Sandeep Adnani

Chapter 1

July 31, 2039: Hong Kong Island

Tristan walked hurriedly up the slope. A bead of sweat trickled down his left temple as he glanced at his watch, letting out a loud tch, cursing his taxi for breaking down. He had to walk fast if he didn’t want to be late for his meeting at Wu Xing garden. Not a moment could be lost. He was panting as he entered the tall gates of the garden flanked by intricate Roman stone pillars, heading steadfast towards the wrought iron clock.

The name Wu Xing, meaning the five elements in Chinese philosophy, was a charming spot on the island. It attracted local residents who appreciated less crowded spaces. You wouldn’t find many tourists; they mostly flocked to the top of the mountain called The Peak, reached via cable cars. Since there was no public transport to the garden, you needed a car to reach it, as well as local know-how. It was a large round garden, divided into three concentric circles with seasonal flowers and trees, the outer circle leading to an interesting centrepiece of a clock in the innermost circle, mounted on an open fireplace set inside a circular fountain.

Seated at a bench near the fountain, Maya stared at the flames that were struggling to stay alive. The howling wind was blowing with force, flaring and suffocating the fire as it danced around it. Its play reflected in her unblinking eyes, matching her thoughts.

It was not as humid as it usually was at that time of the year but the typhoon season meant unexpected fierce winds and rain. A well-timed gust of wind made her shield her eyes, causing her to face her approaching fiancé.

“Maya! What are you doing here?” said Tristan, a little too loudly, causing the people around them to stare.

“What do you think? You mentioned an odd business to me this morning and told me you were going to be here. So here I am to get to the bottom of it,” she said, fiddling with her ring.

“But I also told you it’s a private meeting or had you forgotten that detail?” he said with a smirk, going forward to give her a peck on her lips.

“My curiosity got the better of me. Don’t you think I deserve to know?” she asked, without any sarcasm in her voice.

“I would have preferred to tell you later myself, I don’t know what this meeting is about and what I should expect,” he said in a hushed tone, careful not to attract any more attention.

“So, tell me what you do know,” she said.

“This,” said Tristan, holding up a handwritten note.

“Wow!” she exclaimed, her voice sounding both excited and nervous, taking the note from him. “Who writes by hand nowadays? We hardly see paper being used in the city anymore,” she said as she looked into Tristan’s tired eyes, which struggled to look alert. “I can’t remember what my handwriting even looks like,” she continued, “it’s something I used when I was young but nowadays, we all, kids and adults alike, type exclusively,” she concluded while holding the note up, feeling the texture of the recycled paper, trying to remember the last time she had touched notepaper. She read it aloud.

“What you seek is seeking you, Tristan. Meet the other seekers at the Wu Xing garden near the peak, tomorrow at sunset, if you would like to know your truth. Signed XI.”

Tristan had read that note multiple times; it had been hand-delivered to his workplace yesterday. It had been a long day, longer still as he thought about everything that had transpired to bring him here.

The last few months had been a blur. He often felt disoriented, directionless and unsatisfied. He had been told to wait at this location in an odd message, which seemed strange, curious—almost otherworldly.

“The reason I am here is that this note resonated with me more than anything has lately,” said Tristan.

“I don’t get it,” said Maya, trying to process what was going on. “Help me figure this out. You have been distant for a few months, so out of it. Lately, you have this new buzz of energy. What truth do you think the note is referring to by the way, that this stranger seems to know and I don’t?”

My truth? How would anyone know what I have been going through? I hadn’t spoken to anyone I knew, except the folks at Treasure&Trash, he thought.

When Maya didn’t get a response she said, “You used to be such an extrovert, I wonder why you have become unusually silent recently.”

“I do not enjoy talking as much, just feel like observing these days,” he responded vaguely.

“Yup, your friends and family tell me the same,” she said, letting out a heavy sigh.

“I can’t put my finger on what has changed. My life doesn’t seem like a merry carnival to me anymore. It seems pointless as if I am just whiling away time doing what everyone else is doing, trying to fit in and be likeable,” he said abruptly. Maya gave him a quizzical look.

“We spoke about this. I thought things were getting better?” she asked in a gentle voice, her gaze softening.

“I have no idea. I suppose things were unformed in my own head. I couldn’t put it all into words. I know I needed a new direction, a new focus. I found both at the support group I go to. It really helps me express what was—and is—going on inside. Most of us feel the same way about things and our discussions around how our thoughts have changed like our environment, helps us to understand and process our dilemma,” said Tristan in a calm voice.

“Hmm. No wonder you seem more excited to meet your group rather than anyone else these days—even me!” she said with a wink, looking a lot more at ease. “You are so secretive about it though, that’s why I wanted to meet you here to make sure you’re okay. You know you can always talk to me about these things, right?” she said, glancing at the silhouette of a tall woman in the distance.

“Of course, I know that my love!” said Tristan giving her a brief side hug.

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you, how did you hear of Treasure&Trash?” she asked.

“I read about Treasure&Trash in a promotional email. On an impulse and much against my normal behaviour, I decided to explore it. I’m so happy that I did! It was exactly what I needed.

“We discuss all kinds of topics related to personal issues, individual growth, beliefs, principles, political values, opinions on the environment and our moral compass. I wish I could take you there but it’s a space I have to explore on my own,” Tristan stated plainly, as Maya looked at her watch which rang. She pressed her wireless earphone to receive the cellular call.

As Maya walked away to answer her call, Tristan glanced at the clock again. He had been here for almost thirty minutes, having arrived a little early. No one had approached him yet. Was it a prank? Was someone secretly filming me while I waited in response to the anonymous note? he thought. Just as he brushed his hands on his jeans, getting ready to stand up, he saw two figures in the distance walking towards him.

A tall and curvy woman with a striking mane of red hair, probably in her late thirties, was walking over with an older gentleman, shorter than her, who must have been in his seventies.

“Tristan?” asked the older man, with no expression on his clean-shaven face.

“Yes,” said Tristan, standing up. “And you are?” Tristan asked noticing the older man’s piercing grey-green eyes studying him. He was bald, slim and his hand trembled slightly as he handed another note to Tristan. Getting no response, Tristan turned to the woman next to him.

“Aurora,” she said. “Nice to meet you!” She held a similar sized piece of paper with two lines written on it. As she appraised Tristan, he unconsciously squared his broad shoulders and fixed his own deep blue eyes on her, appraising her in turn.

“Likewise,” Tristan said, hesitantly shaking her outstretched hand, which made his large biceps flex. People didn’t shake hands any more, the current generation were self-confessed germaphobes. But it would have been rude not to return her gesture, a forgotten social etiquette, so Tristan instinctively responded with a firm but short handshake.

Tristan turned to the older gentleman again, expecting him to enlighten them about the purpose of the meeting.

“He means to speak to us once we are all here. He told me we were meeting you at the fountain when he met me at the rose garden near the entrance a few minutes ago,” Aurora said.

“All?” said Tristan a frown creasing his brow. “There are to be some more people? How many more of us are expected?” He wondered if he could trust these complete strangers.

“One more, according to the note,” said Aurora, holding up her note. Hers was the same as his, which he just read:

“When the trio is complete, the seekers will unite to learn. XI”

Maya glanced over her shoulder as she heard Tristan talking to Aurora and abruptly ended her call. She walked back and stood next to him, giving the two new people enquiring looks. Nobody introduced themselves and just as Tristan was about to do so, the older man gestured for his attention.

“I am sorry but she cannot be here,” he said in a pronounced British accent, his eyes indicating Maya. “This is a private meeting and only people with the note can be part of it,” he said, gesturing towards the second note he had handed to Tristan earlier. Tristan nodded and took Maya aside.

“Darling, you will have to go now,” Tristan said softly to Maya.

“Why? What’s with all the secrecy?” she asked, her almond-shaped eyes staring up at him. Her straight, waist-length hair rippled with ill-suppressed annoyance. When she stared at him like that, she seemed to tower above his six-foot frame, though she was a full foot shorter than him. He grinned to himself and thought, She was a tough one, this woman of mine!

“Don’t worry, I will be fine. Once our meeting is done, I will see you at home,” Tristan said looking steadily into her eyes. When she saw how resolute Tristan was, Maya nodded lightly. She gave the strangers a fixed gaze to memorise their faces and gave Tristan a peck on his cheek.

“I will wait up for you. Stay safe and keep me informed,” she said, loud enough for both Aurora and the older gentleman to hear.

After Maya left, Tristan sat down again and Aurora settled herself next to him. The fire burned strong and bright; the wind had come down to a gentle, warm breeze. The view of the city was great from up here, as the twilight lit the sky. Aurora folded her hands over her knees. Tristan saw Maya’s petite figure turning to wave back at him as she walked down the slope.

“So, we are waiting for the third person, is that correct?” Aurora asked as she looked around for signs of someone approaching. The older gentleman simply nodded. Tristan started to get impatient.

“Should we introduce each other in the meantime and speak a little bit about ourselves?” asked Tristan, hoping to move things along.

The older gentlemen put his hand up to gesture a stop and said, “That will happen in due course, let’s give the fellow a few more minutes.”

“Well at least we know it’s a guy,” Aurora said to no one in particular, shrugging her shoulders and raising her brows, resigned to the fact that she was going to be the only female in the group.

Tristan admired the neatly laid out flower-beds in the well-lit garden while giving polite nods to the other two, listening to the invisible birds trilling and insects chirping away. Another ten minutes passed. Tristan was going to glance at his watch again when he heard the sounds of someone huffing and puffing as they ran up the slope, coming to where they were all assembled. A tall guy ran up, wearing black track pants and a hoodie, looking clearly out of breath. A chiselled face with a light stubble, his dark hair and eyes were complemented by a wide smile and a perfect set of teeth.

“I am so sorry I am late,” he said, beads of perspiration shining on his forehead as he approached the waiting group.

“Hello Matthew!” he said to the older gentleman, who acknowledged him with a peeved nod, not offering his hand. Aurora didn’t offer hers either because he seemed to be sweating. Tristan observed this scene curiously.

“Hi, I am Sid!” he said, to both Tristan and Aurora, offering a smile and nothing else.

“Hi!” they both said in unison and looked at Matthew expectantly. He gestured toward the bench near the fountain. They walked to it and sat down, though Matthew continued to stand.

“I am sure you all are wondering why you received the notes that you did. I am sure you are also thinking about the secret nature of this meeting and how Sid here knows me. I will tell you everything as we move to a private location.”

“Isn’t this private enough?” asked Aurora, who was clearly second-guessing her attendance at this clandestine meeting.

“No,” said Matthew. “I understand your concern. Meeting three strange men and going off to an unknown place with them is probably odd—and potentially dangerous. Here is my phone,” he said, handing her his watch. “You may call anyone you like and they can reach me in case they can’t reach you.” Hearing this, Aurora’s visibly tense body eased. She took his watch and paired it with her earphone before making a call.

“Hi, Mom! I am calling through a friend’s phone so you can save his number…,” she said. Tristan zoned out of that conversation and asked Matthew a question, out of the blue.

“Why did you wait for Sid to arrive before letting us talk? Why wouldn’t you tell us his name?”

Matthew smiled at Tristan and said, “I wanted Sid to introduce himself to you and I didn’t want to speak unless it was absolutely necessary. I am here as a messenger, nothing more. But I admire your curiosity, it will help you understand your purpose better tonight.”

Sid chimed in, “I don’t know any more than you, Tristan, but I can tell you that I know Matthew from my Treasure&Trash group.”

“You what?! You go to Treasure&Trash too?” exclaimed Tristan. “I have never seen you there!”

“My group convenes in Kowloon,” said Sid. Tristan’s jaw dropped.

“Oh, I thought there was only one group in Hong Kong,” said Tristan, his words tumbling out in a hurry.

“Actually, there are three,” said Matthew. “Aurora is from the third one, which meets in the New Territories.” Just then Aurora re-joined the group and handed the watch back to Matthew.

“Thanks for that. I hope my mom won’t need to contact you tonight,” she said, her voice doubtful.

“She won’t, don’t worry. Like I was telling Sid and Tristan, you have each been picked from the three Treasure&Trash groups that meet here in Hong Kong. The reasons why will be discussed at our next venue. Are you ready to go? I can see our ride,” Matthew said looking at a black van standing in the distance.

“Oh, you both are also a part of Treasure&Trash groups?” Aurora asked as her face lit up in a smile.

“Yes, we are! So, you are in good hands! Shall we?” Matthew said as he gestured to the van with his right hand.

The three looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, got up and started walking behind Matthew who was already making his way to the van. He opened the door and waited for Aurora to enter, followed by Tristan and Sid, getting in last. The van had tinted windows, luxurious seats and trimmings with a sliding barrier separating the driver and the passengers, which was drawn up.

“It’s not a long ride, there’s water for anyone who needs it,” said Matthew.

Sid gestured for a bottle and was handed one, the rest of them sat in silence, as the van navigated up and down slopes. The tint restricted them from seeing where they were going. Not before long, the car stopped at an entry, drove on level ground until it entered another gateway where the road sloped downwards.

When it stopped, Matthew said plainly, “We have arrived.”