jamesclavell.noblehouse-第189章

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　〃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。　Everyone　understood　we　were　at　war。　But　today　when　our　very　survival's　threatened　we　…　〃　Sinders　stopped；　then　pointed。　〃Look；　Roger；　isn't　that　Rosemont？〃　The　American　was　standing　with　another　man　by　the　exit　door。
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is。　That's　Langan　with　him。　The　FBI　man；〃　Crosse　said。　〃Last　night　I　agreed　to　a　joint　effort　with　him　on　Banastasio　though　I　do　wish　those　bloody　CIA'd　leave　us　alone　to　do　our　job。〃
　〃Yes。　They　really　are　being　quite　difficult。〃
　Crosse　picked　up　the　CB　and　led　the　way　outside。　〃Stanley；　we've　got　him　well　covered。　We　agreed　last　night　that　on　this　operation　we　handle　this　part；　you　handle　the　hotel。　Right？〃
　〃Sure；　sure；　Rog。　'Morning；　Mr。　Sinders。〃　Grim…faced；　Rosemont　introduced　Langan　who　was　equally　taut。　〃We're　not　interfering；　Rog；　though　that　bum　is　one　of　our　nationals。　That's　not　the　reason　we're　here。　I'm　just　seeing　Ed　off。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Langan　said。　He　was　as　tired　and　gaunt　as　Rosemont。　〃It's　those　photocopies；　Rog。　Thomas　К。　К。　Lim's　papers。　I've　got　to　deliver　them　personally。　To　the　Bureau。　I　read　part　to　my　chief　and　his　pots　blew　and　he　began　to　e　apart　at　the　seams。〃
　〃I　can　imagine。〃
　〃There's　a　request　on　your　desk　to　let　us　have　the　originals　and　th…　〃
　〃No　chance；〃　Sinders　said　for　Crosse。
　Langan　shrugged。　〃There's　a　request　on　your　desk；　Rog。　Guess　your　brass'll　send　orders　from　heaven　if　ours　really　need　them。　I'd　better　get　on　board。　Listen；　Rog；　we　can't　thank　you　enough。　We　…　I　owe　you　one。　Those　bastards　。。。　yeah　we　owe　you　one。〃　They　shook　hands　and　he　hurried　off　onto　the　tarmac。
　〃Which　piece　of　information　blew　the　seams；　Mr。　Rosemont？〃
　〃They're　all　lethal；　Mr。　Sinders。　It's　a　coup　for　us；　for　us　and　the　Bureau；　mostly　the　Bureau。　Ed　said　his　folk　went　into　hysterics。　The　political　implications　for　Democrats　and　Republicans　are　immense。　You　were　right。　If　Senator　Tillman　…　the　presidential　hopeful　who's　in　town　right　now　…　if　he　got　hold　of　those　papers；　there's　no　telling　what　he'd　do。〃　Rosemont　was　no　longer　his　usual　good…humored　self。　〃My　brass　telexed　our　South　American　contacts　to　put　an　all…points　on　Thomas　К。　К。　Lim　so　we'll　be　interviewing　him　pretty　damn　soon　…　you'll　get　a　copy　don't　worry。　Rog；　was　there　anything　else？〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃With　these　choice　pieces；　were　there　others　we　could　use？〃
　Crosse　smiled　without　humor。　〃Of　course。　How　about　a　blueprint　for　financing　a　private　revolution　in　Indonesia？〃
　〃Oh　Jesus　。。。〃
　〃Yes。　How　about　photostats　of　arrangements　for　payments　into　a　French　bank　account　of　a　very　important　Vietnamese　lady　and　gentleman　…　for　specific　favors　granted？〃
　Rosemont　had　gone　chalky。　〃What　else？〃
　〃Isn't　that　enough？〃
　〃Is　there　more？〃
　〃For　chrissake；　Stanley；　of　course　there's　more；　you　know　it；　we　know　it。　There'll　always　be　more。〃
　〃Can　we　have　them　now？〃
　Sinders　said；　〃What　can　you　do　for　us？〃
　Rosemont　stared　at　them。　〃Over　lunch　we'll　ta…　〃
　The　CB　crackled　into　life。　〃The　target's　got　his　bags　now　and　he's　walking　out　of　Customs；　heading　for　the　taxi　rank　。。。　Now　he's　。。。　Now　he's　。。。　ah；　someone's　meeting　him；　a　Chinese；　good…looking　man；　expensive　clothes；　don't　recognize　him。　。。。　They're　going　over　to　a　Rolls；　registration　HK　。。。　ah；　that's　the　hotel　limousine。　Both　men're　getting　in。〃
　Into　the　sender　Crosse　said；　〃Stay　on　this　frequency。〃　He　switched　frequencies。　Static　and　muffled　traffic　and　noise。
　Rosemont　brightened。　〃You　bugged　the　limo？〃　Crosse　nodded。　〃Great；　Rog。　I'd've　missed　that！〃
　They　listened；　then　clearly；　〃。。。　good　of　you　to　meet　me；　Vee　Cee；〃　Banastasio　was　saying。　〃Hell　you　shouldn't've　e　all　this　wa…　〃
　〃Oh　it's　my　pleasure；〃　the　cultured　voice　replied。　〃We　can　chat　in　the　car；　perhaps　that'll　save　you　ing　to　the　office　and　then　in　Ma…　〃
　〃Sure　。。。　sure；〃　the　American　voice　overrode　the　other　man。　〃Listen；　I　got　something　for　you；　Vee　Cee　。。。〃　Muffled　sounds　then　a　sudden　high…pitched　whine　that　totally　dominated　the　airwave；　pletely　obliterating　the　clarity　and　voices。　At　once　Crosse　switched　frequencies　but　the　others　were　operating　perfectly。
　〃Shit；　he's　using　a　portable　shaver　to　block　us；〃　Rosemont　said　disgustedly。　〃That　bastard's　a　pro！　Fifty　to　a　blown　cent　they　block　all　the　bugs　we　got；　hundred　says　when　they　e　back　on　this　channel　it'll　all　be　goddamn　chitchat。　I　told　you　Banastasio　was　cream。〃
　
　63
　
　10：52　A。M。：
　〃Tai…pan；　Dr。　Samson　calling　from　London。　He's　on　line　three。〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Claudia。〃　Dunross　punched　the　button。　〃Hello；　Doctor。　You're　up　late。〃
　〃I've　just　e　back　from　the　hospital　…　sorry　not　to　call　before。　You　were　calling　about　your　sister；　Mrs。　Gavallan？〃
　〃Yes。　How　is　she？〃
　〃Well；　sir；　we've　begun　another　stringent　series　of　tests。　Mentally；　I　must　say　she's　in　very　good　shape。　I'm　afraid　physically　not　so　good。　。。。〃
　Dunross　listened　with　a　sinking　heart　as　the　doctor　went　into　detail　about　multiple　sclerosis；　how　no　one　really　knew　much　about　it；　that　there　was　no　known　cure　and　that　the　disease　went　in　descending　plateaus　…　once　some　deterioration　of　the　nerve　structure　had　taken　place　it　was　not　possible　with　present　medications　to　climb　back　to　the　previous　level。　〃I've　taken　the　liberty　of　calling　in　Professor　Klienberg　from　the　clinic　at　UCLA　in　Los　Angeles　for　a　consultation　…　he's　the　world　expert　on　the　disease。　Please　rest　assured　we　will　do　everything　we　can　for　Mrs。　Gavallan。〃
　〃It　doesn't　sound　as　if　you　can　do　anything　at　all。〃
　〃Well；　it's　not　quite　as　bad　as　that；　sir。　If　Mrs。　Gavallan　takes　care；　rests；　and　is　sensible；　she　can　have　a　normal　life　for　many　years。〃
　〃How　long　is　many　years？〃　Dunross　heard　the　long　hesitation。　Oh　Kathy；　poor　Kathy！
　〃I　don't　know。　Many　times　this　sort　of　problem's　in　the　hands　of　God；　Mr。　Dunross。　Patients　do　not　follow　the　same　time　patterns。　In　Mrs。　Gavallan's　case　I　could　answer　you　better　in　six　months；　perhaps　by　Christmas。　Meanwhile；　I　have　taken　her　on　as　a　National　Health　patient　so　then　…　〃
　〃No。　She　should　be　a　private　patient；　Dr。　Samson。　Please　send　all　bills　to　my　office。〃
　〃Mr。　Dunross；　there's　no　difference　in　the　quality　of　service　I　give　to　her。　She　just　has　to　wait　a　little　while　in　my　waiting　room　and　be　in　a　ward；　not　a　private　room　at　the　hospital。〃
　〃Please　make　her　a　private　patient。　I　would　prefer　it；　so　would　her　husband。〃
　Dunross　heard　the　sigh　and　hated　it。　〃Very　well；〃　the　doctor　was　saying。　〃I　have　all　your　numbers　and　I'll　call　you　the　instant　Professor　Klienberg　has　made　his　examination　and　the　tests　are　concluded。〃
　Dunross　thanked　him　and　replaced　the　phone。　Oh　Kathy；　poor　dear　Kathy。
　Earlier　when　he　had　got　up　at　dawn　he　had　talked　to　her　and　to　Penelope。　Kathy　had　said　how　much　better　she　felt　and　how　Samson　was　most　encouraging。　Penn　had　told　him　later　that　Kathy　was　looking　very　tired。　〃It　doesn't　seem　very　good；　Ian。　Is　there　any　chance　you　could　e　here　for　a　week　or　two　before　October　10？〃
　〃Not　at　the　moment；　Penn；　but　you　never　know。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　take　Kathy　to　Avisyard　as　soon　as　she　gets　out　of　the　hospital。　Next　week　at　the　latest。　She'll　be　better　there。　The　land　will　make　her　better；　don't　worry；　Ian。〃
　〃Penn；　when　you　get　to　Avisyard；　would　you　go　out　to　the　Shrieking　Tree　for　me？〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　He　heard　the　concern　in　her　voice。　〃Nothing；　darling；〃　he　told　her；　thinking　about　Jacques　and　Phillip　Chen　…　how　can　I　explain　about　them？　〃Nothing　particular；　just　more　of　the　same。　I　just　wanted　you　to　say　hello　to　our　real　Shrieking　Tree。〃
　〃Our　Jacaranda　there's　no　good？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　she's　fine；　but　not　the　same。　Perhaps　you　should　bring　a　cutting　back　to　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃No。　Better　we　leave　it　where　it　is。　Then　you　have　to　e　home；　don't　you；　Ian？〃
　〃Can　I　make　a　bet　for　you　this　afternoon？〃
　Again　a　pause。　〃Ten　dollars　on　the　horse　you　choose。　I'll　back　your　choice。　I'll　always　back　your　choice。　Call　me　tomorrow。　Love　you　。。。　'bye。〃
　He　remembered　the　first　time　she　had　said；　I　love　you；　and　then；　later；　when　he　had　asked　her　to　marry　him；　all　the　refusals　and　then　eventually；　through　shattering　tears；　the　real　reason：　〃Oh　Christ；　Ian；　I'm　not　good　enough　for　you。　You're　upper　class；　I'm　not。　The　way　I　talk　now；　I　acquired。　It　was　because　I　was　evacuated　at　the　beginning　of　the　war　to　the　country　…　my　God　I'd　only　been　outside　London　twice　in　my　whole　life　till　then；　just　to　the　seaside。　I　was　evacuated　to　a　wonderful　old　manor　house　in　Hampshire　where　all　the　other　girls　were　from　one　of　your　fine　upperclass　schools；　Byculla　was　its　name。　There　was　a　mix…up；　Ian；　my　whole　school　went　somewhere　else；　just　me　to　Byculla；　and　it　was　only　then　that　I　found　I　talked　different；　differently　…　there；　you　see　I　still　forget　sometimes！　Oh　God；　you've　no　idea　how　awful　it　was　to　find　out　so　young　that　。。。　that　I　was　mon　and　talked　mon　and　that　there　are　such　limitless　differences　in　England；　the　way　we　talk　…　the　way　we　talk　so　important！
　〃Oh　how　I　worked　to　imitate　the　others。　They　helped　me　and　there　was　one　teacher　who　was　so　wonderful　to　me。　I　hurled　myself　into　the　new　life；　theirs；　and　I　swore　to　better　myself　and　never　go　back；　never；　never；　never；　and　I　won't。　But　I　can't　marry　you；　my　darling　…　let's　just　stay　lovers　…　I'll　never　be　good　enough。〃
　But　in　time；　her　time；　they　had　married。　Granny　Dunross　had　persuaded　her。　Penelope　had　agreed　but　only　after　going　out　to　the　Shrieking　Tree；　alone。　She　had　never　told　him　what　she　had　said。
　I'm　lucky；　Dunross　thought。　She's　the　best　wife　a　man　could　have。
　Since　ing　back　from　the　track　at　dawn　he　had　worked　steadily。　Half　a　hundred　cables。　Dozens　of　international　phone　calls。　Countless　locals。　At　9：30　he　had　called　the　governor　about　Tiptop's　proposal。　〃I'll　have　to　consult　the　minister；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　had　said。　〃The　earliest　I　could　call　him　would　be　four　this　afternoon。　This　must　be　kept　entirely　secret；　Ian。　Dear　oh　dear；　Brian　Kwok　must　be　very　important　to　them！〃
　〃Or　perhaps　just　another　convenient　concession　for　the　money。〃
　〃Ian；　I　don't　think　the　minister　will　agree　to　a　trade。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Her　Majesty's　Government　might　consider　it　a　precedent；　a　bad　one。　I　would。〃
　〃The　money's　vital。〃
　〃The　money's　a　temporary　problem。　Precedents　unfortunately　last　forever。　You　were　at　the　track？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃How's　the　form？〃
　〃They　all　looked　in　fine　fettle。　Alexi　Travkin　says　Pilot　Fish's　our　main　opposition　and　the　going　will　be　soft。　Noble　Star's　grand　though　she's　never　raced　in　the　wet。〃
　〃Will　it　rain？〃
　〃Yes。　But　perhaps　we'll　be　lucky；　sir。〃
　〃Let's　hope　so。　Terrible　times；　Ian。　Still；　these　things　are　sent　to　try　us；　eh？　Are　you　going　to　John's　funeral？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃So　am　I。　Poor　fellow　。。。〃
　At　the　funeral　this　morning　Dunross　had　said　kind　words　about　John　Chen　for　the　face　of　the　House　of　Chen　and　for　all　the　Chen　forebears　who　had　served　the　Noble　House　so　long　and　hard。
　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan；〃　Phillip　Chen　had　said　simply。　〃Again；　I'm　sorry。〃
　Later　he　had　said　to　Phillip　Chen　privately；　〃Sorry　is　sorry　but　that　still　doesn't　help　us　extricate　ourselves　from　the　trap　your　son；　and　you；　put　us　into