The Fate Joss

CHAPTER XXI THE SHADOW’S TEST

TINKLING music; perfumed incense; soft light that added to the languor of an exotic scene. Such was the interior of Shan Kwan’s reception room, for the present a dining hall, where two figures sat beside a teakwood table.

One was Shan Kwan the Mandarin. Clad in a robe of vivid scarlet, adorned with golden dragons, Shan Kwan was chuckling as he surveyed his guest. For the cloaked visitor across the table was leaning heavily as he toyed with a newly filled cup.

“Time passes pleasantly here,” observed Shan Kwan, speaking in high caste Chinese dialect. “It is an honor, always, to have as guests those who are friends of Yat Soon.”

The Shadow, hatless, allowed a smile to appear upon his lips. He was wearing the disguise that Yat Soon had given him; his face was that of a Chinaman. His features, however, showed no inflexibility. Under Shan Kwan’s delightful torture, his firmness had relaxed.

“In courtesy,” declared The Shadow, slowly, “I have come as one of China. A courtesy to Yat Soon; and to yourself, Shan Kwan. I have spoken the language of your choice.”

He paused and raised the golden goblet to his lips. Shan Kwan watched him quaff it at a single draught. It was the same sweet nectar that Cliff Marsland had tasted. Shan Kwan clapped his hands. A servant arrived, with a silver bottle. He poured a cup full of the liquid that had dazed Harry Vincent.

“I have returned your courtesy,” reminded Shan Kwan. “I have told you of those men who served you; those whom I rescued from the schemer, Doctor Roy Tam. They are my guests; and they are happy here.

“They told me much concerning you. Too much, perhaps.” Smiling, the mandarin paused: “But I would not allow them to continue their indiscretion. They have dined with me since; but always with little conversation.

“For I expected you in person, Ying Ko. You, whom men of your own country call The Shadow. I wished to tell you of Doctor Roy Tam, that you might deal with him. It is rightfully your task, Ying Ko. For Doctor Tam, through his servant, Hoang Fu, has dealt doom to your countrymen.”

THE SHADOW’S eyes revealed a sudden blaze. Soft light glinted from those optics as indication that his fury had been aroused. The flash ended; apparently The Shadow was too lulled to think further concerning punishment for Doctor Tam.

The girasol sparkled as The Shadow’s left hand raised the golden cup. The guest drank of the tartish liquid; moved his lips in enjoyment of the taste; then finished the goblet. He tried to speak; but wavered slightly.

Another clap of Shan Kwan’s hands. The servant arrived with the bottle and again filled the cup. Eyelids half closed, The Shadow drank again, this time slowly. His words were mumbled, incoherent. Shan Kwan spoke.

“The hour of nine had passed when you did me the honor of arriving here,” he said. “Since then, two more have gone; we have talked of China. I had told you of the Fate Joss that stands within the temple of the open doors.

“Though I, through odd circumstance, became the instrument of its removal, I did not take it willingly, Ying Ko. You have told me that you gained it in hope that it would be sent to China. There, some day, it shall be; if the Joss itself so chooses.

“For the present it dwells with me, along with its muzzled War Dogs, in a resting place that well befits it. The destiny of the Fate Joss is its own. You were once its instrument. The doors of its abode are always open for those who served the mighty Fate Joss. If—”

Shan Kwan stopped. The Shadow was swaying. His cloak had fallen, revealing the top of his Chinese tunic. The mandarin beckoned to two servants. They came forward and caught The Shadow as he slumped. While they raised him to his feet, another person entered the room — Loy Ming.

Placidly, the girl watched The Shadow rally long enough to pick up his slouch hat and groggily place it on his head. For a brief instant, Loy Ming’s eyes reflected deep concern. Then the girl caught her uncle’s gaze. She heard his order to conduct this stupefied guest to his room.

Loy Ming led the way down the stairway, past the open temple. Even the glitter of the Fate Joss, standing on its pedestal, did not capture The Shadow’s interest. His staggers became greater as he was moved along the hall. Looking back, Loy Ming saw that her uncle’s servants were searching their human burden in quest of hidden weapons.

They found none. The Shadow had come unarmed. When he reached the door of his designated room, he floundered heavily. Swaying almost from the grasp of the servant, he jolted toward Loy Ming and thrust out a hand to clutch at the girl’s arm.

Loy Ming aided the men to support The Shadow. As she did, she felt his hand tighten on hers.

OPENING her fingers, the girl received a squarely wadded note. Keeping it hidden, she stepped back to let the mandarin’s men carry The Shadow into his room. She saw the slouch hat fall to the floor. The cloak trailed as The Shadow sprawled wearily upon his couch.

The servants returned. They dropped the brass door. Loy Ming let them precede her along the passage. When they made a turn, she quickly opened the paper, to find two folded wads within. One was addressed to her — Loy Ming — the other to Noy Dow. Both names faded as the girl stared.

Remembering her own slip, Loy Ming unfolded it and read instructions for both herself and Noy Dow. This writing vanished word by word, for it was in the same special ink as the names. She realized that the still folded note — Noy Dow’s — would retain its writing until it contacted the air. She knew also that it must contain duplicate instructions, in case she did not have opportunity to speak with the young Chinaman.

That was forethought on The Shadow’s part; for Loy Ming was not sure that she would see Noy Dow except in the presence of her uncle. Moreover, time was short; it was quite close to midnight, and The Shadow’s instructions called for action at that hour. He had told nothing of his plans; only the parts that she and Noy Dow were to play.

The girl realized that she had lingered long when she reached the passage that led by the temple. The servants were waiting for her to arrive and unlock the door. The papers safely in the pocket of her robe, Loy Ming hurried along and unbarred the way. As she opened the upper door, she encountered Noy Dow, just about to unlock the door from the other side.

Shan Kwan was still at the table. Evidently he had wondered why Loy Ming had delayed and had sent Noy Dow to get her. Shan Kwan had shown great courtesy to his prospective nephew, giving Noy Dow full liberty to do as he chose. This was not only good policy with a new convert to the cult; it was also in keeping with the tradition of old China. As a male member of the family, Noy Dow was entitled to complete privileges.

Loy Ming, a woman, was little better than a servant, in Shan Kwan’s estimate. Realizing that her uncle meant to chide her, Loy Ming gave a quick whisper as she thrust the message into Noy Dow’s hand. The student bowed low to Shan Kwan and spoke in English.

“Honored sir,” he declared, “I shall visit the temple. I shall bow before the mighty Joss, that favor shall be shown to me and all within this abode.”

Shan Kwan dismissed Noy Dow with a nod of approval. The student heard him speak to one of the servants, using a dialect with which Noy Dow was familiar. Then, without daring a glance toward Loy Ming, Noy Dow descended.

OUTSIDE the temple, he opened the note and read it. He glanced at his watch and saw that it lacked only twenty minutes until midnight. Already, Noy Dow knew, cult members were being admitted through the outer portal; but they were being herded in a lower reception room.

This part of the long-halled building was deserted. Noy Dow had every chance to hurry about unobserved. He reached the hall where the prison rooms were kept. He paused in that portion of the maze and looked down a long corridor which ended in a door.

That was the way to the sub-celler; Noy Dow had gained keys from Loy Ming. There was no need, however, to go in that direction. Instead, Noy Dow hastened along the passage past the prison rooms.

At the end of it, he came to a low-ceilinged arch that housed an emergency door. That was the possible barrier which Doctor Tam had pointed out to The Shadow. It cut off the side of the building and could be controlled from the reception hall. The barrier was up; the way being open, Noy Dow took it. He followed a passage that brought him to the secret side entrance.

Here was a barred door. Laboriously, Noy Dow loosened its fastenings and unlocked it with one of his keys. He grinned in satisfaction. The Shadow had ordered it opened, if possible, for exit; Noy Dow had guessed that invaders might be coming in by that opening. They would still have to break a wooden outer door; but Noy Dow was too cautious to risk a trip through the passage that led to it. He had to be on the watch for a chance prowling servant.

Time was getting shorter. Hurrying back, Noy Dow stopped and listened to footsteps in another passage. Some one of Shan Kwan’s servants was on inspection duty. Noy Dow had found since his arrival here that the mandarin had a much greater retinue than the outside world supposed. Fully fifty attendants were in Shan Kwan’s employ.

Footsteps lingered; Noy Dow guessed they were in the passage by the prison rooms. At last they departed. Noy Dow hurried past the archway with its raised barrier and reached the prison rooms. He stopped at the door of the one where The Shadow had been placed. He looked at his watch; it showed six minutes to twelve.

As Noy Dow waited, a sudden clang alarmed him. He swung about just in time to see the archway barrier drop shut. Another clang came from further away. Noy Dow gasped; it was a dropping barrier of which he had not learned; one that cut off the passage to the deep sub-cellar. Noy Dow’s exit keys would be useless because of that intervening door.

Metal-faced barriers had made this place a trap. Before they could be beaten down, Shan Kwan’s attackers would be here. Somehow, the mandarin must have learned that an escape was under way. Still, the cause was not lost. The path past the massive solid brass doors of the temple room stood clear. Those doors were always open; and the course through the abode of the Fate Joss was the one that The Shadow had chosen.

By the little door at the back of that temple room, a way could be found to the obscure side exit into the laundry. Haste was essential, before Shan Kwan guessed that the temple route would be used. Noy Dow waited no longer.

Fumbling for the proper key, he started to unlock The Shadow’s door. As he did, he heard the sharp babble of approaching voices, coming toward this passage. Seconds only remained for Noy Dow to open that room wherein The Shadow — only a short while before — had been flung upon a couch in helpless stupor!