The entire episode began when I got a call the Saturday morning from “W,” my sort-of agent from the previous year. She had just returned from South Africa with a woman that is going to work for an associate of hers in a neighbouring city. But the woman has a few small problems, and can I please accompany her and her husband to the city to have a chat with the woman.

Of course, I’m excited. I had always thought that it would be nice to have a few fellow South Africans in the vicinity. And W. mentioned that the woman is blond…

So it happened that I towed along to meet the Blond Woman.

The moment I saw her I knew something was wrong. Her hands trembled, she was somewhat pale around the cheeks, and she was obviously overwhelmed to see somebody that can be of some assistance to her. She immediately started to explained how unhappy she was with her job situation, and how she has to live with her boss and his family in their apartment. And this and that promise that were made, hasn’t materialised.

Some people see dollar signs flashing in front of their eyes; while she was talking to me, I saw the Lone Rider. My mouth transformed into a well-oiled Colt revolver, I see myself firing a few arguments in the direction of the crooks, and how, just as the sun is setting behind the mountains, I’m sitting next to the Blond Woman on the train back to Fengshan.

After hours of arguments, we finally got to a point where W.’s associate, “Honest R,” made a suggestion: if I guarantee that they will not lose the money they had paid to get the woman in Taiwan, then they will “release” her in my care.

Already speaking on behalf of the Blond Woman for the entire afternoon, I realised that if I fail to agree, my attempt to help her would be about as ridiculous as an empty Colt at a gun battle. So I agreed: “I guarantee that, if she is not going to work for you, I shall personally ensure the return of the NT$40,000  that you have spent on her.”

From: The Personal Agenda of Brand Smit, Book One