Tai-Pan (85 page)

“Thus, if Britain wishes to maintain her position as a world power and nullify Russia’s never-ending search for world domination, she must first eliminate the Russian Alaska threat to Canada and the weakling United States. She must persuade the United States, by any means in her power, to invoke the Monroe Doctrine to expel the Russian threat. Or she must exert diplomatic pressure and purchase this territory, or take it by force. For unless Russia is eliminated quickly, the whole of North America, within half a century, 
will
 come under her sway.

“Second, England must maintain absolute dominance in China. It is necessary to trace Russian conquest thus far across the Urals, and see how far they have 
already
 penetrated into lands loosely under the historical overlordship of the Chinese Emperor.” With a series of maps and dates and places, translated copies of treaties, the whole panorama of the Russian move east was documented.

“For the last three hundred years (since 1552) Muscovite armies have steadily worked eastward in their search for a ‘final’ border. By 1640 Okhotsk, on the Sea of Okhotsk—north of Manchuria on the Pacific Ocean—was reached. Immediately these armies moved south and for the first time clashed with Manchu-Chinese hordes.

“The Treaty of Nerchinsk, in 1689, signed between Russia and China, settled the north border between the two countries along the Argun River and Stanovoi Mountains. The whole of Manchurian eastern Siberia was ceded to Russia. To date, this line was a ‘final’ Russian border north of China.

“About this time, 1690, a Russian named Zaterev was sent by land to Peking as an ambassador. En route he surveyed ways for possible invasion of the incredibly rich heartland of China. The best route he found followed the natural corridor of the Selenga River which flowed into the plains north of Peking. The key to this route is the possession of Turkestan, Outer Mongolia and the Chinese province of Sinkiang.

“And, as Prince Tergin’s report has stated, their armies already dominate Eurasia, north of Manchuria, to the Pacific, and are already on the borders of Sinkiang, Turkestan and Outer Mongolia. It is from this direction that Russian encroachment on China proper will come, and will continue to come for a long time.”

The report added: “Unless Britain maintains a firm attitude that China and Asia is her sphere of influence, Russian advisers will be in Peking within a generation. Russian armies will control all the easy access routes from Turkestan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, into British India and the whole British Indian Empire can be invaded and swallowed at whim.

“If Britain wishes to continue as a world power it is vital that China be made a bulwark against Russia. It is vital that Russian advances be halted in the Sinkiang area. It is vital that a dominant British fortress be centered in China, for, by herself, China is helpless. If China is allowed to wither in her ancient ways and is not helped to emerge into the modern era, she will be conquered easily by Russia and the balance of Asia destroyed.

“In conclusion: It is a matter of great regret that Portugal is not strong enough to hold the land-seeking hunger of the Russians at bay. Our only hope is that our ancient ally, Britain, will by eminence and strength prevent that which seems 
inevitable.

“For this reason alone we have illegally prepared this dossier, entirely without official or unofficial permission. Prince Tergin’s report and the maps were acquired in St. Petersburg and found their way into unofficial friendly hands in Portugal. From thence here.

“We have asked His Grace—who is not privy to any of this information—-to place these papers in the hands of the Tai-Pan of The Noble House, one who will, we believe, insure that they reach their correct destination, so that action may be taken before it is too late. And as a measure of our sincerity we have signed our names, praying that our careers, perhaps our lives, will be in equally safe hands.”

The report was signed by two minor Portuguese foreign policy experts whom Struan knew slightly.

He threw the butt of his cheroot into the garden and watched it burn itself out. Aye, he said to himself, it’s inevitable. But na if we keep Hong Kong. God damn Lord Cunnington.

How to use the information? That’s easy. As soon as I get back to Hong Kong, a word in Longstaff’s ear and Cooper’s ear. But what do I gain by that? Why do I na go home mysel’? This type of knowledge is a chance in a lifetime. What about Zergeyev? Do we talk “specifics” now? Do I bargain with him?

“Tai-Pan?”

“Aye, lass?”

“Would you close garden window-door? It’s getting very gracious cold.”

The night was warm.

The chills convulsed May-may. The fires consumed her. During the delirium May-may felt her womb rip asunder and she screamed. The life-to-be passed out of her, and in the passing took all but the merest spark of her soul and strength. Then the fever broke and the sweat released her from the nightmare. Four hours she teetered on the brink of death. But her joss decreed that she was to come back.

“Hello, Tai-Pan.” She could feel the continuous seeping from her womb. “Bad joss to lose baby,” she whispered.

“Dinna fash yoursel’. Just get yoursel’ better. Any moment the cinchona bark’ll arrive. I know it will.”

May-may summoned her strength and shrugged with a trace of her old imperiousness. “Pox on the longskirts! How for can the man hurry in a skirt, heya?”

But the effort depleted her and she slipped into unconsciousness.

Two days later she seemed much stronger.

“Morning, lass. How do you feel today?”

“Fantastical good,” May-may said. “It is a pretty day, heya? Did you seen Ma-ree?”

“Aye. She’s looking much better. A tremendous change. Almost miraculous!”

“Why for so good change, heya?” she asked innocently, knowing that Elder Sister had gone to see her yesterday.

“I dinna ken,” he said. “I saw Horatio just before I left. He brought her some flowers. By the way, she thanks you for the things you sent her. What did you send?”

“Mangoes and some herb tea my doctor recommended. Ah Sam went two, three days ago.” May-may rested a moment. Even talking was a great strain for her. She must be very strong today, she told herself firmly.

There is much to do today, and tomorrow there is fever again. Oh well, at least now no problem for Ma-ree—she’s rescued. So easy now that Elder Sister has explained to her what all young girls in houses are taught—that with care and meticulous acting and tears of pretended pain and fear, and the final modest telltale stains cautiously placed, a girl can, if necessary, be virgin ten times for ten different men.

Ah Sam came in and kowtowed, and muttered something to her. May-may brightened. “Oh, very good, Ah Sam! You may go.”

Then to Struan, “Tai-Pan, I need some taels of silver, please.”

“How many?”

“Lots. I am impoverished. Your old mother’s very fond of you. Wat for you ask such things?”

“If you hurry up and get better, I’ll give you all the taels you need.”

“You give me great face, Tai-Pan. Hugest face. Twenty thousand taels for medicine cure—ayeee yah, I am worth like an empress lady to you.”

“Gordon told you?”

“No. I was listen at door. Of course! Do you think your old mother likes not to know what doctor says and you say, heya?” She glanced at the doorway.

Struan turned to see a lovely young girl bowing gracefully. Her hair was coiled in a thick, dark snake atop her exquisite head and adorned with jade ornaments and flowers. Her almond-shaped face was like purest alabaster.

‘This is Yin-hsi,” May-may said. “She is my sister.”

“I did na ken you had one, lass. She’s very pretty.”

“Yes, but, well, she’s not really sister, Tai-Pan. Chinese ladies often call each other ‘sister.’ It’s politeness. Yin-hsi’s your birthday present.”

“What?”

“I bought her for birthday.”

“Have you taken leave of your senses?”

“Oh, Tai-Pan, you are very trying sometimes badly,” May-may said, beginning to cry. “Your birthday is in four monthses. At that time I would have been heavy with child so I arranged search for a ‘sister.’ It has been difficult to decide bestest choice. She is bestest, and now because I am sick I give her now and na wait. You dinna like her?”

“Good God, lass! Dinna cry, May-may. Listen. Dinna cry . . . Of course I like your sister. But you dinna buy girls as birthday presents, for the love of God!”

“Why not?”

“Well, because you just dinna.”

“She’s very nice—I want her for my sister. I was going to teach her for the four monthses, but now . . .” She broke out sobbing again.

Yin-hsi hurried from the doorway and knelt beside May-may and held her hand and dried her tears solicitously and helped her to drink a little tea. May-may had warned her that barbarians were sometimes strange and showed their happiness by shouting and cursing, but not to worry.

“Look, Tai-Pan, how pretty she is!” May-may said. “You like her, surely?”

“That’s na the point, May-may. Of course I like her.”

“Then that’s settled, then.” May-may closed her eyes and lay back in her nest of pillows.

“It’s na settled, then.”

She summoned a final broadside. “It is, and I’ll na argue with you any more, by God! I paid huge monies and she’s bestest and I canna send her away for she’ll lose all face and she’d have to hang herself.”

“Dinna be ridiculous!”

“I promise you she will, Tai-Pan. Everyone knows I was lockings for a new sister for me and for you, and if you send her away her face is finished. Fantastical finished. She’ll hang herself, truly!”

“Dinna cry, lassie. Please.”

“But you dinna like my birthday present to you.”

“I like her and you need na send her away,” he said quickly—anything to stop the tears. “Keep her here. She’ll—she’ll be a sister to you, and when you’re well we’ll—we’ll find her a good husband. Eh? There’s nae need to cry. Come on, lassie, now stop the tears.”

At length May-may stopped weeping and lay back again. Her outburst had sapped too much of her precious energy. But it was worth the price, she exulted. Now Yin-hsi will stay. If I die, he will be in good hands. If I live, she will be my sister and the second sister in his household, for of course he will want her. Of course he will want her, she told herself as she drifted away. She’s so pretty.

Ah Sam came in. “Mass’er. Young Mass’er outside. See can?”

Struan was alarmed by May-may’s dreadful pallor. “Get doctor plentee quick-quick, savvy?”

“Savvy, Mass’er.” Struan bleakly left the room. Ah Sam closed the door after him and knelt beside the bed and said to Yin-hsi, “Second Mother, I should change Supreme Lady’s dressings before the doctor comes.”

“Yes. I will help you, Ah Sam,” Yin-hsi said. “Father certainly is a strange giant. If Supreme Lady and you hadn’t warned me, I would have been very frightened.”

“Father’s very nice. For a barbarian. Of course, Supreme Lady and I have been training him.” Ah Sam frowned at May-may, who was deep in sleep. “She looks very bad indeed.”

“Yes. But my astrologer foretold good tidings, so we must be patient.”

“Hello, Culum,” Struan said as he came into the beautiful walled garden forecourt.

“Hello, Tai-Pan. I hope you don’t mind my coming here.” Culum rose from the willow-shaded seat and took out a letter. “This just arrived and—well, instead of sending Lo Chum I thought I’d like to see how you were. And find out how she is.”

Struan took the letter. It was marked “Personal, Private and Urgent” and came from Morely Skinner.

“She lost the bairn the day before yesterday,” he said.

“How terrible!” Culum said. “Has the cinchona come?”

Struan shook his head. “Sit down, lad.” He tore open the letter. Morley Skinner wrote that he had intended to withhold the “repudiation” news until Struan’s return—he felt it dangerous to release it in his absence—but that now it was imperative to publish the report immediately: “A frigate from England arrived this morning. My informant on the flagship said that the admiral was delighted with the private Admiralty dispatch he received and was heard to say, ‘It’s about bloody time, by God. With any luck we’ll be north within the month.’ This can only mean that he, too, is privy to the news and that Whalen’s arrival is imminent. I cannot stress too highly the necessity of your return. By the way, I hear there’s a curious private codicil to the Longstaff-Ching-so agreement over Canton’s ransom. Last, I hope you have been able to prove, one way or another, the value of cinchona bark. I regret that, as far as I know, none is to be found here. I am, sir, your most humble servant, Morley Skinner.”

May-may’ll na last another fever spell, Struan thought, anguished. That’s the truth and you have to face it. Tomorrow she’ll be dead—unless the cinchona arrives. And who knows if it really will cure her?

If she dies you must save Hong Kong. If she lives you must save Hong Kong. But why? Why na leave that cursed island as it was before? You may be wrong—Hong Kong may na be necessary to Britain. What do you prove by your mad crusade to open up China and bring her into the world on your terms, in your way? Leave China to her own joss and go home. With May-may if she lives. Let Culum find his own level as Tai-Pan. One day you’ll die and then The Noble House will find its own level. That’s law—God’s law, nature’s law, and the law of joss.

Go home and enjoy what you’ve sweated and sacrificed for. Release Culum from his five-year servitude; there’s more than enough to last you and him and his children’s children. Let Culum decide if he wants to stay or does na want to stay. Go home and forget. You’re rich and powerful and you can sit in the courts of kings if you wish. Aye. You’re 
the
 Tai-Pan. Leave as 
the
 Tai-Pan, and to the devil with China. Give up China—she’s a vampire mistress.

“More bad news?”

“Oh, sorry, Culum lad, I’d forgotten about you. What did you say?”

“More bad news?”

“Nay, but important.” Struan noticed that the last seven days had taken their toll on Culum. Nae youth to your face now, laddie. You’re a man. Then he remembered Gorth and he knew that he could not leave Asia without a reckoning—with Gorth and with Brock.