The Chinese Assassin Read Online Free PDF Page A

war and cared for by the Communists. I was often starving—that is my most vivid memory. But in my c ountry I am now a hero. I served in Vietnam, training the Vietnamese fighters to shoot down imperialist American air pirates. I was decorated for that service and made a hero of the People’s Liberation Army. So you see the Party has nourished and nurtured me. My allegiance is to the party and Mao Tse-tung. I am a patriot.’ Yang’s voice died away altogether for a moment. ‘But now, as I say, I face a very serious difficulty.’
    Nina and Scholefield exchanged puzzled glances over Yang’s bowed head. Scholefield noticed that the man’s hands, which he constantly wrung together, were incongruously delicate in comparison with his squat heavy body—and heavily ingrained with dirt. Scar tissue from what might have been a burn ran from behind his ear and disappeared under the soiled collar of his shirt.
    In the silence Yang cleared his throat several times then continued in a more determined voice. ‘Over the past year I have discovered something I had not wanted to admit to myself before.’ He looked up suddenly, directly at Nina. ‘Am I shocking you?’
    Nina stared back, disconcerted. ‘I’m not sure. No, I’ m not shocked yet, I don’t know what you’re going to say.’
    Yang dropped his head in his hands and fell silent. When he spoke again his voice came muffled through his fingers. ‘ I have discovered here in England that I am—a homosexual.’
    Scholefield took a deep breath. Nina continued staring at the bent head of the Chinese with a perplexed expression on her face.
    ‘I think you can understand my dilemma.’ Yang let his hands fall away and looked up at Nina.
    She leaned towards him, her voice gentle with sympathy. ‘Are you saying that this would count against you back home in China?’
    Yang laughed h umourlessly. ‘It would not only count against me, Mrs. Scholefield , there is a chance I would be put to death.’ She stared at him, aghast. ‘The point is, I am a war hero who risked his life in Vietnam. Look at recent history. Liu Shao-chi and L in Piao were heroes one day, then the next day they were in disgrace—or worse, dead . So I have this dilemma. I believe in Socialism, in Chairman Mao and I believe in the People’s Republic of China but I have this personal trait likely to result in my disgrace—or even my death. I am very apprehensive of the future!’
    Scholefield stood up with a sigh anti threw his pen down on the desk.
    ‘Mr. Yang, I’m sorry, but if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, you’ve come to the wrong place. There are well laid down channels of approach for people like you. You should go to the British government and ask for political asylum. It’s not part of my job to help defectors.’
    ‘No! No!’ Yang sprang to his feet. ‘ I am not asking you to arrange my defection.’
    “What then?’
    Yang clenched his fists and his voice rose to a shout. ‘I am a Socialist, I believe the world is moving inevitably towards a Communist Society! I must live in a Socialist country!’
    Scholefield looked at the Chinese steadily. ‘Any one in particular?’
    Yang didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes, Cuba!’
    ‘Why Cuba?’
    ‘I believe I could live in Cuba because that country is both sufficiently radical to meet my political views and sufficiently broad-minded on other matters to suit my homosexual tendencies, answered Yang.’
    Behind Yang’s back Scholefield saw Nina shake her head twice quickly in his direction, apparently trying to convey her female disbelief in his story. Scholefield looked back into the Chinese man’s pudgy face, to find his narrow eyes watching him intently from under lashless lids . Scholefield sat down again behind his desk and stared at his blotter.
    ‘Mr. Yang, perhaps I might ask you one or two questions.’
    Yang moved towards the desk and leaned down towards Scholefield, his hands resting pal m s downwards on the leather top.