jamesclavell.noblehouse-第162章

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　〃He　discovered　Sevrin；　not　you。　Listen；　rade；　I　assure　you　you're　safe　to　continue　your　vital　work。　Please　continue　to　do　everything　you　can　to　agitate　the　banking　crisis　and　the　stock　market　crash。〃
　〃No　need　to　worry。　We　all　want　that　to　happen。〃
　The　phone　came　to　life。　Both　men　stared　at　it。　It　only　sounded　once。　One　ring。　The　code；　danger；　leaped　into　their　heads。　Aghast　Suslev　grabbed　the　hidden　gun；　remembering　his　fingerprints　were　on　it　as　he　hurtled　through　the　kitchen　for　the　back　door；　Plumm　close　behind　him。　He　ripped　open　the　door；　letting　Plumm　through　first　onto　the　exit　landing。　At　that　moment　there　was　the　pounding　of　approaching　feet　and　a　crash　against　the　front　door　behind　them　which　held　but　buckled　slightly。　Suslev　closed　the　back　door　silently；　easing　a　bar　into　place。　Another　crash。　He　peered　through　a　crack。　Another　crash。　The　front　locks　shattered。　For　an　instant　he　saw　the　silhouettes　of　four　men　against　the　hall　light；　then　he　fled。　Plumm　was　already　down　the　stairs；　covering　him　from　the　next　landing；　automatic　out；　and　Suslev　went　down　the　steps　three　at　a　time　past　him　to　the　next　landing；　then　turned　to　cover　in　his　turn。　Above　him　the　back　door　buckled　nauseatingly。　Silently　Plumm　ran　past　him　and　again　covered　him　as　they　fled　downward　to　the　next　landing。　Then　Plumm　pulled　away　some　camouflaging　crates　from　the　false　door　exit　that　branched　off　the　main　one。　Footsteps　noisily　raced　up　toward　them　from　downstairs。　Another　crash　against　the　back　door　above。　Suslev　guarded　as　Plumm　squeezed　through　the　opening　into　the　dark　and　he　followed；　pulling　the　partial　door　closed　after　him。　Already　Plumm　had　found　the　flashlight　that　was　waiting　in　a　clip。　Footsteps　raced　closer。　Cautiously　Plumm　led　the　way　downward；　both　men　moving　well　and　silently。　The　footsteps　passed　with　the　sound　of　muffled　voices。　Both　men　stopped　momentarily；　trying　to　hear　what　was　being　said。　But　the　sound　was　too　indistinct　and　muted　and　they　could　not　even　tell　if　it　was　English　or　Chinese。
　Plumm　turned　again　and　led　the　way　downward。　They　hurried　but　with　great　caution；　not　wanting　to　make　any　unnecessary　noise。　Soon　they　were　near　the　secret　exit。　Without　hesitation　the　two　men　lifted　the　false　floor　and　went　below　into　the　cool　wet　of　the　culvert。　Once　they　were　there　and　safe；　they　stopped　for　breath；　their　hearts　pounding　with　the　suddenness　of　it　all。
　When　he　could　talk；　Suslev　whispered；　〃Kuomintang？〃
　Plumm　just　shrugged。　He　wiped　the　sweat　off。　A　car　rumbled　overhead。　He　directed　his　light　to　the　dripping　ceiling。　There　were　many　cracks　and　another　avalanche　of　stones　and　mud　cascaded。　The　floor　was　awash　with　half　a　foot　of　water　that　covered　their　shoes。
　〃Best　we　part；　old　chap；〃　Plumm　said　softly　and　Suslev　noticed　that　though　the　man　was　sweating；　his　voice　was　icy　calm　and　the　light　never　wavered。　〃I'll　get　Roger　to　deal　with　whatever　shower　that　was　at　once。　Very　bloody　boring。〃
　Suslev's　heart　was　slowing。　He　still　found　it　difficult　to　speak。　〃Where　do　we　meet　tomorrow？〃
　〃I'll　let　you　know。〃　The　Englishman's　face　was　stark。　〃First　Voranski；　then　Metkin　and　now　this。　Too　many　leaks。〃　He　jerked　a　thumb　upward。　〃That　was　too　close。　Maybe　your　Metkin　knew　more　than　you　think　he　did。〃
　〃No。　I　tell　you　he　knew　nothing　about　Sevrin；　nothing；　or　about　that　apartment　or　Clinker　or　any　of　it。　Only　Voranski　and　me；　we're　the　only　ones　who　knew。　There's　no　leak　from　our　side。〃
　〃I　hope　you're　right。〃　Plumm　added　grimly；　〃We'll　find　out；　Roger'll　find　out　one　way　or　another；　one　day；　and　then　God　help　the　traitor！〃
　〃Good。　I　want　him　too。〃
　After　a　pause　Plumm　said；　〃Call　me　every　half　an　hour　from　various　phone　booths；　from　7：30　p。m。　tomorrow。〃
　〃All　right。　If　for　any　reason　there's　a　problem　I'll　be　at　Ginny's　from　eleven　onwards。　One　last　thing。　If　we　don't　get　to　look　at　the　AMG　papers；　what's　your　opinion　about　Dunross？〃
　〃His　memory's　incredible。〃
　〃Then　we　isolate　him　for　a　chemical　interrogation？〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Good；　tovarich。　I'll　make　all　the　preparations。〃
　〃No。　We'll　snatch　him　and　we'll　deliver　him。　To　the　Ivanov？〃
　Suslev　nodded　and　told　him　Metkin's　suggestion　of　blaming　the　Werewolves；　not　saying　it　was　Metkin's　idea。　〃Eh？〃
　Plumm　smiled。　〃Clever！　See　you　tomorrow。〃　He　handed　Suslev　the　flashlight；　took　out　a　pencil　light　and　turned；　going　down　the　culvert；　his　feet　still　under　water。　Suslev　watched　until　the　tall　man　had　turned　the　corner　and　vanished。　He　had　never　followed　the　culvert　below。　Plumm　had　told　him　not　to；　that　it　was　dangerous　and　subject　to　rockfalls。
　He　took　a　deep　breath；　now　over　his　fright。　Another　car　rumbled　heavily　overhead。　That's　probably　a　truck；　he　thought　absently。　More　mud　and　a　piece　of　the　concrete　fell　with　a　splash；　startling　him。　Suslev　waited；　then　began　to　pick　his　way　carefully　up　the　slope。　Another　tiny　avalanche。　Suddenly　Suslev　hated　the　subterranean　tube。　It　made　him　feel　insecure　and　doom　ridden。
　
　56
　
　11：59　P。M。：
　Dunross　was　looking　at　the　sad　hulk　of　the　burned…out　Floating　Dragon　restaurant　that　lay　on　her　side　in　twenty　feet　of　Aberdeen　water。　The　other　multistoried　eating　palaces　that　floated　nearby　were　still　blazing　with　lights；　gaudy　and　noisy；　filled　to　capacity；　their　new；　hastily　erected；　temporary　kitchens　on　barges　beside　their　mother　ships；　cauldrons　smoking；　fires　under　the　cauldrons；　and　a　mass　of　cooks　and　helpers　like　so　many　bees。　Waiters　hurried　up　and　down　precarious　gangways　with　trays　and　dishes。　Sampans　sailed　nearby；　tourists　staring；　Hong　Kong　yan　gaping；　the　hulk　a　great　attraction。
　Part　of　the　hulk's　superstructure　jutted　out　of　the　water。　Salvage　crews　were　already　working　on　her　under　floodlights；　salvaging　her；　readying　to　float　what　remained　of　her。　On　her　part　of　the　wharf　and　parking　lot　temporary　roofing　and　kitchens　were　set　up。　Vendors　were　busily　selling　photographs　of　the　blaze；　souvenirs；　foods　of　a　hundred　kinds；　and　a　huge　floodlit　sign　in　Chinese　and　English　proudly　proclaimed　that　the　new；　ONLY　TOTALLY　MODERN　AND　FIREPROOF　FLOATING　RESTAURANT；　THE　FLOATING　DRAGON　would　soon　be　in　business；　bigger　than　ever；　better　than　ever　。。。　meanwhile　sample　the　foods　of　our　famous　chefs。　It　was　business　as　usual　except　that　temporarily　the　restaurant　was　on　land　and　not　on　the　sea。
　Dunross　walked　along　the　wharf　toward　one　of　the　sea　steps。　There　were　clusters　of　sampans　nearby；　big　and　small。　Most　of　these　were　for　hire；　each　small　craft　with　one　sculler；　a　man；　woman　or　child　of　any　age；　each　craft　with　a　hooped　canvas　covering　that　sheltered　half　of　the　boat　from　sun　or　rain　or　prying　eyes。　Some　of　the　sampans　were　more　elaborate。　Those　were　the　nighttime　Pleasure　Boats。　Inside　were　reclining　pillows　and　low　tables；　the　better　craft　luxurious　with　plenty　of　room　for　two　to　eat　and　drink　and　then　to　pillow；　the　single　oarsman　discreetly　not　part　of　the　cabin。　You　could　hire　one　for　an　hour　or　a　night　and　the　boat　would　lazily　float　the　byways。　Other　sampans　would　e　with　all　manner　of　drinks　and　foods；　fresh　foods　served　piping　hot；　served　delicately；　and　you　and　your　lady　could　dream　the　night　away　in　perfect　privacy。
　You　could　go　alone　if　you　wished。　Then；　out　near　one　of　the　vast　islands　of　boats；　your　sampans　would　rendezvous　with　Ladies　of　the　Night　and　you　could　choose　and　barter　and　then　drift。　In　the　harbor　you　could　satisfy　any　wish；　any　thirst；　any　desire　…　at　little　cost；　the　price　fair　whoever　you　were　…　if　you　could　pay　and　were　a　man。　Opium；　cocaine；　heroin；　whatever　you　wanted。
　Sometimes　the　food　was　bad　or　the　singsong　girl　bad；　but　this　was　just　joss；　a　regretted　mistake　and　not　deliberate。　Sometimes　you　could　lose　your　wallet　but　then　only　a　simpleton　would　e　among　such　prideful　poverty　to　flaunt　his　wealth。
　Dunross　smiled；　seeing　a　heavyset　tourist　nervously　ease　himself　into　one　of　the　craft；　helped　by　a　chong…samed　girl。　You're　in　good　hands；　he　thought；　very　glad　with　the　hustle　and　bustle　of　business　all　around　him；　buying；　selling；　bartering。　Yes；　he　told　himself；　Chinese　are　the　real　capitalists　of　the　world。
　What　about　Tiptop　and　Johnjohn's　request？　What　about　Lando　Mata　and　Tightfist　and　Par…Con？　And　Gornt？　And　AMG　and　Riko　Anjin　and　Sinders　and　。。。
　Don't　think　about　them　now。　Get　your　wits　about　you！　Four　Finger　Wu　hasn't　summoned　you　to　discuss　the　weather。
　He　passed　the　first　sea　steps　and　headed　along　the　wharf　to　the　main　ones；　the　light　from　the　streetlamps　casting　strong　shadows。　At　once　all　the　sampans　there　began　to　jostle　for　position；　their　owners　calling　out；　beckoning。　When　he　got　to　the　top　of　the　steps　the　motion　stopped。
　〃Tai…pan！〃
　A　well…set　Pleasure　Boat　with　a　Silver　Lotus　flag　aft　eased　directly　through　them。　The　boatman　was　short；　squat　with　many　gold　teeth。　He　wore　torn　khaki　pants　and　a　sweat　shirt。
　Dunross　whistled　to　himself；　recognizing　Four　Finger　Wu's　eldest　son；　the　loh…pan；　the　head　of　Wu's　fleet　of　Pleasure　Boats。　No　wonder　the　other　boats　gave　him　leeway；　he　thought；　impressed　that　Goldtooth　Wu　met　him　personally。　Nimbly　he　went　aboard；　greeting　him。　Goldtooth　sculled　swiftly　away。
　〃Make　yourself　at　home；　tai…pan；〃　Goldtooth　said　easily　in　perfect　English…accented　English。　He　had　a　B。Sc。　from　London　University　and　had　wanted　to　remain　in　England。　But　Four　Fingers　had　ordered　him　home。　He　was　a　gentle；　quiet；　kind　man　whom　Dunross　liked。
　〃Thank　you。〃
　On　the　lacquered　table　was　fresh　tea　and　whiskey　and　glasses；　brandy　and　bottled　water。　Dunross　looked　around　carefully。　The　cabin　was　neat　and　lit　with　little　lights；　clean；　soft　and　expensive。　A　small　radio　played　good　music。　This　must　be　Goldtooth's　flagship；　he　thought；　amused　and　very　much　on　guard。
　There　was　no　need　to　ask　where　Goldtooth　was　taking　him。　He　poured　himself　a　little　brandy；　adding　soda　water。　There　was　no　ice。　In　Asia　he　never　used　ice。
　〃Christ；〃　he　muttered　suddenly；　remembering　what　Peter　Marlowe　had　said　about　the　possibility　of　infectious　hepatitis。　Fifty　or　sixty　people　have　that　hanging　over　their　heads　now；　if　they　know　it　or　not。　Gornt's　one　of　them　too。　Yes；　but　that　sod's　got　the　constitution　of　a　meat　ax。　The　bugger　hasn't　even　had　a　touch　of　the　runs。　What　to　do　about　him？　What's　his　permanent　solution？
　It　was　cool　and　pleasant　in　the　cabin；　half　open　to　the　breeze；　the　sky　dark。　A　huge　junk　moved　past；　chugging　throatily；　and　he　lay　back　enjoying　the　tensions　he　felt；　the　anticipation。　His　heart　was　steady。　He　sipped　the　brandy；　drifting；　being　patient。
　The　side　of　the　sampan　scraped　another。　His　ears　focused。　Bare　feet　padded　aboard。　Two　sets　of　feet；　one　nimble　the　other　not。　〃Halloa；　tai…pan！〃　Four　Fingers　said；　grinning　toothlessly。　He　ducked　under　the　canopy　and　sat　down。　〃How　you　okay？〃　he　said　in　dreadful　English。
　〃Fine　and　you？〃　Dunross　stared　at　him；　trying　to　hide　his　astonishment。　Four　Finger　Wu　was　dressed　in　a　good　suit　with　a　clean　white　shirt　and　gaudy　tie　and　carried　shoes　and　socks。　The　last　time　Dunross　had　seen　him　like　this　was　the　night　of　the　fire　and　before　that；　the　only　other　time　years　ago；　at　Shitee　T'Chung's　immense　wedding。
　More　feet　approached。　Awkwardly　Paul　Choy　sat　down。　〃Evening；　sir。　I'm　Paul　Choy。〃
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked；　sensing　great　disfort；　an