Getting all shook up

» Moiliili

Su Lik lived within walking distance of Fook Yuen -- fook, meaning aroma; yuen, meaning garden -- in a cottage behind the home of an elderly Chinese-American couple who for years had rented to Chinese immigrant girls. The Chuns were as much grandparents as landlords, helping the girls adjust to life in Hawaii.

Thus the cottage came with TV and cable.

"You watch TV, ah," Mrs. Chun told Su Lik the day she moved in. "Every day. Especially you watch the news. You pay attention, ah. You learn good English. No MTV rap-rap-rap."

The 10 o'clock news was about to begin when she heard footsteps outside the screen door. She was expecting Lu Wi any moment, but he always arrived on a mo-ped. It was almost Pavlovian -- she heard his mo-ped coming and her heart began to race with anticipation. But now Su Lik gasped as the running footsteps came closer. She moved quickly to the door to lock it, a scream gathering in her chest. That's when she saw the familiar form of Lu Wi moving in the shadows.

He looked back over his shoulder before entering.

"Why no mo-ped?" she said in Mandarin. "Broken or what?"

"Shhh," he said, touching forefinger to lips.

"Tonight," Joe Moore said from the TV behind them, "breaking news in Honolulu that will no doubt shake up America's international relations, especially with China."

Su Lik and Lu Wi, Chinese nationals, shared a concerned glance, sat down on the couch facing the TV. Feeling he was about to get sick, Lu Wi clutched her hand.

"We go now to the Federal Building and Mina Minimoto."

"Thank you, Joe," the petite reporter said, "and 'shake up' may be an understatement. Today, working together, the Honolulu Police Department and the FBI arrested seven men alleged to be members of Te-Wu, the Chinese secret police. An eighth was arrested yesterday. An FBI spokesman says they were involved in a plot to kill the second Lama Jey Tsong Khapa."

Lu Wi knew that, of course. He was Te-Wu's house boy. He heard them discussing work. And now his worst fears were coming true.

On TV, FBI special-agent-in-charge Charles S. (for Sam, no relation) Goody was speaking into a bank of microphones: "A number of the suspects have admitted having a role in the attempt to kill the young lama, as well as other efforts to spy on various entities in Hawaii. The investigation is continuing, but I can tell you that a number of businessmen and college researchers will be getting visits from our agents tomorrow morning."

And then the TV showed, one by one, members of Te-Wu being unloaded from police wagons and herded into the jail.

Su Lik covered her mouth with both hands. "Lu Wi, Lu Wai, babe ... " she stammered, "you Te-Wu?"