jamesclavell.noblehouse-第109章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Broadhurst　interrupted　smoothly。　〃Russia's　just　trying　to　solve　her　own　problems；　Mr。　Dunross；　one　of　them's　the　U。S。　containment　policy。　They　just　want　to　be　left　alone　and　not　surrounded　by　highly　emotional　Americans　with　their　overfed　hands　on　nuclear　triggers。〃
　〃Balls！　The　Yanks're　the　only　friends　we've　got；〃　Hugh　Guthrie　said　angrily。　〃As　to　the　Soviets；　what　about　the　Cold　War？　Berlin？　Hungary？　Cuba；　Egypt　。。。　they're　swallowing　us　piecemeal。〃
　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth　sighed。　〃Life's　strange　and　memories　are　so　short。　In　'45；　May　second　it　was；　in　the　evening；　we　joined　up　with　the　Russians　at　Wismar　in　northern　Germany。　I'd　never　been　so　proud　or　happy　in　my　life；　yes；　proud。　We　sang　and　drank　and　cheered　and　toasted　each　other。　Then　my　division　and　all　of　us　in　Europe；　all　the　Allies　had　been　held　back　for　weeks　to　let　the　Russkies　sweep　into　Germany　all　through　the　Balkans；　Czechoslovakia　and　Poland　and　all　the　other　places。　At　the　time　I　didn't　think　much　about　it；　I　was　so　thankful　that　the　war　was　almost　over　at　long　last　and　so　proud　of　our　Russian　allies；　but　you　know；　looking　back；　now　I　know　we　were　betrayed；　we　soldiers　were　betrayed　…　Russian　soldiers　included。　We　got　buggered。　I　don't　really　know　how　it　happened；　still　don't；　but　I　truly　believe　we　were　betrayed；　Julian；　by　our　own　leaders；　your　bloody　Socialists；　along　with　Eisenhower；　Roosevelt　and　his　misguided　advisors。　I　swear　to　God　I　still　don't　know　how　it　happened　but　we　lost　the　war；　we　won　but　we　lost。〃
　〃e　now；　Charles；　you're　quite　wrong。　We　all　won；〃　Broadhurst　said。　〃The　people　of　the　world　won　when　Nazi　Germany　was　sma…　〃　He　stopped；　startled；　as　he　saw　the　look　on　Grey's　face。　〃What's　the　matter；　Robin？〃
　Grey　was　staring　at　the　other　side　of　the　room。　〃Ian！　That　man　over　there　talking　to　the　Chinese　。。。　do　you　know　him？　The　tall　bugger　in　the　blazer。〃
　Equally　astonished；　Dunross　glanced　at　the　other　side　of　the　room。　〃The　sandy…haired　fellow？　You　mean　Marlowe；　Pete…　〃
　〃Peter　bloody　Marlowe！〃　Grey　muttered。　〃What's　。。。　what's　he　doing　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃He's　just　visiting。　From　the　States。　He's　a　writer。　I　believe　he's　writing　or　researching　a　book　on　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Writer；　eh？　Curious。　Is　he　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　〃I　met　him　a　few　days　ago。　Why？〃
　〃That's　his　wife　…　the　girl　next　to　him？〃
　〃Yes。　That's　Fleur　Marlowe；　why？〃
　Grey　did　not　answer。　There　was　a　fleck　of　saliva　at　the　corner　of　his　lips。
　〃What's　his　connection　with　you；　Robin？〃　Broadhurst　asked；　strangely　perturbed。
　With　an　effort　Grey　tore　his　eyes　off　Marlowe。　〃We　were　in　Changi　together；　Julian；　the　Jap　POW　camp。　I　was　provost　marshal　for　the　last　couple　of　years；　in　charge　of　camp　discipline。〃　He　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　top　lip。　〃Marlowe　was　one　of　the　black　marketeers　there。〃
　〃Marlowe？〃　Dunross　was　astounded。
　〃Oh　yes；　Flight　Lieutenant　Marlowe；　the　great　English　gentleman；〃　Grey　said；　his　voice　raw　with　bitterness。　〃Yes。　He　and　his　pal；　an　American　called　King；　Corporal　King；　were　the　main　ones。　Then　there　was　a　fellow　called　Timsen；　an　Aussie。　。。。　But　the　American　was　the　biggest；　he　was　the　King　all　right。　A　Texan。　He　had　colonels　on　his　payroll；　English　gentlemen　all　…　colonels；　majors；　captains。　Marlowe　was　his　interpreter　with　the　Jap　and　Korean　guards　。。。　we　mostly　had　Korean　guards。　They　were　the　worst。　。。。〃　Grey　coughed。　〃Christ；　it's　such　a　short　time　ago。　Marlowe　and　the　King　lived　off　the　fat　of　the　land　…　those　two　buggers　ate　at　least　one　egg　a　day；　while　the　rest　of　us　starved。　You　can't　imagine　how　。。。〃　Again　Grey　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　lip　without　noticing　it。
　〃How　long　were　you　a　POW？〃　Sir　Charles　asked　passionately。
　〃Three　and　a　half　years。〃
　〃Terrible；〃　Hugh　Guthrie　said。　〃My　cousin　bought　it　on　the　Burma　railroad。　Terrible！〃
　〃It　was　all　terrible；〃　Grey　said。　〃But　it　wasn't　so　terrible　for　those　who　sold　out。　On　the　Road　or　at　Changi！〃　He　looked　at　Sir　Charles　and　his　eyes　were　strange　and　bloodshot。　〃It's　the　Marlowes　of　the　world　who　betrayed　us；　the　ordinary　people　without　privileges　of　birth。〃　His　voice　became　even　more　bitter。　〃No　offense　but　now　you're　all　getting　your　euppance　and　about　time。　Christ；　I　need　a　drink。　Excuse　me　a　moment。〃　He　stalked　on；　heading　for　the　bar　that　was　set　up　to　one　side。
　〃Extraordinary；〃　Sir　Charles　said。
　Guthrie　said　with　a　slight；　nervous　laugh；　〃For　a　moment　I　thought　he　was　going　for　Marlowe。〃
　They　all　watched　him；　then　Broadhurst　noticed　Dunross　frowning　after　Grey；　his　face　set　and　cold。　〃Don't　pay　any　attention　to　him；　Mr。　Dunross。　I'm　afraid　Grey's　very　tiresome　and　a　rather　vulgar　bore。　He's　。。。　well　he's　not　at　all　representative　of　the　Labour　echelon；　thank　God。　You'd　like　our　new　leader；　Harold　Wilson；　you'd　approve　of　him。　Next　time　you're　in　London　I'd　be　glad　to　introduce　you　if　you've　time。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Actually　I　was　thinking　about　Marlowe。　It's　hard　to　believe　he　'sold　out'　or　betrayed　anyone。〃
　〃You　never　know　about　people；　do　you？〃
　
　Grey　got　a　whiskey　and　soda　and　turned　and　went　across　the　room。　〃Well；　if　it　isn't　Flight　Lieutenant　Marlowe！〃
　Peter　Marlowe　turned；　startled。　His　smile　vanished　and　the　two　men　stared　at　one　another。　Fleur　Marlowe　froze。
　〃Hello；　Grey；〃　Marlowe　said；　his　voice　flat。　〃I　heard　you　were　in　Hong　Kong。　In　fact；　I　read　your　interview　in　the　afternoon　paper。〃　He　turned　to　his　wife。　〃Darling；　this　is　Robin　Grey；　MP。〃　He　introduced　him　to　the　Chinese；　one　of　whom　was　Sir　Shi…teh　T'Chung。
　〃Ah；　Mr。　Grey；　it's　an　honor　to　have　you　here；〃　Shi…teh　said　with　an　Oxford　English　accent。　He　was　tall；　dark；　good…looking；　slightly　Chinese　and　mostly　European。　〃We　hope　your　stay　in　Hong　Kong　will　be　good。　If　there's　anything　I　can　do；　just　say　the　word！〃
　〃Ta；〃　Grey　said　carelessly。　They　all　noticed　his　rudeness。　〃So；　Marlowe！　You　haven't　changed　much。〃
　〃Nor　have　you。　You've　done　well　for　yourself。〃　Marlowe　added　to　the　others；　〃We　were　in　the　war　together。　I　haven't　seen　Grey　since　'45。〃
　〃We　were　POWs；　Marlowe　and　I；〃　Grey　said；　then　added；　〃We're　on　opposite　sides　of　the　political　blanket。〃　He　stopped　and　stepped　out　of　the　way　to　allow　Orlanda　Ramos　to　pass。　She　greeted　Shi…teh　with　a　smile　and　continued　on。　Grey　watched　her　briefly；　then　turned　back。　〃Marlowe　old　chap；　are　you　still　in　trade？〃　It　was　a　private　English　insult。　〃Trade〃　to　someone　like　Marlowe　who　came　from　a　long　line　of　English　officers　meant　everything　mon　and　lower　class。
　〃I'm　a　writer；〃　Marlowe　said。　His　eyes　went　to　his　wife　and　his　eyes　smiled　at　her。
　〃I　thought　you'd　still　be　in　the　RAF；　regular　officer　like　your　illustrious　forebears。〃
　〃I　was　invalided　out；　malaria　and　all　that。　Rather　boring；〃　Marlowe　said；　deliberately　lengthening　his　patrician　accent　knowing　that　it　would　infuriate　Grey。　〃And　you're　in　Parliament？　How　very　clever　of　you。　You　represent　Streatham　East？　Wasn't　that　where　you　were　born？〃
　Grey　flushed。　〃Yes；　yes　it　was　。。。〃
　Shi…teh　covered　his　embarrassment　at　the　undercurrents　between　them。　〃I　must；　er；　see　about　dinner。〃　He　hurried　off。　The　other　Chinese　excused　themselves　and　turned　away。
　Fleur　Marlowe　fanned　herself。　〃Perhaps　we　should　find　our　table；　Peter；〃　she　said。
　〃A　good　idea；　Mrs。　Marlowe；〃　Grey　said。　He　was　in　as　tight　control　as　Peter　Marlowe。　〃How's　the　King？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　seen　him　since　Changi。〃　Marlowe　looked　down　on　Grey。
　〃But　you're　in　touch　with　him？〃
　〃No。　No；　actually　I'm　not。〃
　〃You　don't　know　where　he　is？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃That's　strange；　seeing　how　close　you　two　were。〃　Grey　ripped　his　eyes　away　and　glanced　at　Fleur　Marlowe　and　thought　she　was　the　prettiest　woman　he　had　ever　seen。　So　pretty　and　fine　and　English　and　fair；　just　like　his　ex…wife　Trina　who　went　off　with　an　American　barely　a　month　after　he　was　reported　missing　in　action。　Barely　a　month。　〃Did　you　know　we　were　enemies　in　Changi；　Mrs。　Marlowe？〃　he　said　with　a　gentleness　that　she　found　frightening。
　〃Peter's　never　discussed　Changi　with　me；　Mr。　Grey。　Or　anyone　that　I　know　of。〃
　〃Curious。　It　was　an　awesome　experience；　Mrs。　Marlowe。　I've　forgotten　none　of　it。　I　。。。　well；　sorry　to　interrupt　。。。〃　He　glanced　up　at　Marlowe。　He　began　to　say　something　but　changed　his　mind　and　turned　away。
　〃Oh；　Peter；　what　an　awful　man！〃　Fleur　said。　〃He　gave　me　the　creeps。〃
　〃Nothing　to　bother　about；　my　darling。〃
　〃Why　were　you　enemies？〃
　〃Not　now；　my　pet；　later。〃　Marlowe　smiled　at　her；　loving　her。　〃Grey's　nothing　to　us。〃
　
　36
　
　9：45　P。M。：
　Linc　Bartlett　saw　Orlanda　before　she　saw　him　and　she　took　his　breath　away。　He　couldn't　help　paring　her　with　Casey　who　was　beside　him　talking　to　Andrew　Gavallan。　Orlanda　was　wearing　white　silk；　floor…length；　backless　with　a　halter　neck　that；　discreetly；　somehow；　seemed　to　offer　her　golden　body。　Casey　wore　her　green　that　he　had　seen　many　times；　her　tawny　hair　cascading。
　〃Would　you　both　like　to　e　to　Shi…teh's　tonight？〃　Orlanda　had　asked　him　this　morning。　〃It　could　be　important　for　you　and　your　Casey　to　be　there。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　almost　all　business　that　counts　in　Hong　Kong　is　done　at　this　type　of　function；　Mr。　Bartlett。　It　could　be　very　important　for　you　to　bee　involved　with　people　like　Shi…teh　…　and　in　the　Turf　Club；　Cricket　Club；　even　the　Club　itself；　though　that'd　be　impossible。〃
　〃Because　I'm　American？〃
　〃Because　someone　has　to　die　to　create　an　opening　…　an　English　or　Scotsman。〃　She　had　laughed。　〃The　waiting　list's　as　long　as　Queen's　Road！　It's　men　only；　very　stuffy；　old　leather　chairs；　old　men　sleeping　off　their　three…hour　and　ten…gin　lunches；　The　Times　and　all　that。〃
　〃Hell；　that　sounds　exciting！〃
　She　had　laughed　again。　Her　teeth　were　white　and　he　could　see　no　blemish　in　her。　They　had　talked　over　breakfast　and　he　had　found　her　more　than　easy　to　talk　to。　And　to　be　with。　Her　perfume　was　enticing。　Casey　rarely　wore　perfume　…　she　said　that　she'd　found　it　just　another　distraction　to　the　businessmen　she　had　to　deal　with。　With　Orlanda；　breakfast　had　been　coffee　and　toast　and　eggs　and　crisp　bacon；　American　style；　at　a　brand…new　hotel　she　suggested；　called　the　Mandarin。　Casey　didn't　eat　breakfast。　Just　coffee　and　toast　sometimes；　or　croissants。
　The　interview　had　passed　easily　and　the　time　too　fast。　He　had　never　been　in　the　pany　of　a　woman　with　such　open　and　confident　femininity。　Casey　was　always　so　strong；　efficient　and　cool　and　not　feminine。　By　choice；　her　choice　and　my　agreement；　he　reminded　himself。
　〃That's　Orlanda？〃　Casey　was　looking　at　him；　one　eyebrow　arched。
　〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　trying　unsuccessfully　to　read　her。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃I　think　she's　dynamite。〃
　〃Which　way？〃
　Casey　laughed。　She　turned　to　Gavallan　who　was　trying　to　concentrate　and　be　polite　but　whose　mind　was　taken　up　with　Kathy。　After　Kathy　had　told　him　this　evening；　he　had　not　wanted　to　leave　her　but　she　had　insisted；　saying　that　it　was　important　for　him　to　be　there。　〃Do　you　know　her；　Andrew？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　girl　in　white。〃
　〃Where？　Oh！　Oh　yes；　but　only　by　reputation。〃
　〃Is　it　good　or　bad？〃
　〃That；　er；　depends　on　your　point　of　view；　Casey。　She's；　she's　Portuguese；　Eurasian；　of　course。　Orlanda　was　Gornt's　friend　for　quite　a　few　years。〃
　〃You　mean　his　mistress？〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　that's　the　word；〃　he　told　her　politely；　disliking　Casey's　directness　intensely。　〃But　it　was　all　ver