Fortune Is a Woman - Elizabeth Adler [206]
The Japanese officer’s cold eyes met his. “We have information to the contrary.” His voice rose to an angry shout. “Our informant is very reliable. A Chinese. We know the Lai Tsin taipan is here in Hong Kong and we shall expect him to be present tomorrow at eleven. Failure to do so will invoke serious reprisals, Mr. Chen—for you and your family.”
Philip felt his eyes boring into his back as he was marched back out by the guard, and he hurried home a very worried man. Even in such a short time, the Japanese Kempeitei, the military police, had achieved a reputation for brutality that matched the German Gestapo’s, and he knew he could expect the worst. He was a rich and important man in Hong Kong and he lived in a beautiful house in the mid-levels. He was a target and he knew it.
“We’ll smuggle her into China to some remote village where she can hide,” he told his anxious wife, but she said it was impossible.
“She’s so blond and with those blue eyes there is no disguising her as Chinese. Even if we sent her with Robert,” she added, her normally sweet face frowning with worry as she glanced at ten-year-old Lysandra and fourteen-year-old Robert, listening to what was being said.
“I’m not going without Lysandra,” Robert said stubbornly. He was a tall, bespectacled, studious boy and Lysandra had always suspected he did not like her, so she glanced at him surprised when he added, “I’m staying to look after her.”
Philip shook his head. “We have to get her out of here immediately, before they come looking for her.”
Lysandra looked quickly from Irene to Philip and realized that because of her they were in terrible danger. “What do the Japanese want from me?” she asked, puzzled.
“They have requested the taipan be brought to our offices tomorrow to meet the general and personally sign the order relinquishing all claims to the company and its assets.”
“And if I do not?”
He shrugged, “There will be ‘reprisals.’”
The Japanese occupying forces had been around long enough for Lysandra to know what that meant, and she thought quickly of what her mother would have done.
“Okay, then it’s simple. I shall go into our offices tomorrow and as taipan of the Lai Tsin Corporation I’ll sign the order. And then when we win the war we’ll take it all back again.”
Philip smiled at her cockiness, she was just a little schoolgirl and she thought she could take on the Japanese warlords. “You may be taipan, but until you’re eighteen your mother is ‘acting head’ of the company. A document signed by you, as a minor, would be worthless.”
“Then that’s even better, isn’t it? They’ll think they’ve got what they want and they’ll leave you alone.”
“I can’t let you do it, it’s dangerous. You don’t know what they’re like, Lysandra, they are without conscience or mercy.”
She weighed his words carefully: all she knew was the Japanese would show no mercy to Uncle Philip and Aunt Irene and Robert if they hid her and she did not appear at the offices the next day. “As taipan of Lai Tsin,” she said, sticking her chin in the air and looking Philip Chen straight in the eyes, “I’m giving you my first order. Tomorrow at eleven hundred hours you will escort me to our headquarters, where I shall sign the document for the Japanese.”
Philip Chen had loved his “Honorable Father,” Lai Tsin, well. He had transferred that love and loyalty to his Honorable Granddaughter, Lysandra; he thought of Francie and Buck and knew he could not expose her to such danger. “They are expecting a man,” he said, casting his mind around quickly for a substitute. “We’ll find someone to go in your place.”
“No!” Lysandra’s voice was imperious. “My grandfather gave the responsibility to me. I shall be the one to sign the document.” Her face crumbled and she suddenly lost all her bravado. She ran to her uncle and from the comfort of his arms cried, “Don’t you see, it’s the only way. You arc my family,