<h2 id="c18"><span class="small">CHAPTER XVIII</span> <br/>The House of Kwang</h2>
<p>Muscles didn’t move. He kept his eyes glued to his
watch until ten minutes had passed. Not until then did
he think it safe to come out of his hiding place. He
had overheard every word. He, too, had been thrilled
at hearing that his good friend, Charles Keene, was
safe.</p>
<p>Going back up the hillside, being very careful to
take the protection of all cover on the way, Muscles
muttered to himself his admiration of Biff.</p>
<p>“Smart kid, that Biff,” he said softly. “He’s not
showing his whole hand. He wants to be shown first.”
Muscles looked at his watch. The hands pointed to
12:30.</p>
<p>“Four hours, Biff said. That will make it four-thirty.”
Muscles grinned. “If they’re not back by that
time, Muscles is going to muscle in.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</div>
<p>Nothing was said for the first half hour as Chan Li
led Biff and Chuba into the foothills to the north of
Jaraminka. Chan followed a course which curved
around the city. The city lay below them, about three
miles away, nestled in the center of an oval-shaped
valley, rimmed by hills.</p>
<p>The growth on the sloping hillside was thick, but
the path they traveled was wide and cleared enough
for easy going. They made good speed. When they
reached a point almost due north of the city, the path
turned sharply to the left, and the incline steepened.</p>
<p>They puffed their way up the path, putting the city
farther and farther behind them. After a particularly
steep climb, they reached a level area. Looking ahead,
Biff saw that the path came to a dead end against a
low, stone wall. Gaping holes in the wall showed that
it had been a long, long time since any care had been
taken of it.</p>
<p>Chan Li came to the wall and scrambled over it.
Biff and Chuba followed. Chan Li called a halt once
they were inside the wall, and standing in a thick
clump of trees. Chan spoke to Chuba. Chuba interpreted
to Biff.</p>
<p>“Chan say we almost there. Must go most careful
now. Ahead is old house, big house, once house of
important family. Family all dead. Only evil spirits
remain. People afraid of old house.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</div>
<p>Chan Li pushed deeper into the woods. Biff had no
chance to voice suspicions that were growing in him.
He felt that such a house must be known. But would
the “evil spirits” keep authorities from investigating?
Biff shook his head. He didn’t like the situation. He
couldn’t tell exactly why, but his doubts grew
stronger. True, the house was deep in a dense forest.
It took quite a climb to reach it. It was a good five
miles from the outskirts of Jaraminka, and there had
been no sign of any other house on their path to reach
it.</p>
<p>The woods started to thin out. Biff could see they
were coming to an opening. As they neared it, Biff
saw the gray outlines of several buildings, linked together
by a high stone wall. There was no sign of life.
The buildings, low, sprawling, had an ominous, mysterious
quality about them. The space between the
woods and the house was just wide enough for what
once must have been a moat.</p>
<p>Chan Li led the boys to an arched opening in the
wall, and they passed through it. Before them, Biff
saw a large courtyard. A graveled pathway led to the
main door. Three small pools were spaced on either
side of the path from the opening to the house.</p>
<p>As they neared the door, Biff sensed and felt the
presence of someone behind him. He turned his head.
Two Chinese soldiers, each with a revolver in hand,
had closed in behind the three.</p>
<p>Before Biff could raise his voice in protest, or question
Chan Li, the Chinese guide spoke.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</div>
<p>“Welcome to the House of Kwang.” He entered
the door. The guards moved up behind Biff and
Chuba. There was nothing they could do but follow
Chan Li. He led them down a long corridor. The corridor
was lined with small rooms on each side. This
may once have been the House of Kwang, Biff told
himself, but there was little doubt as to what it was
being used for now. The small windows in the center
of the doors were barred. At several of the windows
they passed, silent men stared out of the bars at them.</p>
<p>At the end of the corridor, two more guards threw
open a large, richly decorated door. Chan Li, a leer on
his face now, bowed low, and with a sweep of his
arm, ushered the boys through.</p>
<p>“The courtyard of the Ancient One. The Old Lord
of the House of Kwang.” He spoke the words in perfect
English.</p>
<p>In the center of the room two men sat on high-backed
throne chairs. One of them was richly dressed
in a flowing robe, decorated with red and gold dragons.
The other man, much older, was in tattered
clothing. A wispy beard waved downward from his
chin. Both men wore tight-fitting skull caps.</p>
<p>“Approach, my friends,” said the richly dressed
man. Biff and Chuba crossed the large room until they
stood directly in front of the two men. On closer
inspection, Biff saw that the speaker who wore the
rich clothing had coarse facial features. His big, broad
nose seemed to have been ironed onto his face. The
other man, though poorly dressed, had a fine, proud
face. He held his head high. His eyes, dimmed by
the years, were the eyes of a frightened man, but of a
man who would face his fate without flinching.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</div>
<p>“You are seeking the master of the House of
Kwang, I am informed,” the younger man said. As he
spoke, two men appeared from behind the chairs. One
of them had but one good eye. The lid of the other
eye drooped until the eye was shut.</p>
<p>The Chinese of the Chicago plane!</p>
<p>The man turned on a triumphant smile toward Biff.
“We meet again, Mr. Brewster,” he said.</p>
<p>“Silence, Mao!” commanded the richly robed man.
“You have, I am told, a ring with you, young man.
A ring which indicates your great friendship for the
House of Kwang.” The smile left the speaker’s face.
He leaned slightly forward, and his next words were a
stern, crisp order. “I’ll take that ring. I am Ping Lu,
master of the house.”</p>
<p>Biff reached into his pocket. He detached the ring
and held it out in his open palm. Just as the richly
robed man reached for it, the older man arose, bent
forward, and snatched it. As he did, Ping Lu, with a
sweep of his heavy arm, knocked the old man back
into his chair. He seized the old man’s hand, and pried
open his fist. He took the ring.</p>
<p>The old man spoke. He spoke in Chinese. Ping Lu
laughed as the old man poured out a stream of words.</p>
<p>“You may interpret for your American friend, if
you wish,” Ping Lu said, addressing Chuba.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</div>
<p>“The Old One is the real Master of the House of
Kwang,” Chuba translated. “He is called Tao Kwang,
and is oldest of the remaining Kwang family. The
ring is his. He is much angered that it is now in hands
of richly dressed man.”</p>
<p>Ping Lu cut in. “True, all true. Once this old fool
was the master of this house. Oh yes, this was one of
the many houses owned by him. But <i>I</i> am master of
this house now. It is used by me and my government
as a place where we entertain—” he chortled at the
word “entertain”—“our more important guests. And
Tao Kwang, though a doddering old fool now, once
held sway over this territory, and still thinks he has
much influence.”</p>
<p>Tao Kwang spoke again. Again Chuba interpreted.
“Ancient One say still many sons and nephews here.
Say for us not to be afraid.”</p>
<p>“Of course there is nothing to be afraid of,” Ping
Lu said. “I hope you will enjoy your stay with us.”</p>
<p>“How long do you intend keeping us prisoners?”
Biff asked.</p>
<p>“Prisoners? Let us say ‘guests.’ Of course, we will
have to see that you are protected at all times. That is
why it will be necessary to have you kept in a room
guarded by two of my strongest soldiers. You ask
how long will you be staying with us?”</p>
<p>Biff nodded his head.</p>
<p>“That, young man, depends on the cooperation I
expect to get from you in a matter of great importance.”</p>
<p>“What is it?” Biff asked.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</div>
<p>“You will hear, in due time. But first, a few days
rest here with us should, I think, do much to show
you the absolute necessity of your cooperating.”</p>
<p>Biff didn’t want to think of what the “few days
rest” might mean.</p>
<p>“Tell me this,” Ping continued. “Your paying us
this visit surely wasn’t only because of your friendship
with the House of Kwang. I seem to remember being
told of other inquiries your clever young friend made
on your behalf.” He motioned toward Chuba as he
spoke.</p>
<p>Biff decided on a show of boldness. There was nothing
to be gained by cowering before this self-important
official.</p>
<p>“You’re right. I have come here in search of my uncle.
His name is Charles Keene.”</p>
<p>“So. Well, perhaps I can be of assistance to you.
Perhaps the ring you brought with you from so
many thousands of miles away will bring you good
fortune.”</p>
<p>Biff felt like the mouse the cat was playing with.</p>
<p>“Is he here?” Biff demanded.</p>
<p>Ping Lu clapped his hands. The Chinese with the
bad eye, whom he had called Mao, came to him. Ping
Lu leaned over and spoke softly into Mao’s ear. Neither
Biff nor Chuba could hear what was said. Mao
left the room.</p>
<p>Ping Lu turned to Chan Li. He had been standing
just behind the boys during the conversation.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</div>
<p>“You may go now, Chan Li. And your reward will
be given you as you leave.”</p>
<p>Chan bowed, and turned toward the door.</p>
<p>Tao Kwang, the Ancient One, spat out a single
word as Chan left.</p>
<p>Biff looked at Chuba. “He call him traitor,” Chuba
said.</p>
<p>Ping Lu leaned back in his chair. He clasped his fat
hands over his bulging belly. A smirk of satisfaction
was stamped on his face.</p>
<p>The rasp of a door opening on the right side of the
huge room caused Biff to turn his head sharply.
Through the door, prodded from behind by the gun
barrels of two soldiers, walked Uncle Charlie.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</div>
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