Alien Devices: Tesla joins crew to prevent alien zombie apocalypse (The Secret War Book 2) by Raven Bond Page B

in her
eyes, “it means that he's fallen in with some other rascals that we don’t know
about.”
    “Oh yes, quite,” Abigail said looking down at her teacup. She
placed it down on the desk with determination. “Well, this is much more your
field of knowledge than mine,” she allowed looking around at them. “What is to
be done to find him?” To Will's surprise, it was Guang who spoke first, rising
from his chair to bow to Abigail.
    “If you will allow,” he said. “I believe that if your honored
father still resides within the Shield, I am certain to find him.” Abigail
looked in startlement from Guang to Will. Will nodded encouragement to her.
    “It's true that Guang would know this city better than any of
us,” Hunting Owl said. 
    “I am deeply grateful for your offer, Mr. Guang,” she tripped
over pronouncing the name. “But I am afraid that I am not clear on your
position. Are a member of the crew I have not met before?”
    “Regrettably no, Noble Lady,” Guang replied, “I am here as a
member of the House of An.” Will answered Abigail's look.
    “That means that he is an associate of a new business partner
of ours here in Hong Kong,” the Captain said. When the Scholar raised a hand in
silent request for him to explain more, the Arms Master answered for him. 
    “It means he is part of what you would call a criminal gang,”
Saira interjected. “You would do well, I think, to accept his help in this
Abigail. The An Family is very powerful.” Will ignored Saira's comment, and
looked pointedly at Guang,
    “That still doesn't answer the question of why you're offering
though, Guang,” the Captain said to the An Family representative. Guang bowed
again, this time from the chair that he had claimed.
    “The debt that the House of An owes you Captain Hunting Owl
would not even be touched if I aided the Noble Lady, as well as aiding your
ship, in our mutual endeavor. Hearing her tale, honor demands no less.” He
looked at Will with a steady butter-wouldn't-melt-in his-mouth look that said
Will could believe as much or little of that as he liked. Abigail picked up her
cup in both hands, while this exchange went on around her.
    “I see.” She observed Abigail sat silently sipping her tea,
clearly in thought. “There is one thing I would like to know if I may,” she
finally asked looking up at Will.
    “Shoot,” Will said to her.
    “What have you done to have such. . .people be so indebted to
you?” She leaned forward. “I assume that it was not something as petty as
money. I only ask because if I am to trust this man with Lord Hadley's life I
must know what how strong your bond is.” Guang stirred in his chair at this.
    “I believe that I must ask that the Noble Lady take a similar
vow to my own if you would speak of this, Captain Hunting Owl,” Guang said.
Will nodded at him.
    “That's fair, Guang.” He turned to Abigail. “You understand
what he's asking for? You agree that you won't speak about this to anyone else,
ever. If you do, Guang here, and the whole Fong organization will simply kill
you, and whoever you speak to.” He looked at Abigail. “You still want to know?”
He asked.
    “But you cannot ask this of Abigail,” Saira objected. “She is
not of our ways, and cannot truly know what she is swearing to.”
    “I believe that I understand quite well, Saira,” Abigail
replied crisply. “While I admit I find it a most extreme way of doing things, I
do have my own curiosity now that you have brought it up. I agree to Mr.
Guang's condition.”
    “Wait on that! We are outside of British law and custom here,” Will
cautioned. “It can't protect you in this. We are speaking of how things are
done among the World of Reeds and Air.” Abigail blinked at this.
    “The World of Reeds and Air?” Abigail asked inquiringly.
    “The society of the air devils,” Saira explained patiently. “Wherever
air devils go, there are also smugglers, thieves, and others like Guang about.
We