River of Smoke - Amitav Ghosh [230]
Next morning, on stepping out into the Maidan, Neel quickly became aware of a subtle change in atmosphere. Today there was nothing jocular about the shouts of the swarming urchins:
… hak gu lahk dahk, laan lan hoi …
… mo-lo-chaa, diu neih louh mei …
… haak-gwai, faan uk-kei laai hai …
For once even the usual cumshaws had little effect. A snot-nosed gang hung on Neel’s heels as he hurried through the Maidan; in their shouts there was nothing playful or teasing, but instead a touch of real venom. At the entrance to Old China Street the boys dropped away. But here, too, Neel sensed something different in the regard of the watching bystanders; there was an anger in their eyes that reminded him of the rioters who had poured into Fanqui-town after the attempted execution.
Halfway down the lane, Neel heard a shout: ‘Ah Neel! Ah Neel!’
It was Ahtore, Compton’s oldest son: ‘Jou-sahn Ah Neel! Bah-bah say come chop-chop.’
‘Why?’
Ahtore shrugged. ‘Come, Ah Neel. Come.’
‘All right.’
On reaching the print-shop Neel was led straight through to the inner part of Compton’s house. Even more than before, the courtyard seemed like an oasis of serenity: since Neel’s last visit the cherry tree in the centre had burst into bloom and it was as if a fountain of white petals had erupted from a fissure in the paved floor.
Compton was sitting near the tree, under the shade of an overhanging roof; in the chair beside him was the white-bearded scholar he had pointed out on the day of the Commissioner’s arrival.
Jou-sahn, Ah Neel, said Compton.
Jou-sahn, Compton.
‘Come meet my teacher, Chang Lou-si.’
Both men rose and bowed and Neel reciprocated as best he could.
Compton and Chang Lou-si had been sitting around a low, stone table, drinking tea. Compton now ushered Neel to an empty chair and they spent a few minutes inquiring after each other’s health. Then Compton said: ‘So-yih, Ah Neel, perhaps you know what happen at the meeting last night?’
Neel nodded. ‘Yes, they offered to give up a thousand chests of opium.’
‘Jeng; that is right. Early this morning the Co-Hong go to Yum-chae to tell about offer.’
‘What happened? Was His Excellency satisfied?’
‘No. Yum-chae understand very well what it is – jik-haih foreigners are trying to bargain. They think he can be bought off, like other mandarin before. But Yum-chae cast their offer aside at once.’
‘So what will happen then?’ said Neel. ‘Are Howqua and Mowqua to face execution?’
‘No,’ said Compton. ‘His Excellency understand Co-Hong have gone as far as they can. He understand also that some foreigners do not object to surrender of opium. Only a few make trouble. Now time has come to move against those men – the worst criminals, ones who make most trouble.’
‘Who do you mean?’
‘Who you think, Ah Neel?’
‘Dent? Burnham?’
Compton nodded. ‘Jardine gone, so now Dent is the worst. We follow his doings over many years; he smuggle, he bribe; he is the black hand behind everything.’
‘So what will be done to him?’
Compton glanced at Chang Lou-si, and then turned back to Neel. ‘All this ji-haih for you, Ah Neel. You understand ne? Cannot speak to anyone.’
‘Yes. Of course.’
‘Dent must answer questions. He will be brought in.’
‘What about Burnham?’
‘No. Not him. Just one British enough for now la.’ He paused. ‘But one other man also will be arrested.’
Neel took a sip of his tea: it was a strong pu-er and made his mouth pucker. ‘Who?’
Compton exchanged a word with Chang Lou-si before turning back to Neel. ‘Listen, Ah Neel: again I say this just to you la? Many people here say that one from Hindusthan must be arrested also. Almost all opium come from there, ne? Without them opium cannot come. They too must be stopped. Best way is to hold up one Hindusthani so others can take warning. Houh-chih with Dent.’
‘And who are you thinking of?’
‘Can be only one man, ne? Leader of Canton Achhas.’
Neel was surprised to find that his throat had gone dry; he had to take another sip of his