jamesclavell.noblehouse-第132章

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　〃Never　mind。　Sorry　but　I'm　a　bit　shorthanded；　old　chap。　West　Aberdeen's　cooperating　and　so　is　Central；　but　they've　problems　too。　Bloody　banks！　We'll　have　to　do　with　one　copper　in　the　back　…　he's　already　in　position　in　case　we　flush　one　of　the　villains　…　and　us　up　front　with　Spectacles　Wu。〃　Smyth　told　Armstrong　his　plan。
　〃Good。〃
　〃Shall　we　go　now？　I　don't　want　to　be　away　too　long。〃
　〃Of　course。　It　looks　pretty　dicey　outside。〃
　〃I　hope　the　bloody　rain　lasts　until　the　bloody　banks　close　their　doors　or　pay　out　the　last　penny。　Did　you　go　liquid　yourself？〃
　〃You　must　be　joking！　My　pittance　makes　no　difference！〃　Armstrong　stretched；　his　back　aching。　〃Ah　Tam　in　the　flat？〃
　〃As　far　as　we　know。　The　family　she　works　for　is　called　Ch'ung。　He's　a　dustman。　One　of　the　villains　might　be　there　too　so　we'll　have　to　get　in　quickly。　I've　the　missioner's　authority　to　carry　a　revolver。　Do　you　want　one　too？〃
　〃No。　No　thanks。　Let's　go；　shall　we？〃
　Smyth　was　shorter　than　Armstrong　but　well　built　and　his　uniform　suited　him。　Awkwardly；　because　of　his　arm；　he　picked　up　his　raincoat　and　began　to　lead　the　way；　then　stopped。　〃Bugger；　I　forgot！　Sorry；　SI；　Brian　Kwok　called；　would　you　call　him？　Want　to　use　my　office？〃
　〃Thanks。　Is　there　any　coffee？　I　could　use　a　cuppa。〃
　〃ing　up。〃
　The　office　was　neat；　efficient　and　drab；　though　Armstrong　noticed　the　expensive　chairs　and　desk　and　radio　and　accoutrements。　〃Gifts　from　grateful　customers；〃　Smyth　said　airily。　〃I'll　leave　you　for　a　couple　of　minutes。〃
　Armstrong　nodded　and　dialed。　〃Yes；　Brian？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Robert！　How's　it　going？　The　Old　Man　says　you　should　bring　her　to　HQ　and　not　investigate　her　at　East　Aberdeen。〃
　〃All　right。　We're　just　about　to　leave。　HQ　eh？　What's　the　reason？〃
　〃He　didn't　tell　me；　but　he's　in　a　good　mood　today。　It　seems　we've　a　16/2　tonight。〃
　Armstrong's　interest　peaked。　A　16/2　in　SI　terms　meant　they　had　broken　an　enemy　cover　and　were　going　to　take　the　spy　or　spies　into　custody。　〃Anything　to　do　with　our　problem？〃　he　asked　cautiously；　meaning　Sevrin。
　〃Perhaps。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃Remember　what　I　was　saying　about　our　mole？　I'm　more　convinced　than　ever　I'm　right。〃　Brian　Kwok　switched　to　Cantonese；　using　oblique　phrases　and　innuendoes　in　case　he　was　overheard。　Armstrong　listened　with　growing　concern　as　his　best　friend　told　him　what　had　happened　at　the　track；　the　long　private　meeting　between　Crosse　and　Suslev。
　〃But　that　means　nothing。　Crosse　knows　the　bugger。　Even　I've　drunk　with　him　once　or　twice；　feeling　him　out。〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　if　Crosse's　our　mole　it'd　be　just　like　him　to　do　an　exchange　in　public。　Heya？〃
　Armstrong　felt　sick　with　apprehension。　〃Now's　not　the　time；　old　chum；〃　he　said。　〃Soon　as　I　get　to　HQ　we　should　have　a　chat。　Maybe　lunch　and　talk。〃
　Another　pause。　〃The　Old　Man　wants　you　to　report　to　him　as　soon　as　you　bring　the　amah　in。〃
　〃All　right。　See　you　soon。〃
　Armstrong　put　down　the　phone。　Smyth　came　back　in。　Thoughtfully　he　handed　him　a　coffee。　〃Bad　news？〃
　〃Nothing　but　bloody　trouble；〃　Armstrong　said　sourly。　〃Always　bloody　trouble。〃　He　sipped　his　coffee。　The　cup　was　excellent　porcelain　and　the　coffee　fresh；　expensive　and　delicious。　〃This's　good　coffee！　Very　good。　Crosse　wants　me　to　bring　her　to　HQ　directly；　not　here。〃
　Smyth's　eyebrows　soared。　〃Christ；　what's　so　important　about　an　old　hag　amah？〃　he　asked　sharply。　〃She's　in　my　jurisdic…　〃
　〃Christ　I　don't　know！　I　don't　give　the　f…　〃　The　bigger　man　stopped　his　explosion。　〃Sorry；　I　haven't　been　getting　much　sleep　the　last　few　days。　I　don't　give　the　orders。　Crosse　said　to　bring　her　to　HQ。　No　explanation。　He　can　override　anyone。　SI　overrides　everyone；　you　know　how　it　is！〃
　〃Arrogant　bastard！〃　Smyth　finished　his　coffee。　〃Thank　God　I'm　not　in　SI。　I'd　hate　to　deal　with　that　bugger　every　day。〃
　〃I'm　not　in　SI　and　he　still　gives　me　trouble。〃
　〃Was　it　about　our　mole？〃
　Armstrong　glanced　up　at　him。　〃What　mole？〃
　Smyth　laughed。　〃e　on　for　chrissake！　There's　a　rumor　among　the　Dragons　that　our　fearless　leaders　have　been　advised　to　find　the　bugger　very　quickly。　It　seems　that　the　minister's　even　roasting　the　governor！　London's　so　pissed　off　they're　sending　out　the　head　of　MI…6　…　presume　you　know　Sinders　arrives　tomorrow　on　the　BOAC　flight。〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃Where　the　hell　do　they　get　all　their　information？〃
　〃Telephone　operators；　amahs；　street　cleaners　…　who　cares。　But　you　can　bet；　old　lad；　at　least　one　of　them　knows　everything。　You　know　Sinders？〃
　〃No；　never　met　him。〃　Armstrong　sipped　his　coffee；　enjoying　the　excellence；　the　rich；　nutty　flavor　that　was　giving　him　new　strength。　〃If　they　know　everything；　who's　the　mole？〃
　After　a　pause；　Smyth　said；　〃That　sort　of　info'd　be　expensive。　Shall　I　ask　the　price？〃
　〃Yes。　Please。〃　The　big　man　put　his　cup　down。　〃The　mole　doesn't　bother　you；　does　he？〃
　〃No；　not　at　all。　I'm　doing　my　job　thank　you　very　much　and　it's　not　my　job　to　worry　about　moles　or　to　try　to　catch　them。　The　moment　you　catch　and　snatch　the　bugger　there'll　be　another　bugger　subverted　or　put　into　place　and　we'll　do　the　same　to　them；　whoever　the　them　are。　Meanwhile　if　it　wasn't　for　this　bloody　Ho…Pak　mess　this　station'd　still　be　the　best　run　and　my　East　Aberdeen　area　the　quietest　in　the　Colony　and　that's　all　I'm　concerned　about。〃　Smyth　offered　a　cigarette　from　an　expensive　gold　case。　〃Smoke？〃
　〃No　thanks；　I　quit。〃
　〃Good　for　you。　No；　so　long　as　I'm　left　alone　until　I　retire　in　four　years　all's　well　in　the　world。〃　He　lit　the　cigarette　with　a　gold　lighter　and　Armstrong　hated　him　a　little　more。　〃By　the　way；　I　think　you're　foolish　not　to　take　the　envelope　that's　left　in　your　desk　monthly。〃
　〃Do　you　now？〃　Armstrong's　face　hardened。
　〃Yes。　You　don't　have　to　do　anything　for　it。　Nothing　at　all。　Guaranteed。〃
　〃But　once　you've　taken　one　you're　up　the　creek　without　a　paddle。〃
　〃No。　This's　China　and　not　the　same。〃　Smyth's　blue　eyes　hardened　too。　〃But　then　you　know　that　better　than　I。〃
　〃One　of　your　'friends'　asked　you　to　give　me　the　message？〃
　Smyth　shrugged。　〃I　heard　another　rumor。　Your　share　of　the　Dragons　reward　for　finding　John　Chen　es　to　40；000　HK　an…　〃
　〃I　didn't　find　him！〃　Armstrong's　voice　grated。
　〃Even　so；　that'll　be　in　an　envelope　in　your　desk　this　evening。　So　I　hear；　old　chap。　Just　a　rumor；　of　course。〃
　Armstrong's　mind　was　sifting　this　information。　40；000　HK　covered　exactly　and　beautifully　his　most　pressing；　long　overdue　debt　that　he　had　to　clear　by　Monday；　losses　on　the　stock　market　that；　〃Well　really；　old　boy；　you　should　pay　up。　It　has　been　over　a　year　and　we　do　have　rules。　Though　I'm　not　pressing　I　really　must　have　the　matter　settled。　。。。〃
　Smyth's　right　again；　he　thought　without　bitterness；　the　bastards　know　everything　and　it'd　be　so　easy　to　find　out　what　debts　I　have。　So　am　I　going　to　take　it　or　not？
　〃Only　forty？〃　he　asked　with　a　twisted　smile。
　〃I　imagine　that's　enough　to　cover　your　most　pressing　problem；〃　Smyth　said　with　the　same　hard　eyes。　〃Isn't　it？〃
　Armstrong　was　not　angry　that　the　Snake　knew　so　much　about　his　private　life。　I　know　just　as　much　about　his；　though　not　how　much　he　has　or　where　it's　stacked　away。　But　it'd　be　easy　to　find　out；　easy　to　break　him　if　I　wanted　to。　Very　easy。　〃Thanks　for　the　coffee。　Best　I've　had　in　years。　Shall　we　go？〃
　Awkwardly；　Smyth　put　on　his　regulation　raincoat　over　his　well…cut　uniform；　adjusted　the　sling　for　his　arm　and　put　his　cap　to　the　usual　jaunty　angle　and　led　the　way。　As　they　went；　Armstrong　made　Wu　repeat　what　had　happened　and　what　had　been　said　by　the　youth　who　claimed　to　be　one　of　the　Werewolves　and　later　by　the　old　amah。　〃Very　good；　Wu；〃　Armstrong　said　when　the　young　man　had　finished。　〃An　excellent　piece　of　surveillance　and　investigation。　Excellent。　Chief　Inspector　Smyth　tells　me　you　want　to　get　into　SI？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It's　important；　an　important　branch　of　SB；　sir。　I've　always　been　interested　in　security　and　how　to　keep　our　enemies　out　and　the　Colony　safe　and　I　feel　it　would　be　very　interesting　and　important。　I'd　like　to　help　if　I　could；　sir。〃
　Momentarily　their　ears　focused　on　the　distant　wail　of　fire　engines　that　came　from　the　hillside　above。
　〃Some　stupid　bastard's　kicked　over　another　stove；〃　Smyth　said　sourly。　〃Christ；　thank　God　for　the　rain！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Armstrong　said；　then　added　to　Wu；　〃If　this　turns　out　as　you've　reported；　I'll　put　in　a　word　with　SB　or　SI。〃
　Spectacles　Wu　could　not　stop　the　beam。　〃Yes　sir；　thank　you；　sir。　Ah　Tam　is　really　from　my　village。　Yes　sir。〃
　They　turned　into　the　alley。　Crowds　of　shoppers　and　stall　keepers　and　shopkeepers　under　umbrellas　or　under　the　canvas　overhangs　watched　them　sullenly　and　suspiciously；　Smyth　the　most　well　known　and　feared　quai　loh　in　Aberdeen。
　〃That's　the　one；　sir；〃　Wu　whispered。　By　prearrangement　Smyth　casually　stopped　at　a　stall；　this　side　of　the　doorway；　ostensibly　to　look　at　some　vegetables；　the　owner　at　once　in　shock。　Armstrong　and　Wu　walked　past　the　entrance　then　turned　abruptly　and　the　three　of　them　converged。　They　went　up　the　stairs　quickly　as　two　uniformed　policemen　who　had　been　trailing　from　a　safe　distance　materialized　to　bottle　up　the　front。　Once　the　narrow　passageway　was　secure　one　of　them　hurried　up　an　even　smaller　alley　and　around　the　back　to　make　sure　the　plainclothes　detective　was　still　in　position　guarding　the　single　exit　there；　then　he　rushed　back　to　reinforce　the　undermanned　barricades　in　front　of　the　Victoria。
　The　inside　of　the　tenement　was　as　dingy　and　filthy　as　the　outside　with　mess　and　debris　on　every　landing。　Smyth　was　leading　and　he　stopped　on　the　third　landing；　unbuttoned　his　revolver　holster　and　stepped　aside。　Without　hesitation　Armstrong　leaned　against　the　flimsy　door；　burst　the　lock　and　went　in　quickly。　Smyth　followed　at　once；　Spectacles　Wu　nervously　staying　to　guard　the　entrance。　The　room　was　drab　with　old　sofas　and　old　chairs　and　old　grimy　curtains；　the　sweet…rank　smell　of　opium　and　cooking　oil　on　the　air。　A　heavy…set；　middle…aged　matron　gaped　at　them　and　dropped　her　newspaper。　Both　men　went　for　the　inner　doors。　Smyth　pulled　one　open　to　find　a　scruffy　bedroom；　the　next　revealed　a　messy　toilet　and　bathroom；　a　third　another　bedroom　crammed　with　unmade　bunks　for　four。　Armstrong　had　the　last　door　open。　It　let　into　a　cluttered；　filthy；　tiny　kitchen；　where　Ah　Tam　bent　over　a　pile　of　wash　in　the　grimy　sink。　She　stared　at　him　blankly。　Behind　her　was　another　door。　At　once　he　shoved　past　and　jerked　it　open。　It　was　empty　too；　more　of　a　closet　than　a　room；　windowless　with　a　vent　cut　in　the　wall　and　just　enough　space　to　fit　the　small　string　mattressless　bunk　and　a　broken…down　chest　of　drawers。
　He　came　back　into　the　living　room；　Ah　Tam　shuffling　after　him；　his　breathing　good　and　his　heart　settling　down。　It　had　taken　them　only　seconds　and　Smyth　took　out　the　papers　and　said　sweetly；　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　madam；　but　we've　a　search　warrant。〃
　〃Wat？〃
　〃Translate　for　us；　Wu；〃　Smyth　ordered　and　at　once　the　young　constable　repeated　what　had　been　said　and；　as　previously　arranged；　began　to　act　as　though　he　was　the　interpreter　for　two　dullard　quai　loh　policemen　who　did　not　speak　Cantonese。
　The　woman's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃Search！〃　she　shrieked。　〃Search　what？　We　obey　the　law　here！　My　husband　works　for　the　government　and　has　important　friends　and　if　you're　looking　for　the　gambling　school　it's　nothing　to　do　with