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

of Sulu sultans, and his power hereabouts is unquestioned. Apparently even the Japanese dared not interfere with him. And so now he's busy again, is he? I wonder — ”
    Abruptly Lorens turned and started back along the wharf at a pace which caught the Americans napping. He headed for the place where the ship's boat which had brought them ashore was still tied up.
    “Give,” panted Kane as he caught up. “What's the trouble?”

    “If it is as I now think, it is trouble! Hakroun or his agents may wish to keep other traders out of the southern waters for a while. The Sumba is the first independent trader to sail for the Banda region —”
    “You mean that this Hakroun guy may be behind the Guru joke?” asked Sam. “But what would be his object — he can't hope to keep traders out indefinitely. Unless he has a Hitler complex. What reason —”
    “I can think of at least four. But van Bleeker must know of this. Do you wish to return to the Sumba with me or remain here?”
    “Oh, we'll tag along.” Kane dropped into the boat. “You have me kind of interested in this Hakroua I don't like Hitlers — tin pot or otherwise.”
    They found van Bleeker in his own cabin, a ledger spread open on his desk, a scowl twisting his sun-bleached eyebrows.
    “Freeing one's self from ghost troubles is a costly business,” he greeted them. “If I find our so humorous stowaway he shall speedily wish that he had never arrived to encumber the earth! Shillings and dollars — !” He slammed shut the ledger and settled back in his chair.
    “And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, gentlemen? Has my bosun run amuck or are there leaks below the waterline? For all calamities I am now ready and prepared.”
    “Abdul Hakroun is in business again — and flourishing.” Lorens doubled one long leg under him in what appeared a most uncomfortable position on the settee.
    Van Bleeker did not answer at once. Instead he pulled open a metal-lined box and chose with great care one of the strong black cigars which he delighted in and which his present companions had all refused in turn to try.
    “Perhaps” — he clicked the wheel of an old lighter — “I had better at once declare myself bankrupt. Why, tell me truthfully, should I stand a voyage south and work myweary bones to the grave now? When Hakroun is abroad it is wise for the honest man to take cover. What devilment is he engaged in at present?”
    “I don't know. Lao told me only that he was busy — but it can't be good — ”
    Van Bleeker threw up his hands. “When was Hakroun's business ever good — for the other fellow? But it must be something big — very big — to bring the old man out these days. He must be near to a hundred years old. And he retired — when was it? Back in ‘36 or ‘37 sometime.”
    “Retired? His breed never retire. But you are right, he must have something big in hand, or Lao wouldn't have hinted it to me.”
    “You trust Lao?”
    “I trust Lao because he just engaged the House to do some work for him. If it wasn't for that I don't think he would have spoken — you may depend upon it.”
    The captain drew deeply on his cigar. “Could it be Cooms’ treasure?”
    Lorens laughed. “That will-o'-the-wisp? If Cooms ever had a treasure it was scattered to the four seas long ago. In fact, I think we were looking at a good bit of it not an hour ago. No, I can't picture Hakroun hunting treasure, even in a senile decline — he has a liking for certainties.”
    “I don't know,” van Bleeker disagreed. “Hakroun lost that pearling war with the Datu, and he lost face over it — lost it so badly that half the Indies dared to laugh at him — for a while. If he could produce Cooms’ fabled hoard now — Well, in a way it would be regaining something he wants even more than rupees. ‘Face’ means a lot, more than we can guess.”
    But Lorens still shook his head. “No, I don't believe that it's treasure. But he must have something in line.