jamesclavell.noblehouse-第224章

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r　labor；　ensuring　there　were　no　telltale　indentations　left　on　the　pad　that　she　had　used；　examining　it　under　the　light。　As　soon　as　she　was　satisfied；　she　stamped　the　envelope　containing　the　copies；　addressed　it　to：　R。　Anjin；　Box　154；　General　Post　Office；　Sydney；　Australia。　This　and　the　other　envelope　with　the　originals　she　put　into　her　handbag。
　Carefully　she　rechecked　that　nothing　had　been　missed；　then　went　to　a　small　refrigerator　near　the　stocked　bar　and　took　out　a　bottle　of　sparkling　mineral　water　and　drank　some。
　Again　the　phone　rang。　She　watched　it；　sipping　the　soda　water；　her　mind　checking　and　rechecking；　thinking　about　her　lunch　with　Dunross；　wondering　if　she　had　been　wise　to　accept　his　invitation　to　cocktails　tonight　and；　later；　to　dinner　with　him　and　his　friends。　I　wonder　if　there　will　be　friends　or　if　we　will　be　alone。　Would　I　like　to　be　alone　with　that　man？
　Her　thoughts　went　back　to　the　small；　untidy；　slightly　balding　Hans　Gresserhoff；　and　the　four　years　of　life　that　she　had　led　with　him；　weeks　alone；　sleeping　alone；　waking　alone；　walking　alone；　no　real　friends；　rarely　going　out；　her　husband　strangely　secretive；　cautioning　her　about　making　friends；　wanting　her　to　be　alone　and　always　safe　and　calm　and　patient。　That　was　the　hardest　part　to　bear；　she　thought。　Patience。　Patience　alone；　patience　together；　asleep　or　awake。　Patience　and　outwardly　calm。　When　all　the　time　she　was　like　a　volcano；　desperate　to　erupt。
　That　he　loved　her　was　beyond　doubt。　All　she　felt　for　him　was　giri；　duty。　He　gave　her　money　and　her　life　was　smooth；　neither　rich　nor　poor　…　even；　like　the　country　of　their　choice。　His　arrivals　and　departures　had　no　pattern。　When　he　was　with　her　he　always　wanted　her；　wanted　to　be　near　her。　Their　pillowing　satisfied　him　but　not　her；　though　she　pretended；　for　his　pleasure。　But　then；　she　told　herself；　you　have　had　no　other　man　to　judge　by。
　He　was　a　good　man　and　it　was　as　I　told　the　tai…pan。　I　tried　to　be　a　good　wife　to　him；　to　obey　him　in　everything；　to　honor　my　mother's　wish；　to　fulfill　my　giri　to　her；　and　to　him。　And　now？
　She　looked　down　at　her　wedding　ring　and　twisted　it　on　her　finger。　For　the　first　time　since　she　had　married　she　took　it　off　and　looked　at　it　closely　in　the　palm　of　her　hand。　Small；　empty　and　uninteresting。　So　many　lonely　nights；　tears　in　the　nights；　waiting　waiting　waiting。　Waiting　for　what？　Children　forbidden；　friends　forbidden；　travel　forbidden。　Not　forbidden　as　a　Japanese　would：　Kin　jiru！　But；　〃Don't　you　think；　my　dear；〃　he　would　say；　〃don't　you　think　it　would　be　better　if　you　didn't　go　to　Paris　while　I'm　away？　We　can　go　the　next　time　I'm　here　。。。〃　both　of　them　knowing　they　would　never　go。
　The　time　in　Vienna　had　been　terrible。　It　was　the　first　year。　They　went　for　a　week。　〃I　have　to　go　out　tonight；〃　he　had　told　her　the　first　night。　〃Please　stay　in　the　room；　eat　in　the　room　till　I　get　back。〃　Two　days　passed　and　when　he　came　back　he　was　sallow…faced　and　drawn；　frightened；　and　then　at　once；　in　the　darkest　part　of　the　night；　they　had　got　into　their　hired　car　and　fled　back　to　Switzerland；　going　the　long　way；　the　wrong　way；　up　through　the　Tyrolian　mountains；　his　eyes　constantly　on　the　rear　mirrors　in　case　they　were　being　followed；　not　talking　to　her　until　they　were　safe　across　the　border　once　more。
　〃But　why；　why；　Hans？〃
　〃Because　nothing！　Please。　You're　not　to　ask　questions；　Riko。　That　was　your　agreement　。。。　our　agreement。　I'm　sorry　about　the　holiday。　We'll　go　to　Wengen　or　Biarritz；　it　will　be　grand；　it　will　be　grand　there。　Please　remember　your　giri　and　that　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart。〃
　Love！
　I　do　not　understand　that　word；　she　thought；　standing　there　at　the　window；　looking　at　the　harbor；　sullen　clouds；　the　light　bad。　Strange　that　in　Japanese　we　do　not　have　such　a　word。　Only　duty　and　shades　of　duty；　affection　and　shades　of　affection。　Not　lieben。　Ai？　Ai　really　means　respect　though　some　use　it　for　lieben。
　Riko　caught　herself　thinking　in　German　and　she　smiled。　Most　times　she　thought　in　German　though　today；　with　the　tai…pan；　she　had　thought　in　Japanese。　It's　such　a　long　time　since　I　spoke　my　own　language。　What　is　my　own　language？　Japanese？　That's　the　language　my　parents　and　I　spoke。　German？　That's　the　language　of　our　part　of　Switzerland。　English？　That's　the　language　of　my　husband　even　though　he　claimed　that　German　was　his　first　tongue。
　Was　he　English？
　She　had　asked　herself　that　question　many　times。　It　was　not　that　his　German　was　not　fluent；　it　was　just　attitudes。　His　attitudes　were　not　German；　like　mine　are　not　Japanese。　Or　are　they？
　I　don't　know。　But　now；　now　I　can　find　out。
　He　had　never　told　her　what　his　work　was　and　she　had　never　asked。　After　Vienna　it　had　been　very　easy　to　predict　that　it　was　clandestine　and　connected　somehow　to　international　crime　or　espionage。　Hans　was　not　the　type　to　be　in　crime。
　So　from　then　on　she　had　been　even　more　cautious。　Once　or　twice　she　had　thought　that　they　were　under　surveillance　in　Zurich　and　when　they　went　skiing；　but　he　had　dismissed　it　and　told　her　not　to　worry　about　him。　〃But　be　prepared　in　case　of　accidents。　Keep　all　your　valuables　and　private　papers；　passport　and　birth　certificate　in　your　traveling　bag；　Ri…chan；〃　he　had　said；　using　her　nickname。　〃Just　in　case；　just　in　case。〃
　With　the　death　of　her　husband　and　his　instructions　almost　all　carried　out；　the　money　and　the　tai…pan's　phone　call　and　summons；　everything　had　bee　new。　Now　she　could　start　again。　She　was　twenty…four。　The　past　was　past　and　karma　was　karma。　The　tai…pan's　money　would　be　more　than　enough　for　her　needs　for　years。
　On　their　wedding　night；　her　husband　had　told　her；　〃If　anything　happens　to　me；　you　will　get　a　call　from　a　man　called　Kiernan。　Cut　the　phone　wires　as　I　will　show　you　and　leave　Zurich　instantly。　Leave　everything　except　the　clothes　you　wear　and　your　travel　bag。　Drive　to　Geneva。　Here　is　a　key。　This　key　will　open　a　safety　deposit　box　in　the　Swiss　Bank　of　Geneva　on　Rue　Charles。　In　it　there's　money　and　some　letters。　Follow　the　instructions　exactly；　my　darling；　oh　how　I　love　you。　Leave　everything。　Do　exactly　as　I've　said。　。。。〃
　And　she　had。　Exactly。　It　was　her　giri。
　She　had　cut　the　phone　wires　with　the　wire　snips　as　he　had　shown　her；　just　behind　the　box　that　was　attached　to　the　wall　so　that　the　cut　was　hardly　noticeable。　In　Geneva　in　the　bank　there　had　been　a　letter　of　instructions；　10；000　U。S。　in　cash　in　the　safety　deposit　box；　a　new　Swiss　passport；　stamped；　with　her　photograph　but　a　new　name　and　new　birthday　and　new　birth　certificate　that　documented　she　was　born　in　the　city　of　Berne　twenty…three　years　ago。　She　had　liked　the　new　name　he　had　chosen　for　her　and　she　remembered　how；　in　the　safety　of　her　hotel　room　overlooking　the　lovely　lake；　she　had　wept　for　him。
　Also　in　the　safety　deposit　box　had　been　a　savings　book　in　her　new　name　for　20；000　U。S。　in　this　same　bank；　and　a　key；　an　address　and　a　deed。　The　deed　was　for　a　small　chalet　on　the　lake；　private　and　furnished　and　paid　for；　with　a　caretaker　who　knew　her　only　by　her　new　name　and　that　she　was　a　widow　who　had　been　abroad　…　the　deed　registered　in　her　new　name　though　purchased　four　years　before；　a　few　days　prior　to　her　marriage。
　〃Ah；　mistress；　I　am　so　happy　you　have　e　home　at　long　last。　Traveling　in　all　those　foreign　places　must　be　very　tiring；〃　the　pleasant；　though　simple　old　lady　had　said　in　greeting。　〃Oh；　for　the　last　year　or　so；　your　home　has　been　rented　to　such　a　charming；　quiet　Englishman。　He　paid　promptly　every　month；　here　are　the　accounts。　Perhaps　he　will　e　back　this　year；　he　said；　perhaps　not。　Your　agent　is　on　Avenue　Firmet。　。。。〃
　Later；　wandering　around　the　lovely　house；　the　lake　vast　and　clean　in　the　bowl　of　mountains；　the　house　clean　like　the　mountains；　pictures　on　the　walls；　flowers　in　vases；　three　bedrooms　and　a　living　room　and　verandas；　tiny　but　perfect　for　her；　the　garden　cherished；　she　had　gone　into　the　main　bedroom。　Among　a　kaleidoscope　of　small　pictures　of　various　shapes　and　sizes　on　one　of　the　walls　was　what　seemed　to　be　part　of　an　old　letter　in　a　glass…covered　frame；　the　paper　already　yellowing。　She　recognized　his　writing。　It　was　in　English。　〃So　many　happy　hours　in　your　arms；　Ri…chan；　so　many　happy　days　in　your　pany；　how　do　I　say　that　I　love　you？　Forget　me；　I　will　never　forget　you。　How　do　I　beg　God　to　grant　you　ten　thousand　days　for　every　one　of　mine；　my　darling；　my　darling；　my　darling。〃
　The　huge　double　bed　was　almost　convex　with　its　thick　eiderdown　quilt；　multicolored；　the　windows　opened　to　the　tender　air；　late　summer　perfumes　within　it；　snow　dusting　the　mountaintops。　She　had　wept　again；　the　chalet　taking　her　to　itself。
　Within　a　few　hours　of　being　there　Dunross　had　called　and　she　had　boarded　the　first　jet　and　now　she　was　here；　most　of　her　work　pleted；　never　a　need　to　return；　the　past　obliterated　…　if　she　wished　it。　The　new　passport　was　genuine　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　and　the　birth　certificate。　No　reason　ever　to　return　to　Switzerland　…　except　for　the　chalet。　And　the　picture。
　She　had　left　it　on　the　wall　undisturbed。　And　she　had　resolved；　as　long　as　she　owned　the　house；　the　picture　would　stay　where　he　had　placed　it。　Always。
　
　76
　
　5：10　P。M。：
　Orlanda　was　driving　her　small　car；　Bartlett　beside　her；　his　hand　resting　lightly　across　her　shoulders。　They　had　just　e　over　the　pass　from　Aberdeen　and　now；　still　in　cloud；　were　heading　down　the　mountainside　in　Mid　Levels　toward　her　home　in　Rose　Court。　They　were　happy　together；　aware　and　filled　with　expectation。　After　lunch　they　had　crossed　to　Hong　Kong　and　she　had　driven　to　Shek…O　on　the　southeastern　tip　of　the　Island　to　show　him　where　some　of　the　tai…pans　had　weekend　houses。　The　countryside　was　rolling　and　sparsely　populated；　hills；　ravines；　the　sea　always　near；　sheer　cliffs　and　rocks。
　From　Shek…O　they　had　slid　along　the　southern　road　that　curled　and　twisted　until　they　got　to　Repulse　Bay　where　she　had　stopped　at　the　wonderful　hotel　for　tea　and　cakes　on　the　veranda；　looking　out　at　the　sea；　then　on　again；　past　Deepwater　Cove　to　Discovery　Bay　where　she　stopped　again　at　a　lookout。　〃Look　over　there；　Linc；　that's　Castle　Tok！〃　Castle　Tok　was　a　vast；　incongruous　house　that　looked　like　a　Norman　castle　and　was　perched　on　the　cliffside　high　over　the　water。　〃During　the　war　the　Canadians　…　Canadian　soldiers　…　were　defending　this　part　of　the　Island　against　the　invading　Japanese　and　they　all　retreated　to　Castle　Tok　for　a　last　stand。　When　they　were　overwhelmed　and　surrendered　there　were　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　of　them　left　alive。　The　Japanese　herded　them　all　onto　the　terrace　of　Castle　Tok　and　drove　them　by　bayonet　over　the　terrace　wall　to　the　rocks　below。〃
　〃Jesus。〃　The　drop　was　a　hundred　feet　or　more。
　〃Everyone。　The　wounded；　the　。。。　the　others；　everyone。〃　He　had　seen　her　shiver　and　at　once　had　reached　out　to　touch　her。
　〃Don't；　Orlanda；　that's　such　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃It's　not；　no；　not　at　all。　I'm　afraid　history　and　the　war's　still　very　much　with　us；　Linc。　It　always　will　be。　Ghosts　walk　those　terraces　by　night。〃
　〃You　believe　that？〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　He　remembered　looking　back　at　the　brooding　house；　the　surf　crashing　against　the　rocks　below；　her　perfume　surrounding　him　as　she　leaned　back　against　him；　feeling　her　heat；　glad　to　be　alive　and　not　one　of　those　soldiers。　〃Your　Castle　Tok　looks　like　something　out　of　the　movi