Sword in Sheath by Andre Norton Read Free Book Online Page A

weight, history. Will the House of Norreys act for me?”
    Lorens shuffled through the papers and regarded the opal lizard thoughtfully. “I can promise no sure sale — ”
    “Who can in this world? But if Norreys will accept the commission, then am I sure of fair dealing.”
    “All right, Lao, I’ll do my best for you.”
    The Chinese showed no elation. He rewrapped his treasure in its covering, and having put it aside, he set before van Norreys three bracelets intricately fashioned of silver and set with stones which Kane was unable to identify even when Lorens handed him one of the pieces to examine.
    “Your price?” And Netherlander and Chinese fell to bargaining.
    Kane turned to Sam. “What is this, anyway?”
    The Nisei squinted at the setting and tried it with his thumbnail. “Black coral — peculiar to these waters. Odd-looking stuff, isn't it? But, boy, that skeleton —that's really something! Bet a fortune will change hands over that! Like to have it myself if I could afford that sort of a paperweight.”
    “Safield might. Wonder if Lao could give us a tip on the lower islands. Wait until Lorens gets through with his shopping, and we'll ask”
    But when questioned the Chinese could give them no news.
    “It is true that a man might be cast away on some forgotten island and never be found again. Many times has it happened, and nowadays there is much confusion in those seas. But I have heard nothing from those who come to trade, nothing which might be of assistance to you. Trade — “ his attention flickered from Kane to Lorens — “trade has not been so good of late.”
    “Is that so, my friend? And you have a reason, perhaps, for its failure?”
    Lao sipped his tea When he put down his bowl it was to smile politely at the three of them.
    “Trade ebbs and flows. It is the tide which comes to cover the mud flats of a man's thin purse. You are visiting other friends of your esteemed grandfather?”
    “Those I can find — yes.”
    “You will be able to discover the honorable Abdul Hakroun still in business.”
    “That is good hearing.”
    Kane watched Lorens and the trader narrowly. In that exchange of bland sentences information had been asked for and given. And he intended to be let in on the secret as soon as possible.
    But Lorens didn't keep the secret long. “So that's it,” he muttered as they came out of Lao's shop. “Abdul Hakroun is abroad — ”
    “I don't care to appear unduly stupid,” cut in Sam, “but just who is Abdul Hakroun?”
    The half smile Kane had learned to watch for quirkedLorens’ lips.
    “Some men in these latitudes would tell you — quite seriously — that Abdul Hakroun is the Devil. I would hesitate before going so far as to state that. But he does — as you Americans so aptly say — have a finger in every pie up and down the Indies. A very shrewd and clever gentleman As far as I have ever heard he was only bested once in a bargain. But, of course, any man who would go up against Datu Cooms was asking for failure — ”
    “Datu Cooms — the former owner of the opal lizard?” inquired Kane.
    “The same. He is one of the legends of these parts. According to the most reliable account he was first mate of a Confederate commerce raider starting a cruise in these waters just as your War Between the States came to an end. Cooms chose to remain in this part of the world and drifted to the Sulus. He turned Mohammedan after a time and won the favor of the current sultan, to whom he became a sort of military and naval adviser. The Moros were, as you have doubtles heard, in a constant state of rebellion against their Spanish overlords. Cooms was highly successful and was able to cut out an island kingdom of his own. He lived to be an old man, but to the end of his life he was a fighter few cared to dispute. Abdul Hakroun had a trading war with him once — I believe that there was a pearl fishery in question — and lost.
    “Rumor says that Abdul is of the old line