The Island Where Time Stands Still by Dennis Wheatley Page B

Gregory remarked, ‘if they wish to observe tradition, it is not a question of “caring”. Provided the Prince who has the best claim is sound in mind they should accept him. Anyhow there must be some precedent to go on. How was the last Emperor selected?’
    â€˜He inherited the throne. His father and grandfather reigned before him. We have had three Emperors since the island was first colonised in 1913.’
    â€˜Well, how was his grandfather selected? In 1913 Pu-yi was still Emperor of China, and remained there until driven out in the nineteen-twenties; so the heads of your Seven Familiesmust have created some precedent in selecting the Emperor they brought with them.’
    A-lu-te looked at him gravely, and asked, ‘How much do you know of the history of the Imperial Family?’
    â€˜Not very much; only that the Manchu dynasty dates back to the invasion of 1644, and that from about 1860 the Emperors were little more than puppets dominated by the old Dowager Empress.’
    â€˜Then for you to understand our situation I must tell you of the way in which her influence affected the succession. The Emperor Tao-Kwang died in 1850. He had nine sons and was succeeded by the eldest, Hsien-feng. When the period of court mourning was over sixty girls, all of the noble Manchu families that form the eight Banner Corps, were summoned to the palace. From them the Empress Mother and the Chief Eunuch selected twenty-eight to form the harem of the young Emperor. Those chosen included two sisters, Sakota and Yehonala. The latter was classed only as a concubine of the third grade, but it was she who later became the Great Empress Mother. Sakota was a girl of exceptional beauty so Hsien-feng made her his Empress, but Yehonala fascinated him with her mind, and was soon assisting him with affairs of state; moreover she gave him a son, so he raised her also to the rank of Empress.
    â€˜In 1861, Hsien-feng died. Two older Princes attempted to seize power but with the help of her girlhood sweetheart, Jung Lu, who commanded one of the Banner Corps, Yehonala outwitted them. She had her little son, Tung-chich, proclaimed Emperor, with her sister and herself as co-Regents. As you may imagine, Yehonala made Sakota Regent with her only for appearances’ sake; and from that day on, for very nearly half a century she imposed her will upon everyone who played a part in the government of the Empire.
    â€˜Perhaps business occupied so much of her time that she had none left to give to her son. In any case, the boy gave all his affection to his aunt, and by the time he became of an age to rule he thoroughly disliked his mother. In 1872, when he had reached the age of seventeen, the two Empresses selectedfor him a number of women, and it was agreed between them that he should be allowed to decided for himself which he would have for first Imperial Consort. He chose a girl of fifteen named A-lu-te.’
    Gregory looked up in surprise, and A-lu-te smiled at him. ‘Yes, I am named after her. The reason for that will be plain to you in a minute; and, as you will see, she plays a very important part in this story.
    â€˜She was a girl of spirit and she disliked Yehonala as much as did her husband. Very soon the young couple were at daggers drawn with the Empress Mother, and she could no longer delay in making at least a show of handing power over to them. In China there is a saying “Who rides the tiger cannot dismount”, and Yehonala realised her danger. Tung-chich and his little Empress were scarcely more than children, and totally inexperienced, whereas Yehonala was wise in the ways of the Court and by her charm and intellect kept nearly all its principal personages bound to her interests. For a year or so she let her son make a fool of himself; then, early in 1875, he caught smallpox and died.’
    A certain inflection in A-lu-te’s voice made Gregory turn and glance at her. She shrugged her slim