THE HOME OF HEAVENLY ANTICIPATIONS2 honored with its presence Peking, not yet at that time renamed Peiping. It was hidden in the heart of the Old City. The anticipations discussed there were usually the reverse of heavenly — or, if not, then dealing3 with highly unorthodox realms of beatitude.
But except for its patrons none ever knew what went on within its walls. There was never any leakage4 of secrets through those walls. Peculiarly ultimate information could be obtained at the Home of Heavenly Anticipations — so long as it did not pertain5 to its patrons.
It was, in fact, a clearing house for enterprises looked upon with a certain amount of disfavor even by many uncivilized countries: enterprises such as blackmail6, larceny7 on the grand scale, smuggling8, escapes, piracies9, removal of obstacles by assassination10 and so on. Its abbots collected rich tithes11 from each successful operation in return for absolute protection from interruption, eavesdropping12 and spies, and for the expert and thoroughly13 trustworthy advices upon any point of any enterprise which needed to be cleared up before action.
Prospective14 members of the most exclusive of London's clubs were never scanned with such completeness as were applicants15 for the right to enter the Home of Heavenly Anticipations — and one had to be a rather complete scoundrel to win that right. But to those who sought such benefits as it offered, they were worth all the difficulty in securing them.
Charles Meredith sat in one of its rooms, three weeks to a night from the birth of Jean Meredith's baby. He was not a member, but it was the privilege of accredited16 patrons to entertain guests to whom secrecy17 was as desirable as to themselves — or who might prove refractory18.
It was a doubtful privilege for these guests, although they were not aware of it, because it was always quite possible that they might never appear again in their usual haunts. In such event it was almost impossible to trace them back to the Home of Heavenly Anticipations. Always, on their way to it, they had been directed to leave their vehicle, coolie-carriage or what not at a certain point and to wait until another picked them up. Beyond that point they were never traced. Or if their bodies were later found, it was always under such circumstances that no one could point a finger at the Home of Heavenly Anticipations, which was as expert on alibis20 for corpses21 as for crooks22.
Although he knew nothing of this, Charles Meredith was uneasy. For one thing, he had a considerable sum of money in his pocket — a very considerable sum. To be explicit23, fifty thousand dollars. For another thing, he had not the slightest idea of where he was.
He had dismissed his hotel coolie at a designated point, had been approached by another who gave the proper word of recognition, had been whisked through street after street, then through a narrow alley24, then through a door opening into a winding25 passage, thence into a plain reception hall where a bowing Chinese had met him and led him to the room. He had seen no one, and he heard no sound. Under the circumstances, he appreciated privacy — but damn it, there was a limit! And where was Li-kong?
He got up and walked about nervously26. It gave him some satisfaction to feel the automatic holstered under his left arm-pit. He was tall, rather rangy and his shoulders stooped a little. He had clear eyes whose grey stood out a bit startlingly from his dark face; a good forehead, a somewhat predatory beaked27 nose; his worst feature, his mouth, which hinted self-indulgence and cruelty. Seemingly an alert, capable American man of affairs, not at all one who would connive28 at the murder of his own brother.
He turned at the opening of the door. Li-kong came in. Li-kong was a graduate of an American college. His father had cherished hopes of a high diplomatic career, with his American training as part of its foundation. He had repaid it by learning in exhaustive detail the worst of American life. This, grafted29 to his natural qualifications, had given him high place in the Home of Heavenly Anticipations and among its patrons.
He was in the most formal of English evening dress, looked completely the person his father had hoped he would be instead of what he actually was — without principles, morals, mercy or compunction whatever.
Meredith's nervousness found vent19 in an irritable30, “You've been a hell of a long time getting here, Likong!”
The eyes of the Chinese flickered31, but he answered urbanely32: “Bad news flies fast. Good news is slow. I am neither early nor late.”
Meredith asked suspiciously: “What the hell do you mean by that?”
Li-kong said, eyes watchful33: “Your honorable elder brother has ascended34 the dragon.”
Meredith's grey eyes glittered. The cruelty stood out on his mouth, unmasked. Li-kong said before he could speak: “All with him, even his unworthy servants, ascended at the same time. All except — ” He paused.
Meredith's body tightened35, his head thrust forward. He asked in a thin voice: “Except?”
The eyes of the Chinese never left him. He said:
“When you rebuked36 me a moment ago for slowness, I answered that I was neither early nor late. I must therefore bear good news and bad — ”
The American interrupted: “Damn you, Li-kong, who got away?”
The Chinese answered: “Your brother's wife.”
Meredith's face whitened, then blackened with fury. He whispered: “Christ!”
He roared: “So you bungled37 it!” His hand twitched38 up to the gun under his arm-pit, then dropped. He asked: “Where is she?”
The Chinese must have seen that betraying movement, but he gave no sign. He answered: “She fled to the Temple of the Foxes — to your brother's old friend, the priest Yu Ch'ien.”
The other snarled39: “What were your bunglers about, to let her go? Why didn't they go after her?”
“They did go after her! Of what happened thereafter, you shall hear — when you have paid me my money, my friend.”
“Paid you!” Meredith's fury mastered him at this. “With the bitch alive? I'll see you in hell before you get a cent from me.”
The Chinese said calmly: “But since then she has also ascended the dragon in the footsteps of her lord. She died in childbirth.”
“They both are dead — ” Meredith sank into the chair, trembling like one from whom tremendous strain has lifted. “Both dead — ”
The Chinese watched him, malicious40 anticipation1 in his eyes. “But the child — lived!” he said.
For a long minute the American sat motionless, looking at him. And now he did not lose control. He said coldly: “So you have been playing with me, have you? Well, now listen to me — you get nothing until the child has followed its father and mother. Nothing! And if it is in your mind to blackmail me, remember you can bring no charge against me without sending yourself to the executioner. Think over that, you leering yellow ape!”
The Chinese lighted a cigarette. He said mildly:
“Your brother is dead, according to plan. His wife is dead through that same plan, even though she did not die when the others did. There was nothing in the bargain concerning the child. And I do not think you could reach the child without me.” He smiled. “Is it not said, of two brothers, he who thinks himself the invulnerable one — that is the fool?”
Meredith said nothing, eyes bleak41 on him. Li-kong went on: “Also, I have information to impart, advice to give — necessary to you if you determine to go for the child. As you must — if you want her. And finally — is it not written in the Yih King, the Book of Changes, that a man's mind should have many entrances but only one exit! In this house the saying is reversed. It has only one entrance but many exits — and the door-keeper of each one of them is death.”
Again he paused, then said: “Think over that, you welching white brother-killer!”
The American quivered. He sprang up, reaching for his gun. Strong hands grasped his elbows, held him helpless. Li-kong sauntered to him, drew out the automatic, thrust it into his own pocket. The hands released Meredith. He looked behind him. Two Chinese stood there. One held a crimson42 bow-string, the other a double-edged short-sword.
“Two of the deaths that guard the exits.” Li-kong's voice was courtesy itself. “You may have your choice. I recommend the sword — it is swifter.”
Ruthless Meredith was, and no coward, but he recognized here a ruthlessness complete as his own. “You win,” he said. “I'll pay.”
“And now,” smiled Li-kong.
Meredith drew out the bundle of notes and passed them to him. The Chinese counted them and nodded. He spoke43 to the two executioners and they withdrew. He said very seriously: “My friend, it is well for you I recognize that insults by a younger people have not the same force that they would have if spoken by one of my own race, so much older than yours. In the Yih King it is written that we must not be confused by similitude, that the superior man places not the same value upon the words of a child as he does upon those of a grown man, although the words be identical. It is well also for you that I feel a certain obligation. Not personally, but because an unconsidered factor has caused a seed sown in this house to bring forth44 a deformed45 blossom. It is,” continued Li-kong, still very seriously, “a reflection upon its honor — ”
He smiled at that, and said, “Or rather, its efficiency. I suggest, therefore, that we discuss the matter without heat or further recrimination of any kind.”
Meredith said: “I am sorry I said what I did, Likong. It was childish temper. I apologize.”
The Chinese bowed, but he did not take the hand the other extended. Nor did he recall his own words.
He said: “The child is at the Temple of the Foxes. In Kansu, it is an extremely sacred shrine46. She is in charge of Yu Ch'ien, who is not only wise but powerful, and in addition was your honorable late brother's devoted47 friend. If Yu Ch'ien suspects, then you will have great difficulty in adding to your brother's and your sisterin-law's happiness in Heaven by restoring to them their daughter. You may assume that Yu Ch'ien does suspect — and knows.”
Meredith asked incredulously: “Why should he suspect? How could he know?”
Li-kong tapped his cigarette thoughtfully before he answered: “The priest is very wise. Also, like myself, he has had the advantage of contact with your admirable civilization. The woman was with him for weeks, and so he must know who would benefit by the — ah, expungement48 of your revered49 relatives. He might think it highly suspicious that those responsible for the regrettable affair did not pursue the custom of holding the principals for ransom50 instead of — ah, expunging51 them on the spot. Naturally, he would ask himself why. Finally, Yu Ch'ien is locally reported to have sources of information not open to other men — I mean living men. The dead,” observed Li-kong sardonically52, “of course know everything.”
Meredith said contemptuously: “What do you mean? Spiritism, divination53 — that rot?”
Li-kong considered pensively54, answered at last: “No — not exactly that. Something closer, rather to the classical idea of communion with elemental intelligences, nature spirits, creatures surviving from an older world than man's — but still of earth. Something like the spirits that answered from the oaks of Dodona, or that spoke to the Sybyl in the grotto55 of Cumae, or in more modem56 times appeared in, and instructed Joan of Arc from, the branches of the arbre fee, the fairy tree of Domremy.”
Meredith laughed. “Good God! And this — from you!”
Li-kong said imperturbably57: “This from me! I am — what I am. I believe in nothing. Yet I tell you that I would not go up those steps to the Temple of the Foxes for all the gold you could give me. Not — now!”
Meredith thought: He is trying to frighten me. The yellow dog is trying to keep me from the temple. Why? He spoke only the last word of the thought: “Why?”
The Chinese answered: “China is old. The ancient beliefs are still strong. There are, for example, the legends of the fox women. The fox women are nature spirits. Intelligences earthy but not human — akin58 to those in Dodona's oaks, Cumae's grotto, Joan of Arc's fairy tree. Believed in — especially in Kansu. These — let us say spirits — have certain powers far exceeding the human. Bear with me while I tell you of a few of these powers. They can assume two earthly shapes only — that of a fox and that of a beautiful woman. There are fox men, too, but the weight of the legends are upon the women. Since for them time does not exist, they are mistresses of time. To those who come under their power, they can cause a day to seem like a thousand years, or a thousand years like a day. They can open the doors to other worlds — worlds of terror, worlds of delight. If such worlds are illusions, they do not seem so to those for whom they are opened. The fox women can make or mar59 journeys.”
Meredith thought: Come, now we're getting down to it.
The Chinese went quietly on: “They can create other illusions. Phantoms60, perhaps — but if so, phantoms whose blows maim61 or kill. They are capricious, bestowing62 good fortune or ill regardless of the virtue63 or the lack of it of the recipient64. They are peculiarly favorable to women with child. They can, by invitation, enter a woman, passing through her breasts or beneath her finger nails. They can enter an unborn child, or rather a child about to be born. In such cases, the mother dies — nor is the manner of birth the normal one. They cannot oust65 the soul of the child, but they can dwell beside it, influencing it. Quaint66 fancies, my friend, in none of which I have belief. Yet because of them nothing could induce me to climb the steps to the Temple of the foxes.”
(Meredith thought: He's trying to frighten me away! What the hell does he think I am — to be frightened by such superstitious67 drivel? He said, in that thin voice with which he spoke when temper was mastering him:
“What's your game, Li-kong? Another double-cross? You're trying to tell me that if I were you, I wouldn't go to the temple for the brat68. Why?”
The Chinese said: “My friend, I have played the game with you. I do not say that if I were you, I would not go. I say that if you were I, you would not. A quite different thing.”
The other swung clenched69 fist down upon the table. “Don't tell me you expect me to take seriously that farrago of nonsense! You don't expect me to give up now because of a yellow — ” He checked himself abruptly70.
The Chinese completed the sentence politely: “Because of a yellow man's superstition71! No, but let me point out a few rather disquieting72 things. The Temple of the Foxes is believed to be the home of five of these fox women. Five — spirits — who are sisters. Three messengers were sent me with the news of the ambush73. The first should have reached me within three weeks after it happened. He has vanished. The second was despatched with other news a week later. He too vanished. But the third, bearing the news of the death of your brother's wife, the birth of the child, came as on the wings of the wind. Why the failure of the first two? Because someone desired to keep you in ignorance until after that birth? Who?
“Again, no word has come from Kansu, except by this messenger, of the attack on your brother's party. This, my friend, places you in a dilemma74. You cannot betray your knowledge of his death without subjecting yourself to questioning as to how that knowledge came to you. You cannot, therefore, send for the child. You must yourself go — upon some pretext75. I think that whoever sped the third messenger on his way intends that you shall go — yourself. Why?”
Meredith struck the table again. “I'll go!”
“Third,” continued Li-kong, “my messenger said that the woman who fled ran up the steps of the Temple of the Foxes. And that when they were almost upon her — a fox stood between her and them. And that fox changed into a woman who changed their leader into a mad dog. At which — they ran. So I think,” said Likong meditatively76, “would I have run!”
Meredith said nothing, but his hand beat steadily77 on the table and the grey eyes were furious.
“You are thinking,” said the Chinese, “‘The yellow dogs! Of course they would run! Filled with rum or opium78! Of course!’”
It was precisely79 what he had been thinking, but Meredith made no answer.
“And finally,” said Li-kong, “your brother's wife died when the child was born — ”
“Because, I suppose, the fox bitch crawled into her!” jeered80 Meredith, and leaning back, whined81 thin, highpitched laughter.
The Chinese lost for a moment his calm, half arose, then dropped back. He said patiently: “If you go up the steps — ride a horse. Preferably an English horse that has hunted foxes.”
He lighted another cigarette. “But that is superstition.
Nevertheless, if you go, take two men with you as free from taint82 — as you are. I know two such men. One is a German, the other French. Bold men and hard men. Travel alone, the three of you, as far as you can. At all times keep as few Chinese with you as possible. When you go to the temple, go up the steps alone. Take no Chinese with you there.” He said gravely: “I vouch83 for these two men. Better still, the Home of Heavenly Anticipations vouches84 for them. They will want money, of course.”
Meredith asked: “How much?”
“I don't know. They're not cheap. Probably five thousand dollars at most.”
Meredith thought: Here's what he's been leading up to. It's a trap!
Again it was as though Li-kong had read his thoughts. He said very deliberately85: “Meredith, listen to me! I want nothing more from you nor through you. I have not spoken to these men. They do not know, nor will they know from me, anything of that transaction for which you have just paid. I am through with it. I am through with you! I do not like you. I hope never to see you again. Is that plain American talk?”
Meredith said, as deliberately: “I like it. Go on.”
“All that they need know is that you are anxious about your brother. When in due time during your journey you discover that he and his wife are dead, and that there is a child, you will naturally want to bring that child back with you. If you are denied the child, and killing86 is necessary, they will kill. That is all. I will put you in touch with these two men. And I will see to it that none with whom I have relations embarrass you on your way to Kansu, nor on your way back — if you come back. Except for that obligation of which I have spoken, I would not do even this. I would not lift a finger to help you. After you leave this house, you shall be to me as though you never had been. I want nothing to do with Yu Ch'ien and those who go to the Temple of the Foxes. If we should meet again — never speak to me! Do not show you have known me! Never speak to me, never write to me, do not think of me. I am through with you! Is that clear?”
Meredith nodded, smiling. He thought: I was wrong about him wanting to keep me from the place. The yellow rat is frightened . . . he believes in his own bogies! America and everything else couldn't knock the superstition out of him!
The thought amused him. It gave him a contemptuous tolerance87 of Li-kong, a pleasant knowledge of superiority. He said, not bothering to keep the contempt from his voice: “Clearer than you know, Li-kong. Where do I meet your friends?”
“They can be at your hotel at one, if it suits you.”
“It suits me. Their names?”
“They will tell you. They will bear credentials88 from me.”
Li-kong arose. He stood beside the door, bowing courteously89. Meredith passed through. They went along another passage and through a winding alley out into a street. It was not the same street from which he had entered. Nor did he recognize it. A coolie-car waited. Li-kong bowed him into it.
“May our shadows never touch again,” said Li-kong ceremoniously. He added, for the first time menacingly: “For your health.”
He turned and passed into the alley. The coolie broke into a swift trot90, and away.
收听单词发音 |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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leakage
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| n.漏，泄漏；泄漏物；漏出量 | |
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pertain
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| v.(to)附属，从属；关于；有关；适合，相称 | |
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blackmail
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| n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓 | |
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larceny
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| n.盗窃（罪） | |
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smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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piracies
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| n.海上抢劫( piracy的名词复数 )；盗版行为，非法复制 | |
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assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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tithes
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| n.（宗教捐税）什一税，什一的教区税，小部分( tithe的名词复数 ) | |
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eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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applicants
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| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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alibis
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| 某人在别处的证据( alibi的名词复数 )； 不在犯罪现场的证人； 借口； 托辞 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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crooks
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| n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 ) | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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beaked
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| adj.有喙的，鸟嘴状的 | |
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connive
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| v.纵容；密谋 | |
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grafted
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| 移植( graft的过去式和过去分词 )； 嫁接； 使（思想、制度等）成为（…的一部份）； 植根 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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urbanely
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| adv.都市化地，彬彬有礼地，温文尔雅地 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bungled
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| v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的过去式和过去分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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expungement
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| n.expunge（擦去，拭去）的变形 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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51
expunging
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| v.擦掉( expunge的现在分词 )；除去；删去；消除 | |
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sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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modem
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| n.调制解调器 | |
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imperturbably
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| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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maim
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| v.使残废，使不能工作，使伤残 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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oust
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| vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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vouches
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| v.保证( vouch的第三人称单数 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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