jamesclavell.noblehouse-第216章

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cret　instructions；　requests　and　orders　that　the　intercepted　Thomas　K。　K。　Lim's　letters　had　generated。　Just　after　midnight　they'd　been　tipped　by　one　of　their　hotel　informants　that　Hans　Meikker　had　just　checked　in　for　two　days　from　Bangkok。　He　had　been　on　their　list　for　years　as　a　possible　security　risk。
　〃Son　of　a　bitch！〃　Roy　Wong　said　as　a　traffic　jam　blossomed　in　the　narrow；　screeching　street　near　the　bustling　intersections　of　Mong　Kok。
　Connochie　craned　out　of　the　side　window。　〃He's　screwed　too；　Roy。　About　twenty　cars　ahead。〃
　In　a　moment　the　jam　began　to　ease；　then　closed　in　again　as　an　overladen　truck　stalled。　By　the　time　it　had　cranked　up　again；　their　prey　had　vanished。
　〃Shit！〃
　〃Cruise。　Maybe　we'll　get　lucky　and　pick　him　up。〃
　Two　blocks　ahead；　Koronski　got　out　of　the　taxi　and　went　down　a　swarming　alley；　heading　for　another　swarming　road　and　another　alley　and　Ginny　Fu's　tenement。　He　went　up　the　soiled　stairs　to　the　top　floor。　He　knocked　three　times　on　a　drab　door。　Suslev　beckoned　him　in　and　locked　the　door　behind　him。　〃Wele；〃　he　said　quietly　in　Russian。　〃Good　trip？〃
　〃Yes；　rade　Captain；　very　good；〃　Koronski　replied；　also　keeping　his　voice　down　by　habit。
　〃e　and　sit　down。〃　Suslev　waved　at　the　table　that　had　coffee　and　two　cups。　The　room　was　drab　with　little　furniture。　Dirty　blinds　covered　the　windows。
　〃Coffee's　good；〃　Koronski　said　politely；　thinking　it　was　hideous；　nothing　to　pare　with　the　French…style　coffee　of　exquisite　Bangkok；　Saigon　and　Phnom　Penh。
　〃It's　the　whiskey；〃　Suslev　said；　his　face　hard。
　〃Center　said　I　was　to　put　myself　at　your　disposal；　rade　Captain。　What　is　it　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃A　man　here　has　a　photographic　memory。　We　need　to　know　what's　in　it。〃
　〃Where　is　the　client　to　be　interrogated？　Here？〃
　Suslev　shook　his　head。　〃Aboard　my　ship。〃
　〃How　much　time　do　we　have？〃
　〃All　the　time　you　need。　We　will　take　him　with　us　to　Vladivostok。〃
　〃How　important　is　it　to　get　quality　information？〃
　〃Very。〃
　〃In　that　case　I　would　prefer　to　do　the　investigation　in　Vladivostok　…　I　can　give　you　special　sedatives　and　instructions　that　will　keep　the　client　docile　during　the　voyage　there　and　begin　the　softening…up　process。〃
　Suslev　rethought　the　problem。　He　needed　Dunross's　information　before　he　arrived　in　Vladivostok。　〃Can't　you　e　with　me　on　my　ship？　We　leave　at　midnight；　on　the　tide。〃
　Koronski　hesitated。　〃My　orders　from　Center　are　to　assist　you；　so　long　as　I　do　not　jeopardize　my　cover。　Going　on　your　ship　would　certainly　do　that　…　the　ship's　sure　to　be　under　surveillance。　If　I　vanish　from　the　hotel；　eh？〃
　Suslev　nodded。　〃I　agree。〃　Never　mind；　he　thought。　I'm　as　well　trained　an　interrogator　as　Koronski　though　I've　never　done　an　in…depth　chemical。　〃How　do　you　conduct　a　chemical　debriefing？〃
　〃It's　quite　simple。　Intravenous　injections　of　a　chemical　agent　we　call　Pentothal…V6；　twice　a　day　for　ten　days　at　twelve…hour　intervals　…　once　the　client　has　been　put　into　a　suitably　frightened；　disoriented　frame　of　mind；　by　the　usual　sleep…wake　method；　followed　by　four　days　of　sleeplessness。〃
　〃We've　a　doctor　on　the　ship。　Could　he　make　the　injections？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course。　May　I　suggest　I　write　down　the　procedure　and　supply　you　with　all　the　necessary　chemicals。　You　will　do　the　investigation？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃If　you　follow　the　procedure　you　should　have　no　trouble。　The　only　serious　thing　to　remember　is　that　once　the　Pentothal…V6　is　administered　the　client's　mind　is　like　a　wet　sponge。　It　requires　great　tenderness　and　even　greater　care　to　extract　just　the　right　amount　of　water；　the　information；　at　just　the　right　tempo　or　the　mind　will　be　permanently　damaged　and　all　other　information　lost　forever。〃　Koronski　puffed　at　a　cigarette。　〃It's　easy　to　lose　a　client。〃
　〃It's　always　easy　to　lose　a　client；〃　Suslev　said。　〃How　effective　is　this　Pentothal…V6？〃
　〃We've　had　great　success；　and　some　failures；　rade　Captain；〃　Koronski　replied　with　care。　〃If　the　client　is　well　prepared　and　initially　healthy　I'm　sure　you　will　be　successful。〃
　Suslev　did　not　answer；　just　let　his　mind　reexamine　the　plan　presented　so　enthusiastically　by　Plumm　late　last　night；　and　agreed　to　reluctantly　by　Crosse。　〃It's　a　cinch；　Gregor；　everything's　falling　into　place。　Now　that　Dunross's　not　going　to　Taipei　he's　ing　to　my　party。　I'll　give　him　a　doctored　drink　that'll　make　him　as　sick　as　a　dog　…　it'll　be　easy　to　get　him　to　lie　down　in　one　of　the　bedrooms　…　the　same　drug'll　put　him　to　sleep。　Once　the　others　have　left　…　and　I'm　keeping　the　party　short　and　sweet；　six　to　eight　…　I'll　put　him　in　a　trunk　and　have　the　trunk　brought　to　the　car　through　the　side　entrance。　When　he's　reported　missing　I'll　say　I　just　left　him　there　sleeping　and　have　no　idea　what　time　he　left。　Now；　how　are　we　going　to　get　the　trunk　aboard？〃
　〃That's　no　trouble；〃　he　had　said。　〃Have　it　delivered　to　go…down　7　in　the　Kowloon　Dockyard。　We're　taking　on　all　kinds　of　bulk　supplies　and　stores；　since　our　departure's　been　speeded　up；　and　outward　bound　there's　hardly　any　check。〃　Suslev　had　added　with　grim　amusement；　〃There　is　even　a　coffin　if　we　need　it。　Voranski's　body　is　ing　from　the　morgue　at　11：00　p。m。；　a　special　delivery。　Bastards！　Why　hasn't　our　friend　caught　the　bastards　who　murdered　him？〃
　〃He's　doing　what　he　can。　He　is；　Gregor。　I　promise　you。　He'll　catch　them　soon　…　but　more　important；　this　plan　will　work！〃
　Suslev　nodded　to　himself。　Yes；　it's　workable。　And　if　the　tai…pan's　intercepted　and　discovered？　I　know　nothing；　Boradinov　knows　nothing；　though　he's　responsible　and　I　shall　just　sail　away；　leaving　Boradinov　to　blame；　if　necessary。　Roger　will　cover　everything。　Oh　yes；　he　told　himself　grimly；　this　time　it's　Roger's　neck　on　the　British　block　if　I'm　not　covered。　Plumm's　right。　The　Werewolf　kidnapping　of　the　tai…pan　will　help　to　create　plete　chaos　for　a　time；　certainly　for　almost　no　risk　…　enough　time　to　cover　the　Metkin　disaster　and　the　intercept　of　the　guns。
　He　had　called　Banastasio　tonight　to　make　sure　the　Par…Con　ploy　was　in　operation　and　was　shocked　to　hear　of　Bartlett's　response。　〃But；　Mr。　Banastasio；　you　guaranteed　you'd　be　in　control。　What　do　you　intend　to　do？〃
　〃Pressure；　Mr。　Marshall；〃　Banastasio　had　told　him　placatingly；　using　the　alias　by　which　Banastasio　knew　him。　〃Pressure　all　the　way。　I'll　do　my　part；　you　do　yours。〃
　〃Good。　Then　proceed　with　your　meeting　in　Macao。　I　guarantee　a　substitute　shipment　will　be　in　Saigon　within　a　week。〃
　〃But　these　jokers　here　have　already　said　they　won't　deal　without　a　shipment　in　their　hands。〃
　〃It'll　be　delivered　direct　to　our　Viet　Cong　friends　in　Saigon。　Just　you　make　whatever　arrangements　you　want　for　payment。〃
　〃Sure　sure；　Mr。　Marshall。　Where　you　staying　in　Macao？　Where　do　I　get　in　touch？〃
　〃I'll　be　at　the　same　hotel；〃　he　had　told　him；　having　no　intention　to　make　contact。　In　Macao　another　controller　with　the　same　alias　would　monitor　that　end　of　the　operation。
　He　smiled　to　himself。　Just　before　he　had　left　Vladivostok；　Center　had　ordered　him　to　be　the　controller　of　this　independent　operation；　code　name　King　Kong；　that　had　been　mounted　by　one　of　the　Washington　KGB　cells。　All　he　knew　of　the　plan　was　that　they　were　sending　highly　classified　advance…arms　delivery　schedules　to　the　V。C。　in　Saigon　through　diplomatic　pouch。　In　exchange　and　payment　for　the　information；　opium　would　be　delivered　FOB　Hong　Kong　…　the　quantity　depending　on　the　numbers　of　arms　hijacked。　〃Whoever　thought　of　this　one　deserves　immediate　promotion；〃　he　had　told　Center　delightedly；　and　had　chosen　the　alias　Marshall　after　General　Marshall　and　his　plan　that　they　all　knew　had　ruined　the　immediate　and　total　Soviet　takeover　of　Europe　in　the　late　forties。　This　is　revenge；　our　Marshall　Plan　in　reverse；　he　thought。
　Abruptly　he　laughed　out　loud。　Koronski　waited　attentively；　far　too　practiced　to　ask　what　had　been　so　amusing。　But　without　thinking　he　had　analyzed　the　laugh。　There　was　fear　in　it。　Fear　was　infectious。　Frightened　people　make　mistakes。　Mistakes　ensnare　innocents。
　Yes；　he　thought　uneasily；　this　man　smells　of　cowardice。　I　shall　mention　this　in　my　next　report；　but　delicately；　in　case　he's　important。　'
　He　looked　up　and　saw　Suslev　watching　him　and　queasily　wondered　if　the　man　had　read　his　thoughts。　〃Yes；　rade　Captain？〃
　〃How　long　will　the　instructions　take　to　write？〃
　〃A　few　minutes。　I　can　do　it　now　if　you　wish；　but　I　will　have　to　go　back　to　the　hotel　for　the　chemicals。〃
　〃How　many　different　chemicals　are　to　be　used？〃
　〃Three：　one　for　sleep；　one　for　wake…up　and　the　last；　the　Pentothal…V6。　By　the　way；　it　should　be　kept　cool　until　used。〃
　〃Only　the　last　intravenously？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good；　then　write　it　all　down。　Now。　You　have　paper？〃
　Koronski　nodded　and　pulled　out　a　small　notebook　from　his　hip　pocket。　〃Would　you　prefer　Russian；　English　or　shorthand？〃
　〃Russian。　There's　no　need　to　describe　the　wake…sleep…wake　pattern。　I've　used　that　many　times。　Just　the　last　phase　and　don't　name　Pentothal…V6；　just　call　it　medicine。　Understand？〃
　〃Perfectly。〃
　〃Good。　When　it's　written；　put　it　there。〃　He　pointed　to　a　small　pile　of　used　newspapers　on　the　moth…eaten　sofa。　〃Put　it　in　the　second　one　from　the　top。　I'll　collect　it　later。　As　to　the　chemicals　there's　a　men's　room　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　Nine　Dragons　Hotel。　Tape　them　to　the　underside　of　the　lid；　the　last　booth　on　the　right　…　and　please　be　in　your　room　at　nine　o'clock　tonight　in　case　I　need　some　clarification。　Everything　clear？〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　Suslev　got　up。　At　once　Koronski　did　the　same；　offered　his　hand。　〃Good　luck；　rade　Captain。〃
　Suslev　nodded　politely　as　to　an　inferior　and　walked　out。　He　went　to　the　end　of　the　corridor　and　through　a　bent　door　up　a　staircase　to　the　roof。　He　felt　better　in　the　air　on　the　roof。　The　room　smell　and　Koronski's　smell　had　displeased　him。　The　sea　beckoned　him；　the　wide　clean　ocean　and　salt…kelp　smell。　It　will　be　good　to　be　at　sea　again；　away　from　the　land。　The　sea　and　the　ocean　and　the　ship　keep　you　sane。
　Like　most　roofs　in　Hong　Kong　this　one　was　packed　with　a　polyglot　of　makeshift　dwellings；　the　space　rented　…　the　only　alternative　to　the　crude；　packed　mud　slopes　of　the　squatter　settlements　that　were　far　in　the　New　Territories　or　in　the　hills　of　Kowloon　or　Hong　Kong。　Every　inch　of　space　in　the　city　had　long　since　been　taken　by　the　vast　influx　of　immigrants。　Most　squatters'　areas　were　illegal；　like　all　roof　dwellings；　and　as　much　as　the　authorities　forbade　it　and　deplored　it；　wisely　they　ignored　these　transgressions　for　where　else　were　these　unfortunates　to　go？　There　was　no　sanitation；　no　water；　not　even　simple　hygiene；　but　it　was　still　better　than　on　the　streets。　From　the　rooftops；　the　method　of　disposal　was　just　to　hurl　it　below。　Hong　Kong　yan　always　walked　in　the　center　of　the　street　and　never　on　the　sidewalk；　even　if　there　was　one。
　Suslev　ducked　under　clotheslines；　stepped　over　the　flotsam　and　jetsam　of　lifetimes；　oblivious　of　the　automatic　obscenities　that　followed　him；　amused　by　the　urchins　who　ran　before　him　shrieking；　〃Quai　loh　。。。　quai　loh！〃；　laughing　together；　holding　out　their　hands。　He　was　too　Hong　Kong　yan　to　give　them　any　money　though　he　was　touched　by　them；　their　poverty　and　good　humor；　so　he　just　cursed　them　genially　and　tousled　a　few　crew…cut　heads。
　On　the　far　side　of　the　roof　the　entrance　to　Ginny　Fu's　tenement　jutted　like　an　a