jamesclavell.noblehouse-第144章

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er　and　intercepted　by　someone　off　the　Ivanov。
　〃You're　in　charge；　Robert；　and　please；　don't　make　a　balls　up。〃
　〃I　won't。　But　please　get　someone　else　for　Brian　K…　〃
　〃For　the　last　time；　Robert；　you're　doing　the　Kwok　interrogation　and　you're　seconded　to　SI　until　I　release　you。　And　if　you　bitch　once　more　I'll　have　you　out　of　the　force；　out　of　Hong　Kong；　out　of　your　pension　and　I　hardly　need　remind　you　SI's　reach　is　very　long。　I　doubt　if　you'd　work　again；　unless　you　go　criminal；　and　then　God　help　you。　Is　that　finally　clear？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Brian　will　be　ready　for　you　at　six　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Armstrong　shivered。　How　impossibly　lucky　we　were　to　catch　him！　If　Spectacles　Wu　hadn't　e　from　Ning…tok　…　if　the　old　amah　hadn't　talked　to　the　Werewolf　…　if　the　run　on　the　bank　…　Christ；　so　many　ifs。　But　then　that's　how　you　catch　a　fish；　a　big　fish。　Pure；　bloody；　unadulterated　luck　most　times。　Jesus　Christ；　Brian　Kwok！　You　poor　bugger！
　He　shivered　again。
　〃You　all　right；　sir？〃　Malcolm　Sun　asked。
　〃Yes。〃　Armstrong　looked　back　at　the　Russian。　〃Where　did　you　put　the　film；　the　roll　of　film？〃
　The　man　stared　back　at　him　defiantly。　〃Don't　understand！〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃You　do；　too　well。〃　The　big　black　van　came　through　the　gawking　crowd　and　stopped。　More　SIs　got　out。　〃Put　him　in　and　don't　let　go　of　him；〃　Armstrong　said　to　those　holding　him。　The　crowd　watched　and　chattered　and　jeered　as　the　man　was　frog…marched　into　the　van。　Armstrong　and　Sun　got　in　after　him　and　closed　the　door。
　〃Off　you　go；　driver；〃　Armstrong　ordered。
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　driver　let　in　his　clutch　easing　through　the　crowds　and　joined　the　snarled　traffic　heading　for　Central　HQ。
　〃All　right；　Malcolm。　You　can　begin。〃
　The　Chinese　agent　took　out　a　razor…sharp　knife。　The　Soviet　man　blanched。
　〃What's　your　name？〃　Armstrong　asked；　sitting　on　a　bench　opposite　him。
　Malcolm　Sun　repeated　the　question　in　Russian。
　〃D　。。。　Dimitri　Metkin；〃　the　man　muttered；　still　held　viselike　by　the　four　men　and　unable　to　move　a　finger　or　a　toe。　〃Seaman；　first　class。〃
　〃Liar；〃　Armstrong　said　easily。　〃Go　ahead；　Malcolm。〃
　Malcolm　Sun　put　the　knife　under　the　man's　left　eye　and　the　man　almost　fainted。　〃That　es　later；　spy；〃　Sun　said　in　Russian　with　a　chilling　smile。　Expertly；　with　a　deliberate　malevolent　viciousness；　Sun　rapidly　sliced　the　raincoat　away。　Armstrong　searched　it　very　carefully　as　Sun　used　the　knife　deftly　to　cut　away　the　man's　seaman's　jersey　and　the　rest　of　his　clothes　until　he　was　naked。　The　knife　had　not　cut　or　even　nicked　him　once。　A　careful　search　and　re…search　revealed　nothing。　Nor　his　shoes；　the　heels　or　the　soles。
　〃Unless　it's　a　microdot　transfer　and　we've　missed　it　so　far；　it　must　be　in　him；〃　Armstrong　said。
　At　once　the　men　holding　the　Russian　bent　him　over　and　Sun　got　out　the　surgical　gloves　and　surgical　salve　and　probed　deeply。　The　man　flinched　and　moaned　and　tears　of　pain　seeped　from　his　eyes。
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh；〃　Sun　said　happily。　His　fingers　drew　out　a　small　tube　of　cellophane　wrapping。
　〃Don't　let　go　of　him！〃　Armstrong　rapped。
　When　he　was　sure　the　man　was　secure　he　peered　at　the　cylindrical　package。　Inside　he　could　see　the　double…ended　circles　of　a　film　cartridge。　〃Looks　like　a　Minolta；〃　he　said　absently。
　Using　some　tissues　he　wrapped　the　cellophane　carefully　and　sat　down　opposite　the　man　again。　〃Mr。　Metkin；　you're　charged　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act　for　taking　part　in　an　espionage　act　against　Her　Majesty's　Government　and　her　allies。　Anything　you　say　will　be　taken　down　and　used　in　evidence　against　you。　Now；　sir；〃　he　continued　gently；　〃you're　caught。　We're　all　Special　Intelligence　and　not　subject　to　normal　laws；　any　more　than　your　own　KGB　is。　We　don't　want　to　hurt　you　but　we　can　hold　you　forever　if　we　want；　in　solitary　if　we　want。　We　would　like　a　little　cooperation。　Just　the　answers　to　a　few　questions。　If　you　refuse　we　will　extract　the　information　we　require。　We　use　a　lot　of　your　KGB　techniques　and　we　can；　sometimes；　go　a　little　better。〃　He　saw　a　flash　of　terror　behind　the　man's　eyes　but　something　told　him　this　man　would　be　hard　to　crack。
　〃What's　your　real　name？　Your　official　KGB　name？〃
　The　man　stared　at　him。
　〃What's　your　KGB　rank？〃
　The　man　still　stared。
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃I　can　let　my　Chinese　friends　have　at　you；　old　chum；　if　you　prefer。　They　really　don't　like　you　at　all。　Your　Soviet　armies　ran　all　over　Malcolm　Sun's　village　in　Manchuria　and　wiped　it　out　and　his　family。　Sorry；　but　I　really　must　have　your　official　KGB　name；　your　rank　on　the　Sovetsky　Ivanov　and　official　position。〃
　Another　hostile　silence。
　Armstrong　shrugged。　〃Go　ahead；　Malcolm。〃
　Sun　reached　up　and　jerked　the　ugly…looking　crowbar　from　its　clip　and　as　the　four　men　turned　Metkin　roughly　onto　his　stomach　and　spread…eagled　him；　Sun　inserted　the　tip。　The　man　screamed。　〃Wait　。。。　wait　。。。〃　he　gasped　in　guttural　English；　〃wait　。。。　I'm　Dimitri　。。。〃　Another　scream。　〃Nicoli　Leonov；　major；　political　missaaaar　。。。〃
　〃That's　enough；　Malcolm；〃　Armstrong　said；　astonished　by　the　importance　of　their　catch。
　〃But　sir　。。。〃
　〃That's　enough；〃　Armstrong　said　harshly；　deliberately　protective　as　Sun　was　deliberately　hostile　and　angrily　slammed　the　crowbar　back　into　its　clips。　〃Pull　him　up；〃　he　ordered；　sorry　for　the　man；　the　indignity　of　it。　But　he　had　never　known　the　trick　to　fail　to　produce　a　real　name　and　rank；　if　done　at　once。　It　was　a　trick　because　they　would　never　probe　deeply　and　the　first　scream　was　always　from　panic　and　not　from　pain。　Unless　the　enemy　agent　broke　at　once　they　would　always　stop　and　then；　at　headquarters；　put　him　through　a　proper　monitored　interrogation。　Torture　wasn't　necessary　though　some　zealots　used　it　against　orders。　This　is　a　dangerous　profession；　he　thought　grimly。　KGB　methods　are　rougher；　and　Chinese　have　a　different　attitude　to　life　and　death；　victor　and　vanquished；　pain　and　pleasure　…　and　the　value　of　a　scream。
　〃Don't　take　it　badly；　Major　Leonov；〃　he　said　kindly　when　the　others　had　pulled　him　up　and　sat　him　back　on　the　bench；　still　holding　him　tightly。　〃We　don't　want　to　harm　you　…　or　let　you　harm　yourself。〃
　Metkin　spat　at　him　and　began　to　curse；　tears　of　terror　and　rage　and　frustration　running　down　his　face。　Armstrong　nodded　at　Malcolm　Sun　who　took　out　the　prepared　pad　and　held　it　firmly　over　Metkin's　nose　and　mouth。
　The　heavy；　sick…sweet　stench　of　chloroform　filled　the　stuffy　atmosphere。　Metkin　struggled　impotently　for　a　moment；　then　subsided。　Armstrong　checked　his　eyes　and　his　pulse　to　make　sure　he　was　not　feigning　unconsciousness。　〃You　can　let　him　go　now；〃　he　told　them。　〃You　all　did　very　well。　I'll　see　a　mendation　goes　on　all　your　records。　Malcolm；　we'd　better　take　good　care　of　him。　He　might　suicide。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Sun　sat　back　with　the　others　in　the　swaying　van。　It　was　grinding　along　in　the　heavy　traffic　irritatingly；　stopping　and　starting。　Later　he　said　what　was　in　all　their　minds。　〃Dimitri　Metkin；　alias　Nicoli　Leonov；　major；　KGB；　off　the　Ivanov；　and　her　political　missar。　What's　a　big　fish　like　that　doing　on　a　small　job　like　this？〃
　
　48
　
　7：05　P。M。：
　Linc　Bartlett　chose　his　tie　carefully。　He　was　wearing　a　pale　blue　shirt　and　light　tan　suit　and　the　tie　was　tan　with　a　red　stripe。　A　beer　was　open　on　the　chest　of　drawers；　the　can　pearled　from　the　cold。　All　day　he　had　debated　with　himself　whether　he　should　call　for　Orlanda　or　not　call　for　her；　whether　he　should　tell　Casey　or　not　tell　Casey。
　The　day　had　been　fine　for　him。　First；　breakfast　with　Orlanda　and　then　out　to　Kai　Tak　to　check　his　airplane　and　make　sure　he　could　use　it；　for　the　flight　with　Dunross　to　Taipei。　Lunch　with　Casey；　then　the　excitement　of　the　exchange。　After　the　exchange　had　closed　he　and　Casey　had　caught　the　ferry　to　Kowloon。　Canvas　storm　shades　lashed　against　the　rain　shut　out　the　view　and　made　the　deck　claustrophobic　and　the　crossing　not　pleasant。　But　it　was　pleasant　with　Casey；　his　awareness　of　her　heightened　by　the　knowledge　of　Orlanda；　and　the　dilemma。
　〃Ian's　had　it；　hasn't　he；　Linc？〃
　〃I'd　think　so；　sure。　But　he's　smart；　the　battle's　not　over　yet；　only　the　first　attack。〃
　〃How　can　he　get　back？　His　stock's　at　bargain　prices。〃
　〃pared　to　last　week；　sure；　but　we　don't　know　his　earning　ratio。　This　exchange's　like　a　yo…yo　…　you　said　so　yourself　…　and　dangerous。　Ian　was　right　in　that。〃
　〃I'll　bet　he　knows　about　the　2　million　you　put　up　with　Gornt。〃
　〃Maybe。　It's　nothing　he　wouldn't　do　if　he　had　the　chance。　You　meeting　Seymour　and　Charlie　Forrester？〃
　〃Yes。　The　Pan　Am　flight's　on　time　and　I've　a　limo　ing。　I'll　leave　soon　as　we　get　back。　You　think　they'll　want　dinner？〃
　〃No。　They'll　be　jet…lagged　to　hell。〃　He　had　grinned。　〃I　hope。〃　Both　Seymour　Steigler　III；　their　attorney；　and　Charlie　Forrester；　the　head　of　their　foam　division；　were　socially　very　hard　going。　〃What　time's　their　flight　in？〃
　〃4：50。　We'll　be　back　around　six。〃
　At　six　they　had　had　a　meeting　with　Seymour　Steigler　…　Forrester　was　unwell　and　had　gone　straight　to　bed。
　Their　attorney　was　a　New　Yorker；　a　handsome　man　with　wavy　black…gray　hair　and　dark　eyes　and　dark　rings　under　his　eyes。　〃Casey　filled　me　in　on　the　details；　Linc；〃　he　said。　〃Looks　like　we're　in　great　shape。〃
　By　prior　arrangement；　Bartlett　and　Casey　had　laid　out　the　whole　deal　to　their　attorney；　excluding　the　secret　arrangement　with　Dunross　about　his　ships。
　〃There're　a　couple　of　clauses　I'd　want　in；　to　protect　us；　Linc；〃　Steigler　said。
　〃All　right。　But　I　don't　want　the　deal　renegotiated。　We　want　a　wrap　by　Tuesday；　just　as　we've　laid　it　out。〃
　〃What　about　Rothwell…Gornt？　Best　I　should　feel　them　out；　huh？　We　can　kite　Struan's。〃
　〃No；〃　Casey　had　said。　〃You　leave　Gornt　and　Dunross　alone；　Seymour。〃　They　had　not　told　Steigler　about　Bartlett's　private　deal　with　Gornt　either。　〃Hong　Kong's　more　plicated　than　we　thought。　Best　leave　it　as　it　is。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃Leave　Gornt　and　Dunross　to　Casey　and　me。　You　just　deal　with　their　attorneys。〃
　〃What're　they　like？〃
　〃English。　Very　proper；〃　Casey　said。　〃I　met　with　John　Dawson　at　noon　…　he's　their　senior　partner。　Dunross　was　supposed　to　be　there　but　he　sent　Jacques　deVille　instead。　He's　one　of　Struan's　directors；　deals　with　all　their　corporate　affairs；　and　some　financing。　Jacques　is　very　good　but　Dunross　runs　everything　and　decides　everything。　That's　the　bottom　line。〃
　〃How　about　getting　this；　er；　Dawson　on　the　phone　right　now？　I'll　meet　with　him　over　breakfast；　say　here　at　eight。〃
　Bartlett　and　Casey　had　laughed。　〃No　way；　Seymour！〃　she　had　said。　〃It'll　be　a　leisurely　in　by　ten　and　a　two…hour　lunch。　They　eat　and　drink　like　there's　no　tomorrow；　and　everything's　the　'old　boy'　bit。〃
　〃Then　I'll　meet　him　after　lunch　when　he's　mellow　and　maybe　we　can　teach　him　a　trick　or　two；〃　Seymour　Steigler　had　said；　his　eyes　hardening。　He　stifled　a　yawn。　〃I've　got　to　call　New　York　before　I　hit　the　sack。　Hey；　I've　got　all　the　papers　on　the　GXR　merger　an…　〃
　〃I'll　take　those；　Seymour；〃　Casey　said。
　〃And　I　bought　the　200；000　block　of　Rothwell…Gornt　at　23。50　…　what're　they　today？〃
　〃21。〃
　〃Jesus；　Linc；　you're　down　300　grand；〃　Casey　said；　perturbed。　〃Why　not　sell　and　buy　back？　If　and　when。〃
　〃No。　We'll　hold　the　stock。〃　Bartlett　was　not　worried　about　the　Rothwell　stock　loss　for　he　was　well　ahead　on　his　share　of　Gornt's　selling…short　ploy。　〃Why　don't　you　qu