jamesclavell.noblehouse-第20章

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ake　millions；　tens　of　millions。　And　as　to　the　puter…leasing　agency；　why　at　the　rental　these　fools　are　offering　us；　10　percent　less　than　IBM's　list　price；　less　our　71/2　percent　mission　…　with　just　a　little　haggling　we　would　have　been　delighted　to　agree　to　5　percent　…　by　next　weekend　I　can　sell　three　in　Singapore；　one　here；　one　in　Kuala　Lumpur　and　one　to　that　shipping　pirate　in　Indonesia　for　a　clear　profit　of　67；500　each；　or　405；000　for　six　phone　calls。　And　as　to　China　。。。
　And　as　to　China　。。。
　Oh　all　gods　great　and　small　and　very　small；　help　this　deal　to　go　through　and　I　will　endow　a　new　temple；　a　cathedral；　in　Tai…ping　Shan；　he　promised；　consumed　with　fervor。　If　China　will　drop　some　controls；　or　even　ease　them　just　a　fraction；　we　can　fertilize　the　paddy　fields　of　Kwantung　Province　and　then　of　all　China　and　over　the　next　twelve　years　this　deal　will　mean　tens　of　hundreds　of　millions　of　dollars；　U。S。　dollars　not　Hong　Kong　dollars！
　The　thought　of　all　this　profit　mollified　his　rage　considerably。　〃I　think　this　proposal　can　form　the　basis　for　further　discussion；〃　he　said；　finishing　reading。　〃Don't　you；　Andrew？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Gavallan　put　the　letter　down。　〃I'll　call　them　after　lunch。　When　would　it　be　convenient　for　Mr。　Bartlett　。。。　and　you　of　course　。。。　to　meet？〃
　〃This　afternoon　…　the　sooner　the　better　…　or　anytime　tomorrow　but　Linc　won't　e。　I　handle　all　the　details；　that's　my　job；〃　Casey　said　crisply。　〃He　sets　policy　…　and　will　formally　sign　the　final　documents　…　after　I've　approved　them。　That's　the　function　of　the　mander…in…chief；　isn't　it？〃　She　beamed　at　them。
　〃I'll　make　an　appointment　and　leave　a　message　at　your　hotel；〃　Gavallan　was　saying。
　〃Perhaps　we　could　set　it　up　now　…　then　that's　out　of　the　way？〃
　Sourly　Gavallan　glanced　at　his　watch。　Almost　lunch；　thank　God。　〃Jacques　…　how're　you　fixed　tomorrow？〃
　〃Morning's　better　than　the　afternoon。〃
　〃And　for　John　too；〃　Phillip　Chen　said。
　Gavallan　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed。　〃Mary？　Call　Dawson　and　make　an　appointment　for　eleven　tomorrow　to　include　Mr。　deVille　and　Mr。　John　Chen　and　Miss　Casey。　At　their　offices。〃　He　put　the　phone　down。　〃Jacques　and　John　Chen　handle　all　our　corporate　matters。　John's　sophisticated　on　American　problems　and　Dawson's　the　expert。　I'll　send　the　car　for　you　at　10：30。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　there's　no　need　for　you　to　trouble。〃
　〃Just　as　you　wish；〃　he　said　politely。　〃Perhaps　this　is　a　good　time　to　break　for　lunch。〃
　Casey　said；　〃We've　a　quarter　of　an　hour　yet。　Shall　we　start　on　how　you'd　like　our　financing？　Or　if　you　wish　we　can　send　out　for　a　sandwich　and　work　on　through。〃
　They　stared　at　her；　appalled。　〃Work　through　lunch？〃
　〃Why　not？　It's　an　old　American　custom。〃
　〃Thank　God　it's　not　a　custom　here；〃　Gavallan　said。
　〃Yes；〃　Phillip　Chen　snapped。
　She　felt　their　disapproval　descend　like　a　pall　but　she　did　not　care。　Shit　on　all　of　you；　she　thought　irritably；　then　forced　herself　to　put　that　attitude　away。　Listen；　idiot；　don't　let　these　sons　of　bitches　get　you！　She　smiled　sweetly。　〃If　you　want　to　stop　now　for　lunch；　that's　fine　with　me。〃
　〃Good；〃　Gavallan　said　at　once　and　the　others　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　〃We　begin　lunch　at　12：40。　You'll　probably　want　to　powder　your　nose　first。〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　she　said；　knowing　they　wanted　her　gone　so　they　could　discuss　her　…　and　then　the　deal。　It　should　be　the　other　way　around；　she　thought；　but　it　won't　be。　No。　It'll　be　the　same　as　always：　they'll　lay　bets　as　to　who'll　be　the　first　to　score。　But　it'll　be　none　of　them；　because　I　don't　want　any　of　them　at　the　moment；　however　attractive　they　are　in　their　way。　These　men　are　like　all　the　others　I've　met：　they　don't　want　love；　they　just　want　sex。
　Except　Linc。
　Don't　think　about　Linc　and　how　much　you　love　him　and　how　rotten　these　years　have　been。　Rotten　and　wonderful。
　Remember　your　promise。
　I　won't　think　about　Linc　and　love。
　Not　until　my　birthday　which　is　ninety…eight　days　from　now。　The　ninety…eighth　day　ends　the　seventh　year　and　because　of　my　darling　by　then　I'll　have　my　drop　dead　money　and　really　be　equal；　and；　God　willing；　we'll　have　the　Noble　House。　Will　that　be　my　wedding　present　to　him？　Or　his　to　me？
　Or　a　good…bye　present。
　〃Where's　the　ladies'　room？〃　she　asked；　getting　up；　and　they　all　stood　and　towered　over　her；　except　Phillip　Chen　whom　she　topped　by　an　inch；　and　Gavallan　directed　her。
　Linbar　Struan　opened　the　door　for　her　and　closed　it　behind　her。　Then　he　grinned。　〃A　thousand　says　you'll　never　make　it；　Jacques。〃
　〃Another　thousand；〃　Gavallan　said。　〃And　ten　that　you　won't；　Linbar。〃
　〃You're　on；〃　Linbar　replied；　〃provided　she's　here　a　month。〃
　〃You're　slowing　up；　aren't　you；　old　chap？〃　Gavallan　said；　then　to　Jacques；　〃Well？〃
　The　Frenchman　smiled。　〃Twenty　that　you；　Andrew；　will　never　charm　such　a　lady　into　bed　…　and　as　to　you；　poor　young　Linbar。　Fifty　against　your　racehorse　says　the　same。〃
　〃I　like　my　filly　for　God's　sake。　Noble　Star's　got　a　great　chance　of　being　a　winner。　She's　the　best　in　our　stable。〃
　〃Fifty。〃
　〃A　hundred　and　I'll　consider　it。〃
　〃I　don't　want　any　horse　that　much。〃　Jacques　smiled　at　Phillip　Chen。　〃What　do　you　think；　Phillip？〃
　Phillip　Chen　got　up。　〃I　think　I'll　go　home　to　lunch　and　leave　you　stallions　to　your　dreams。　It's　curious　though　that　you're　all　betting　the　others　won't　…　not　that　any　of　you　could。〃　Again　they　laughed。
　〃Stupid　to　give　us　the　extra；　eh？〃　Gavallan　said。
　〃The　deal's　fantastic；〃　Linbar　Struan　said。　〃Christ；　Uncle　Phillip；　fantastic！〃
　〃Like　her　derrière；〃　deVille　said　as　a　connoisseur　would。　〃Eh；　Phillip？〃
　Good…naturedly　Phillip　Chen　nodded　and　walked　out；　but　as　he　saw　Casey　disappearing　into　the　ladies'　room；　he　thought；　Ayeeyah；　who'd　want　the　big　lump　anyway？
　Inside　the　ladies'　room；　Casey　looked　around；　appalled。　It　was　clean　but　smelled　of　old　drains　and　there　were　pails　piled　one　on　top　of　another　and　some　were　filled　with　water。　The　floor　was　tiled　but　water…spotted　and　messy。　I've　heard　the　English　are　not　very　hygienic；　she　thought　disgustedly；　but　here　in　the　Noble　House？　Ugh！　Astonishing！
　She　went　into　one　of　the　cubicles；　its　floor　wet　and　slippery；　and　after　she　had　finished　she　pulled　the　handle　and　nothing　happened。　She　tried　it　again；　and　again；　and　still　nothing　happened　so　she　cursed　and　lifted　off　the　top　of　the　cistern。　The　cistern　was　dry　and　rusty。　Irritably　she　unbolted　the　door　and　went　to　the　basin　and　turned　on　the　water　but　none　came　out。
　What's　the　matter　with　this　place？　I'll　bet　those　bastards　sent　me　here　deliberately！
　There　were　clean　hand　towels　so　she　poured　a　pail　of　water　into　the　basin　awkwardly；　spilling　some；　washed　her　hands；　then　dried　them；　furious　that　her　shoes　had　got　splashed。　At　a　sudden　thought；　she　took　another　pail　and　flushed　the　toilet；　then　used　still　another　bucket　to　clean　her　hands　again。　When　she　left；　she　felt　very　soiled。
　I　suppose　the　goddamn　pipe's　broken　somewhere　and　the　plumber　won't　e　until　tomorrow。　Goddamn　all　water　systems！
　Calm　down；　she　told　herself。　You'll　start　making　mistakes。
　The　corridor　was　covered　with　fine　Chinese　silk　carpet；　and　the　walls　were　lined　with　oil　paintings　of　clipper　ships　and　Chinese　landscapes。　As　she　approached　she　could　hear　the　muted　voices　from　the　boardroom　and　a　laugh　…　the　kind　of　laugh　that　es　from　a　ribald　joke　or　a　smutty　remark。　She　knew　the　moment　she　opened　the　door；　the　good　humor　and　radeship　would　vanish　and　the　awkward　silence　would　return。
　She　opened　the　door　and　they　all　got　up。
　〃Are　you　having　trouble　with　your　water　mains？〃　she　asked；　holding　her　anger　down。
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　Gavallan　said；　startled。
　〃Well；　there's　no　water。　Didn't　you　know？〃
　〃Of　course　there's　no　…　Oh！〃　He　stopped。　〃You're　staying　at　the　V　and　A　so　。。。　Didn't　anyone　tell　you　about　the　water　shortage？〃
　They　all　began　talking　at　once　but　Gavallan　dominated　them。　〃The　V　and　A　has　its　own　water　supply　…　so　do　a　couple　of　other　hotels　…　but　the　rest　of　us're　on　four　hours　of　water　every　fourth　day；　so　you've　got　to　use　a　pail。　Never　occurred　to　me　you　didn't　know。　Sorry。〃
　〃How　do　you　manage？　Every　fourth　day？〃
　〃Yes。　For　four　hours；　6：00　a。m。　till　8：00　a。m。；　then　5：00　till　7：00　in　the　evening。　It's　a　frightful　bore　because　of　course　it　means　we've　got　to　store　four　days'　supply。　Pails；　or　the　bath；　whatever　you　can。　We're　short　of　pails　…　it's　our　water　day　tomorrow。　Oh　my　God；　there　was　water　for　you；　wasn't　there？〃
　〃Yes；　but　。。。　You　mean　the　water　mains　are　turned　off？　Everywhere？〃　she　asked　incredulously。
　〃Yes；〃　Gavallan　said　patiently。　〃Except　for　those　four　hours　every　fourth　day。　But　you're　all　right　at　the　V　and　A。　As　they're　right　on　the　waterfront　they　can　refill　their　tanks　daily　from　lighters　…　of　course；　they　have　to　buy　it。〃
　〃You　can't　shower　or　bathe？〃
　Linbar　Struan　laughed。　〃Everyone　gets　pretty　grotty　after　three　days　in　this　heat　but　at　least　we're　all　in　the　same　sewer。　Still　it's　survival　training　to　make　sure　there's　a　full　pail　before　you　go。〃
　〃I　had　no　idea；〃　she　said；　aghast　that　she　had　used　three　pails。
　〃Our　reservoirs　are　empty；〃　Gavallan　explained。　〃We've　had　almost　no　rain　this　year　and　last　year　was　dry　too。　Bloody　nuisance　but　there　you　are。　Just　one　of　those　things。　Joss。〃
　〃Then　where　does　your　water　e　from？〃
　They　stared　at　her　blankly。　〃From　China　of　course。　By　pipes　over　the　border　into　the　New　Territories；　or　by　tanker　from　the　Pearl　River。　The　government's　just　chartered　a　fleet　of　ten　tankers　that　go　up　the　Pearl　River；　by　agreement　with　Peking。　They　bring　us　about　10　million　gallons　a　day。　It'll　cost　the　government　upwards　of　25　million　for　this　year's　charter。　Saturday's　paper　said　our　consumption's　down　to　30　million　gallons　a　day　for　our　31/2　million　population　…　that　includes　industry。　In　your　country；　one　person　uses　150　gallons　a　day；　so　they　say。〃
　〃It's　the　same　for　everyone？　Four　hours　every　fourth　day？〃
　〃Even　at　the　Great　House　you　use　a　pail。〃　Gavallan　shrugged　again。　〃But　the　tai…pan's　got　a　place　at　Shek…O　that　has　its　own　well。　We　all　pile　over　there　when　we're　invited；　to　get　the　slime　off。〃
　She　thought　again　of　the　three　pails　of　water　she　had　used。　Jesus；　she　thought；　did　I　use　it　all？　I　don't　recall　if　there's　any　left。
　〃I　guess　I've　a　lot　to　learn；〃　she　said。　Yes；　they　all　thought。　Yes；　you　bloody　have。
　
　〃Tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　Claudia？〃　Dunross　said　into　the　inter。
　〃The　meeting　with　Casey's　just　broken　for　lunch。　Master　Andrew　is　on　line　four。　Master　Linbar's　on　his　way　up。〃
　〃Cancel　him　till　after　lunch。　Any　luck　on　Tsu…yan？〃
　〃No　sir。　The　plane　landed　on　time　at　8：40。　He's　not　at　his　office　in　Taipei。　Or　his　flat。　I'll　keep　trying；　of　course。　Another　thing；　I've　just　had　an　interesting　call；　tai…pan。　It　seems　that　Mr。　Bartlett　went　to　Rothwell…Gornt　this　morning　and　had　a　private　meeting　with　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　〃Are　you　sure？〃　he　asked；　ice　in　his　stomach　suddenly。
　〃Yes；　oh　very　yes。〃
　Bastard；　Dunross　thought。　Does　Bartlett　mean　me　to　find　out？　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　putting　the　question　aside　for　the　moment；　but　very　glad　to　know。　〃You've　got　a　thousand　dollars　on　any　horse　on　Saturday。〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Back　to　work；　Claudia！〃　He　punched　the　number　four　button。　〃Yes；　Andrew？　What's　the　deal？〃
　Gavallan　told　him　the　important