fact that Pietta had not responded in a word.
At that, the two waiters pulled out chairs for Jason and Pietta, and another two entered with gas burners and bowls of fresh vegetables, meats, and seafood. On the table in front of them, they began to prepare a feast, cooking it in clay pots over the gas burners. Jason just watched, impressed by the chef’s speed and dexterity. Pietta watched the preparation and kept an eye on Fujimo. Ieko watched Jason carefully as if studying his prey.
After the feast had been prepared and then consumed, Fujimo offered them tea and went through the process of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Fujimo lowered his teacup to the table with two hands and looked directly across at Jason.
“I would like to talk to you alone, King San, in confidentiality,” said Fujimo, almost humbly.
Jason knew what he meant and although he did not like excluding Pietta from anything, he knew if he was going to get to the bottom of this with Fujimo, he would have to. He turned to Pietta and leaned over, saying softly in her ear.
“I wouldn’t normally do it, but can I have some time alone with Mr Fujimo?”
Pietta looked at him horrified. Jason hoped Fujimo did not notice.
“Miss Chong, my butler would be more than happy to give you a short guided tour of our surrounding city,” said Fujimo, to Pietta as if he had heard exactly what Jason had whispered, “it is an incredible view from the top of this tower.”
He pointed at the tower behind them and looked at his manservant, who immediately took the back of Pietta’s chair. She looked at Jason and reluctantly stood, turning towards the tower and following her guide. She looked back at Jason one more time before they left.
The moment she had departed from view, Fujimo turned to Jason with a completely different attitude.
“Now King San, we need to sort out where you stand in the partnership.”
“I thought that was pretty clear last time we met,” was Jason’s curt reply. He could play this game too.
“You may not know, but I am sure you have an idea, that I intend to control this amalgamation eventually, and up until the last meeting, I was sure of how that was to eventuate.”
Fujimo stood as he spoke and Jason’s eyes followed him warily.
“Now King San, you have thrown a spanner into my plans and I need to know your own intentions,” Fujimo continued, as he walked around the table towards Jason, “are you with me or against me?”
Jason poised. He knew Fujimo was ruthless, but even this bluntness surprised him. He figured fire should be used to challenge fire.
“If you mean, will I condone you killing Gatwick, then, no I will not.”
“King San, so blunt,” said Fujimo, feigning shock and stopping two steps from Jason, “I mean nothing of the sort; I only mean will you be with me in overthrowing the man, not killing him?”
“You are power-hungry Fujimo and although Gatwick might be a bit egotistical, I can be trusted to keep my word. Is that enough of an answer for you?”
Fujimo stared at him coldly, and then smiled; a sinister twisted look replaced all other facial expressions. Jason felt the coldness of the stare and knew that he was now looking at pure evil.
“Very well then King San,” said Fujimo, as if nothing had been said and they had just finished lunch, “I know where you stand and I thank you for joining me for lunch. I hope you will stay in Jiayuguan for a little longer and see some of its valuable histories and enjoy some of its spirituality.”
“I most probably will, and I thank you for your hospitality,” Jason replied, just to be courteous and knowing full well what he had just said to Fujimo probably would threaten his own future existence.
Fujimo looked around to one of his waiters and as if by magic, Pietta appeared with the giant manservant.
“My man will show you back to your car,” said Fujimo hurriedly, bowing far less than on his welcome.
Jason bowed much the same and he turned and walked to where Pietta waited with the Sumo. Once outside the courtyard, they were again joined by their bodyguards and the five of them traversed the labyrinth of trails, till again they were back at their limousine. Jason had not said a word while the manservant was still with them, and soon as he left he turned to Pietta.
“Well, did you enjoy the view?”
“Haha,” she mimicked, “what did he have to say?”
“Oh, more or less asked me if I wanted to be in on the killing of Gatwick.”
Pietta gasped.
‘Even for Fujimo, that was bold,’ she thought.
“And,” she asked, looking at him wide-eyed?
“I said of course, what do you think?”
She belted his arm.
“Ow, I’m only joking!”
“Are you serious about what he said,” she asked, ready to punch him again?
“Yes,” he answered defensively, protecting his arm, “but I didn’t agree.”
“Oh really,” she said sarcastically, “Then what did you say?”
“Not much really, it was like over in two seconds after I said no, and here we are, slightly more in danger though I suspect, knowing that madman.”
“Then let’s go,” she said, starting to really worry.
Jason looked at her, then at the driver waiting by the car, then at the four bodyguards, all waiting expectantly. He turned back towards the Ming Dynasty fortress.
“I feel like some sightseeing,” he said, as he walked back towards the entrance.
Pietta looked skyward, lifted her hands up in frustration, then turned and waved the guards to follow.
“Are you crazy,” she asked, in an exasperated tone as she caught up to him?
“Who sent the driver,” he asked, as he continued to walk?
She looked back towards the car at the driver who was now talking into a phone.
“Oh my God, Fujimo sent him,” she said, as she looked up at the fortress above them, “so where are we going?”
“What better place to defend yourself than in a fortress,” he replied, smiling and putting on his sunglasses.
Once they were inside the walls and out of sight of the driver, he grabbed Pietta’s hand and started pulling her along at a much faster walking pace. The guards looked at each other but increased their pace to keep up, looking alertly around them for signs of danger.
“Get on your phone to the local police and tell them we need assistance, and to meet us at the Guandi Temple, they will know where it is,” said Jason urgently, as they walked.
“Where is…”
“Don’t worry,” interrupted Jason, “I know where it is, just tell them and make it fast. Don’t forget to tell them it is me, they know I am here.”
As they walked across the pathways and through passageways that wound their way through the inner city of the fortress, Pietta spoke on her phone in urgent tones. Finally, they emerged from a similar gateway they had entered on the other side of the wall, and there in front of them, outside the walls, sat the Guandi Temple.
“How did you know,” asked Pietta, looking at him amazed?
“I never walk into a potential trap, without knowing everything about what I am walking into, and who I am walking into it with. Now let’s get to this temple.”
Just as Jason finished saying that, five rough-looking locals came around a corner of the wall about fifty meters from where they were standing. Jason turned to pull Pietta towards the temple, but a black four-wheel-drive screeched to a halt in the car park between them and the ancient building. From this, three more thugs jumped out, running towards them.
There were quite a few people about in this area, mostly tourists, but also a few local vendors and beggars. Jason suspected their only hope was to make use of the small crowd as much as possible until the police arrived.
He spun Pietta around and back towards their own guards, who were now brandishing weapons, in response to the impending attack.
Jason turned to the largest of them.
“You take Pietta and get her to safety no matter what, the police will be here soon,” he yelled, pushing Pietta’s hand into his, “you other three, just defend their getaway and I will head for the vendors, hopefully, it is only me they’re after.”
Jason heard a whimper of protest from Pietta, but the big guy was on the ball and tore her away in the direction of the temple. The other three brandished firearms in both hands and backed towards the temple defensively, ready to hold their ground.
Jason had checked all of them out, even though he had let Pietta organize them and he knew they were all the very best Beijing money could buy. Jason immediately turned and ran across the path of the three that had alighted from the vehicle, heading towards the small gathering of food and souvenir vendors. People were now starting to notice what was going on and the minute someone let fly with a shot, the screaming and yelling began.
Amid the confusion, Jason looked over his shoulder and could see that the majority of attackers were pursuing him.
‘Good, that’s what I was hoping for, our guys will easily defend against those left chasing them,’ he thought, as he weaved through the now scattering crowd.
The number of people about, though light, was having the desired slowing effect he had hoped for on his pursuers. Jason, on the other hand, easily slipped through the crowd, weaving in and out through vendor stalls, but keeping his aggressors just in sight, so as to keep their attention focused on him. He was unarmed and they were well-armed, but he knew that with his training, they were probably more disadvantaged under these circumstances.
He suddenly stopped behind a vendor wagon and waited. The first attacker to appear didn’t even see it coming, as he flew backwards with the back of Jason’s fist in his face. The perfectly placed hit pushed the pursuer’s nose bone into the frontal lobe of his brain and Jason knew he wouldn’t be getting back up
The second attacker came from the other side of the wagon, weapon drawn. Jason had already recovered his stance and grabbing the end of the semi-automatic, reversed it in one swift movement, using the man’s own thumb to put just enough pressure on the trigger, so as to release five bullets into his chest. His heart exploded and he was dead.
The third was further away and saw what had happened to his two accomplices, so decided to just fire indiscriminately in Jason’s direction. Before the first bullets had even left the barrel of his gun, he was dead. Jason had already sent a vendors chicken carving knife hurtling straight towards his left eye, piercing the man’s brain, killing him instantly and leaving him no time to stop the reaction of pulling the trigger as he fell backwards. The fired bullets from his gun danced harmlessly on the ancient outer stones of the surrounding wall.
‘That was the three from the car taken care of,’ he thought, ‘now I have a few seconds before the rest get here.’
He kept in the line of the vendor's cart and ran towards the wall that was surrounding the fortress, along which a number of other vendors were selling their wares.
As the first of the others came into sight, Jason heard the sound of what he hoped were police sirens in the distance.
‘Good, that should see Pietta safe,’ he thought, as he looked for some cover.
He rounded the corner of another vendor selling corn, as the closest of the aggressors was raising his weapon. As he passed the corn, he grabbed a handful of metal skewers and slipped sideways in behind the van. In one movement he swung his whole body up and around, landing on the top of the van with the aid of a tie-down rope. In the same movement, he slid across the roof of the van and launched himself off into space as he simultaneously prepared the skewers in his hands as weapons.
The gunman approaching the van was poised ready to shoot and never even saw Jason descending from the skies, till it was all too late and a skewer protruded from his right temple. Jason used the limp body for a soft landing and saw out of the corner of his eye, another thug lining him up from a distance.
Jason had a pre-set plan which had been formulated as he flew through the air, but all of a sudden there was an unforeseen circumstance. A little girl had wandered into the line of fire between him and the attacker, and would almost certainly collect a bullet if he fired. He would have to change his next move now in order to save the little girl. There was no time to think or hesitate. Jason covered the distance between him and the small girl in blinding speed that even surprised the gunman.
As his body wrapped around the little girl, covering her completely, the gunman let fly a volley of shots. At the same instance, Jason pulled a second chicken knife out of his sleeve that he had picked up before and let fly from over his left shoulder, straight towards the assassin’s chest.
As the gunman looked towards where he had just fired, he saw a number of bullets bouncing from the dusty surface of the ground around his target. He was about to fire again when suddenly he noticed that there was a large steel kitchen filleting knife protruding from his chest. He automatically dropped his weapon, grabbing at the length of greasy steel blade and fell to his knees on the ground.
The small girl pulled herself clear of Jason’s body and ran backwards screaming, as tears filled her beautiful brown eyes. An old man ran to Jason’s prone figure and rolled him over. He could see a patch of blood spreading rapidly across his raised side and looked over his shoulder to see if more attackers were coming. He could hear voices yelling, but since he could see no-one yet, he called to some young boys nearby and they dragged Jason, unconscious and bleeding profusely, out of sight.
“When the thousand years are ended,
Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth.”
John: Revelation 20.7
Chapter forty one
The Wall