jamesclavell.noblehouse-第21章

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　〃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　part。
　〃20　million　in　cash？〃　he　asked　with　disbelief。
　〃In　marvelous；　beautiful　U。S。　cash！〃　Dunross　could　feel　his　beam　down　the　phone。　〃And　when　I　asked　when　Bartlett　would　confirm　the　deal　the　little　scrubber　had　the　bloody　cheek　to　say；　'Oh　it's　confirmed　now　…　I　can　mit　up　to　20　million　on　this　deal　without　consulting　him　or　anyone。'　Do　you　think　that's　possible？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　Dunross　felt　a　little　weak　in　the　knees。　〃Bartlett's　due　any　moment。　I'll　ask。〃
　〃Hey；　tai…pan；　if　this　goes　through　。。。〃
　But　Dunross　was　hardly　listening　as　Gavallan　ran　on　ecstatically。　It's　an　unbelievable　offer；　he　was　telling　himself。
　It's　too　good。　Where's　the　flaw？
　Where's　the　flaw？
　Ever　since　he　had　bee　tai…pan　he　had　had　to　maneuver；　lie；　cajole　and　even　threaten　…　Havergill　of　the　bank　for　one　…　far　more　than　ever　he　had　expected；　to　stay　ahead　of　the　disasters　he　had　inherited；　and　the　natural　and　political　ones　that　seemed　to　be　besetting　the　world。　Even　going　public　had　not　given　him　the　capital　and　time　he　had　expected　because　a　worldwide　slump　had　ripped　the　markets　to　pieces。　And　last　year　in　August；　Typhoon　Wanda　had　struck；　leaving　havoc　in　her　wake；　hundreds　dead；　a　hundred　thousand　homeless；　half　a　thousand　fishing　boats　sunk；　twenty　ships　sunk；　one　of　their　three　thousand　tonners　flung　ashore；　their　giant　half…pleted　wharf　wrecked　and　their　entire　building　program　smashed　for　six　months。　In　the　fall　the　Cuban　crisis　and　more　slump。　This　spring　de　Gaulle　had　vetoed　Britain's　entry　into　the　mon　Market　and　more　slump。　China　and　Russia　quarreling　and　more　slump。　。。。
　And　now　I've　almost　got　20　million　U。S。　but　I　think　we're　somehow　involved　in　gun…running；　Tsu…yan's　apparently　on　the　run　and　John　Chen's　God　knows　where！　〃Christ　all　sodding　mighty！〃　he　said　angrily。　〃What？〃　Gavallan　stopped；　aghast；　in　midflow。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Oh　nothing　…　nothing；　Andrew；〃　he　said。　〃Nothing　to　do　with　you。　Tell　me　about　her。　What's　she　like？〃
　〃Good　at　figures；　fast　and　confident；　but　impatient。　And　she's　the　best…looking　bird　I've　seen　in　years；　with　potentially　the　best　pair　of　knockers　in　town。〃　Gavallan　told　him　about　the　bets。　〃I　think　Linbar's　got　the　inside　track。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　fire　Poster　and　send　Linbar　down　to　Sydney　for　six　months；　get　him　to　sort　everything　out　there。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　Gavallan　laughed。　〃That'll　stop　his　farting　in　church　…　though　they　say　the　ladies　Down　Under　are　very　acmodating。〃
　〃You　think　this　deal　will　go　through？〃
　〃Yes。　Phillip　was　ecstatic　about　it。　But　it's　shitty　dealing　through　a　woman　and　that's　the　truth。　Do　you　think　we　could　bypass　her　and　deal　with　Bartlett　direct？〃
　〃No。　He　was　quite　clear　in　his　correspondence　that　K。　C。　Tcholok　was　his　chief　negotiator。〃
　〃Oh　well　。。。　into　the　breach　and　all　that！　What　we　do　for　the　Noble　House！〃
　〃Have　you　found　her　weak　spot？〃
　〃Impatience。　She　wants　to　'belong'　…　to　be　one　of　the　boys。　I'd　say　her　Achilles'　heel　is　that　she　desperately　wants　acceptance　in　a　man's　world。〃
　〃No　harm　in　wanting　that　…　like　the　Holy　Grail。　The　meeting　with　Dawson's　set　for　eleven　tomorrow？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Get　Dawson　to　cancel　it；　but　not　until　nine　tomorrow　morning。　Tell　him　to　make　an　excuse　and　reset　it　for　Wednesday　at　noon。〃
　〃Good　idea；　keep　her　off　balance；　what？〃
　〃Tell　Jacques　I'll　take　that　meeting　myself。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。　What　about　John　Chen？　You'll　want　him　there？〃
　After　a　pause　Dunross　said；　〃Yes。　Have　you　seen　him　yet？〃
　〃No。　He's　expected　for　lunch　…　you　want　me　to　chase　him？〃
　〃No。　Where's　Phillip？〃
　〃He　went　home。　He's　ing　back　at　2：30。〃
　Good；　Dunross　thought；　and　tabled　John　Chen　until　that　time。　〃Listen　。。。〃　The　inter　buzzed。　〃Just　a　minute；　Andrew。〃　He　punched　the　hold。　〃Yes；　Claudia？〃
　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　tai…pan；　but　I've　got　your　call　to　Mr。　Jen　in　Taipei　on　line　two　and　Mr。　Bartlett's　just　arrived　downstairs。〃
　〃Bring　him　in　as　soon　as　I'm　through　with　Jen。〃　He　stabbed　line　four　again。　〃Andrew；　I　may　be　a　couple　of　minutes　late。　Host　drinks　and　that　sort　of　thing　for　me。　I'll　bring　Bartlett　up　myself。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　Dunross　stabbed　line　two。　〃Tsaw　an；〃　he　said　in　Mandarin　dialect　…　How　are　you？　…　glad　to　talk　to　Wei…wei's　uncle；　General　Jen　Tang…wa；　deputy　chief　of　the　illegal　Kuomintang　secret　police　for　Hong　Kong。
　〃Shey…shey；〃　then　in　English；　〃What's　up；　tai…pan？〃
　〃I　thought　you　should　know　。。。〃　Dunross　told　him　briefly　about　the　guns　and　Bartlett；　that　the　police　were　involved；　but　not　about　Tsu…yan　or　John　Chen。
　〃Ayeeyah！　That's　very　curious　indeed。〃
　〃Yes。　I　thought　so　too。　Very　curious。〃
　〃You're　convinced　it's　not　Bartlett？〃
　〃Yes。　There　appears　to　be　no　reason。　None　at　all。　It'd　be　stupid　to　use　your　own　plane。　Bartlett's　not　stupid；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Who'd　need　that　sort　of　armament　here？〃
　There　was　a　pause。　〃Criminal　elements。〃
　〃Triads？〃
　〃Not　all　triads　are　criminals。〃
　〃No；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃I'll　see　what　I　can　find　out。　I'm　sure　it's　nothing　to　do　with　us；　Ian。　Are　you　still　ing　Sunday？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　I'll　see　what　I　can　find　out。　Drinks　at　6：00　p。m。？〃
　〃How　about　eight　o'clock？　Have　you　seen　Tsu…yan　yet？〃
　〃I　thought　he　wasn't　due　until　the　weekend。　Isn't　he　making　up　our　foursome　on　Monday　with　the　American？〃
　〃Yes。　I　heard　he　caught　an　early　flight　today。〃　Dunross　kept　his　voice　matter…of…fact。
　〃He's　sure　to　call　…　do　you　want　him　to　phone？〃
　〃Yes。　Anytime。　It's　nothing　important。　See　you　Sunday　at　eight。〃
　〃Yes；　and　thanks　for　the　information。　If　I　get　anything　I'll　phone　at　once。　'Bye。〃
　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　He　had　been　listening　very　carefully　to　the　tone　of　Jen's　voice　but　he　had　heard　nothing　untoward。　Where　the　hell's　Tsu…yan？
　A　knock。
　〃e　in。〃　He　got　up　and　went　to　meet　Bartlett。　〃Hello。〃　He　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃I'm　Ian　Dunross。〃
　〃Linc　Bartlett。〃　They　shook　hands　firmly。　〃Am　I　too　early？〃
　〃You're　dead　on　time。　You　must　know　I　like　punctuality。〃　Dunross　laughed。　〃I　heard　the　meeting　went　well。〃
　〃Good；〃　Bartlett　replied；　wondering　if　Dunross　meant　the　Gornt　meeting。　〃Casey　knows　her　facts　and　figures。〃
　〃My　fellows　were　most　impressed　…　she　said　she　could　finalize　things　herself。　Can　she；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃She　can　negotiate　and　settle　up　to　20　million。　Why？〃
　〃Nothing。　Just　wanted　to　find　out　your　form。　Please　sit　down　…　we've　a　few　minutes　yet。　Lunch　won't　begin　till　12：40。　It　sounds　as　though　we　may　have　a　profitable　enterprise　in　front　of　us。〃
　〃I　hope　so。　As　soon　as　I've　checked　with　Casey；　perhaps　you　and　I　can　get　together？〃
　Dunross　looked　at　his　calendar。　〃Tomorrow　at　ten。　Here？〃
　〃You're　on。〃
　〃Smoke？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I　quit　a　few　years　back。〃
　〃So　did　I　…　still　want　a　cigarette　though。〃　Dunross　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃Before　we　go　to　lunch；　Mr。　Bartlett；　there're　a　couple　of　minor　points。　I'm　going　to　Taipei　on　Sunday　afternoon；　will　be　back　Tuesday　in　time　for　dinner；　and　I'd　like　you　to　e　along。　There're　a　couple　of　people　I'd　like　you　to　meet；　a　golf　match　you　might　enjoy。　We　could　chat　leisurely；　you　could　see　the　potential　plant　sites。　It　could　be　important。　I've　made　all　the　arrangements；　but　it's　not　possible　to　take　Miss　Tcholok。〃
　Bartlett　frowned；　wondering　if　Tuesday　was　just　a　coincidence。　〃According　to　Superintendent　Armstrong　I　can't　leave　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃I'm　sure　that　could　be　changed。〃
　〃Then　you　know　about　the　guns　too？〃　Bartlett　said　and　cursed　himself　for　the　slip。　He　managed　to　keep　his　eyes　steady。
　〃Oh　yes。　Someone　else's　been　bothering　you　about　them？〃　Dunross　asked；　watching　him。
　〃The　police　even　chased　Casey！　Jesus！　My　airplane's　seized；　we're　all　suspect；　and　I　don't　know　a　goddamn　thing　about　any　guns。〃
　〃Well；　there's　no　need　to　worry；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Our　police　are　very　good。〃
　〃I'm　not　worried；　just　teed　off。〃
　〃That's　understandable；〃　Dunross　said；　glad　the　Armstrong　meeting　was　confidential。　Very　glad。
　Christ；　he　thought　queasily；　if　John　Chen　and　Tsu…yan　are　involved　somehow；　Bartlett's　going　to　be　very　teed　off　indeed；　and　we'll　lose　the　deal　and　he'll　throw　in　with　Gornt　and　then　。。。
　〃How　did　you　hear　about　the　guns？〃
　〃We　were　informed　by　our　office　at　Kai　Tak　this　morning。〃
　〃Nothing　like　this　ever　happened　before？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　added　lightly；　〃But　there's　no　harm　in　smuggling　or　even　a　little　gun…running　…　actually　they're　both　very　honorable　professions　…　of　course　we　do　them　elsewhere。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Wherever　Her　Majesty's　Government　desires。〃　Dunross　laughed。　〃We're　all　pirates　here；　Mr。　Bartlett；　at　least　we　are　to　outsiders。〃　He　paused。　〃Presuming　I　can　make　arrangements　with　the　police；　you're　on　for　Taipei？〃
　Bartlett　said；　〃Casey's　very　close…mouthed。〃
　〃I'm　not　suggesting　she's　not　to　be　trusted。〃
　〃She's　just　not　invited？〃
　〃Certain　of　our　customs　here　are　a　little　different　from　yours；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Most　times　she'll　be　wele　…　but　sometimes；　well；　it　would　save　a　lot　of　embarrassment　if　she　were　excluded。〃
　〃Casey　doesn't　embarrass　easily。〃
　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　her　embarrassment。　Sorry　to　be　blunt　but　perhaps　it's　wiser　in　the　long　run。〃
　〃And　if　I　can't　'conform'？〃
　〃It　will　probably　mean　you　cannot　take　advantage　of　a　unique　opportunity；　which　would　be　a　very　great　pity　…　particularly　if　you　intend　a　long…term　association　with　Asia。〃
　〃I'll　think　about　that。〃
　〃Sorry；　but　I　have　to　have　a　yes　or　no　now。〃
　〃You　do？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　go　screw！〃
　Dunross　grinned。　〃I　won't。　Meanwhile；　finally：　yes　or　no。〃
　Bartlett　broke　out　laughing。　〃Since　you　put　it　that　way；　I'm　on　for　Taipei。〃
　〃Good。　Of　course　I'll　have　my　wife　look　after　Miss　Tcholok　while　we're　away。　There'll　be　no　loss　of　face　for　her。〃
　〃Thank　you。　But　you　needn't　worry　about　Casey。　How　are　you　going　to　fix　Armstrong？〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　fix　him；　just　ask　the　assistant　missioner　to　let　me　be　responsible　for　you；　there　and　back。〃
　〃Parole　me　in　your　custody？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　I　won't　just　leave　town？　Maybe　I　was　gun…running。〃
　Dunross　watched　him。　〃Maybe　you　are。　Maybe　you'll　try　…　but　I　can　deliver　you　back　dead　or　alive；　as　they　say　in　the　movies。　Hong　Kong　and　Taipei　are　within　my　fief。〃
　〃Dead　or　alive；　eh？〃
　〃Hypothetically；　of　course。〃
　〃How　many　men　have　you　killed　in　your　lifetime？〃
　The　mood　in　the　room　changed　and　both　men　felt　the　change　deeply。
　It's　not　dangerous　yet　between　him　and　me；　Dunross　thought；　not　yet。
　〃Twelve；〃　he　replied；　his　senses　poised；　though　the　question　had　surprised　him。　〃Twelve　that　I'm　sure　of。　I　was　a　fighter　pilot　during　the　war。　Spitfires。　I　got　two　single…seat　fighters；　a　Stuka；　and　two　bombers　…　they　were　Dornier　17's　and　they'd　have　a　crew　of　four　each。　All　the　planes　burned　as　they　went　down。　Twelve　that　I'm　sure　of；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Of　course　we　shot　up　a　lot　of　trains；　convoys；　troop　concentrations。　Why？〃
　〃I'd　heard　you　were　a　flier。　I　don't　think　I've　killed　anyone。　I　was　building　camps；　bases　in　the　Pacific；　that　sort　of　thing。　Never　shot　a　gun　in　anger。〃
　〃But　you　like　hunting？〃
　〃Yes。　I　went　on　a　safari　in　'59　in　Kenya。　Got　an　elephant　and　a　great　kudu　bull　and　lots　of　game　for　the　pot。〃