<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER XIII</span> <br/>The First Clue</h2>
<p>Jack Hudson looked up from his desk as Muscles,
the powerful mechanic, came in. For a few moments
the two men stared at one another, saying nothing.
Muscles, hands on hips, broad shoulders squared, chest
thrust out, looked like an angry bull about to charge.</p>
<p>“Okay, Muscles, let’s have it,” Jack said.</p>
<p>“About those kids. What are we going to do?”</p>
<p>“I wish I knew. We’ve got to do something.”</p>
<p>“You’re darn tootin’ we have,” Muscles bellowed.
“I’m sick and tired of just sitting around here, waiting.
We got to act.”</p>
<p>“Take it easy, Muscles. I’ve been thinking about it
as much as you have.”</p>
<p>“Now look, Jack. Charlie Keene’s been gone almost
a month. The kids nearly two weeks.”</p>
<p>“I know. I know. But what can we do? You know
what it means to go in after them.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</div>
<p>“You think you know where they are?”</p>
<p>Jack nodded his head. “I’ve got a pretty good idea
where the boys are heading. I just hope Charlie’s in the
same general area. I just hope they’re not all scattered
over the face of China.”</p>
<p>“What bugs me most is Biff being spotted by now.
An American kid among all those Chinese—bound to
be!”</p>
<p>“I don’t think so, Muscles. Biff and Chuba worked
out a disguise that made Biff look more like a Chinese
than Chuba does. Biff not only fooled me, but fooled
Ti Pao as well.”</p>
<p>“He fooled Chuba’s father? That’s really something.”</p>
<p>Jack nodded his head. “Yeah. Both of those kids are
plenty smart. I think they’ll make it in. They might
even get a line on Charlie’s whereabouts. But getting
back out—” Jack shook his head soberly.</p>
<p>“That’s where we get into the act,” Muscles said
quickly. “Look, I got the Cessna tuned up so she’s
purring like a kitten. Extra fuel tanks installed. We
can go in, pick up Charlie and the kids—”</p>
<p>“<i>If</i> we could find them.”</p>
<p>“We can find them. Look, here’s my idea. We go in
together. At night. You drop me. I locate Charlie and
the kids, then I make a signal on the shortwave transmitter,
and bang, you come, pick us up, and all’s well.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</div>
<p>Jack didn’t answer at once. He was considering
Muscles’ idea. “You make it sound so easy. But I don’t
know. Give me a little time to think it over.”</p>
<p>“We can take off at dusk tonight.”</p>
<p>“I haven’t said we would yet, Muscles. I’ll let you
know.”</p>
<p>Muscles glowered at Jack and pounded one huge
fist into the palm of his other hamlike hand.</p>
<p class="tb">Biff didn’t hesitate. This was real trouble. If he
didn’t get to his friend at once, Chuba might go under
for good. Finding him beneath the surface of the
muddy river would be impossible. Biff’s body split the
air as he dived toward the sinking Chuba. Powerful
strokes of his arms pulled Biff swiftly through the water.
He reached Chuba.</p>
<p>“Take it easy. Take it easy, Chuba. I’ve got you.
You’ll be all right. Don’t fight me.”</p>
<p>Biff crooked his left arm around Chuba’s neck.</p>
<p>“Just lie on your back, Chuba. I’ll do the rest.”</p>
<p>At Biff’s words Chuba stopped thrashing. He forced
himself to relax, buoyed both in body and spirit by the
firmness of Biff’s arm.</p>
<p>Slowly, with a one-armed backstroke, Biff towed
the native boy toward the shore. The current slackened
below the falls, making Biff’s task possible. Foot
by foot, Biff propelled himself and Chuba toward the
riverbank. At long last, he felt one of his kicking feet
touch bottom.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</div>
<p>“Okay, Chuba. I think you can stand up here. Try
it.”</p>
<p>Chuba’s feet touched bottom. The two boys staggered
through the shallow water to safety. Chuba
stretched out on the bank, gasping and trembling.</p>
<p>“You save my life, Biff. How can Chuba ever thank
you?”</p>
<p>“Skip the thanks, Chuba. You’ve done plenty for
me. And I know you’ll do plenty more. But how come
you never learned to swim?”</p>
<p>“Not many Chinese boys swim. Not in rivers where
I grow up. Crocodiles.”</p>
<p>“I get it. Too dangerous.”</p>
<p>Chuba nodded his head.</p>
<p>“Look, Chuba. You rest here. I’ve got to get the
boat. All our supplies are in it.”</p>
<p>Biff jumped up and ran along the bank downstream.
The boat was drifting slowly, lazily toward the bank.
Biff plunged back into the water. He reached the boat,
pulled himself in over the side, and rowed to shore.
Chuba had moved down the bank, and waded out to
grab the boat’s bow. He pulled it up on the bank.</p>
<p>Half an hour later the boys reembarked. For the
rest of the day they traveled in smooth water. By
dark, they reached Sundhiango, last stop of their river
voyage.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</div>
<p>From Sundhiango they headed northwest, toward
the foothills of Mt. Minya Konka, west of Chungking
and Chengtu. Once clear of the river city, the boys
moved along a dirt road until weariness overtook them.
Off the road, they built a small fire, ate a mixture of
flour and rice Chuba dreamed up, and then slept.</p>
<p>In the morning, Chuba inspected Biff carefully.</p>
<p>“What’s the matter?” Biff demanded.</p>
<p>“You almost America boy again. More like fish
called carp, though. All streaky.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean?”</p>
<p>“Your swims in river. Make betel juice fade. You
look at self. We got to make you Chinese beggar
boy again.”</p>
<p>Chuba took out his bottle of juice, and smeared
Biff’s body and face. “Now, all good again. We move
out.”</p>
<p>“And up,” Biff said, looking toward the mountains.</p>
<p>By late afternoon, Biff and Chuba reached a town
in the foothills. They had been climbing steadily all
day. Several times Biff had to swallow to clear the
pressure in his ears, brought on by the higher altitude.</p>
<p>“You have some money, Biff?” Chuba asked.</p>
<p>“Yep. Got a bunch of Burmese rupees. Can you
spend them in China?”</p>
<p>“Spend them like you say like water. Rupees much
good. Better than Chinese money. Chinese money now
called <i>jin min piao</i>. Takes many <i>jins</i> to make one
rupee.”</p>
<p>Biff dug into his bundle and brought out several
coins. “This enough?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</div>
<p>“Is plenty. We go into town to market. Chuba buy
some food. You like dried fish? Lichee nuts good, too.”</p>
<p>“Ugh. I’d rather have a hot dog.”</p>
<p>“Ah, hot dog?” Chuba nodded wisely. “Muscles tell
me in America you eat the dogs but like them hot.”</p>
<p>“By the millions, Chuba. Especially at baseball
games. But not the kind that bark.”</p>
<p>“Not real dogs?”</p>
<p>“Nope. These are sort of like a sausage—shaped like
sausage. You know sausage?”</p>
<p>Chuba nodded his head. “Oh sure, stuffed with rice,
shark fins, and sesame seeds, is real tasty.” Biff
shrugged. Might as well give up. Chuba would just
have to eat a genuine frankfurter some day.</p>
<p>The boys walked on to the edge of the town. Biff
stopped before they passed through the gate. “Hold it
a minute, Chuba. Something I want to ask you.”</p>
<p>Biff had decided to make the first move toward
locating his Uncle Charlie. He considered showing
Chuba the green ring. Should he do so now, or hold
on to it for an ace in the hole, for a time when the
ring might be the means of getting them out of a
really tough jam. He’d wait.</p>
<p>“What you want to ask Chuba?”</p>
<p>“I want to know if you ever heard of a big and
well-known Chinese family. It was called the House
of Kwang.” Biff studied the native boy’s face.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</div>
<p>“Sure. Chuba hear about them. Once they rich. Big
rich. Own many, many acres for wheat fields. Many
many acres for rice. They own big grain sheds where
other people bring wheat and rice to sell them for to
store it. But now no more rice. Not rich and powerful
any more. Revolution and new government get rid
of all big landowners.”</p>
<p>“Did the House of Kwang have any property, any
acres around here?”</p>
<p>“No own acres here. But once they own big warehouse,
like I say, for to buy and sell wheat and rice
and all kinds clothes and things.”</p>
<p>“Here in this town?”</p>
<p>Chuba nodded his head.</p>
<p>“Well, look, Chuba. I think maybe my Uncle
Charlie came into this part of China because of something
he had to do with the House of Kwang. I don’t
know exactly what. Do you think any members of
that family would be around here?”</p>
<p>Chuba thought about Biff’s question. “I don’t know,
Biff. But can find out. Although family no longer
strong and rich, Chuba has heard they still stick close
together. Help each other out. If one member of family
get in bad with government bosses, others get him
out if he put in prison.”</p>
<p>“Okay. That’s what I wanted to know from you.
When we get to the market, think you could ask some
questions without giving us away? I mean without letting
the people you ask know that we’re in here looking
for Uncle Charlie?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</div>
<p>“Think so, Biff. I ask if anyone hear about big bird—American
bird with much roaring noise. Lots people
in this part of China still call airplane big bird.”</p>
<p>“If you find anyone who seems to have the kind of
information we’re looking for, see if there’s any talk
about a plane cracking up around here. I feel sure Uncle
Charlie would have come back long ago if there
weren’t something wrong with his plane.”</p>
<p>“You trust Chuba, Biff. He find out everythings.”</p>
<p>The boys passed the gate of the walled town. This
town was the largest one they had yet gone through.
The dirty streets again were filled with people milling
back and forth. Children stared at them wide-eyed
and curious. Dogs darted in and out, looking for scraps
of food. Pigs roamed the streets, paying no more attention
to the people than the people did to them.</p>
<p>Biff could tell they were nearing the market place.
His nose knew. Inside the market, an open-air market
filling one long block, the boys passed booths selling
everything from hot soups to shiny silks. Strings of
garlic hung on racks in all the food booths. The Chinese
chew garlic the way Americans chew gum.
Small cakes made of chopped vegetables and fruits
were piled high on trays. There were fried peanuts and
sugar-covered orange peels. Strings of dried fish swung
in the air. Smoked ducks were suspended by their
necks from long, slender bamboo rods.</p>
<p>Chuba made several purchases. Biff, having to remain
silent, was unable to protest against some of the
foods Chuba added to his cloth sack. But he knew
he’d have to be mighty hungry to eat them.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</div>
<p>At one booth, where Chuba made several purchases,
the native boy had a long talk with the owner. During
the conversation, Chuba once extended his arms
straight from his sides, and gave out with a sound
like an airplane engine, an engine that sputtered.</p>
<p>The Chinese only shook his head.</p>
<p>The boys walked along. “I think he know something,
but no tell me,” Chuba said quietly. “When first
I ask about big bird, a look on his face tell me he has
heard of something. But when I ask more, and become
airplane myself, he say no, he hear of nothing. I ask
more people.”</p>
<p>Biff tagged along, silent, watchful, amazed at many
of the strange things sold in the market. He saw a
goose egg and watched a shopper haggle with the
owner over its price. Later, Chuba told him the egg
was four years old and uncooked.</p>
<p>“Most delicious,” Chuba said.</p>
<p>Biff shuddered.</p>
<p>Every store sold dried watermelon seeds. Chuba
bought some, gave a handful to Biff. Biff chewed on
them, but found little taste to the small morsel inside
the shell.</p>
<p>It had become dark. Flares lighted the market place.
Chuba turned to Biff, a discouraged look on his face.
“Buying things fine. Finding out about Sahib Charlie
not fine. Chuba learn nothing.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</div>
<p>The boys retraced their steps back to the city gates.
Again they were going to sleep in the open. Biff much
preferred this to sleeping on the floor of an airless
room.</p>
<p>Just as they passed through the gate, a figure came
out of the shadows. He touched Chuba on the arm
and in a hissing whisper, spoke into the boy’s ear.</p>
<p>“Man say for me to come back with him. Maybe
can help me. Say I must come alone. You stay right
here, Biff. Chuba be all right. Be back quick.” Chuba
and the stranger headed back toward the market.</p>
<p>But Chuba didn’t come back quickly. The minutes
seemed to drag along. Biff was becoming worried. He
had just about made up his mind to seek Chuba out
when he saw his friend running toward him.</p>
<p>Chuba was breathless, more from excitement than
from his short run.</p>
<p>“Chuba has news. Big news. Man takes me back to
another fellow. This other fellow much wise. Say he
hear big American plane make force landing. Near
mountains. Maybe fifty miles from here.”</p>
<p>“Did he tell you how long ago, Chuba?”</p>
<p>Chuba nodded his head up and down rapidly. “He
say maybe three, maybe four weeks ago.”</p>
<p>“Hey. That <i>is</i> good news. That could be Uncle
Charlie. Did he know what happened to the pilot?
Was he hurt?”</p>
<p>“I ask that. But fellow say he don’t know.”</p>
<p>Biff was thoughtful for a few moments. “It’s a good
lead, Chuba. You know which way to go?”</p>
<p>“Sure. Fellow tell Chuba.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</div>
<p>“Seems to me this fellow told you a lot. I wonder
why. Particularly since no one else seemed to know
what you were talking about.”</p>
<p>“I don’t know, Biff. Fellow very nice. But funny-looking
fellow.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean, funny looking?”</p>
<p>“One eye closed like door. No see out of it. Fellow
have only one good eye.”</p>
<p>Biff’s thoughts raced back to the Chinese passenger
on the plane from Indianapolis to Chicago—a Chinese
with a drooping eyelid.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</div>
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