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special raids。 They had raided three gambling joints but had； curiously； left five much more prosperous ones untouched even though they were on the same floor of the same tenement and he could hear the click of mah…jong tiles and the cries of the fan…tan croupiers。
Dew neh loh moh I wish I could get part of the squeeze； he told himself then added； Get thee behind me； Satan！ I want much more to be in Special Intelligence because then I will have a safe； important job for life； I will know all manner of secrets； the secrets will protect me； and then； when I retire； the secrets will make me rich。
They turned a corner and reached the candy stall。 He bartered with the old toothless woman for a minute or two； then paid her two copper cash and she gave the little girl a sweet rice cake and a good pinch of the bits of oh so chewy and tangy bittersweet sun…dried orange peel in a twist of newspaper。
〃Thank you； Sixth Uncle；〃 the little girl said； beaming up at him from under her hat。
〃I hope you enjoy them； Fifth Niece；〃 he replied； loving her； glad that she was pretty。 If the gods favor us she will grow up to be very pretty； he thought contentedly； then we can sell her maidenhead for a vast amount of money； and her later services profitably for the good of the family。
Spectacles Wu was very proud that he had been able to do so much for this part of his family in their hour of need。 Everyone safe and fed and now my percentage of Ninth Uncle's plastic flower factory； negotiated so patiently； will； with joss； pay my rent in a year or two； and I can eat good Ning…tok rice gruel three times a week free which helps eke out my money so that I needn't take the squeeze that is so easy to obtain but would ruin my future。
No。 All gods bear witness！ I will not take the squeeze while there's a chance for SI but it's not sensible to pay us so little。 Me； 320 HK a month； after two years of service。 Ayeeyah； barbarians are impossible to understand！
〃You run along now and I'll be back tomorrow；〃 he said。 〃Be careful as you go。〃
〃Oh yes！〃
He bent down and she hugged him。 He hugged her back and left。 She headed up the hill； part of the rice cake already in her mouth； the cloying tacky sweetness oh so delicious。
The rain was monotonous and heavy。 Flooding from the storm drain carried debris against the shacks in its path but she climbed the path carefully； skirting it； fascinated by the rushing water。 The overflow was deep in parts and here where the way was steeper； almost like rapids。 Without warning a jagged five…gallon can came swirling down the drain and hurled itself at her； narrowly missing her； to smash through a cardboard wall。
She stood stock…still； frightened。
〃Get on； there's nothing to steal here！〃 a furious householder called out at her。 〃Go home！ You shouldn't be here。 Go home！〃
〃Yes 。。。 yes；〃 she said and began to hurry； the climb more difficult now。 At that moment the earth just below her gave way and the slide began。 Hundreds of tons of sludge and rock and earth surged downward burying everything in its path。 It went on for fifty yards or more in seconds； tearing the flimsy structures apart； scattering men； women and children； burying some； maiming others； cutting an oozing swath where once was village。
Then it stopped。 As suddenly as it began。
On all the mountainside there was a great silence broken only by the sound of rain。 Abruptly the silence ceased。 Shouts and cries for help began。 Men and women and children rushed out of untouched hovels； blessing the gods for their own safety； adding to the pandemonium and wails for help。 Friends helped friends； neighbors helped neighbors； mothers searched for children； children for parents； but the great majority nearby just stood there in the rain and blessed their joss that this slide had passed them by。
The little girl was still teetering on the brink of the chasm where the earth had fallen away。 She stared down into it with disbelief。 Eleven feet below her now were fangs of rocks and sludge and death where seconds ago was solid ground。 The lip was crumbling and small avalanches of mud and stones cascaded into the abyss； aided by the flooding from the storm drain。 She felt her feet slipping so she took a tentative step backward but more of the earth gave way so she stopped； petrified； the remains of the rice cake still firmly in her hands。 Her toes dug into the soft earth to try to keep her balance。
〃Don't move；〃 an old man called out。
〃Get away from the edge；〃 another shouted and the rest watched and waited and held their breath to see what the gods would decide。
Then a ten…foot slice of the lip collapsed and toppled into the maw carrying the little girl with it。 She was buried just a little。 Up to her knees。 She made sure her rice cake was safe then burst into tears。
44
11：30 A。M。：
Superintendent Armstrong's police car eased its way through the milling angry crowds that had spilled over into the road outside the Ho…Pak Bank； heading for the East Aberdeen police station。 Mobs were also clogging the streets outside all the other banks in the area； big and small … even the Victoria which was across the street from the Ho…Pak … everyone impatiently waiting to get in to get their money out。
Everywhere the mood was volatile and dangerous； the downpour adding to the tension。 Barricades erected to channel people into and out of the banks were manned in strength by equally anxious and irritable police … twenty per thousand； unarmed but for truncheons。
〃Thank God for the rain；〃 Armstrong muttered。
〃Sir？〃 the driver asked； the irritating screech of ill…adjusted windshield wipers drowning his voice。
Armstrong repeated it louder and added； 〃If it was hot and humid； this whole bloody place'd be up in arms。 The rain's a godsend。〃
〃Yes sir。 Yes it is。〃
In time the police car stopped outside the station。 He hurried in。 Chief Inspector Donald C。C。 Smyth was waiting for him。 His left arm was in a sling。
〃Sorry to be so long；〃 Armstrong said。 〃Bloody traffic's jammed for bloody miles。〃
〃Never mind。 Sorry but I'm a bit shorthanded； old chap。 West Aberdeen's cooperating and so is Central； but they've problems too。 Bloody banks！ We'll have to do with one copper in the back … he's already in position in case we flush one of the villains … and us up front with Spectacles Wu。〃 Smyth told Armstrong his plan。
〃Good。〃
〃Shall we go now？ I don't want to be away too long。〃
〃Of course。 It looks pretty dicey outside。〃
〃I hope the bloody rain lasts until the bloody banks close their doors or pay out the last penny。 Did you go liquid yourself？〃
〃You must be joking！ My pittance makes no difference！〃 Armstrong stretched； his back aching。 〃Ah Tam in the flat？〃
〃As far as we know。 The family she works for is called Ch'ung。 He's a dustman。 One of the villains might be there too so we'll have to get in quickly。 I've the missioner's authority to carry a revolver。 Do you want one too？〃
〃No。 No thanks。 Let's go； shall we？〃
Smyth was shorter than Armstrong but well built and his uniform suited him。 Awkwardly； because of his arm； he picked up his raincoat and began to lead the way； then stopped。 〃Bugger； I forgot！ Sorry