History Keepers: Nightship to China by Dibben Damian

Author:Dibben, Damian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RHCP

15 THE GOLDEN PAGODA

‘THAT’S HER?’ TOPAZ asked.

‘No doubt about it.’

‘I’ll give her this,’ Nathan said. ‘Style-wise, she’s audacious. Few people could get away with that assemblage.’

In London, Madame Fang had been in Jacobean costume – black gown and white ruff; now she looked like an empress. Despite the heat, she wore a court robe, embroidered with swirling flames and dragons, that hung down to her red lotus slippers (red shoes were obviously her trademark). Around her tiny neck was a necklace of jade and rubies; her tall headdress of peacock feathers and pearl droplets gently shook as she turned her head. Her face, though old, had a brittle beauty and her black eyes were utterly magnetic.

She welcomed her guests with a bow and started talking in a slow, measured tone. Jake hadn’t yet heard her speak, and was surprised by how deep and smoky her voice was.

The girls craned their necks to hear and Yoyo started translating, in a whisper: ‘I am here to talk to you about our enemies in the western world. They have come to our lands – the British, the Portuguese, the Dutch – set up their colonies here, appeared to be our allies, our partners.’ The old woman paused for dramatic effect. ‘It is a trick – so they may take over our kingdoms.’

‘Enemies? Take over their kingdoms?’ Nathan repeated indignantly. ‘What’s she talking about?’

‘Sssh!’ Yoyo put her finger to her lips to silence him and carried on: ‘In two days’ time, the west will declare war on us. In the weeks and months that follow, they will send their fleets to invade us, to enslave us—’

‘Enslave us? This is nonsense!’ Nathan interrupted again, and this time Topaz put her hand over his mouth.

Yoyo continued paraphrasing Fang’s speech, which was becoming more and more animated. ‘We must defend ourselves! My master, the great Shen Pei-Pei, wishes to help you, to help his country.’ She clapped her hands and a stream of servants filed into the room and distributed small golden caskets to all the guests. Inside each they found a thick wodge of banknotes tied with a ribbon. There were amazed murmurs at the sight. ‘For each of you, we provide a fortune. Use it wisely. Build your ships of war. As for your ships that are already built, convert them for battle.’ Fang glanced at every face in the room in turn as she slowly raised her arms high. Her voice boomed like a drum. ‘The war is coming! Be ready for your country!’

Her speech finished, she bowed, stepped over towards the model ships and circulated imperiously amongst her guests.

‘The war is coming . . . be ready for your country?’ Topaz repeated. ‘China has never had an interest in moving against the west; now less than ever. Yet Fang said war would be declared in two days’ time. We need to find out why, and quickly.’

They went down an alley behind the building into the garden. They all saw the pagoda at once: six octagonal tiers rising up between tall Chinese pines.

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