Of all the crazy things I ever did, this has to be at the top of the list.
Bodie didn’t question why he was doing it. He already knew the answer. Because he had agreed to do it and whatever bad traits he might have possessed, going back on his word was not one of them.
So you can’t blame a damn soul ’cept yourself.
Even with that said it failed to it make him feel any better.
He took his horse and tethered it in the stable. Took his blanket roll and canteen. He left his Winchester, kept his handgun and the sheathed knife. He left the silent house behind as he walked south, heading in the direction of the coast and the bay Butler had told about.
Bodie, you’re going to look one damn fool if that ship has sailed.
He set a steady pace, easing through the brush and timber. The darkness was eased by a good moon that laid a pale light over the way. Bodie didn’t rush. If Butler’s information was correct he had until daylight at least.
~*~
The bay lay calm and smooth, gleaming under the moonlight. The water broke gently against the sandy beach that extended some twenty feet up to the treeline where Bodie crouched in shadow and studied the vessel moored some thirty feet from shore.
As The Lily Wanderer was a coastal ship, it had a reduced profile, with a shallow draft and stood low in the water. Bodie saw lamps lit, strung along the deck. More lamplight shining through the windows of the cabin structure.
Bodie wrapped his blankets around his shoulders. Leaned back against a tree. He would wait until it started to get light. Best time to make his move while the crew was still resting. The early hours when a man’s responses were at their lowest.
He let his eyes rest. His mind going over the events that had taken place since his arrival in San Francisco.
He had located Jasmine Soong. But at a cost.
Henry Lee was dead.
So was the old Chinese – Li Hung.
Two more to add to his conscience. Dead because they had been helping Bodie. He wouldn’t forget that.
Kwai Fu Tung had plenty to answer for.
Bodie gripped the butt of his Colt. Slid the pistol clear of the holster and felt the cold steel of the weapon. That would change when he started to use it. Then it would grow hot. Warmed by the slugs that would course along the barrel when he faced Tung’s soldiers and took Jasmine Soong from them.
He sat out the long hours with the patience born of his trade. Waiting was part of his business. In the heat of the desert. The chill of a mountain slope.
Watching.
Waiting.
Patient as he let his quarry come to him.
Bodie.
The Stalker…
~*~
He saw the early dawn. Let the light creep in and drive away the deep shadows. Bodie slipped off his coat and hat. Pushed them out of sight in the foliage along with his gun rig. He kept his Colt. He moved before full light, moving along the shore until he was a distance from the ship before he eased into the water, feeling the chill soak through his clothing.
He was no great swimmer but knew enough to keep himself afloat, the Colt in his right hand held clear of the water. He judged there was about sixty feet between him and The Lily Wanderer. Distance enough. It was helpful the bay kept the water calm, with little in the way of surges.
He kept the ship on his right, coming up at the stern. More than once he paused to check the deck. He spotted movement halfway along the length as a crewman moved briefly. Apart from that there was little activity.
He was breathing hard by the time he reached the stern, and pressed up against the hull. He was able to reach up and grasp the rail edging the deck. Pulling himself up out of the water Bodie peered through the rails and took a long, slow look across the deck. The single sail was furled. The open aspect of the deck showed the raised covers of the hold, then further along the outline of the cabin structure. Lamplight showed through the windows.
Bodie was checking to see if he could see any signs of movement on deck. Tung was sure to have some kind of security on board. Keeping Jasmine Soong as a hostage the Tong Master needed to keep her secure and out of sight so there would no doubt be some form of protection. Bodie would have preferred to know just how many people were on board. A single young woman wouldn’t need an army to keep her subdued.
At least he hoped not.
Movement along the deck caught his attention. Bodie peered into the gloom and was rewarded as a lone figure came into sight. A single man.
Chinese.
Clad in black.
Bodie spotted the rifle he carried cradled in his arms. If he was able to get his hands on that it would be a help. He watched the sentry move towards the stern and lowered himself until only his eyes were visible along the base of the stern rail. The Chinese paced to within a few feet of the rail and Bodie saw he was looking out across the bay, his eyes focused on the shoreline as the light of early dawn extended itself. Nothing caught his attention and he turned about and looked along the length of the deck. Bodie picked up the low murmur of the man’s voice as he talked to himself. Then he started moving again, away from Bodie. He didn’t appear to be in any kind of hurry, stopping every now and again, head turning left and right.
Bodie used his arms to pull himself up the stern, reaching for the top of the rail. He secured a hold with his feet, hauled himself over the stern rail and placed himself on the deck. He knew he had to make his next move quickly and without hesitation. If the Chinese realized he was there the rifle he carried was going to make one hell of a difference. And Bodie’s knife needed to be up close before it could be effective.
He tucked the Colt behind his belt and drew the knife from the sheath, gripping the handle, and stepped away from the rail. As quiet as he was Bodie’s movement and the drip of water from his clothes reached the keen ears of the Chinese. He turned, taking in the drenched, tall American, and swung the rifle from rest into his hands.
Bodie launched himself forward, his attempt at caution forgotten. His right arm extended, the heavy bladed knife snapping forward to reach and impale itself in the man’s throat. With all of Bodie’s strength behind it the blade slid in up to the hilt, Bodie twisting it to expand the wound. The Chinese had no chance to even call out as the razor-sharp blade cut through everything in its path. Blood bubbled from the wound, spilling down his tunic as he stumbled back, the rifle snatched from his hands as the manhunter let go the knife and took possession of the weapon. He saw it was a new .44-40 Winchester. Bodie worked the lever and saw a shiny cartridge spring from the port. The Chinese had dropped to the deck, his limbs jerking as he struggled for breath that was never going to come. As he stepped over the man, crouching, Bodie grasped the knife and pulled it free, sliding it back into the sheath on his belt.
A shrill cry alerted him and, still bent over the dying Chinese, Bodie saw a dark-clad figure erupt from behind the cabin housing, clawing at a revolver pushed behind the wide cloth sash around his waist.
The Winchester arced up. In Bodie’s capable hands the rifle tracked the moving man. It hammered out a shot, the slug finding its target in the man’s chest and the running Chinese suddenly twisted, hit the deck rail at his side and toppled over. He hit the water and sank amid a flurry of bubbles tinged with red.
As Bodie levered a fresh round into the breech he heard a door crash as it was flung open. He dropped to his knees behind the first cargo hatch cover he reached, seeing a couple more Chinese appear. They were shouting orders to each other as they spilled out onto the deck. Both were armed with rifles similar to the one Bodie had got his hands on. He shouldered the Winchester, aimed and fired, catching the first man in the shoulder; the slug cored its way through and out in a spurt of red, leaving the Chinese reeling from the impact and the sudden pain. Bodie re-aimed and put a second slug into the man, aware that a wounded adversary could still have the strength and purpose to fight on. His second .44-40 slammed in between the target’s eyes and he toppled backwards. The sound of a shot came from the second Chinese, who managed to blow a chunk of wood from the lip of the hatch cover inches from Bodie. He felt the sting of splinters as he ducked, scooted to the far side of the hatch before rising on one knee and catching the Chinese as the man cleared the end of the cabin structure, the muzzle of his rifle searching for the American. Bodie put three fast shots into the man’s chest, flinging him back and dropping him to the deck, the rifle slipping from dead hands and sliding across the deck.
Knowing how matters could change quickly Bodie broke cover, reached the shelter of the cabin housing. He flattened against the corner. He could hear rapid chatter as additional reinforcements made their move. He slid to a low crouch, leaned around the corner of the cabin and met the rush of figures head on. The Chinese came at him, accompanied by a chorus of screams and yells, a number of them brandishing swords and knives. Bodie concentrated on the ones carrying guns. Bodie fired and levered, repeating the action over and over, sending a heavy volley at the men scrambling along the deck. His slugs found their targets, the Chinese suddenly finding their mass attack had done little save place them as unwilling victims falling into Bodie’s concentrated strike. They were facing a man who had dealt with strong odds before, and if there was one thing Bodie had learned it was to hold his nerve and not back down.
The rush broke, the Chinese stepping back, giving Bodie the opportunity to reach and pick up a discarded rifle. He threw aside the one he’d been using and brought his new weapon into play, scattering the remaining Chinese with well-placed shots that hammered them to the deck.
Powder smoke drifted away as Bodie moved forward, stepping by the bodies. He saw a fallen pistol and scooped it up to tuck in his belt. He peered in through windows as he passed. The interior of the main cabin appeared empty, but Bodie moved on with caution uppermost in his mind. It didn’t do to accept a situation on first glanced. When he reached the door the Chinese had emerged from he edged it wide with his foot, the muzzle of the Winchester probing ahead. The inside of the cabin was empty, with a door at the end leading further into the ship. He figured there would be crew cabins ahead.
At the door Bodie leaned the rifle against the bulkhead and took out the pistol he’d picked up, leaving his own Colt in place. His acquired weapon was a long barreled Colt Peacemaker. Bodie dropped and pushed the handgun forward, firing at the moving shape along the companionway. He was rewarded by a stunned grunt. The shape came forward, hit but still able to move. Bodie raised the Colt and triggered a second shot. The Chinese straightened up, throwing his arms wide as he took the slug, then tumbled as his legs gave way. Moving forward Bodie bent and picked up the revolver the Chinese had dropped. Now he had a third handgun.
A female voice cried out from behind the door of one of the cabins. Bodie picked up the sound of a struggle. Someone slammed against the cabin door. The upper wood panel split and the door swung wide.
A slim, attractive and black-haired Chinese young woman cleared the door, stumbling as she did.
‘Stay down,’ Bodie yelled and to her credit she flattened to the deck.
Bodie had seen an armed man behind her. Chinese. Wielding a long-barreled shotgun.
The man saw Bodie.
He brought the barrel of the shotgun round. The weapon hit the doorframe and the Chinese pulled it back to readjust his aim.
Bodie raised both pistols and fired a number of shots that hit the Chinese in the chest. He staggered back across the cabin, bloody holes spurting blood, then crashed to the deck in a squirming sprawl.
‘Any others in there?’ Bodie said.
The girl brushed hair back from her face, giving Bodie a long stare.
‘No,’ she said.
‘Good. Now let’s get out of here.’
Bodie pushed one of the revolvers behind his belt and reached down to help her to her feet.
‘Tell me something, Mister…?’
‘Bodie.’
‘Do you do this kind of thing often?’
‘Has been known.’
Bodie led the way to the deck, skirting the Chinese stretched out across the deck, the girl staying close behind him. He heard her gasp when she saw the bodies.
‘I can see, Mr. Bodie, you were not far from telling the truth.’
Bodie scanned the open deck, his pistol cocked and raised. Nothing. He could hear the water lapping against the side of the ship. Catch the creak of the mast and rigging.
‘Are we waiting for something?’ Jasmine asked. Then added, ‘And how do you know my name? I don’t know who you are?’
‘Ruby Keoh asked me to help. Lawyer Bainbridge had a hand in it too. And I’m sure your father’s in there somewhere.’
‘You know Ruby?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Her hand touched his sleeve. ‘I am forgetting my manners, Mr. Bodie. Thank you for rescuing me from these terrible people.’
‘Thank me later. We need to get away from here. I have a feeling Tung isn’t going to be a happy man when he finds out what happened here.’
‘You believe he might…?’
The question remained unanswered as a slug thudded into the deck rail a foot away from where they were standing. Splinters flew into the air. Bodie grabbed Jasmine’s arm, dragged her the length of the cabin and around the far end where they at least some cover from whoever was shooting at them.
From the not too distant shoreline, Bodie guessed from the trajectory of the slug.
More of Tung’s hired guns. Butler had said there might be more of them in the area.
His eyes picked up movement. Saw armed figures slide a small rowboat from cover in the foliage and drag it to the water. They launched it and began to move it towards The Lily Wanderer.
They hunkered down. Bodie checked his weapons. Three loads in one, two in the other. He transferred the loads to one pistol. Threw the empty one over the side. He still had his own weapon holding six loads.
He could feel Jasmine’s fingers clutching at his sleeve.
‘What do we do now? I don’t suppose you know how to sail a boat?’ she said.
‘No. But I know how to make one burn.’