Nano Bytes

«Yes, ‘we,’ but I will not explain to you who we are just yet. Time is of the essence, Mr. Winters. So I will make this short,” he then placed his Victorian top hat on the bed near the painting. «We have been tracking you since your escape from the MP prison in Manila as a favor to our American counterparts–quite an impressive escape. Our agents caught sight of you while you were in Burma and then again in French Indochina, and although there were a couple of months–here and there–when we lost track of you, for the most part you were predictable. Not a good thing, Mr. Winters, to be predictable.»

Nicholas, uncomfortable, made his way toward the desk where he had placed his revolver.

«Ah ah ah, Mr. Winters. I would not do that if I were you,” he smiled as he took out a pair of goggles with dark red tinted lenses from his coat pocket, put them on, rotated the lenses as if trying to focus them on something, and began scanning the room.

«What are you looking for?»

«It is none of your concern for the moment,” he walked toward the circular table by the open window and poured anise London dry gin into a clean short glass. He took a moment to smell the aroma of the gin and took a sip while he looked out into the night enjoying the view of the city and its lights. «Naturally, you are here in Shanghai. And naturally you are here at the Astor Hotel,” he paused to take another sip. «Your taste for luxury has remained, Mr. Winters. You were born in Chicago–1867, a post‑Civil War child; and born into tremendous wealth. Your father profited greatly during the war, didn’t he? Umph, well, regardless your parents were killed in the Great Chicago Fire leaving you, as sole heir to their fortune. Their loyal and most trusted manservant, a man by the name of Yao Xi Wang, raised you and placed you, as your father would have wanted, into a New York boarding school. You attended New York University, graduated and then pursued a degree in law for one year but dropped out. In your desire to see the world you joined the U. S. Navy and rapidly rose in rank to then join the Marine Corps in 1891 where your platoon was involved in combat against Chilean nationalist rebels. You were then stationed throughout the Pacific with considerable time spent in Japan before you were deployed to serve in repressing the Filipino insurrectionists in the aftermath of the Spanish—American War–”

«So what the hell do you want from me?» Nicholas, now very tense, interrupted.

«It is simple, Mr. Winters. The Americans have seized all of your bank accounts in the U. S. and we know of your three accounts in Great Britain. Work for us and gain continued access to your funds. We simply need an insider. Have you heard of the Righteous Fists of Harmony or, in the native tongue, Yìhétuán?»

He shook his head.

«I am disappointed, Mr. Winters.»

«Well, I just arrived this evening,” he said bitterly. «And I do not feel the need to stay on top of currents events, especially events here. I’m just passing through.»

«Nothing could be farther from the truth. You will be intimately involved in the workings of this place.»

«That is only if I accept whatever you are offering.»

«We are not offering, Mr. Winters. You will do what we require of you.»

«Or what?»

«We are,” he paused to take off his goggles and placed them back in his pocket. «We are, at times, compelled to share with our American counterparts sensitive information, Mr. Winters. Your location would be greatly appreciated by the U. S. consulate. And we have two military police officers on stand–by waiting for us to … as you Americans say, give them the okay.»

«Then call them. Have them arrest me. Take my money. Why should I do whatever it is you want me to do?»

«Citizenship, Mr. Winters. You are a man without a country. Great Britain is there, with open arms, waiting to receive you, a lost American soul.»

«The United States is my country, sir.»

Kell began to laugh. «The United States,” he continued laughing, «the United States is your country?» His face then turned gravely serious. «The moment you are discovered your country will hang you. You are a traitor to your nation, Mr. Winters–”

«I am not! I did what was just and right–”

«Murdering members of your company?»

«It was not murder!» he exclaimed. «What was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch the slaughter of innocent men, women, and children?»