jamesclavell.noblehouse-第113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！


　〃Yes；　sure；　Linc。〃　Casey　was　holding　on　grimly。　〃You　can　swim；　Casey？〃　Dunross　asked。　〃Yes。　I　。。。　was　caught　in　a　fire　once。　Ever　since　then　I've　been　frightened　to　death　of　them。〃　It　was　a　few　years　before　when　her　little　house　in　the　Hollywood　Hills　of　Los　Angeles　was　in　the　path　of　one　of　the　sudden　summer　conflagrations　and　she　had　been　bottled　in；　the　winding　canyon　road　already　burning　below。　She　had　turned　on　all　the　water　sprinklers　and　begun　to　hose　the　roof。　The　clawing　heat　of　the　fire　had　reached　out　at　her。　Then　the　fire　had　crested；　jumping　from　the　top　of　one　valley　to　the　opposite　side；　to　begin　burning　down　both　sides　toward　the　valley　floor；　whipped　by　hundred…mile…an…hour　gusts　self…generated　by　the　fire。　The　roaring　flames　obliterated　trees　and　houses；　came　closer　and　there　was　no　way　out。　In　terror；　she　kept　the　hose　on　her　roof。　Cats　and　dogs　from　the　homes　above　fled　past　her　and　one　wild…eyed　Alsatian　cowered　in　the　lee　of　her　house。　The　heat　and　the　smoke　and　the　terror　surrounded　her　and　it　went　on　and　on　but　this　part　of　the　fire　stopped　fifty　feet　from　her　boundary。　For　no　reason。　Above；　all　the　houses　on　her　street　had　gone。　Most　of　the　canyon。　A　swath　almost　half　a　mile　wide　and　two　long　burned　for　three　days　in　the　hills　that　bisected　the　city　of　Los　Angeles。
　〃I'm　all　right。　Linc；〃　she　said　shakily。　〃I　。。。　I　think　I'd　rather　be　outside　than　here。　Let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here。　A　swim'd　be　great。〃
　〃I　can't　swim！〃　Orlanda　was　trembling。　Then　her　control　snapped　and　she　got　up　to　rush　for　the　stairs。
　Bartlett　grabbed　her。　〃Everything's　going　to　be　all　right。　Jesus；　you'll　never　make　it　that　way。　Listen　to　the　poor　bastards　down　there；　they're　in　real　trouble。　Stay　put；　huh？　The　stairs're　no　good。〃　She　hung　on　to　him；　petrified。
　〃You'll　be　all　right；〃　Casey　said　passionately。
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　his　eyes　on　the　fire　and　billowing　smoke。
　Marlowe　said；　〃We；　er；　we're　really　in　very　good　shape；　tai…pan；　aren't　we？　Yes。　The　fire's　got　to　be　from　the　kitchens。　They'll　get　it　under　control。　Fleur；　pet；　there'll　be　no　need　to　go　over　the　side。〃
　〃It's　no　sweat；〃　Bartlett　assured　him。　〃There's　plenty　of　sampans　to　pick　us　up！〃
　〃Oh　yes；　but　she　can't　swim　either。〃
　Fleur　put　her　hand　on　her　husband's　arm。　〃You　always　said　I　should　learn；　Peter。〃
　Dunross　wasn't　listening。　He　was　consumed　with　fear　and　trying　to　dominate　it。　His　nostrils　were　filled　with　the　stench　of　burning　meat　that　he　knew　oh　so　well　and　he　was　near　vomiting。　He　was　back　in　his　burning　Spitfire；　shot　out　of　the　sky　by　a　Messerschmitt　109　over　the　Channel；　the　cliffs　of　Dover　too　far　away；　and　he　knew　the　fire　would　consume　him　before　he　could　tear　the　jammed　and　damaged　cockpit　canopy　free　and　bail　out；　the　horror…smell　of　scorching　flesh；　his　own；　surrounding　him。　In　terror　he　smashed　his　fist　impotently　against　the　Perspex；　his　other　beating　at　the　flames　around　his　feet　and　knees；　choking　from　the　acrid　smoke　in　his　lungs；　half　blinded。　Then　there　was　a　sudden　frantic　roar　as　the　cowl　ripped　away；　an　inferno　of　flames　surged　up　and　surrounded　him　and　somehow　he　was　out　and　falling　away　from　the　flames；　not　knowing　if　his　face　was　gone；　the　skin　of　his　hands　and　feet；　his　boots　and　flying　overalls　still　smoking。　Then　the　shuddering　nauseating　jerk　as　his　chute　opened；　then　the　dark　silhouette　of　the　enemy　plane　hurtled　toward　him　out　of　the　sun　and　he　saw　the　machine　guns　sparking　and　a　tracer　blew　part　of　his　calf　away。　He　remembered　none　of　the　rest　except　the　smell　of　burning　flesh　that　was　the　same　then　as　now。
　〃What　do　you　think；　tai…pan？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Shall　we　stay　or　leave？〃　Marlowe　repeated。
　〃We'll　stay；　for　the　moment；〃　Dunross　said　and　they　all　wondered　how　he　could　sound　so　calm　and　look　so　calm。　〃When　the　stairs　clear　we　can　walk　out。　No　reason　to　get　wet　if　we　don't　have　to。〃
　Casey　smiled　at　him　hesitantly。　〃These　fires　happen　often？〃
　〃Not　here；　but　they　do　in　Hong　Kong；　I'm　afraid。　Our　Chinese　friends　don't　care　much　about　fire　regulations　。。。〃
　It　was　still　only　a　few　minutes　since　the　first　violent　gust　of　fire　had　swirled　up　in　the　kitchen　but　now　the　fire　had　a　full　hold　there　and；　through　the　access　of　the　dumbwaiter；　a　strong　hold　on　the　central　sections　of　the　three　decks　above。　The　fire　in　the　kitchen　blocked　half　the　room　from　the　only　staircase。　Twenty　terrified　men　were　trapped　on　the　wrong　side。　The　rest　of　the　staff　had　fled　long　since　to　join　the　heaving　mass　of　people　on　the　deck　above。　There　were　half　a　dozen　portholes　but　these　were　small　and　rusted　up。　In　panic　one　of　the　cooks　rushed　at　the　flaming　barrier；　screamed　as　the　flames　engulfed　him；　almost　made　it　through　but　slipped　and　kept　on　screaming　for　a　long　while。　A　petrified　moan　burst　from　the　others。　There　was　no　other　escape　possibility。
　The　head　chef　was　trapped　too。　He　was　a　portly　man　and　he　had　been　in　many　kitchen　fires　so　he　was　not　panicked。　His　mind　ranged　all　the　other　fires；　desperately　seeking　a　clue。　Then　he　remembered。
　〃Hurry；〃　he　shouted；　〃get　bags　of　rice　flour　。。。　rice　。。。　hurry！〃
　The　others　stared　at　him　without　moving；　their　terror　numbing　them；　so　he　lashed　out　and　smashed　some　of　them　into　the　storeroom；　grabbed　a　fifty…pound　sack　himself　and　tore　the　top　off。　〃Fornicate　all　fires　hurry　but　wait　till　I　tell　you；〃　he　gasped；　the　smoke　choking　and　almost　blinding　him。　One　of　the　portholes　shattered　and　the　sudden　draft　whooshed　the　flames　at　them。　Terrified　they　grabbed　a　sack　each；　coughing　as　the　smoke　billowed。
　〃Now！〃　the　head　chef　roared　and　hurled　the　sack　at　the　flaming　corridor　between　the　stoves。　The　sack　burst　open　and　the　clouds　of　flour　doused　some　of　the　flames。　Other　sacks　followed　in　the　same　area　and　more　flames　were　swallowed。　Another　barrage　of　flour　went　over　the　flaming　benches；　snuffing　them　out。　The　passage　was　momentarily　clear。　At　once　the　head　chef　led　the　charge　through　the　remaining　flames　and　they　all　followed　him　pell…mell；　leaping　over　the　two　charred　bodies；　and　gained　the　stairs　at　the　far　side　before　the　flames　gushed　back　and　closed　the　path。　The　men　fought　their　way　up　the　narrow　staircase　and　into　the　partial　air　of　the　landing；　joining　the　milling　mob　that　pushed　and　shoved　and　screamed　and　coughed　their　way　through　the　black　smoke　into　the　open。
　Tears　streamed　from　most　faces。　The　smoke　was　very　heavy　now　in　the　lower　levels。　Then　the　wall　behind　the　first　landing　where　the　shaft　of　the　dumbwaiter　was　began　to　twist　and　blacken。　Abruptly　it　burst　open；　scattering　gargoyles；　and　flames　gushed　out。　Those　on　the　stairs　below　shoved　forward　in　panic　and　those　on　the　landing　reeled　back。　Then；　seeing　they　were　so　close　to　safety；　the　first　ranks　darted　forward；　skirting　the　inferno；　jumping　the　stairs　two　at　a　time。　Hugh　Guthrie；　one　of　the　MPs；　saw　a　woman　fall。　He　held　on　to　the　bannister　and　stopped　to　help　her　but　those　behind　toppled　him　and　he　fell　with　others。　He　picked　himself　up；　cursing；　and　fought　a　path　clear　for　just　enough　time　to　drag　the　woman　up　before　he　was　engulfed　again　and　shoved　down　the　last　few　stairs　to　gain　the　entrance　safely。
　Half　the　landing　between　the　lower　deck　and　the　second　deck　was　still　free　of　flames　though　the　fire　had　an　unassailable　hold　and　was　fueling　itself。　The　crowds　were　thinning　now　though　more　than　a　hundred　still　clogged　the　upper　staircases　and　doorways。　Those　above　were　milling　and　cursing；　not　being　able　to　see　ahead。
　〃What's　the　holdup　for　chrissake。　。。。〃
　〃Are　the　stairs　still　clear　。。。　？〃
　〃For　chrissake　get　on　with　it。　。。。〃
　〃It's　getting　bloody　hot　up　here　。。。〃
　〃What　a　sodding　carve…up。　。。。〃
　Grey　was　one　of　those　trapped　on　the　second…deck　staircase。　He　could　see　the　flames　gushing　out　of　the　wall　ahead　and　knew　the　nearby　wall　would　go　any　moment。　He　could　not　decide　whether　to　retreat　or　to　advance。　Then　he　saw　a　child　cowering　against　the　steps　under　the　banister。　He　managed　to　pull　the　little　boy　into　his　arms　then　pressed　on；　cursing　those　in　front；　darted　around　the　fire；　the　way　to　safety　below　still　jammed。
　On　the　top　deck　Gornt　and　others　were　listening　to　the　pandemonium　below。　There　were　only　thirty　or　so　people　still　here。　He　finished　his　drink；　set　the　glass　down　and　walked　over　to　the　group　surrounding　Dunross　…　Orlanda　was　still　sitting；　twisting　her　handkerchief　in　her　hands；　Fleur　and　Peter　Marlowe　still　outwardly　calm；　and　Dunross；　as　always；　in　control。　Good；　he　thought；　blessing　his　own　heritage　and　training。　It　was　part　of　British　tradition　that　in　danger；　however　petrified　you　are；　you　lose　face　by　showing　it。　Then；　too；　he　reminded　himself；　most　of　us　have　been　bombed　most　of　our　lives；　shot　at；　sunk；　slammed　into　POW　jails　or　been　in　the　Services。　Gornt's　sister　had　been　in　the　Women's　Royal　Naval　Service　…　his　mother　an　air　raid　warden；　his　father　in　the　army；　his　uncle　killed　at　Monte　Cassino；　and　he　himself　had　served　with　the　Australians　in　New　Guinea　after　escaping　from　Shanghai；　and　had　fought　his　way　into　and　through　Burma　to　Singapore。
　〃Ian；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　suitably　nonchalant；　〃it　sounds　as　though　the　fire's　on　the　first　landing　now。　I　suggest　a　swim。〃
　Dunross　glanced　back　at　the　fire　near　the　exit　door。　〃Some　of　the　ladies　don't　swim。　Let's　give　it　a　couple　of　minutes。〃
　〃Very　well。　I　think　those　who　don't　mind　jumping　should　go　on　deck。　That　particular　fire's　really　very　boring。〃
　Casey　said；　〃I　don't　find　it　very　boring　at　all。〃
　They　all　laughed。　〃It's　just　an　expression；〃　Peter　Marlowe　explained。
　An　explosion　below　decks　rocked　the　boat　slightly。　The　momentary　silence　was　eerie。
　In　the　kitchen　the　fire　had　spread　to　the　storage　rooms　and　was　surrounding　the　four　remaining　hundred…gallon　drums　of　oil。　The　one　that　had　blown　up　had　torn　a　gaping　hole　in　the　floor　and　buckled　the　side　of　the　boat。　Burning　embers　and　burning　oil　and　some　seawater　poured　into　the　scuppers。　The　force　of　the　explosion　had　ruptured　some　of　the　great　timbers　of　the　flat…bottomed　hull　and　water　was　seeping　through　the　seams。　Hordes　of　rats　scrambled　out　of　the　way　seeking　an　escape　route。
　Another　of　the　thick　metal　drums　blew　up　and　ripped　a　vast　hole　in　the　side　of　the　boat　just　below　the　waterline；　scattering　fire　in　all　directions。　The　people　on　the　wharf　gasped　and　some　reeled　back　though　there　was　no　danger。　Others　laughed　nervously。　Still　another　drum　exploded　and　another　shaft　of　flames　sprayed　everywhere。　The　ceiling　supports　and　joists　were　seriously　weakened　and；　oil　soaked；　began　to　burn。　Above　on　the　first　deck；　the　feet　of　the　frenzied　escapees　pounded　dangerously。
　Just　above　the　first　landing　Grey　still　had　the　child　in　his　arms。　He　held　on　to　the　bannister　with　one　hand；　frightened；　shoving　people　behind　and　in　front　of　him。　He　waited　his　turn；　then　shielding　the　child　as　best　he　could；　ducked　around　the　flames　on　the　landing　and　darted　down　the　stairs；　the　way　mostly　clear。　The　carpet　by　the　threshold　was　beginning　to　smoke　and　one　heavyset　man　stumbled；　the　whole　floor　shaky。
　〃e　on；〃　Grey　shouted　desperately　to　those　behind。　He　made　the　threshold；　others　close　behind　and　in　front。　Just　as　he　reached　the　drawbridge　the　last　two　drums　exploded；　the　whole　floor　behind　him　disappeared　and　he　and　the　child　and　others　we