jamesclavell.noblehouse-第146章

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　〃Oh　shit　on　all　men！〃
　
　49
　
　7：40　P。M。：
　〃Excuse　me；　your　Excellency；　you're　wanted　on　the　phone。〃
　〃Thank　you；　John。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　Allison　turned　back　to　Dunross　and　the　others。　〃If　you'll　excuse　me　a　moment；　gentlemen？〃
　They　were　in　Government　House；　the　governor's　official　residence　above　Central；　the　French　doors　open　to　the　cool　of　the　evening；　the　air　fresh　and　washed；　trees　and　shrubs　dripping　nicely；　and　the　governor　walked　across　the　crowded　anteroom　where　pre…dinner　cocktails　and　snacks　were　being　served；　very　pleased　with　the　way　the　evening　had　gone　so　far。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　having　a　good　time。　There　was　banter　and　good　conversation；　some　laughter　and　no　friction　yet　between　the　Hong　Kong　tai…pans　and　the　MPs。　At　his　request；　Dunross　had　gone　out　of　his　way　to　soothe　Grey　and　Broadhurst；　and　even　Grey　seemed　to　have　mellowed。
　The　aide　closed　the　door　of　his　study；　leaving　him　alone　with　the　telephone。　The　study　was　dark　green　and　pleasing；　with　blue　flock　wallpaper；　fine　Persian　carpets　from　his　two…year　sojourn　in　the　Teheran　embassy；　cherished　crystal　and　silver　and　more　showcases　with　fine　Chinese　porcelains。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Sorry　to　bother　you；　sir；〃　Crosse　said。
　〃Oh　hello；　Roger。〃　The　governor　felt　his　chest　tighten。　〃No　bother；〃　he　said。
　〃Two　rather　good　pieces　of　information；　sir。　Somewhat　important。　I　wonder　if　I　might　drop　by？〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　glanced　at　the　porcelain　clock　on　the　mantel　over　the　fireplace。　〃Dinner's　served　in　fifteen　minutes；　Roger。　Where　are　you　now？〃
　〃Just　three　minutes　away　from　you；　sir。　I　won't　delay　your　dinner。　But；　if　you　prefer；　I　could　make　it　afterwards。〃
　〃e　now；　I　could　use　some　good　news。　With　this　whole　banking　affair　and　the　stock　market　。。。　Use　the　garden　door　if　you　wish。　John　will　meet　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　The　phone　clicked　off。　By　custom；　the　head　of　SI　had　a　key　to　the　iron　garden　gate　which　was　set　into　the　high　surrounding　walls。
　In　exactly　three　minutes　Crosse　was　crossing　the　terrace；　walking　lightly。　The　ground　was　very　wet。　He　dried　his　feet　carefully　before　he　came　through　the　French　windows。　〃We've　caught　a　rather　big　fish；　sir；　an　enemy　agent；　caught　him　with　his　hands　in　the　honey　pot；〃　he　said　softly。　〃He's　a　major；　KGB；　off　the　Ivanov；　and　her　political　missar。　We　caught　him　in　the　middle　of　an　espionage　act　with　an　American　puter　expert　off　the　nuclear　carrier。〃
　The　governor's　face　had　gone　red。　〃That　blasted　Ivanov！　Good　God；　Roger；　a　major？　Have　you　any　idea　of　the　diplomatic　and　political　storm　this　will　precipitate　with　the　USSR；　the　U。S。　and　London？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　That's　why　I　thought　I'd　better　consult　at　once。〃
　〃What　the　devil　was　the　fellow　doing？〃
　Crosse　gave　him　the　broad　facts。　He　ended；　〃Both　of　them　are　sedated　now　and　very　safe。〃
　〃What　was　on　the　film？〃
　〃It　was　blank；　sir；　fogged。　Wh…　〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　Of　course　both　men　denied　any　espionage　was　involved。　The　sailor　denied　there　was　a　drop；　denied　everything；　said　he'd　won　the　2；000　U。S。　we　found　on　him　playing　poker。　Childish　to　lie　once　you're　caught；　childish　to　make　things　difficult；　we　always　get　the　truth　eventually。　I　thought　we'd　either　missed　the　real　film　or　it　was　a　microdot　transfer。　We　re…searched　their　clothing　and　I　ordered　immediate　emetics　and　stool　examinations。　Major　。。。　the　KGB　agent　passed　the　real　negative　film　an　hour　ago。〃　Crosse　offered　the　big　manila　envelope。　〃These're　eight…by…ten　prints；　sir；　frame　by　frame。〃
　The　governor　did　not　open　the　envelope。　〃What　are　they　of？　In　general？〃
　〃One　set　shows　part　of　the　ship's　radar　guidance　system　manual。〃　Crosse　hesitated。　〃The　other　set's　a　photocopy　of　a　plete　manifest　of　the　carrier's　arsenal；　ammunition；　missiles　and　warheads。　Quantities；　qualities；　their　numbers　and　where　stored　in　the　ship。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！　Including　nuclear　warheads？　No；　please　don't　answer　that。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　stared　at　Crosse。　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃Well；　Roger；　it's　marvelous　that　the　information　didn't　get　into　enemy　hands。　You're　to　be　congratulated。　Our　American　friends　will　be　equally　relieved；　and　they'll　owe　you　a　number　of　very　great　favors。　Good　God；　in　expert　hands　that　knowledge　would　lay　bare　the　ship's　entire　strike　capability！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Crosse　smiled　thinly。
　Sir　Geoffrey　studied　him。
　〃But　what　to　do　about　this　major　of　yours？〃
　〃I　would　send　the　major　to　London　with　a　special　escort　by　RAF　transport　at　once。　I　think　they　should　do　the　debriefing　there　even　though　we're　better　equipped；　more　practiced；　and　more　efficient　here。　My　worry　is　that　his　superiors　will　surely　know　within　an　hour　or　so　and　might　attempt　to　rescue　him　or　to　render　him　useless。　They　might　even　use　extreme　diplomatic　pressure　to　force　us　to　release　him　to　the　Ivanov。　Besides；　when　the　PRC　and　Nationalists　hear　we've　caught　such　an　official；　they　might　try　to　acquire　him　themselves。〃
　〃What　about　the　American　sailor？〃
　〃It　might　be　politic　to　turn　him　over　to　the　CIA　at　once；　with　the　negative　of　the　film　and　these　…　they're　the　only　prints　I　made。　I　developed　and　made　them　myself　for　obvious　security　reasons。　I　suspect　Rosemont　would　be　the　best　person。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　Rosemont。　He's　here　now。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey's　eyes　hardened。　〃You　have　copies　of　all　my　guest　lists；　Roger？〃
　〃No　sir。　Half　an　hour　ago　I　called　the　consulate　to　find　out　where　he　was。　They　told　me。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　looked　back　at　him　under　his　shaggy　eyebrows；　disbelieving　him；　sure　that　the　chief　of　SI　did　know　whom　he　invited　and　when。　Never　mind；　he　thought　testily；　that's　his　job。　And　I'll　bet　a　golden　guinea　to　a　doughnut　that　these　prints　aren't　the　only　copies　Roger　made；　for　he　knows　our　Admiralty　would　love　to　see　them　too　and　it's　his　duty　to　provide　them。　〃Could　this　have　any　connection　with　the　AMG　business？〃
　〃No。　No　not　at　all；〃　Crosse　said　and　the　governor　thought　he　heard　the　momentary　flutter　in　Crosse's　voice。　〃I　don't　think　there's　any　connection。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　got　out　of　the　tall　chair　and　paced　for　a　moment；　his　mind　sifting　possibilities。　Roger's　right。　Chinese　Intelligence　on　both　sides　of　the　bamboo　fence　are　bound　to　find　out　quickly；　as　every　one　of　our　Chinese　police　has　PRC　or　Nationalist　sympathies。　So　it's　far　better　to　have　the　spy　out　of　reach。　Then　no　one　will　be　tempted　…　at　least；　not　here。　〃I　think　I　should　chat　with　the　minister　at　once。〃
　〃Perhaps；　under　the　circumstances；　sir；　you　could　inform　the　minister　what　I've　done　about　the　major　…　sending　him　to　London　under　es…　〃
　〃He's　already　gone？〃
　〃No　sir。　But　it's　well　within　my　authority　to　expedite　that　…　if　you　agree。〃
　Thoughtfully　Sir　Geoffrey　glanced　again　at　the　clock。　At　length。　he　said　with　a　small　smile；　〃Very　well。　It's　lunchtime　now　in　London；　I'll　inform　him　in　an　hour　or　so。　Is　that　sufficient　time？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　thank　you；　sir。　Everything's　arranged。〃
　〃I　presumed　it　was。〃
　〃I'll　breathe　a　lot　easier　when　the　fellow's　en　route　home；　sir。　Thank　you。〃
　〃Yes。　And　the　sailor？〃
　〃Perhaps　you　could　ask　the　minister　to　approve　our　handing　him　over　to　Rosemont；　sir。〃
　There　were　a　dozen　questions　Sir　Geoffrey　would　like　to　have　asked　but　he　asked　none　of　them。　From　long　experience　he　knew　he　was　not　a　good　liar；　so　the　less　he　knew　the　better。　〃Very　well。　Now；　what's　the　second　piece　of　'good'　news。　I　trust　this　will　be　better。〃
　〃We've　caught　the　mole；　sir。〃
　〃Ah！　Good。　Excellent！　Very　good。　Who？〃
　〃Senior　Superintendent　Kwok。〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　Crosse　kept　the　pleasure　off　his　face。　〃I　agree；　sir。　Even　so；　Superintendent　Kwok's　a　munist　mole　and　spy　for　the　PRC。〃　Crosse　related　how　Brian　Kwok's　cover　had　been　penetrated。　〃I　suggest　Superintendent　Armstrong　should　get　a　mendation　…　also　Spectacles　Wu。　I'm　taking　him　into　SI；　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　was　staring　out　of　the　window；　stunned。　〃Bless　my　soul！　Young　Brian！　Why？　He　would　have　been　an　assistant　missioner　in　a　year　or　two。　。。。　I　suppose　there's　no　mistake？〃
　〃No　sir。　As　I　said；　the　proof　is　irrefutable。　Of　course；　we　don't　know　the　how　or　the　why　yet　but　we　soon　will。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　heard　the　finality　and　he　saw　the　thin；　hard　face　and　cold　eyes　and　he　felt　very　sorry　for　Brian　Kwok；　whom　he　had　liked　for　many　years。　〃Keep　me　advised　about　him。　Perhaps　we　can　discover　what　makes　a　man　like　that　do　such　a　thing。　Good　God；　such　a　charming　chap　and　a　first…class　cricketer　too。　Yes；　keep　me　advised。〃
　〃Certainly；　sir。〃　Crosse　got　up。　〃Interesting。　I　could　never　understand　why　he　was　always　so　anti…American　…　it　was　his　only　flaw。　Now　it's　obvious。　I　should　have　spotted　that。　Sorry　sir；　and　sorry　to　interrupt　your　evening。〃
　〃You're　to　be　congratulated；　Roger。　If　the　Soviet　agent's　being　sent　to　London　perhaps　Brian　Kwok　should　go　too？　The　same　reasons　would　apply　to　him？〃
　〃No　sir。　No　I　don't　think　so。　We　can　deal　with　Kwok　here　much　quicker　and　better。　We're　the　ones　who　need　to　know　what　he　knows　…　London　wouldn't　understand。　Kwok's　a　threat　to　Hong　Kong；　not　to　Britain。　He's　a　PRC　asset　…　the　other　man's　Soviet。　The　two　don't　parallel。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　sighed　heavily；　knowing　Crosse　was　right。　〃I　agree。　This　has　really　been　a　quite　dreadful　day；　Roger。　First　the　bank　runs；　then　the　stock　market　。。。　the　deaths　last　night；　poor　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth　and　Toxe's　wife　。。。　and　this　morning　the　Aberdeen　mud…slide　deaths　。。。　the　Noble　House's　tottering　。。。　it　looks　as　though　this　storm　front's　developing　into　a　blasted　typhoon　which　will　probably　wreck　Saturday's　racing　。。。　and　now　all　your　news；　an　American　sailor　betrays　his　country　and　ship　and　honor　for　a　paltry　2；000？〃
　Crosse　smiled　his　thin　smile　again。　〃Perhaps　2；000　wasn't　paltry　to　him。〃
　We　live　in　terrible　times；　Sir　Geoffrey　was　going　to　say；　but　he　knew　it　was　not　the　times。　It　was　merely　that　people　were　people；　that　greed　pride　lust　avarice　jealousy　gluttony　anger　and　the　bigger　lust　for　power　or　money　ruled　people　and　would　rule　them　forever。　Most　of　them。
　〃Thank　you　for　ing；　Roger。　Again；　you're　to　be　congratulated。　I　will　so　inform　the　minister。　Good　night。〃
　He　watched　Crosse　walk　off；　tall；　confident　and　deadly。　When　the　iron　door　in　the　high　wall　had　been　bolted　behind　him　by　his　aide；　Sir　Geoffrey　Allison　allowed　the　real　unasked　question　to　surface　once　more。
　Who's　the　mole　in　my　police？
　AMG's　paper　was　quite　clear。　The　traitor's　a　Soviet　asset；　not　from　the　PRC。　Brian　Kwok　has　been　flushed　out　by　chance。　Why　didn't　Roger　point　out　the　obvious？
　Sir　Geoffrey　shuddered。　If　Brian　could　be　a　mole　anyone　could。　Anyone。
　
　50
　
　8：17　P。M。：
　Almost　before　he　took　his　finger　off　the　bell　the　door　swung　open。
　〃Oh；　Linc；〃　Orlanda　said　breathlessly；　her　happiness　spilling　over；　〃I'd　given　you　up。　Please　e　in！〃
　〃Sorry　to　be　late；〃　Bartlett　said；　taken　aback　by　her　beauty　and　marvelous　warmth。　〃The　traffic's　snarled　to　hell　and　the　ferries　jammed　and　I　couldn't　get　to　a　phone。〃
　〃You're　here　so　you're　not　late；　not　at　all。　I　was　just　afraid　that　。。。〃　Then　she　added　in　a　rush；　〃I　was　afraid　you　wouldn't　e　back　tonight　and　then　I'd've　been　shattered。　There；　I've　said　it　and　all　my　defenses　are　down　but　I'm　so　happy　to　see　you　I　don't　care。〃　She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　him　a　swift　happy　kiss；　took　his　arm　and　shut　the　door　behind　them。
　Her