jamesclavell.noblehouse-第215章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃e　on　in　and　make　yourself　at　home；〃　P。B。　said　jovially。　〃The　ladies'　bathroom's　on　the　left；　gentlemen　on　the　right；　champagne　in　the　anteroom　。。。　I'll　show　you　all　around　in　a　moment。　Oh；　Ian；　you　wanted　to　phone？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃e　along；　you　can　use　my　study。〃　He　led　the　way　down　a　corridor　lined　with　fine　oils　and　a　rare　collection　of　icons。　The　apartment　was　spacious；　four　bedrooms；　three　anterooms；　a　dining　room　to　seat　twenty。　His　study　was　at　the　far　end。　Books　lined　three　walls。　Old　leather；　smell　of　good　cigars；　a　fireplace。　Brandy；　whiskey　and　vodka　in　cut…glass　decanters。　And　port。　Once　the　door　closed　his　concern　deepened。
　〃How　long　will　you　be？〃　he　asked。
　〃As　quick　as　I　can。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　I'll　entertain　them　…　if　you're　not　back　in　time　I'll　make　your　excuses。　Is　there　anything　else　I　can　do？〃
　〃Lean　on　Tiptop。〃　Dunross　had　told　him　earlier　about　the　possible　deal　to　exchange　Brian　Kwok；　though　nothing　about　the　AMG　papers　and　his　problems　with　Sinders。
　〃Tomorrow　I'll　call　some　friends　in　Peking　and　some　more　in　Shanghai。　Perhaps　they　would　see　the　value　in　helping　us。〃
　Dunross　had　been　acquainted　with　P。　B。　White　for　many　years　though；　along　with　everyone　else；　he　knew　very　little　about　his　real　past；　his　family；　whether　he　had　been　married　and　had　children；　where　his　money　came　from　or　his　real　involvement　with　the　Victoria。　〃I'm　just　a　sort　of　legal　advisor　though　I　retired　years　ago；〃　he　would　say　vaguely　and　leave　it　at　that。　But　Dunross　knew　him　as　a　man　of　great　charm　with　many　equally　discreet　lady　friends。　〃Casey's　quite　a　woman；　P。B。；〃　he　said　with　a　grin。　〃I　think　you're　smitten。〃
　〃I　think　so　too。　Yes。　Ah；　if　I　was　only　thirty　years　younger！　And　as　for　Riko！〃　P。B。's　eyebrows　soared。　〃Delectable。　Are　you　certain　she's　a　widow？〃
　〃Pretty　sure。〃
　〃I　would　like　three　of　those　please；　tai…pan。〃　He　chuckled　and　went　over　to　the　bookcase　and　pressed　a　switch。　Part　of　the　bookcase　swung　open。　A　staircase　led　upward。　Dunross　had　used　it　before　to　have　private　talks　with　the　chief　manager。　As　far　as　he　knew　he　was　the　only　outsider　privy　to　the　secret　access　…　another　of　the　many　secrets　that　he　could　pass　on　only　to　his　succeeding　tai…pan。　〃The　Hag　arranged　it；〃　Alastair　Struan　had　told　him　the　night　he　took　over。　〃Along　with　this。〃　He　had　handed　him　the　master　passkey　to　the　safety　deposit　boxes　in　the　vaults。　〃It's　bank　policy　that　Ch'ung　Lien　Loh　Locksmiths　Ltd。　change　locks。　Only　our　tai…pans　know　we　own　that　pany。〃
　Dunross　smiled　back　at　P。B。；　praying　that　he　could　be　so　young　when　he　was　so　old。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Take　your　time；　Ian。〃　P。　B。　White　handed　him　a　key。　Dunross　ran　up　the　stairs　softly　to　the　chief　manager's　landing。　He　unlocked　a　door　which　led　to　an　elevator。　The　same　key　unlocked　the　elevator。　There　was　only　one　button。　He　relocked　the　outside　door　and　pressed　the　button。　The　machinery　was　well　oiled　and　silent。　At　length　it　stopped　and　the　inner　door　slid　open。　He　pushed　the　outer　door。　He　was　in　the　chief　manager's　office。　Johnjohn　got　up　wearily。　〃Now　what　the　hell　is　all　this　about；　Ian？〃
　Dunross　shut　the　false　door　that　fitted　perfectly　into　the　bookcase。　〃Didn't　P。B。　tell　you？〃　he　asked；　his　voice　mild；　none　of　his　tension　showing。
　〃He　said　you　had　to　get　to　the　vaults　tonight　to　fetch　some　papers；　that　I　should　please　let　you　in　and　there　was　no　need　to　bother　Havergill。　But　why　the　cloak…and…dagger　bit？　Why　not　use　the　front　door？〃
　〃Now　give　over；　Bruce。　We　both　know　you've　got　the　necessary　authority　to　open　the　vault　for　me。〃
　Johnjohn　began　to　say　something　but　changed　his　mind。　The　chief　manager　had　said　before　he　left；　〃Be　kind　enough　to　react　favorably　to　whatever　P。B。　suggests；　eh？〃　P。B。　was　on　first…name　terms　with　the　governor；　most　of　the　visiting　VVIPs　and　shared　the　chief　manager's　direct　line　to　their　skeleton　staff　in　the　bank　offices　still　operating　in　Shanghai　and　Peking。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。
　Their　footsteps　echoed　on　the　vast；　dimly　lit　main　floor　of　the　bank。　Johnjohn　nodded　to　one　of　the　night　watchmen　making　his　rounds；　then　pressed　the　button　for　the　elevator　to　the　vaults；　stifling　a　nervous　yawn。　〃Christ；　I'm　bushed。〃
　〃You　architected　the　Ho…Pak　takeover；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　did；　but　if　it　hadn't　been　for　your　smashing　coup　with　General　Stores；　I　don't　think　Paul'd　。。。　well；　that　certainly　helped。　Smashing　coup；　Ian；　if　you　can　pull　it　off。〃
　〃It's　in　the　bag。〃
　〃What　Japanese　bank's　backing　you　with　the　2　million？〃
　〃Why　did　you　force　Richard　Kwang's　advance　resignation？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Johnjohn　stared　at　him　blankly。　The　elevator　arrived。　They　got　into　it。　〃What？〃
　Dunross　explained　what　Phillip　Chen　had　told　him。　〃That's　not　exactly　cricket。　A　director　of　the　Victoria　being　made　to　sign　an　undated　resignation　like　a　two…cent　operation？　Eh？〃
　Johnjohn　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃No；　that　wasn't　part　of　my　plan。〃　His　tiredness　had　vanished。　〃I　can　see　why　you'd　be　concerned。〃
　〃Pissed　off　would　be　the　correct　words。〃
　〃Paul　must　have　planned　just　a　holding　situation　till　the　chief　es　back。　This　whole　operation's　precedent…setting　so　you　c…　〃
　〃If　I　get　Tiptop's　money　for　you；　I　want　that　torn　up　and　a　free　vote　guaranteed　to　Richard　Kwang。〃
　After　a　pause；　Johnjohn　said；　〃I'll　support　you　on　everything　reasonable　…　till　the　chief　es　back。　Then　he　can　decide。〃
　〃Fair　enough。〃
　〃How　much　is　the　Royal　Belgium…First　Central　backing　you　for？〃
　〃I　thought　you　said　a　Japanese　bank？〃
　〃Oh　e　on；　old　chum；　everyone　knows。　How　much？〃
　〃Enough；　enough　for　everything。〃
　〃We　still　own　most　of　your　paper；　Ian。〃
　Dunross　shrugged。　〃It　makes　no　difference。　We　still　have　a　major　say　in　the　Victoria。〃
　〃If　we　don't　get　China's　money；　First　Central　won't　save　you　from　a　crash。〃
　Again　Dunross　shrugged。
　The　elevator　doors　opened。　Dim　lights　in　the　vaults　cast　hard　shadows。　The　huge　grille　in　front　of　them　seemed　like　a　cell　door　to　Dunross。　Johnjohn　unlocked　it。
　〃I'll　be　about　ten　minutes；〃　Dunross　said；　a　sheen　to　his　forehead。　〃I've　got　to　find　a　particular　paper。〃
　〃All　right。　I'll　unlock　your　box　for　y…　〃　Johnjohn　stopped；　his　face　etched　in　the　overhead　light。　〃Oh；　I　forgot；　you've　your　own　master　key。〃
　〃I'll　be　as　quick　as　I　can。　Thanks。〃　Dunross　walked　into　the　gloom；　turned　the　corner　and　went　unerringly　to　the　far　bank　of　boxes。　Once　there　he　made　sure　he　was　not　being　followed。　All　his　senses　were　honed　now。　He　put　the　two　keys　into　their　locks。　The　locks　clicked　back。
　His　fingers　reached　into　his　pocket　and　he　took　out　AMG's　letter　that　gave　the　numbers　of　the　special　pages　spread　throughout　the　files；　then　a　flashlight；　scissors　and　a　butane　Dunhill　cigarette　lighter　that　Penelope　had　given　him　when　he　still　smoked。　Quickly　he　lifted　the　false　bottom　of　the　box　away　and　slid　out　the　files。
　I　wish　to　Christ　there　was　some　way　I　could　destroy　them　now　and　have　done　with　it；　he　thought。　I　know　everything　that's　in　them；　everything　important；　but　I　have　to　be　patient　and　wait。　Sometime　soon；　they　…　whoever　they　are；　along　with　SI；　the　CIA　and　the　PRC　…　they　won't　be　following　me。　Then　I　can　safely　fetch　the　files　and　destroy　them。
　Following　AMG's　instructions　with　great　care；　he　flicked　the　lighter　and　waved　it　back　and　forth　just　under　the　bottom　right　quadrant　of　the　first　special　page。　In　a　moment；　a　meaningless　jumble　of　symbols；　letters　and　numbers　began　to　appear。　As　the　heat　brought　them　forth；　the　type　in　this　quadrant　began　to　vanish。　Soon　all　the　lettering　had　gone；　leaving　just　the　code。　With　the　scissors　he　cut　off　this　quarter　neatly　and　put　that　file　aside。　AMG　had　written：　〃The　paper　cannot　be　traced　to　the　files；　tai…pan；　nor　I　believe；　the　information　read　by　any　but　the　highest　in　the　land。〃
　A　slight　noise　startled　him　and　he　looked　off。　His　heart　was　thumping　in　his　ears。　A　rat　scurried　around　a　wall　of　boxes　and　vanished。　He　waited　but　there　was　no　more　danger。
　In　a　moment　he　was　calm　again。　Now　the　next　file。　Again　ciphers　appeared　and　the　lettering　vanished。
　Dunross　worked　steadily　and　efficiently。　When　the　flame　began　to　fade　he　was　prepared。　He　refilled　the　lighter　and　continued。　Now　the　last　file。　He　cut　out　the　quarter　carefully　and　pocketed　the　eleven　pieces　of　paper；　then　slid　the　files　back　into　their　hiding　place。
　Before　he　relocked　the　box　he　took　out　a　deed　for　camouflage　and　laid　it　beside　AMG's　letter。　Another　hesitation；　then；　shielding　AMG's　letter　with　his　body；　he　put　the　flame　to　it。　The　paper　twisted　as　it　flared　and　burned。
　〃What're　you　doing？〃
　Dunross　jerked　around　and　stared　at　the　silhouette。　〃Oh；　it's　you。〃　He　began　breathing　again。　〃Nothing；　Bruce。　Actually　it's　just　an　ancient　love　letter　that　shouldn't　have　been　kept。〃　The　flame　died　and　Dunross　pounded　the　ash　to　dust　and　scattered　the　remains。
　〃Ian；　are　you　in　trouble？　Bad　trouble？〃　Johnjohn　asked　gently。
　〃No；　old　chum。　It's　just　the　Tiptop　mess。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃　Wearily　Dunross　smiled　back　and　took　out　a　handkerchief　to　wipe　his　forehead　and　hands。　〃Sorry　to　put　you　to　all　this　trouble。〃
　He　walked　off　firmly；　Johnjohn　following。　The　gate　clanged　after　them。　In　a　moment　the　elevator　sighed　open　and　sighed　closed　and　now　there　was　silence　but　for　the　scurry　of　the　rats　and　the　slight　hiss　of　the　air　conditioner。　A　shadow　moved。　Silently　Roger　Crosse　came　from　behind　a　tall　bank　of　boxes　and　stood　in　front　of　the　tai…pan's　section。　Unhurried；　he　took　out　a　tiny　Minox　camera；　a　flashlight　and　a　bunch　of　skeleton　keys。　In　a　moment；　Dunross's　box　was　open。　His　long　fingers　reached　into　it；　found　the　false　partment　and　brought　out　the　files。　Very　satisfied　he　put　them　in　a　tidy　pile；　clipped　the　flashlight　into　its　socket　and；　with　practiced　skill；　began　to　photograph　the　files；　page　by　page。　When　he　came　to　one　of　the　special　pages　he　peered　at　it　and　the　missing　section。　A　grim　smile　flickered　over　him。　Then　he　continued；　making　no　sound。
　
　
　SUNDAY
　
　71
　
　6：30　A。M。：
　Koronski　came　out　of　the　foyer　of　the　Nine　Dragons　Hotel　and　hailed　a　taxi；　giving　the　driver　directions　in　passable　Cantonese。　He　lit　a　cigarette　and　slouched　back　in　the　seat；　keeping　a　professional　watch　behind　him　in　the　unlikely　chance　that　he　was　being　followed。　There　was　no　real　risk。　His　papers　as　Hans　Meikker　were　flawless；　his　cover　as　a　sporadic　foreign　journalist　for　a　West　German　magazine　syndicate　real；　and　he　visited　Hong　Kong　frequently　as　a　routine。　His　eyes　reassured　him；　then　he　turned　to　watch　the　multitudes；　wondering　who　was　to　be　chemically　debriefed；　and　where。　He　was　a　short；　well…fed；　nondescript　man；　his　glasses　rimless。
　Behind　him；　fifty　yards　or　so；　ducking　in　and　out　of　the　traffic　was　a　small；　battered　Mini。　Tom　Connochie；　the　senior　CIA　agent；　was　in　the　back；　one　of　his　assistants；　Roy　Wong；　driving。
　〃He's　going　left。〃
　〃Sure。　I　see　him。　Relax；　Tom；　you're　making　me　nervous　for　chrissake。〃　Roy　Wong　was　third…generation　American；　a　B。A。　Lit。；　and　CIA　for　four　years；　assigned　to　Hong　Kong。　He　drove　expertly；　Connochie　watching　carefully　…　crumpled　and　very　tired。　He　had　been　up　most　of　the　night　with　Rosemont　trying　to　sort　out　the　flood　of　top…secret　instructions；　requests　and　orders　that　the　intercepted　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim's　letters　had　g