Barbara Faith - Kiss of the dragon by mag

straightened. She shot him an angry look and said, "Yes, of course. I'll go down at once."
    Tiger handing her his slicker, said, "Put this on," then turned back to the wheel.
    Bethany staggered down the ladder mumbling, "Aye, Aye, Captain Bligh," knowing how Mr. Christian had felt just before the mutiny. She zigzagged her way to the bow and when she reached Chang he fastened a safety line around her waist and said, "Rough day."
    Bethany nodded as she gripped the rail. "Are you all right?"
    She took a deep breath and felt salt spray on her face. "Yes," she said, "I'm all right."
    I'm all right, all right, all right, Bethany repeated to herself for the next fifteen minutes. And suddenly it was true, she was all right. She even felt a thrill of excitement. China loomed in the distance; this part of the journey was almost over. Today she would set foot on that ancient land, the land that was a part of Tiger's heritage. The search for the golden dragon had begun.

 

     
     
TOSHIBA

    Chapter 8
    it was a little before noon when the Dragon rounded the tip of Po On Peninsula. Tiger decreased his speed as he entered the bay and headed toward a cluster of wooden buildings. Immediately several uniformed men ran out onto the pier and signaled a docking space.
    Carefully Tiger maneuvered the boat up to the dock. He turned off the engine, then hurried to help Chang throw out the mooring ropes.
    The men in the blue uniforms were armed. Their expressions were serious and impassive as helpers grabbed the ropes and secured the boat. Tiger saluted the officers and spoke to them in Chinese.
    "Tiger is identifying himself and requesting permission to go ashore," Chang told Bethany. "One or two of these men are with the port authority. The others are probably immigration and customs."
    "But why do they look so grim?" Bethany asked in a low voice.
    "It is the universal expression of all government officials," Chang said with a slight smile. But his smile faded as two of the uniformed men boarded the boat and barked a question to Tiger.
    "They want to know what we are carrying," Chang whispered. "Next they will ask to see our papers. Are your passport and visa in order?"
    Bethany nodded. She didn't know what she had expected her entrance into China to be like, but she'd assumed it would be like Hong Kong where everyone had been courteous, even affable. One of the officials said something to her and she turned nervously to Tiger.
    "Show him your passport," he said.
    Bethany held out her papers. The man took them, looked at the photographs, then at Bethany. He stamped the passport and put it in his pocket as he turned and started off the boat, nodding for them to follow.
    "Where is he going with my passport?" Bethany asked nervously.
    "To the immigration office." Tiger took her arm. "Don't worry. I've never come in here by boat before, but I am sure it's standard operating procedure."
    S.O.P., Bethany thought. I certainly hope that's all it is. She looked around her at the dull brown buildings, the stark, dry landscape. Everything seemed so bleak and desolate, even the thunderclouds that hung low on the horizon as though waiting for a chance to growl.
    Another uniformed man sat behind a battered desk. He eyed them suspiciously and took the three passports from his officer. "What is the purpose of your visit to China?" he asked.
    "We have come to visit my mother," Tiger said. "Chang Lu works for me. Miss Adams is my fiancée ."
    "Why do you have an American passport?"
    "My father was an American; my mother is Chinese."
    "Will the three of you be traveling together?"
    "No, Chang Lu will stay with the boat. Miss Adams and I will travel together to the home of my mother."
    "In what city?"
    "Tsingyun."
    "Your mother's name?"
    "Madame Su Ching. She is of the family of Ching Wu-Chien."
    "Ching Wu-Chien?" The official's voice changed imperceptibly. "An old and honorable family." His fingers drummed against the three passports for a moment. Then he handed