jamesclavell.noblehouse-第112章

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　〃You　should　learn　…　it's　better　than　bridge。　Do　you　play　bridge；　Casey？〃
　Linc　Bartlett　laughed。　〃She's　a　wiz；　Lando。　Don't　play　her　for　money。〃
　〃Perhaps　we　can　have　a　game　sometime。　You　play；　don't　you；　Orlanda？〃　Mata　said；　remembering　Gornt　was　an　acplished　player。
　〃Yes；　a　little；〃　Orlanda　said　softly　and　Casey　thought　grimly；　I'll　bet　the　bitch's　a　wiz　too。
　〃I'd　love　a　game；〃　Casey　said　sweetly。
　〃Good；〃　Mata　said。　〃One　day　next　week　。。。　oh；　hello；　tai…pan！〃
　Dunross　greeted　them　all　with　his　smile。　〃How　did　you　enjoy　the　food？〃
　〃It　was　fantastic！〃　Casey　said；　happy　to　see　him　and　greatly　aware　of　how　handsome　he　looked　in　his　tuxedo。　〃Would　you　like　to　join　us？〃
　〃Thanks　bu…　〃
　〃Good　night；　tai…pan；〃　Dianne　Chen　said；　ing　up　to　him；　her　son　Kevin　…　a　short；　heavyset　youth　with　dark　curly　hair　and　full　lips　…　in　tow。
　Dunross　introduced　them。　〃Where's　Phillip？〃
　〃He　was　going　to　e　but　he　phoned　to　say　he　was　delayed。　Well；　good　night　。。。〃　Dianne　smiled　and　so　did　Kevin　and　they　headed　for　the　door；　Casey　and　Orlanda　wide…eyed　at　Dianne's　jewelry。
　〃Well；　I　must　be　off　too；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃How　was　your　table？〃
　〃Rather　trying；〃　Dunross　said　with　his　infectious　laugh。　He　had　eaten　with　the　MPs　…　with　Gornt；　Shi…teh　and　his　wife　at　the　Number　One　table　…　and　there　had　been　sporadic　angry　outbursts　above　the　clatter　of　plates。　〃Robin　Grey's　rather　outspoken；　and　ill…informed；　and　some　of　us　were　having　at　him。　For　once　Gornt　and　I　were　on　the　same　side。　I　must　confess　our　table　got　served　first　so　poor　old　Shi…teh　and　his　wife　could　flee。　He　took　off　like　a　dose　of　salts　fifteen　minutes　ago。〃
　They　all　laughed　with　him。　Dunross　was　watching　Marlowe。　He　wondered　if　Marlowe　knew　that　Grey　was　his　brother…in…law。　〃Grey　seems　to　know　you　quite　well；　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　〃He　has　a　good　memory；　tai…pan；　though　his　manners　are　off。〃
　〃I　don't　know　about　that；　but　if　he　has　his　way　in　Parliament　God　help　Hong　Kong。　Well；　I　just　wanted　to　say　hello　to　all　of　you。〃　He　smiled　at　Bartlett　and　Casey。　〃How　about　lunch　tomorrow？〃
　〃Fine；〃　Casey　said。　〃How　about　ing　to　the　V　and　A？〃　She　noticed　Gornt　get　up　to　leave　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room　and　she　wondered　again　who　would　win。　〃Just　before　dinner　Andrew　was　say…　〃
　Then；　with　all　of　them；　she　heard　faint　screams。　There　was　a　sudden　hush；　everyone　listening。
　〃Fire！〃
　〃Christ；　look！〃　They　all　stared　at　the　dumbwaiter。　Smoke　was　pouring　out。　Then　a　small　tongue　of　flame。
　A　split　second　of　disbelief；　then　everyone　jumped　up。　Those　nearest　the　main　staircase　rushed　for　the　doorway；　crowding　it；　as　others　took　up　the　shout。　Bartlett　leapt　to　his　feet　and　dragged　Casey　with　him。　Mata　and　some　of　the　guests　began　to　run　for　the　bottleneck。
　〃Hold　it！〃　Dunross　roared　above　the　noise。　Everyone　stopped。　〃There's　plenty　of　time。　Don't　hurry！〃　he　ordered。　〃There's　no　need　to　run；　take　your　time！　There's　no　danger　yet！〃　His　admonition　helped　those　who　were　overly　frightened。　They　started　easing　out　of　the　crammed　doorway。　But　below；　on　the　staircases；　the　shouts　and　hysteria　had　increased。
　Not　everyone　had　run　at　the　first　cry　of　danger。　Gornt　hadn't　moved。　He　puffed　his　cigar；　all　his　senses　concentrated。　Havergill　and　his　wife　had　walked　over　to　the　windows　to　look　out。　Others　joined　them。　They　could　see　crowds　milling　around　the　main　entrance　two　decks　below。　〃I　don't　think　we　need　to　worry；　my　dear；〃　Havergill　said。　〃Once　the　main　lot　are　out　we　can　follow　at　leisure。〃
　Lady　Joanna；　beside　them；　said；　〃Did　you　see　Biltzmann　rush　off？　What　a　berk！〃　She　looked　around　and　saw　Bartlett　and　Casey　across　the　room；　waiting　beside　Dunross。　〃Oh；　I'd've　thought　they'd've　fled　too。〃
　Havergill　said；　〃Oh　e　on；　Joanna；　not　all　Yankees　are　cowards！〃
　A　sudden　shaft　of　flame　and　thick　black　smoke　poured　out　of　the　dumbwaiter。　The　shouting　to　hurry　up　began　again。
　On　the　far　side　of　the　room　nearer　the　fire；　Bartlett　said　hastily；　〃Ian；　is　there　another　exit？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Take　a　look　outside。　I'll　hold　the　fort　here。〃　Bartlett　took　off　quickly　for　the　exit　door　to　the　half　deck　and　Dunross　turned　to　the　rest　of　them。　〃Nothing　to　worry　about；〃　he　said；　calming　them　and　gauging　them　quickly。　Fleur　Marlowe　was　white　but　in　control；　Casey　stared　in　shock　at　the　people　jamming　the　doorway；　Orlanda　petrified；　near　breaking。　〃Orlanda！　It's　all　right；〃　he　said；　〃there's　no　danger　。。。〃
　On　the　other　side　of　the　room　Gornt　got　up　and　went　nearer　to　the　door。　He　could　see　the　crush　and　knew　that　the　stairs　below　would　be　jammed。　Shrieks　and　some　screams　added　to　the　fear　here　but　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth　was　beside　the　doorway　trying　to　get　an　orderly　withdrawal　down　the　stairs。　More　smoke　billowed　out　and　Gornt　thought；　Christ　almighty；　a　bloody　fire；　half　a　hundred　people　and　one　exit。　Then　he　noticed　the　unattended　bar。　He　went　to　it　and；　outwardly　calm；　poured　himself　a　whiskey　and　soda；　but　the　sweat　was　running　down　his　back。
　Below　on　the　crowded　second…deck　landing　Lando　Mata　stumbled　and　brought　a　whole　group　down；　Dianne　Chen　and　Kevin　with　them；　creating　a　blockage　in　this；　the　only　escape　route。　Men　and　women　shrieked　impotently；　crushed　against　the　floor　as　others　fell　or　stumbled　over　them　in　a　headlong　dash　for　safety。　Above　on　the　staircase；　Pugmire　held　on　to　the　bannister　and　just　managed　to　keep　his　feet；　using　his　great　strength　to　shove　his　back　against　the　people　and　prevent　more　from　falling。　Julian　Broadhurst　was　beside　him；　frightened　too　but　equally　controlled；　using　his　height　and　weight　with　Pugmire。　Together　they　held　the　breach　momentarily；　but　gradually　the　weight　of　those　behind　overcame　them。　Pugmire　felt　his　grip　slipping。　Ten　steps　below；　Mata　fought　to　his　feet；　trampled　on　a　few　people　in　his　haste；　then　shoved　on　downstairs；　his　coat　half　torn　from　him。　Dianne　Chen　clawed　her　way　to　her　feet；　dragging　Kevin　with　her。　In　the　shoving；　milling　mass　of　humanity　she　did　not　notice　a　woman　grab　her　diamond　pendant　neatly　and　pocket　it；　then　jostle　away　down　the　stairs。　Smoke　billowing　up　from　the　lower　deck　added　to　the　horror。　Pugmire's　hold　was　broken。　He　was　half…shoved　into　the　wall　by　the　human　flood　and　Broadhurst　missed　his　footing。　Another　small　avalanche　of　people　began。　Now　the　stairs　on　both　levels　were　clogged。
　Four　Finger　Wu　with　Venus　Poon　had　been　on　the　first　landing　when　the　shout　had　gone　up　and　he　had　darted　down　the　last　staircase　and　shoved　his　way　out　onto　the　drawbridge　that　led　to　the　wharf；　Venus　Poon　a　few　terrorized　steps　behind　him。　Safe　on　the　wharf；　he　turned　and　looked　back；　his　heart　pounding；　his　breathing　heavy。　Men　and　women　were　stumbling　out　of　the　huge　ornate　doorway　onto　the　jetty；　some　flames　ing　out　of　portholes　near　the　waterline。　A　policeman　who　had　been　patrolling　nearby　ran　up；　watched　aghast　for　a　moment；　then　took　to　his　heels　for　the　nearest　telephone。　Wu　was　still　trying　to　catch　his　breath　when　he　saw　Richard　Kwang　and　his　wife　rush　out　pell…mell。　He　began　to　laugh　and　felt　much　better。　Venus　Poon　thought　the　people　looked　very　funny　too。　Onlookers　were　collecting　in　safety；　no　one　doing　anything　to　help；　just　gawking　…　which　is　only　right；　Wu　thought　in　passing。　One　must　never　interfere　with　the　decisions　of　the　gods。　The　gods　have　their　own　rules　and　they　decide　a　human's　joss。　It's　my　joss　to　escape　and　to　enjoy　this　whore　tonight。　All　gods　help　me　to　maintain　my　Imperial　Iron　until　she　screams　for　mercy。
　〃e　along；　Little　Mealy　Mouth；〃　Four　Fingers　said　with　a　cackle；　〃we　can　safely　leave　them　to　their　joss。　Time's　wasting。〃
　〃No；　Father；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Any　moment　the　TV　cameras　and　press　will　arrive　…　we　must　think　of　our　image；　heya？〃
　〃Image？　It's　the　pillow　and　the　Gorgeous　G…　〃
　〃Later！〃　she　said　imperiously　and　he　bit　back　the　curse　he　was　going　to　add。　〃Don't　you　want　to　be　hailed　as　a　hero？〃　she　said　sharply。　〃Perhaps　even　a　knighthood　like　Shitee；　heya？〃　Quickly　she　dirtied　her　hands　and　her　face　and　carefully　ripped　one　of　the　straps　above　her　breast　and　went　near　to　the　gangway　where　she　could　see　and　be　seen。　Four　Fingers　watched　her　blankly。　A　quai　loh　honor　like　Shitee？　he　thought　astounded。　Eeeeee；　why　not！　He　followed　her　warily；　taking　great　care　not　to　get　too　close　to　any　danger。
　They　saw　a　tongue　of　flame　sweep　out　of　the　chimney　on　the　top　deck　and　frightened　people　looking　down　from　the　three　decks　of　windows。　People　were　collecting　on　the　wharf。　Others　were　stumbling　out　to　safety　in　hysterics；　many　coughing　from　the　smoke　that　was　beginning　to　possess　the　whole　restaurant。　There　was　another　shouting　crush　in　the　doorway；　a　few　went　down　and　some　scuttled　from　under　the　milling　feet；　those　behind　shrieking　at　those　in　front　to　hurry；　and　again　Four　Fingers　and　other　onlookers　laughed。
　On　the　top　deck　Bartlett　leaned　over　the　railings　and　looked　down　at　the　hull　and　the　jetty　below。　He　could　see　crowds　on　the　wharf　and　milling；　hysterical　people　fighting　out　of　the　entrance。　There　was　no　other　staircase；　ladder　or　escape　possibility　on　either　side。　His　heart　was　hammering　but　he　was　not　afraid。　There's　no　real　danger；　yet；　he　thought。　We　can　jump　into　the　water　below。　Easy。　It's　what；　thirty；　forty　feet　…　no　sweat　if　you　don't　belly　flop。　He　ran　back　along　the　deck　that　used　up　half　the　length　of　the　boat。　Black　smoke；　sparks　and　a　little　flame　surged　out　of　the　funnels。
　He　opened　the　top…deck　door　and　closed　it　quickly　in　order　not　to　create　any　added　draft。　The　smoke　was　much　worse　and　the　flames　ing　out　of　the　dumbwaiter　were　continuous　now。　The　smoke　smell　on　the　air　was　acrid　and　carried　the　stench　of　burning　meat。　Almost　everyone　was　crowded　around　the　far　doorway。　Gornt　was　standing　apart　by　himself　watching　them；　sipping　a　drink。　Bartlett　thought；　Jesus；　there's　one　cold…blooded　bastard！　He　skirted　the　dumbwaiter　carefully；　his　eyes　smarting　from　the　smoke；　and　almost　knocked　over　Christian　Toxe　who　was　hunched　over　the　telephone　shouting　into　it　above　the　noise；　〃。。。　I　don't　give　a　shit；　get　a　photographer　out　here　right　now；　and　then　phone　the　fire　department！〃　Angrily　Toxe　slammed　down　the　phone　and　muttering；　〃Stupid　bastards；〃　went　back　to　his　wife；　a　matronly　Chinese　woman　who　stared　at　him　blankly。　Bartlett　hurried　toward　Dunross。　The　tai…pan　stood　motionless　beside　Peter　and　Fleur　Marlowe；　Orlanda　and　Casey；　whistling　tonelessly。
　〃Nothing；　Ian；〃　he　said　quietly；　noticing　his　voice　sounded　strange；　〃not　a　goddamn　thing。　No　ladders；　nothing。　But　we　can　jump；　easy；　if　necessary。〃
　〃Yes。　We're　lucky　being　on　this　deck。　The　others　may　not　be　so　lucky。〃　Dunross　watched　the　smoke　and　fire　spurting　from　the　dumbwaiter　that　was　near　the　exit　door。　〃We'll　have　to　decide　pretty　soon　which　way　to　go；〃　he　said　gently。　〃That　fire　could　cut　us　off　from　the　outside。　If　we　go　out　we　may　never　get　back　in　and　we'll　have　to　jump。　If　we　stay　in；　we　can　only　use　the　stairs。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Casey　muttered。　She　was　trying　to　calm　her　racing　heart　and　the　feeling　of　claustrophobia　that　was　welling　up。　Her　skin　felt　clammy　and　her　eyes　were　darting　from　the　exit　to　the　doorway　and　back　again。　Bartlett　put　an　arm　around　her。　〃It's　no　sweat；　we　can　jump　anytime。〃
　〃Yes；　sure；　Linc。〃　Casey　was　holding　on　grimly。　〃You　can　swim；　Casey？〃