jamesclavell.noblehouse-第200章

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　〃Hello。〃　She　smiled　back　at　Armstrong；　and　he　saw　her　immediate　caution。　Why　are　they　all　frightened　of　us；　the　innocent　as　well　as　the　guilty？　he　asked　himself；　when　all　we　do　is　try　to　enforce　their　laws；　try　to　protect　them　from　villains　and　the　ungodly。　It's　because　everyone　breaks　some　law；　even　a　little　one；　every　day；　most　days；　because　a　lot　of　laws　are　stupid　…　like　our　betting　laws　here。　So　everyone's　guilty；　even　you；　pretty　lady　with　the　oh　so　sensual　walk　and　oh　so　promising　smile。　For　Bartlett。　What　crime　have　you　mitted　today；　to　snare　this　poor　innocent？　Sardonically　he　smiled　to　himself。　Not　so　innocent　in　most　things。　But　against　someone　trained　by　Quillan　Gornt？　A　beautiful；　hungry　Eurasian　girl　with　no　place　to　go　but　down？　Ayeeyah！　But　oh　how　I'd　like　to　swap　places！　Yes；　you　with　your　guns；　money；　birds　like　Casey　and　this　one　and　meetings　with　the　offal　of　the　world　like　Banastasio；　oh　yes　…　I'd　give　ten　years　of　my　life；　more；　because　today　I　swear　to　God　I　loathe　what　I　have　to　do；　what　only　I　can　do　for　good　old　England。
　〃Did　you　back　the　favorite　too？〃　she　was　asking。
　〃No；　no　unfortunately。〃
　〃This's　her　second　winner；〃　Bartlett　said　proudly。　〃Ah；　if　you're　on　a　winning　streak；　who　do　you　fancy　in　the　fifth？〃
　〃I've　been　trying　to　decide；　Superintendent。　I've　no　tips　…　it's　wide　open。　What's　yours？〃
　〃Winning　Billy's　tipped；　I　hear。　I　can't　make　up　my　mind　either。　Well；　good　luck。〃　Armstrong　left　them；　heading　for　the　betting　windows。　He　had　put　500　on　the　third…placed　horse；　covering　his　other　bets。　He　always　chose　a　main　bet　and　then　hedged　it　with　others；　hoping　to　e　out　ahead。　Most　times　he　did。　This　afternoon　he　was　a　little　behind；　but　he　still　hadn't　touched　the　40；000。
　In　the　corridor　he　hesitated。　The　Snake；　Chief　Inspector　Donald　C。　C。　Smyth；　was　turning　away　from　one　of　the　crowded　winning　windows；　a　roll　of　money　in　his　hand。　〃Hello；　Robert。　How're　you　doing？〃
　〃So…so。　You're　in　the　big　time　again？〃
　〃I　try。〃　The　Snake　bent　closer。　〃How　is　everything？〃
　〃Proceeding。〃　Once　more　Armstrong　felt　nauseated　at　the　thought　of　more　of　the　Red　Room；　then　sitting　there；　letting　Brian　Kwok's　mind　spill　out　his　most　secret　secrets；　working　against　the　clock　that　was　ticking　away　…　all　of　them　aware　that　the　governor　was　asking　London　for　permission　to　trade。
　〃You're　not　looking　so　good；　Robert。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　so　good。　Who's　going　to　win　the　fifth？〃
　〃I　leaned　on　your　friend　Clubfoot　at　the　Para。　The　word　is　Pilot　Fish。　He　did　tip　Buccaneer　in　the　first；　though　with　this　going　anything　could　happen。〃
　〃Yes。　Anything　on　the　Werewolves？〃
　〃Nothing。　It's　a　dead　end。　I'm　having　the　whole　area　bed　but　with　this　rain　it's　almost　hopeless。　I　did　interview　Dianne　Chen　this　morning　…　and　John　Chen's　wife　Barbara。　They　gave　me　sweet　talk。　I'd　lay　a　fiver　to　a　bent　hatpin　they　know　more　than　they're　telling。　I　had　a　brief　talk　with　Phillip　Chen　but　he　was　equally　uncooperative。　Poor　bugger's　pretty　shook。〃　The　Snake　looked　up　at　him。　〃By　chance　did　Mary　have　any　clue　about　John？〃
　Armstrong　looked　back　at　him。　〃I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　ask　her。　Tonight　…　if　they　give　me　any　peace。〃
　〃They　won't。〃　Smyth's　face　crinkled　with　a　twisted　smile。　〃Put　your　40　on　Pilot　Fish。〃
　〃What　40？〃
　〃A　dickie　bird　twittered　that　a　certain　golden　nest　egg　has　flown　your　coop　…　to　mix　metaphors。〃　The　smaller　man　shrugged。　〃Don't　worry；　Robert；　have　a　flutter。　There's　plenty　more　where　that　came　from。　Good　luck。〃　He　went　away。　Armstrong　stared　after　him；　hating　him。
　The　bugger's　right　though；　he　thought；　his　chest　hurting。　There's　plenty　more　but　once　you　take　the　first；　what　about　the　second　and　though　you　give　nothing；　admit　nothing；　guarantee　nothing；　there　will　e　a　time。　As　sure　as　God　made　little　apples　there's　always　a　return　payment。
　Mary。　She　needs　that　holiday；　needs　it　so　much　and　there's　the　stockbroker's　bill　and　all　the　other　bills　and　oh　Christ；　with　this　market　gone　crazy　I'm　almost　wiped　out。　God　curse　money　…　or　the　lack　of　it。
　40　on　a　winning　quinella'd　solve　everything。　Or　do　I　put　it　all　on　Pilot　Fish？　All　or　half　or　none。　If　it's　all；　there's　plenty　of　time　to　place　bets　at　other　windows。
　His　feet　took　him　to　one　of　the　betting　lines。　Many　recognized　him　and　those　who　did；　feeling　their　instant　internal　fear；　wished　the　police　had　their　own　box　and　own　windows　and　did　not　mix　with　honest　citizens。　Four　Finger　Wu　was　one　of　these。　Hastily　he　put　50；000　on　a　quinella　of　Pilot　Fish　and　Butterscotch　Lass　and　fled　back　to　the　members'　room；　gratefully　to　sip　his　brandy　and　soda。　Dirty　dogmeat　police　to　frighten　honest　citizens；　he　thought；　waiting　for　Venus　Poon　to　return。　Eeeee；　he　chortled；　her　Golden　Gulley's　worth　every　carat　of　the　diamond　I　promised　her　last　night。　Two　Clouds　and　Rain　before　dawn　and　a　promise　of　another　bout　on　Sunday　when　the　yang　recovers　his　ju…　
　A　sudden　roar　from　outside　diverted　his　mind。　At　once　he　shoved　his　way　through　the　crowds　packing　the　balcony。　The　names　of　the　fifth　racehorses　and　their　jockeys　were　ing　up　on　the　board；　one　by　one。　Pilot　Fish；　number　one；　got　a　full…bellied　cheer；　then　Street　Vendor；　an　outsider；　two；　Golden　Lady；　three　and　a　ripple　of　excitement　went　through　her　many　backers。　When　Noble　Star；　seven；　flashed　up　there　was　a　great　roar　and　when　the　last；　number　eight；　the　favorite；　Butterscotch　Lass；　there　was　an　even　greater　roar。
　Down　by　the　rail　Dunross　and　Travkin　were　grimly　inspecting　the　turf。　It　was　torn　and　slippery。　The　nearer　the　rail；　the　worse　it　was。　Above；　the　sky　was　blacker　and　lowering。　A　sprinkle　started　and　a　nervous　groan　slipped　from　fifty　thousand　throats。
　〃It's　rotten；　tai…pan；〃　Travkin　said；　〃the　going's　rotten。〃
　〃It's　the　same　for　everyone。〃　Dunross　let　his　mind　reestimate　the　odds　a　last　time。　If　I　ride　and　win；　the　omen　will　be　immense。　If　I　ride　and　lose；　the　omen　will　be　very　bad。　To　be　beaten　by　Pilot　Fish　would　be　even　worse。　I　could　be　hurt　easily。　I　can't　afford　。。。　the　Noble　House　can't　afford　to　be　headless　today；　tomorrow　or　Monday。　If　Travkin　rides　and　loses　or　finishes　behind　Pilot　Fish　that　would　be　bad　but　not　as　bad。　That　would　be　joss。
　But　I　won't　get　hurt。　I'll　win。　I　want　this　race　more　than　anything　in　the　world。　I　won't　fail。　I'm　not　sure　about　Alexi。　I　can　win　…　if　the　gods　are　with　me。　Yes　but　how　much　are　you　prepared　to　gamble　on　the　gods？
　〃Eeee；　young　Ian；〃　Old　Chen…chen　had　told　him　many　times；　〃beware　of　expecting　help　from　the　gods；　however　much　you　petition　them　with　gold　or　promises。　Gods　are　gods　and　gods　go　out　to　lunch　and　sleep　and　get　bored　and　turn　their　eyes　away。　Gods　are　the　same　as　people：　good　and　bad；　lazy　and　strong；　sweet　and　sour；　stupid　and　wise！　Why　else　are　they　gods；　heya？〃
　Dunross　could　feel　his　heart　thumping　and　could　smell　the　warm；　acrid；　sweet…sour　horse　sweat；　could　sense　the　mind…blinding；　spirit…curdling　motioning；　hands　gripping　the　whip；　bunched　in　the　corner；　now　into　the　far　straight；　now　into　the　last　corner；　the　aching；　grand　sweet　terror　of　speed；　wielding　the　whip；　jamming　your　heels　in；　outstretched　now；　carefully　bumping　Pilot　Fish　into　the　rails；　putting　him　off　his　stride；　and　now　into　the　straight；　ripping　into　the　straight；　Pilot　Fish　behind；　winning　post　ahead　。。。　e　on　e　on　。。。　winning。　。。。
　〃We　have　to　decide；　tai…pan。　It's　time。〃
　Dunross　came　back　slowly；　bile　in　his　mouth。　〃Yes。　You　ride；〃　he　said；　putting　the　House　before　himself。
　And　now　that　he　had　said　it　he　put　the　rest　aside　and　clapped　Travkin　warmly　on　the　shoulders。　〃Win；　Alexi；　win　by　God。〃
　The　older　man；　gnarled　and　leathery；　peered　up　at　him。　He　nodded　once；　then　walked　off　to　change。　As　he　went　he　noticed　Suslev　in　the　stands　watching　him　through　binoculars。　A　tremor　went　through　him。　Suslev　had　promised　that　this　Christmas　Nestorova　would　e　to　Hong　Kong；　she　would　be　allowed　to　join　him　in　Hong　Kong　…　and　stay　in　Hong　Kong　…　at　Christmas。　If　he　cooperated。　If　he　cooperated　and　did　what　was　asked。
　Do　you　believe　that？　No。　No；　not　at　all；　those　matyeryebyets　are　liars　and　betrayers　but　maybe　this　time　。。。　Christ　Jesus　why　should　I　be　ordered　to　meet　Dunross　at　Sinclair　Towers　by　night；　late　at　night？　Why？　Christ　Jesus；　what　should　I　do？　Don't　think；　old　man。　You're　old　and　soon　you'll　be　dead　but　your　first　duty　is　to　win。　If　you　win；　the　tai…pan　will　do　your　bidding。　If　you　lose？　If　you　win　or　lose；　how　can　you　live　with　the　shame　of　betraying　the　man　who　befriended　you　and　trusts　you？
　He　went　into　the　jockeys'　room。
　Behind　him　Dunross　had　turned　to　glance　at　the　tote。　The　odds　had　shortened；　the　total　amount　at　risk　already　two　and　a　half　million。　Butterscotch　Lass　was　3　to　1；　Noble　Star　7　to　1；　still　no　jockey　listed。　Pilot　Fish　5　to　1；　Golden　Lady　7　to　1。　Early　yet；　he　thought；　and　so　much　time　left　to　gamble。　Travkin　will　shorten　the　odds。　A　cold　shaft　took　him。　I　wonder　if　there's　a　deal　going　on　right　now；　a　deal　among　the　trainers　and　jockeys？　Christ；　we　all　better　be　watching　this　one　very　carefully　indeed。
　〃Ah　Ian！〃
　〃Oh　hello；　sir。〃　Dunross　smiled　at　Sir　Geoffrey　who　came　up　to　him　then　looked　at　Havergill　who　was　with　the　governor。　〃Pity　about　Winwell　Stag；　Paul；　I　thought　he　ran　a　grand　race。〃
　〃Joss；〃　Havergill　said　politely。　〃Who's　riding　Noble　Star？〃
　〃Travkin。〃
　The　governor's　face　lit　up。　〃Ah；　very　good　choice。　Yes；　he'll　make　a　good　race　of　it。　For　a　moment；　Ian；　I　was　afraid　you　might　be　tempted。〃
　〃I　was。　Still　am；　sir。〃　Dunross　smiled　faintly。　〃If　Alexi　gets　hit　by　a　bus　between　now　and　then；　I'm　riding　her。〃
　〃Well；　for　the　sake　of　all　of　us　and　the　Noble　House；　let's　hope　that　doesn't　happen。　We　can't　afford　to　have　you　hurt。　The　going　looks　terrible。〃　Another　swirl　of　rain　came　and　passed　by。　〃We've　been　very　lucky　so　far。　No　bad　accidents。　If　the　rain　starts　in　earnest；　it　might　be　worthwhile　considering　abandoning。〃
　〃We've　already　discussed　it；　sir。　We're　running　a　little　late。　The　race'll　be　delayed　ten　minutes。　So　long　as　the　weather　holds　for　this　race　most　people　will　be　satisfied。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　watched　him。　〃Oh　by　the　way；　Ian；　I　tried　the　minister　a　few　minutes　ago　but　I'm　afraid　he　was　already　in　meetings。　I　left　word　and　he'll　call　back　the　moment　he　can。　It　seems　the　ramifications　of　this　damned　Profumo　scandal　are　once　more　tearing　at　the　very　roots　of　the　Conservative　government。　The　press　are　screaming；　quite　rightly；　in　case　there　have　been　breaches　of　security。　Until　the　mission　of　Enquiry　es　out　next　month；　settling　once　and　for　all　security　aspects　and　rumors　that　others　in　the　government　are　implicated　or　not；　there'll　be　no　peace。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Havergill　said。　〃But　surely　the　worst's　over；　sir。　As　to　the　report；　certainly　it　won't　be　adverse。〃
　〃Adverse　or　not；　this　scandal　will　wreck　the　Conservatives；〃　Dunross　said　soberly；　remembering　AMG's　forecast　in　the　last　report。
　〃Good　God；　I　hope　not。〃　Havergill　was　aghast。　〃Those　two　twits；　Grey　and　Broadhurst；　in　power　amongst　all　the　other　Socialist　shower？　If　their　press　conference　was　any　indication；　we　might　as　well　all　go　home。〃
　〃We　are　home；　and　it　all　es　home　to　roost。　Eventually；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　said　sadly。　〃Anyway；　Ian　made　the　correct　decision；　not　to　ride。〃　He　glanced　at　Havergill　and　his　gaze　sharpene