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Updated: May 25, 2025
I find myself close to Major Noltitz, who is looking attentively at Faruskiar and his companion, placed at the extremity of the table. We are asking ourselves who this haughty Mongol could be. "Ah!" said I, laughing at the thought which crossed my mind, "if that is " "Who?" asked the major. "The chief of the brigands, the famous Ki-Tsang."
Ephrinell lose no time in leaving the station on business, which obliges them to find a hotel in the commercial quarter of the Chinese town. But they do not leave without receiving my compliments. Major Noltitz and I go up to this amiable couple, and the conventional politenesses are reciprocally exchanged.
That is why Pan-Chao never heard of Yen Lou, nor of any exalted personage of that name existing in the Celestial Empire! We started to time, and, as may be supposed, our traveling companions could talk of nothing else but the millions which were enough to enrich every one in the train. "This pretended mortuary van has always been suspicious to me," said Major Noltitz.
Without waiting for any more, Major Noltitz and I reach the platform, while the baron continues to struggle in the presence of the impassible Chinese functionaries. I examine the train and see that its composition has been modified on account of there being fewer travelers between Kachgar and Pekin.
I thought the train had been thrown off the line by the commotion of the air. I left the young Roumanian and regained my place within the car. In the morning 26th of May, 7 A.M. we arrived at Lan-Tcheou. Three hours to stop, three hours only. "Come, Major Noltitz, come, Pan-Chao, come, Caterna, we have not a minute to spare."
I need hardly say that there are no slaves in this country, much to the displeasure of the Mussulmans. Nowadays woman is free even in her household. "An old Turkoman," said Major Noltitz, "once told me that a husband's power is at an end now that he cannot thrash his wife without being threatened with an appeal to the czar; and that marriage is at an end!"
None of my companions have left their beds. I get out on to the platform and prowl around the van. It would be too risky to try and get inside. I should have been glad to visit the town, but the darkness prevents me from seeing anything. According to what Major Noltitz says it still retains the traces of Skobeleffs terrible assault in 1880 dismantled walls, bastions in ruins.
I should have failed in my duty as a chronicler if I had not noticed this gigantic work at its beginning, for it far surpasses the works of our modern fortifications. "Is it of any real use, this wall of China?" asked Major Noltitz. "To the Chinese, I do not know," said I; "but certainly it is to our political orators for purposes of comparison, when discussing treaties of commerce.
It was without the shadow of an accident, and after a particularly fine run, that we entered Yarkand station at four o'clock in the afternoon. If Yarkand is not the administrative capital of eastern Turkestan, it is certainly the most important commercial city of the province. "Again two towns together," said I to Major Noltitz. "That I have from Popof."
I came out of the van, I shut the door, I assured myself that Popof was still asleep. In a few minutes, after a breath or two of the night air, I go into my place near Major Noltitz. And before I close my eyes my last thought is that, thanks to the appearance of the episodic Kinko, the journey of their energetic "Special" will not be displeasing to my readers.
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