Silversword (13 page)

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Authors: Charles Knief

BOOK: Silversword
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Standing by the door, I looked around his office, at the framed certificates on the wall, at the awards, the citations, the flotsam and jetsam of a lengthy and active academic career.
“You speak of war as an abstract,” I told him. “You're about the right age. Did you serve in Vietnam?”
“It was an immoral war. And I, ah, was deferred because of my student status.”
“So the only thing you know of war is what you read. It's all theoretical to you, people killing people. Is that it?”
“Do you have a point here, or is this just some macho posturing?”
“Someone once told me that the true test of an intellect is knowing when it is beyond its ability to understand the situation,” I said. “I think you're right about there.”
“Oh, please, Mr. Corn, or whatever your name is. That is very tired stuff. Some of my first-semester students can insult me better than that.”
“You write it down when they do? Copy it and use it next semester?”
“Get the hell out of here!”
“Catch ya later, Hayes,” I said, shooting him with my forefinger and following Donna Wong from the room.
I
could just kill him!”
Donna Wong balled her fists and held them close to her chest, leaning against the elevator wall, her sudden explosion of passion surprising. In the professor's office she had been controlled and subdued. I thought that was how she handled it. Wrong again. I was glad I hadn't studied psychology.
“Somebody will, he keeps that up,” I told her.
“I don't think that's necessary, Caine,” said Kimo.
“Why can't he just leave it alone? Why does he have to spoil this?” She turned anguished eyes on me, but I had no answers for her. I had learned that people are what they are, and there's no explaining them or their behavior. It's as if we all have demons that drive us. God knows I had demons of my own.
Tutu Mae hugged Donna to her frail body as the young woman broke down and sobbed. “There, there,” she said. “There, there. It will be all right.”
“This is the greatest moment of my life. And he's stealing it.”
Tala Sufai leaned in and hugged Tutu Mae and Donna, gathering up both of the tiny women in her huge arms. They stood united until the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened. A young man in tattered jeans and a bright red Aloha shirt tried to enter, but backed away when he saw the three women locked in an embrace inside the cab.
“I'll just find another one,” he mumbled, disappearing down the corridor.
“Are you feeling better?” asked Tala.
“I'm okay.”
“Then we'd better go to my office. I've got papers for you to sign.”
I assisted Tutu Mae from the building into the sun-blasted Honolulu afternoon and helped her into the car. Kimo walked by my side, saying nothing until we reached the parking lot.
“Thank you, Caine,” he said when we stood next to his Cherokee. “Your finding those students helped our case.”
“I was happy to do it.”
“You want to collect your fee tomorrow night? Come over about five.”
I nodded.
“Julia and Karen will be delighted to see you.”
I smiled. “She's getting bigger every day, isn't she?”
“Going to school now. Quite the scholar.”
“I'll be there. Thanks, Kimo.”
“John Caine!”
“Yes, Tutu Mae?”
“You did fine. Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
“Are you fit?”
“Not quite, but getting there.” The truth was that I had paid mightily for my beach run, and spent the next few days worrying about the interior appliances that I might have unnecessarily stressed, and wondering if I would have to make a trip to Tripler Hospital to have them replaced. Every wince, every twinge communicated the shadow of a greater pain that I finally concluded existed only inside of my imagination. I don't have much of an imagination, but pain is a great teacher, and I learned to enjoy my restfulness, thankful that I had to do the detective grunt work in front of my computers.
“When can you dive again?”
“Three, four weeks, maybe. Whenever all my incisions heal. And that other stuff.”
“Could you take Donna to the site on your boat?”
“Of course.”
“She lacks funding. Keeping this secret is daunting, but the university will have its demands to go with its funds.”
“Golden rule,” I said. “He who has It, makes Them.”
She looked as if I had lost my mind. “She will need protection. She will need guidance, and she will need a larger dive platform than she had before. I think she will need your help.”
“I've got two young men living aboard. Do you trust them?”
“Do you?”
I thought about it. Felix would be close-mouthed if it was in his interest. David seemed to think that Donna was the most interesting thing the Hawaiian Islands had to offer. I doubted either of them would cause a problem, and I knew that both young men would be intellectually curious about such an opportunity. “Yes.”
“Then bring them. They can help.”
“When will we go?”
“How soon can you be ready?”
“A few days.”
“Then that's when you will go.” She sat back in the back seat of Neolani's Cherokee and closed her eyes. I thought she had fallen asleep until she said, “I would love to dive there, too. Do you think I can?”
“You want to see the site?”
“Do you think an old lady can dive to the site?”
“I don't see why not.”
“Then I want to do it before you seal it.”
“Seal it?”
Donna looked over her shoulder from the front seat. “If Professor Hayes didn't agree to our request we knew we had to do something to protect the bones. We've decided to seal the entrance after we're done with our work. With explosives. That way nobody can enter it again.”
Kimo shook his head. “No way I wanted to hear that.”
“It's the only way, Kimo,” said Tutu Mae. “Otherwise treasure
seekers will find it. This is the only way to leave the bones in peace.”
Donna reached across the seat and took Tutu Mae's hand. “You will see the king before we close up the cave.”
“Thank you, child. John Caine, please bring your young friends to dinner tomorrow night. They could probably use a home-cooked meal. From what I've heard, you bachelors are out all night eating greasy restaurant food.”
“I'll bring them. From what I remember of Kimo's barbecue we'll be eating greasy home-cooked food.”
She laughed and closed the door.
I watched them drive away feeling more confused than before. Now I had agreed to turn
Olympia
into base support for the final dives on the tomb. What if it was the old king's final resting place? And I couldn't dive? I would love to see the tomb, the treasure, and the bones of Kamehameha.
I'd find a way. Buy a dry suit or just take the chance at infection, either way I'd see the king's tomb.
Felix waited at my Jeep, enjoying the sun, chomping a yellow apple and reading
The Lexus and the Olive Tree
. He had showed no interest in the meeting. There were too many people in that small office, anyway.
He nodded to me. “Gilbert called,” he said between bites. “Chawlie wants to see you. I'm to drop you off and circle the block until you come out.”
“Tough duty.”
“I've seen worse. I've seen something that paid worse, at any rate.”
 
 
“So you don't want the boy anymore. Is he a problem?” Chawlie and I occupied a corner window booth in his restaurant, overlooking Nu'uanu Street and the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen. Someone kept the old Chinese leader's statue covered with fresh flower leis. I wondered if Chawlie had anything to do with that.
We were alone in the corner. The other tables were vacant, his waiters skillfully guiding new guests to other locations in the dining room.
Gilbert had met me at the door and taken me directly to the old man's table the moment I walked in. Chawlie's face was grim when I saw him, almost, but not quite, displaying rare emotion. He had been reading a book, which he quickly closed and put his arm over the cover to hide the title. Whatever he had to say to me was not good news. Maybe it was the air. Every person I knew of Chinese descent was having an emotional day today.
I began the conversation by observing that Felix had been terrific, but that I probably didn't need him any longer.
Chawlie countered with his question.
“It isn't that, Chawlie,” I said. “He's fine. And he's been very helpful. I just don't think I need a bodyguard.”
“So send him home.”
“I will as soon as I'm back from the Big Island.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I'm going on a sail to the other islands. Just to get away. I'll take Felix with me and then send him home after that.”
“Have him come see Daniel before he goes,” said Chawlie. “I may have other work for him.”
I nodded. “Thank you for all that you did for me, old friend.”
“You saved Daniel. You saved Chawlie. How can we repay you?”
“You have.”
“No. Not yet.”
I waited, knowing there was more. He wouldn't send for me, saying it was important, unless it really was important. “What are you reading?”
Chawlie almost blushed. He pushed the little hardcover across the table.
“
Meditations
? I didn't know you read Marcus Aurelius.”
“The man had it right. I am considering death. Can it be that there is nothing after this?”
“I think he was a doubter, but he covered his bases.”
“You remember incorrectly, John Caine. He said that if there is no governor for this tempest, then just be content that you, yourself, have a ruling intelligence.”
“Are you looking for peace, old friend?”
“It's not important. When will you leave for Hawaii?”
“Two days at the most.”
“Leave tomorrow. Tell no one where you go.”
“Why?”
“You have problems coming your way. San Francisco is sending your arrest warrant to Honolulu police. Your friend, Kimo, will be the one.”
“I just spent an hour with him. He didn't mention anything.”
“He doesn't know yet.”
I nodded. Chawlie would have been informed long before anybody in the police hierarchy here.
“Is this the murder charge?”
He nodded. “California police crazy. They are angry because old woman was killed. You are the only one they can charge. Like some vacancy in the universe if nobody is charged with crime. So they charge you.”
“When will the warrant arrive?”
“Two days. It's being held up in processing in San Francisco.”
Had Chawlie arranged for that, as well? I was afraid to ask. “Can it be held up a week?”
“Impossible. Maybe another two or three days, that's all.”
“That should be sufficient.”
“You think Kimo will deny knowing where you are?”
“I don't think so.”
“You think he would come after you?”
“Probably. If he thought it would do any good.”
“Or he could pretend to search for you.”
“I'll speak with him.”
Chawlie's eyes widened at the thought of dealing with a policeman not of the clan, but he nodded. “You know the man. You deal with him. But if you are here in Honolulu in two or three days he won't be able to help you.”
“I understand.”
“I have a lawyer here who will represent you when the time comes.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I know one I'd rather have.”
He flitted away my thanks with a wave of his hand. “As you wish. That was a bad day, wasn't it?”
“For a lot of people.”
“We can't put it behind us.”
“No.”
“Maybe they will let us, after this.”
“I'd like to think so.”
He looked sadly at me. “You hope, you mean. Hope is a childish emotion. You never grow up, do you?”
I shook my head. “Not if I can help it.”
“You will in the coming months, I think. If you survive.”
“What do you mean?”
“They want to imprison you for the killing of that woman, Mrs. Chang. Maybe even execute you. They wish to make an example. You are a warrior. This they do not understand. You have been through much in your life and you will go through much more in the next few months. Chawlie will be there, helping you with whatever you need. But you will be alone many times, and for a long time you will be in prison, whether you are found guilty or not. Chawlie has been told that prison is not a good place to be. Even an American prison.”
I shuddered. Prison would not be easy if I were young and healthy.
“Chawlie is making a defense for you. It is not easy, the way that Henderson police person put the charges together. But Chawlie hired good California lawyers, and they will do a good job. It is best now if you go quickly. Find a cove where you will not be found for a few days. Rest and heal and wait until they come for you.

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