Gold Sharks by Albert Able Page A

slowest looking vehicle. Then, amidst the sound of screeching tyres and the blast of a multitude of horns, he scrambled to the other side.
    â€œI’ve lived dangerously most of my life,” Alex greeted Ling as he entered the estate agent’s office, “but crossing that road was the riskiest thing I’ve done for years!” He shook his head in genuine wonder.
    Ling laughed.
    â€œThen let me tell you, I think that your trip to Hong Kong is going to get even more exciting. Here, sit down.” They were in a tiny air-conditioned interview room. “I asked my cousin at the harbour office if he knew of any unusual shipping movements.” Ling noted Alex’s look of concern. “Don’t worry - you can take my word that he’s definitely one of us,” he reassured Alex before continuing with his information. “The derelict part of the old docks was to be redeveloped as part of a vast project, planned to go ahead if the lease extension for the Hong Kong and New Territories had been agreed. In the event it was not, so the area remains a ghetto for smugglers and rogues. Last month a small site was cleared and fenced off, apparently by the military. There have been a few visits by a small coaster but none of the dockings were recorded. The traffic was noted by my cousin, simply because his apartment looks out over that particular quay. Such unregistered movements are not unusual in this part of the world and nowadays no member of the general public really cares.”
    â€œSo what’s your idea? Where is this quay? Can we go now?” Alex sensed a thrill at this fortuitous piece of intelligence.
    â€œFirst my cousin will show us the site from his apartment, then if you think it’s what you’re looking for, we take a closer look tonight,” Ling said, leaning towards Alex. “I guessed you’d be interested - so I told him we’d be there before eleven - it’s a fifteen-minute taxi ride.” Ling looked at his watch and stood up. “Shall we go?”
    â€œLead the way,” Alex willingly accepted the invitation.
    They pulled up outside a large and rather tired looking apartment building. There were at least ten floors. Alex made a private bet with himself that the lifts would be out of order. He was right; they looked as though they hadn’t been working for some time.
    â€œWe take the stairs yes?” Ling nodded knowingly.
    The rusting external stairs, which doubled as the “Fire Escape”, zigzagged up the gable end of the building. They climbed to the fifth floor.
    Ling’s cousin waited at the entrance to the floor.
    â€œOxygen?” he offered. “Hi I’m David,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.
    Alex shook the hand. David didn’t look oriental to him.
    â€œDavid is a cousin on the European side of the family,” smiled Ling, noticing Alex’s mild surprise.
    â€œPleased to meet you,” Alex smiled, still puffing in spite of his fitness. “How long have the elevators been out of action?”
    David looked saddened.
    â€œAbout two weeks. You see under the new regime, some things work and others don’t and taking responsibility for maintenance in an apartment block is not, it seems, on anyone’s list of priorities,” he smiled. “Still it keeps me fit.”
    â€œDavid, please show us the dock area we talked about and tell Alex what you know about it,” Ling brought the conversation back to the business in hand.
    â€œOver here.”
    David moved to the window and pointed towards a sprawling collection of derelict looking buildings. Many were quite obviously occupied.
    â€œHundreds, possibly thousands of people simply squat over there. Many operate little businesses making things to sell, earning enough to stay alive. If you look over here,” he pointed towards the quay, “you can see that an area has been fenced off and the roof on that old