Chapter Four
Four days later I was sitting in the window of a cafe opposite a museum. By this time I had worked out a method of procedure for keeping Kim Su-mi under observation. After following her at a discreet distance around five museums I decided that my conscience would be satisfied if I simply watched her go into a museum and then consumed two or three beers at a nearby cafe until she came out. Maybe I'm would not have approved, but his more scrupulous method had brought no better result.
Apart from that, I'd discovered that trailing Miss Kim was another word for boredom. I'd compiled a list of where she'd been apart from her visits to places of historic interest. Shops, cinemas, restaurants - the lot. She hadn't been within a quarter mile of the Chinese Dragon.
As I watched her stroll out of the museum I gulped down my beer with the decisiveness of a man of action. That afternoon I would contact Kim Su-mi and risk the consequences.
At two o'clock I was outside her hotel, mixing with the crowds and, not to make too obvious my interest in the door of the hotel, occasionally going through the motions of photographing the pleasure craft passing to and fro on the river.
She didn't show up until three. Then she came briskly out of the hotel, crossed the road, went down the steps beside the bridge, and boarded a pleasure craft.
When it had moved off I went down on to the landing stage and checked the timetable there. The boat was due to return at four. That gave me an hour to waste. I put in time over a couple of beers in a nearby cafe.
On the dot of four I stationed myself at the top of the steps leading to the landing stage, and as her boat drew in I put the video-camera to my eye. This time it was purring quietly. Her plain red dress was a perfect contrast to her dark loveliness.I dropped the camera on to my chest as she came up the steps. It wasn't until I said, 'Good afternoon', that she noticed me. Her lips parted, then her surprise melted into a warm smile.
'Oh, hello there!' she exclaimed, gesturing a greeting with a black-glovedhand.
'Still alone, I see'.
'And loving every moment of it! No one to please but myself'.
'What are you doing in this part of the town?' I asked innocently. 'Don't tell me you've run out of art galleries?'
She shook her head. 'I thought I'd rest from art galleries and museums this afternoon'.
She came and stood beside me, gazing down at the water. 'It's lovely, isn't it?' she said presently, with a sigh of contentment.
At that moment I couldn't think of anything more perfect. 'You're right about China. It's got something'.
She glanced up at me gratefully. It was with an effort that I forced myself to lead into the object for our seemingly casual meeting. 'By the way, what do you do with yourself in the evenings?'
She shrugged. 'Oh, nothing very exciting. Find somewhere to eat, usually. There are some very nice little restaurants in Shanghai'.
'There certainly are', I said, with a great show of enthusiasm. 'I found a delightful place last night. The Chinese Dragon. I glanced at her quickly. 'Do you know it?'
She frowned perplexedly. 'Chinese Dragon?'
I nodded, without taking my eyes from her face.
'No, I don't', she said slowly. 'I don't think I've heard of it. Where is it, exactly?'
It sounded like the truth. But I decided to maintain my outward enthusiasm, hoping I might still trap her into an involuntary lapse. 'You go into Tian Zi Fang and turn right at the Cherry Orchard . Sorry . I mean you go into the Tian Zi Fang and turn right at the Red Cockrell, then through to the Happy Shopper and turn left .' I swallowed, and started again. 'Look - you turn left at the Morning Mist, then when you get to the Chinese Dragon.'
'Oh, do stop', she implored laughingly, putting a hand on my arm. 'You obviously haven't the slightest idea where it is'.
I grinned sheepishly. 'We could take a taxi there'. I snapped my fingers. 'I say, that's an idea! Why not let me take you there now, for a drink?'
For a moment she gazed down at a black swan floating along the river. Then she said slowly: 'It's awfully kind of you - but I have to go back to the hotel to change for dinner. I'm going to .'I cut in on her. 'That's all right. There's loads of time to fit in a drink. How about meeting me here in an hour?'
'Well', she began hesitantly, then with a quick smile she glanced at her watch. 'Thank you very much. I'll take you up on that. I'll see you back here at five-thirty, if that's all right with you?'
'Splendid!' I exclaimed with unfeigned pleasure. 'Five-thirty it is. 'Bye now'. I cocked an eyebrow at her. 'And don't go wandering off to a museum!'
She turned away, laughing. 'I won't'.
With an odd feeling of light-heartedness I watched her cross the road to her hotel. I was sure now that the name the Chinese Dragon had been no more significant to her than if I'd mentioned a restaurant in New York. Na had got his lines crossed where Kim Su-mi was concerned. That was the way I wanted it to be.