jamesclavell.noblehouse-第115章

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　Casey　was　hanging　on　to　the　railings　with　Bartlett；　Dunross；　Gornt；　Orlanda　and　the　Marlowes。　Nearby；　Toxe　was　puffing　away；　trying　to　summon　his　courage。　His　wife　stubbed　her　cigarette　out　carefully。　Flames　were　surging　from　the　air　vents；　skylights　and　exit　door；　then　the　ship　grounded　heavily　and　lurched　as　another　of　her　anchoring　cables　snapped。　Gornt's　hold　was　torn　away　and　he　crashed　headfirst　into　the　railing；　stunning　himself。　Toxe　and　his　wife　lost　their　balance　and　went　over　the　side；　badly。　Peter　Marlowe　held　on　to　his　wife　and　just　managed　to　prevent　her　being　smashed　into　a　bulkhead　as　Bartlett　and　Casey　half…tumbled；　half…stumbled　past　and　fell　in　a　heap　at　the　railing；　Bartlett　protecting　her　as　best　he　could；　her　high　heels　dangerous。
　Below；　in　the　water；　sailors　were　helping　people　to　the　rescue　boat。　One　saw　Toxe　and　his　wife　rise　to　the　surface　for　an　instant　fifteen　yards　away；　both　gasping　and　spluttering；　before　they　choked；　and；　flailing；　went　down　again。　At　once　he　dived　for　them　and　after　a　seeming　eternity；　grabbed　her　clothing　and　shoved　her；　half…drowned；　to　the　surface。　The　young　lieutenant　swam　over　to　where　he　had　seen　Toxe　and　dived　but　missed　him　in　the　darkness。　He　came　up　for　air　and　dived　once　more　into　the　blackness；　groping　helplessly。　When　his　lungs　were　bursting；　his　outstretched　fingers　touched　some　clothing　and　he　grabbed　and　kicked　for　the　surface。　Toxe　clung　on　in　panic；　retching　and　choking　from　all　the　seawater　he　had　swallowed。　The　young　man　broke　his　hold；　turned　Toxe　over　and　hauled　him　to　the　cutter。
　Above　them；　the　boat　was　tilted　dangerously　and　Dunross　picked　himself　up。　He　saw　Gornt　inert　in　a　heap　and　he　stumbled　over　to　him。　He　tried　to　lift　him；　couldn't。
　〃I'm　。。。　I'm　all　right；〃　Gornt　gasped；　ing　around；　then　he　shook　his　head　like　a　dog。　〃Christ；　thanks　。。。〃　He　looked　up　and　saw　it　was　Dunross。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　smiled　grimly　as　he　got　up　shakily。　〃I'm　still　selling　tomorrow　and　by　next　week　you'll　have　had　it。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃Jolly　good　luck！　The　idea　of　burning　to　death　or　drowning　with　you　fills　me　with　equal　dismay。〃
　Ten　yards　away；　Bartlett　was　lifting　Casey　up。　The　angle　of　the　deck　was　bad　now；　the　fire　worse。　〃This　whole　goddamn　tub　could　capsize　any　second。〃
　〃What　about　them？〃　she　asked　quietly；　nodding　at　Fleur　and　Orlanda。
　He　thought　a　second；　then　said　decisively；　〃You　go　first；　wait　below！〃
　〃Got　it！〃　At　once　she　gave　him　her　small　purse。　He　stuffed　it　into　a　pocket　and　hurried　away　as　she　kicked　off　her　shoes；　unzipped　her　long　dress　and　stepped　out　of　it。　At　once　she　gathered　up　the　light　silk　material　into　a　rope；　tied　it　around　her　waist；　swung　neatly　over　the　railing　and　stood　there　poised　on　the　edge　a　moment；　gauged　her　impact　point　carefully；　and　leapt　out　into　a　perfect　swan　dive。　Gornt　and　Dunross　watched　her　go；　their　immediate　danger　forgotten。
　Bartlett　was　beside　Orlanda　now。　He　saw　Casey　break　the　surface　cleanly　and　before　Orlanda　could　do　anything　he　lifted　her　over　the　railing　and　said；　〃Hold　your　breath；　honey；〃　and　dropped　her　carefully。　They　all　watched　her　fall。　She　plummeted　down　feet　first　and　went　into　the　water　a　few　yards　from　Casey　who　had　already　anticipated　the　spot　and　had　swum　down　below　the　surface。　She　caught　Orlanda　easily；　kicked　for　the　surface；　and　Orlanda　was　breathing　almost　before　she　realized　she　was　off　the　deck。　Casey　held　her　safely　and　swam　strongly　for　the　cutter；　in　perfect　control。
　Gornt　and　Dunross　cheered　lustily。　The　boat　lurched　again　and　they　almost　lost　their　footing　as　Bartlett　stumbled　over　to　the　Marlowes。
　〃Peter；　how's　your　swimming？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃Average。〃
　〃Trust　me　with　her？　I　was　a　lifeguard；　beach　bum；　for　years。〃
　Before　Marlowe　could　say　no；　Bartlett　lifted　Fleur　into　his　arms　and　stepped　over　the　railing　onto　the　ledge　and　poised　himself　for　a　second。　〃Just　hold　your　breath！〃　She　put　one　arm　around　his　neck　and　held　her　nose　then　he　stepped　into　space；　Fleur　tightly　and　safely　in　his　arms。　He　plunged　into　the　sea　cleanly；　protecting　her　from　the　shock　with　his　own　legs　and　body；　and　kicked　smoothly　for　the　surface。　Her　head　was　hardly　under　a　few　seconds　and　she　was　not　even　spluttering　though　her　heart　was　racing。　In　seconds　she　was　at　the　cutter。　She　hung　on　to　the　side　and　they　looked　back。
　When　Peter　Marlowe　saw　she　was　safe　his　heart　began　again。　〃Oh；　jolly　good；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Did　you　see　Casey　go？〃　Dunross　asked。　〃Fantastic！〃
　〃What？　Oh；　no；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Just　bra　and　pants　with　stockings　attached　and　no　ironworks　and　a　dream　dive。　Christ；　what　a　figure！〃
　〃Oh　those're　pantyhose；〃　Marlowe　said　absently；　looking　at　the　water　below；　gathering　his　courage。　〃They've　just　e　out　in　the　States；　they're　all　the　rage　。。。〃
　Dunross　was　hardly　listening。　〃Christ　Agnes；　what　a　figure。〃
　〃Ah　yes；〃　Gornt　echoed。　〃And　what　cojones。〃
　The　boat　shrieked　as　the　last　of　its　mooring　guys　snapped。　The　deck　toppled　nauseatingly。
　As　one；　the　last　three　men　went　overboard。　Dunross　and　Gornt　dived；　Peter　Marlowe　jumped。　The　dives　were　good　but　both　men　knew　they　were　not　as　good　as　Casey's。
　
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　11：30　P。M。：
　On　the　other　side　of　the　island　the　old　taxi　was　grinding　up　the　narrow　street　high　above　West　Point　in　Mid　Levels；　Suslev　sprawled　drunkenly　in　the　backseat。　The　night　was　dark　and　he　was　singing　a　sad　Russian　ballad　to　the　sweating　driver；　his　tie　askew；　coat　off；　his　shirt　streaked　with　sweat。　The　overcast　had　thickened　and　lowered；　the　humidity　was　worse；　the　air　stifling。
　〃Matyeryebyets！〃　he　muttered；　cursing　the　heat；　then　smiled；　the　twisted　obscenity　pleasing　him。　He　looked　out　the　window。　The　city　and　harbor　lights　far　below　were　misted　by　wisps　of　clouds；　Kowloon　mostly　obscured。　〃It'll　rain　soon；　rade；〃　he　said　to　the　driver；　his　English　slurred；　not　caring　if　the　man　understood　or　not。
　The　ancient　taxi　was　wheezing。　The　engine　coughed　suddenly　and　that　reminded　him　of　Arthur's　cough　and　their　ing　meeting。　His　excitement　quickened。
　The　taxi　had　picked　him　up　at　the　Golden　Ferry　Terminal；　then　climbed　to　Mid　Levels　on　the　Peak；　turned　west；　skirting　Government　House　where　the　governor　lived；　and　the　Botanical　Gardens。　Passing　the　palace；　Suslev　had　wondered　absently　when　the　Hammer　and　Sickle　would　fly　atop　the　empty　flagpole。　Soon；　he　had　thought　contentedly。　With　Arthur's　help　and　Sevrin's　…　very　soon。　Just　a　few　more　years。
　He　peered　at　his　watch。　He　would　be　a　little　late　but　that　did　not　worry　him。　Arthur　was　always　late；　never　less　than　ten　minutes；　never　more　than　twenty。　Dangerous　to　be　a　man　of　habit　in　our　profession；　he　thought。　But　dangerous　or　not；　Arthur's　an　enormous　asset　and　Sevrin；　his　creation；　a　brilliant；　vital　tool　in　our　KGB　armament；　buried　so　deep；　waiting　so　patiently；　like　all　the　other　Sevrins　throughout　the　world。　Only　ninety…odd　thousands　of　us　KGB　officers　and　yet　we　almost　rule　the　world。　We've　already　changed　it；　changed　it　permanently；　already　we　own　half　。。。　and　in　such　a　short　time；　only　since　1917。
　So　few　of　us；　so　many　of　them。　But　now　our　tentacles　reach　out　into　every　corner。　Our　armies　of　assistants　…　informers；　fools；　parasites；　traitors；　the　twisted　self…deluders　and　misshapen；　misbegotten　believers　we　so　deliberately　recruit　are　in　every　land；　feeding　off　one　another　like　the　vermin　they　all　are；　fueled　by　their　own　selfish　wants　and　fears；　all　expendable　sooner　or　later。　And　everywhere　one　of　us；　one　of　the　elite；　the　KGB　officers；　in　the　center　of　each　web；　controlling　guiding　eliminating。　Webs　within　webs　up　to　the　Presidium　of　all　the　Soviets　and　now　so　tightly　woven　into　the　fabric　of　Mother　Russia　as　to　be　indestructible。　We　are　modern　Russia；　he　thought　proudly。　We're　Lenin's　spearhead。　Without　us　and　our　techniques　and　our　orchestrated　use　of　terror　there　would　be　no　Soviet　Russia；　no　Soviet　Empire；　no　driving　force　to　keep　the　rulers　of　the　Party　all　powerful　…　and　nowhere　on　earth　would　there　be　a　munist　state。　Yes；　we're　the　elite。
　His　smile　deepened。
　It　was　hot　and　sultry　inside　the　taxi　even　though　the　windows　were　open　as　it　curled　upward　through　this　residential　area　with　its　ribbons　of　great　gardenless　apartment　blocks　that　sat　on　small　pads　chewed　out　of　the　mountainside。　A　bead　of　sweat　trickled　down　his　cheek　and　he　wiped　it　off；　his　whole　body　feeling　clammy。
　I'd　love　a　shower；　he　thought；　letting　his　mind　wander。　A　shower　with　cool　sweet　Georgian　water；　not　this　saline　filth　they　put　through　Hong　Kong's　pipes。　I'd　love　to　be　in　the　dacha　near　Tiflis；　oh　that　would　be　grand！　Yes；　back　in　the　dacha　with　Father　and　Mother　and　I'd　swim　in　the　stream　running　through　our　land　and　dry　off　in　the　sun；　a　great　Georgian　wine　cooling　in　the　stream　and　the　mountains　nearby。　That's　Eden　if　there　ever　was　an　Eden。　Mountains　and　pastures；　grapes　and　harvest　and　the　air　so　clean。
　He　chuckled　as　he　remembered　the　fabrication　about　his　past　he　had　told　Travkin。　That　parasite！　Just　another　fool；　another　tool　to　be　used　and；　when　blunt；　discarded。
　His　father　had　been　a　munist　since　the　very　early　days　…　first　in　the　Cheka；　secretly；　and　then；　since　its　inception　in　1917；　in　the　KGB。　Now　in　his　late　seventies；　still　tall　and　upright　and　in　honored　retirement；　he　lived　like　an　old…fashioned　prince　with　servants　and　horses　and　bodyguards。　Suslev　was　sure　that　he　would　inherit　the　same　dacha；　the　same　land；　the　same　honor　in　due　course。　So　would　his　son；　a　fledgling　in　the　KGB；　if　his　service　continued　to　be　excellent。　His　own　work　merited　it；　his　record　was　impressive　and　he　was　only　fifty…two。
　Yes；　he　told　himself　confidently；　in　thirteen　years　I'm　due　for　retirement。　Thirteen　great　more　years；　helping　the　attack　move　forward；　never　easing　up　whatever　the　enemy　does。
　And　who　is　the　enemy；　the　real　enemy？
　All　those　who　disobey　us；　all　those　who　refuse　our　eminence　…　Russians　most　of　all。
　He　laughed　out　loud。
　The　weary　sour…faced　young　driver　glanced　up　briefly　at　the　rear　mirror　then　went　back　to　his　driving；　hoping　his　passenger　was　drunk　enough　to　misread　the　meter　and　give　him　a　great　tip。　He　pulled　up　at　the　address　he　had　been　given。
　Rose　Court　on　Kotewall　Road　was　a　modern　fourteen…story　apartment　block。　Below　were　three　floors　of　garage　space　and　around　it　a　small　ribbon　of　concrete　and　below　that；　down　a　slight　concrete　embankment；　was　Sinclair　Road　and　Sinclair　Towers　and　more　apartment　blocks　that　nestled　into　the　mountainside。　This　was　a　choice　area　to　live。　The　view　was　grand；　the　apartments　were　below　the　clouds　that　frequently　shrouded　the　upper　reaches　of　the　Peak　where　walls　would　sweat；　linens　would　mildew　and　everything　would　seem　to　be　perpetually　damp。
　The　meter　read　8。70　HK。　Suslev　peered　at　a　bunch　of　notes；　gave　the　driver　100　instead　of　a　10　and　got　out　heavily。　A　Chinese　woman　was　fanning　herself　impatiently。　He　lurched　toward　the　apartment　inter。　She　told　the　driver　to　wait　for　her　husband　and　looked　after　Suslev　disgustedly。
　His　feet　were　unsteady。　He　found　the　button　he　sought　and　pressed　it：　Ernest　Clinker；　Esq。；　Manager。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃Ernie；　it's　me；　Gregor；〃　he　said　thickly　with　a　belch。　〃Are　you　in？〃
　The　cockney　voice　laughed。　〃Not　on　your　nelly！　'Course　I'm　in；　mate！　You're　late！　You　sound　as　though　you