jamesclavell.noblehouse-第153章

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　〃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　patrols　nearby。　In　the　searchlight　they　could　see　the　cutter　with　ten　armed　sailors　on　an　intercept　course　but　it　was　not　fast　enough　to　overtake　them。
　〃For　the　last　time；　haul　tooooo！〃
　〃For　the　fornicating　last　time　leave　peaceful　PRC　patrol　to　their　own　waters。　。。。〃
　Suddenly　the　patrol's　sirens　started　whoopwhoopwhooping　and　she　seemed　to　jump　forward　from　the　violent　thrust　of　her　engines；　a　high　churning　wake　astern。　The　searchlight　still　kept　them　centered　as　she　charged　ahead　and　cut　across　the　junk's　bow　and　stayed　there；　her　engines　growling　malevolently；　barring　the　path　to　safety。
　Paul　Choy　was　still　staring　at　the　battle　gray；　sharp…nosed　craft　with　its　deck　gun　manned　and　machine　guns　manned；　big；　with　four　times　the　power　they　had；　the　gap　closing　fast　with　no　room　to　maneuver。　They　could　see　the　uniformed　sailors　on　her　deck　and　the　officers　on　the　bridge；　radar　aerials　sweeping。
　〃Get　your　head　down；〃　Wu　warned　Paul　Choy　who　obeyed　instantly。　Then　Wu　ran　forward　to　the　bow；　Goodweather　Poon　beside　him。　Both　had　automatic　machine　guns。
　〃Now！〃
　Carefully　he　and　his　friend　sprayed　the　sea　toward　the　patrol　boat　that　was　almost　on　them；　taking　extreme　care　that　none　of　the　bullets　splashed　the　deck。　Instantly　the　searchlight　went　out　and　at　once；　in　the　blinding　darkness；　the　helmsman　put　the　junk　hard　to　starboard　and　prayed　that　Wu　had　chosen　correctly。　The　junk　slid　around　the　other　ship　with　a　few　yards　leeway　as　the　other　craft　gunned　ahead　to　get　out　of　the　way　of　the　bullets。　The　helmsman　heaved　her　back　on　her　course　and　her　dash　for　safety。
　〃Good；〃　Wu　muttered；　knowing　he　had　gained　another　hundred　yards。　His　mind　carried　the　chart　of　these　waters。　Now　they　were　in　the　gray　area　between　Hong　Kong　and　PRC　waters；　a　few　hundred　yards　from　real　safety。　In　the　darkness　all　on　deck　had　kept　their　eyes　tightly　shut。　The　moment　they　felt　the　searchlight　again；　they　opened　their　eyes　and　adjusted　more　quickly。　The　attacker　was　ahead　and　to　port　out　of　machine　gun　range　but　still　ahead　and　still　in　the　way。　Wu　smiled　grimly。　〃Big　Nose　Lee！〃　His　chief　deckhand　came　promptly；　and　he　handed　him　the　machine　gun。　〃Don't　use　it　till　I　order　it　and　don't　hit　one　of　those　fornicators！〃
　Suddenly　the　darkness　split　and　the　parrang　of　the　deck　gun　deafened　them。　A　split　second　and　a　vast　spout　of　water　burst　from　the　sea　near　their　bow。　Wu　was　shocked　and　he　shook　his　fist　at　the　ship。　〃Fornicate　you　and　all　your　mothers！　Leave　us　alone　or　Chairman　Mao　will　sink　all　Hong　Kong！〃
　He　hurried　aft。　〃I'll　take　the　tiller！〃　The　helmsman　was　frightened。　So　was　Paul　Choy；　but　at　the　same　time　he　was　curiously　excited　and　vastly　impressed　with　the　way　his　father　manded　and　the　way　everyone　aboard　reacted　with　discipline　instead　of　as　the　motley　ragtag　bunch　of　pirates　he　had　imagined　them　to　be。
　〃Haul　to！〃
　Again　the　gap　began　closing　but　the　patrol　boat　kept　out　of　machine　gun　range　and　the　cutter　kept　out　of　range　aft。　Stoically　Wu　held　his　course。　Another　flash　then　another　and　parrang　parrannng。　Two　shells　straddled　the　junk　rocking　her。
　〃Fornicate　all　mothers；〃　Wu　gasped；　〃all　gods　keep　those　gunners　accurate！〃　He　knew　that　the　shots　were　only　to　frighten。　His　friend　the　Snake　had　given　him　assurances　that　all　patrols　were　ordered　never　to　hit　or　sink　a　fleeing　junk　carrying　PRC　colors　in　case　the　colors　were　real；　never　to　forcibly　board　unless　one　of　their　own　seamen　was　killed　or　wounded。　〃Give　them　a　burst；〃　he　called　out。
　Obediently　but　with　great　care；　the　two　men　on　the　bow　sprayed　the　waters。　The　searchlight　never　wavered；　but　suddenly　it　went　out。
　Wu　kept　his　course　firm。　Now　what？　he　asked　himself　desperately。　Where's　that　fornicator　going？　He　searched　the　darkness；　his　eyes　straining　to　see　the　patrol　boat　and　the　promontory　he　knew　was　nearby。　Then　he　saw　the　silhouette　to　port　aft。　She　was　bearing　down　fast　in　a　swirling　rush　to　e　up　alongside　with　grappling　hooks。　Safety　was　a　hundred　yards　ahead。　If　he　turned　from　the　new　danger　he　would　parallel　safety　and　stay　in　international　waters　and　then　the　ship　would　do　the　same　again　and　shepherd　him　into　open　seas　until　his　ammunition　was　gone　or　the　dawn　came　and　he　was　lost。　He　dare　not　make　a　real　battle　for　he　knew　British　law　had　a　long　arm　and　the　killing　of　one　of　their　seamen　was　punished　with　hanging；　and　no　money　or　high　friends　would　prevent　it。　If　he　held　his　course　the　ship　could　grapple　him　and　he　knew　how　adept　and　well　trained　these　Cantonese　seamen　were　and　how　they　hated　Haklos。
　His　face　split　into　a　grimace。　He　waited　until　the　patrol　boat　was　fifty　yards　astern；　ing　up　very　fast；　the　siren　whooping　deafeningly；　then　grimly　he　turned　the　tiller　into　her　and　prayed　the　captain　was　awake。　For　a　moment　the　two　ships　hung　in　the　balance。　Then　the　patrol　boat　swung　away　to　avoid　the　collision；　the　wash　from　her　props　spraying　them。　Wu　wheeled　starboard　and　slammed　all　throttles　forward　even　though　they　were　already　as　far　forward　as　they　could　go。　A　few　more　yards　were　gained。
　He　saw　the　patrol　boat　recover　quickly。　She　roared　around　in　a　circle　and　came　back　at　them　on　a　different　tack。　They　were　just　within　Chinese　waters。　Without　hope　Four　Fingers　left　the　tiller　and　picked　up　another　submachine　gun　and　sprayed　the　darkness；　the　barking　thwack　thwack　thwack　and　the　smell　of　cordite　making　his　fear　more　intense。　Abruptly　the　searchlight　splashed　him；　its　light　vicious。　He　turned　his　head；　blinded；　and　blinked；　keeping　his　head　and　cap　well　down。　When　he　could　see　again　he　pointed　the　automatic　directly　at　the　light　and　cursed　obscenely；　frightened　that　they　would　grapple　him　and　tow　him　from　safety。　The　hot　barrel　shook　as　he　aimed　for　the　light；　his　finger　on　the　trigger。　It　would　be　death　if　he　fired　and　prison　if　he　didn't。　Fear　spread　through　him　and　throughout　his　ship。
　But　the　light　did　not　swoop　down　as　he　expected。　It　remained　aft　and　now　he　saw　her　bow　wave　lessening　and　her　wake　waves　lessening　and　his　heart　began　to　beat　again。　The　patrol　boat　was　letting　him　go。　The　Snake　had　been　right！
　Shakily　he　put　down　the　gun。　The　loud…hailer　was　nearby。　He　brought　it　to　his　mouth。
　〃Victory　to　Chairman　Mao！〃　he　bellowed　with　all　his　might。　〃Stay　out　of　our　waters；　you　fornicating　foreign　devilllls！〃　The　joy…filled　words　echoed　across　the　waters。　His　crew　jeered；　shaking　their　fists　at　the　light。　Even　Paul　Choy　was　caught　up　in　the　excitement　and　shouted　too　as　they　all　realized　the　patrol　boat　would　not　venture　into　Chinese　waters。
　The　searchlight　vanished。　When　their　eyes　had　adjusted　they　saw　the　patrol　boat　broadside；　making　hardly　any　way；　her　riding　lights　on　now。
　〃She'll　have　us　on　their　radar；〃　Paul　Choy　muttered　in　English。
　〃Wat？〃
　He　repeated　it　in　Haklo；　using　the　English　word；　radar；　but　explaining　it　as　a　magic　eye。　Both　Poon　and　Four　Fingers　knew　about　radar　in　principle　though　they　had　never　seen　one。　〃What　does　that　matter？〃　Wu　scoffed。　〃Their　magic　screens　or　magic　eyes　won't　help　them　now。　We　can　lose　them　easily　in　the　channels　near　Lan　Tao。　There's　no　evidence　against　us；　no　contraband　aboard；　no　nothing！〃
　〃What　about　the　guns？〃
　〃We　can　lose　them　overboard；　or　we　can　lose　those　mad　dogs　and　keep　our　guns！　Eeeee；　Goodweather　Poon；　when　those　shells　straddled　us　I　thought　my　anus　was　jammed　shut　forever！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Poon　agreed　happily；　〃and　when　we　fired　into　the　darkness　at　the　fornicators　。。。　all　gods　fornicate！　I've　always　wanted　to　use　those　guns！〃
　Wu　laughed　too　until　the　tears　were　running　down　his　face。　〃Yes；　yes；　Old　Friend。〃　Then　he　explained　to　Paul　Choy　the　strategy　that　the　Snake　had　worked　out　for　them。　〃Good；　heya？〃
　〃Who's　the　Snake？〃　Paul　Choy　asked。
　Wu　hesitated；　his　small　eyes　glittering。　〃An　employee；　a　police　employee　you　might　say；　Profitable　Choy。〃
　〃With　the　cargo　gone　the　night's　not　profitable　at　all；〃　Poon　said　sourly。
　〃Yes；〃　Wu　agreed；　equally　sourly。　He　had　already　promised　Venus　Poon　a　diamond　ring　that　he　had　planned　to　pay　for　from　tonight's　transactions。　Now　he　would　have　to　dip　into　his　savings；　which　was　against　all　his　principles。　You　pay　for　whores　out　of　current　earnings；　never　out　of　savings；　so　piss　on　that　police　boat！　he　thought。　Without　the　diamond　present　。。。　Eeeee；　but　her　Beauteous　Box　is　everything　Richard　Kwang　claimed；　and　the　wriggle　of　her　rump　everything　rumor　had　promised。　And　tonight　。。。　tonight　after　the　TV　station　closes；　her　Gorgeous　Gate　is　due　to　open　once　more！
　〃Filthy　joss；　that　sharp…nosed　bandit　finding　us　tonight；〃　he　said；　his　manhood　stirring　at　the　thought　of　Venus　Poon。　〃All　that　money　gone　and　our　expenses　heavy！〃
　〃The　cargo's　lost？〃　Paul　Choy　asked；　greatly　surprised。
　〃Of　course　lost；　gone　to　the　bottom；〃　the　old　man　said　irritably。
　〃You　haven't　got　a　marker　on　it；　or　a　beeper？〃　Paul　Choy　used　the　English　word。　He　explained　it　to　them。　〃I　presumed　it　would　have　one　…　or　a　float　that　would　release　itself　in　a　day　or　two；　chemically　…　so　you　could　recover　it　or　send　frogmen　to　fetch　it　when　it　was　safe　to　do　so。〃　The　two　men　were　gaping　at　him。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃It　is　easy　to　find　these　'beepers'　or　to　arrange　a　delayed　float　for　a　day　or　two？〃　Wu　asked。
　〃Or　a　week　or　two　weeks　if　you　want；　Father。〃
　〃Would　you　write　all　this　down；　how　to　do　it？　Or　you　could　arrange　it？〃
　〃Of　course。　But　why　don't　you　also　have　a　magic　eye；　like　theirs？〃
　〃What　do　we　need　with　them　…　and　who　could　work　them？〃　The　old　man　scoffed　again。　〃We　have　noses　and　ears　and　eyes。〃
　〃But　you　got　caught　tonight。〃
　〃Watch　your　tongue！〃　Wu　said　angrily。　〃That　was　joss；　joss；　a　joke　of　the　gods。　We're　safe　and　that's　all　that　matters！〃
　〃I　disagree；　Captain；〃　Paul　Choy　said；　without　fear　now　as　everything　fell　into　place。　〃It　would　be　easy　to　equip　this　boat　with　a　magic　eye　…　then　you　can　see　them　as　soon　or　sooner　than　they　can　see　you。　They　can't　surprise　you。　So　you　can　thumb　your　noses　at　them　without　fear　and　never　lose　a　cargo。　Heya？〃　He　smiled　inwardly；　seeing　them　hooked。　〃Never　a　mistake；　not　even　a　little　one。　And　never　danger。　And　never　a　lost　cargo。　And　cargo　with　beepers。　You　don't　even　need　to　be　anywhere　near　the　drop。　Only　a　week　later；　heya？〃
　〃That　would　be　perfect；〃　Poon　said　fervently。　〃But　if　the　gods　are　against　you；　Profitable　Choy；　even　magic　eyes　won't　help。　It　was　close　tonight。　That　whore　wasn't　supposed　to　be　here。〃
　They　all　looked　at　the　ship；　just　lying　aft。　Waiting。　A　few　hundred　yards　aft。　Wu　set　the　engine　to　slow　ahead。　〃We　don't　want　to　go　too　deep　into　PRC　waters；〃　he　said　uneasily。　〃Those　civilized　fornicators　are　not　so　polite　or　so　law…abiding。〃　A　shiver　went　through　him。　〃We　could　use　a　magic　eye；　Goodweather　Poon。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　own　one　of　those　patrol　boats？〃　Paul　Choy　said；　baiting　the　hook　again。　〃Or　one　a　little　faster。　Then　you　could　outrun　them。〃
　〃One　of　those？　Are　you　mad？〃
　〃Who　would　sell　us　one？〃　Wu　asked　impatiently。
　〃Japanese。〃
　〃Fornicate　all　Eastern　Sea　Devils；〃　Poon　said。
　〃Perhaps；　but　they'd　build　you　something　like　that；　radar　equipped。　They　…　〃
　He　stopped　as　t