“And you deserved it,” Tristan said with equal vehemence. Then he smiled. “Maybe I’m a little crazy, too. But I had to let you know that I’ve changed my mind. Maybe I owe it to my wife’s memory. Maybe I owe it to myself. Whatever. I’ve got some holiday time and a lot of cash, so I’ll go with you to Hongkers and we’ll see if we can figure this thing out.”

“Really?” Marissa asked. “Are you sure?”

“Don’t make me reexamine my decision,” Tristan warned. “But I couldn’t let you wing off to Hong Kong by yourself under these circumstances. I’d feel guilty, and I’ve already experienced enough guilt for a lifetime.”

“I’m so pleased,” Marissa said. “You have no idea.”

“Don’t be too pleased,” Tristan said. “Because it’s not going to be any proper holiday, I can assure you of that. It’s not going to be easy and it’ll definitely be dangerous. Are you sure you want to go through with it?”

“No question,” Marissa said. “Especially now!”

“Where are you headed at the moment?” Tristan asked.

“I’m staying at the Western Star Hotel,” Marissa said. “I was planning on driving to Charleville in the morning.”

“Here’s my suggestion,” he said. “Go back to the Western Star and wait for me. I’ll meet you there. I’ve got another station to visit. I can arrange to have this rental car driven back to Charleville if you have the fortitude to fly with me in my KingAir.”

“I’d do anything to avoid that drive from Windorah to Charleville,” Marissa said.

Tristan tipped his hat. “See you at the Western Star.” He turned and started back toward his plane.

“Tris!” Marissa called.

He turned.

Marissa blushed. “Can I call you Tris?” she asked.

“You can call me anything you want,” Tristan said. “Here in the land of Oz, even Bastard is a term of endearment.”

“I just wanted to thank you for volunteering to go with me to Hong Kong,” Marissa said.

“Like I said, better hold back on your thanks until you see what we’re getting ourselves into,” Tristan said. “Have you ever been to Hong Kong?”

“No,” Marissa said.

“Well, hang on to your kookaburra. The outback of Australia is the absolute opposite of Hongkers. It’s a city out of control, especially now that it’s scheduled to be handed over to the PRC in ’97. The place is a bit desperate, and it’s always operated on money and money alone. Everything is for sale in Hong Kong, even life itself. And, in Hong Kong life is cheap. I mean it. There it’s not just a cliché.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to handle it on my own,” Marissa said.