 Log entry, the catch scarlet queen, Philip Carney master. Position three degrees seven minutes north, 104 degrees two minutes east. Wind fresh to moderate, sky fair. Remarks, departed Singapore after being guest at unsuccessful wedding. Reason for failure, the wind chester rifle in the ambitious groom. It was a sun-brilliant, wind-fresh morning when we stood in the Koi Pang on the island of Timor, our port of call after a long run up from Sydney. The stevedores were waiting for us as we warped into the Nederlander Asiatic Company's docks. And by the time the scarlet queen was riding to her hausers, our cargo was swinging out over the side, guided by the gentle hand of my chief mate Gallagher. Portly messenger waddled aboard the queen. It was from the Singapore offices of Tang and Sun's China Traders, the company under which the scarlet queen had set out on her voyage and under which we were still sailing. But the cable didn't have to do with business affairs. Just get that stuff off in a hurry. The dress to you and me says, my son, request the honor of your presence at the marriage between my daughter, Nanhua, and the honorable you-lang at my home on the 26th instant affectionately, Koochee Kang. Nanhua. Yeah. Come on, let's get moving, shall we? Watch me move cargo. I'd miss your wedding before I'd miss hers. Except the expression on Nanhua's face. It should have been happy, but it wasn't. I've been wondering too, Red. I don't know. Crumpled at the screaming Nanhua's feet. The scene written by Gildowd and Bob Tallman, and Star-Een, protest ship to plow the seas, bound for uncharted adventure. Every week a complete entry in the log. And every week a league further in the voyage of the scarlet queen. Get her someplace where this is a noisy. Captain, he's shot. To Angla? Yeah, all finished. Other man, Li Chenxi, he's shot, I think. Who's Li Chenxi? He half-sad from Nanhua. He married this man. He talked hate on this man. Now much sorrow he do. I call Xiong Jin. Police, yeah. Somebody should call the police. Ah, Philip, my son, I was in sight. What is it? Right, it couldn't be worse, Kang. He's dead. I was told that, Philip. But how? Somebody used the noise of the firecrackers to cover the sound of the shot. How could it be, my son, such sadness in a night so recently noisy with happiness? I don't know, Kang. No, no. Lord, what's happened to Lu Yang? I saw him dead. He's been shot. Yes, Ralph. Tell me, what in heaven's name happened? This is Ralph Clayton, Philip. My assistant, he lives in Singapore. Oh, hello. This is Captain Connie, Ralph. I think he knows more than anyone about what happened. I don't know anything, I just saw him fall. Kang? Yes. Who owns that house across the street? My an aged one named Kuo Feng, Philip. See you in a few minutes. I'm going to cross and take a look at that house and see if I can find Kuo Feng. I didn't find Kuo Feng. The house was dark and nobody answered my knock. I forced my way in. I climbed to the second floor. The two front rooms looked out across the now deserted street toward Kang's doorway, in which none who are in her room had been standing. I didn't go any farther than the first room. A faint smell of powder smoke still hung in the hot air. I let him match. In a corner, I found an ejected rifle cartridge case, American brand 38 Special. I slipped it into my pocket and left the house. Philip, my son, did you see Kuo Feng? No, Kang. There wasn't anybody home. Did you find anything in the house, Captain Connie? Yeah, Clayton. The shot was fired from an upstairs room by an American rifle 38 caliber, an auto-loading weapon, I think. Why do you say that, Captain Connie? Because if it were bolder lever action, I don't think the killer would have ejected the shell. With an auto, he couldn't help it and probably wouldn't have wasted the time looking for it. It was pretty dark in there. I see. Now, I'll get back and check on Kuo Feng later. The policeman called? Yes, Philip. I myself called him. Well, when you've done everything you can, Kenny, I probably want to ask you some questions. You better go and try to rest until I get here. He says, how is she? How do you think she is? She's better than she was, though. She's in there in the other room laying down. I say, skip it, huh? Who is Li Chenxi? Why? She's been talking about him, about how he's got to get away. Yeah. He's some guy who wasn't in favor of her marrying Yudlain. Don't tell you more after I've talked to her. Wait here. Hello, Phil. See you tonight, huh? Yes, it is. But rougher for you, Langman, for anyone else, don't you think? I'm not feeling sorry for myself. Is that what you meant? Yeah, that's what I meant. I wanted to remind you that you weren't because I want to talk to you about it. I'm all right, Phil. I want to talk about it. Good. Who is Li Chenxi? Is he suspected already? No, I'm afraid he is. Did he do it, nun? No, of course he did not. Why was he the first one to be suspected? Because he is so quick with his temper and so sincere when he is angry. He threatened that he would kill Yudlain. Why, because he wanted to marry you? Yes, that is why. That's a point in his favor. Look, nun, why I? Yes, Phil? Well, both Red and I realized that you weren't happy tonight. I'm not going to ask you why you were going through a marriage that you didn't want. Because I am Chinese, I could not tell you if you did ask, Phil. Yeah, I sort of figured that. But Phil, because Li is Chinese and his friends are Chinese, no one will turn to help him. He will be arrested for a crime he had nothing to do with. The justice here in Singapore moves very rapidly. Phil, I am sure that he is innocent. He must be warned and... You kept out of sight someplace? Yes. All right, Nanua. I haven't met many women I could believe, but you're one I can. Well, I find you're Li Chenxi. Oh, Phil, I am not sure. But if you will go to his uncle, he's an old man, Kuan Yin. He has a drug shop near the end of Tongling Road. Perhaps Kuan Yin will know where he is. Here, take this class, but he will know you are to be trusted. OK, Nanua. Red will go with me. Don't tell anybody where we've gone, even your father. He's too honest. All right, Phil. He's stored to every witness that we just left and said we'll see you later, which we will. Red and I swung down toward the end of Tongling Road. The street typically noisy and crowded. Kuan Yin's apothecary was dimly lit and filled by the odors of the strange and nameless things prescribed to maintain the Chinese health. A whiz and little figure stood up behind a counter as we went in. Yes? You wish Chinese medicine? No, no. Thanks, Red. We're looking for Li Chenxi. Nanua told us you might know where he is. Oh, no. I do not know. Kuan Yin, we friend with Nanua. She friend with Li Chenxi. I do not know where Li Chenxi. Here, here, clasp Nanua's hand to show we friend. Oh, why you come? To help Li. He in big trouble. You hear about killing? I hear news of death come quick. Like death come? What you want? We want you to tell us where Li is. Not do. We want to help him. Police will come soon, Kuan Yin. All people think Li kill man. We hide him. Police, come here? Very soon. He shuffled ahead of us, leading us from the dim main room into an even dimmer hallway in the rear. Li Chenxi, you sorry to another here? Sorry, what up? Li Chenxi, where are you? To Nanua. Change your money, John. Go there. He opened door. Thanks, Kuan Yin. If police come, you talk loud. We hear, then we go. Oh, yes, I do. Good. Come on, Red. It's close enough. Who are you? Put the gun away, Li. This is Red Gallagher and I'm Phil Carney. We sail for Nanua's father. Oh, Captain Carney and Mr. Gallagher. Nanua has told me about you. I'm sorry. It's all right. Come into my hiding place. Come on, Red. I am, as you Americans say, on a bad spot. No, I've been on worse ones myself. We're going to see what we can do to get you off of Italy. I'm glad there are at least three people in Singapore who think that I didn't kill Jung Lang. Mr. Police. Police here? They didn't give us much leeway. They must have followed us. They're back way out of here, Li. Yes, through the window to a roof below and then to the ground. All right, go ahead. We'll follow you out and talk later. All right, go ahead, Red. I've had lots of practice with Windows. Yeah, sure. Li Chenxi not only knew the way, but he knew the neighborhood like a tramp puppy. We paralleled Tanglin Road, but held to the middle of the blocks, cutting through yards, balding fences, invading lots of privacy. Let's go. Go on. We don't want anything but our way out. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. The blocks and we're down toward the Singapore River. We stopped. Li led us through a narrow doorway and into a room in which a few Chinese sat, some with glasses and bottles, some with newspapers. We slid into a curtain booth and sat down. Well, nobody will follow us. We can be sure of that. Are you safe here, Li? Well, a little while, I think. Do you know who killed you, Leng? How can I say? I wasn't there. But you have a good idea. Is that what you mean? With my stupid threat spoken in front of some who were friends and some who perhaps were not, I gave anyone who wanted you along dead a good excuse to kill him. Yeah, you sure did. Well, that jealousy mode has been overworked. It's always good. Are you in love with Nanhua Li? Yes, sir. We had planned on marriage ourselves before she was forced into this one. Forced into one? Yes. I gave her the chance to tell me about it tonight, but she wouldn't. What is it, a matter of face? Yes. Without his knowledge, a great deal of smuggling is being done in her father's organization. In Kang's China Traders? Yes. Yulang, who was a very ambitious man at best, took Nanhua one night and showed her. He said he would expose it and ruin her father unless she married him. And she went through with it without saying a word to her old man, her father? But if Kang wasn't in on it, I don't see what difference it would have made. Because you are not Chinese, Mr. Gallagher. Huh? To be exposed like that would have caused such a loss of face that he would have been ruined. For the same reason, I cannot tell the police. No matter what happens to me because of what it would do to Nanhua's father, it has to be a confession. Why was Yulang killed? I think because the man who was actually hiding the contraband goods in Kang's shipments was frightened because Yulang knew the truth. Do you know who that man is? I can only suspect. Ralph Clayton? I know only what Nanhua told me about Yulang. Yeah. Tell me, Lee, what kind of a rifle do you have? Why? It's an American rifle. A Winchester, 38 specials. Why, Captain? That's the weapon that killed Yulang. Where is it? It would take a very good friend to believe this, I'm afraid, Captain. My rifle disappeared two days ago. Yeah, see what you mean. With everything else, a disappearing murder weapon is a little tough to swallow. Red and fill. Oh, come in. What has happened? Where is Lee? We took him down to the queen. He's locked in the cabin. Locked in? Yep. Your boy is in such a bad spot that we don't know whether to feel sorry for him or kill Holland. What do you mean? He doesn't mean anything. Where does Lee live, men? Why, Phil? We want to go over there. Unsell at our drive, just this side of the bridge. The number is 742. His is apartment 20 at the top of the stairs. All right, we'll be back, men. Stay awake, will you? I hate to make the noise, but this door is in the way, and let me show it. Now, wait a minute. Why? Let me look at that, Skip. Spring life in the sugar. Japanese made. It's a knife blade job. Yeah? Yeah, this'll do it. Oh, the stand down a little later, men. Yeah, I'm sorry. Go ahead. You know, someday, Gallagher, I'm going to ask you about your past. Pure as spin drift, Skip. I learned this from having such bad luck losing keys. Oh, bad. What are we looking for? Evidence. Any and all kinds. What do you got, Skip? Here. It was behind the clothes in this closet. A Winchester rifle, 38th special. Lee didn't make that murder weapon disappear for long enough. Wait a minute, Rick. If Clayton took it, he might have brought it back, you know. Yeah, maybe he didn't take it. I'm thinking we got two men with remotives. Lee might have dreamed up that story of his to frame Clayton, you know. Yeah, that's right, Rick. Seven. Check the windows, will you? See if there's another way to get in here beside that door. These windows is open out onto space as far as I can see. Now, the doors, that's good. And this must be the rifle, there's one gone out of the magazine. OK, Red, let's go back to the house where the shot was fired. I still want to talk to old Cor Fang and see what we can pick up. We didn't pick up anything from Cor Fang. He was dead from a knife wound. He was lying in the middle of a badly furnished library as pockets were pulled inside out. The room itself had been searched, too. I don't like this much anymore, Skipper. It's getting late. I'm with you on both counts. Was this guy here when you came into the house before? I wish I could tell you Red, but I can't. I just came in and went upstairs. I didn't look in here. So what do we do with Nan-Hua's boy? Leave him where he is. So far, he's ahead in my book by one empty cartridge case. That is a much of a leave. Well, there might be more. We'll find out, huh? All right, now listen, Nan-Hua. I want you to get a story across to Ralph Clayton and your father. Is Clayton still here? Yes, Phil. What story? That you've gotten a message from Lee. He's been drinking. He's losing face by hiding, and he's gone back to his apartment and is going to give himself up to the police in the morning. He is not Phil. The story, Nan-Hua. In the morning, he's going to tell the police everything he knows about what's going on behind your father's back. Phil. But don't use the word smuggling. And you know, you will not tell anyone. It would ruin my father. You know what that would mean. I don't know anything, gorgeous. I'm just guessing. You tell that story, and maybe nobody will have to tell anything else. Skipper, sometimes I get a little disappointed in you. Yeah, Rad? Why? Because sometimes you aren't open and above board about things. If you think somebody's guilty, why do we go get him and knock him around until he says yes? That always works if you're patient. Brutal methods, Rad. Dull and uninteresting. I don't know. This way we're hanging everything on two very small items. First, that empty cartridge case. Doesn't seem to me that anyone would eject that thing from a lever action rifle unless he wanted to leave it. Why? To frame somebody else. But did you ever figure that it might have taken two shots to drill that guy? Galaga, you're insulting. Of course I did. I counted the slugs in that rifle. You were there. One fired. Oh, man. Item two, a key to Lee's apartment used to swipe the rifle and to plant it in the closet again. If somebody has it, he'll use it again to put Lee out of the way. Item three. That too is enough. I just thought of this one. Old Corp Fing's body and library was searched. Why? He was killed because I said I was going to talk to him. And he was searched for some dough, paid him for the use of that room with a view of you lengths for it. So we wait in the apartment, underhanded life. What do I do? You hide in the closet. Hide? Now wait a minute. It's the unhanded case I need you. I'm going to be reeking of liquor, pass out on Lee's bed. I won't say anything about you being more at home than I'll be. What'll you be wearing? Grass knuckles, Red. But look, if Clayton's innocent, he won't even show up. You see? Yeah, underhanded. Underhanded nothing. The whole thing depends on him. If he doesn't want to come, he doesn't have to. We splashed enough liquor around Lee's apartment to make it smell like the scene of a three-day binge. Who's such a waste? Then Red went into a handy closet, leaving the door just ajar. And I climbed into Lee's bed, turning my back to the room to give a knife-wielder a good target. It didn't occur to me that he might be a knife-thrower until I heard the door ease open and click shut. I had to force myself to lie still until I heard his footsteps into the bedroom, gave myself a count of five, and I heard his breathing fade in as he bent over. Hey, that's close enough! Hey! I turned over and as I rolled, I started my right fist. Jim! Hey! Oh, listen. You can make a pigeon out of yourself if you want to, but do it where I can't watch it. All right. Yes. He had to practically start your own. All right. Never mind. What'd you hit him with, anyway? Never give an underhanded guy like him a chance, Red. I told you what I'd be wearing, brass knuckles. Never go to bed in Singapore without them. There wasn't much left to be told after the police got through with Ralph Clayton. His confession about the smuggling saved Kooji Kang's face and his confession of both murders lightened Nantwa's burden of widowhood and put Li Chenxi back on the eligible list. The last time we saw them, Nantwa and Li were holding hands and Kang's arms were resting across both their shoulders. An odd finish for the wedding. But it looked like they'd have better luck on the one, obviously, coming up. Later, we moved out of the harbor and found the wind, found across the line, and our crewmen jumped to their stations to send up the sailor whiffled for the sheets that held it in place, shook under the push of wind, and dug her starboard rail into the green turmoil she caused, lifted her portside shamelessly to sun and air, leaned into her course up into the South China Sea. But she likes it, Skipper. She's flirting with us. I guess it'll treat her right, Red, long as we can hold our feet to the deck angle. Well, I've grown lopsided learning to do it. Yeah, I know this. You have to fight to navigate a level street. Not every street, Skipper. Hey, it looked like spring was blooming, or something, in Singapore, didn't it? Oh, not in Singapore. There aren't any different seasons. They're all the same. Yeah, but I'm talking about romance. Stupid. Oh, yeah, the name of the game. Man who are in that leech and sea. Well, you've got to blame it on something. Yeah. They're nice kids for land people. Yeah, I agree. I wonder where we'll be when they get secured. I don't know. The father, the better. But promise me one thing, Skipper. Don't ever take me to another wedding. This is the second one I've been to, and I don't like it. What happened at the first? I got married. Oh, Red, no. Yeah. I was on a card schooner then, fishing the Newfoundland banks. I made one trip after the wedding, and when I come back, she was gone. And do you know what she left me for? No, a desert prospector. What? He rented Canoes in Central Park. And after this one, no more. I see your point. Yeah. The little woman I got now is good enough for me. Just moving up into the China sea, I'm leaving you alone. To the Queen Skipper? To the Scarlet Queen. Girl enough for us, all right? After you, mate. After you. Log entry, the catch Scarlet Queen, 5.30 p.m. Wind, fresh to moderate, sky fair, sea cresting with high cross swell, mainsail and mizzen reefed, ship secure for night, signed Phillip Carney, master. The Scarlet Queen has come to you through the worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television