jamesclavell.noblehouse-第152章

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to　cruising　speed　and　they　sped　away　on　a　different　tack。
　The　whole　operation　had　been　done　in　silence；　effortlessly　and　in　seconds。　In　moments　the　weak　riding　lights　of　the　Thai　trawler　had　vanished　into　the　darkness　and　they　were　alone　on　the　sea　once　more。
　Wu　and　Goodweather　Poon　lit　cigarettes。　〃Very　good；〃　Goodweather　Poon　said。　Four　Fingers　did　not　reply；　his　ears　listening　to　the　pleasing　note　of　the　engines。　No　trouble　there；　he　thought。　His　senses　tested　the　wind。　No　trouble　there。　His　eyes　ranged　the　darkness。　Nothing　there　either；　he　told　himself。　Then　why　are　you　uneasy？　Is　it　Seventh　Son？
　He　glanced　at　Paul　Choy　who　was　at　the　port　side；　his　back　toward　him。　No。　No　danger　there　either。
　Paul　Choy　was　watching　the　bales。　They　kicked　up　a　small　wake。　His　curiosity　peaked　and　he　was　feeling　a　little　better；　the　whiskey　warming　and　the　salt　smelling　good　now；　that　and　the　excitement　of　the　rendezvous　and　being　away　and　safe。　〃Why　don't　you　bring　them　aboard；　Father？　You　could　lose　them。〃
　Wu　motioned　Poon　to　answer。
　〃Better　to　leave　the　harvest　of　the　sea　to　the　sea；　Profitable　Choy；　until　it's　quite　safe　to　bring　it　ashore。　Heya？〃
　〃My　name's　Paul；　not　Profitable。〃　The　young　man　looked　back　at　his　father　and　shivered。　〃There　was　no　need　to　murder　that　fornicator！〃
　〃The　captain　didn't；〃　Goodweather　Poon　said　with　a　grin；　answering　for　the　old　man。　〃You　did；　Profitable　Choy。　You　did；　you　threw　him　overboard。　I　saw　it　clearly。　I　was　within　half　a　pace　of　you。〃
　〃Lies！　I　tried　to　pull　him　back！　And　anyway　he　ordered　me　to。　He　threatened　me。〃
　The　old　seaman　shrugged。　〃Tell　that　to　a　fine；　foreign　devil　judge；　Profitable　Choy；　and　that　won't　be　fornicating　profitable　at　all！〃
　〃My　name's　not　Pro…　〃
　〃The　Captain　of　the　Fleets　has　called　you　Profitable　so　by　all　the　gods　Profitable　you　are　forever。　Heya？〃　he　added；　grinning　at　Four　Fingers。
　The　old　man　said　nothing；　just　smiled　and　showed　his　few　broken　teeth　and　that　made　his　grimace　even　more　frightening。　His　bald　head　and　weathered　face　nodded　his　agreement。　Then　he　put　his　eyes　on　his　son。　Paul　Choy　shivered　in　spite　of　his　resolve。
　〃Your　secret's　safe　with　me；　my　son。　Never　fear。　No　one　aboard　this　boat　saw　anything。　Did　they；　Goodweather　Poon？〃
　〃No；　nothing。　By　all　gods　great　and　small！　No　one　saw　anything！〃
　Paul　Choy　stared　back　sullenly。　〃You　can't　wrap　paper　in　fire！〃
　Goodweather　Poon　guffawed。　〃On　this　boat　you　can！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Wu　said；　his　voice　a　rasp。　〃On　this　boat　you　can　keep　a　secret　forever。〃　He　lit　another　cigarette；　hawked　and　spat。　〃Don't　you　want　to　know　what's　in　those　bales？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It's　opium。　Delivered　on　shore　this　night's　work　will　bring　a　200；000　profit；　just　to　me；　with　plenty　in　bonuses　for　my　crew。〃
　〃That　profit's　not　worth　the　risk；　not　to　me。　I　made　you　th…　〃　Paul　Choy　stopped。
　Four　Finger　Wu　looked　at　him。　He　spat　on　the　deck　and　passed　the　conn　to　Goodweather　Poon　and　went　to　the　great　cushioned　seats　aft　that　ringed　the　poop。　〃e　here；　Profitable　Choy；〃　he　manded。
　Frightened；　Paul　Choy　sat　at　the　point　indicated。　Now　they　were　more　alone。
　〃Profit　is　profit；〃　Wu　said；　very　angry。　〃10；000　is　your　profit。　That's　enough　to　buy　an　air　ticket　to　Honolulu　and　back　to　Hong　Kong　and　have　ten　days　of　holiday　together。〃　He　saw　the　momentary　flash　of　joy　wash　across　his　son's　face　and　he　smiled　inside。
　〃I'll　never　e　back；〃　Paul　Choy　said　bravely。　〃Never。〃
　〃Oh　yes　you　will。　You　will　now。　You've　fished　in　fornicating　dangerous　waters。〃
　〃I'll　never　e　back。　I've　a　U。S。　passport　and　a…　〃
　〃And　a　Jap　whore；　heya？〃
　Paul　Choy　stared　at　his　father；　aghast　that　his　father　knew；　then　rage　possessed　him　and　he　sprang　up　and　bunched　his　fists。　〃She's　not　a　whore　by　all　gods！　She's　great；　she's　a　lady　and　her　folks're　th…　〃
　〃Quiet！〃　Wu　bit　back　the　expletive　carefully。　〃Very　well；　she's　not　a　whore；　even　though　to　me　all　women　are　whores。　She's　not　a　whore　but　an　empress。　But　she's　still　a　fornicating　devil　from　the　Eastern　Sea；　one　of　those　who　raped　China。〃
　〃She's　American；　she's　American　like　me；〃　Paul　Choy　flared；　his　fists　clenched　tighter；　ready　to　spring。　The　helmsman　and　Goodweather　Poon　readied　to　interfere　without　seeming　to。　A　knife　slid　into　Poon's　fist。　〃I'm　American；　she's　American　nisei　and　her　father　was　with　the　442　in　Italy　an…　〃
　〃You're　Haklo；　you're　one　of　the　Seaborne　Wu；　the　ship　people；　and　you'll　obey　me！　You　will；　Profitable　Choy；　oh　yes　you　will　obey！　Heya？〃
　Paul　Choy　stood　in　front　of　him　shaking　with　equal　fury；　trying　to　keep　up　his　courage；　for；　in　rage；　the　old　man　was　formidable　and　he　could　feel　Goodweather　Poon　and　the　other　men　behind　his　back。　〃Don't　call　her　names！　Don't！〃
　〃You　dare　bunch　your　fists　at　me？　Me　who's　given　you　life；　given　you　everything？　Every　chance；　even　the　chance　of　meeting　this　。。。　this　Eastern　Sea　Empress？　Heya？〃
　Paul　Choy　felt　himself　spun　around　as　though　by　a　great　wind。　Goodweather　Poon　was　peering　up　at　him。　〃This　is　the　Captain　of　the　Fleets。　You　will　respect　him！〃　The　seaman's　iron　hand　shoved　him　back　to　the　seats。　〃The　captain　said　sit。　Sit！〃
　After　a　moment；　Paul　Choy　said　sullenly；　〃How　did　you　know　about　her？〃
　Exasperated；　the　old　man　sputtered；　〃All　gods　bear　witness　to　this　country　person　I　sired；　this　monkey　with　the　brains　and　manners　of　a　country　person。　Do　you　think　I　didn't　have　you　watched？　Guarded？　Do　I　send　a　mole　among　snakes　or　a　civilized　whelp　among　foreign　devils　unprotected？　You're　the　son　of　Wu　Sang　Fang；　Head　of　the　Seaborne　Wu；　and　I　protect　my　own　against　all　enemies。　You　think　we　don't　have　enemies　enough　who　would　slit　your　Secret　Sack　and　send　me　the　contents　just　to　spite　me？　Heya？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Well　know　it　very　well　now；　my　son！〃　Four　Finger　Wu　was　aware　this　was　a　clash　to　the　death　and　he　had　to　be　wise　as　a　father　must　be　when　his　son　finally　calls　him。　He　was　not　afraid。　He　had　done　this　with　many　sons　and　only　lost　one。　But　he　was　grateful　to　the　tai…pan　who　had　given　him　the　information　about　the　girl　and　about　her　parentage。　That's　the　key；　he　thought；　the　key　to　this　impudent　child　from　a　Third　Wife　whose　Golden　Gulley　was　as　sweet　and　as　tender　as　fresh　bonefish　as　long　as　she　lived。　Perhaps　I'll　let　him　bring　the　whore　here。　The　poor　fool　needs　a　whore　whatever　he　calls　her。　Lady？　Ha！　I've　heard　the　Eastern　Sea　Devils　have　no　pubics！　Disgusting！　Next　month　he　can　bring　the　strumpet　here。　If　her　parents　let　her　e　alone　that　proves　she's　a　whore。　If　they　don't；　then　that's　the　end　of　her。　Meanwhile　I'll　find　him　a　wife。　Yes。　Who？　One　of　Tightfist's　granddaughters？　Or　Lando　Mata's　or　。。。　Ah；　wasn't　that　half…caste's　youngest　brat　trained　in　the　Golden　Mountain　too；　at　a　school　for　girls；　a　famous　school　for　girls？　What's　the　difference　to　this　fool；　pure　blood　or　not？
　I　have　many　sons；　he　thought；　feeling　nothing　for　him。　I　gave　them　life。　Their　duty　is　to　me　and　when　I'm　dead；　to　the　clan。　Perhaps　a　good　broad…hipped；　hard…footed　Haklo　boat…girl'd　be　the　right　one　for　him；　he　thought　grimly。　Yes；　but　eeeee；　there's　no　need　to　cut　your　Stalk　to　spite　a　weakness　in　your　bladder；　however　rude　and　ill…mannered　the　fornicating　dumblehead　is！　〃In　a　month　Black　Beard　will　grant　you　a　holiday；〃　he　said　with　finality。　〃I　will　see　to　it。　With　your　10；000　profit　you　can　take　a　passage　on　a　flying　machine　。。。　No！　Better　to　bring　her　here；〃　he　added　as　though　it　were　a　fresh　thought。　〃You　will　bring　her　here。　You　should　see　Manila　and　Singapore　and　Bangkok　and　visit　our　captains　there。　Yes；　bring　her　here　in　a　month；　your　10；000　will　pay　for　the　ticket　and　pay　for　everyth…　〃
　〃No。　I　won't。　I　won't　do　it。　And　I　don't　want　drug　money！　I'll　never　take　drug　money　and　I　counsel　you　to　get　out　of　the　drug　trade　immed…　〃
　The　whole　junk　was　suddenly　floodlit。　Everyone　was　momentarily　blinded。　The　searchlight　was　to　starboard。
　〃Haul　to！〃　came　the　order　in　English　over　the　loud…hailer；　then　repeated　in　Haklo；　then　in　Cantonese。
　Wu　and　Goodweather　Poon　were　the　first　to　react　and　in　a　split　second　they　were　in　motion。　Wu　swung　the　tiller　hard　to　port　away　from　the　Marine　Police　patrol　boat　and　gunned　both　the　engines　to　full　ahead。　Poon　had　leapt　down　the　gangway　to　the　main　deck　and　now　he　sliced　the　cargo　line　and　the　wake　of　bales　vanished　as　the　bales　sank　into　the　deep。
　〃Haul　to　for　boarding！〃　The　metallic　words　ripped　through　Paul　Choy　who　stood　paralyzed　with　fright。　He　watched　his　father　reach　into　a　nearby　sea　locker　and　bring　out　some　crumpled　PRC　peaked　soldiers'　hats　and　shove　one　on。　〃Quick；〃　he　ordered；　throwing　one　to　him。　Petrified；　he　obeyed　and　crammed　it　onto　his　head。　Miraculously　all　the　crew　were　now　wearing　the　same　kind　of　hat　and　a　few　were　struggling　into　equally　drab　and　crumpled　army　tunics。
　His　heart　stopped。　Others　were　reaching　into　sea　lockers　and　bringing　out　PRC　army　rifles　and　submachine　guns　as　still　others　went　to　the　side　nearest　the　police　boat　and　began　shouting　obscenities。　The　boat　was　sleek　and　battle　gray　with　a　deck　gun；　two　searchlights　now　and　her　riding　lights　on。　She　lay　a　hundred　yards　to　starboard；　her　engines　growling；　keeping　pace　with　them　easily。　They　could　see　the　neat；　white…clad　sailors　and；　on　the　bridge；　the　peaked　British　officers'　caps。
　Four　Fingers　had　a　loud…hailer　horn　now　and　he　went　to　the　side；　his　hat　pulled　well　down；　and　he　roared；　〃Go　fornicate　yourselves；　barbarians！　Look　at　our　colors！〃　His　hand　stabbed　toward　his　masthead。　The　PRC　marine　flag　fluttered　there。　Aft　on　the　stern　was　a　fake　Canton　PRC　registration　number。　〃Leave　a　peaceful　patrol　alone　。。。　you're　in　our　waters！〃
　Poon's　face　was　split　into　a　malevolent　grin。　A　PRC　automatic　pistol　was　in　his　hands　and　he　stood　at　the　gunnel　silhouetted　in　the　light；　the　cap　pulled　well　down　to　preclude　identification　by　the　binoculars　he　knew　were　raking　the　ship。　His　heart　was　racing　too　and　there　was　a　sick…sweet…sour　bile　in　his　mouth。　They　were　in　international　waters。　Safety　and　PRC　waters　were　fifteen　minutes　away。　He　cocked　the　gun。　Orders　were　quite　clear。　No　one　was　boarding　tonight。
　〃Haul　to！　We're　ing　aboard！〃
　They　all　saw　the　patrol　boat　slow　and　the　cutter　splash　into　the　sea　and　many　aboard　lost　their　initial　confidence。　Four　Fingers　squeezed　the　throttle　forward　to　get　the　last　fraction　of　power。　He　cursed　himself　for　not　seeing　the　police　boat　or　sensing　their　presence　earlier　but　he　knew　that　they　had　electronic　devices　to　see　in　the　dark　whereas　he　had　to　rely　on　eyes　and　nose　and　the　sixth　sense　that　so　far　had　kept　him　and　most　of　his　people　alive。
　It　was　rare　to　find　a　patrol　boat　so　close　to　Chinese　waters。　Even　so；　the　boat　was　there　and　though　his　cargo　was　gone；　there　were　guns　aboard　and　so　was　Paul　Choy。　Joss！　All　gods　defecate　on　that　patrol　boat！　Goodweather　Poon　was　partially　right；　he　told　himself。　The　gods　will　decide　if　it　was　wise　or　not　to　bring　the　youth　aboard。
　〃Go　fornicate　yourselves！　No　foreign　devil　es　aboard　a　patrol　boat　of　the　People's　Republic　of　China！〃　All　the　crew　cheered　enthusiastically；　adding　their　obscenities　to　the　din。
　〃Haul　to！〃
　The　old　man　paid　no　attention。　The　junk　was　headed　toward　the　Pearl　River　estuary　at　maximum　speed　and　he　and　all　aboard　prayed　that　there　were　no　PRC　patro