jamesclavell.noblehouse-第15章

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　Then　Dunross　suddenly　remembered　Foxwell's　remark　about　a　prominent　capitalist　who　was　a　secret　munist　that　they　were　watching　in　Sinclair　Towers。　Christ；　he　thought；　Tsu…yan's　got　a　flat　there；　and　so　has　John　Chen。　Surely　it's　impossible　either'd　be　mixed　up　with　munists。
　〃Of　course　heroin's　big　business；〃　Armstrong　was　saying；　his　voice　very　hard。
　〃What　does　that　mean；　Robert？〃
　〃The　drug　racket　requires　huge　amounts　of　money　to　finance　it。　That　kind　of　money　can　only　e　from　banks　or　bankers；　covertly　of　course。　Tsu…yan's　on　the　board　of　a　number　of　banks　…　so's　Mr。　Chen。〃
　〃Robert；　you'd　better　go　very　slow　on　that　sort　of　remark；〃　Dunross　grated。　〃You　are　drawing　very　dangerous　conclusions　without　any　proof　whatsoever。　That's　actionable　I'd　imagine　and　I　won't　have　it。〃
　〃You're　right；　sorry。　I　withdraw　the　coincidence。　Even　so；　the　drug　trade's　big　business；　and　it's　here　in　Hong　Kong　in　abundance；　mostly　for　ultimate　U。S。　consumption。　Somehow　I'm　going　to　find　out　who　our　nasties　are。〃
　〃That's　mendable。　And　you'll　have　all　the　help　you　want　from　Struan's　and　me。　I　hate　the　traffic　too。〃
　〃Oh　I　don't　hate　it；　tai…pan；　or　the　traffickers。　It's　a　fact　of　life。　It's　just　another　business　…　illegal　certainly　but　still　a　business。　I've　been　given　the　job　of　finding　out　who　the　tai…pans　are。　It's　a　matter　of　personal　satisfaction；　that's　all。〃
　〃If　you　want　help；　just　ask。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Armstrong　got　up　wearily。　〃Before　we　go　there're　a　couple　more　coincidences　for　you。　When　Tsu…yan　and　Noble　House　Chen　were　named　this　morning　we　thought　we'd　like　to　chat　with　them　right　away；　but　shortly　after　we　ambushed　the　guns　Tsu…yan　caught　the　early　flight　to　Taipei。　Curious　eh？〃
　〃He's　back　and　forth　all　the　time；〃　Dunross　said；　his　disquiet　soaring。　Tsu…yan　was　expected　at　his　party　this　evening。　It　would　be　extraordinary　if　he　did　not　appear。
　Armstrong　nodded。　〃It　seems　it　was　a　last…minute　decision　…　no　reservation；　no　ticket；　no　luggage；　just　a　few　extra　dollars　under　the　counter　and　someone　was　bounced　off　and　him　on。　He　was　carrying　only　a　briefcase。　Strange；　eh？〃
　Brian　Kwok　said；　〃We　haven't　a　hope　in　hell　of　extraditing　him　from　Taiwan。〃
　Dunross　studied　him　then　looked　back　at　Armstrong；　his　eyes　steady　and　the　color　of　sea　ice。　〃You　said　there　were　a　couple　of　coincidences。　What's　the　other？〃
　〃We　can't　find　John　Chen。〃
　〃What're　you　talking　about？〃
　〃He's　not　at　home；　or　at　his　lady　friend's；　or　at　any　of　his　usual　haunts。　We've　been　watching　him　and　Tsu…yan　off　and　on　for　months；　ever　since　the　FBI　tipped　us。〃
　The　silence　gathered。　〃You've　checked　his　boat？〃　Dunross　asked；　sure　that　they　had。
　〃She's　at　her　moorings；　hasn't　been　out　since　yesterday。　His　boat…boy　hasn't　seen　him　either。〃
　〃Golf　course？〃
　〃No；　he's　not　there；〃　Armstrong　said。　〃Nor　at　the　racetrack。　He　wasn't　at　the　workout；　though　he　was　expected；　his　trainer　said。　He's　gone；　vanished；　scarpered。〃
　
　6
　
　11：15　A。M。：
　There　was　a　stunned　silence　in　the　boardroom。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Casey　asked。　〃The　figures　speak　for　themselves。〃
　The　four　men　around　the　table　looked　at　her。　Andrew　Gavallan；　Linbar　Struan；　Jacques　deVille　and　Phillip　Chen；　all　members　of　the　Inner　Court。
　Andrew　Gavallan　was　tall　and　thin　and　forty…seven。　He　glanced　at　the　sheaf　of　papers　in　front　of　him。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　women　in　business；　he　thought　irritably。　〃Perhaps　we　should　check　with　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　he　said　uneasily；　still　very　unsettled　that　they　were　expected　to　deal　with　a　woman。
　〃I've　already　told　you　I　have　authority　in　all　these　areas；〃　she　said；　trying　to　be　patient。　〃I'm　treasurer　and　executive　vice…president　of　Par…Con　Industries　and　empowered　to　negotiate　with　you。　We　confirmed　that　in　writing　last　month。〃　Casey　held　her　temper。　The　meeting　had　been　very　heavy　going。　From　their　initial　shock　that　she　was　a　woman　to　their　inevitable；　overpolite　awkwardness；　waiting　for　her　to　sit；　waiting　for　her　to　talk；　then　not　sitting　until　she　had　asked　them　to；　making　small　talk；　not　wanting　to　get　down　to　business；　not　wishing　to　negotiate　with　her　as　a　person；　a　business　person；　at　all；　saying　instead　that　their　wives　would　be　delighted　to　take　her　shopping；　then　gaping　because　she　knew　all　the　intimate　details　of　their　projected　deal。　It　was　all　part　of　a　pattern　that；　normally；　she　could　deal　with。　But　not　today。　Jesus；　she　thought；　I've　got　to　succeed。　I've　got　to　get　through　to　them。
　〃It's　really　quite　easy；〃　she　had　said　initially；　trying　to　clear　their　awkwardness　away；　using　her　standard　opening。　〃Forget　that　I'm　a　woman　…　judge　me　on　my　ability。　Now；　there　are　three　subjects　on　our　agenda：　the　polyurethane　factories；　our　puter…leasing　representation　and　last；　general　representation　of　our　petrochemical　products；　fertilizers；　pharmaceutical　and　sports　goods　throughout　Asia。　First　let's　sort　out　the　polyurethane　factories；　the　chemical　mix　supplies　and　a　projected　time　schedule　for　the　financing。〃　At　once　she　gave　them　graphics　and　prepared　documentation；　verbally　synopsized　all　the　facts；　figures　and　percentages；　bank　charges　and　interest　charges；　simply　and　very　quickly；　so　that　even　the　slowest　brain　could　grasp　the　project。　And　now　they　were　staring　at　her。
　Andrew　Gavallan　broke　the　silence。　〃That's　。。。　that's　very　impressive；　my　dear。〃
　〃Actually　I'm　not　your　'dear；'　〃　she　said　with　a　laugh。　〃I'm　very　hard…nosed　for　my　corporation。〃
　〃But　mademoiselle；〃　Jacques　deVille　said　with　a　suave　Gallic　charm；　〃your　nose　is　perfect　and　not　hard　at　all。〃
　〃Merci；　monsieur；〃　she　replied　at　once；　and　added　lightly　in　passable　French；　〃but　please　may　we　leave　the　shape　of　my　nose　for　the　moment　and　discuss　the　shape　of　this　deal。　It's　better　not　to　mix　the　two；　don't　you　think？〃
　Another　silence。
　Linbar　Struan　said；　〃Would　you　like　some　coffee？〃
　〃No　thanks；　Mr。　Struan；〃　Casey　said；　being　careful　to　conform　to　their　customs　and　not　to　call　them　by　their　Christian　names　too　early。　〃May　we　zero　in　on　this　proposal？　It's　the　one　we　sent　you　last　month。　。。。　I've　tried　to　cover　your　problems　as　well　as　ours。〃
　There　was　another　silence。　Linbar　Struan；　thirty…four；　very　good…looking　with　sandy　hair　and　blue　eyes　with　a　devil…may…care　glint　to　them；　persisted；　〃Are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　like　coffee？　Tea　perhaps？〃
　〃No　thanks。　Then　you　accept　our　proposal　as　it　stands？〃
　Phillip　Chen　coughed　and　said；　〃In　principle　we　agree　to　want　to　be　in　business　with　Par…Con　in　several　areas。　The　Heads　of　Agreement　indicate　that。　As　to　the　polyurethane　factories　。。。〃
　She　listened　to　his　generalizations；　then　once　more　tried　to　get　to　the　specifics　…　the　whole　reason　for　this　meeting。　But　the　going　was　very　hard　and　she　could　feel　them　squirming。　This's　the　worst　it's　ever　been。　Perhaps　it's　because　they're　English；　and　I've　never　dealt　with　the　English　before。
　〃Is　there　anything　specific　that　needs　clarifying？〃　she　asked。　〃If　there's　anything　you　don't　understand　。。。〃
　Gavallan　said；　〃We　understand　very　well。　You　present　us　with　figures　which　are　lopsided。　We're　financing　the　building　of　the　factories。　You　provide　the　machines　but　their　cost　is　amortized　over　three　years　which'll　mess　up　any　cash　flow　and　mean　no　profits　for　five　years　at　least。〃
　〃I'm　told　it　is　your　custom　in　Hong　Kong　to　amortize　the　full　cost　of　a　building　over　a　three…year　period；〃　she　replied　equally　sharply；　glad　to　be　challenged。　〃We're　just　proposing　to　follow　your　custom。　If　you　want　five　…　or　ten　years　…　you　may　have　them；　provided　the　same　applies　to　the　building。〃
　〃You're　not　paying　for　the　machines　…　they're　on　a　lease　basis　and　the　monthly　charge　to　the　joint　venture　is　high。〃
　〃What's　your　bank　prime　rate　today；　Mr。　Gavallan？〃
　They　consulted；　then　told　her。　She　used　her　pocket　slide　rule　for　a　few　seconds。　〃At　today's　rate　you'd　save　17；000　HK　a　week　per　machine　if　you　take　our　deal　which；　over　the　period　we're　talking　。。。〃　Another　quick　calculation。　〃。。。　would　jump　your　end　of　the　profits　32　percent　over　the　best　you　could　do　…　and　we're　talking　in　millions　of　dollars。〃
　They　stared　at　her　in　silence。
　Andrew　Gavallan　cross…questioned　her　about　the　figures　but　she　never　faltered。　Their　dislike　for　her　increased。
　Silence。
　She　was　sure　they　were　fogged　by　her　figures。　What　else　can　I　say　to　convince　them？　she　thought；　her　anxiety　growing。　Struan's　will　make　a　bundle　if　they　get　off　their　asses；　we'll　make　a　fortune　and　I'll　get　my　drop　dead　money　at　long　last。　The　foam　part　of　the　deal　alone　will　make　Struan's　rich　and　Par…Con　nearly　80；000　net　a　month　over　the　next　ten　years　and　Linc　said　I　could　have　a　piece。
　〃How　much　do　you　want？〃　he　had　asked　her；　just　before　they　had　left　the　States。
　〃51　percent；〃　she　had　replied　with　a　laugh；　〃since　you're　asking。〃
　〃3　percent。〃
　〃e　on；　Linc；　I　need　my　drop　dead　money。〃
　〃Pull　off　the　whole　package　and　you've　got　a　stock　option　of　100；000　Par…Con　at　four　dollars　below　market。〃
　〃You're　on。　But　I　want　the　foam　pany　too；〃　she　had　said；　holding　her　breath。　〃I　started　it　and　I　want　that。　51　percent。　For　me。〃
　〃In　return　for　what？〃
　〃Struan's。〃
　〃Done。〃
　Casey　waited　outwardly　calm。　When　she　judged　the　moment　correct　she　said　innocently；　〃Are　we　agreed　then；　that　our　proposal　stands　as　is？　We're　fifty…fifty　with　you；　what　could　be　better　than　that？〃
　〃I　still　say　you're　not　providing　50　percent　of　the　financing　of　the　joint　venture；〃　Andrew　Gavallan　replied　sharply。　〃You're　providing　the　machines　and　materials　on　a　lease　carry…back　so　your　risk's　not　equivalent　to　ours。〃
　〃But　that's　for　our　tax　purposes　and　to　lessen　the　amount　of　cash　outlay；　gentlemen。　We're　financing　from　cash　flow。　The　figures　add　up　the　same。　The　fact　that　we　get　a　depreciation　allowance　and　various　rebates　is　neither　here　nor　there。〃　Even　more　innocently；　baiting　the　trap；　she　added；　〃We　finance　in　the　States；　where　we've　the　expertise。　You　finance　in　Hong　Kong　where　you're　the　experts。〃
　
　Quillan　Gornt　turned　back　from　his　office　window。　〃I　repeat；　we　can　better　any　arrangement　you　can　make　with　Struan's；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Any　arrangement。〃
　〃You'd　go　dollar　for　dollar？〃
　〃Dollar　for　dollar。〃　The　Englishman　strolled　back　and　sat　behind　his　paperless　desk　and　faced　Bartlett　again。　They　were　on　the　top　floor　of　the　Rothwell…Gornt　Building　also　fronting　Connaught　Road　and　the　waterfront。　Gornt　was　a　thickset；　hard…faced；　bearded　man；　just　under　six　feet；　with　graying　black　hair　and　graying　bushy　eyebrows　and　brown　eyes。　〃It's　no　secret　our　panies　are　very　serious　rivals；　but　I　assure　you　we　can　outbid　them　and　outmatch　them；　and　I'd　arrange　our　side　of　the　financing　within　the　week。　We　could　have　a　profitable　partnership；　you　and　I。　I'd　suggest　we　set　up　a　joint　pany　under　Hong　Kong　law　…　the　taxes　here're　really　quite　reasonable　…　15　percent　of　everything　earned　in　Hong　Kong；　with　the　rest　of　the　world　free　of　all　taxes。〃　Gornt　smiled。　〃Better　than　the　U。S。A。〃
　〃Much　better；〃　Bartlett　said。　He　was　sitting　in　a　high…backed　leather　chair。　〃Very　much　better。〃
　〃Is　that　why　you're　interested　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃One　reason。〃
　〃What're　the　others？〃
　〃There's　no　American　outfit　as　big　as　mine　here　in　strength　yet；　and　there　should　be。　This　is　the　age　of　the　Pacific。　But　you　could　benef