"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 081 - The Fate Joss" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

presence of Yat Soon, the arbiter of Chinatown.

Old friends: The Shadow and Yat Soon. Both believed in justice; each had his way of gaining it. The
Shadow, by open battle against men of crime; Yat Soon, through judicial decisions that he rendered to
disputing factions within the borders of Chinese influence.

Evidently Yat Soon had expected this black-cloaked visitor; for the arbiter's greeting, delivered in perfect
English, was one of quiet dignity. Viewing The Shadow, Yat Soon could see no features other than a pair
of gleaming eyes, for The Shadow's hat brim obscured the upper portion of his visage, while the folds of
his cloak collar covered his chin.

Yat Soon, however, was accustomed to see this visitor garbed in such fashion. He expressed no
curiosity.

Instead, he bowed profoundly as The Shadow spoke in reply. Uttering words in the Chinese tongue, The
Shadow was returning salutations. His voice continued in singsong fashion, as he explained the purpose
of his visit. From beneath his cloak, he drew forth a folded sheet of rice paper; with gloved hand, he
extended it to Yat Soon.

Soberly, the arbiter read a message that consisted entirely of Chinese characters. His perusal ended, Yat
Soon spoke.

"HONORED friend," he said, in English, "you tell me that this letter has reached you through the Chinese
general, Cho Tsing. We were friends in China, Cho Tsing and I, in the days when he was governor of the
ancient province of Jehol.

"It is apparent that you are his friend as well. You, whom he addresses as Ying Ko, which means The
Shadow. For he requests that you regain the Fate Joss that was stolen from the temple of Je Ho. As Cho
Tsing had said, that ancient temple has long been closed. It would be well, could he reopen it for those
who have made such request. But without the Fate Joss, he cannot do so. There are those who would
believe that Cho Tsing himself had stolen the Fate Joss."

A pause. The Shadow put a question in Chinese. Yat Soon nodded and spoke blandly.

"Many Chinese," he stated, "have heard it said that the Fate Joss is here in America. That is why they
speak among themselves, those whom you may pass upon the street. They say: 'The Fate Joss is
powerful; the Fate Joss can be carried nowhere against his own will'; that, indeed, is their belief."

Once more, The Shadow spoke. Yat Soon listened to a statement; then repeated it in English as he gave
his explanation:

"You say that the Fate Joss has been stolen from China," remarked the arbiter. "It is true that the Fate
Joss has been removed from the temple of Je Ho and brought to America. But the man who took itтАФ
whether bad or goodтАФwas but an instrument of the Joss itself.

"That, honored friend, is the belief. It may seem strange, perhaps, to believe that a huge statue of bronze
and gold can will its own destiny, yet those who honor the Fate Joss do so believe. I, as an arbiter, can
do no more than concede to their wishes in this case."

The Shadow spoke. Yat Soon showed the slightest flicker of a smile. The Chinaman bowed his head in