King held his breath and bent down beside the light and examined the ring carefully.
'We've done it, Peter buddy,' he whispered, elated. 'We've done it. We got the diamond and we've got the money.'
The stress of the last few days closing in on him, the King opened a little sack of coffee beans and made as though to bury the diamond deep within. Instead, he palmed the ring neatly. Even Peter Marlowe, the closest man to him, was fooled. As soon as he had locked the box he was overcome with a fit of coughing. No one saw him transfer the ring to his mouth. He felt around for the cup of cold coffee and drank it down, swallowing the stone. Now the diamond was safe. Very safe.
He sat on a chair waiting for the tension to pass. Oh yes, he told himself exultantly. You've done it.
A danger whistle cut the stillness.
Max slipped through the doorway. 'Cops,' he said, and quickly joined the game of poker.
'Goddam!' The King forced his legs to move and he grabbed the stacks of money. He threw an inch at Peter Marlowe, stuffed an inch into his own pockets, and raced down the room to the poker table and gave each man a stack which they stuffed in their pockets. Then he dealt out the rest on the table and grabbed another seat and joined the game.
'Come on, for Chrissake, deal,' the King said.
'All right. All right,' Max said. 'Five card.' He pushed out a hundred dollars. 'Hundred to play.'
'Make it two,' Tex said, beaming.
'I'm in!'
They were all in and gloating and happy and Max dealt the first two cards and dealt himself an ace up. 'I bet four hundred!'
'Your four and up four,' said Tex, who had a deuce face up and nothing in the hole.
'I'm in,' said the King, and then he looked up and Grey was standing at the door. Between Brough and Yoshima. And behind Yoshima were Shagata and another guard.
Chapter 23
'Stand by your beds,' Brough ordered, his face stark and drawn.
The King shot a murderous glance at Max, who was the night's lookout.
Max had failed in his job. He had said 'Cops' and not noticed the Japanese. If he had said 'Japs' a different plan would have been used.
Peter Marlowe tried to get to his feet. Standing made his nausea worse, so he stumbled to the King's table and leaned against it.
Yoshima was looking down at the money on the table. Brough had already saen it and winced. Grey had noticed it and his pulse had quickened.
'Where did this money come from?' Yoshima said.
There was a vast silence.
Then Yoshima shouted, 'Where did this money come from?'
The King was dying inside. He had seen Shagata, and knew Shagata was nervous, and the King knew he was within an ace of Utram Road. 'It's gambling money, sir.'
Yoshima walked the length of the hut until he was in front of the King.
'None from black market?' he asked.
'No, sir,' he said, forcing a smile.
Peter Marlowe felt the vomit rising. He reeled heavily and almost fell, and could not keep his eyes focused. 'Can - I sit - please?' he said.
Yoshima looked down the room and noticed the armband. 'What is an English officer doing here?' He was surprised, for his informants had told him there was very little fraternization with the Americans.
'I - was - just visiting . . .' But Peter Marlowe could not continue. 'Excuse
- ' he lurched to the window and vomited.
'What's the matter with him?' Yoshima asked.
'I think - it's fever, sir.'
'You,' Yoshima said to Tex, 'sit him on that chair.'
'Yes, sir,' Tex said.
Yoshima looked back at the King. 'How is there so much money without black market?' he said silkily.
The King was conscious of the eyes upon him, and conscious of the appalling silence and conscious of the diamond inside him, and conscious of Shagata in the doorway. He cleared his throat. 'Just, we've - saved our dough for gambling!'
Yoshima's hand cracked against the King's face, rocking him backward.
'Liar!'
The blow did not hurt, really, but at the same time it seemed to be a death smash. My God, the King told himself, I'm dead. My luck's run out.
'Captain Yoshima.' Brough began to walk up the length of the hut. He knew there was no use in trying to interfere - perhaps he would make it worse - but he had to try.
