jamesclavell.noblehouse-第103章

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rything's　set；　sir。　We'll　send　a　cab　to　your　house　…　you're　phoning　from　Struan's　Lookout？〃
　〃Yes　…　yes；　I'm　home。〃
　〃The　driver'll　be　one　of　our　guys。　There'll　be　more　of　my　uncle's；　er；　people　scattered　over　Kowloon　Tong　so　not　to　worry；　you'll　be　covered　every　foot　of　the　way。　Just　hand　over　the　money　and；　er；　and　they'll　take　care　of　everything。　My　uncle's　chief　lieut…　er；　his　aide；　says　not　to　worry；　they'll　have　the　whole　area　swarming　。。。　Mr。　Chen？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　still　here。　Thank　you。〃
　〃The　cab'll　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　
　Paul　Choy　put　down　the　phone。　〃Noble　House　Chen　says　thank　you；　Honorable　Father；〃　he　told　Four　Finger　Wu　placatingly　in　their　dialect；　quaking　under　the　stony　eyes。　Sweat　was　beading　his　face。　He　tried　unsuccessfully　to　hide　his　fear　of　the　others。　It　was　hot　and　stuffy　in　the　crowded　main　cabin　of　this　ancient　junk　that　was　tied　up　in　a　permanent　berth　to　an　equally　ancient　dock　in　one　of　Aberdeen's　multitude　of　estuaries。　〃Can　I　go　with　your　fighters；　too？〃
　〃Do　you　send　a　rabbit　against　a　dragon？〃　Four　Finger　Wu　snarled。　〃Are　you　trained　as　a　street　fighter？　Am　I　a　fool　like　you？　Treacherous　like　you？〃　He　jerked　a　horny　thumb　at　Goodweather　Poon。　〃Lead　the　fighters！〃　The　man　hurried　out。　The　others　followed。
　Now　the　two　of　them　were　alone　in　the　cabin。
　The　old　man　was　sitting　on　an　upturned　keg。　He　lit　another　cigarette；　inhaled　deeply；　coughed　and　spat　loudly　on　the　deck　floor。　Paul　Choy　watched　him；　the　sweat　running　down　his　back；　more　from　fear　than　from　the　heat。　Around　them　were　some　old　desks；　filing　cabinets；　rickety　chairs　and　two　phones；　and　this　was　Four　Fingers's　office　and　munications　center。　It　was　mostly　from　here　that　he　sent　messages　to　his　fleets。　Much　of　his　business　was　regular　freighting　but　wherever　the　Silver　Lotus　flag　flew；　his　order　to　his　captains　was：　Anything；　shipped　anywhere；　at　any　time　…　at　the　right　price。
　The　tough　old　man　coughed　again　and　glared　at　him　under　shaggy　eyebrows。　〃They　teach　you　curious　ways　in　the　Golden　Mountain；　heya？〃
　Paul　Choy　held　his　tongue　and　waited；　his　heart　thumping；　and　wished　he　had　never　e　back　to　Hong　Kong；　that　he　was　still　Stateside；　or　even　better　in　Honolulu　surfing　in　the　Great　Waves　or　lying　on　the　beach　with　his　girl　friend。　His　spirit　twisted　at　the　thought　of　her。
　〃They　teach　you　to　bite　the　hand　that　feeds　you；　heya？〃
　〃No；　Honored　Father；　sorr…　〃
　〃They　teach　that　my　money　is　yours；　my　wealth　yours　and　my　chop　yours　to　use　as　you　wish；　heya？〃
　〃No；　Honored　Lord。　I'm　sorry　to　displease　you；〃　Paul　Choy　muttered；　wilting　under　the　weight　of　his　fear。
　This　morning；　early；　when　Gornt　had　jauntily　e　into　the　office　from　the　meeting　with　Bartlett；　it　was　still　before　the　secretaries　were　due　so　Paul　Choy　had　asked　if　he　could　help　him。　Gornt　had　told　him　to　get　several　people　on　the　phone。　Others　he　had　dialed　himself　on　his　private　line。　Paul　Choy　had　thought　nothing　of　it　at　the　time　until　he　happened　to　overhear　part　of　what　was；　obviously；　inside　information　about　Struan's　being　whispered　confidentially　over　the　phone。　Remembering　the　Bartlett　call　earlier；　deducing　that　Gornt　and　Bartlett　had　had　a　meeting　…　a　successful　one　judging　by　Gornt's　good　humor　…　and　realizing　Gornt　was　relating　the　same　confidences　over　and　over；　his　curiosity　peaked。　Later；　he　happened　to　hear　Gornt　saying　to　his　solicitor；　〃。。。　selling　short　。。。　No；　don't　worry；　nothing's　going　to　happen　till　I'm　covered；　not　till　about　eleven。　。。。　Certainly。　I'll　send　the　order；　chopped；　as　soon　as　。。。〃
　The　next　call　he　was　asked　to　make　was　long　distance　to　the　manager　of　the　Bank　of　Switzerland　and　Zurich　that；　discreetly；　he　listened　to。　〃。。。　I'm　expecting　a　large　draft　of　U。S。　dollars　this　morning；　before　eleven。　Phone　me　the　instant；　the　very　instant　it's　in　my　account　。。。〃
　So；　bemused；　he　had　put　the　various　pieces　of　the　equation　together　and　e　up　with　a　theory：　If　Bartlett　has　arranged　a　sudden　secret　partnership　with　Gornt；　Struan's　known　enemy；　to　launch　one　of　his　raids；　if　Bartlett　also　takes　part　of　the　risk；　or　most　of　it　…　by　secretly　putting　large　sums　in　one　of　Gornt's　numbered　Swiss　accounts　to　cover　any　sell…short　losses　…　and　lastly；　if　he's　talked　Gornt　into　being　the　front　guy　while　he　sits　on　the　fence；　the　stuff　is　going　to　hit　the　fan　in　the　exchange　and　Struan's　stock　has　got　to　go　down。
　This　precipitated　an　immediate　business　decision：　Jump　in　quickly　and　sell　Struan's　short　before　the　big　guys　and　we'll　make　a　bundle。
　He　remembered　how　he　had　almost　groaned　aloud　because　he　had　no　money；　no　credit；　no　shares　and　no　means　to　borrow　any。　Then　he　recalled　what　one　of　his　instructors　at　Harvard　Business　School　had　kept　drumming　into　them：　A　faint　heart　never　laid　a　lovely　lady。　So　he'd　gone　into　a　private　office　and　phoned　his　newfound　friend；　Ishwar　Soorjani；　the　moneylender　and　dealer　in　foreign　exchange　whom　he　had　met　through　the　old　Eurasian　at　the　library。　〃Say；　Ishwar；　your　brother's　head　of　Soorjani　Stockbrokers；　isn't　he？〃
　〃No；　Young　Master。　Arjan　is　my　very　first　cousin。　Why？〃
　〃If　I　wanted　to　sell　a　stock　short　would　you　back　me？〃
　〃Certainly；　as　I　told　you　before；　buying　or　selling　I　support　you　to　the　holster；　if　you　have　reasonable　cash　to　cover　any　losses　。。。　or　the　equivalent。　No　cash　or　equivalent　so　sorry。〃
　〃Say　I　had　some　red…hot　information？〃
　〃The　road　to　hell　and　debtor's　prison　is　flooded　to　drowning　with　red…hot　information；　Young　Master。　I　advise　against　red…hot　informations。〃
　〃Boy；〃　Paul　Choy　said　unhappily；　〃I　could　make　us　a　few　100；000　before　three。〃
　〃Oh？　Would　you　care　to　whisper　the　illustrious　name　of　the　stock？〃
　〃Would　you　back　me　for　。。。　for　20；000　U。S。？〃
　〃Ah；　so　sorry；　Young　Master；　I'm　a　moneylender　not　a　money　giver。　My　ancestors　forbid　it！〃
　〃20；000　HK？〃
　〃Not　even　10　dollars　in　your　Rebel　Dixie　redbacks。〃
　〃Gee；　Ishwar；　you're　not　much　help。〃
　〃Why　not　ask　your　illustrious　uncle？　His　chop　。。。　and　I　would　instantly　go　to　half　a　million。　HK。〃
　Paul　Choy　knew　that　among　his　father's　cash　and　assets　transferred　from　the　Ho…Pak　to　the　Victoria　had　been　many　stock　certificates　and　a　list　of　securities　held　by　various　stockbrokers。　One　was　for　150；000　Struan　shares。　Jesus；　he　thought；　if　I'm　right　the　old　man　might　get　dumped。　If　Gornt　presses　the　raid　the　old　man　could　get　caught。
　〃Good　idea；　Ishwar。　I'll　call　you　back！〃　At　once　he　had　phoned　his　father　but　he　could　not　reach　him。　He　left　messages　wherever　he　could　and　began　to　wait。　His　anxiety　grew。　Just　before　ten　he　heard　Gornt's　secretary　answer　the　phone。　〃Yes？　。。。　Oh；　one　moment　please。　。。。　Mr。　Gornt？　A　person…to…person　call　from　Zurich。　。。。　You're　through。〃
　Once　more　he　had　tried　to　reach　his　father；　wanting　to　give　him　the　urgent　news。　Then　Gornt　had　sent　for　him。　〃Mr。　Choy；　would　you　please　run　this　over　to　my　solicitor　at　once。〃　He　handed　over　a　sealed　envelope。　〃Give　it　to　him　personally。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　So　he　had　left　the　office。　At　every　phone　he　had　stopped　and　tried　to　reach　his　father。　Then　he　had　delivered　the　note；　personally；　watching　the　solicitor's　face　carefully。　He　saw　glee。　〃Is　there　a　reply；　sir？〃　he　asked　politely。
　〃Just　say　everything　will　be　done　as　ordered。〃　It　was　a　few　minutes　past　ten。
　Outside　the　office　door　and　going　down　in　the　elevator　Paul　Choy　had　weighed　the　pluses　and　the　minuses。　His　stomach　twisting　uneasily；　he　stopped　at　the　nearest　phone。　〃Ishwar？　Say；　I've　an　urgent　order　from　my　uncle。　He　wants　to　sell　his　Struan　stock。　150；000　shares。〃
　〃Ah；　wise　wise；　there　are　terrible　rumors　speeding　around。〃
　〃I　suggested　you　and　Soorjani's　should　do　it　for　him。　150；000　shares。　He　asks　can　you　do　it　instantly？　Can　you　do　that？〃
　〃Like　a　bird　on　the　wing。　For　the　Esteemed　Four　Fingers　we　will　go　forth　like　Rothschilds！　Where　are　the　shares？〃
　〃In　the　vault。〃
　〃I　will　need　his　chop　at　once。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　get　it　now　but　he　said　to　sell　at　once。　He　said　to　sell　in　small　blocks　so　as　not　to　shock　the　market。　He　wants　the　very　best　price。　You'll　sell　at　once？〃
　〃Yes；　never　fear；　at　once。　And　we　will　get　the　best　price！〃
　〃Good。　And　most　important；　he　said　to　keep　this　secret。〃
　〃Verily；　Young　Master；　you　may　trust　us　implicitly。　And　the　stock　that　you　yourself　wished　to　sell　short？〃
　〃Oh　that　。。。　well　that'll　have　to　wait　。。。　until　I've　credit　heya？〃
　〃Wise　very　wise。〃
　Paul　Choy　shivered。　His　heart　was　pounding　now　in　the　silence　and　he　watched　his　father's　cigarette；　not　the　angry　face；　knowing　those　cold　black　eyes　were　boring　into　him；　deciding　his　fate。　He　remembered　how　he　had　almost　shouted　with　excitement　when　the　stock　had　begun　to　fall　almost　immediately；　monitoring　it　moment　by　moment；　then　ordering　Soorjani　to　buy　back　in　just　before　close　and　feeling　light…headed　and　in　euphoria。　At　once　he　had　phoned　his　girl；　spending　nearly　30　of　his　valuable　U。S。　dollars　telling　her　how　fantastic　his　day　had　been　and　how　much　he　missed　her。　She　said　how　much　she　missed　him　too　and　when　was　he　ing　back　to　Honolulu？　Her　name　was　Mika　Kasunari　and　she　was　sansei；　third…generation　American　of　Japanese　descent。　Her　parents　hated　him　because　he　was　Chinese；　as　he　knew　his　father　would　hate　her　because　she　was　Japanese　except　they　were　both　American；　both　of　them；　and　they　had　met　and　fallen　in　love　at　school。
　〃Very　soon；　honey；〃　he　had　promised　her　ecstatically；　'〃guaranteed　by　Christmas！　After　today　my　uncle'll　surely　give　me　a　bonus。　。。。〃
　The　work　that　Gornt　gave　him　for　the　rest　of　the　day　he　breezed　through。　Late　in　the　afternoon　Goodweather　Poon　had　phoned　to　say　his　father　would　see　him　in　Aberdeen　at　7：30　P。M。　Before　he　went　there　he　had　collected　Soorjani's　check　made　out　to　his　father。　615；000　HK　less　brokerage。
　Elated；　he　had　e　to　Aberdeen　and　given　him　the　check；　and　when　he　told　him　what　he　had　done　he　was　aghast　at　the　extent　of　his　father's　rage。　The　tirade　had　been　interrupted　by　Phillip　Chen's　phone　call。
　〃I'm　deeply　sorry　I've　offended　you；　Hon…　〃
　〃So　my　chop　is　yours；　my　wealth　is　yours　heya？〃　Four　Finger　Wu　shouted　suddenly。
　〃No；　Honored　Father；〃　he　gasped；　〃but　the　information　was　so　good　and　I　wanted　to　protect　your　stock　as　well　as　make　money　for　you。〃
　〃But　not　for　you　heya？〃
　〃No；　Honored　Father。　It　was　for　you。　To　make　you　money；　and　help　repay　all　the　money　you　invested　in　me　。。。　they　were　your　shares　and　it's　your　money。　I　tried　to　ca…　〃
　〃That's　no　fornicating　excuse！　You　e　with　me！〃
　Shakily　Paul　Choy　got　up　and　followed　the　old　man　onto　the　deck。　Four　Finger　Wu　cursed　his　bodyguard　away　and　pointed　a　stubby　finger　at　the　befouled　muddy　waters　in　the　harbor。　〃If　you　weren't　my　son；〃　he　hissed；　〃if　you　weren't　my　son　you'd　be　feeding　the　fish　there；　your　feet　in　a　chain；　this　very　moment。〃
　〃Yes；　Father。〃
　〃If　you　ever　again　use　my　name；　my　chop；　my　anything　without　my　approval　you're　a　dead　man。〃
　〃Yes；　Father；〃　Paul　Choy　muttered；　petrified；　realizing　that　his　father　had　the　means；　the　will　and　the　authority　to　put　that　threat　into　effect　without　fear　of　retaliation。　〃Sorry；　Father。　I　swear　I'll　never　do　that　again。〃
　〃Good。　If　you'd　lost　one　bronze　cash　you'd　be　there　now。　It's　only　because　you　fornicating　won　that　you're　alive　now。〃
　〃Yes；　Father。〃
　Four　F