The Qing Dynasty Mysteries - Books 1-3 by Amanda Roberts

Author:Amanda Roberts [Roberts, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Empress Publishing
Published: 2018-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

13

Inspector Gong had no idea what he was going to do. He was alone and unarmed against an ever-growing angry mob. His only goal for now was to keep Mr. and Mrs. Zhao in his sight. Mr. Zhao would have to be arrested for inciting a riot. Something that would only make the people more angry, but Inspector Gong had to do his job.

As the crowd approached the legation, he saw the guards hurrying the few foreigners who were outside the gates inside. Then the guards locked the gates and held their rifles in a defensive position, ready to fire if necessary.

Of course all it took was one anxious finger, one boy itching for a fight, or one terrified soldier with sweaty palms to set off a massacre. Inspector Gong knew that the men who were holding the gate had been trained not to fire. To use deadly force only as a last resort. But as a former soldier himself, he also knew that training tended to be tossed to the wind when young men were afraid.

“This is Chinese land!” he heard Mr. Zhao shout to the guard even though the guard wouldn’t understand him. “You are in China! This is not your land! You get out of here!”

“Get out of China!” some of the people yelled. “Death to the White Devils!”

They raised their fists in anger and crowded the guards. It was like there was an invisible line between the guards and the rioters that no one dared cross, but they inched as close as possible, as though dancing with death.

The growing crowd pushed and shoved, moving the whole group closer to the line of no return. Inspector Gong slowly, carefully worked his way through the crowd. If he could just get to Mr. Zhao. If he could pull him back, he was sure the rest of the crowd would follow. Whatever happened, he had to protect Mr. Zhao. If the man was killed, he would become a martyr. A rallying point for a war that he would be unable to stop.

Inspector Gong inched his way closer. He reached his hand out and grasped Mr. Zhao’s collar.

Mr. Zhao turned and looked at him, his eyes wide with surprise.

Inspector Gong shook his head. “Don’t do this,” he said.

“It’s too late,” Mr. Zhao said.

From the corner of his eye, Inspector Gong some something fly by. As he looked up, he saw it. A brick. It flew from the back of the crowd, over all their heads, and was heading straight for one of the guards. Inspector Gong watched as it seemed to move in slow motion. He looked ahead to see where it would land, and saw a young soldier, not more than twenty, with his rifle cocked, his eye on the sight, his brow sweaty, his hands shaking ever so slightly. He was aiming squarely at Mr. Zhao.

As the brick hit its target, he heard the rifle crack.

“No!” Inspector Gong shouted. He closed his eyes and pushed Mr. Zhao out of the way as the crowd erupted into screams.

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