The Hunter rapidly translated for the other man, a squat fellow with a bullet-shaped head. They gave Ma Joong an appraising look.
"There is not much going on just now, brother!", The Hunter said cautiously.
"Well", Ma Joong said, "what about kidnapping a girl? That is a commodity that is always in demand!"
"Not in this town, brother!", the other answered. "All the houses have enough and to spare. A few years ago, when all the traffic went through this town, yes, then one could get good silver for a girl. But not now!"
"Is there no Chinese girl in this quarter?", Ma Joong inquired.
The Hunter shook his head.
"Not one", he replied. "But what is wrong with that wench by your side?"
Ma Joong pulled the girl's skirt loose.
"Nothing", he replied, "and anyway I am not particular!"
"It would just be like you haughty Chinese to despise an Uigur girl!", the other said nastily.
Ma Joong thought it better not to make a quarrel. So he said:
"Not me! I like your girls the way they are!" And as the girl made no attempt to cover herself up again, he added: "They are not prudish either!"
"Yes", The Hunter said, "we are a fine race. Much more virile than you Chinese. Some day we shall swoop down on you from north and west and conquer your entire country!"
"Not in my life time!", Ma Joong said cheerfully.
The Hunter gave Ma Joong another sharp look. Then he started on a long story to the other Uigur. The latter first shook his head emphatically. Then he seemed to agree.
The Hunter rose and came over to Ma Joong. He pushed the girl away unceremoniously and sat down by Ma Joong's side.
"Listen, brother", he said confidentially, "we might let you in on a nice job! Are you familiar with the weapons used in your regular army?"
Ma Joong thought that this was a curious question. He replied eagerly:
"I have been a soldier for a couple of years, my friend! I know all about it!"
The Hunter nodded.
"There is a bit of fighting coming on", he said, "and there is a lot in it for a good man!"
Ma Joong held out his open hand.
"No", The Hunter said, "not in cash. But when we start in a couple of days, as much in loot as you can grab!"
"I am ready!", Ma Joong exclaimed enthusiastically. "Where shall I join you?"
The Hunter again talked rapidly to the other man. Then he rose and said:
"Come along, brother, I shall take you to our headman!"
Ma Joong jumped up and drew his robe over his shoulders. He gave the girl a friendly pat and said:
"I'll be back, Tulbee!"
They left the house, The Hunter walking in front.
He led Ma Joong through two dark alleys, then entered what seemed to be a ruined compound. They halted in front of a small hovel.
He knocked on the door. There was no answer.
The Hunter shrugged his shoulders and pushed the door open, beckoning Ma Joong to follow him.
They sat down on low footstools covered with sheepskin. The room was bare but for a low wooden couch.
"The boss will be back soon", The Hunter said.
Ma Joong nodded and prepared himself for a long wait.
Suddenly the door burst open and a broad-shouldered man came running in. He shouted excitedly at The Hunter.
"What is he jabbering about?", asked Ma Joong.
The Hunter looked frightened.
"He says that the constables have just raided the east quarter!"
Ma Joong jumped up.
"This is the time for me to leave!" he exclaimed. "If they come here I am lost! I'll be back tomorrow. How can I find this wretched place?"
"Just ask for Orolakchee!", the other replied.
"I am off now. That wench will keep!"
And Ma Joong rushed out.
He found Judge Dee sitting alone in his private office, apparently deep in thought.
When Judge Dee saw Ma Joong he said with a frown:
"Tao Gan and Headman Fang came in a few moments ago. They reported that the search had been a failure. Tao Gan went to the Southern Row, but they have bought no new girls there since the last half year. Did you find any clue to White Orchid's whereabouts in that northern licensed quarter?"
"Nothing that pointed to the kidnapped girl", Ma Joong answered, "but I heard a queer story."
Then he told the judge all about his adventure with The Hunter and Tulbee.
Judge Dee listened absent-mindedly. He said:
"Those rascals probably want you to join them in a raid on another tribe. I would not venture out with them into the plain over the river if I were you!"
Ma Joong shook his head doubtfully but the judge continued:
"Tomorrow morning I want you to accompany me and Sergeant Hoong on a visit to the country estate of Governor Yoo. But tomorrow night you can go out to the Northern Row again and try to learn more about the headman of those barbarian rascals."
Seventeenth Chapter
MRS. YOO PAYS A SECOND VISIT TO THE TRIBUNAL; A QUEER DISCOVERY IS MADE IN AN OLD MANSION
Judge dee had planned to set out for the Governor's country estate early in the morning. But just as he was finishing his morning tea, Sergeant Hoong announced that Mrs. Yoo and her son Yoo Shan had come to see the judge as requested.
Judge Dee had them brought in.
Yoo Shan was tall for his age. He had an open, intelligent face and an air of self-assurance that pleased the judge.
He made Mrs. Yoo and her son sit down in front of his desk. After the exchange of the usual courtesies the judge said:
"I regret, Madam, that pressure of other business has prevented me from devoting as much time to your case as I would have liked. I have not yet succeeded in solving the riddle of the Governor's scroll picture. However, I have a feeling that if I knew more about the general situation in your household when your late husband was still alive, I would be in a better position to solve the problem. Hence I would like to ask you a few questions, for my own guidance."
Mrs. Yoo bowed.
"In the first place", Judge Dee continued, "I wondered about the old Governor's attitude to his eldest son, Yoo Kee. According to your testimony, Yoo Kee is a heartless man. Did the Governor realize that his son had a wicked character?"
"It is my duty to stress", Mrs. Yoo replied, "that until
his father's death, Yoo Kee behaved most correctly. I would never have dreamed that he was capable of such cruelty as he showed later. My husband always spoke to me kindly about Yoo Kee, he used to say that Yoo Kee was a diligent man and a great help to him in the administration of the family property. And Yoo Kee struck me as an exemplary son who tried to anticipate his father's every wish."
"Then, Madam", Judge Dee went on, "I would like you to give me a few names of the Governor's friends here in Lan-fang."
Mrs. Yoo hesitated. Then she answered:
"The Governor did not like company, Your Honour. He used to spend every morning out in the fields. In the afternoon he would enter the maze alone and stay there for an hour or so."
"Did you ever go inside?", the judge interrupted.
Mrs. Yoo shook her head.
"No", she said, "the Governor always said that it was too damp there. Afterwards he used to drink tea in the garden pavilion behind the mansion. He either read a book or worked on his paintings. I knew a Mrs. Lee, who is quite a gifted amateur painter. The Governor would often invite Mrs. Lee and myself to join him in the pavilion and discuss his pictures."
"Is Mrs. Lee still alive?" inquired the judge.
"Yes, I think so. Formerly she lived not far from our town mansion. She would often come to see me. She is a very kind lady who had the misfortune to lose her husband shortly after their marriage. I once met her when she was walking through the rice fields near our farm and she seemed to take a liking to me. After the Governor married me, she kept up our friendship, and my husband encouraged it.
H
e was so considerate, Your Honour! He understood that I, as the mistress of such a large mansion full of people I had not known before, would sometimes feel lonely. I know that it was for this reason that he encouraged Mrs. Lee to come often, although as a rule he did not like visitors."
"Did Mrs. Lee break off the relationship when the Governor died?", Judge Dee asked.
Mrs. Yoo blushed.
"No", she said, "it is entirely my fault that I did not see her again. After Yoo Kee had expelled me from the mansion I felt so humiliated and ashamed that I just went back to my father's farm. I have never been to see Mrs. Lee."
The judge saw that she was deeply moved. He asked hastily:
"Thus the Governor had no friends at all here in Lan-fang?"
Mrs. Yoo mastered herself. She nodded and said:
"My husband preferred to be alone. Once, however, he told me that somewhere in the mountains near this town there lived a very old and intimate friend of his."
Judge Dee leaned forward eagerly.
"Who was that, Madam?"
"The Governor never mentioned his name, but I received the impression that he had the greatest regard and affection for him."
Judge Dee's face fell.
"This is very important, Madam. Try to think back whether you cannot remember something more about that friend!"
Mrs. Yoo slowly drank her tea. Then she said:
"I remember now that he must have visited the Governor once, because that was rather a peculiar occurrence. My husband used to receive his tenant farmers once every month; everyone who had a complaint or who wanted advice could come to see him that day.
Once there was an old peasant waiting in the courtyard. As soon as the Governor had seen him he rushed to him and bowed deeply. He took that peasant straight to his library and remained closeted with him for several hours. I thought that that might have been the Governor's friend, probably a recluse. But I never asked."
Judge Dee stroked his beard.
"I suppose", he said after a pause, "that you kept some scrolls written by your husband?"
Mrs. Yoo shook her head.
"When the Governor married me", she said simply, "I could neither read nor write. He himself taught me a little, but of course I never made such progress as to enable me to appreciate calligraphy. There must be some specimens of the Governor's calligraphy in Yoo Kee's mansion. Your Honour might refer to him."
Judge Dee rose.
"I appreciate that you took all the trouble to come, Madam. Rest assured that I shall do my utmost to discover the hidden message of the Governor's picture. Let me congratulate you on your son. He seems a most intelligent youngster!"
Mrs. Yoo and Yoo Shan rose and bowed deeply. Then Sergeant Hoong saw them out.
As he came back he said:
"Nothing, Your Honour, seems more difficult than to obtain a specimen of the Governor's handwriting! Perhaps we could apply to the capital for one. The Grand Secretary must have many original memoranda to the Throne drawn up by the Governor."
"That would take several weeks", the judge replied. "Perhaps that Mrs. Lee has a picture inscribed by the Governor. Try to find out whether she is still alive, and where she lives, Sergeant. The information about that hermit who was a friend of Governor Yoo is so vague that I have little hope of locating him. Probably he is dead."
"Does Your Honour intend to hear the case of Candidate Ding this afternoon?", the sergeant inquired.
The night before Judge Dee had vouchsafed no further explanation of the discovery he had made in Candidate Ding's poem, and the sergeant was curious to know.
Judge Dee did not answer for a while. Then he rose and said:
"To tell you the truth, Sergeant, I have not yet made up my mind. Let us see when we have come back from our expedition to the country house. Please go out and see whether my palanquin is ready, and have Majoong called!"
Sergeant Hoong knew that it was no use insisting. He went out and had Judge Dee's private palanquin made ready, with six bearers.
The judge ascended his palanquin. Ma Joong and Sergeant Hoong mounted their horses.
They left the city by the east gate and moved along the narrow road through the rice fields.
When they were approaching elevated terrain, Ma Joong asked a peasant about the way. It appeared that they should take the first road to the right.
This side road proved to be very neglected. It was so overgrown with wild weeds and shrubs that only a footpath in the middle remained.
The bearers put the palanquin down. Judge Dee descended.
"We had better proceed on foot, Your Honour!", Ma Joong observed. "The palanquin cannot pass through here."
So speaking, he fastened the reins of his horse to a tree. Sergeant Hoong followed his example.
They went on in single file, the judge in front.
After many turns they came unexpectedly upon a large gate house. The double doors had once been covered with gold and red lacquer but now there was nothing left but the cracked boards. One panel hung loose.
"Anyone can walk in here!", said the judge in amazement.
"Yet there is no safer place in Lan-fang!", Sergeant Hoong remarked. "Even the most audacious robber would not dare to cross this threshold. This is haunted ground!"
The judge pushed the creaking door open and entered what had once been a beautiful park.
Now it was a wilderness. The roots of towering cedar trees had broken through the flagstones and thick undergrowth obstructed the way. Deep silence reigned. Even the birds did not sing.
The path seemed to disappear into a cluster of shrubs. Ma Joong parted the thick foliage to let the judge pass through. They saw a dilapidated mansion surrounded by a broad elevated terrace.
It was a one-storied, quite extensive building that must once have been an impressive sight. Now the roof had caved in at several places, and wind and rain had played havoc with the carved woodwork of doors and pillars.
Ma Joong went up the crumbling steps of the terrace and looked around. There was no one about.
"Visitors have arrived!" he shouted in a stentorian voice.
The echo was the only answer.
They entered the main hall.
Here the plaster hung down in strips from the walls. A few pieces of broken, bare furniture stood in a corner.
Ma Joong shouted again. But there was stilll no answer. Judge Dee lowered himself carefully into an old chair. He said:
"You two had better have a look round. You will probably find the old couple working in the garden behind the house."
Judge Dee folded his arms. Again he marvelled at the uncanny stillness that hung over this place.
Suddenly he heard the sounds of running feet.
Ma Joong and Sergeant Hoong came rushing into the hall.
"Your Honour!", Ma Joong panted, "we have found the dead bodies of that old couple!"
"Well", Judge Dee said testily, "dead people can do no harm. Let us go and have a look!"
They led the judge through a dim corridor. It gave on to a fairly large garden surrounded by old pine trees. In the middle stood an octagonal pavilion.
Ma Joong pointed silently to a flowering magnolia tree in a corner.
Judge Dee went down the stairs of the terrace and walked through the tall grass. On a bamboo couch, right under the magnolia tree he saw the remains of two people.
The bodies must have been lying there for several months. The bones were sticking up through the ragged, decaying robes. Strands of grey hair were attached to the bare skulls. They lay side by side, their arms crossed on their breast.
Judge Dee bent over and scrutinized the bodies intently.
"It seems to me", he said, "that the two old people died a natural death. I think that when one of them had succumbed to weakness and old age, the other just lay down there too and died.
I shall have the constables carry these bodies to the tribunal for an autopsy. But I don't expect any exciting discoveries."
Ma Joong s
hook his head disconsolately.
"If there is any information to be obtained here", he remarked, "we must get it all by ourselves!"
Judge Dee walked over to the pavilion.
The intricate lattice work of the window openings proved that formerly it had been a very elegant place. Now there was left nothing but the bare walls, and one large table.
"Here", Judge Dee said, "the old Governor used to paint and read his books. I wonder where that gate in the back fence leads to."
They left the pavilion and strolled over to the wooden gate. Ma Joong pushed it open. They found themselves in a paved yard.
In front, a large stone gate loomed against the green foliage. The curved roof was decked.with blue-glazed tiles. On left and right there rose a wall of thick shrubbery and closely planted trees. Judge Dee looked up at the inscribed stone slab inserted in the plaster over the gate.
He turned round and said to his companions:
"This is apparently the entrance to the Governor's famous maze. Look at that stanza written there:
A winding path goes round and round
For over a hundred miles;
Yet the road to one's heart
Is shorter than one-thousandth of an inch.
The sergeant and Ma Joong looked up intently. The inscription was written in very cursive style.
"I can't identify a single letter!", Sergeant Hoong exclaimed.
Judge Dee did not seem to have heard him. He stood there gazing enraptured at the inscription.
"That is the most magnificent calligraphy I have ever seen!", he sighed. "Unfortunately the signature is so covered with moss that I can hardly read it. Yes, that is it. 'The Hermit clad in Crane Feathers'. What a curious name!"
The judge thought for a moment. Then he continued:
"I cannot remember ever having heard of a person of that name. But whoever he be, that man is a superb calligrapher! Seeing such writing, my friends, one understands why the ancients praised great calligraphy by comparing it to 'the tension of a crouching panther, and the wild force of dragons sporting among rain and thunder'."
The Chinese Maze Murders Page 16
