jamesclavell.noblehouse-第192章

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instant　once　more　in　the　blackness；　grinding　pulsating　voices　laughing；　drowning　out　his　friend；　drowning　out　Robert　who　pleaded　with　the　devils　to　stop　stop　for　the　love　of　God　stop；　then　once　more　the　eye…tearing　head…exploding　bloodlight；　seeing　the　blood　waters　that　would　not　fall；　groping　desperately；　stretching　down　for　the　chairs　and　table　that　sat　in　the　blood　water　but　falling　back；　always　falling　back；　floor　meeting　ceiling　everything　wrong　upside　sideways　madness　madness　the　devil's　invention　。。。
　Bloodlight　and　darkness　and　laughter　and　stench　and　blood　again；　on　and　on　and　on　。。。
　He　knew　he　had　begun　raving　years　ago；　begging　them　to　stop；　begging　them　to　let　him　go；　swearing　he　would　do　anything　but　let　him　go；　that　he　was　not　the　one　they　sought；　not　due　for　hell　。。。　It's　a　mistake；　it's　all　a　mistake；　no　it's　not　a　mistake　I　was　the　enemy　who　was　the　enemy　what　enemy？　Oh　please　let　the　world　turn　right　side　up　and　let　me　lie　where　I　should　be　lying　up　there；　down　there；　where　oh　Jesus　Christ　Robert　Christ　help；　help　meeeeee　。。。
　〃All　right；　Brian。　I'm　here。　I'm　putting　everything　right。　I　am。　I'm　putting　everything　right！〃　He　heard　the　passionate　words　e　soaring　out　of　the　maelstrom；　drowning　the　laughter。　The　enveloping　blood　went　away。　He　felt　his　friend's　hand；　cool　and　gentle；　and　he　clutched　it；　terrified　lest　it　was　another　dream　within　a　dream　within　a　dream；　oh　Christ　Robert　don't　leave　me。　。。。
　Oh　Jesus　it's　impossible！　Look　there！　The　ceiling's　there　where　it　should　be　and　I'm　here；　I'm　lying　on　the　bed　where　I　should　be　and　the　room's　dim　but　soft　where　it　should　be；　everything's　clean；　flowers；　blinds　drawn　but　flowers　and　the　water　properly　in　the　vase　and　I'm　right　side　up；　I'm　right　side　up。　〃Oh　Christ；　Robert　。。。〃
　〃Hello；　chum；〃　Robert　Armstrong　said　gently。
　〃Oh　Jesus　Robert　thank　you　thank　you；　I'm　right　side　up　oh　thank　you　thank　you　。。。〃
　It　was　hard　to　talk　and　he　felt　weak；　his　strength　gone；　but　it　was　glorious　just　to　be　here；　out　of　the　nightmare；　his　friend's　face　misted　but　real。　And　smoking；　am　I　smoking？　Oh　yes。　Yes　I　think　I　remember　Robert　left　me　a　packet　of　cigarettes　though　those　devils　came　and　found　them　and　took　them　away　last　week　。。。　thank　God　for　smoke　。。。　When　was　it；　last　month；　last　week；　when？　I　remember　yes　but　Robert　came　back　again　and　gave　me　a　secret　drag　last　month；　was　it　last　month？　〃Oh　that　tastes　so　good；　so　good　and　the　peace；　no　nightmare；　Robert；　not　seeing　blood　up　there；　the　ceiling　awash；　not　lying　up　there　but　down　here　not　in　hell　oh　thank　you　thank　you　。。。〃
　〃I　must　go　now。〃
　〃Oh　Christ　don't　go　they　may　e　back　no　don't　go　sit　and　stay　please　stay。　Look；　we'll　talk；　yes；　that's　it；　talk；　you　wanted　to　talk　。。。　don't　leave。　Please　talk　。。。〃
　〃All　right；　old　friend；　then　talk。　I　won't　go　while　we　talk。　What　do　you　want　to　tell　me；　eh？　Certainly　I'll　stay　while　you　talk。　Tell　me　about　Ning…tok　and　your　father。　Didn't　you　go　back　to　see　him？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　I　went　back　to　see　him　once；　yes；　just　before　he　died；　my　friends　helped　me；　they　helped　me　it　only　took　a　day；　my　friends　helped　me　。。。　that；　that　was　so　long　ago。　。。。〃
　〃Did　Ian　go　with　you？〃
　〃Ian？　No　it　。。。　was　it　Ian？　I　can't　remember　。。。　Ian；　the　tai…pan？　Someone　went　with　me。　Was　it　you；　Robert？　Ah；　with　me　in　Ning…tok？　No　it　wasn't　you　or　Ian　it　was　John　Chancellor　from　Ottawa。　He　hates　the　Soviets　too；　Robert；　they're　the　great　enemy。　Even　in　school；　and　devil　Chiang　Kai…shek　and　his　assassins　Fong…fong　and　。。。　and　。。。　Oh　I'm　so　tired　and　so　pleased　to　see　you。　。。。〃
　'Tell　me　about　Fong…fong。〃
　〃Oh　him。　He　was　a　bad　man；　Robert；　him　and　all　his　spy　group　they　were　against　us；　the　PRC；　and　pro…Chiang；　I　know；　don't　worry　as　soon　as　I　read　the　。。。　What　are　you　asking　me；　eh？　What？〃
　〃It　was　that　rotten　Grant；　eh？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　was　and　I　almost　fainted　when　he　knew　I　was　。。。　I　。。。　where　was　I　oh　yes　but　I　stopped　Fong…fong　at　once。　。。。　Oh　yes。〃
　〃Who　did　you　tell？〃
　〃Tsu…yan。　I　whispered　it　to　Tsu…yan。　He's　back　in　Peking　now　。。。　Oh　he　was　very　high　up；　though　he　didn't　know　who　I　really　was；　Robert；　I　was　all　very　hush…hush。　。。。　Yes　then　it　was　in　school；　my　father　sent　me　after　old　Sh'in　was　murdered　。。。　thugs　came　and　flogged　him　to　death　in　the　village　square　because　he　was　one　of　us；　one　of　the　people；　one　of　Chairman　Mao's　people；　and　when　I　was　in　Hong　Kong　I　stayed　with　。。。　with　Uncle　。。。　I　went　to　school　。。。　and　he　schooled　me　at　night。　。。。　Can　I　sleep　now？〃
　〃Who　was　your　uncle；　Kar…shun；　and　where　did　he　live？〃
　〃I　don't　。。。　don't　remember。　。。。〃
　〃Then　I　must　go。　Next　week　I'll　e　ba…　〃
　〃No　wait；　Robert；　wait；　it　was　Wu　Tsa…fing；　on　。。。　on　Fourth　Alley　in　Aberdeen　。。。　number　8；　lucky　8；　fifth　floor。　There；　I　can　remember！　Don't　go！〃
　〃Very　good；　old　chum。　Very　good。　Were　you　at　school　long　in　Hong　Kong？〃　Robert　Armstrong　kept　his　voice　soft　and　kind　and　his　heart　went　out　to　his　friend　that　once　was。　He　was　astonished　that　Brian　had　broken　so　easily；　so　quickly。
　The　client's　mind　was　open　now；　ready　for　him　to　take　apart。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　shell　of　the　man　who　lay　on　the　bed；　encouraging　him　to　remember　so　that　the　others　who　listened　secretly　could　record　all　the　facts　and　figures　and　names　and　places；　the　undercover　truths　and　half…truths　that　were　spilling　out　and　would　continue　to　spill　out　until　Brian　Kar…shun　Kwok　was　a　husk。　And　he　knew　that　he　would　continue　to　probe；　to　cajole　or　threaten　or　bee　impatient　or　angry　or　pretend　to　want　to　leave　or　curse　the　jailer　away　who　would　interrupt；　if　necessary。　With　Crosse　and　Sinders　monitoring　the　in…depth　debriefing；　he　was　just　a　tool　like　Brian　Kwok　had　been　a　tool　for　others　who　had　used　his　mind　and　talents　for　their　own　purposes。　His　job　was　just　to　be　the　medium；　to　keep　the　client　talking；　to　bring　him　back　when　he　rambled　or　became　incoherent；　to　be　his　sole　friend　and　his　sole　prop　in　this　unreal　universe；　the　one　who　brought　the　truth　forth　…　like　John　Chancellor　of　Ottawa；　who's　he？　Where　does　he　fit？　I　don't　know　yet。
　We'll　get　everything　the　client　has　now；　he　thought。　We'll　get　all　his　contacts；　his　mentors；　enemies　and　friends。　Poor　old　Fong…fong　and　the　lads。　We'll　never　see　them　again　…　unless　they　turn　up　as　agents　of　the　other　side。　What　a　rotten　filthy　business　this　is；　selling　out　your　friends；　working　with　the　enemy　who；　everyone　knows；　wants　you　enslaved。
　〃。。。　in　Vancouver　it　was　wonderful；　wonderful；　Robert。　There　was　a　girl　there　who　。。。　Yes　and　I　almost　married　her　but　Sensible　Tok；　Sensible　was　my　489；　he　lived　。。。　he　lived　on　。。。　oh　yes　it　was　Pedder　Street　in　Chinatown　and　he　owned　the　Hoho…tok　Restaurant　。。。　yes　Sensible　Tok　said　I　should　honor　Chairman　Mao　before　any　quai　loh。　。。。　Oh　how　I　loved　her　but　he　said　it　was　the　quai　lohs　who　raped　China　for　centuries。　。。。　You　know　that's　true　that's　true。　。。。〃
　〃Yes　that's　true；〃　he　said；　humoring　him。　〃Sensible　Tok　was　your　only　friend　in　Canada？〃
　〃Oh　no　Robert　I　have　dozens。　。。。〃
　Armstrong　listened；　astounded　by　the　wealth　of　information　about　the　inner　workings　of　the　Canadian　Mounted　Police；　and　the　extent　of　Chinese　munist　infiltration　throughout　the　Americas　and　Europe　and　particularly　on　the　Western　seaboard　…　Vancouver；　Seattle；　San　Francisco；　Los　Angeles；　San　Diego　…　wherever　a　Chinese　restaurant　or　shop　or　business　existed　there　was　the　potential　of　pressure；　of　funds　and　most　of　all　of　knowledge。　〃。。。　and　the　Wo　Tuk　on　Gerrard　Street　in　London's　the　Center　where　I　。。。　when　I　was　。。。　Oh　my　head　aches　I'm　so　thirsty。　。。。〃
　Armstrong　gave　him　the　water　that　contained　stimulant。　When　he　or　Crosse　considered　the　moment　correct；　the　client　would　be　given　the　thirst…quenching；　delicately　flavored　Chinese　tea　that　was　his　favorite。　This　contained　the　soporific。
　Then　it　was　up　to　Crosse　and　Sinders　what　happened；　whether　it　was　more　of　the　same；　more　of　the　Red　Room　or　the　end　of　the　exercise　and　then；　carefully；　the　gradual　bringing　back　of　the　client　to　reality；　with　great　care；　so　that　no　permanent　damage　was　done。
　It's　up　to　them；　he　thought。　Sinders　was　right　to　put　on　the　pressure　while　we've　time。　The　client　knows　too　much。　He's　too　well　trained；　and　if　we'd　had　to　give　him　back　without　knowing　what　he　knows；　well　that　would　have　been　irresponsible。　We've　got　to　keep　ahead。
　Armstrong　lit　two　cigarettes　and　inhaled　his　own　deeply。　I'll　give　up　smoking　for　Christmas。　I　can't　now；　not　with　all　this　horror。　It　was　Brian　Kwok's　wailing　screams　so　soon；　barely　twenty　minutes　after　being　put　into　the　room　for　the　second　time　that　had　shattered　him。　He　had　been　watching　through　spyholes　with　Crosse　and　Sinders；　watching　the　insanity　of　trying　to　reach　the　ceiling　that　was　the　floor　that　was　the　ceiling；　astonished　that　someone　so　strong；　so　well　trained　as　Brian　Kwok　would　break　so　quickly。　〃It's　impossible；〃　he　had　muttered。
　〃He　may　be　faking；〃　Sinders　said。
　〃No；〃　Crosse　had　said。　〃No。　It's　real；　for　him。　I　know。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　he'd　break　so　easily。〃
　〃You　will；　Robert。〃　And　then　when　Brian　Kwok　had　been　carried　out　to　be　brought　to　this　room；　clean　and　nice　and　the　Red　Room　had　been　mopped　clean；　Roger　Crosse　had　said；　〃All　right；　Robert；　try　it；　then　you'll　see。〃
　〃No；　no　thanks。　It's　like　something　out　of　The　Cabinet　of　Dr。　Caligari；〃　he　had　muttered；　〃No　thanks！〃
　〃Please　try　it；　just　for　a　minute。　It's　an　important　experience　for　you。　You　may　be　caught　by　them；　the　other　side；　some　day。　You　should　be　prepared。　One　minute　might　save　your　sanity。　Test　it；　for　your　own　safety。〃
　So　he　had　agreed。　They　had　closed　the　door。　The　room　was　totally　scarlet；　small　but　everything　tilted；　the　lines　all　wrong；　angles　all　wrong；　the　floor　meeting　the　ceiling　in　one　corner；　perspectives　all　wrong；　no　angles　ordinary。　The　tilted　ceiling　far　above　was　a　sheer　sheet　of　scarlet　glass。　Above　the　glass；　water　washed　down　to　be　recycled　and　e　down　again。　Attached　to　this　tilted　glass　ceiling　surface　were　scarlet　chairs　and　a　table　and　pens　and　paper　casually　on　the　table；　scarlet　cushions　on　the　chairs；　making　it　seem　the　floor；　a　false　door　nearby；　almost　ajar　。。。
　Sudden　blackness。　Then　the　blinding　strobe　and　the　stunning　impact　of　the　scarlet。　Blackness；　scarlet；　blackness；　scarlet。　Involuntarily　he　groped　for　the　reality　of　the　table　and　chairs　and　the　floor　and　door　and　stumbled　and　fell；　unable　to　get　his　bearings；　water　above；　the　glass　vanished；　just　insane　scarlet　water　on　the　floor　above。　Blackness　and　now　voices　pounding　and　again　blood…colored　hell。　His　stomach　told　him　that　he　was　upside　down　though　his　mind　said　it　was　just　a　trick　and　to　close　your　eyes　it's　a　trick　it's　a　trick　it's　a　trick　。。。
　After　an　eternity；　when　at　length　normal　lights　came　on　and　the　real　door　opened；　he　was　lying　on　the　real　floor；　retching。　〃You　bastard；〃　he　had　snarled　at　Crosse；　barely　able　to　talk。　〃You　said　a　minute；　you　lying　bastard！〃　His　chest　heaved　and　he　fought　to　his　feet；　reeling；　barely　able　to　stand　or　to　stop　vomiting。
　〃Sorry；　but　it　was　only　a　minute；　Robert；〃　Crosse　said。
　〃I　don't　believe　it。　。。。〃
　〃Honestly；　it　was；〃　Sinders　said。　〃I　timed　it　myself。　Really！　Extraordinary。　Most　effective。〃
　Again　Armstrong　felt　his　chest　heave　at　the　thought　of　the　water　above　and　the　t