jamesclavell.noblehouse-第235章

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sailing；　there　was　a　message：　〃Hi；　have　fun。〃　So　she　had　showered　and　changed　and　bottled　her　impatience　and　had　e　here　tonight。　It　had　been　no　fun　in　the　beginning；　everyone　gloom　and　doom…filled；　then　after　the　news　and　Gornt　slamming　out；　no　fun　again。　Shortly　afterward　Dunross　had　forced　his　way　over　and　thanked　her　again　but　almost　at　once　he　had　been　surrounded　by　excited　men　discussing　deals　and　chances。　She　watched　them；　feeling　very　lonely。　Perhaps　Linc's　back　at　the　hotel　now；　she　thought。　I　wish　。。。　never　mind；　but　it　is　time　to　go　home。　No　one　noticed　her　slip　out。
　Roger　Crosse　was　standing　at　the　elevator。　He　held　the　door　for　her　then　pressed　the　down　button。
　〃Thanks。　Nice　party；　wasn't　it？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　yes　it　was；〃　he　replied　absently。
　On　the　ground　floor　Crosse　let　her　get　out　first　then　strode　off　out　the　front　door　and　down　the　hill。　What's　his　hurry？　she　asked　herself；　heading　for　the　group　that　waited　for　taxis；　glad　that　it　was　not　raining　again。　She　jerked　to　a　stop。　Orlanda　Ramos；　with　packages　in　her　arms；　was　ing　into　the　foyer。　Each　woman　saw　the　other　at　the　same　instant。　Orlanda　was　the　first　to　recover。　〃Evening；　Casey；〃　she　said　with　her　best　smile。　〃How　pretty　you　look。〃
　〃So　do　you；〃　Casey　replied。　Her　enemy　did。　The　pale　blue　skirt　and　blouse　were　perfectly　matched。
　Orlanda　poured　a　stream　of　impatient　Cantonese　over　the　crumpled　concierge　who　was　lounging　nearby。　At　once　he　took　her　packages；　mumbling。
　〃Sorry；　Casey；〃　she　said　nicely；　a　thread　of　nervousness　to　her　voice；　〃but　there's　been　a　small　landslide　just　down　the　hill　and　I　had　to　leave　my　car　there。　You're；　you're　visiting　here？〃
　〃No；　just　leaving。　You　live　here？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　do。〃
　Another　silence　between　them；　both　readying。　Then　Casey　nodded　a　polite　good　night　and　began　to　leave。
　〃Perhaps　we　should　talk；〃　Orlanda　said　and　Casey　stopped。
　〃Certainly；　Orlanda；　whenever　you　wish。〃
　〃Do　you　have　time　now？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　walk　with　me　back　to　my　car？　I've　got　to　get　the　rest　of　my　packages。　You　won't　be　able　to　get　a　taxi　here　anyway。　Below　will　be　easy。〃
　〃Sure。〃
　The　two　women　went　out。　The　night　was　cool　but　Casey　was　burning　and　so　was　Orlanda；　each　knowing　what　was　ing；　each　fearful　of　the　other。　Their　feet　picked　a　way　carefully。　The　street　was　wet　from　the　water　that　rushed　downward。　There　was　a　promise　of　more　rain　soon　from　the　heavy　nimbus　overcast。　Ahead；　fifty　yards　away；　Casey　could　see　where　the　embankment　had　partially　given　way；　sending　a　mess　of　earth　and　rocks　and　shrubs　and　rubble　across　the　road。　There　was　no　sidewalk。　On　the　other　side　of　the　slip；　a　line　of　cars　were　stopped；　impatiently　maneuvering　to　turn　around。　A　few　pedestrians　scrambled　over　the　embankment。
　〃Have　you　lived　in　Rose　Court　long？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃A　few　years。　It's　very　pleasant。　I　th…　　Oh！　Were　you　at　Jason　Plumm's　party；　the　Asian　Properties　party？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Casey　saw　the　relief　on　Orlanda's　face　and　it　angered　her　but　she　contained　the　anger　and　stopped　and　said　quietly；　〃Orlanda；　there's　nothing　really　for　us　to　talk　about；　is　there？　Let's　say　good　night。〃
　Orlanda　looked　up　at　her。　〃Linc's　with　me。　He's　with　me　in　my　apartment。　At　the　moment。〃
　〃I　presumed　that。〃
　〃That　doesn't　bother　you？〃
　〃It　bothers　me　very　much。　But　that's　up　to　Linc。　We're　not　married；　as　you　know；　not　even　engaged；　as　you　know　…　you　have　your　way；　I　have　mine；　so　th…　〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　Orlanda　asked。
　〃I　mean　that　I've　known　Linc　for　seven　years；　you　haven't　known　him　for　seven　days。〃
　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　Orlanda　said　defiantly。　〃I　love　him　and　he　loves　me。〃
　〃That's　y…　〃　Casey　was　almost　shoved　aside　by　some　Chinese　who　barreled　past；　chattering　noisily。　Others　were　approaching　up　the　incline。　Then　some　of　the　party　guests　walked　around　them；　heading　down　the　slope。　One　of　the　women　was　Lady　Joanna；　and　she　eyed　them　curiously　but　went　on。
　When　they　were　alone　again；　Casey　said；　〃That's　yet　to　be　proved。　Good　night；　Orlanda；〃　she　said；　wanting　to　scream　at　her；　You　make　your　money　on　your　back；　I　work　for　mine；　and　all　the　love　you　protest　is　spelled　money。　Men　are　such　jerks。
　〃Curiously　I　don't　blame　Linc；〃　she　muttered　out　loud　seeing　the　firm　jaw；　the　flashing　determined　eyes；　the　perfect；　voluptuous　yet　trim　body。　〃Good　night。〃
　She　walked　on。　Now　my　plan　has　to　change；　she　was　thinking；　all　her　being　concentrated。　Tonight　I　was　going　to　love　Linc　properly；　but　now　everything　has　to　change。　If　he's　in　her　bed　he's　under　her　spell。　Jesus；　I'm　glad　I　found　that　out。　God；　if　I'd　offered　he　would　have　had　to　say　no　and　then。　。。。　Now　I　can　。。。　what　should　I　do？
　Shit　on　the　Orlandas　of　the　world！　It's　so　easy　for　them。　They　have　a　game　plan　from　day　one。　But　the　rest　of　us？
　What　do　I　do？　Stick　to　November　25　and　gamble　Orlanda　will　bore　the　hell　out　of　him　by　that　time？
　Not　that　lady。　That　one's　dynamite　and　she　knows　Linc's　her　passport　to　eternity。
　Her　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　I'm　a　match　for　her；　she　told　herself　confidently。　Maybe　not　in　bed　or　in　the　kitchen；　but　I　can　learn。
　She　stepped　up　and　over　a　boulder；　cursing　the　mud　that　fouled　her　shoes；　and　jumped　down　the　other　side　of　the　earth　barrier。　Dunross's　Rolls　and　his　chauffeur　were　at　the　head　of　the　line。
　〃Excuse；　Missee；　is　the　tai…pan　still　there？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　he　is。〃
　〃Ah；　thank　you。〃　The　driver　locked　the　car　and　hurried　over　the　roadblock　back　up　the　hill。　Casey　turned　and　watched　him。　Her　eyes　centered　on　Orlanda　who　was　approaching　and　she　looked　at　her；　wanting　to　shove　her　into　the　mud。　The　thought　amused　her　and　she　stood　there；　letting　her　enemy　approach；　letting　her　wonder　what　she　would　do。　She　saw　the　eyes　harden　and　there　was　no　fear　on　Orlanda's　face；　just　a　very　confident　half…smile。　Orlanda　passed　her　fearlessly；　and　a　tremor　of　apprehension　went　through　Casey　that　she　managed　to　dominate。　Maybe　you're　just　as　afraid　of　me　and　my　power　as　I　am　of　yours；　she　thought；　her　eyes　now　on　Rose　Court；　a　brilliant　tower　of　light；　wondering　which　light　surrounded　Linc　or　which　darkened　window。　。。。
　
　When　Orlanda　had　first　seen　Casey；　she　had　immediately　jumped　to　the　conclusion　that　Casey　had　been　to　her　apartment　and　confronted　Bartlett　…　that's　what　I　would　have　done；　she　told　herself。　And；　even　though　she　knew　now　where　Casey　had　been；　fear　again　swept　through　her　at　the　sight　of　her　rival。　Has　she　power　over　him　through　Par…Con？　she　asked　herself；　trembling。　Can　she　control　Linc　through　stocks　or　shares？　If　Linc's　first　wife　nearly　destroyed　him　financially　and　Casey　saved　him　as　many　times　as　he　said；　she's　bound　to　have　him　tied　up。　I　would　if　I　were　she；　of　course　I　would。
　Involuntarily　Orlanda　glanced　back。　Casey　was　still　watching　Rose　Court。　Beyond　her；　Dunross　and　others　…　Riko；　Toxe；　Phillip　and　Dianne　Chen　among　them　…　came　out　of　the　foyer　and　started　down　the　hill。　She　dismissed　them　and　everything　except　the　question　of　how　to　deal　with　Linc　when　she　returned。　Should　she　tell　him　about　meeting　Casey　or　not？　Numbly　she　took　the　remainder　of　her　packages　from　her　car。　I　know　one　thing；　she　told　herself　over　and　over　again。　Linc's　mine；　and　Casey　or　no　Casey　I'll　marry　him；　whatever　the　cost。
　Casey　had　seen　Dunross　e　out　of　the　foyer　and　she　watched　him；　enjoying　the　sight　of　him；　tall；　debonair；　ten　years　younger　than　when　she　first　saw　him；　and　it　pleased　her　very　much　that　she　had　helped　him。　Then；　just　as　she　turned　away；　she　heard　him　call　out；　〃Casey！　Casey！　Hang　on　a　moment！〃　She　glanced　back。　〃How　about　joining　us　for　dinner？〃　he　called　out　to　her。
　She　shook　her　head；　not　in　the　mood；　and　called　out；　〃Thanks　but　I've　a　date！　See　you　tomorr…　〃
　At　that　moment　the　earth　fell　away。
　
　82
　
　8：56　P。M。：
　The　landslide　had　begun　further　up　the　mountain　on　the　other　side　of　Po　Shan　Road；　and　it　swept　across　the　road；　smashing　into　a　two…story　garage；　its　mass　and　velocity　so　vast　that　the　garage　building　rotated　and　toppled　off　the　garden　terrace；　slid　down　for　a　short　distance；　then　fell　over。　The　slide　gathered　momentum　and　rushed　past　a　darkened　high　rise；　crossed　Conduit　Road　and　smashed　into　Richard　Kwang's　two…story　house；　obliterating　it。　Then；　together　with　these　buildings；　the　slip；　now　nine　hundred　feet　long　and　two　hundred　feet　wide　…　fifty　thousand　tons　of　earth　and　rock　…　continued　on　its　downward　path　across　Kotewall　Road　and　struck　Rose　Court。
　The　landslide　had　taken　seven　seconds。
　When　Rose　Court　was　struck；　it　appeared　to　shudder；　and　then　the　building　came　away　from　its　foundations　and　moved　forward　in　the　direction　of　the　harbor；　toppled　over　and　broke　up　near　the　middle　like　a　man　kneeling　then　falling。
　As　it　fell；　the　upper　stories　struck　and　ripped　off　a　corner　of　the　upper　stories　of　Sinclair　Towers　below；　then　crumpled　and　disintegrated　into　rubble。　Part　of　the　slide　and　the　demolished　building　continued　on　and　fell　into　a　construction　site　farther　down　the　mountain；　then　stopped。　The　lights　went　out　as　the　building　collapsed　in　a　cloud　of　dust。　And　now　over　all　Mid　Levels　there　was　a　stunned；　vast　silence。　Then　the　screams　began。　。。。
　
　In　the　tunnel　under　Sinclair　Road；　Suslev　was　choking；　half…buried　in　rubble。　Part　of　the　tunnel　roof　was　torn　off；　water　gushing　in　now　from　fractured　mains　and　drains；　the　tunnel　filling　rapidly。　He　scrambled　and　fought　up　into　the　open；　his　confused　mind　helpless；　not　knowing　what　was　happening；　what　had　happened；　only　that　somehow　he　must　have　been　captured　and　drugged　and　now　he　was　in　a　wake…sleep　nightmare　from　the　Red　Room。　He　looked　around；　panic…stricken。　All　buildings　were　dark；　power　gone；　a　monstrous　pile　of　shrieking；　shifting　wreckage　surrounding　him。　Then　his　glands　overpowered　him　and　he　fled　pell…mell　down　Sinclair　Road。　。。。
　
　Far　above　on　Kotewall　Road；　those　on　the　other　side　of　the　barrage　were　safe　though　paralyzed　with　shock。　The　few　still　on　their　feet；　Casey　among　them；　could　not　believe　what　they　had　witnessed。　The　vast　slide　had　torn　away　all　of　the　roadway　as　far　as　they　could　see。　Most　of　the　mountainside　that　a　moment　ago　was　terraced　was　now　an　undulating；　ugly　mud…earth…rock　slope　…　roads　vanished；　buildings　gone；　and　Dunross　and　his　party　carried　away　somewhere　down　the　slope。
　Casey　tried　to　scream　but　she　had　no　voice。　Then；　〃Oh　Jesus　Christ！　Linc！〃　tore　from　her　mouth　and　her　feet　moved　and　before　she　knew　what　was　happening　she　was　scrambling；　falling；　groping　her　way　toward　the　wreckage。　The　darkness　was　awful　now；　the　screams　awful；　voices　beginning；　shouts　for　help　from　everywhere；　the　unbelievable　twisted　pile　of　debris　still　moving　here　and　there；　bits　still　falling　and　being　crushed。　All　at　once　the　night　was　lit　by　power　lines　exploding；　sending　cascades　of　fireballs　into　the　air　among　the　wreckage。
　Frantically　she　rushed　to　where　the　foyer　once　had　been。　Extended　below；　far　below；　the　darkness　obscuring　almost　everything；　was　the　twisted　mass　of　rubble；　concrete　blocks；　girders；　shoes；　toys；　pots　pans　sofas　chairs　beds　radios　TVs　clothes　limbs　books；　three　cars　that　had　been　parked　outside；　and　more　screams。　Then　in　the　light　of　the　exploding　power　lines　she　saw　the　mashed　wreckage　that　was　once　the　elevator　down　the　slope；　bro