jamesclavell.noblehouse-第176章

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ther　Europeans。　There　was　not　an　inch　of　free　space；　all　gangways　clogged；　seats　clogged；　and　already　blocks　of　passengers　crowded　the　ramp　exit　on　both　decks。　The　Chinese　beside　her　were　awkwardly　reading　their　newspapers　as　people　would　on　any　subway　except　that；　from　time　to　time；　they　would　hawk　noisily　to　clear　their　throats。　One　spat。　On　the　bulkhead　right　in　front　of　him　was　a　large　sign　in　Chinese　and　English：　no　spitting　…　fine　twenty　dollars。　He　hawked　again　and　Casey　wanted　to　take　his　newspaper　and　thump　him　with　it。　The　tai…pan's　remark　flooded　her　memory：　〃We've　been　trying　to　change　them　for　a　hundred　and　twenty…odd　years；　but　Chinese　don't　change　easily。〃
　It's　not　just　them；　she　thought；　her　head　aching。　It's　everyone　and　everything　in　this　man's　world。　The　tai…pan's　right。　So　what　am　I　going　to　do？　About　Linc？　Change　the　rules　or　not？　I　have　already。　I've　gone　over　his　head　with　the　bail…out　scheme。　That's　a　first。　Am　I　going　to　tell　him　about　it　or　not？　Dunross　won't　give　me　away　and　Murtagh'll　take　all　the　credit；　has　to；　if　First　Central'll　buy　it。　I'll　have　to　tell　Linc　sometime。　But　whether　the　bail…out　works　or　not；　what　about　Linc　and　me？　Her　eyes　were　fixed　ahead；　unseeing；　as　she　tried　to　decide。　The　ferry　was　nearing　the　Kowloon　Terminal　berth　now。　Two　other　ferries　leaving　for　Hong　Kong　side　swirled　out　of　the　way　for　the　iners。　Everyone　got　up　and　began　to　jostle　for　position　at　the　port　exit　ramp。　The　ship　heeled　slightly；　unbalanced。　Jesus；　she　thought　uneasily；　jerked　out　of　her　reverie；　there　must　be　five　hundred　of　us　on　each　deck。　Then　she　winced　as　an　impatient　Chinese　matron　squeezed　past；　stomped　carelessly　on　her　foot　and　pushed　on　through　the　throng　to　the　head　of　the　line。　Casey　got　up；　her　foot　hurting；　wanting　to　belt　the　woman　with　her　umbrella。
　〃They're　something　else；　eh？〃　the　tall　American　behind　her　said　with　grim　good　humor。
　〃What？　Oh　yes；　yes　。。。　something　else；　some　of　them。〃　People　surrounded　her；　crowding　her；　pressing　too　close。　Suddenly　she　felt　claustrophobic　and　sickened。　The　man　sensed　it　and　used　his　bulk　to　force　a　little　room。　Those　who　were　pushed　aside　gave　way　with　ill　humor。　〃Thanks；〃　she　said；　relieved；　the　nausea　gone。　〃Yes；　thanks。〃
　〃I'm　Rosemont；　Stanley　Rosemont。　We　met　at　the　tai…pan's。〃
　Casey　turned；　startled。　〃Oh；　sorry；　I　guess　。。。　I　guess　I　was　a　million　miles　away；　I　didn't　。。。　sorry。　How's　it　going？〃　she　asked；　not　remembering　him。
　〃More　of　the　same；　Casey。〃　Rosemont　looked　down　at　her。　〃Not　so　good　with　you；　huh？〃　he　asked　kindly。
　〃Oh　I'm　fine。　Sure；　very　fine。〃　She　turned　away；　self…conscious　that　he'd　noticed。　Sailors　were　fore　and　aft　and　they　tossed　out　guy　lines　which　were　instantly　caught　and　dropped　over　stanchions。　The　thick　ropes　screeched　under　the　tension；　setting　her　teeth　on　edge。　As　the　ferry　eased　perfectly　into　its　berth；　the　drawbridge　gate　began　to　lower　but　before　it　was　down　pletely　the　crowd　was　surging　off　the　boat；　Casey　carried　with　it。　After　a　few　yards　the　pressure　eased　and　she　walked　up　the　ramp　at　her　own　pace；　other　passengers　flooding　down　the　other　ramp　opposite　to　board　for　Hong　Kong　side。　Rosemont　caught　up　with　her。　〃You　at　the　V　and　A？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃You？〃
　〃Oh　no！　We've　an　apartment　Hong　Kong　side　…　the　consulate　owns　it。〃
　〃Have　you　been　here　long？〃
　〃Two　years。　It's　interesting；　Casey。　After　a　month　or　so　you　feel　locked　in　…　no　place　to　go；　so　many　people；　seeing　the　same　friends　day　after　day。　But　soon　it's　great。　Soon　you　get　to　feel　you're　at　the　center　of　the　action；　the　center　of　Asia　where　all　the　action　is　today。　Sure；　Hong　Kong's　the　center　of　Asia　…　papers're　good；　you've　great　food；　good　golf；　racing；　boating　and　it's　easy　to　go　to　Taipei；　Bangkok　or　wherever。　Hong　Kong's　okay　…　course　it's　nothing　like　Japan。　Japan's　something　else。　That's　like　out　of　Oz。〃
　〃Is　that　good　or　bad？〃
　〃Great　…　if　you're　a　man。　Tough　for　wives；　very　tough；　and　for　kids。　Your　helplessness；　your　alienness　is　shoved　back　at　you　…　you　can't　even　read　a　street　sign。　I　was　there　for　a　two…year　tour。　I　liked　it　a　lot。　Athena；　my　wife；　she　got　to　hate　it。〃　Rosemont　laughed。　〃She　hates　Hong　Kong　and　wants　to　go　back　to　Indochina；　to　Vietnam　or　Cambodia。　She　was　a　nurse　there　some　years　back　with　the　French　Army。〃
　Through　the　fog　of　her　own　problems　Casey　heard　an　undercurrent　and　she　began　to　listen。　〃She's　French？〃
　〃American。　Her　father　was　ambassador　for　a　tour　during　the　French　war。〃
　〃You　have　kids？〃　she　asked。
　〃Two。　Both　sons。　Athena　was　married　before。〃
　Another　undercurrent。　〃Your　sons　were　from　her　first　marriage？〃
　〃One　was。　She　was　married　to　a　Vietnamese。　He　was　killed　just　before　Dien　Bien　Phu；　that　was　when　the　French　ran　the　country　or　were　getting　run　out。　Poor　guy　was　killed　before　young　Vien　was　born。　He's　like　my　own　son。　Yes；　both　my　boys　are　great。　You　staying　long？〃
　〃Depends　on　my　boss　and　our　deal。　Guess　you　know　we're　hoping　to　tie　in　with　Struan's。〃
　〃It's　the　talk　of　the　town　…　apart　from　the　fire　at　Aberdeen；　the　flooding；　all　the　mud　slides；　the　storm；　Struan's　stock　crash；　the　bank　runs　and　the　market　falling　apart　…　one　thing　about　Hong　Kong：　it's　never　dull。　You　think　he'll　make　it？〃
　〃The　tai…pan？　I've　just　left　him。　I　hope　so。　He's　confident；　yes　very　confident。　I　like　him。〃
　〃Yes。　I　like　Bartlett　too。　You　been　with　him　long？〃
　〃Seven　years；　almost。〃
　They　were　out　of　the　terminal　now；　the　road　just　as　crowded。　On　the　right　was　the　harbor　and　they　chatted；　heading　east　for　the　pedestrian　underpass　that　would　take　them　to　the　V　and　A。　Rosemont　pointed　at　a　small　shop；　the　Rice　Bowl。　〃Athena　works　there　from　time　to　time。　It's　a　charity　shop；　run　by　Americans。　All　the　profit　goes　to　refugees。　Lot　of　the　wives　put　in　a　day　or　two　there；　keeps　them　busy。　I　guess　you're　busy　all　the　time。〃
　〃Only　seven　days　a　week。〃
　〃I　heard　Linc　say　that　you　were　taking　off　over　the　weekend　for　Taipei。　Will　that　be　your　first　visit？〃
　〃Yes　…　but　I'm　not　going；　just　Linc　and　the　tai…pan。〃　Casey　tried　to　stop　the　immediate　thought　welling　but　she　could　not：　Is　he　going　to　take　Orlanda？　He's　right；　it's　none　of　my　affair。　But　Par…Con　is。　And　since　Linc's　hooked；　lined　and　sinkered　by　the　enemy；　the　less　he　knows　about　the　First　Central　ploy　the　better。
　Pleased　that　she　could　e　to　the　decision　dispassionately；　she　continued　to　talk　with　Rosemont；　answering　his　questions；　not　really　concentrating；　pleased　to　converse　with　a　friendly　soul　who　was　as　informative　as　he　was　interested。　〃。。。　and　Taipei's　different；　more　easygoing；　less　hard…nosed；　but　a　er；〃　he　was　saying。　〃We're　popular　in　Taiwan　which's　a　change。　So　you're　really　going　to　spread？　On　a　big　deal　like　this　I　guess　you've　a　dozen　execs　on　hand？〃
　〃No。　There's　just　the　two　of　us　at　the　moment；　and　Forrester　…　he's　head　of　our　foam　division　…　and　our　attorney。〃　Mentioning　him；　Casey　hardened。　Damn　him　for　trying　to　stymie　us。　〃Linc's　got　Par…Con　organized　very　well。　I　handle　the　day…to…day　and　he　fixes　policy。〃
　〃You're　a　public　pany？〃
　〃Oh　sure；　but　that's　okay　too。　Linc　has　control　and　our　directors　and　stockholders　don't　give　us　a　hassle。　Dividends're　on　the　rise；　and　if　the　Struan　deal　goes　through　they'll　skyrocket。〃
　〃We　could　use　more　U。S。　firms　in　Asia。　Trade　is　what　made　the　Empire　great　for　the　British。　I　wish　you　luck；　Casey。　Hey；　that　reminds　me；〃　he　added　casually；　〃you　remember　Ed；　Ed　Langan；　my　buddy；　who　was　with　me　at　the　tai…pan's　party？　He　knows　one　of　your　stockholders。　A　guy　called　Bestacio；　some　name　like　that。〃
　Casey　was　startled。　〃Banastasio？　Vincenzo　Banastasio？〃
　〃Yes；　I　think　that　was　it；〃　he　told　her；　lying　easily；　watching　her；　and　at　her　look　added；　〃Did　I　say　something？〃
　〃No；　it's　just　a　coincidence。　Banastasio　arrives　tomorrow。　Tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃What？〃
　Casey　saw　him　staring　at　her　and　she　laughed。　〃You　can　tell　your　friend　he's　staying　at　the　Hilton。〃
　Rosemont's　mind　buzzed。　〃Tomorrow？　I'll　be　goddamned。〃
　Casey　said　carefully；　〃He's　a　good　friend　of　Langan's？〃
　〃No；　but　he　knows　him。　He　says　Banastasio's　quite　a　guy。　A　gambler；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　don't　like　him？〃
　〃I've　only　met　him　a　couple　of　times。　At　the　races。　He's　big　at　Del　Mar。　I'm　not　much　on　gamblers　or　gambling。〃
　They　were　weaving　through　the　crowds。　People　jostled　from　behind　and　oning　hordes　jostled　from　the　front。　The　underpass　stank　of　mildew　and　bodies。　She　was　very　glad　to　get　back　into　the　air　once　more　and　looking　forward　to　a　shower　and　an　aspirin　and　a　rest　before　8：00　p。m。　Beyond　the　buildings　ahead　was　the　whole　of　the　eastern　harbor。　A　departing　jet　barreled　into　the　overcast。　Rosemont　caught　sight　of　the　tall　deck　derricks　of　the　Sovetsky　Ivanov　tied　up　alongside。　Involuntarily　he　glanced　Hong　Kong　side　and　saw　how　easy　it　would　be　for　high…powered　binoculars　to　rake　the　U。S。　carrier　and　almost　count　her　rivets。
　〃Makes　you　proud　to　be　an　American；　doesn't　it？〃　Casey　said　happily；　following　his　look。　〃If　you're　consulate；　you'll　get　to　go　aboard　her？〃
　〃Sure。　Guided　tour！〃
　〃Lucky　you。〃
　〃I　was　there　yesterday。　The　captain　had　a　shindig　for　locals。　I　tagged　along。〃　Again　Rosemont　told　the　lie　easily。　He　had　gone　aboard　late　last　night　and　again　this　morning。　His　initial　interview　with　the　admiral；　captain　and　security　chief　had　been　stormy。　It　was　not　until　he　produced　photocopies　of　the　secret　manifest　of　the　ship's　armaments　and　the　guidance　systems　manual　that　they　had　truly　believed　there　had　been　a　vast　security　leak。　Now　the　traitor　was　under　tight　surveillance　in　the　ship's　brig；　guarded　by　his　own　CIA　people；　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Soon　the　man　would　break。　Yes；　Rosemont　thought；　and　after　that；　jail　for　twenty　years。　If　it　was　up　to　me　I'd　drop　the　bastard　in　the　goddamn　harbor。　Shit；　I've　got　nothing　against　the　Metkins　and　the　KGB。　Those　bastards're　just　doing　their　job　for　their　side　…　however　wrong　they　are。　But　our　own　Joes？
　〃Okay；　fella；　you're　caught！　First　tell　us　why　you　did　it。〃
　〃Money。〃
　Jesus　H。　Christ！　The　sailor's　dossier　had　shown　that　he　had　e　from　a　small　town　in　the　Middle　West；　his　work　exemplary　with　nothing　in　his　past　or　present　to　indicate　a　potential　security　risk。　He　was　a　quiet　man；　good　at　puter　programming；　liked　by　his　patriots　and　trusted　by　his　superiors。　No　left…wing　indications；　no　homosexuality；　no　problem　of　blackmail；　no　nothing。　〃Then　why？〃　he　had　asked　him。
　〃This　guy　came　up　to　me　in　San　Diego　and　said　he'd　like　to　know　all　about　the　Corregidor　and　he'd　pay。〃
　〃But　don't　you　understand　about　treason？　About　betraying　your　country？〃
　〃Hell；　all　he　wanted　was　a　few　facts　and　figures。　So　what？　What's　the　difference？　We　can　blast　the　hell　outta　the　goddamn　mies　anytime　we　like。　The　Corregidor's　the　greatest　carrier　afloat！　It　was　a　caper　and　I　wanted　to　see　if　I　could　do　it　and　they　paid　on　the　dot。　。。。〃
　Jesus；　how　we　going　to　keep　security　when　there　are　guys　like　him　with　their　brains　in　their　asses；　Rosemont　asked　himself　wearily。
　He　walked　along；　listening　to　himself　chatting　with　Casey；　probing　her；　trying　to　decide　what　sort　of　a　risk　she　was　and　Bartlett　was；　with　their　tie…in　to　Banastasio。　Soon　they　joined　other　people　going　up　the　wide　steps　to　the　hotel。　A　smiling　pageboy　opene