Emperor Fu-Manchu Read Online Free PDF

interrogate these men later. I have means of learning the truth without resorting to your barbarous methods, Colonel Soong. The discipline of your men is disgraceful. Several patients undergoing special treatment in the clinic which I recently established have wandered from the compound and into the town. Yet you have orders to patrol the area day and night. These patients are suffering from a dangerous infectious disease. How do you explain this laxity?”
    Colonel Soong’s yellow face had assumed a gray tinge. “Most High, my troops have orders not to touch them, although some have done so. They report that these people are not human. They say they are dead men who have escaped from their tombs.”
    “Fools!” Dr. Fu-Manchu’s cold voice rose on a sudden note of frenzy. “I am doomed to be served by fools.” He clenched his hands, and by an obvious effort of will conquered his anger. “This man who calls himself Wu Chi Foh must be recaptured. You lost him. Find him. Colonel Soong, move! I shall accompany you.”
    * * *
    Tony decided that his best course was to pretend to believe Yueh Hua so he asked, “Is Lung Chang far from Niu-fo-tu?”
    “About eight miles. We have to pass it. We used to come to this place sometimes, too. It is called Pool of Lily Dreams. Once it was part of the garden of a big house. But the house has gone. May I come and show you the way to Niu-fo-tu? I can row the boat when you want to rest.”
    Her eagerness was pathetic. He nodded, and smiled for the first time.
    “All right, Yueh Hua. I’ll take you to Lung Chang.”
    “Oh, thank you! You are very good.” He read deep gratitude in her blue eyes. “Please,” she said as he was about to replace his washing kit, “may I—”
    Tony handed her the soap and the comb. “The towel’s wet, but it’s the only one.”
    Yueh Hua grabbed them and jumped ashore. He saw her heading for a clump of alders where the bank sloped down to the pool.
    He was hunting for some plausible explanation of how he had come by his canned provisions, when he heard her running back. Her hair was wet. And she was trying to fasten a ragged pajama jacket, which, with baggy trousers, made up her costume.
    “Quick! We must be quick!”
    She jumped on board with the agility of a wild goat, throwing down soap and towel.
    “What’s the matter, Yueh Hua?”
    “Coming along—now! A motor boat. It must be the police—for
me!
They think I stole your sampan.”
    The widely opened eyes never wavered.
    “Wait,” Tony said. “Don’t stir until I come back.”
    Yueh Hua was right.
    An old fourteen-foot motor craft was coming down. Colonel Soong stood up in the stern, sweeping the banks on either side through field glasses.
    Tony raced back. When he reached the boat he pulled up and stared. Yueh Hua had cast off and stood at the oar, ready to leave.
    “Be quick! I know a hiding place. These people are new here. They may not find us.”
    He climbed aboard and sat down watching her. He might as well let her have her way, for he had no plan of his own.
    She swung the sampan about with an easy, deep sweep of the long oar. Then, using a minimum of effort, she headed straight across the pool, avoiding traps set by clumps of wild lilies, and drove straight through a forest of rushes with a sudden powerful stroke. For a moment, he thought they were stranded. Then, using the oar like a punt pole, Yueh Hua got the boat free, and they were in a smaller pool, deep and clear, roofed over by the foliage of majestic old willows.
    “That was very good, Yueh Hua.”
    “Did you see who it was?”
    “Yes. An Army officer, with field glasses.”
    “Not—a tall, thin man, wearing a long cloak?”
    Tony was startled, but hid the fact. “No. Short, wearing a uniform. Are you afraid of this tall man?”
    “Yes…
Ssh!
Sounds carry over the pool. They had stopped, but they are just turning in.”
    As she spoke the engine coughed into action again. Although he couldn’t see, Tony knew