jamesclavell.noblehouse-第232章

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　The　taxi　stopped　at　the　foyer　below。　Suslev　got　out　drunkenly　and　paid　the　man；　then；　reeling　slightly；　stepped　over　the　rainwater　swirling　in　the　gutters　and　went　in。
　There　was　a　crowd　of　people　chattering　and　waiting　at　the　elevator　and　he　recognized　Casey　and　Jacques　deVille　among　them。　Unsteadily　he　belched　his　way　down　the　stairs　to　the　lower　level；　crossed　the　garage　and　banged　on　Clinker's　door。
　〃Hello；　matey；〃　Clinker　said。
　〃Tovarich！〃　Suslev　gave　him　a　bear　hug。
　〃Vodka's　up！　Beer's　up。　Mabel；　say　hello　to　the　captain！〃　The　sleepy　old　bulldog　just　opened　one　eye；　chomped　her　gums　and　farted　loudly。
　Clinker　sighed　and　shut　the　door。　〃Poor　old　Mabel！　Wish　to　Christ　she　wouldn't　do　that；　the　place　gets　proper　niffy！　Here。〃　He　handed　Suslev　a　full　glass　of　water　with　a　wink。　〃It's　your　favorite；　old　mate。　120　proof。〃
　Suslev　winked　back　and　slurped　the　water　loudly。　〃Thanks；　old　shipmate。　Another　of　these'n　I'll　sail　away　from　this　capitalist　paradise　happily！〃
　〃Another　of　those；〃　Clinker　guffawed；　keeping　up　the　pretense；　〃an'　you'll　slip　out'uv　Hong　Kong　harbor　on　your　knees！〃　He　refilled　the　glass。　〃How　long　you　staying　tonight？〃
　〃Just　had　to　have　some　last　drinks　with　you；　eh？　So　long　as　I　leave　here　by　ten　I'm　fine。　Drink　up！〃　he　roared　with　forced　bonhomie。　〃Let's　have　some　music；　eh？〃
　Happily　Clinker　turned　on　the　tape　recorder；　loud。　The　sad　Russian　ballad　filled　the　room。
　Suslev　put　his　lips　close　to　Clinker's　ear。　〃Thanks；　Ernie。　I'll　be　back　in　good　time。〃
　〃All　right。〃　Clinker　winked；　still　believing　Suslev's　cover　that　he　had　an　assignation　with　a　married　woman　in　Sinclair　Towers。　〃Who　is　she；　eh？〃　He　had　never　asked　before。
　〃No　names；　no　pack　drill；〃　Suslev　whispered　with　a　broad　grin。　〃But　her　husband's　a　nob；　a　capitalist　swine　and　on　the　legislature！〃
　Clinker　beamed。　〃Smashing！　Give　her　one　for　me；　eh？〃
　Suslev　went　down　the　trapdoor　and　found　the　flashlight。　Water　dripped　from　the　cracked　concrete　roof　of　the　tunnel；　the　cracks　bigger　than　before。　Small　avalanches　of　rubble　made　the　floor　precarious　and　slippery。　His　nervousness　increased；　not　liking　the　closeness；　nor　the　necessity　to　go　to　meet　Crosse；　wanting　to　be　far　away；　safe　on　his　ship　with　a　plete　alibi　when　Dunross　was　drugged　and　snatched。　But　Crosse　had　been　adamant。
　〃Goddamn　it；　Gregor；　you　have　to　be　there！　I've　got　to　see　you　in　person　and　I'm　certainly　not　going　aboard　the　Ivanov。　It's　perfectly　safe；　I　guarantee　it！〃
　Guarantee？　Suslev　thought　angrily　again。　How　can　one　guarantee　anything？　He　took　out　the　snub…nosed　automatic　with　the　silencer；　checked　it　and　clicked　off　the　safety　catch。　Then　he　continued　again；　picking　his　way　carefully；　and　climbed　the　ladder　to　the　false　cupboard。　Once　on　the　stairs；　he　stopped　and　listened；　holding　his　breath；　all　his　concentration　seeking　danger。　Finding　none；　he　began　to　breathe　easier；　went　up　the　stairs　silently　and　into　the　apartment。　Light　from　the　high　rise　just　below　and　from　the　city　came　through　the　windows　and　illuminated　everything　well　enough　for　him　to　see。　He　checked　the　apartment　thoroughly。　When　he　had　finished　he　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　opened　a　bottle　of　beer。　Absently　he　stared　out　of　the　windows。　From　where　he　was　he　could　not　see　his　ship　but　he　knew　where　she　would　be　and　that　thought　gave　him　another　good　feeling。　I'll　be　glad　to　leave；　he　thought。　And　sorry。　I　want　to　e　back　…　Hong　Kong's　too　good　…　but　can　I？
　What　about　Sinders？　Dare　I　trust　him？
　Suslev's　heart　hurt　in　his　chest。　Without　a　doubt；　his　future　was　in　the　balance。　It　would　be　easy　for　his　own　KGB　people　to　prove　he　had　fingered　Metkin。　Center　could　get　that　out　of　Roger　Crosse　by　a　simple　phone　call　…　if　they　hadn't　already　e　to　the　same　conclusion　themselves。
　May　Sinders　rot　in　hell！　I　know　he'll　shop　me　…　I　would　if　I　was　him。　Will　Roger　know　the　secret　deal　Sinders　put　to　me？　No。　Sinders　would　keep　that　secret；　secret　even　from　Roger。　It　doesn't　matter。　Once　I've　passed　anything　over　to　the　other　side　I'm　in　his　power　forever。
　The　minutes　ticked　by。　There　was　the　sound　of　an　elevator。　At　once　he　went　into　a　defensive　position。　His　finger　slid　the　safety　catch　off：　a　key　turned　in　the　lock。　The　door　opened　and　closed　quickly。
　〃Hello；　Gregor；〃　Crosse　said　softly。　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　point　that　bloody　thing　at　me。〃
　Suslev　put　the　safety　catch　on。　〃What's　so　important？　What　about　that　turd　Sinders？　What'd　he　…　〃
　〃Calm　down　and　listen：〃　Crosse　took　out　a　roll　of　microfilm；　his　pale　blue　eyes　unusually　excited。　〃Here's　a　gift。　It's　expensive　but　all　the　real　AMG　files're　on　that　film。〃
　〃Eh？〃　Suslev　stared　at　him。　〃But　how？〃　He　listened　as　Crosse　told　him　about　the　vault；　ending；　〃and　after　Dunross　left　I　photographed　the　files　and　put　them　back。〃
　〃Is　the　film　developed？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　I　made　one　print　which　I　read　and　at　once　destroyed。　That's　safer　than　giving　it　to　you　and　risk　your　being　stopped　and　searched　…　Sinders　is　on　the　warpath。　What　the　devil　happened　between　you　and　him？〃
　〃First　tell　me　about　the　files；　Roger。〃
　〃Sorry；　but　they're　the　same　as　the　other　ones；　word　for　word。　No　difference。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　Dunross　was　telling　us　the　truth。　The　copies　he　gave　us　are　exact　patterns。〃
　Suslev　was　shocked。　〃But　we　were　sure；　you　were　sure！〃
　Crosse　shrugged　and　passed　over　the　film。　〃Here's　your　proof。〃
　Suslev　swore　obscenely。
　Crosse　watched　him　and　kept　his　face　grave；　hiding　his　amusement。　The　real　files　are　far　too　valuable　to　pass　over　…　yet　…　he　told　himself　again。　Oh　yes。　Now's　not　the　time。　In　due　course；　Gregor　old　chap；　parts　will　bring　a　very　great　price。　And　all　that　knowledge　will　have　to　be　sifted　and　offered　very　carefully　indeed。　And　as　to　the　eleven　pieces　of　code　…　whatever　the　devil　they　mean　…　they　should　be　worth　a　fortune；　in　due　course。　〃I'm　afraid　this　time　we've　drawn　a　blank；　Gregor。〃
　〃But　what　about　Dunross？〃　Suslev　was　ashen。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Perhaps　he's　already　in　the　crate？〃　He　saw　Crosse　shrug；　the　lean　face　etched　in　the　half…light。
　〃There's　no　need　to　interrupt　that　plan；〃　Crosse　said。　〃I've　considered　that　whole　operation　very　carefully。　I　agree　with　Jason　it'll　be　good　to　shake　up　Hong　Kong。　Dunross's　kidnapping　will　create　all　sorts　of　waves。　With　the　bank　runs　and　the　stock　market　crash　…　yes　it　would　help　us　very　much。　I'm　rather　worried。　Sinders　is　sniffing　around　too　closely　and　asking　me　all　sorts　of　wrong　questions。　Then　there's　the　Metkin　affair；　Voranski；　the　AMG　papers；　you　…　too　many　mistakes。　Pressure　needs　to　be　taken　off　Sevrin。　Dunross'll　do　that　admirably。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃　Suslev　asked；　needing　reassurance。
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes；　Dunross　will　do　very　nicely　thank　you。　He's　the　decoy。　I'll　need　all　the　help　I　can　get。　You're　going　to　shop　Arthur。　Aren't　you？〃
　Suslev　saw　the　eyes　boring　into　him　and　his　heart　almost　stopped　but　he　kept　his　shock　off　his　face。　Just。　〃I'm　glad　Sinders　told　you　about　our　meeting。　That　saves　me　the　trouble。　How　can　I　get　out　of　his　trap？〃
　〃How're　you　going　to　avoid　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Roger。　Will　Sinders　do　what　he　threatened？〃
　Crosse　snapped；　〃e　on；　for　God's　sake！　Wouldn't　you？〃
　〃What　can　I　do？〃
　〃It's　your　neck　or　Arthur's。　If　it's　Arthur's；　then　the　next　neck　could　be　mine。〃　There　was　a　long；　violent　pause　and　Suslev　felt　the　hair　on　the　nape　of　his　neck　twist。　〃So　long　as　it's　not　mine　…　and　I　know　what's　going　on　in　advance　…　I　don't　care。〃
　Suslev　looked　back　at　him。　〃You　want　a　drink？〃
　〃You　know　I　don't　drink。〃
　〃I　meant　water　…　or　soda。〃　The　big　man　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　took　out　the　vodka　bottle　and　drank　from　the　bottle。　〃I'm　glad　Sinders　told　you。〃
　〃For　chrissake；　Gregor；　where've　your　brains　gone？　Of　course　he　didn't　tell　me　…　the　fool　still　thinks　it　was　a　secret；　private　deal；　just　you　and　him；　of　course　he　does！　Good　sweet　Christ；　this's　my　bailiwick！　I　maneuvered　him　into　a　room　that　I'd　bugged。　Am　I　a　simpleton？〃　The　eyes　hardened　even　more　and　Suslev　felt　his　chest　tighten　unbearably。　〃So　it's　a　simple　choice；　Gregor。　It's　you　or　Arthur。　If　you　shop　him　I'm　in　danger　and　so's　everyone　else。　If　you　don't　concede　to　Sinders　you're　finished。　Of　the　two　choices　I'd　prefer　you　dead　…　and　me；　Arthur　and　Sevrin　safe。〃
　〃The　best　solution's　that　I　betray　Arthur；〃　Suslev　said。　〃But　that　before　they　catch　him　he　flees。　He　can　e　aboard　the　Ivanov。　Eh？〃
　〃Sinders'll　be　ahead　of　you　and　he'll　stop　you　in　Hong　Kong　waters。〃
　〃That's　possible。　Not　probable。　I'd　resist　a　boarding　at　sea。〃　Suslev　watched　him；　the　bile　in　his　mouth。　〃It's　that　or　Arthur　mits　suicide　…　or　is　eliminated。〃
　Crosse　stared　at　him。　〃You　must　be　joking！　You　want　me　to　send　Jason　into　the　Great　Hereafter？〃
　〃You　said　yourself；　it's　someone's　neck。　Listen；　at　the　moment　we're　just　examining　possibilities。　But　it's　a　fact　you're　not　expendable。　Arthur　is。　The　others。　I　am；〃　Suslev　said；　meaning　it。　〃So　whatever　happens　it　mustn't　be　you　…　and　preferably　not　me。　I　never　did　like　the　idea　of　dying。〃　He　took　another　swig　of　the　vodka　and　felt　the　lovely；　stomach…warming　sensation；　then　turned　his　eyes　back　on　his　ally。　〃You　are　an　ally；　aren't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。　So　long　as　the　money　keeps　up　and　I　enjoy　the　game。〃
　〃If　you　believed；　you　would　live　a　longer　and　better　life；　tovarich。〃
　〃The　only　thing　that　keeps　me　alive　is　that　I　don't。　You　and　your　KGB　friends　can　try　and　take　over　the　world；　infiltrate　capitalism　and　any　other　ism　you　like；　for　whatever　purpose　you　admit；　or　enjoy；　and　meanwhile；　I　shall　jolly　you　along。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It's　an　old　English　expression　that　means　to　help；〃　Crosse　said　dryly。　〃So　you're　going　to　shop　Arthur？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Could　you　lay　a　false　trail　to　the　airport　to　give　us　time　to　escape　Hong　Kong　waters？〃
　〃Yes；　but　Sinders　has　already　doubled　surveillance　there。〃
　〃What　about　Macao？〃
　〃I　could　do　that。　I　don't　like　it。　What　about　the　others　of　Sevrin？〃
　〃Let　them　burrow　deeper；　we　close　everything　down。　You　take　over　Sevrin　and　we　activate　again　once　the　storm　subsides。　Could　deVille　bee　tai…pan　after　Dunross？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　think　it'll　be　Gavallan。　Incidentally；　two　more　Werewolf　victims　were　discovered　out　at　Sha　Tin　this　morning。〃
　Suslev's　hope　quickened　and　some　of　his　dread　left　him。　〃What　happened？〃
　Crosse　told　him　how　they　were　found。　〃We're　still　trying　to　identify　the　poor　buggers。　Gregor；　shopping　Arthur's　dicey；　whatever　happens。　It　might　spill　back　to　me。　Perhaps　with　the　stock　market　crashing；　the　banks　all　messed　up　and　Dunross　vanishing；　it　might　be　cover　enough。　It　might。〃
　Suslev　nodded。　His　nausea　increased。　The　decision　had　to　be　made。　〃Roger；　I'm　going　to　do　nothing。　I'm　just　going　to　leave　and　take　the　chance。　I'll；　I'll　make　a　private　report　to　forestall　Sinders　and　tell　Center　what　happened。　Whatever　Sinders　does；　well；　that's　up　to　the　future。　I've　got　friends　in　high　places　too。　Perhaps　the　Hong　Kong　disaster　and　having　Dunross　…　I'll　do　the　chemical　debrief　myself　anyway；　just　in　case　he's　cheating　us　and　is　as　clever　as　you　say　he　is　。。。　what　is　it？〃
　〃Nothing。　What　about　Koronski？〃
　〃He　left　this　morning　after　I　got　all　the　chemicals。　I　rescheduled　the　debrief　to　be　on　the　Ivanov；　not　ashore。　Why？〃
　〃Nothin