jamesclavell.noblehouse-第106章

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　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Soo　Tak…gai；　Lord；〃　he　said　instantly；　using　their　prearranged　emergency　names。
　〃Him？〃　The　finger　pointed　at　his　brother。
　〃Soo　Tak…tong。〃
　〃Him？〃
　〃Wu…tip　Sup。〃
　〃And　him？〃
　The　youth　looked　at　his　father's　body。　〃He　was　Goldtooth　Soo；　Lord。　He　was　very　bad　but　we　。。。　we；　we　had　to　obey。　We　had　to　obey　him；　he　was　our；　our　father。〃
　〃Where　did　you　take　Number　One　Son　Chen　before　you　killed　him？〃
　〃To　Sha　Tin；　Lord；　but　I　didn't　kill　him。　We　snatched　him　Hong　Kong　side　then　put　him　in　the　back　of　a　car　we　stole　and　went　to　Sha　Tin。　There's　an　old　shack　our　father　rented；　just　outside　the　village　。。。　he　planned　everything。　We　had　to　obey　him。〃
　Poon　grunted　and　nodded　at　his　men。　〃We'll　search　here　first。〃　At　once　they　released　Smallpox　Kin；　the　unconscious　youth　who　slumped　to　the　floor；　leaving　a　trail　of　blood。　〃You；　bind　up　his　finger！〃　Hastily　Kin　Pak　grabbed　an　old　dishcloth　and；　near　vomiting；　began　to　tie　a　rough　tourniquet　around　the　stump。
　Poon　sighed；　not　knowing　what　to　do　first。　After　a　moment　he　opened　the　suitcase。　All　their　eyes　went　to　the　mountain　of　notes。　They　all　felt　the　greed。　Poon　shifted　the　knife　into　his　other　hand　and　closed　the　suitcase。　He　left　it　in　the　center　of　the　table　and　started　to　search　the　dingy　apartment。　There　was　just　a　table；　a　few　chairs　and　an　old　iron　bedstead　with　a　soiled　mattress。　Paper　was　peeling　off　the　walls；　the　windows　mostly　boarded　up　and　glassless。　He　turned　the　mattress　over；　then　searched　it　but　it　concealed　nothing。　He　went　into　the　filthy；　almost　empty　kitchen　and　switched　on　the　light。　Then　into　the　foul…smelling　toilet。　Smallpox　Kin　whimpered；　ing　around。
　In　a　drawer　Goodweather　Poon　found　some　papers；　ink　and　writing　brushes。　〃What's　this　for？〃　he　asked；　holding　up　one　of　the　papers。　On　it　was　written　in　bold　characters：　〃This　Number　One　Son　Chen　had　the　stupidity　to　try　to　escape　us。　No　one　can　escape　the　Werewolves！　Let　all　Hong　Kong　beware。　Our　eyes　are　everywhere！〃
　〃What's　this　for；　heya？〃
　Kin　Pak　looked　up　from　the　floor；　desperate　to　please。　〃We　couldn't　return　him　alive　to　Noble　House　Chen　so　our　father　ordered　that　。。。　that　tonight　we　were　to　dig　Number　One　Son　up　and　put　that　on　his　chest　and　put　him　beside　the　Sha　Tin　Road。〃
　Goodweather　Poon　looked　at　him。　〃When　you　start　to　dig　you'd　better　find　him　quickly；　the　first　time；〃　he　said　malevolently。　〃Yes。　Or　your　eyes；　Little　Turd；　won't　be　anywhere。〃
　
　35
　
　9：30　P。M。：
　Orlanda　Ramos　came　up　the　wide　staircase　of　the　vast　Floating　Dragon　restaurant　at　Aberdeen　and　moved　through　the　noisy；　chattering　guests　at　Sir　Shi…teh　T'Chung's　banquet　looking　for　Linc　Bartlett　…　and　Casey。
　The　two　hours　that　she　had　spent　with　Linc　this　morning　for　the　newspaper　interview　had　been　revealing；　particularly　about　Casey。　Her　instincts　had　told　her　the　sooner　she　brought　the　enemy　to　battle　the　better。　It　had　been　easy　to　have　them　both　invited　tonight　…　Shi…teh　was　an　old　associate　of　Gornt　and　an　old　friend。　Gornt　had　been　pleased　with　her　idea。
　They　were　on　the　top　deck。　There　was　a　nice　smell　of　the　sea　ing　through　the　large　windows；　the　night　good　though　humid；　overcast；　and　all　around　were　the　lights　of　the　high　rises　and　the　township　of　Aberdeen。　Out　in　the　harbor；　nearby；　were　the　brooding　islands　of　junks；　partially　lit；　where　150；000　boat　people　lived　their　lives。
　The　room　they　were　in；　scarlet　and　gold　and　green；　stretched　half　the　length　and　the　whole　breadth　of　the　boat；　off　the　central　staircase。　Ornate　wood　and　plaster　gargoyles　and　unicorns　and　dragons　were　everywhere　throughout　the　three　soaring　decks　of　the　restaurant　ablaze　with　lights　and　packed　with　diners。　Below　decks；　the　cramped　kitchens　held　twenty…eight　cooks；　an　army　of　helpers；　a　dozen　huge　cauldrons　…　steam；　sweat　and　smoke。　Eighty…two　waiters　serviced　the　Floating　Dragon。　There　were　seats　for　four　hundred　on　each　of　the　first　two　decks　and　two　hundred　on　the　third。　Sir　Shi…teh　had　taken　over　the　whole　top　deck　and　now　it　was　well　filled　with　his　guests；　standing　in　impatient　groups　amid　the　round　tables　that　seated　twelve。
　Orlanda　felt　fine　tonight　and　very　confident。　She　had　again　dressed　meticulously　for　Bartlett。　This　morning　when　she　had　had　the　interview　with　him　she　had　worn　casual　American　clothes　and　little　makeup；　and　the　loose；　silk　blouse　that　she　had　selected　so　carefully　did　not　flaunt　her　bralessness；　merely　suggested　it。　This　daring　new　fashion　pleased　her　greatly；　making　her　even　more　aware　of　her　femininity。　Tonight　she　wore　delicate　white　silk。　She　knew　her　figure　was　perfect；　that　she　was　envied　for　her　open；　unconscious　sensuality。
　That's　what　Quillan　did　for　me；　she　thought；　her　lovely　head　high　and　the　curious　half…smile　lighting　her　face　…　one　of　the　many　things。　He　made　me　understand　sensuality。
　Havergill　and　his　wife　were　in　front　of　her　and　she　saw　their　eyes　on　her　breasts。　She　laughed　to　herself；　well　aware　that；　even　discreetly；　she　would　be　the　only　woman　in　the　room　who　had　dared　to　be　so　modern；　to　emulate　the　fashion　that　had　begun　the　year　before　in　Swinging　London。
　〃Evening；　Mr。　Havergill；　Mrs。　Havergill；〃　she　said　politely；　moving　around　them　in　the　crush。　She　knew　him　well。　Many　times　he　had　been　invited　onto　Gornt's　yacht。　Sometimes　Gornt's　yacht　would　steam　out　from　the　Yacht　Club；　Hong　Kong　side；　with　just　her　and　Quillan　and　his　men　friends　aboard　and　go　over　to　Kowloon；　to　the　sea…washed　steps　beside　the　Golden　Ferry　where　the　girls　would　be　waiting；　dressed　in　sun　clothes　or　boating　clothes。
　In　her　early　days　with　Quillan　she　too　had　had　to　wait　Kowloon　side；　honoring　the　golden　rule　in　the　Colony　that　discretion　was　all　important　and　when　you　live　Hong　Kong　side　you　play　Kowloon　side；　live　Kowloon　side；　play　Hong　Kong　side。
　In　the　days　when　Quillan's　wife　was　bedridden　and　Orlanda　was　openly；　though　still　most　discreetly；　Quillan's　mistress；　Quillan　would　take　her　with　him　to　Japan　and　Singapore　and　Taiwan　but　never　Bangkok。　In　those　days　Paul　Havergill　was　Paul　or　more　likely；　Horny　…　Horny　Hav…a…girl；　as　he　was　known　to　most　of　his　intimates。　But　even　then；　whenever　she　would　meet　him　in　public；　like　tonight；　it　would　always　be　Mr。　Havergill。　He's　not　a　bad　man；　she　told　herself；　remembering　that　though　most　of　his　girls　never　liked　him；　they　fawned　on　him　for　he　was　reasonably　generous　and　could　always　arrange　a　sudden　loan　at　low　interest　for　a　friend　through　one　of　his　banking　associates；　but　never　at　the　Vic。
　Wise；　she　thought；　amused；　and　a　matter　of　face。　Ah；　but　I　could　write　such　a　book　about　them　all　if　I　wanted　to。　I　never　will　…　I　don't　think　I　ever　will。　Why　should　I；　there's　no　reason。　Even　after　Macao　I've　always　kept　the　secrets。　That's　another　thing　Quillan　taught　me　…　discretion。
　Macao。　What　a　waste！　I　can　hardly　remember　what　that　young　man　looked　like　now；　only　that　he　was　awful　at　the　pillow　and；　because　of　him；　my　life　was　destroyed。　The　fool　was　only　a　sudden；　passing　fancy；　the　very　first。　It　was　only　loneliness　because　Quillan　was　away　a　month　and　everyone　away；　and　it　was　lust　for　youth　…　just　the　youth…filled　body　that　had　attracted　me　and　proved　to　be　so　useless。　Fool！　What　a　fool　I　was！
　Her　heart　began　fluttering　at　the　thought　of　all　those　nightmares：　being　caught；　being　sent　to　England；　having　to　fight　the　youth　off；　desperate　to　please　Quillan；　then　ing　back　and　Quillan　so　cool　and　never　pillowing　with　him　again。　And　then　the　greater　nightmare　of　adjusting　to　a　life　without　him。
　Terrifying　days。　That　awful　unquenchable　desire。　Being　alone。　Being　excluded。　All　the　tears　and　the　misery　then　trying　to　begin　again　but　cautiously；　always　hoping　he　would　relent　if　I　was　patient。　Never　anyone　in　Hong　Kong；　always　alone　in　Hong　Kong；　but　when　the　urge　was　too　much；　going　away　and　trying　but　never　satisfied。　Oh　Quillan；　what　a　lover　you　were！
　Not　long　ago　his　wife　had　died　and　then；　when　the　time　was　right；　Orlanda　had　gone　to　see　him。　To　seduce　him　back　to　her。　That　night　she　had　thought　that　she　had　succeeded　but　he　had　only　been　toying　with　her。　〃Put　your　clothes　on；　Orlanda。　I　was　just　curious　about　your　body；　I　wanted　to　see　if　it　was　still　as　exquisite　as　it　was　in　my　day。　I'm　delighted　to　tell　you　it　is　…　you're　still　perfection。　But；　so　sorry；　I　don't　desire　you。〃　And　all　her　frantic　weepings　and　pleadings　made　no　difference。　He　just　listened　and　smoked　a　cigarette　then　stubbed　it　out。　〃Orlanda；　please　don't　ever　e　here　again　uninvited；〃　he　had　said　so　quietly。　〃You　chose　Macao。〃
　And　he　was　right；　I　did；　I　took　his　face　away。　Why　does　he　still　support　me？　she　asked　herself；　her　eyes　wandering　the　guests；　seeking　Bartlett。　Do　you　have　to　lose　something　before　you　find　its　true　value？　Is　that　what　life　is？
　〃Orlanda！〃
　She　stopped；　startled；　as　someone　stepped　in　her　way。　Her　eyes　focused。　It　was　Richard　Hamilton　Pugmire。　He　was　slightly　shorter　than　she　was。　〃May　I　introduce　Charles　Biltzmann　from　America；〃　he　was　saying　with　a　leer；　his　nearness　making　her　skin　crawl。　〃Charles's　going　to　be；　the；　er；　the　new　tai…pan　of　General　Stores。　Chuck；　this's　Orlanda　Ramos！〃
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　ma'am！〃
　〃How　are　you？〃　she　said　politely；　instantly　disliking　him。　〃I'm　sorry　…　〃
　〃Call　me　Chuck。　It's　Orlanda？　Say；　that's　a　mighty　pretty　name；　mighty　pretty　dress！〃　Biltzmann　produced　his　visiting　card　with　a　flourish。　〃Old　Chinese　custom！〃
　She　accepted　it　but　did　not　reciprocate。　〃Thank　you。　Sorry；　Mr。　Biltzmann；　would　you　excuse　me？　I　have　to　join　my　friends　an…　〃　Before　she　could　prevent　it；　Pugmire　took　her　arm；　led　her　aside　a　pace　and　whispered　throatily；　〃How　about　dinner？　You　look　fantas…　〃
　She　jerked　her　arm　away　trying　not　to　be　obvious。　〃Go　away；　Pug。〃
　〃Listen；　Orlan…　〃
　〃I've　told　you　politely　fifty　times　to　leave　me　alone！　Now　dew　neh　loh　moh　on　you　and　all　your　line！〃　she　said　and　Pugmire　flushed。　She　had　always　detested　him；　even　in　the　old　days。　He　was　always　looking　at　her　behind　Quillan's　back；　leching；　and　when　she　had　been　discarded；　Pugmire　had　pestered　her　and　tried　every　way　to　get　her　into　bed　…　still　did。　〃If　you　ever　call　or　talk　to　me　again　I'll　tell　all　Hong　Kong　about　you　and　your　peculiar　habits。〃　She　nodded　politely　to　Biltzmann；　let　his　card　drop　unnoticed　and　walked　off。　After　a　moment；　Pugmire　went　back　to　the　American。
　〃What　a　body！〃　Biltzmann　said；　his　eyes　still　following　her。
　〃She's　…　she's　one　of　our　well…known　whores；〃　Pugmire　said　with　a　sneer。　〃I　wish　to　Christ　they'd　hurry　up　with　the　food。　I'm　starving。〃
　〃She's　a　tramp？〃　Biltzmann　gaped　at　him。
　〃You　can　never　tell　here。〃　Pugmire　added；　keeping　his　voice　down；　〃I'm　surprised　Shitee　T'Chung　invited　her。　Still；　I　don't　suppose　he　gives　a　shit　now　that　his　knighthood's　dubbed　and　paid　for。　Years　ago；　Orlanda　used　to　be　a　girlfriend　of　a　friend　but　she　was　up　to　her　old　tricks　of　selling　it　on　the　side。　He　caught　her　at　it　and　gave　her　the　Big　E。〃
　〃The　Big　E？〃
　〃The　Elbow　…　the　shove。〃
　Biltzmann　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　her。　〃Jesus；〃　he　muttered；　〃I　don't　know　about　the　Big　E　but　I'd　sure　as　hell　like　to　give　her　the　Big　One。〃
　〃That's　just　a　matter　of　money　but　I　can　assure　you；　old　chap；　she's　not　worth　it。　Orlanda's　dreadful　in　the　sack；　I　know；　and