Part 2 (2/2)

It is a d.a.m.n funny thing, Jaffe thought as he stood by the car waiting for her, but every time I meet her, I get a real bang out of it.

Nhan ran up to him and looked up at him as he took her hand.

There was that extraordinary look of adoration in her dark eyes that always startled Jaffe. It was a look he had never seen in any other womanas eyes: it said plainly: you are the centre of my universe, without you there would be no sun, no moon, no stars, no nothing. It was a look of complete and candid love.

Although it flattered his ego to know she loved him so completely at the same time it often embarra.s.sed him; knowing that he himself wasnat capable of loving her in the same way.

ah.e.l.lo,a Nhan said. aAre you feeling very fine?a She was very proud of the fact that she was learning English. She could speak fairly fluent French, but since she had met Jaffe she was now concentrating on English.

ah.e.l.lo,a Jaffe said and felt a constriction in his throat as he looked down at her. Her doll-like features, her smallness, and her love moved him as nothing else could move him. aYeah, Iam fine. Tell Blackie you wonat be working tonight. I want to talk to you.a He took out his wallet and gave her some money. aHere, give this to him, and hurry, will you?a Her almond-shaped eyes widened as she looked at the money.

aBut, Steve, why donat you come up? We can dance and talk. Itall save your money.a aGive it to him,a Jaffe said curtly. aI canat talk to you up there.a She gave him a quick, puzzled stare, then went quickly up the stairs to the club.

Jaffe got into the Dauphine and lit a cigarette. In spite of the slight breeze, the heat oppressed him. Every now and then his mind would jump to Haum in the clothes closet. The thought of the dead man made him flinch.

Nhan came out of the club and got into the car. As she slammed the door, Jaffe pressed the starter b.u.t.ton and eased the car into the stream of pousse-pousse and cars.

He drove as fast as he could towards the river. Nhan sat silent, her hands resting on her knees, her eyes on the flow of traffic.

When they reached the ornamental gardens by the bridge, Jaffe stopped the car.

aLetas get out,a he said, sliding out of the car.

She followed him over to the seat under the trees where the young Vietnamese couple had sat and they sat down. The moon floated in a cloudless sky, shedding its light on the sampans and the small rowing boats that still moved on the river.

As Nhan settled herself beside Jaffe, he put his arm around her slender body and kissed her. He held her against him, his mouth on hers for a long moment, then releasing her, he lit a cigarette, snapping the match into the river.

aWhatas the matter, Steve?a She spoke in French now, and he was aware her expression was anxious.

He hesitated to admit anything was the matter, then realizing he was wasting time, he said, aSomethingas happened. Iam in trouble. Donat ask questions. Itas better that you donat know. The point is Iam in bad trouble with the police. I have to get away.a She went rigid, her hands gripping her silk-clad knees. He could hear her quick breathing. He watched her, pitying her. As she didnat speak, he said, aItas bad, Nhan. Iave got to get out of the country somehow.a She drew in a deep breath.

aI donat understand,a she said. aPlease explain this thing to me.a aSomething happened this afternoon. The police will be looking for me by tomorrow.a aWhat happened?a Jaffe hesitated, then decided to tell her. The newspapers were certain to carry the story tomorrow or the day after; then everyone would know. So he told her.

Her fingers tightened on his wrist. aBut it was an accident!a she said breathlessly. aYou must tell the police! It was an accident!a He moved impatiently.

aTheyall think I killed him. Donat you understand? Iave got to get out or Iam sunk !a aBut it was an accident!a she exclaimed. aYou must go to the police at once! They will be pleased when you give them the diamonds. Let us go to the police now!a and she started to get up.

aIam keeping the diamonds and Iam not going to the police,a he said in a hard, cold voice.

She dropped back on to the seat. She lowered her head so he couldnat see her face.

aDonat you see?a he said angrily. aOnce I get away, I can sell the diamonds. They are worth a million dollars a” probably more. Itas a chance in a lifetime. Iave always wanted to get my hands on really big money!a She rocked herself to and fro in her agony of fear.

aIf you run away, they will think you killed him.a She moaned. aYou mustnat do it. No money is worth this. You must give them the diamonds!a aI did kill him,a he said, growing impatient. aIam not such a fool as to risk a trial. They could put me in their stinking jail for years. Weare wasting time. Somehow, Iave got to get out. Itall take time to organize. Iave got to find some safe place where I can hide. Do you know where I could hide?a aHide?a She lifted her head and stared at him, terror made her look ugly. The word sparked off a panic that was pitiful to see. aWhat about me? Are you going to leave me?a aI didnat say anything about leaving you. When I go, youall come with me.a aBut I canat! They wonat give me permission to leave. No Vietnamese can leave the country! Besides, what will happen to my mother, my brothers, my uncle, if I did leave?a Complications, Jaffe thought. Always complications.

aIf you want to come with me, youall have to leave them. But skip it : weall solve that one when we have to. I must find some safe place to stay for a week or so. Do you know anyone I can go to? Not in Saigon: somewhere outside.a She went off into a panic again.

aBut you mustnat hide! You must go to the police!a She began to beg him in a torrent of hysterical words to give up the diamonds, to go to the police, to tell them the truth.

He let her run on for a minute or so, then abruptly he stood up.

She stopped speaking and watched him, terror making her eyes large and glistening in the moonlight.

aOkay, okay,a he said harshly. aIf you donat want to help me, then Iall find someone who will. Iam not going to the police and Iam not giving up the diamonds!a She shuddered and closed her eyes.

He felt sorry for her, but at the same time irritated and impatient. She was wasting precious time.

aI shouldnat have told you about this,a he went on. aCome on: Iall drive you back to the club. You mustnat think any more about it. Iall find someone else to help me.a She jumped up and throwing her arms around his neck, pressing her slim figure against him, she clung frantically to him.

aI will help you!a she said wildly. aIall come with you when you leave! Iall do anything you want!a aOkay, now relax. Sit down. If someone sees us . . .a She instantly released him and sat down. She was shaking and tears were running down her face. He sat by her side, not touching her and waited. After a while, she controlled herself and she timidly put her hand in his.

She said suddenly, aMy grandfather has a house in Thudaumot. You would be safe there. I think I could persuade him to have you.a Jaffe drew in a long deep breath. He put his arm around her and hugged her.

aI knew you could help me,a he said. aI was relying on you. Itas going to be all right. In three or four months you and I will be in Hong Kong: weall be rich.a She leaned against him, clutching his hand. He could feel she was still shaking aIall buy you a mink coat,a he said. aThatas the first thing weall buy, and pearls. Youall look lovely in mink. You can have a car too: a car of your own.a aIt will be very difficult for you to leave Vietnam,a she said. aThere are many restrictions and regulations.a He was irritated that she hadnat reacted to the dream he had tried to create for her. Mink, pearls and a car! She should have been excited at such a prospect, but instead she was underlining the one problem he had no idea how to solve.

aFirst things first,a he said. aLetas go and talk to your grandfather. I will pay him well. You mustnat tell him about the police. It would be better to say I have a political enemy who is looking for me.a aI will tell him the truth,a Nhan said simply. aWhen he knows I love you, he will help you.a Jaffe shrugged.

aWell, all right. Iall leave it to you, but be sure he doesnat rush off to the police.a aHe would never do anything to make me unhappy,a Nhan said with so much hurt dignity that Jaffe felt slightly ashamed. aI can persuade him to help you.a Jaffe suddenly saw the snag in this plan.

Thudaumot was twenty-two kilometres outside Saigon. He remembered there was a police post on the road and all cars had to stop at the post for a police check. It would be fatal to his plans if his car was checked. When the police found Haumas body, they would check up on his car. As soon as they learned he had pa.s.sed along the Thudaumot road, they would concentrate their hunt for him there.

aThereas a police post on that road,a he said. aThis could be difficult.a Nhan stared at him, remaining motionless, waiting while he concentrated on a solution to this snag.

He realized after a momentas thought that his only hope of pa.s.sing through the police post was to use another car and not his own. He did know cars with C.D. plates were rarely stopped at the police posts, and he immediately thought of Sam Wade and his big Chrysler car. If he could borrow the Chrysler he stood a good chance of covering his tracks.

From what Wade had said, he wouldnat be using the car tonight, but where was he? He knew he was holed up somewhere with the Chinese girl, but how could he find him?

He asked Nhan if she knew the girl and he described her.

aYes, I know her,a Nhan said, puzzled. aShe dances at LaArc-en-Ciel. Her name is Ann Fai Wah. She makes a lot of money going with Americans. She isnat a good girl.a aDo you know where she lives?a Nhan thought for a moment then she said she had an idea the girl had an apartment off Hong Thap Tu.

Jaffe got to his feet. aLetas go,a he said.

She stared blankly up at him. aYou want to see Ann Fai Wah?a she asked indignantly. aWhy? I will not go with you to that woman.a aCome on, come on,a Jaffe said impatiently. aIall explain on the way.a As he drove to the centre of the town, he explained about Wadeas car.

aYouall have to drive it back, Nhan. Do you think you can manage?a He had taught her to drive the Dauphine and she handled the small car very well, but he had no idea if she could cope with the big Chrysler.

She said firmly and with confidence that she would be able to drive the Chrysler.

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