The Rebellion Engines by Jeannie Lin

Author:Jeannie Lin [Lin, Jeannie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jeannie Lin

Chapter 13

There was more swearing later that afternoon when Yang Hanzhu emerged from below deck.

Hanzhu was conversing with Master Yim when Chang-wei approached. There was a parcel tucked beneath Chang-wei’s arm which he’d retrieved from his bunk. I’d wondered what it was.

“I have something for you, Brother Yang,” Chang-wei said.

Just the use of the honorific set Hanzhu on edge. Chang-wei ignored his skeptical look and held out the parcel. When Yang made no move to take it, Chang-wei carefully unfolded the white cloth to reveal a long triangular flag displaying diagonal red cross bands.

Hanzhu’s expression turned to stone. “No.”

“This is to signal to our connection in Shanghai and to indicate you’re registered to trade at the treaty port.”

“A foreigner’s flag,” Hanzhu said through his teeth.

“This doesn’t represent any of the nations in the concession. You’re not declaring any allegiance.”

Hanzhu regarded him with eyes narrowed, unconvinced.

“Consider it not a matter of honor, but practicality.”

Chang-wei folded the banner neatly back into its triangular parcel and offered it out once more. “At your discretion, Elder Brother. If you decide this suits your purposes.”

Hanzhu directed one of his deck hands to take the flag as if he didn’t wish to touch it himself.

Later, Chang-wei went out on the utility boat to taxi to the auxiliary ships at Old Liu’s behest. According to Liu, the operators throughout the fleet were all hacks and the engines needed some maintenance.

By that time, the sun was dipping low over gentle waters. A cool evening breeze had begun to pick up, when I saw one of the crew working the rigging on the main mast. He attached a white and red banner and pulled the lines to raise it high until the signal flag flew from the top mast.

Hanzhu came up beside me as I stared up at the red stripes. The breeze caused his rogue hair to whip about his face.

“A matter of practicality,” he said with a shrug.

Chang-wei noticed the flag overhead upon returning to the deck.

“You two are exactly like brothers,” I remarked, seeing Chang-wei’s smug look. “It’s too bad you don’t get along.”

“We get along well enough.” He searched for Hanzhu and found him at the helm. “It can’t be easy for him, being constantly on the run.”

We watched as Satomi came to Hanzhu to tell him something. They stood close as they spoke. Hanzhu’s fingertips grazed Satomi’s long sleeve lightly before she moved away. Chang-wei looked to me with eyebrows raised.

“Hanzhu…who would have thought?” he said under his breath, eyes bright with amusement.

“Like brothers,” I repeated.

I thought of what Chang-wei had said the other day about amnesty as well as what Liu Yentai had observed about the Qing government. The lines between enemies and allies were quickly eroding. Even the shogunate in Japan had been forced to be pragmatic about trade with the West.

Would Hanzhu ever be able let go of his feuding to earn a pardon? Would he ever want one?

The newly raised flag rustled overhead in the wind. It was a fragile symbol marking a new Shanghai, a place in its infancy and home to constantly changing alliances.

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