ericlustbader.the ninja-第61节
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stant； felt her heart contract coldly in her chest at the thought of Ah Ma's possible outburst。
Ah Ma did nothing more； however； than sigh。 Penny was quite correct； of course。 In days gone by she would never have allowed this to happen。 She shrugged mentally。 Ah well； times had changed for them all and one must acmodate oneself as best one could。 Her voice； when she spoke； conveyed none of this inner dialogue。
'Penny； my precious one； there is； as you well know； a great deal of money involved。 I am not a prejudiced person； neither should you be。' But she knew these words to be false； although Penny never would。 Ah Ma； now in her late sixties； was Fukienese； from that district of coastal China midway between the cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai。 She was one of fifteen children but she had always felt quite apart from them。 Perhaps her name had something to do with that。 There was a legend of a poor Fukienese girl by that name who sought passage on a junk。 In all the port only one would grant her request。 Out of port they were beset by a furious typhoon and it had been Ah Ma who had brought the junk safely through。 There was a temple to her； Ah Ma knew； at the base of Barra Hill on the island of Macao。
She shifted in her chair and it creaked。 She felt the slide of silk against her arm。 Through the open window she could clearly hear the clatter from Doyers Street。 There was a fish market on the corner which stayed open late。 They sold marvellous squid at this time of year。 She heard several voices raised in argument and she winced at the Cantonese。 Up here in the large suite of apartments which took up the entire third floor of the building only Mandarin was spoken。 That was the way it had been in Ah Ma's house when she was a child； that was how it was now。
Ah Ma got up； padded silently over to the window； peering down at the narrow； crowded street。 She could； she knew； have had her pick of virtually any location in Manhattan。 Over the years there had been many attractive offers to move elsewhere。 She had always refused。 It seemed right to her that her business should be square in the heart of Chinatown。 The area was dim and slightly seedy but it was atmospheric。 In many ways it reminded Ah Ma of home。 That was what she wanted。 Now a millionairess； she was still no more fortable among the steel and glass towers of uptown Manhattan than she had been with structures like the Chrysler Building when she had first arrived in New York。
Yes； Ah Ma thought now； looking down at the night…dark street； the bright； bustling clutter of the throng； the intermittent odours of fresh fish in the early morning when the catch was brought in downstairs； the delicacy of the steamed dim sum from the dumpling house next door； I am very fortable here。 Very much so。
She sighed again。 Of course； the Chinatown Planning Council might not be too pleased with her if they knew her real business。 But the police were certainly happy with the thousand dollars they picked up each month。 She was careful to perform this duty herself and to serve them tea each time they came； it increased her face。
Her home in Foochow was always with her but； oddly； more so as she grew older。 Being in Chinatown gave her some small illusion of being home。 Not that she would ever consider going back now。 She had no great love for the munist Chinese and even now； when it might be feasible for her to return for a visit； she could not bring herself to contemplate the reality of it。
No； she had all that she wanted of Foochow right here。
Around the corner the red and blue neon lights of the restaurants turned the darkness watery with reflected light。 It was the Japanese； of course； whom she had learned to hate long before the munists。 They had e down the coast； those wealthy； arrogant businessmen； from their deals in Shanghai； already jaded with that city's night…life or just wanting to see a bit more of China。 They are so different from the Chinese； Ah Ma thought wonderingly。 But of course they do not have our centuries of history to learn from。 The Japanese are a relatively new people。 When we had already forged dynasties； were experimenting with gunpowder； their islands were inhabited only by the barbarous Ainu … unintelligent savages。 If the modern Japanese are descended directly from those people； it's no wonder they're so warlike。
She turned away from her window on Doyers Street； said； 'I want to see him； now； Penny。 There must be no mistake。'
Penny nodded； put aside her ledger and pen； stood up and crossed the room。
'Penn。。。'
She stopped short； her hand on the doorknob。 'Yes； Mother？'
'He is not from here？'
'No； Mother。 He's from uptown。'
Ah Ma nodded。 'Good。 I do not want neighbours 。。。 involved。'
In the short space of time Penny was gone； Ah Ma thought about her。 She had made the right decision in elevating the girl。 She was clever with her mind as well as with her hands。 Ah Ma would never admit it openly but there were times when she relied on Penny's judgement； and it disturbed her that she seemed set against the Japanese。
Penny was the name Ah Ma had given to her when she had first applied for a job； Ah Ma gave names to all her girls and henceforth they were known by that name and that name alone。 It was neat and tidy and as anonymous as Ah Ma believed her business should be。 Besides； it gave her great pleasure to name her 'children'； it pleased her； too；； that they should address her by the honorific 'Mother'； a word not lightly used in her land。
There would e a time； Ah Ma thought； when she would have to relinquish her hold here。 When that eventuality occurred she wanted to be certain that precisely the right hands took over。
Penny came back； ushering in a boy of about eleven。 She stopped just inside the threshold； both hands on his shoulders。 He stood perfectly still； his eyes incurious。 Through the partially open doorway Ah Ma could hear the quiet bustle of the preparations。 As planned； there were only one or two guests expected tonight； this； too； was built into the enormous fee she was charging the Japanese。 She did not mind。
She looked the boy over。 He had clear； smooth skin； a slight Mongol cast to cheeks and eyes。 His irises were like chips of coal。 His mouth was wide； the lips slightly sensual。
'This is Philip Chen；' Penny said。
'Close the door； precious；' Ah Ma said softly。 Her hands were clasped in front of her； the fingers interlaced。 She looked at the boy。 'You will have another name while you are here；' she told him。 'Sparrow。 This will be how you are summoned； how you will be addressed。 Is this understood？'
The boy nodded； then smiled slowly。
'Call me Mother。'
'Yes； Mother。'
'Have you been properly instructed？ I don't want any surprises。'
'Yes；' he said happily。 'Penny has explained everything。 No problem。'
'Really？' Ah Ma's eyebrows arched。 'That remains to be seen。 All right。 Leave us now； Sparrow。 Find Willow。 She will take you to the proper room You know what to do。'
'Yes； Mother。' He turned and left。
After Penny had shut the door behind him； Ah Ma said； 'Parents？'
Penny shook her head。 'He lives with an uncle who is too drunk to care if he's out all night。'
'The situation is totally secure？'
Penny nodded her head。 Her black hair tossed like an animal's mane； 'Willow saw to it personally。'
Ah Ma allowed herself a small smile。 'You have done well； my child。'
Penny bowed her head to cover the flush in her cheeks。 It was rare indeed to be addressed in such a loving manner by Ah Ma。 Thank you； Mother；' she murmured。
Ah Ma went silently to stand in front of Penny。 She lifted a hand； tilted her chin up。 'Now tell me what's bothering you；' she said quietly。
Staring into those all…knowing eyes； it was difficult to find words。 Penny felt as if her throat had constricted so much that not even air could pass through。
'e； e； child。 Is it the Japanese？ What is it about him that offends you so？'
'I am ashamed that my feelings are so transparent；' Penny said sadly。 Her eyes dropped for a moment and she felt as if she might burst into tears at any moment。
'Nonsense！' Ah Ma said irritated。 'What is apparent to me is not to others。 You have lost no face with me。 Please tell me now what I wish to know。'
'It is the drug which bothers me so；' Penny said。 'This is something I don't think we should bee involved in。'
For a moment Ah Ma said nothing。 She recalled a trip she had taken as a small girl into Shanghai。 She could still smell the overpowering； cloying stench of the burning opium。 Her nostrils quivered at the memory； she had never smoked but the odour remained with her like a brand。
It had been in the air the night the munists had e for her husband。 There had been no sound； no warning。 They had been in hiding but the munists had known precisely where to look。 They had been traduced。
Ah Ma's husband had been a political activist。 His foresight was long…range。 He had seen the impending storm of the munist Revolution； perhaps had even understood its inevitability。 Yet he fought against it with unequalled vehemence。 'For once；' he had said in speeches； had written in pamphlets； 'we are in a position to learn from the Japanese。 What good did the closed regime
