Thomas Brewster had been doing some heavy thinking. “Tang,” he said. “Tell me this. In what part of China was the House of Kwang located?”
“In the province of Yunnan, south and somewhat west of Kunming, the capital of the province.”
Mr. Brewster was creating the map of China in his mind’s eye. “That would be near the border of Burma.”
Ling Tang nodded his head gravely.
“Not far from Unhao, on the Irrawaddy River?” Biff’s father inquired.
“Your memory of China is excellent, my friend. Once the Old Lord, Tao Kwang, made annual pilgrimages to Rangoon to visit the shrine of the Gautama Buddha, the magnificent pagoda of Shwe Dagon.”
Biff was beginning to put the pieces together. “I still don’t get it loud and clear, but Uncle Charlie’s located at Unhao. That’s where I’m going. And Uncle Charlie’s in Rangoon a lot, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Biff. He is.”
“But the ring—why would someone want me to have it? Do you suppose they want me to take it with me?”
“That, my boy, is the question we’d all like to have the answer to,” Mr. Brewster replied.