The Reinvention Of Rudd Carter. A Western Action Adventure Novel (9 page)

Twenty minutes later, in the middle of another bout, Sui Yen rejoined Rudd with a bandage over his eye. Rudd looked him over carefully. “Are you all right? I have to say, you don’t look as I thought you would after the beating you took.”

“The trick is to get out while you’re still able to walk.” Sui Yen laughed. “I knew I couldn’t win against him today. I needed the experience to see what he’s got, and he wanted to test me in a real situation. That fellow I fought and lost to is my teacher. Most of the winners here today are his students. Would you like to meet the Master?”

“Yes, I would,” Rudd answered. “What’s his name?”

“Master Chui. Come. Let’s see if we can find him. I’m sure he would like to meet you.”

They found Master Chui in a room in the back of the building, speaking to some of his students. Sui Yen interpreted what the Master said. It was at this moment that Rudd made up his mind to study Chinese, and more specifically, the Cantonese dialect. Master Chui concluded the conversation with his students and turned his attention toward Sui Yen and Rudd.

The Master was in his late twenties and appeared to have great self-confidence and inner strength. Alert and intelligent, his eyes gave the impression that he was aware of everything in his immediate environment.

“Master Chui,” said Sui Yen, “my friend has expressed a desire to meet you. May I present Rudd Carter?”

The Master bowed courteously. “What can I do for you, Mr. Carter?” he asked in English.

“I’m deeply honored to meet you, sir. In England, I began boxing at age ten. By the time I was sixteen, I was winning every tournament I entered, but I must say I have never witnessed anything like the style of fighting I saw here today. What do you call it, and how does one learn it?”

Master Chui smiled politely. “It is called T’ai Chi Ch’uan. In English it translates to Supreme, Ultimate Fist. You learn it very slowly and precisely. What you saw here today was a combination of many Asian martial art styles that developed over the centuries for maximum self-defense in most hand-to-hand combat situations. How can I help you?”

“I have two questions. Do you think my boxing skills will impair me from learning Eastern martial arts? And if not, will you accept me as a student, Master Chui?”

“Your boxing skills can only enhance your martial arts training,” the Master said. He went silent for a moment, then raised his gaze to Rudd’s eyes. “Regretfully, I cannot accept you as a student, as I am bound by an ancient code that forbids me to instruct Occidentals in the art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan.”

“Master, is there a way Rudd could witness our training sessions as an observer only, and perhaps I could instruct him in private?” Sui Yen asked.

The Master thought for a moment. “Yes. Perhaps we can approach your training from that perspective. You may observe our training sessions, and Sui Yen can train you in private. Be here every day, one hour after work. We will see where this will lead.” He bowed. “Until tomorrow.”

Walking back to the hotel, Rudd asked Sui Yen, “Is there a school where I can learn to speak Chinese?”

Nodding, Sui Yen said, “I’ll look into it. Give me a couple of days. I think I can find something for you.”

* * *

The two of them attended Master Chui’s classes together, Sui Yen as a student and Rudd as an observer. Then Sui Yen would train him privately three days a week. When walking to class one evening, Sui Yen said to him, “If you’re not doing anything after class tonight, I’d like to bring someone by your hotel… someone I think you should meet. How about nine o’clock in the hotel bar?”

Rudd nodded in agreement.

After class, he returned to the hotel, bathed, dressed, and made sure he was in the hotel bar no later than eight-forty-five. He was excited about meeting someone new, and because of Sui Yen’s involvement, he knew it would not be a waste of time.

A few minutes after nine, Sui Yen arrived, accompanied by a beautiful Chinese woman. She was tall and willowy, and by Asian standards, in superior physical condition. Her face was thin with large doe-shaped eyes and a narrow well-formed nose over a small mouth with full, rosebud lips. Because of her flawless complexion, she wore no makeup, which gave her the appearance of a teenage girl, except she carried herself like a woman.

As she and Sui Yen approached the bar, she broke into a broad smile and held out her hand. “You must be the handsome Englishman Sui Yen has told me so much about. It is such a pleasure to meet you,” she said in perfect English.

She was exquisite! Rudd couldn’t take his eyes off her. Surprised, he said, “I never imagined I would be meeting anyone as beautiful as you this evening. I… apologize, what is your name again?”

Sui Yen grinned. “I haven’t gotten to her name yet. May I present Ming Li, and Ming Li, may I present my friend, Rudd Carter.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carter. Sui Yen’s description of you does you no justice.”

Flattered, he said, “Coming from someone of your obvious beauty and quality, I take that as a great compliment.”

“I’m not trying to rush things,” Sui Yen said, “but Ming Li has an early morning appointment, and I think it would be good to tell her right now if you would like to start Chinese lessons with her tomorrow evening.”

“Chinese lessons—tomorrow evening?” he asked, shocked. “I never imagined a Chinese tutor would look like you… we haven’t discussed the price of Miss Li’s services yet.”

“I’ve already made arrangements with the bank through your cousin Roger to pay for Miss Li’s services. If you approve, she will start tomorrow. She will come to your room for your lessons every day, five days a week.”

Rudd perused Ming Li from head to toe, smiled, and nodded. “I approve wholeheartedly.”

Agreeing to meet on the following Monday for his first tutoring session, Rudd met Ming Li in the lobby of his hotel. She brought ink, paper, pens, and books with her. He offered to help with some of the supplies she carried and commented, “You really are a tutor, aren’t you?”

She lowered her eyes. “Of course. Did you think otherwise?”

The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile. “Will you allow me to pay for all of the materials you’ve been so kind to bring me?”

“That will not be necessary, Master Rudd. The bank is paying for everything regarding your lessons. After all, it is to the bank’s benefit that you learn Chinese.”

Ming Li came to his room every weeknight at the same time and tutored him in reading and writing Chinese symbols. She was patient and kind, and after a few weeks, he began to grow fond of her and look forward to her visits.

One evening, she tapped on his door and pushed it open before he could answer. “Tonight, as part of our studies,” she announced, “we are going to a restaurant so that you can have the experience of ordering food in Chinese.” As he started to protest, Ming Li continued, “Don’t worry about the expense; the bank is paying for everything. It is for me, as your tutor, to decide when we shall go out and learn—practical application. And we will need to do this frequently in the future.” She smiled seductively. “Hopefully you will enjoy learning Chinese with me in this way… and
every
way.”

He was under her spell and could not resist her. As they walked out of the hotel, she slipped her arm into his. To eighteen-year-old Rudd, this was no Chinese lesson. He was on a date with the most exciting woman in Hong Kong.

Ming Li guided him to an upscale restaurant whose clientele was predominantly the well-to-do Chinese merchant class. When they were seated, she sat next to him.

“I wish to sit close to you so that I can serve you. Perhaps you will learn more about Chinese culture this way.” She lowered her eyes briefly before bringing her gaze back to his face. “And perhaps in the end, you and I will feel closer to one another.” Sitting quietly for a moment, she said, “Tonight, I want you to order our meal, with my help of course. This is not a night of work but of enjoyment. It is my wish that, together, we can enjoy what little Chinese culture I can offer you at this time.” She took his hand and raised it to her mouth, kissing the inside of his palm and running the tip of her tongue ever-so-lightly over his fingers while pressing her thigh against his. “You are the most handsome man I have ever known,” she whispered in his ear as she slipped her hand under the table, seeking his inner thigh. Leaning into him, she brushed her lips against his ear. “It pleases me to feel you respond to my touch, to know you desire me.” She squeezed gently with her fingers. “I am yours until you want me no more.”

Rudd learned more about Chinese culture under Ming Li’s tutelage than just ordering food that night. After dinner, they strolled back to the Emperor’s Hotel in silence and went to his room to begin a new chapter of their life together.

Entering his room, Ming Li put her index finger to her lips, indicating silence. She moved about the room turning down the gaslights, and undressed Rudd, caressing his body with her lips as she did so. She sat him down on the bed and stood in front of him. “I have looked forward to this since the moment we met. I hope you are pleased with me.” She slowly disrobed while performing an exotic dance of seduction.

Overwhelmed with the vision of her body, he reached out and pulled her onto the bed so that she lay on top of him, astride him, coupled with him. Losing all conscious sense of self, he said, “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“It is my desire to please you in every way that I can,” she whispered.

He had never experienced anything like her. Beyond making love or the mere sensuality of the encounter, this was the best sexual experience he could imagine, with the most desirable woman in Asia—Ming Li, an Eastern goddess of love.

She continued to drop by in the evenings, but now she stayed with him until the morning. When she began coming by on the weekends, too, Rudd gave her his room key.

“I want to see your face when I come back to my room every evening,” he said. Returning from his martial arts class in the evenings, he found her waiting for him. It was as if life began all over again every day with the sight of her. They would go to dinner and then back to his room for study and more intimate pursuits.

This continued for several weeks, and his longing for Elizabeth began to fade. Ming Li became the tonic that made his life in this strange land possible. She made him feel like he was her first priority in every way. She loved him. He loved her. Yet, Elizabeth still lingered in his heart. He never told Ming Li of his love for Elizabeth. Though he was only eighteen and inexperienced, he drew from feelings he had discovered with Elizabeth and shared them with Ming Li.

One evening Ming Li asked, “Will you come with me tonight? I have something to show you.”

He could never say no to her because of the sweet way she approached him about everything. That night she took him to a new apartment in an up-scale area of town. “I want you to live here with me so that I can take care of you as you deserve. I love you, and I want to make a home for you here. I want you to know that if you do not live here with me,” she said slyly, “I will not be happy. You have a week to think it over.”

“Do you think I would be fool enough to refuse an invitation like that?” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “We can move in tomorrow if you like.”

One week later, they moved in together, and Sui Yen arranged to have the bank pay the rent on their new apartment.

In time, Rudd and Ming Li spoke to each other in Chinese, and his command of the language improved rapidly. She became his mentor, lover, and best friend. He admired her a great deal and came to depend on her for everything. He knew there would never be another Ming Li, and he savored every moment with her. Though their lovemaking had a different intensity for him than it had with Elizabeth, it fulfilled him nonetheless. Ming Li left no doubt in his mind that her focus clearly centered on him.

Ming Li, Hong Kong, 1870

When she reached the tender age of ten, Ming Li’s parents died in a tenement fire. Too poor to support her, her relatives took her to the home of the well-known courtesan, Madam Wang. Finding her not at home, they pinned a note to Ming Li’s clothes and left her to wait for the Madam to return.

Coming in from a late evening social engagement, Madam Wang found a frightened girl waiting on her doorstep. She invited her into her home and saw the note pinned to her clothing.

Dear Madam,

This is our niece, Ming Li. Her parents died last night, and there is no money to take care of her.

You will find that she is a comely girl. Please show her kindness and do not turn her out. She is a well-mannered child and will appreciate all that you do for her.

After reading the note, Madam Wang carefully studied the girl, and Ming Li began to tremble and cry. Placing her hand gently under the girl’s chin, Madam Wang tilted her face upward so that she looked directly into her eyes. Gazing at her for several moments, she began to well up. She dropped to her knees and embraced the child. “Please don’t be frightened,” she said, “you are safe here with me. You are a beautiful child.” She kissed her cheek. “It would please me to have you live in my home. Would you like to live here with me, Ming Li?”

Ming Li looked at the floor, nodded her head, and shyly answered, “Yes.”

The Madam smiled, rose to her feet, and rang for the housekeeper. When the housekeeper came in, the Madam said, “This is Ming Li. From this night on, she will be living with us. Treat her kindly, as if she were my own daughter.” She laughed happily. “Look at that face. Have you ever seen anything like it? Imagine what she will look like when she fills out. Now, go and prepare a room for her. I want her to have all of her meals with me so that she has a sense of family while I instruct her in preparation for the wonderful life that lies ahead for her.”

By the time she reached eighteen, Ming Li had become the most sought-after courtesan in Hong Kong.

In time, a successful elderly Chinese businessman hired Ming Li to accompany him to a social gathering. Overwhelmed with her beauty and manner, he offered Madam Wang an enormous amount of money for Ming Li’s hand in marriage.