jamesclavell.noblehouse-第191章

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　〃You　mean　he's　been　tampered　with；　Alexi？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　tai…pan。　I　only　know　he's　no　good　for　us　today。〃
　Dunross　hesitated。　He　knew　he　was　better　than　the　rest　of　his　jockeys　though　the　extra　weight　Noble　Star　would　have　to　carry　would　load　the　deck　against　the　horse。　Should　I　or　shouldn't　I？　〃Alexi；　schedule　Tom　Wong。　We'll　decide　before　the　race。〃
　〃Yes。　Thank　you。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone。　〃Anjin's　a　curious　name；〃　he　said。　〃It　means　pilot；　just　pilot；　or　navigator；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃The　legend　in　my　family　is　that　one　of　our　forebears　was　an　Englishman　who　became　a　samurai　and　advisor　to　the　Shogun　Yoshi　Toranaga；　oh　very　many　years　ago；　long　long　ago。　We　have　many　stories　but　they　say　first　he　had　a　fief　in　Hemi；　near　Yokohama；　then　went　with　his　family　to　Nagasaki　as　inspector　general　of　all　foreigners。〃　Again　the　smile　and　the　shrug　and　the　tip　of　her　tongue　moistened　her　lips。　〃It　is　just　legend；　tai…pan。　He　is　supposed　to　have　married　a　highborn　lady　called　Riko。〃　Her　chuckle　filled　the　room。　〃You　know　Japanese！　A　gai…jin；　a　foreigner；　marrying　a　highborn　lady　…　how　could　that　be　possible？　But　anyway；　it　is　a　pleasing　story　and　an　explanation　of　a　name；　neh？〃　She　got　up　and　he　got　up。　〃I　should　go　now。　Yes？〃
　No；　he　wanted　to　say。
　
　The　black　Daimler　pulled　up　outside　the　V　and　A；　the　Struan　arms　discreetly　on　the　doors。　Casey　and　Bartlett　waited　at　the　top　of　the　stairs；　Casey　wearing　a　green　dress；　self…conscious　in　a　pert　green　pillbox　hat　and　white　gloves；　Bartlett　broad…shouldered；　wearing　a　blue　tie　to　match　his　well…cut　suit。　Both　were　set…faced。
　The　chauffeur　approached　them。　〃Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃Yes。〃　They　came　down　the　steps　to　meet　him。　〃You　our　limo？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Excuse　me　sir；　but　do　you　both　have　your　badge　tickets；　and　the　invitation　card？〃
　〃Yes；　here　they　are；〃　Casey　said。
　〃Ah；　good。　Sorry　but　without　them　。。。　My　name's　Lim。　The；　er；　the　custom　is　for　the　gentlemen　to　tie　both　badges　through　the　hole　in　their　lapels　and　the　ladies　usually　have　a　pin。〃
　〃Whatever　you　say；〃　Bartlett　said。　Casey　got　in　the　back　and　he　followed。　They　sat　far　apart。　Silently　they　began　to　fix　the　small；　individually　numbered　badges。
　Blandly　Lim　closed　the　door；　noticing　the　frigidity；　and　chortled　inwardly。　He　closed　the　electric　glass　partition　window　and　switched　on　his　inter　mike。　〃If　you　want　to　talk　to　me；　sir；　just　use　the　microphone　above　you。〃　Through　his　rear　mirror　he　saw　Bartlett　use　the　switch　momentarily。
　〃Sure；　thank　you；　Lim。〃
　Once　Lim　was　in　the　traffic　he　reached　under　the　dash　and　touched　a　hidden　switch。　At　once　Bartlett's　voice　came　through　the　speaker。
　〃。。。　going　to　rain？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Linc。　The　radio　said　it　would　but　everyone's　praying。〃　A　hesitation；　then　coldly；　〃I　still　think　you're　wrong。〃
　Lim　settled　back　happily。　His　trusted　older　brother　Lim　Chu；　majordomo　to　the　tai…pans　of　the　Noble　House；　had　arranged　for　another　younger　brother；　an　expert　radio　mechanic；　to　install　this　bypass　switch　so　that　he　could　overhear　his　passengers。　It　had　been　done　at　great　cost　to　protect　the　tai…pan　and　older　brother　Lim　had　ordered　it　was　never　to　be　used　when　the　tai…pan　was　in　the　car。　Never　never　never。　It　never　had　been。　Yet。　Lim　felt　queasy　at　the　thought　of　being　caught　but　their　wish　to　know　…　of　course　to　protect　…　overcame　their　anxiety。　Oh　oh　oh；　he　chortled；　Golden　Pubics　is　certainly　in　a　rage！　Casey　was　seething。
　〃Let's　quit　this；　Linc；　huh？〃　she　said。　〃Since　our　breakfast　meeting　you've　been　like　a　bear　with　a　sore　ass！〃
　〃And　what　about　you？〃　Bartlett　glared　at　her。　〃We're　going　with　Gornt　…　the　way　I　want　it。〃
　〃This's　my　deal；　you've　said　that　fifty　times；　you　promised；　you've　always　listened　before。　Jesus；　we're　on　the　same　side。　I'm　only　trying　to　protect　you。　I　know　you're　wrong。〃
　〃You　think　I'm　wrong。　And　it's　all　because　of　Orlanda！〃
　〃That's　a　crock！　I　went　through　my　reasons　fifty　times。　If　Ian　gets　out　of　the　trap　then　we're　better　off　to　go　with　him　than　Gornt。〃
　Bartlett's　face　was　cold。　〃We've　never　had　a　bust　before；　Casey；　but　if　you　want　to　vote　your　shares；　I'll　vote　mine　and　your　ass'll　be　in　a　vise　before　you　can　count　to　ten！〃
　Casey's　heart　was　thumping。　Ever　since　their　breakfast　meeting　with　Seymour　Steigler；　the　day　had　been　heavy　going。　Bartlett　was　adamant　that　their　best　course　lay　with　Gornt　and　nothing　she　could　say　would　dissuade　him。　After　an　hour　of　trying　she　had　closed　the　meeting　and　gone　off　to　deal　with　a　pile　of　overnight　telexes；　then；　remembering　suddenly　at　the　last　moment；　had　rushed　out　in　a　panic　and　bought　her　hat。
　When　she　had　met　Bartlett　in　the　foyer　with　great　trepidation；　wanting　the　hat　to　please　him；　she　had　begun　to　make　peace　but　he　had　interrupted　her。　〃Forget　it；〃　he　had　said。　〃So　we　disagree。　So　what？〃
　She　had　waited　and　waited　but　he　hadn't　even　noticed。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃I　told　you。　Gornt's　best　for　us。〃
　〃I　meant　my　hat。〃　She　had　seen　his　blank　stare。
　〃Oh　that's　what's　different！　Hey；　it's　okay。〃
　She　had　felt　like　tearing　it　off　and　hurling　it　at　him。　〃It's　Parisian；〃　she　had　said　half…heartedly。　〃It　says　hats　and　gloves　on　the　invitation；　remember？　It's　a　crock　but　Ian　said　that　la…　〃
　〃What　makes　you　think　he　can　get　out　of　the　trap？〃
　〃He's　clever。　And　the　tai…pan。〃
　〃Gornt's　got　him　on　the　run。〃
　〃It　looks　that　way。　So　let's　forget　it　for　now。　Maybe　we'd　better　wait　outside。　The　car's　ing　at　noon　promptly。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　Casey。　What　have　you　got　cooking？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　know　you　better　than　anyone。　What　do　you　have　on　the　burner？〃
　Casey　hesitated；　unsure　of　herself；　wondering　if　she　should　reveal　the　First　Central　ploy。　But　there's　no　reason　to；　she　reassured　herself。　If　Ian　gets　the　credit　and　squeezes　out；　I'll　be　the　first　to　know。　Ian　promised。　Then　Linc　can　cover　his　2　million　with　Gornt　and　they　can　buy　back　in　to　cover　their　selling　short　and　make　a　huge　profit。　At　the　same　time　Ian；　Linc　and　I　get　in　at　the　bottom　of　the　market　and　make　our　own　killing。　I'll　be　the　first　to　know　after　Murtagh　and　Ian。　Ian　promised。　Yes；　yes　he　did。　But　can　I　trust　him？
　A　wave　of　nausea　went　through　her。　Can　you　trust　anyone　in　business　here；　or　anywhere？　Man　or　woman？
　At　dinner　last　night　she　had　trusted　him。　Influenced　by　the　wine　and　food　she　had　told　him　about　her　relationship　with　Linc；　and　about　the　bargain　they　had　made。
　〃That's　a　bit　rough；　isn't　it？　On　both　of　you？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　and　no。　We　were　both　over　twenty…one；　Ian；　and　I　wanted　so　much　more　than　being　just　Mrs。　Linc　Bartlett；　a　mother…mistress…servant…dishwasher…diaperwasher…slave　and　a　left…at…home。　That's　the　thing　that　kills　off　any　woman。　You're　always　left。　At　home。　So　home　bees　a　prison　in　the　end；　and　it　drives　you　mad；　being　trapped　until　death　do　us　part！　I've　seen　it　too　many　times。〃
　〃Someone　has　to　look　after　the　home　and　the　children。　It's　the　man's　job　to　make　the　money。　It's　the　wife's　j…　〃
　〃Yes。　Most　times。　But　not　for　me。　I'm　not　prepared　to　accept　that　and　I　don't　think　it's　wrong　to　want　a　different　sort　of　life。　I'm　the　wage　earner　for　my　family。　My　sister's　husband　died　so　there's　my　sister　and　her　kids；　and　my　Ma　and　uncle　are　getting　on。　I'm　educated　and　good　and　better　than　most　in　business。　The　world's　changing；　everything's　changing；　Ian。〃
　〃I　said　before；　not　here　thank　God！〃
　Casey　remembered　how　she　had　readied　to　return　measure　for　measure；　but　had　bitten　back　the　old　Casey　and　said　instead；　〃Ian；　what　about　the　Hag？　How　did　she　do　it？　What　was　her　secret？　How　did　she　bee　more　equal　than　anyone？〃
　〃She　kept　her　hands　on　the　purse　strings。　Absolutely。　Oh　she　conceded　outward　position　and　face　to　Culum　and　following　tai…pans　but　she　kept　the　books；　she　hired　and　fired　through　him　…　she　was　the　strength　of　that　family。　When　Culum　was　dying；　it　was　easy　to　persuade　him　to　make　her　tai…pan。　He　gave　her　the　Struan　chop；　family　chop　and　all　the　reins　and　all　the　secrets。　But；　wisely；　she　kept　it　all　very　secret　and　after　Culum　she　only　appointed　those　she　could　control；　and　never　once　gave　any　one　of　them　the　purse　strings；　or　real　power；　not　until　she　herself　was　dying。〃
　〃But　ruling　through　others；　is　that　enough？〃
　〃Power　is　power　and　I　don't　think　it　matters　so　long　as　you　rule。　For　a　woman　…　after　a　certain　age　…　power　only　es　with　control　of　the　purse。　But　you're　right　about　drop　dead　money。　Hong　Kong's　the　only　place　on　earth　you　can　get　it　to　keep　it。　With　money；　real　money；　you　can　be　more　equal　than　anyone。　Even　Linc　Bartlett。　I　like　him；　by　the　way。　I　like　him　very　much。〃
　〃I　love　him。　Our　partnership's　worked；　Ian。　I　think　it's　been　good　for　Linc　…　oh　how　I　hope　so。　He's　our　tai…pan　and　I'm　not　trying　to　bee　one。　I　just　want　to　succeed　as　a　woman。　He's　helped　me　tremendously；　of　course　he　has。　Without　him　I'd　never　have　made　it。　So　we're　in　business　together；　until　my　birthday。　November　25　this　year。　That's　D　Day。　That's　when　we　both　decide。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　honestly　don't　know。　Oh　I　love　Linc；　more　than　ever；　but　we're　not　lovers。〃
　Later；　ing　back　on　the　ferry；　she　had　been　sorely　tempted　to　ask　him　about　Orlanda。　She　had　decided　not　to。　〃Perhaps　I　should　have；〃　she　muttered　out　loud。
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Oh！〃　She　came　out　of　her　reverie；　finding　herself　in　the　limo　on　the　car　ferry　en　route　to　Hong　Kong。　〃Sorry；　Linc；　I　was　daydreaming。〃
　She　looked　at　him　and　saw　that　he　was　as　handsome　as　ever；　even　though　now　he　stared　back　coldly。　You're　more　attractive　to　me　than　either　Ian　or　Quillan；　she　thought。　And　yet；　right　now；　I'd　prefer　to　pillow　with　either　of　them　than　with　you。　Because　you're　a　bastard。
　〃Do　you　want　to　have　at　it？〃　he　said。　〃You　want　to　vote　your　shares　against　mine？〃
　Casey　stared　back　at　him；　enraged。　Tell　him　to　go　screw；　the　devil　half　of　her　screamed；　he　needs　you　more　than　you　need　him；　you've　got　the　reins　of　Par…Con；　you　know　where　the　bodies　are　buried；　you　can　take　apart　what　you　helped　to　create。　But　the　other　half　of　her　urged　caution。　She　remembered　what　the　tai…pan　had　said　about　this　man's　world；　and　about　power。　And　about　the　Hag。
　So　she　dropped　her　gaze　a　moment　and　allowed　tears　to　seep。　At　once　she　saw　the　change　in　him。
　〃Jesus；　Casey；　don't　cry；　I'm　sorry　。。。〃　he　was　saying　and　his　arms　reached　out　for　her。　〃Jesus；　you've　never　cried　before　。。。　Listen；　we've　been　through　the　mill　a　dozen　times；　hell；　fifty　times；　there's　no　need　to　get　so　uptight。　We've　got　Struan's　and　Gornt　locked　into　battle。　There's　no　difference　in　the　end。　We'll　still　be　the　Noble　House；　but　up　front；　up　front　Gornt's　better；　I　know　I'm　right。〃
　Oh　no；　you're　not；　she　thought　contentedly；　warm　in　his　embrace。
　
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　12：32　P。M。：
　Brian　Kwok　was　screaming　and　beyond　terror。　He　knew　he　was　in　prison　and　in　hell　and　it　had　gone　on　forever。　His　whole　insane　world　was　an　instant　of　never…ending　blinding　light；　everything　blood…colored；　the　cell　walls　floor　ceiling　blood…colored；　no　doors　or　windows；　and　the　floor　awash　with　blood；　but　everything　twisted　and　all　upside　down　for　somehow　he　was　lying　on　the　ceiling；　his　whole　being　in　torment；　frantically　trying　to　claw　his　way　down　to　normality；　each　time　falling　back　into　the　mess　of　his　own　vomit；　then　the　next　instant　once　more