Twisted Rope

Nadir

"Life is full of surprises. You can't be sure of anything in life."

Yoon Seri, Episode 8, Crash Landing On You

The interview was going well. Jack had kept to his promise not to ask questions about the North or Jeong-hyeok's early relationship with Seri. But Jack did ask some more general questions about how his experiences influenced his approach to performance. He also wanted to know more about Kang Sung-ho's threats. Jeong-hyeok hesitated, wondering how much he should share with Jack and whether he could trust him to be discreet. But he liked the journalist, and Hyun-ki had put in place a robust agreement covering the interview. Perhaps it was best to explain things more.

"I don't want this in the article. But perhaps you need to understand why I have to be so careful about the North. Can I have your assurance that you'll keep this confidential?"
"Of course. You have my word," Jack replied.
"OK. You seem to know why my mother and I couldn't return to the North. But Kang Sung-ho didn't stop when we left Switzerland. Now and then I get alerts from the security services as they still consider Kang Sung-ho to be a threat. It's one reason why I've made very few overseas tours. I can be safe in the States, but in some countries, security might not be so good. And it's not just my safety, it's Seri's and the girls."

"Even after all this time?" said Jack. "Well, I can see why you are cautious. And absolutely I won't publish anything on that. Thank you for being so frank with me. I appreciate it."

"Have you got what you need for now?" asked Park Hyun-ki. "I'm just conscious that time is getting on."

"So it is," said Jack. "And I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry! Could I invite you both to have lunch with me? There's a deli round the corner I've eaten at many times I can recommend. They specialise in bagels and have the most fantastic choice."

"That sounds like a good idea to me," said Jeong-hyeok. "A quick lunch before we meet up with Seri and the girls."

They stood up and Jack gathered together all his notes. Jeong-hyeok went to pick up his jacket from the bedroom.

"It looks like it's warm again," he said, carrying his jacket as they left the suite.

The three men walked across the lobby.

"Will you be needing a car, Mr Ri?" asked the concierge.

"No, not now, thank you. We're not going far, are we, Jack?"

"No, it's literally just round the corner."

The concierge opened the door, and they walked down the steps, Jack pointing out the way. It was a sunny day and there were a lot of tourists around. Another guest at the hotel, a celebrity, had just left ahead of them and people were filming on their mobiles.

Jeong-hyeok glanced to his right and reacted automatically.

A glinting hand thrusting towards his chest. His own parry downwards.

A searing sensation in his left arm.

His firm grip on a strange wrist.

A shoulder blow to his chest, winding him.

Straining to hold his balance as their weights shifted against each other.

A twist. A sharp yank.

A clatter to the floor.

His arm around a neck, imprisoning the man.

Almost before anyone else had realised something was wrong, he had disarmed a man who had lunged at him with a knife. His army training had come back to him with no hesitation and within seconds, the man had dropped the knife. Now he held him securely, his left arm round the man's neck, his right twisting the man's arm behind his back. Close by Hyun-ki and Jack had stopped in their tracks, stunned by what had just happened. The crowd of tourists had pulled back as they had fought, giving them room. Someone had screamed when they saw the knife and now everyone was watching excitedly.