jamesclavell.noblehouse-第222章

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succeeded　and　power　was　restored　to　the　Emperor　but　the　land　was　riven。　〃Without　Prince　Yoshi；　who　became　one　of　the　Emperor's　chief　ministers；〃　she　said；　unconsciously　turning　to　English；　〃Japan　would　still　be　trembling　and　torn　apart　in　civil　war。〃
　〃Why　so？〃　he　asked；　wanting　to　keep　her　talking；　her　lilting　accent　pleasing　him。
　〃Without　his　help；　the　Emperor　could　not　have　succeeded；　could　not　have　abolished　the　Shōgunate；　abolished　feudal　law；　the　daimyo；　the　whole　samurai　class；　and　forced　them　to　accept　a　modern　constitution。　It　was　Prince　Yoshi　who　negotiated　a　peace　among　the　daimyo；　and　then　invited　English　experts　to　Japan　to　build　our　navy；　our　banks　and　our　civil　service；　and　help　us　into　the　modern　world。〃　A　small　shadow　went　across　her　face。　〃My　father　told　me　much　about　those　times；　tai…pan；　not　yet　a　hundred　years　ago。　Transition　from　samurai　rule　to　democracy　was　often　bloody。　But　the　Emperor　had　decreed　an　ending　so　there　was　an　ending　and　all　the　daimyo　and　samurai　dragged　themselves　painfully　into　a　new　life。〃　She　toyed　with　her　glass；　watching　the　bubbles。　〃The　Toda　were　Lords　of　Izu　and　Sagami　where　Yokohama　is。　For　centuries　they　had　had　shipyards。　It　was　easy　for　them　and　their　allies；　the　Kasigi；　to　e　into　this　modern　age。　For　us　。。。〃　She　stopped。　〃Oh；　but　you　already　know　this；　so　sorry。〃
　〃Only　about　Prince　Yoshi。　What　happened　to　your　family？〃
　〃My　great…grandfather　became　a　very　minor　member　of　Prince　Yoshi's　staff；　as　a　civil　servant。　He　was　sent　to　Nagasaki　where　my　family　have　lived　since。　He　found　it　difficult　not　to　wear　the　two　swords。　My　grandfather　was　also　a　civil　servant；　like　my　father；　but　only　very　tiny。〃　She　looked　up　and　smiled　at　him。　〃The　wine　is　too　good。　It　makes　my　tongue　run　away。〃
　〃No；　not　at　all；〃　he　said；　then　conscious　of　the　eyes　watching　them；　he　added　in　Japanese；　〃Let　us　talk　Japanese　for　a　while。〃
　〃It　is　my　honor；　tai…pan…san。〃
　Later；　over　coffee；　he　said；　〃Where　should　I　deposit　the　money　owing　to　you；　Riko…san？〃
　〃If　you　could　give　me　a　cashier's　check　or　bank　draft〃　…　she　used　the　English　words　for　there　was　no　Japanese　equivalent　…　〃before　I　leave　that　would　be　perfect。〃
　〃On　Monday　morning　I　will　have　it　sent　to　you。　There's　￡10；625；　and　a　further　￡8；500　payable　in　January；　and　the　same　the　following　year；〃　he　told　her；　knowing　her　good　manners　would　not　permit　to　ask　outright。　He　saw　the　flash　of　relief　and　was　glad　he　had　decided　to　give　her　two　extra　years　of　salary　…　AMG's　information　about　oil　alone　was　more　than　worth　it。　〃Would　eleven　o'clock　be　convenient　for　the　'sight　draft'　？〃　Again　Dunross　used　the　English　word。
　〃Whatever　pleases　you。　I　do　not　wish　to　put　you　to　any　trouble。〃
　Dunross　noticed　how　she　was　speaking　slowly　and　distinctly　to　help　him。　〃What　will　be　your　travel　plans？〃
　〃On　Monday　I　think　I　will　go　to　Japan；　then　。。。　then　I　don't　know。　Perhaps　back　to　Switzerland　though　I　have　no　real　reason　to　return。　I　have　no　relations　there；　the　house　was　a　rented　house　and　the　garden　not　mine。　My　Gresserhoff　life　ended　with　his　death。　Now　I　think　I　should　be　Riko　Anjin　again。　Karma　is　karma。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　told　her；　〃karma　is　karma。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　and　brought　out　a　gift…wrapped　package。　〃This　is　a　present　from　the　Noble　House　to　thank　you　for　taking　so　much　trouble　and　such　a　tiring　trip　on　our　behalf。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　thank　you；　but　it　was　my　honor　and　pleasure。〃　She　bowed。　〃Thank　you。　May　I　open　it　now？〃
　〃Perhaps　later。　It　is　just　a　simple　jade　pendant　but　the　box　also　contains　a　confidential　envelope　that　your　husband　wanted　you　to　have；　for　your　eyes　only　and　not　for　the　eyes　that　surround　us。〃
　〃Ah。　I　understand。　Of　course。〃　She　bowed　again。　〃So　sorry；　please　excuse　my　stupidity。〃
　Dunross　smiled　back　at　her。　〃No　stupidity；　never；　only　beauty。〃
　Color　came　into　her　face　and　she　sipped　coffee　to　cover。　〃The　envelope　is　sealed；　tai…pan…san？〃
　〃Yes；　as　he　instructed。　Do　you　know　what's　in　it？〃
　〃No。　Only　that　。。。　only　that　Mr。　Gresserhoff　said　that　you　would　give　me　a　sealed　envelope。〃
　〃Did　he　say　why？　Or　what　you　were　supposed　to　do　with　it？〃
　〃One　day　someone　would　e　to　claim　it。〃
　〃By　name？〃
　〃Yes；　but　my　husband　told　me　I　was　never　to　divulge　the　name；　not　even　to　you。　Never。　Everything　else　I　could　tell　you　but　not　the　。。。　the　name。　So　sorry；　please　excuse　me。〃
　Dunross　frowned。　〃You're　just　to　give　it　to　him？〃
　〃Or　her；〃　she　said　pleasantly。　〃Yes；　when　I　am　asked；　not　before。　After　it　has　been　digested；　Mr。　Gresserhoff　said　the　person　would　repay　a　debt。　Thank　you　for　the　gift；　tai…pan…san。　I　will　cherish　it。〃
　The　waiter　came　and　poured　the　last　of　the　champagne　for　him　then　went　away　again。　〃How　do　I　reach　you　in　the　future；　Riko…san？〃
　〃I　will　give　you　three　addresses　and　phone　numbers　that　will　find　me；　one　in　Switzerland；　two　in　Japan。〃
　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃Will　you　be　in　Japan　the　week　after　next？〃
　Riko　looked　up　at　him　and　his　spirit　twisted　at　such　beauty。　〃Yes。　If　you　wish　it；〃　she　said。
　〃I　wish　it。〃
　
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　2：30　P。M。：
　The　Sea　Witch　was　tied　just　offshore　beside　Sha　Tin　boat　harbor　where　they　had　moored　for　lunch。　As　soon　as　they　had　arrived；　the　cook；　Casey　and　Peter　Marlowe；　had　gone　ashore　with　Gornt　in　mand　to　select　the　prawns　and　shrimps　and　fish　that　were　still　swimming　in　sea　tanks；　then　on　to　the　bustling　market　for　morning…fresh　vegetables。　Lunch　had　been　quick…fried　prawns　with　crunchy　broccoli；　then　fish　rubbed　with　garlic　and　pan…fried；　served　with　mixed　Chinese　greens；　again　al　dente。
　The　lunch　had　been　laughter　filled；　the　Chinese　girls　entertaining　and　happy；　all　of　them　speaking　varying　degrees　of　salty　English；　Dunstan　Barre　choleric　and　outrageously　funny；　the　others　joining　in；　and　Casey　thought　how　different　the　men　were。　How　much　more　unrestrained　and　boyish；　and　she　thought　that　sad。　The　talk　had　turned　to　business；　and　in　the　few　short　hours　she　had　learned　more　about　Hong　Kong　techniques　than　through　all　the　reading　she　had　done。　More　and　more　it　was　clear　that　unless　you　were　on　the　inside；　real　power　and　real　riches　would　escape　you。
　〃Oh；　you'll　do　very　well　here；　Casey；　you　and　Bartlett；〃　Barre　had　said。　〃If　you　play　the　game　according　to　Hong　Kong　rules；　Hong　Kong　tax　structures　and　not　U。S。　rules；　right；　Quillan？〃
　〃Up　to　a　point。　If　you　go　with　Dunross　and　Struan's　…　if　Struan's　and　Dunross　exist　as　an　entity　by　next　Friday　…　you'll　get　some　milk　but　none　of　the　cream。〃
　〃With　you　we'll　do　better？〃　she　had　asked。
　Barre　had　laughed。　〃Very　much　better；　Casey；　but　it'll　still　be　milk　and　very　little　cream！〃
　〃Let's　say；　Casey；　with　us　the　milk'll　be　homogenized；〃　Gornt　had　said　amiably。
　Now　the　wonderful　smell　of　freshly　roasted　coffee；　freshly　ground；　was　wafting　up　from　the　galley。　Conversation　was　general　around　the　table；　banter　back　and　forth；　mostly　for　her　benefit；　about　trading　in　Asia；　supply　and　demand　and　the　Asian　attitude　to　smuggling；　the　Chinese　girls　chattering　among　themselves。
　Abruptly；　Grey's　voice；　a　biting　rasp　to　it；　cut　through。　〃You'd　better　ask　Marlowe　about　that；　Mr。　Gornt。　He　knows　everything　about　smuggling　and　blackmailing　from　our　Changi　days。〃
　〃e　on；　Grey；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said　in　the　sudden　silence。　〃Give　over！〃
　〃I　thought　you　were　proud　of　it；　you　and　your　Yankee　blackmailer　mate。　Weren't　you？〃
　〃Let's　leave　it；　Grey；〃　Marlowe　said；　his　face　set。
　〃Whatever　you　say；　old　lad。〃　Grey　turned　to　Casey。　〃Ask　him。〃
　Gornt　said；　〃This　is　hardly　the　time　to　rehash　old　quarrels；　Mr。　Grey。〃　He　kept　his　voice　calm　and　the　enjoyment　off　his　face；　outwardly　the　perfect　host。
　〃Oh；　I　wasn't；　Mr。　Gornt。　You　were　talking　about　smuggling　and　black　marketeering。　Marlowe's　an　expert；　that's　all。〃
　〃Shall　we　have　coffee　on　deck？〃　Gornt　got　up。
　〃Good　idea。　A　cuppa　coffee's　ever　so　good　after　grub。〃　Grey　used　the　word　deliberately；　knowing　it　would　offend　them；　not　caring　now；　suddenly　tired　of　the　banter；　hating　them　and　what　they　represented；　hating　being　the　odd…man　out　here；　wanting　one　of　the　girls；　any　one。　〃Marlowe　and　his　Yankee　friend　used　to　roast　beans　in　the　camp　when　the　rest　of　us　were　starving；〃　he　said；　his　face　stark。　〃Used　to　drive　us　mad。〃　He　looked　at　Peter　Marlowe；　his　hate　open　now。　〃Didn't　you？〃
　After　a　pause；　Peter　Marlowe　said；　〃Everyone　had　coffee　some　of　the　time。　Everyone　roasted　coffee　beans。〃
　〃Not　like　you　two。〃　Grey　turned　to　Casey。　〃They　had　coffee　every　day；　him　and　his　Yankee　friend。　Me；　I　was　provost　marshal　and　I　had　it　once　a　month　if　I　was　lucky。〃　He　glanced　back。　〃How　did　you　get　coffee　and　food　while　the　rest　of　us　starved？〃
　Casey　noticed　the　vein　in　Peter　Marlowe's　forehead　knotting　and　she　realized；　aghast；　that　no　answer　was　also　an　answer。　〃Robin　。。。〃　she　began；　but　Grey　overrode　her；　his　voice　taunting。　〃Why　don't　you　answer；　Marlowe？〃　In　the　silence　they　all　looked　from　Grey　to　Peter　Marlowe；　staring　at　each　other；　even　the　girls　tense　and　on　guard；　feeling　the　sudden　violence　in　the　cabin。
　〃My　dear　fellow；〃　Gornt　interrupted；　deliberately　using　that　slight　nuance　of　accent　he　knew　would　goad　Grey；　〃surely　those　are　ancient　times　and　rather　unimportant　now。　It　is　Sunday　afternoon　and　we're　all　friends。〃
　〃I　think　'em　rather　important；　Sunday　afternoon　or　not　and　Marlowe　and　I　aren't　friends；　never　have　been！　He's　a　toff；　I'm　not。〃　Grey　aped　the　long　a　he　loathed　and　broadened　his　accent。　〃Yes。　But　the　war　changed　everything　and　us　workers'll　never　forget！〃
　〃You　consider　yourself　a　worker　and　me　not？〃　Peter　Marlowe　asked；　his　voice　grating。
　〃We're　the　exploited；　you're　the　exploiters。　Like　in　Changi。〃
　〃Get　off　that　old　broken　record；　Grey！　Changi　was　another　world；　another　place　and　other　time　an…　〃
　〃It　was　the　same　as　everywhere。　There　was　bosses　and　the　bossed；　workers　and　them　that　fed　off　the　workers。　Like　you　and　the　King。〃
　〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃
　Casey　was　near　to　Grey　and　she　reached　out　and　took　his　arm。　〃Let's　have　coffee；　okay？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Grey　said。　〃But　first　ask　him；　Casey。〃　Grimly　Grey　stood　his　ground；　well　aware　he　had；　at　long　last；　brought　his　enemy　to　bay　in　front　of　his　peers。　〃Mr。　Gornt；　ask　him；　eh？　Any　of　you　。。。〃
　They　all　stood　there　in　silence；　embarrassed　for　Peter　Marlowe　and　shocked　with　the　implied　accusations　…　Gornt　and　Plumm　privately　amused　and　fascinated。　Then　one　of　the　girls　turned　for　the　gangway　and　left　quietly；　the　others　following。　Casey　would　have　liked　to　have　gone　too　but　she　did　not。
　〃Now　is　not　the　time；　Mr。　Grey；〃　she　heard　Gornt　say　gently　and　she　was　glad　he　was　there　to　break　it　up。　〃Would　you　kindly　leave　this　matter　alone。　Please？〃
　Grey　looked　at　them　all；　his　eyes　ending　up　on　his　adversary。　〃You　see；　Casey；　not　one's　got　the　guts　to　ask　…　they're　all　his　class；　so…called　upper　class　and　they　look　after　their　own。〃
　Barre　flushed。　〃I　say；　old　chap；　don't　you　th…　〃
　Peter　Marlowe　said；　his　voice　flat；　〃It's　easy　to　stop　this　nonsense。　You　can't　equate　Changi　…　or　Dachau　or　Buchenwald　with　normality。　You　just　can't。　There　were　different　rules；　different　patterns。　We　were　soldiers；　war　prisoners；　teen…agers　most　of　us。　Changi　was　genesis；　everything　new；　upside　down；　ev…　〃
　〃Were　you　a　black　marketeer？〃
　〃No。　I　was　an　interpreter　in　Malay　for　a