jamesclavell.noblehouse-第198章

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　〃Nothing；　nothing　yet。　He　hasn't　returned　my　calls；　or　Johnjohn's。〃　Havergill's　eyes　fell　on　Gornt　who　was　now　talking　privately　with　Plumm。　He　turned　his　back　on　him。　〃What　will　Quillan　do　now？〃
　〃Buy　first　thing　Monday　morning。　He　has　to。　Has　to　now；　too　dangerous　to　hold　on；〃　Southerby　said。
　〃I　agree；〃　Sir　Luis　Basilio　added；　joining　them。　〃If　Ian　can　toss　that　sort　of　cash　around；　those　who've　been　selling　him　short　better　watch　out。　e　to　think　of　it；　we've　been　buying　General　Stores　for　nominees　this　last　week。　Probably　Ian；　eh？　He　has　to　have　taken　a　position；　lucky　devil！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Johnjohn　muttered。　〃For　the　life　of　me　I　can't　figure　。。。　Good　sweet　Christ；　and　now　if　he　wins　with　Noble　Star！　With　joss　like　that　he　could　turn　his　whole　mess　about；　you　know　what　Chinese're　like！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gornt　said；　butting　in；　startling　them。　〃But　thank　God　we're　not　all　Chinese。　We've　yet　to　see　the　cash。〃
　〃He　must　have　it　…　must　have　it；〃　Johnjohn　said。　〃Matter　of　face。〃
　〃Ah；　face。〃　Gornt　was　sardonic。　〃9：30　a。m。；　eh？　If　he'd　really　been　smart　he　would　have　said　noon；　or　3：00　p。m。；　then　we　wouldn't　know　all　day　and　he　could've　manipulated　us　all　day。　As　it　is　now　。。。〃　Gornt　shrugged。　〃I　win　either　way；　millions；　if　not　control。〃　He　glanced　across　the　noisy　box；　nodded　nonmittally　to　Bartlett　and　Casey；　then　turned　away。
　Bartlett　took　Casey's　arm　and　led　her　on　to　the　balcony。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃About　Gornt？〃
　〃About　Dunross。〃
　〃Fantastic！　He's　fantastic。　'Japanese　bank'　…　that　was　a　stunning　red　herring；〃　she　said　excitedly。　〃He's　put　this　whole　group　into　a　tailspin；　you　could　see　that；　and　if　this　group；　the　whole　of　Hong　Kong。　You　heard　what　Southerby　said？〃
　〃Sure。　It　looks　like　we've　all　got　it　made　…　if　he　can　squeeze　out　of　Gornt's　trap。〃
　〃Let's　hope。〃　Then　she　noticed　his　smile。　〃What？〃
　〃You　know　what　we　just　did；　Casey？　We　just　bought　the　Noble　House　for　the　promise　of　2　million　bucks。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Ian's　gambling　I　will　put　up　the　2。〃
　〃That's　no　gamble；　Linc；　that　was　the　deal。〃
　〃Sure。　But　say　I　don't。　His　whole　pack　of　cards　collapses。　If　he　doesn't　get　the　2　he's　finished。　Yesterday　I　told　Gornt　I　might　jerk　the　rug　Monday　morning。　Say　I　withdraw　Ian's　2　before　the　market　opens。　Ian's　down　the　tube。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　appalled。　〃You　wouldn't？〃
　〃We　came　here　to　raid　and　bee　the　Noble　House。　Look　what　Ian　did　to　Biltzmann；　what　they　all　did　to　him。　That　poor　bastard　didn't　know　what　hit　him。　Pugmire　made　a　deal　but　reneged　to　take　Ian's　better　offer。　Right？〃
　〃That's　different。〃　She　looked　at　him　searchingly。　〃You're　going　to　renege　after　making　a　deal？〃
　Bartlett　smiled　a　strange　smile；　looked　down　at　the　packed　crowds　and　at　the　tote。　〃Maybe。　Maybe　that　depends　on　who　does　what　to　whom　over　the　weekend。　Gornt　or　Dunross；　it's　all　the　same。〃
　〃I　don't　agree。〃
　〃Sure；　Casey；　I　know；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃But　it's　my　2　million　and　my　game。〃
　〃Yes；　and　your　word　and　your　face！　You　shook　on　the　deal。〃
　〃Casey；　these　guys　here　would　eat　us　for　breakfast　if　they　got　the　chance。　You　think　Dunross　wouldn't　sell　us　out　if　he　had　to　choose　between　him　and　us？〃
　After　a　pause　she　said；　〃You're　saying　a　deal's　never　a　deal；　no　matter　what？〃
　〃You　want　4　million　tax　free？〃
　〃You　know　the　answer　to　that。〃
　〃Say　you're　in　for　49　percent　of　the　new　Par…Con…Gornt　pany；　free　and　clear。　It's　got　to　be　worth　that。〃
　〃More；〃　she　said；　afraid　of　this　line　of　talk　and　for　the　first　time　in　her　life　suddenly　not　sure　of　Bartlett。
　〃You　want　that　49　percent？〃
　〃In　return　for　what；　Linc？〃
　〃In　return　for　getting　in　back　of　Gornt…Par…Con　100　percent。〃
　Her　stomach　felt　weak　and　she　looked　at　him　searchingly；　trying　to　read　his　mind。　Normally　she　could；　but　not　since　Orlanda。　〃Are　you　offering　that？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　his　smile　the　same；　his　voice　the　same。　〃No。　Not　yet。〃
　She　shivered；　afraid　she　would　take　the　deal　if　it　were　really　offered。　〃I'm　glad；　Raider。　I　guess；　yes；　I'm　glad。〃
　〃The　point's　straight　and　simple；　Casey：　Dunross　and　Gornt　play　the　game　to　win　but　for　different　stakes。　Why　this　box　would　mean　more　to　both　of　them　than　2　or　4　million。　We　came　here；　you　and　I；　to　profit　and　to　win。〃　They　both　glanced　at　the　sky　as　a　few　raindrops　spattered。　But　it　was　from　the　roof　overhang　and　not　a　new　shower。　She　began　to　say　something；　stopped。
　〃What；　Casey？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　circulate；　see　what　the　reaction　is。　See　you　back　in　our　box。〃
　〃What　about　the　fifth？〃　she　asked。
　〃Wait　for　the　odds。　I'll　be　back　before　the　start。〃
　〃Have　fun！〃　She　followed　him　with　her　eyes；　out　of　the　door；　then　turned　and　leaned　on　the　balcony　to　hide　from　him　and　everyone。　She　had　almost　blurted　out；　Are　you　going　to　pull　the　rug　and　renege？
　Jesus；　before　Orlanda　…　before　Hong　Kong　…　I'd　never　have　needed　to　ask　that　question。　Linc　would　never　go　back　on　a　deal　before。　But　now；　now　I'm　not　sure。
　Again　she　shivered。　What　about　my　tears？　I've　never　pulled　that　one　before；　and　what　about　Murtagh？　Should　I　tell　Linc　about　Murtagh　now　…　or　later　…　because　he　must　be　told；　certainly　before　9：30　Monday。　Oh　God；　I　wish　we'd　never　e　here。
　
　The　patter　of　rain　splashed　the　stadium　and　someone　said；　〃Christ；　I　hope　it　doesn't　get　any　worse！〃　The　track　was　already　scarred　and　muddy　and　very　slippery。　Outside　the　main　entrance　the　road　was　slicked；　puddled；　traffic　heavy　and　many　late…ing　people　still　hurried　through　the　turnstiles。
　Roger　Crosse；　Sinders　and　Robert　Armstrong　got　out　of　the　police　car　and　went　through　the　barriers　and　the　checkpoints　to　the　members'　elevator；　their　blue　lapel　badges　fluttering。　Crosse　had　been　a　voting　member　for　five　years；　Armstrong　for　one。　Crosse　was　also　a　steward　this　year。　Every　year　the　missioner　of　police　suggested　to　the　stewards　that　the　police　should　have　their　own　box　and　each　year　the　stewards　agreed　enthusiastically　and　nothing　happened。
　In　the　members'　stand　Armstrong　lit　a　cigarette。　His　face　was　lined；　his　eyes　tired。　The　huge；　crowded　room　went　half　the　length　of　the　stands。　They　went　to　the　bar　and　ordered　drinks；　greeting　other　members。　〃Who's　that？〃　Sinders　asked。
　Armstrong　followed　his　glance。　〃That's　a　little　of　our　local　color；　Mr。　Sinders。〃　His　voice　was　sardonic。　〃Her　name's　Venus　Poon　and　she's　our　top　TV　starlet。〃
　Venus　Poon　was　wearing　a　full…length　mink　and　surrounded　by　an　admiring　group　of　Chinese。　〃The　fellow　on　her　left's　Charles　Wang　…　he's　a　film　producer；　multimillionaire；　cinemas；　dance　halls；　nightclubs；　bars；　girls　and　a　couple　of　banks　in　Thailand。　The　small　old　man　who　looks　like　a　bamboo　and's　just　as　tough　is　Four　Finger　Wu；　one　of　our　local　pirates　…　smuggling's　his　life's　work　and　he's　very　good。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Crosse　said。　〃We　almost　caught　him　a　couple　of　days　ago。　We　think　he's　into　heroin　now　…　of　course　gold。〃
　〃Who's　the　nervous　one　in　the　gray　suit？　The　fellow　on　the　outside？〃
　〃That's　Richard　Kwang　of　the　Ho…Pak　disaster；〃　Armstrong　said。　〃The　banker。　He's　her　current；　or　was　her　current　…　what's　the　word　…　patron？〃
　〃Interesting。〃　Sinders　concentrated　on　Venus　Poon。　Her　dress　was　low…cut　and　saucy。　〃Yes；　very。　And　who's　that？　Over　there　…　the　one　with　the　European。〃
　〃Where？　Oh。　That's　Orlanda　Ramos；　Portuguese　which　usually　means　Eurasian　here。　Once　she　was　Quillan　Gornt's　mistress。　Now；　now　I　don't　know。　The　man's　Linc　Bartlett；　the　'gun…runner。'　〃
　〃Ah！　She's　unattached？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　〃She　looks　expensive。〃　Sinders　sipped　his　drink　and　sighed。　〃Delectable；　but　expensive。〃
　〃I'd　say　very；〃　Crosse　told　him　distastefully。　Orlanda　Ramos　was　with　several　middle…aged　women；　all　couturier　dressed；　around　Bartlett。　〃Rather　overdone　for　my　taste。〃
　Sinders　glanced　at　him；　surprised。　〃I　haven't　seen　so　many　smashers　in　years　…　or　so　many　jewels。　Have　you　ever　had　a　raid　here？〃
　Crosse's　eyes　soared。　〃In　the　Turf　Club？　Good　God；　surely　no　one'd　dare。〃
　Armstrong　smiled　his　hard　smile。　〃Every　copper　who　does　duty　here；　from　the　high　to　the　low；　spends　most　of　the　time　trying　to　work　out　the　perfect　heist。　The　final　day's　take　must　be　15　million　at　least。　It's　baffled　us　all。　Security's　too　tight；　too　clever　…　Mr。　Crosse　set　it　up。〃
　〃Ah！〃
　Crosse　smiled。　〃Would　you　like　a　snack；　Edward？　Perhaps　a　sandwich？〃
　〃Good　idea。　Thank　you。〃
　〃Robert？〃
　〃No　thank　you；　sir。　If　you　don't　mind　I'll　study　the　form　and　see　you　later。〃　Armstrong　was　achingly　aware　that　after　the　seventh　race；　they　were　due　to　return　to　HQ　where　Brian　Kwok　was　scheduled　for　another　session。
　〃Robert's　a　serious　punter；　Edward。　Robert；　do　me　a　favor；　show　Mr。　Sinders　the　ropes；　where　to　bet；　and　order　him　a　sandwich。　I'd　better　see　if　the　governor's　free　for　a　moment　…　I'll　be　back　in　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃Glad　to；〃　Armstrong　said；　hating　the　idea；　the　envelope　with　40；000　h'eung　yau　dollars　that　he　had　taken　from　his　desk　on　an　impulse　now　a　never…ending　fire　in　his　pocket。　Christ；　do　I　or　don't　I？　he　asked　himself　over　and　over；　grimly　trying　to　decide　and　all　the　while　trying　to　push　away　the　horror　of　his　friend　Brian　and　the　next　session　…　no；　no　longer　his　friend　but　a　mitted；　highly　trained　foreign　asset　and　enormously　valuable　catch　that　they　had　by　a　miracle　uncovered。
　〃Robert；〃　Crosse　said；　keeping　his　voice　deliberately　kind；　〃you've　done　a　very　good　job　today。　Very　good。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Sinders　agreed。　〃I'll　see　the　minister's　aware　of　your　help；　and　of　course　the　CP。〃
　Crosse　went　for　the　elevator。　Wherever　he　went　nervous　Chinese　eyes　followed　him。　On　the　top　floor　he　bypassed　the　governor's　box　and　went　into　Plumm's。
　〃Hello；　Roger！〃　Plumm　greeted　him　affably。　〃Drink？〃
　〃Coffee　would　be　fine。　How're　things？〃
　〃Lost　my　shirt　so　far；　though　a　number　of　us　have　the　first　leg　of　the　quinella。　You？〃
　〃I've　just　arrived。〃
　〃Oh；　then　you　missed　the　drama！〃　Plumm　told　Crosse　about　Dunross's　takeover　bid。　〃Ian's　thrown　a　monkey　wrench　into　Pug。〃
　〃Or　given　him　a　great　offer；〃　someone　volunteered。
　〃True；　true。〃
　Plumm's　box　was　as　packed　as　all　the　others。　Lots　of　chatter　and　laughter；　drinks　and　good　food。　〃Tea'll　be　up　in　half　an　hour。　I'm　just　going　along　to　the　stewards'　mittee　room；　Roger。　Would　you　like　to　stroll　with　me？〃
　The　mittee　room　was　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　through　guarded　swing　doors。　It　was　small　with　a　table　and　twelve　chairs；　a　phone；　good　windows　over　the　track　and　a　tiny　balcony。　And　empty。　At　once　Plumm's　easygoing　facade　vanished。　〃I　talked　to　Suslev。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃He's　furious　about　the　raid　on　the　Ivanov　last　night。〃
　〃I　can　imagine。　That　was　ordered　by　London。　I　wasn't　even　told　till　this　morning。　Bloody　Sinders！〃
　Plumm　became　even　grimmer。　〃They　couldn't　be　on　to　you；　could　they？〃
　〃Oh　no。　It's　routine。　Just　Special　Branch；　MI…6　and　Sinders　flexing　their　wings。　They're　a　secretive　lot　and　quite　right；　nothing　to　do　with　SI。　Go　on。〃
　〃He　said　if　you　came　that　he'd　be　by　a　phone　booth。〃　Plumm　handed　him　a　slip　of　paper。　〃Here's　the　number。　He'll　be　there　exactly　at　the　off　of　the　next　three　races。　Please　call　him　…　he　said　it　was　urgent。　What　the　hell　was　the　raid　for？〃
　〃Just　to　frighten　all　the　KGB　aboard；　to　frighten　them　enough　to　flush　out　Sevrin。　Pressure。　Same　as　the　order　for　Suslev　and　the　new　missar　t