jamesclavell.noblehouse-第156章

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　their　euppance；　Broadhurst　particularly。
　When　he　was　sure　he　was　clear　he　stopped　under　a　streetlamp；　creating　an　eddy　in　the　massed　stream　of　pedestrians　hurrying　both　ways；　and　flagged　a　taxi。　〃Here；〃　he　said　and　gave　the　driver　a　typed　address　on　a　piece　of　paper。
　The　driver　took　it；　stared　at　it　and　scratched　his　head　sullenly。
　〃It's　in　Chinese。　It's　in　Chinese　on　the　back；〃　Grey　said　helpfully。
　The　driver　paid　him　no　attention；　just　stared　blankly　at　the　English　address。　Grey　reached　over　and　turned　the　characters　toward　him。　〃Here！〃
　At　once　the　driver　insolently　turned　the　paper　back　and　glared　at　the　English　again。　Then　he　belched；　let　in　his　clutch　with　a　jerk　and　eased　into　the　honking　traffic。
　Rude　sod；　Grey　thought；　suddenly　enraged。
　The　cab　ground　its　gears　continually　as　it　went　into　the　city；　doubling　back　down　one…way　streets　and　narrow　alleys　to　get　back　into　Connaught　Road。
　At　length　they　stopped　outside　a　dingy　old　apartment　building　on　a　dingy　street。　The　pavement　was　broken　and　narrow　and　puddled；　the　traffic　honking　irritably　at　the　parked　cab。　There　was　no　number　that　Grey　could　see。　He　got　out　and　told　the　driver　to　wait　and　walked　back　a　little　to　what　seemed　to　be　a　side　door。　An　old　man　was　sitting　on　a　battered　chair；　smoking　and　reading　a　racing　paper　under　a　bare　bulb。
　〃Is　this　68　Kwan　Yik　Street　in　Kennedy　Town？〃　Grey　asked　politely。
　The　old　man　stared　at　him　as　though　he　was　a　monster　from　outer　space；　then　let　out　a　stream　of　querulous　Cantonese。
　〃68　Kwan　Yik　Street；〃　Grey　repeated；　slower　and　louder；　〃Ken…ned…dy　Town？〃
　Another　flood　of　guttural　Cantonese　and　an　insolent　wave　toward　a　small　door。　The　old　man　hawked　and　spat　and　went　back　to　his　paper　with　a　yawn。
　〃Sodding　bastard；〃　Grey　muttered；　his　temperature　soaring。　He　opened　the　door。　Inside　was　a　tiny；　grimy　foyer　with　peeling　paint；　a　sorry　row　of　mailboxes　with　names　on　the　boxes。　With　great　relief　he　saw　the　name　he　sought。
　At　the　cab　he　took　out　his　wallet　and　carefully　looked　at　the　amount　on　the　meter　twice　before　he　paid　the　man。
　The　elevator　was　tiny；　claustrophobic；　filthy　and　it　squeaked　as　it　rose。　At　the　fourth　floor　he　got　off　and　pressed　the　button　of　number　44。　The　door　opened。
　〃Mr。　Grey；　sir；　this's　an　honor！　Molly；　his　nibs's　arrived！〃　Sam　Finn　beamed　at　him。　He　was　a　big　beefy　Yorkshireman；　florid；　with　pale　blue　eyes；　an　ex…coal　miner　and　shop　steward　with　important　friends　in　the　Labour　Party　and　Trades　Union　Council。　His　face　was　deeply　lined　and　pitted；　the　pores　ingrained　with　specks　of　coal　dust。　〃By　gum；　'tis　a　pleasure！〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Finn。　I'm　glad　to　meet　you　too。　I've　heard　a　lot　about　you。〃　Grey　took　off　his　raincoat　and　gratefully　accepted　a　beer。
　〃Sit　thee　down。〃
　The　apartment　was　small；　spotlessly　clean；　the　furniture　inexpensive。　It　smelt　of　fried　sausages　and　fried　potatoes　and　fried　bread。　Molly　Finn　came　out　of　the　kitchen；　her　hands　and　arms　red　from　years　of　scrubbing　and　washing　up。　She　was　short　and　rotund；　from　the　same　mining　town　as　her　husband；　the　same　age；　sixty…five；　and　just　as　strong。　〃By　Harry；〃　she　said　warmly；　〃thee　could've　knocked　us'n　down　with　feather　when　we　heard　thee'd　be　a…visiting　us'n。〃
　〃Our　mutual　friends　wanted　to　hear　firsthand　how　you　were　doing。〃
　〃Grand。　We're　doing　grand；〃　Finn　said。　〃　'Course　it's　not　like　home　in　Yorkshire　and　we　miss　our　friends　and　the　Union　Hall　but　we've　a　bed　and　a　bit　of　board。〃　There　was　the　sound　of　a　toilet　flushing。　〃We've　a　friend　we　thought　thee'd　like　to　meet；〃　Finn　said　and　smiled　again。
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Aye。〃　Finn　said。
　The　toilet　door　opened。　The　big　bearded　man　stuck　out　his　hand　warmly。　〃Sam's　told　me　a　lot　about　you；　Mr。　Grey。　I'm　Captain　Gregor　Suslev　of　the　Soviet　Marine。　My　ship's　the　Ivanov　…　we're　having　a　small　refit　in　this　capitalist　haven。〃
　Grey　shook　his　hand　formally。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you。〃
　〃We　have　some　mutual　friends；　Mr。　Grey。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes；　Zdenek　Hanzolova　of　Prague。〃
　〃Oh！　Oh　yes！〃　Grey　smiled。　〃I　met　him　on　a　Parliamentary　Trade　Delegation　to　Czechoslovakia　last　year。〃
　〃How　did　you　like　Prague？〃
　〃Very　interesting。　Very。　I　didn't　like　the　repression　though　。。。　or　the　Soviet　presence。〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃We're　invited　there；　by　them。　We　like　to　look　after　our　friends。　But　much　goes　on　I　don't　approve　of　either。　There；　in　Europe。　Even　in　Mother　Russia。〃
　Sam　Finn　said；　〃Sit　thee　down；　please　sit　thee　down。〃
　They　sat　around　the　dining　room　table　in　the　living　room　that　now　had　a　neat　white　tablecloth　with　a　potted　aspidistra　on　it。
　〃Of　course；　you　know　I'm　not　a　munist；　and　never　have　been　one；〃　Grey　said。　〃I　don't　approve　of　a　police　state。　I'm　totally　convinced　our　British　democratic　socialism's　the　way　of　the　future　…　Parliament；　elected　officials　and　all　that　it　stands　for　…　though　a　lot　of　Marxist…Leninist　ideas　are　very　worthwhile。〃
　〃Politics！〃　Gregor　Suslev　said　deprecatingly。　〃We　should　leave　politics　to　politics。〃
　〃Mr。　Grey's　one　of　our　best　spokesmen　in　Parliament；　Gregor。〃
　Molly　Finn　turned　to　Grey。　〃Gregor's　a　good　lad　too；　Mr。　Grey。　He's　not　one　of　them　nasties。〃　She　sipped　her　tea。　〃Gregor's　a　good　lad。〃
　〃That's　right；　lass；〃　Finn　said。
　〃Not　too　good；　I　hope；〃　Grey　said　and　they　all　laughed。　〃What　made　you　take　up　residence　here；　Sam？〃
　〃When　we　retired；　Mrs。　Finn　and　me；　we　wanted　to　see　a　bit　of　the　world。　We'd　put　a　bit　of　brass　aside　and　we　cashed　in　a　wee　coop　insurance　policy　we　had；　and　got　a　berth　on　a　freighter　。。。〃
　〃Oh；　my；　we　did　have　a　good　time；〃　Molly　Finn　broke　in。　〃We　went　to　so　many　foreign　parts。　It　were　proper　lovely。　But　when　we　cum　here　Sam　was　a　bit　poorly；　so　we　got　off　and　were　to　pick　up　a　freighter　when　she　cum　back。〃
　〃That's　right；　lass；〃　Sam　said。　〃Then　I　met　a　right　proper　nice　man　and　he　offered　me　a　job。〃　He　beamed　and　rubbed　the　black　pits　in　his　face。　〃I　was　to　be　consultant　to　some　mines　he　was　superintendent　for；　in　some　place　called　Formosa。　We　went　there　once　but　no　need　to　stay　so　we　cum　back　here。　That's　all　there　is　to　it；　Mr。　Grey。　We　make　a　little　brass；　the　beer's　good；　so　Mrs。　Finn　and　me　we　thought　we'd　stay。　The　kids　are　all　growed　up。　。。。〃　He　beamed　again；　showing　his　obviously　false　teeth。　〃We're　Hong　Kongers　now。〃
　They　chatted　pleasantly。　Grey　would　have　been　totally　convinced　by　the　Finns'　cover　story　if　he　had　not　read　his　very　private　dossier　before　he　left　London。　It　was　known　only　to　very　few　that　for　years　Finn　had　been　a　card…carrying　member　of　the　BCP；　the　British　munist　Party。　On　his　retirement　he　had　been　sent　out　to　Hong　Kong　by　one　of　their　secret　inner　mittees；　his　mission　to　be　a　fountain　of　information　about　anything　to　do　with　the　Hong　Kong　bureaucracy　and　legislature。
　In　a　few　minutes　Molly　Finn　stifled　a　yawn。　〃My　my；　I'm　that　tired！　If　thee　will　excuse　me　I　think　I'll　go　to　bed。〃
　Sam　said；　〃Off　thee　go；　lass。〃
　They　talked　a　little　more　about　inconsequential　affairs　then　he　too　yawned。　〃If　thee'll　excuse　me；　I　think　I'll　go　too；〃　adding　hastily；　〃Now　don't　thee　move；　chat　to　thy　heart's　content。　We'll　see　thee　before　thee　leaves　Hong　Kong；　Mr。　Grey　。。。　Gregor。〃
　He　shook　hands　with　them　and　closed　the　bedroom　door　behind　him。　Suslev　went　over　to　the　television　and　turned　it　on　with　a　laugh。　〃Have　you　seen　Hong　Kong　TV？　The　mercials　are　very　funny。〃
　He　adjusted　the　sound　high　enough　so　they　could　talk　yet　not　be　overheard。　〃One　can't　be　too　careful；　eh？〃
　〃I　bring　you　fraternal　greetings　from　London；〃　Grey　said；　his　voice　as　soft。　Since　1947　he　had　been　an　inner…core　munist；　even　more　secretly　than　Finn；　his　identity　only　known　to　half　a　dozen　people　in　England。
　〃And　I　send　them　back。〃　Suslev　jerked　his　thumb　at　the　closed　door。　〃How　much　do　they　know？〃
　〃Only　that　I'm　left…wing　and　potential　Party　material。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　Suslev　relaxed。　Center　had　been　very　clever　to　arrange　this　private　meeting　so　neatly。　Roger　Crosse；　who　knew　nothing　of　his　connection　with　Grey；　had　already　told　him　there　were　no　SI　tails　on　the　MPs。　〃We're　quite　safe　here。　Sam's　very　good。　We　get　copies　of　his　reports　too。　And　he　asks　no　questions。　You　British　are　very　close…mouthed　and　very　efficient；　Mr。　Grey。　I　congratulate　you。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃How　was　your　meeting　in　Peking？〃
　Grey　took　out　a　sheaf　of　papers。　〃This's　a　copy　of　our　private　and　public　reports　to　Parliament。　Read　it　before　I　go　…　you'll　get　the　full　report　through　channels。　Briefly；　I　think　the　Chinese　are　totally　hostile　and　revisionist。　Madman　Mao　and　his　henchman　Chou　En…lai　are　implacable　enemies　to　international　munism。　China　is　weak　in　everything　except　the　will　to　fight；　and　they　will　fight　to　protect　their　land　to　the　last。　The　longer　you　wait　the　harder　it　will　be　to　contain　them；　but　so　long　as　they　don't　get　nuclear　weapons　and　long…range　delivery　systems　they'll　never　be　a　threat。〃
　〃Yes。　What　about　trade？　What　did　they　want？〃
　〃Heavy　industries；　oil　cracking　plants；　oil　rigs；　chemical　plants；　steel　mills。〃
　〃How　are　they　going　to　pay？〃
　〃They　said　they've　plenty　of　foreign　exchange。　Hong　Kong　supplies　much　of　it。〃
　〃Did　they　ask　for　arms？〃
　〃No。　Not　directly。　They're　clever　and　we　didn't　always　talk　or　meet　as　a　group。　They　were　well　briefed　about　me　and　Broadhurst　and　we　weren't　liked　…　or　trusted。　Perhaps　they　talked　privately　to　Pennyworth　or　one　of　the　other　Tories　…　though　that　won't've　helped　them。　You　heard　he　died？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good　riddance。　He　was　an　enemy。〃　Grey　sipped　his　beer。　〃The　PRC　want　arms；　of　that　I'm　sure。　They're　a　secretive　lot　and　rotten。〃
　〃What's　Julian　Broadhurst　like？〃
　〃An　intellectual　who　thinks　he's　a　Socialist。　He's　the　dregs　but　useful　at　the　moment。　Patrician；　old　school　tie；〃　Grey　said　with　a　sneer。　〃Because　of　that　he'll　be　a　power　in　the　next　Labour　government。〃
　〃Labour　will　get　in　next　time；　Mr。　Grey？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；　even　though　we're　working　very　hard　to　help　Labour　and　the　Liberals。〃
　Suslev　frowned。　〃Why　support　Liberals？　They're　capitalists。〃
　Grey　laughed　sardonically。　〃You　don't　understand　our　British　system；　Captain　Suslev。　We're　very　lucky；　we've　a　three…party　vote　with　a　two…party　system。　The　Liberals　split　the　vote　in　our　favor。　We　have　to　encourage　them。〃　Happily　he　finished　his　beer　and　got　two　more　from　the　refrigerator。　〃If　it　wasn't　for　the　Liberals；　Labour　would　have　never　got　in；　not　never！　And　never　will　again。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃At　the　best　of　times　the　vote　for　Labour's　only　about　45　percent　of　the　population；　a　little　under　45　percent。　Tory　…　Conservatives　…　are　about　the　same；　usually　a　little　more。　Most　of　the　other　10…odd　percent　vote　Liberal。　If　there　was　no　Liberal　candidate　the　majority'd　vote　with　the　Conservatives。　They're　all　fools；〃　he　said　smugly。　〃The　British　are　stupid；　rade；　the　Liberal　Party's　Labour's　permanent　passport　to　power　…　therefore　ours。　Soon　the　BCP'll　control　the　TUC；　and　so　Labour　pletely　…　secretly　of　course。〃　He　drank　deeply。　〃The　great　British　unwashed　are　stupid；　the　middle　class　stupid；　the　upper　class　stupid　…　it's　almost　no　challenge　anymore。　They're　all　lemmings。　Only　a　very　few　believe　in　democratic　socialism。　Even　so；〃　he　added　with　great　satisfaction；　〃we　pulled　down　their　rotten　Empire　and　pissed　all　over　them　with　Oper