jamesclavell.noblehouse-第214章

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　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　said　I　would。〃
　〃Good；　we　can　talk　more　then。　About　Sir　Luis。　There's　a　good　chance；　tai…pan。　Even　if　the　stock　isn't　withdrawn；　the　price　has　to　skyrocket；　it　must　…　if　we　get　the　support　we　need。〃
　That's　obvious　to　anyone；　Dunross　thought　sourly。　If。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　8：35。　Sinders　was　to　call　by　8：30。　He　had　given　him　half　an　hour　leeway　before　his　call　to　Tiptop。　His　stomach　seemed　to　fall　apart　but　he　dominated　it。　Christ；　I　can't　call　him；　he　thought　irritably。　〃What？〃　he　asked；　not　having　heard　Phillip　Chen。
　〃The　deadline　you　gave　me　to　have　my　resignation　on　your　desk　…　Sunday　midnight　if　Mata　and　Tightfist　or　…　may　I　ask　that　it　be　extended　a　week？〃
　Dunross　picked　up　Phillip　Chen's　glass　to　replenish　it；　liking　the　Asian　subtlety　of　the　request；　to　extend　it　to　a　time　when　it　would　have　no　value；　for；　in　a　week's　time；　the　crisis　would　be　long　resolved。　The　way　the　request　was　put　saved　face　on　both　sides。　Yes；　but　he　has　to　make　a　major　effort。　Can　his　health　stand　it？　That's　my　only　real　consideration。　As　he　poured　the　brandy　he　thought　about　Phillip　Chen；　Kevin　Chen；　Claudia　Chen　and　old　Chen…chen　and　what　he　would　do　without　them。　I　need　cooperation　and　service　and　no　more　betrayal　or　treachery。　〃I'll　consider　that；　Phillip。　Let's　discuss　it　just　after　Prayers　on　Monday。〃　Then　he　added　carefully；　〃Perhaps　extensions　would　be　justified。〃
　Gratefully　Phillip　Chen　accepted　the　brandy　and　took　a　big　swallow；　his　color　better。　He　had　heard　the　deft　plural　and　was　greatly　relieved。　All　I　have　to　do　is　deliver。　That's　all。　He　got　up　to　go。　〃Thank　y…　〃
　The　phone　jangled　irritatingly　and　he　almost　jumped。　So　did　Dunross。
　〃Hello？　Oh　hello；　Mr。　Sinders。〃　Dunross　could　hear　the　beating　of　his　heart　over　the　rain。　〃What's　new？〃
　〃Very　little　I'm　afraid。　I've　discussed　your　suggestion　with　the　governor。　If　'it'　is　in　my　possession　by　noon　tomorrow；　I　have　reason　to　believe　your　friend　could　be　delivered　to　the　Lo　Wu　border　terminal　by　sunset　Monday。　I　cannot　guarantee；　of　course；　that　he　will　wish　to　cross　the　border　into　Red　China。〃
　Dunross　got　his　voice　going。　〃There's　a　lot　of　'reason　to　believe'　and　'could　be'　in　that；　Mr。　Sinders。〃
　〃That's　the　best　I　can　do；　officially。〃
　〃What　guarantees　do　I　have？〃
　〃None；　I'm　afraid；　from　Mr。　Crosse　or　myself。　It　would　seem　there　has　to　be　trust　on　both　sides。〃
　Bastards；　Dunross　thought　furiously；　they　know　I'm　trapped。　〃Thank　you；　I'll　consider　what　you've　said。　Noon　tomorrow？　I'm　in　the　hill　climb　tomorrow　if　it's　on　…　ten　to　noon。　I'll　e　to　police　headquarters　as　soon　as　I　can　afterwards。〃
　〃No　need　to　worry；　Mr。　Dunross。　If　it's　on；　I'll　be　there　too。　Noon　can　be　a　deadline　here　or　there。　All　right？〃
　〃All　right。　Good　night。〃　Grimly　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　〃It's　a　maybe；　Phillip。　Maybe；　by　Monday　sunset。〃
　Phillip　Chen　sat　down；　aghast。　His　pallor　increased。　〃That's　too　late。〃
　〃We'll　find　out〃　He　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　again。
　〃Hello；　good　evening。　Is　the　governor　there；　please？　Ian　Dunross。〃　He　sipped　his　brandy。　〃Sorry　to　disturb　you；　sir；　but　Mr。　Sinders　just　called。　He　said；　in　effect：　perhaps。　Perhaps　by　sunset　Monday。　May　I　ask；　could　you　guarantee　that？〃
　〃No；　Ian；　no　I　can't。　I　don't　have　jurisdiction　over　this　matter。　Sorry。　You　have　to　make　any　arrangements　direct。　Sinders　struck　me　as　a　reasonable　man　though。　Didn't　you　think　so？〃
　〃He　seemed　very　unreasonable；〃　Dunross　said　with　a　hard　smile。　〃Thanks。　Never　mind。　Sorry　to　disturb　you；　sir。　Oh；　by　the　way　if　this　can　be　resolved；　Tiptop　said　your　chop　would　be　required；　with　the　bank's　and　mine。　Would　you　be　available　tomorrow；　if　need　be？〃
　〃Of　course。　And　Ian；　good　luck。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone。　After　a　moment；　he　said；　〃Would　they　agree；　the　money　tomorrow　for　the　fellow　Monday　sunset？〃
　〃I　wouldn't；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　helplessly。　〃Tiptop　was　clear。　'Whenever　the　correct　procedures　are　entered　into。'　The　exchange　would　be　simultaneous。〃
　Dunross　sat　back　in　the　high　chair；　sipped　his　brandy　and　let　his　mind　roam。
　At　9：00　p。m。　he　dialed　Tiptop；　and　chatted　inconsequentially　until　the　moment　had　e。　〃I　hear　the　police　underling　will　surely　be　fired　for　making　such　a　mistake　and　that　the　wronged　party　could　be　at　Lo　Wu　at　noon　Tuesday。〃
　There　was　a　great　silence。　The　voice　was　colder　than　ever。　〃I　hardly　think　that's　immediate。〃
　〃I　agree。　Perhaps　I　might　be　able　to　persuade　them　to　bring　it　forward　to　Monday。　Perhaps　your　friends　could　be　a　little　patient。　I　would　consider　it　a　very　great　favor。〃　He　used　the　word　deliberately　and　let　it　hang。
　〃I　will　pass　your　message　on。　Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Please　call　me　at　seven　o'clock　tomorrow　evening。　Good　night。〃
　〃Night。〃
　Phillip　Chen　broke　the　silence；　very　concerned。　〃That's　an　expensive　word；　tai…pan。〃
　〃I　know。　But　I　have　no　option；〃　he　said；　his　voice　hard。　〃Certainly　there'll　be　a　return　favor　asked　in　payment　someday。〃　Dunross　brushed　his　hair　away　from　his　eyes　and　added；　〃Perhaps　it'll　be　with　Joseph　Yu；　who　knows？　But　I　had　to　say　it。〃
　〃Yes。　You're　very　wise。　Wise　beyond　your　years；　much　wiser　than　Alastair　and　your　father；　not　as　wise　as　the　Hag。〃　A　small　shiver　went　through　him。　〃You　were　wise　to　barter　the　time；　and　wise　not　to　mention　the　money；　the　bank　money；　very　wise。　He's　much　too　smart　not　to　know　we　need　that　tomorrow　…　I'd　imagine　by　evening　at　the　latest。〃
　〃Somehow　we'll　get　it。　That'll　take　the　Victoria　pressure　off　us。　Paul's　got　to　call　a　board　meeting　soon；〃　Dunross　added　darkly。　〃With　Richard　on　the　board；　well；　Richard　owes　us　many　favors。　The　new　board　will　vote　to　increase　our　revolving　fund；　then　we　won't　need　Bartlett；　First　Central　or　Mata's　god…cursed　syndicate。〃
　Phillip　Chen　hesitated；　then　he　blurted　out；　〃I　hate　to　be　the　bearer　of　more　bad　tidings　but　I've　heard　that　part　of　Richard　Kwang's　arrangement　with　Havergill　included　his　signed；　undated　resignation　from　the　Victoria　board　and　a　promise　to　vote　exactly　as　Havergill　wishes。〃
　Dunross　sighed。　Everything　fell　into　place。　If　Richard　Kwang　voted　with　the　opposition　it　would　neutralize　his　dominating　position。　〃Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　lose　one　more　supporter　and　Paul　and　his　opposition　will　squeeze　us　to　death。〃　He　looked　up　at　Phillip　Chen。　〃You'd　better　nobble　Richard。〃
　〃I　。。。　I'll　try；　but　he's　nobbled　already。　What　about　P。　B。　White？　Do　you　think　he'd　help？〃
　〃Not　against　Havergill；　or　the　bank。　With　Tiptop　he　might；〃　Dunross　said　heavily。　〃He's　next　…　and　last　…　on　the　list。〃
　
　70
　
　10：55　P。M。：
　The　six　people　piled　out　of　the　two　taxis　at　the　private　entrance　of　the　Victoria　Bank　building　on　the　side　street。　Casey；　Riko　Gresserhoff；　Gavallan；　Peter　Marlowe；　Dunross　and　P。　B。　White；　a　spare；　spritely　Englishman　of　seventy…five。　The　rain　had　stopped；　though　the　poorly　lit　street　was　heavily　puddled。
　〃Sure　you　won't　join　us　for　a　nightcap；　Peter？〃　P。　B。　White　asked。
　〃No　thanks；　P。B。；　I'd　better　be　getting　home。　Night　and　thanks　for　supper；　tai…pan！〃
　He　walked　off　into　the　night；　heading　for　the　ferry　terminal　that　was　just　across　the　square。　Neither　he　nor　the　others　noticed　the　car　pull　up　and　stop　down　the　street。　In　it　was　Malcolm　Sun；　senior　agent；　SI；　and　Povitz；　the　CIA　man。　Sun　was　driving。
　〃This　the　only　way　in　and　out？〃　Povitz　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　They　watched　P。　B。　White　press　the　door　button。　〃Lucky　bastards。　Those　two　broads　are　the　best　I've　ever　seen。〃
　〃Casey's　okay　but　the　other？　There　are　prettier　girls　in　any　dance　hall。　。。。〃　Sun　stopped。　A　taxi　went　past。
　〃Another　tail？〃
　〃No；　no　I　don't　think　so；　but　if　we're　watching　the　tai…pan　you　can　bet　others　are。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　They　saw　P。　B。　White　press　the　button　again。　The　door　opened　and　the　sleepy　Sikh　night　guard　greeted　him；　〃Evening；　sahs；　mem…sahs；〃　then　went　to　the　elevator；　pressed　the　button　and　closed　the　front　door。
　〃The　elevator's　rather　slow。　Antiquated；　like　me。　Sorry；〃　P。　B。　White　said。
　〃How　long　have　you　lived　here；　P。B。？〃　Casey　asked；　knowing　there　was　nothing　ancient　about　him；　given　the　dance　in　his　step　or　the　twinkle　in　his　eyes。
　〃About　five　years；　my　dear；〃　he　replied　taking　her　arm。　〃I'm　very　lucky。〃
　Sure；　she　thought；　and　you've　got　to　be　very　important　to　the　bank　and　powerful；　must　be　to　have　one　of　the　only　three　apartments　in　the　whole　vast　building。　He　had　told　them　one　of　the　others　belonged　to　the　chief　manager　who　was　presently　on　sick　leave。　The　last　one　was　staffed　but　kept　vacant。　〃It's　for　visiting　HRHs；　the　governor　of　the　Bank　of　England；　prime　ministers；　those　sort　of　luminaries；〃　P。　B。　White　had　said　grandly　during　the　light　spicy　Szechuan　food。　〃I'm　rather　like　a　janitor；　an　unpaid　caretaker。　They　let　me　in　to　look　after　the　place。〃
　〃I'll　bet！〃
　〃Oh　it's　true！　Fortunately　there's　no　connection　between　this　part　of　the　building　and　the　bank　proper；　otherwise　I'd　have　my　hand　in　the　till！〃
　Casey　was　feeling　very　happy；　replete　with　good　food　and　good　wine　and　fine；　witty　conversation　and　much　attention　from　the　four　men；　particularly　Dunross　…　and　very　content　that　she　had　held　her　own　with　Riko　…　everything　in　her　life　seemingly　in　place　again；　Linc　so　much　more　her　Linc　once　more；　even　though　he　was　out　with　the　enemy。　How　to　deal　with　her？　she　asked　herself　for　the　billionth　time。
　The　elevator　door　opened。　They　went　into　it；　crowding　into　the　small　area。　P。　B。　White　pressed　the　lowest　of　three　buttons。　〃God　lives　on　the　top　floor；〃　he　chuckled。　〃When　he's　in　town。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃When's　he　due　back？〃
　〃In　three　weeks；　Ian；　but　it's　just　as　well　he's　out　of　touch　with　Hong　Kong　…　he'd　be　back　on　the　next　plane。　Casey；　our　chief　manager's　a　marvelous　fellow。　Unfortunately　he's　been　quite　sick　for　almost　a　year　and　now　he's　retiring　in　three　months。　I　persuaded　him　to　take　some　leave　and　go　to　Kashmir；　to　a　little　place　I　know　on　the　banks　of　the　Jehlum　River；　north　of　Srinagar。　The　floor　of　the　valley's　about　six　thousand　feet　and；　up　there　amongst　the　greatest　mountains　on　earth；　it's　paradise。　They　have　houseboats　on　the　rivers　and　lakes　and　you　drift；　no　phones；　no　mail；　just　you　and　the　Infinite；　wonderful　people；　wonderful　air；　wonderful　food；　stupendous　mountains。〃　His　eyes　twinkled。　〃You　have　to　go　there　very　sick；　or　with　someone　you　love　very　much。〃
　They　laughed。　〃Is　that　what　you　did；　P。B。？〃　Gavallan　asked。
　〃Of　course；　my　dear　fellow。　It　was　in　1915；　that　was　the　first　time　I　was　there。　I　was　twenty…seven；　on　leave　from　the　Third　Bengal　Lancers。〃　He　sighed；　parodying　a　lovesick　youth。　〃She　was　Georgian；　a　princess。〃
　They　chuckled　with　him。　〃What　were　you　really　in　Kashmir　for？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃I'd　been　seconded　for　two　years　from　the　Indian　General　Staff。　That　whole　area；　the　Hindu　Kush；　Afghanistan　and　what's　now　called　Pakistan；　on　the　borders　of　Russia　and　China's　always　been　dicey；　always　will　be。　Then　I　was　sent　up　to　Moscow　…　that　was　late　in　'17。〃　His　face　tightened　a　little。　〃I　was　there　during　the　putsch　when　the　real　government　of　Kerenski　was　tossed　out　by　Lenin；　Trotsky　and　their　Bolsheviks。　。。。〃　The　elevator　stopped。　They　got　out。　The　front　door　of　his　apartment　was　open；　his　Number　One　Boy　Shu　waiting。
　〃e　on　in　and　make　yourself　at　home；〃　P。B。　said　jovially。　〃The　ladies'　bath