jamesclavell.noblehouse-第166章

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d　China。　Inside　on　a　rack　were　three　more　paperbacks　of　Changi。　New；　they　cost　5。75　HK。
　At　once　Casey　had　cursed　the　old　woman　street　seller　for　cheating　her。　But　then　the　old　hag　wasn't　cheating　you　at　all；　she　had　reminded　herself。　She　outtraded　you。　After　all；　only　a　moment　ago　you　were　chortling　because　you'd　trimmed　her　profit　to　nothing　and　God　knows　these　people　need　profit。
　Casey　watched　the　street　and　the　traffic　on　Nathan　Road　below。　This　morning　she　had　walked　up　Nathan　Road　to　Boundary　Road；　a　mile　and　a　half　or　so。　It　was　on　her　list　of　things　to　see。　It　was　a　road　like　any　other；　snarled；　busy；　gaudy　with　street　signs；　except　that　everything　north　of　Boundary　Road　to　the　border　would　revert　to　China　in　1997。　Everything。　In　1898　the　British　had　taken　a　ninety…nine…year　lease　on　the　land　that　extended　from　Boundary　Road　to　the　Sham　Chun　River　where　the　new　border　was　to　be；　along　with　a　number　of　nearby　islands。　〃Wasn't　that　stupid；　Peter？〃　she　had　asked　Marlowe；　meeting　him　by　chance　in　the　hotel　foyer　at　teatime。
　〃Now　it　is；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　〃Then？　Well；　who　knows？　It　must　have　been　sensible　then　or　they　wouldn't　have　done　it。〃
　〃Yes；　but　God；　Peter；　ninety…nine　years　is　so　short。　What　possessed　them　to　make　it　so　short？　Their　heads　must've　been　。。。　must've　been　elsewhere！〃
　〃Yes。　You'd　think　so。　Now。　But　in　those　days　when　all　the　British　prime　minister　had　to　do　was　belch　to　send　a　shock　wave　around　the　world？　World　power　makes　the　difference。　In　those　days　the　British　Lion　was　still　the　Lion。　What's　a　small　piece　of　land　to　the　owners　of　a　quarter　of　the　earth？〃　She　remembered　how　he　had　smiled。　〃Even　so；　in　the　New　Territories　there　was　armed　opposition　from　the　locals。　Of　course　it　fizzled。　The　then　governor；　Sir　Henry　Blake；　took　care　of　it。　He　didn't　war　on　them；　just　talked　to　them。　Eventually　the　village　elders　agreed　to　turn　the　other　cheek；　providing　their　laws　and　customs　remained　in　effect；　providing　they　could　be　tried　under　Chinese　law　if　they　wished　and　that　Kowloon　City　remained　Chinese。〃
　〃The　locals　here　are　still　tried　under　Chinese　law？〃
　〃Yes；　historic　law　…　not　PRC　law　…　so　you　have　to　have　British　magistrates　skilled　in　Confucian　law。　It's　really　quite　different。　For　instance；　Chinese　law　presumes　that　all　witnesses　will　naturally　lie；　that　it's　their　duty　to　lie　and　cover　up；　and　it's　up　to　the　magistrate　to　find　out　the　truth。　He　has　to　be　a　son　of　legal　Charlie　Chan。　Civilized　people　don't　go　in　for　swearing　to　tell　the　truth；　all　that　sort　of　barbarism　…　they　consider　us　mad　to　do　that；　and　I'm　not　sure　they're　wrong。　They've　all　kinds　of　crazy　or　sensible　customs；　depending　how　you　look　at　it。　Did　you　know　it's　quite　legal　here；　throughout　the　Colony；　to　have　more　than　one　wife　…　if　you're　Chinese。〃
　〃Bully　for　them！〃
　〃Having　more　than　one　wife　really　does　have　certain　advantages。〃
　〃Now　listen；　Peter；〃　she　had　begun　hotly；　then　realized　he　was　merely　teasing　her。　〃You　don't　need　more　than　one。　You've　got　Fleur。　How　are　you　both　doing？　How's　the　research？　Would　she　like　lunch　tomorrow　if　you're　busy？〃
　〃Sorry　to　say　but　she's　in　the　hospital。〃
　〃Oh　God；　what's　the　matter？〃
　He　had　told　her　about　this　morning　and　Doc　Tooley。　〃I've　just　seen　her。　She's　。。。　she's　not　too　good。〃
　〃Oh　I　am　sorry。　Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃Just　ask　if　there　is。　Okay？〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Linc　was　right　to　jump　into　the　water　with　her；　Peter。　Honestly。〃
　〃Oh　of　course；　Casey。　Please　don't　think　for　a　moment　。。。　Linc　did　what　I　。。。　he　did　it　better　than　I　could。　You　too。　And　I　think　you　both　saved　that　other　girl　from　lots　of　trouble。　Orlanda；　Orlanda　Ramos。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃She　should　thank　you　forever。　Both　of　you。　She　was　panicked　…　I've　seen　too　much　of　it　not　to　know。　Smashing…looking　bird；　isn't　she？〃
　〃Yes。　How's　the　research　ing？〃
　〃Fine；　thanks。〃
　〃Sometime　I'd　like　to　swap　impressions。　Hey；　by　the　way；　I　found　your　book　…　I　bought　it　…　haven't　read　it　yet　but　it's　on　top　of　the　pile。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Casey　remembered　how　he　had　tried　to　sound　offhand。　〃Oh。　I　hope　you　like　it。　Well；　I've　got　to　be　off；　it's　the　kids'　teatime　too。〃
　〃Remember；　Peter；　if　there's　anything；　just　call　me。　Thanks　for　tea；　and　say　hi　to　Fleur　。。。　。〃
　Casey　stretched；　an　ache　now　in　her　back。　She　got　off　her　perch　and　went　back　to　bed。　Her　room　was　small　and　did　not　have　the　elegance　of　their　suite　…　his　suite　now。　He　had　decided　to　keep　the　second　bedroom。　〃We　can　always　use　it　as　an　office；〃　he　had　said　to　her；　〃or　keep　it　as　a　spare。　Don't　worry；　Casey；　it's　all　tax　deductible　and　you　never　know　when　we　might　need　a　spare。〃
　Orlanda？　No；　she　wouldn't　need　that　bed！
　Casey；　she　ordered　herself；　don't　be　bitchy；　or　stupid。　Or　jealous。　You've　never　been　jealous；　so　jealous　before。　You　set　the　rules。　Yes；　but　I'm　glad　I　moved　out。　That　other　night　was　tough；　tough　on　Linc　and　tough　on　me；　worse　for　him。　Orlanda　will　be　good　for　him　。。。　oh　shit　on　Orlanda。
　Her　mouth　felt　dry。　She　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　got　a　bottle　of　iced　Perrier　and　the　nice　tang　of　it　made　her　feel　better。　I　wonder　how　the　earth　makes　those　bubbles；　she　thought　idly；　getting　onto　the　bed。　Earlier；　she　had　tried　to　sleep　but　her　mind　was　jumbled　and　would　not　stop　working；　too　much　of　the　new　…　new　foods；　new　smells；　air；　mores；　threats；　people；　customs；　cultures。　Dunross。　Gornt。　Dunross　and　Gornt。　Dunross　and　Gornt　and　Linc。　A　new　Linc。　A　new　you；　frightened　of　a　pretty　piece　of　ass　。。。　yes；　ass　if　you　want　to　be　vulgar　and　that's　new　for　you　too。　Before　you　came　here　you　were　assured；　dynamic；　in　charge　of　your　world；　and　now　you're　not。　All　over　her；　not　just　over　her；　over　that　bitch　Lady　Joanna　too　with　her　so　upper…class　English　accent；　〃Don't　you　remember；　dear；　it's　our　Over　Thirty　Club　Lunch　today。　I　mentioned　it　at　the　tai…pan's　dinner。　。。。〃
　Goddamn　old　bitch。　Over　thirty！　I'm　not　even　twenty…seven！
　That's　right；　Casey。　But　you　are　all　riled　up　like　a　mashed　cat　and　it's　not　just　her　or　Orlanda；　it's　also　Linc　and　the　hundreds　of　available　girls　you've　already　seen　and　you　haven't　even　looked　in　the　dance　halls　and　bars　and　houses　where　they　specialize。　Didn't　Jannelli　wind　you　up　too？
　〃Jesus；　Casey；〃　he　had　said　with　a　great　beam；　〃it's　like　being　back　on　R　and　R　in　my　Korean　days。　It's　still　only　20　bucks　and　you're　the　top　banana！〃
　That　evening　around　ten；　Jannelli　had　called　to　ask　if　she'd　like　to　join　him　and　the　rest　of　the　crew　at　the　Royal　Netherlands　for　a　night　snack。　Her　heart　had　turned　over　when　the　phone　rang；　thinking　it　was　Linc；　and　when　she　had　found　it　wasn't　she　had　pretended　that　she　still　had　lots　to　do　but　had　gratefully　allowed　herself　to　be　persuaded。　Once　there　she　had　had　a　double　order　of　scrambled　eggs　and　bacon　and　toast　and　coffee　that　she　knew　she　did　not　want。
　As　a　protest。　A　protest　against　Asia；　Hong　Kong；　Joanna　and　Orlanda；　and　oh　Jesus　I　wish　I'd　never　got　interested　in　Asia；　never　suggested　to　Linc　we　should　go　international。
　Why　did　you？
　Because　it's　the　only　way　for　U。S。　business　to　go　…　the　only　way　…　the　only　way　for　Par…Con。　Export。　Multinational　but　export。　And　Asia's　the　biggest；　most　teeming　untapped　marketplace　on　earth　and　this　is　the　century　for　Asia。　Yes。　And　the　Dunrosses　and　Gornts've　got　it　made　…　if　they　go　with　us　…　'cause　we've　the　greatest　market　in　the　world　to　back　us；　all　the　cash；　technology；　growth　and　expertise　to　do　it。
　But　why　did　you　go　for　Hong　Kong　so　hot　and　heavy？
　To　get　my　drop　dead　money　and　to　fill　the　time　between　now　and　my　birthday　…　the　end　of　the　seventh　year。
　The　rate　you're　going；　she　told　herself；　soon　you'll　have　no　job；　no　future；　no　Linc　to　say　yes　or　no　to。　A　sigh　took　her。　Earlier；　she　had　gone　to　the　master　suite　and　had　left　Bartlett　a　batch　of　telexes　and　letters　to　sign　with　a　〃hope　you　had　a　good　time〃　note。　When　she　had　e　back　from　her　night　snack　she　had　gone　there　again　and　taken　back　everything　she　had　left　him。　〃It's　Orlanda　that's　really　got　you　going。　Don't　fool　yourself；〃　she　said　out　loud。
　Never　mind；　tomorrow's　another　day。　You　can　dump　Orlanda　easy；　she　told　herself　grimly；　and　now；　having　zeroed　in　on　her　enemy　she　felt　better。
　Peter　Marlowe's　dog…eared　paperback　caught　her　eye。　She　picked　it　up；　plumped　the　pillows　more　fortably　and　began　to　read。　The　pages　slid　by。　Abruptly　the　phone　went。　She　had　been　so　engrossed　she　jumped　and　a　sudden；　vast　happiness　flooded　her。　〃Hi；　Linc；　did　you　have　a　good　time？〃
　〃Casey；　it's　me；　Peter　Marlowe；　I'm　terribly　sorry　to　call　so　late　but　I　checked　and　your　room　boy　said　your　light　was　still　on。　。。。　I　hope　I　didn't　wake　you？〃
　〃Oh；　oh　no　Peter。〃　Casey　felt　sick　with　disappointment。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Sorry　to　call　so　late　but　there's　a　slight　emergency；　I've　got　to　go　to　the　hospital　and　I've　。。。　you　said　to　call。　I　ho…　〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　Casey　was　pletely　zeroed　in　now。
　〃I　don't　know。　They　just　asked　if　I'd　e　at　once。　The　reason　I　called　was　about　the　kids。　There'll　be　a　room　boy　looking　in　every　so　often　but　I　wanted　to　leave　a　note　for　them　with　your　number　in　case　they　wake　up；　just　in　case　they　wake　up；　a　friendly　face　to　call　so　to　speak。　When　we　all　met　yesterday　in　the　foyer；　they　both　thought　you　a　smasher。　They　probably　won't　wake　but　just　in　case。　Could　they　call　you？　I'm　sor…　〃
　〃Of　course。　Even　better；　why　don't　I　e　right　over？〃
　〃Oh　no；　I　wouldn't　think　of　it。　If　you　j…　〃
　〃I'm　not　sleepy　and　you　are　right　next　door。　It's　no　problem；　Peter；　I'm　on　my　way。　So　you　just　go　ahead　to　the　hospital。〃
　It　took　her　only　a　minute　to　dress　in　pants　and　blouse　and　cashmere　sweater。　Before　she　even　pressed　the　elevator　button；　Nighttime　Song　was　there；　wide…eyed　and　inquisitive。　She　volunteered　nothing。
　Downstairs；　she　crossed　the　foyer　and　went　out　onto　Nathan　Road；　across　the　side　road　and　into　the　foyer　of　the　Annex。　Peter　Marlowe　was　waiting　for　her。　〃This's　Miss　Tcholok；〃　he　said　hurriedly　to　the　night　porter。　〃She'll　be　with　the　kids　till　I　return。〃
　〃Yes　sir；〃　the　Eurasian　said；　equally　wide…eyed。　〃The　boy'll　show　you　up；　miss。〃
　〃Hope　everything's　okay；　Peter。　。。。〃　She　stopped。　He　was　out　the　swinging　doors；　trying　to　hail　a　cab。
　The　apartment　was　small；　on　the　sixth　floor；　the　front　door　ajar。　The　floor　boy；　Nighttime　Po；　shrugged　and　went　off　muttering；　cursing　barbarians　。。。　as　if　he　couldn't　look　after　two　sleeping　children　who　played　hide　and　seek　with　him　every　evening。
　Casey　closed　the　door　and　peeked　into　the　tiny　second　bedroom。　Both　children　were　fast　asleep　in　the　bunk；　Jane；　the　little　one；　in　the　upper　berth　and　Alexandra　sprawled　in　the　lower　one。　Her　heart　went　out　to　them。　Blond；　touseled；　angelic；　with　teddy　bears　clutched　in　their　arms。　Oh　how　I'd　love　to　have　children；　she　thought。　Linc's　children。
　Would　you？　All　the　diapers；　always　locked　in；　sleepless　nights　and　no　freedom。
　I　don't　know。　I　think　so。　Oh　yes；　for　two　like　these；　oh　yes。
　Casey　didn't　know　whether　to　tuck　them　up　or　not。　The　air　was　warm　so　she　decided　to　do　nothing　lest　she　wake　them。　In　the　refrigerator　she　found　bottled　water　and　this　refreshed　her　and　settled　her　racing　heart。　Then　she　sat　in　the　easy　chair。　After　a　moment　she　took　Peter's　book　out　of　her　handbag　and；　on