jamesclavell.noblehouse-第145节

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　〃You　see；　Honored　Beggar　King；　this　acquaintance　of　ours　has　just　died；〃　Goodweather　Poon　explained　patiently　to　the　distinguished　old　man。　〃He　has　no　relations；　so　he's　been　put　out　in　Flowersellers'　Alley。　My　High　Dragon　would　certainly　appreciate　a　little　help。　Perhaps　you　could　arrange　a　quiet　burial？〃　He　negotiated　politely　then　paid　the　agreed　price　and　went　off　to　their　taxi　and　car　that　waited　outside　the　city　limits；　happy　that　now　the　body　would　vanish　forever　without　a　trace。　Kin　Pak　was　already　in　the　taxi's　front　seat。　He　got　in　beside　him。　〃Guide　us　to　John　Chen；〃　he　ordered。　〃And　be　quick！〃
　〃Take　the　Sha　Tin　Road；〃　Kin　Pak　said　importantly　to　the　driver。　Dog…eared　Chen　was　cowering　in　the　backseat　with　more　of　Goodweather　Poon's　fighters。　Smallpox　Kin　and　the　others　followed　in　the　car。
　The　two　vehicles　went　northwest　into　the　New　Territories　on　the　Sha　Tin　…　Tai　Po　road　that　curled　through　villages　and　resettlement　areas　and　shantytowns　of　squatters；　through　the　mountain　pass；　skirting　the　railway　that　headed　north　for　the　border；　past　rich　market　gardens　heavy　with　the　smell　of　dung。　Just　before　the　fishing　village　of　Sha　Tin　with　the　sea　on　their　right；　they　turned　left　off　the　main　road　onto　a　side　road；　the　surface　broken　and　puddled。　In　a　glade　of　trees　they　stopped　and　got　out。
　It　was　warm　in　the　rain；　the　land　sweet…smelling。　Kin　Pak　took　the　shovel　and　led　the　way　into　the　undergrowth。　Goodweather　Poon　held　the　flashlight　as　Kin　Pak；　Dog…eared　Chen　and　Smallpox　Kin　searched。　It　was　difficult　in　the　darkness　for　them　to　find　the　exact　place。　Twice　they　had　begun　to　dig；　before　Kin　Pak　remembered　their　father　had　marked　the　spot　with　a　crescent　rock。　Cursing　and　soaked；　at　length　they　found　the　rock　and　began　to　dig。　The　earth　was　parched　under　the　surface。　Soon　they　had　unearthed　the　corpse　which　was　wrapped　in　a　blanket。　The　smell　was　heavy。　Though　Goodweather　Poon　had　made　them　strip　the　body　and　had　searched　diligently；　nothing　was　to　be　found。
　〃You　sent　everything　else　to　Noble　House　Chen？〃　he　asked　again；　rain　on　his　face；　his　clothes　soaking。
　〃Yes；〃　the　young　Kin　Pak　said　truculently。　〃How　many　fornicating　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？〃　He　was　very　weary；　his　clothes　sodden；　and　he　was　sure　he　was　going　to　die。
　〃All　of　you　take　your　manure…infested　clothes　off。　Shoes　socks　everything。　I　want　to　go　through　your　pockets。〃。
　They　obeyed。　Kin　Pak　wore　a　string　around　his　neck　with　a　cheap　circle　of　jade　on　it。　Almost　everyone　in　China　wore　a　piece　of　jade　for　good　luck；　because　everyone　knew　if　an　evil　god　caused　you　to　stumble；　the　spirit　of　jade　would　get　between　you　and　the　evil　and　take　the　brunt　of　the　fall　from　you　and　shatter；　saving　you　from　shattering。　And　if　it　didn't；　then　the　Jade　God　was　regretfully　sleeping　and　that　was　your　joss　never　mind。
　Goodweather　Poon　found　nothing　in　Kin　Pak's　pockets。　He　threw　the　clothes　back　at　him。　By　now　he　was　soaked　too　and　very　irritable。　〃You　can　dress；　and　dress　the　corpse　again。　And　hurry　it　up！〃
　Dog…eared　Chen　had　almost　400　HK　and　a　jade　bracelet　of　good　quality。　One　of　the　men　took　the　jade　and　Poon　pocketed　the　money　and　turned　on　Smallpox　Kin。　All　their　eyes　popped　as　they　saw　the　big　roll　of　notes　he　found　in　the　youth's　pants　pocket。
　Goodweather　Poon　shielded　it　carefully　from　the　rain。　〃Where　in　the　name　of　Heavenly　Whore　did　you　get　all　this？〃
　He　told　them　about　shaking　down　the　lucky　ones　outside　the　Ho…Pak　and　they　laughed　and　plimented　him　on　his　sagacity。　〃Very　good；　very　clever；〃　Poon　said。　〃You're　a　good　businessman。　Put　your　clothes　on。　What　was　the　old　woman's　name？〃
　〃She　called　herself　Ah　Tam。〃　Smallpox　Kin　wiped　the　rain　out　of　his　eyes；　his　toes　twisting　into　the　mud；　his　mutilated　hand　on　fire　now　and　aching　very　much。　〃I'll　take　you　to　her　if　you　want。〃
　〃Hey；　I　need　the　fornicating　light　here！〃　Kin　Pak　called　out。　He　was　on　his　hands　and　knees；　fighting　John　Chen's　clothes　into　place。　〃Can't　someone　give　me　a　hand？〃
　〃Help　him！〃
　Dog…eared　Chen　and　Smallpox　Kin　hurried　to　help　as　Goodweather　Poon　directed　the　circle　of　light　back　on　the　corpse。　The　body　was　swollen　and　puffy；　the　rain　washing　the　dirt　away。　The　back　of　John　Chen's　head　was　blood…matted　and　crushed　but　his　face　was　still　recognizable。
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　one　of　his　men　said；　〃let's　get　on　with　it。　I　feel　evil　spirits　lurking　hereabouts。〃
　〃Just　his　trousers　and　shirt'll　do；〃　Goodweather　Poon　said　sourly。　He　waited　until　the　body　was　partially　dressed。　Then　he　turned　his　eyes　on　them。　〃Now　which　one　of　you　motherless　whores　helped　the　old　man　kill　this　poor　fornicator？〃
　Kin　Pak　said；　〃I　already　t…　〃　He　stopped　as　he　saw　the　other　two　point　at　him　and　say　in　unison；　〃He　did；〃　and　back　away　from　him。
　〃I　suspected　it　all　along！〃　Goodweather　Poon　was　pleased　that　he　had　at　last　got　to　the　bottom　of　the　mystery。　He　pointed　his　stubby　forefinger　at　Kin　Pak。　〃Get　in　the　trench　and　lie　down。〃
　〃We　have　an　easy　plan　how　to　kidnap　Noble　House　Chen　himself　that'll　bring　us　all　twice；　three　times　what　this　fornicator　brought。　I'll　tell　you　how；　heya？〃　Kin　Pak　said。
　Goodweather　Poon　hesitated　a　moment　at　this　new　thought。　Then　he　remembered　Four　Fingers's　instructions。　〃Put　your　face　in　the　dirt　in　the　trench！〃
　Kin　Pak　looked　at　the　inflexible　eyes　and　knew　he　was　dead。　He　shrugged。　Joss。　〃I　piss　on　all　your　generations；〃　he　said　and　got　into　the　grave　and　lay　down。
　He　put　his　head　on　his　arms　in　the　dirt　and　began　to　shut　out　the　light　of　his　life。　From　nothing　into　nothing；　always　part　of　the　Kin　family；　of　all　its　generations；　living　forever　in　its　perpetual　stream；　from　generation　to　generation；　down　through　history　into　the　everlasting　future。
　Goodweather　Poon　took　up　one　of　the　shovels　and　because　of　the　youth's　courage　he　dispatched　him　instantly　by　putting　the　sharp　edge　of　the　blade　between　his　vertebrae　and　shoving　downward。　Kin　Pak　died　without　knowing　it。
　〃Fill　up　the　grave！〃
　Dog…eared　Chen　was　petrified　but　he　rushed　to　obey。　Good…weather　Poon　laughed　and　tripped　him　and　gave　him　a　savage　kick　for　his　cowardice。　The　man　half…fell　into　the　trench。　At　once　the　shovel　in　Poon's　hands　whirled　in　an　arc　and　crunched　into　the　back　of　Dog…eared　Chen's　head　and　he　collapsed　with　a　sigh　on　top　of　Kin　Pak。　The　others　laughed　and　one　said；　〃Eeeee；　you　used　that　like　a　foreign　devil　cricket　bat！　Good。　Is　he　dead？〃
　Goodweather　Poon　did　not　answer；　just　looked　at　the　last　Werewolf；　Smallpox　Kin。　All　their　eyes　went　to　him。　He　stood　rigid　in　the　rain。　It　was　then　that　Goodweather　Poon　noticed　the　string　tight　around　his　neck。　He　took　up　the　flashlight　and　went　over　to　him　and　saw　that　the　other　end　was　dangling　down　his　back。　Weighing　it　down　was　a　broken　half…coin；　a　hole　bored　carefully　into　it。　It　was　a　copper　cash　and　seemed　ancient。
　〃All　gods　fart　in　Tsao　Tsao's　face！　Where　did　you　get　this？〃　he　asked；　beginning　to　beam。
　〃My　father　gave　it　to　me。〃
　〃Where　did　he　get　it；　little　turd？〃
　〃He　didn't　tell　me。〃
　〃Could　he　have　got　it　from　Number　One　Son　Chen？〃
　Another　shrug。　〃I　don't　know。　I　wasn't　here　when　they　killed　him。　I'm　innocent　on　my　mother's　head！〃
　With　a　sudden　movement　Goodweather　Poon　ripped　the　necklace　off。　〃Take　him　to　the　car；〃　he　said　to　two　of　his　fighters。　〃Watch　him　very　carefully。　We'll　take　him　back　with　us。　Yes；　we'll　take　him　back。　The　rest　of　you　fill　up　the　grave　and　camouflage　it　carefully。〃　Then　he　ordered　the　last　two　of　his　men　to　pick　up　the　blanket　containing　John　Chen　and　to　follow　him。　They　did　so　awkwardly　in　the　darkness。
　He　trudged　off　toward　the　Sha　Tin　Road；　skirting　the　puddles。　Nearby　was　a　broken…down　bus　shelter。　When　the　road　was　clear　he　motioned　to　his　men　and　they　quickly　unwrapped　the　blanket　and　propped　the　body　in　a　corner。　Then　he　took　out　the　sign　that　the　Werewolves　had　made　previously　and　stuck　it　carefully　on　the　body。
　〃Why're　you　doing　that；　Goodweather　Poon；　heya？　Why're　you　do…　〃
　〃Because　Four　Fingers　told　me　to！　How　do　I　know？　Keep　your　fornicating　mouth　sh…　〃
　Headlights　from　an　approaching　car　rounding　the　bend　washed　them　suddenly。　They　froze　and　turned　their　faces　away；　pretending　to　be　waiting　passengers。　Once　the　car　was　safely　past　they　took　to　their　heels。　Dawn　was　streaking　the　sky；　the　rain　lessening。
　
　The　phone　jangled　and　Armstrong　came　out　of　sleep　heavily。　In　the　half…darkness　he　groped　for　the　receiver　and　picked　it　up。　His　wife　stirred　uneasily　and　awoke。
　〃Divisional　Sergeant　Major　Tang…po；　sir；　sorry　to　wake　you；　sir；　but　we've　found　John　Chen。　The　Were…　〃
　Armstrong　was　instantly　awake。　〃Alive？〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　no　sir；　his　body　was　found　near　Sha　Tin　at　a　bus　stop；　a　bus　shelter；　sir；　and　those　fornicating　Werewolves've　left　a　note　on　his　chest；　sir：　'This　Number　One　Son　Chen　had　the　stupidity　to　try　to　escape　us。　No　one　can　escape　the　Werewolves！　Let　all　Hong　Kong　beware。　Our　eyes　are　everywhere！'　He　w…　〃
　Armstrong　listened；　appalled；　while　the　excited　man　told　how　police　at　Sha　Tin　had　been　summoned　by　an　early…morning　bus　passenger。　At　once　they　had　cordoned　off　the　area　and　phoned　CID　Kowloon。　〃What　should　we　do；　sir？〃
　〃Send　a　car　for　me　at　once。〃
　Armstrong　hung　up　and　rubbed　the　tiredness　out