Arc Du Destin

8

Thriller books mostly have the aftermath of any adventure being narrated in flashbacks when the protagonists are back at their protected place safely. It's mostly a cathartic release, making the events following the climax seem too mundane to dwell on much, even while we are living them.

It does fill oneself with a satisfactory sense of achievement though. Like I was, at the moment, enjoying May's astounded face as she sat opposite me on my single bed, staring at me sipping my morning tea brought by her, stunned beyond belief at the fantastic narrative that I had just finished recounting.

"Close your mouth." I snorted. "China isn't bug free. And you are a vegetarian." She did shut it. I gave her time to gather herself, which took a minute or two before she was able to speak.

"So, what happened after that?" She asked, finally able to form coherent sentences.

"The vans arrived of course." I said. "Jake's plan was pretty much straightforward as was Yang Guo's. His men had intercepted them enroute and Yang Guo's men got them back and brought them to the temple. Sounds simpler than it was in reality, considering the fact that there were gunshots and injuries involved."

"Whoa", she muttered, then said, "Guess you got to live a real life Indian thriller." I shrugged.

"Now that I know, I'm satisfied with just the screen display. Thank you very much."

She hummed in response. "What about the scrolls?" She asked.

"Those from the shelves are being cataloged. My team was given days off because of this messy trip. But Li ge refused." I sighed. "He and the director are spending hours inside the offices of scientists, trying to figure out the ingredients and the recipes listed in the jiǎndú. I wanted to go too, but as you can see, I was put under house arrest with explicit instructions to rest." I sighed deeply.

"Take the chance while it's available. You have a habit of staying cooped up between shelves." May dusted the biscuit crumbs off her hands.

We sat there, enjoying the quiet sounds of an early morning, sipping our tea, listening to the birds chirping, occasionally disturbed by the bells of bicycles. The day's hubbub was yet to begin.

"There's still a big problem looming though." May spoke quietly.

"What?" I asked.

"Rodriguez." She said, directing a serious look towards me, then stared as I laughed.

"You won't believe me when I say it." I chortled.

"I thought he escaped?" She asked.

"Oh he did." I marveled. "You gotta give credit where credit is due. He just took off under the cover of the  free fire and..." I leaned forward, causing May to lean towards me too. "Get this- he effing took off his disguise in favor of his real face! And no one saw it!  Deyam!" I laughed again.

"How did he get caught then?" May asked, grinning.

"Of all the costumes he could have managed, he had to choose a monk's." I snorted derisively and got a 'the hell' from May. "The other monk brothers identified him as someone not belonging to their temple, while trying to sneak off. Once Yang Guo's men caught him, his robes were dragged off to be returned to the poor monk brother who was left stitchless--"

I couldn't continue, both of us dissolving into laughter.

"Please tell me you got a good look at the Adam!" She uttered between bouts of snorts.

"Yeah." I chortled. "As if I would have even been allowed! I had a highly possessive two legged censorship board dragging me away from a view of the Eden Garden." I sent her into another gale of laughter, but then she sat up grinning.

"Correct." May exclaimed. "You now have the license to behold at least one Eden Garden now! When are you two planning to go on a date?"

"Um..."

"No umms. I'm glad that you managed to bag a guy as soon as you stepped on the Chinese soil. Now you have to step up." She said smiling. "I have to hand it to you though. Going by the narration, you picked the cream of the lot. Exactly suiting your temperament. I doubt that my choice would have been as great as this."

"Your choice?"

"Oh you know... the one who canceled on you on the very first day." May said, waving her hand in a brush off gesture. "Never mind the loser though." She leaned forward eagerly.  "Do you have a pic?"

The morning was starting to get hotter as it slipped into the day, but that only increased my romantic friend's delight. "She blushes!" May cheered. "Demand for exhibits. Come on!"

"Okay... okay!" I laughed. Bringing out my phone and scrolling through the gallery. I tapped on Yang Guo's image, handing it over to May's eager hand. I felt pride over him rise high as May took one look and dropped her jaw.

"Adonis. Isn't he." I said, smiling shyly at her wide eyes. "Hey, I know that his looks are stunning and all, but do you mind reserving your eyes for your Zhan? That's my man you're ogling at."

"No... that's not it..."

I watched in confusion as she lightly slapped her forehead in apparent disbelief. What was that snort about?

"What's wrong?"

She looked up from the phone screen to focus on my face, a neutral look of disbelief, short of rolling her eyes settling on hers.

"May?"

She held up the phone screen towards me, causing me to oscillate between her and Yang Guo's face.

"Meet the loser that bailed." She said.

The hell.

Edit by nihashar's   father. (Thank you Sir 😊)