jamesclavell.noblehouse-第237章

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t。　Carefully　he　eased　out　of　the　debris　and　stood　at　his　full　height；　breathing　easier　now。　A　last　look　at　Pugmire's　body　and　he　started　down　the　slope　again。　A　few　steps　later　he　heard　a　faint　moan。　It　took　a　little　time　to　find　the　source　but　he　centered　on　it　and　climbed　down；　his　heart　beating　heavily。　With　great　care　he　squirmed　into　the　depths　under　a　monstrous　overhang　of　beams　and　rubble。　His　fingers　took　hold。　Using　all　his　strength　he　tilted　the　broken　concrete　and　shoved　it　aside。　A　man's　head　was　below。　〃Help；〃　Clinker　said　weakly。　〃God　love　you；　mate。　。。。〃
　〃Hang　on　a　second。〃　Dunross　could　see　the　man　was　wedged　down　by　a　huge　rafter　but　the　rafter　was　also　keeping　the　debris　above　from　crushing　him。　With　the　flashlight　he　searched　until　he　found　a　broken　piece　of　pipe。　With　this　as　a　lever　he　tried　to　raise　the　rafter。　A　pyramid　of　rubble　shifted　ominously。　〃Can　you　move？〃　he　gasped。
　〃It's　。。。　it's　me　legs；　I　hurt　proper　bad；　but　I　can　try。〃　Clinker　reached　out　and　gripped　an　imbedded　piece　of　iron。　〃Ready　when　you　are。〃
　〃What's　your　name？〃
　〃Clinker；　Ernie　Clinker。　Wot's　yorn？〃
　〃Dunross。　Ian　Dunross。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Clinker　moved　his　head　painfully　and　peered　upward；　his　face　and　head　bleeding；　hair　matted　and　lips　raw。　〃Thanks；　tai…pan；〃　he　said。　〃Ready；　ready　when　you　are。〃
　Dunross　put　his　weight　and　strength　onto　his　makeshift　lever。　The　beam　raised　an　inch。　Clinker　squirmed　but　could　not　dislodge　himself。　〃Bit　more；　mate；〃　he　gasped；　in　great　pain。　Again　Dunross　bore　down。　He　felt　the　sinews　of　his　arms　and　legs　cry　out　under　the　strain。　The　beam　came　up　a　fraction。　A　trickle　of　rubble　cascaded　into　the　cavity。　Higher　still。　〃Now！〃　he　said　urgently。　〃I　can't　hold　it。　。。。〃
　The　old　man's　grip　on　the　iron　tightened　and　he　dragged　himself　out　inch　by　inch。　More　rubble　moved　as　he　shifted　his　grip。　Now　he　was　halfway　out。　Once　his　trunk　was　free；　Dunross　let　the　rafter　settle　back；　oh　so　gently；　and　when　it　was　pletely　at　rest　he　grabbed　the　old　man　and　wrenched　him　free。　It　was　then　that　he　saw　the　trail　of　blood；　the　left　foot　missing。　〃Don't　move；　old　fellow；〃　he　said　passionately　as　Clinker　lay　panting；　half　unconscious；　trying　to　stop　the　whimpers　of　pain。　Dunross　tore　open　a　bandage；　tying　a　rough　tourniquet　just　under　the　knee。
　Then　he　stood　up　in　the　small　space　and　looked　at　the　vicious　overhang　above　him；　trying　to　decide　what　to　do　next。　Next　I　get　the　poor　bugger　out；　he　thought；　loathing　the　closeness。　Then　he　heard　the　rumble　and　shriek　of　shifting　debris。　The　earth　lurched　and　he　ducked；　his　arms　protecting　his　head。　A　new　avalanche　began。　。。。
　
　83
　
　9：13　P。M。：
　It　was　just　sixteen　minutes　since　Rose　Court　was　struck；　but　all　over　the　vast　area　of　destruction　people　were　moving。　Some　had　fought　themselves　out　of　the　rubble。　Others　were　rescuers　and　down　below；　near　the　mand　post　set　up　at　the　junction；　police　cars；　four　fire　trucks　and　rescue　units　were　there；　their　mobile　lights　washing　the　slope；　firemen　and　police　frantically　working　their　way　through　the　wreckage。　A　small　fire　flickered　and　it　was　quickly　doused；　everyone　aware　of　the　gas　danger。　An　ambulance　with　wounded　or　dying　had　already　been　dispatched；　more　were　converging。
　It　was　chaotic　in　the　darkness；　all　streetlighting　failed；　the　rain　beginning　again。　The　senior　divisional　fire　officer　had　arrived　a　moment　ago　and　had　sent　for　gas　pany　engineers　and　organized　other　experts　to　inspect　the　foundations　of　the　other　high　rises　and　buildings　nearby　in　case　they　should　be　evacuated　…　the　whole　three　tiers　of　Kotewall；　Conduit　and　Po　Shan　Roads　suspect。　〃Christ；〃　he　muttered；　appalled；　〃this's　going　to　take　weeks　to　dig　out　and　clean　up。〃　But　he　stood　in　the　open；　an　outward　picture　of　calm。　Another　patrol　car　whined　to　a　halt。　〃Oh　hello；　Robert；〃　he　said　as　Armstrong　joined　him。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　seeing　his　shock；　〃Christ　knows　how　many're　buried　th…　〃
　〃Look　out！〃　someone　shouted　and　everyone　ran　for　cover　as　a　huge　lump　of　reinforced　concrete　came　crashing　down　from　the　mutilated　top　stories　of　Sinclair　Towers。　One　of　the　police　cars　turned　its　light　upward。　Now　they　could　see　the　shreds　of　rooms　open　to　the　skies。　A　tiny　figure　was　teetering　on　the　brink。　〃Get　someone　up　there　and　see　what　the　hell's　going　on！〃
　A　fireman　took　to　his　heels。　。。。
　
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　In　the　darkness　at　the　roadblock　up　on　Kotewall　Road；　onlookers　from　nearby　buildings　had　been　collecting；　everyone　petrified　that　there　would　be　another　slide；　tenants　frantic；　not　knowing　whether　to　evacuate　or　not。　Orlanda　was　still　leaning　numbly　against　the　car；　the　rain　on　her　face　mixing　with　her　tears。　Another　group　of　police　reinforcements　poured　over　the　barrier　onto　the　morass　and　fanned　out　with　heavy…duty　flashlights　searching　the　terrain。　One　heard　a　call　for　help　from　below　and　directed　his　light　into　the　brush；　then　changed　direction　quickly　as　he　saw　Riko　waving　and　shouting；　two　figures　inert　beside　her。
　Down　Kotewall　Road　at　the　fork；　Gornt's　car　skidded　to　a　halt。　Brushing　aside　orders　from　the　harassed　policeman　there；　he　pressed　the　keys　into　his　hand　and　rushed　off　up　the　hill。　When　he　got　near　to　the　barrier　and　saw　the　extent　of　the　disaster　he　was　stunned。　Only　moments　ago　he　had　been　there；　drinking　and　flirting　with　Casey；　everything　settled；　Orlanda　settled；　then　his　whole　victory　upside　down　and　raging　at　Dunross；　but　some　miracle　had　sent　him　away　in　time　and　now　perhaps　all　the　others　were　dead　and　buried　and　gone　forever。　Christ！　Dunross　Orlanda　Casey　Jason　Bar…　
　〃Keep　out　of　the　way！〃　the　policeman　shouted。　More　ambulance　bearers　hurried　past；　firemen　with　axes　following；　up　and　over　the　mess　of　mud　and　boulders　and　trees　toward　the　ruins。　〃Sorry；　but　you　can't　stay　there；　sir。〃
　Gornt　moved　aside；　breathing　heavily　from　his　run。　〃Did　anyone　get　out？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　of　course；　I'm　sure　th…　〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Dunross；　Ian　Dunross？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃The　tai…pan；　Dunross？〃
　〃No；　no　sorry　I　haven't。〃　The　policeman　turned　away　to　intercept　and　calm　some　disheveled　parents。
　Gornt's　eyes　went　back　to　the　disaster；　still　appalled　by　its　immensity。
　〃Jesus；〃　an　American　voice　muttered。
　Gornt　turned。　Paul　Choy　and　Venus　Poon　were　crammed　in　a　new　group　who　were　straggling　up。　Everyone　stared；　dumbfounded；　into　the　darkness。　〃Jesus！〃
　〃What're　you　doing　here；　Paul？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Mr。　Gornt！　My　。。。　my　uncle's　in　there；〃　Paul　Choy　said；　hardly　able　to　talk。　〃Jesus　Christ；　lookit！〃
　〃Four　Fingers？〃
　〃Yes。　He　。。。〃
　Venus　Poon　overrode　him　grandly。　〃Mr。　Wu's　waiting　for　me　to　discuss　a　movie　contract。　He's　going　to　be　a　film　producer。〃
　Gornt　dismissed　the　patent　fabrication　as　his　mind　raced。　If　he　could　save　Four　Fingers；　perhaps　the　old　man　would　help　extricate　him　from　the　looming　stock　market　debacle。　〃What　floor　was　he　on？〃
　〃The　fifth；〃　Venus　Poon　said。
　〃Paul；　cut　around　to　Sinclair　Road　and　work　your　way　up　this　side　of　the　slope。　I'll　work　down　to　meet　you！　Off　you　go！〃
　The　young　man　raced　off　before　Venus　Poon　could　stop　him。　The　policeman　was　still　distracted。　Without　hesitation　Gornt　darted　for　the　barrier。　He　knew　Plumm's　fifth…floor　apartment　well　…　Four　Fingers　should　be　nearby。　In　the　darkness　he　did　not　notice　Orlanda　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。
　Once　over　the　barrier　he　moved　as　fast　as　he　could；　his　feet　sinking　into　the　earth。　From　time　to　time　he　stumbled。　〃Heya；　Honored　Sir！〃　he　called　out　in　Cantonese　to　a　nearby　stretcher　bearer。　〃Do　you　have　a　spare　flashlight？〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　here　you　are！〃　the　man　said。　〃But　beware；　the　path　is　treacherous。　There　are　many　ghosts　here。〃
　Gornt　thanked　him　and　hurried　off；　making　better　time。　Nearing　where　the　foyer　would　have　been　he　stopped。　Up　the　mountainside　as　far　as　he　could　see　was　the　ugly　sloping　gash　of　the　slide；　a　hundred　yards　wide。　On　the　edges　of　all　three　tiers　were　other　buildings　and　high　rises；　one　under　construction；　and　the　thought　of　being　caught　in　one　of　those　nauseated　him。　All　of　Conduit　Road　had　gone；　trees　torn　up；　parapets　gone。　When　he　looked　below　he　shuddered。　〃It's　impossible；〃　he　muttered；　remembering　the　size　and　strength　of　the　high　rise　and　the　joy　of　Rose　Court　over　the　years。　Then　he　saw　the　lights　skeetering　over　the　top　of　Sinclair　Towers；　the　building　that　he　had　always　hated　…　had　hated　Dunross　even　more　for　financing　and　owning　…　for　destroying　his　wonderful　view。　When　he　noticed　the　upper　corner　missing；　a　flash　of　pleasure　went　through　him；　but　it　quickly　turned　to　bile　as　he　remembered　his　own　penthouse　apartment　that　had　been　on　the　twelfth　floor　of　Rose　Court；　and　all　the　good　times　he　had　had　with　Orlanda；　there　and　on　the　eighth　floor；　now　rubble　and　death　filled。　〃Christ；〃　he　said　out　loud；　blessing　his　joss。　Then　he　went　onward。　。。。
　
　Casey　was　sitting　on　a　pile　of　rubble；　waiting　and　in　misery。　Rescuers　were　all　over　the　slope　working　in　semidarkness；　picking　their　way　over　the　dangerous　surfaces；　alternatively　calling　and　listening　for　calls　from　those　who　were　trapped。　Here　and　there　a　few　were　digging　desperately；　moving　rubble　away　as　another　unfortunate　was　found。
　Nervously　she　got　up　and　peered　down　the　slope；　seeking　Dunross。　He　had　quickly　disappeared　from　her　line　of　sight　into　the　wreckage；　but　from　time　to　time　she　had　caught　a　glint　from　his　flashlight。　Now　for　some　minutes　she　had　seen　nothing。　Her　anxiety　increased；　the　minutes　hanging；　and　whenever　the　wreck　settled　more　fear　had　whipped　her。　Linc；　Linc's　somewhere　there；　was　pounding　on　her　brain。　I've　got　to　do　something；　I　can't　just　sit；　better　to　sit　and　wait　and　pray　and　wait；　wait　for　Ian　to　e　back。　He'll　find　him　。。。
　In　a　sudden　fright　she　leapt　to　her　feet。　A　great　section　halfway　down　the　slope　had　broken　free；　scattering　rescuers　who　ran　for　their　lives。　In　a　moment　the　chain　reaction　ceased　and　it　was　quiet　again　but　her　heart　kept　up　its　pounding。　There　was　no　moving　glint　of　Dunross's　light　to　reassure　her。　〃Oh　Jesus　let　him　be　all　right！〃
　〃Casey？　Casey；　is　that　you？〃　Gornt　came　out　of　the　darkness　and　scrambled　up　to　her。
　〃Oh　Quillan；〃　she　began　pathetically　and　he　held　her　in　his　arms；　his　strength　giving　her　strength。　〃Please　help　Lin…　〃
　〃I　came　as　soon　as　I　heard；〃　he　told　her　quickly；　overriding　her。　〃It　was　on　the　wireless。　Christ；　I　was　petrified　you　were　。。。　I　never　expected　。。。　Hold　on；　Casey！〃
　〃I'm　。。。　I'm　all　right。　Linc's　in　。。。　he's　in　there　somewhere；　Quillan。〃
　〃What？　But　how？　Did　he　an…　〃
　〃He　was　in　Or　。。。　Orlanda's　apartment　and　Ia…　〃
　〃Perhaps　you're　wrong；　Casey。　Lis…　〃
　〃No。　Orlanda　told　me。〃
　〃Eh？　She　got　out　too？〃　Gornt　gasped。　〃Orlanda　got　out？〃
　〃Yes。　She　was　with　me；　near　me；　back　there；　I　saw　it　all　happen；　Quillan；　I　saw　the　whole　terrible　avalanche　and　the　whole　building　collapse　and　then　I　ran　here；　Ian　came　to　help　and　Linc's　d…　〃
　〃Dunross？　He　got　out　too？〃　he　asked；　bile　in　his　mouth。
　〃Oh　yes。　Yes；　he's　down　there　now。　Some　of　the　building　shifted　and　the　elevator；　the　elevator　was　full　of　bodies。　He's　down　there　somewhere；　looking　。。。　looking　in　case　。。。〃　Her　voice　died　away。
　She　saw　Gornt　shift　his　attention　to　the　slope。　〃Who　else　got　out？〃
　〃Jacques；　the　Chens；　that　newspaperman；　I　don't　know　。。。〃　She　could　not　see　his　face　so　she　c