jamesclavell.noblehouse-第154章

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　〃Perhaps；　but　they'd　build　you　something　like　that；　radar　equipped。　They　…　〃
　He　stopped　as　the　police　patrol　boat　cut　in　her　deep　growling　engines；　and；　with　her　siren　whoopwhoopwhooping；　hurtled　off　into　the　night；　her　wake　churning。
　〃Look　at　her　go；〃　Paul　Choy　said　admiringly　in　English。　〃Classy　son　of　a　bitch！〃
　He　repeated　it　in　Haklo。　〃I'll　bet　she's　still　got　the　Thai　trawler　in　her　magic　eye。　They　can　see　everything；　every　junk；　every　ship　and　cove　and　promontory　for　miles　…　even　a　storm。〃
　Thoughtfully　Four　Finger　Wu　gave　a　new　course　to　the　helmsman　that　kept　them　just　in　PRC　waters　heading　north　for　the　islands　and　reefs　around　Lan　Tao　Island　where　he　would　be　safe　to　make　for　the　next　rendezvous。　There　they　would　transfer　to　another　junk　with　real　registrations　…　PRC　and　Hong　Kong　…　to　slide　back　into　Aberdeen。　Aberdeen！　His　fingers　nervously　touched　the　half…coin　again。　He　had　forgotten　the　coin　in　the　excitement。　Now　his　fingers　trembled　and　his　anxiety　was　rekindled　as　he　thought　about　his　meeting　with　the　tai…pan　tonight。　There　was　plenty　of　time。　He　would　not　be　late。　Even　so　he　increased　speed。
　〃e；〃　he　ordered；　motioning　Poon　and　Paul　Choy　to　join　him　on　the　cushions　aft　where　they　would　be　more　private。
　〃Perhaps　we'd　be　wise　to　stay　with　our　junks；　and　not　get　one　of　those　whores；　my　son。〃　Wu's　finger　stabbed　the　darkness　where　the　patrol　boat　had　been。　〃The　foreign　devils　would　bee　even　madder　if　I　had　one　of　those　in　my　fleet。　But　this　magic　eye　of　yours　。。。　you　could　install　it　and　show　us　how　to　use　it？〃
　〃I　could　get　experts　to　do　that。　People　from　the　Eastern　Sea　…　it　would　be　better　to　use　them　…　not　British　or　German。〃
　Wu　looked　at　his　old　friend。　〃Heya？〃
　〃I　don't　want　one　of　those　turds　or　their　magic　eyes　on　my　ship。　Soon　we'd　rely　on　the　fornicators　and　we'd　lose　our　treasures　along　with　our　heads；〃　the　other　man　grumbled。
　〃But　to　see　when　others　can't？〃　Wu　puffed　on　his　cigarette。　〃Is　there　another　seller；　Profitable　Choy？〃
　〃They　would　be　the　best。　And　cheapest；　Father。〃
　〃Cheapest；　heya？　How　much　will　this　cost？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　20；000　U。S。；　perhaps　40　…　〃
　The　old　man　exploded。　〃40；000　U。S。？　Am　I　made　of　gold？　I　have　to　work　for　my　money！　Am　I　Emperor　Wu？〃
　Paul　Choy　let　the　old　man　rave。　He　was　feeling　nothing　for　him　anymore；　not　after　all　the　night's　horror　and　killing　and　entrapment　and　cruelty　and　blackmail；　and　most　of　all　because　of　his　father's　words　against　his　girl。　He　would　respect　his　father　for　his　seamanship；　for　his　courage　and　his　mand。　And　as　Head　of　the　House。　Nothing　more。　And　from　now　on　he　would　treat　him　like　any　other　man。
　When　he　felt　the　old　man　had　raved　enough；　he　said；　〃I　can　have　the　first　magic　eye　installed　and　two　men　trained　at　no　cost　to　you；　if　you　want。〃
　Wu　and　Poon　stared　at　him。　Wu　was　instantly　on　guard。　〃How　at　no　cost？〃
　〃I　will　pay　for　it　for　you。〃
　Poon　started　to　guffaw　but　Wu　hissed；　〃Shut　up；　fool；　and　listen。　Profitable　Choy　knows　things　you　don't　know！〃　His　eyes　were　glittering　even　more。　If　a　magic　eye；　why　not　a　diamond　too？　And　if　a　diamond；　why　not　a　mink　coat　and　all　the　necessary　plunder　that　that　mealy…mouthed　whore　will　require　to　sustain　her　enthusiastic　cleft；　hands　and　mouth。
　〃How　will　you　pay　for　it；　my　son？〃
　〃Out　of　profit。〃
　〃Profit　on　what？〃
　〃I　want　control；　for　one　month；　of　your　money　in　the　Victoria。〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃We　opened　accounts　for　22；423；000。　Control　for　one　month。〃
　〃To　do　what　with？〃
　〃The　stock　market。〃
　〃Ah；　gamble？　Gamble　with　my　money？　My　hard…earned　cash？　Never。〃
　〃One　month。　We　split　the　profit；　Father。〃
　〃Oh；　we　split？　It　is　my　fornicating　money　but　you　want　half。　Half　of　what？〃
　〃Perhaps　another　20　million。〃　Paul　Choy　let　the　sum　hang。　He　saw　the　avarice　on　his　father's　face　and　knew　that　though　the　negotiation　would　be　heated；　they　would　make　a　deal。　It　was　only　a　matter　of　time。
　〃Ayeeyah；　that's　impossible；　out　of　the　question！〃
　The　old　man　felt　an　itch　below　and　he　scratched　the　itch。　His　manhood　stirred。　Instantly　he　thought　of　Venus　Poon　who　had　made　him　stand　as　he　had　not　stood　for　years　and　of　their　ing　bout　tonight。　〃Perhaps　I　shall　just　pay　for　this　magic　eye；〃　he　said；　testing　the　young　man's　resolve。
　Paul　Choy　took　his　spirit　pletely　into　his　own　hands。　〃Yes；　yes　you　can；　but　then　I'm　leaving　Hong　Kong。〃
　Wu's　tongue　darted　spitefully。　〃You　will　leave　when　I　tell　you　to　leave。〃
　〃But　if　I　can't　be　profitable　and　put　my　expensive　training　to　work；　why　should　I　stay？　Did　you　pay　all　that　money　for　me　to　be　a　pimp　on　one　of　your　Pleasure　Boats？　A　deckhand　on　a　junk　that　can　be　raped　at　will　by　the　nearest　foreign　devil　cutter？　No；　better　I　leave！　Better　I　bee　profitable　to　someone　else　so　that　I　can　begin　to　repay　your　investment　in　me。　I　will　give　Black　Beard　a　month's　notice　and　leave　then。〃
　〃You　will　leave　when　I　tell　you　to　leave！〃　Wu　added　malevolently。　〃You　have　fished　in　dangerous　waters。〃
　〃Yes。〃　And　so　have　you；　Paul　Choy　wanted　to　add；　unafraid。　If　you　think　you　can　blackmail　me；　that　I'm　on　your　hook；　you're　on　mine　and　you've　more　to　lose。　Haven't　you　heard　of　Queen's　evidence；　turning　Queen's　evidence　…　or　plea　bargaining？　But　he　kept　this　future　ploy　secret；　to　be　used　when　necessary；　and　kept　his　face　polite　and　bland。　〃All　waters　are　dangerous　if　the　gods　decide　they're　dangerous；〃　he　said　cryptically。
　Wu　took　a　long　deep　drag　of　his　cigarette；　feeling　the　smoke　deep　within　him。　He　had　noticed　the　change　in　this　young　man　before　him。　He　had　seen　many　such　changes　in　many　men。　In　many　sons　and　many　daughters。　The　experience　of　his　long　years　screamed　caution。　This　whelp's　dangerous；　very　dangerous；　he　thought。　1　think　Goodweather　Poon　was　right：　it　was　a　mistake　to　bring　Profitable　Choy　aboard　tonight。　Now　he　knows　too　much　about　us。
　Yes。　But　that's　easy　to　rectify；　when　I　need　to；　he　reminded　himself。　Any　day　or　any　night。
　
　53
　
　10：03　P。M。：
　〃Well；　what　the　devil　are　you　going　to　do；　Paul？〃　the　governor　asked　Havergill。　Johnjohn　was　with　them　and　they　were　on　the　terrace　of　Government　House　after　dinner；　leaning　against　the　low　balustrade。　〃Good　God！　If　the　Victoria　runs　out　of　money　too；　this　whole　Island's　ruined；　eh？〃
　Havergill　looked　around　to　make　sure　they　were　not　being　overheard；　and　dropped　his　voice。　〃We've　been　in　touch　with　the　Bank　of　England；　sir。　By　midnight　tomorrow　night；　London　time；　there'll　be　an　RAF　transport　at　Heathrow　stuffed　full　of　five…　and　ten…pound　notes。〃　His　usual　confidence　returned。　〃As　I　said；　the　Victoria　is　perfectly　sound；　pletely　liquid　and　our　assets　here　and　in　England　substantial　enough　to　cover　any　eventuality；　well　almost　any　eventuality。〃
　〃Meanwhile　you　may　not　have　enough　Hong　Kong　dollars　to　weather　the　run？〃
　〃Not　if　the；　er；　the　problem　continues　but　I'm　sure　all　will　be　well；　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　stared　at　him。　〃How　the　devil　did　we　get　into　this　mess？〃
　〃Joss；〃　Johnjohn　said　wearily。　〃Unfortunately　the　mint　can't　print　enough　Hong　Kong　dollar　notes　for　us　in　time。　It'd　take　weeks　to　print　and　to　ship　the　amount　we'd　need；　and　it　wouldn't　be　healthy　to　have　all　those　extra　notes　in　our　economy。　The　British　currency's　stopgap；　sir。　We　can　just　announce　that　the；　er；　that　the　mint　is　working　overtime　to　supply　our　needs。〃
　〃How　much　do　we　actually　need？〃　The　governor　saw　Paul　Havergill　and　Johnjohn　look　at　each　other　and　his　disquiet　increased。
　〃We　don't　know；　sir；〃　Johnjohn　said。　〃Colony…wide；　apart　from　ourselves；　every　other　bank　will　also　need　to　pledge　its　securities　…　just　as　we've　pledged　ours　temporarily　to　the　Bank　of　England　…　to　obtain　the　cash　they　need。　If　every　depositor　on　the　Colony　wants　every　dollar　back　。。。〃　The　sweat　was　beading　the　banker's　face　now。　〃We've　no　way　of　knowing　how　extended　the　other　banks　are；　or　the　amount　of　their　deposits。　No　one　knows。〃
　〃Is　one　RAF　transport　enough？〃　Sir　Geoffrey　tried　not　to　sound　sarcastic。　〃I　mean；　well；　a　billion　pounds　in　fives　and　tens？　How　in　the　hell　are　they　going　to　collect　that　number　of　notes？〃
　Havergill　mopped　his　brow。　〃We　don't　know；　sir；　but　they've　promised　a　first　shipment　will　arrive　Monday　night　at　the　latest。〃
　〃Not　till　then？〃
　〃No　sir。　It's　impossible　before　then。〃
　〃There's　nothing　else　we　can　do？〃
　Johnjohn　swallowed。　〃We　considered　asking　you　to　declare　a　bank　holiday　to　stem　the　tide　but；　er；　we　concluded　…　and　the　Bank　of　England　agreed　…　if　you　did　that　it　might　blow　the　top　off　the　Island。〃
　〃No　need　to　worry；　sir。〃　Havergill　tried　to　sound　convincing。　〃By　the　end　of　next　week　it　will　all　be　forgotten。〃
　〃I　won't　forget　it；　Paul。　And　I　doubt　if　China　will　…　or　our　friends　the　Labour　MPs　will。　They　may　have　a　point　about　some　form　of　bank　controls。〃
　Both　bankers　bridled　and　Paul　Havergill　said　deprecatingly；　〃Those　two　berks　don't　know　their　rears　from　a　hole　in　the　wall！　Everything's　in　control。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　would　have　argued　that　point　but　he　had　just　seen　Rosemont；　the　CIA　deputy　director；　and　Ed　Langan；　the　FBI　man；　wander　out　onto　the　terrace。　〃Keep　me　advised。　I　want　a　full　report　at　noon。　Would　you　excuse　me　a　moment？　Please　help　yourself　to　another　drink。〃
　He　went　off　to　intercept　Rosemont　and　Langan。　〃How're　you　two？〃
　〃Great；　thank　you；　sir。　Great　evening。〃　Both　Americans　watched　Havergill　and　Johnjohn　going　back　inside。　〃How're　our　banker　friends？〃　Rosemont　asked。
　〃Fine；　perfectly　fine。〃
　〃That　MP；　the　Socialist　guy；　Grey；　was　sure　as　hell　getting　under　Havergill's　skin！〃
　〃And　the　tai…pan's；〃　Ed　Langan　added　with　a　laugh。
　〃Oh　I　don't　know；〃　the　governor　said　lightly。　〃A　little　opposition's　a　good　thing；　what？　Isn't　that　democracy　at　its　best？〃
　〃How's　the　Vic；　sir？　How's　the　run？〃
　〃No　problems　that　can't　be　solved；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　replied　with　his　easy　charm。　〃No　need　to　worry。　Would　you　give　me　a　moment；　Mr。　Langan？〃
　〃Certainly；　sir。〃　The　American　smiled。　〃I　was　just　leaving。〃
　〃Not　my　party；　I　trust！　Just　to　replenish　your　drink？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　led　the　way　into　the　garden；　Rosemont　beside　him。　The　trees　were　still　dripping　and　the　night　dark。　He　kept　to　a　path　that　was　puddled　and　muddy。　〃We've　a　slight　problem；　Stanley。　SI's　just　caught　one　of　your　sailors　from　the　carrier　passing　secrets　to　a　KGB　fellow。　Bo…　〃
　Rosemont　stopped；　aghast。　〃Off　the　Ivanov？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Was　it　Suslev？　Captain　Suslev？〃
　〃No。　No；　it　wasn't　that　name。　May　I　suggest　you　get　on　to　Roger　at　once。　Both　men　are　in　custody；　both　have　been　charged　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act　but　I've　cleared　it　with　the　minister　in　London　and　he　agrees　you　should　take　charge　of　your　fellow　at　once　。。。　a　little　less　embarrassing；　what？　He's；　er；　he's　a　puter　chap　I　believe。〃
　〃Son　of　a　bitch！〃　Rosemont　muttered；　then　wiped　the　sudden　sweat　off　his　face　with　his　hand。　〃What　did　he　pass　over？〃
　〃I　don't　know　exactly。　Roger　will　be　able　to　fill　you　in　on　the　details。〃
　〃Do　we　get　to　interrogate　。。。　to　interview　the　KGB　guy　too？〃
　〃Why　not　discuss　that　with　Roger？　The　minister's　in　direct　touch　with　him；　too。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　hesitated。　〃I；　er；　I'm　sure　you'll　appreciate　。。。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course；　sorry；　sir。　I'd　。。。　I'd　better　get　going　at　once。〃　Rosemont's　face　was　chalky　and　he　went　off　quickly；　collecting