Читать книгу The Sins of Nightsong - V. J. Banis - Страница 9

CHAPTER FOUR

The cold rain started early Tuesday morning, just after dawn. April bundled Adam into his quilted coat and pulled the cap down over his ears. The boy’s eyes were bright with anticipation; his unmistakably American face looked eager and a bit defiant.

She glanced around. The room was suddenly a friend she was seeing for the last time, a friend who’d been true in its fashion, a friend she felt she shouldn’t leave. Perhaps she shouldn’t go.

She gave an impatient shrug as she finished packing Adam into his cocoon of clothes, reminding herself that she’d seen too much of these rooms. Besides, there was no time to stop and think, or worry about the dangers that might be waiting outside, or the fact that tomorrow might well never come for her.

With a swift sweep of her hand she gathered up her essentials. Adam first, and then the cloth bag of jewels and money, which she slipped into the lining of her coat.

Eddie had exacted his final payment last night and had told her to meet him at the storehouse next to the Marine barracks at seven o’clock. It was almost seven now. She picked up her reticule and without hesitating walked out, closing the door firmly behind her. This time she would make good her escape. She knew it.

“Are we going with the soldiers like Uncle Eddie said?” Adam asked, holding tight to April as they made their way out of the legation building.

“Yes, darling. Then when we reach the sea a ship is going to take us across the water to your grandmother’s big house in San Francisco.”

“Will she let us stay?”

“Of course she will.” At least I hope so, April said to herself, remembering the hard feelings that had existed when she abandoned everyone in Paris.

Under the command of a young lieutenant, a contingent of Marines, about twenty, were lining up in front of the arsenal when April noticed Eddie motioning to her from the doorway to the storehouse.

He hurried her inside where a soldier was hitching a team of horses to a canvas-covered caisson, attached to which was a small cannon.

“Inside with the both of you,” Eddie said cheerily. “I’ve thrown in some blankets and pillows to make the ride as comfortable as possible, but don’t expect luxury.”

“A munitions wagon?” April asked, hesitantly.

“A decoy. There aren’t any weapons or ammunition inside. The Marines are picking up a load in Shanghai. The cannon is just for effect. If the Chinese decide to harass us, seeing the cannon might give them pause to reconsider.”

He took Adam out of her arms and lifted him into the wagon. As he helped April in he said, “The caisson hasn’t any springs so I hope you two don’t get too knocked about.”

“Just so we get away.” She hugged him. “I’ll be only too happy to arrive black and bruised.”

“I’ll be riding alongside,” Eddie said as he pulled on his slicker and motioned to the soldier that they were ready to move out.

April settled herself and Adam in a mound of blankets and pillows as the wagon started off. Through the flap she watched the Marines in their ponchos step out briskly, seemingly ignorant of the icy rain that slashed at their faces.

When they started through the Tartar wall, passing the red stone lions that flanked the gateway, Eddie motioned to the open canvas flap. “Better close yourselves in until we are through the city. We wouldn’t want the old witch’s spies getting a look at you.”

April did as he asked, but deep down she had a feeling that the Empress already knew what the caisson was carrying. She only hoped the contingent of Marines and the cannon would discourage any attempt to interfere with the journey.

With the canvas closed tightly, the inside of the wagon grew hot and breathless. April listened as the rain increased to a steady downpour. As uncomfortable as she was, she was glad for the shelter.

Outside she heard the noise of the city, the chattering merchants, the clip-clop of the wooden sandals on the cobblestones. Though they were moving at a snail’s pace, she and Adam were shaken and jolted from side to side. Every now and then the caisson gave a terrific jerk as the wheels hit a rock or sank into a pothole.

By the time they left Peking, April was certain she would never be able to survive the trip. Once they reached a safe distance, she told herself, they would get out and walk.

Unfortunately, they never reached a safe distance. Sometime after noon, as they passed through a small bedraggled village, the lieutenant called a halt to eat and rest.

Eddie climbed into the wagon and handed April a knapsack of rations. “Strictly Marine fare. Hardly food for a princess.” He grinned. He tied back the flap and allowed a breeze to waft into the dank interior. “The rain stopped,” he commented.

The fresh air felt heavenly. Just as April was about to ask if he thought they were safely away there was a commotion outside. Too late, Eddie started to draw the canvas flaps closed.

“We want the woman and boy,” April heard a Chinese officer say to the Marine lieutenant.

“This is an official United States government party. You have no right to interfere or demand anything of us.”

It was as if the Chinese officer had not heard. “We will take the woman and the boy. The Empress commands it.”

Eddie jumped down from the wagon. “Command all you like,” he said coldly. “Any rough stuff and your Empress will get a taste of American retribution.”

“Please, no trouble.” It was a girl’s voice April heard as she crawled to the back of the wagon and looked out.

April saw the familiar face of her stepsister, Mei Fei, who sat astride a milk-white mare. Her hand rested on her officer’s arm, restraining him as he reached for the hilt of his sword.

“Mei Fei!” April gasped. It had been almost four years since she had seen the girl, but there was no mistake that it was she. Though she was no more than thirteen or so, she had already blossomed into a lovely and regal-looking woman.

When she saw April the girl smiled broadly and spurred her animal toward the caisson. “April!” she called. “How wonderful to see you again.”

April’s pleasure at seeing her stepsister faded when she realized why Mei Fei was here. “It is so good to see you again, Mei Fei. I only wish we were meeting under different circumstances.” She saw Mei Fei look crestfallen. “I assume you are here on orders from the Empress.”

“Yes,” Mei Fei admitted sadly.

“And if I refuse to come back with you?”

Eddie interrupted. “What do you mean, if? You are not going anywhere but with me to America.”

The Chinese officer drew his sword. The Marines quickly reached for their weapons. A second later a new wave of Imperial soldiers came out from the stand of trees on either side of the roadway. There were at least a hundred of them, April saw, all with drawn swords and murderous looks.

The young Marine lieutenant unsnapped the holster of his side arm. “I will remind you again, sir, that this is an official United States government party. We will not be interfered with.”

They were hopelessly outnumbered and April knew the young lieutenant’s courage would only mean his death. In his eyes she saw that he, too, knew it.

“Wait!” April called as the lieutenant drew his pistol and backed toward where Eddie and his men had grouped beside the caisson. “There will be no slaughter on my account.”

“We are taking you to Shanghai,” Eddie said. “Get back inside, April.”

“You are not taking me anywhere if I refuse to go. Be sensible, Eddie. There are ten to our one. You may kill a few, but they will kill all of you.”

“They wouldn’t dare,” Eddie answered, keeping his eyes fixed on the Chinese officer.

“They would, believe me. I know my people,” April assured him.

“We’re Americans.”

“That makes no difference to them. They’d kill their own relations if the Empress commanded it.” She motioned at Mei Fei. “This girl is my stepsister, the daughter of Prince Ke Loo, heir to the throne of China.” To Mei Fei she said in English, “If I refuse to return with you to the palace and manage to escape with these soldiers, what is your punishment for returning to the Empress empty-handed?”

Mei Fei shifted uncomfortably. She shrugged, finding she could not look at April.

“Tell the gentleman, Mei Fei,” she insisted.

“My head would be forfeited.”

“I thought as much,” April said. She looked at Eddie. “There, you see? And Mei Fei is the Dowager Empress’s favorite.”

Eddie gaped. “She’d cut off the girl’s head?” he asked with a shudder.

“As she cut off my husband’s, and he, too, was a favorite for a while, having killed a man who had attempted to assassinate the Empress. That was the reward she paid him—the executioner’s block. Don’t you see, Eddie, that my people aren’t like yours? We are taught to obey the Empress regardless of what she demands, even if it means giving up our own lives. Even if you and the Marines managed to annihilate every single one of these men, they would consider it an honor to die for the Empress.”

“Well, we may just give them that honor,” the young lieutenant said.

“No.” April climbed out of the wagon. “Come along, darling.” She lifted Adam down after asking him to hand her the reticule. To Mei Fei she asked, “You brought a horse for me?”

Mei Fei motioned toward the stand of trees. The horse was brought forward.

Eddie grabbed her arm. “You are not going back! For God’s sake, April, you’ve been waiting years for this chance.”

“These men’s deaths would always be on my conscience, Eddie. And I could never permit Mei Fei’s sacrifice.” She forced a smile and kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Don’t make trouble, Eddie. Go with the Marines to Shanghai. I will be all right. I should have known all along that I would never be allowed to leave China without the Empress’s permission. Take heart. I haven’t given up. I am only returning to the Forbidden City to obtain my cousin’s permission, and believe me, I will get it. Thank you for everything. Perhaps we will meet again in America.”

“You’re sure you want to do this, April?”

“I’m sure,” she said. “Go along. I’ll be fine.” She smiled. She wasn’t too sure about her last remark.

Eddie helped April to mount the horse, then handed up little Adam. “I hate like the devil to see you go back, April.”

“I hate like the devil to be going back, but it is just only another delay. Perhaps this is what I should have done years ago.”

“Take care of yourself, love.”

“You too.”

The Chinese officer gave a command and the small army started back toward Peking with Mei Fei riding beside April and Adam. As they reached the bend in the road April turned back in time to see the Marines regroup and to see Eddie still standing in the middle of the road. When he saw her turn he waved until she was out of sight.

April looked over at Mei Fei’s sad face and gave her a bright smile. “Your head is much too lovely to fall victim to the ax blade, dear sister. Do not be sad for my sake. There is much unfinished business between me and my cousin, the Empress. It is only right that it be settled before I leave.”

“It is David’s child?” Mei Fei asked, looking at little Adam. “Foolish me, of course it is David’s. He looks exactly like him. The amah said she thought you were with child when you ran from the palace.” They rode in silence for a while. “Wu Lien will be pleased to see you, April. He is, of course, with the Empress.”

Wu Lien, she thought as she said his name to herself. “I am not so certain I will be pleased to see him. He was responsible for David’s arrest and execution—all the while pretending to be his friend,” she said bitterly, as if speaking to herself.

“He did it because he loves you, April.”

“Loves me!” She tightened her hands on the reins. “I detest and despise him. Given any chance I will see that he gets repaid for what he did to Adam’s father.”

“You must never let him know that, April.”

“Oh, have no fears, little sister. I am an old hand at playing court politics. I know Wu Lien has the Empress’s ear. I will not give him any excuse to chop off my head and exhibit it on a pole under the Dowager’s balcony. In fact, once I reach the palace he would be well advised to make certain his head doesn’t get hoisted up on that pole.”

“Wu Lien plans to make you his bride.”

April laughed. “Never. I have had husbands enough...one dead in China, one very much alive in America, if he hasn’t divorced me for deserting him and our child.” She sighed. “And I would do it all again for David.” There was a stinging behind her eyes. She quickly stiffened herself, then laid her cheek on little Adam’s tousled head. “I would have done anything in the world for your father, little one.”

She smiled as she realized the child had fallen fast asleep, heedless of any danger. As unaccustomed as she was to riding horseback, it was hard for her to understand how Adam could possibly fall asleep, even though the horse’s pace was very slow.

Mei Fei began chattering on about palace gossip, talking about people April had long since forgotten existed.

“And our father,” Mei Fei whispered, “is in serious trouble. It is better for us to be under the Empress’s protection than with him in Kalgan.”

April remembered Sun Yat-sen’s message and mentioned it to Mei Fei.

“Ah, yes. That was the man who escaped before the Empress could learn who was in league with Prince Ke Loo.”

“Then Dr. Sun told the truth.”

“I do not know all of what happened, only that Prince Ke Loo has opposed the Empress and she vows to destroy him. Unfortunately, many are in sympathy with Prince Ke Loo, especially the people in the northern provinces who—” She leaned closer. “—who wish to be rid of what they call the Empress’s tyranny. It has a great deal to do with the foot-binding of female infants. Many are complaining, saying if the women of the royal families do not bind their feet, why must the peasants?” Mei Fei shook her head, looking shocked. “I do not know what is happening of late. The people are so outspoken. Of course, Wu Lien tell us the Boxers are behind all the unrest. They are inflaming the peasants with their talk of freeing China from Western influences, all of which they say the Empress condones. A terrible time is coming, April. I feel it as surely as I feel the mare beneath me.”

April had stopped listening. She was working on a plan to reach America with the Empress’s blessing. The need to avenge herself on David’s father and then on Lydia was paramount in her mind. She’d need the Dowager Empress’s help and she had a good notion as to how she would go about getting it. Afterward, she would come back and have her revenge on Her Imperial Highness—and she knew exactly how she intending going about that also, thanks to Dr. Sun.

You will be avenged, David, she vowed to herself. If it takes my lifetime, I will see to it that all those responsible for taking you from me will pay dearly for what they did.