On Writing: Escort Quests

Believe it or not, there’s a series of Chinese movies devoted to these: The Gold Convoyers.

(And no, that’s not a misspelling no matter what WP says. It’s a valid word, just not used much.)

Essentially, heavily armed freight handlers and bodyguards, tasked with getting goods and/or people to their destination in one piece. Not always at a specific time, given the vagaries of washed-out roads, avalanches closing passes, bandit attacks, and corrupt bureaucrats putting out wanted posters. But in one piece.

Yes, wanted posters. Often even if they haven’t run afoul of the law their client has; and that means either making fast tracks out of town, or trying not to hurt law officers just doing their job while also trying to keep your client alive. Often both. (The hero carries a collapsible spear with a spring-loaded sheath for the point. That way he can fight nonlethally as long as possible – and when the cover comes off, you know things have gotten dangerous.)

These stories have a format as simple as a romance novel. Object or person is at point A, needs to get to point B. Yet that simplicity allows for breathtaking variety. What’s the object? Who wants it to get there? Who doesn’t, and what are they willing to do to stop it? Is the client falsely accused? Innocent? Guilty? Possibly all of the above?

For example, in one movie the client works in a bank where everyone steals some of the silver. He’s been cautious, careful, and patient, picking up the equivalent of loose change until he’s got enough to get into a different line of work. But then he stumbles on a massive money debasing scheme, and the bad guy responsible wants our small-scale thief’s head… and his evidence. Cue the petty pilferer hiring this small company of convoyers to get his innocent family out of town….

It reminded me of no few Rockford Files eps, where our aggravated PI is asked to “retrieve” something that actually belongs to someone else – though not legally. On a broader scale it reminds me of a lot of stories in the detective genre: your client is lying to you, but how much? You could get him for breach of contract and leave him hanging – but who else would get hurt if you do? You’re supposed to be working within the law, you should turn this guy in…. But does he have evidence or testimony that will get him killed, unless you get him to cops you’re sure aren’t on the take? How do you balance the law with doing what’s right?

Most important of all: are you ever going to get paid?

In games the escort quest may be annoying. In stories, though – they can take your character across the world, and right up against his moral boundaries. What would you do, to keep your word?

(You can find a bunch of the Gold Convoyers and their prequel series on YouTube. Only some have English subtitles, though. Darn!)

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