Operation Honey Trap vs The Emperor of the Apocalypse-Chapter 118: An Affair of the Heart

Bo made it back to the capital in one piece. As soon as he docked the boat, he was whisked to the palace by guards who were already waiting for him at the marina.

"Private Ren Bo," announced the Chief Eunuch, ushering him straight into the Emperor’s presence.

"Your Majesty," Bo kowtowed.

"Where are the rest of them?" the Emperor got straight to the point.

"Commander Meyer chased the girls to Packenham on the eastern edge of old Melbourne. The women were under attack by a huge nest of tubiàn red bellied black snakes. There was a swarm of them, at least one hundred.

The girls were on their last legs, and we joined the fight to try and save them. Those snakes use their tails as weapons as well as having a poisonous bite. I was flicked ten metres into the bush, and I landed with my head smashing onto a rock."

Bo had given himself a contusion on the back of his head in case a doctor was asked to verify his story.

"When I came to a few hours later, it was all quiet, but there was no sign of the guards, the women or our horses. I walked the outer perimeter of the nest a few times just to be sure, but the tracks only went in, nothing came out," he shook his head.

"I walked back to Phillip Island where the boat was moored. It’s a two-and-a-half day walk. I happened to be about to set sail just as Major Pitman and his patrol arrived at Phillip Island, trying to pick up the girls’ tracks.

I briefed the Major in detail. Showed him everything on his map; where we’d been attacked by other tubiàn, where we stopped and camped, exactly where it all ended at Saint Patrick’s church at Packenham. He had an indigenous tracker with him, Bill Rutherglen. I understand he’s one of the best, so they wouldn’t have had any trouble finding the place.

The Major told me he needed to lay eyes on the site himself to report back to you definitively whether they’re alive or dead. He sent me back alone to keep you informed.

I’d expect he’ll be back here himself in no more than four or five days, assuming the worst. Of course if they’re still alive, and he has to track them down, it might take a bit longer than that."

The Emperor looked incredibly annoyed. "How could they all be dead?" he snapped. "The Prince’s honour guards are supposed to be the best of the best. How can some measly snakes kill them all? Why didn’t you run before you got overwhelmed?"

"The women had got themselves into a world of hurt. They were surrounded by snakes on all sides, and they had dismounted. Their horses were going wild with fear. They couldn’t go forwards because the snakes’ bodies are so big, and they were massing.

I think they planned to exit through the church behind them, but that turned out to be the nest. It was full of eggs and angry mother snakes. When we rode in, we had to leave the horses and join them before they got themselves killed. It was getting very dire when I was flicked."

"Could they have retreated inside that church and found a safe place? They might still have been in there when you woke up a few hours later. If they were inside, they would have planned to wait for nightfall to leave."

"It’s possible, Your Majesty. I didn’t stay in the area overnight to wait and check if they might be inside the church. I have to admit I just assumed they’d been killed, what with the horses being missing as well."

"Major Pittman will get to the bottom of it," snapped the Emperor. "If they did find sanctuary in that church, they’ll have to leave it at some point, and Rutherglen will find their tracks."

The Emperor looked at Bo suspiciously. "What’s your story private? How long have you been in the military? Who’s your father? How long have you been a member of Prince Alton’s team?"

"I joined the military at thirteen Your Majesty. I lost my father then. He was in the military and fought against the Meng Rebellion. His name was Ren Fabin. I’ve been in the Prince’s guards for just under two years. We all started at the same time when you formed the Honour Guard under him. No changes in personnel since it was formed."

The Emperor nodded. "I don’t recall your father. What rank was he?"

"He was a Lieutenant, Majesty."

"Mm," he replied disinterestedly.

Too low in the ranks for the Emperor to have known him, Bo thought bitterly.

"Alright private, you’re dismissed. Report back to head office for your new assignment. Temporary if the rest of your team return, otherwise it’s permanent. Don’t go too far. Let them know you’re to stay in the capital in case you’re needed. I don’t think I need to remind you not to disclose anything in relation to the mission to anyone. That includes your mother, your sister, your wife."

"Of course Your Majesty. Understood. That was in the original mission parameters, so I’ve never spoken to anyone outside the team except for Your Majesty and Major Pittman."

The Emperor nodded and waved his fingers to dismiss Bo.

Bo walked through the front door of the small cottage in the north of the capital where he grew up.

"Bo!" cried his mother, who was in the kitchen. She burst into tears, and he strode over to her wheelchair and hugged her.

"Bo?" cried his sister Meisha, running in from the backyard. "Bo!"

Meisha joined her mother and big brother in a tight embrace, she was weeping too.

"We were so worried when we didn’t hear from you for so long! You’re alive! Are you okay? Are you injured?" his sister asked.

"I’m fine, I’m fine," he soothed. "It was a secret mission, you know I couldn’t tell you anything. I’m sorry you were both so worried. There was nothing to worry about."

"I’m just so happy you’re home Bo," wept his mother. "Do you have to leave again?"

"No. It looks like I’ll be working in the capital on my next assignment."

"Oh thank God," said his mother, looking towards the heavens. "I was making your favourite chicken pie. I had a feeling you might be coming back to us," she smiled happily through her tears.

Bo bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "I’ve missed your chicken pie mother. I can’t wait to have some."

"Some!" chided his sister, "We all know you’ll eat three quarters of that pie, Bo," she smiled devotedly at her brother.

"Now, now, meimei, that’s not a kind thing to say to your long-lost ge, is it?" he started to chase her around the kitchen table, their mother laughing with delight to see her two nearly grown children back to their childish mischief.

Later that night after a joyful family meal together, Bo sat on the tiny front veranda of their cottage with his meimei, their mother safely tucked up in bed.

"You look sad ge," his sister probed gently. "Did something happen?"

"A lot happened meimei, but I can’t tell you about it. It would put you in danger."

"Have your friends returned with you?"

"No," he said shortly.

"Are they dead?" she whispered.

"No," he chuckled. "You have an over-active imagination meimei," he ruffled her hair.

"What is it then Bo? Was it a horrible assignment? Did you have to kill innocents?"

He laughed loudly now. "Meisha, you’re on the wrong track entirely sis. It’s an affair of the heart that you’re reading on my face. But I’ll be okay. I just need some time."

He knew that was patently untrue. Feifei was etched deeply into his heart and the dull ache was always there. He wasn’t going to ’just move on’.

"Gege. I’m sorry. Did you have to leave her behind after your mission?"

He nodded.

"Can’t you go back for her? Have you asked her parents for her hand? Mother can make the arrangements Bo," she said eagerly.

"If only it were that simple, meimei," he said sadly.