Page 70 of Wired Strong

The boat trundled on for a couple of hours, navigating among several small islands. Though covered in jungle, their steep gray cliffs reminded Connor of the islets that had peppered the waters off the coast of his beloved Phi Ni.

These land masses were made of a different material: a rough looking basalt. Still, they were topped with pretty vegetation; rising from the crayon-bright water, they were stunning.

Finally, their captain guided the transport launch into the arms of a narrow bay rimmed with palm trees and black rocks. A sandy bottom and pristine white beach welcomed them at the far end of the bay’s mouth. The captain and his helper tied the launch to a narrow dock protruding from the beach, the only indication of human presence.

Connor was relieved to see this sign of civilization. Nine had been to the island while searching for Pim Wat, and had told him the Master’s dwelling was large and well-appointed—but even so, Connor wouldn’t have put it past the Master to have lived for six months in a shack, a yurt, or some other rustic dwelling.

A houseman dressed in the Yam Khûmk?n’s regulation blackgicame running down from in the trees to greet them in the Thai language. “Welcome to Pali Island! I am so glad you graced us with your presence, Master. My name is Tran.”

Connor still winced a little at the title. “I’m glad to be here. He never told me anything much about this place, but I know how much it meant to him.”

“And I hope it will provide you the same kind of rest and relaxation that it did for him,” the houseman said.

The rest of his crew introduced themselves to Tran, and soon their troop was walking up a path lined with white coral stones. Large trees with paddle-shaped leaves shaded the area, immediately cutting the heat by at least fifty percent.

They wound up the pathway, rising higher and higher, and Connor frowned. Was he going to have to walk as far as his road had been, leading to the house on the headland of Phi Ni?

He remembered his beautiful house there with a pang of nostalgia. Hopefully, Sophie would get the property back from the Department of Justice at some point, but those wheels did not seem to be turning at all right now.

They came around another outcrop of the rough gray stone that made up the island, and Kupa gasped, giving voice to what all of them felt when they saw the house.

The Master’s dwelling was built in a Mediterranean style of white limestone, and it rose majestically from the bluff it rested on as if growing from its rocky base. Terra-cotta tiles made up its roof, and the windows were deep, arched, and framed by hand-painted, brightly-colored ceramic tiles. Connor had a sense of how cool it was going to be inside by looking at the mansion, and his blood pressure lowered as he followed Tran through an arched front doorway.

Inside, the tile on the roof was repeated, but in a glazed, open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows and a patio. All the walking uphill had brought them to the brow of a knoll that overlooked the same bay in which they had arrived. The flat-bottomed boat looked like a child’s toy tied up at the dock down below. Gauzy curtains framed the windows and allowed the breeze to blow in. Pure white canvas-covered couches and lounge chairs invited relaxation. All of the furniture was hand-hewn of native woods, and the walls were decorated with large colorful shells mounted as if they were sculptures.

He should have known the Master’s house would be this beautiful.

Connor felt a stab of grief that the Master had never shared this place with him. He still missed the man daily. “This looks very comfortable.”

Tran bowed. “It is our team’s pleasure to make your stay as enjoyable as we can for you, Master. Follow me upstairs, and I will show you the bedrooms. The security team has their own house outside.”

Connor was shown to the biggest suite, which shared the same view as the living room but one floor up. Nine took the guest bedroom on one side, and Kupa and Nam took the other one. A fourth bedroom remained empty at the end of the hall.

Connor refreshed himself in the simple bathroom with its composting-type toilet and catchment water system shower. Overhead lights provided a soft glow, and he spotted photovoltaic cells perched at an angle off of the windowsill to catch the best sun.

This place was completely off the grid, and it was as refreshing inside as the thick, sun-retardant walls had promised.

Connor had planned to lie down on the comfortable bed for only a moment, but evening was slanting long blue shadows across the pure white coverlet when he finally woke up.

He lay there for a moment, staring up at the mosquito netting artfully draped around the wooden frame surrounding the bed.

They were safe here.He’d had the entire island scoured by the ninjas the moment they landed. Contacts at the Palawan Airport and Harbor had never spotted a woman matching Pim Wat’s description here, nor anywhere near the area.

It had been a vigorous and non-stop two weeks since the Master’s ashes had been scattered around the garden he’d loved so much.

Connor had worked hard during the transition to keep the men on a rigorous schedule, and to begin to train some of the more trustworthy elders to lead the martial arts drilling and other functions within the compound. Nine had been his constant right hand, and he couldn’t have come this far without him. Nine had grown in his leadership skills, and easily commanded the men and made the kinds of decisions that he would need to as a leader.

And yet, they both knew Nine wasn’t the next Master, nor did his friend want that role. “My purpose is to facilitate you,” Nine had told him during one of their evening chess matches.

Connor could stay for a short time. The house was isolated, defensible, and a good alternative to his island of Phi Ni for relaxation.

Sophie still had a week or so before her custody month with Momi began; enough time for her to come visit Pali Island. He needed to see her—reconnect somehow.

Connor rose from the bed and changed into a pair of swim trunks and a light cotton robe he found in one of the closets. He headed downstairs to find some food, and then take a swim in the crystal sea—but he never stopped watching for danger. He couldn’t afford to.

Chapter Fifty

Sophie

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