Hoo pushed an unruly grey lock away from his sweating brow. He was looking at the darkness outside, with lowering, brooding eyes.
‘The old man lived on for six more years, completely paralysed. Had to be fed with a spoon, like a small child. Sat every day in his armchair on the balcony here, moving only his eyes. They had a strange look, they said, nobody ever knew whether it was love or hate. Whether he wanted to sit there to gloat over the scene where he nearly succeeded in killing her, or because he was still hoping he would see her come back, some day.’
There was a long silence, broken only by Hoo’s heavy breathing. He was still staring outside, his hands clenched, deep wrinkles in his broad, low forehead. Now he wiped his face with his sleeve, darted an uneasy look at his two guests from his bloodshot eyes, and said with a sickly grin:
‘Please excuse my rambling on, my lord! All this will hardly interest you. Old story, all about people who are dead and gone!’
His voice had become hoarse, and he swallowed hard.
‘You never married, Mr Hoo?’ the judge asked.
‘No sir, I didn’t. Families like mine don’t belong to this modern world, sir. We have had our day, so why carp? Mei is dead, Yee is dead, and I’ll join them in due course.’
Tao Gan gave the judge a sign. He had seen a sedan chair halting on the bridge.
Judge Dee rose. Straightening his robe he said:
‘I am glad I know now the real story of the Willow Pattern, Mr, Hoo. And many thanks for the tea!’
Their host silently led them downstairs.
XI
Ma Joong and Chiao Tai were waiting on the marble terrace. Judge Dee cast a quick glance at their drawn faces, smeared with soot. He sat down at the table and asked curtly:
‘How is it downtown?’
‘All is quiet again, sir,’ Ma Joong answered in a listless voice. ‘A mob of about four hundred strong had gathered in front of the Granary. Mostly “old people", judging by their dialect, Fortunately, Brother Chiao and I were inspecting the sewers only one block from there, and we heard their shouting. When we arrived on the square, they were tearing up the pavement and throwing stones at the twenty halberdiers posted in front of the Granary’s gate. Twenty archers had taken up position along the battlement above. More than those forty men we hadn’t been able to spare, sir. Well, hitting out left and right with the flat of our swords, we forced our way through the crowd to our men at the gate. I tried to make the people see reason, but the ringleaders shouted, “Stone the running dogs of the runaway emperor!” and we couldn’t make ourselves heard. Others arrived with burning torches, and they threw those at our men, and on the roof of the Granary.’ He stopped because his voice had become so hoarse that he could hardly speak. While he poured himself a cup of tea, Chiao Tai spoke up:
‘We first ordered the footsoldiers to form a square and try to drive the mob back with their long halberds. But we saw at once that those twenty would be stoned to death in no time. When a corner of the Granary’s roof took fire, we had to order the archers to shoot.’
Ma Joong spat out a mouthful of tea over the balustrade.
‘Not a pretty sight, sir,’ he said gruffly. ‘You know those new-type crossbows. Their iron-shafted arrows go right through an ordinary shield. And they are barbed too. In battle, they are fine weapons to fight with. But to use them on a civilian crowd, that’s a sickening business, sir. And there were women among them too. I saw two men speared on one and the same arrow, like roast meat on a spit. Well, after our archers had shot two volleys, first one at those in the rear, then one at those in front, the mob scattered and fled, dragging along their wounded. They left over thirty dead behind.’
‘By shooting those thirty men,’ Judge Dee said gravely, ‘you saved uncounted thousands of citizens from starvation. If the mob had succeeded in plundering and burning the Granary, a few hundred people would have eaten their fill tonight, but that would have been all. If doled out in the regular rations, on the other hand, the stores will supply the population of the entire city with their basic food for at least another month. It was not a pleasant duty, but it couldn’t be helped.’
‘If old Mr Mei hadn’t died we wouldn’t have had the riot,’ Tao Gan said soberly. ‘Mei used to harangue the crowd while distributing free rice in the market, telling them to have patience, because the rain would come soon and wash the city clean of the sickness. And they trusted him.’
The judge lifted his head and looked up at the sky. ‘Not a breath of wind in the air,’ he said dejectedly. Then he sat up in his chair and resumed in a brisk voice: ‘Take a seat! I shall tell you about Yee’s murder. It’s a strange case that’ll help to take your mind off what happened downtown.’
His three lieutenants pulled seats up to the table. After Tao Gan had poured out fresh tea, the judge gave a succinct account of what he and Tao Gan had found in the Yee mansion, and of their conversation with Hoo. He saw to his satisfaction that the taut faces of Ma Joong and Chiao Tai relaxed with their mounting interest in his exposition of the facts. When he had finished, Ma Joong exclaimed:
‘Hoo is our man, sir! He had the opportunity, the physique needed for utilizing the opportunity, and a strong motive, namely his jealousy of Yee, who was monopolizing the dancer.’
‘And Yee must have smashed the flower vase deliberately, so as to leave a clue to Hoo in his Willow Pattern villa,’ Chiao Tai added. ‘A broken vase or jug can be a very nasty weapon when used as a club, but only street-roughs are aware of the fact. Certainly not a gentleman-born like Yee. Let’s have Hoo arrested, sir!’
Judge Dee shook his head.
‘Not so fast! Hoo was doing his best to act the part of the blunt, blustering country squire. But his best wasn’t good enough, for the man was labouring under some strong emotional conflict. And I had the distinct impression that the dancer Porphyry was but a minor element in that conflict. That’s why he told us all about her and about the way her sensual beauty affected him; without realizing that in doing so he was sticking out his neck for the executioner’s sword, so to speak. That, among other things, makes me inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. For the time being, that is.’
Tao Gan tugged at his thin goatee.
‘To tell incriminating half-truths with a great show of sincerity,’ he observed, ‘is a trick commonly practised by astute criminals. Another thing that seemed to me suspicious was that Hoo didn’t show the slightest interest in the manner of Yee’s death.’
‘He was very much interested in Yee’s eye, though,’ Judge Dee said.
‘Thought of the street song, eh?’ Chiao Tai asked.
‘That jingle was indeed worrying him considerably,’ the judge said. ‘I can’t see why it should. Another thing I’d like to know is why Porphyry went out of her way to stir up trouble between Yee and Hoo. Yee is rich and Hoo is poor, so why should she risk losing a good customer by making eyes at Hoo? Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that both Yee’s maid and Hoo confirmed our impression that Doctor Lew’s private life is very questionable: the man is a lecher. That’s why I am not happy to see him hanging about Mrs Mei. She is still a handsome woman, and now that her husband has gone she is quite unprotected. I was a fool to have sent Lew with my message to her. Have a look and see whether the senior scribe is back yet, Tao Gan!’
‘Returning to the situation downtown, sir,’ Ma Joong began, ‘it appears that the scavengers are developing into a real problem. As you know, the wardens had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get together a sufficient number, and all kinds of vagabonds and crooks joined their ranks. One could hardly pick and choose, for theirs is not a very enviable job, of course. But the fact is that their black hoods serve another purpose besides just protecting them against infection. They ensure anonymity, and many of those scoundrels abuse that for stealing and extorting money from the people whose dead they come to collect.’
Judge Dee hit his fist on the table.
‘As if there wasn’t enough trouble alread
y! Order the municipal constables to keep an eye on those wretches, Ma Joong. The first one they catch pilfering shall be flogged in the market. And let it be known that, if they commit serious crimes, they shall be beheaded on the spot. We must set a few warning examples, otherwise the situation will get completely out of hand,’
Tao Gan came back, followed by the senior scribe.
‘We have drawn up an inventory of all the valuables in the Mei mansion, my lord,’ the scribe reported respectfully. ‘The housemaster assisted us; he has fortunately completely recovered. We also sealed the safe and the cashboxes, pending the arrival of the deceased’s cousin. I saw to it that the body was properly dressed and placed in a temporary coffin.’
‘Was Doctor Lew there too?’
‘Oh yes, my lord. He was a great help in listing the assets. When we left, he was still discussing various household problems with Mrs Mei.’
‘Thank you.’ After the scribe had taken his leave, the judge said peevishly: ‘Just as I thought! I do hope that Mrs Mei will leave for the mountain villa directly after the funeral service.’
‘She should have done so three weeks ago,’ Tao Gan remarked dryly. ‘Mere common sense. I must say that, although Mrs Mei looks and behaves as a lady born, sir, I have my doubts about it. When I was studying the Mei file in the Chancery, I found the record of the marriage, concluded thirteen years ago; it gave no particulars beyond her name, surname and age. I worked through the dossier a second time, but didn’t find one word about her or her family. I wouldn’t be astonished to learn she was a courtesan, bought out by old Mei.’
Ma Joong and Chiao Tai exchanged an amused look. They knew that Tao Gan was incurably inquisitive, and that being unable to satisfy his curiosity always irritated him beyond measure. Judge Dee smiled. Then he asked, serious again:
‘What about those sewers in the old city?’
‘All clogged up with dirt and refuse, sir,’ Ma Joong replied. ‘Swarming with rats. Big, horrible creatures with long, naked tails. Even the biggest cats don’t dare to tackle them. I had my men seal the holes off with iron gratings. The wretched people living in the slums told me that the rats often bite off a finger or a toe of a sleeping person. Once they even attacked and killed a baby in its cradle.’
‘We must have the sluices that connect the canal with the river opened at once,’ the judge said quickly. ‘Then the sewers will be swept clean and the rats will leave when the refuse they thrive on is gone. Tao Gan, have this order transmitted at once to the guards at the east and west city gates!’ When Tao Gan had left, he asked Ma Joong and Chiao Tai: ‘What is your further schedule tonight?’
‘We thought of having a brief nap, sir,’ Ma Joong answered, ‘then going out again, and making the rounds of our military guard-posts. Brother Chiao’ll take those uptown, and I’ll go downtown. As I told you already, we haven’t enough soldiers to man those posts properly, and a few encouraging words will go a long way to cheer up the officers in charge. Our shortage of men really poses a serious problem, sir. As proved by the incident at the Granary. Could you perhaps authorize us to request the commander of the Palace Guard to lend us a hundred footsoldiers or so, sir?’
‘Certainly. Tell the senior scribe to write out an order to that effect, then I’ll sign and seal it. The Imperial Palace is surrounded by broad moats and high walls, and therefore easy to defend. Moreover, the mob is out for food more than for looting.’ He thought for a moment or two, then added: ‘When you are in the neighbourhood of the Halfmoon Bridge, Ma Joong I would like you to have a look at Hoo’s villa, just on the off-chance that he is having company. When I called on him with Tao Gan, I had the impression that he was expecting a visitor. I don’t rule out the possibility that Hoo is in collusion with that dancing girl Porphyry, and she might visit him. This is their chance, for Hoo is all alone in the house. Should she be there, you arrest them both. I have ordered the wardens and the constables to check the brothels for information on that girl, but they have their hands full and I doubt whether they have the time and the men to make a thorough job of it. Well, now the two of you had better retire! Have a wash, and a good nap!’ Looking up at Ma Joong, he suddenly asked with concern: ‘Did you get hit by a stone, at the Granary?’
Ma Joong fingered the lump on his forehead, grinning a little self-consciously.
‘No sir. There was a small scuffle in the Tavern of the Five Blessings where I was waiting for Brother Chiao. I wanted to go to the rescue of a girl who was being bothered by a couple of ruffians. I stumbled and hit my head against a corner of the table. She didn’t need my help, as it turned out. She is an expert in fighting with loaded sleeves, you see.’
‘That’s very interesting,’ Judge Dee said. ‘I have heard about that art. Is it really as deadly as it is reputed to be?’
‘It sure is! The wench had the four fellows on the run before you could say knife. Broke the arm of one of them, too. And she did it all with only one loaded sleeve!’
‘I thought they always used two,’ the judge remarked. ‘Like fighting with two short swords, as practised also by some of those lowly women.’
‘She isn’t a lowly woman at all, sir,’ Ma Joong said earnestly. ‘She is the daughter of a travelling puppeteer. A grumbling kind of chap, but quite well educated.’
‘Her twin sister Coral,’ Chiao Tai put in, ‘happened to be the girl who was bothered by Doctor Lew in the street here, earlier tonight.’
‘Her I didn’t see,’ Ma Joong said indifferently. ‘But her sister Bluewhite is a fine, strapping young woman, sir. Quiet and decent girl. Not at all that vulgar and noisy type one so often finds among travelling show-people.’
The judge gave Chiao Tai a questioning glance. During the many years Ma Joong had been in his service, his tall lieutenant had always shown a regrettable but very pronounced preference for vulgar and noisy young women. Chiao Tai answered Judge Dee’s look by raising his left eyebrow, his mien expressing immense scepticism.
The judge rose.
‘I shall now have a look at things in the Chancery. Come and see me at breakfast tomorrow. Today, I should say, rather. For it’s well past midnight!’
XII
After a cat-nap of barely an hour, Ma Joong set out for the old city. It was getting on for two o’clock in the morning. He had exchanged his heavy battledress of mail for a comfortable jacket of brown cotton, and put on his head a flat black cap instead of the cumbersome iron helmet. He had a long walk ahead, and there would not be any trouble about identification, for all the officers in charge of the military posts he had to visit knew him personally.
When he had inspected the fourth post, he found himself in the neighbourhood of the Halfmoon Bridge. He decided to have a look at the Hoo villa, as Judge Dee had ordered him.
Having walked up the bridge, he remained standing at the parapet of the central arch for a moment, to orientate himself. The villa was dark except for a faint light behind paper-covered sliding doors on the first floor, where there was a narrow balcony.
‘So Hoo has indeed got company!’ he said with satisfaction. ‘We shall join the festivities!’
A lapping sound from below made him look over the parapet. It was caused by the strong current that swirled round the piers of the bridge, then rushed on in foaming eddies.
‘Wish we could open sluices in the sky too,’ he muttered, ‘to get some movement in this damned stagnant air. We .. .’
Suddenly he broke off. Grasping the edge of the parapet, he leaned over as far as he could. Further downstream, near the left bank, just under the balcony of Hoo’s villa, some thing white glimmered in the dark water. For one brief moment he had a glimpse of a bare arm.
He rushed down the bridge and threw himself into the thick brushwood, well upstream from the drowning person. Thorny bushes scratched his face and hands but he struggled on till he had arrived down at the waterside. The current had eaten deeply into the bank, carrying away large chunks of earth. He kicked off his felt shoes, stepped out of
his trousers, and threw those, together with his jacket and cap, into the shrubs higher up the bank. Standing up to his knees in the mud, he steadied himself by grabbing a branch of a half-submerged shrub and peered at the surface, glimmering in the light of the signal lanterns under the bridge. Again he saw an arm rise from the water. The drowning person was struggling desperately, but strangely enough the current did not affect his position. He seemed to be held by an invisible something below the surface,
Ma Joong plunged into the swift stream. After a few strokes he recognized the danger. There was an extensive patch of waterweeds’ there, a mass of tough stalks and trailers. In the stagnant water they had become solidly rooted in the canal bed, and now even the strong current could not dislodge them. Evidently the drowning person had become entangled with those. Ma Joong had been born and bred in the water-district of Kiangsu Province, and he was in his element here. Knowing that any hurried movement would entangle his arms and legs hopelessly in the long, clinging streamers, he just let himself drift with the current, moving his legs up and down only just enough to prevent them from sinking down, and clearing his way through the waterweeds on the surface with his hands. He could discover no sign of the person in distress. Suddenly, however, his groping hands met long tresses, then a bare arm. He quickly passed his left hand under a soft back and, vigorously striking out with his right, he raised the head above the surface. He looked into the deadly pale face of Bluewhite. Her eyes were half-closed.
‘Put your hands on my shoulders and keep still!’ he hissed. He saw to his relief that her lips twitched. She began to retch. He let his legs sink down till his feet found a clear space. Treading water, he passed his right hand along her smooth legs and deftly freed them from the tangled trailers. He realized that, tired and out of training as he was, it would be an arduous job to get her safely to land. With a pang of anxiety he saw that her eyes had closed. She had passed out. He reflected that, although this fact would make her easier to handle, he had to hurry to prevent her from dying on his hands, for her bosom didn’t seem to move any more. ‘I must hurry without hurrying, a devilish job!’ he thought, taking a deep breath.
The Willow Pattern: A Judge Dee Mystery (Judge Dee Mystery Series) Page 7