jamesclavell.noblehouse-第135章

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ar　carrier。〃　Brian　Kwok　added；　his　voice　hardening；　〃Bloody　stupid　to　offend　the　PRC　by　bringing　her　here。　That　monster's　an　open　invitation　to　every　agent　in　Asia。〃
　〃If　I　was　Soviet　I'd　try　to　infiltrate　her。　SI's　probably　trying　right　now。　Crosse'd　love　to　have　a　plant　aboard。　Why　not？〃　The　big　man　watched　the　smoke　curling。　〃If　I　was　Nationalist　perhaps　I'd　plant　a　few　mines　and　blame　the　PRC　…　or　vice　versa　and　blame　Chiang　Kai…shek。〃
　〃That's　what　the　CIA'd　do　to　get　everyone　hopping　mad　at　China。〃
　〃e　off　it；　Brian！〃
　Brian　Kwok　took　a　last　sip　then　got　up。　〃That's　enough　for　me。　e　on。〃
　〃Just　a　moment。〃　Armstrong　dialed。　〃This's　Armstrong；　set　up　another　session　at　1700　hours　for　V…11…3。　I'll　want　。。。〃　He　stopped；　seeing　his　friend's　eyes　flutter；　then　glaze　and　he　caught　him　easily　as　he　fell　and　let　him　slump　back　in　the　chair。　Out　of　himself；　almost　watching　himself；　he　put　the　phone　back　on　its　cradle。　Now　there　was　nothing　for　him　to　do　but　wait。
　I've　done　my　job；　he　thought。
　The　door　opened。　Crosse　came　in。　Behind　him　were　three　plain…clothed　SI　agents；　all　British；　all　senior　agents；　all　taut…faced　and　tense。　Quickly　one　of　the　men　put　a　thick　black　hood　over　Brian　Kwok's　head；　picked　him　up　easily　and　went　out；　the　others　following。
　Now　that　it　was　done　Robert　Armstrong　felt　nothing；　no　remorse　or　shock　or　anger。　Nothing。　His　head　told　him　that　there　was　no　mistake　though　his　head　still　told　him　equally　that　his　friend　of　almost　twenty　years　could　not　possibly　be　a　munist　mole。　But　he　was。　The　proof　was　irrefutable。　The　evidence　he　had　found　proved　conclusively　that　Brian　Kwok　was　the　son　of　Fang…ling　Wu；　Ah　Tam's　old　employer；　when　according　to　his　birth　certificate　and　personal　records　his　mother　and　father　were　supposed　to　have　been　surnamed　Kwok　and　murdered　by　munists　in　Canton　in　'43。　One　of　the　photographs　had　showed　Brian　Kwok　standing　beside　a　tiny　Chinese　lady　in　front　of　a　pharmacy　at　a　crossroads　in　a　village。　The　quality　was　poor　but　more　than　good　enough　to　read　the　characters　of　the　shop　sign　and　to　recognize　a　face；　his　face。　In　the　background　was　an　ancient　car。　Behind　it　stood　a　European；　his　face　half　turned　away。　Spectacles　Wu　had　identified　the　store　as　the　pharmacy　at　the　crossroads　in　Ning…tok；　the　property　of　the　Tok…ling　Wu　family。　Ah　Tam　had　identified　the　woman　as　her　mistress。
　〃And　the　man？　Who's　the　man　standing　beside　her？〃
　〃Oh　that's　her　son；　Lord。　I've　told　you。　He's　Second　Son　Chu…toy。　Now　he　lives　with　the　foreign　devils　across　the　sea　in　the　north；　the　north　of　the　Land　of　the　Golden　Mountains；〃　the　old　woman　had　whimpered　from　the　white　room。
　〃You're　lying　again。〃
　〃Oh　no；　Lord；　he's　her　son；　Chu…toy。　He's　her　Second　Son　and　he　was　born　in　Ning…tok　and　I　helped　deliver　him　with　my　own　hands。　He　was　Mother's　second　born　who　went　away　as　a　child。　。。。〃
　〃He　went　away？　He　went　where？〃
　〃To　。。。　to　the　Rain　Country；　then　to　the　Golden　Mountains。　Now　he　has　a　restaurant　and　two　sons。　。。。　He's　a　businessman　there　and　he　came　to　see　Father。　。。。　Father　was　dying　then　and　he　came　as　a　dutiful　son　should　e　but　then　he　went　away　and　Mother　wept　and　wept。　。。。〃
　〃How　often　did　he　visit　his　parents？〃
　〃Oh；　it　was　only　once。　Lord；　only　that　once。　Now　he　lives　so　far　away；　in　such　a　far　place；　such　a　far　place　but　he　came　as　a　dutiful　son　should　and　then　he　left。　It　was　just　by　chance　I　saw　him；　Lord。　Mother　had　sent　me　to　visit　some　relations　in　the　next　village　but　I　was　lonely　and　I　came　back　early　and　saw　him。　。。。　It　was　just　before　he　left。　The　young　Master　left　in　a　foreign　devil　car。　。。。〃
　〃Where　did　he　get　the　motorcar？　It　was　his？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Lord。　There　was　no　car　in　Ning…tok。　Even　the　village　mittee　did　not　possess　one；　even　Father　who　was　the　pharmacist　in　our　village。　Poor　Father　who　died　in　such　pain。　He　was　a　member　of　the　mittee。　。。。　They　left　us　alone；　Chairman　Mao's　people；　the　Outsiders。　。。。　Yes　they　did　because　though　Father　was　an　intellectual　and　pharmacist　he　was　always　a　secret　Mao　supporter　though　I　never　knew。　Lord；　I　swear　I　never　knew。　Chairman　Mao's　people　left　us　alone；　Lord。〃
　〃What　was　his　name；　the　son　of　your　Mistress？　The　man　in　the　photo？〃　he　had　repeated；　trying　to　shake　her。
　〃Chu…toy　Wu；　Lord；　he　was　her　second　born。　。。。　I　remember　when　he　was　sent　from　Ning…tok　to　。。。　to　this　foul　place；　this　Fragrant　Harbor。　He　was　five　or　six　and　he　was　sent　to　an　uncle　here　and…　〃
　〃What　was　the　uncle's　name？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Lord；　I　was　never　told；　I　only　remember　Mother　weeping　and　weeping　when　Father　sent　him　away　to　school。　。。。　Can　I　go　home　please　now；　I'm　tired；　please。　。。。〃
　〃When　you　tell　us　what　we　want　to　know。　If　you　tell　us　the　truth。〃
　〃Oh　I　tell　you　the　truth；　anything　anything。　。。。〃
　〃He　was　sent　to　school　in　Hong　Kong？　Where？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Lord；　my　Mistress　never　said；　only　to　school　and　then　she　put　him　out　of　her　mind　and　so　did　I；　oh　yes；　it　was　better；　because　he　was　gone　forever；　you　know　always　second　sons　must　leave。　。。。〃
　〃When　did　Chu…toy　Wu　return　to　Ning…tok？〃
　〃It　was　some　years　ago　when　Father　was　dying。　He　only　returned　that　once；　it　was　only　once。　Lord；　don't　you　remember　me　saying；　I　remember　saying　that。　Yes　it　was　the　once　of　the　photo。　Mother　insisted　on　the　photo　and　wept　and　begged　him　to　have　one　taken　with　her。　。。。　Surely　she　felt　the　hand　of　death　on　her　now　that　Father　had　gone　and　she　was　truly　alone　。。。　Oh　she　wept　and　wept　so　Chu…toy　let　her　have　her　way　as　a　dutiful　son　should　and　my　Mistress　was　so　pleased。　。。。〃
　〃And　the　barbarian　in　the　photo；　who　is　he？〃　The　man　was　half　turned　around；　in　the　background；　not　easy　to　recognize　if　you　did　not　know　him；　standing　beside　the　car　that　was　parked　beside　the　pharmacy。　He　was　a　tall　man；　European；　crumpled　clothes　and　nondescript。
　〃I　don't　know；　Lord。　He　was　the　driver　and　he　drove　Chu…toy　away　but　the　mittee　of　the　village　and　Chu…toy　himself　bowed　many　times　to　him　and　it　was　said　he　was　very　important。　He　was　the　first　foreign　devil　I　had　ever　seen；　Lord。　。。。〃
　〃And　the　people　in　the　other　photograph？　Who're　they？〃　This　photograph　was　ancient；　almost　sepia　and　showed　a　self…conscious　couple　in　ill…fitting　wedding　clothes　staring　bleakly　at　the　camera。
　〃Oh　of　course　they're　Father　and　Mother；　Lord。　Don't　you　remember　me　saying　that？　I　told　you　many　times。　That's　Mother　and　Father。　His　name　was　Ting…top　Wu　and　his　tai…tai　my　Mistress　was　Fang…ling。　。。。〃
　〃And　the　cutting？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Lord；　it　was　just　stuck　to　the　photo　so　I　left　it　there。　Mother　had　stuck　it　there　so　I　left　it。　What　should　I　want　with　foreign　devil　nonsense　or　writing。　。。。〃
　Robert　Armstrong　sighed。　The　yellowed　clipping　was　from　a　Chinese　newspaper　of　Hong　Kong；　dated　July　16；　1937；　that　told　of　three　Chinese　youths　who　had　done　so　well　in　their　term　examinations　that　they　had　been　granted　scholarships　by　the　Hong　Kong　Government　to　an　English　public　school。　Kar…shun　Kwok　was　the　first　named。　Kar…shun　was　Brian　Kwok's　formal　Chinese　name。
　〃You　did　very　well；　Robert；〃　Crosse　said；　watching　him。
　〃Did　I？〃　he　replied　through　the　fog　of　his　misery。
　〃Yes；　very　well。　You　came　to　me　at　once　with　the　evidence；　you've　followed　instructions　perfectly　and　now　our　mole　is　safely　asleep。〃　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette　and　sat　at　the　desk。　〃I'm　glad　you　drank　the　right　beer。　Did　he　suspect　anything？〃
　〃No。　No　I　don't　think　so。〃　Armstrong　tried　to　get　a　hold　on　himself。　〃Would　you　excuse　me；　sir；　please。　I　feel　filthy。　I've　。。。　I've　got　to　get　a　shower。　Sorry。〃
　〃Sit　down　a　minute；　please。　Yes；　you　must　be　tired。　Very　tiring；　these　sort　of　things。〃
　Christ；　Armstrong　wanted　to　shout　in　anguish；　it's　all　impossible！　Impossible　for　Brian　to　be　a　deep…cover　agent　but　it　all　fits。　Why　else　would　he　have　a　pletely　different　name；　different　birth　certificate？　Why　else　such　a　carefully　constructed　cover　story　…　that　his　parents　were　killed　in　Canton　during　the　war；　murdered　by　munists？　Why　else　would　he　risk　sneaking　secretly　back　to　Ning…tok；　risking　everything　so　carefully　constructed　over　thirty　years　unless　his　own　father　was　really　dying？　And　if　those　facts　are　true　then　others　automatically　follow：　That　he　must　have　been　in　continual　contact　with　the　Mainland　to　know　about　his　father's　approaching　death；　that　as　a　superintendent　of　H。K。　Police　he　must　be　totally　persona　grata　with　the　PRC　to　be　allowed　in　secretly　and　allowed　out　secretly　again。　And　if　he　was　persona　grata　then　he　must　be　one　of　them；　groomed　over　the　years；　nurtured　over　the　years。　〃Christ；〃　he　muttered；　〃he'd've　bee　assistant　missioner　easily；　perhaps　even　missioner　。。。！〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest　now；　Robert？〃　Crosse　asked；　his　voice　soft。　Armstrong　tore　his　mind　into　the　present；　his　training　overing　his　anguish。　〃Check　backwards。　We'll　find　the　link。　Yes。　His　father　was　a　tiny　mie　cog　but　a　Ning…tok　cog　nonetheless；　so　the　Hong　Kong　relation　he　was　sent　to　would　be　also。　They'd've　kept　a　tight　rein　on　Brian　in　England；　in　Canada；　here；　wherever　…　so　easy　to　do　that；　so　easy　to　feed　a　hatred　for　quai　lohs；　so　easy　for　a　Chinese　to　hide　such　a　hatred。　Aren't　they　the　most　patient　and　secretive　people　on　earth？　Yes；　you　check　back　and　eventually　you　find　the　link　and　find　the　truth。〃
　〃Robert；　you're　right　again。　But　first　you　begin　his　interrogation。〃
　Armstrong　felt　a　chill　of　horror　rush　into　his　stomach。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　delighted　to　tell　you　that　that's　your　honor。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You'll　oversee　the　interrogation。　No　Chinese　in　this；　just　senior　British　agents。　Except　Wu；　Spectacles　Wu。　Yes；　he'll　be　a　help　…　just　him；　he's　good　that　fellow。〃
　〃I　can't　。。。　I　won't。〃
　Crosse　sighed　and　opened　the　large　manila　envelope　he　had　brought　with　him。　〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃
　Shakily　Armstrong　took　the　photograph。　It　was　an　eight…by…ten　blowup　of　a　tiny　section　of　the　Ning…tok　photograph；　the　European's　head　that　was　part　of　the　background　beside　the　car。　The　man's　face　was　half　turned　and　blurred；　the　grain　from　the　magnification　dense。　〃I　。。。　I'd　say　he　saw　the　camera　and　turned　or　was　turning　to　avoid　being　photographed。〃
　〃My　thought　too。　Do　you　recognize　him？〃
　Armstrong　peered　at　the　face；　trying　to　clear　his　head。　〃No。〃
　〃Voranski？　Our　dead　Soviet　friend？〃
　〃Perhaps。　No；　no　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃How　about　Dunross；　Ian　Dunross？〃
　More　shaken；　Armstrong　took　it　to　the　light。　〃Possible　but　。。。　improbable。　If　。。。　if　it's　Dunross　then　。。。　you　think　he's　the　Sevrin　plant？　Impossible。〃
　〃Improbable；　not　impossible。　He's　very　good　friends　with　Brian。〃　Crosse　took　the　photo　back　and　looked　at　it。　〃Whoever　he　is　he's　familiar；　what　you　can　see　of　him；　but　I　can't　place　the　man　or　where　I've　seen　him。　Yet。　Well；　never　mind。　Brian　will　remember。　Yes。〃　His　voice　became　silky。　〃Oh；　don't　worry；　Robert；　I'll　set　Brian　up　for　you　but　you're　the　one　for　the　coup　de　grace。　I　want　to　know　who　this　fellow　is　very　quickly；　in　fact　I　want　to　know　everything　Brian　knows　very；　very　quickly。〃
　〃No。　Get　someone　els…　〃
　〃Oh　Robert；　don't　be　so　bloody　boring！　Chu…toy　Wu；　alias　Brian　Kar…shun　Kwok；　is　an　enemy　mole　who's　eluded　us　for　years；　that's　all。〃　Crosse's　voice　cut　into　Armstrong。　〃By　the　way；　you're　on　the　16/2　tonight　at　6　30　and　you're　also　seconded　to　SI。　I've