jamesclavell.noblehouse-第223章

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new；　upside　down；　ev…　〃
　〃Were　you　a　black　marketeer？〃
　〃No。　I　was　an　interpreter　in　Malay　for　a　friend　who　was　a　trader　and　there's　a　lot　of　difference　between　trading　and　black　marketing　an…　
　〃But　it　was　against　camp　rules；　camp　law；　and　that　makes　it　black　marketing；　right？〃
　〃Trading　with　the　guards　was　against　enemy　rules；　Japanese　rules。〃
　〃And　tell　them　how　the　King'd　buy　some　poor　bugger's　watch　or　ring　or　fountain　pen　for　a　pittance；　the　last　bloody　thing　he　had　in　the　world；　and　sell　it　high　and　never　tell　and　cheat　on　the　price；　cheat；　always　cheat。　Eh？〃
　Peter　Marlowe　stared　back。　〃Read　my　book。　In　it　th…　〃
　〃Book？〃　Again　Grey　laughed；　goading　him。　〃Tell　'em　on　your　honor　as　a　gent；　your　father's　honor　and　your　family's　honor　you're　so　bloody　proud　of　…　did　the　King　cheat　or　didn't　he？　On　your　honor！　Eh？〃
　Almost　paralyzed；　Casey　saw　Peter　Marlowe　make　a　fist。　〃If　we　weren't　guests　here；〃　he　hissed；　〃I'd　tell　them　what　a　shower　you　really　were！〃
　〃You　can　rot　in　hell。　。。。〃
　〃Now　that's　enough；〃　Gornt　said　as　a　mand　and　Casey　began　to　breathe　again。　〃For　the　last　time；　kindly　leave　this　all　alone！〃
　Grey　tore　his　eyes　off　Marlowe。　〃I　will。　Now；　can　I　get　a　taxi　in　the　village？　I　think　I'd　rather　get　home　meself　by　meself　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Gornt　said；　his　face　suitably　grave；　delighted　that　Grey　had　asked　so　that　he　did　not　have　to　finesse　the　suggestion　into　the　open。　〃But　surely；〃　he　added；　delivering　the　coup　de　grace；　〃surely　you　and　Marlowe　could　shake　hands　like　gentlemen　and　forget　about　th…　〃
　〃Gentlemen？　Ta；　but　no。　No；　I've　had　gentlemen　like　Marlowe　forever。　Gentlemen？　Thank　God　England's　changing　and　soon'll　be　in　proper　hands　again　…　and　the　very　British　Oxford　accent　won't　be　a　permanent　passport　to　gentry　and　power；　not　ever　again。　We'll　reform　the　Lords　and　if　I　have　my　way　。。。〃
　〃Let's　hope　you　don't！〃　Pugmire　said。
　Gornt　said　firmly；　〃Pug！　It's　coffee　and　port　time！〃　Affably　he　took　Grey's　arm。　〃If　you'll　excuse　Mr。　Grey　and　myself　a　moment　。。。〃
　They　went　on　deck。　The　chatter　of　the　Chinese　girls　stopped　a　moment。　Secretly　very　pleased　with　himself；　Gornt　led　the　way　to　the　gangway　and　went　ashore　onto　the　wharf。　Everything　was　turning　out　far　better　than　he　had　thought。
　〃Sorry　about　that；　Mr。　Grey；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　no　idea　that　Marlowe　。。。　Disgusting！　Well；　you　never　know；　do　you？〃
　〃He's　a　bastard；　always　was；　always　will　be　…　him　and　his　filthy　Yank　friend。　Hate　Yanks　too！　About　time　we　broke　up　with　that　shower！〃
　Gornt　found　a　taxi　easily。
　〃Are　you　sure；　Mr。　Grey；　you　won't　change　your　mind？〃
　〃Ta；　but　no　thanks。〃
　〃Sorry　about　Marlowe。　Clearly　you　were　provoked。　When　are　you　and　your　trade　mission　off？〃
　〃In　the　morning；　early。〃
　〃If　there's　anything　I　can　do　for　you　here；　just　let　me　know。〃
　〃Ta。　When　you　e　home　give　me　a　tinkle。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I　will；　and　thanks　for　ing。〃　He　paid　the　fare　in　advance　and　waved　politely　as　the　taxi　drove　off。　Grey　did　not　look　around。
　Gornt　smiled。　That　revolting　bastard's　going　to　be　a　useful　ally　in　the　years　to　e；　he　chortled　as　he　walked　back。
　Most　of　the　others　were　on　deck；　drinking　coffee　and　liqueurs；　Casey　and　Peter　Marlowe　to　one　side。
　〃What　a　bloody　berk！〃　Gornt　called　out　to　general　agreement。　〃Frightfully　sorry　about　that；　Marlowe；　the　bugger　pr…　〃
　〃No；　it　was　my　fault；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　clearly　very　upset。　〃Sorry。　I　feel　terrible　that　he　left。〃
　〃No　need　to　apologize。　I　should　never　have　invited　him　…　thanks　for　being　such　a　gentleman　about　it；　he　clearly　provoked　you。〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　Pugmire　said　to　more　agreement。　〃If　I'd　been　you　I'd've　given　him　one。　Whatever　happened　is　in　the　past。〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Casey　said　quickly；　〃what　an　awful　man！　If　you　hadn't　stopped　it；　Quillan；　Grey　wou…　〃
　〃Enough　of　that　berk；〃　Gornt　said　warmly；　wanting　the　specter　laid　to　rest。　〃Let's　forget　him；　let's　not　allow　him　to　spoil　a　wonderful　afternoon。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　Casey　and　gave　her　a　hug。　〃Eh？〃　He　saw　the　admiration　in　her　eyes　and　he　knew；　gleefully；　he　was　getting　there　fast。　〃It's　too　cold　for　a　swim。　Shall　we　just　cruise　leisurely　home？〃
　〃Good　idea！〃　Dunstan　Barre　said。　〃I　think　I'm　going　to　have　a　siesta。〃
　〃Smashing　idea！〃　someone　said　to　laughter。　The　girls　joined　in　but　the　laughter　was　forced。　Everyone　was　still　unsettled　and　Gornt　felt　it　strongly。　〃First　some　brandy！　Marlowe？〃
　〃No　thank　you；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　Gornt　studied　him。　〃Listen　to　me；　Marlowe；〃　he　said　with　real　passion　and　everyone　fell　silent。　〃We've　all　seen　too　much　of　life；　too　much　of　Asia；　not　to　know　that　whatever　you　did；　you　did　for　good　and　not　evil。　What　you　said　was　right。　Changi　was　special　with　special　problems。　Pug　was　locked　up　in　Stanley　Prison　…　that's　on　Hong　Kong　Island；　Casey　…　for　three　and　a　half　years。　I　got　out　of　Shanghai　barely　with　my　skin；　and　blood　on　my　hands。　Jason　was　grabbed　by　the　Nazis　after　Dunkirk　and　had　a　couple　of　dicey　years　with　them；　Dunstan　operated　in　China　…　Dunstan's　been　in　Asia　forever　and　he　knows　too。　Eh？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunstan　Barre　said　sadly。　〃Casey；　in　war　to　survive　you　have　to　stretch　things　a　bit　sometimes。　As　to　trading；　Marlowe；　I　agree；　most　times　you　have　to　equate　the　problem　to　the　time　and　place。　I　thank　God　I　was　never　caught。　Don't　think　I'd've　survived；　know　I　wouldn't。〃　He　refilled　his　port　from　the　decanter；　embarrassed　to　be　speaking　real　truths。
　〃What　was　Changi　really　like；　Peter？〃　Casey　asked　for　all　of　them。
　〃It's　hard　to　talk　about；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　the　nearest　to　no…life　that　you　could　get。　We　were　issued　a　quarter　of　a　pound　of　dry　rice　a　day；　some　vegetables；　one　egg　a　week。　Sometimes　meat　was　。。。　was　waved　over　the　soup。　It　was　different；　that's　all　I　can　say　about　it。　Most　of　us　had　never　seen　a　jungle　before；　let　alone　Chinese　and　Japanese　and　to　lose　a　war　。。。　I　was　just　eighteen　when　Changi　began。〃
　〃Christ；　I　can't　stand　Japs；　just　can't！〃　Pugmire　said　and　the　others　nodded。
　〃But　that's　not　fair；　really。　They　were　just　playing　the　game　according　to　their　rules；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said。　〃That　was　fair　from　the　Japanese　point　of　view。　Look　what　wonderful　soldiers　they　were；　look　how　they　fought　and　almost　never　allowed　themselves　to　be　captured。　We　were　dishonored　according　to　their　standards　by　surrendering。〃　Peter　Marlowe　shivered。　〃I　felt　dishonored；　still　feel　dishonored。〃
　〃That's　not　right；　Marlowe；〃　Gornt　said。　〃There's　no　dishonor　in　that。　None。〃
　Casey；　standing　beside　Gornt；　put　her　hand　on　his　arm　lightly。　〃Oh　yes。　He's　right；　Peter。　He　really　is。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunstan　Barre　said。　〃But　Grey；　what　the　devil　got　Grey　all　teed　off？　Eh？〃
　〃Nothing　and　everything。　He　became　fanatical　about　enforcing　camp　rules　…　which　were　Japanese　rules　…　stupidly；　a　lot　of　us　thought。　As　I　said；　Changi　was　different；　officers　and　men　were　locked　up　together；　no　letters　from　home；　no　food；　two　thousand　miles　of　enemy…occupied　territory　in　every　direction；　malaria；　dysentery；　and　the　death　rate　terrible。　He　hated　this　American　friend　of　mine；　the　King。　It　was　true　the　King　was　a　cunning　businessman　and　he　ate　well　when　others　didn't　and　drank　coffee　and　smoked　tailor…made　cigarettes。　But　he　kept　a　lot　of　us　alive　with　his　skill。　Even；　Grey。　He　even　kept　Grey　alive。　Grey's　hatred　kept　him　alive；　I'm　sure。　The　King　fed　almost　the　whole　American　contingent　…　there　were　about　thirty　of　them；　officers　and　men。　Oh　they　worked　for　it；　American　style；　but　even　so；　without　him　they　would　have　died。　I　would　have。　I　know。〃　Peter　Marlowe　shuddered。　〃Joss。　Karma。　Life。　I　think　I'll　have　that　brandy　now；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　Gornt　poured。　〃Whatever　happened　to　this　man；　this　fellow　you　call　the　King？　After　the　war？〃
　Pugmire　interrupted　with　a　laugh；　〃One　of　the　buggers　in　our　camp　who　was　a　trader　became　a　bloody　millionaire　afterwards。　Is　it　the　same　with　this　King？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said。
　〃You　never　saw　him　again；　Peter？〃　Casey　asked；　surprised。　〃You　didn't　see　him　back　in　the　States？〃
　〃No；　no　I　never　did。　I　tried　to　find　him　but　never　could。〃
　〃That's　often　the　rule；　Casey；〃　Gornt　said　casually。　〃When　you　leave　a　regiment　all　debts　and　friendships　are　canceled。〃　He　was　very　content。　Everything's　perfect；　he　told　himself；　thinking　of　the　double　bed　in　his　cabin；　and　smiled　at　her　across　the　deck。　She　smiled　back。
　
　Riko　Anjin　Gresserhoff　went　into　the　foyer　of　the　V　and　A。　It　was　crowded　with　those　having　early…afternoon　tea　or　late　lunches。　As　she　walked　to　the　elevator　a　tremor　went　through　her；　the　eyes　bothering　her　…　not　the　usual　lusting　eyes　of　European　men　or　the　dislike　in　the　eyes　of　their　women　…　but　Chinese　and　Eurasian　eyes。　She　had　never　experienced　so　much　general　hatred。　It　was　a　strange　feeling。　This　was　her　first　time　outside　of　Switzerland；　other　than　school　trips　to　Germany　and　two　journeys　to　Rome　with　her　mother。　Her　husband　had　taken　her　abroad　only　once；　to　Vienna　for　a　week。
　I　don't　like　Asia；　she　thought；　suppressing　another　shudder。　But　then　it's　not　Asia；　it's　Hong　Kong；　surely　it's　just　here；　the　people　here。　And　surely；　there　is　right　on　their　side　to　be　antagonistic。　I　wonder　if　I'll　like　Japan？　Will　I　be　alien；　even　there？
　The　elevator　came　and　she　went　to　her　suite　on　the　sixth　floor；　the　room　boy　not　opening　her　door　for　her。　Alone　and　with　the　door　bolted；　she　felt　better。　The　red　message　light　on　the　phone　was　blinking　but　she　paid　it　no　attention；　quickly　taking　off　her　shoes；　hat；　gloves　and　coat；　putting　them　at　once　in　a　vast　closet；　the　clothes　already　there　neat　and　organized；　like　her　three　pairs　of　shoes。　The　suite　was　small　but　delicate；　a　living　room；　bedroom　and　bath。　Flowers　from　Struan's　were　on　the　table　and　a　bowl　of　fruit　from　the　hotel。
　Her　fingers　slid　the　gift　wrapping　away　neatly。　Inside　was　a　rectangular　black　plush　box　and　she　opened　it。　Warmth　went　through　her。　The　pendant　was　on　a　thin　gold　chain；　the　jade　green　with　flecks　of　lighter　green；　carved　like　a　cornucopia。　Light　shimmered　off　the　polished　surface。　At　once　she　put　it　on；　studying　it　in　the　mirror；　admiring　the　stone　as　it　lay　against　her　breast。　She　had　never　been　given　jade　before。
　Underneath　the　black；　plush…covered　cardboard　was　the　envelope。　It　was　a　plain　envelope；　not　Struan's；　the　seal　equally　plain；　made　of　ordinary　red　sealing　wax。　With　great　care　she　slid　a　paper　knife　under　the　seal　and　studied　the　pages；　one　by　one；　a　small　frown　on　her　forehead。　Just　a　jumble　of　numbers　and　letters　and　an　occasional　symbol。　A　tiny；　satisfied　smile　touched　her　lips。　She　found　the　hotel　letter…writing　folder　and；　settling　herself　fortably　at　the　desk；　began　to　copy　the　pages；　one　by　one。
　When　she　had　finished　she　checked　them。　She　put　the　copies　into　a　hotel　envelope　and　sealed　it；　the　originals　in　another　envelope；　a　plain　one　she　took　out　of　her　bag。　Next　she　found　the　new　stick　of　red　sealing　wax；　lit　a　match　and　daubed　the　melting　wax　on　both　envelopes；　sealing　them；　making　sure　the　seal　on　the　envelope　of　the　originals　was　a　pattern　of　the　one　Dunross　had　made。　The　phone　rang；　startling　her。　She　watched　it；　her　heart　thumping；　until　it　stopped。　Once　more　at　ease；　she　went　back　to　her　labor；　ensuring　there　were　no　telltale　indentations　left　on　the　pad　that　she　had　used；　examining　i