Mark was dozing in the chair when Evie rolled over and groaned. Light streamed around the edges of the curtain. Outside birds chirped and cars tooted.
“Oh God. My head hurts.” Evie said.
“Let me get you some painkillers.” Mark pushed himself up out of the chair and came back with some paracetamol. She popped two and swallowed them with water and lay her head down on the pillow again.
She opened her eyes and looked at his rumpled clothes. “Have you been there all night?”
“Yeah. I wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“It wasn’t necessary you know.” she said closing her eyes.
Read Beijing Private Eyes - Part 1 Arrival here, Part 2 Lights, camera... here, Part 3 - Room service here, Part 4 - Ancient History here, Part 5 - Party time here,
(For my six peak oil short story competition entries set in Australia and China see here)
Part 6 – On the Road
By Matthew Griffiths
Mark was dozing in the chair when Evie rolled
over and groaned. Light streamed around the edges of the curtain. Outside birds
chirped and cars tooted.
“Oh God. My head hurts.” Evie said.
“Let me get you some painkillers.” Mark pushed
himself up out of the chair and came back with some paracetamol. She popped two
and swallowed them with water and lay her head down on the pillow again.
She opened her eyes and looked at
his rumpled clothes. “Have you been there all night?”
“Yeah. I wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“It wasn’t necessary you know.” she said
closing her eyes.
“You never can tell. You said you were
feeling sick but you never threw up.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him again. “Thanks
for bringing me home last night. I never should have drunk that much.”
He shook his head. “Being drunk is
one thing but what you were…I don’t know like something weird anyway. More than
just drunk”. He looked her in the eyes. “I think Zhang is someone who is used
to getting what he wants and is not too scrupulous about how he gets it.”
She thought it over. “I can’t
remember much. I did drink a bit though, maybe more than I realised. I don’t
think he’s that bad Mark. This is not my first hangover. It’s just a really bad
one. I’m obviously not used to the local booze.”
“Evie please. I’m not making this up
for fun or something. He clearly has an interest in you, and apparently not sober.”
She let his words sink in. “Ok. I’ll be
careful.” She sipped the water and searched her foggy memory of the night
before. ”Was that really Jack on the phone last night?”
“Eh? No. It was friend of mine who works at
the same school. He happened to have the right accent. I primed him with what
to say beforehand. I needed some authority greater than my own to get you out
of there. Zhang wasn’t happy but he couldn’t do much about it.”
“Not bad. You’re a real Beijing Private Eye.”
she laughed weakly then clutched her head again. He waited until her face relaxed.
“Can I get you anything else?” he asked.
“No, I think I’ll try and get some more sleep.
You get some rest too. I’ll be fine”
“Ok.” he said, walked to his room and
collapsed into bed.
He awoke in the early afternoon with the
smell of food wafting through the apartment. He pulled on his clothes and wandered
out into the lounge.
Evie looked up and proudly announced,
“I’ve been shopping!” She waved her hand over the table. “I got some lunch for
us. And some fruit, and a butterfly clip for my hair.” she turned around to
show it off – a Chinese style decorated version. “I could get used to this
place. I had a great time. Everyone is so friendly. And I’m sure I only paid
about twice the normal price!”
Mark smiled, “Well done! You’re feeling
better then?”
“Yes, much better. Nothing some sleep and
pills couldn’t fix.”
“Good, I’m starving and this smells good. Let’s
eat.”
After lunch she helped clear the
table and headed for her room “I’m going to have a shower.”
“Ok.”
When she got out of the bathroom Mark was
sitting on the sofa cradling his guitar quietly strumming some chords and singing
the chorus of a song.
Where’re you going man? I don’t know.
Something tells me I got to go.
Goodbye delusion, I’m lightening my load.
Heading for a new place, out on the road.
She leant against the door frame drying her
hair with a towel. “Sounds good. What’s the song?”
“It’s one I wrote a while back” he
said looking up. “It’s called ‘On the Road’.
Actually it’s kind of inspired by a couple of movies.
“Ok, sing it for me.” She slid onto
the sofa with her legs curled under her and hugged a cushion. He started to
play.
By the second chorus Evie was singing along
and even began adding a backing vocal to the final two verses. As the last
chord died away, she clapped her hands and he returned the compliment.
She looked at him and asked, “So,
where are you going man?”
“I don’t know.” Mark replied slowly looking
out the window. “I want to do something to make a difference. The ‘where, what,
how’ is still an open question.”
“Will you stay here?”
“Mmm, China is a possibility. Environmental
work or an NGO would be good. Doing business is not easy though. I find the
drinking culture a struggle to deal with. It’s hard to say no and I don’t like
getting plonked.”
“I know what you mean.” she smiled.
He frowned and bit his lip. “I’d like to do
something in Tibet maybe. Assuming I ever get up there.” He turned back to her.
“Sounds like you inherited a good dose of your mother’s talent. You have a
great voice.”
“You’re good too. I like the song. Have you
written many?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got about five albums worth. Just
waiting for the big recording contract.” he said with a laugh. “I have this idea
that I can be like some combination of Cat Stevens, Billy Bragg and Leonard
Cohen. The only problem being that I have somewhat less talent than they have
in their little fingers.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, that song has got
potential.”
He grinned with embarrassment at the
compliment and shook his head.
“I mean it.” she insisted, sitting
up and unfolding her legs. “My mum has contacts in the industry. Maybe you
should come to L.A. for a while and try your luck. I’ll sing backing vocals on some
demos for you. It’d be fun.”
“Probably better if you sing the vocals and I
just do the chords. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a singer and front man
anyway.”
“Have you got one for me to sing?”
“Let me have a look.” he went to the desk in
his room and shuffled among some song sheets. He walked back and handed her a
couple of pages “Let’s try this. It’s called ‘Listen to the River’ about life, the universe and everything.”
“Whoa, heavy shit dude!” she said with an exaggerated
Californian accent. ”Ok, play it through for me.”
Over breakfast the next morning Mark reminded
Evie: “Remember, if anyone asks, you had a conference call with Jack Baldwin on
Saturday night about a new project.”
“What? Oh yes. Great new project, shoot next
year, blah blah blah.”
“Exactly, perfect.”
When they arrived at the studio Lily came
over discuss the schedule. Everything was on track with two full days to go.
“That means I have a few days to go sightseeing
before I’m booked to go home.” said Evie.
“What
do suggest I do?” she asked Mark. “Where could I go?”
“All depends what you want to see.
You’ve done pretty much all of the Beijing stuff.” said Mark. “Beyond that the
options are endless. You could go shopping in Shanghai, visit the gardens in
Suzhou, climb Huangshan and admire the sunrise, see the Terracotta warriors in
Xi’an, take a cruise down the Li River and watch the pointy hills go by…”
“Where’s Huangshan?” Evie asked.
“Down south, inland from Shanghai. You can
climb it and stay in a lodge at the top and get up and watch the sunrise the
next morning, then walk down again. You’ll find it pretty easy. It’s a well-worn
tourist trail. It’s cheap enough to fly internally too. I can help you book
something online later if you want.”
“Ok. A climb and some nice scenery sounds
good.”
“I’m due back at work next Monday too. I’m
sure the head tutor will text me sometime this week to make sure I don’t forget.”
Evie Thomasson
@Evie_T
2 days shooting to
go, plus some sightseeing.
Home soon.
“I’ll
be bit sad to leave you know. I’ve had a great time here.” Evie said. “Even
more than I thought it would.
On the last day at the studio Evie hauled a large
shopping bag with her. Into the taxi
“What have you got there?” asked Mark.
“Gifts. A Chinese woman in the Warner
Brothers office organised them for me. She said you always need more than you
think. Lily told me there’s a farewell lunch after we finish the final scene
today.”
Evie Thomasson
@Evie_T
Can’t believe it’s
the last day of shooting.
Beijing has been a
blast. Watch out LA!
Zhang
was busy so Director Liu did the honours at the lunch toasting Evie and her
co-stars. Evie gave a short thank you speech and emptied her bag of gifts,
giving the biggest one to Miss Zhao to pass on to Zhang.
After
two hours they left the restaurant. “What can we do for my last afternoon in
Beijing?” asked Evie.
“Well you could do some more
shopping if you need to, or if you want something more relaxing, how about a
wander in the gardens of the Summer Palace?” Mark suggested.
“The gardens sound great. I’ve done
my shopping and I think I’ve had my fill of crowds for a while. I need to walk off
this lunch too.”
Mark silently hoped that Huangshan
wasn’t too packed when she did her climb. They walked slowly around the summer
palace and the gardens. The autumn colours just starting to turn and the relative
peace and quiet was a welcome relief. Evie happily chatted and asked questions
about the various buildings and statues. Mark told her the story of how the
Empress Dowager had squandered the money for a new navy ship on the marble boat
in the garden, although according to some historians it was actually her
predecessor that did it, but the opposition republicans changed the story for
political purposes. “The fall of the Qing dynasty wasn’t entirely the fault of
the foreign devils.” he said.
After an hour they stopped for a cup
of tea, and then continued on their way. Mark felt his skin tingle every time
his arm bumped hers. He wondered if she felt the same.
As they turned back towards the entrance Evie
slowed and looked at him. “I just wanted say how much I appreciate you helping me
while I’ve been here. And for being good friend. I couldn’t have done it
without you. So thanks” She took his hand in hers and continued walking.
He looked down at the hand holding his and
smiled, blushing.
“You’re welcome”. He replied.” It’s been
great for me too. Assistant to the stars will look very cool on my CV”
“Ha! I doubt it. By the way I’m going to make
you sign a twenty page confidentially agreement. What happens in Beijing stays
in Beijing.”
“Never fear, a gentlemen doesn’t kiss and
tell…especially when there was no actual kissing to tell.”
She smiled as they walked around the
shore of the lake. “I’ve been thinking about my trip to Huangshan. It might be
more fun if I had some comp....”
The ring of her phone interrupted her. She stopped
and pulled it out of her hand bag and answered. ”Hello, Evie Thomasson.”
“Both of us?” She cast a glance at him, placed
her hand over the phone and whispered “It’s Zhang.” “Ok. We’re at the Summer
Palace…………Front gate in fifteen minutes, black car. Ok. I think we can make it
back by then. ”
Mark frowned.
“Zhang says he has a surprise for us. Director
Liu and the cast are coming too.” said Evie. “Duty calls one last time. We’d
better walk fast.”
The car picked them up and took them to the
studio. Mark sent a text to Mei.
Going to meet Zhang.
Maybe we will see you later tonight?
Evie is going to
Huangshan tomorrow morning.
When they arrived Zhang greeted them and
personally ushered them inside. “Come in. I am very sorry I couldn’t be at the lunch
today. Now we have the pilot episode edited and ready to screen and I couldn’t
let you go without seeing it.”
After
the screening Zhang took them all to dinner. After an hour or so Evie and Mark
made moves to leave. “We really must go. I’m flying to Huangshan in the morning
and I have to pack.” Evie said apologetically.
“Please, just a little longer. This may be
the last time we spend together for a very long time.” Zhang responded, filling
the wine glasses again and proposing yet another toast. Mark ignored the wine
and filled his water glass. Evie sipped sparingly. They continued to talk with
the director and her co-stars while Zhang periodically chipped in between
checking his phone and issuing instructions to Miss Zhao.
After Zhang finally allowed the dinner to
wind up he insisted that the studio car take them home. Mark protested, saying
that Evie’s accommodation was close and that the driver should go home and see
his family. Zhang insisted and he gave up resignedly.
On the way to a shopping centre address Mark
gave him near the apartment the driver stopped in a narrow street outside a
convenience store. He left the engine running and the door open.
“Deng
yixia, Wo qu mai yan.” he said in Chinese. Just wait a minute, I’m going to
buy cigarettes.
“Ni hao”
said a man who appeared in the doorway. Mark looked up and felt a glimmer of
recognition. Then two men opened the rear doors, clamped cloths onto the
faces of Evie and Mark and they both blacked out.
Part 7 Cold Storage, is here.
(For my six post-industrial short story competition entries set in Australia and China see here)
Tell me what you think. Constructive comments welcome.
If you like the stories tell your friends.
If you like the stories tell your friends.
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