jamesclavell.noblehouse-第133章

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nd　if　you're　looking　for　the　gambling　school　it's　nothing　to　do　with　us　but　it's　on　the　fourth　floor　at　the　back　and　we　know　nothing　about　the　smelly　whores　in　16　who　set　up　shop　and　work　till　all　hours　making　the　rest　of　us　civ…　〃
　〃Enough；〃　Wu　said　sharply；　〃we　are　police　on　important　matters！　These　Lords　of　the　police　are　important！　You're　the　wife　of　Ch'ung　the　dustman？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied　sullenly。　〃What　do　you　want　with　us？　We've　done　noth…　〃
　〃Enough！〃　Armstrong　interrupted　in　English　with　deliberate　arrogance。　〃Is　that　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃You！　You're　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃Eh；　me？　Wat？〃　The　old　amah　tugged　at　her　apron　nervously；　not　recognizing　Wu。
　〃So　you're　Ah　Tam！　You're　under　arrest。〃
　Ah　Tam　went　white　and　the　middle…aged　woman　cursed　and　said　in　a　rush；　〃Ah！　So　it's　you　they're　after！　Huh；　we　know　nothing　about　her　except　we　picked　her　off　the　street　a　few　months　ago　and　gave　her　a　home　and　sal…　〃
　〃Wu；　tell　her　to　shut　up！〃
　He　told　her　impolitely。　She　obeyed　even　more　sullenly。　〃These　Lords　want　to　know　is　there　anyone　else　here？〃
　〃Of　course　there　isn't。　Are　they　blind？　Haven't　they　raped　my　house　like　assassins　and　seen　for　themselves？〃　the　shrew　said　truculently。　〃I　know　nothing　about　nothing。〃
　〃Ah　Tam！　These　Lords　want　to　know　where　your　room　is。〃
　The　amah　found　her　voice　and　began　to　bluster；　〃What　do　you　want　with　me；　Honorable　Policeman？　I've　done　nothing；　I'm　not　an　illegal；　I've　papers　since　last　year。　I've　done　nothing；　I'm　a　law…abiding　civilized　person　who's　worked　all　her　li…　〃
　〃Where's　your　room？〃
　The　younger　woman　pointed。　〃There；〃　she　said　in　her　screeching；　irritating　voice；　〃where　else　would　her　room　be？　Of　course　it's　there　off　the　kitchen！　Are　these　foreign　devils　senseless？　Where　else　do　maids　live？　And　you；　you　old　maggot！　Getting　honest　people　into　trouble！　What's　she　done？　If　it's　stolen　vegetables　it's　nothing　to　do　with　me！〃
　〃Quiet　or　we　shall　take　you　to　our　headquarters　and　surely　the　judge　will　want　you　kept　in　custody！　Quiet！〃
　The　woman　started　to　curse　but　bit　it　back。
　Armstrong　said；　〃Now；　what　。。。〃　Then　he　noticed　that　several　curious　Chinese　were　peering　into　the　room　from　the　landing。　He　stared　back；　took　a　sudden　pace　toward　them。　They　vanished。　He　closed　the　door；　hiding　his　amusement。　〃Now；　ask　both　of　them　what　they　know　about　the　Werewolves。〃
　The　woman　gaped　at　Wu。　Ah　Tam　went　a　little　grayer。　〃Eh；　me？　Werewolves？　Nothing！　Why　should　I　know　about　those　foul　kidnappers。　What　have　they　to　do　with　me？　Nothing　nothing　at　all！〃
　〃What　about　you；　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃Me？　Nothing　at　all；〃　she　said　querulously；　〃I'm　a　respectable　amah　who　does　her　work　and　nothing　else！〃
　Wu　translated　their　answers。　Both　men　noticed　that　his　translation　was　accurate；　fast　and　easy。　Both　were　patient　and　they　continued　to　play　the　game　they　had　played　so　many　times　before。　〃Tell　her　she'd　better　tell　the　truth　quickly。〃　Armstrong　glowered　down　at　her。　He　bore　her　no　ill　feeling；　neither　did　Smyth。　They　just　wanted　the　truth。　The　truth　might　lead　to　the　identity　of　the　Werewolves　and　the　sooner　those　villains　were　hung　for　murder　the　easier　it　would　be　to　control　Hong　Kong　and　the　sooner　law…abiding　citizens；　including　themselves；　could　go　about　their　own　business　or　hobbies　…　making　money　or　racing　or　whoring。　Yes；　Armstrong　thought；　sorry　for　the　old　woman。　Twenty　dollars　to　a　broken　hatpin　the　shrew　knows　nothing　but　Ah　Tam　knows　more　than　she'll　ever　tell　us。
　〃I　want　the　truth。　Tell　her！〃　he　said。
　〃Truth？　What　truth；　Honorable　Lord？　How　could　this　poor　old　body　be　anyth…　〃
　Armstrong　put　up　his　hand　dramatically。　〃Enough！〃　This　was　another　prearranged　signal。　At　once　Spectacles　Wu　switched　to　Ning…tok　dialect　which　he　knew　neither　of　them　understood。　〃Elder　Sister；　I　suggest　you　talk　quickly　and　openly。　We　know　everything　already！〃
　Ah　Tam　gaped　at　him。　She　had　only　two　twisted　teeth　in　a　lower　gum。　〃Eh；　Younger　Brother？〃　she　replied　in　the　same　dialect；　caught　off　guard。　〃What　do　you　want　with　me？〃
　〃The　truth！　I　know　all　about　you！〃
　She　peered　at　him　without　recognition。　〃What　truth？　I've　never　seen　you　before　in　my　life！〃
　〃Don't　you　remember　me？　In　the　poultry　market？　You　helped　me　buy　a　chicken　and　then　we　had　tea。　Yesterday。　Don't　you　remember？　You　told　me　about　the　Werewolves；　how　they　were　going　to　give　you　a　huge　reward　。。。〃
　All　three　saw　the　momentary　flash　behind　her　eyes。　〃Werewolves？〃　she　began　querulously。　〃Impossible！　It　was　someone　else！　You　accuse　me　falsely。　Tell　the　Noble　Lords　I've　never　seen　y…　〃
　〃Quiet　you　old　baggage！〃　Wu　said　sharply　and　cursed　her　roundly。　〃You　worked　for　Wu　Ting…top　and　your　mistress's　name　was　Fan…ling　and　she　died　three　years　ago　and　they　owned　the　pharmacy　at　the　crossroads！　I　know　the　place　well　myself！〃
　〃Lies　。。。　lies　。。。〃
　〃She　says　it's　all　lies；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Tell　her　we'll　take　her　to　the　station。　She'll　talk　there。〃
　Ah　Tam　began　shaking。　〃Torture？　You'll　torture　an　old　woman？　Oh　oh　oh　。。。〃
　〃When　does　this　Werewolf　e　back？　This　afternoon？〃
　〃Oh　oh　oh　。。。　I　don't　know　。。。　he　said　he　would　see　me　but　the　thief　never　came　back。　I　lent　him　five　dollars　to　get　home　an…　〃
　〃Where　was　his　home？〃
　〃Eh？　Who？　Oh　him；　he　。。。　he　said　he　was　a　relation　of　a　relation　and　。。。　I　don't　remember。　I　think　he　said　North　Point　。。。　I　don't　remember　anything　。。。〃
　Armstrong　and　Smyth　waited　and　probed　and　soon　it　was　apparent　that　the　old　woman　knew　little　though　she　ducked　and　twisted　the　probing；　her　lies　being　ever　more　flowery。
　〃We'll　take　her　in　anyway；〃　Armstrong　said。
　Smyth　nodded。　〃Can　you　handle　it　till　I　can　send　a　couple　of　men？　I　really　think　I　ought　to　be　getting　back。〃
　〃Certainly。　Thanks。〃
　He　left。　Armstrong　told　Wu　to　order　the　two　women　to　sit　down　and　be　silent　while　he　searched。　They　obeyed；　frightened。　He　went　into　the　kitchen　and　closed　the　door。　At　once　Ah　Tam　pulled　at　her　long　ratty　queue。　〃Young　Brother；〃　she　whispered　slyly；　knowing　her　mistress　did　not　understand　Ning…tok；　〃I'm　guilty　of　nothing。　I　just　met　that　young　devil　like　I　met　you。　I　did　nothing。　People　of　the　same　village　should　stick　together；　heya？　A　handsome　man　like　you　needs　money　…　for　girls　or　his　wife。　Are　you　married；　Honorable　Younger　Brother？〃
　〃No；　Elder　Sister；〃　Wu　said　politely；　leading　her　on　as　he　had　been　told　to　do。
　Armstrong　was　standing　in　the　doorway　of　Ah　Tam's　tiny　bedroom　and　he　wondered　for　the　millionth　time　why　it　was　that　Chinese　treated　their　servants　so　badly；　why　servants　would　work　in　such　miserable　and　foul　conditions；　why　they　would　sleep　and　live　and　give　loyal　service　for　a　lifetime　in　return　for　a　pittance；　little　respect　and　no　love。
　He　remembered　asking　his　teacher。　The　old　policeman　had　said；　〃I　don't　know；　laddie；　but　I　think　it's　because　they　bee　family。　Usually　it's　a　job　for　life。　Usually　their　own　family　bees　part　also。　The　servant　belongs；　and　the　how　chew；　the　good　points　of　the　job　are　many。　It　goes　without　saying　all　servants　cream　off　a　proportion　of　all　housekeeping　money；　all　foods；　all　drinks；　all　cleaning　materials；　all　everything；　however　rich　or　poor；　of　course　with　the　employers'　full　knowledge　and　approval　providing　it's　kept　to　the　customary　level　…　how　else　can　he　pay　them　so　little　if　they　can't　make　extra　on　the　side？〃
　Maybe　that's　the　answer；　Armstrong　thought。　It's　true　that　before　a　Chinese　takes　a　job；　any　job；　he　or　she　will　have　considered　the　how　chew　of　the　job　very　carefully　indeed；　the　value　of　the　how　chew　always　being　the　deciding　factor。
　The　room　stank　and　he　tried　to　close　his　nose　to　the　smell。　Sprays　of　rainwater　were　ing　through　the　vent；　the　sound　of　the　rain　still　pelting　down；　the　whole　wall　mildewed　and　water…stained　from　a　thousand　storms。　He　searched　methodically　and　carefully；　all　his　senses　tuned。　There　was　little　space　to　hide　anything。　The　bed　and　bedding　were　relatively　clean　though　there　were　many　bedbugs　in　the　corners　of　the　bunk。　Nothing　under　the　bed　but　a　chipped　and　stinking　chamber　pot　and　an　empty　suitcase。　A　few　old　bags　and　a　tote　bag　produced　nothing。　The　chest　of　drawers　contained　a　few　clothes；　some　cheap　jewelry；　a　poor　quality　jade　bracelet。　Hidden　under　some　clothes　was　an　embroidered　handbag　of　much　better　quality。　In　it　were　some　old　letters。　A　news　cutting。　And　two　photographs。
　His　heart　seemed　to　stop。
　After　a　moment　he　went　into　the　better　light　of　the　kitchen　and　peered　at　the　photographs　again　but　he　had　not　been　mistaken。　He　read　the　news　cutting；　his　mind　reeling。　There　was　a　date　on　the　cutting　and　a　date　on　one　of　the　photographs。
　
　In　the　honeybed　basement　of　Police　Headquarters；　Ah　Tam　sat　on　a　hard；　backless　chair　in　the　center　of　a　large　soundproofed　room　that　was　brightly　lit　and　painted　white；　white　walls　and　white　ceiling　and　white　floors　and　a　single；　flush　white　door　that　was　almost　part　of　the　wall。　Even　the　chair　was　white。　She　was　alone；　petrified；　and　she　was　talking　freely　now。
　〃Now　what　do　you　know　about　the　barbarian　in　the　background　of　the　photograph？〃　Wu's　flat；　metallic　Ning…tok　voice　asked　from　a　hidden　speaker。
　〃I've　told　and　told　and　there　isn't　。。。　I　don't　know；　Lord；〃　she　whimpered。　〃I　want　to　go　home。　。。。　I've　told　you；　I　barely　saw　the　foreign　devil　。。。　he　only　visited　us　this　once　that　I　know　of；　Lord。　。。。　I　don't　remember；　it　was　years　ago；　oh　can　I　go　now　I've　told　you　everything；　everything。　。。。〃
　Armstrong　was　watching　her　through　the　one…sided　mirror　in　the　darkened　observation　room；　Wu　beside　him。　Both　men　were　set…faced　and　ill…at…ease。　Sweat　beaded　Wu's　forehead　even　though　the　room　was　pleasantly　air　conditioned。　A　tape　recorder　turned　noiselessly。　There　were　microphones　and　a　bank　of　electronic　equipment　behind　them。
　〃I　think　she's　told　us　everything　we　need；〃　Armstrong　said；　sorry　for　her。
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Wu　kept　his　nervousness　out　of　his　voice。　This　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　ever　been　part　of　an　SI　interrogation。　He　was　frightened　and　excited　and　his　head　ached。
　〃Ask　her　again　where　she　got　the　purse。〃
　Wu　did　as　he　was　ordered。　His　voice　was　calm　and　authoritative。
　〃But　I've　told　you　again　and　again；〃　the　old　woman　whimpered。　〃Please　can　I　g…　〃
　〃Tell　us　again　and　then　you　can　go。〃
　〃All　right　。。。　all　right　。。。　I'll　tell　you　again。　。。。　It　belonged　to　my　Mistress　who　gave　it　to　me　on　her　deathbed；　she　gave　it　to　me；　I　swear　it　and…　〃
　〃The　last　time　you　said　it　was　given　to　you　the　day　before　she　died。　Now　which　is　the　truth？〃
　Anxiously　Ah　Tam　plucked　at　her　ratty　queue。　〃I　。。。　I　don't　remember；　Lord。　It　was　on　her　。。。　it　was　when　she　died　。。。　I　don't　remember。〃　The　old　woman's　mouth　worked　and　no　sound　came　out　and　then　said　in　a　querulous　rush；　〃I　took　it　and　hid　it　after　she　died　and　there　were　those　old　photos　。。。　I've　no　picture　of　my　Mistress　so　I　took　them　too　and　there　was　one　tael　of　silver　too　and　this　paid　for　part　of　my　journey　to　Hong　Kong　during　the　famine。　I　took　it　because　none　of　her　rotten　sons　or　daughters　or　family　who　hated　her　and　hated　me　would　give　me　anything　so　I　took　it　when　no　one　was　。。。　she　gave　it　to　me　before　she　died　and　I　just　hid　it　it's　mine；　she　gave　it　to　me。　。。。〃
　They　listened　while　the　old　woman　went　on　and　on　and　they　let　her　talk　herself　out。　The　wall　clock　read　1：45。