jamesclavell.noblehouse-第196章

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　Nine　Carat　Chu　almost　dropped　the　phone。　He　had　discussed　and　arranged　that　very　ploy　with　his　wife　and　his　sons　and　Lily。　It　had　been　easy　to　find　a　relation　who　would　lend　a　babe　in　arms　for　a　fee。
　〃Eh；〃　he　spluttered　in　shock；　〃am　I　a　liar？　Me　who　fairly；　for　modest　cash；　gave　his　only　virgin　daughter　to　be　your　son's　whore　and　only　love。〃　He　used　the　English　words　carefully；　his　daughter　Lily　having　coached　him　for　hours　so　that　he　could　say　it　properly。　〃By　all　the　gods　we've　protected　your　great　name　at　no　charge！　When　we　went　to　claim　my　poor　daughter's　body　we　did　not　tell　the　deadly　police　who　desire；　oh　ko；　yes；　who　desire　to　find　out　who　the　writer　was　to　trap　the　Werewolves！　All　gods　curse　those　evil　sons　of　whores！　Haven't　four　Chinese　papers　already　offered　rewards　for　the　name　of　the　writer；　heya？　It　is　only　fair　I　offer　the　letters　to　you　before　collecting　the　newspapers'　reward；　heya？〃
　Patiently　he　had　listened　to　the　stream　of　invective　that　had　begun　the　negotiation。　Several　times　both　sides　had　pretended　they　were　going　to　put　the　phone　down；　but　neither　side　broke　off　the　bargaining。　At　length　it　was　left　that　if　a　photocopy　of　one　of　the　other　letters　was　sent　to　Noble　House　Chen　as　proof　that　it　and　the　others　were　no　forgery；　then　〃it　might　be；　Honorable　Su；　the　other　letters　…　and　this　one　…　might　be　worth　a　very　modest　amount　of　Fragrant　Grease。〃
　Nine　Carat　Chu　chortled　to　himself　now。　Oh　yes；　he　thought　contentedly；　Noble　House　Chen　will　pay　handsomely；　particularly　when　he　reads　the　parts　about　himself。　Oh　if　those　were　printed　surely　it　would　hold　him　up　to　ridicule　before　all　Hong　Kong　and　take　his　face　away　forever。　Now；　how　much　should　I　settle　f…　
　A　sudden　roar　surrounded　him　and　he　almost　fell　over。　His　heart　began　pounding；　his　breath　short。　He　held　on　to　the　rails　and　peered　at　the　distant　tote。　〃Who　。。。　what　are　the　numbers？〃　he　asked；　then　screeched　over　the　noise　and　tugged　at　his　neighbors。　〃The　numbers；　tell　me　the　numbers！〃
　〃The　winner's　eight；　Buccaneer；　the　gelding　of　the　Noble　House。　Ayeeyah；　can't　you　see　the　tai…pan　leading　him　into　the　winner's　circle　now？　Buccaneer's　paying　7　to　1。〃
　〃The　second？　Who　was　the　second　horse？〃
　〃Number　five；　Winsome　Lady；　3　to　1　for　a　place。　。。。　What's　wrong；　old　man；　have　you　a　palsy？〃
　〃No　。。。　no　。。。〃　Weakly　Nine　Carat　Chu　groped　away。　At　length　he　found　a　small　empty　patch　of　concrete　and　spread　his　racing　form　on　the　wet　concrete　and　sat　down；　his　head　on　his　knees　and　arms；　his　mind　sweeping　him　into　the　ecstasy　of　winning　the　first　leg。　Oh　oh　oh！　And　nothing　to　do　now　but　wait；　and　if　the　time　of　waiting　is　too　long　I　will　use　one　more　of　the　White　Powders；　yes；　and　that　will　leave　me　the　last　to　see　me　through　tonight's　work。　Now；　all　gods　concentrate！　The　first　leg　was　won　by　my　own　shrewdness。　Please　concentrate　on　the　fifth！　Seven　and　one！　All　gods　concentrate。　。。。
　
　*　*　*
　
　Over　by　the　winner's　circle　the　stewards　and　owners　and　officials　clustered。　Dunross　had　intercepted　his　horse　and　congratulated　the　jockey。　Buccaneer　had　run　a　fine　race　and　now　as　he　led　the　gelding　into　the　winner's　circle　amid　another　burst　of　cheering　and　congratulations　he　kept　his　exuberance　deliberately　open。　He　wanted　to　let　the　world　see　his　pleasure　and　confidence；　very　aware　that　winning　this　race　was　an　immense　omen；　over　and　above　the　fact　of　winning。　The　omen　would　be　doubled　and　tripled　if　he　won　with　Noble　Star。　Two　horses　in　the　double　quinella　would　absolutely　set　Gornt　and　his　allies　back　on　their　heels。　And　if　Murtagh　works　his　magic　or　if　Tiptop　keeps　his　bargain　to　swap　the　money　for　Brian　Kwok　or　if　Tightfist　or　Lando　or　Four　Fingers　。。。
　〃Hey；　Mr。　Dunross；　sir；　congratulations！〃
　Dunross　glanced　at　the　crowd　on　the　rails。　〃Oh　hello；　Mr。　Choy；〃　he　said；　recognizing　Four　Finger　Wu's　Seventh　Son　and　supposed　nephew。　He　went　closer　and　shook　hands。　〃Did　you　have　the　winner？〃
　〃Yes　sir；　sure；　I'm　with　the　Noble　House　all　the　way！　We're　on　the　double　quinella；　my　uncle　and　me。　We　just　won　the　first　leg　five　and　eight；　and　we've　seven　and　eight　in　the　fifth。　He's　got　10；000　riding；　me；　my　whole　week's　salary！〃
　〃Then　let's　hope　we　win；　Mr。　Choy。〃
　〃You　can　say　that　again；　tai…pan；〃　the　young　man　said　with　his　easy　American　familiarity。
　Dunross　smiled　and　walked　over　to　Travkin。　〃Are　you　sure　Johnny　Moore　can't　ride　Noble　Star？　I　don't　want　Tom　Wong。〃
　〃I　told　you；　tai…pan；　Johnny's　sicker　than　a　drunken　cossack。〃
　〃I　need　the　win。　Noble　Star　is　to　win。〃
　Travkin　saw　Dunross　look　at　Buccaneer　speculatively。　〃No；　tai…pan；　please　don't　ride　Noble　Star。　The　going's　bad；　very　bad　and　very　dangerous　and　it'll　get　worse　as　they　hack　up　the　turf。　Kristos！　I　suppose　that'll　only　make　you　want　to　ride　her　more。〃
　〃My　future　could　ride　on　that　race　…　and　the　face　of　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Angrily　the　gnarled　old　Russian　slapped　the　switch　he　carried　perpetually　against　his　ancient　jodhpurs；　shining　with　use。　〃And　I　know　you're　better　than　all　the　other　jockeys　but　that　turf's　danger…　〃
　〃I　don't　trust　anyone　in　this；　Alexi。　I　can't　afford　any　mistake。〃　Dunross　dropped　his　voice。　〃Was　the　first　race　fixed？〃
　Travkin　stared　back　levelly。　〃They　weren't　doped；　tai…pan。　Not　to　my　knowledge。　The　police　doctor　has　put　the　fear　of　God　into　those　who　might　be　tempted。〃
　〃Good。　But　was　it　fixed？〃
　〃It　wasn't　my　race；　tai…pan。　I'm　only　interested　in　my　horses　and　my　races。　I　didn't　watch　that　race。〃
　〃That's　convenient；　Alexi。　Seems　that　none　of　the　other　trainers　did　either。〃
　〃Listen；　tai…pan。　I　have　a　jockey　for　you。　Me。　I'll　ride　Noble　Star。〃
　Dunross's　eyes　narrowed。　He　glanced　at　the　sky。　It　was　darker　than　before。　There'll　be　rain　soon；　he　thought　and　there's　much　to　do　before　the　rain。　Me　or　Alexi？　Alexi's　legs　are　good；　his　hands　the　best；　his　experience　immense。　But　he　thinks　more　of　the　horse　than　of　winning。　〃I'll　consider　it；〃　he　said。　〃After　the　fourth　race　I'll　decide。〃
　〃I'll　win；〃　the　older　man　said；　desperate　for　the　chance　to　extricate　himself　from　his　agreement　with　Suslev。　〃I'll　win　even　if　I　have　to　kill　Noble　Star。〃
　〃No　need　to　do　that；　Alexi。　I'm　rather　fond　of　that　horse。〃
　〃Tai…pan；　listen；　perhaps　a　favor？　I've　a　problem。　Can　I　see　you　tonight　or　Sunday；　Sunday　or　Monday　late；　say　at　Sinclair　Towers？〃
　〃Why　there？〃
　〃We　made　our　deal　there；　I'd　like　to　talk　there。　But　if　it's　not　all　right　the　day　after。〃
　〃You're　going　to　leave　us？〃
　〃Oh　no；　no　it's　not　that。　If　you've　time。　Please。〃
　〃All　right　but　it　can't　be　tonight；　or　Sunday　or　Monday；　I'm　going　to　Taipei。　I　could　see　you　Tuesday　at　10：00　p。m。　How's　that？〃
　〃Fine；　Tuesday's　fine　yes；　thank　you。〃
　〃I'll　be　down　after　the　next　race。〃
　Alexi　watched　the　tai…pan　walk　for　the　elevators。　He　was　near　tears；　an　overwhelming　affection　for　Dunross　possessing　him。
　His　eyes　went　to　Suslev　who　was　in　the　general　stands　nearby。　Trying　to　appear　casual　he　held　up　the　prearranged　number　of　fingers：　one　for　tonight；　two　for　Sunday；　three　Monday；　four　Tuesday。　His　eyes　were　very　good　and　he　saw　Suslev　acknowledge　the　signal。　Matyeryebyets；　he　thought。　Betrayer　of　Mother　Russia　and　all　us　Russians；　you　and　all　your　KGB　brethren！　I　curse　you　in　the　name　of　God；　for　me　and　all　Russians　if　the　truth　be　known。
　Never　mind　that！　I'm　going　to　ride　Noble　Star；　he　told　himself　grimly；　one　way　or　another。
　Dunross　got　into　the　elevator　amid　more　congratulations　and　much　envy。　At　the　top　floor　Gavallan　and　Jacques　were　waiting　for　him。　〃Is　everything　ready？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Gavallan　replied。　〃Gornt's　there；　and　the　others　you　wanted。　What's　cooking？〃
　〃e　along　and　you'll　see。　By　the　way；　Andrew；　I'm　switching　Jacques　and　David　MacStruan。　Jacques　will　take　over　Canada　for　a　year；　David　…　〃
　Jacques's　face　lit　up。　〃Oh　thank　you　tai…pan。　Yes；　thanks　very　much。　I'll　make　Canada　very　profitable；　I　promise。〃
　〃What　about　the　changeover？〃　Gavallan　asked。　〃Do　you　want　Jacques　to　go　there　first　or　will　David　e　here？〃
　〃He　arrives　Monday。　Jacques；　you　hand　over　everything　to　David；　then　next　week　you　can　both　go　back　together　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　You　go　via　France；　eh？　Pick　up　Susanne　and　Avril；　she　should　be　well　enough　by　then。　There's　nothing　urgent　in　Canada　at　the　moment　…　it's　more　urgent　here。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　ma　foi！　Yes；　yes　thank　you；　tai…pan。〃
　Gavallan　said　thoughtfully；　〃It'll　be　good　to　see　old　David。〃　He　liked　David　MacStruan　very　much　but　he　was　still　wondering　why　the　change；　and　did　this　mean　that　Jacques　was　out　of　the　running　to　inherit　the　tai…pan's　mantle　and　David　in　and　his　own　position　changed；　changing　or　threatened　…　if　there　was　anything　left　to　inherit　after　Monday。　And　what　about　Kathy？
　Joss；　he　told　himself。　What　is　to　be　will　be。　Oh　goddamn　everything！
　〃You　two　go　on　ahead；〃　Dunross　said。　〃I'll　get　Phillip。〃　He　turned　into　the　Chen　box。　By　ancient　custom　the　pradore　of　the　Noble　House　was　automatically　a　steward。　Perhaps　for　the　last　year；　Dunross　thought　grimly。　If　Phillip　doesn't　deliver　help　in　the　form　of　Four　Finger　Wu；　Lando　Mata；　Tightfist　or　something　tangible　by　Sunday　at　midnight　he's　blackballed。
　〃Hello；　Phillip；〃　he　said；　his　voice　friendly；　greeting　the　other　guests　in　the　packed　box。　〃You　ready？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes；　tai…pan。〃　Phillip　Chen　was　looking　older。　〃Congratulations　on　the　win。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan；　a　marvelous　omen　…　we're　all　praying　for　the　fifth！〃　Dianne　Chen　called　out；　trying　equally　hard　to　hide　her　apprehension；　Kevin　beside　her；　echoing　her。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dunross　said；　sure　that　Phillip　Chen　had　told　her　about　their　meeting。　She　wore　a　hat　with　bird　of　paradise　feathers；　and　too　many　jewels。
　〃Champagne；　tai…pan？〃
　〃No　thanks；　later　perhaps。　Sorry；　Dianne；　have　to　borrow　Phillip　for　a　moment　or　two。　Won't　be　long。〃
　Outside　in　the　corridor　he　stopped　a　moment。　〃Any　luck；　Phillip？〃
　〃I've　。。。　I've　talked　to　all　the　。。。　all　of　them。　They're　meeting　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Where？　Macao？〃
　〃No；　here。〃　Phillip　Chen　dropped　his　voice　even　more。　〃I'm　sorry　about　。。。　about　all　the　mess　my　son's　caused　。。。　yes；　very　sorry；〃　he　said；　meaning　it。
　〃I　accept　your　apology。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　your　carelessness　and　treachery；　we'd　never　have　bee　that　vulnerable。　Christ　Jesus；　if　Gornt　gets　our　balance　sheets　for　the　last　few　years　and　our　interlocking　corporate　structures；　we're　up　the　creek　without　a　paddle。〃
　〃I　。。。　I　had　a　thought；　tai…pan；　how　to　extract　our　…　how　to　extract　the　House。　After　the　races；　could　I　。。。　a　little　time；　please？〃
　〃You're　ing　for　drinks　tonight？　With　Dianne？〃
　〃Yes；　if　。。。　yes　please。　May　I　bring　Kevin？〃
　Dunross　smiled　fleetingly　to　himself。　The　heir　apparent；　officially　and　so　soon。　Karma。　〃Yes。　e　along。〃
　〃What's　this　all　about；　tai…pan？〃
　〃You'll　see。　Please　say　nothing；　do　nothing；　just　accept　…　with　great　confidence　…　that　you're　part　of　the　package；　and　when　I　leave　follow　me；　spread　the　word　and　good　cheer。　If　we　fail；　the　House　of　Chen　fails　first；　e　hell；　high　water　or　typhoon！〃　He　turned　into　the　McBride　box。　There　were　more　immediate　congratulations　and　many　said　it　was　great　joss。
　〃Good　God；　tai…pan；〃　McBride　said；　〃if　Noble　Star　wins　the　fifth；　wouldn't　it　be　marvelous！〃
　〃Pilot　Fish　will　beat　Noble　Star；〃　G