jamesclavell.noblehouse-第205章

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al　plaint。　I　agree　with　Pug。〃
　〃Roger？〃
　〃I　saw　nothing　untoward。〃
　〃Jason？〃
　To　his　surprise　Plumm　shook　his　head　and　disagreed　and　Dunross　wondered　again　about　AMG　and　his　astonishing　accusation　of　Plumm　and　Sevrin。　〃We　all　know　Bluey　White's　cunning；〃　Plumm　was　saying。　〃We've　had　to　warn　him　before。　If　the　tai…pan　and　Donald　say　they　saw　it　I　vote　we　debar　him　and　disqualify　Pilot　Fish　when　it　es　to　a　vote。〃
　Dunross　polled　the　other　stewards；　the　rest　wavering。
　〃Let's　call　in　the　jockeys；　White　last。〃
　They　did。　All　the　jockeys　muttered　permutations　of　the　same　thing：　they　were　too　busy　with　their　own　mounts　to　notice　anything。
　Now　the　stewards　looked　at　Dunross；　waiting。　He　stared　back；　well　aware　that　if　he　said；　I　vote　we　unanimously　debar　Bluey　White　for　interference　and　disqualify　Pilot　Fish；　all　in　favor　say　aye！　that　they　would　concede　and　vote　as　he　wished。
　I　saw　him　do　it；　he　told　himself；　so　did　Donald；　and　others；　and　it　shook　Alexi　for　that　necessary　split　second。　Even　so；　in　all　honesty　I　don't　think　that　cost　Noble　Star　the　race。　I　blew　the　race　myself。　Alexi　was　the　wrong　choice　for　this　race。　He　should　have　shoved　Pilot　Fish　into　the　rails　on　the　second　corner　when　he　had　the　chance；　or　put　his　whip　across　Bluey　White's　face；　not　his　hands　as　I'd　have　done；　oh　yes；　without　hesitation。　And　there　are　other　considerations。
　〃There's　no　doubt　in　my　mind　there　was　interference；〃　he　said。　〃But　whether　by　accident　or　design　I　doubt　if　even　Alexi　will　know。　I　agree　it　didn't　cost　Noble　Star　the　race　so　I　suggest　we　just　caution　Bluey　and　let　the　result　stand。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　Shitee　T'Chung　exhaled　and　beamed　and　they　all　relaxed；　none　of　them；　least　of　all　Pugmire；　wanting　a　confrontation　with　the　tai…pan。　〃Anyone　against？　Good！　Let's　release　the　photo　finish　to　the　papers　and　make　the　announcement　over　the　loudspeakers。　Will　you　do　that；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Certainly。　But　what　about　the　rest　of　the　program？　Look　at　the　rain。〃　It　was　pelting　down　now。　〃Listen；　I've　an　idea。〃　He　told　it　to　them。
　A　whoop　of　excitement　and　they　all　laughed。　〃Very　good；　oh　very　good！〃
　〃Grand！〃　Dunstan　Barre　exploded。
　〃That'll　give　the　buggers　something　to　think　about！〃　Pugmire　said。
　〃Great　idea；　tai…pan！〃　McBride　beamed。　〃Oh　very　good。〃
　〃I'll　go　to　the　control　center　…　perhaps　you'd　get　Bluey　back　and　give　him　what　for；　scare　him；　eh？〃
　Pugmire　said；　〃A　word；　Ian？〃
　〃Can　we　make　it　later？〃
　〃Of　course。　Roger；　can　I　have　a　word？〃
　〃Of　course。　I'll　be　down　in　the　members'　stand　with　Sinders。〃
　〃Oh；　not　in　your　box？〃
　〃No；　I　let　the　missioner　have　it　for　a　private　party。〃
　〃Ian？〃
　〃Yes；　Jason？〃
　〃Do　you　think　they'll　hold　the　hill　climb　tomorrow？〃
　〃If　this　keeps　up；　no。　That　whole　area'll　be　a　quagmire。　Why？〃
　〃Nothing。　I　was　planning　a　cocktail　party　early　Sunday　evening　to　celebrate　your　Superfoods　coup！〃
　Shitee　T'Chung　chortled。　〃Jolly　good　idea！　Congratulations；　Ian！　Did　you　see　Biltzmann's　face？〃
　〃Ian；　would　you　be　free？　I　won't　invite　Biltzmann；〃　Plumm　added　to　much　laughter。　〃It'll　be　at　our　pany　flat　in　Sinclair　Towers。〃
　〃Sorry；　I'm　going　to　Taipei　early　afternoon；　sorry；　at　least　that's　my　present　plan。　Th…　〃
　Pugmire　interrupted　with　sudden　concern；　〃You　won't　be　here　Monday？　What　about　our　papers；　and　everything？〃
　〃No　problem；　Pug。　9：30　we　close。〃　To　Plumm　Dunross　said；　〃Jason　if　I　cancel　or　postpone　Taipei；　I'll　accept。〃
　〃Good。　7：30　to　9：30　casual。〃
　Dunross　walked　off；　his　frown　deepening；　surprised　that　Plumm　was　so　friendly。　Ordinarily　he　was　the　opposition　on　all　the　boards　they　shared；　siding　with　Gornt　and　Havergill　against　him；　particularly　on　the　Victoria's　board。
　Outside　the　stewards'　room　there　were　milling　clusters　of　anxious　reporters；　owners；　trainers　and　bystanders。　Dunross　brushed　aside　the　barrage　of　questions　all　the　way　to　the　control　room。　It　was　on　the　top　floor。
　〃Hello；　sir；〃　the　announcer　said；　everyone　tense　in　the　small　glass　booth　that　had　the　best　view　of　the　course。　〃Marvelous　race；　pity　about　。。。　Do　you　have　the　decision？　It's　Bluey；　isn't　it；　we　all　saw　the　whip。　。。。〃
　〃May　I　use　the　mike？〃
　〃Oh　of　course。〃　The　man　hastily　moved　and　Dunross　sat　in　his　place。　He　clicked　on　the　switch。　〃This　is　Ian　Dunross；　the　stewards　have　asked　me　to　make　two　announcements。　。。。〃
　The　silence　was　vast　as　his　words　echoed　and　re…echoed　over　the　stadium。　The　fifty　thousand　held　their　breaths；　careless　of　the　rain；　in　the　stands　and　on　every　soaring　level。　〃First；　the　result　of　the　fifth　race。〃　Dead　silence　but　for　the　sound　of　the　rain。　Dunross　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Pilot　Fish　by　a　nose　from　Noble　Star　by　a　whisker　from　Butterscotch　Lass。　。。。〃　but　the　last　was　drowned　by　the　cheers　and　counter　cheers；　happiness　and　disgust；　and　everyone　throughout　the　stadium　was　shouting；　arguing；　cheering；　cursing　and；　down　in　the　paddock；　Gornt　was　astonished；　having　been　convinced　that　his　jockey　had　been　seen　as　he　had　seen　him；　had　been　caught　and　carpeted　and　the　result　would　be　set　aside。　In　the　pandemonium　the　winning　numbers　flashed　on　to　the　tote：　one；　seven；　eight。
　Dunross　waited　a　moment　and　breezily　repeated　the　result　in　Cantonese；　the　crowd　more　docile；　their　pent…up　anxieties　allayed；　for　the　stewards'　decision　was　final。　〃Second；　the　stewards　have　decided；　due　to　the　weather　and　bad　conditions；　to　cancel　the　rest　of　the　meet　。。。〃　A　vast　groan　went　over　the　crowd。　〃。。。　actually　to　postpone　until　next　Saturday　for　another　special　meet。〃　A　sudden　great　roar　and　excitement　picked　up。　〃We　will　have　a　meet　of　eight　races　and　the　fifth　will　be　the　same　as　today；　with　the　same　runners；　Pilot　Fish；　Butterscotch　Lass；　Winning　Billy；　Street　Vendor；　Golden　Lady；　Lochinvar　and　Noble　Star。　A　special　return　challenge　with　double　stakes；　30；000　added。　。。。〃
　Cheers　and　more　cheers；　applause　and　roars　and　someone　in　the　booth　said；　〃Christ　what　a　great　idea；　tai…pan！　Noble　Star'll　take　that　black　bastard！〃
　〃Oh　no　he　won't！　Butterscotch　。。。〃
　〃Great　idea；　tai…pan。〃
　Into　the　mike　Dunross　said；　〃The　stewards　appreciate　your　continued　support。〃　He　repeated　it　in　Cantonese；　adding；　〃There　will　be　a　further　special　announcement　in　a　few　minutes。　Thank　you！〃　in　both　languages。
　Another　huge　cheer　and　those　in　the　rain　scurried　for　cover　or　for　the　winning　windows；　everyone　chattering；　groaning；　cursing　the　gods　or　blessing　them；　choking　the　exits；　long　lines　of　men；　women　and　children　seeking　the　long　way　home；　a　wonderful　new　happiness　possessing　them。　Only　those　who　possessed　the　winning　double　quinella　numbers；　eight　and　five　in　the　second；　one　and　seven　in　the　fifth；　stood　paralyzed；　staring　at　the　tote；　waiting　for　the　winning　odds　to　be　declared。
　〃Another　announcement；　tai…pan？〃　the　announcer　asked　anxiously。
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Around　five。〃　Havergill　had　told　him　that　the　deal　with　Richard　Kwang　had　been　struck　and　had　asked　him　to　go　to　the　Victoria　box　as　soon　as　possible。　He　reached　the　exit　door　and　went　down　the　steps　three　at　a　time　to　the　next　level；　very　pleased　with　himself。　Giving　the　race　to　Pilot　Fish's　got　to　throw　Gornt；　he　thought。　Gornt　knew　and　I　knew　it　was　a　carve…up　and　that　Alexi　was　set　up　whatever　he　did　…　which　is　the　major　reason　I　didn't　ride。　They'd've　tried　it　on　me　and　I　would　have　killed　someone。　But　next　Saturday　。。。　ah；　next　Saturday　I'll　ride　and　Bluey　White　won't　dare；　nor　will　the　other　trainers；　next　Saturday'll　be　fair　game　and　they'll　be　on　notice　by　God。　His　excitement　picked　up　a　beat。　Then　ahead　in　the　crowded　corridor　he　saw　Murtagh　waiting　for　him。
　〃Oh　tai…pan；　can　I　se…　〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Dunross　led　him　through　the　kitchen　into　his　private　room。
　〃That　was　a　great　race。　I　won　a　bundle；〃　the　young　man　said　excitedly；　〃and　great　about　Saturday。〃
　〃Good。〃　Then　Dunross　noticed　the　sweat　on　the　man's　forehead。　Oh　Christ；　he　thought。　〃Are　we　in　business；　Mr。　Murtagh？〃
　〃Please　call　me　Dave；　the　brass　said；　er；　they　said　maybe。　They've　scheduled　a　board　meeting　for　tomorrow；　9：00　a。m。　their　time。　Our　time　that's　。。。〃
　〃10：00　p。m。　this　evening。　Yes。　Excellent；　Mr。　Murtagh；　then　call　me　on　this　number。〃　Dunross　wrote　it　down。　〃Please　don't　lose　it　and　don't　give　it　to　anyone　else。〃
　〃Oh；　of　course；　tai…pan；　I'll　call　the　very　moment　。。。　How　late　can　I　call？〃
　〃The　moment　you　put　the　phone　down　to　them。　Keep　calling　till　you　get　me。〃　Dunross　got　up。　〃Sorry　but　there's　rather　a　lot　to　do。〃
　〃Oh　sure；　sure！〃　Murtagh　added　uneasily；　〃Say；　tai…pan；　I　just　heard　about　the　2　million　down　on　the　General　Stores　tender。　2　million　from　us　by　9：30　Monday's　gotta　be　kinda　pushing　it。〃
　〃I　rather　expected　it　would　be　…　for　your　group。　Fortunately；　Mr。　Murtagh；　I　never　planned　on　that　modest　amount　of　cash　being　your　money。　I　know　First　Central　is　inclined　to　be　like　the　mills　of　God　…　they　grind　slowly　…　unless　they　wish　to　remove　themselves　from　the　arena；〃　he　added；　remembering　many　friends　who　had　been　hurt　by　their　precipitous　withdrawal　years　back。　〃Not　to　worry；　my　new　external　source　of　credit's　more　th…　〃
　〃What？〃　Murtagh　blanched。
　〃My　new　external　source　of　finance　reacts　at　once　to　any　sudden　business　opportunities；　Mr。　Murtagh。　This　took　them　just　eight　minutes。　They　seem　to　have　more　confidence　than　your　principals。〃
　〃Hell；　tai…pan；　please　call　me　Dave；　it's　not　lack　of　confidence　but；　well；　they've　no　idea　of　Asia。　I've　got　to　convince　them　the　General　Stores　takeover's　got　to　double　your　gross　in　three　years。〃
　〃In　one；〃　Dunross　interrupted　firmly；　enjoying　himself。　〃So　sorry　your　group　won't　share　in　our　huge　profits　from　that　minor　section　of　our　immense　expansion　plans。　Do　have　some　tea　in　the　box；　sorry；　I　just　have　to　make　a　phone　call。〃　He　took　Murtagh's　elbow　and　firmly　led　him　out　of　the　door；　shutting　it　after　him。
　In　the　kitchen　Murtagh　was　staring　at　the　closed　door；　the　happy　clatter　of　plates　and　Cantonese　obscenities　from　the　twenty　cooks　and　helpers　a　vast　din。　〃Jesus；〃　he　muttered　in　near　panic；　〃eight　minutes？　Shit；　are　the　goddamn　Swiss　horning　in　on　our　client？〃　He　tottered　away。
　Inside　the　room　Dunross　was　on　his　private　phone；　listening　to　the　ringing　tone。　〃Weyyyyy？〃
　〃Mr。　Tip　please；〃　he　said　carefully　in　Cantonese。　〃This　is　Mr。　Dunross　calling。〃
　He　heard　the　phone　put　down　with　a　clatter　and　the　amah　shriek；　〃It's　the　phone！　For　you；　Father！〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃
　〃A　foreign　devil。〃
　Dunross　smiled。
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Ian　Dunross；　Mr。　Tip。　I　was　just　concerned　that　your　illness　wasn't　worse。〃
　〃Ah；　ah；　yes；　so　sorry　I　could　not　arrive。　Yes。　I；　I　had　some　pressing　business；　you　understand？　Yes。　Very　pressing。　Oh　by　the　way；　that　was　bad　joss　about　Noble　Star。　I　just　heard　on　the　wireless　that　Pilot　Fish　won　by　a　nose　after　an　objection。　What　was　the　objection？〃
　Patiently　Dunross　explained　and　answered　questions　about　his　General　Stores　takeover　bid；　delighted　that　that　news　had　already　reached　him。　If　Tiptop；　then　all　newspapers。　Good；　he　thought；　waiting　Tiptop　out　but　Tiptop　outsmarted　him。　〃Well；　thank　you　for　calling；　tai…pan。〃
　At　once　Dunross　said；　〃It　was　my　pleasure；　oh　by　the　way；　confidentially；　I　understand　it　may　well　be　possible　that　the　police　have　discovered　one　of　their　underlings　has　made　a　mistake。〃
　〃Ah。　I　presume　the　mistake