Page 62 - Brokenclaw - John Gardner

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‘Now, Tony, since I have introduced my people, perhaps you will introduce

your daughter.’
Her father hesitated, so Wanda herself stepped forward. ‘My name is Wanda
Man Song Hing,’ she said, summoning all the deference she could command.
Then quite without knowing why, she
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabledadded, ‘It is an honour to meet you.’ James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
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He smiled down at her and offered a huge hand which took hers and held it
in not so much a handshake as a caress.
Then quite suddenly, he stopped smiling. Still looking at Wanda, and keeping
his voice down he asked, ‘Tony, have you brought my money? You were to

bring it tonight.’
‘No, sir.’ Wanda could hear the surge of terror behind the words from her
father. Then he repeated, ‘No, sir. But I have brought something more precious
than any money.’
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‘Oh. Pray what?’
‘My daughter, sir. I have brought you my daughter, Wanda.’
‘Really? And what has Wanda to say about this?’
His voice was always calm, soothing, making her think of the purring of a

cat. ‘I am a good Chinese girl, sir,’ she again heard herself say. ‘I obey my
father in all things.’
‘And you come here of your own free will?’
‘I do. But I must tell you that others have claim on my time.’

‘What kind of claim?’ Reasonable, relaxed.
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‘I am an officer in the United States Navy.’
‘That’s even more interesting. So, when do you return to your duties, which
would, of course, take you from the orbit of your father’s commands and

influence?’
‘I have a ten-day furlough, sir. After that, I am free for one day a week and
one entire weekend in every four.’ She kept her eyes raised towards Lee’s
proud features.

‘Well,’ he smiled down at her. ‘I think we can arrange matters so that your
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naval duties will not interfere with your status as a gift to me.’ He let go of her
hand and stepped to one side, standing directly in front of her father. ‘You
appear to have done very well in bringing me your daughter, Tony Man Song

Hing. For the moment, I shall suspend judgment on the question of your
financial debt. Be here again at midnight in exactly ten days and I shall give
you my complete verdict then. After I have sampled what your daughter has to

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