before—he was nothing but a short man with a round face and a round head. In her own village there were several people like him, except that they were darker and more sunburned.
Chuang Mu-san's pipe had been smoked down to the bottom and the fire made a sizzling noise as he continued to puff at it. He knew that Pang-chuang was right next to Wang's Cove: in fact it was already possible to see the Kuei-hsing Tower at the entrance to the former village. He had been to Pang-chuang several times before to see those unspeakable people and His Honor Wei. He remembered how his daughter had come back crying, how detestable his son-in-law was, how he had plagued them and got even with them. Reviewing the details of his previous raids and incursions, he remembered how he used to smile the cold smile of confidence as he planned what he would do this time; but on the present occasion he did not smile: for into the familiar pattern of his calculations the fat figure of His Honor Seven had suddenly intruded itself, making it impossible to imagine what might happen.
The boat continued its way in silence. The sound of the invocation of the Buddhas became louder. Otherwise all was quiet, as if to help Mu-san and Ai-ku with their thoughts.
"Uncle Mu, this is where you get off. We are at Pang-chuang."
Mu-san woke from his reflections to find that they were now in front of the Kuei-hsing Tower.
He jumped ashore, followed by Ai-ku, passed by under the tower and walked in the direction of His Honor Wei's house, which was reached after passing about twenty or thirty houses and making a turn at the end. There were four boats moored in a row in front of the house.
