The Last Mandarin Read Online Free PDF

full of tea; green tea from the southern provinces, and a little black tea, kept because near the airport an occasional exigent foreigner would stop in, and red tea for the hot months. Red tea being the hottest of teas cooled the exterior by a process of contrast. And the proprietor would bow and bustle, not like a lackey but like a man of worth. The world shimmered; a little boy’s excitement swept over Burnham.
    After a short time and some further chat, a village or two, smoke rising, playful ruddy children in padded rags, Yen said, “As to the matter at hand.”
    â€œI know only that he has been seen. He has perhaps been seen.”
    â€œIn the glove compartment is a report,” Yen said. “I presumed to translate it into English, though my skill is less than rude. Or should I say more than rude? I hope you are not offended.”
    â€œIndeed I am not offended,” Burnham said lightly. “I am grateful.”
    â€œIn intent it was a courtesy.”
    â€œAs it is in effect.”
    â€œIt is not much to go on,” Yen said gloomily, “but it is all we have.”
    1. 24/12/48 student of Peita, Tsing Hua and Yenching University, as well also minor institute of learning, go to street in Peking. More student than common in winter holiday because many student can not go home because occupation of town or province by red bandits.
    2. Student manifest impatient on usual many matter. Many banner. Slogan are shouted. Oratory take place. Demand to treat with red bandits; supply coal to poor; raise money of lower worker; bring into city food from out side. Such are student, under influence of propaganda: not knowing lack of food is also out side!
    3. Such parade and talking clearly inflame. Action of evil nature become probably, to wit, running in street, smashing, or invading government office.
    4. Student attack police line and into office of National Judiciary on Wu-tiao Street.
    5. Police and soldier forced to commence fire.
    6. Student attack in great mass and some return fire. With forbidden arm and ammo.
    7. This is riot . Crowd carry self, also moved by menace of police and army, to Square of May 4rd.
    8. 9 student killed. 2 police. 4 police and army wunded.
    Burnham asked, “Would they not vent their anger and disperse peacefully if ignored?”
    â€œNo.” Yen was positive. “The city is almost surrounded, and is full of enemy agents. They inflame the students. Their goal is chaos.”
    That was surely true. Burnham read on. A Lieutenant Pao had been shot in the chest and beaten. Doctors and nurses had come running from the nearby Rat’s Alley Children’s Clinic, also known as the Beggars’ Hospital. Dr. Nien Hao-lan was in charge, and the nurses, orderlies and stretcher bearers were of both sexes. Lieutenant Pao was half-conscious but recalled being rolled, or dumped, onto a stretcher; he looked up into the face of a beautiful woman—and also saw, gazing down at him with fierce and melancholy concern, the face of Kanamori Shoichi, who had once interrogated him after fighting in the hills of Anhui, and whose portrait even now adorned, or blemished, posters.
    Medical and military officials assumed that Pao was delirious and hallucinating. An after-image of the posters, perhaps, the shock that followed a serious wound. But Pao’s account rang true. It rang true to Burnham also. “Yes, I was raving. I recall raving. But there was no doubt. I had been set upon the stretcher. I saw the hills of Anhui and I also saw my hundredth year.” Burnham loved this language: “after my hundredth year” was the elegant version of “when I am dead.” He read on. “Yet I was not so confused as to be unaware of confusion, and Kanamori was no dream. No ghost. No phantom. His hair was long. He was wearing a surgical mask as so many do in the streets, but there was no doubt. I did not think it was Kanamori. I simply saw Kanamori.”