CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Without knocking, a young monk entered their room and set the tray of food on the table. He smiled at the visitors and bowed as he turned to leave. Remembering the message, he turned back.

"Jae-Hua will see you in the courtyard in an hour," he said.

"Thank you," nodded May. When the door closed, they removed the tray cover to see fresh ox tail, rice, pickles, and an assortment of vegetables.

"I'm not sure I can eat that," frowned Tanner.

"It would be an insult," said Hiro. "Just try a little of all of it."

"Who eats pickles for breakfast?"

"Monks," smiled May. "It's filling, nutritious, and stores well. I suspect the ox was made just for us. They usually don't eat meat."

"Lucky us," frowned Tanner. Despite his complaints, he ended up eating the entire plate. The pickles were closer to a spicy cucumber than the acidic pickles he knew from home. It was filling and satisfying.

The sun was bright today, already making temperatures soar. Gathering their things, they made their way into the courtyard and took a seat at one of the many tables with stools. A few moments later, a young man walked out and bowed to them.

"Are you Jae-Hua?" asked Tanner in Korean.

"Yes. If you are here to kill me, do not do it in front of the monks. They've been good to me."

"We are not here to kill you," said Hiro. "We're terribly sorry to hear of your wife and child. Is there anything we can do for you?" He stared at the strangers, unsure of whether or not this was a joke. Shaking his head, he slowly took a seat across from the men.

"We mean you no harm at all," said May. "We are friends with Hae-Won Park."

"They've succeeded, haven't they? They've killed her."

"Who succeeded?" asked Tanner. The man said nothing, just staring at them.

"She is alive and well," said May. "Her daughter too. In fact, she's quite happy in a safe location. She married a friend of ours."

Now, he was certain they were lying to him. How could she still be alive if the guards went after her?

"We're not lying," said Tanner, reading his expression. "She is safe. Were you ordered to kill her?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I was ordered to not tell anyone that General Park killed President Wi-Kym Chuen. I just couldn't continue to watch him destroy what I loved, who I loved. I thought of killing him myself many times."

"Why didn't you?" asked Hiro.

"How do you justify killing your half-brother, even if you are only a bastard son of Wi-Kym Chuen?"

The three people looked at one another, and he realized they didn't know. They had no idea that he was one of dozens of bastard children belonging to Chuen. Dozens that would never see any riches, any power, anything at all.

"I was lucky. He at least allowed me to serve in some capacity, providing for myself, saving enough to provide for my wife after we were married. Others were not so lucky. Some were killed at birth. Some were sent to the work camps. Others were just told to find their own way. He rarely gave a second look to any of them.

"He and Park both saw women as things to be used and abused. They were not human to him. They were objects for his satisfaction. I worried that Park would touch my wife, but she was a nurse on the president's medical team, and he stayed away from her. We were not married in North Korea, so maybe he didn't know we were seeing one another. He was dead by the time we were married. I know that the only reason he didn't touch her was because she was important to the president."

"Do you believe they are after you?" asked Tanner.

"I know secrets that they would not want revealed."

"They? They, who?" asked May.

Once again, the young man stared at them, realizing they truly knew nothing about what Chuen or Park were capable of.

"May I ask how old you are?" said Tanner.

"I am thirty-seven."

"So, you're older than Hae-Won. Do you remember her leaving the country? Do you remember when her mother escaped with her?"

"Escaped? She was allowed to leave. Any pretense of escape was for Hae-Won's benefit."

"What do you mean?" asked May.

"You truly don't know," he whispered. He stood circling them on their stools, rubbing his now shaved head. His robes swished as he walked, his prayer beads dangling from his robe. If he told them, he would never be at peace. Or. If he told them, he would finally be at peace.

"Jae-Hua, we will help you if we can, but we're trying to save a young woman and her daughter. Help us," said Tanner.

"Hae-Won is a twin."

"What?" screeched the three individuals.

"She is a twin. Her twin is male, but she is the firstborn and the rightful ruler of North Korea. When her mother demanded to leave the country to stop General Park from beating her, her father agreed, but she was only allowed to take Hae-Won.

"Her father arranged for the old woman to get the tickets for them, take them to South Korea, and then safely to San Francisco. He didn't attempt to hide it from his son-in-law, but he did tell him that if he tried to harm them, he would be executed."

"That didn't last long," said Tanner. "He came to America a few years ago and killed her." Jae-Hua stared at the men, then shook his head.

"No. I mean, yes, he came to America a few years ago and brought her back to North Korea to help manipulate her father, my father. She was most happy to do so. It was she who would benefit most by killing her father. She would be the next in line for the throne, then her son. Her daughter was meaningless to her."

"I'm so confused right now," said May.

"Let me clarify," said Jae-Hua. "Sun-Kym Chuen Park is alive and well. She will be addressing the political leaders of North Korea in a few days, making herself known. She will tell the world that her ex-husband held her prisoner, and her brave son helped her to escape. She will tell them all that her daughter is dead if the assassins do their job. She will do exactly as she has planned for years. She will bring her son to power, holding him as a puppet leader, and she will be the one holding the strings behind the scenes."

"She's behind it all," said Tanner. "Holy shit. She's behind everything!"

"Who is the son?" asked Hiro. "Who is Hae-Won's brother?"

"U-Jin Park."