jamesclavell.noblehouse-第138章

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　I'm　not；　he　told　himself　firmly。　I'm　only　trying　to　measure　up　to　their　standards。
　He　looked　back　at　Claudia；　matronly；　tough　and　very　together　but　now　scared；　scared　for　the　first　time。　He　had　known　her　all　his　life　and　she　had　served　old　Sir　Ross；　then　his　father；　then　Alastair；　and　now　himself　with　a　fanatical　loyalty；　as　had　Phillip　Chen。
　Ah　Phillip；　poor　Phillip。
　〃Did　Phillip　call？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。　And　Dianne。　She　called　four　times。〃
　〃Who　else？〃
　〃A　dozen　or　more。　The　more　important　ones　are　Johnjohn　at　the　bank；　General　Jen　from　Taiwan；　Gavallan　père　from　Paris；　Four　Finger　Wu；　Pug…　〃
　〃Four　Fingers？〃　Dunross's　hope　peaked。　〃When　did　he　call？〃
　She　referred　to　her　list。　〃2：56。〃
　I　wonder　if　the　old　pirate　has　changed　his　mind；　Dunross　thought；　his　excitement　growing。
　Yesterday　afternoon　late　he　had　gone　to　Aberdeen　to　see　Wu　to　seek　his　help　but；　as　with　Lando　Mata；　he　had　got　only　vague　promises。
　〃Listen；　Old　Friend；〃　he　had　told　him　in　halting　Haklo；　〃I've　never　sought　a　favor　from　you　before。〃
　〃A　long　line　of　your　tai…pan　ancestors　have　sought　plenty　favors　and　made　great　profits　from　my　ancestors；〃　the　old　man　had　answered；　his　cunning　eyes　darting。　〃Favors？　Fornicate　all　dogs；　tai…pan；　I　have　not　that　amount　of　money。　20　millions？　How　could　a　poor　old　fisherman　like　me　have　that　cash？〃
　〃More　came　out　of　the　Ho…Pak　yesterday；　old　friend。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　fornicate　all　those　who　whisper　wrong　informations！　Perhaps　I　withdrew　my　money　safely　but　it　all　has　gone；　gone　to　pay　for　goods；　goods　I　owed　money　for。〃
　〃I　hope　not　for　the　White　Powder；〃　he　had　told　him　grimly。　〃The　White　Powder　is　terrible　joss。　Rumor　has　it　you　are　interested　in　it。　I　advise　against　it　as　a　friend。　My　ancestors；　Old　Green…Eyed　Devil　and　Hag　Struan　of　the　Evil　Eye　and　Dragon's　Teeth；　they　both　put　a　curse　on　those　who　deal　in　the　White　Powder；　not　on　opium　but　on　all　White　Powders　and　those　who　deal　in　them；〃　he　had　said　stretching　the　truth；　knowing　how　superstitious　the　old　man　was。　〃I　advise　against　the　Killing　Powder。　Surely　your　gold　business　is　more　than　profitable？〃
　〃I　know　nothing　of　White　Powder。〃　The　old　man　had　forced　a　smile；　showing　his　gums　and　a　few　twisted　teeth。　〃And　I　don't　fear　curses；　even　from　them！〃
　〃Good；〃　Dunross　had　said；　knowing　it　to　be　a　lie。　〃Meanwhile　help　me　to　get　credit。　50　million　for　three　days　is　all　I　want！〃
　〃I　will　ask　among　my　friends；　tai…pan。　Perhaps　they　can　help；　perhaps　we　can　help　together。　But　don't　expect　water　from　an　empty　well。　At　what　interest？〃
　〃High　interest；　if　it's　tomorrow。〃
　〃Not　possible；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Persuade　Tightfist；　you're　an　associate　and　old　friend。〃
　〃Tightfist　is　the　only　fornicating　friend　of　Tightfist；〃　the　old　man　had　said　sullenly　and　nothing　Dunross　could　say　would　change　the　old　man's　attitudes。
　He　reached　for　the　phone。　〃What　other　calls　were　there；　Claudia？〃　he　asked　as　he　dialed。
　〃Johnjohn　at　the　bank；　Phillip　and　Dianne　。。。　oh　I　told　you　about　them。　。。。　Superintendent　Crosse；　then　every　major　stockholder　we　have　and　every　managing　director　of　every　subsidiary；　most　of　the　Turf　Club　。。。　Travkin；　your　trainer；　it's　endless。　。。。〃
　〃Just　a　moment；　Claudia。〃　Dunross　held　onto　his　anxiety　and　said　into　the　phone；　in　Haklo；　〃This　is　the　tai…pan。　Is　my　Old　Friend　there？〃
　〃Sure；　sure；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　the　American　voice　said　politely　in　English。　〃Thanks　for　returning　the　call。　He'll　be　right　with　you；　sir。〃
　〃Mr。　Choy；　Mr。　Paul　Choy？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Your　uncle　told　me　all　about　you。　Wele　to　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃I　。。。　here　he　is　sir。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　concentrated。　He　had　been　asking　himself　why　Paul　Choy　was　with　Four　Fingers　now　and　not　busily　engaged　in　worming　his　way　into　Gornt's　affairs　and　why　Crosse　called　and　why　Johnjohn。
　〃Tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　Old　Friend。　You　wanted　to　speak　to　me？〃
　〃Yes。　Can　。。。　can　we　meet　this　evening？〃
　Dunross　wanted　to　shout。　Have　you　changed　your　mind？　But　good　manners　forbade　it　and　Chinese　did　not　like　phones；　always　preferring　to　meet　face…to…face。　〃Of　course。　About　eight　bells；　in　the　middle　watch；〃　he　said　casually。　Near　midnight。　〃As　near　as　I　can；〃　he　added；　remembering　he　was　to　meet　Brian　Kwok　at　10：45　P。M。
　〃Good。　My　wharf。　There　will　be　a　sampan　waiting。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone；　his　heart　thumping。　〃First　Crosse；　Claudia；　then　bring　in　the　Kirks。　Then　we'll　go　through　the　list。　Set　up　a　conference　call　with　my　father；　Alastair　and　Sir　Ross；　make　it　for　five；　that's　nine　their　time　and　ten　in　Nice。　I'll　call　David　and　the　others　in　the　States　this　evening。　No　need　to　wake　them　in　the　middle　of　their　night。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。〃　Claudia　was　already　dialing。　She　got　Crosse；　handed　him　the　phone　and　left；　closing　the　door　after　her。
　〃Yes；　Roger？〃
　〃How　many　times　have　you　been　into　China？〃
　The　unexpected　question　startled　Dunross　for　a　moment。　〃That's　all　a　matter　of　record；〃　he　said。　〃It's　easy　for　you　to　check。〃
　〃Yes；　Ian；　but　could　you　recall　now？　Please。〃
　〃Four　times　to　Canton；　to　the　fair；　every　year　for　the　last　four　years。　And　once　to　Peking　with　a　trade　mission；　last　year。〃
　〃Did　you　ever　manage　to　get　outside　Canton　…　or　Peking？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Did　you？〃
　Dunross　hesitated。　The　Noble　House　had　many　associations　of　long　standing　in　China；　and　many　old　and　trusted　friends。　Some　were　now　mitted　munists。　Some　were　outwardly　munists　but　inwardly　totally　Chinese　and　therefore　far…seeing；　secretive；　cautious　and　nonpolitical。　These　men　ranged　in　importance　up　to　one　in　the　Presidium。　And　all　of　these　men；　being　Chinese；　knew　that　history　repeated　itself；　that　eras　could　change　so　quickly　and　the　Emperor　of　this　morning　could　bee　the　running　dog　of　this　afternoon；　that　dynasty　followed　dynasty　at　the　whim　of　the　gods；　that　the　first　of　any　dynasty　inevitably　mounted　the　Dragon　throne　with　bloodstained　hands；　that　an　escape　route　was　always　to　be　sought　after　…　and　that　certain　barbarians　were　Old　Friends　and　to　be　trusted。
　But　he　knew　most　all　of　that　Chinese　were　a　practical　people。　China　needed　goods　and　help。　Without　goods　and　help　they　were　defenseless　against　their　historic　and　only　real　enemy；　Russia。
　So　many　times；　because　of　the　special　trust　in　which　the　Noble　House　was　held；　Dunross　had　been　approached　officially　and　unofficially；　but　always　secretly。　He　had　many　private　potential　deals　simmering　for　all　kinds　of　machinery　and　goods　in　short　supply；　including　the　fleet　of　jet　airliners。　Oftentimes　he　had　gone　where　others　could　not　go。　Once　he　had　gone　to　a　meeting　in　Hangchow；　the　most　beautiful　part　of　China。　This　was　to　greet　other　members　of　the　49　Club　privately；　to　be　wined　and　dined　as　honored　guests　of　China。　The　49　Club　consisted　of　those　panies　that　had　continued　to　trade　with　the　PRC　after　1949；　mostly　British　firms。　Britain　had　recognized　Mao　Tse…tung's　government　as　the　government　of　China　shortly　after　Chiang　Kai…shek　abandoned　the　Mainland　and　fled　to　Taiwan。　Even　so；　relations　between　the　two　governments　had　always　been　strained。　But；　by　definition；　relations　between　Old　Friends　were　not；　unless　an　Old　Friend　betrayed　a　confidence；　or　cheated。
　〃Oh　I　went　on　a　few　side　trips；〃　Dunross　said　airily；　not　wanting　to　lie　to　the　chief　of　SI。　〃Nothing　to　write　home　about。　Why？〃
　〃Could　you　tell　me　where；　please。〃
　〃If　you're　more　specific；　Roger；　certainly；〃　he　replied；　his　voice　hardening。　〃We're　traders　and　not　politicians　and　not　spies　and　the　Noble　House　has　a　special　position　in　Asia。　We've　been　here　quite　a　few　years　and　it's　because　of　traders　the　Union　Jack　flies　over　。。。　used　to　fly　over　half　the　earth。　What　had　you　in　mind；　old　chap？〃
　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Nothing；　nothing　in　particular。　Very　well；　Ian；　I'll　wait　till　we've　had　the　pleasure　of　reading　the　papers；　then　I'll　be　specific。　Thanks；　so　sorry　to　trouble　you。　'Bye。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　the　phone；　troubled。　What　does　Crosse　want　to　know？　he　asked　himself。　Many　of　the　deals　he　had　made　and　would　be　making　certainly　would　not　conform　to　official　government　policy　in　London；　or；　even　more；　in　Washington。　His　short…term　and　long…term　attitude　toward　China　clearly　was　opposed　to　theirs。　What　they　would　consider　contraband　he　did　not。
　Well；　as　long　as　I'm　tai…pan；　he　told　himself　firmly；　e　hell　or　typhoon；　our　links　with　China　will　remain　our　links　with　China　and　that's　the　end　of　that。　Most　politicians　in　London　and　Washington　just　won't　realize　Chinese　are　Chinese　first　and　munist　second。　And　Hong　Kong's　vital　to　the　peace　of　Asia。
　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Jamie　Kirk；　sir。〃
　Jamie　Kirk　was　a　pedantic　little　man　with　a　pink　face　and　pink　hands　and　a　pleasing　Scots　accent。　His　wife　was　tall；　big　and　American。
　〃Oh　so　pleased　to　m…　〃　Kirk　began。
　〃Yes　we　are；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　his　wife　boomed　good…naturedly　over　him。　〃Get　to　the　point；　Jamie；　honey；　Mr。　Dunross's　a　very　busy　man　and　we've　shopping　to　do。　My　husband's　got　a　package　for　you；　sir。〃
　〃Yes；　it's　from　Alan　Medford　G…　〃
　〃He　knows　it's　from　Alan　Medford　Grant；　honey；〃　she　said　happily；　talking　over　him　again。　〃Give　him　the　package。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　yes　and　there's　a　…　〃
　〃A　letter　from　him　too；〃　she　said。　〃Mr。　Dunross's　very　busy　so　give　them　to　him　and　we　can　go　shopping。〃
　〃Oh。　Yes；　well　。。。〃　Kirk　handed　Dunross　the　package。　It　was　about　fourteen　inches　by　nine　and　an　inch　thick。　Brown；　nondescript　and　heavily　taped。　The　envelope　was　sealed　with　red　sealing　wax。　Dunross　recognized　the　seal。　〃Alan　said　to　…　〃
　〃To　give　it　to　you　personally　and　give　you　his　best　wishes；〃　she　said　with　another　laugh。　She　got　up。　〃You're　so　slow；　sweetness。　Well；　thank　you；　Mr。　Dunross；　e　along；　hon…　〃
　She　stopped；　startled　as　Dunross　held　up　an　imperious　hand　and　said　with　polite　though　absolute　authority；　〃What　shopping　do　you　want　to　do；　Mrs。　Kirk？〃
　〃Eh？　Oh。　Oh　some　clothes；　er；　I　want　some　clothes　made　and　honey　needs　some　shirts　an…　〃
　Dunross　held　up　his　hand　again　and　punched　a　button　and　Claudia　was　there。　〃Take　Mrs。　Kirk　to　Sandra　Lee　at　once。　She's　to　take　her　at　once　to　Lee　Foo　Tap　downstairs　and　by　the　Lord　God　tell　him　to　give　Mrs。　Kirk　the　best　possible　price　or　I'll　have　him　deported！　Mr。　Kirk　will　join　her　there　in　a　moment！〃　He　took　Mrs。　Kirk　by　the　arm　and　before　she　knew　it　she　was　contentedly　out　of　the　room；　Claudia　solicitously　listening　to　what　she　wanted　to　buy。
　Kirk　sighed　in　the　silence。　It　was　a　deep；　long…suffering　sigh。　〃I　wish　I　could　do　that；〃　he　said　gloomily；　then　beamed。　〃Och　aye；　tai…pan；　you're　everything　Alan　said　you　were。〃
　〃Oh？　I　didn't　do　anything。　Your　wife　wanted　to　go　shopping　didn't　she？〃
　〃Yes　but　。。。〃　After　a　pause　Kirk　added；　〃Alan　said　that　you　should；　er；　you　should　read　the　letter　while　I'm　here。　I　。。。　I　didn't　tell　her　that。　Do　you　think　I　should　have？〃
　〃No；〃　Dunross　said　kindly。　〃Look；　Mr。　Kirk；　I'm　sorry　to　tell　you　bad　news　but　I'm　afraid　AMG　was　killed　in　a　motorcycle　accident　last　Monday。〃
　Kirk's　mouth　dropped。　〃What？〃
　〃Sorry　to　have　to　tell　you　but　I　thought　you'd　better　know。〃
　Kirk　stared　at　the　rain　streaks；　lost　in　thought。　〃How　terrible；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃Bloody　motorbikes；　they're　death　traps。　He　was　run　down？〃
　〃No。　He　was　just　found　in　the　road；　beside　the　bike。　Sorry。〃
　〃Terrible！　Poor　old　Alan。　Dear　oh　dear！　I'