jamesclavell.noblehouse-第10章

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e　beginning；　to　put　aside　the　ordinary　for　the　extraordinary。　For　seven　years。
　Casey　looked　out　of　the　window　at　the　harbor　and　the　ships　in　the　harbor。
　Crush；　destroy　and　win。　Big　Business；　the　most　exciting　Monopoly　game　in　the　world。　And　my　leader's　Raider　Bartlett；　Master…craftsman。　But　time's　running　out　on　us；　Linc。　This　year；　the　seventh　year；　the　last　year　ends　on　my　birthday；　November　25；　my　twenty…seventh　birthday。　。。。
　Her　ears　heard　the　half　knock　and　the　passkey　in　the　lock　and　she　turned　to　say　e　in　but　the　starched　houseboy　was　already　in。
　〃Morning　Missee　I'm　Number　One　Houseboy　Daytime　Chang。〃　Chang　was　gray　haired　and　solicitous。　He　beamed。　〃Tidy　room　plees？〃
　〃Don't　any　of　you　ever　wait　for　someone　to　say　e　in？〃　she　asked　sharply。
　Chang　stared　at　her　blankly。　〃Missee？〃
　〃Oh　never　mind；〃　she　said　wearily。
　〃Pretty　day；　heya？　Which　first；　Master's　room　or　Missee's？〃
　〃Mine。　Mr。　Bartlett　hasn't　used　his　yet。〃
　Chang　grinned　toothily。　Ayeeyah；　did　you　and　Master　tumble　together　in　yours；　Missee；　before　he　went　out？　But　there　were　only　fourteen　minutes　between　Master's　arrival　and　leaving　and　certainly　he　did　not　look　flushed　when　he　went　away。
　Ayeeyah；　first　it's　supposed　to　be　two　men　foreign　devils　sharing　my　suite　and　then　one's　a　she　…　confirmed　by　Nighttime　Ng；　who　of　course　went　through　her　luggage　and　found　serious　proof　that　she　was　a　true　she　…　proof　reconfirmed　this　morning　with　great　gusto　by　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung。
　Golden　pubics！　How　vile！
　And　Golden　Pubics　is　not　only　not　the　Master's　chief　wife　…　she　is　not　even　a　second　wife；　and　oh　ko；　worst　of　all　she　did　not　have　the　good　manners　to　pretend　she　was　so　the　hotel　rules　could　be　honored　and　everyone　save　face。
　Chang　chortled；　for　this　hotel　had　always　had　astounding　rules　about　ladies　in　men's　rooms　…　oh　gods　what　else　is　a　bed　for？　…　and　now　a　female　was　living　openly　in　barbarian　sin！　Oh　how　tempers　had　soared　last　night。　Barbarians！　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　barbarians！　But　this　one　is　surely　a　dragon　because　she　stared　down　the　Eurasian　assistant　manager；　and　the　Eurasian　night　manager；　and　even　old　mealy…mouth；　Chief　Manager　Big　Wind　himself。
　〃No　no　no；〃　he　had　wailed；　so　Chang　had　been　told。
　〃Yes　yes　yes；〃　she　had　replied；　insisting　that　she　have　the　adjoining　half　of　the　Fragrant　Spring　suite。
　It　was　then　that　Honorable　Mong；　chief　porter　and　chief　triad　and　therefore　leader　of　the　hotel；　solved　the　unsolvable。　〃The　Fragrant　Spring　suite　has　three　doors；　heya？〃　he　had　said。　〃One　for　each　bedroom；　one　for　the　main　room。　Let　her　be　shown　into　Fragrant　Spring　B　which　is　the　inferior　room　anyway；　through　its　own　door。　But　the　inner　door　to　the　main　sitting　room　and　thence　to　the　Master's　quarters　shall　be　tight　locked。　But　let　a　key　be　left　nearby。　If　the　mealy…mouthed　whore　unlocks　the　door　herself　。。。　what　can　one　do？　And　then；　if　there　happens　to　be　a　mix…up　in　bookings　tomorrow　or　the　next　day　and　our　honorable　chief　manager　has　to　ask　the　billionaire　and　his　strumpet　from　the　Land　of　the　Golden　Mountain　to　leave；　well　so　sorry　never　mind；　we　have　bookings　enough　and　to　spare　and　our　face　to　protect。〃
　And　so　it　was　done。
　The　outer　door　to　B　was　unlocked　and　Golden　Pubics　invited　in。　That　she　took　up　the　key　and　at　once　unlocked　the　inner　door　…　who　is　to　say？　That　the　door　is　open　now；　well；　certainly　I　would　never　tell　any　outsider；　my　lips　are　sealed。　As　always。
　Ayeeyah；　but　though　outer　doors　may　be　locked　and　be　prudish；　the　inner　ones　may　be　flung　wide　and　be　luscious。　Like　her　Jade　Gate；　he　thought　pensively。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　I　wonder　what　it　would　be　like　to　storm　a　Jade　Gate　the　size　of　hers？　〃Make　bed；　Missee？〃　he　asked　sweetly　in　English。
　〃Go　right　ahead。〃
　Oh　how　truly　awful　the　sound　of　their　barbarian　tongue　is。　Ugh！
　Daytime　Chang　would　have　hawked　and　cleared　the　spit　god　from　his　mouth；　but　that　was　against　hotel　rules。
　〃Heya；　Daytime　Chang；〃　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　said　brightly　as　she　came　into　the　bedroom　after　knocking　half…heartedly　on　the　suite　door　long　after　she　had　opened　it。　〃Yes；　Missee；　so　sorry；　Missee；〃　in　English；　then　again　to　Chang　in　Cantonese；　〃Haven't　you　finished　yet？　Is　her　dung　so　sweet　you　want　to　dawdle　in　her　drawers？〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　in　yours；　Sister。　Watch　your　tongue　or　your　old　father　may　give　you　a　good　drubbing。〃
　〃The　only　drubbing　your　old　mother　wants；　you　can't　help　me　with！　e　on；　let　me　help　you　make　her　bed　quickly。　There's　a　mah…jong　game　beginning　in　half　an　hour。　Honorable　Mong　sent　me　for　you。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you；　Sister。　Heya；　did　you　really　see　her　pubics？〃
　〃Haven't　I　told　you　already？　Am　I　a　liar？　They're　pure　golden；　lighter　than　her　head　hair。　She　was　in　the　bath　and　I　was　as　close　as　we　are　now。　And；　oh　yes；　her　nipples're　pinkish；　not　brown。〃
　〃Eeee！　Imagine！〃
　〃Just　like　a　sow's。〃
　〃How　awful！〃
　〃Yes。　Did　you　read　today's　mercial　Daily？〃
　〃No；　Sister；　not　yet。　Why？〃
　〃Well　their　astrologer　says　this　is　a　very　good　week　for　me　and　today　the　financial　editor　says　it　looks　as　though　there's　a　new　boom　beginning。〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　you　don't　say！〃
　〃So　I　told　my　broker　this　morning　to　buy　a　thousand　more　Noble　House；　the　same　Golden　Ferry；　40　of　Second　Great　House　and　50　Good　Luck　Properties。　My　bankers　are　generous　but　now　I　haven't　a　single　brass　cash　left　in　Hong　Kong　I　can　beg　or　borrow！〃
　〃Eeeee；　you're　plunging；　Sister。　I'm　stretched　out　myself。　Last　week　I　borrowed　from　the　bank　on　my　shares　and　bought　another　600　Noble　House。　That　was　Tuesday。　I　bought　in　at　25。23！〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　Honorable　Chang；　they　were　29。14　at　close　last　night。〃　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　made　an　automatic　calculation。　〃You're　already　2；348　Hong　Kong　ahead！　And　they　say　Noble　House's　going　to　bid　for　Good　Luck　Properties。　If　they　try；　it　will　send　their　enemies'　rage　to　boiling　point。　Ha！　The　tai…pan　of　Second　Great　House　will　fart　dust！〃
　〃Oh　oh　oh　but　meanwhile　the　shares　will　skyrocket！　Of　all　three　panies！　Ha！　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　where　can　I　get　more　cash？〃
　〃The　races；　Daytime　Chang！　Borrow　500　against　your　present　winnings　and　put　it　on　the　daily　double　on　Saturday　or　the　double　quinella。　4　and　5　are　my　lucky　numbers。　。。。〃
　They　both　looked　up　as　Casey　came　into　the　bedroom。　Chang　switched　to　English。　〃Yes　Missee？〃
　〃There's　some　laundry　in　the　bathroom。　Can　you　have　it　picked　up；　please？〃
　〃Oh　yes　I　fix。　Today　six　o'clock　e　by　okay　never　mind。〃　These　foreign　devils　are　so　stupid；　Chang　thought　contemptuously。　What　am　I；　an　empty…headed　dung　heap？　Of　course　I'll　take　care　of　the　laundry　if　there's　laundry。
　〃Thank　you。〃
　They　both　watched　fascinated　as　she　checked　her　makeup　in　the　bedroom　mirror；　preparing　to　leave。
　〃Her　tits　don't　droop　at　all；　do　they；　Sister？〃　Chang　said。　〃Pink　nipples　heya？　Extraordinary！〃
　〃Just　like　a　sow's；　I　told　you。　Are　your　ears　merely　pots　to　piss　in？〃
　〃In　your　ear；　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung。〃
　〃Has　she　tipped　you　yet？〃
　〃No。　The　Master　gave　too　much　and　she　nothing。　Disgusting　heya？〃
　〃Yes。　What　can　you　do？　People　from　the　Golden　Mountain　are　really　very　uncivilized；　aren't　they；　Daytime　Chang？〃
　
　5
　
　9：50　A。M。　：
　The　tai…pan　came　over　the　rise　and　barreled　down　the　Peak　Road　in　his　E…Type　Jaguar；　going　east　toward　Magazine　Gap。　On　the　winding　road　there　was　but　a　single　lane　each　side　with　few　places　to　pass　and　precipitous　on　most　corners。　Today　the　surface　was　dry　and；　knowing　the　way　so　well；　Ian　Dunross　rode　the　bends　fast　and　sweetly；　hugging　the　mountainside；　his　scarlet　convertible　tight　to　the　inside　curve。　He　did　a　racing　shift　down　and　braked　hard　as　he　swooped　a　bend　and　came　up　to　an　ancient；　slow…moving　truck。　He　waited　patiently；　then；　at　the　perfect　moment；　swung　out　onto　the　wrong　side　and　was　past　safely　before　the　oning　car　had　rounded　the　blind　corner　ahead。
　Now　Dunross　was　clear　for　a　short　stretch　and　could　see　that　the　snaking　road　ahead　was　empty。　He　jammed　his　foot　down　and　slid　some　corners；　usurping　the　whole　of　the　road；　taking　the　straightest　line；　using　hand　and　eye　and　foot　and　brake　and　gearshift　in　unison；　feeling　the　vast　power　of　the　engine　and　the　wheels　in　all　of　him。　Ahead；　suddenly；　was　an　oning　truck　from　the　far　corner　and　his　freedom　vanished。　He　geared　down　and　braked　in　split…second　time；　hugging　his　side；　regretting　the　loss　of　freedom；　then　accelerated　and　was　away　again　into　more　treacherous　bends。　Now　another　truck；　this　time　ladened　with　passengers；　and　he　waited　a　few　yards　behind；　knowing　there　was　no　place　to　pass　for　a　while。　Then　one　of　the　passengers　noticed　his　number　plate；　1…1010；　and　she　pointed　and　they　all　looked；　chattering　excitedly　one　to　another；　and　one　of　them　banged　on　the　cabin　of　the　truck。　The　driver　obligingly　squeezed　off　the　road　onto　the　tiny　shoulder　and　flagged　him　on。　Dunross　made　sure　he　was　safe　then　passed；　waving　to　them　with　a　grin。
　More　corners；　the　speed　and　the　waiting…to…pass　and　the　passing　and　the　danger　pleasing　him。　Then　he　cut　left　into　Magazine　Gap　Road；　down　the　hill；　the　bends　trickier；　the　traffic　building　up　now　and　slower。　He　overtook　a　taxi　and　jumped　three　cars　very　fast　and　was　back　in　line　though　still　over　the　speed　limit　when　he　saw　the　traffic　motorcycle　policemen　waiting　ahead。　He　changed　down　and　passed　them　going　the　regulation　30　mph。　He　waved　good…naturedly。　They　waved　back。
　〃You　really　must　slow　down；　Ian；〃　his　friend；　Henry　Foxwell；　Senior　Superintendent　of　Traffic；　had　said　recently。　〃You　really　should。〃
　〃I've　never　had　an　accident　…　yet。　Or　a　ticket。〃
　〃Good　God；　Ian；　there's　not　a　traffic　copper　on　the　island　who'd　dare　give　you　one！　You；　the　tai…pan？　Perish　the　thought。　I　meant　for　your　own　good。　Keep　that　speed　devil　of　yours　bottled　for　Monaco；　or　your　Macao　Road　Race。〃
　〃Monaco's　professional。　I　don't　take　chances；　and　I　don't　drive　that　fast　anyway。〃
　〃67　mph　over　Wongniechong　isn't　exactly　slow；　old　chap。　Admittedly　it　was　4：23　a。m。　on　an　almost　empty　road。　But　it　is　a　30　mph　zone。〃
　〃There're　lots　of　E…Types　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Yes；　I　agree。　Seven。　Scarlet　convertibles　with　a　special　number　plate？　With　a　black　canvas　roof；　racing　wheels　and　tires；　that　goes　like　the　clappers　of　hell？　It　was　last　Thursday；　old　chap。　Radar　and　all　that。　You'd　been　to　。。。　to　visit　friends。　In　Sinclair　Road　I　believe。〃
　Dunross　had　contained　his　sudden　rage。　〃Oh？〃　he　said；　the　surface　of　his　face　smiling。　〃Thursday？　I　seem　to　remember　I　had　dinner　with　John　Chen　then。　At　his　apartment　in　Sinclair　Towers。　But　I　thought　I　was　home　long　before　4：23。〃
　〃Oh　I'm　sure　you　were。　I'm　sure　the　constable　got　the　number　plate　and　color　and　everything　all　wrong。〃　Foxwell　clapped　him　on　the　back　in　friendly　style。　〃Even　so；　slow　down　a　little　will　you？　It'd　be　so　boring　if　you　killed　yourself　during　my　term。　Wait　till　I'm　transferred　back　to　Special　Branch　…　or　the　police　college；　eh？　Yes；　I'm　sure　he　made　a　mistake。〃
　But　there　was　no　mistake；　Dunross　had　said　to　himself。　You　know　it；　I　know　it；　and　John　Chen　would　know　it　and　so　would　Wei…wei。
　So　you　fellows　know　about　Wei…wei！　That's　interesting。
　〃Are　you　fellows　watching　me？〃　he　had　asked　bluntly。
　〃Good　God　no！〃　Foxwell　had　been　shocked。　〃Special　Intelligence　was　watching　a　villain　who's　got　a　flat　at　Si