按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。 Being prudent； the old man had showed none of it outwardly except to his friend and confidant； Goodweather Poon。
〃Bring him on deck。〃
〃What about this Werewolf fornicator？〃 Poon's horny toe stabbed Kin。 〃Young Profitable didn't like him or this matter at all； heya？〃
〃Time he grew up； time he knew how to treat enemies； time he knew real values； not ill…omened； stink…wind； fatuous Golden Mountain values。〃 The old man spat on the deck。 〃He's forgotten who he is and where his interests lie。〃
〃You said yourself you don't send a rabbit against a dragon。 Or a minnow against a shark。 You've your investment to consider and don't forget Profitable Choy's returned everything he cost you over fifteen years twenty times over。 In the money market he's a High Dragon and only twenty…six。 Leave him where he's best； best for you and best for him。 Heya？〃
〃Tonight he's best here。〃
The old seaman scratched his ear。 〃I don't know about that； Four Fingers。 That the gods will decide。 Me； I'd have left him ashore。〃 Now Goodweather Poon was watching the southeast。 His peripheral vision had caught something。 〃You see it？〃
After a moment Four Fingers shook his head。 〃There's plenty of time； plenty of time。〃
〃Yes。〃 The old seaman glanced back at the body trussed with chains like a plucked chicken。 His face split into a grin。 〃Eeeee； but when Profitable Choy turned white like a jellyfish at this fornicator's first scream and first blood； I had to break wind to release my laughter to save his face！〃
〃The young today have no fortitude；〃 Wu repeated； then lit a new cigarette and nodded。 〃But you're right。 After tonight Profitable's going to be left where he belongs to bee even more profitable。〃 He glanced down at Smallpox Kin。 〃Is he dead？〃
〃Not yet。 What a dirty motherless whore to hit Number One Son Noble House Chen with a shovel and then lie about it to us； heya？ And to cut off Chen's ear and blame his father and brothers and lie about that too！ And then taking the ransom even though they couldn't deliver the goods！ Terrible！〃
〃Disgusting！〃 The old man guffawed。 〃Even more terrible to get caught。 But then you showed the fornicator the error of his rotten ways； Goodweather Poon。〃
They both laughed； happy together。
〃Shall I cut off his other ear； Four Fingers？〃
〃Not yet。 Soon； yes； very soon。〃
Again Poon scratched his head。 〃One thing I don't understand。 I don't understand why you told me to put their sign on Number One Son and leave him as they planned to leave him。〃 He frowned at Four Fingers。 〃When this fornicator's dead that's all the Werewolves dead； heya？ So what good is the sign？〃
Four Fingers cackled。 〃All es clear to he who waits。 Patience；〃 he said； very pleased with himself。 The sign implied the Werewolves were very much alive。 If only he and Poon knew that they were all dead； he could at any time resurrect them； or the threat of them。 At his whim。 Yes； he thought happily； kill one to terrify ten thousand！ The 〃Werewolves〃 can easily bee a continuous source of extra revenue at very little cost。 A few phone calls； a judicious kidnapping or two； perhaps another ear。 〃Patience； Goodweather Poon。 Soon you'll un… 〃 He stopped。 Both men had centered their eyes on the same spot in the darkness。 A small； dimly lit freighter was just nosing into sight。 In a moment two lights flashed at her masthead。 At once Wu went to the conn and flashed an answering signal。 The freighter flashed the confirm。 〃Good；〃 Wu said happily； flashing his reconfirm。 The deck crew had also seen the lights。 One hurried below to fetch the rest of the seamen and the others went to their action stations。 Wu's eyes fell on Smallpox Kin。 〃First him；〃 he said malevolently。 〃Fetch my son here。〃
Weakly Paul Choy groped his way on deck。 He gulped the fresh air gratefully； the stench from below decks overpowering。 He climbed the gangway to the poop。 When he saw the red mess on the deck and the partial person on the deck； his stomach revolted and once more he threw up over the side。
Four Finger Wu said； 〃Give Goodweather Poon a hand。〃
〃What？〃
〃Are your ears filled with vomit？〃 the old man shouted。 〃Give him a hand。〃
Frightened； Paul Choy reeled over to the old seaman； the helmsman watching interestedly。 〃What do you 。。。 you want me to do？〃
〃Take his legs！〃
Paul Choy tried to dominate his nausea。 He closed his eyes。 His nostrils were filled with the smell of vomit and blood。 He reached down； took the legs and part of the heavy chain and staggered； half falling； to the side。 Goodweather Poon was carrying most of the weight and he could easily have carried it all and Paul Choy too if need be。 Effortlessly he balanced Smallpox Kin on the gunnel。
〃Hold him there！〃 By prearrangement with Four Fingers； the old seaman backed away； leaving Paul Choy on his own； the unconscious； mutilated face and body slumped precariously against him。
〃Put him overboard！〃 Wu ordered。
〃But Father 。。。 please 。。。 he's 。。。 he's not de 。。。 not dead yet。 Pl… 〃
〃Put him over the side！〃
Beside himself with fear and loathing； Paul Choy tried to pull the body back aboard but the wind squalled and heeled the junk and the last of the Werewolves toppled into the sea and sank without a trace。 Helplessly Paul Choy stared at the waves slopping against the teak。 He saw that there was blood on his shirt and on his hands。 Another wave of nausea racked him； tormenting him。
〃Here！〃 Gruffly Wu handed his son a flask。 It contained whiskey； good whiskey。 Paul Choy choked a little but his stomach held the whiskey。 Wu turned back to the conn； waved the helmsman toward the freighter； the throttle opened to full ahead。 Paul Choy almost fell but managed to grab the gunnel and stay on his feet； unprepared for the suddenness of the deep…throated roar and burst of speed。 When he had his sea legs he looked at his father。 Now the old man was near the tiller； Goodweather Poon nearby； and both were peering into the darkness。 He could see the small ship and his stomach reeled； and he hated his father afresh； hated being on board and being involved in what obviously was smuggling … on top of the horror of the Werewolf。
Whatever that poor son of a bitch did； he thought； enraged； it doesn't merit taking the law into your own hands。 He should've been handed over to the police to be hanged or imprisoned or whatever。
Wu felt the eyes on him and he glanced back。 His face did not change。 〃e here；〃 he ordered； his thumbless hand stabbing the gunnel in front of him。 〃Stand here。〃
Numbly Paul Choy obeyed。 He was much taller than his father and Goodweather Poon but he was a piece of chaff against either of them。
The junk sped through the darkness on an intercept course； the sea black and the night black with just a little moonlight sifting through the overcast。 Soon they were just aft of the vessel and a little to starboard； closing fast。 She was small； slow and quite old and she dipped uneasily in the gathering swell。 〃She's a coastal freighter；〃 Goodweather Poon volunteered； 〃a Thai trawler we call them。 There's dozens of the fornicators in all Asian waters。 They're the lice of the seas； Profitable Choy； crewed by scum； captained by scum； and they leak like lobster pots