If Not Now, When?

PART 15 - GREEN AND SPARKLY

"Were you guarding our room all night?" Wei asked.

Hong Fu bowed his head, looking at the carpet. "Yes, Hei Pao Shi."

"Okay, do not worry about it, but you do not need to do that, or maybe you do because you are my guard, and you cannot help it, is that it?"

Hong Fu didn't look up but said in a soft voice, "Yes Hei Pao Shi." He smiled when Wei walked by.

The two detectives greeted them and led the way to the black van. "We think it is most likely that the warehouse is in the forest, not the desert. Harder to see in the trees." Daniel drove to the road through the rain forest and stopped at a parking area with several other vans. "Obviously they won't be close to the road, but off the paths in the wild areas."

When they got out, he handed Yunlan what looked like 2 megaphones and earphones. He pointed to a switch. "This activates the tool. It is very sensitive to sound. You point it in a direction and it will pick up sound half a mile away. Our department and the army reserves have searched here. He pointed to a huge area of hills and forest on a map."

He gave them 2 maps with hatch marks across parts of a grid. "These haven't been searched and are farther away. Access is by foot." He handed them sacks with sandwiches, apples and carrot sticks and ice tea in a can.

"Sorry it isn't much but it will let us stay out late. Meet back here by sunset, about 8:00 PM. Don't get lost. Everything looks the same in the forest. Mark the path you take with these when you go off the trail."

He handed them a bag with white rocks. "Keep an eye out for hidden roads. They have to get personnel and supplies there, especially if they are modifying it for what you think they are going to do."

Shen Wei shuddered. Yunlan put his hand on Wei's arm and they stared at each other. Yunlan patted Shen Wei's arm reassuringly and gave him a smile. Shen swallowed and adjusted his glasses with a nod that he was okay.

Daniel pointed at the map where an area was outlined in red and one area was outlined in blue. "We'll take the red area, you take blue." He gave them two compasses with the maps.

See you back here by sunset. Don't use the radios unless there is something urgent." He and Detective Smith started on a trail from the parking lot.

Yunlan drew a line through both of their maps. "You guys take this one and we will take this way." Shen was using his arm crutches on the trail. He was steady but a little slow.

He didn't mind because it made Yunlan slow down to stay with him. He didn't like Yunlan going fast in his condition. He worried about how Yunlan could hold up, hoping the fever did not return.

"He was so exhausted taking care of me and everything else. He never got enough sleep." Wei thought. After an hour, looking for tracks, waving the hearing device. Wei said, "I am sorry, do you mind if we rest for a few minutes?" He sat on a fallen log on his jacket. Everything was damp.

"Of course Xiao Wei, we can rest anytime you want."

"Was it a mistake for me to come? Will I slow you down, too much?"

"Xiao Wei, it is never a mistake to be together. I would be miserable if you weren't here, and I needed you to take care of me, so don't think it was a mistake. We go at our own speed, as we can. No one is timing us."

Wei looked around at the tall firs above and ferns covering the ground. Moss covered one side or the tree trunks. Lingering drops from the rain stayed on the branches and hung off the moss, poised to drop.

The sunlight streamed down in slanted beams in a few places.

"It is all so green and sparkly when the sun comes through the trees. It is beautiful," Wei said and stood up. When Yunlan stood he came toward Wei and kissed him. Wei laughed to see Yunlan's beautiful lips zeroing in on his own.

"You are right. It is all so beautiful, especially you," Yunlan said, staring Wei in the eyes.

"Ah Lan. You overpraise and delight me. We should move along with the search." Wei cupped Yunlan's jaw and gave a butterfly kiss to his neck before moving down the trail. He laughed softly.

They saw deer, rabbits, squirrels, and one crow began following them, flitting overhead from tree to tree. He cawed sometimes, especially when they stopped to eat. He came down from the canopy and hopped to within 5 feet. He practically yelled at them as if scolding. If they moved a hand or an arm, he hopped into a small tree. Wei threw a bread crust with peanut butter. The crow ignored it, and they got up and walked away.

Wei looked back and saw the crow pick it up and fly away.

They got a call on the radio which they kept silent so as not to alert anyone that they were there. "Your men have found it, return to the van at once," Daniel said quietly and cut off the transmission.

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🌲THANKS FOR READING🌲

AN: This is shorter than usual because I stayed up too late. 🤔

This fan video by Bonibaru has no end of series or sad scenes. The guys are so cute, I didn't even listen to the words even after several viewings. I could watch them forever.