Tristan’s eyes swept the lobby. There were so many people. But he quickly picked out the Chinese man elbowing his way through the milling crowd. His right hand was thrust into his jacket. He appeared to be holding something.
Tristan sensed danger was at hand. There was something volatile in the way the man was approaching them. Tristan felt he had to do something. There was no time to flee, especially with the crowds pressing in on them. Behind him he could hear the assistant hotel manager calling his name. The Chinese man was only ten feet away. He was almost on them. He seemed to be smiling.
The hand in his jacket started to move. Tristan saw a glint of metal.
With a high-pitched yell, Tristan pushed off the hotel desk and tackled the man. In the last instant before he made contact, Tristan saw the gun coming from beneath the man’s lapel, but Tristan collided with the man before he had pulled the gun free.
The force of Tristan’s momentum carried them both backward to slam into a large round marble-topped table. The table tipped over, sending china and cakes flying in every direction. The eight people who’d been seated at the table were hurled to the floor.
In an instant, panic spread. What had moments ago been a scene of utter decorum now gave way to pandemonium. People scattered, some screaming, others simply running for cover.
Tristan was only interested in the gun. As he and the Chinese man rolled off the upended table, Tristan managed to grab the man’s wrist. The gun fired, sending a shot into the gilded ceiling.
Attempting to use a kung fu move, Tristan was shocked to find himself thwarted, his opponent as fast and as practiced as he.
Giving up on martial arts, Tristan bit the man’s arm. Only then did the gun clatter to the floor.
But biting the man caused Tristan to lose his position. The stranger took full advantage, flipping Tristan over his shoulder.
Tristan cushioned himself as best he could as he crashed to the floor with a thud. As soon as he hit, he rolled to avoid being kicked. Then he bounced to his feet, assuming a crouched position.
But before he could move he felt himself seized from behind by several other men.
In front of him, Tristan saw the Chinese man back away.
Another man tried to restrain him, but the Chinese executed a perfect kung fu move, sending the interloper to the floor with a crushing kick to the chest. The Chinese man made a run for the front door, darting through panicked hotel guests. Once outside, he melted instantly into the large crowd that had formed in front of the hotel.
Tristan did not struggle against the men holding him. Having noticed the small radio transmitters on their belts and earpieces in their ears, he was confident they were hotel security people.
Marissa. ran over and demanded that Tristan be released. She even started to tug on the house detectives’ arms when they ignored her. But the assistant manager had an immediate effect.
Having witnessed the whole episode, he had Tristan immediately released.
Marissa threw her arms around Tristan’s neck, and pressed herself against him.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“Just my pride,” Tristan said.
“The bloke was better at kung fu than I was.”
“Should we have you see the house doctor?” the assistant manager asked.
“Don’t bother,” Tristan said, motioning toward Marissa.
“This is all the treatment I need.” Marissa. was still holding him tight with her head buried against his chest.
“How did you know the man was armedT’ the assistant manager asked.
“Just an Aussie’s sixth sense,” Tristan said..
“The hotel owes you something for your bravery,” the assistant manager said, “Undoubtedly that man was planning on a robbery of some sort.”
“A liquid reward wouldn’t be refused,” Tristan said.
“Do you people have any Foster’s?” He put his arms around Marissa and squeezed her back.
Once he got out of the hotel, Willy turned right and slowed his pace to a rapid walk. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself by running. His desired destination was the crowded Star Ferry terminal. When he reached it, he was relieved to lose himself in the throng. Hundreds of people were milling about waiting for the next ferry, which was just then nosing into the pier.