jamesclavell.noblehouse-第147章

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nd　shut　the　door　behind　them。
　Her　perfume　was　delicate　and　barely　there　but　he　felt　it　as　a　physical　presence。　The　dress　she　wore　was　knee…length　white　chiffon　that　sighed　as　she　moved；　close　at　the　wrists　and　neck。　It　showed　but　somehow　didn't　quite　show　her　golden　skin。　〃I'm　so　happy　you're　here；〃　she　said　again　and　took　his　umbrella　and　put　it　into　a　rack。
　〃So　am　I。〃
　The　room　was　prettier　by　night；　mostly　candlelit；　the　tall　glass　doors　of　the　terrace　open　to　the　air。　They　were　just　below　the　overcast　and　the　city　sprawled　down　the　mountain　to　the　sea；　the　lights　misting　from　time　to　time　as　whiskers　of　the　low　clouds　passed　by。　Sea　level　was　seven　hundred　feet　below。　Kowloon　was　dim　and　the　harbor　dim　but　he　knew　the　ships　were　there　and　he　could　see　the　huge　carrier　at　the　wharf；　her　great　angled　deck　floodlit；　the　needle…nosed　jets　floodlit；　her　battle…gray　bridge　reaching　for　the　sky　…　the　Stars　and　Stripes　hanging　damp　and　listless。
　〃Hey；〃　he　said；　leaning　on　the　terrace　railing；　〃what　a　great　night；　Orlanda。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　it　is。　e　and　sit　down。〃
　〃I'd　rather　look　at　the　view；　if　it's　okay。〃
　〃Of　course；　anything　you　want's　fine；　anything。　That　suit's　great　on　you；　Linc；　and　I　love　your　tie。〃　She　said　it　happily；　wanting　to　pliment　him　even　though　she　did　not　think　the　tie　matched　too　well。　Never　mind；　she　thought；　he's　just　not　color　conscious　like　Quillan；　and　needs　helping。　I'll　do　what　Quillan　taught　me　to　do；　not　criticize　but　go　out　and　buy　one　I　like　and　give　it　to　him。　If　he　likes　it；　marvelous；　if　not　never　mind；　for　what　does　it　matter　…　he's　the　one　who's　wearing　it。　Blue；　blue　would　match　Linc's　eyes　and　go　better　with　that　shirt。　〃You　dress　very　well。〃
　〃Thanks；　so　do　you。〃　He　was　remembering　what　Casey　had　said　about　his　tie　and　how　furious　he　had　been　with　her　tonight　all　the　way　across　the　ferry；　all　the　time　waiting　for　a　cab；　and　the　old　woman　who　had　trod　on　his　foot　shoving　past　to　usurp　his　cab　but　he　had　foiled　her　and　cursed　her　back。
　It　was　only　now　that　his　rage…temperature　had　vanished。　It　was　Orlanda's　pleasure　at　seeing　me　that　did　it；　he　told　himself。　It's　years　since　Casey　lit　up　like　a　Christmas　tree　or　said　anything　when　I　。。。　the　hell　with　that。　I'm　not　going　to　worry　about　Casey　tonight。　〃The　view's　fantastic　and　you're　as　pretty　as　a　picture！〃
　She　laughed。　〃So're　you　and　。。。　oh　your　drink；　sorry　。。。〃　She　whirled　away　for　the　kitchen；　her　skirt　flying。　〃I　don't　know　why　but　you　make　me　feel　like　a　schoolgirl；〃　she　called　out。　In　a　moment　she　came　back。　On　the　tray　was　an　earthenware　pot　of　paté　and　rounds　of　fresh　toast　and　a　bottle　of　iced　beer。　〃I　hope　this's　right。〃
　It　was　Anweiser。　〃How　did　you　know　my　brand？〃
　〃You　told　me　this　morning；　don't　you　remember？〃　Her　warmth　flooded　over　again　at　his　obvious　pleasure。　〃Also　that　you　like　drinking　it　out　of　the　bottle。〃
　He　took　it　and　grinned　at　her。　〃Is　that　going　to　be　in　the　article　too？〃
　〃No。　No；　I've　decided　not　to　write　about　you。〃
　He　saw　her　sudden　seriousness。　〃Why？〃
　She　was　pouring　herself　a　glass　of　white　wine。　〃I　decided　I　could　never　do　you　justice　in　an　article　so　I　won't　write　one。　Besides；　I　don't　think　you'd　like　that　hanging　over　you。〃　Her　hand　went　to　her　heart。　〃Cross　my　heart　and　hope　to　die；　no　article；　everything　private。　No　article；　no　journalism；　I　swear　by　the　Madonna；〃　she　added；　meaning　it。
　〃Hey；　no　need　to　be　dramatic！〃
　She　was　leaning　with　her　back　against　the　railing；　an　eighty…foot　drop　to　the　concrete　below。　He　saw　the　sincerity　in　her　face　and　he　believed　her　pletely。　He　was　relieved。　The　article　had　been　the　only　flaw；　the　only　danger　point　for　him　…　that　and　her　being　a　journalist。　He　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　lightly；　deliberately　lightly。　〃Sealed　with　a　kiss。　Thanks。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　They　watched　the　view　for　a　moment。
　〃Is　the　rain　over　for　good？〃
　〃I　hope　not；　Linc。　We　need　a　good　series　of　storms　to　fill　the　reservoirs。　Keeping　clean's　so　hard　and　we　still　only　get　water　one　day　in　four。〃　She　smiled　mischievously　as　a　child　would。　〃Last　night　during　the　torrent　I　stripped　and　bathed　here。　It　was　fantastic。　The　rain　was　even　heavy　enough　to　wash　my　hair。〃
　The　thought　of　her　naked；　here；　in　the　night；　touched　him。　〃You'd　better　be　careful；〃　he　said。　〃The　railing's　not　that　high。　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　slip。〃
　〃Strange；　I'm　frightened　to　death　of　the　sea　but　heights　don't　bother　me　a　bit。　You　certainly　saved　my　life。〃
　〃C'mon！　You　would　have　made　it　without　me。〃
　〃Perhaps；　but　you　certainly　saved　my　face。　Without　you　there　I　would　surely　have　disgraced　myself。　So　thanks　for　my　face。〃
　〃And　that's　more　important　than　life　out　here；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Sometimes；　yes；　yes　it　is。　Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　Dunross　and　Quillan　Gornt。　Those　two're　having　at　each　other；　mostly　over　face。〃
　〃Yes。　You're　right；　of　course。〃　She　added　thoughtfully；　〃They're　both　fine　men；　in　one　way；　both　devils　in　another。〃
　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　〃They're　both　ruthless；　both　very　very　strong；　very　hard；　adept　and　。。。　and　well　conversed　with　life。〃　As　she　talked　she　heaped　one　of　the　rounds　of　toast　with　paté　and　offered　it　to　him；　her　nails　long　and　perfect。　〃The　Chinese　have　a　saying：　'Chan　ts'ao；　chu　ken'　…　when　pulling　weeds　make　sure　you　get　rid　of　the　roots。　The　roots　of　those　two　go　deep　in　Asia；　very　deep；　too　deep。　It　would　be　hard　to　get　rid　of　those　roots。〃　She　sipped　her　wine　and　smiled　a　little　smile。　〃And　probably　not　a　good　idea；　not　for　Hong　Kong。　Some　more　paté？〃
　〃Please。　It's　wonderful。　You　make　it？〃
　〃Yes。　It's　an　old　English　recipe。〃
　〃Why　wouldn't　it　be　good　for　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Oh；　perhaps　because　they　balance　each　other。　If　one　destroys　the　other　…　oh　I　don't　mean　just　Quillan　or　Dunross；　I　mean　the　hongs　themselves；　the　panies；　Struan's　and　Rothwell…Gornt。　If　one　eats　up　the　other；　perhaps　the　remaining　one　would　be　too　strong；　there　would　certainly　be　no　petition；　then　perhaps　the　tai…pan　would　bee　too　greedy；　perhaps　he'd　decide　to　dump　Hong　Kong。〃　She　smiled　hesitantly。　〃Sorry　。。。　I'm　talking　too　much。　It's　just　an　idea。　Another　beer？〃
　〃Sure；　in　a　moment；　thanks；　but　that's　an　interesting　thought。〃　Yes；　Bartlett　was　thinking；　and　one　that　hadn't　occurred　to　me　…　or　to　Casey。　Are　those　two　necessary　to　each　other？
　And　Casey　and　I？　Are　we　necessary　to　each　other？
　He　saw　her　watching　him　and　he　smiled　back。　〃Orlanda；　it's　no　secret　I'm　thinking　about　making　a　deal　with　one　of　them。　If　you　were　me；　which　one　would　you　go　with？〃
　〃Neither；〃　she　said　at　once　and　laughed。
　〃Why？〃
　〃You're　not　British；　not　one　of　the　'old　boys；'　not　a　hereditary　member　of　any　of　the　clubs；　and　however　much　your　money　and　power　here；　it's　the　Old　Boy　network　that　will　finally　decide　what　is　to　be。〃　She　took　his　empty　bottle　and　went　and　brought　another。
　〃You　think　I　couldn't　make　a　go　of　it？〃
　〃Oh　I　didn't　mean　that；　Linc。　You　asked　about　Struan's　or　Rothwell…Gornt；　about　going　into　business　with　one　of　them。　If　you　do；　they'll　be　the　winners　in　the　end。〃
　〃They're　that　smart？〃
　〃No。　But　they're　Asian；　they　belong　here。　Here　the　saying　is；　'T'ien　hsia　wu　ya　i　pan　hei'　…　all　crows　under　heaven　are　black　…　meaning　that　all　the　tai…pans　are　the　same　and　they'll　all　stick　together　to　destroy　the　outsider。〃
　〃So　neither　Ian　nor　Quillan　would　wele　a　partner？〃
　She　hesitated。　〃I　think　I'm　getting　out　of　my　depth；　Linc。　I　don't　know　about　business　things。　It's　just　that　I've　never　heard　of　an　American　who's　e　here　and　made　it　big。〃
　〃What　about　Biltzmann；　Superfoods　and　their　takeover　of　H。K。　General　Stores？　〃
　〃Biltzmann's　a　joke。　Everyone　hates　him　and　hopes　he'll　fall　on　his　face；　even　Pug　。。。　Pugmire。　Quillan's　sure　he　will。　No；　even　Cooper　and　Tillman　didn't　make　it。　They　were　Yankee　traders　in　the　first　days；　Linc；　opium　traders　…　they　were　even　under　Dirk　Struan's　protection。　They're　even　related；　the　Struans　and　the　Coopers。　Hag　Struan　married　her　eldest　daughter；　Emma；　to　old　Jeff　Cooper；　Old　Hook　Nose　was　his　nickname　when　he　was　in　his　dotage。　The　story　is　that　the　marriage　was　payment　for　his　helping　her　destroy　Tyler　Brock。　Have　you　heard　about　them；　Linc？　The　Brocks；　Sir　Morgan　and　his　father　Tyler；　and　the　Hag？〃
　〃Peter　Marlowe　told　us　some　of　the　stories。〃
　〃If　you　want　to　know　about　the　real　Hong　Kong；　you　should　talk　to　Auntie　Bright　Eyes　…　that's　Sarah　Chen；　Phillip　Chen's　maiden　aunt！　She's　a　great　character；　Linc；　and　sharp　as　a　needle。　She　says　she's　eighty…eight。　I　think　she's　older。　Her　father　was　Sir　Gordon　Chen；　Dirk　Struan's　illegitimate　son　by　his　mistress　Kai…Sung；　and　her　mother　was　the　famous　beauty　Karen　Yuan。〃
　〃Who's　she？〃
　〃Karen　Yuan　was　Robb　Struan's　granddaughter。　Robb　was　Dirk's　half…brother　and　he　had　a　mistress　called　Yau　Ming　Soo　with　whom　he　had　a　daughter　Isobel。　Isobel　married　John　Yuan；　an　illegitimate　son　of　Jeff　Cooper。　John　Yuan　became　a　well…known　pirate　and　opium　smuggler；　and　Isobel　died　quite　notorious　as　an　enormous　gambler　who　had　lost　two　of　her　husbands'　fortunes　playing　mah…jong。　So　it　was　Isobel　and　John's　daughter；　Karen；　who　married　Sir　Gordon　Chen　…　actually　she　was　his　second　wife；　more　like　a　concubine　really；　though　it　was　a　perfectly　legal　marriage。　Here；　even　today；　if　you're　Chinese　you　can　legally　have　as　many　wives　as　you　like。〃
　〃That's　convenient！〃
　〃For　a　man！〃　Orlanda　smiled。　〃So　this　tiny　branch　of　the　Yuans　are　Cooper　descendents　…　the　T'Chungs　and　Chens　are　from　Dirk　Struan；　the　Sungs；　Tups　and　Tongs　from　Aristotle　Quance　the　painter　…　here　in　Hong　Kong　it's　the　custom　for　the　children　to　take　the　name　of　their　mother；　usually　an　insignificant　girl　who　was　sold　to　the　pillow　by　her　parents。〃
　〃By　the　parents？〃
　〃Almost　always；〃　she　told　him　casually。　〃　'T'ung　t'ien　yu　ming'　…　listen　to　heaven　and　follow　fate。　Particularly　when　you're　starving。〃　She　shrugged。　〃There's　no　shame　in　that；　Linc；　no　loss　of　face；　not　in　Asia。〃
　〃How　e　you　know　so　much　about　the　Struans　and　Coopers　and　mistresses　and　so　on？〃
　〃This　is　a　small　place　and　we　all　love　secrets　but　there　are　no　real　secrets　in　Hong　Kong。　Insiders　…　true　insiders　…　know　almost　everything　about　the　others。　As　I　said；　our　roots　go　deep　here。　And　don't　forget　that　the　Chens；　Yuans　and　Sungs　are　Eurasian。　As　I　told　you；　Eurasians　marry　Eurasians；　so　we　should　know　who　we're　from。　We're　not　desired　by　British　or　Chinese　as　wives　or　husbands；　only　as　mistresses　or　lovers。〃　She　sipped　her　wine　and　he　was　awed　by　the　delicacy　of　her　movements；　her　grace。　〃It's　custom　for　Chinese　families　to　have　their　genealogy　written　down　in　the　village　book；　that's　the　only　legality　they　have　…　that　gives　them　continuity；　they've　never　had　birth　certificates。〃　She　smiled　up　at　him。　〃To　go　back　to　your　question。　Both　Ian　Dunross　and　Quillan　would　wele　your　money　and　your　inside　track　into　the　U。S。　market。　And　with　either　one　you'd　make　a　profit　here　…　if　you　were　content　to　be　a　silent　partner。〃
　Thoughtfully　Bartlett　let　his　eyes　stray　to　the　view。
　She　waited　patiently；　allowing　him　his　thoughts；　staying　motionless。　I'm　very　glad　Quillan　was　such　a　good　teacher　and　such　a　clever　man；　she　thought。　And　oh　so　wise。　He　was　right　again。
　This　morning　she　had　called　him　in　tears　on　his　private　line