‘I do see; and I no longer wonder that you are so scared that if you go to Japan he’ll try to do you in. I suppose the damage you are doing to his dope smuggling would be quite enough for him to want you out of the way. But with the long-term desire to be revenged added to it you have ample grounds for your fears. Still cupidity, if it’s strong enough, can overcome vindictiveness, and from his letter it looks to me as if he really means to do a deal.’
She sighed. ‘I hope to God you’re right. Anyhow, I’ll get the Kuan-yin packed up this morning, and arrange for the first ship leaving for Japan to take it. I think, too, I’ll get … er, Pao Tin-yum, and his wife … Pao Ping to go with it as well as you.’
‘Who are they?’
‘He is a shrewd man and manages all my business affairs. I’m sure you will find him a great help. And if you do succeed in getting Hayashi to hand over Merri the poor child is sure to be in a terrible state of mind; so it would be a good thing to have a woman with you to comfort her and look after her on the journey home.’
‘Yes; that’s a good idea. When can I meet them?’
‘Come back after lunch. I’ll have them here and the Kuan-yin packed up by then.’
Having agreed to do as she suggested, Julian took his leave and walked back to the Repulse Bay. On entering his room he saw, to his amazement, Bill Urata sitting there in one of the armchairs. Next moment the stalwart young Japanese had sprung to his feet and was advancing on him with blazing eyes.
Chapter X
An Ally, Or …?
Pausing in the doorway, Julian exclaimed, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘I’m here to see you, of course,’ Urata shouted. ‘The desk gave me your room number. As it’s still early it seemed likely you’d be here. Door was on the latch so I figured you must still be around and decided to wait. But what’s become of my honey? You’re responsible, damn you! Where have they taken Merri?’
‘If I knew I wouldn’t be here,’ Julian snapped.
‘I’ll lay you would,’ stormed the young Japanese. ‘What’s she to an old stuffed shirt like you? Just a young Eurasian girl you took on as a guide. I know you British. You think yourselves so mighty superior that anyone with a coloured streak can be treated as dirt.’
Julian had difficulty in controlling his temper, and retorted caustically, ‘Before you start talking nonsense about the colour-bar you’d better get back to the States, go south and start going about in public with a negress.’
His face livid, Urata thrust out his arms and in a furious rush attempted to grapple with him.
When young, Julian had been quite a passable boxer. Taking a quick pace back, he feinted at Urata’s face and hit him hard in the stomach. With a gasp the Japanese fell backward and collapsed, doubled up on the bed.
‘Now!’ said Julian, while Urata was still striving to get back his breath. ‘Get some sense into your thick head, or clear out. I’m no more responsible for Merri’s having been kidnapped than you would have been had it been you who had taken her to dine at Aberdeen. And I’m every bit as concerned about what has happened to her as you are.’
‘You … you can’t be,’ Urata wheezed. ‘She … she’s my honey. My … my fiancée.’
Staring at him, Julian said, ‘I don’t believe it. I know you proposed to her. She told me so. But she didn’t accept you.’
‘Well … well, maybe not one hundred per cent, but when I left her I was plenty hopeful.’
‘Then you will be interested to hear that we are rivals for the lady’s hand. I, too, proposed to her, and she came very near to accepting me.’
‘You’re kidding.’ Urata struggled to his feet. ‘I’ll not wear that one. What’d a girl like Merri see to go for in an old bastard like you?’
Julian felt like hitting him again, but kept control of himself and retorted:
‘Quite a number of qualities that she wouldn’t find in a half-educated little Japanese whipper-snapper whose long suit is to ape the manners of an American hobbledehoy.’
Urata’s black eyes smouldered dangerously. ‘You bloody Limey! You lay off me and Americans too. If it weren’t for the States with Lease-Lend and Dollar Aid the whole bunch of you would be as old-hat as the Greeks and Romans by now.’
With a disdainful shrug, Julian said, ‘I suppose it’s understandable that people like you should think that and take no account of the fact that in both wars we stood up to the Germans for years before America felt that her own salvation depended on coming to our aid. But such recriminations get us nowhere. Why did you come to see me?’
Urata smoothed down his crumpled check suit and replied, ‘When I was in Macao I got an urgent cable from my old man to return to Japan. This past week I got off three airmail letters to Merri. Receiving no reply got me all steamed up, so yesterday I called her office, and they gave. Being crackers about her I hopped the afternoon plane and got in late last night.’
‘May I take it that you are already fully informed about this ghastly affair?’
‘Yeah. What I want to know is what’s being done and who’s doing it?’
‘The police are doing everything they can, but up till now they haven’t got a clue.’
‘And you’re just sitting on your fanny knocking back champagne and caviare, eh, instead of creating hell to get the search revved up?’
‘If I were I’d prefer them to your national delicacies of warm saki and raw fish,’ Julian returned icily. ‘But what do you expect me to do?’
‘Why, for Chris’ sake! Get ahold of Mrs. Sang. Squeeze her for the low-down that she might not be willing to give to the cops about other guys besides you and me that Merri’s been going places with recently. Maybe it’s some lecherous old coot who’s snatched her, or maybe someone who had a grouse against her family.’
The young man’s distress was so evident and urgent that Julian decided that, in fairness, he should be told what was going on. Sitting down in one of the armchairs, he motioned Urata to another and said:
‘If you hadn’t been so abusive I would have told you before that that is exactly what I have done. Moreover, I’ve offered a reward of ten thousand Hong Kong dollars for information which will enable us to get Merri back.’ Then he went on to relate the relevant facts that had emerged from his meetings with Tilly Sang and their outcome to date.
When he had finished Urata said, ‘Since she’s in Japan I’m going right back there, as fast as a plane can take me.’
‘You can if you like,’ Julian replied. ‘But you can’t do any good. We can only wait now until the Kuan-yin has been sent there.’
‘Be your age, fellow,’ Urata retorted. ‘This is no job for amateurs but for the cops. Within an hour of touching down I’ll have the police in Kyoto on the job. They’ll soon flush out this old crook Hayashi and get Merri back.’
‘No!’ said Julian sharply. ‘You’ll do nothing of the kind. Hayashi is wealthy, powerful and cunning. Mrs. Sang is convinced that he will have spies among the police. If you start anything prematurely they’ll tip him off, and that could lead to his killing Merri in order to save himself from being convicted as a kidnapper.’
Urata shook his crewcut head. ‘You’re all wrong there. The police in Japan aren’t crooked, like plenty of cops in the States. Besides, my old mar is a big shot in Osaka, and that’s only twenty-five miles from Kyoto. He’ll see one of the top boys on this and get his agreement that only his most trusted men are to be put on the job.’
Julian was now considerably alarmed. Knowing about the great network of spies and informers that Hayashi had established in the past, he greatly feared that Mrs. Sang might be right about his LOW having a similar set-up; so he argued most strongly against the police being called in.
After a while Urata said ‘See here; it’s going to be all of a week before this goddess thing can be gotten to Kyoto. Just think what that poor kid Merri will be going through all that time. You do what in hell you like, but I’m not going to sit around without lifting
a finger to try to locate her. Seeing you’re so set against calling in the cops, I’ll give way on that and instead employ a private dick. Anyway, I’m going back to Japan tonight to see if I can get a line on this Hayashi. Should I have no luck we’ll still have this scheme of yours to ransom her with the idol to fall back upon.’
With a shrug, Julian said, ‘Very well, then. I can’t stop you. But for God’s sake be careful. Remember that Merri’s life is at stake and that Hayashi is completely unscrupulous. If you go butting in on the information supplied by some private eye he may well kill her, and you too. Anyhow, if you do find out anything in the next week I’d be terribly grateful if you would let me know.’
‘Sure I will. And I’ll say now that I was being unfair when I accused you of not caring a cuss what happened to her. Ten thousand dollars, even Hong Kong, is quite a piece of money, and your having offered it for information shows that …’ Urata paused for a minute, then added handsomely, ‘Look, why not come back with me tonight, then I could give you any lowdown I may get on to right away.’
‘It’s good of you to suggest it,’ Julian replied, while thinking quickly. There was nothing more he could do if he remained in Hong Kong for the coming week, and it was many years since he had had even a rudimentary knowledge of Japanese. Probably Mrs. Sang’s couple she was sending with the Kuan-yin did not speak it either; so by joining forces with Urata he might receive invaluable help. After a moment he added, ‘Yes, I’ll come with you. I’m seeing Mrs. Sang this afternoon and I’ll tell her that I’m going on ahead.’
Urata said that he felt sure there was an evening plane for Tokyo that dropped passengers off at Osaka and that he would get their flight tickets and telephone a message to the hotel giving the time of the plane’s departure. Then he left.
After lunch Julian kept his appointment with Tilly Sang. As they shook hands she said, ‘I’ve found out about sailings. There’s a cargo boat leaving tonight, but it looks as though it would be quicker to wait until Sunday morning and use a German liner named the Lubeck. I’ve arranged, too, about packing the Kuan-yin. If I had it crated they might load it by a crane, and we daren’t risk an accident; so I’m having a big wicker basket made lined with plenty of packing to contain it. That will make it much lighter, so that it can be carried on board. As it is so valuable, I’ve booked an extra cabin for it to be locked up in. About Pao Tin-yum, too. He had an important appointment for this afternoon. As we have two days to spare I didn’t ask him to cancel it; but he and his wife are coming in tomorrow morning, and you can be here to meet them then.’
‘I’m afraid I shan’t be able to,’ Julian replied. ‘But that doesn’t particularly matter. They can report to me in Kyoto. I gather that the best hotel there is the Miyako, and if by any chance I’m not there when they arrive I’ll have left a message for them.’ He then told her about having found Urata in his bedroom and the result of their discussion.
Tilly Sang heard him out in silence; but her face expressed alarm, and when he had done she said angrily:
‘Then you told him everything. What in God’s name possessed you to do that?’
‘Why not?’ Julian protested. ‘It’s obvious that he’s head over heels in love with Merri, and just as anxious about her as we are. As he is a Jap with influential connections and knows the city I may find him extremely helpful.’
‘Of course he’s a Jap. That alone is quite enough to make me distrust him. And all along I’ve suspected that he may be one of Hayashi’s agents. You said that he was in shipping. Hayashi owns a line of coastal traders. What could be more likely than that it’s the same line? How could you possibly be such a fool as to trust him?’
‘Oh, come! As they already have Merri, what possible reason could Urata have for coming to see me except his anxiety to get her out of her kidnapper’s clutches?’
‘To find out what measures we are taking to try to get her back. To get in with you, in case you meant to go to Japan and start enquiries there. Hayashi would have felt certain that I’d send the Kuan-yin and probably guessed that I would send someone with it to insist on Merri’s being handed over before he received the goddess. Urata’s game is to win your confidence, then sabotage any plans you may make to get hold of Merri. Who suggested your going to Japan with him? Did he or did you?’
‘He did.’
‘There you are, then.’
‘No; really, Tilly. I know you’ve had ample cause to become overwrought during the past week or so. But you are wrong to get the jitters about this. If you had seen the state of mind Urata was in this morning I’m sure you’d agree with me. He couldn’t have acted the excitement and distress he showed. I’m convinced that he’s on the level.’
She gave a heavy sigh. ‘Well, what’s done is done. We can’t job backwards now. Perhaps you are right about him. If so it’s true that he may prove very helpful. But watch him, Julian; watch him like a lynx.’
Then, ten minutes later, as she let him out of the front door, she said sombrely, ‘I can’t help feeling that the only chance of saving Merri is to go to Kyoto myself and get face to face with Hayashi. We’ve got it in for one another, and if I could take him by surprise I might come out on top. But I’ll only do that as a last resort.’
Back at the Repulse Bay, while Julian was packing a bag, Urata telephoned. He had got seats on the aircraft and it left at six o’clock. Against any unexpected emergency, after paying his bill, Julian changed traveller’s cheques for as large a sum as the hotel could let him have, then was driven into Victoria and crossed to Kowloon. At the airport he found Urata waiting for him. There they had a drink together and the young Japanese, apparently wishing to make up for his abuse of Julian that morning, made himself quite pleasant; an attitude to which Julian duly responded. The aircraft took off on time and the flight was uneventful.
When the plane arrived over Osaka the sun was still shining, but as they descended darkness closed in with surprising rapidity and when they landed it was dark, cold and raining. A Customs Officer made Urata open his suitcase and looked quickly through it, but as Julian was a tourist he gave him a friendly smile and chalked his bag without examining it. A uniformed chauffeur came up to them, bowed gravely to Urata, took their luggage and led them out to one of the family’s cars. Owing to the darkness, Julian saw nothing of the city until the car pulled up in front of a big block of modern flats. Five minutes later Bill was introducing Julian to his father, Yutaka Urata.
Urata senior was a plump little man wearing spectacles with heavy lenses. He bowed twice to Julian, his nearly bald head coming down almost to waist level, before shaking hands. Then he said how happy he was to meet Mr. Day, although in such unhappy circumstances, and that a room had been made ready for him in the apartment as Bill had telephoned from Hong Kong that afternoon.
While Urata mixed whiskies-and-sodas for the three of them Julian had a chance to look round the room. It was large and well furnished in a European style that suggested a Germanic influence, but there were no objects in it of special value. When they sat down, Bill proceeded to tell his father all that he had learned from Julian and they then discussed the situation.
Mr. Urata said that he knew Inosuke Hayashi slightly, as their shipping interests had led to them becoming acquainted, and they had, on a few occasions, played a round of golf together. Hayashi, he added, was a very wealthy man, of good family and much respected.
‘In spite of his war crimes?’ Julian interjected.
Urata looked away uncomfortably. ‘During the war many things most regrettable happened. But it was made by the hotheads of the Army. Many of our people had no wish for the war. Myself, many of my friends. It meant the loss of much business and ruin for many persons who manufactured for export. But it was decreed by the Son of Heaven. There was nothing we could do. Of the atrocities of which our soldiers were accused we greatly disapproved. We are a civilised people and horror filled us when we were told these things. They were committed because the Japanese lower clas
ses have never known spirit drinking. On looted whisky they became drunk as not ever before. It was the soldiers you understand, not the officers; but the officers were held responsible. The Americans sent many of them to prison. So was the case of Hayashi. Many persons say this was unfair. I do not seek to defend. I only tell what is general feeling. Anyway, many persons say right or wrong Hayashi much suffering endured, and it is now all long time ago. Since he leaves prison he leads life of rectitude. That is why I say that he is much respected. His being suspected of kidnapping a young girl fills me with amazing. I find most hard to believe it.’
Julian refrained from mentioning the brutal treatment and semi-starvation that the Japanese officers had unquestionably inflicted on their prisoners of war; but he did tell Mr. Urata that he had good reasons for having no doubt about Hayashi’s guilt in the present matter.
After a while the elder Urata said, ‘You must be tired, Mr. Day, from your travel. Bed now I think, with your permission. I will think much on what to do, and we make more discussion in the morning, yes?’
Julian found the bedroom to which Bill led him also comfortably furnished in European fashion, and that the only outstanding Oriental note in the large apartment was the lavatory. It had no seat and consisted of an oblong china trough over which one had to squat. He was soon in bed and, having had a long day, slept better than he had on any night since Merri had been kidnapped.
In the morning, with many bows, a diminutive maid brought him a pot of tea with a minute saucer-shaped cup and a plate of sweet cakes. As it was the usual Japanese green tea he found it horrid, but he was to fare better an hour later as she reappeared with a dish of huge prawns cooked in butter and a bowl of big strawberries which tasted like other kinds but were very long and pointed. He had twice had similar strawberries in Hong Kong, and knew that they were sent there from Japan where they ripened very early in spite of the climate because they were grown in greenhouses heated cheaply with the steam from hot springs.
Bill for the Use of a Body Page 12