jamesclavell.noblehouse-第234章

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he　barrage　of　questions。　〃Your　health；　Quillan！〃　he　called　out；　mocking　him。　Quickly　conversation　died　again。　Everyone's　attention　zeroed　on　them。
　Gornt　toasted　him　back；　equally　mocking。　〃Your　health；　Ian。　We've　really　got　China's　money？〃
　〃Yes；　and　by　the　way；　I've　just　arranged　a　new　revolving　fund　of　50　million　U。S。　Now　the　Noble　House's　the　soundest　hong　in　the　Colony。〃
　〃Secured　by　what？〃　Gornt's　voice　slashed　through　the　abrupt　silence。
　〃The　honor　of　the　Noble　House！〃　With　a　nonchalance　he　did　not　feel；　Dunross　turned　on　Johnjohn。　〃The　loan's　from　the　Royal　Belgium；　a　subsidiary　of　First　Central　of　New　York　and　backed　by　them。〃　Deliberately　he　did　not　look　back　at　Gornt　as　he　repeated；　enjoying　greatly　the　sound；　〃50　million　U。S。　Oh　by　the　way；　Bruce；　tomorrow　I'm　retiring　your　loans　on　both　my　ships。　I　no　longer　need　the　Vic　loan　…　Royal　Belgium's　given　me　better　terms。〃
　Johnjohn　just　stared　at　him。
　〃You're　joking！〃
　〃No。　I've　just　talked　to　Paul。〃　Momentarily　Dunross　glanced　at　Plumm。　〃Sorry；　Jason；　that　was　why　I　was　late。　Naturally　I　had　to　see　him。　Bruce；　old　fellow；　Paul's　already　down　at　the　bank　making　arrangements　for　the　transfer　of　China's　cash　in　time　for　opening　　…　he　asked　if　you'd　go　there；　at　once。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃At　once。　Sorry。〃
　Johnjohn　stared　at　him　blankly；　started　to　talk；　stopped；　then　erupted　with　a　cheer　that　everyone　took　up；　and　rushed　out；　cheers　following　him。
　〃Christ；　tai…pan；　but　did　you　。。。〃
　〃Tiptop？　That　means　it's　real！　Don't　you　think　。。。〃
　〃First　Central　of　New　York？　Aren't　they　the　berks　who　。。。〃
　〃Christ；　I've　been　selling　short　。。。〃
　〃Me　too！　Shit；　I'd　better　buy　first　thing　or　。。。〃
　〃Or　I'll　be　wiped　out　and　。。。〃
　Dunross　saw　that　Sir　Luis；　Joseph　Stern　and　Phillip　Chen　had　their　heads　together；　Gornt　still　staring　at　him；　his　face　frozen。　Then　he　saw　Casey　smiling　at　him　so　happily　and　he　raised　his　glass　and　toasted　her。　She　toasted　him　back。　Gornt　saw　this　and　he　went　over　to　her　and　those　nearby　shivered　and　fell　silent。　〃First　Central's　Par…Con's　bank。　Isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；　Quillan；〃　she　said；　her　voice　sounding　small　but　it　went　through　the　room　and　once　more　all　attention　surrounded　them。
　〃You　and　Bartlett；　you　did　this？〃　Gornt　asked；　towering　over　her。
　Dunross　said　quickly；　〃I　arrange　our　loans。〃
　Gornt　paid　no　attention　to　him；　just　watched　her。　〃You　and　Bartlett。　You　helped　him？〃
　She　looked　back　at　him；　her　heart　thumping。　〃I've　no　control　over　that　bank；　Quillan。〃
　〃Ah　but　your　fingers're　in　that　pie　somewhere；〃　Gornt　said　coldly。　〃Aren't　they？〃
　〃Murtagh　asked　me　if　I　thought　Struan's　a　good　risk；〃　she　said；　her　voice　controlled。　〃I　told　him；　yes；　that　Struan's　was　an　admirable　risk。〃
　〃Struan's　is　on　the　rocks；〃　Gornt　said。
　Dunross　came　up　to　them。　〃The　whole　point　is；　we're　not。　By　the　way；　Quillan；　Sir　Luis　has　agreed　to　withdraw　Struan's　from　trading　until　noon。〃
　All　eyes　went　to　Sir　Luis　who　stood　stoically；　Phillip　Chen　beside　him；　then　went　back　to　Dunross　and　Gornt　again。
　〃Why？〃
　〃To　give　the　market　time　to　adjust　to　the　boom。〃
　〃What　boom？〃
　〃The　boom　we　all　deserve；　the　boom　Old　Blind　Tung　forecast。〃　A　wave　of　electricity　went　through　everyone；　even　Casey。　〃Also　to　adjust　our　stock　value；〃　Dunross's　voice　rasped。　〃We　open　at　30。〃
　〃Impossible；〃　someone　gasped；　and　Gornt　snarled；　〃You　can't！　You　closed　at　9。50　by　God！　Your　stock　closed　at　9。50！〃
　〃So　we　offer　stock　at　30　by　God！〃　Dunross　snarled　back。
　Gornt　whirled　on　Sir　Luis。　〃You're　going　along　with　this　highway　robbery？〃
　〃There　isn't　any；　Quillan；〃　Sir　Luis　said　calmly。　〃I've　agreed；　with　the　mittee's　unanimous　approval；　that　it's　the　best　for　all；　for　the　safety　of　all　investors；　that　there　should　be　a　quiescent　period　…　so　that　everyone　could　prepare　for　the　boom。　Till　noon　seemed　fair。〃
　〃Fair　eh？〃　Gornt　grated。　〃You've　got　lots　of　stock　I've　sold　short。　Now　I　buy　it　all　back。　What　price？〃
　Sir　Luis　shrugged。　〃I'll　deal　at　noon　tomorrow；　on　the　floor；　not　away　from　the　market。〃
　〃I'll　deal　with　you　right　now；　Quillan；〃　Dunross　said　harshly。　〃How　many　shares've　you　sold　short？　700；000？　8？　I'll　let　you　buy　back　in　at　18　if　you　will　sell　the　controlling　interest　in　All　Asia　Air　at　15。〃
　〃All　Asia　Air's　not　for　sale；〃　Gornt　said；　enraged；　his　mind　shouting　that　at　30　he　would　be　wiped　out。
　〃The　offer's　good　till　opening　tomorrow。〃
　〃The　pox　on　you；　tomorrow；　and　your　30！〃　Gornt　whirled　on　Joseph　Stern。　〃Buy　Struan's！　Now；　in　the　morning　or　at　noon！　You're　responsible！〃
　〃At；　at　what　price；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃Just　buy！〃　Gornt's　face　closed　and　he　turned　on　Casey。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　to　her　and　stomped　off；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　Then　conversation　exploded；　and　Dunross　was　surrounded；　people　pounding　him　on　the　back；　swamping　him　with　questions。　She　stayed　alone　at　the　doorway　of　the　veranda；　shocked　by　the　violence　that　had　been。　Absently；　in　turmoil；　she　saw　Plumm　hurry　off；　Roger　Crosse　following；　but　she　paid　them　little　attention；　just　watched　Dunross；　Riko　now　beside　him。
　
　In　the　small　back　bedroom　Plumm　reached　into　the　drawer　of　a　bureau　that　was　near　the　big　iron…bound　sea　trunk。　The　door　swung　open　and　he　spun　around　and　when　he　saw　it　was　Roger　Crosse　his　face　twisted。　〃What　the　shit're　you　doing？　You　deliberately　f…　〃
　With　catlike　speed　Crosse　was　across　the　room　and　he　belted　the　man　open…handed　before　Plumm　knew　what　was　happening。　Plumm　gasped　and　blindly　readied　to　leap　at　Crosse　but　again　Crosse　belted　him　and　Plumm　stumbled　backward　against　the　bed　and　fell　onto　it。　〃What　the　f…　〃
　〃Shut　up　and　listen！〃　Crosse　hissed。　〃Suslev's　going　to　shop　you！〃
　Plumm　gaped　at　him；　the　weal　from　the　blows　scarlet。　At　once　his　anger　vanished。　〃What？〃
　〃Suslev's　going　to　shop　you　to　Sinders；　and　that　means　all　of　us。〃　Crosse's　eyes　narrowed。　〃You　all　right　now？　For　chrissake　keep　your　voice　down。〃
　〃What？　Yes　。。。　yes。　I　。。。　yes。〃
　〃Sorry；　Jason；　it　was　the　only　thing　to　do。〃
　〃That's；　that's　all　right。　What　the　hell's　going　on；　Roger？〃　Plumm　scrambled　off　the　bed；　rubbing　his　face；　a　thin　trickle　of　blood　at　the　corner　of　his　mouth；　now　totally　controlled。　Outside　was　the　rise　and　fall　of　indistinct　conversation。
　〃We've　got　to　make　a　plan；〃　Crosse　said　grimly　and　recapped　his　conversation　with　Suslev。　〃I　think　I've　got　him　convinced；　but　that　bugger's　slippery　and　there's　no　telling　what　he'll　do。　Sinders'll　shop　him；　I'm　sure　of　that；　if　Suslev　doesn't　finger　Arthur　…　and　if　Sinders　shops　him；　Suslev　won't　e　back　to　Hong　Kong。　They'll　keep　him　and　break　him。　Then　wh…　〃
　〃But　what　about　Dunross？〃　Plumm　asked　helplessly。　〃Surely　Dunross　could've　got　him　out　of　the　mess。　Now　Gregor's　bound　to　talk。　Why　stop　me？〃
　〃I　had　to。　There　was　no　time　to　tell　you。　Listen；　after　I　left　Suslev　I　checked　with　HQ。　They　told　me　Tiptop'd　helped　those　bastards　squeeze　out　of　the　trap　with　China's　money。　Earlier　I'd　heard　that　Ian'd　arranged　his　loan；〃　Crosse　added；　lying。　〃So　the　runs're　over；　the　stock　market's　got　to　boom；　Dunross　or　not。　But　worse　than　that；　Jason；　I　got　a　whisper　from　an　informant　in　Special　Branch　that　Sinders　has　tripled　security　on　Kai　Tak；　the　same　on　the　Ivanov　wharf；　and　that；　right　now；　they're　opening　every　crate；　every　bag；　searching　every　piece　of　equipment；　checking　every　coolie　that　goes　aboard。　If　they'd　intercepted　Dunross；　and　they　would　…　SI's　too　smart　…　we'd　be　trapped。〃
　Plumm's　nervousness　increased。　A　tremor　went　through　him。　〃What；　what　about　。。。　Say　we　give　Sinders　Gregor？〃　he　burst　out。　〃What　if　we　gi…　〃
　〃Keep　your　voice　down！　You're　not　thinking　clearly；　for　God's　sake！　Gregor　knows　all　of　us。　Sinders'd　shove　him　on　a　sleep…wake…sleep　regimen　and　into　the　Red　Room　and　he'd　tell　everything！　That'd　wreck　us；　wreck　Sevrin　and　put　the　Soviets　back　ten　years　in　Asia。〃
　Plumm　shivered　and　wiped　his　face。　〃Then　what're　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Let　Gregor　go　aboard　and　out　of　Hong　Kong；　and　hope　to　God　he　convinces　his　bosses。　Even　if　he　leaks　your　name　to　Sinders　I　think　we're　buried　so　deep　we　can　squeeze　out　of　that。　You're　British；　not　a　foreign　national。　Thank　God　we've　laws　to　protect　us　…　even　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act。　Don't　worry；　nothing'll　happen　without　me　knowing　and　if　anything　happens　I'll　know　at　once。　There'll　always　be　time　enough　for　Plan　Three。〃　Plan　Three　was　an　elaborate　escape　that　Plumm　had　erected　against　such　an　eventuality　…　with　false　passports；　valid　air　tickets；　ready　luggage；　clothes；　disguises　and　covers；　even　including　passkeys　to　airplane　waiting　areas　without　going　through　Immigration　…　that　had　a　ninety…five　percent　chance　of　success　given　an　hour's　notice。
　〃Christ！〃　Plumm　looked　down　at　the　waiting　trunk。　〃Christ；〃　he　said　again；　then　went　to　the　mirror　to　look　at　his　face。　The　redness　was　going。　He　doused　some　water　on　it。
　Crosse　watched　him；　wondering　if　Plumm　was　convinced。　It　was　the　best　he　could　do　under　the　circumstances。　He　hated　improvisation；　but　in　this　case　he　had　little　option。　What　a　life　we　lead！　Every　one　expendable　except　yourself：　Suslev；　Plumm；　Sinders；　Kwok；　Armstrong；　even　the　governor。
　〃What？〃　Plumm　asked；　looking　at　him　in　the　mirror。
　〃I　was　just　thinking　we're　in　a　rough　business。〃
　〃The　Cause　makes　it　worthwhile。　That's　the　only　part　that　counts。〃
　Crosse　hid　his　contempt。　I　really　think　you've　outlived　your　usefulness；　Jason　old　fellow；　he　thought；　then　went　over　to　the　phone。　There　were　no　extensions　on　this　line　and　he　knew　it　was　not　bugged。　He　dialed。
　〃Yes？〃　He　recognized　Suslev　and　coughed　Arthur's　dry　cough。　〃Mr。　Lop…sing　please；〃　continuing　the　code　in　a　perfect　imitation　of　Plumm's　voice；　then　said　urgently；　〃There's　been　a　foul…up。　The　target　did　not　appear。　Be　careful　at　the　dock。　Surveillance　is　tripled。　We　cannot　deliver　the　trunk。　Good　luck。〃　He　hung　up。　The　silence　gathered。
　〃That's　his　death　knell；　isn't　it？〃　Plumm　said　sadly。
　Crosse　hesitated。　He　smiled　thinly。　〃Better　his　death　than　yours。　Eh？〃
　
　81
　
　8：25　P。M。：
　In　the　noise…filled　living　room　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall；　Casey　finished　her　drink　and　set　it　down。　She　was　feeling　unsettled　and　very　strange。　Part　of　her　was　joyous　at　Dunross's　reprieve　and　the　other　part　sad　that　Gornt　was　now　entrapped。　It　was　quite　clear　to　her　with　the　wheeling　and　dealing　now　going　on　around　her　that　Struan's　opening　price　would　be　very　high。　Poor　Quillan；　she　thought。　If　he　doesn't　cover　his　position　he'll　be　in　shitsville　…　and　let's　face　it；　I　put　him　there。　Didn't　I？
　Sure；　but　I　had　to　bail　out　Dunross　because；　without　him；　Gornt　would　have　squeezed　us　dry　…　and　maybe　everyone　else。　And　don't　forget；　I　didn't　start　the　raid　on　Struan's。　That　was　Linc's　raid；　not　mine。　Hasn't　Linc　always　said　business　and　pleasure　should　never　mix？　Haven't　we　both　always　gone　along　with　that？
　Linc。　Always　back　to　Linc。
　Casey　had　not　seen　him　all　day；　nor　even　heard　from　him。　They　were　supposed　to　have　met　for　breakfast　but　there　was　a　〃do　not　disturb〃　on　his　door　and　a　〃do　not　disturb〃　on　his　phone　so　she　left　him　and　pushed　away　the　thought　of　Orlanda　…　was　Orlanda　there　too？　And　tonight；　when　she　had　returned　from　the　day's　sailing；　there　was　a　message：　〃Hi；　have　fun。〃　So　she　had　showered　and　changed　and　bottled　her　impati