jamesclavell.noblehouse-第100章

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　〃It　will　go　that　low？〃
　〃No。　Just　a　habit　I　have。　20　is　better　than　21。〃
　〃Yes。　Good。　Then　let　us　see　what　tomorrow　brings。　I　wish　you　good　joss。　Good　night；　tai…pan。〃
　Dunross　put　down　the　phone　and　sipped　the　last　of　his　champagne。　He　was　up　the　creek　without　a　paddle。　That　old　bugger　Tightfist；　he　thought　again；　admiring　his　cleverness　…　to　agree　so　reluctantly　not　to　sell　or　barter　any　Struan　shares；　knowing　that　only　1；000　remained；　knowing　the　revenue　from　almost　600；000　was　already　safe　…　that　old　bastard's　a　great　negotiator。　It's　so　very　clever　of　both　Lando　and　Tightfist　to　make　the　new　offer　now。　100　million！　Jesus　Christ；　that'd　stop　Gornt　farting　in　church！　I　could　use　that　to　smash　him　to　pieces；　and　in　short　order　take　over　Asian　Properties　and　put　Dunstan　into　an　early　retirement。　Then　I　could　pass　the　House　over　to　Jacques　or　Andrew　in　great　shape　and　。。。
　And　then　what？　What　would　I　do　then？　Retire　to　the　moors　and　shoot　grouse？　Throw　vast　parties　in　London？　Or　go　into　Parliament　and　sleep　in　the　Back　Bench　while　the　bloody　Socialists　give　the　country　to　the　munists？　Christ；　I'd　be　bored　to　bloody　death！　I'd　。。。
　〃What？〃　He　was　startled。　〃Oh　sorry；　Penn；　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　just　said　that　all　sounded　like　bad　news！〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　was。〃　Then　Dunross　grinned　and　all　his　anxiety　dropped　away。　〃It's　joss！　I'm　tai…pan；〃　he　said　happily。　〃You've　got　to　expect　it。〃　He　picked　up　the　bottle。　It　was　empty。　〃I　think　we　deserve　another　。。。　No；　pet；　I'll　get　it。〃　He　went　to　the　concealed　refrigerator　that　was　set　into　a　vast　old　Chinese　scarlet；　lacquered　sideboard。
　〃How　do　you　cope；　Ian？〃　she　asked。　〃I　mean；　it　always　seems　to　be　something　bad；　ever　since　you　took　over　…　and　there's　always　some　disaster；　every　phone　call；　you　work　all　the　time；　never　take　a　holiday　。。。　ever　since　we　came　back　to　Hong　Kong。　First　your　father　and　then　Alastair　and　then　。。。　Isn't　it　ever　going　to　stop　pouring　cats　and　dogs？〃
　〃Of　course　not　…　that's　the　job。〃
　〃Is　it　worth　it？〃
　He　concentrated　on　the　cork；　knowing　there　was　no　future　in　this　conversation。　〃Of　course。〃
　To　you　it　is；　Ian；　she　thought。　But　not　to　me。　After　a　moment　she　said；　〃Then　it's　all　right　for　me　to　go？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course。　I'll　watch　Adryon　and　don't　worry　about　Duncan。　You　just　have　a　great　time　and　hurry　back。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　do　the　hill　climb　Sunday？〃
　〃Yes。　Then　I'm　going　to　Taipei；　back　Tuesday。　I'm　taking　Bartlett。〃
　She　thought　about　Taipei　and　wondered　if　there　was　a　girl　there；　a　special　girl；　a　Chinese　girl；　half　her　age；　with　lovely　soft　skin　and　warmth；　not　much　warmer　than　herself　or　softer　or　trimmer　but　half　her　age；　with　a　ready　smile；　without　the　years　of　survival　bowing　her　…　the　rotten　growing…up　years；　the　good　and　terrible　war　years；　and　childbearing　years　and　child…rearing　years　and　the　exhausting　reality　of　marriage；　even　to　a　good　man。
　I　wonder　I　wonder　I　wonder。　If　I　was　a　man　。。。　there're　so　many　beauties　here；　so　anxious　to　please；　so　readily　available。　If　you　believe　a　tenth　of　what　the　others　say。
　She　watched　him　pour　the　fine　wine；　the　bubbles　and　froth　good；　his　face　strong　and　craggy　and　greatly　pleasing；　and　she　wondered；　Does　any　woman　possess　any　man　for　more　than　a　few　years？
　〃What？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nothing；〃　she　said；　loving　him。　She　touched　his　glass。　〃Be　careful　on　the　hill　climb。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃How　do　you　cope　with　being　tai…pan；　Ian？〃
　〃How　do　you　cope　with　running　a　home；　bringing　up　the　kids；　getting　up　at　all　hours；　year　after　year；　keeping　the　peace；　and　all　the　other　things　you've　had　to　do？　I　couldn't　do　that。　Never　could。　I'd've　given　up　the　ghost　long　ago。　It's　part　training　and　part　what　you're　born　to　do。〃
　〃A　woman's　place　is　in　the　home？〃
　〃I　don't　know　about　others；　Penn；　but　so　long　as　you're　in　my　home　all's　good　in　my　world。〃　He　popped　the　cork　neatly。
　〃Thank　you；　dear；〃　she　said　and　smiled。　Then　she　frowned。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　don't　have　much　option　and　never　had。　Of　course　it's　different　now　and　the　next　generation's　lucky；　they're　going　to　change　things；　turn　things　around　and　give　men　their　euppance　once　and　for　all。〃
　〃Oh？〃　he　said；　most　of　his　mind　back　on　Lando　Mata　and　tomorrow　and　how　to　get　the　100　million　without　conceding　control。
　〃Oh　yes。　The　girls　of　the　next　generation　aren't　going　to　put　up　with　the　boring　'a　woman's　place　is　by　the　sink。'　God　how　I　hate　housework；　how　every　woman　hates　housework。　Our　daughters　are　going　to　change　all　that！　Adryon　for　one。　My　God　I'd　hate　to　be　her　husband。〃
　〃Every　generation　thinks　they're　going　to　change　the　world；〃　Dunross　said；　pouring。　〃This's　great　champagne。　Remember　how　we　did？　Remember　how　we　used　to　bitch；　still　do；　about　our　parents'　attitudes？〃
　〃True。　But　our　daughters　have　the　pill　and　that's　a　whole　new　kettle　of　fish　an…　〃
　〃Eh？〃　Dunross　stared　at　her；　shocked。　〃You　mean　Adryon's　on　the　pill？　Jesus　Christ　how　long　。。。　do　you　mean　sh…　〃
　〃Calm　down；　Ian；　and　listen。　That　little　pill's　unlocked　womanhood　from　fear　forever　…　men　too；　in　a　way。　I　think　very　few　people　realize　what　an　enormous　social　revolution　it's　going　to　create。　Now　women　can　all　make　love　without　fear　of　having　a　child；　they　can　use　their　bodies　as　men　use　their　bodies；　for　gratification；　for　pleasure；　and　without　shame。〃　She　looked　at　him　keenly。　〃As　to　Adryon；　she's　had　access　to　the　pill　since　she　was　seventeen。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Of　course。　Would　you　prefer　her　to　have　a　child？〃
　〃Jesus　Christ；　Penn；　of　course　not；〃　Dunross　spluttered；　〃but　Jesus　Christ　who？　You　。。。　you　mean　she's　having　an　affair；　had　affairs　or　。。。〃
　〃I　sent　her　to　Dr。　Tooley。　I　thought　it　best　she　should　see　him。〃
　〃You　what？〃
　〃Yes。　When　she　was　seventeen；　she　asked　me　what　to　do；　said　most　of　her　friends　were　on　the　pill。　As　there　are　various　types　I　wanted　her　to　have　expert　advice。　Dr。　Too…　What　are　you　so　red　about；　Ian？　Adryon's　nineteen　now；　twenty　next　month；　it's　all　very　ordinary。〃
　〃It　isn't　by　God。　It　just　isn't！〃
　〃Och　laddie　but　it　is；〃　she　said；　aping　the　broad　Scots　accent　of　Granny　Dunross　whom　he　had　adored；　〃and　my　whole　point　is　that　the　lassies　of　today　know　what　they're　aboot　and　dinna　ye　dare　mention　it　to　Adryon　that　I've　told　ye　or　I'll　take　my　stick　to　your　britches！〃
　He　stared　at　her。
　〃Health！〃　Smugly　she　raised　her　glass。　〃Did　you　see　the　Guardian　Extra　this　afternoon？〃
　〃Don't　change　the　subject；　Penn。　Don't　you　think　I　should　talk　to　her？〃
　〃Absolutely　not。　No。　It's　a　。。。　it's　a　very　private　matter。　It's　really　her　body　and　her　life　and　whatever　you　say；　Ian；　she　has　the　right　to　do　with　her　life　what　she　pleases　and　really　nothing　you　say　will　make　any　difference。　It'll　all　be　very　embarrassing　for　both　of　you。　There's　face　involved；〃　she　added　and　was　pleased　with　her　cleverness。　〃Oh　of　course　Adryon'll　listen　and　take　your　views　to　heart　but　you　really　must　be　adult　and　modern　for　your　own　sake；　as　well　as　hers。〃
　Suddenly　an　uncontrollable　wave　of　heat　went　through　his　face。
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　was　thinking　about　。。。　I　was　just　thinking。〃
　〃About　who　was；　is　or　could　be　her　lover？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Penelope　Dunross　sighed。　〃For　your　own　sanity；　Ian；　don't！　She's　very　sensible；　over　nineteen　。。。　well；　quite　sensible。　e　to　think　of　it　I　haven't　seen　her　all　day。　The　little　rotter　rushed　out　with　my　new　scarf　before　I　could　catch　her。　You　remember　the　blouse　I　lent　her？　I　found　it　scrumpled　up　on　her　bathroom　floor！　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　see　her　off　on　her　own　and　in　her　own　apartment。〃
　〃She's　too　young　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃I　don't　agree；　dear。　As　I　was　saying；　there's　really　nothing　you　can　do　about　progress；　and　the　pill　is　a　marvelous　fantastic　unbelievable　leap　forward。　You　really　must　be　more　sensible。　Please？〃
　〃It's　。。。　Christ；　it's　a　bit　sudden；　that's　all。〃
　She　laughed　outright。　〃If　we　were　talking　about　Glenna　I　could　unders…　Uh　for　God's　sake；　Ian；　I'm　only　joking！　It　never　really　occurred　to　me　that　you　wouldn't　have　presumed　Adryon　was　a　very　healthy；　well…adjusted　though　foul…tempered；　infuriating；　very　frustrated　young　lady；　most　of　whose　frustrations　spring　from　trying　to　please　us　with　our　old…fashioned　ideas。〃
　〃You're　right。〃　He　tried　to　sound　convincing　but　he　wasn't　and　he　said　sourly；　〃You're　right　even　so　。。。　you're　right。〃
　〃Laddie；　dinna　ye　think　ye'd　better　visit　our　Shrieking　Tree？〃　she　asked　with　a　smile。　It　was　an　ancient　clan　custom　in　the　old　country　that　somewhere　near　the　dwelling　of　the　oldest　woman　of　the　laird's　family　would　be　the　Shrieking　Tree。　When　Ian　was　young；　Granny　Dunross　was　the　oldest；　and　her　cottage　was　in　a　glade　in　the　hills　behind　Kilmarnock　in　Ayrshire　where　the　Struan　lands　were。　The　tree　was　a　great　oak。　It　was　the　tree　that　you　went　out　to　when　the　deevil　…　as　old　Granny　Dunross　called　it　…　when　the　deevil　was　with　you；　and　alone；　you　shrieked　whatever　curses　you　liked。　〃。。。　and　then；　lassie；〃　the　lovely　old　woman　had　told　her　the　first　night；　〃。。。　and　then；　lassie；　there　would　be　peace　in　the　home　and　never　a　body　has　need　to　really　curse　a　husband　or　wife　or　lover　or　child。　Aye；　just　a　wee　tree　and　the　tree　can　bear　all　the　curse　words　that　the　deevil　himself　invented。　。。。〃
　Penelope　was　remembering　how　old　Granny　Dunross　had　taken　her　into　her　heart　and　into　the　clan　from　the　first　moment。　That　was　just　after　she　and　Ian　were　married　and　visiting　for　the　second　time；　Ian　on　sick　leave；　still　on　crutches；　his　legs　badly　burned　but　healing；　the　rest　of　him　untouched　in　the　flaming　crash…landing　but　for　his　mad；　all…consuming　anger　at　being　grounded　forever；　she　so　pleased　secretly；　thanking　God　for　the　reprieve。
　〃But　whisht；　lassie；〃　Granny　Dunross　had　added　with　a　chuckle　that　night　when　the　winter　winds　were　whining　off　the　moors；　sleet　outside；　and　they　all　warm　and　toasty　in　front　of　the　great　fire；　safe　from　the　bombing；　well　fed　and　never　a　care　except　that　Ian　should　get　well　quickly；　〃。。。　there　was　a　time　when　this　Dunross　was　six　and；　och　aye；　he　had　a　terrible　temper　even　then　and　his　father　Colin　was　off　in　those　heathen　foreign　parts　as　always；　so　this　Dunross　would　e　to　Ayr　on　holiday　from　boarding　school。　Aye；　and　sometimes　he　would　e　to　see　me　and　I'd　tell　him　tales　o'　the　clan　and　his　grandfather　and　great…grandfather　but　this　time　nothing　would　take　away　the　deevil　that　possessed　him。　It　was　a　night　like　this　and　I　sent　him　out；　the　poor　wee　bairn；　aye　I　sent　him　out　to　the　Shrieking　Tree。　。。。〃　The　old　woman　had　chuckled　and　chuckled　and　sipped　whiskey　and　continued；　〃Aye　and　the　young　deevil　went　out；　cock　of　the　walk；　the　gale　under　his　kilt；　and　he　cursed　the　tree。　Och　aye；　surely　the　wee　beasties　in　the　forest　fled　before　his　wrath　and　then　he　came　back。　'Have　you　given　it　a　good　drubbing；'　I　asked　him。　'Aye；'　he　said　in　his　wee　voice。　'Aye；　Grandma；　I　gave　it　a　good　drubbing；　the　very　best　ever。'
　〃　'Good；'　I　said。　'And　now　you're　at　peace！'
　〃　'Well；　not　really；　Grandmother；　but　I　am　tired。'　And　then；　lassie；　at　that　moment；　there　was　an　almighty　crash　and　the　whole　house　shook　and　I　thought　it　was　the　end　of　the　world　but　the　wee　little　bairn　ran　out　to　see　what　had　happened　and　a　lightning　bolt　had　blasted　the　Shrieking　Tree　to　pieces。　'Och　aye；　Granny；'　he　said　in　his　piping　little