ericlustbader.the ninja-第50章

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　'Shut　up！　Shut　up；　you　cocksucker！'
　But　he　pursued　her　relentlessly。　'He　offered　me　a　job；　and　you　know；　the　joke　of　it　is　I　took　it。　I'm　working　for　him　now。'
　'How　could　you　do　this　to　me？'　she　cried。　She　wasn't　talking　about　the　job。　'My　God！　My　God！'　Weeping；　she　hurled　herself　from　him　and；　stumbling　up　the　sandy　steps　to　her　house；　she　disappeared　from　his　view。
　Nicholas　broke　down　and　cried；　falling　to　his　knees　in　the　unforgiving　sand。
　'He　will　soon　be　here；'　said　Ah　Ma。　'Is　everything　in　readiness？'
　'Yes；　Mother；'　Penny　said　from　her　spot　at　Ah　Ma's　feet。　'Flower　has　just　returned　with　the　last　of　the　。。。　ah；　items。'　Penny's　perfect；　white　face　bent　over　a　leather…bound　ledger　book　in　which　she　was　writing　Chinese　characters　in　vertical　lines。　She　used　a　thin　brush　which　she　dipped　periodically　in
　an　open　bottle　of　Higgins　ink。　Her　movements　were　deft　and　sure。
　She　considered　her　mistress's　silence；　then　made　a　decision。　'Do　you　think　we　should　be　letting　this　man　in　here？'　She　kept　her　eyes　on　her　writing　and；　for　just　an　instant；　felt　her　heart　contract　coldly　in　her　chest　at　the　thought　of　Ah　Ma's　possible　outburst。
　Ah　Ma　did　nothing　more；　however；　than　sigh。　Penny　was　quite　correct；　of　course。　In　days　gone　by　she　would　never　have　allowed　this　to　happen。　She　shrugged　mentally。　Ah　well；　times　had　changed　for　them　all　and　one　must　acmodate　oneself　as　best　one　could。　Her　voice；　when　she　spoke；　conveyed　none　of　this　inner　dialogue。
　'Penny；　my　precious　one；　there　is；　as　you　well　know；　a　great　deal　of　money　involved。　I　am　not　a　prejudiced　person；　neither　should　you　be。'　But　she　knew　these　words　to　be　false；　although　Penny　never　would。　Ah　Ma；　now　in　her　late　sixties；　was　Fukienese；　from　that　district　of　coastal　China　midway　between　the　cities　of　Hong　Kong　and　Shanghai。　She　was　one　of　fifteen　children　but　she　had　always　felt　quite　apart　from　them。　Perhaps　her　name　had　something　to　do　with　that。　There　was　a　legend　of　a　poor　Fukienese　girl　by　that　name　who　sought　passage　on　a　junk。　In　all　the　port　only　one　would　grant　her　request。　Out　of　port　they　were　beset　by　a　furious　typhoon　and　it　had　been　Ah　Ma　who　had　brought　the　junk　safely　through。　There　was　a　temple　to　her；　Ah　Ma　knew；　at　the　base　of　Barra　Hill　on　the　island　of　Macao。
　She　shifted　in　her　chair　and　it　creaked。　She　felt　the　slide　of　silk　against　her　arm。　Through　the　open　window　she　could　clearly　hear　the　clatter　from　Doyers　Street。　There　was　a　fish　market　on　the　corner　which　stayed　open　late。　They　sold　marvellous　squid　at　this　time　of　year。　She　heard　several　voices　raised　in　argument　and　she　winced　at　the　Cantonese。　Up　here　in　the　large　suite　of　apartments　which　took　up　the　entire　third　floor　of　the　building　only　Mandarin　was　spoken。　That　was　the　way　it　had　been　in　Ah　Ma's　house　when　she　was　a　child；　that　was　how　it　was　now。
　Ah　Ma　got　up；　padded　silently　over　to　the　window；　peering　down　at　the　narrow；　crowded　street。　She　could；　she　knew；　have　had　her　pick　of　virtually　any　location　in　Manhattan。　Over　the　years　there　had　been　many　attractive　offers　to　move　elsewhere。　She　had　always　refused。　It　seemed　right　to　her　that　her　business　should　be　square　in　the　heart　of　Chinatown。　The　area　was　dim　and　slightly　seedy　but　it　was　atmospheric。　In　many　ways　it　reminded　Ah　Ma　of　home。　That　was　what　she　wanted。　Now　a　millionairess；　she　was　still　no　more　fortable　among　the　steel　and　glass　towers　of　uptown　Manhattan　than　she　had　been　with　structures　like　the　Chrysler　Building　when　she　had　first　arrived　in　New　York。
　Yes；　Ah　Ma　thought　now；　looking　down　at　the　night…dark　street；　the　bright；　bustling　clutter　of　the　throng；　the　intermittent　odours　of　fresh　fish　in　the　early　morning　when　the　catch　was　brought　in　downstairs；　the　delicacy　of　the　steamed　dim　sum　from　the　dumpling　house　next　door；　I　am　very　fortable　here。　Very　much　so。
　She　sighed　again。　Of　course；　the　Chinatown　Planning　Council　might　not　be　too　pleased　with　her　if　they　knew　her　real　business。　But　the　police　were　certainly　happy　with　the　thousand　dollars　they　picked　up　each　month。　She　was　careful　to　perform　this　duty　herself　and　to　serve　them　tea　each　time　they　came；　it　increased　her　face。
　Her　home　in　Foochow　was　always　with　her　but；　oddly；　more　so　as　she　grew　older。　Being　in　Chinatown　gave　her　some　small　illusion　of　being　home。　Not　that　she　would　ever　consider　going　back　now。　She　had　no　great　love　for　the　munist　Chinese　and　even　now；　when　it　might　be　feasible　for　her　to　return　for　a　visit；　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　contemplate　the　reality　of　it。
　No；　she　had　all　that　she　wanted　of　Foochow　right　here。
　Around　the　corner　the　red　and　blue　neon　lights　of　the　restaurants　turned　the　darkness　watery　with　reflected　light。　It　was　the　Japanese；　of　course；　whom　she　had　learned　to　hate　long　before　the　munists。　They　had　e　down　the　coast；　those　wealthy；　arrogant　businessmen；　from　their　deals　in　Shanghai；　already　jaded　with　that　city's　night…life　or　just　wanting　to　see　a　bit　more　of　China。　They　are　so　different　from　the　Chinese；　Ah　Ma　thought　wonderingly。　But　of　course　they　do　not　have　our　centuries　of　history　to　learn　from。　The　Japanese　are　a　relatively　new　people。　When　we　had　already　forged　dynasties；　were　experimenting　with　gunpowder；　their　islands　were　inhabited　only　by　the　barbarous　Ainu　…　unintelligent　savages。　If　the　modern　Japanese　are　descended　directly　from　those　people；　it's　no　wonder　they're　so　warlike。
　She　turned　away　from　her　window　on　Doyers　Street；　said；　'I　want　to　see　him；　now；　Penny。　There　must　be　no　mistake。'
　Penny　nodded；　put　aside　her　ledger　and　pen；　stood　up　and　crossed　the　room。
　'Penn。。。'
　She　stopped　short；　her　hand　on　the　doorknob。　'Yes；　Mother？'
　'He　is　not　from　here？'
　'No；　Mother。　He's　from　uptown。'
　Ah　Ma　nodded。　'Good。　I　do　not　want　neighbours　。。。　involved。'
　In　the　short　space　of　time　Penny　was　gone；　Ah　Ma　thought　about　her。　She　had　made　the　right　decision　in　elevating　the　girl。　She　was　clever　with　her　mind　as　well　as　with　her　hands。　Ah　Ma　would　never　admit　it　openly　but　there　were　times　when　she　relied　on　Penny's　judgement；　and　it　disturbed　her　that　she　seemed　set　against　the　Japanese。
　Penny　was　the　name　Ah　Ma　had　given　to　her　when　she　had　first　applied　for　a　job；　Ah　Ma　gave　names　to　all　her　girls　and　henceforth　they　were　known　by　that　name　and　that　name　alone。　It　was　neat　and　tidy　and　as　anonymous　as　Ah　Ma　believed　her　business　should　be。　Besides；　it　gave　her　great　pleasure　to　name　her　'children'；　it　pleased　her；　too；；　that　they　should　address　her　by　the　honorific　'Mother'；　a　word　not　lightly　used　in　her　land。
　There　would　e　a　time；　Ah　Ma　thought；　when　she　would　have　to　relinquish　her　hold　here。　When　that　eventuality　occurred　she　wanted　to　be　certain　that　precisely　the　right　hands　took　over。
　Penny　came　back；　ushering　in　a　boy　of　about　eleven。　She　stopped　just　inside　the　threshold；　both　hands　on　his　shoulders。　He　stood　perfectly　still；　his　eyes　incurious。　Through　the　partially　open　doorway　Ah　Ma　could　hear　the　quiet　bustle　of　the　preparations。　As　planned；　there　were　only　one　or　two　guests　expected　tonight；　this；　too；　was　built　into　the　enormous　fee　she　was　charging　the　Japanese。　She　did　not　mind。
　She　looked　the　boy　over。　He　had　clear；　smooth　skin；　a　slight　Mongol　cast　to　cheeks　and　eyes。　His　irises　were　like　chips　of　coal。　His　mouth　was　wide；　the　lips　slightly　sensual。
　'This　is　Philip　Chen；'　Penny　said。
　'Close　the　door；　precious；'　Ah　Ma　said　softly。　Her　hands　were　clasped　in　front　of　her；　the　fingers　interlaced。　She　looked　at　the　boy。　'You　will　have　another　name　while　you　are　here；'　she　told　him。　'Sparrow。　This　will　be　how　you　are　summoned；　how　you　will　be　addressed。　Is　this　understood？'
　The　boy　nodded；　then　smiled　slowly。
　'Call　me　Mother。'
　'Yes；　Mother。'
　'Have　you　been　properly　instructed？　I　don't　want　any　surprises。'
　'Yes；'　he　said　happily。　'Penny　has　explained　everything。　No　problem。'
　'Really？'　Ah　Ma's　eyebrows　arched。　'That　remains　to　be　seen。　All　right。　Leave　us　now；　Sparrow。　Find　Willow。　She　will　take　you　to　the　proper　room　You　know　what　to　do。'
　'Yes；　Mother。'　He　turned　and　left。
　After　Penny　had　shut　the　door　behind　him；　Ah　Ma　said；　'Parents？'
　Penny　shook　her　head。　'He　lives　with　an　uncle　who　is　too　drunk　to　care　if　he's　out　all　night。'
　'The　situation　is　totally　secure？'
　Penny　nodded　her　head。　Her　black　hair　tossed　like　an　animal's　mane；　'Willow　saw　to　it　personally。'
　Ah　Ma　allowed　herself　a　small　smile。　'You　have　done　well；　my　child。'
　Penny　bowed　her　head　to　cover　the　flush　in　her　cheeks。　It　was　rare　indeed　to　be　addressed　in　such　a　loving　manner　by　Ah　Ma。　Thank　you；　Mother；'　she　murmured。
　Ah　Ma　went　silently　to　stand　in　front　of　Penny。　She　lifted　a　hand；　tilted　her　chin　up。　'Now　tell　me　what's　bothering　you；'　she　said　quietly。
　Staring　into　those　all…knowing　eyes；　it　was　difficult　to　find　words。　Penny　felt　as　if　her　throat　had　constricted　so　much　that　not　even　air　could　pass　through。
　'e；　e；　child。　Is　it　the　Japanese？　What　is　it　about　him　that　offends　you　so？'
　'I　am　ashamed　that　my　feelings　are　so　transparent；'　Penny　said　sadly。　Her　eyes　dropped　for　a　moment　and　she　felt　as　if　she　might　burst　into　tears　at　any　moment。
　'Nonsense！'　Ah　Ma　said　irritated。　'What　is　apparent　to　me　is　not　to　others。　You　have　lost　no　face　with　me。　Please　tell　me　now　what　I　wish　to　know。'
　'It　is　the　drug　which　bothers　me　so；'　Penny　said。　'This　is　something　I　don't　think　we　should　bee　involved　in。'
　For　a　moment　Ah　Ma　said　nothing。　She　recalled　a　trip　she　had　taken　as　a　small　girl　into　Shanghai。　She　could　still　smell　the　overpowering；　cloying　stench　of　the　burning　opium。　Her　nostrils　quivered　at　the　memory；　she　had　never　smoked　but　the　odour　remained　with　her　like　a　brand。
　It　had　been　in　the　air　the　night　the　munists　had　e　for　her　husband。　There　had　been　no　sound；　no　warning。　They　had　been　in　hiding　but　the　munists　had　known　precisely　where　to　look。　They　had　been　traduced。
　Ah　Ma's　husband　had　been　a　political　activist。　His　foresight　was　long…range。　He　had　seen　the　impending　storm　of　the　munist　Revolution；　perhaps　had　even　understood　its　inevitability。　Yet　he　fought　against　it　with　unequalled　vehemence。　'For　once；'　he　had　said　in　speeches；　had　written　in　pamphlets；　'we　are　in　a　position　to　learn　from　the　Japanese。　What　good　did　the　closed　regime　of　the　shoguns　do　them？　There　came　a　time　when　it　became　apparent　that　the　country　was　stagnating；　strangling　in　its　hard…bound　traditions　of　iron。　The　way　of　the　future　for　the　Japanese　became　Western　capitalism。　Now　see　where　they　are。　Can　we　here　in　China　ignore　such　a　historical　example？　A　munist　take…over　will　seal　us　off　from　the　West；　from　the　very　capitalism；　which　has　made　such　thriving　cities　of　Hong　Kong　and　Shanghai。　Thus　will　China　fall　behind　the　rest　of　the　world；　a　true　sleeping　giant。'
　They　burst　in；　throwing　Ah　Ma　against　a　wall　so　that　her　head　banged　into　the　edge　of　a　cupboard。　They　dragged　him　out　of　bed；　stripped　him；　beat　him　with　their　heavy　sticks；　the　butts　of　their　rifles。　The　red　star　embroidered　on　their　peaked　caps；　the　epaulettes　of　their　stinking　uniforms。　They　had　dragged　Ah　Ma's　husband；　unconscious　and　bleeding；　from　the　house。　It　was　the　last　time　she　ever　saw　him。　To　this　day　she　could　not　be　certain　whether　he　was　alive