jamesclavell.noblehouse-第168章

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r　a　multitude　of　positions；　from　boss　to　interpreter；　from　missar　to　guard。
　〃Would　you　like　coffee？〃
　〃Thank　you。　Have　you　tried　vitamin　C　to　cure　your　cold？〃　Patiently　Dunross　began　the　formal　chitchat　that　would　precede　the　real　reason　for　the　meeting。　Last　night　while　he　was　waiting　for　Brian　Kwok　in　the　Quance　Bar　he　had　thought　Johnjohn's　proposal　was　worth　a　try　so　he　had　phoned　Phillip　Chen　then　and　asked　him　to　request　an　appointment　early　today。　It　would　have　been　just　as　easy　to　have　called　Tiptop　direct　but　that　was　not　correct　Chinese　protocol。　The　civilized　way　was　to　go　through　a　mutually　friendly　intermediary。　Then；　if　the　request　was　refused；　you　would　not　lose　face；　nor　would　the　other　person；　nor　would　the　intermediary。
　He　was　listening　to　Tiptop　with　only　half　his　head；　making　polite　conversation；　surprised　they　were　still　speaking　English；　because　of　L'eung。　This　could　only　mean　the　man's　English　was　also　perfect；　and；　possibly；　that　he　did　not　understand　either　Cantonese　or　Shanghainese　which　Tiptop　spoke　and　Dunross　was　fluent　in。　He　fenced　with　Tiptop；　waiting　for　the　opening　that　at　length　the　banker　would　give　him。　Then　it　came。
　〃This　stock　market　crash　on　your　stock　must　be　very　worrying　for　you；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；　but　it's　not　a　crash；　Mr。　Tip；　just　a　readjustment。　The　market　ebbs　and　flows。〃
　〃And　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃Quillan　Gornt　is　Quillan　Gornt　and　always　snapping　at　our　heels。　All　crows　under　heaven　are　black。〃　Dunross　kept　his　voice　matter…of…fact；　wondering　how　much　the　man　knew。
　〃And　the　Ho…Pak　mess？　That's　a　readjustment　too？〃
　〃No；　no　that's　bad。　I'm　afraid　the　Ho…Pak's　out　of　luck。〃
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Dunross；　but　luck　hasn't　much　to　do　with　it。　It's　the　capitalistic　system；　that　and　ineptness　by　Banker　Kwang。〃
　Dunross　said　nothing。　His　eyes　flicked　momentarily　to　L'eung　who　sat　stiffly；　immobile　and　very　attentive。　His　ears　were　concentrated　and　so　was　his　mind；　seeking　the　oblique　currents　under　what　was　said。　〃I'm　not　party　to　Mr。　Kwang's　business；　Mr。　Tip。　Unfortunately　the　run　on　the　Ho…Pak's　spilling　over　to　other　banks　and　that's　very　bad　for　Hong　Kong　and　also；　I　think；　bad　for　the　People's　Republic　of　China。〃
　〃Not　bad　for　the　People's　Republic　of　China。　How　can　it　be　bad　for　us？〃
　〃China　is　China；　the　Middle　Kingdom。　We　of　the　Noble　House　have　always　considered　China　to　be　the　mother　and　father　of　our　house。　Now　our　base　in　Hong　Kong's　under　siege；　a　siege　that's　actually　meaningless　…　just　a　temporary　lack　of　confidence　and　a　week　or　so　of　cash。　Our　banks　have　all　the　reserves　and　all　of　the　wealth　and　strength　they　need　to　perform　。。。　for　old　friends；　old　customers　and　ourselves。〃
　〃Then　why　don't　they　print　more　money　if　the　currency's　so　strong？〃
　〃It's　a　matter　of　time；　Mr。　Tip。　It's　not　possible　for　the　mint　to　print　enough　Hong　Kong　money。〃　Even　more　patiently；　Dunross　answered　the　questions；　knowing　now　that　most　were　for　the　benefit　of　L'eung；　which　suggested　L'eung　was　senior　to　Tiptop；　a　more　senior　Party　member；　a　nonbanker。　〃Our　interim　solution　would　be　to　bring　in；　at　once；　a　few　aircraft　loads　of　pounds　sterling　to　cover　withdrawals。〃　He　saw　both　men's　eyes　narrow　slightly。
　〃That　would　hardly　support　the　Hong　Kong　dollar。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　our　bankers　know　that。　But　Blacs；　the　Victoria　and　Bank　of　England　decided　this　would　be　best　in　the　interim。　We　just　don't　have　enough　Hong　Kong　cash　to　satisfy　every　depositor。〃
　The　silence　thickened。　Dunross　waited。　Johnjohn　had　told　him　he　believed　the　Bank　of　China　did　not　have　substantial　reserves　of　pounds　because　of　the　currency　restrictions　on　their　movement　in　and　out　of　Britain　but　had　very　substantial　amounts　of　Hong　Kong　dollars　for　which　there　were　no　export　restrictions。
　〃It　would　not　be　at　all　good　for　the　Hong　Kong　dollar　to　be　weakened；〃　Tip　Tok…toh　said。　He　blew　his　nose　noisily。　〃Not　good　for　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Tip　Tok…toh's　eyes　hardened　and　he　leaned　forward。　〃Is　it　true；　tai…pan；　that　the　Orlin　Merchant　Bank　won't　renew　your　revolving　fund？〃
　Dunross's　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　true　that　your　fine　bank　will　not　cover　this　loan　or　advance　you　enough　to　stave　off　the　Rothwell…Gornt　attack　on　your　stock？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　was　very　pleased　to　hear　the　calm　quality　of　his　voice。
　〃And　true　that　many　old　friends　have　refused　credit　to　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　true　that　the　。。。　the　person　Hiro　Toda　arrives　this　afternoon　and　requires　payment　for　ships　ordered　from　his　Japanese　shipyards　shortly？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　true　that　Mata　and　Tung　and　their　Great　Good　Luck　pany　of　Macao　have　tripled　their　normal　order　for　gold　bullion　but　will　not　help　you　directly？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross's　already　fine…tuned　concentration　increased。
　〃And　true　that　the　running…dog　Soviet　hegemonists　have　once　more；　impudently；　very　very　impudently；　applied　for　a　banking　charter　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃I　believe　so。　Johnjohn　told　me　they　had。　I'm　not　sure。　I　would　presume　he　would　not　tell　me　a　falsehood。〃
　〃What　did　he　tell　you？〃
　Dunross　repeated　it　verbatim；　ending；　〃Certainly　the　application　would　be　opposed　by　me；　the　boards　of　all　British　banks；　all　the　tai…pans　and　the　governor。　Johnjohn　also　said　the　hegemonists　had　the　temerity　to　offer　immediate　and　substantial　amounts　of　HK　dollars　to　assist　them　in　their　present　trouble。〃
　Tip　Tok…toh　finished　his　coffee。　〃Would　you　like　some　more？〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　noted　that　L'eung　poured　and　he　felt　he　had　achieved　a　great　step　forward。　Last　night　he　had　delicately　mentioned　the　Moscow　bank　to　Phillip　Chen；　knowing　that　Phillip　would　know　how　to　pass　the　information　on；　which　would　of　course　indicate　to　such　an　astute　man　as　Tiptop　the　real　reason　for　the　urgent　meeting　and　so　give　him　the　necessary　time　to　contact　the　decision…maker　who　would　assess　its　importance　and　ways　to　acquiesce　or　not。　Dunross　could　feel　a　sheen　of　sweat　on　his　forehead　and　prayed　that　neither　of　the　men　opposite　him　noticed　it。　His　anxiety　would　push　the　price　up　…　if　a　deal　was　to　be　made。
　〃Terrible；　terrible；〃　Tiptop　said　thoughtfully。　〃Terrible　times！　Old　Friends　forsaking　Old　Friends；　enemies　being　weled　to　the　hearth　。。。　terrible。　Oh　by　the　way；　tai…pan；　one　of　our　old　friends　asks　if　you　could　get　him　a　shipment　of　goods。　Thorium　oxide　I　think　it　was。〃
　With　a　great　effort　Dunross　kept　his　face　clean。　Thorium　oxide　was　a　rare　earth；　the　essential　ingredient　for　old…fashioned　gas　mantles：　it　made　the　mantle　emit　its　brilliant　white　light。　Last　year　he　had　happened　to　hear　that　Hong　Kong　had　recently　bee　the　greatest　user　after　the　United　States。　His　curiosity　had　peaked　as　Struan's　were　not　in　what　must　clearly　be　a　profitable　trade。　Quickly　he　had　found　out　that　access　to　the　material　was　relatively　easy　and　that　the　trade　was　prodigious；　quite　secret；　with　many　small　importers；　all　of　them　very　vague　about　their　business。　In　nature；　thorium　occurred　in　various　radioactive　isotopes。　Some　of　these　were　easily　converted　into　fissionable　uranium　235；　and　thorium　232　itself　was　an　enormously　valuable　breeder　material　for　an　atomic　pile。　Of　course；　these　and　many　other　thorium　derivatives　were　restricted　strategic　materials　but　he　had　been　astounded　to　discover　the　oxide　and　nitrate；　chemically　easily　convertible；　were　not。
　He　could　never　find　out　where　the　thorium　oxides　actually　went。　Of　course　into　China。　For　a　long　time；　he　and　others　had　suspected　the　PRC　of　having　a　crash　atomic　program；　though　everyone　believed　it　had　to　be　formulative　and　at　least　ten　years　from　fruition。　The　idea　of　China　nuclear　armed　filled　him　with　mixed　feelings。　On　the　one　hand；　any　nuclear　proliferation　was　dangerous；　on　the　other；　as　a　nuclear　power　China　would　instantly　bee　a　formidable　rival　to　Soviet　Russia；　even　an　equal　to　Soviet　Russia；　even　a　threat；　certainly　unconquerable　…　particularly　if　it　also　had　the　means　to　deliver　a　retaliatory　strike。
　Dunross　saw　both　men　looking　at　him。　The　small　vein　in　L'eung's　forehead　was　pulsing　though　his　face　was　impassive。　〃That　might　be　possible；　Mr。　Tip。　How　much　would　be　needed　and　when？〃
　〃I　believe　immediately；　as　much　as　can　be　obtained。　As　you　know；　the　PRC　is　attempting　to　modernize　but　much　of　our　lighting　is　still　by　gas。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Where　would　you　obtain　the　oxides　or　nitrates？〃
　〃Australia　would　probably　be　the　quickest；　though　I've　no　idea　at　this　moment　about　quality。　Outside　of　the　United　States；〃　he　added　delicately；　〃it's　only　found　in　Tasmania；　Brazil；　India；　South　Africa；　Rhodesia　and　the　Urals　。。。　big　deposits　there。〃　Neither　man　smiled。　〃I　imagine　Rhodesia　and　Tasmania'd　be　best。　Is　there　anyone　Phillip　or　I　should　deal　with？〃
　〃A　Mr。　Vee　Cee　Ng；　in　Princes　Building。〃
　Dunross　bit　back　a　whistle　as　another　piece　of　the　puzzle　fell　into　place。　Mr。　Vee　Cee　Ng；　Photographer　Ng；　was　a　great　friend　of　Tsu…yan；　the　missing　Tsu…yan；　his　old　friend　and　associate　who　had　mysteriously　fled　into　China　over　the　Macao　border。　Tsu…yan　had　been　one　of　the　thorium　importers。　Up　to　now；　the　connection　had　been　meaningless。　〃I　know　Mr。　Ng。　By　the　way；　how　is　my　old　friend；　Tsu…yan？〃
　L'eung　was　plainly　startled。　Bull's…eye；　Dunross　thought　grimly；　shocked　that　he　had　never　once　suspected　Tsu…yan　of　being　munist　or　having　munist　leanings。
　〃Tsu…yan？〃　Tiptop　frowned。　〃I　haven't　seen　him　for　a　week　or　more。　Why？〃
　〃I　heard　he　was　visiting　Peking　by　way　of　Macao。〃
　〃Curious！　That's　very　curious。　I　wonder　why　he'd　want　to　do　that　…　an　arch…capitalist？　Well；　wonders　will　never　cease。　If　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　contact　Mr。　Ng　direct；　I'm　sure　he　will　give　you　the　details。〃
　〃I'll　do　that　this　morning。　As　soon　as　I　get　back　to　the　office。〃　Dunross　waited。　There　would　be　other　concessions　before　they　would　grant　what　he　sought；　if　it　was　to　be　granted。　His　mind　was　racing　with　the　implication　of　their　first　request；　how　to　get　thorium　oxides；　whether　to　get　them；　wanting　to　know　how　far　along　the　PRC　was　with　its　atomic　program；　knowing　they　would　never　tell　him　that。　L'eung　took　out　a　pack　of　cigarettes　and　offered　it。
　〃No　thanks；〃　he　said。
　Both　men　lit　up。　Tiptop　coughed　and　blew　his　nose。　〃It's　curious；　tai…pan；〃　he　said；　〃very　curious　that　you　go　out　of　your　way　to　help　the　Victoria　and　Blacs　and　all　your　capitalist　banks　while　the　strong　rumor　is　that　they'll　not　help　you　in　your　need。〃
　〃Perhaps　they'll　see　the　error　of　their　ways；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Sometimes　it's　necessary　to　forget　present　advantages　for　the　mon　good。　It　would　be　bad　for　the　Middle　Kingdom　for　Hong　Kong　to　falter。〃　He　noted　the　scorn　on　L'eung's　face　but　it　did　not　bother　him。　〃It's　ancient　Chinese　doctrine　not　to　forget　Old　Friends；　trusted　ones；　and　as　long　as　I'm　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　and　have　power；　Mr。　Tip；　I　and　those　like　me　…　Mr。　Johnjohn　for　one；　our　governor　for　another　…　will　give　eternal　friendship　to　the　Middle　Kingdom　and　will　never　permit　hegemonists　to　thrive　on　our　barren　rock。〃
　Tiptop　said　sharply；　〃It　is　our　barren　rock；　Mr。　Dunross；　that　is　presently　administered　by　the　British；　is　it　not？〃
　〃Hong　Kong　is　and　always　was　earth　of　the　Middle　Kingdom。〃
　〃I　will　let　your　definition　pass　for　the　moment　but　everything　in　Kowloon　and　the　New　Territories　north　of　Boundary　Road　reverts　to　us　in　thirty…five…odd