An Autumn Hunting

Chapter 34

The explosion filled the room, but it was the blast of a voice, not a gun.

‘Don’t be such a fucking idiot, Akyl, I’m not going to shoot you. Although I probably should. But that doesn’t mean I trust you either. I need to know what’s going on, and standing naked at gunpoint usually encourages people to speak freely.’

I decided turning around too quickly wasn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had. Better to answer her questions, and let her deal with Quang, Aliyev and Tynaliev, in no particular order.

‘First of all, why did you try to kill Tynaliev? I know he was a shit, but he owed you.’

‘Owned me, more like,’ I said. ‘And I knew that one night, lying awake at four in the morning, he’d decide I knew too much about him, I might be a threat to his wealth and his position. And an hour later, someone would drag me out of my apartment and into a secluded field to watch the dawn for the last time.’

‘Then how was it you didn’t kill him before he could kill you? Point-blank in the back, I heard. Twice. That Yarygin of yours, it’s not a gun, it’s a cannon. I’m surprised they didn’t find pieces of his liver halfway across China.’

‘I used an old Makarov, not mine, obviously,’ I said, reproach clear in my voice. ‘What can you expect with a piece of shit like that? The amount of vodka Tynaliev drank every day, I was only surprised the bullets didn’t ricochet off his liver and hit me.’

‘If you’d succeeded in offing him, his successor would probably have had you promoted,’ Saltanat said. ‘As it is, you’re in up to your neck. I would never have thought you’d move over to the dark side.’

‘I didn’t move, I was pushed,’ I said, irritated. ‘And is it all right if I turn around now? Talking to a wall gets boring pretty quickly.’

‘Put the glass in your hand down first. And move as if you’re treading on very thin ice. Which, of course, you are.’

Finally, I turned around, pleased to see the gun in her hand wasn’t pointing so resolutely at my heart.

‘Why don’t we get dressed and I’ll explain it all to you?’ I suggested.

‘Sure,’ she said. ‘Pick up your clothes and go shower.’

Half through the bathroom door, Saltanat called out to me, ‘Akyl, you need to lose a couple of kilos. Too many expensive meals with your gangster friends.’

That reminded me I hadn’t eaten proper food since I’d landed, and maybe the thought of sudden death and then reprieve straight after sex had given me a surprising appetite.

‘Maybe we can go out and eat something?’ I suggested, and closed the bathroom door.

But when I came out, Saltanat was gone.