jamesclavell.noblehouse-第125章

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that　gentleman's　going　to　stir　things　up　nastily；　if　he　can。　I　hear　he's　scheduled　a　press　conference　for　tomorrow　with　Broadhurst。　Now　that　poor　Sir　Charles's　dead　Broadhurst　bees　the　senior　member　and　God　only　knows　what'll　happen　if　those　two　get　on　their　high　horse　about　China。〃
　〃Ask　the　minister　to　muzzle　them；　sir。〃
　〃I　did　and　he　said；　'Good　God；　Geoffrey；　muzzle　an　MP？　That'd　be　worse　than　trying　to　set　fire　to　Parliament　itself。'　It's　all　really　very　trying。　My　thought　was　that　you　might　be　able　to　cool　Mr。　Grey　down。　I'll　seat　him　next　to　you　tonight。〃
　〃I　don't　think　that's　a　good　idea　at　all；　sir。　The　man's　a　lunatic。〃
　〃I　quite　agree；　Ian；　but　I　really　would　appreciate　it　if　you　tried。　You're　the　only　one　I'd　trust。　Quillan　would　hit　him。　Quillan's　already　phoned　in　a　formal　refusal　purely　because　of　Grey。　Perhaps　you　could　invite　the　fellow　to　the　races　on　Saturday　also？〃
　Dunross　remembered　Peter　Marlowe。　〃Why　not　invite　Grey　and　the　others　to　your　box　and　I'll　take　him　over　part　of　the　time。〃　Thank　God　Penn　won't　be　here；　he　thought。
　〃Very　well。　Next：　Roger　asked　me　to　meet　you　at　the　bank　at　six　o'clock　tomorrow。〃
　Dunross　let　the　silence　hang。
　〃Ian？〃
　〃Yes　sir？〃
　〃At　six。　Sinders　should　be　there　by　then。〃
　〃Do　you　know　him；　sir？　Personally？〃
　〃Yes。　Why？〃
　〃I　just　wanted　to　be　sure。〃　Dunross　heard　the　governor's　silence。　His　tension　increased。
　〃Good。　At　six。　Next：　Did　you　hear　about　poor　John　Chen？〃
　〃Yes　sir；　just　a　few　minutes　ago。　Rotten　luck。〃
　〃I　agree。　Poor　fellow！　This　Werewolf　mess　couldn't've　e　at　a　worse　time。　It　will　surely　bee　a　cause　célèbre　for　all　opponents　of　Hong　Kong。　Damned　nuisance；　apart　from　the　tragedy　so　far。　Dear　me；　well；　at　least　we　live　in　interesting　times　with　nothing　but　problems。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Is　the　Victoria　in　trouble？〃　Dunross　asked　the　question　casually　but　he　was　listening　intently　and　he　heard　the　slightest　hesitation　before　Sir　Geoffrey　said　lightly；　〃Good　Lord　no！　My　dear　fellow；　what　an　astonishing　idea！　Well；　thank　you；　Ian；　everything　else　can　wait　till　our　meeting　at　noon。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Dunross　put　the　phone　down　and　mopped　his　brow。　That　hesitation　was　bloody　ominous；　he　told　himself。　If　anyone'd　know　how　bad　things　are　it'd　be　Sir　Geoffrey。
　A　rain　squall　battered　the　windows。　So　much　to　do。　His　eyes　went　to　the　clock。　Linbar　due　now；　then　Sir　Luis。　He　already　decided　what　he　wanted　from　the　head　of　the　stock　exchange；　what　he　must　have　from　him。　He　had　not　mentioned　it　at　the　meeting　of　the　Inner　Court　this　morning。　The　others　had　soured　him。　All　of　them　…　Jacques；　Gavallan；　Linbar　…　were　convinced　the　Victoria　would　support　Struan's　to　the　limit。　〃And　if　they　don't？〃　he　had　asked。
　〃We've　the　Par…Con　deal。　It's　inconceivable　the　Victoria　won't　help！〃
　〃If　they　don't？〃
　〃Perhaps　after　last　night　Gornt　won't　continue　to　sell。〃
　〃He'll　sell。　What　do　we　do？〃
　〃Unless　we　can　stop　him　or　put　off　the　Toda　and　Orlin　payments　we're　in　very　great　trouble。〃
　We　can't　put　off　the　payments；　he　thought　again。　Without　the　bank　or　Mata　or　Tightfist　…　even　the　Par…Con　deal　won't　stop　Quillan。　Quillan　knows　he's　got　all　day　today　and　all　Friday　to　sell　and　sell　and　sell　and　I　can't　buy　ev…　
　〃Master　Linbar；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Show　him　in；　please。〃　He　glanced　at　the　clock。　The　younger　man　came　in　and　closed　the　door。　〃You're　almost　two　minutes　late。〃
　〃Oh？　Sorry。〃
　〃I　don't　seem　to　be　able　to　get　through　to　you　about　punctuality。　It's　impossible　to　run　sixty…three　panies　without　executive　punctuality。　If　it　happens　one　more　time　you　lose　your　yearly　bonus。〃
　Linbar　flushed。　〃Sorry。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　take　over　our　Sydney　operation　from　Bill　Foster。〃
　Linbar　Struan　brightened。　〃Yes　certainly。　I'd　like　that。　I've　wanted　an　operation　of　my　own　for　some　time。〃
　〃Good。　I'd　like　you　to　be　on　the　Qantas　flight　tomorrow　an…　〃
　〃Tomorrow？　Impossible！〃　Linbar　burst　out；　his　happiness　evaporating。　〃It'll　take　me　a　couple　of　weeks　to　get　ev…　〃
　Dunross's　voice　became　so　gentle　but　so　slashing　that　Linbar　Struan　blanched。　〃I　realize　that；　Linbar。　But　I　want　you　to　go　there　tomorrow。　Stay　two　weeks　and　then　e　back　and　report　to　me。　Understand？〃
　〃Yes；　I　understand。　But　。。。　but　what　about　Saturday？　What　about　the　races？　I　want　to　watch　Noble　Star　run。〃
　Dunross　just　looked　at　him。　〃I　want　you　in　Australia。　Tomorrow。　Foster's　failed　to　get　possession　of　Woolara　Properties。　Without　Woolara　we've　no　charterer　for　our　ships。　Without　the　charterer　our　present　banking　arrangements　are　null　and　void。　You've　two　weeks　to　correct　that　fiasco　and　report　back。〃
　〃And　if　I　don't？〃　Linbar　said；　enraged。
　〃For　chrissake　don't　waste　time！　You　know　the　answer　to　that。　If　you　fail　you'll　no　longer　be　in　the　Inner　Court。　And　if　you're　not　on　that　plane　tomorrow　you're　out　of　Struan's　as　long　as　I'm　tai…pan。〃
　Linbar　Struan　started　to　say　something　but　changed　his　mind。
　〃Good；〃　Dunross　said。　〃If　you　succeed　with　Woolara　your　salary's　doubled。〃
　Linbar　Struan　just　stared　back　at　him。　〃Anything　else？　Sir？〃
　〃No。　Good　morning；　Linbar。〃
　Linbar　nodded　and　strode　out。　When　the　door　was　closed　Dunross　allowed　himself　the　shadow　of　a　smile。　〃Cocky　young　bastard；〃　he　muttered　and　got　up　and　went　to　the　window　again；　feeling　closed　in；　wanting　to　be　out　in　a　speedboat　or；　better；　in　his　car；　racing　the　corners　just　too　fast；　pushing　the　car　and　himself　just　a　little　harder　each　lap　to　cleanse　his　head。　Absently　he　straightened　a　picture　and　watched　the　raindrops；　deep　in　thought；　saddened　by　John　Chen。
　A　globulet　fell　a　wet　obstacle　course　and　vanished　to　be　replaced　by　another　and　another。　There　was　still　no　view　and　the　rain　pelted　down。
　His　private　phone　jangled　into　life。
　〃Yes；　Penn？〃　he　said。
　A　strange　voice　said；　〃Mr。　Dunross？〃
　〃Yes。　Who's　this？〃　he　asked；　startled；　unable　to　place　the　man's　voice　or　his　accent。
　〃My　name　is　Kirk；　Jamie　Kirk；　Mr。　Dunross。　I'm；　er；　I'm　a　friend　of　Mr。　Grant；　Mr。　Alan　Medford　Grant。　。。。〃　Dunross　almost　dropped　the　phone。　〃。。。　Hello？　Mr。　Dunross？〃
　〃Yes；　please　go　on。〃　Dunross　was　over　his　shock　now。　AMG　was　one　of　the　few　who　had　been　given　this　number　and　he　had　known　it　was　to　be　used　only　in　emergencies　and　never　passed　on　except　for　a　very　special　reason。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I'm；　er；　from　London；　Scotland　actually。　Alan　told　me　to　call　you　as　soon　as　I　got　to　Hong　Kong。　He；　er；　gave　me　your　number。　I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you？〃
　〃No；　not　at　all；　Mr。　Kirk。〃
　〃Alan　gave　me　a　package　for　you；　and　he　also　wanted　me　to　talk　to　you。　My；　er；　my　wife　and　I　are　in　Hong　Kong　for　three　days　so　I；　er；　I　wondered　if　we　could　meet。〃
　〃Of　course。　Where　are　you　staying？〃　he　asked　calmly；　though　his　heart　was　racing。
　〃At　the　Nine　Dragons　in　Kowloon；　room　455。〃
　〃When　did　you　last　see　Alan；　Mr。　Kirk？〃
　〃When　we　left　London。　That　was；　er；　two　weeks　ago　now。　Yes；　two　weeks　to　the　day。　We've；　er；　we've　been　to　Singapore　and　Indonesia。　Why？〃
　〃Would　after　lunch　be　convenient？　Sorry　but　I'm　jammed　till　3：20。　I　could　see　you　then　if　that　would　be　satisfactory。〃
　〃3：20　will　be　fine。〃
　〃I'll　send　a　car　for　you　an…　〃
　〃Oh　there's；　er；　there's　no　need　for　that。　We　can　find　our　way　to　your　office。〃
　〃It's　no　trouble。　A　car　will　call　for　you　at　2：30。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone；　lost　in　thought。
　The　clock　chimed　8：45。　A　knock。　Claudia　opened　the　door。　〃Sir　Luis　Basilio；　tai…pan。〃
　
　Johnjohn　at　the　Victoria　Bank　was　shouting　into　the　phone。　〃。。。　I　don't　give　a　sod　what　you　bastards　in　London　think；　I'm　telling　you　we've　got　the　beginnings　of　a　run　here　and　it　looks　very　smelly　indeed。　I　。。。　What？　Speak　up；　man！　We've　got　a　rotten　connection。　。。。　What？　。。。　I　couldn't　care　less　that　it's　1：30　in　the　morning　…　where　the　hell　were　you　anyway　…　I've　been　trying　to　get　you　for　four　hours！　。。。　What？　。。。　Whose　birthday？　Christ　almighty　。。。〃　His　sandy　eyebrows　soared　and　he　held　on　to　his　temper。　〃Listen；　just　get　down　to　the　City　and　the　Mint　very　first　bloody　thing　and　tell　them　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Yes；　tell　them　this　whole　bloody　island　may　run　out　of　money　and　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Oh　for　chrissake！〃　He　started　jiggling　the　plunger　up　and　down。　〃Hello！〃　Then　he　slammed　the　receiver　onto　its　cradle；　cursed　for　a　moment；　then　prodded　the　inter　button。　〃Miss　Mills；　I　was　cut　off；　please　get　him　back　quickly　as　you　can。〃
　〃Certainly；〃　the　cool；　very　English　voice　said。　〃Mr。　Dunross's　here。〃
　Johnjohn　glanced　at　his　watch　and　whitened。　It　was　9：33。　〃Oh　Christ！　Hold　。。。　yes；　hold　the　call。　I'll　。。。〃　Hurriedly　he　put　the　phone　down；　rushed　to　the　door；　posed　himself　and　opened　it　with　forced　nonchalance。　〃My　dear　Ian；　so　sorry　to　keep　you　waiting。　How're　things？〃
　〃Fine。　And　with　you？〃
　〃Marvelous！〃
　〃Marvelous？　That's　interesting。　There　must　be　six　or　seven　hundred　impatient　customers　queuing　up　outside　already　and　you're　half　an　hour　to　opening　time。　There're　even　a　few　outside　Blacs。〃
　〃More　than　a　few　。。。〃　Johnjohn　just　caught　himself　in　time。　〃Nothing　to　worry　about；　Ian。　Would　you　like　coffee　or　shall　we　go　straight　up　to　Paul's　office。〃
　〃Paul's　office。〃
　〃Good。〃　Johnjohn　led　the　way　along　the　thickly　carpeted　corridor。　〃No；　there's　no　problem　at　all；　just　a　few　superstitious　Chinese　…　you　know　how　they　are；　rumors　and　all　that。　Rotten　about　the　fire。　I　hear　Casey　stripped　and　dived　to　the　rescue。　Were　you　at　the　track　this　morning？　This　rain's　grand；　isn't　it？〃
　Dunross's　unease　increased。　〃Yes。　I　hear　there're　queues　outside　almost　every　bank　in　the　Colony。　Except　the　Bank　of　China。〃
　Johnjohn's　laugh　sounded　hollow。　〃Our　munist　friends　wouldn't　take　kindly　to　a　run　on　them　at　all。　They'd　send　in　the　troops！〃
　〃So　the　run's　on？〃
　〃On　the　Ho…Pak；　yes。　On　us？　No。　In　any　event　we're　nowhere　near　as　extended　as　Richard　Kwang。　I　understand　he　really　has　made　some　very　dangerous　loans。　I'm　afraid　the　Ching　Prosperity's　not　in　good　shape　either。　Still；　Smiler　Ching　deserves　to　take　a　drubbing　after　all　his　fiddling　over　the　years　in　such　dubious　enterprises。〃
　〃Drugs？〃
　〃I　really　couldn't　say；　Ian。　Not　officially。　But　the　rumor's　strong。〃
　〃But　you　say　the　run　won't　spread　to　you？〃
　〃Not　really。　If　it　does　。。。　well　I'm　sure　everything　will　be　quite　all　right。〃　Johnjohn　went　on　down　the　wide　paneled　corridor；　everything　rich；　solid　and　safe。　He　nodded　at　the　elderly　English　secretary；　went　past　her　and　opened　the　door　marked　PAUL　HAVERGILL；　DEPUTY　CHAIRMAN。　The　office　was　large；　oak　paneled；　the　desk　huge　and　clear　of　papers。　The　windows　faced　the　square。
　〃Ian；　my　dear　fellow。〃　Havergill　got　up　and　extended　his　hand。　〃So　sorry　I　couldn't　see　you　yesterday；　and　the　party　last　night　was　hardly　the　place　for　business；　eh？　How're　you　feeling？〃
　〃All　right。　I　think。　So　far。　You？〃
　〃I've　got　the　trots　slightly　but　Constance's　fine；　thank　God。　Soon　as　we　got　home　I　gave　us　both　a　good　dollop　of　good　old　Dr。　Colicos's　Remedy。〃　It　was　an　elixir　invented　during　the　Crimean　War　by　Dr。　Colicos　to　cure　stomach　disorders　when　tens　of　thousands　of　British　soldiers　were　dying　of　typhoid　and　cholera　and　dysentery。　The　formula　was　still　a　guarded　secret。
　〃Terrific　stuff！　Dr。　Tooley　gave　us　some　too。〃
　〃Damnable　about　the　others；　what？　Toxe's　wife；　eh？〃
　Johnjohn　said　grave