Bill for the Use of a Body by Dennis Wheatley

last began to prosper and the first tourists arrived. Relations with China improved and in 1898 she leased the New Territories to Britain for ninety-nine years, so that the Colony should have more land to supply itself with agricultural produce.’
    Julian had already been aware of most of the facts that she had given in her obviously well-rehearsed speech, but that did not lessen his enjoyment of watching her mobile young face as she told the story of the island; and he remained enraptured, almost as though hypnotised, while gazing at her profile as she went on for a further quarter of an hour to tell of the great typhoon of 1906, the conquest of the island by the Japanese, the fears of bankruptcy when in 1949 Mao had bolted the door to Red China, the amazing way in which Hong Kong had saved itself to become more prosperous than ever before, and the wonderful work that was being done to rehabilitate the refugees.
    When she had done, Urata said, ‘Thanks a lot, Merri, You’ve certainly given us a good picture of how the place has grown. But, as you know, I’m in shipping and you’ve said nothing about pirates. It’s said they are still pretty active in these parts. Would that be so?’
    Merri gave a slow nod. ‘Yes; piracy still goes on. But not in a form that should worry you. As far back as anyone can remember there have been bad men sailing these seas who attack small coastal vessels and rob them of their cargoes. If, too, they find a passenger on board whom they know to be wealthy they take him prisoner and hold him to ransom. But in these days they would never dare to attack anything larger than a junk.’
    â€˜How about the drug traffic?’ Julian enquired.
    â€˜That, too, continues, in spite of all efforts to prevent it. In 1917 the British Government agreed to stop importing opium into China, but after nearly a hundred years the habit of smoking it had become ingrained in the Chinese people, and for a long time past they had taken to growing it for themselves. Today China is not an importer but an exporter of the drug and it is largely from there that the addicts in Hong Kong receive their supplies.’
    â€˜Are there many addicts here?’
    â€˜Alas, yes. It is a terrible problem, and has become much more difficult to deal with since the practice started of converting opium into heroin. That greatly reduces the bulk of the drug so makes it much easier to smuggle.’
    â€˜In the States they’re doing a big job reclaiming addicts’, Urata put in. ‘Are they doing anything of that kind here?’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Merri informed him. ‘Out at Tai Lam we have a special prison for the treatment of addicts who have been convicted, and at the new hospital at Castle Peak there is a special ward set aside for addicts willing to submit voluntarily to a course of treatment. My mother works for the Hong Kong Advisory Committee on Narcotics, in a special section of the Customs employedin preventing the smuggling of drugs, so I could tell you a lot about such matters. She wanted me to work in her office, but I would not like such a life, and as I have never travelled I greatly enjoy talking to people who come from all parts of the world. That is why I asked Major Stanley, who is the head of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, to take me as one of his private guides.’
    â€˜Are you very booked up?’ Julian enquired casually.
    â€˜I expect to be free after tomorrow,’ she replied. ‘I have been taking Mr. Urata round for the past few days, but on Wednesday he is leaving for Manila.’
    â€˜In that case I wonder if you would care to act as guide for me? I arrived only yesterday and it’s over twenty years since I was in Hong Kong, so there are lots of places that I would like you to take me to.’
    Producing a card from her bag she handed it to him and said, ‘It would be a pleasure, Mr. Day, if my office has not already booked