Entry 12 - Shanghai: exploring the city to search for the 'Dar' ship and Choi Mei Ling
March
2nd: we arrived in Shanghai harbor choked with thousands
of sampans...you could almost walk across them to shore. 1.2M people divided
among the various enclaves (French, American, British, Japanese, and even
Russian).
Rene hit the beach running, dockside, showing the photo
of the "DAR" yacht while showing the matchbook. No luck, but directed
north to the American (Hong Q) district where we check into the Ivory Wind hotel.
After a slow rickshaw ride to the British consulate, we
resume our inquiries...
Found records of the yacht Dark Mistress – 90’ yacht built in the 19th
century registered to Alfred Penhurst (a wealth scientist doing experiments at
sea) – shows up once a month – every 3-4 weeks at nighttime and gone by next
morning; last here about 2 ½ weeks ago.
It's still early when we reach the Stumbling Tiger Bar in the bad part of town. We definitely stick out drawing stares from a group of Japanese.
Rene slips into his detective skills casually offering
American cigarettes to the chain-smoking bartender Fergus McChum (half Chinese
half Scottish) as he inquires, "Jack Brady saved my life once. He gave me
this matchbook. I was hoping you might know his whereabouts." Fergus
hasn’t seen Jack for months. As for Choi Mei Ling—a prostitute working at the Violet Orchid; just down the road
on Lantern Street (Madam Gi is her mama-san).
Fergus goes on to talk about the current gang wars –
Order of the Bloated Woman fighting people out of Rangoon. "Civil war;
very dangerous outside of American and British areas, especially at
night!"
He also knows of the Dark Mistress and it's strange crew, "they look like
frogs. The ship anchors by Ho Fong’s Warehouse."
And that's when Norm and Gwen notice 4 Japanese men paying attention to the ship conversation, one coming forward. It's not long before James learns they are on furlough from the Imperial Japanese Navy; interested in the experiments aboard the Dark Mistress. Soon Rene is talking with Captain Isague, offering to share info.
With a round of drinks to seal the deal, we're told of
the rumor Penhurst is building a weapon of some type being financed by
COMINTERN.
Although a completely different topic, James mentions
Brass Brady; Fergus confirming he's still here and in hiding. The Japanese know
he works with a vigilante organization that is based south of the river. Before
leaving, we agree to meet on the 4th in an empty warehouse on the south side of
river on Chungchon Road.
March 3rd: a warm muggy morning visit with the harbormaster (Gwen payed him to tell us and only us first of the ship's arrival). Then off to the Violet Orchid where scantily clad ladies and incense beckon us inside.
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"Choi Mei Ling not here anymore – Madam Gi sold
her for $10 to flower shop at 140 Lantern Street to the doctor down there (he’s
not a real doctor)." Enough talk, as the group focuses their attention to
the girls...at a price, before heading to Lantern street.
The 'doctor' dressed in a Taoist embroidered robe,
parades his girls. We learn Choi Mei Ling was rented out days ago to Carl
Stanford. The Englishmen is registered in town staying at Ho Fong’s house (not
warehouse) near the Old City outside the British enclave. We quickly remember
that name from the shipment ledger – Ho Fong receiving shipments: a 60 cm statuette
of Yig made of solid gold. Dr. Khatan remembers Yig as an ancient god – father
of all serpents; cult strongest in the Amazon.
We travel south to Ho Fong’s house across from the old city; iron gates flanked by 13’ high walls topped with spear-points and broken glass. We search for other ways in...Rene unsuccessfully trying to pick the lock of an adjacent building. James tries an easier approach, addressing a guard at the compound, "Madam Gi angry Mei Ling overdue." The guard rushes off, eventually returning with $100 cash, "Tell the bitch Mr, Stanford pay for another week." James pushes the conversation, "Why Ling? I thought you guys were into fat women?" The guard corrects, "Not fat, bloated woman! Tall woman. Small and beautiful behind fan, but move fan and she 600lbs.
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If she finds favor you will be blessed, but if no favor you die. Mr. Ho a member. Stanford one
of our leaders. He been a member a year; a beggar before; blood of many on
hands. Wonderful group; slowly conquering China. Will run out the Rangoon, take
over China then the world. You want join? They out now. Come back."
Having pressed our luck, we leave to then check out the
old city: a compound with 12’ high walls. We manage to talk with some monks who
describe the inside with a large garden and various temples (Buddhist,
Confucius, etc). "People from Rangoon are trying to wipe out the evil of
the Bloated Woman. Very evil cult similar to Thugees. We prefer to stay neutral
in the conflict." We learn Mr. Lin, in charge of the Rangoon group, resides in another large compound. "He
not there. Come back tomorrow 3:00 – please be on time, he very short
temper."
Back to the bar to plan our next moves, when we notice
a group of Chinese men come in and proceed to watch us. Khatan notes a tattooed
fat man on their arms, so goes over to chat. Seems Mr. Lin sent them to keep
tabs on us.
To do List
1.
March 4th/Tomorrow at 3pm - Visit Mr. Lin
2.
March 4th– meet with Japanese at empty
warehouse
3.
Expect ship arrival within next 3-10 days.
How is the harbormaster to let us know?Did we tell him our hotel? Can he be
bought by Ling’s men and thus set us up?
4.
Find Brady – across river
5.
Find Choi Mei Ling
6.
Visit Ho Fong’s house
7.
Ask Lin about the '7 books of Hsan'
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