At last, Dan reflected as, stretched out in a steamer chair in the snug lee of the Aorangi’s funnel, he watched the coast of California fade into the haze, he was free. Business no longer claimed him. If the receiver desired any information touching the firm’s affairs he had complete and comprehensive records before him, and if he could not understand those records, there was the efficient office force to aid him. Yes, he was free. He would wander now, with Sooey Wan to take care of him financially and physically.
And he felt no qualms in the realization that he was now dependent entirely upon Sooey Wan. In a way he had always been dependent upon Sooey Wan, but on the other hand, was not Sooey Wan dependent upon his Missa Dan?
As the old Chinaman had often assured him, the only human being in the world to whom he was bound by the tightest tethers of affection was Dan Pritchard. Wherefore, why should he decline a loan from Sooey Wan? To have done so would have been to inflict upon the loyal old heathen a cruel hurt. And money meant little to Sooey Wan; it was good to gamble with, that was all. In the end Sooey Wan, dying, would have willed his entire estate to his beloved Missa Dan; why, therefore, be a sentimental idiot and decline to accept it while Sooey Wan lived? Why deny the old man this great happiness?
Sooey Wan, neatly and unostentatiously arrayed in Oriental costume and occupying a first class cabin all to himself, lolled in a chair alongside Dan and puffed contentedly at a long briarwood pipe. He was having the first vacation he had ever known and he was enjoying it, for presently he turned to Dan and said:
“Missa Dan, I think evlybody pretty damn happy. No ketchum work, ketchum plenty money, ketchum nice lest, ketchum lady queen, velly nice. Eh, Missa Dan?”
“Sooey Wan,” Dan replied, “so far as I am concerned, I never want to operate another ship or buy another pound of copra or draw another check. I’m going to marry the lady queen the very day we find her; after that I’m going to paint pictures and dream and soak myself from soul to liver with just plain, unruffled, untroubled, simple living. Sooey Wan, I’m content just to sit here and look at the ocean. The other fellows can have all the worry now. They wanted it and I gave it to them and I hope they enjoy it. I’m content to know they will get their money out of Casson and Pritchard, although it ruins me.”
“You allee time talkee like klazy man, boss. Wha’ for you luined? Plenty money hab got. Shut up! You makee me sick.”
Fell a long, blissful silence, while Dan stared at the sea and permitted his brain to sink into a state of absolute quiescence, and Sooey Wan speculated on the expectancy of life in superannuated Chinamen in general and of himself in particular. For the paternal instinct was strong in Sooey Wan and the years had been long since Dan’s baby arms had been around his neck and Dan’s soft cheek had been pressed in love against Sooey Wan’s. Sweet memories of a sweet experience! Childless old Sooey Wan yearned for it again, yearned to have his Missa Dan know the thrill that had been denied to Sooey Wan—the thrill of fatherhood.
Arrived at Tahiti, Dan’s eager glance swept the little harbor as the Aorangi crept in. The Pelorus lay at anchor. The skipper of the tug that had towed her out of San Francisco bay was right. She was a witch in a breeze! The French customs officials who boarded the steamer informed Dan that she had arrived the day before. Zounds, what a smashing passage! And Tamea was over yonder in the town—just exactly where, he would ascertain from the master of the Pelorus.
Dan and Sooey Wan were into a short boat and pulling toward the Pelorus five minutes after the Aorangi had been given pratique. The master of the Pelorus met them at the rail as Dan came up over the Jacob’s ladder.