the jacket (the star-rover)-第31章

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a　Korean　of　the　blood　of　the　ancient　house　of　Koryu。



〃Let　be；〃　she　said；　tapping　my　lips　with　her　peacock　fan。　　〃No

child's　tales　here。　　Know　that　with　me　you　are　better　and　greater

than　of　any　house　of　Koryu。　　You　are　。　。　。〃



She　paused；　and　I　waited；　watching　the　daring　grow　in　her　eyes。



〃You　are　a　man；〃　she　completed。　　〃Not　even　in　my　sleep　have　I　ever

dreamed　there　was　such　a　man　as　you　on　his　two　legs　upstanding　in

the　world。〃



Lord；　Lord！　and　what　could　a　poor　sea…cuny　do？　　This　particular　sea…

cuny；　I　admit；　blushed　through　his　sea　tan　till　the　Lady　Om's　eyes

were　twin　pools　of　roguishness　in　their　teasing　deliciousness　and　my

arms　were　all　but　about　her。　　And　she　laughed　tantalizingly　and

alluringly；　and　clapped　her　hands　for　her　women；　and　I　knew　that　the

audience；　for　this　once；　was　over。　　I　knew；　also；　there　would　be

other　audiences；　there　must　be　other　audiences。



Back　to　Hamel；　my　head　awhirl。



〃The　woman；〃　said　he；　after　deep　cogitation。　　He　looked　at　me　and

sighed　an　envy　I　could　not　mistake。　　〃It　is　your　brawn；　Adam　Strang；

that　bull　throat　of　yours；　your　yellow　hair。　　Well；　it's　the　game；

man。　　Play　her；　and　all　will　be　well　with　us。　　Play　her；　and　I　shall

teach　you　how。〃



I　bristled。　　Sea…cuny　I　was；　but　I　was　man；　and　to　no　man　would　I　be

beholden　in　my　way　with　women。　　Hendrik　Hamel　might　be　one　time

part…owner　of　the　old　Sparwehr；　with　a　navigator's　knowledge　of　the

stars　and　deep　versed　in　books；　but　with　women；　no；　there　I　would

not　give　him　better。



He　smiled　that　thin…lipped　smile　of　his；　and　queried：



〃How　like　you　the　Lady　Om？〃



〃In　such　matters　a　cuny　is　naught　particular；〃　I　temporized。



〃How　like　you　her？〃　he　repeated；　his　beady　eyes　boring　into　me。



〃Passing　well；　ay；　and　more　than　passing　well；　if　you　will　have　it。〃



〃Then　win　to　her；〃　he　commanded；　〃and　some　day　we　will　get　ship　and

escape　from　this　cursed　land。　　I'd　give　half　the　silks　of　the　Indies

for　a　meal　of　Christian　food　again。〃



He　regarded　me　intently。



〃Do　you　think　you　can　win　to　her？〃　he　questioned。



I　was　half　in　the　air　at　the　challenge。　　He　smiled　his　satisfaction。



〃But　not　too　quickly；〃　he　advised。　　〃Quick　things　are　cheap　things。

Put　a　prize　upon　yourself。　　Be　chary　of　your　kindnesses。　　Make　a

value　of　your　bull　throat　and　yellow　hair；　and　thank　God　you　have

them；　for　they　are　of　more　worth　in　a　woman's　eyes　than　are　the

brains　of　a　dozen　philosophers。〃



Strange　whirling　days　were　those　that　followed；　what　of　my　audiences

with　the　Emperor；　my　drinking　bouts　with　Taiwun；　my　conferences　with

Yunsan；　and　my　hours　with　the　Lady　Om。　　Besides；　I　sat　up　half　the

nights；　by　Hamel's　command；　learning　from　Kim　all　the　minutiae　of

court　etiquette　and　manners；　the　history　of　Korea　and　of　gods　old

and　new；　and　the　forms　of　polite　speech；　noble　speech；　and　coolie

speech。　　Never　was　sea…cuny　worked　so　hard。　　I　was　a　puppetpuppet

to　Yunsan；　who　had　need　of　me；　puppet　to　Hamel；　who　schemed　the　wit

of　the　affair　that　was　so　deep　that　alone　I　should　have　drowned。

Only　with　the　Lady　Om　was　I　man；　not　puppet　。　。　。　and　yet；　and　yet；

as　I　look　back　and　ponder　across　time；　I　have　my　doubts。　　I　think

the　Lady　Om；　too；　had　her　will　with　me；　wanting　me　for　her　heart's

desire。　　Yet　in　this　she　was　well　met；　for　it　was　not　long　ere　she

was　my　heart's　desire；　and　such　was　the　immediacy　of　my　will　that

not　her　will；　nor　Hendrik　Hamel's；　nor　Yunsan's；　could　hold　back　my

arms　from　about　her。



In　the　meantime；　however；　I　was　caught　up　in　a　palace　intrigue　I

could　not　fathom。　　I　could　catch　the　drift　of　it；　no　more；　against

Chong　Mong…ju；　the　princely　cousin　of　the　Lady　Om。　　Beyond　my

guessing　there　were　cliques　and　cliques　within　cliques　that　made　a

labyrinth　of　the　palace　and　extended　to　all　the　Seven　Coasts。　　But　I

did　not　worry。　　I　left　that　to　Hendrik　Hamel。　　To　him　I　reported

every　detail　that　occurred　when　he　was　not　with　me；　and　he；　with

furrowed　brows；　sitting　darkling　by　the　hour；　like　a　patient　spider

unravelled　the　tangle　and　spun　the　web　afresh。　　As　my　body　slave　he

insisted　upon　attending　me　everywhere；　being　only　barred　on　occasion

by　Yunsan。　　Of　course　I　barred　him　from　my　moments　with　the　Lady　Om；

but　told　him　in　general　what　passed；　with　exception　of　tenderer

incidents　that　were　not　his　business。



I　think　Hamel　was　content　to　sit　back　and　play　the　secret　part。　　He

was　too　cold…blooded　not　to　calculate　that　the　risk　was　mine。　　If　I

prospered；　he　prospered。　　If　I　crashed　to　ruin；　he　might　creep　out

like　a　ferret。　　I　am　convinced　that　he　so　reasoned；　and　yet　it　did

not　save　him　in　the　end；　as　you　shall　see。



〃Stand　by　me；〃　I　told　Kim；　〃and　whatsoever　you　wish　shall　be　yours。

Have　you　a　wish？〃



〃I　would　command　the　Tiger　Hunters　of　Pyeng…Yang；　and　so　command　the

palace　guards；〃　he　answered。



〃Wait；〃　said　I；　〃and　that　will　you　do。　　I　have　said　it。〃



The　how　of　the　matter　was　beyond　me。　　But　he　who　has　naught　can

dispense　the　world　in　largess；　and　I；　who　had　naught；　gave　Kim

captaincy　of　the　palace　guards。　　The　best　of　it　is　that　I　did　fulfil

my　promise。　　Kim　did　come　to　command　the　Tiger　Hunters；　although　it

brought　him　to　a　sad　end。



Scheming　and　intriguing　I　left　to　Hamel　and　Yunsan；　who　were　the

politicians。　　I　was　mere　man　and　lover；　and　merrier　than　theirs　was

the　time　I　had。　　Picture　it　to　yourselfa　hard…bitten；　joy…loving

sea…cuny；　irresponsible；　unaware　ever　of　past　or　future；　wining　and

dining　with　kings；　the　accepted　lover　of　a　princess；　and　with　brains

like　Hamel's　and　Yunsan's　to　do　all　planning　and　executing　for　me。



More　than　once　Yunsan　almost　divined　the　mind　behind　my　mind；　but

when　he　probed　Hamel；　Hamel　proved　a　stupid　slave；　a　thousand　times

less　interested　in　affairs　of　state　and　policy　than　was　he

interested　in　my　health　and　comfort　and　garrulously　anxious　about　my

drinking　contests　with　Taiwun。　　I　think　the　Lady　Om　guessed　the

truth　and　kept　it　to　herself；　wit　was　not　her　desire；　but；　as　Hamel

had　said；　a　bull　throat　and　a　man's　yellow　hair。



Much　that　pawed　between　us　I　shall　not　relate；　though　the　Lady　Om　is

dear　dust　these　centuries。　　But　she　was　not　to　be　denied；　nor　was　I；

and　when　a　man　and　woman　will　their　hearts　together　heads　may　fall

and　kingdoms　crash　and　yet　they　will　not　forgo。



Came　the　time　when　our　marriage　was　mootedoh；　quietly；　at　first；

most　quietly；　as　mere　palace　gossip　in　dark　corners　between　eunuchs

and　waiting…women。　　But　in　a　palace　the　gossip　of　the　kitchen

scullions　will　creep　to　the　throne。　　Soon　there　was　a　pretty　to…do。

The　palace　was　the　pulse　of　Cho…Sen；　and　when　the　palace　rocked；

Cho…Sen　trembled。　　And　there　was　reason　for　the　rocking。　　Our

marriage　would　be　a　blow　straight　between　the　eyes　of　Chong　Mong…ju。

He　fought；　with　a　show　of　strength　for　which　Yunsan　was　ready。

Chong　Mong…ju　disaffected　half　the　provincial　priesthood；　until　they

pilgrimaged　in　processions　a　mile　long　to　the　palace　gates　and

frightened　the　Emperor　into　a　panic。



But　Yunsan　held　like　a　rock。　　The　other　half　of　the　provincial

priesthood　was　his；　with；　in　addition；　all　the　priesthood　of　the

great　cities　such　as　Keijo；　Fusan；　Songdo；　Pyen…Yang；　Chenampo；　and

Chemulpo。　　Yunsan　and　the　Lady　Om；　between　them；　twisted　the　Emperor

right　about。　　As　she　confessed　to　me　afterward；　she　bullied　him　with

tears　and　hysteria　and　threats　of　a　scandal　that　would　shake　the

throne。　　And　to　cap　it　all；　at　the　psychological　moment；　Yunsan

pandered　the　Emperor　to　novelties　of　excess　that　had　been　long

preparing。



〃You　must　grow　your　hair　for　the　marriage　knot；〃　Yunsan　warned　me

one　day；　with　the　ghost　of　a　twinkle　in　his　austere　eyes；　more

nearly　facetious　and　human　than　I　had　ever　beheld　him。



Now　it　is　not　meet　that　a　princess　espouse　a　sea…cuny；　or　even　a

claimant　of　the　ancient　blood　of　Koryu；　who　is　without　power；　or

place；　or　visible　symbols　of　rank。　　So　it　was　promulgated　by

imperial　decree　that　I　was　a　prince　of　Koryu。　　Next；　after　breaking

the　bones　and　decapitating　the　then　governor　of　the　five　provinces；

himself　an　adherent　of　Chong　Mong…ju；　I　was　made　governor　of　the

seven　home　provinces　of　ancient　Koryu。　　In　Cho…Sen　seven　is　the

magic　number。　　To　complete　this　number　two　of　the　provinces　were

taken　over　from　the　hands　of　two　more　of　Chong　Mong…ju's　adherents。



Lord；　Lord；　a　sea…cuny　。　。　。　and　dispatched　north　over　the　Mandarin

Road　with　five　hundred　soldiers　and　a　retinue　at　my　back！　　I　was　a

governor　of　seven　provinces；　where　fifty　thousand　troops　awaited　me。

Life；　death；　and　torture；　I　carried　at　my　disposal。　　I　had　a

treasury　and　a　treasurer；　to　say　nothing　of　a　regiment　of　scribes。

Awaiting　me　also　was　a　full　thousand　of　tax…farmers；　who　squeezed

the　last　coppers　from　the　toiling　people。



The　seven　provinces　constituted　the　northern　march。　　Beyond　lay　what

is　now　Manchuria；　but　which　was　known　by　us　as　the　country　of　the

Hong…du；　or　〃Red　Heads。〃　　They　were　wild　raiders；　on　occasion

crossing　the　Yalu　in　great　masses　and　over…running　northern　Cho…Sen

like　locusts。　　It　was　said　they　were　given　to　cannibal　practices。　　I

know　of　experience　that　they　were　terrible　fighters；　most　difficult

to　convince　of　a　beating。



A　whirlwind　year　it　was。　　While　Yunsan　and　the　Lady　Om　at　Keijo

completed　the　disgrace　of　Chong　Mong…ju；　I　proceeded　to　make　a

reputation　for　myself。　　Of　course　it　was　really　Hendrik　Hamel　at　my

back；　but　I　was　the　fine　figure…head　that　carried　it　off。　　Through

me　Hamel　taught　our　soldiers　drill　and　tactics　and　taught　the　Red

Heads　strategy。　　The　fighting　was　grand；　and　though　it　took　a　year；

the　year's　end　saw　peace　on　the　northern　border　and　no　Red　Heads　but

dead　Red　Heads　on　our　side　the　Yalu。



I　do　not　know　if　this　invasion　of　the　Red　Heads　is　recorded　in

Western　history；　but　if　so　it　will　give　a　clue　to　the　date　of　the

times　of　which　I　write。　　Another　clue：　　when　was　Hideyoshi　the

Shogun　of　Japan？　　In　my　time　I　heard　the　echoes　of　the　two

invasions；　a　generation　before；　driven　by　Hideyoshi　through　the

heart　of　Cho…Sen　from　Fusan　in　the　south　to　as　far　north　as　Pyeng…

Yang。　　It　was　this　Hideyoshi　who　sent　back　to　Japan　a　myriad　tubs　of

pickled　ears　and　noses　of　Koreans　slain　in　battle。　　I　talked　with

many　old　men　and　women　who　had　seen　the　fighting　and　escaped　the

pickling。



Back　to　Keijo　and　the　Lady　Om。　　Lord；　Lord；　she　was　a　woman。　　For

forty　years　she　was　my　woman。　　I　know。　　No　dissenting　voice　was

raised　against　the　marriage。　　Chong　Mong…ju；　clipped　of　power；　in

disgrace；　had　retired　to　sulk　somewhere　on　the　far　north…east　coast。

Yunsan　was　absolute。　　Nightly　the　single　beacons　flared　their

message　of　peace　across　the　land。　　The　Emperor　grew　more　weak…legged

and　blear…eyed　what　of　the　ingenious　deviltries　devised　for　him　by

Yunsan。　　The　Lady　Om　and　I　had　won　to　our　hearts'　desires。　　Kim　was

in　command　of