Page 31 of Generation Lost

“Yes, sir.”

“Can I help you?” smiled Matthew as the man stepped out of the car.

“I just wanted to meet the men that won this round,” said Xi. “You not only beat Marie Rizzoli, but you also did all of this in record time. Bravo.” He clapped slowly with a sneer directed at Matthew.

“We’re pretty proud of it as well,” said Matthew. “Nothing better than helping our fellow man and doing the right thing. Don’t you agree?”

“I’m not sure I do.”

“I didn’t get your name,” said Matthew. “I’m Matthew. Matthew Robicheaux.”

He stuck out his hand, and the man stared at the sturdy old man. He wanted to reject his hand, but something inside him told him to accept it. Grasping the weathered hand, he just stood there, unmovable.

“I’m Xi. Just call me Xi.”

“Xi. It’s a fine name. Folks were hard-working, weren’t they? Owned a laundry outside of Senglouzhen. Work started before dawn and didn’t end until midnight. Their hands were raw, cracked, chapped every day. Freezing weather, sweltering heat, it didn’t matter. Gave you everything they could. Fine, fine people.”

“H-how did you know that?” he asked, still holding Matthew’s hand. It was as if his palm was a magnet, not allowing Xi to let go.

“Oh, I know many things. Many, many things. My wife, she’s a fan of reading everything and anything. So, I like to please my wife,” he said with a wink. “That’s what a smart man would do. I spend my free time reading. Sometimes books, sometimes magazines, and sometimes people. People are my real specialty.”

Xi was so struck by the feelings flooding through his body, his feet felt as though they were encased in cement. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t do anything.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all had the work ethic of your folks? Hard-working people with good core values, honor, dignity, respect. Poured everything they had into their only child, their only son, so his life could be even better than their own. I bet you wish you had just a few more years with them. Just a little more time to tell them what wonderful parents they were and how lucky you were to have them. Fine people.”

“What are you doing? How do you know all this?” asked Xi, feeling panic-stricken.

Matthew pulled his arm with a firm grasp, forcing Xi to lean closer to him. The men and women of the work crew standing behind Matthew weren’t afraid for him but for Xi.

“I know that you were raised by good parents who instilled things in you that you’ve forgotten. Don’t dishonor them this way.” Matthew released his hand, and Xi almost fell on his face. He stared at the man, then back at his own driver and bodyguard.

“Boss? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. We’re done here. These people have done nothing wrong.”

“But, boss,” said the bodyguard.

“Don’t question me. Let’s go.”

They all watched as the car left the neighborhood that would soon become a gated neighborhood. The gates weren’t installed yet, but soon, they would close to all who shouldn’t be there. Matthew smiled at the young men and women around him. The food truck pulled into the neighborhood once again, and he nodded.

“Time to eat. I think I’ll join y’all tonight. We need to celebrate.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“I’m telling you, Gaspar. I’ve seen your father do a lot of amazing things, but he had that man scared straight. He could barely move, barely breathe. I think he meant to hurt your father or me when he arrived, but he just walked away and said we’re done.”

Gaspar looked at his brothers as they prepared to board the boat. He shook his head, his chest swelling with pride. His father was unlike anyone on earth. Or at least anyone that he knew of.

“Gaspar! Gaspar!” yelled Code. “Before y’all leave, you need to know that one of our protagonists has left the building.”

“Xi,” said Gaspar and Grant together.

“How did you know that? I just heard because I had his passport flagged. He left to return to China with no return date expected.”

“Thanks, Code,” nodded Gaspar. “If we’re not back in three days, send someone to search for us. Our trackers are on, comms have been tested and are working, and the boat is loaded for a world war. Let’s just hope we don’t need to start one.”

“I’ll be on twenty-four-seven with Sly,” nodded Code. “Be careful.”

---