Judge Dee at Work
- Автор: ван Гулик Роберт Ханс
- Серия: Judge Dee #14
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Другие детективы
Электронная книга - «Judge Dee at Work». Краткое содержание книги:
The eight short stories in Judge Dee at Work cover a decade during which the judge served in four different provinces of the T’ang Empire. From the suspected treason of a general in the Chinese army to the murder of a lonely poet in his garden pavilion, the cases here are among the most memorable in the Judge Dee series.
'All right, I'll pump the two women; that's the smoothest approach, I'd say!' He got up briskly.
'Maybe not as smooth as you think,' Chiao Tai said dryly as he rose also. 'Those two women are acrobats, remember! They know how to use their hands if you annoy them! Well, we'll meet later, in the tribunal.'
Chiao Tai went straight to the small winehouse in the east city where Sheng Pa, the head of the Beggars' Guild, had his headquarters.
The only occupant of the dingy taproom was a man of colossal proportions reclining in an armchair, snoring loudly. His mastlike arms were folded over his large bare belly, which protruded from under his worn-out black jacket.
Chiao Tai shook him roughly. The man woke up with a start. Giving Chiao Tai a baleful look, he said crossly, 'You would give a peaceful old man a fright! But sit down, anyway. Let me profit by your conversation.'
'I am in a hurry. You know a rogue called Hoo Ta-ma?'
Sheng Pa slowly shook his large head. 'No,' he said ponderously, 'I don't know him.'
Chiao Tai caught the crafty look that flashed through the other's eyes. He said impatiently, 'You may not have met him, but you must know about him, you fat crook! He's been seen in the yard of the old Taoist temple.'
'Don't call me names!' Sheng Pa said with a pained look. Then he added wistfully, 'Ah, that temple yard! My old headquarters! Those were the days, brother! Gay and carefree! Look at me now, master of the guild, burdened with administrative duties! I ...'
'The only burden you carry is your belly,' Chiao Tai interrupted. 'Speak up! Where do I find Hoo?'
'Well,' Sheng Pa replied resignedly, 'if you must push matters to extremes ... I have heard it said that a man who calls himself by that name can usually be found in a wine stall below the east city wall — the fifth one north from the East Gate, as a matter of fact. It's only hearsay, mind you, I ...'
'Thank you kindly!' Chiao Tai rushed out.
In the street he stuffed his cap into his sleeve, and rumpled his hair. A brief walk brought him to a shed of old boards put up against the base of the city wall. He surveyed the dark, deserted neighbourhood, then pulled aside the door curtain and stepped inside.
The shed was dimly lit by a smoking oil lamp, and was filled with a nauseating stench of rancid oil and cheap liquor. An old man with bleary eyes was serving wine dregs behind a rickety bamboo counter. Three men in tattered gowns were standing about in front of it, Hoo Ta-ma's tall frame towering above the others.
Chiao Tai stood himself next to Hoo. The men eyed him indifferently; evidently they didn't know him for an officer of the tribunal. He ordered a drink. After he had taken a sip from the cracked rice-bowl that served as a wine cup, he spat on the floor and growled at Hoo: 'Filthy stuff! It's bad when you are down to your last coppers!'
A wry smile lit up Hoo's broad, sun-tanned face. Chiao Tai thought he looked like a rough-and-ready rascal, but not entirely unprepossessing. He resumed, 'You wouldn't know a job with something in it, would you?'
'No, I don't. Besides, I am the last man to ask, brother! I am having a spell of dirty luck, these days. Week ago I was supposed to pinch two cartloads of rice on the road, in Woo-yee. Easy job, only had to knock out the two carters. Affair had been nicely planned — on a lonely stretch, in the forest. My bad luck spoiled it.'
'You are getting too old, maybe!' Chiao Tai sneered.
'Shut up and listen! Just as I knock the first carter down, a small brat comes running round the corner. He looks me up and down and asks, silly-like: "What are you doing that for?" I hear noises, and jump into the undergrowth. From my hideout I see a tilt cart with travelling actors come round the corner. The second carter tells them the sad story, adding that I took to my heels. They move on together, rice-carts and all!’
'Bad luck!’ Chiao Tai agreed. 'And you may be in for more of it too. Yesterday I saw a troupe performing in the street here, there was a boy doing somersaults. If that's the same brat, you'd better be careful. He might spot you.'
'Spotted me already! Caught me in the act again! With his sister, this second time! Can you imagine worse luck? But the brat had bad luck too. He's dead!’
Chiao Tai tightened his belt. This was a simple case, after all. He said affably, 'You certainly have bad luck, Hoo! I am an officer of the tribunal, and you are coming along with me!’
Hoo cursed obscenely, then barked at the two others, 'You heard him, the dirty running-dog of the tribunal! Let's beat the thief-catcher to pulp!’
The two vagabonds slowly shook their heads. The elder said, 'You don't belong here, brother. Settle your accounts yourself!'
'Rot in hell!’ And to Chiao Tai: 'Come outside, I'll get you or you'll get me!’
A beggar who was loitering in the dark alley scurried away when he saw the two men come out and take up boxers' stances.
Hoo started with a quick blow at Chiao Tai's jaw, but he parried it expertly and followed up with an elbow thrust in Hoo's face. The other ducked and grabbed Chiao Tai's waist with his long, muscular arms. Chiao Tai realized that in a body-to-body fight Hoo was no mean opponent; he was of the same height, but much heavier, and he tried to throw Chiao Tai by utilizing this advantage. Soon both men were panting heavily. But Chiao Tai knew more about technique, and he succeeded in slipping out of the other's bear-like hug. He stepped back, then placed an accurate blow in Hoo's face that closed his left eye. Hoo shook his head, then came again for him, growling angrily.
Chiao Tai was on his guard for foul tricks, but apparently Hoo didn't go in for them. He made a feint, then gave Chiao Tai a blow in his midriff that would have floored him if he hadn't ducked and caught it on his breastbone. Chiao Tai feigned to be winded and staggered back. Hoo aimed a straight blow at his jaw to finish him off. Chiao Tai caught Hoo's fist in both hands, ducked under his arm and threw him over his back. There was a snapping sound as the rogue's shoulder dislocated and he crashed to the ground, hitting his head on a stone with a sickening thud. He lay quite still.
Chiao Tai went into the shed again and told the greybeard to give him a rope, then to run out and call the warden and his men.
Chiao Tai tied Hoo's legs securely together. Then he squatted down and waited for the warden. Hoo was carried to the tribunal on an improvised stretcher. Chiao Tai ordered the jail keeper to put Hoo in a cell, call the coroner and have him revive the unconscious man, then set his shoulder.
These things having been attended to, Chiao Tai walked over, to the chancery deep in thought. There was one point that was worrying him. Perhaps the case was not so simple after all.
In the meantime Ma Joong had walked from the Kingfisher Restaurant back to the tribunal, where he had taken a bath. When he had put on a nice clean robe he strolled to the Taoist temple.
A mixed crowd was standing about below the raised stage of bamboo poles, lighted by two large paper lanterns. The show had started already, for Bao couldn't afford to let the death of his son interfere with the theatrical routine. He, his wife and his daughter, all three dressed in gorgeous stage costumes, stood in front of two superimposed tables representing a throne. Mrs Bao sang to the accompaniment of a strident fiddle.
Ma Joong went to the bamboo cage next to the stage where the greybeard was vigorously scraping his two-stringed violin, at the same time working a brass gong with his right foot. Ma Joong waited till he put the violin aside and changed to a pair of wooden clappers. He nudged him and asked with a meaningful grin:
'Where can I meet the women?'
The old man pointed with his bearded chin at the stepladder behind him, then beat his clappers extra hard.