jamesclavell.noblehouse-第121章

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。　〃Send　our　string　home。　All　of　them。　Make　sure　they're　dry　before　they're　fed。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Unhappily　Travkin　trudged　for　the　changing　rooms。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　that　the　KGB　man　had　his　binoculars　trained　on　him。　Rain　trickled　down　his　neck　and　mixed　with　the　fear…sweat。
　
　〃Ah；　Ian；　we　were　thinking　that　if　it　rains　tomorrow；　we'd　better　cancel　the　meet。　Say　at　6：00　p。m。　tomorrow；〃　McBride　said。　〃Don't　you　agree？〃
　〃No；　actually　I　don't。　I　suggest　we　make　a　final　decision　at　ten　Saturday　morning。〃
　〃Isn't　that　a　little　late；　old　boy？〃　Pugmire　asked。
　〃Not　if　the　stewards　alert　the　wireless　and　television　fellows。　It'll　add　to　the　excitement。　Particularly　if　you　release　that　news　today。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Crosse　said。
　〃Then　that's　settled；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Was　there　anything　else？〃
　〃Don't　you　think　。。。　it's　a　matter　of　the　turf；〃　McBride　said。　〃We　don't　want　to　ruin　it。〃
　〃I　quite　agree；　Donald。　We'll　make　a　final　decision　Saturday　at　ten。　All　in　favor？〃　There　were　no　dissenters。　〃Good！　Nothing　else？　Sorry；　but　I've　got　a　meeting　in　half　an　hour。〃
　Shi…teh　said　unfortably；　〃Oh；　tai…pan；　I　was　terribly　sorry　about　last　night　。。。　terrible。〃
　〃Yes。　Shitee；　when　we　meet　the　governor　in　Council　at　noon　we　should　suggest　he　implants　new；　very　severe　fire　regulations　on　Aberdeen。〃
　〃Agreed；〃　Crosse　said。　〃It's　a　miracle　more　weren't　lost。〃
　〃You　mean　close　the　restaurants　down；　old　boy？〃　Pugmire　was　shocked。　His　pany　had　an　interest　in　two　of　them。　〃That'll　hurt　the　tourist　business　badly。　You　can't　put　in　more　exits。　。。。　You'd　have　to　start　from　scratch！〃
　Dunross　glanced　back　at　Shi…teh。　〃Why　don't　you　suggest　to　the　governor　that　he　order　all　kitchens　at　once　be　put　on　barges　that　can　be　moored　alongside　their　mother　ship？　He　could　order　that　fire　trucks　be　kept　nearby　until　the　changes　have　been　made。　The　cost'd　be　modest；　it　would　be　easy　to　operate　and　the　fire　hazard　would　be　solved　once　and　for　all。〃
　They　all　stared　at　him。　Shi…teh　beamed。　〃Ian；　you're　a　genius！〃
　〃No。　I'm　only　sorry　we　didn't　think　of　it　before。　Never　occurred　to　me。　Rotten　about　Zep　。。。　and　Christian's　wife；　isn't　it？　Have　they　found　her　body　yet？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃God　knows　how　many　others　went。　Did　the　MPs　get　out；　Pug？〃
　〃Yes；　old　chap。　Except　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth。　Poor　sod　got　his　head　bashed　in　on　a　sampan　when　he　fell。〃
　Dunross　was　shocked。　〃I　liked　him！　What　bloody　bad　joss！〃
　〃There　were　a　couple　of　the　others　near　me　at　one　stage。　That　bloody　radical　bastard；　what's　his　name？　Grey；　ah　yes。　Grey　that's　it。　And　the　other　one；　the　other　bloody　Socialist　berk；　Broadhurst。　Both　behaved　rather　well　I　thought。〃
　〃I　hear　your　Superfoods　got　out　too；　Pug。　Wasn't　our　'Call　me　Chuck'　first　ashore？〃
　Pugmire　shrugged　uneasily。　〃I　really　don't　know。〃　Then　he　beamed。　〃I　。。。　er　。。。　I　hear　Casey　and　Bartlett　did　a　very　good　job；　what？　Perhaps　they　should　have　a　medal。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　suggest　it？〃　Dunross　said；　anxious　to　leave。　〃If　there's　nothing　else　。。。〃
　Crosse　said；　〃Ian；　if　I　were　you　I'd　get　a　shot。　There　must　be　bugs　in　that　bay　that　haven't　been　invented　yet。〃
　They　all　laughed　with　him。
　〃Actually　I've　done　better　than　that。　After　we　got　out　of　the　water　I　grabbed　Linc　Bartlett　and　Casey　and　we　fled　to　Doc　Tooley。〃　Dunross　smiled　faintly。　〃When　we　told　him　we'd　been　swimming　in　Aberdeen　Harbor　he　almost　had　a　hemorrhage。　He　said；　'Drink　this；'　and　like　bloody　berks　we　did　and　before　we　knew　what　was　happening　we　were　retching　our　hearts　out。　If　I'd　had　any　strength　I'd've　belted　him　but　we　were　all　on　our　hands　and　knees　fighting　for　the　loo　not　knowing　which　end　was　first。　Then　Casey　started　laughing　between　heaves　and　then　we　were　rolling　on　the　bloody　floor！〃　He　added　with　pretended　sadness；　〃Then；　before　we　knew　what　was　happening；　Old　Sawbones　was　shoving　pills　down　our　throats　by　the　barrel　and　Bartlett　said；　'For　chrissake；　Doc；　how　about　a　suppository　and　then　you've　a　hole　in　one！'　〃　They　laughed　again。
　〃Is　it　true　about　Casey？　That　she　stripped　and　dived　like　an　Olympic　star？〃　Pugmire　asked。
　〃Better！　Stark　bollock　naked；　old　boy；〃　Dunross　exaggerated　airily。　〃Like　Venus　de　Milo！　Probably　the　best　。。。　everything　。。。　I've　ever　seen。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Their　eyes　popped。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃My　God；　but　swimming　in　Aberdeen　Harbor！　That　sewer！〃　McBride　said；　eyebrows　soaring。　〃If　you　all　live　it'll　be　a　miracle！〃
　〃Doc　Tooley　said　the　very　least'll　be　gastroenteritis；　dysentery　or　the　plague。〃　Dunross　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Well；　here　today　gone　tomorrow。　Anything　else？〃
　〃Tai…pan；〃　Shi…teh　said；　〃I　。。。　hope　you　don't　mind　but　I've　。。。　I'd　like　to　start　a　fund　for　the　victims'　families。〃
　〃Good　idea！　The　Turf　Club　should　contribute　too。　Donald；　would　you　canvass　the　other　stewards　today　and　get　their　approval？　How　about　100；000？〃
　〃That's　a　bit　generous；　isn't　it？〃　Pugmire　said。
　Dunross's　chin　jutted。　〃No。　Then　let's　make　it　150；000　instead。　The　Noble　House　will　contribute　the　same。〃　Pugmire　flushed。　No　one　said　anything。　〃Meeting　adjourned？　Good。　Morning。〃　Dunross　raised　his　hat　politely　and　walked　off。
　〃Excuse　me　a　moment。〃　Crosse　motioned　Brian　Kwok　to　follow　him。　〃Ian！〃
　〃Yes；　Roger？〃
　When　Crosse　came　up　to　Dunross　he　said　quietly；　〃Ian；　we've　a　report　that　Sinders　is　confirmed　on　the　BOAC　flight　tomorrow。　We'll　go　straight　to　the　bank　from　the　airport　if　that's　convenient。〃
　〃The　governor　will　be　there　too？〃
　〃I'll　ask　him。　We　should　be　there　about　six。〃
　〃If　the　plane's　on　time。〃　Dunross　smiled。
　〃Did　you　get　Eastern　Cloud's；　formal　release　yet？〃
　〃Yes；　thanks。　It　was　telexed　yesterday　from　Delhi。　I　ordered　her　back　here　at　once　and　she　sailed　on　the　tide。　Brian；　you　remember　the　bet　you　wanted　…　the　one　about　Casey。　About　her　knockers　…　fifty　dollars　to　a　copper　cash　they're　the　best　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　Brian　Kwok　reddened；　conscious　of　Crosse's　bleak　stare。　〃Er；　yes；　why？〃
　〃I　don't　know　about　the　best；　but　like　the　judgment　of　Paris；　you'd　have　one　helluva　problem　if　it　…　they　…　were　put　to　the　test！〃
　〃Then　it's　true；　she　was　starkers？〃
　〃She　was　Lady　Godiva　to　the　rescue。〃　Dunross　nodded　to　both　of　them　pleasantly　and　walked　off　with；　〃See　you　tomorrow。〃
　They　watched　him　go。　At　the　exit　an　SI　agent　was　waiting　to　follow　him。
　Crosse　said；　〃He's　got　something　cooking。〃
　〃I　agree；　sir。〃
　Crosse　tore　his　eyes　off　Dunross　and　looked　at　Brian　Kwok。　〃Do　you　usually　bet　on　a　lady's　mammary　glands？〃
　〃No　sir；　sorry　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Fortunately　women　aren't　the　only　source　of　beauty；　are　they？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃There're　hounds；　paintings；　music；　even　a　killing。　Eh？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Wait　here　please。〃　Crosse　went　back　to　the　other　stewards。
　Brian　Kwok　sighed。　He　was　bored　and　tired。　The　team　of　frogmen　had　met　him　at　Aberdeen　and　though　he　had　found　out　almost　at　once　that　Dunross　was　safe　and　had　already　gone　home；　he　had　had　to　wait　most　of　the　night　helping　to　organize　the　search　for　bodies。　It　had　been　a　ghoulish　task。　Then　when　he　was　about　to　go　home　Crosse　had　called　him　to　be　at　Happy　Valley　at　dawn　so　there　had　been　no　point　in　going　to　bed。　Instead　he　had　gone　to　the　Para　Restaurant　and　glowered　at　the　triads　and　One　Foot　Ko。
　Now　he　was　watching　Dunross。　What's　that　bugger　got　in　the　reaches　of　his　mind？　he　asked　himself；　a　twinge　of　envy　soaring　through　him。　What　couldn't　I　do　with　his　power　and　his　money！
　He　saw　Dunross　change　direction　for　the　nearby　stand；　then　noticed　Adryon　sitting　beside　Martin　Haply；　both　staring　at　the　horses；　oblivious　of　Dunross。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　he　thought；　surprised。　Curious　that　they'd　be　together。　Christ；　what　a　beauty！　Thank　God　I'm　not　father　to　that　one。　I'd　go　out　of　my　mind。
　Crosse　and　the　others　had　also　noticed　Adryon　and　Martin　Haply　with　astonishment。　〃What's　that　bastard　doing　with　the　tai…pan's　daughter？〃　Pugmire　asked；　his　voice　sour。
　〃No　good；　that's　certain；〃　someone　said。
　〃Blasted　fellow　creates　nothing　but　trouble！〃　Pugmire　muttered　and　the　others　nodded　agreement。　〃Can't　understand　why　Toxe　keeps　him　on！〃
　〃Bloody　man's　a　Socialist　that's　why！　He　should　be　blackballed　too。〃
　〃Oh　e　off　it；　Pug。　Toxe's　all　right　…　so're　some　Socialists；〃　Shi…teh　said。　〃But　he　should　fire　Haply；　and　we'd　all　be　better　off！〃　They　had　all　been　subject　to　Haply's　attacks。　A　few　weeks　ago　he　had　written　a　series　of　scathing　exposés　of　some　of　Shi…teh's　trading　deals　within　his　huge　conglomeration　of　panies　and　implied　that　all　sorts　of　dubious　contributions　were　being　made　to　various　VIPs　in　the　Hong　Kong　Government　for　favors。
　〃I　agree；〃　Pugmire　said；　hating　him　too。　Haply；　with　his　accuracy；　had　reported　the　private　details　of　Pugmire's　forthing　merger　with　Superfoods　and　had　made　it　abundantly　clear　Pugmire　benefited　far　more　than　his　shareholders　in　General　Stores　who　were　barely　consulted　on　the　terms　of　the　merger。　〃Rotten　bastard！　I'd　certainly　like　to　know　where　he　gets　his　information。〃
　〃Curious　Haply　should　be　with　her；〃　Crosse　said；　watching　their　lips；　waiting　for　them　to　speak。　〃The　only　major　pany　he　hasn't　gone　after　yet　is　Struan's。〃
　〃You　think　it's　Struan's　turn　and　Haply's　pumping　Adryon？〃　one　of　the　others　asked。　〃Wouldn't　that　be　smashing！〃
　Excitedly　they　watched　Dunross　go　into　the　stands；　the　two　young　people　still　not　having　noticed　him。
　〃Maybe　he'll　whip　him　like　he　did　the　other　bastard；〃　Pugmire　said　gleefully。
　〃Eh？〃　Shi…teh　said。　〃Who？　What　was　that？〃
　〃Oh；　I　thought　you　knew。　About　two　years　ago　one　of　the　Vic's　junior　execs　straight　out　from　England　started　pursuing　Adryon。　She　was　sixteen；　perhaps　seventeen　…　he　was　twenty…two；　as　big　as　a　house；　bigger　than　Ian；　his　name　was　Byron。　He　thought　he　was　Lord　Byron　on　the　rampage　and　he　mounted　a　campaign。　The　poor　girl　was　bowled　over。　Ian　warned　him　a　last　time。　The　creep　kept　calling；　so　Ian　invited　him　out　to　his　gym　at　Shek…O；　put　on　gloves　　…　he　knew　the　bugger　fancied　himself　as　a　boxer　…　and　proceeded　to　pulp　him。〃　The　others　laughed。　〃Within　the　week　the　bank　had　sent　him　packing。〃
　〃Did　you　see　it？〃　Shi…teh　asked。
　〃Of　course　not。　They　were　alone　for　God's　sake；　but　the　bloody　fool　was　really　in　a　bad　way。　I　wouldn't　like　to　go　against　the　tai…pan　…　not　when　his　temper's　up。〃
　Shi…teh　looked　back　at　Dunross。　〃Perhaps　he'll　do　the　same　to　that　little　rotter；〃　he　said　happily。
　They　watched。　Hopefully。　Crosse　wandered　off　with　Brian　Kwok；　going　closer。
　Dunross　was　running　up　the　steps　in　the　stands　now　with　his　easy　strength　and　he　stopped　beside　them。　〃Hello；　darling；　you're　up　early；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh　hello；　Dad；〃　Adryon　said；　startled。　〃I　didn't　se…　What　happened　to　your　face？〃
　〃I　ran　into　the　back　end　of　a　bus。　Morning；　Haply。〃
　〃Morning；　sir。〃　Haply　half　got　up　and　sat　down　again。
　〃A　bus？〃　she　said；　then　suddenly；　〃Did　you　prang　the　Jag？　Oh；　did　you　get　a　ticket？〃　she　asked　hopefully；　having　had　three　this　year　herself。
　〃No。　You're　up　early　aren't　you？〃　he　said；　sitting　beside　her。
　〃Actually　we're　late。　We've　been　up　all　night。〃
　〃Oh？〃　He　held　on　to　forty…eight　immediate　questions　and　said　instead；　〃You　must　be　tired。〃
　〃No。　No；　actually　I'm　not。〃
　〃What's　this　all　about；　a　celebration？〃
　〃No。　Actually　it's　poor　Martin。〃　She　put　a　gentle　hand　on　the　youth's　s