Jade War

Zapunyo’s diabetic condition had after many years finally caught up with him and he was in need of a kidney transplant. The medical care in the Uwiwa Islands being one of the worst in the world, and money not being an issue for the wealthy smuggler, Zapunyo arranged to travel to Espenia in six months’ time and pay a premium to have the surgery performed at a private hospital in Port Massy. This rare instance in which he would be leaving his fortified compound in Tialuhiya was discovered by a well-placed No Peak spy in the Uwiwas and was the opportunity that Hilo and Shae had been searching for since last summer.

Anden went to see Dauk Losunyin to ask for what he wanted. “Dauk-jen,” he said, “this smuggler, Zapunyo, he rarely ever leaves his fortress in the Uwiwa Islands. He has an entire operation employing barukan, rockfish, and cheap labor to scavenge jade from the mines, take it out of Kekon, and ship it to black market buyers in Ygutan and Oortoko, and to dangerous organizations like the Crews.”

Dauk nodded in understanding but said, “Boss Kromner is awaiting trial and may spend decades in prison. The other Bosses are in hiding. Why do I need to think of this Zapunyo?”

“Even if Kromner goes to jail, there’ll be others who take his place. As long as jade remains illegal and coveted, there’ll be criminals in this country and all over the world who’ll try to get their hands on it, and Zapunyo will sell it to them. Maybe the newspapers are right and Kromner’s fall means that the heyday of the Crews in Port Massy is at an end, but maybe not, or perhaps other groups will rise up and pose an even greater threat to us. The solution is to cut off the black market at the source, and that means stopping the smuggling of jade out of Kekon.”

They were sitting together in Dauk’s living room, the Pillar in an armchair, Anden on the sofa across from him. Sana had recently finished up with a client who’d come for a healing session, and now she was walking around behind her husband, their baby granddaughter asleep in her arms.

Dauk looked at Anden with a trace of disappointment. “Anden, you and your family are well known to us by now; why not just say exactly what you want and why?”

Anden dropped his gaze to the cup of tea in his hand, then put it down on the coffee table. He spoke carefully. “The first time I met you, I told you that I was only a student, that despite my upbringing, I couldn’t speak for my cousins in Janloon. Now, I can tell you in all honesty that in coming to you today, I’m speaking on behalf of the No Peak clan.” Anden held Dauk’s gaze this time. “This man, Zapunyo, tried to kill the Pillar and is responsible for the death of the Horn. If my sister-in-law and her children had been in the car at the time, they would be dead as well. He’s an enemy of my family who, because of his distance and resources, has gone unpunished for his actions. While he’s here in Espenia, we have to kill him.”

Dauk blew a long breath from his nose. “You say this man is well guarded, that even the Green Bone warriors in the No Peak clan can’t get to him. So how do you propose to do so?”

“It won’t be easy,” Anden admitted. “My cousins have an idea, a way to get past his barukan guards, but we need your permission and your help, Dauk-jen. We need Rohn Toro.”

Dauk Losun turned to his wife. “Let me speak to our friend alone for a while.”

Anden was surprised; never in all the time he’d known the Dauks had the Pillar asked his wife to leave. Even more surprisingly, Dauk Sana pressed her lips together with a look of understanding. She put the baby in the stroller. “I’ll go for a walk and pick up a few things at the store,” she said. She opened the door and left the house, leaving Anden and her husband alone.

Dauk Losun refilled their teacups. He leaned back in the armchair and said, “Since the first time the Hians brought you to my house, I’ve only come to think more highly of you. I could see right away that you’re the sort of young man who would be respected in the old country, someone who means every word that he says. In truth, I wish my own son were more like you—but he is who he is. I have the greatest respect for you and your family. So when you said you were coming here, I was prepared to give you whatever you asked for, because I value the friendship of the No Peak clan nearly as much as my own jade.” Dauk’s normally open, amiable face turned somber. “However, after having heard what you’re asking for, I can’t agree to help you.