And why not? he almost sang. Married next week to the most beautiful girl ever, Mother finessed flawlessly--I can't wait to see her face-- I've a party tonight that now will really be a celebration, and Norbert's back in perfect time to be sent onwards to meet his Maker, "Ayeeyah!"

Jovially he greeted and waved at those who passed by. He was popular as well as pitied, respected as tai-pan of the Noble House, and envied even more as the adored husband-to-be of the Settlement's darling.

The sun broke through the clouds to match his mood, set the sea sparkling, while the fleet sorted itself out in the bay, Sir William's tender rowing out to the flagship, the mail ship clustered with other tenders. Their own merchantman, Lady Tess, which plied between Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, then all the major ports home to London and back again, was prepared for sea, outward bound this evening.

Her captain would do, he thought, Lavidarc Smith, big and blustery, many years with Struan's like most of our captains but I've never liked him much, I'd rather have had old Uncle Sheely to marry and bless us. Pity I didn't know what I know now when he was here.

Never mind. Joss! Anyway I can't keep Lavidarc here and even tomorrow would be impossible, have to deal with Norbert first.

What about Vincent Strongbow, off Prancing Cloud? She arrives Sunday and turns around for Hong Kong Wednesday. That gives me plenty of time to kill Norbert and slip aboard her before Sir William creases me. I mustn't be delayed here, far safer to be in Hong Kong where we've real power and Angel... my wife by then... she can follow in two or three weeks.

So, everything decided. And Heavenly's right again: I must be very careful and not tell anyone, not even Angel, until just before. I can trust him, he's sworn to secrecy and his fee will be spread over the year which will ensure I have his devotion.

Ayeeyah, five thousand! Never mind, he's given me the answer, he's really done it!

Thank God!

Another decision: I'm going to cut down on the medicine, even try to cut it out altogether. I've a duty to Angel to get well and be strong without props. And be fit to take over the Noble House. With Angel beside me, I can...

Horses trotting past dispelled his reverie.

He waved at the riders and saw that he was near the church, sun on the steeple, the smell of the sea and horses and earth and life in his nostrils. In sudden gratitude he began to go in to say a prayer of thanks when he noticed their steam launch heading for their wharf, Jamie in the stern, his head deep in a newspaper, and that reminded him of mail. He changed direction and was at the wharf head just before she came alongside.

"Jamie!" he called out above the noise of the engine and waved as she nosed against the timbers, heavy with seaweed and barnacles. He saw Jamie squint against the wind, then wave back.

One look at his face was enough. "I'll come aboard."

Awkwardly he stepped on deck, difficult to walk on a sloping surface with two canes, but he maneuvered his way aft and allowed Jamie to catch his arm and help him down the three steps into the cabin. The cabin was spacious and private, with benches around a sea table, lockers underneath them. On the table was the mail, in neat bundles, separated into letters, newspapers, magazines and books. At once he saw a letter from his mother atop his pile, her writing so distinctive.

Another letter from her to Jamie was already open on the table.

"I'm, I'm glad to see you, Tai-pan."

"What's up now?"

"Here, read my letter for yourself."

For your information my son may not marry until he has attained his majority, under any circumstance. I have already informed Reverend Michaelmas Tweet, Sir William (by this post), and made a careful announcement in this day's Oriental Times (enclosed). Also to all our captains of all our ships plying to and from your waters have been so informed and have ordered them to spread this information, and also advised Admiral Ketterer (by this post) in case a captain's ceremony tempts him. What my son does after his 21st birthday is of course up to him.

Until that time, before God, I will protect his interests and ours as best I can.

The air had rushed out of Malcolm's lungs and blood from his face. He ripped open his own letter. It was almost a copy of the other, except personal and addressed, My dearest son, and ended, This is really for your own good, my son. I regret to say the girl's stock is bad--we have heard officials in French Indo-China now pursue her father for fraud, you already know an Uncle is in Debtor's Prison in Paris.

If you must have her, make her a mistress, much as I disapprove, but you will only store more trouble for yourself I am sure. I of course will never meet her.

I trust I will have the pleasure of seeing you before Christmas when this sorry business can be behind us. I would write about the vile Brocks but that must be settled here and not in Yokohama. yr loving mother.

The "P.s. I love you" was there so no secret message.

Slowly he tore the letter into pieces. This control pleased him, but did not take away the fury that she had checkmated him. "That woman," he muttered, unaware he was speaking aloud, "that woman's a hag... a devil-spawned hag, a witch, how could she possibly know..."

McFay watched and waited, gravely concerned.

When he could think straight, Malcolm said.

"What's in the paper?" The article was brief: Mrs. Tess Struan, acting head of Struan's, announced today that the Noble House would host a major celebration on the occasion of the 21st birthday her eldest son, Malcolm, and his formal elevation to tai-pan on May 21/, next year.

"Well, Jamie," he said with a bitter smile. "Not much more she can do to undermine me, is there?"

"No," Jamie said, his heart going out to him.

Malcolm saw the ships and horizon and beyond that Hong Kong and the Peak and all his friends there, and enemies. Now she was atop the list. "It's funny in a way. A few moments ago I was riding a crest..." Dully he told Jamie about his great idea, about Tweet's turn-down, and all about Heavenly's marvelous scheme. "That's garbage now."

Jamie was as much in shock as Malcolm. He could not seem to get his mind working. "Perhaps, perhaps Tweet could be persuaded. Perhaps a contribution to the Ch--"

"He turned that down. So did Father Leo."

"Jesus Christ, you asked him too?"

Malcolm related that meeting, shocking Jamie even more.

"God Almighty, Tai-pan, if you're so set on it to go to those lengths... perhaps... we'll find another captain."

"Not much chance of that, Jamie. Anyway Heavenly stressed to keep it quiet until it was over, particularly Sir William who could forbid it as Angelique and I are under age. And if she put him on formal notice, he'll have to tell Seratard. She's won... God curse her!"

Again he put his eyes on to the horizon. In the past when a catastrophe happened, when the twins drowned for example--while she never said it directly, he always thought that she blamed him, if he'd been there somehow it would not have happened--he would feel the tears welling, like now, but would force them back and that would make the hurt worse and the sick feeling terrible. He did that because "A tai-pan never cries." She had always drummed it into him. It was the first thing he could remember her saying, "The tai-pan never cries, he's above that, he fights on, like Dirk, he never cries, he bears the burden," repeating it again and again though tears always came easily to his father.

I never realized what contempt she had for him.

She never cried, never once that I can remember.

I'm not going to cry. I will bear the burden.

I swore I'd be worthy of the tai-pan and I will. Never again will she be "mother" to me. Never.