jamesclavell.noblehouse-第127章

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itors。　But；　as　you　say；　a　lot　of　it's　joss。〃　He　found　his　pad。　〃I'll　give　you　a　prescription　for　a　rather　newfangled　intestinal　antibiotic　but　continue　with　good　old　Dr。　Colicos's　Remedy　…　that　will　settle　your　tummies。　Watch　her　very　carefully。　Do　you　have　a　thermometer？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　With　。。。〃　A　spasm　went　through　Peter　Marlowe；　shook　him　and　went　away。　〃Traveling　with　young　kids　you　have　to　have　a　survival　kit。〃　Both　men　were　trying　not　to　watch　the　bathroom　door。　They　could　half…hear　her　as　her　pain　waxed　and　waned。
　〃How　old　are　your　children？〃　Dr。　Tooley　asked　absently；　keeping　the　concern　from　his　voice　as　he　wrote。　When　he　had　e　in　he　had　noticed　the　happy　chaos　of　the　tiny　second　bedroom　off　the　small　drab　living　room　…　barely　big　enough　for　its　two…tiered　bunk；　the　toys　scattered。　〃Mine　are　grown　up　now。　I've　three　daughters。〃
　〃What？　Oh；　ours　are　four　and　eight。　They're　。。。　they're　both　girls。〃
　〃Do　you　have　an　amah？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Yes。　With　all　the　rain　this　morning　she　took　the　kids　to　school。　They　go　across　the　harbor　and　pick　up　a　bo…pi。〃　A　bo…pi　was　an　unlicensed　taxi　that　was　quite　illegal　but　most　everyone　used　them　from　time　to　time。　〃The　school's　off　Garden　Road。　Most　days　they　insist　on　toddling　off　themselves。　They're　perfectly　safe。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Yes　of　course。〃
　Their　ears　were　fine…tuned　now　to　her　torment。　Each　muted　strain　went　through　both　men。
　〃Well；　don't　worry；〃　the　doctor　said　hesitantly。　〃I'll　have　the　drugs　sent　up　…　there's　a　pharmacy　in　the　hotel。　I'll　have　it　put　on　your　bill。　I'll　e　back　this　evening　at　six；　as　near　to　six　as　I　can。　If　there's　any　problem　。。。〃　He　offered　a　prescription　blank　gently。　〃My　phone　number's　on　this。　Don't　hesitate　to　call；　eh？〃
　〃Thanks。　Now　about　your　bill　。。。〃
　〃No　need　to　worry　about　that；　Mr。　Marlowe。　The　first　order　of　business　is　to　get　you　well。〃　Dr。　Tooley　was　concentrating　on　the　door。　He　was　afraid　to　leave。　〃Were　you　army？〃
　〃No。　Air　force。〃
　〃Ah！　My　brother　was　one　of　the　Few。　He　pranged　in　。。。〃　He　stopped。
　Fleur　Marlowe　was　calling　out　hesitantly　through　the　door；　〃Doctor　。。。　cou　。。。　could　you　。。。　please　。。。〃
　Tooley　went　to　the　door。　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Marlowe？　Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Cou　。。。　could　you　please　。。。〃
　He　opened　the　door　and　closed　it　after　him。
　The　sour　sweet　stench　in　the　tiny　bathroom　was　heavy　but　he　paid　it　no　attention。
　〃I　。。。　it　。。　。〃　Another　spasm　twisted　her。
　〃Now　don't　worry；〃　he　said；　calming　her；　and　put　one　hand　on　her　back　and　the　other　on　her　stomach；　helping　to　support　her　tormented　abdominal　muscles。　His　hands　massaged　gently　and　with　great　knowledge。　〃There；　there！　Just　let　yourself　go；　I　won't　let　you　fall。〃　He　felt　the　knotting　under　his　fingers　and　willed　his　warmth　and　strength　into　her。　〃You're　just　about　my　daughter's　age；　my　youngest。　I've　three　and　the　eldest　has　two　children。　。。。　There；　just　let　yourself　relax；　just　think　the　pains　away；　soon　you'll　feel　nice　and　warm。　。。。〃　In　time　the　cramps　passed。
　〃I　。。。　God；　sorr　。。。　sorry。〃　The　young　woman　groped　for　the　toilet　roll　but　another　cramp　took　her　and　another。　It　was　awkward　for　him　in　the　small　room　but　he　tended　her　and　kept　his　strong　hands　supporting　her　as　best　he　could。　An　ache　leapt　into　his　back。
　〃I'm　。。。　I'm　all　right　now；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you。〃
　He　knew　she　was　not。　The　sweat　had　soaked　her。　He　sponged　off　her　face　and　dried　it　for　her。　Then　he　helped　her　stand；　taking　her　weight；　gentling　her　all　the　time。　He　cleaned　her。　The　paper　showed　traces　of　blood　and　the　bowl　traces　of　blood　mucus　among　the　discolored　water　but　she　was　not　hemorrhaging　yet　and　he　sighed　with　relief。　〃You're　going　to　be　fine；〃　he　said。　〃Here；　hold　on　a　second。　Don't　be　afraid！〃　He　guided　her　hands　to　the　sink。　Quickly　he　folded　a　dry　towel　lengthwise　and　wrapped　it　tightly　around　her　stomach；　tucking　the　ends　in　to　hold　it。　〃This's　the　best　for　gippy　tummy；　the　very　best。　It　supports　your　tum　and　keeps　it　warm。　My　grandfather　was　a　doctor　too；　in　the　Indian　Army；　and　he　swore　this　was　the　best。〃　He　looked　at　her　keenly。　〃You're　a　fine　brave　young　lady。　You're　going　to　be　fine。　Ready？〃
　〃Yes。　Sorr…　sorry　about　。。。〃
　He　opened　the　door。　Peter　Marlowe　rushed　to　help。　They　put　her　to　bed。
　She　lay　there　exhausted；　a　thread　of　damp　hair　on　her　forehead。
　Dr。　Tooley　brushed　it　away　and　stared　down　at　her　thoughtfully。　〃I　think；　young　lady；　that　we'll　put　you　into　a　nursing　home　for　a　day　or　two。〃
　〃Oh　but　。。。　but　。。。〃
　〃Nothing　to　worry　about。　But　we'd　better　give　the　baby…to…be　every　chance；　eh？　And　with　two　small　children　here　to　fret　over。　Two　days　of　rest　will　be　enough。〃　His　gruff　voice　touched　both　of　them；　calming　them。　〃I'll　make　the　arrangements　and　be　back　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃　He　looked　at　Peter　Marlowe　under　his　great　bushy　eyebrows。　〃The　nursing　home's　in　Kowloon　so　it'll　save　any　long　journey　to　the　Island。　A　lot　of　us　use　it　and　it's　good；　clean　and　equipped　for　any　emergency。　Perhaps　you'd　pack　a　small　bag　for　her？〃　He　wrote　the　address　and　phone　number。　〃So；　young　lady；　I'll　be　back　in　a　few　minutes。　It'll　be　best；　then　you　won't　have　to　worry　about　the　children。　I　know　what　a　trial　that　can　be　if　you're　sick。〃　He　smiled　at　both　of　them。　〃Don't　worry　about　a　thing；　Mr。　Marlowe；　eh？　I'll　talk　to　your　houseboy　and　ask　him　to　help　make　things　shipshape　here。　And　don't　worry　about　the　money。〃　The　deep　lines　around　his　eyes　deepened　even　more。　〃We're　very　philanthropic　here　in　Hong　Kong　with　our　young　guests。〃
　He　went　out。　Peter　Marlowe　sat　on　the　bed。　Disconsolate。
　〃I　hope　the　kids　got　to　school　all　right；〃　she　said。
　〃Oh　yes。　Ah　Sop's　fine。〃
　〃How　will　you　manage？〃
　〃Easy。　I'll　be　like　Old　Mother　Hubbard。　It'll　only　be　a　day　or　two。〃
　She　moved　wearily；　leaning　on　a　hand　and　watching　the　rain；　and　beyond　it；　the　flat　gray　of　the　hotel　across　the　narrow　street　that　she　hated　so　much　because　it　cut　off　the　sky。　〃I　。。。　I　hope　it's　not　going　。。。　going　to　cost　too　much；〃　she　said；　her　voice　weightless。
　〃Don't　worry　about　it；　Fleur。　We'll　be　all　right。　The　Writers　Guild'll　pay。〃
　〃Will　they？　I　bet　they　won't；　Peter；　not　in　time。　Blast！　We　。。。　we're　so　tight　on　our　budget　already。〃
　〃I　can　always　borrow　against　next　year's　drop　dead　check。　Don…　〃
　〃Oh　no！　No　we　won't　do　that；　Peter。　We　mustn't。　We　agreed。　Other　。。。　otherwise　you're　trapped　ag　。。。　again。〃
　〃Something'll　turn　up；〃　he　said　confidently。　〃Next　month　we've　got　a　Friday　the　thirteenth　and　that's　always　been　lucky　for　us。〃　His　novel　was　published　on　a　thirteenth　and　went　on　to　the　best…seller　list　on　a　thirteenth。　When　he　and　his　wife　were　at　bottom；　three　years　ago；　on　another　thirteenth　he　had　made　a　fine　screenwriting　deal　that　had　carried　them　again。　His　first　directing　assignment　had　been　confirmed　on　a　thirteenth。　And　last　April；　Friday　the　thirteenth；　one　of　the　studios　in　Hollywood　had　bought　the　film　rights　to　his　novel　for　157；000。　The　agent　had　taken　10　percent　and　then　Peter　Marlowe　had　spread　the　remainder　over　five　years　…　in　advance。　Five　years　of　family　drop　dead　money。　25；000　per　year　every　January。　Enough；　with　care；　for　school　and　medical　expenses　and　mortgage　and　car　and　other　payments　…　five　glorious　years　of　freedom　from　all　the　usual　worries。　And　freedom　to　turn　down　a　directing…screenwriting　job　to　e　to　Hong　Kong　for　a　year；　unpaid；　but　free　to　look　for　the　second　book。　Oh　Christ；　Peter　Marlowe　thought；　suddenly　petrified。　What　the　hell　am　I　looking　for　anyway？　What　the　hell　am　I　doing　here？　〃Christ；〃　he　said　miserably；　〃if　I　hadn't　insisted　on　us　going　to　that　party　this　would　never　have　happened。〃
　〃Joss。〃　She　smiled　faintly。　〃Joss；　Peter。　Remember　what　you're　。。。　you're　always　saying　to　me。　Joss。　It's　joss；　just　joss；　Peter。　Oh　Christ　I　feel　awful。〃
　
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　10：01　A。M。：
　Orlanda　Ramos　opened　the　door　of　her　apartment　and　put　her　sodden　umbrella　into　a　stand。　〃e　in；　Linc；〃　she　said　radiantly。　〃Minha　casa　é　vossa　casa。　My　house　is　yours。〃
　Linc　smiled。　〃You're　sure？〃
　She　laughed　and　said　lightly；　〃Ah！　That　remains　to　be　seen。　It's　just　an　old　Portuguese　custom　。。。　to　offer　one's　house。〃　She　was　taking　off　her　shiny；　very　fashionable　raincoat。　In　the　corridor　he　was　doing　the　same　to　a　soaked；　well…used　raincoat。
　〃Here；　let　me　hang　it　up；〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　don't　mind　about　the　wet；　my　amah　will　mop　it　up。　e　on　in。〃
　He　noticed　how　neat　and　tidy　the　living　room　was；　feminine；　in　very　good　taste　and　weling。　She　shut　the　door　behind　him　and　hung　his　coat　on　a　peg。　He　went　over　to　the　French　windows　that　let　out　onto　a　small　balcony。　Her　apartment　was　on　the　eighth　floor　of　Rose　Court　in　Kotewall　Road。
　〃Is　the　rain　always　this　heavy？〃　he　asked。
　〃In　a　real　typhoon　it's　much　worse。　Perhaps　twelve　to　eighteen　inches　in　a　day。　Then　there　are　mud　slides　and　the　resettlement　areas　get　washed　away。〃
　He　was　looking　down　through　the　overcast。　Most　of　the　view　was　blocked　by　high　rises；　ribbon…built　on　the　winding　roads　that　were　cut　into　the　mountainside。　From　time　to　time　he　could　see　glimpses　of　Central　and　the　shoreline　far　below。　〃It's　like　being　in　an　airplane；　Orlanda。　On　a　balmy　night　it　must　be　terrific。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。　I　love　it。　You　can　see　all　of　Kowloon。　Before　Sinclair　Towers　was　built　…　that's　the　block　straight　ahead　…　we　had　the　best　view　in　Hong　Kong。　Did　you　know　Struan's　own　Sinclair　Towers？　I　think　Ian　Dunross　helped　have　it　built　to　spite　Quillan。　Quillan　has　the　penthouse　apartment　here　。。。　at　least　he　did。〃
　〃It　spoiled　his　view？〃
　〃Ruined　it。〃
　〃That's　an　expensive　attack。〃
　〃No。　Both　blocks　are　immensely　profitable。　Quillan　told　me　everything　in　Hong　Kong's　amortized　over　three　years。　Everything。　Property's　the　thing　to　own。　You　could　make　。。。〃　She　laughed。　〃You　could　improve　your　fortune　if　you　wanted　to。〃
　〃If　I　stay；　where　should　I　live？〃
　〃Here　in　Mid　Levels。　Farther　up　the　Peak　you're　always　very　damp；　the　walls　sweat　and　everything　mildews。〃　She　took　off　her　headscarf　and　shook　her　hair　free；　then　sat　on　the　arm　of　a　chair；　looking　at　his　back；　waiting　patiently。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃Five；　almost　six　years。　Since　the　block　was　built。〃
　He　turned　and　leaned　against　the　window。　〃It's　great；〃　he　said。　〃And　so　are　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；　kind　sir。　Would　you　like　coffee？〃
　〃Please。〃　Linc　Bartlett　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　peering　at　an　oil　painting。　〃This　a　Quance？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。　Quillan　gave　it　to　me。　Espresso？〃
　〃Yes。　Black；　please。　Wish　I　knew　more　about　paintings　。。。〃　He　was　going　to　add；　Casey　does；　but　he　stopped　himself　and　watched　her　open　one　of　the　doors。　The　kitchen　was　large；　modern　and　very　well　equipped。　〃That's　like　something　out　of　House　and　Garden！〃
　〃This　was　all　Quillan's　idea。　He　loves　food　and　loves　cooking。　This's　all　his　design；　the　rest　。。。　the　rest　is　mine　though　he　taught　me　good　from　kitsch。〃
　〃You　sorry　you　broke　up　with　him？〃
　〃Yes　and　no。　It's　joss；　karma。　He　。。。　that　was　joss。　The　time　had　e。〃　Her　quietness　touched　him。　〃It　could　never　have　lasted。　Never。　Not　here。〃　He　saw　a　sadness　go　over　her　momentarily　but　she　brushed　it　aside　and　busied　herself　with　the　sparkling　espresso　maker。　All　the　shelves　were　spotless。　〃Quillan　was　a　stickler　for　tidiness；　thank　God　it　rubbed　off　on　me。　My　amah；　Ah　Fat；　s