Chapter 36 - The snow clad in red.

23rd December 2010

As the alarm rang at five in the morning, Liqin rose and got dressed to leave. He called up Mr. Chen at half-past five in the morning, and said, "I will meet you below in the morning, at six o'clock sharp, for a quick breakfast before we leave."

He then left a note for Jia which said, "Good morning sweetheart. We are leaving for Cervinia. I will call you once we reach Cervinia."

As Liqin reached the dining area, the security team along with Mr. Chen were waiting for him.

Liqin said, "Let us quickly order our breakfast. We will have to leave by half-past six."

Mr. Chen replied, "We have already ordered coffee, toast, and omelet for the breakfast. Kindly add anything more that you need."

"Just add a glass of carrot juice."

As they finished breakfast, the electric cabs arrived to pick them up for the helipad.

As they reached the helipad, they were accompanied by Mr. Muller and Mr. Accardi, the keeper of the villa.

Mr. Muller turned around, looked up, and said, "Well it's 6: 50 AM, and we should be up in another ten minutes."

Mr. Chen who was looking at the sky said, "Am I seeing this right. Mr. Muller I can see a helicopter already in flight, and one returning as well."

Mr. Muller checked with the guy sitting at the customer service, and asked, "We were told, that the first flight would be of ours. How many have you flown to Cervinia since morning?"

"We flew two since morning. We flew a young lady at six o'clock in the morning, as her friend was stuck in the blizzard with her fiancée and two doctors due to some emergency."

As the executive finished the statement Mr. Muller received a call on his wireless stating, that a tourist guide had visited the police station to inform, that there was a planned assault being executed on some Mr. Li, who had gone to Cervinia.

"You guys get the details from this guy while we fly to Cervinia."

Mr. Muller turned and looked, at Mr. Chen, and said, "We need to get to Cervinia quickly. The threat is for real. We have a witness who overheard the plan of some guys planning to conduct an assault in Cervinia. Kindly try to get in touch with Mr. Li, and ask him to stay indoors locked till we reach."

As Mr. Muller completed his statement the pilot came and requested them to board.

As they were boarding Liqin received a photo on the moments of Bao's social networking account showing an image of two hands held together with rings on them with a statement, "Married already."

"Bao has updated his moments on his social networking account. This means, that his network is accessible, and they are safe till now. Let me call them."

He immediately called up Bao, and as the call got connected said, "Bao you guys need to get inside the villa, and shut yourselves up until we come, and get you guys. The assault plan is confirmed by a witness who has visited the police station to inform about the same."

"I will do that. However, I think Ann has just gone out to get a view of the sunrise of the Matterhorn. Let me check."

"We will reach in another 20 minutes. You guys pack to leave immediately. Kindly do not leave the premises. Call her up, and do not leave the premises. Do not disconnect the call. Just keep on hold, and connect back."

"Fine, I will not disconnect. I will call her up, and then connect back to you."

Bao then put the call on hold, and after a few seconds got back, and said, "Liqin there's a problem. I think she left the phone inside. I will need to get out, and check."

"I don't think it is advisable. Stay inside. Those guys only have you as their target, and not her."

"They have been trailing me throughout. I am pretty sure they are aware of my relationship with her. I am sorry, but I will have to get out there, and check."

As they were talking, they hear a shrieking sound of a lady saying, "Leave me, will you? What are you up to? What is the hurry? I am not returning alone."

"Liqin, that's her voice. I am sorry but I am responsible for her and have to leave the villa. I am disconnecting the phone. You, however, have my live location to track us down. I am keeping my video recorder on for evidence."

As the call got disconnected Liqin turned around and said, "They have been attacked probably. I hope we reach on time. Bao has just sent me his live location."

"Mr. Muller kindly connect to the police department of Cervinia to urgently dispatch forces. We could be late by fifteen minutes."

Mr. Muller then connected to the police department of Cervinia to dispatch forces, and medical help immediately.

As he completed the arrangement Liqin received a call from Li Enlai. As he answered the call Enlai said, "We are on the way, and will touch in another ten to fifteen minutes."

"Uncle kindly do not alight from the copter as the threat is for real, and probably, they have been under attack. We have arranged for the police department of Cervinia for immediate help."

As the helicopter hovered over Cervinia the pilot looked down and said, "I can see people below ahead. Is that the guy whom you are supposed to protect? The helicopter, that had carried the doctors earlier, is also hovering over that area."

As the helicopter landed, the sound of the rotor blades was overlapped by a huge scream, followed by a thud. As they alighted a young lady was hit and pushed down the slope. The doctor couple, who had just alighted from the earlier helicopter rushed to her help.

As Liqin and the security team rushed towards Bao, they encountered the young lady with coffee brown curly hair, who was pushed down the snow.

Liqin stopped by, and asked, "Is she fine?"

As their copter took off, and hovered over the sky, awaiting further instructions from Mr. Muller and team, the helicopter of Li Enlai also reached with two other copters with the security officers and a medical team.

The lady who was being treated by the doctor blurted out, "Henry, go, and save them first. I am fine. He has been shot in the leg."

Henry looked at her and replied, "Esther you are hurt, and you need first aid."

Esther shook off his hand and replied, "I am fine you go. You are needed there."

As she spoke, another gunshot was heard, Bang! Thud! With a huge thud, another young lady with long black hair came down rolling drenched in blood.

As the body came down the hill Esther screamed, "Oh my God! Ann is shot," and she fainted.

Henry asked the doctor accompanying him, "Dr. Jones, kindly take care of Esther. I need to check on Ann."

Dr. Jones replied, "Dr. Wu, you go ahead. I will take care of Esther."

As the doctor checked on Ann and tried to resuscitate her, Liqin looked on. In the meanwhile, one of the security officers came back, and said, "Bao is bleeding. I think he has been shot."

Dr. Wu, who was trying to resuscitate Ann, shook his head with tears in his eyes, and said, "Ann, please fight back. You can't give up so easily."

After a few minutes of helpless resuscitation, Ann breathed her last.

Dr. Wu cried out and tried once again, "This cannot be happening—Ann, fight back."

As Dr. Wu gave up in tears, Liqin bent down beside him, and asked, "Is there no hope for her survival."

Dr. Jones replied with tears in his eyes, "We have lost her. She had been shot in the neck."

As they were discussing the medical rescue team reached, and picked both the young ladies.

As Dr. Jones checked on Bao he said, "There is a bullet wound on the leg, and he has been probably hit on the head. The medical team will be able to comment only after the CT scan. As of now he seems to be stable, and breathing."

As the medical team was being airlifted along with Bao, Esther, and Ann, Dr. Wu said, "We both should be taking off with the medical team in our helicopter. Meet you guys at the hospital."

As the medical team took off with the doctors for the hospital, the security officer said, "We couldn't catch up with them, as they left before we could reach them, and we were not familiar with the terrain."

Li Enlai who was shocked beyond disbelief said, "Get your copters and check for any guys escaping. It should be visible clearly from up above and then report to me. Two of you guys join me, and Liqin to the hospital."

As they reached the hospital, Dr. Wu had been busy on the phone saying, "Dad, Ann passed away in an assault in Cervinia. I am not brave enough to break the news to mom. You convey the news to her yourself."

Dr. Wu paused and continued to listen to the person at the other end and said, "You take care of yourself. I will call you guys back, after a while."

As he disconnected the call, Li Enlai walked up to Dr. Wu, and asked, "What did the doctors say?"

Dr. Wu replied, "Esther has gone into a coma. As for Mr. Li, they are still working on him. Ann's body is being prepared for a postmortem."

Dr. Wu looked up and continued, "Were they able to get hold of the assailants?"

"No, not yet. The Cervinia police force is on their trail."

"Do you know, the guardians of those ladies?"

Dr. Wu replied, "Ms. Xiao Ann was the daughter of my late aunt. I have informed my parents, to decide to send her body back to China to our grandfather. Ms. Xiao Esther is the daughter of a family friend. Her parents are presently in Geneva for a medical convention. I have not been able to get in touch with them as of yet. I will try to connect with them in the afternoon during lunchtime. I will be leaving for China along with my cousin's entourage. By the time Esther's parents reach, it could be eight in the morning."

Li Enlai bent down, held him by his shoulders, and replied, "I am extremely sorry for your loss Dr. Wu."

Liqin sat beside Dr. Wu who by now was in tears, as earlier his professional instincts had prevented him from being emotional, as the circumstances demanded then.

Liqin put his arms around him, and said, "How did your parents react? What about your grandfather?"

Dr. Wu replied, "My mom is inconsolable, as she was the one who brought her up after her parent's demise. They will go directly to China, while we will leave from here with the body. We have not informed my grandfather, about this matter till now. Mr. Li Enlai, we would require your support in getting some visas on urgency."

"Be rest assured. That will be taken care of. I will ask one of my staff to co-ordinate, regarding the urgent requirement of the said visas. Our team will arrange for your flights, for departure as well."

As they were talking, Mr. Muller came along with the police officials, and said, "I just heard the news of the demise of Xiao Ann. We are sorry to hear that. We need to complete some formalities for the handover of the body after the postmortem is complete. Dr. Wu, these are some documents, that need to be completed, and submitted."

"I am going to meet the department in charge of this hospital to discuss some details. Mr. Muller, could you accompany me, as we need to check on the security in the hospital, to avoid any further attacks in the hospital, during treatment."

As Mr. Muller left with Li Enlai, Liqin helped Dr. Wu complete the formalities for the handover of the body.

After an hour Li Enlai returned along with Mr. Muller. It had been already two hours since the operation on Bao had started, and the hospital ambiance was very tense. They had lost one victim, and another was in a coma.

As they were thinking, the indicator bulb of the operation theatre switched off indicating, that the operation is over.

As the doctor came out, Mr. Muller and Li Enlai approached him, and said, "Doctor we would like to discuss something with you, in privacy along with the department in charge."

As they left, the stretcher with Bao was moved to the critical care unit of the hospital.

The security officers were stationed outside the special room, where Bao was moved into. After a while, Li Enlai came back, and said to Liqin, "The doctors claim, that he is brain dead, and is on the ventilator."

Dr. Wu shook his head and replied, "How is that possible? He only had a bullet wound on his leg, and his vital signs were stable when he was rushed here."

Li Enlai sat down in shock, and said, "I can't believe, that my son went down like this."

Liqin embraced Li Enlai, and said, "This can't be true. He has been a fighter throughout. I am sure he is fighting down there."

"I have arranged for a chartered flight, complete with medical equipment, and medical staff to transfer him to our hospital back in Shanghai. We will be leaving for Shanghai, tomorrow from Zurich at ten in the morning. The flight will leave from Shanghai with the equipment, and staff in another hour. If the formalities are complete, I have arranged for the body of late Ms. Xiao Ann to be transported on the same flight. Dr. Wu. we would like you to join us on this flight."

Dr. Wu turned around and replied, "That would be of great help to Mr. Li. The post mortem should be over by now."

"What time would the parents of Ms. Xiao Esther arrive?"

"I need to speak to them."

"I will be leaving for Zurich tonight, to check on the arrangements made. Liqin will stay back, and join you. You both take time out and complete the check-out formalities at the hotel. I have called Jia to speak to Mr. Altermatt and brief him about the developments. Will Ms. Jones be joining us."

"I need to check with her for her plans."

As they were talking Ms. Jones joined them, and said, "This is the list of the belongings of Ms. Xiao Ann and Ms. Xiao Esther. You need to sign and accept them at the counter. They have labeled their belongings separately. Mr. Li, the same needs to be done for the belongings of Mr. Li Bao as well."

"Liqin, you go, sign, and receive his belongings."

"I'll do the needful uncle."

Dr. Wu stood up and added, "I will come along with you. I need to complete the discharge of Ms. Xiao Ann's formalities as well."

Li Enlai looked up and added, "Mr. Muller is available at the billing desk along with the officers of the police department. They will help you with the arrangements. Mr. Chen is overseeing the transport. Kindly discuss the travel details with him, as we would need your passport. Mr. Chen is already in talks with the Chinese embassy to get your Visas stamped. Ms. Jones we would like to know of your plans as well, to arrange for them. Are you planning to come down to China, or stay back here with Ms. Xiao Esther, and her family?"

Ms. Jones turned around and asked, "What date is the burial planned for? It's sad, that this Christmas turned into mourning for the Wu family."

Dr. Wu turned around, stood still, and replied, "We are yet to finalize the date for the burial. She will be buried next to her parents. By the time we reach Shanghai, it will be the twenty-fifth. Most probably it will be conducted on the twenty-eighth of December."

"I will stay back with Esther, and her family, and leave for Shanghai on the twenty-sixth of December. Can that be arranged, Mr. Li?"

Enlai rubbed his hands and said, "Yes, of course, we can do that."

As they were discussing Mr. Chen walked in, and said, "I have arranged for formalities to be completed with the Embassy. Mr. Muller has arranged for the death certificate of Ms. Xiao Ann. We should be receiving the same in an hour. Dr. Jones and Dr. Wu will have to visit the embassy at three in the afternoon to complete the formalities. The postmortem is completed, and the body is being sent for embalming."

Li Enlai looked at his watch and replied, "It's already eleven o'clock in the morning. You guys complete the requisite hospital formalities with Mr. Chen."

Dr. Wu replied pointed in the direction of the billing desk and, "I will go with Liqin to collect the belongings. Dr. Jones, you stay back with Ms. Xiao. Anyway, they wouldn't prefer a crowd in the ICU."

Dr. Wu walked to the billing desk along with Liqin and asked them for their respective belongings. As they were discussing with the billing desk, Mr. Chen joined them.

Liqin turned to him and said, "I will check the items of Bao, let Mr. Chen check the list of Esther while you check that of Ann. This way we will save time."

They checked for the listed items and authorized the acceptance as the hospital sealed and handed them over. Dr. Wu put the belongings of Ann and Esther into the pockets of his jacket while Liqin placed the belonging of Bao into his pocket.

Mr. Chen then helped Dr. Wu with the discharge formalities of the late Ms. Xiao Ann, and said, "Arrangements for stay has been made in the villa of Mr. Li for all of you guys. A helicopter has been arranged to Zurich for your visit to the Chinese embassy. The same helicopter would take you back to check out your belongings from the hotel in Zermatt. It will leave by noon for Zurich. We have already discussed the details with Mr. Altermatt, and he will arrange everything conveniently. You guys would be back by five in the evening. We have arranged for another copter, for Liqin to check out from the hotel, and come back, which will leave in another fifteen minutes. They would be back in the hospital by half-past twelve. We would take care of Ms. Xiao Esther till you guys return. Be rest assured."

Liqin extended his hand for a handshake and replied, "We will meet you in the evening, Dr. Wu."

Dr. Wu shook his hand and responded, "Take care."

As Liqin left Dr. Wu returned to the ward with Dr. Jones.

As Liqin boarded the copter he called Jia, and said, "Jia pack all the belongings, and prepare for checking out. I will reach in another half an hour. Call up the reception, and ask them the complete the formalities of check-out for both us, and Bao as well."

As the call got disconnected, Jia called up the reception requesting for check-out formalities to be completed. She then started packing the belongings. As she had been packing the belongings there was a knock on the door.

On answering the door Mrs. Altermatt walked in, and held her hand out, and asked, "Are you okay Mrs. Chang?"

"Have a seat, Mrs. Altermatt. I was just packing our belongings. Liqin called up to say, that Ms. Xiao Ann passed away, and Mr. Li is probably brain dead, and Ms. Xiao Esther is in a coma. They have arranged for the transportation of Junior Mr. Li, and the embalmed body of Ms. Xiao Ann back to China. It is a very sad ending to a loving beginning. Today morning Mr. Li had updated the moments of the networking site about his marriage to Ms. Xiao, and now things are so bad."

"We have been associated with these three families for ages. They have been our regular visitors. Every alternate year these three families of doctors celebrated Christmas with us. We have seen these children grow from toddlers to young gentlemen and ladies. I never had imagined, that I would also have to see her burial as well."

Jia packed the belongings and replied, "Yesterday evening we were discussing celebrating Christmas with an extended family, but today she is no more with us, and Bao's life is hanging by a thread."

"How is Xiao Ann related to Mr. Li Bao?"

Jia turned around and replied, "Well they got married today morning."

Mrs. Altermatt stammered and replied, "Are you sure of what you said regarding Xiao Ann. But from what I heard it was—"

Jia turned around and replied, "Who else was it, Mrs. Altermatt."

Mrs. Altermatt shook her head and replied, "Well, maybe I heard wrong, but she was here— Are you sure Ms. Xiao Ann got married to Mr. Li?"

Jia looked down paused for a moment and replied, "Li Bao had messaged her name to Liqin, and today morning he even updated his moments on a social networking site with the photo of their hands held together with rings."

Mrs. Altermatt looked confused, and lost in a string of thoughts when Jia interrupted her, and asked, "Is there something disturbing you Mrs. Altermatt?"

Mrs. Altermatt looked at her dumbfounded, and said, "No, nothing at all. I am all right. It's just that I am getting old, and confusing things and people."

Jia looked at her strange composure, held her hand, and replied, "You can speak out your mind to me."

Mrs. Altermatt looked at her lovely innocent face with moist eyes, and said, "It just doesn't sink in, that those kids had such a fate. I always looked down upon Mr. Li for the wrong reasons in the past few days."

Jia sat beside Mrs. Altermatt, placed her arms around her, and said, "Why did you look down upon Mr. Li."

Mrs. Altermatt sobbed, and said, "Because I thought he was not the right person for a believer with a strong foundation like her, and because he was competition."

Jia asked pryingly, "Competition to whom?"

Mrs. Altermatt wiped her tears, and said, "I think we shouldn't be discussing these things now. It was all a misunderstanding after all. I was so emotional in my judgments and selfish in my desires. I realized today morning, that life is so uncertain to plan and gloat upon. I hope, that both the families are comforted, consoled, and healed of their pain and loss. Did you finish packing?"

Jia picked up the last set of clothes from the closet and replied, "Yes, it is almost done. I just need to do a final checking of all the closets to check for anything left behind."

As Jia stood up and checked the closets and drawers for any belongings left behind, she received a call from Liqin. On responding, Liqin said, "I am waiting down near the reception. A concierge is on his way to pick the luggage. Come down quickly."

Jia looked at Mrs. Altermatt, took her hands into hers, and said, "Liqin has reached, and is waiting for me down. It was nice to be staying at this place. It was quite comfortable and homely Mrs. Altermatt. Forgive me if I have ever been rude to you in the past."

As she completed her sentence there was a knock on the door. As the door was opened a concierge walked in with attendants, and said, "Mr. Chang is waiting downstairs, and has sent us to help you carry the luggage."

Jia turned in their direction and said, "Yes, of course, you may."

As the attendant picked up the luggage, Jia held the hands of Mrs. Altermatt, and said, "We cannot change our past actions, however, we surely can alter our future course of actions, and align them with the will of the almighty. I need to leave now. We will surely come back soon to complete this conversation."

Mrs. Altermatt held her face and replied, "You are most welcome my dear. Let me walk you downstairs."

As they reached down Liqin was waiting in the lobby with Mr. Altermatt, and he said, "We had a lovely and pleasant stay here. Had it not been for the present circumstances, we had planned to extend for a week."

Mr. Altermatt touched his shoulder with his hands and replied, "You guys are welcome anytime. Do extend our condolences to the Li family."

Liqin closed his eyes, sighed, opened them, and replied, "We will surely do that. Mr. Altermatt, we also need to check out for Mr. Li Bao and collect his belongings. As for Ms. Xiao Ann and Ms. Xiao Esther, the same will be done by Dr. Henry Wu."

"We can surely do that. You just need to submit a written request with the reason as per the formalities. I will ask one of the attendants to open the room for you guys."

As Liqin submitted the written request, and other formalities an attendant walked in to check out for Li Bao. Liqin made the payments, and then said, "You stay here with our luggage, while I pack the belongings of Li Bao."

As he left to get the belongings of Bao, the cabbie driver picked up their belongings and arranged them in the cab. As he finished Liqin came back, with the belongings of Bao, and the driver began arranging them as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Altermatt bid their farewells as they prepared to leave for the helipad. Liqin looked at the time, and said, "It's already noon. We should be reaching the hospital by quarter to one."

As they boarded the helicopter, Mr. Chen called to check on their journey. As the call was completed Jia said, "Mrs. Altermatt felt very remorse earlier, about her judgment of Li Bao. She acted very confused and kept asking me whether I was sure about Li Bao getting married to Xiao Ann. I even confirmed it to her with evidence, that there was a message from Bao regarding the same and, that he had even updated his we moments today morning, however, she still had her thoughts on the matter. How is Bao doing?"

"We will discuss Bao in privacy later. I do not think this is the right place, and time to do so. Regarding Mrs. Altermatt's thoughts over his marriage, we cannot do anything about it. He was married and has already lost his loved one. He does not even know, that she passed away. He has had a major concussion due to the blow on the head."

"Is he really brain dead?"

"We will discuss that in privacy once we reach Shanghai. As of now let us not discuss this matter with anyone. Enlai uncle has been very privy about this matter, as it could have a huge impact on the business as well. After all, it also concerns the livelihood of thousands of employees of the Li Empire, our investors, and shareholders as well. In fact, uncle has arranged for a special team back in Shanghai to control any news updates being spread through the internet. Moreover, aunty is yet to be apprised about the accident. It will be a huge blow for the family. I hope they will be able to sink it in, and things will come back to normal. I just can't imagine telling her, that the daughter-in-law she was awaiting, is already dead, and lost forever, along with the joy of her cheerful son."

"Does uncle know, that his daughter-in-law died to save his son?"

"I missed that matter completely. I will apprise him of the same once we reach Shanghai. It will be already shocking for him to know, that his son married without his permission. To top it up with the information, that his new bride died to save him, could be even more shocking. It will be a pretty hard blow for him. He must have already guessed some things out, with the presence of two ladies with him near the Villa. I am not sure of the fact, as to whether the security team has apprised him of his updates in the 'moments' of the social networking site."

"I hope aunt Diu will be able to take the blow."

"Your dad has already been informed by Li Enlai. How else could they arrange the chartered medical flight so smoothly in complete secrecy in his absence? Enlai uncle will leave for Zurich today evening to see over the arrangements of the chartered flight with medical facilities, that have been arranged to fly Bao out. They will also fly the body of Xiao Ann back to Shanghai to her grandparents. She will be laid to rest probably on the twenty-eighth of December."