The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 31

The drug induced a powerful sedative effect that overcame Lee's resistance to sleep, but it also spawned vivid images into his dream. Sitting at his small desk on the second floor of a Chinatown shop-house, Lee, wearing magnifying glasses, hunched over an important document. A bright light beam focused on a section requiring his complete attention.

Chinatown shop-houses were separate buildings each containing an individual shop, such as a clothing store or a tea store. The rows of individual buildings built so close together that, as time passed, they joined became hotels or apartments. Long hallways connected the building interiors, often these were not level so the hallways curiously sloped or even used steps. Living quarters or offices often comprised the upper levels of the two or three story buildings.

"We need visas for these two, so they can travel to Shanghai on business," the boss said.

A young Lee Koh sitting at the small desk looked up at his boss pushing up the magnifying glasses so they perched on his forehead. He took the papers and examined them for several minutes and asked, "When do you need these?"

"I would like to send them as soon as possible, perhaps tomorrow."

"This photo is not good enough. You need to ask them to get another one. The other information looks complete, so if I stop what I'm doing, I should be able to finish by this evening."

"I'll tell them to get another photo right away. Thank you, Lee. Your skills have never let us down."

Lee's lips turned up to reveal a slight smile.

Lee and another man sat on straight-back office chairs in a fuzzy but recognizable office. What they were wearing and the office details diffused into the dark background. The clarity of the scene gradually improved, but many specifics remained indistinct.

"One of our clients refuses to pay up," the man loudly proclaimed. "We destroyed part of his business but he is stupid and still resists. We need to make an example."

Lee said, "Perhaps you could get his credit card? We could buy things that would put him in an awkward position. A membership at a sex club or spend money on pornography. His is family and church wouldn't easily forgive these transgressions. That would really hurt this guy. He's a Christian and a family man."

"Can you take care of the credit card signatures? We want them to look real."

Once again his confused thoughts drifted until a totally black night sky uninterrupted by a moon or sparkling stars. Only blackness above but below a sharpened focus exposed a street with Lee walking holding hands with a young girl.

The two sat on a bench sharing an ice cream treat and enjoying the gentile evening breeze. A brilliant flash in the sky caught his eye. Hundreds of fire streaks rained down with terrifying fury. Burning rocks exploded everywhere crashing into buildings, cars, and making small craters in the ground. Lee grabbed his companion's arm and ran toward a business canopy already shredded from the impact of the flaming stones.

Then a flooding rain started. They huddled against the concrete of a building as all around them plunged burning rocks. Sirens blared coming closer. The horrible sound of the rocks smashing into the metal cover over a nearby walkway made the girl cover her ears with her hands. Then he felt the rain water spilling down on him like someone was pouring it from a large pitcher.

Lee opened his eyes to see Maria dabbing his face with a wet cloth. Dazed for a minute he awoke feeling much better.

Refreshed Lee said, "I should get out. We need a few things."

"You just woke up," Maria countered.

"It will do me good to stretch. I might see if Rong is home?"

"That's not a good idea. The police..." Maria sounded more like Lee's mother than his niece.

"The police don't know anything. He's my friend. I don't want him to get caught like I was."

"Okay, but promise to rest if you feel bad." Lee's desire to lead a normal life, while accepting some limitations due to his disease, far outweighed Maria's concern for his health.