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〃e along； we'd better go back； young Spectacles Wu；〃 he said kindly and when he got back to the barriers he told Chief Inspector Smyth what had happened。
〃Put the money in our kitty； 'Major；〃 Smyth said。 〃Order a grand banquet for our lads tonight。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃It was Detective Constable Wu？ The one who wants to join SI？〃
〃Yes sir。 Spectacles is very keen。〃
Smyth sent for Wu； mended him。 〃Now； where's that old amah？〃
Wu pointed her out。 They saw her looking at the corner the thug had gone around； waiting impatiently。 After a minute she squirmed out of the swarm and hobbled away； muttering obscenities。
〃Wu；〃 Smyth ordered； 〃follow her。 Don't let yourself be seen。 She'll lead you to the rotten little bugger who fled。 Be careful； and when she goes to ground； phone the 'major。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃Do not take any risks … perhaps we can catch the whole gang； there's bound to be a gang。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃Off you go。〃 They watched him following her。 〃That lad's going to be good。 But not for us； 'Major； eh？〃
〃No sir。〃
〃I think I'll remend him to SI。 Perhaps … 〃
Suddenly there was an ominous silence； then shouts and an angry roar。 The two policemen rushed back around the corner。 In their absence the crowd had shoved aside parts of the barricade； overpowering the four policemen； and now were surging into the bank。 Manager Sung and his assistant were vainly trying to close the doors against the shouting； cursing throng。 The barricades began to buckle。
〃Get the riot squad！〃
Mok raced for the squad car。 Fearlessly Smyth rushed to the head of the line with his bullhorn。 The tumult drowned his order to stop fighting。 More reinforcements came running from across the street。 Quickly and efficiently they charged to Smyth's support； but the mob was gathering strength。 Sung and his tellers slammed the door shut but it was forced open again。 Then a brick came out of the crowd and smashed one of the plate…glass windows。 There was a roar of approval。 The people in front were trying to get out of the way and those at the back were trying to get to the door。 More bricks were hurtled at the building； then pieces of wood grabbed from a building site nearby。 Another stone went through the glass and it totally shattered。 Roaring； the mob surged forward。 A girl fell and was crushed。
〃e on；〃 Smyth shouted； 〃give me a hand！〃 He grabbed one of the barriers and； with four other policemen； used it as a shield and shoved it against the front of the mob； forcing them back。 Above the uproar he shouted for them to use their shoulders and they fought the frenzied crowd。 Other policemen followed his lead。 More bricks went into the bank and then the shout went up； 〃Kill the fornicating bank thieves； kill them； they've stolen our money 。。。〃
〃Kill the fornicators 。。。〃
〃I want my money 。。。〃
〃Kill the foreign devils 。。。〃
Smyth saw the mood of those near him change and his heart stopped as they took up the shout and forgot the bank and their hands reached out for him。 He had seen that look before and knew he was a dead man。 That other time was during the riots of '56 when 200；000 Chinese suddenly went on a senseless rampage in Kowloon。 He would have been killed then if he had not had a Sten gun。 He had killed four men and blasted a path to safety。 Now he had no gun and he was fighting for his life。 His hat was ripped away； someone grabbed his Sam Browne belt and a fist went into his groin； another into his face and talons clawed at his eyes。 Fearlessly； Mok and others charged into the milling mess to rescue him。 Someone hacked at Mok with a brick； another with a piece of wood that tore a great gash in his cheek。 Smyth was engulfed； his hands and arms desperately trying to protect his head。 Then the riot squad's Black Maria； siren screaming； skidded around the corner。 The ten…man team fell on the crowd roughly and pulled Smyth away。 Blood seeped from his mouth； his left arm dangled uselessly。
〃You all right； sir？〃
〃Yes； for chrissake get those sodding barriers up！ Get those bastards away from the bank … fire hoses！〃
But the fire hoses weren't necessary。 At the first violent charge of the riot squad the front of the mob had wilted and now the rest had retreated to a safe distance and stood there watching sullenly； some of them still shouting obscenities。 Smyth grabbed the bullhorn。 In Cantonese he said； 〃If anyone es within twenty yards； he'll be arrested and deported！〃 He tried to catch his breath。 〃If anyone wants to visit the Ho…Pak； line up a hundred yards away。〃
The scowling crowd hesitated； then as Mok and the riot squad came forward fast； they retreated hastily and began to move away； treading on each other。
〃I think my bloody shoulder's dislocated；〃 Smyth said and cursed obscenely。
〃What do we do about those bastards； sir？〃 Mok asked； in great pain； breathing hard； his cheek raw and bleeding； his uniform ripped。
Smyth held his arm to take the growing pain away and looked across the street at the sullen； gawking crowd。 〃Keep the riot squad here。 Get another from West Aberdeen； inform Central。 Where's my bloody hat？ If I catch the bas… 〃
〃Sir！〃 one of his men called out。 He was kneeling beside the girl who had been trampled on。 She was a bar girl or a dance hall girl： she had that sad； sweet oh so hard； young…old look。 Blood was dribbling from her mouth； her breathing ing in hacking gasps。
〃Christ； get an ambulance！〃
As Smyth watched helplessly； the girl choked in her own blood and died。
Christian Toxe； editor of the Guardian； was scribbling notes； the phone jammed against his ear。 〃What was her name； Dan？〃 he asked over the hubbub of the newsroom。
〃I'm not sure。 One savings book said Su Tzee…Ian；〃 Dan Yap the reporter on the other end of the phone at Aberdeen told him。 〃There was 4；360 in it … the other was in the name 。。。 Hang on a second； the ambulance's just leaving now。 Can you hear all right； Chris； the traffic's heavy here。〃
〃Yes。 Go on。 The second savings book？〃
〃The second book was in the name of Tak H'eung fah。 Exactly 3；000 in that one。〃
Tak H'eung fah seemed to touch a memory。 〃Do any of the names mean anything？〃 Toxe asked。 He was a tall rumpled man in his untidy cubbyhole of an office。
〃No。 Except one means Wisteria Su and the other Fragrant Flower Tak。 She was pretty； Chris。 Might have been Eurasian。 。。。〃
Toxe felt a sudden ice shaft in his stomach as he remembered his own three daughters； six and seven and eight； and his lovely Chinese wife。 He tried to push that perpetual cross back into the recess of his mind； the secret worry of was it right to mix East and West； and what does the future hold for them； my darlings； in this lousy rotten bigoted world？
With an effort he concentrated again。 〃That's quite a lot of money for a dance hall girl； isn't it？〃
〃Yes。 I'd say she had a patron。 One interesting bit： in her purse was a crumpled envelope dated a couple of weeks ago with a mushy love letter in it。 It was addressed to 。。。 hang on 。。。 to Tak H'eung fah； apartment 14； Fifth Alley； Tsung…pan Street in Aberdeen。 It was soppy； swearing eternal love。 Educated writing though。〃
〃English？〃 Toxe asked surprised； writing swiftly。
〃No。 Characters。 There