jamesclavell.noblehouse-第226章

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　〃It's　true　Linc's　wife　and　her　attorney　almost　put　him　away。　But　not　every　wife's　like　that。　But　God；　we're　not　chattel　and　most　women　need　protection。　Women　throughout　the　world　still　get　a　raw　deal。〃
　〃I've　never　known　a　real　woman　to　get　a　raw　deal；〃　he　said。　〃I　mean　a　woman　like　you　or　Orlanda　who　understands　what　femininity　means。〃　Suddenly　he　had　beamed　at　her。　〃Of　course；　en　route　she　has　to　give　us　poor　weak　bastards　what　we　want　to　stay　healthy。〃
　She　had　laughed　with　him；　also　wanting　to　change　the　subject　…　too　difficult　to　solve　now。
　〃Ah；　Quillan；　you're　one　of　the　bad　ones　all　right。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　had　turned　away　to　search　the　sky　ahead。　She　watched　him　and　he　looked　fine　to　her；　standing　there；　swaying　slightly；　the　wind　ruffling　the　hairs　on　his　strong　forearms；　his　sea　cap　jaunty。　I'm　glad　he　trusts　me　and　considers　me　a　woman；　she　had　thought；　lulled　by　the　wine　and　the　food　and　by　his　desire。　Ever　since　she　had　e　aboard　she　had　felt　it　strongly　and　she　had　wondered　again　how　she　would　deal　with　it　when　it　manifested　itself；　as　it　would；　inevitably。　Would　it　be　yes　or　no？　Or　maybe？　Or　maybe　next　week？
　Will　there　be　a　next　week？
　〃What's　going　to　happen　tomorrow；　Quillan？　At　the　stock　market？〃
　〃Tomorrow　can　take　care　of　tomorrow；〃　he　had　said；　the　wind　whipping　him。
　〃Seriously？〃
　〃I　will　win　or　I　will　not　win。〃　Gornt　shrugged。　〃Either　way　I'm　covered。　Tomorrow　I　buy。　With　joss　I　have　him　by　the　shorts。〃
　〃And　then？〃
　He　had　laughed。　〃Have　you　any　doubt？　I　take　him　over；　lock；　stock　and　box　at　the　races。〃
　〃Ah；　you　really　want　that；　don't　you？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Oh　yes；　that　represents　victory。　He　and　his　forebears　have　kept　me　and　mine　out。　Of　course　I　want　that。〃
　I　wonder　if　I　could　make　a　deal　with　Ian；　she　had　thought　absently。　Wonder　if　I　could　get　the　tai…pan　to　allow　Quillan　a　box；　his　own　box；　and　help　make　him　a　steward。　Crazy　for　these　two　to　be　like　bulls　in　a　china　shop　…　there's　more　than　enough　room　for　both。　Ian　owes　me　a　favor　if　Murtagh　delivers。
　Her　heart　fluttered　and　she　wondered　what　had　happened　with　Murtagh　and　the　bank；　and　if　the　answer　was　yes；　what　Quillan　would　do。
　And　where　is　Linc？　Is　he　with　Orlanda；　in　her　arms；　dreaming　the　afternoon　away？
　She　curled　up　again　on　the　stern　and　closed　her　eyes。　The　salt　air　and　the　throb　of　the　engines　and　the　motion　through　the　sea　put　her　to　sleep。　Her　sleep　was　dreamless；　womblike；　and　in　a　few　minutes　she　awoke　refreshed。　Gornt　was　sitting　opposite　her　now；　watching　her。　They　were　alone　again；　the　Cantonese　captain　at　the　wheel。
　〃You　have　a　nice　sleeping　face；〃　he　said。
　〃Thank　you。〃　She　moved　and　rested　on　one　elbow。　〃You're　a　strange　man。　Part　devil；　part　prince；　passionate　one　minute；　ruthless　the　next。　That　was　a　wonderful　thing　you　did　for　Peter。〃
　He　just　smiled　and　waited；　his　eyes　strangely　and　pleasantly　challenging。
　〃Linc's　。。。　I　think　Linc's　smitten　with　Orlanda；〃　she　said　without　thinking　and　saw　a　shadow　go　over　him。
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　waited　but　he　said　nothing；　just　watched　her。　Pushed　by　the　silence；　she　added　involuntarily；　〃I　think　she's　smitten　with　him。〃　Again　a　long　silence。　〃Quillan；　is　that　part　of　a　plan？〃
　He　laughed　softly　and　she　felt　his　dominance。　〃Ah；　Ciranoush；　you're　the　strange　one。　I　don…　〃
　〃Will　you　call　me　Casey？　Please？　Ciranoush　is　not　right。〃
　〃But　I　don't　like　Casey。　May　I　use　Kamalian？〃
　〃Casey。〃
　〃What　about　Ciranoush　today；　Casey　tomorrow；　Kamalian　for　Tuesday　dinner？　That's　when　we　close　the　deal。　Eh？〃
　Her　guards　came　up　without　thinking。　〃That's　up　to　Linc。〃
　〃You're　not　tai…pan　of　Par…Con？〃
　〃No。　No；　I'll　never　be　that。〃
　He　laughed。　Then　he　said；　〃Then　let's　make　it　Ciranoush　today；　Casey　tomorrow　and　the　hell　with　Tuesday？〃
　〃All　right！〃　she　said；　warmed　by　him。
　〃Good。　Now　as　to　Orlanda　and　Linc；〃　he　said；　his　voice　gentle。　〃That's　up　to　them　and　I　never　discuss　the　affairs　of　others　with　others；　even　a　lady。　Never。　That's　not　playing　the　game。　If　you're　asking　if　I've　some　devious　plot；　using　her　against　Linc　or　you　and　Par…Con；　that's　ridiculous。〃　Again　he　smiled。　〃I've　always　noticed　that　ladies　manipulate　men；　not　the　other　way　around。〃
　〃Dreamer！〃
　〃One　question　deserves　another：　Are　you　and　Linc　lovers？〃
　〃No。　Not　in　the　conventional　sense；　but　yes　I　love　him。〃
　〃Ah；　then　are　you　going　to　marry？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Again　she　shifted　and　she　saw　his　eyes　move　over　her。　Her　hands　pulled　the　blanket　closer　around　her；　her　heart　beating　nicely；　very　conscious　of　him　as　she　knew　he　was　conscious　of　her。　〃But　I　don't　discuss　my　affairs　with　another　man；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃That's　not　playing　the　game　either。〃
　Gornt　reached　out　and　touched　her　lightly。　〃I　agree；　Ciranoush。〃
　The　Sea　Witch　came　out　of　the　breakwater　into　the　harbor　waves；　Kowloon　ahead。　She　sat　up　and　turned　to　watch　the　Island　and　the　Peak；　most　of　it　cloud　covered。　〃It's　so　beautiful。〃
　〃The　south　coast　of　Hong　Kong's　grand　around　Shek…O；　Repulse　Bay。　I've　a　place　at　Shek…O。　Would　you　like　to　see　the　boat　now？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I'd　like　that。〃
　He　took　her　forward　first。　The　cabins　were　neat；　no　sign　of　having　been　used。　Each　had　shower　stalls　and　a　toilet。　A　small　general　cabin　served　them　all。　〃We're　rather　popular　with　ladies　at　the　moment　because　they　can　shower　to　their　hearts　content。　The　water　shortage　does　have　advantages。〃
　〃I'll　bet；〃　she　said；　carried　along　by　his　joviality。
　Aft；　separate　from　the　rest　of　the　boat；　was　the　master　cabin。　Big　double　bed。　Neat；　tidy　and　inviting。
　Her　heart　was　sounding　loud　in　her　ears　now；　and　when　he　casually　closed　the　cabin　door　and　put　his　hand　on　her　waist　she　did　not　back　off。　He　came　closer。　She　had　never　kissed　a　man　with　a　beard　before。　Gornt's　body　was　hard　against　hers　and　it　felt　good　to　her；　her　breath　picking　up　tempo；　his　lips　firm　and　cigar　tasting。　Most　of　her　whispered：　Go；　let　go；　and　most　of　her　said；　No；　don't；　and　all　of　her　felt　sensual　in　his　arms；　too　good。
　What　about　Linc？
　The　question　barreled　into　her　mind　like　never　before　and　all　at　once　her　mind　cleared　and；　carried　along　by　his　sensuality；　she　knew　for　the　first　time　with　absolute　clarity　that　it　was　Linc　she　wanted；　not　Par…Con　or　power　if　that　had　to　be　the　choice。　Yes；　it's　Linc；　just　Linc；　and　tonight　I'll　cancel　our　deal。　Tonight　I'll　offer　to　cancel。
　〃Now's　not　the　time；〃　she　whispered；　her　voice　throaty。
　〃What？〃
　〃No；　not　now。　We　can't；　sorry。　〃　She　reached　up　and　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　lips；　talking　through　the　kisses；　〃Not　now；　my　dear；　sorry；　but　we　can't；　not　now。　Tuesday；　perhaps　Tuesday　。。。〃
　He　held　her　away　from　him　and　she　saw　his　dark　eyes　searching　her。　She　held　her　gaze　as　long　as　she　could；　then　buried　her　head　against　his　chest　and　held　him　tenderly；　still　enjoying　the　closeness；　sure　that　she　was　safe　now；　and　that　he　was　convinced。　That　was　a　close　one；　she　thought　weakly；　her　knees　feeling　strange；　all　of　her　pulsating。　I　was　almost　gone　then　and　that　wouldn't　have　been　good；　good　for　me　or　Linc　or　him。
　It　would　have　been　good　for　him；　she　thought　strangely。
　Her　heart　was　pounding　as　she　rested　against　him；　waiting；　recouping；　confident　in　a　moment　…　with　warmth　and　gentleness　and　the　promise　of　next　week　…　he　would　say；　〃Let's　go　back　on　deck。〃
　Then　all　at　once　she　felt　his　arms　tighten　around　her　and　before　she　knew　what　was　happening　she　was　on　the　bed；　his　kisses　strong　and　his　hands　wandering。　She　began　to　fight　back　but　he　caught　her　hands　expertly　and　stretched　her　out　with　his　great　strength　and　lay　across　her；　his　loins　pinioning　her；　making　her　helpless。　At　leisure　he　kissed　her　and　his　passion　and　her　heat　mingled　with　her　fury　and　fear　and　want。　As　much　as　she　struggled；　she　could　not　move。
　The　heat　grew。　In　a　moment　he　shifted　his　grip。　Instantly　she　swept　to　the　attack；　wanting　more　though　now　she　was　preparing　to　fight　seriously。　Again　his　grip　on　her　hands　tightened。　She　felt　herself　swamped；　wanting　to　be　overpowered；　not　wanting　it；　his　passion　strong；　loins　hard；　the　bed　soft。　And　then；　as　abruptly　as　he　had　begun；　he　released　her　and　rolled　away　with　a　laugh。
　〃Let's　have　a　drink！〃　he　said　without　rancor。
　She　was　gasping　for　breath。　〃You　bastard！〃
　〃I'm　not　actually。　I'm　very　legitimate。〃　Gornt　propped　himself　on　an　elbow；　his　eyes　crinkling。　〃But　you；　Ciranoush；　you're　a　liar。〃
　〃Go　to　hell！〃
　His　voice　was　calm　and　genially　taunting。　〃I　will；　soon　enough。　Far　be　it　for　me　to　ask　a　lady　to　prove　such　a　thing。〃
　She　threw　herself　at　him；　her　nails　hacking　for　his　face；　furious　that　he　was　so　controlled　when　she　was　not。　Easily　he　caught　her　hands　and　held　her。　〃Gently　gently　catchee　monkeeee；〃　he　said　even　more　genially。　〃Calm　down；　Ciranoush。　Remember；　we're　both　over　twenty…one；　I've　already　seen　you　almost　naked；　and　if　I　really　wanted　to　rape　you　I'm　afraid　it　wouldn't　be　much　of　a　contest。　You　could　scream　bloody　murder　and　my　crew　wouldn't　hear　a　thing。〃
　〃You're　a　goddamn　lou…　〃
　〃Stop！〃　Gornt　kept　his　smile　but　she　stopped；　sensing　danger。　〃The　tumble　was　not　to　frighten；　just　to　amuse；〃　he　said　gently。　〃A　prank；　nothing　more。　Truly。〃　He　released　her　and　she　scrambled　off　the　bed；　her　breathing　still　heavy。
　Angrily　she　walked　over　to　the　mirror　and　pushed　her　hair　back　into　place；　then　saw　him　in　the　mirror；　still　lying　casually　on　the　bed　watching　her；　and　she　whirled；　〃You're　a　black…eyed　bastard！〃
　Gornt　let　out　a　bellow　of　laughter；　infectious；　belly…shaking；　and；　all　at　once；　seeing　the　foolishness　of　it　all；　she　began　to　laugh　too。　In　a　moment　they　were　both　aching　with　laughter；　he　spread　out　on　the　bed　and　Casey　leaning　against　the　sea　chest。
　On　deck；　as　good　friends；　they　drank　some　champagne　that　was　already　opened　in　a　silver　bucket；　the　silent；　obsequious　steward　serving　them；　then　going　away。
　At　the　dock　in　Kowloon；　she　kissed　him　again。　〃Thanks　for　a　lovely　time。　Tuesday；　if　not　before！〃　She　went　ashore　and　waved　the　ship　good…bye　a　long　time；　then　hurried　home。
　
　Spectacles　Wu　was　also　hurrying　home。　He　was　tired　and　anxious　and　filled　with　dread。　The　way　up　through　the　maze　of　dwellings　and　hovels　in　the　resettlement　area　high　above　Aberdeen　was　difficult；　slippery　and　dangerous；　mud　and　mess　everywhere；　and　he　was　breathing　hard　from　the　climb。　The　runoff　in　the　concrete　storm　drain　had　overflowed　its　banks　many　times　in　many　places；　the　flood　shoving　structures　aside　and　spreading　more　havoc。　Smoke　hung　over　many　of　the　wrecked　dwellings；　some　still　smoldering　from　the　fires　that　had　spread　so　quickly　when　the　slides　began。　He　skirted　the　deep　slide　where　Fifth　Niece　had　almost　perished　the　day　before　yesterday；　a　hundred　or　more　hovels　wrecked　by　new　slides　in　the　same　area。
　The　candy　shop　had　vanished　and　the　old　woman　with　it。　〃Where　is　she？〃　he　asked。
　The　scavenger　shrugged　and　continued　to　sift　through　wreckage；　seeking　good　wood　or　good　cardboard　or　corrugated　iron。
　〃How　is　it　above？〃　he　asked。
　〃As　below；〃　the　man　said　in　halting　Cantonese。　〃Some　good；　some　bad。　Joss。〃
　Wu　thanked　him。　He　was　barefoot；　carrying　his　shoes　to　protect　them　and　now　he　left　the　storm　drain　and　forced　his　way　over　some　of　the　debris　wreckage　to　find　the　path　that　meandered　upward。　From　where　h