The Tiger's Prey

To say it had been an eventful few weeks would be the understatement of the year, if not the decade. Daredevil freelance pilot Captain James Sphinx and Misfit squadron had found the best lead imaginable to catch the notorious air pirate Yao the Dragon through smuggler queen of Shanghai herself, the mysterious “Tiger,” known to them simply as Mai - if that was even her actual name. 

Sphinx had spent weeks trying to endear himself to the most dangerous woman in China, all in the hopes of getting to Yao through his own weapons supplier: Now it seemed his infiltration had paid off. 

The letter was delivered to him with the same efficiency as most of her communiques. As the lanky pilot opened the envelope Sphinx’s throat tightened . What was in store for them this time? What dark deed did she want done? 

His green eyes scanned the paper taking in the short, direct note. 

The Tea-House. Midnight. Don’t be late.

“Is this a date, a new proposition, or an invite to my own execution?” Sphinx asked aloud. 

Tex leaned over his shoulder. “Your last date with her was in an opium den with a spiked drink.” 

“Not something I want to repeat,” Sphinx replied. 

“She didn’t say to come alone,” Webster pointed out, the Brit chomping on his unlit pipe. 

“It also didn’t say to bring a guest,” Sphinx chuckled. “But you two will stay close by as usual. Load for bear.”

“Don’t you mean, ‘load for tiger’?” Tex grunted. Sphinx guffawed.

“And how about our lone gunner, Tomas?” Webster asked. “Guarding the planes by himself?” 

The gunner in question was posted just outside the door, he had taken the liberty of detaching the Lewis gun from one of the planes and casually had it propped against some crates, one hand resting upon the machinegun, the other casually sipping from a tin of coffee. 

“I think he can manage,” Sphinx declared.

“Yeah - all aces here,” Tomas said, taking a sip of his coffee. 

Later the next evening - late, late at night - Sphinx, with Webster and Tex following in the shadows per instructions, made his way to the designated meeting place. After checking his pistols and knife for probably the fifth time that day, he surveyed his surroundings again. Even if he hadn’t been infiltrating a crime organization, Shanghai was a dangerous place at night. 

Heck, it was dangerous in the daytime, he thought.

Sphinx’s mind was wandering. Danger was an old companion to him. Whether it was in the air or on the ground, he’d courted death far too many times to count. Every day was a risk, every action a consequence. Someday he knew fate would catch up to him and clip his wings permanently. It could be this very night. He hoped Mai just had some other job in mind, hopefully something simple like running guns again. Maybe he’d even get lucky and find himself delivering to Yao himself. 

The pilot found himself near the teahouse, a small shack located close to the docks. Sphinx could see a light on within giving it a cheery appearance, despite the thugs that stood by the door, arms folded. Red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting flickering shadows against the ornately carved wooden walls. The scent of jasmine and opium lingered in the air, mixing with the distant hum of city life.

They stepped aside not bothering to check Sphinx’s weapons, which he found odd. Did Mai trust him that much now? Granted he had saved her life purely by chance, but she seemed far too cautious to start trusting him. 

Sphinx stepped inside, the floorboards creaking beneath his boots. A single oil lamp illuminated the far end of the room, where Mai sat in a silk robe of deep green, idly fanning herself with a delicately painted fan. The tiger motif on it was subtle but unmistakable.

She gestured to the empty chair across from her. 

“Sit,” she ordered gracefully.

Sphinx hesitated for half a beat before sliding into the seat, resting his hands on the table.

“You’ve been quite the busy boy, haven’t you?” Mai said with a smirk, her eyes boring into him.

“You’ve kept me gainfully employed.” Sphinx remarked. 

Mai stopped fanning herself and snapped the fan closed. 

“Indeed. Ever since that night in the ‘Phoenix Club’ where you saved my life from those gunmen.” 

Sphinx didn’t answer wondering where this was going, Mai sat halfway on her desk, flashing a bare leg. 

“I am grateful for that. Which is why I’m giving you the chance to explain yourself.” Mai said.

Sphinx tilted his head, “I don’t know what you mean.” 

“No?” Mai asked, tapping her closed fan against her leg. “You seem awfully interested in Yao.”

“I think I already explained that interest to you.” Sphinx replied. 

Mai leaned forward, “Then you just so happened to not hit the target I sent you to hit.” 

“He got lucky, Sphinx replied. “Gas leak rumor.” 

Her closed fan slipped beneath his chin as she tilted his head up, forcing him to look her in the eyes. 

“Do you take me for a fool?” Mai growled, much like a tiger. 

Sphinx could feel a cold drop of sweat roll from his armpit down his side. 

“Not at all,” he replied evenly. 

Mai smirked as she withdrew the fand and reached within her gown. Sphinx tensed as he instinctively went for his gun. 

“Don’t,” Mai commanded as she pulled out a weathered paper and tossed it on the desk in front of Sphinx. 

Sphinx’s stomach dropped the moment he saw it. 

A news article, with his face staring back at him in black and white. 

“You should have used a false name.” Mai chided him. “But I would have found out the truth eventually.” 

“I didn’t think my name had spread this far,” Sphinx grunted.

“Captain James Sphinx. You made quite the name for yourself in the Mediterranean. The pirate gangs never quite recovered after you went after them, and you were even younger then. An affair with a Spanish duchess?” 

“Can’t believe everything you hear,” Sphinx said quickly.  

Mai patted his cheek condescendingly. “I’m sure. But now you’ve come east, some loose tongues from some Dutch soldiers on leave told me you recently were in Borneo. Now you come here looking for Yao, and you quite cleverly decided I would be your ticket to him.”

“Meeting you was purely an accident.” Sphinx replied, undoing the flap on his holster.  

“Careful.” Maid growled, “Every shadow in this teahouse is mine, you won’t make it out in one piece. This is your last interview, before I decide what to do with you. Draw that, and I’ll know all I need to know.” 

“Perhaps we can come to an arrangement? All I want is Yao.” 

Mai smiled as she flicked her fan open again. “If only it were that simple. No, I’ve looked more into you. So many stories of you being selfless and noble, it’s endearing really. But such a man as you detests what I do here. No. You would rebel eventually.”  

She rang a little bell as two burly goons strode in grabbing Sphinx before he could do anything. 

Mai sighed as she flicked her fan closed yet again, “This really does pain me. It’s like destroying an art piece. But I shall be merciful, normally I would order something truly gruesome, we have many creative ways to kill someone here.”

She reached behind his head and forced a kiss on his lips, before releasing him. 

“A parting gift. Take him out back, his friends are no doubt nearby. We’ll deal with them too. Shoot him so he falls into the river.” 

Sphinx strained against his captors as one stripped him of his weapons. They hustled him outside one walking before him the other pushing him along, the barrel of a pistol poking him in the back. 

So this was to be his fate? He always expected he’d meet a violent end. It was just the way the dice rolled and, like any gambler, his luck was going to run out eventually. 

The humid air caressed his face and the wood of the docks creaked beneath him. How much further would they go before they ended him? Every second was precious now - every detail crystal clear: the soft glow of the paper lanterns, the nightlife sounds... and in that moment he realized he wasn’t ready to accept his fate. No, he was going to roll the dice one last time. 

Sphinx intentionally stumbled. His captor behind him muttered something in Mandarin and shoved him with the gun barrel again. Which was just what Sphinx had wanted to happen. He hadn’t spent this time in the East without learning a few things. He stepped and spun, his hands catching the wrist of his foe as the gangster fired. 

The bullet struck the gunman that had been in front of Sphinx just as he spun around. The bullet caught him in the chest and he fell with a wheeze. Sphinx kicked his foe in the shins as he removed his hands and drove his elbow into the jaw of his former captor. The larger man went down as Sphinx brought his knee up to the man’s face. A satisfying crunch and the man lay upon the docks moaning. 

Sphinx took the pistols from his foe and looked at them carefully, they were local knock-offs of a German Mauser C96. 

“I can work with this,” Sphinx muttered. They were either just as good as the real thing, or a whole lot worse - Right now, he couldn’t be picky. He had Webster and Tex to save, and a score with Mai to settle. He’d face fate once more, and hopefully his luck would hold out yet.