Li Peng.
Just two words.
You are scribbling permutations on a bit of napkin at a cafe bar. Plum tree Li doesn't look right. Neither does profit's Li. In the end, the Li in jasmine flower suits you best. And of course, the Peng, as the great bird. Still, something doesn't seem right. You scribble a tiny young character between the two words. There. That's more complete. Your head throbs.
Hey, Uncle, if you're Hui, why you prayin' at temples?
Allah doesn't give me the ability to call the storm, kid.
Ozone tingles your tongue. If you look up you could see storm clouds rolling like a kettle on the boil across the ceiling. You had thought he was just joking, then…
It's like you found an old photo album in the dusty attics of your mind, a transient instant preserved in cellulose, but devoid of context. You remember the dusty winds of the 'stans, and the cold air in mountainous valleys, retro hydrocarbon cars coating your lungs in their fumes. And yeah, you remember fighting. In the orphanage. Then on the road, you fought with Uncle. When he trained you, you kicked down doors and fought with anyone who'd take you. Sometimes, you'd win, and the feeling was so sweet. More often, you'd lose, and Uncle would tell you where you'd fucked up as he daubed your cuts and bruises with burning disinfectant.
Did you go to college? You suspect so. Except… ha, you were expelled for fighting. Of course.
Li Shao Peng.
Now that you have your name you don't get what's so hot about it. It's nothing much, there's no big reveal, just the same intermittent memory flashes. The holes in your memory are still there, you still have no idea what's your connection with the snakeheads, and why you lost your memory. Hey, wasn't there a syringe of something on the ceiling where you woke up on?
You concentrate. Still nothing.
Fat load of fucking help. But now you know that Si Fei has something. Probably he knows just as much as the creepy twins. Speaking of him, he must really be trying to butter you up, because you had ordered a full bottle of expensive ass bougie vodka and it was just given to you gratis. And it's really good vodka. Goes down smooth, has a nice burn to it.
This is too difficult. Thinking won't help you, not at all. You have nothing, either Si Fei or the Iron Guanyin has everything.
"What are you doing being so morose?" Yuexia, face flushed with victory, slides into the seat opposite you in the gallery cafe. "Ten million yuan. You doubted me. Frail and blinkered the limits of your terrestrial imagination."
You grunt and slug back another shot. "Something the issue?"
"They told me my name."
She blinks. "What? That's a good thing. C'mon, drink happier, you finally have an occasion to celebrate."
"I am," you say, refilling the shotglass. "Thing is, I don't feel any different."
"Haah. Memories aren't back? Waiter, gimme a glass too." She turns and waves one, who looks as if he would like to argue but also isn't quite paid enough to do so.
"Cheers," you offered after she filled both glasses. She chokes and sputters, pounding her chest to get the burn out.
"Goddamn. Well, that's not for me. Anyway, c'mon gimme your name, Grand Abbot. No, wait, you've written it down. Li Peng? Wow, hadn't seen…"
Silence ruled. "Something wrong?" She stared at the crumpled bit of napkin like… You couldn't describe it. You could find all the adjectives for anger and hate and it wouldn't come close to picturing that elephant.
"The man who killed my family," she said quietly, moments later, "was also surnamed the Li in jasmine flower."
Silence rules.
You throw back another shot. The piece of paper you tore out of the kompromat book exerts is like a lead weight in your mind. "Are you?" She looks at you direct. No fucking around. No disseminating.
"I don't know." You say honestly. "Memories are shot."
"Is that a lie?"
"If it is, why would I tell you?"
Yuexia nods and slumps back. "Fine. Then, nothing at all has changed, hasn't it? You could be the guy, could not be. Who knows? Si Fei, probably."
"Or the creepy cult twins."
She grunts, not up to pushing it. "What's the next plan, then? The minimum for the next floor goes up to the hundred millions. I don't think I'm that good."
"Floor boss looks like a pushover. I think we can go 'round the back. Did you see her? Reminds me of you."
Yuexia looks pretty doubtful about that. "I think I did? The shorty? No, I don't see the similarity. Is it because she's young?"
Badabing, badaboom, you drum out a brief rhythm on the countertop and snap a pointing finger at her. "Yep."
"Man, screw off. Do you want to keep on drinking?" By way of answer you continue. "That's a yes. Fine, then." She pushes off from the table. "I'm going to look around. Find me when you're done. Though, seriously," she turns to you. "Li Shao Peng? Is being young your whole identity, oldhead?"
"Forever fucking twenty one. Leave grandpa to his poison, 'kay?" You toast her one last time, and she leaves with something waving in the general direction of a smile.
You watch her leave through the crowd, swilling a mouthful of alcohol. You're halfway through the bottle, and you're pretty woozy because of it. You still see the normal amount of fingers on your hand which is a pretty good indicator of overall functionality. Slowly, you rise to your feet, swaying just a little.
[]- Find Yuexia: Let's get back in the game.
[]- Find an Acquaintance: You see the Maoist, your personal red sun, amongst the crowd. That's strange...
[]- Find Iron Tower Hua Li: Go up to her and demand to be let into the fourth floor. Let the cards fall as they will.
