jamesclavell.noblehouse-µÚ129ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
apologies¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¨Refused¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡God£¡¡¨¡¡She¡¡watched¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Actually£»¡¡Linc£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡usually¡¡handle¡¡the¡¡strong£»¡¡the¡¡meek£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cunning¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡the¡¡very¡¡cunning¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡too¡¡much¡¡trouble¡£¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡I've¡¡known¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡pass¡¡it's¡¡possible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡to¡¡have¡¡and¡¡I've¡¡always¡¡figured¡¡I've¡¡an¡¡automatic¡¡game¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡counter¡¡them¡¡almost¡¡before¡¡they¡¡begin¡£¡¡But¡¡with¡¡you¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡hesitated£»¡¡then¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨Sorry£»¡¡but¡¡almost¡¡every¡¡man¡¡I¡¡meet£»¡¡well£»¡¡it's¡¡always¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨That's¡¡wrong£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡but¡¡it's¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡into¡¡a¡¡room¡¡or¡¡a¡¡restaurant¡¡and¡¡feel¡¡those¡¡leering¡¡eyes¡£¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡how¡¡men¡¡would¡¡handle¡¡it¡£¡¡You're¡¡young¡¡and¡¡handsome¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡you¡¡do¡¡if¡¡women¡¡did¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡¡everywhere¡¡you¡¡went¡£¡¡Say¡¡when¡¡you¡¡walked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡lobby¡¡of¡¡the¡¡V¡¡and¡¡A¡¡this¡¡morning¡¡you¡¡saw¡¡every¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡every¡¡age£»¡¡from¡¡false¡toothed¡¡old¡¡grannies£»¡¡bewigged¡¡harpies£»¡¡the¡¡fat£»¡¡the¡¡ugly£»¡¡the¡¡coarse£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡all¡¡openly¡¡leering¡¡at¡¡you£»¡¡undressing¡¡you¡¡mentally£»¡¡openly¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡get¡¡close£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡stroke¡¡your¡¡behind£»¡¡openly¡¡ogling¡¡your¡¡chest¡¡or¡¡crotch£»¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡bad¡¡breath£»¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡sweating¡¡and¡¡foul¡smelling£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡know¡¡they're¡¡imagining¡¡you¡¡in¡¡their¡¡bed£»¡¡enthusiastically¡¡and¡¡happily¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡most¡¡intimate¡¡things¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡wouldn't¡¡like¡¡it¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Casey¡¡said¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡different¡¡words¡¡when¡¡she¡¡first¡¡joined¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean£»¡¡Orlanda¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡I¡¡can¡¡imagine¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡that's¡¡the¡¡way¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡made¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡it's¡¡awful¡£¡¡Oh¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡Linc£»¡¡I'm¡¡very¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡but¡¡it's¡¡really¡¡quite¡¡awful¡¡sometimes¡£¡¡To¡¡know¡¡you're¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡as¡¡just¡¡a¡¡receptacle¡¡that¡¡can¡¡be¡¡bought£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡after¡¡it¡¡all¡¡you're¡¡to¡¡say¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡very¡¡much¡¡to¡¡the¡¡corpulent¡¡old¡¡lecher¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡accept¡¡your¡¡twenty¡dollar¡¡bill¡¡and¡¡sneak¡¡off¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thief¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡frowned¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡did¡¡we¡¡get¡¡on¡¡this¡¡kick£¿¡¨
¡¡She¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡kissed¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡grinned£»¡¡glad¡¡they¡¡were¡¡happy¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡right¡£¡¡So¡¡maybe¡¡I¡¡deserved¡¡the¡¡lecture¡£¡¡I'm¡¡guilty¡¡as¡¡charged¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡about¡¡that¡¡kiss¡¡you¡¡promised¡¡me¡£¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡But¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡move¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡feeling¡¡his¡¡way£»¡¡probing¡£¡¡Everything's¡¡changed¡¡now£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡Sure¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡did¡¡she¡¡call¡¡it£¿¡¡To¡¡pillow¡£¡¡Sure¡£¡¡Still¡¡do£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡we're¡¡changed¡£¡¡Now¡¡we're¡¡in¡¡a¡¡different¡¡game¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡if¡¡I¡¡want¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡rules've¡¡changed¡£¡¡Before¡¡it¡¡was¡¡simple¡£¡¡Now¡¡maybe¡¡it's¡¡more¡¡simple¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡pretty¡£¡¡Did¡¡I¡¡mention¡¡you¡¡were¡¡pretty£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡avoiding¡¡the¡¡issue¡¡that¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡that¡¡kiss¡£¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡Linc£»¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡is¡¡I¡¡just¡¡wasn't¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡honest£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡I£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡swamped£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡that's¡¡the¡¡word¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡let¡¡the¡¡word¡¡linger¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡good¡¡or¡¡bad£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Both¡£¡¨¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡crinkled¡¡with¡¡her¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡swamped¡¡with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡desire¡£¡¡You're¡¡something¡¡else£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bartlett£»¡¡and¡¡that's¡¡also¡¡very¡¡bad£»¡¡or¡¡very¡¡good¡£¡¡I£»¡¡I¡¡enjoyed¡¡your¡¡kiss¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨So¡¡did¡¡I¡£¡¨¡¡Again¡¡he¡¡grinned¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡call¡¡me¡¡Linc¡£¡¨¡¡After¡¡a¡¡pause¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I've¡¡never¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡wanting¡¡and¡¡swamped£»¡¡and¡¡because¡¡of¡¡that¡¡very¡¡frightened¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡¡need¡¡to¡¡be¡¡frightened£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡His¡¡instincts¡¡said¡¡leave¡£¡¡His¡¡instincts¡¡said¡¡stay¡£¡¡Wisdom¡¡told¡¡him¡¡to¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡and¡¡wait¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡beating¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡hammering¡¡the¡¡windows¡£¡¡Better¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡¡¨Orlanda£»¡¡guess¡¡it's¡¡ab¡¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡time¡¡to¡¡talk£¿¡¡Just¡¡a¡¡little£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡sensing¡¡his¡¡indecision¡£
¡¡¡¨Sure¡£¡¡Sure£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¨
¡¡Her¡¡fingers¡¡brushed¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡from¡¡her¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡about¡¡me¡£¡¡Quillan¡¡was¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡boss¡¡in¡¡Shanghai¡¡and¡¡I¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡known¡¡him¡¡all¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡He¡¡helped¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡my¡¡education£»¡¡particularly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡States¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡always¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡my¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡I've¡¡four¡¡sisters¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡the¡¡oldest¡¡and¡¡they're¡¡all¡¡in¡¡Portugal¡¡now¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡came¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Shanghai¡¡from¡¡San¡¡Francisco¡¡after¡¡I'd¡¡graduated£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡seventeen£»¡¡almost¡¡eighteen¡¡and¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Well¡¡he's¡¡an¡¡attractive¡¡man£»¡¡to¡¡me¡¡he¡¡is£»¡¡though¡¡very¡¡cruel¡¡sometimes¡£¡¡Very¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨How£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡believes¡¡in¡¡personal¡¡vengeance£»¡¡that¡¡vengeance¡¡is¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡right£»¡¡if¡¡he's¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡Quillan's¡¡very¡¡much¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡always¡¡good¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡still¡¡is¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡studied¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Quillan¡¡still¡¡gives¡¡me¡¡an¡¡allowance£»¡¡still¡¡pays¡¡for¡¡this¡¡apartment¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡anything¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡£¡¡But¡¡I'd¡¡like¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡listen¡£¡¡Then¡¡you¡¡can¡¡decide¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡studied¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨All¡¡right¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡see£»¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it's¡¡because¡¡I'm¡¡Eurasian¡£¡¡Most¡¡Europeans¡¡despise¡¡us£»¡¡openly¡¡or¡¡secretly£»¡¡particularly¡¡the¡¡British¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡Linc£»¡¡just¡¡hear¡¡me¡¡out¡£¡¡Most¡¡Europeans¡¡despise¡¡Eurasians¡£¡¡All¡¡Chinese¡¡do¡£¡¡So¡¡we're¡¡always¡¡on¡¡the¡¡defensive£»¡¡almost¡¡always¡¡suspect£»¡¡almost¡¡always¡¡presumed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡illegitimate£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡lay¡£¡¡God¡¡how¡¡I¡¡loathe¡¡that¡¡Americanism£¡¡¡How¡¡rotten¡¡and¡¡vulgar¡¡and¡¡cheap¡¡it¡¡really¡¡is¡£¡¡And¡¡revealing¡¡about¡¡the¡¡American¡¡male¡¡¡¡¡though£»¡¡strangely£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡States¡¡that¡¡I¡¡gained¡¡my¡¡self¡respect¡¡and¡¡got¡¡over¡¡my¡¡Eurasian¡¡guilt¡£¡¡Quillan¡¡taught¡¡me¡¡lots¡¡and¡¡formed¡¡me¡¡in¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡ways¡£¡¡I'm¡¡beholden¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡love¡¡him¡£¡¡That's¡¡what¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡Would¡¡you¡¡like¡¡more¡¡coffee£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Sure£»¡¡thanks¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡make¡¡some¡¡fresh¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡got¡¡up£»¡¡her¡¡walk¡¡unconsciously¡¡sensuous¡¡and¡¡again¡¡he¡¡cursed¡¡his¡¡luck¡£
¡¡¡¨Why'd¡¡you¡¡bust¡¡up¡¡with¡¡him£¿¡¨
¡¡Gravely¡¡she¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡Macao¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡allowed¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡persuaded¡¡into¡¡the¡¡fellow's¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡I¡¡slept¡¡there¡¡though¡¡nothing¡¡happened£»¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡man¡¡was¡¡drunk¡¡and¡¡useless¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡I¡¡pretended¡¡that¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡fine¡£¡¨¡¡Her¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡outwardly¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡matter¡of¡fact¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡anguish¡£¡¡¡¨Nothing¡¡happened¡¡but¡¡someone¡¡told¡¡Quillan¡£¡¡Rightly£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡furious¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡defense¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Quillan¡¡had¡¡been¡¡away¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that's¡¡no¡¡excuse¡¡but¡¡I'd¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡enjoy¡¡pillowing¡¡and¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨¡¡A¡¡shadow¡¡went¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡¡¨Joss¡£¡¡Karma¡£¡¨¡¡In¡¡the¡¡same¡¡small¡¡voice¡¡she¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡Quillan's¡¡revenge¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡his¡¡way£»¡¡Linc¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡right¡¡to¡¡be¡¡furious¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡wrong¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡steam¡¡hissed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡began¡¡to¡¡drip¡£¡¡Her¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡finding¡¡clean¡¡cups¡¡and¡¡fresh¡¡home¡baked¡¡cookies¡¡and¡¡new¡¡starched¡¡linen¡¡as¡¡she¡¡talked¡¡but¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡were¡¡concentrating¡¡on¡¡the¡¡man¡woman¡¡triangle¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡still¡¡see¡¡him¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¡Just¡¡to¡¡talk¡£¡¡We're¡¡just¡¡friends¡¡now¡¡and¡¡he's¡¡good¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡I¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡want£»¡¡see¡¡who¡¡I¡¡want¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡steam¡¡off¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡we¡¡had¡¡a¡¡child¡¡four¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡£¡¡He¡¡said¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡the¡¡child¡¡but¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡it¡¡in¡¡England¡£¡¡She's¡¡in¡¡Portugal¡¡now¡¡with¡¡my¡¡parents¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡retired¡¡and¡¡she¡¡lives¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡A¡¡tear¡¡rolled¡¡down¡¡her¡¡cheek¡£
¡¡¡¨Was¡¡that¡¡his¡¡idea£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡child¡¡there£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡is¡¡right¡£¡¡Once¡¡a¡¡year¡¡I¡¡go¡¡there¡£¡¡My¡¡parents¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡child£»¡¡begged¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡£¡¡Quillan's¡¡generous¡¡to¡¡them¡¡too¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡tears¡¡were¡¡rolling¡¡down¡¡her¡¡face¡¡now¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡to¡¡her¡¡crying¡£¡¡¡¨So¡¡now¡¡you¡¡know¡¡it¡¡all£»¡¡Linc¡£¡¡I've¡¡never¡¡told¡¡anyone¡¡but¡¡you¡¡and¡¡now¡¡you¡¡know¡¡I'm£»¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡a¡¡faithful¡¡mistress¡¡and¡¡I'm£»¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡a¡¡good¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡and¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡went¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡held¡¡her¡¡very¡¡close¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡her¡¡melt¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡back¡¡the¡¡sobs£»¡¡holding¡¡on£»¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡warmth¡¡and¡¡his¡¡strength¡£¡¡He¡¡gentled¡¡her£»¡¡holding¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡her¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡warm£»¡¡tender£»¡¡everything¡¡fitting¡£
¡¡When¡¡she¡¡was¡¡whole¡¡again¡¡she¡¡reached¡¡up¡¡on¡¡tiptoe¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡him¡¡lightly¡¡but¡¡with¡¡great¡¡tenderness¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡£
¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡kiss¡¡equally¡£
¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡searchingly£»¡¡then¡¡kissed¡¡again¡£¡¡Their¡¡passion¡¡grew¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡forever¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡and¡¡both¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡key¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lock¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡£¡¡They¡¡broke¡¡away£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡their¡¡breath£»¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡and¡¡hearing¡¡the¡¡coarse¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡amah¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¨Weyyyyy£¿¡¨
¡¡Weakly¡¡Orlanda¡¡brushed¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡straighter£»¡¡half¡shrugged¡¡to¡¡him¡¡in¡¡apology¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡called¡¡out¡¡in¡¡Shanghainese¡£¡¡¡¨Please¡¡go¡¡to¡¡your¡¡room¡¡until¡¡I¡¡call¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£¿¡¡Oh¡¡the¡¡foreign¡¡devil's¡¡still¡¡here¡¡is¡¡he£¿¡¡What¡¡about¡¡my¡¡shopping£¿¡¡I¡¡did¡¡some¡¡shopping£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Leave¡¡it¡¡by¡¡the¡¡door£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡oh¡¡very¡¡well£»¡¡Young¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡amah¡¡called¡¡back¡¡and¡¡went¡¡off¡¡grumbling¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡banged¡¡loudly¡¡behind¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¨They¡¡always¡¡slam¡¡doors£¿¡¨¡¡Linc¡¡asked£»¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡still¡¡thumping¡£
¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡yes¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡so¡£¡¨¡¡Her¡¡hand¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡shoulder£»¡¡the¡¡nails¡¡caressing¡¡his¡¡neck¡£¡¡¡¨Sorry¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Nothing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sorry¡¡about¡£¡¡How¡¡about¡¡dinner£¿¡¨
¡¡She¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡Casey¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡Just¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Linc£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡best¡¡no£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨We're¡¡not¡¡in¡¡danger¡¡now¡£¡¡Let's¡¡just¡¡say¡¡good¡bye¡¡now¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Dinner¡£¡¡Eight¡£¡¡I'll¡¡call¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¡pick¡¡the¡¡restaurant¡£¡¡Shanghai¡¡food¡£¡¨
¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡It's¡¡too¡¡heady¡¡already¡£¡¡Sorry¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡call¡¡for¡¡you¡¡at¡¡eight¡£¡¨¡¡Bartlett¡¡kissed¡¡her¡¡lightly£»¡¡then¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡She¡¡took¡¡down¡¡his¡¡raincoat¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡out¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨Thanks£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡gently¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡danger£»¡¡Orlanda¡£¡¡Everything's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡e¡¡up¡¡roses¡£¡¡See¡¡you¡¡at¡¡eight¡£¡¡Okay£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡best¡¡not¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Maybe¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡smiled¡¡down¡¡at¡¡her¡¡strangely¡£¡¡¡¨That'd¡¡be¡¡joss¡¡¡¡¡karma¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡gods£»¡¡huh£¿¡¨¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡be¡¡here¡¡at¡¡eight¡£¡¨
¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡went¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡sat£»¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡thought£»¡¡wondering¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡scared¡¡him¡¡off£»¡¡petrified¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡£¡¡Wondering¡¡if¡¡he¡¡really¡¡would¡¡be¡¡back¡¡at¡¡eight¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡how¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡off£»¡¡how¡¡to¡¡puppet¡¡him¡¡until¡¡he¡¡was¡¡mad¡¡with¡¡desire£»¡¡mad¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡her¡£
¡¡Her¡¡stomach¡¡twisted¡¡uneasily¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡fast£»¡¡she¡¡thought¡£¡¡Casey¡¡holds¡¡him¡¡in¡¡thrall£»¡¡she's¡¡wrapped¡¡her¡¡coils¡¡around¡¡him¡¡and¡¡my¡¡only¡¡way¡¡is¡¡good¡¡cooking¡¡and¡¡home¡¡and¡¡loving£»¡¡loving¡¡loving¡¡loving¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡Casey¡¡is¡¡not¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡pillow¡£¡¡That's¡¡the¡¡way¡¡Casey's¡¡trapped¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡same¡£
¡¡Then¡¡he'll¡¡be¡¡mine¡£
¡¡Orlanda¡¡felt¡¡weak¡£¡¡Everything¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡perfectly£»¡¡she¡¡decided¡£¡¡Then¡¡again¡¡she¡¡remembered¡¡what¡¡Gornt¡¡had¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ages¡¡that¡¡every¡¡man¡¡has¡¡to¡¡be¡¡trapped¡¡into¡¡marriage£»¡¡trapped¡¡by¡¡his¡¡own¡¡lust¡¡or¡¡possessiveness¡¡or¡¡avarice¡¡or¡¡money¡¡or¡¡fear¡¡or¡¡laziness¡¡or¡¡whatever¡¡but¡¡trapped¡£¡¡And¡¡no¡¡man¡¡ever¡¡willingly¡¡marries¡¡his¡¡mistress¡£¡¨
¡¡Yes¡£¡¡Quillan's¡¡right¡¡again£»¡¡she¡¡thought¡£¡¡But¡¡he's¡¡wrong¡¡about¡¡me¡£¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡for¡¡half¡¡the¡¡prize¡£¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡try¡¡for¡¡all¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡not¡¡only¡¡the¡¡Jag¡¡and¡¡this¡¡apartment¡¡and¡¡all¡¡it¡¡contains¡¡but¡¡a¡¡house¡¡in¡¡California¡¡and£»¡¡most¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡American¡¡wealth£»¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Asia£»¡¡where¡¡I'll¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡be¡¡Eurasian¡¡but¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡like¡¡any¡¡other£»¡¡beautiful£»¡¡carefree¡¡and¡¡loving¡£
¡¡Oh¡¡I'll¡¡make¡¡him¡¡the¡¡best¡¡wife¡¡a¡¡man¡¡could¡¡ever¡¡have¡£¡¡I'll¡¡minister¡¡to¡¡his¡¡every¡¡need£»¡¡whatever¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡I'll¡¡do¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡good¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡wonderful¡¡for¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¨He's¡¡gone£¿¡¨¡¡Ah¡¡Fat¡¡wandered¡¡noiselessly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡automatically¡¡tidying¡¡as¡¡she¡¡talked¡¡the¡¡Shanghai¡¡dialect¡£¡¡¡¨Good£»¡¡very¡¡good¡£¡¡Shall¡¡I¡¡make¡¡some¡¡tea£¿¡¡You¡¡must¡¡be¡¡tired¡£¡¡Some¡¡tea£»¡¡heya£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡yes¡¡make¡¡some£»¡¡Ah¡¡Fat¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Make¡¡some¡¡tea£¡¡¡Work¡¡work¡¡work£¡¡¨¡¡The¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡shuffled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡£¡¡She¡¡wore¡¡black¡¡baggy¡¡pants¡¡and¡¡white¡¡smock¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡single¡¡long¡¡braid¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡down¡¡her¡¡back¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡after¡¡Orlanda¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡she¡¡was¡¡born¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡good¡¡look¡¡at¡¡him¡¡downstairs£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡and¡¡he¡¡arrived¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡uncivilized¡¡person¡¡he's¡¡quite¡¡presentable£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡speculatively¡£
¡¡¡¨Oh£¿¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡see¡¡you¡£¡¡Where¡¡were¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Down¡¡by¡¡the¡¡stairs£»¡¨¡¡Ah¡¡Fat¡¡cackled¡£¡¡¡¨Eeeee£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡good¡¡care¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡but¡¡I¡¡wa