Free Beneath an Opal Moon by Eric Van Lustbader Page B

my son, my youngest son, Omojiru, murdered at the hands of the Hung Pang. This is an unforgivable affront. Even your barbarian friend must be well aware of this, eh, Moichi Annai-Nin. I have no doubt that you are.” Now there was real fire behind his eyes and abruptly his face was transformed into a visage as awesome as that of some avenging god. He took one trembling step toward them and Moichi felt Kossori tensing again; prayed that his friend would make no move for, though he had seen no sign of guards since they entered the tai-pan’s inner sanctum, he entertained no illusions that they were alone here with Du-Sing. Koppo or no, if Kossori made any threatening move they would both die within instants.
    â€œIt is my son who is dead, Moichi Annai-Nin!” Du-Sing bellowed. “The seed of my loins. It is I and my family; it is the Ching Pang who grieve for him now. What right have you to interfere in a matter that does not concern you?”
    â€œBut you are inaccurate, Du-Sing. If I may point out, I am already involved through the intervention of your own family, as you put it. The Ching Pang attempted to kill me this morning. I do not take kindly to such a threat. You cannot blame me for those deaths. I have every right to defend myself. I meant them no harm.”
    â€œYet your companion was a known Hung Pang spy.”
    â€œHe was a messenger for the Regent.”
    â€œWorse still!” the tai-pan cried. “By the gods, Moichi Annai-Nin, the Ching Pang owe you no apology! The Hung Pang work against us constantly. War is war. But now they have gone too far. To coldly murder Omojiru—”
    â€œThere is good reason to believe that the Hung Pang were not involved in your son’s death, Du-Sing. We have—”
    â€œSilence!” roared the tai-pan. “What do you, an Iskamen, know of the Hung Pang? Or the Ching Pang? Only your friendship with the Dai-San stands between you and execution now. Omojiru’s death is our business and ours alone. Do I make myself clear?”
    â€œEminently clear,” Moichi said.
    â€œWe are avenging that death even as we speak. That is all you need to know.” He clapped his hands once. “Chei will see you out.” Without another word, he swept from the room, moving with astonishing grace for one of his enormous bulk.
    â€œI would as soon break his fat neck as look at him,” Kossori said as soon as they were out on Black Fox Lane. Moichi shushed him and they turned right, walking down the wide thoroughfare. Without looking back, he knew that the eyes of the Ching Pang were following their progress. He kept their pace to a saunter even though he was anxious to quit this area of the city, a Ching Pang stronghold. One could trust no one here for they were all—shopkeepers and streetwalkers, priests and moneylenders alike—in the employ of the Greens.
    â€œGods,” Kossori continued. “I can see no reason at all to have put up with that pretentious windbag’s pious sermon.”
    Moichi glanced at him, a smile playing along his lips. “That pretentious windbag, as you so eloquently put it, could have dismembered us at any moment he chose. There must have been at least fifty Ching Pang waiting with weapons drawn behind the four doors to that room.”
    â€œHuh!” was all that Kossori said, but Moichi knew that he was properly impressed. “So I take it you’ll stop this investigation then.”
    â€œWhat gives you that idea?” Moichi said.
    â€œOh, well, I don’t know. Maybe the great Hottentot’s ominous words back there had a bit to do with it. Otherwise, I can’t imagine where I could get such a farfetched idea.” He snorted.
    Moichi threw his head back and laughed, clapping his friend on his broad back. “I would not worry overmuch about Du-Sing, Kossori.”
    â€œOh yes, now you’ll tell me that his bark is worse than his bite, I suppose.” His