jamesclavell.noblehouse-第188章

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　Dunross　heard　the　unsaid　when　left　hanging　and　automatically　continued　the　negotiation；　most　of　his　mind　still　beset　by　what　he　had　been　told。　〃Did　you　happen　to　get　my　note；　Mr。　Tip？　I've　taken　care　of　everything　else。　By　the　way；　the　Victoria　will　certainly　assist　the　financing　of　the　thorium。〃　He　added　delicately；　〃Also　most　other　further　requests　…　at　advantageous　terms。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　thank　you。　Yes；　I　received　your　note　and　your　very　kind　invitation。　So　sorry　that　I　was　unwell。　Thank　you；　tai…pan。　How　long　would　your　government　require　the　cash　loan；　if　it　was　possible？〃
　〃I　imagine　thirty　days　would　be　more　than　enough；　perhaps　even　two　weeks。　But　it's　the　Victoria；　Blacs　and　the　other　banks　and　not　the　Hong　Kong　Government。　I　could　tell　you　that　tomorrow。　Do　we　have　the　privilege　of　seeing　you　at　the　races　for　lunch？〃
　〃I　regret　not　for　lunch　but　perhaps　after　lunch；　if　that's　possible。〃
　Dunross　smiled　grimly。　The　perfect　promise。　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　calling。　By　the　way；　Mr。　Yu　was　most　impressed　with　you；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Please　give　him　my　regards。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　him　soon。　In　Canton。〃
　〃I　was　astonished　to　read　your　brother…in…law's　ments　about　the　Middle　Kingdom。〃
　〃Yes。　So　was　I。　My　wife　and　her　brother　have　been　estranged　for　years。　His　views　are　alien；　enemy　and　totally　misguided。〃　Dunross　hesitated。　〃I　hope　to　neutralize　him。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　agree。　Thank　you。　Good　night。〃　The　phone　went　dead。
　Dunross　hung　up。　Christ！　Brian　Kwok！　And　I'd　almost　given　him　the　AMG　papers。　Christ！
　Collecting　his　wits　with　a　great　effort；　he　went　back　into　the　foyer。　Armstrong　and　Sinders　were　still　there。　〃Evening；　may　I　join　you　a　moment？〃
　〃Of　course；　Mr。　Dunross。　This　is　a　pleasant　surprise。　May　I　offer　you　a　drink？〃
　〃Tea；　Chinese　tea。　Thanks。〃
　Their　table　was　away　from　others　and　when　it　was　safe　Dunross　leaned　forward。　〃Robert；　I　hear　you've　arrested　Brian　Kwok；〃　he　said　still　hoping　it　wasn't　true。　The　two　men　stared　at　him。
　〃Who　told　you　that？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　Dunross　recounted　his　conversation。　Both　men　listened　nonmittally　though　from　time　to　time　he　saw　them　glance　at　one　another。　〃Obviously　it's　a　trade；〃　he　told　them。　〃Him　for　the　cash。〃
　Sinders　sipped　his　hot　chocolate。　〃How　important's　the　money？〃
　〃pletely　important；　urgent　and　the　sooner　the　better。〃　Dunross　mopped　his　brow。　〃The　cash　will　pletely　stop　the　bank　runs；　Mr。　Sinders。　We've　got　t…　〃　He　stopped；　aghast。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Sinders　asked。
　〃I　…　I　suddenly　remembered　what　AMG　wrote　in　the　intercepted　report。　That　the　'。。。　police　mole　may　or　may　not　be　part　of　Sevrin。'　Is　he？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃For　chrissake；　don't　play　with　me；〃　Dunross　said　angrily；　〃this's　serious。　You　think　I'm　a　bloody　fool？　There's　a　Sevrin　plant　in　Struan's。　If　Brian's　part　of　Sevrin　I've　a　right　to　know。〃
　〃I　quite　agree；〃　Sinders　said　calmly　though　his　eyes　had　bee　very　flinty。　〃The　moment　the　traitor's　uncovered　you　may　rest　assured　you'll　be　informed。　Have　you　any　idea　who　it　could　be　yet？〃
　Dunross　shook　his　head；　controlling　his　anger。
　Sinders　watched　him。　〃You　were　saying？　'We've　got　to　。。。'　Got　to　what；　Mr。　Dunross？〃
　〃We've　got　to　get　that　cash　at　once。　What's　Brian　done？〃　After　a　moment　Sinders　said；　〃Banks　don't　open　till　Monday。　So　Monday's　D　Day？〃
　〃I　imagine　the　banks　will　have　to　get　the　money　before　then　…　to　open　and　have　the　money　in　the　tills。　What　the　devil's　Brian　done？〃
　Sinders　lit　a　cigarette　for　himself　and　for　Armstrong。　〃If　this　person　Brian　actually　has　been　arrested　I　don't　think　that's　really　a　very　discreet　question；　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　〃I'd've　bet　anything；〃　the　tai…pan　said　helplessly；　〃anything；　but　Tiptop'd　never　suggest　a　trade　unless　it　was　true。　Never。　Brian　must　be　bloody　important　but　Christ；　what's　the　world　ing　to？　Will　you　handle　the　trade　or　will　Mr。　Crosse　…　I　suppose　the　governor's　approval　will　be　needed。〃
　Thoughtfully　the　chief　of　MI…6　blew　the　tip　of　his　cigarette。　〃I　doubt　if　there　will　be　a　trade；　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　〃Why　not？　The　money's　more　impor…　〃
　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；　Mr。　Dunross；　if　this　Brian　Kwok　actually　is　under　arrest。　In　any　event；　Her　Majesty's　Government　could　hardly　be　subject　to　blackmail。　Very　poor　taste。〃
　〃Quite。　But　Sir　Geoffrey　will　agree　at　once。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　He　impressed　me　as　being　much　too　clever　to　do　that。　As　to　trading；　Mr。　Dunross；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　give　us　the　AMG　files。〃
　Dunross　felt　an　ice　pick　in　his　stomach。　〃I　did；　this　evening。〃
　〃For　chrissake；　don't　play　with　me；　this's　serious！　You　think　I'm　a　bloody　fool？〃　Sinders　said　in　exactly　the　same　tone　that　Dunross　had　used。　Abruptly　he　laughed　dryly　and　continued　with　the　same　chilling　calm；　〃You　certainly　gave　us　a　version　of　them　but　unfortunately　they　just　don't　pare　in　quality　with　the　one　intercepted。〃　The　rumpled　man's　eyes　became　even　more　flinty　and　curiously　menacing　though　his　face　did　not　change。　〃Mr。　Dunross；　your　subterfuge　was　deft；　mendable　but　unnecessary。　We　really　do　want　those　files；　the　originals。〃
　〃If　those　don't　satisfy　you；　why　not　go　through　AMG's　papers？〃
　〃I　did。〃　Sinders　smiled　without　humor。　〃Well；　it's　like　the　old　highwayman　saying；　'The　money　or　your　life。'　Possession　of　those　files　may　be　lethal　to　you。　You　agree；　Robert？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Sinders　puffed　his　cigarette。　〃So；　Mr。　Dunross；　your　Mr。　Tiptop　wants　to　trade；　eh？　Everyone　in　Hong　Kong　wants　to　trade。　It's　in　the　air。　Eh？　But　to　trade　you　have　to　give　value　for　value。　I　imagine　if　you　want　concessions　to　get　concessions　from　the　enemy　。。。　well；　all's　fair　in　love　and　war；　they　say。　Isn't　it？〃
　Dunross　kept　his　face　guileless。　〃So　they　say。　I'll　talk　to　the　governor　first　thing。　Let's　keep　this　strictly　confidential　for　the　moment　until　I've　talked　to　him。　Night。〃
　They　watched　him　walk　through　the　swing　doors　and　disappear。
　〃What　do　you　think；　Robert？　Did　Dunross　switch　the　files　on　us？〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃I　don't　know。　His　face　said　nothing。　I　was　watching　closely。　Nothing。　But　he's　as　sharp　as　a　tack。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Sinders　pondered　a　moment。　〃So　the　enemy　want　a　trade；　eh？　I'd　say　we　have　possession　of　this　particular　client　for　twenty…four　hours　at　the　most。　When　do　you　do　his　next　interrogation？〃
　〃6：30　a。m。〃
　〃Oh！　Well　if　you've　an　early　start　we'd　better　be　going。〃　Sinders　called　for　the　check。　〃I'll　consult　with　Mr。　Crosse　but　I　know　what　he'll　say　…　what　in　fact　London　has　ordered。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃They're　very　concerned　because　the　client's　been　party　to　too　many　secrets；　the　General　Staff　Course；　the　Royal　Canadian　Mounted　Police。〃　Sinders　hesitated　again。　〃On　second　thought；　Robert；　now　irrespective　of　what　Mr。　Dunross　does　our　only　course　is　to　step　up　the　debriefing。　Yes。　We'll　cancel　the　6：30　interrogation；　continue　with　the　hourly　schedule；　providing　he's　medically　fit；　and　into　the　Red　Room。〃
　Armstrong　blanched。　〃But　si。。。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Sinders　said；　his　voice　gentle。　〃I　know　he's　a　friend；　was　a　friend；　but　now　your　Mr。　Tiptop　and　your　Mr。　Dunross　have　taken　away　our　time。〃
　
　
　SATURDAY
　
　62
　
　9：32　A。M。：
　The　JAL　jet　from　Tokyo　came　in　low　over　the　sea　and　touched　down　perfectly　at　Kai　Tak　with　a　puff　of　smoke　from　its　wheels。　At　once　its　engines　went　into　reverse　thrust　and　it　howled　toward　the　airport　plex；　decelerating。
　Passengers；　aircrew　and　visitors　were　milling　in　the　busy　terminal；　Customs　and　Immigration　and　waiting　areas。　Outward…bound　was　easy。　Ining　was　mostly　easy。　Except　for　Japanese　nationals。　Chinese　have　long　memories。　The　years　of　the　Japanese　war　occupation　of　China　and　Hong　Kong　were　too　near；　too　strong；　too　vicious　to　forget。　Or　to　forgive。　So　Japanese　nationals　were　checked　more　thoroughly。　Even　members　of　the　JAL　crew　now　going　through；　even　the　pert；　pretty；　polite　air　hostesses；　some　of　whom　were　hardly　alive　when　that　occupation　had　ended；　they　too　were　given　back　their　travel　documents　with　a　frigid　stare。
　Next　to　them　in　line　was　an　American。　'〃Morning；〃　he　said　handing　his　passport　to　the　official。
　'〃Morning。〃　The　young　Chinese　flipped　the　book　open　and　glanced　at　the　photograph　and　at　the　man　and　leafed　through　to　find　the　visa。　Unnoticed；　his　foot　touched　a　hidden　switch。　This　alerted　Crosse　and　Sinders　who　were　in　a　nearby　observation　office。　They　went　to　the　one…way　mirror　and　looked　at　the　man　waiting　at　immigration　in　front　of　one　of　the　six　crowded　lines　of　passengers。
　The　passport；　a　year　old；　said；　〃Vincenzo　Banastasio；　male；　born　New　York　City；　August　16；　1910。　Hair　gray；　eyes　brown。〃　Casually　the　official　checked　the　other　visas　and　stamps：　England；　Spain；　Italy；　Holland；　Mexico；　Venezuela；　Japan。　He　stamped　the　dull　gray　book；　handed　it　back　nonmittally。
　Banastasio　walked　through　to　Customs；　an　expensive　crocodile　briefcase　under　his　arm；　carrying　duty…free　liquor　in　a　gaudy　plastic　carrier；　camera　swinging　off　his　shoulder。'
　〃Good…looking　fellow；〃　Sinders　said。　〃He　takes　care　of　himself。〃　They　saw　him　disappear　into　the　crowds。　Crosse　clicked　on　the　portable　CB。　〃Do　you　have　him　covered？〃　he　asked　into　it。
　〃Yes　sir；〃　came　the　instant　answer。
　〃I'll　keep　monitoring　this　frequency。　Keep　me　advised。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　To　Sinders；　Crosse　said；　〃We'll　have　no　problem　tailing　him。〃
　〃No。　Glad　I've　seen　him。　I　always　like　to　see　an　enemy　in　the　flesh。〃
　〃Is　he？　Enemy？〃
　〃Mr。　Rosemont　thinks　so。　Don't　you？〃
　〃I　meant　our　enemy。　I'm　sure　he's　a　crook　…　I　meant　I'm　not　sure　he's　tied　into　Intelligence。〃
　Sinders　sighed。　〃You've　checked　the　bugs？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Late　last　night　a　team　of　SI　experts　had　secretly　put　bugs　into　the　bedroom　Banastasio　had　booked　at　the　Hilton。　Also　the　office　and　private　suite　of　Photographer　Ng；　Vee　Cee　Ng。
　They　waited　patiently。　On　the　table　the　CB　hissed　and　crackled　slightly。
　After　a　pause　Sinders　said　absently；　〃What　about　our　other　client？〃
　〃Who？　Kwok？〃
　〃Yes。　How　long　do　you　think　it'll　take？〃
　〃Not　long。〃　Crosse　smiled　to　himself。　〃When　do　you　put　him　into　the　Red　Room？〃
　〃I　thought　noon　might　be　rather　apt。　Before　if　he's　ready。〃
　〃Armstrong'll　do　the　interrogation？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Armstrong's　a　good　man。　He　handled　himself　very　well　at　the　Ivanov。〃
　〃Next　time　would　you　mind　keeping　me　advised？　After　all；　this　is　my　area。〃
　〃Certainly；　Roger。　It　was　a　sudden　decision　by　London。〃
　〃What's　the　idea？　About　the　Sunday　summons。〃
　〃The　minister　is　sending　special　instructions。〃　Sinders　frowned。　〃Brian　Kwok's　records　say　he's　strong。　We　don't　have　too　much　time。　He'll've　been　well　indoctrinated　to　be　hidden　so　deep；　so　long。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　But　I'm　quite　confident。　Since　I　had　the　room　built　I've　experimented　on　myself　three　times。　The　most　I've　ever　stayed　was　five　minutes　and　each　time　I　was　sick　as　a　dog　…　and　that　was　without　any　disorientation　scheduling。　I'm　confident　we'll　have　no　problem。〃　Crosse　stubbed　out　his　cigarette。　〃It's　very　effective　…　an　exact　pattern　of　the　KGB　prototype。〃
　After　a　moment　Sinders　said；　〃Pity　these　methods　have　to　be　used。　Very　dicey。　Disgusting　really。　I　preferred　it　when　。。。　well；　even　then；　I　suppose　our　profession　was　never　really　clean。〃
　〃You　mean　during　the　war？〃
　〃Yes。　I　must　say　I　preferred　it　then。　Then　there　was　no　hypocrisy　on　the　part　of　some　of　our　leaders　…　or　the　media。　E