The Syral
This is my story. You might find it hard to believe but every word is true. I am a service technician by trade. I am single, 32, and live in Richmond Va. I use to live a very ordinary life. But all this changed on my way to work one morning.
While crossing the James River bridge I observed a young lady, standing on the edge ready to jump. I bolted from my car and got to her just in time to be pulled over the edge with her. Sixty feet later we hit the water and I struggled to the surface. In spite of her efforts to fight me I managed to get both of us to the bank. We struggled briefly but apparently a state police officer observed us and called an ambulance. He helped me subdue her until the ambulance arrived. She was quite hysterical as the ambulance left. I had not noticed until then but she was of Asian blood, either Chinese or Korean. After the officer took my statement I changed clothes and made it to work.
I had pretty much forget about the incident until the following week, when I received a call from the secretary of a Mr. Lum. She explained that Mr. Lum is the father of Carol, the girl whose life I had saved. I was invited to lunch the following Saturday and I accepted the offer. She gave me the address and said to be there by noon.
The week went by slowly and Friday was a welcomed relief. I went out Friday night and partied to the wee hours. I arose the next morning had breakfast and left my apartment at 10:30. I had some trouble finding the house, although I use the word house loosely. It was a huge estate with the mansion towards the rear of the thirty acres. There was a guard at the main gate and he asked me for I.D. I was then directed by the guard to the front door.
There I was met by a huge Asian, who reminded me of the character Oddjob from the movie Goldfinger. He was a pleasant enough fellow who introduced himself as Charles, Mr. Lums bodyguard. As he led me through the door I couldn’t help but be impressed by his six foot six and two hundred and seventy pound frame. He led me into a study about the size of a gym and introduced me to Mr. Lum. Charles turned and left closing the door behind him. Mr. Lum was a slightly built Asian of five six and maybe one hundred and thirty. His age was indeterminable but I guessed he was much older than he looked. He was dressed impeccably in a dinner jacket. When he spoke his voice was deeper than I would have expected.
"Mr. Nelson, may I call you Mike?" he asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
“Then you may call me Wung. First let me thank you for accepting my invitation, and second can I offer you anything?”
“Perhaps a beer?” I replied. He pushed a button on his desk and as if by magic a lady appeared from behind the curtain on the wall behind his desk.
“Bring Mr. Nelson a beer Sharon.” After a few idle moments of pleasantries he finally came to his reason for asking me there.
“Mike my daughter Carol means every thing to me and I don’t think I could have lived if she had succeeded in her attempted suicide. She has many problems of the heart and this attempt was just a try to escape from her most recent. I would like to bestow upon you a small reward or two for your risking of your life to save hers.” Before he could say another word I interrupted. Sometimes I made quick decisions on people and I decided that I genuinely like Wung. "I mean this from my heart Wung there is no need for any kind of reward. I was glad that I happened by at the right time.”
“Mike,” he said, “You must know that I am very wealthy from the lifestyle I lead and yet you don’t want a reward?”
“No reward Wung. I found out early in life that money does not equate to happiness.”
“I understand what you are saying Mike, but will you please allow an old man his honour, and his saving of face by accepting my rewards.” How could I refuse?
“Well then,” he said, “Lets talk about what your rewards will be.” Some how I expected some money or a new car maybe but not what he was about to tell me.
“I have already taken the liberty of drawing up the needed papers because I was not prepared to take no for an answer. My first gift is one percent of my entire fortune.”
‘Great,’ I thought, he didn’t get carried away.
“What does that come out to in dollars?” I asked.
He smiled and said, “I don’t think you will have to work again.”
“Don’t play games with me Wung just tell me how much before I faint.”
“About one hundred and seventy million.”
“Oh my god!” was my only reply. I did a little quick math in my head and said “you are worth seventeen billion dollars?”
“Afraid so,” he said. He went on to say that there was a second part to my reward and that it would be explained to me on Wednesday, at an address he handed me. He hoped that I would also accept this, as it was his most prized possession.
“How can I accept your most prized possession?” I asked.