Tribute to The Kingsmen

» Moiliili

The first time Su Lik heard the song on an oldies channel that the chef played at work, she loved it. The words were mostly just babble, especially for a person learning English, but there was something about the beat and the refrain. She didn't know that it was an American icon, of course, but she did know it made her almost dance as she served diners at Fook Yuen. So when she first learned the name of the man who had been her boyfriend for six months -- and she hoped would one day be her husband -- she couldn't help happily singing his name, the way The Kingsmen did.

She did it again now unconsciously, but it was a sad song.

"Lu Wi, Lu Wai... " she stammered. "Lu Wai, Lu Wai, babe, you Te-Wu?"

On the late TV news, one by one, members of Te-Wu were being unloaded from police wagons and herded into the jail.

"Those men you work for," she whispered, as much statement as question. Those were the men Lu Wi, Lu Wai was with the night she met him. Later he'd explained they were Chinese bankers, that he was employed by the Bank of Lhasa to look after the Kahala estate they rented.

Su Lik believed him. She was proud that he worked for a Chinese bank. Maybe there was hope of upward mobility with the bank. But now...

"Lu Wi, Lu Wai, babe, you lie," she said.

Lu Wi, Lu Wai took her hands, kissed them.

"Of course. That is what spy does."

"You spy?"

"Well... "

He explained this his father did not have great ties to the Communists in Beijing, not strong enough to land a job as a Te-Wu agent. The best that could be arranged was Te-Wu house boy.

"I figure, OK, I work hard, do good job, be quiet, listen. But one day, maybe, I get a chance. And I got it. Today. They ask me to follow lama's limo on mo-ped. I did good job. Zip Lok say so."

Su Lik wanted to be proud of him, but...

"Now, I'm only one left, and job not finished. Also, today, from lama's hotel I follow another car. Something about a little girl. I follow to house in Hawaii Kai. I look through fence. Girl's head is glowing. Like lama. Beijing will not like. Will want her gone. I must do. This is big chance, Su Lik. If I do job, finish job, Beijing have to make me regular agent. My dream come true. I am ready! I make you proud!"

Su Lik began to cry.

"Don't be scared. I can do. I pay attention, be careful."

"Lu Wi, Lu Wai, babe, you don't understand, Te-Wu bad."

Great, he thought, looks like I've talked myself right out of someone to sleep with.