When He Comes, Close Your Eyes [Ding Mo]

69

“Sit tight.” says Ouyang Lin as his foot slams on the accelerator.  

Because they are travelling in a high speed, the car swings to one side as they are turning the corner. Bo Jinyan puts his arm around Jian Yao’s waist so she can be more steady.  They manage to catch up to the black Porsche.  They are just behind  him.

“Oh no!” says one of the officer that has joined them in their car: “It’s the Sai Kung night markets ahead.”

They have left the highway.  They are now driving on a road with more traffic.  There’s also pedestrians walking along either side of the road. Soon they lose track of the black Porsche.  

Obviously, he has his escape route planned.  

“I have asked for road blocks to be set on the fifteen exits that the road might lead to.” Anam says as he quickly types on his laptop.  

“That’s of no use.” says Bo Jinyan: “He will abandon his car and walk.  Have your people guard the entrances to the night market.”

Ouyang Lin nods.  They are so close to catching him.  They can’t let him sneak into the night market.  It will be very hard to find him amongst the massive crowd.”

They are now in an area full of people and cars. Ouyang Lin has to reduce the speed of the car.  He takes out his phone and calls the other officers: ”Get a team over here and guard the west end of the market entrance…”

“Boss!” says the officer on the other side: “We have an emergency situation here.  There is a bomb.”

Everyone looks ahead to the end of the street.  A wave of people are suddenly rushing down towards them.  Suddenly, the place is in chaos.  There are people everywhere. 

It’s too late.  He has caused chaos.  

“What’s happening?” Ouyang Lin asks the officer over the phone: “Have you notified the bomb squad yet?”

The officer replies: “Yes, we have.  They should arrive in 5 mins.  There’s a man strapped with a bomb in his body.  He is lying in the middle of the road.  We are evacuating the people and residents in the area.”

Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao are holding each other’s hand tightly.  Bo Jinyan is scanning through the crowd.  Jian Yao knows he is trying to find No.1.  

“I just received the news that the family has been rescued from the villa.” says Anam: “They have injuries on their bodies, but none of them are fatal.” 

Jian Yao is relieved.  

Then she pauses.  If the whole family is rescued, then who is the ‘human’ bomb lying on the ground?

She starts walking towards the site,  Her palms are sweating.  By now, the crowd has dispersed.  Her eyes are blocked by the police cars and officers that surround the street.  

——————

A man is lying on the ground, motionless.

There are wounds on his body.  He is only wearing a dirty singlet, and a pair of torn trousers.  His hair looks like it hasn’t been cut for a month.  It’s covering half his face.

“Is that him?” Bo Jinyan asks.

Jian Yao feels like there is a lump in her throat.  She answers: “It’s too far away.  I can’t tell.  But from the shape of the body…. yes.”

It’s him.  Something in her heart tells her. 

An officer next to them passes her a pair of binoculars.  She puts it to her face and looks.