My Splendid Concubine (22 page)

William looked surpris
ed. “You haven’t heard!” he said. “Patridge’s summerhouse must be isolated. Most of China has heard by now.”

“
What are you talking about?”

William held up a hand.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back. There’s something you must read.” William left the room and returned with a copy of the
North China Herald
, Shanghai’s English-language newspaper.

“
Read this,” he said, handing Robert the newspaper. “There’s no way Ward can come to you even if our messenger delivers your note to his house.”

The
top headline jumped off the page. It read,
WARD DEFEATED AGAIN!

“
By the way,” William said, “what kind of business are you involved in with Ward? I wouldn’t think he was the sort you’d want to be seen with. From what I’ve heard of him, he’s a rascal with a history.”

“
Let me finish reading then I’ll explain,” Robert replied, as he scanned the columns of type.

While he
’d been gone, Ward had taken Sungkiang then attacked the Taiping stronghold of Tsingpu. That was where he lost his artillery, gunboats and his provision train. For a moment, Robert thought Ward was dead and felt a rush of excitement. Then he skipped a few paragraphs looking for what he wanted and discovered that Ward had only been wounded. The anticipation he’d felt a moment before died a quick death leaving depression in its wake.

The
Herald
did not take kindly to Ward either. The paper’s correspondent had written, “
The first and best item is the utter defeat of Ward and his men before Tsingpu. This notorious man has been brought down to Shanghai, not as was hoped, dead, but severely wounded in the mouth, one side and one leg.”

Ward was
only wounded
, Robert thought.
Hell and damnation!
“It’s too bad he didn’t die,” he said. He saw questions in his friend’s eyes. It took a moment to explain what had happened starting with the battle to regain the opium from the Taipings. Robert did not mention Shao-mei.

When Robert finished, William said,
“That is horrible. I’d want to get that man off my back too if I were you. I’ll gladly be your witness, but don’t be too hard on Ward. He’s had bad luck. The Taipings know what he’s going to do before he does it. They were ready for him.”

Patr
idge had talked about a traitor feeding the Taipings information. Robert wondered if there was a connection. He dismissed that idea. It was too far-fetched. How could one man sell the Taipings information about opium shipments and the movement of Ward’s army at the same time?

It wasn
’t right for Robert to wish death on anyone. He hoped that his Maker would understand and forgive him for his depravity—for he’d finally found love. With Ward out of the way, Ayaou would have been his without a challenge. He could have paid Patridge back the five hundred pounds and freed himself from their odious agreement. Robert patted the spot where the money belt was hidden. He’d probably checked that money a hundred times since leaving Patridge’s house. He worried that it might vanish and wouldn’t be there when he needed it.

“
What are you going to do now?” William asked.

“
What choices have I? You were right in saying I needed to complete this transaction quickly. I have to find the man.”

“
Do you want me to go with you?”

“
Yes.” He was relieved he didn’t have to go alone. “How long will it take you to get ready?”

“
Only a moment,” William replied. “I’m going to my quarters for my pistol. I don’t think it’s wise for us to go without weapons.”

“
You’re right.” Robert patted his coat pocket. “I also have my pistol. I’ll wait outside the consulate.” When Robert left the building, he saw some Chinese men on the sidewalk across from the consulate. They were sitting on stools while barbers shaved their skulls and faces without the benefit of soap.

A street vender was selling battered, deep fried radish cakes
on the corner. The smell caused Robert’s stomach to grumble. He hadn’t eaten since Patridge’s house. He bought three of the cakes. If he were going to complete Ayaou’s purchase, he needed the food to keep his strength up. There was no telling what was going to happen next.

The vender dipped the shredded radish in
the batter mixed with flour then into the pan of oil simmering over a bed of hot coals kept inside a ceramic pot like stove. He sang while he cooked. “Radishes, a delicious taste to meet everyone’s wishes; radishes caked with baby shrimp for a nice touch!”

William arrived, and
Robert offered him a radish cake. William made a face and shook his head. “I don’t trust the food from street venders,” he said. “It’s made me sick before. There have been days that I’ve spent most of my time squatting over the chamber pot instead of working.”

Robert had eaten from street venders before, and nothing had ha
ppened to him aside from some indigestion. Maybe he had a stronger stomach than William did. Robert finished the food during the walk to the American sector. When they arrived at Ward’s house, no one answered their repeated knocking.

“
Here,” William said. He grabbed the doorknob and pulled, but the door refused to yield. They went to the back looking for another entrance but found nothing open. Night was settling in and there were no lights in the house. It was obvious no one was there.

What was he to do? Ayaou belonged to Ward until he paid for her. This debt was not going to disappear. Unless Ward was dead, Robert had no choice but to keep hunting.

“This isn’t doing us any good,” William said. “Come back to the consulate. Maybe the bastard will die in a day or two, and your problems will be solved.”

“
But what if he doesn’t die, and I don’t pay him as he expects?” Robert shook his head. “No, I must keep looking. I won’t rest until I’ve found him.”

“
Then I will stick with you until the task is done,” William said. This show of loyalty had an impact on Robert. His eyes watered. He fought back the threatening tears. “My friend,” William said, and put a hand on Robert’s shoulder, “if you want to find Ward, we should be looking for the man he answers to—that’s Boss Takee. He’s responsible for recruiting Ward and making him a general in the pay of the Chinese. If Ward survives, it will be Takee who decides whether he gets another chance.”

“
Do you know where we can find Takee?”

“
If we find him, it will be at one of his businesses in the Chinese sector of Shanghai. That isn’t a place you want to go alone day or night. I suggest we try his opium parlor first. If he is not there, we’ll go to the warehouses where the opium is stored. Since he is in charge of the native workers in those warehouses, he might be there. If we cannot find him at either of those locations, I suggest we give up. I don’t think it wise to let others know we are looking for Takee. He has one of the largest and most dangerous gangs in Shanghai. Ward recruited most of his army from those gangs?”

A jolt of electricity raced through Robert.
“Is Ward, Captain Patridge and this criminal Boss Takee connected?”

William
’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “You didn’t know? I thought when you went to Patridge’s summerhouse for your holiday you were joining him. After all, Hollister did soon after arriving to China.”

“
They’re in this together.” Robert was shocked. It hurt to realize how trusting and naive he’d been. Like a stupid, blind fool, he’d allowed himself to be manipulated. He was sure that Willow had been part of the plan too. What would Patridge have done next to steal his soul?

When circumstances changed
, Robert resolved to extricate himself from Patridge and end the agreement between them. What other choice did he have? To keep Ayaou, Robert needed Patridge, who could exert influence on Boss Takee to keep Ward in line and away from them. It made sense that while Robert did what Patridge wanted, he wouldn’t have to worry about Ward. It would be like living in an invisible cage waiting for his first chance to escape.

“
Are you okay, Robert? I’ve never seen you look like this before.”

Robert snapped out of his black mood.
“I’m fine,” he said, although he didn’t feel it. Night arrived and it was dark by the time William led Robert to a gambling establishment and whorehouse that also operated a back-room opium den owned by Boss Takee.

“
Stiffen your resolve,” William said, “because you are going to be sorely tested. I should know. I was tempted the first time I came here with my brother Horatio, who visits places like this all the time.”

“
What?” Robert said, thrown off balance. It was impossible to imagine Horatio Lay in a place such as this with the attitude he had of the Chinese.

“
Don’t be shocked, Robert,” William said. “Horatio doesn’t come here for the gambling or the opium. He comes for the women. My older brother is not one of the men that Boss Takee or Captain Patridge owns. Horatio visits other whorehouses too. I’ve told him to buy a woman, but he won’t do it.” William opened the door. They stepped into a gloomy interior where it took a moment for Robert’s vision to adjust to the darkness.

“
Gentlemen,” a voice said in English with a thick Russian accent. An old woman appeared from the shadows. She had doughy skin and eyes like steel marbles. Her henna dyed hair was curly and brittle. She held a cigarette in one hand that was stuck in a long ivory holder. She put the holder in her mouth and sucked. He saw four burly men sitting like menacing gargoyles on stools in the murky corners. Robert recoiled and took a step back toward the door.

“
Don’t be alarmed.” William whispered. “Those are the devils that protect this place of sin. This woman is the mamasan. She oversees the prostitutes. If we wanted a woman, she’d be the one to supply her.”

“
What can we do for you tonight?” She stepped closer to Robert. Her breath reeked of tobacco and the sour stench of liquor. When she smiled, she revealed a mouth full of stained teeth.

“
What kind of women are you looking for, sir?” she said, staring into Robert’s eyes as if she saw something that he didn’t know was there. “We have women to fit all tastes. If you want a child, boy or girl, we can provide that too.”

Panic raced through Robert, and he wanted to flee. It was as if she
’d read his mind. He did want a woman—two in fact, Ayaou and Shao-mei. Her hand was like a claw when it closed on his arm. “Come this way. Maybe it is both opium and a girl that you desire. We offer many pleasures here. Would you like to start with a card game?”

William forced her to let go of Robert and almost had to push her to do it.
“We are not here for women, gambling or opium,” he said.

The four guards stepped out of the shadows with menacing looks on their faces. One held what looked like a wooden club at least two feet long. Robert reached in his pocket for the revolver.

“We are here on business to see Boss Takee,” William said. “My friend knows Captain Patridge and fought with Ward as an officer in his army.”

A change of expression flowed across the woman
’s face. Was it fear that Robert saw leap into her eyes? She stepped back and held a hand up toward the guards. They hesitated for an instant then retreated into their gloomy corners.

“
You want to see Boss Takee?” The tone in her voice had changed too. The voice that greeted them sounded as if it had been coated with honey. This voice sounded as if it had been scraped with a rusty metal file. “I do not know where he is.”

“
Who does?” William demanded. “This is urgent. Captain Patridge and General Ward will be angry if we don’t find Takee. Take us to someone who knows where he is.” Robert stared at his friend, surprised at what he was discovering. William had an iron core.

“
Come with me,” she said, and led them through another set of doors into the smoke filled gambling den beyond. As they followed her, Robert saw card tables crowded with men. Women from all races in slinky Chinese silk dresses stood behind the men as they gambled. One man was stroking a woman’s leg and running his hand up under her dress. She was licking one of his ears. The same man pushed out several hundred yuan and took two cards from the dealer.

They went through a door where Robert came
to a stop as he hit a wall of smoke that wasn’t tobacco. His eyes watered and started to swell shut. His lungs wheezed. “I can’t stay here,” he gasped. “What is that?”

“
Opium,” William said.

The woman was staring at them with hostili
ty and fear.

“
Go back out front,” William said. “If Boss Takee is here, I’ll bring him to you.” Robert hurried past the card tables to the entrance hall. The four guards stared at him from their shadowy perches, and he kept a hand in his jacket pocket on the grip of the revolver.

“
Rotten luck,” William said, as he walked through the door. “Boss Takee left to Macao this morning and won’t be back for a month.”