jamesclavell.noblehouse-第123章

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he　KGB　for　the　last　seven　years。
　〃I　ask　because　I'm　curious；〃　he　said。
　〃Aren't　your　orders　not　to　be　curious；　rade？〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃Neither　of　us　obeys　orders　all　the　time；　no？　Center　enjoyed　your　last　report　so　much　I've　been　told　to　tell　you　your　Swiss　account　will　be　credited　with　an　extra　bonus　of　50；000　on　the　fifteenth　of　next　month。〃
　〃Good。　Thank　you。　But　it's　not　a　bonus；　it's　payment　for　value　received。〃
　〃What　does　SI　know　about　the　visiting　delegation　of　Parliament？〃
　Crosse　told　him　what　he　had　told　the　governor。　〃Why　the　question？〃
　〃Routine　check。　Three　are　potentially　very　influential　…　Guthrie；　Broadhurst　and　Grey。〃　Suslev　offered　a　cigarette。　〃We're　maneuvering　Grey　and　Broadhurst　into　our　World　Peace　Council。　Their　anti…Chinese　sentiments　help　us。　Roger；　would　you　please　put　a　tail　on　Guthrie。　Perhaps　he　has　some　bad　habits。　If　he　was　promised；　perhaps　photographed　with　a　Wanchai　girl；　it　might　be　useful　later；　eh？〃
　Crosse　nodded。　〃I'll　see　what　can　be　done。〃
　〃Can　you　find　the　scum　who　murdered　poor　Voranski？〃
　〃Eventually。〃　Crosse　watched　him。　〃He　must　have　been　marked　for　some　time。　And　that's　ominous　for　all　of　us。〃
　〃Were　they　Kuomintang？　Or　Mao's　bandits？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　Crosse　smiled　sardonically。　〃Russia　isn't　very　popular　with　any　Chinese。〃
　〃Their　leaders　are　traitors　to　munism。　We　should　smash　them　before　they　get　too　strong。〃
　〃Is　that　policy？〃
　〃Since　Genghis　Khan。〃　Suslev　laughed。　〃But　now　。。。　now　we　have　to　be　a　little　patient。　You　needn't　be。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　backward　at　Brian　Kwok。　〃Why　not　discredit　that　matyeryebyets！　I　don't　like　him　at　all。〃
　〃Young　Brian's　very　good。　I　need　good　people。　Inform　Center　that　Sinders；　of　MI…6；　arrives　tomorrow　from　London　to　take　delivery　of　the　AMG　papers。　Both　MI…6　and　the　CIA　suspect　AMG　was　murdered。　Was　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He　should　have　been；　years　ago。　How　will　you　get　a　copy？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I'm　fairly　certain　Sinders'll　let　me　read　them　before　he　goes　back。〃
　〃And　if　he　doesn't？〃
　Crosse　shrugged；　〃We'll　get　to　look　at　them　one　way　or　another。〃
　〃Dunross？〃
　〃Only　as　a　last　resort。　He's　too　valuable　where　he　is　and　I'd　rather　have　him　where　I　can　see　him。　What　about　Travkin？〃
　〃Your　information　was　invaluable。　Everything　checked。〃　Suslev　told　him　the　substance　of　their　meeting；　adding；　〃Now　he'll　be　our　dog　forever。　He'll　do　anything　we　want。　Anything。　I　think　he'd　kill　Dunross　if　necessary。〃
　〃Good。　How　much　of　what　you　told　him　was　true？〃
　Suslev　smiled。　〃Not　much。〃
　〃Is　his　wife　alive？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　tovarich；　she's　alive。〃
　〃But　not　in　her　own　dacha？〃
　〃Now　she　is。〃
　〃And　before？〃
　Suslev　shrugged。　〃I　told　him　what　I　was　told　to　tell　him。〃
　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette。　〃What　do　you　know　about　Iran？〃
　Again　Suslev　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃Quite　a　lot。　It's　one　of　our　eight　remaining　great　targets　and　there's　a　big　operation　going　on　right　now。〃
　〃The　Ninety…second　U。S。　Airborne's　on　the　Soviet…Iranian　border　right　now！〃
　Suslev　gaped　at　him。　〃What？〃
　Crosse　related　all　that　Rosemont　had　told　him　about　Dry　Run　and　when　he　came　to　the　part　about　the　U。S。　forces　having　nuclear　arms　Suslev　whitened　palpably。　〃Mother　of　God！　Those　god…cursed　Americans'll　make　a　mistake　one　day　and　then　we'll　never　be　able　to　extricate　ourselves！　They're　fools　to　deploy　such　weapons。〃
　〃Can　you　bat　them？〃
　〃Of　course　not；　not　yet；〃　Suslev　said　irritably。　〃The　core　of　our　strategy's　never　to　have　a　direct　clash　until　America's　totally　isolated　and　there's　no　doubt　about　final　victory。　A　direct　clash　would　be　suicide　now。　I'll　get　on　to　Center　at　once。〃
　〃Impress　on　them　the　Americans　consider　it　just　a　dry　run。　Get　Center　to　take　your　forces　away　and　cool　everything。　Do　it　at　once　or　there　will　be　trouble。　Don't　give　the　U。S。　forces　any　provocation。　In　a　few　days　the　Americans　will　go　away。　Don't　leak　the　invasion　to　your　inward　spies　in　Washington。　Let　it　e　first　from　your　people　in　the　CIA。〃
　〃The　Ninety…second's　really　there？　That　seems　impossible。〃
　〃You'd　better　get　your　armies　more　airborne；　more　mobile　with　more　firepower。〃
　Suslev　grunted。　〃The　energies　and　resources　of　three　hundred　million　Russians　are　channeled　to　solve　that　problem；　tovarich。　If　we　have　twenty　years　。。。　just　twenty　more　years。〃
　〃Then？〃
　〃In　the　eighties　we　rule　the　world。〃
　〃I'll　be　dead　long　since。〃
　〃Not　you。　You'll　rule　whatever　province　or　country　you　want。　England？〃
　〃Sorry；　the　weather　there's　dreadful。　Except　for　one　or　two　days　a　year；　most　years；　when　it's　the　most　beautiful　place　on　earth。〃
　〃Ah；　you　should　see　my　home　in　Georgia　and　the　country　around　Tiflis。〃　Suslev's　eyes　were　sparkling。　〃That's　Eden。〃
　Crosse　was　watching　everywhere　as　they　talked。　He　knew　they　could　not　be　overheard。　Brian　Kwok　was　sitting　in　the　stand　waiting；　half…asleep。　Rosemont　and　the　others　were　studying　him　covertly。　Down　by　the　winner's　circle　Jacques　deVille　was　strolling　casually　with　Jason　Plumm。
　〃Have　you　talked　to　Jason　yet？〃
　〃Of　course；　while　we　were　in　the　stands。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃What　did　he　say　about　deVille？〃
　〃That　he　doubted；　too；　if　Jacques'd　ever　be　chosen　as　tai…pan。　After　my　meeting　last　night　I　agree　…　he's　obviously　too　weak；　or　his　resolve's　softened。〃　Suslev　added；　〃It　often　happens　with　deep…cover　assets　who　have　nothing　active　to　do　but　wait。　That's　the　hardest　of　all　jobs。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He's　a　good　man　but　I'm　afraid　he　won't　achieve　his　assignment。〃
　〃What　do　you　plan　for　him？〃
　〃I　haven't　decided。〃
　〃Convert　him　from　an　inward　spy　to　a　doomed　spy？〃
　〃Only　if　you　or　the　others　of　Sevrin　are　threatened。〃　For　the　benefit　of　any　watchers　Suslev　tipped　the　flask　to　his　lips　and　offered　it　to　Crosse　who　shook　his　head。　Both　knew　the　flask　contained　only　water。　Suslev　dropped　his　voice。　〃I　have　an　idea。　We're　increasing　our　effort　in　Canada。　Clearly　the　French　Separatist　Movement　is　a　tremendous　opportunity　for　us。　If　Quebec　was　to　split　from　Canada　it　would　send　the　whole　North　American　continent　reeling　into　a　pletely　new　power　structure。　I　was　thinking　that　it　would　be　perfect　if　deVille　took　over　Struan's　in　Canada。　Eh？〃
　Crosse　smiled。　〃Very　good。　Very　very　good。　I　like　Jacques　too。　It　would　be　a　pity　to　waste　him。　Yes；　that　would　be　very　clever。〃
　〃It's　even　better　than　that；　Roger。　He　has　some　very　important　French…Canadian　friends　from　his　Paris　days　just　after　the　war；　all　openly　separatist；　all　left…wing　inclined。　A　few　of　them　are　being　a　prominent　national　political　force　in　Canada。〃
　〃You'd　get　him　to　drop　his　deep　cover？〃
　〃No。　Jacques　could　give　the　separatist　issue　a　push　without　jeopardizing　himself。　As　head　of　an　important　branch　of　Struan's　。。。　and　if　one　of　his　special　friends　became　foreign　minister　or　prime　minister；　eh？〃
　〃Is　that　possible？〃
　〃It's　possible。〃
　Crosse　whistled。　〃If　Canada　swung　away　from　the　U。S。　that　would　be　a　coup　of　coups。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　After　a　pause；　Crosse　said；　〃Once　upon　a　time　a　Chinese　sage　was　asked　by　a　friend　to　bless　his　newly　born　son。　His　benediction　was；　'Let's　pray　he　lives　in　interesting　times。'　Well；　Gregor　Petrovitch　Suslev　whose　real　name　is　Petr　Oleg　Mzytryk；　we　certainly　live　in　interesting　times。　Don't　we？〃
　Suslev　was　staring　at　him　in　shock。　〃Who　told　you　my　name？〃
　〃Your　superiors。〃　Crosse　watched　him；　his　eyes　suddenly　pitiless。　〃You　know　me；　I　know　you。　That's　fair；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Of　。。。　of　course。　I　。。。〃　The　man's　laugh　was　forced。　〃I　haven't　used　that　name　for　so　long　I'd　。。。　I'd　almost　forgotten　it。〃　He　looked　back　at　the　eyes；　fighting　for　control。　〃What's　the　matter？　Why　are　you　so　edgy；　eh？〃
　〃AMG。　I　think　we　should　close　this　meeting　for　now。　Our　cover's　that　I　tried　to　subvert　you　but　you　refused。　Let's　meet　tomorrow　at　seven。〃　Seven　was　the　code　number　for　the　apartment　next　to　Ginny　Fu's　in　Mong　Kok。　〃Late。　Eleven　o'clock。〃
　〃Ten　is　better。〃
　Crosse　motioned　carefully　toward　Rosemont　and　the　others。　〃Before　you　go　I　need　something　for　them。〃
　〃All　right。　Tomorrow　I'll　ha…　〃
　〃It　must　be　now。〃　Crosse　hardened。　〃Something　special　…　in　case　I　can't　get　a　look　at　Sinders's　copy；　I'll　have　to　barter　with　them！〃
　〃You　divulge　to　no　one　the　source。　No　one。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃Never？〃
　〃Never。〃
　Suslev　thought　a　moment；　weighing　possibilities。　〃Tonight　one　of　our　agents　takes　delivery　of　some　top…secret　material　from　the　carrier。　Eh？〃
　The　Englishman's　face　lit　up。　〃Perfect！　Is　that　why　you　came？〃
　〃One　reason。〃
　〃When　and　where's　the　drop？〃
　Suslev　told　him；　then　added；　〃But　I　still　want　copies　of　everything。〃
　〃Of　course。　Good；　that'll　do　just　fine。　Rosemont　will　be　really　in　my　debt。　How　long's　your　asset　been　aboard？〃
　〃Two　years；　at　least　that's　when　he　was　first　subverted。〃
　〃Does　he　give　you　good　stuff？〃
　〃Anything　off　that　whore's　valuable。〃
　〃What's　his　fee？〃
　〃For　this？　2；000。　He's　not　expensive；　none　of　our　assets　are；　except　you。〃
　Crosse　smiled　equally　mirthlessly。　〃Ah；　but　I'm　the　best　you　have　in　Asia　and　I've　proved　my　quality　fifty　times。　Up　to　now　I've　been　doing　it　practically　for　love；　old　chap。〃
　〃Your　costs；　old　chap；　are　the　highest　we　have！　We　buy　the　entire　NATO　battle　plan；　codes；　everything；　yearly　for　less　than　8；000。〃
　〃Those　amateur　bastards　are　ruining　our　business。　It　is　a　business；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Not　to　us。〃
　〃Balls！　You　KGB　folk　are　more　than　well　rewarded。　Dachas；　places　in　Tiflis；　special　stores　to　shop　in。　Mistresses。　But　I　have　to　tell　you；　squeezing　money　out　of　your　pany　gets　worse　yearly。　I'll　expect　a　rather　large　increase　for　Dry　Run　and　for　the　AMG　matter　when　it's　concluded。〃
　〃Talk　to　them　direct。　I've　no　jurisdiction　over　money。〃
　〃Liar。〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃It's　good　…　and　safe　…　dealing　with　a　professional。　Prosit！〃　He　raised　his　flask　and　drained　it。
　Crosse　said　abruptly；　〃Please　leave　angrily。　I　can　feel　binoculars！〃
　At　once　Suslev　began　cursing　him　in　Russian；　softly　but　vehemently；　then　shook　a　fist　in　the　policeman's　face　and　walked　off。
　Crosse　stared　after　him。
　
　On　the　Sha　Tin　Road　Robert　Armstrong　was　looking　down　at　the　corpse　of　John　Chen　as　raincoated　police　rewrapped　it　in　its　blanket；　then　carried　it　through　the　gawking　crowds　to　the　waiting　ambulance。　Fingerprint　experts　and　others　were　all　around；　searching　for　clues。　The　rain　was　falling　more　heavily　now　and　there　was　a　great　deal　of　mud　everywhere。
　〃Everything's　messed　up；　sir；〃　Sergeant　Lee　said　sourly。　〃There're　footprints　but　they　could　be　anyone's。〃
　Armstrong　nodded　and　used　a　handkerchief　to　dry　his　face。　Many　onlookers　were　behind　the　crude　barriers　that　had　been　erected　around　the　area。　Passing　traffic　on　the　narrow　road　was　slowed　and　almost　jammed；　everyone　honking　irritably。　〃Keep　the　men　sweeping　within　a　hundred…yard　area。　Get　someone　out　to　the　nearest　village；　someone　might　have　seen　something。〃　He　left　Lee　and　went　over　to　the　police　car。　He　got　in；　closing　the　door；　and　picked　up　the　municator。　〃This　is　Armstrong。　Give　me　Chief　Inspector　Donald　Smyth　at　East　Aberdeen；　please。〃　He　began　to　wait；　feeling　dreadful。
　The　driver　was　young　and　smart　and　still　dry。　〃The　rain's　wonderful；　isn't　it；　sir？〃
　Armstrong　looked　across　sourly。　The　young　man　blanched。　〃Do　you　smoke？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　young　man