Read Online The Adventures of Gravedigger by Barry Reese - Free Book Online
Authors: Barry Reese
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forward, right onto
the end of her upturned blade. She gave it a hard twist and pulled it back,
drawing his mummified intestines with it.
There was a moment of regret, where Charity wished
that she had kept one of them for questioning. She quickly dismissed the
feeling, however. She knew that they were somehow linked to Meeks and she doubted
that they would have told her more than that.
After cleaning her blade with a small cloth that she
carried just for that purpose, Gravedigger exited the scene. She had to trust
Li to do her job – and with any luck, she’d be that much closer to finding her
prey.
***
From the shadows, Mr. Black watched in silence. He
had expected the ninja to fail in their mission… indeed, their primary purpose
was simply to engage Gravedigger so that he could see her in action. She wasn’t
the equal of Goldstein at this point but she had a natural ability that
surpassed the Jew’s.
Knowing that all of his plans were now threatened,
the dark messenger of beyond blended into the darkness around him, vanishing
completely.
Chapter VII: Roll the Bones
Bingweng stood behind a crowded counter, stroking
his long white beard. He said nothing as Li sauntered about, pretending to look
at the many odd items on his store’s shelves. It wasn’t until she turned to
look at him, a bright smile on her pretty face, that he spoke up.
“Li Yuchun,” he said. “You do me an honor by your
presence.” He bowed politely.
Clasping her hands behind her back, Li approached
the counter. “You’re too sweet.”
“If you are here inquiring about work, I have none
for you.”
Li adopted a pouting expression. Though she liked
to think of herself as something akin to the Japanese Geisha girls, she was
more to the point a prostitute. She did not always service her clients sexually
but they certainly paid for her attentions, in some cases simply desiring a
beautiful woman to be seen on their premises or with them at social events.
“But Mr. Bingweng, surely there’s something I can do for you… Would you like me
to massage your shoulders? Or I could stand out front for you and bring in
customers?”
“That is not necessary. My customers do not visit
here because of pretty girls.” Bingweng eyed her suspiciously. “You know this…
just as you know that I am too old to desire your flesh. So why are you here?
What game are you playing, girl?”
Looking defeated, Li sighed and lowered her voice.
“You are too wise for me, elder. I should not have even attempted to fool you.”
Bingweng grunted. “Tell me what you are after.”
“I am looking for a Laowai who owes me
money,” she said confidentially, using the Mandarin word for foreigner. “He
came through here not long ago and we spent a pleasant evening together. When
he left the next morning, I learned that he had not paid me my wages.”
The old man clucked his tongue in disbelief. His
lips formed into a frown. “So many Americans are like that,” he said, his body
language suggesting that he was shifting from a wary stance to one of sympathy.
“They come here and take, take, take! They think us fools.” Bingweng looked up
suddenly. “But why are you here?”
“You know this man and I thought you might know
where I could find him. He has come to your shop in the past.”
Bingwen stiffened. “His name?”
“It’s that man who’s in the papers today – Meeks.
Arthur Meeks.”
“I have not seen him!” he replied hotly. “Now you
must go!”
Li blinked in surprise. The old man was known to
have a temper but he had shifted so abruptly that she was taken aback. “Did I
offend you? If I did…”
“Go!” he bellowed, hurrying around the counter. He
literally shoved her towards the door. “And do not come back here again! I know
nothing of this man!”
A moment later, Li was on the street outside the
shop, hands on hips. She’d certainly struck a nerve, hadn’t she?
Suddenly grinning, Li glanced around and
the end of her upturned blade. She gave it a hard twist and pulled it back,
drawing his mummified intestines with it.
There was a moment of regret, where Charity wished
that she had kept one of them for questioning. She quickly dismissed the
feeling, however. She knew that they were somehow linked to Meeks and she doubted
that they would have told her more than that.
After cleaning her blade with a small cloth that she
carried just for that purpose, Gravedigger exited the scene. She had to trust
Li to do her job – and with any luck, she’d be that much closer to finding her
prey.
***
From the shadows, Mr. Black watched in silence. He
had expected the ninja to fail in their mission… indeed, their primary purpose
was simply to engage Gravedigger so that he could see her in action. She wasn’t
the equal of Goldstein at this point but she had a natural ability that
surpassed the Jew’s.
Knowing that all of his plans were now threatened,
the dark messenger of beyond blended into the darkness around him, vanishing
completely.
Chapter VII: Roll the Bones
Bingweng stood behind a crowded counter, stroking
his long white beard. He said nothing as Li sauntered about, pretending to look
at the many odd items on his store’s shelves. It wasn’t until she turned to
look at him, a bright smile on her pretty face, that he spoke up.
“Li Yuchun,” he said. “You do me an honor by your
presence.” He bowed politely.
Clasping her hands behind her back, Li approached
the counter. “You’re too sweet.”
“If you are here inquiring about work, I have none
for you.”
Li adopted a pouting expression. Though she liked
to think of herself as something akin to the Japanese Geisha girls, she was
more to the point a prostitute. She did not always service her clients sexually
but they certainly paid for her attentions, in some cases simply desiring a
beautiful woman to be seen on their premises or with them at social events.
“But Mr. Bingweng, surely there’s something I can do for you… Would you like me
to massage your shoulders? Or I could stand out front for you and bring in
customers?”
“That is not necessary. My customers do not visit
here because of pretty girls.” Bingweng eyed her suspiciously. “You know this…
just as you know that I am too old to desire your flesh. So why are you here?
What game are you playing, girl?”
Looking defeated, Li sighed and lowered her voice.
“You are too wise for me, elder. I should not have even attempted to fool you.”
Bingweng grunted. “Tell me what you are after.”
“I am looking for a Laowai who owes me
money,” she said confidentially, using the Mandarin word for foreigner. “He
came through here not long ago and we spent a pleasant evening together. When
he left the next morning, I learned that he had not paid me my wages.”
The old man clucked his tongue in disbelief. His
lips formed into a frown. “So many Americans are like that,” he said, his body
language suggesting that he was shifting from a wary stance to one of sympathy.
“They come here and take, take, take! They think us fools.” Bingweng looked up
suddenly. “But why are you here?”
“You know this man and I thought you might know
where I could find him. He has come to your shop in the past.”
Bingwen stiffened. “His name?”
“It’s that man who’s in the papers today – Meeks.
Arthur Meeks.”
“I have not seen him!” he replied hotly. “Now you
must go!”
Li blinked in surprise. The old man was known to
have a temper but he had shifted so abruptly that she was taken aback. “Did I
offend you? If I did…”
“Go!” he bellowed, hurrying around the counter. He
literally shoved her towards the door. “And do not come back here again! I know
nothing of this man!”
A moment later, Li was on the street outside the
shop, hands on hips. She’d certainly struck a nerve, hadn’t she?
Suddenly grinning, Li glanced around and
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