jamesclavell.noblehouse-第120章

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ce　and　had　a　good　time；　good　enough。　And　then　I　met　Robert。
　Ah；　Robert。　You　were　a　good　man　and　good　to　me　and　we　had　fun　and　I　was　a　good　wife　to　you；　still　try　to　be。　But　I　can't　have　children　and　you　。。。　we　both　want　children　and　one　day　a　few　years　ago；　you　found　out　about　John　Chen。　You　never　asked　me　about　him　but　I　know　you　know　and　ever　since　then　you've　hated　him。　It　all　happened　long　before　I　met　you　and　you　knew　about　the　camp　but　not　about　my　lover。　Remember　how　before　we　got　married　I　said；　Do　you　want　to　know　about　the　past；　my　darling？　And　you　said；　No；　old　girl。
　You　used　to　call　me　old　girl　all　the　time。　Now　you　don't　call　me　anything。　Just　Mary　sometimes。
　Poor　Robert！　How　I　must　have　disappointed　you！
　Poor　John！　How　you　disappointed　me；　once　upon　a　time　so　fine；　now　so　very　dead。
　I　wish　I　was　dead　too。
　She　began　to　cry。
　
　40
　
　7：15　A。M。：
　〃It's　going　to　continue　to　rain；　Alexi；〃　Dunross　said；　the　track　already　sodden；　heavy　overcast　and　the　day　gloomy。
　〃I　agree；　tai…pan。　If　it　rains　even　part　of　tomorrow　too；　the　going　will　be　foul　on　Saturday。〃
　〃Jacques？　What　do　you　think？〃
　〃I　agree；〃　deVille　said。　〃Thank　God　for　the　rain　but　merde　it　would　be　a　pity　if　the　races　were　canceled。〃
　Dunross　nodded。
　They　were　standing　on　the　grass　near　the　winner's　circle　at　the　Happy　Valley　Racecourse；　the　three　men　dressed　in　raincoats　and　hats。　There　was　a　bad　weal　across　Dunross's　face；　and　bruises；　but　his　eyes　were　steady　and　clear　and　he　stood　with　his　easy　confidence；　watching　the　cloud　cover；　the　rain　still　falling　but　not　as　strongly　as　in　the　night；　other　trainers　and　owners　and　bystanders　scattered　about　the　paddock　and　stands；　equally　pensive。　A　few　horses　were　exercising；　among　them　Noble　Star；　Buccaneer　Lass　with　a　stable　jockey　up　and　Gornt's　Pilot　Fish。　All　of　the　horses　were　being　exercised　gingerly　with　very　tight　reins：　the　track　and　the　approach　to　the　track　were　very　slippery。　But　Pilot　Fish　was　prancing；　enjoying　the　rain。
　〃This　morning's　weather　report　said　the　storm　was　huge。〃　Travkin's　sloe　eyes　were　red…rimmed　with　tiredness　and　he　watched　Dunross。　〃If　the　rain　stops　tomorrow；　the　going'll　still　be　soft　on　Saturday。〃
　〃Does　that　help　or　hurt　Noble　Star's　chances；　Alexi？〃　Jacques　asked。
　〃As　God　wills；　Jacques。　She's　never　run　in　the　wet。〃　It　was　hard　for　Travkin　to　concentrate。　Last　evening　the　phone　had　rung　and　it　was　the　KGB　stranger　again　and　the　man　had　rudely　cut　through　his　questions　of　why　he　had　vanished　so　suddenly。　〃It's　not　your　privilege　to　question；　Prince　Kurgan。　Just　tell　me　everything　you　know　about　Dunross。　Now。　Everything。　His　habits；　rumors　about　him；　everything。〃
　Travkin　had　obeyed。　He　knew　that　he　was　in　a　vise；　knew　that　the　stranger　who　must　be　KGB　would　be　taping　what　he　said　to　check　the　truth　of　what　he　related；　the　slightest　variation　of　the　truth　perhaps　a　death　knell　for　his　wife　or　son　or　his　son's　wife　or　son's　children　…　if　they　truly　existed。
　Do　they？　he　asked　himself　again；　agonized。
　〃What's　the　matter；　Alexi？〃
　〃Nothing；　tai…pan；〃　Travkin　replied；　feeling　unclean。　〃I　was　thinking　of　what　you　went　through　last　night。〃　The　news　of　the　fire　at　Aberdeen　had　flooded　the　airwaves；　particularly　Venus　Poon's　harrowing　eyewitness　account　which　had　been　the　focus　of　the　reports。　〃Terrible　about　the　others；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃　So　far　the　known　death　count　was　fifteen　burned　and　drowned；　including　two　children。　〃It'll　take　days　to　find　out　really　how　many　were　lost。〃
　〃Terrible；〃　Jacques　said。　〃When　I　heard　about　it　。。。　if　Susanne　had　been　here　we　would　have　been　caught　in　it。　She　。。。　Curious　how　life　is　sometimes。〃
　〃Bloody　firetrap！　Never　occurred　to　me　before；〃　Dunross　said。　〃We've　all　eaten　there　dozens　of　times　…　I'm　going　to　talk　to　the　governor　this　morning　about　all　those　floating　restaurants。〃
　〃But　you're　all　right；　you　yourself？〃　Travkin　asked。
　〃Oh　yes。　No　problem。〃　Dunross　smiled　grimly。　〃Not　unless　we　all　get　the　croup　from　swimming　in　that　cesspit。〃
　When　the　Floating　Dragon　had　suddenly　capsized；　Dunross；　Gornt　and　Peter　Marlowe　had　been　in　the　water　right　below。　The　megaphone　on　the　police　launch　had　shouted　a　frantic　warning　and　they　had　all　kicked　out　desperately。　Dunross　was　a　strong　swimmer　and　he　and　Gornt　had　just　got　clear　though　the　surge　of　water　sucked　them　backward。　As　his　head　went　under　he　saw　the　half…full　cutter　pulled　into　the　maelstrom　and　capsized　and　Marlowe　in　trouble。　He　let　himself　go　with　the　boiling　torrent　as　the　ship　settled　onto　her　side　and　lunged　for　Marlowe。　His　fingers　found　his　shirt　and　held　on　and　they　swirled　together　for　a　moment；　drawn　a　few　fathoms　down；　smashing　against　the　deck。　The　blow　almost　stunned　him　but　he　held　onto　Marlowe　and　when　the　drag　lessened　he　kicked　for　the　surface。　Their　heads　came　out　of　the　water　together。　Marlowe　gasped　his　thanks　and　struck　out　for　Fleur　who　was　hanging　onto　the　side　of　the　overturned　cutter　with　others。　Around　them…was　chaos；　people　gasping　and　drowning　and　being　rescued　by　sailors　and　by　the　strong。　Dunross　saw　Casey　diving　for　someone。　Gornt　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Bartlett　came　up　with　Christian　Toxe　and　kicked　for　a　life　belt。　He　made　sure　that　Toxe　had　hold　of　the　life　ring　securely　before　he　shouted　to　Dunross；　〃I　think　Gornt　got　sucked　down　and　there　was　a　woman　。。。〃　and　at　once　dived　again。
　Dunross　looked　around。　The　Floating　Dragon　was　almost　on　her　side　now。　He　felt　a　slight　underwater　explosion　and　water　boiled　around　him　for　a　moment。　Casey　came　up　for　air；　filled　her　lungs　and　slid　under　the　surface　again。　Dunross　dived　too。　It　was　almost　impossible　to　see　but　he　groped　his　way　down　along　the　top　deck　that　was　now　almost　vertical　in　the　water。　He　swam　around　the　wreck；　searching；　and　stayed　below　as　long　as　he　could；　then　surfaced　carefully　for　there　were　many　swimmers　still　thrashing　around。　Toxe　was　choking　out　seawater；　precariously　hanging　onto　the　life　ring。　Dunross　swam　over　and　paddled　him　toward　a　sailor；　knowing　Toxe　could　not　swim。
　〃Hang　on；　Christian　。。。　you're　okay　now。〃
　Desperately　Toxe　tried　to　talk　through　his　retching。　〃My　。。。　my　wife's　。。。　she's　down　th　。。。　down　there　。。。　down　。。。〃
　The　sailor　swam　over。　〃I've　got　him；　sir；　you　all　right？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。　he　says　his　wife　was　sucked　down。〃
　〃Christ！　I　didn't　see　anyone　。。。　I'll　get　some　help！〃　The　sailor　turned　and　shouted　at　the　police　launch　for　assistance。　At　once　several　sailors　dived　overboard　and　began　the　search。　Dunross　looked　for　Gornt　and　could　not　see　him。　Casey　came　up　panting　and　held　onto　the　upturned　cutter　to　catch　her　breath。
　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。　thank　God　you're　okay　。。。〃　she　gasped；　her　chest　heaving。　〃There's　a　woman　down　there；　Chinese　I　think；　I　saw　her　sucked　down。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Gornt？〃
　〃No。　。。。　Maybe　he's　。。。〃　She　motioned　at　the　launch。　People　were　clambering　up　the　gangway；　others　huddling　on　the　deck。　Bartlett　surfaced　for　an　instant　and　dived　again。　Casey　took　another　great　breath　and　slid　into　the　depths。　Dunross　went　after　her　slightly　to　her　right。
　They　searched；　the　three　of　them；　until　everyone　else　was　safe　on　the　launch　or　in　sampans。　They　never　found　the　woman。
　When　Dunross　had　got　home　Penelope　was　deep　asleep。　She　awoke　momentarily。　〃Ian？〃
　〃Yes。　Go　back　to　sleep；　darling。〃
　〃Did　you　have　a　nice　time？〃　she　asked；　not　really　awake。
　〃Yes；　go　back　to　sleep。〃
　This　morning；　an　hour　ago；　he　had　not　awakened　her　when　he　left　the　Great　House。
　〃You　heard　that　Gornt　made　it；　Alexi？〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　yes　I　did；　tai…pan。　As　God　wills。〃
　〃Meaning？〃
　〃After　yesterday's　stock　market　it　would　have　been　very　convenient　if　he　hadn't　made　it。〃
　Dunross　grinned　and　eased　an　ache　in　his　back。　〃Ah；　but　then　I　would　have　been　very　put　out；　very　put　out　indeed；　for　I'd　not　have　had　the　pleasure　of　smashing　Rothwell…Gornt　myself；　eh？〃
　After　a　pause　deVille　said；　〃It's　astonishing　more　didn't　die。〃　They　watched　Pilot　Fish　as　the　stallion　cantered　past　looking　very　good。　DeVille's　eyes　ranged　the　course。
　〃Is　it　true　that　Bartlett　saved　Peter　Marlowe's　wife？〃　Travkin　asked。
　〃He　jumped　with　her。　Yes。　Both　Linc　and　Casey　did　a　great　job。　Wonderful。〃
　〃Will　you　excuse　me；　tai…pan？〃　Jacques　deVille　nodded　at　the　stands。　〃There's　Jason　Plumm　…　I'm　supposed　to　be　playing　bridge　with　him　tonight。〃
　〃See　you　at　Prayers；　Jacques。〃　Dunross　smiled　at　him　and　deVille　walked　off。　He　sighed；　sad　for　his　friend。　〃I'm　off　to　the　office；　Alexi。　Call　me　at　six。〃
　〃Tai…pan　。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　Travkin　hesitated。　Then　he　said　simply；　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　I　。。。　I　admire　you　greatly。〃
　Dunross　was　nonplussed　at　the　suddenness　and　at　the　open；　curious　melancholy　that　emanated　from　the　other　man。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　warmly　and　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　He　had　never　touched　him　as　a　friend　before。　〃You're　not　so　bad　yourself。〃
　Travkin　watched　him　walk　off；　his　chest　hurting　him；　tears　of　shame　adding　to　the　rain。　He　wiped　his　face　with　the　back　of　his　hand　and　went　back　to　watching　Noble　Star；　trying　to　concentrate。
　In　the　periphery　of　his　vision　he　saw　someone　and　he　turned；　startled。　The　KGB　man　was　in　a　corner　of　the　stands；　another　man　joining　him　now。　The　man　was　old　and　gnarled　and　well　known　as　a　punter　in　Hong　Kong。　Travkin　searched　his　mind　for　the　name。　Clinker。　That's　it！　Clinker！
　He　watched　them　blankly　for　a　moment。　Jason　Plumm　was　in　the　stands　just　behind　the　KGB　man　and　he　saw　Plumm　get　up　to　return　Jacques　deVille's　wave　and　walk　down　the　steps　to　meet　him。　Just　then　the　KGB　man　glanced　in　his　direction　and　he　turned　carefully；　trying　not　to　be　sudden　again。　The　KGB　man　had　lifted　binoculars　to　his　eyes　and　Travkin　did　not　know　if　he　had　been　noticed　or　not。　His　skin　crawled　at　the　thought　of　those　high…powered　binoculars　focused　on　him。　Perhaps　the　man　can　lip…read；　he　thought；　aghast。　Christ　Jesus　and　Mother　of　God；　thank　God　I　didn't　blurt　out　the　truth　to　the　tai…pan。
　His　heart　was　grinding　nastily　and　he　felt　sick。　A　flicker　of　lightning　went　across　the　eastern　sky。　Rain　was　puddling　the　concrete　and　the　open；　lower　section　of　the　stands。　He　tried　to　calm　himself　and　looked　around　helplessly　not　knowing　what　to　do；　wanting　very　much　to　find　out　who　the　KGB　man　was。　Absently　he　noticed　Pilot　Fish　was　finishing　his　workout　in　fine　form。　Beyond　him　Richard　Kwang　was　talking　intently　to　a　group　of　other　Chinese　he　did　not　know。　Linbar　Struan　and　Andrew　Gavallan　were　leaning　on　the　rails　with　the　American　Rosemont　and　others　from　the　consulate　he　knew　by　sight。　They　were　watching　the　horses；　oblivious　of　the　rain。　Near　the　changing　rooms；　under　cover；　Donald　McBride　was　talking　to　other　stewards；　Sir　Shi…teh　T'Chung；　Pugmire　and　Roger　Crosse　among　them。　He　saw　McBride　glance　over　to　Dunross；　wave　and　beckon　him　to　join　them。　Brian　Kwok　was　waiting　for　Roger　Crosse　on　the　outskirts　of　the　stewards。　Travkin　knew　both　of　them　but　not　that　they　were　in　SI。
　Involuntarily　his　feet　began　to　move　toward　them。　The　foul　taste　of　bile　rose　into　his　mouth。　He　dominated　his　urge　to　rush　up　to　them　and　blurt　out　the　truth。　Instead　he　called　over　his　chief　ma…foo。　〃Send　our　string　home。　All　of　them。　Make　sure　they're　dry　before　they're　fed。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Un