The Chinese Maze Murders Read Online Free PDF

learned the trade from his father. I and my wife, one son and two daughters were strong and healthy, we had our daily bowl of rice, and now and then even a slice of pork. I considered myself a happy man.
    “Then, one unfortunate day, Chien’s men saw that my son was a sturdy young fellow, and they pressed him into their service.”
    “Who is this Chien?” the Judge interrupted him.
    “What,” Fang replied bitterly, “is Chien not? Since more than eight years he has usurped all power in this district. He owns half the land and nearly one-fourth of the shops and houses in this town. He is magistrate, judge, and military commander, all in one. He regularly sends bribes to the officials of the prefecture, five days on horseback from here. He has convinced them that if it were not for him, the barbarian hordes from over the border would long have overrun this district.”
    “Did my predecessors acquiesce in this irregular state of affairs?” Judge Dee inquired.
    Fang shrugged his shoulders. He answered:
    “The magistrates appointed here soon found out that it was easier and much safer to be satisfied with a shadowexistence, leaving all real power in the hands of Chien. As long as they acted as his puppets Chien gave them rich presents every month. They lived in peace and comfort while we of the people suffered.”
    “Your story,” Judge Dee said coldly, “sounds absurd to me. Unfortunately it is true that occasionally a local tyrant usurps power in an outlying district. And sadder still, sometimes a weak magistrate will accept such an unlawful situation. But you cannot make me believe, my man, that for eight years every magistrate who was appointed here submitted to the man Chien.”
    Fang said with a sneer:
    “Then we of Lan-fang were just unlucky! There was but one magistrate who, four years ago, turned against Chien. After two weeks his body was found on the river bank, his throat cut from ear to ear.”
    Judge Dee suddenly leaned forward. He asked:
    “Was that magistrate’s name by any chance Pan?”
    Fang nodded.
    “Magistrate Pan,” Judge Dee continued, “was reported to the central authorities as having fallen in a skirmish with invading Uigur hordes. I was in the capital at that time. I remember that his body was forwarded there with military honours and that he was posthumously promoted to the rank of prefect.”
    “That was how Chien covered up his murder,” Fang said indifferently. “I know the truth, I myself saw the body.”
    “Proceed with your story!” Judge Dee said.
    “Thus,” Fang went on, “my only son was forced to join the band of ruffians that Chien keeps as his private guards, and I never saw him again.
    “Then a wretched old crone who acts as procuress for Chien came to see me. She said that Chien offered ten silver pieces for White Orchid, my eldest daughter. I refused.

    “Three days later my daughter went to the market, and never came back. Time and again I went to Chien’s mansion and begged to be allowed to see her, but every time I was cruelly beaten and chased away.
    “Having lost her only son and her eldest daughter my wife began ailing. She died two weeks ago. I took my father’s sword and went to Chien’s mansion. I was intercepted by the guards. They fell over me with their clubs, and left me for dead in the street. One week ago a band of ruffians set fire to my shop. I left the city with Dark Orchid, my youngest daughter who was also caught tonight, and joined a band of other desperate men out in the mountains. Tonight we made our first attempt at holding up travellers.”
    Deep silence reigned. The judge was going to lean back in his armchair but remembered in time that the back was broken. He hastily placed his elbows on the desk again. Then he spoke:
    “Your story has a very familiar ring. It usually is some such tale of woe that robbers dish out in the tribunal when they have been caught in the act. If you lied, your head will fall on the execution ground. If