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for 15 cents； and got another taxi in Kowloon and saved at least 8 dollars。 Terrible waste of money； he thought。
Carefully he counted out 18 dollars。 As an afterthought he added a thirty…cent tip； feeling generous。 The man drove off and left him standing near the grassy triangle。
Kowloon Tong was just another suburb of Kowloon； a multitudinous nest of buildings； slums； alleys； people and traffic。 He found Essex Road； that skirted the garden； and walked around the road。 The attaché case seemed to be getting heavier and he felt sure everyone knew it contained 200；000 HK。 His nervousness increased。 In an area like this you could buy the death of a man for a few hundred if you knew whom to ask … and for this amount； you could hire an army。 His eyes were on the broken pavement。 When he had gone almost all the way around the triangle he saw the arrow on the pavement pointing at the wall。 His heart was weighty in his chest； hurting him。 It was quite dark here； with few streetlights。 The hole was formed by some bricks that had fallen away。 He could see what looked like a crumpled…up newspaper within the hole。 He hastily took it out； made sure there was nothing else left； then went over to a seat under a lamp and sat down。 When his heart had slowed and his breathing bee more calm he opened the newspaper。 In it was an envelope。 The envelope was flat and some of his anxiety left him。 He had been petrified that he was going to get the other ear。
The note said： 〃Walk to Waterloo Road。 Go north toward the army camp； staying on the west side of the road。 Beware； we are watching you now。〃
A shiver went through him and he looked around。 No one seemed to be watching him。 Neither friend nor foe。 But he could feel eyes。 His attaché case became even more leaden。
All gods protect me； he prayed fervently； trying to gather his courage to continue。 Where the devil are Four Finger Wu's men？
Waterloo Road was nearby； a busy main thoroughfare。 He paid the crowds no attention； just plodded north feeling naked； seeing no one in particular。 The shops were all open； restaurants bustling； the alleyways more crowded。 In the nearby embankment a goods train whistled mournfully； going north； mixing with the blaring horns that all traffic used indiscriminately。 The night was bleak； the sky overcast and very humid。
Wearily he walked half a mile； crossing side streets and alleys。 In a knot of people he stopped to let a truck pass； then went across the mouth of another narrow alleyway； moving this way and that as oners jostled him。 Suddenly two young men were in front of him； barring his path； and one hissed； 〃Tin koon chi fook！〃
〃Eh？〃
Both wore caps pulled down low； both wore dark glasses； their faces similar。 〃Tin koon chi fook！〃 Smallpox Kin repeated malevolently。 〃Dew neh loh moh give me the bag！〃
〃Oh！〃 Blankly Phillip Chen handed it to him。 Smallpox Kin grabbed it。 〃Don't look around； and keep on walking north！〃
〃All right； but please keep your prom… 〃 Phillip Chen stopped。
The two youths were gone。 It seemed that they had only been in front of him a split second。 Still in shock he forced his feet into motion； trying to etch the little he had seen of their faces on his memory。 Then an oning woman shoved him rudely and he swore； their faces fading。 Then someone grabbed him roughly。
〃Where's the fornicating bag？〃
〃What？〃 he gasped； staring down at the evil…looking thug who was Goodweather Poon。
〃Your bag … where's it gone？〃
〃Two young men 。。。〃 Helplessly he pointed backward。 The man cursed and hurried past； weaving in and out of the crowd； put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly。 Few people paid any attention to him。 Other toughs began to converge； then Goodweather Poon caught sight of the two youths with the attaché case as they turned off the well…lit main road into an alley。 He broke into a run； others following him。
Smallpox Kin and his younger brother went into the crowds without hurrying； the alley unlit except for the bare bulbs of the dingy stalls and stores。 They grinned； one to another。 pletely confident now； they took off their glasses and caps and stuffed them into their pockets。 Both were very similar … almost twins … and now they melted even more into the raucous shoppers。
〃Dew neh loh moh that old bastard looked frightened to death！〃 Smallpox Kin chortled。 〃In one step we have reached heaven！〃
〃Yes。 And next week when we snatch him he'll pay up as easily as an old dog farts！〃
They laughed and stopped a moment in the light of a stall and peeked into the bag。 When they both saw the bundle of notes both sighed。 〃Ayeeyah； truly we've reached heaven with one step； Elder Brother。 Pity the son is dead and buried。〃
Smallpox Kin shrugged as they went on； turning into a smaller alley； then another； surefooted in the darkening maze。 〃Honorable Father's right。 We have turned ill luck into good。 It wasn't your fault that bastard's head was soft！ Not at all！ When we dig him up and leave him on the Sha Tin Road with the note on his fornicating chest。 。。。〃 He stopped a moment and they stepped aside in the bustling； jostling crowds to allow a laden； broken…down truck to squeeze past。 As they waited he happened to glance back。 At the far end of this alley he saw three men change direction； seeing him； then begin to hurry toward him。
〃Dew neh loh moh we're betrayed；〃 he gasped then shoved his way forward and took to his heels； his brother close behind。
The two youths were very fast。 Terror lent cunning to their feet as they rushed through the cursing crowd； maneuvering around the inevitable potholes and small stalls； the darkness helping them。 Smallpox Kin led the charge。 He ducked between some stalls and fled down the narrow unlit passageway； the attaché case clutched tightly。 〃Go home a different way； Young Brother；〃 he gasped。
At the next corner he rushed left and his brother went directly on。 Their three pursuers split up as well； two following him。 It was almost impossible to see now in the darkness and the alleys twisted and turned and never a dead end。 His chest was heaving but he was well ahead of his pursuers。 He fled into a shortcut and at once turned into a bedraggled store that； like all the rest； served as a dwelling。 Careless of the family huddled around a screeching television he rushed through them and out the back door； then doubled back to the end of the alley。 He peered around the corner with great caution。 A few people watched him curiously but continued on their way without stopping； wanting no part of what clearly was trouble。
Then； hoping he was safe； he slid into the crowds and walked away quietly； his head down。 His breath was still labored and his head was filled with obscenities and he swore vengeance on Phillip Chen for betraying them。 All gods bear witness； he thought furiously； when we kidnap him next week； before we let him go I'll slice off his nose！ How dare he betray us to the police！ Hey； wait a moment； were those police？
He thought about that as he wandered along in the stream； cautiously doubling back from time to time； just in case。 But now he was sure he was not followed。 He let his mind consider the money and he beamed。 Let's see； what will I