jamesclavell.noblehouse-第209章

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was　originally　a　journalist　on　a　munist　newspaper　in　Canton；　Spectacles　Wu　had　offered　…　but　through　trusted　intermediaries　so　he　and　his　relations　could　not　be　traced　…　to　supply　Rosemont　with　a　monthly　undercover　report；　an　intelligence　pamphlet；　code　name　〃Freedom　Fighter；〃　on　conditions　across　the　Bamboo　Curtain　in　and　around　Canton。　To　prove　the　espionage　quality　Spectacles　Wu　had　offered　to　supply　the　first　two　editions　free　…　to　catch　a　mighty　tiger　it　is　good　business　to　sacrifice　a　stolen　lamb。　If　these　were　considered　acceptable　to　the　CIA；　the　fee　would　be　1；000　HK　each　for　the　next　three；　and　if　these　were　equally　valuable；　then　a　new　contract　would　be　negotiated　for　a　year　of　reports。
　The　first　two　had　been　so　highly　praised　that　an　immediate　deal　was　struck　for　five　reports　at　2；000　HK　each。　Next　week　they　were　to　get　their　first　fee。　Oh　how　they　had　congratulated　themselves。　The　content　of　the　reports　was　culled　from　thirty　Canton　newspapers　that　came　down　on　the　daily　Canton　train　that　also　brought　pigs　and　poultry　and　foods　of　all　kinds　and　could　be　purchased　without　effort　in　Wanchai　paper　shops。　All　they　had　had　to　do　was　to　read　them　meticulously　and　copy　the　articles；　after　removing　the　munist　dialectic：　articles　about　crops；　building；　economics；　Party　appointments；　births；　deaths；　sentences；　extortions　and　local　color　…　anything　they　considered　of　interest。　Spectacles　Wu　translated　the　stories　the　others　picked。
　He　felt　a　huge　wave　of　pleasure。　Freedom　Fighter　had　enormous　potential。　Their　costs　were　almost　nil。　〃But　sometimes　we　must　be　careful　to　make　a　few　mistakes；〃　Spectacles　Wu　had　told　them；　〃and　occasionally　we　must　miss　a　month　…　'we　regret　our　agent　in　Canton　was　assassinated　for　giving　away　State　secrets　。。。'　〃　Oh　yes。　And　soon；　when　I'm　a　full　member　of　SI　and　a　trained　espionage　agent；　I'll　know　better　how　to　present　the　press　information　to　the　CIA。　Perhaps　we'll　expand　and　experiment　with　a　report　from　Peking；　another　from　Shanghai。　We　can　get　day…old　Peking　and　Shanghai　papers　equally　with　no　trouble　and　very　little　investment。　Thank　all　gods　for　American　curiosity！
　A　taxi　honked　as　it　splashed　past。　He　stopped　a　moment　to　allow　it　to　pass；　then　shoved　through；　careless　of　the　cursing；　honking　and　noise　alongside　the　tall　fence　that　skirted　the　stadium。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　He　had　plenty　of　time。　Headquarters　was　not　far　away。
　The　rain　became　heavier　but　he　did　not　feel　it；　the　warmth　of　winnings　in　his　pocket　lightening　his　footsteps。　He　squared　his　shoulders。　Be　strong；　be　wise；　he　ordered　himself。　Tonight　I　must　be　alert。　Perhaps　they　will　ask　my　opinion。　I　know　the　munist　Superintendent　Brian　Kwok　is　a　liar　here　and　there　and　exaggerating。　And　as　to　atomics；　what's　so　important　about　that？　Of　course　the　Middle　Kingdom　has　its　own　atomics。　Any　fool　knows　what's　been　going　on　for　years　in　Sinkiang　near　the　shores　of　Lake　Bosteng…hu。　And　of　course；　soon　we'll　have　our　own　rockets　and　satellites。　Of　course！　Are　we　not　civilized？　Did　we　not　invent　gunpowder　and　rockets　but　discard　them　millennia　ago　as　barbaric？
　
　Throughout　the　stadium　on　the　other　side　of　the　fence；　women　cleaners　raked　up　the　sodden　leavings　of　the　thousands；　patiently　sifting　the　rubbish　carefully　for　a　lost　coin　or　ring；　fountain　pen　or　bottles　that　were　worth　a　single　copper　cash。　Crouched　beside　a　pile　of　garbage　cans　in　the　lee　of　the　rain　was　a　man。
　〃e　on；　old　fellow；　you　can't　sleep　there；〃　a　woman　cleaner　said；　not　unkindly；　shaking　him。　〃It's　time　to　go　home！〃　The　old　man's　eyes　fluttered　open　for　an　instant；　he　began　to　get　up　but　stopped；　gave　out　a　great　sigh　and　subsided　like　a　rag　doll。
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　One　Tooth　Yang　muttered。　She　had　seen　enough　of　death　throughout　her　seventy　years　to　recognize　its　finality；　〃Hey；　Younger　Sister；〃　she　called　out　politely　to　her　friend　and　second　member　of　her　team。　〃e　over　here！　This　old　man's　dead。〃
　Her　friend　was　sixty…four；　bent　and　lined　but　equally　strong　and　also　Shanghainese。　She　came　out　of　the　rain　and　peered　down。　〃He　looks　like　a　beggar。〃
　〃Yes。　We'd　better　tell　the　foreman。〃　One　Tooth　Yang　knelt　and　carefully　went　through　his　ragged　pockets。　There　were　3　HK　in　change；　nothing　else。　〃That's　not　much；〃　she　said。　〃Never　mind。〃　She　divided　the　coins　equally。　Over　the　years　they　had　always　divided　what　they　found。
　〃What's　that　in　his　left　hand？〃　the　other　woman　asked。　One　Tooth　bent　the　clawlike　hand　open。　〃Just　some　tickets。〃　She　peered　at　them；　then　held　them　close　to　her　eyes　and　flicked　through　them。　〃It's　the　double　quinella　。。。〃　she　began；　then　suddenly　cackled；　〃Eeee；　the　poor　fool　got　the　first　leg　and　lost　the　second　。。。　he　chose　Butterscotch　Lass！〃　Both　women　laughed　hysterically　at　the　mischief　of　the　gods。
　〃That　must　have　sent　the　poor　old　ancient　into　the　seizure　…　it　would　me！　Ayeeyah；　to　be　so　close　and　yet　so　far；　Elder　Sister。〃
　〃Joss。〃　One　Tooth　Yang　cackled　again　and　tossed　the　tickets　into　a　garbage　can。　〃Gods　are　gods　and　men　are　men　but　eee；　I　can　imagine　the　old　fellow　dying。　I　would　have　too！〃　The　two　old　women　laughed　again；　the　bad　joss　hurting　them　and　the　older　one　rubbed　her　chest　to　ease　the　pain。　〃Ayeeyah；　I　must　get　a　physic。　Go　and　tell　the　foreman　about　him。　Younger　Sister；　eeee；　but　I'm　tired　tonight。　Such　bad　joss；　he　was　close　to　being　a　millionaire　but　now？　Joss！　Go　tell　the　foreman。　I'm　tired　tonight；〃　she　said　again；　leaning　on　her　rake；　her　voice　wavering。
　The　other　woman　went　off　marveling　at　the　gods　and　how　quickly　they　can　give　or　take　away　…　if　they　exist　at　all；　she　thought　in　passing。　Ah　joss！
　Wearily　One　Tooth　Yang　continued　her　work；　her　head　aching；　but　the　moment　she　was　sure　she　was　alone　and　unobserved　she　darted　for　the　garbage　can　and　frantically　retrieved　the　tickets；　her　heart　pounding　like　never　in　her　whole　life。　Frantically　she　checked　that　her　eyes　had　not　deceived　her　and　the　numbers　were　correct。　But　there　was　no　mistake。　Each　ticket　was　a　winning　ticket。　Equally　frantically　she　stuffed　them　in　her　pocket　then　made　absolutely　sure　she　had　not　left　one　carelessly　in　the　rubbish。　Quickly　she　piled　more　rubbish　on　top　and　lifted　this　can　and　dumped　it　into　another；　all　the　time　her　mind　shrieking；　Tomorrow　I　can　redeem　the　tickets；　I　have　three　days　to　redeem　them！　Oh　bless　all　gods；　I'm　rich　I'm　rich　I'm　rich！　There　must　be　a　hundred　or　two　hundred　tickets　and　each　a　5　HK　ticket；　each　ticket　pays　265　HK　。。。　if　there's　a　hundred　tickets　that's　26；500　HK；　if　two　hundred　tickets　53；000　HK。　。。。
　Feeling　faint；　she　squatted　beside　the　corpse；　leaning　against　the　wall；　not　noticing　it。　She　knew　she　dare　not　count　the　tickets　now；　there　was　no　time。　Every　second　was　vital。　She　had　to　prepare。　〃Be　cautious；　old　fool；〃　she　muttered　aloud；　then　once　more　almost　went　into　panic。　Stop　talking　aloud！　Be　careful；　you　old　fool；　or　Younger　Sister　will　suspect　。。。　Oh　oh　oh　is　she　now　telling　the　foreman　what　she　suspects？　Oh　what　shall　I　do？　The　joss　is　mine；　I　found　the　old　man　。。。　ayeeyah；　what　shall　I　do？　Perhaps　they'll　search　me。　If　they　see　me　in　this　state　they're　bound　to　suspect。　。。。
　Her　head　was　pounding　terribly　and　a　wave　of　nausea　went　through　her。　Nearby　were　some　toilets。　She　groped　to　her　feet　and　hobbled　over　to　them。　Behind　her；　other　cleaners　were　sifting　and　tidying　up。　Tomorrow　they　would　all　e　again　for　there　would　still　be　plenty　to　do。　Her　own　shift　was　due　back　at　nine　in　the　morning。　In　the　empty　toilet　room　she　took　out　the　tickets；　her　fingers　trembling；　wrapped　them　in　a　piece　of　rag　and　found　a　loose　brick　in　the　wall　and　put　them　behind　the　brick。
　Once　safely　outside　she　began　to　breathe。　When　the　foreman　came　back　with　the　other　old　woman　he　peered　down　at　the　man；　went　through　his　pockets　with　great　care　and　found　a　twist　of　silver　paper　they　had　missed。　Within　it　was　a　pinch　of　White　Powder。　〃It　will　bring　2　HK；〃　he　said；　knowing　it　was　worth　6。04　HK。　〃We　will　split　it；　70　for　me　and　30　for　you　two。〃　For　face；　One　Tooth　argued　and　they　settled　that　he　would　try　to　get　3。10　HK　for　it；　and　would　split　it　60　to　him　and　40　to　them。　Satisfied；　he　went　away。
　When　they　were　alone　again　the　younger　woman　began　to　sift　the　garbage。
　〃What're　you　doing？〃　One　Tooth　asked。
　〃I　just　wanted　to　check　those　tickets；　Elder　Sister。　Your　eyes　are　not　so　good。〃
　〃Please　yourself；〃　One　Tooth　said　with　a　shrug。　〃I've　picked　this　lot　clean。　I'm　going　over　there。〃　Her　gnarled　finger　pointed　at　an　unnoticed　new　source　of　virgin　rubbish　under　a　row　of　seats。　The　other　woman　hesitated　then　followed　and　now　One　Tooth　almost　chortled　with　glee；　knowing　she　was　safe。　Tomorrow　I'll　e　back　plaining　of　stomach　sickness。　I　can　retrieve　my　fortune　and　go　home。　Now　what　shall　I　do　with　my　wealth？
　First　the　down　payment　on　two　quai　loh　dancing　dresses　for　Third　Granddaughter　in　return　for　half　her　earnings　in　the　first　year。　She'll　make　a　fine　whore　in　the　Good　Luck　Dance　Hall。　Next；　Second　Son　will　stop　being　a　coolie　on　the　construction　site　up　on　Kotewall　Road。　He　and　Fifth　Nephew　and　Second　Grandson　will　bee　builders；　and　within　the　week　we　will　put　a　down　payment　on　a　plot　of　land　and　begin　to　build　a　building　。。。
　〃You　seem　very　happy；　Elder　Sister。〃
　〃Oh　yes　I　am；　Younger　Sister。　My　bones　ache；　the　ague　is　with　me　as　ever；　my　stomach　is　upset；　but　I　am　alive　and　that　old　man　is　dead。　It　is　a　lesson　from　the　gods。　All　gods　bear　witness；　when　I　first　saw　him；　the　first　time；　I　thought　it　was　my　husband　who　died　in　our　flight　from　Shanghai　fifteen　years　ago。　I　thought　I　was　seeing　a　ghost！　My　spirit　almost　left　me　for　that　old　man　was　like　his　twin！〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　how　horrible！　How　terrible！　Ghosts！　All　gods　protect　us　from　ghosts！〃
　Oh　yes；　the　old　woman　thought；　ghosts're　terrible。　Now；　where　was　I？　Oh　yes　。。。　1；000　will　go　on　the　quinella　next　Saturday。　And　out　of　those　winnings　I　will　buy　。。。　I　will　buy　myself　a　set　of　false　teeth！　Eeeee；　how　wonderful　that　will　be；　she　wanted　to　cry　out；　almost　fainting　with　suppressed　pleasure。　All　her　life；　all　her　life　since　she　was　fourteen　when　a　Manchu　rifle　butt　had　smashed　out　her　teeth　in　one　of　the　constant　revolutions　against　the　foreign　Ch'ing　Dynasty；　she　had　been　nicknamed　One　Tooth。　Always　she　had　hated　her　nickname。　But　now　。。。　oh　gods　bear　witness！　I　will　buy　a　set　of　teeth　from　my　winnings　next　Saturday　…　and　also　I　will　buy　and　light　two　candles　in　the　nearest　temple　in　return　for　such　good　joss。
　〃I　feel　faint；　Younger　Sister；〃　she　said；　really　faint　with　near　ecstasy。　〃Could　you　get　me　some　water？〃
　The　other　woman　went　off　grumbling。　One　Tooth　sat　down　a　moment　and　allowed　herself　a　huge　grin；　her　tongue　feeling　her　gums。　Eeeee；　when　I　win；　if　I　win　heavily　enough；　I　will　have　one　gold　tooth；　right　in　the　center；　to　remind　me。　Gold　Tooth　Yang；　that　has　a　nice　sound　to　it；　she　thought；　far　too　clever　to　mutter　it　aloud；　even　though　she　was　pletely　alone。　Yes；　Honorable　Gold　Tooth　Yang；　of　the　Yang　Constructions　empire　。。。
　
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　6：15　P。M。：
　Suslev　was　hunched　unfortably　in　the　front　of　the　small　car　belonging　to　Ernie　Clinker　and　they　were　grinding　up　the　hill。　All　the　windows　were　steamed　up；　the　rain　even　heavier。　Mud　and　stones　washing　down　from　the　steep　hillsides　made　the　road　surface　dangerous。