Robert Gulik - The Chinese Maze Murders

"This insignificant person", Woo replied, "is called Woo Feng. I am a Junior Candidate by profession and a painter by preference."

"You", said the judge sternly, "are accused of having murdered General Ding Hoo-gwo. Speak the truth!"

"Your Honour", Woo said calmly, "I emphatically deny the accusation. I am familiar with the victim's name and the crime for which he was dismissed from military service because I often heard my father speak about that disgraceful affair. But I beg to state that I have never met the General. I did not even know that he was living in Lan-fang until his son started to spread malignant rumours about me. Those rumours I totally ignored since they were so ridiculous as to make refutation quite unnecessary."

„If that is so", Judge Dee said coldly, "why then did the General stand in constant fear of you? Why did he keep the gates of his mansion closed day and night and confine himself to his locked library? And if you did not plan some foul scheme against the General, why did you hire ruffians to spy on his mansion?"

"As to Your Honour's first two questions", Woo replied, "they concern the internal affairs of the Ding mansion. Since I am completely ignorant of such things, I am in no position to express any opinion. As regards the last query, I deny ever having hired any people to spy on the Ding family. I challenge my accuser to produce one of those men I allegedly hired and confront him with me!"

"Don't be too sure, young man!", the judge said sternly. "As a matter of fact I have already apprehended one of those ruffians. You will be confronted with him in due time!"

Woo shouted angrily: "That scoundrel Ding bribed him to give false testimony!"

When he saw that at last Woo had lost his temper, Judge Dee thought to himself that this was the right moment to spring another surprise on the accused.

He leaned forward in his chair and said sharply:

"I, the magistrate, shall tell you why you hated the Ding family! Not because of the feud between your father and General Ding. No, you had a quite personal and despicable motive. Look at this woman here!"

While he was saying this the judge had taken from his sleeve a section cut out of Woo's painting showing only the face of the goddess Kwan Yin.

As he handed it to Headman Fang to pass it on to Woo, Judge Dee kept his eye on both the accused and Candidate Ding. He noticed that as soon as he had referred to a woman in the case both young men had turned pale. Ding's eyes widened in sudden fear.

Judge Dee heard a stifled cry by his side.

Headman Fang stood there with the picture still in his hand. His face had turned ashen, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"Your Honour!", he cried out, "this is my eldest daughter, White Orchid!"

A murmur rose from the crowd at this unexpected revelation.

"Silence!" the judge shouted in a thunderous voice.

He did not betray his own utter amazement but said quietly:

"Headman, give that picture to the accused!"

Judge Dee had not failed to observe that while Woo was greatly perturbed by the headman's identification, Candidate Ding looked relieved. That young man heaved a deep sigh and the colour came back to his cheeks.

Woo looked at the picture with a fixed stare.

"Speak up!", the judge barked, "what are your relations with this girl?"

Woo was deadly pale. But his voice was steady as he replied: "I refuse to answer!"

The judge leaned back in his chair. He said coldly:

"The accused seems to forget that he is in the tribunal. I order you to answer my question!"

"You can torture me to death", Woo replied in a clear voice, "but you will never succeed in making me answer that question!"

Judge Dee sighed. He said:

"You are guilty of contempt of court!"

At a sign from the judge, two constables tore down Woo's robe. Two others grabbed his arms and pressed him forward till his face touched the floor. Then they looked expectantly at Headman Fang who was standing there with the heavy whip in his hand.

The headman looked up at the judge with a tortured expression on his face.

Judge Dee understood. Fang was a just man, he feared that in his anger he would flog Woo to death. The judge pointed at a sturdy constable.

He took over the whip from the headman. He raised his muscular arm and the thin thong descended on Woo's bare back.

Woo groaned as welt after welt rose on his flesh. After the tenth blow the blood streamed from his torn back. But he gave no sign that he would speak.

After the twentieth blow his body grew limp.

The constable reported that he had fainted. Judge Dee gave a sign and two constables jerked Woo to his knees. They burned vinegar under his nose till he had regained consciousness.

"Look at your magistrate!", Judge Dee ordered.

A constable gripped Woo by his hair and pulled his head back.

The Judge leaned forward and looked intently at his contorted face.

Woo's lips moved convulsively. Then he said in a toneless voice: "I shall not speak!"

The constable with the whip was going to strike Woo in his face with the heavy handle. But Judge Dee raised his hand. He addressed Woo in a conversational tone:

" Woo, you are an intelligent youngster. You must realize how utterly foolish your attitude is. Let me tell you that I know more about your relations with that poor misguided girl than you think!"

Woo only shook his head.

"I know", the judge continued calmly, "all about your meeting White Orchid in the Hermitage of the Three Treasures, near the east gate, and…"

Suddenly Woo jumped up. He tottered on his feet and a constable had to grip his arm to steady him. Woo did not notice it. He lifted his bare right arm, streaked with blood. Shaking his fist at the judge he cried in a strident voice:

"Now she is lost! It is you, you dog-official, who have murdered her!"

Loud exclamations rose from the crowd. Headman Fang stepped forward and stammered incoherent questions. The constables did not know what to do.

Judge Dee hammered his gavel on the bench. He shouted in a stentorious voice:

"Silence and order!"

The murmur died out.

"If I have to issue one more warning", Judge Dee said sternly, "I shall have the hall cleared! Everyone stand in his appointed place!"

Woo had collapsed on the floor. His body shook with sobs. Headman Fang stood stiffly at attention. He bit his lips till the blood trickled from his chin.

Judge Dee slowly stroked his beard.

Then his deep voice broke the uneasy silence.

"Junior Candidate Woo, you will realize that there is nothing left but to tell the entire story. If, as I gather from your last remark, I have endangered White Orchid's life by mentioning your meeting her in that deserted temple, it is you who are responsible for her plight. You had ample opportunity to warn me."

The judge gave a sign to the constables. They offered Woo a cup of strong tea. He gulped it down. Then he said in a forlorn voice:

"Her secret is now known to the entire town! She cannot be saved!"

Judge Dee observed dryly:

"Leave it to this tribunal to decide whether she can be saved or not! I repeat, tell the entire story!"

Woo mastered himself. He began in a low voice:

"Near the East Gate there stands a small Buddhist temple, called Hermitage of the Three Treasures. Many years ago, when the route to the west still led over this city, monks from Khotan built that hermitage. Later they left. The temple fell into decay, people of the neighbourhood took away the doors and other woodwork for firewood. But the magnificent wall paintings by the monks remained.

I discovered those murals by accident when I was roaming over the city in search of Buddhist works of art. I often went there and made copies of the murals. I took a liking to the small secluded garden behind the temple. I used to stroll out there at night to enjoy the moon.