The Left Hand of God Page #4

I see what you mean. You may be

right. Thanks for the suggestion.

Mr Marvin may be able to

solve some of my difficulties.

But do you think it's possible Yang could have

cut the road across the mountains to the mission?

He hasn't bothered it before. Father

Coleman made the journey once.

Mr Marvin visited here.

I'm sure you won't have any trouble.

I seem to attract trouble, don't I?

Well, we all do.

It is a bright moon, isn't it?

Good night, Father.

You know, I worked very closely with your

people in Ning-po during the war, Father O'Shea.

There were French and

Belgian priests down there

and one Irish

priest I'll never forget.

How long have you been in China?

We're a small establishment here.

I don't think we've entirely failed.

Our people are deeply loyal.

Our people won't leave us either

if we've run out of rice.

I guess I deserved that.

A bit competitive, wasn't I?

A bit.

I haven't any right to

compete with you, Mr Marvin.

I don't understand, Father O'Shea.

Well, I mean that's not my name

and I'm not a priest.

Well... who are you, then?

I'm a former pilot.

My name is James Carmody.

I was badly hurt three years ago when

I crashed in a DC-3 flying the Hump.

I was picked up in the mountains

by a warlord named Mieh Yang.

I went to work for him.

It wasn't a set-up I was happy with.

I was supposed to be his second

in command but I was his prisoner.

That shot was from

our scouting party.

Come on!

Who shot him?

Who knows, Captain? Shen Fu

rode into the village alone.

I tried to question him.

There was a shot.

You heard my orders.

I said no shooting.

When I give an order,

I expect it to be obeyed.

Put the Shen Fu on a litter.

Yang's headquarters was an old

Buddhist lamasery in the mountains.

He'd even imported a girl from

Chungking to keep me happy.

Have Jan Teng look at his wounds.

It's so dull here when you're gone.

You know, you should

have stayed in Chungking.

Why?

Well, it isn't dull there,

and it's 20 days nearer the coast.

Are you so tired of China?

It's not only China.

Three years I've been

running Yang's tin army.

You'd get tired of

anything in three years.

Poor Carmody.

Other men would envy what you have.

What, this?

You can buy this stuff at auction.

Could I be bought at auction, too?

Yeah. You could if they

were selling calendars.

Why do you stay here if you hated so?

Stay? How do I get out of here?

This is the greatest

prison in the world.

Sure, the accommodations on nice,

but out there's thousands of miles

desert and mountains and

no way to cross them without

a passport from Yang.

I'll hold the fort.

He likes his boys punctual.

So do I, Carmody.

Hello, Jimmy, still healthy?

Still healthy, Yang.

What did you find?

The report was true,

there was a scientific expedition -

mapping or exploring.

Mao Tsu's men wiped them out.

And the loot?

- Some binoculars. Half a dozen automatics, one of them Japanese.

Some sheep-lined coats, medical supplies

and canned goods. I had an inventory made.

You did well.

Pay-day.

One roll or three?

- One.

Beat three fives.

I weep for you, Jimmy.

Yeah. You paid me double last time.

For the gold trousers of Mary Yin?

You'll have to shoot dice

with Mary Yin for that.

Perhaps I will some day.

Anything else?

Yes.

Pao Ching a priest in one of the villages.

An American, I had been brought here.

Missionary? That's unfortunate.

Is the still alive?

Shooting a priest isn't smart,

Suppose there's an investigation?

By whom?

No, but I think you're right,

I think the offence is serious.

I shall find him 600 yen.

For shooting a priest?

Too high? I'd make it 300 yen

if he were not an American.

After all, and a graduate of one of your

universities. I think 600 yen is a fair price.

Of course it would

be awkward if Shen Fu lives.

Why?

Why? You know we can't

afford survivors, Jimmy.

Besides, you were

a little harsh with Pao Ching.

It isn't diplomatic, Jimmy,

for you to whip a Chinese.

He disobeyed orders.

Whose orders?

Mine.

I give the orders, Jimmy.

The important ones.

Why argue?

We'll see to it that our clerical

friend gets to heaven

a little sooner than expected.

And you'll apologise

to Pao Ching in the morning.

I think you'll have to get

yourself another boy, Yang.

This a joke?

Yes, a Chinese joke. I want out.

Out? You know I never

accept resignations, Jimmy.

The priest concerned you?!

I haven't been in church

since I was an altar boy.

Then why?

Look, Yang. Three years ago

you pick me out of a DC-3

and had Jan Teng patched up what

was left of me. You gave me a job.

Military adviser, tax collector.

Number-one boy.

Well, I paid you back.

I'm tired of this tea house!

I quit!

Jimmy!

The Priest of Christ

is dead, Excellency.

We quarrelled for nothing.

Came all this way to do good.

Some stupid greasy peasant with

a gun that never did anything

but feed his own gut killed him.

Sick of the whole stinking mess.

Only his body died.

It is his soul a man must save.

I'd gamble the soul if I

could get the body out alive.

Every man finds his own path.

It's 72 days to the coast,

that's a difficult path to find.

Trade caravans make the journey.

No trader would take me

without Yang's permission.

If I try to go it alone every gun in

the hills would be turned against me.

It is a great pity the priest of

Christ did not get to his mission.

It's only a week's journey

across the mountains.

Having been punished, the hill man would be afraid

to harm another priest. Such a man would be safe.

Yes.

For a time.

It is said that the caravans

which go to the coast stop there,

at the mission.

Good night, Carmody.

So there was my choice.

I could stay as Yang's bully-boy,

or take the long shot

and try for the mission.

I decided to try for the mission.

It's an incredible story, Carmody.

A scandal that touches any

mission in China hurts all of us.

It's dangerous for the mission

if Yang knows that you're there.

That's why I wanted to get away.

I'm afraid you can't escape the

consequences of your actions.

Since you've offended against the church, you

must inform the mission authorities at once.

Now I can give you the name of

your bishop if you don't know it.

I'd suggest you write him a letter,

I'll dispatch it for you.

I have a courier service to Sinkiang.

You don't understand,

I don't want to write a letter.

I want to go with

the courier in person.

Well, that's that, I guess.

Since you choose to

save your own skin...

Oh, it isn't a question

of saving my own skin.

There's the girl and her nurse.

I, well, I can't go

back to the mission.

I've taken this collar off and

I'm not going to put it back on.

Father O'Shea is dead,

the masquerade is over.

From now on in I'm James Carmody.

Come in.

Excuse me, sir, for intruding.

What is it?

- This gentleman, sir, has news.

Allah be with thee.

It is Mieh Yang, Shen Fu.

He's marching across the mountains.

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