jamesclavell.noblehouse-第184章

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et　between　us。　I　think；　too；　it　would　be　equally　better　to　keep　it　secret　from　her；　Lord；　forever。　But　we　know　and　she　will　know　where　her　rice　bowl　lies。〃
　Gornt　beamed。　The　good　years　were　worth　all　the　patience　and　planning　and　the　little　money　involved。　Everyone　gained；　he　told　himself；　and　there　is　enjoyment　yet　to　e。
　Yes；　he　thought　and　concentrated　on　Beauty　of　the　Snow。　〃Life　is　very　good；〃　he　said；　fondling　her。
　〃I　am　happy　you're　happy；　Honored　Sir。　I　am　happy　too。　Your　shower　was　a　gift　of　the　gods。　I　washed　my　hair；　everything。〃　She　smiled。　〃If　you　don't　want　me　to　play　the　prank　yet　on　your　friends；　would　you　care　to　pillow？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　delighted　as　always　by　the　forthrightness　of　a　Chinese　pillow　partner。　His　father　had　explained　it　early：　〃You　give　them　money；　they　give　you　their　youth；　the　Clouds　and　the　Rain　and　entertain　you。　In　Asia　it's　a　fair　and　honorable　exchange。　The　more　their　youth；　the　more　the　laughter　and　gratification；　the　more　you　must　pay。　That's　the　bargain；　but　don't　expect　romance　or　real　tears　…　that's　not　part　of　their　mitment。　Just　temporary　entertainment　and　pillowing。　Don't　abuse　the　fairness！〃
　Happily　Gornt　took　off　his　clothes　and　lay　beside　her。　She　ran　her　hands　over　his　chest；　the　hair　dark；　muscles　sleek；　and　began。　Soon　she　was　making　the　small　noises　of　passion；　encouraging　him。　And　though　she　had　been　told　by　the　mama…san　that　this　quai　loh　was　different　and　there　was　no　need　to　pretend；　instinctively　she　was　remembering　the　first　rule　of　being　a　pillow　partner　to　strangers：　〃Never　let　your　body　bee　involved　with　a　customer　for　then　you　cannot　perform　with　taste　or　daring。　Never　forget；　when　with　a　quai　loh；　you　must　always　pretend　to　enjoy　him　greatly；　always　pretend　to　achieve　the　Clouds　and　the　Rain；　otherwise　he'll　consider　that　somehow　it's　an　affront　to　his　masculinity。　Quai　loh　are　uncivilized　and　will　never　understand　that　the　yin　cannot　be　bought　and　that　your　gift　of　coupling　is　for　the　customer's　enjoyment　solely。〃
　When　Gornt　was　finished　and　his　heart　had　slowed；　Beauty　of　the　Snow　got　out　of　bed　and　went　to　the　bathroom　and　showered　again；　singing　happily。　In　euphoria　he　rested　and　put　his　hands　under　his　head。　Soon　she　came　back　with　a　towel。　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said　and　dried　himself　and　she　slid　in　beside　him　once　more。　〃Oh　I　feel　so　clean　and　marvelous。　Shall　we　pillow　again？〃
　〃Not　now；　Beauty　of　the　Snow。　Now　you　can　rest　and　I　will　let　my　mind　wander。　You　have　settled　the　yang　very　favorably。　I　will　inform　the　mama…san。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　politely。　〃I　would　like　you　as　my　special　customer。〃
　He　nodded；　pleasured　by　her　and　her　warmth　and　sensuousness。　When　would　it　be　best　for　her　to　e　on　deck？　he　asked　himself　again；　quite　confident　that　Bartlett　and　Orlanda　would　be　there　now　and　not　in　bed　as　a　civilized　person　would　be。
　A　chuckle　went　through　him。
　There　was　a　porthole　beside　the　bed　and　he　could　see　the　lights　of　Kowloon　in　the　distance；　Kowloon　and　the　dockyard　of　Kowloon。　The　engines　throbbed　sweetly；　and　in　a　moment　he　got　out　of　the　bed　and　went　to　the　cupboard。　In　it　were　some　very　expensive　nightdresses　and　underthings　and　multicolored　robes　and　rich　lounging　housecoats　that　he　had　bought　for　Orlanda。　It　amused　him　to　keep　them　for　others　to　wear。
　〃Make　yourself　very　pretty　and　put　this　on。〃　He　gave　her　a　yellow　silk；　floor…length　chong…sam　that　had　been　one　of　Orlanda's　favorites。　〃Wear　nothing　underneath。〃
　〃Yes；　certainly。　Oh；　how　beautiful　it　is！〃
　He　began　to　dress。　〃If　my　prank　works　you　may　keep　it；　as　a　bonus；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh！　Oh；　then　everything　will　be　as　you　wish；〃　she　said　fervently；　her　open　avarice　making　him　laugh。
　〃We're　going　to　drop　my　passengers　Hong　Kong　side　first。〃　He　pointed　out　of　the　porthole。　〃You　see　that　big　freighter；　the　one　tied　up　at　the　wharf　with　the　Hammer　and　Sickle　flag？〃
　〃Ah　yes；　Lord。　The　ship　of　ill…omen？　I　see　it　now！〃
　〃When　we　are　broadside　please　e　on　deck。〃
　〃I　understand。　What　should　I　say？〃
　〃Nothing。　Just　smile　sweetly　at　the　man　and　the　woman；　then　at　me　and　e　below　again　and　wait　for　me　here。〃
　Beauty　of　the　Snow　laughed。　〃Is　that　all？〃
　〃Yes；　just　be　sweet　and　beautiful　and　smile　…　particularly　at　the　woman。〃
　〃Ah！　Am　I　to　like　her　or　hate　her？〃　she　asked　at　once。
　〃Neither；〃　he　said；　impressed　with　her　shrewdness；　ecstatically　aware　that　they　would　both　loathe　each　other　on　sight。
　
　In　the　privacy　of　his　cabin　aboard　the　Sovetsky　Ivanov；　Captain　Gregor　Suslev　finished　encoding　the　urgent　message；　then　sipped　some　vodka；　rechecking　the　cable。　〃Ivanov　to　Center。　Arthur　reports　the　files　may　be　counterfeit。　His　friend　will　supply　me　with　copies　tonight。　Delighted　to　report　Arthur's　friend　also　intercepted　the　carrier　information。　Remend　he　be　given　an　immediate　bonus。　I　have　had　extra　copies　sent　by　mail　to　Bangkok　for　the　pouch；　also　London　and　Berlin　for　safety。〃
　Satisfied；　he　put　the　code　books　back　into　the　safe　and　locked　it；　then　picked　up　the　phone。　〃Send　me　the　duty　signalman。　And　the　first　officer。〃　He　unbolted　the　cabin　door　then　went　back　and　stared　out　the　porthole　at　the　carrier　across　the　harbor；　then　saw　the　passing　pleasure　cruiser。　He　recognized　the　Sea　Witch。　Idly　he　picked　up　his　binoculars　and　focused。　He　saw　Gornt　on　the　aft　deck；　a　girl　and　another　man　with　his　back　toward　him　sitting　around　a　table。　His　high…powered　lenses　raked　the　ship　and　his　envy　soared。　That　bastard　knows　how　to　live；　he　thought。　What　a　beauty！　If　only　I　could　have　one　such　as　her　on　the　Caspian；　berthed　at　Baku！
　Not　so　much　to　pray　for；　he　told　himself；　watching　the　Sea　Witch　pass；　not　after　so　much　service；　so　profitable　to　the　cause。　Many　missars　do　…　senior　ones。
　Again　his　glasses　centered　the　group。　Another　girl　came　up　from　below；　an　Asian　beauty；　and　then　there　was　a　polite　knock　on　his　door。
　〃Evening；　rade　Captain；〃　the　signalman　said。　He　accepted　the　message　and　signed　for　it。
　〃Send　it　at　once。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　The　first　officer　arrived。　Vassili　Boradinov　was　a　tough；　good…looking　man　in　his　thirties；　captain；　KGB；　graduate　of　the　espionage　department　of　Vladivostok　University　with　a　master　mariner's　ticket。　〃Yes；　rade　Captain？〃
　Suslev　handed　him　a　decoded　cable　from　the　pile　on　his　desk。　It　read：　〃First　Officer　Vassili　Boradinov　will　assume　Dimitri　Metkin's　duties　as　missar　of　the　Ivanov　but　Captain　Suslev　will　be　in　plete　mand　on　all　levels　until　alternate　arrangements　are　made。〃
　〃Congratulations；〃　he　said。
　Boradinov　beamed。　〃Yes　sir。　Thank　you。　What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　Suslev　held　up　the　key　to　the　safe。　〃If　I　fail　to　contact　you　or　return　by　midnight　tomorrow；　open　the　safe。　Instructions　are　in　the　package　marked　'Emergency　One。'　They　will　tell　you　how　to　proceed。　Next　。。。〃　He　handed　him　a　sealed　envelope。　〃This　gives　two　phone　numbers　where　I　can　be　reached。　Open　it　only　in　an　emergency。〃
　〃Very　well。〃　Sweat　beaded　the　younger　man's　face。
　〃No　need　to　worry。　You're　perfectly　capable　of　taking　mand。〃
　〃I　hope　that　will　not　be　necessary。〃
　Gregor　Suslev　laughed。。　〃So　do　I；　my　young　friend。　Please　sit　down。〃　He　poured　two　vodkas。　〃You　deserve　the　promotion。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Boradinov　hesitated。　〃What　happened　to　Metkin？〃
　〃The　first　thing　is　he　made　a　stupid　and　unnecessary　mistake。　Next；　he　was　betrayed。　Or　he　betrayed　himself。　Or　the　god…cursed　SI　tailed　him　and　caught　him。　Or　the　CIA　pegged　him。　Whatever　happened；　the　poor　fool　should　never　have　exceeded　his　authority　and　put　himself　into　such　danger。　Stupid　to　risk　himself；　to　say　nothing　of　our　whole　security。　Stupid！〃
　The　first　officer　shifted　nervously　in　his　chair。　〃What's　our　plan？〃
　〃To　deny　everything。　And　to　do　nothing　for　the　moment。　We're　due　to　sail　on　Tuesday　at　midnight；　we　keep　to　that　plan。〃
　Boradinov　looked　out　of　the　porthole　at　the　carrier；　his　face　tight。　〃Pity。　That　material　could　have　jumped　us　forward　a　quantum。〃
　〃What　material？〃　Suslev　asked；　his　eyes　narrowing。
　〃Didn't　you　know；　sir？　Before　Dimitri　left；　the　poor　fellow　whispered　he'd　heard　that　this　time　we　were　to　get　some　incredible　information　…　a　copy　of　the　guidance　system　and　a　copy　of　their　armament　manifest；　including　atomics　…　that's　why　he　was　going　himself。　It　was　too　important　to　trust　to　an　ordinary　courier。　I　must　tell　you　I　volunteered　to　go　in　his　place。〃
　Suslev　covered　his　shock　that　Metkin　had　confided　in　anyone。　〃Where　did　he　hear　that？〃
　The　other　man　shrugged。　〃He　didn't　say。　I　presume　the　American　sailor　told　him　when　Dimitri　took　the　call　at　the　phone　box　to　arrange　the　drop。〃　He　wiped　a　bead　of　sweat　away。　〃They'll　break　him；　won't　they？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Suslev　said　thinly；　wanting　his　subordinate　suitably　indoctrinated。　〃They　can　break　anyone。　That's　why　we　have　to　be　prepared。〃　He　fingered　the　slight　bulge　of　the　poison　capsule　in　the　point　of　his　lapel　and　Boradinov　shuddered。　〃Better　to　have　it　quickly。〃
　〃Bastards！　They　must　have　been　tipped　to　capture　him　before　he　did　it。　Terrible。　They're　all　animals。〃
　〃Did　。。。　did　Dimitri　say　anything　else？　Before　he　left？〃
　〃No；　just　that　he　hoped　we'd　all　get　a　few　weeks'　leave　…　he　wanted　to　visit　his　family　in　his　beloved　Crimea。〃
　Satisfied　that　he　was　covered；　Suslev　shrugged。　〃A　great　pity。　I　liked　him　very　much。〃
　〃Yes。　Such　a　shame　when　he　was　due　to　retire　so　soon。　He　was　a　good　man　even　though　he　made　such　a　mistake。　What　will　they　do　to　him？〃
　Suslev　considered　showing　Boradinov　one　of　the　other　decoded　cables　on　his　desk　that　said　in　part：　〃。。。　Advise　Arthur　that；　following　his　request　for　a　Priority　One　on　the　traitor　Metkin；　an　immediate　intercept　was　ordered　for　Bombay。〃　No　need　to　give　away　that　information；　he　thought。　The　less　Boradinov　knows　the　better。　〃He'll　just　vanish　…　until　we　catch　a　bigger　fish　of　theirs　to　use　as　an　exchange。　The　KGB　looks　after　their　own；〃　he　added　piously；　not　believing　it；　knowing　that　the　younger　man　did　not　believe　it　either；　but　the　saying　of　it　was　obligatory　and　policy。
　They'd　have　to　exchange　me；　he　thought；　very　satisfied。　Yes；　and　very　quickly。　I　know　too　many　secrets。　They're　my　only　protection。　If　it　wasn't　for　what　I　know　they'd　order　a　Priority　One　on　me　as　fast　as　they　did　on　Metkin。　So　would　I　if　I　was　them。　Would　I　have　bit　my　lapel　as　that　stupid　turd　should　have　done？
　A　shudder　went　through　him。　I　don't　know。
　He　sipped　his　vodka。　It　tasted　very　good　to　him。　I　don't　want　to　die。　This　life　is　too　good。
　〃You're　going　ashore　again；　rade　Captain？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Suslev　concentrated。　He　handed　the　younger　man　a　note　he　had　typed　and　signed。　〃You're　in　mand　now。　Here's　your　authority　…　post　it　on　the　bridge。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Tomorr…　〃　Boradinov　stopped　as　the　ship's　inter　came　on　and　the　urgent　voice　said　rapidly：　〃This's　the　bridge！　There're　two　police　cars　converging　on　the　main　gangway　filled　with　police　。。。〃　Both　Suslev　and　Boradinov　blanched。　〃。。。　about　a　dozen　of　them。　What　should　we　do？　Stop　them；　repel　them；　what　do　we　do？〃
　Suslev　jerked　the　sending　switch　on。　〃Do　nothing！〃　He　hesitated　then　switched　on　the　ship's　inter。　〃All　hands：　Emergency；　Red　One　。。。〃　This　order　meant：　〃Hostile　visitors　are　ing　aboard。　Radio　and　radar　rooms：　arm　destructs　on　all　secret　equipment。〃　He　switched　the　sender　off　and　hissed　at　Bo