jamesclavell.noblehouse-第227章

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forced　his　way　over　some　of　the　debris　wreckage　to　find　the　path　that　meandered　upward。　From　where　he　was　he　could　not　see　his　area　though　it　seemed　there　were　no　slides　there。　Armstrong　had　allowed　him　to　e　home　to　check　when　the　radio　news　had　again　reported　bad　slides　in　this　part　of　the　resettlement　area。　〃But　be　back　as　quickly　as　you　can。　Another　interrogation's　scheduled　for　seven　o'clock。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　I'll　be　back；〃　he　muttered　out　loud。
　The　sessions　had　been　very　tiring　but　for　him　good；　with　much　praise　from　Armstrong　and　the　chief　of　SI；　his　place　in　SI　assured　now；　transfer　and　training　to　begin　next　week。　He　had　had　little　sleep；　partially　because　the　session　hours　bore　no　relationship　to　day　or　night；　and　partially　because　of　his　wish　to　succeed。　The　client　was　shifting　from　English　to　Ning…tok　dialect　to　Cantonese　and　back　again　and　it　had　been　hard　to　follow　all　the　ramblings。　It　was　only　when　his　fingers　had　touched　the　wonderful；　rare　roll　of　bills　in　his　pocket；　his　winnings　at　the　races；　that　a　lightness　had　taken　hold　and　carried　him　through　the　difficult　hours。　Again　he　touched　them　to　reassure　himself；　blessing　his　joss；　as　he　climbed　the　narrow　pathway；　the　path　at　times　a　rickety　bridge　over　small　ravines；　climbing　steadily。　People　passed　by；　going　down；　and　others　were　following　going　up；　the　noise　of　hammers　and　rebuilding；　reroofing　all　over　the　mountainside。
　His　area　was　a　hundred　yards　ahead　now；　around　this　corner；　and　he　turned　it　and　stopped。　His　area　was　no　more；　just　a　deep　scar　in　the　earth；　the　piled…up　avalanche　of　mud　and　debris　two　hundred　feet　below。　No　dwellings　where　there　had　been　hundreds。
　Numbly　he　climbed；　skirting　the　treacherous　slide；　and　went　to　the　nearest　hovel；　banging　on　the　door。　An　old　woman　opened　it　suspiciously。
　〃Excuse　me；　Honored　Lady；　I'm　Wu　Cho…tam's　son　from　Ning…tok。　。。。〃
　The　woman；　One　Tooth　Yang；　stared　at　him　blankly；　then　started　speaking　but　Wu　did　not　understand　her　language　so　he　thanked　her　and　went　off；　remembering　that　this　was　one　of　the　areas　settled　by　the　Yang；　some　of　the　northern　foreigners　who　came　from　Shanghai。
　Closer　to　the　top　of　the　slide　he　stopped　and　knocked　on　another　door。
　〃Excuse　me；　Honored　Sir；　but　what　happened？　I'm　Wu　Cho…tam's　son　from　Ning…tok　and　my　family　were　there。〃　He　pointed　at　the　scar。
　〃It　happened　in　the　night；　Honorable　Wu；〃　the　man　told　him；　speaking　a　Cantonese　dialect　he　could　understand。　〃It　was　like　the　sound　of　the　old　Canton　express　train　and　then　a　rumbling　from　the　earth；　then　screams　then　some　fires　came。　It　happened　the　same　last　year　over　there。　Ah　yes；　the　fires　began　quickly　but　the　rains　doused　them。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　the　night　was　very　bad。〃　The　neighbor　was　an　old　man　with　no　teeth　and　his　mouth　split　into　a　grimace。　〃Bless　all　gods　you　weren't　sleeping　there；　heya？〃　He　shut　the　door。
　Wu　looked　back　at　the　scar；　then　picked　his　way　down　the　hill。　At　length　he　found　one　of　the　elders　of　his　area　who　was　also　from　Ning…tok。
　〃Ah；　Spectacles　Wu；　Policeman　Wu！　Several　of　your　family　are　there。〃　His　gnarled　old　finger　pointed　above。　〃There；　in　the　house　of　your　cousin；　Wu　Wam…pak。〃
　〃How　many　were　lost；　Honorable　Sir？〃
　〃Fornicate　all　mud　slides　how　do　I　know？　Am　I　keeper　of　the　mountainside？　There　are　dozens　missing。〃
　Spectacles　Wu　thanked　him。　When　he　found　the　hut；　Ninth　Uncle　was　there；　Grandmother；　Sixth　Uncle's　wife　and　their　four　children；　Third　Uncle's　wife　and　baby。　Fifth　Uncle　had　a　broken　arm；　now　in　a　crude　splint。
　〃And　the　rest　of　us？〃　he　asked。　Seven　were　missing。
　〃In　the　earth；〃　grandmother　said。　〃Here's　tea；　Spectacles　Wu。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Honored　Grandmother。　And　Grandfather？〃
　〃He　went　to　the　Void　before　the　slide。　He　went　to　the　Void　in　the　night；　before　the　slide。〃
　〃Joss。　And　Fifth　Niece。〃
　〃Gone。　Vanished；　somewhere。〃
　〃Could　she　still　be　alive？〃
　〃Perhaps。　Sixth　Uncle's　searching　for　her　now；　below；　and　the　others；　even　though　she's　a　useless　mouth。　But　what　about　my　sons；　and　their　sons；　and　theirs？〃
　〃Joss；〃　Wu　said　sadly；　not　cursing　the　gods　or　blessing　them。　Gods　make　mistakes。　〃We　will　light　joss　sticks　for　them　that　they　may　be　reborn　safely；　if　there　is　rebirth。　Joss。〃　He　sat　down　on　a　broken　crate。　〃Ninth　Uncle；　our　factory；　was　the　factory　damaged？〃
　〃No；　thank　all　gods。〃　The　man　was　numbed。　He　had　lost　his　wife　and　three　children；　somehow　scrambling　out　of　the　sea　of　mud　that　had　swallowed　them　all。　〃The　factory　is　undamaged。〃
　〃Good。〃　All　the　papers　and　research　materials　for　Freedom　Fighter　were　there　…　along　with　the　old　typewriter　and　ancient　Gestetner　copying　machine。　〃Very　good。　Now；　Fifth　Uncle；　tomorrow　you　will　buy　a　plastic…making　machine。　From　now　on　we'll　make　our　own　flowers。　Sixth　Uncle　will　help　you　and　we　will　begin　again。〃
　The　man　spat　disgustedly；　〃How　can　we　pay；　eh？　How　can　we　start？　How　can　we　。。。〃He　stopped　and　stared。　They　all　gasped。　Spectacles　Wu　had　brought　out　the　roll　of　bills。　〃Ayeeyah；　Honored　Younger　Brother；　I　can　see　that　at　long　last　you　have　seen　the　wisdom　of　joining　the　Snake！〃
　〃How　wise！〃　the　others　chorused　proudly。　〃All　gods　bless　Younger　Brother！〃
　The　young　man　said　nothing。　He　knew　they　would　not　believe　him　if　he　said　otherwise；　so　he　let　them　believe。　〃Tomorrow　begin　looking　for　a　good　secondhand　machine。　You　can　pay　only　900；〃　he　told　the　older　man；　knowing　that　1；500　was　available　if　necessary。　Then　he　went　outside　and　arranged　with　their　cousin；　the　owner　of　this　hut；　to　lease　them　a　corner　until　they　could　rebuild；　haggling　over　the　price　until　it　was　correct。　Satisfied　that　he　had　done　what　he　could　for　the　Wu　clan；　he　left　them　and　plodded　downhill　back　to　headquarters；　his　heart　weeping；　his　whole　soul　wanting　to　shriek　at　the　gods　for　their　unfairness；　or　carelessness；　for　taking　so　many　of　them　away；　taking　Fifth　Niece　who　but　a　day　or　so　ago　was　given　back　her　life　in　another　slide。
　Don't　be　a　fool；　he　ordered　himself。　Joss　is　joss。　You　have　wealth　in　your　pocket；　a　vast　future　with　SI；　Freedom　Fighter　to　manufacture；　and　the　time　of　dying　is　up　to　the　gods。
　Poor　little　Fifth　Niece。　So　pretty；　so　sweet。
　〃Gods　are　gods；〃　he　muttered　wearily；　echoing　the　last　words　he　remembered　her　ever　saying；　then　put　her　out　of　his　mind。
　
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　6：30　P。M。：
　Ah　Tat　hobbled　up　the　wide　staircase　in　the　Great　House；　her　old　joints　creaking；　muttering　to　herself；　and　went　along　the　Long　Gallery；　hating　the　gallery　and　the　faces　that　seemed　ever　to　be　watching　her。　Too　many　ghosts　here；　she　thought　with　superstitious　dread；　knowing　too　many　of　the　faces　in　life；　growing　up　in　this　house；　born　in　this　house　eighty…five　years　ago。　Uncivilized　to　hold　their　spirits　in　thrall　by　hanging　their　likenesses　on　the　wall。　Better　to　act　civilized　and　cast　them　into　memory　where　spirits　belong。
　As　always　when　she　saw　the　Hag's　knife　stuck　through　the　heart　of　her　father's　portrait　a　shudder　went　through　her。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　she　thought；　now　there　was　a　wild　one；　her　with　the　unquenchable　demon　in　her　Jade　Gate；　ever　secretly　bemoaning　the　loss　of　the　tai…pan；　her　husband's　father；　bemoaning　her　fate　that　she　had　married　the　weakling　son　and　not　the　father；　never　to　be　bedded　by　the　father；　her　Jade　Gate　unquenchable　because　of　that。
　Ayeeyah；　and　all　the　strangers　that　climbed　these　stairs　over　the　years　to　enter　her　bed；　barbarians　of　all　nations；　of　all　ages；　shapes　and　sizes；　to　be　cast　aside　like　so　much　chaff　once　their　essence　had　been　taken　and　used　up；　the　fire　never　touched。
　Ah　Tat　shuddered　again。　All　gods　bear　witness！　The　Jade　Gate　and　the　One…Eyed　Monk　are　truly　yin　and　yang；　truly　everlasting；　truly　godlike；　both　insatiable　however　much　one　consumes　the　other。　Thank　all　gods　my　parents　allowed　me　to　take　the　vow　of　chastity；　to　devote　my　life　to　bringing　up　children；　never　to　be　split　by　a　Steaming　Stalk；　never　to　be　the　same　ever　after。　Thank　all　gods　all　women　do　not　need　men　to　elevate　them　to　be　one　with　the　gods。　Thank　all　gods　some　women　wisely　prefer　women　to　cuddle　and　touch　and　kiss　and　enjoy。　The　Hag　had　had　women　too；　many；　when　she　was　old；　finding　in　their　youth…filled　arms　pleasure　but　never　satisfaction；　not　like　me。　Curious　she　would　pillow　with　a　civilized　girl　but　not　a　civilized　man　who　would　surely　have　put　out　her　fire；　one　way　or　another；　with　pillow　tools　or　without。　All　gods　bear　witness；　how　many　times　did　I　tell　her？　Me　the　only　one　she　would　talk　to　about　such　things！
　Poor　fool；　her　with　her　twisted　dreams　of　power；　twisted　dreams　of　lust；　just　like　the　old　dowager　empress　…　nightmares　of　a　lifetime　that　no　shaft　could　allay。
　Ah　Tat　pulled　her　eyes　off　the　knife　and　plodded　onward。　The　House　will　never　be　whole　until　someone　pulls　out　the　knife　and　casts　it　into　the　sea　…　curse　or　no　curse。
　The　old　woman　did　not　knock　on　the　bedroom　door　but　went　in　noiselessly　so　as　not　to　wake　him　and　stood　over　the　vast　double　bed　and　looked　down。　This　was　the　time　she　enjoyed　the　most；　when　her　man…child　was　still　sleeping；　alone；　and　she　could　see　his　sleeping　face　and　study　it　and　not　have　to　worry　about　Chief　Wife's　spleen　and　ill…temper　over　her　ings　and　goings。
　Silly　woman；　she　thought　gravely；　seeing　the　lines　in　his　face。　Why　doesn't　she　do　her　duty　as　Chief　Wife　and　provide　my　son　with　another　wife；　young；　child　bearing；　a　civilized　person；　like　old　Green…Eyed　Devil　had。　Then　this　house　would　be　bright　again。　Yes；　the　house　needs　more　sons　…　stupid　to　risk　posterity　on　the　shoulders　of　one　son。　And　stupid　to　leave　this　bull　alone；　stupid　to　leave　this　bed　empty；　stupid　to　leave　him　to　be　tempted　by　some　mealy…mouthed　whore　to　waste　his　essence　in　alien　pastures。　Why　doesn't　she　realize　we　have　the　house　to　protect！　Barbarians。
　She　saw　his　eyes　open　and　focus　and　then　he　stretched　luxuriously。　〃Time　to　get　up；　my　son；〃　she　said；　trying　to　sound　harsh　and　manding。　〃You　have　to　bathe　and　get　dressed　and　make　more　phone　calls；　heya；　and　leave　your　poor　old　Mother　with　more　chores　and　more　work；　heya？〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　Dunross　mumbled　through　a　yawn　in　Cantonese；　then　shook　himself　like　a　dog；　stretched　once　more　and　got　out　of　bed　and　strode　naked　for　the　bathroom。
　She　studied　his　tall　body　critically；　the　crinkled；　savage　scars　of　the　old　burns　from　his　airplane　crash　covering　most　of　his　legs。　But　the　legs　were　strong；　the　flanks　strong　and　the　yang　resolute　and　healthy。　Good；　she　thought。　I'm　glad　to　see　all's　well。　Even　so；　she　was　concerned　at　his　perpetual　leanness；　with　no　substantial　belly　that　his　wealth　and　position　merited。　〃You're　not　eating　enough；　my　son！〃
　〃More　than　enough！〃
　〃There's　hot　water　in　the　bucket。　Don't　forget　to　wash　your　teeth。〃
　Contentedly　she　began　to　remake　the　bed。　〃He　needed　that　rest；〃　she　muttered；　not　realizing　she　was　talking　aloud。　〃He's　been　like　a　man　possessed　for　the　last　week；　working　all　hours；　fear　in　his　face　and　over　him。　Such　fear　can　kill。〃　When　she　had　finished　the　bed　she　called　out；　〃Now　don't　stay　out　late　tonight。　You　must　take　care　of　yourself　and　if　you　go　with　a　whore　bring　her　here　like　a　sensible　person；　heya？〃
　She　heard　him　laugh　and　she　was　glad　for　it。　There　hasn't　been　enough　laughter　from　him　the　last　few　days；　she　thought。　〃A　man　needs　laughter　and　y