jamesclavell.noblehouse-第208章

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　〃What's　th…　〃　Peter　Marlowe　began；　then　he　saw　them　too。　〃Oh！　Not　to　worry。〃
　After　a　pause　she　took　her　eyes　away。　〃Peter；　that　favor。　May　I　ask　for　that　favor；　now？〃
　〃What　do　you　want　as　a　favor？〃
　〃I　want　to　know　about　Orlanda。〃
　〃To　destroy　her？〃
　〃For　protection。　Protection　for　Linc　against　her。〃
　〃Perhaps　he　doesn't　want　to　be　protected；　Casey。〃
　〃I　swear　I'll　never　use　it　unless　I　honest　to　God　feel　it's　necessary。〃
　The　tall　man　sighed。　〃Sorry；〃　he　said　with　great　passion；　〃but　nothing　I　could　tell　you　about　her　would　give　you　or　Linc　protection。　Nothing　to　destroy　her　or　make　her　lose　face。　Even　if　I　could　I　wouldn't；　Casey。　That　really　wouldn't　be　cricket。　Would　it？〃
　〃No；　but　I'm　still　asking。〃　She　stared　back　at　him；　forcing　the　issue。　〃You　said　a　favor。　I　came　when　you　needed　a　hand。　I　need　a　hand　now。　Please。〃
　He　watched　her　a　long　time。　〃What　do　you　know　about　her？〃　She　told　him　what　she　had　learned　…　about　Gornt　supporting　Orlanda；　Macao；　about　the　child。
　〃Then　you　know　everything　I　know；　except　perhaps　that　you　should　be　sorry　for　her。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　she's　Eurasian；　alone；　Gornt　her　only　support　and　that's　as　precarious　as　anything　in　the　world。　She's　living　on　a　knife　edge。　She's　young；　beautiful　and　deserves　a　future。　Here　there's　none　for　her。〃
　〃Except　Linc？〃
　〃Except　Linc　or　someone　like　him。〃　Peter　Marlowe's　eyes　were　slate　color。　〃Perhaps　that　wouldn't　be　so　bad　from　his　point　of　view。〃
　〃Because　she's　Asian　and　I'm　not？〃
　Again　the　curious　smile。　〃Because　she's　a　woman　and　so　are　you　but　you　hold　all　the　cards；　and　the　only　real　thing　you　have　to　decide　is　if　you　really　want　that　war。〃
　〃Level　with　me；　Peter；　please。　I'm　asking。　What's　your　advice？　I'm　running　scared　…　there；　I'll　admit　it　to　you。　Please？〃
　〃All　right；　but　this　isn't　the　favor　I　owe　you；〃　he　said。　〃Rumor　has　it　you　and　Linc　are　not　lovers　though　you　obviously　love　him。　Rumor　has　it　you've　been　together　for　six　or　seven　years　in　close　proximity　but　with　no　。。。　no　formal　contact。　He's　a　terrific　fellow；　you're　a　terrific　lady　and　you'd　make　a　great　couple。　The　key　word　is　couple；　Casey。　Maybe　you　want　money　and　power　and　Par…Con　more　than　you　do　him。　That's　your　problem。　I　don't　think　you　can　have　both。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃It　seems　to　me　you　choose　Par…Con　and　power　and　riches　and　no　Bartlett；　other　than　as　a　friend　…　or　you　bee　Mrs。　Linc　Bartlett　and　behave　and　love　and　be　the　kind　of　woman　there's　no　doubt　in　hell　Orlanda　would　be。　Either　way　you　have　to　be　a　hundred　percent　…　you　and　Linc　are　both　too　strong　and　probably　have　tested　each　other　too　many　times　to　be　fooled。　He's　been　divorced　once；　so　he's　on　guard。　You're　over　the　age　of　a　Juliet　blindness　so　you're　equally　on　guard。〃
　〃Are　you　a　psychiatrist　too？〃
　He　laughed。　〃No；　nor　a　father…confessor；　though　I　like　to　know　about　people　and　like　to　listen　but　not　to　lecture　and　never　to　give　advice　…　that's　the　most　thankless　task　in　the　world。〃
　〃So　there's　no　promise？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；　but　then　I'm　not　you。　You　have　your　own　karma。　Irrespective　of　Orlanda　…　if　it's　not　her　it'll　be　another　woman；　better　or　worse；　prettier　though　maybe　not；　because　win；　lose　or　draw；　Orlanda's　quality　and　has　what　it　takes　to　make　a　man　content；　happy；　alive　as　a　man。　Sorry；　I　don't　mean　to　be　chauvinistic；　but　since　you　asked；　I'd　advise　you　to　make　up　your　mind　quickly。〃
　
　Gavallan　hurried　into　Shitee　T'Chung's　box　and　joined　the　tai…pan。　〃Afternoon；〃　he　said　politely　to　the　old　couple。　〃Sorry；　tai…pan；　Crosse　and　the　other　fellow　you　wanted　had　already　left。〃
　〃Blast！〃　Dunross　thought　a　second；　then　excused　himself　and　walked　out　with　Gavallan。　〃You're　ing　to　the　cocktail　party？〃
　〃Yes；　if　you　want　me　there　…　afraid　I'm　not　very　good　pany。〃
　〃Let's　go　in　here　a　second。〃　Dunross　led　the　way　into　his　private　room。　Tea　was　laid　out　and　a　bottle　of　Dom　Pérignon　in　an　ice　bucket。
　〃Celebration？〃　Gavallan　asked。
　〃Yes。　Three　things：　the　General　Stores　takeover；　the　Ho…Pak　rescue　and　the　dawn　of　the　new　era。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　began　to　open　the　bottle。　〃For　instance　you：　I　want　you　to　leave　for　London　Monday　evening　with　the　children。〃　Gavallan's　eyes　widened　but　he　said　nothing。　〃I　want　you　to　check　on　Kathy；　see　her　specialist；　then　take　her　and　the　kids　to　Castle　Avisyard。　I　want　you　to　take　over　Avisyard　for　six　months；　perhaps　a　year　or　two。　Six　months　certain　…　take　over　the　whole　of　the　east　wing。〃　Gavallan　gasped。　〃You're　going　to　head　up　a　new　division；　very　secret；　secret　from　Alastair；　my　father；　every　member　of　the　family　including　David。　Secret　from　everyone　except　me。〃
　〃What　division？〃　Gavallan's　excitement　and　happiness　showed。
　〃There's　a　fellow　I　want　you　to　get　close　to　tonight；　Andrew。　Jamie　Kirk。　His　wife's　a　bit　of　a　bore　but　invite　them　to　Avisyard。　I　want　you　to　slide　into　Scotland；　particularly　Aberdeen。　I　want　you　to　buy　property；　but　very　quietly：　factory　areas；　wharfage；　potential　airfields；　heliports　near　the　docks。　Are　there　docks　there？〃
　〃Christ；　tai…pan；　I　don't　know。　I've　never　been　there。〃
　〃Nor　have　I。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　Dunross　laughed　at　the　look　on　Gavallan's　face。　〃Not　to　worry。　Your　initial　budget　is　a　million　pounds　sterling。〃
　〃Christ；　where　the　hell's　a　million　ing　fr…　〃
　〃Never　mind！〃　Dunross　twisted　the　cork　and　held　it；　deadening　the　explosion　neatly。　He　poured　the　pale；　oh　so　dry　wine。　〃You've　a　million　sterling　to　mit　in　the　next　six　months。　A　further　5　million　sterling　over　the　next　two　years。〃
　Gavallan　was　gaping　at　him　openly。
　〃In　that　time　I　want　the　Noble　House；　oh　so　quietly；　to　bee　the　power　in　Aberdeen；　with　the　best　land；　best　influence　on　the　town　councils。　I　want　you　laird　of　Aberdeen　…　and　as　far　west　as　Inverness　and　south　to　Dundee。　In　two　years。　All　right？〃
　〃Yes　but　。。。〃　Gavallan　stopped　helplessly。　All　his　life　he　had　wanted　to　quit　Asia。　Kathy　and　the　children　too；　but　it　had　never　been　possible　or　even　considered。　Now　Dunross　had　given　him　Utopia　and　he　could　not　take　it　all　in。　〃But　why？〃
　〃Talk　to　Kirk；　beguile　his　wife；　and　remember；　laddie；　a　closed　mouth。〃　Dunross　gave　him　a　glass　and　took　one　for　himself。　〃Here's　to　Scotland；　the　new　era　and　our　new　fief。〃　Then　he　added　in　his　most　secret　heart；　And　here's　to　the　North　Sea！　All　gods　bear　witness：　The　Noble　House　is　implementing　Contingency　Plan　One。
　
　67
　
　5：50　P。M。：
　The　stands　were　empty　now　but　for　the　cleaners；　most　of　the　boxes　dark。　Rain　cascaded　from　the　sky；　a　solid　sheet　of　water。　It　was　near　twilight。　Traffic　was　snarled　all　around　the　racecourse。　The　thousands　plodded　homeward；　sodden　but　light　of　heart。　Next　Saturday　was　another　race　day　and　another　fifth　race　and　oh　oh　oh；　another　challenge　and　this　time　the　tai…pan　will　surely　ride　Noble　Star　and　perhaps　Black　Beard　will　ride　Pilot　Fish　and　those　two　devil　quai　loh　will　kill　themselves　for　our　amusement。
　A　Rolls　going　out　of　the　members'　entrance　splashed　some　of　the　pedestrians　and　they　shouted　a　barrage　of　obscenities　but　none　of　the　Chinese　really　minded。　One　day　I'll　have　one　of　those；　everyone　thought。　All　I　need's　just　a　little　fornicating　joss。　Just　a　little　joss　next　Saturday　and　I'll　have　enough　to　buy　some　land　or　an　apartment　to　rent　out；　to　barter　against　a　piece　of　a　high　rise；　to　mortgage　against　an　acre　of　Central。　Eeee；　how　I'll　enjoy　riding　in　my　Rolls　with　a　lucky　number　plate　like　that　one！　Did　you　see　who　it　was？　Taximan　Tok　who　seven　years　ago　drove　a　bo…pi；　an　illegal　taxi；　and　found　10；000　HK　on　his　backseat　one　day　and　hid　it　for　five　years　till　the　statute　of　limitations　had　passed；　then　invested　it　in　the　stock　market　in　the　boom　of　three　years　ago　to　immense　profit　then　took　the　profit　and　bought　apartments。　Eeee；　the　boom！　Remember　what　Old　Blind　Tung　wrote　in　his　column　about　the　ing　boom！　But　what　about　the　stock　market　crash　and　all　the　bank　runs？
　Ayeeyah；　that's　all　over！　Didn't　you　hear　the　astounding　news？　Great　Bank　is　taking　over　the　Ho…Pak　and　standing　good　for　all　Banker　Kwang's　debts。　Did　you　hear　about　the　Noble　House　buying　General　Stores？　Both　such　good　pieces　of　news　announced　on　race　day。　That's　never　happened　before！　It's　odd！　Very　odd！　You　don't　think　。。。　Fornicate　all　Gods！　Is　it　all　a　foul　ploy　of　those　dirty　foreign　devils　to　manipulate　the　market　to　steal　our　rightful　profits？　Oh　oh　oh；　I　agree！　Yes；　it　must　be　a　foul　plot！　It's　too　much　fornicating　coincidence！　Oh　those　cunning　awful　barbarians！　Thank　all　gods　I　realized　it　so　I　can　prepare！　Now　what　should　I　do　。。。
　As　they　all　headed　for　home　their　minds　were　consumed　with　growing　excitement。　Most　were　poorer　than　when　they　came　to　the　track；　but　a　few　were　much　richer。　Spectacles　Wu；　the　police　constable　from　the　East　Aberdeen　Police　station；　was　one　of　those。　Crosse　had　allowed　him　to　go　to　the　races　though　he　had　to　be　back　by　6：15　p。m。　when　the　client　was　due　to　be　interviewed　again；　Spectacles　Wu　there　as　interpreter　for　the　Ning…tok　dialect。　The　young　man　shivered　and　his　Secret　Sack　chilled　at　the　thought　of　how　quickly　the　great　Brian　Kwok　had　babbled　his　innermost　secrets。
　Ayeeyah；　he　thought；　filled　with　superstitious　dread。　These　pink　barbarians　are　truly　devils　who　can　twist　us　civilized　people　as　they　wish　and　send　us　mad。　But　if　I　bee　SI　that'll　protect　me　and　give　me　some　of　their　secrets；　and　with　those　secrets　and　other　foreign　devil　secrets　I　will　bee　an　ancestor！
　He　began　to　beam。　His　joss　had　changed　ever　since　he　had　caught　that　old　amah。　Today　the　gods　had　favored　him　greatly。　He　had　forecast　one　quinella；　the　daily　double　and　three　place　horses；　each　time　reinvesting　all　his　winnings　and　now　he　was　5；753　HK　richer。　His　plan　for　the　money　was　already　settled。　He　would　finance　Fifth　Uncle　to　buy　a　used　plastic　molding　machine　to　begin　a　plastic　flower　factory　in　return　for　51　percent；　another　1；000　would　pay　for　the　construction　of　two　dwellings　in　the　resettlement　to　be　rented　and　the　last　1；000　would　be　for　next　Saturday！
　A　Mercedes　sounded　its　horn　deafeningly；　making　him　jump。　Spectacles　Wu　recognized　one　of　the　men　in　the　back：　the　man　Rosemont；　the　CIA　barbarian　with　limitless　funds　to　spend。　So　naive；　they　are；　the　Americans；　he　thought。　Last　year　when　his　relations　had　poured　over　the　border　in　the　exodus；　he　had　sent　them　all　down　to　the　consulate　on　a　roster　basis；　every　month　a　different　name　and　different　story；　to　join　the　constant　and　evergrowing　band　of　rice　Christians　or；　to　be　more　exact；　rice　non…munists。　It　was　easy　to　get　free　meals　and　handouts　from　the　U。S。　Consulate。　All　you　had　to　do　was　to　pretend　to　be　frightened　and　say；　nervously；　that　you　had　just　e　over　the　border；　that　you　were　staunchly　against　Chairman　Mao　and　that　in　your　village　the　munists　did　such　and　such　a　terrible　thing。　The　Americans　would　be　happy　to　hear　about　PRC　troop　movements；　real　or　imagined。　Oh　how　quickly　they　would　write　it　all　down　and　ask　for　more。　Any　information；　any　stupid　piece　of　information　you　could　pick　up　if　you　could　read　a　newspaper　was　to　them　…　if　whispered　with　rolling　eyes　…　very　valuable。
　Three　months　ago　Spectacles　Wu　had　had　a　brainstorm。　Now；　with　four　members　of　his　clan；　one　of　whom　was　originally　a　journalist　on　a　munist　newspaper　in　Canton；　Spectacles　Wu　had