He took the sword down and drew it in one quick movement. But he was unfamiliar with Chinese swords. The loose guard clattered on to the stone flags.
Judge Dee stirred uneasily, then opened his eyes. Mansur uttered an oath. He raised the sword to plant it in Judge Dee's breast, but whirled round as he heard a loud shout behind him. Chiao Tai came rushing in, wearing only his baggy trousers. He sprang at Mansur, but the Arab lunged with the sword and drove it into Chiao Tai's breast. As Chiao Tai staggered backwards, dragging Mansur with him, the judge jumped from the couch and grabbed his dagger from the tea-table. Mansur cast a quick glance at him over his shoulder, uncertain whether to defend himself with the sword, or leave it and fight with his own, more familiar curved dagger. That moment's hesitation sealed his doom. The judge leapt on him and thrust the dagger into his neck with such savage force that the blood spurted high in the air. The judge threw the dead Arab aside, and knelt down by Chiao Tai.
The razor sharp Rain Dragon had penetrated deeply into Chiao Tai's breast. His face had turned white, his eyes were closed. A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Tao Gan came rushing inside.
'Get the Governor's doctor, and alarm the guards!’ Judge Dee barked.
He put his arm under Chiao Tai's head. He did not dare to remove the sword. A stream of confused memories passed before his mind's eye: their first meeting in the woods, when he had fought against Chiao Tai with this same sword; the many dangers they had faced shoulder to shoulder; the many times they had saved each other's lives.
He never knew how long he knelt there, looking at the still face. Suddenly he found many people crowding around him. The Governor's physician examined the wounded man. As he carefully pulled out the sword and staunched the bleeding, Judge Dee asked him hoarsely:
'Can we move him to the couch?'
The physician nodded. Giving the judge a grave look, he whispered:
'It's only his remarkable vitality that keeps him alive.'
Together with Tao Gan and the captain of the guard they lifted Chiao Tai up and softly laid him down on Judge Dee's couch. As the judge took the sword, he ordered the captain:
'Tell your men to take this dead Arab away.'
Chiao Tai opened his eyes. Seeing the sword in Judge Dee's hands, he said with a faint smile:
'It's by that sword we met, and by that sword we part.'
The judge quickly sheathed it. Laying it on Chiao Tai's tanned, scar-covered breast, he said softly:
The Rain Dragon shall stay with you, Chiao Tai. I shall never carry a sword stained by the blood of my best friend.'
With a happy smile Chiao Tai folded his large hands over the sword. He gave Judge Dee a long look. Then a film seemed to spread over his eyes.
Tao Gan cradled Chiao Tai's head in his left arm. Tears trickled slowly down his long lean face.
'Shall I order the watch to start beating the Dead March, sir?' the captain of the guard asked in a whisper.
Judge Dee shook his head.
'No. Let them beat the Triumphant Return. At once!’
He motioned the physician and the guards to leave them alone. Bending close over the couch, he and Tao Gan looked at their friend's face, very still now. His eyes were closed. After they had been watching him for a long time, they noticed that his cheeks reddened. Soon his face was glowing with fever; perspiration streamed from the dying man's forehead. His breathing came in gasps, and more blood oozed from his distorted mouth.
'Left column ... forward!’ Chiao Tai brought out.
Suddenly the quiet outside was shattered by the heavy rumble of the large leather drums on the watchtowers of the palace. Their rhythm quickened, then came the piercing blast of the long trumpets, announcing the return of the victorious warriors.
Chiao Tai opened his eyes, now partially glazed. He listened intently, then his bloodstained lips curved in a happy smile.
'The battle is won!’ he suddenly said, very clearly.
There was a rattling sound in his throat; a long shudder shook his tall frame. The smile became fixed.
A WARRIOR'S DEATH
XXV
Night had fallen when Tao Gan, working with the four agents, wound up the case of the Censor's death. With quiet efficiency he had covered up all evidence of what had really taken place. The Arab dancer's dead body had been secretly taken to the tribunal, then openly brought to the Temple of the Flowery Pagoda to be cremated. Liang's accomplices had been taken away by the military police, without even having been interrogated. They would be disposed of as soon as the convoy arrived in the mountains up river. Tao Gan was dead tired when at last he signed and sealed all the necessary documents, in Judge Dee's name. For the judge had left Canton as soon as he had personally made the arrangements for Chiao Tai's body to be removed to the capital. He had left in a special mounted convoy. A platoon of military police rode in front to clear the road. They carried the red-bordered banner signifying that they were entitled to requisition new horses at every post they passed. It would be a gruelling ride, but it was the quickest way to reach the capital.
Tao Gan left the tribunal and told the litter bearers to take him to the Liang mansion. The main hall was brilliantly lit by oil lamps and torches. Mr Liang's body was lying in state on a magnificent canopied bier. A steady stream of people was passing in front. They burned incense and paid their last respects to the deceased. A dignified elderly gentleman whom Tao Gan took to be the uncle received the visitors, assisted by the old housekeeper.
As Tao Gan sourly watched the solemn ceremony, he suddenly found Mr Yau Tai-kai standing by his side.
'A sad, sad day for Canton!’ Mr Yau said. But his melancholy voice was belied by the crafty look on his face. Evidently he was gleefully calculating already which of the dead man's interests he could now take over. 'I hear that your boss has left,' Yau resumed. 'He seemed to suspect me of something, you know, for he questioned me closely, once. But now that he has gone back to the capital without summoning me, that means that I am in the clear, I suppose.'
Tao Gan gave him a baleful look.
'Well,' he said slowly, 'I am not allowed to discuss official business with outsiders, really. But since I like you, I'll give you a piece of inside information that might come in useful. When a person is put on to the rack, he shouldn't forget to ask the executioner's assistant to place a wooden gag between his teeth. It happens not infrequently, you see, that people in their agony bite their tongue off. But I wouldn't worry too much, Mr Yau, if I were you! Worrying has never yet saved a man. Good luck!’
He turned round and walked off, leaving Mr Yau standing there, a look of stark terror in his bovine eyes.
Somewhat cheered by this encounter, Tao Gan dismissed his litter and went on to the market place on foot. His back was aching and his feet were sore, but he felt he needed time to sort out his thoughts. The market was teeming with noisy humanity, and the dark back street he entered seemed by contrast even more dismal than before.
When he had climbed the narrow staircase, he stood still in front of the door for a moment and listened. He faintly heard a soft, whirring sound. His surmise had been right.
He knocked and stepped inside. The small cages hanging from the eaves were outlined against the evening sky, and in the semi-darkness he vaguely saw the tea-basket on the table.
'It is I,' he said when she came round from behind the bamboo screen. He took her sleeve and guided her to the bench. They sat down there, side by side.
'I knew I would find you here,' he resumed. 'I am travelling back to the capital early tomorrow morning, and I didn't want to leave without saying good-bye. Fate has struck heavily, both at you and at me. You lost your brother and your sister, I my best friend.' He told her briefly about Chiao Tai's death. Then he asked anxiously, 'How are you going to get along all alone now?'