jamesclavell.noblehouse-第238章

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　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　could　not　read　him。　〃You're　sorry　that　。。。　that　Ian's　alive？〃
　〃No。　On　the　contrary。　Where　did　he　go？〃
　〃Down　there。〃　She　took　his　flashlight　and　directed　it。　〃There；　where　that　outcrop　is。　He；　I　haven't　seen　him　for　a　while　but　just　there。　You　see　the　remains　of　the　elevator？　Near　there。〃　Now　she　could　see　his　face　better；　dark　eyes；　the　bearded　chiseled　face；　but　it　told　her　nothing。
　〃Stay　here；〃　he　said。　〃You're　safe　here。〃　He　took　the　flashlight　and　moved　into　the　wreckage；　soon　to　be　swallowed　by　it。
　The　rain　was　heavier　now；　warm　like　the　night　was　warm；　and　Gornt　spat　the　bile　out　of　his　mouth；　glad　that　his　enemy　was　alive；　hating　that　he　was　alive；　but　wanting　him　alive　more。
　It　was　very　slippery　as　he　worked　his　way　down。　A　slab　teetered　and　gave　way。　He　stumbled；　barked　his　shin　and　cursed；　then　moved　onward；　his　flashlight　seeking　safety　where　he　knew　there　was　none。　So　Ian　bloody　tai…pan　Dunross　got　out　before　it　collapsed；　he　was　thinking。　That　bugger's　got　a　charmed　life！　Christ！　But　don't　forget；　the　gods　were　on　your　side　too。　Don't　forget　th…　
　He　stopped。　Faint　calls　for　help　from　somewhere　near。　Intently　he　listened　again　but　he　could　not　identify　the　direction。　He　called　out；　〃Where　are　you；　where　are　you？〃　listening　again。　Nothing。　Hesitating；　he　reexamined　the　way　ahead。　This　whole　god…cursed　mess　can　slide　down　a　hundred　feet　or　more　at　the　drop　of　a　hat；　he　thought。　〃Where　are　you？〃　Still　nothing；　so　cautiously　he　went　on；　the　gas　smell　heavy。
　When　he　got　nearer　to　the　remains　of　the　elevator　he　looked　at　the　bodies；　not　recognizing　any　of　them；　went　on　and　eased　around　a　corner；　ducking　under　an　overhang。　Suddenly　a　flashlight　blinded　him。
　〃What　the　hell're　you　doing　here；　Quillan？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃Looking　for　you；〃　Gornt　said　grimly；　putting　the　light　on　him。　〃Casey　told　me　you　were　playing　hide　and　seek。〃
　Dunross　was　resting　on　some　rubble；　catching　his　breath；　his　arms　ripped　and　bloody；　clothes　in　tatters。　When　this　part　of　the　wreckage　had　shifted；　the　way　in　had　shrieked　closed。　As　he　had　darted　for　safety　the　flashlight　had　been　knocked　out　of　his　hand　and　when　the　avalanche　subsided　he　was　trapped　with　Clinker。　It　had　taken　him　all　his　will　not　to　panic　in　the　darkness。　Patiently　he　worked　the　area；　his　fingers　groping；　seeking　the　flashlight。　Inch　by　inch。　And　when　he　was　almost　ready　to　give　up；　his　fingers　locked　on　it。　In　the　light　once　more；　fear　had　left　him。　The　light　had　pointed　a　new　way　out。　He　stared　back　at　Gornt；　then　smiled　with　the　skin　of　his　face。　〃Sorry　I'm　not　dead？〃
　Gornt　shrugged　and　smiled　the　same　rotten　smile。　〃Yes。　Joss。　But　it'll　happen　soon　enough。〃　The　overhang　creaked　and　shifted　slightly　and　his　light　swung　upward。　Both　men　held　their　breath。　It　settled　back　with　a　sigh。　〃Sooner　if　we　don't　get　to　hell　out　of　here。〃
　Dunross　got　up；　grunted　as　a　stab　of　pain　went　up　his　back。
　〃You're　not　hurt；　I　hope？〃　Gornt　asked。
　Dunross　laughed　and　felt　better；　the　fright　of　entombment　wearing　off。　〃No。　Give　me　a　hand　will　you？〃
　〃What？〃
　Dunross　pointed　into　the　wreckage　with　his　light。　Now　Gornt　could　see　the　old　man。　〃I　got　trapped　down　there　trying　to　get　him　out。〃　At　once　Gornt　moved　to　help；　squatting　down；　moving　what　rubble　they　could　to　increase　the　crawlspace。
　〃His　name's　Clinker。　His　legs're　a　mess　and　he's　lost　a　foot。〃
　〃Christ！　Here；　let　me　do　that。〃　Gornt　got　a　better　grip　on　the　slab；　shifted　it　away；　then　jumped　down　into　the　cavity。　In　a　moment　he　turned　back　and　peered　up　at　Dunross。　〃Sorry；　the　bugger's　dead。〃
　〃Oh　Christ！　You're　sure？〃
　Gornt　lifted　the　old　man　like　a　doll　and　they　put　him　into　the　open。
　〃Poor　bugger。〃
　〃Joss。　Did　he　say　where　he　was　in　the　building？　What　floor？　Was　anyone　with　him？〃
　〃He　muttered　something　about　caretaker；　and　being　underneath　the　building；　and　something　about；　I　think　he　said　Mabel。〃
　Gornt　put　the　flash　all　around。　〃Did　you　hear　anything　or　anyone？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Let's　get　him　out　of　here；〃　Gornt　said　with　finality。
　They　picked　him　up。　When　they　were　in　the　open　and　relatively　safe　they　stopped　to　get　their　breath。　Some　stretcher　bearers　were　nearby。　Dunross　beckoned　them。　〃We　will　take　him　away；　Honored　Lord；〃　one　said。　They　bundled　the　body　onto　a　stretcher　and　hurried　off。
　〃Quillan；　before　we　get　back　to　Casey。　She　sai…　〃
　〃About　Bartlett？　Yes；　she　told　me　he　was　in　Orlanda's　place。〃　Gornt　watched　him。　〃Her　flat　was　on　the　eighth　floor。〃
　Dunross　looked　down　the　slope。　There　were　more　lights　than　before。　〃Where　would　that　have　ended　up？〃
　〃He's　got　to　be　dead。　The　eighth　floor？〃
　〃Yes。　But　whereabouts？〃
　Gornt　searched　the　hillside。　〃I　can't　see　from　here。　I　might　recognize　something；　but　I　doubt　it。　It'd　be；　it'd　be　down　there；　almost　at　Sinclair　Road。〃
　〃He　could　be　alive；　in　a　pocket。　Let's　go　and　look。〃
　Gornt's　face　twisted　with　a　curious　smile。　〃You　need　him　and　his　deal；　don't　you？〃
　〃No；　no　not　now。〃
　〃Bullshit。〃　Gornt　clambered　onto　an　outcrop。　〃Casey！〃　he　shouted；　cupping　his　hands　around　his　mouth。　〃We're　going　below！　Go　back　to　the　barrier　and　wait　there！〃
　They　heard　her　call　back　faintly；　〃Okay；　be　careful！〃　Then　Gornt　said　sourly；　〃All　right；　Gunga　Din；　if　we're　going　to　play　hero；　we'd　better　do　it　right。　I　lead。〃　He　moved　off。
　Equally　sourly；　but　needing　him；　Dunross　followed；　his　anger　gathering。　The　two　men　worked　their　way　out。　Once　clear；　they　scrambled　down　the　slope。　From　time　to　time　they　would　see　a　body　or　a　part　of　a　body　but　no　one　they　recognized。　They　passed　a　few　frantic　survivors　or　relatives　of　those　missing；　pathetically　digging　or　trying　to　dig　with　their　hands；　a　broken　piece　of　wood　…　anything　they　could　find。
　Down　at　the　bottom　of　the　slope　Gornt　stopped；　his　flashlight　examining　the　wreckage　carefully。
　〃Anything？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃No。〃　Gornt　caught　sight　of　some　bedraggled　curtains　that　might　have　been　Orlanda's　but　it　had　been　almost　two　years　since　he　was　in　her　apartment。　His　light　hesitated。
　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Gornt　began　climbing；　seeking　clues　to　her　apartment　or　to　the　Asian　Properties　apartment　on　the　fifth　floor。　〃That　could　be　part　of　Plumm's　furniture；〃　he　said。　The　sofa　was　torn　in　half；　the　springs　akimbo。
　〃Help！　Help　in　the　name　of　all　gods！〃　The　faint　Cantonese　cry　came　from　somewhere　in　the　middle　of　this　section。　At　once　Gornt　scrambled　toward　the　sound；　thinking　he　recognized　Four　Fingers；　Dunross　close　behind；　up　and　over　and　under。　In　the　center　of　a　mass　of　debris　was　an　old　Chinese　man；　bedraggled；　covered　with　rubble　dust。　He　was　sitting　in　the　wreckage；　looking　around　perplexed；　seemingly　unhurt。　When　Gornt　and　Dunross　came　up　to　him　he　grimaced　at　them；　squinting　in　their　light。
　At　once　they　recognized　him　and　now　he　recognized　them。　It　was　Smiler　Ching；　the　banker。　〃What　happened；　Honored　Sirs？〃　he　asked；　his　Cantonese　heavy…accented；　his　teeth　protruding。
　Gornt　told　him　briefly　and　the　man　gasped。　〃By　all　the　gods；　that's　impossible！　Am　I　alive？　Truly　alive？〃
　〃Yes。　What　floor　were　you　on；　Smiler　Ching？〃
　〃The　twelfth　…　I　was　in　my　living　room。　I　was　watching　television。〃　Smiler　Ching　searched　his　memory　and　his　lips　opened　into　another　grimace。　〃I'd　just　seen　Little　Mealy　Mouth；　Venus　Poon；　and　then　。。。　then　there　was　a　thunderous　noise　from　the　direction　of　Conduit　Road。　The　next　thing　I　remember　is　waking　up　here；　just　a　few　minutes　ago；　waking　up　here。〃
　〃Who　was　in　the　flat　with　you？〃
　〃My　amah。　First　Wife　is　out　playing　mah…jong！〃　The　small　old　man　got　up　cautiously；　felt　all　his　limbs　and　let　out　a　cackle。　〃Ayeeyah；　by　all　the　gods；　it's　a　fornicating　miracle；　tai…pan　and　second　tai…pan！　Obviously　the　gods　favor　me；　obviously　I　shall　recover　my　bank　and　bee　rich　again　and　a　steward　at　the　Turf　Club！　Ayeeyah！　What　joss！〃　Again　he　tested　his　feet　and　legs　then　clambered　off；　heading　for　safety。
　〃If　this　mess　was　part　of　the　twelfth　floor；　the　eighth　should　be　back　there；〃　Dunross　said；　his　light　pointing。
　Gornt　nodded；　his　face　taut。
　〃If　that　old　bastard　can　survive；　so　could　Bartlett。〃
　〃Perhaps。　Let's　look。〃
　
　84
　
　11：05　P。M。：
　An　army　truck　swirled　up　in　the　heavy　rain；　spattering　mud；　and　stopped　near　the　mand　posts。　Irish　guardsmen　in　fatigues　and　raincoats；　some　with　fire　axes；　jumped　down。　An　officer　was　waiting　for　them。　〃Go　up　there；　Sergeant！　Work　alongside　R。S。M。　O'Connor！〃　He　was　a　young　man　and　he　pointed　with　a　swagger　stick　to　the　right　of　the　slide；　his　uniform　raincoat；　boots　and　trousers　mud　filthy。　〃No　smoking；　there's　still　a　bloody　gas　leak；　and　get　the　lead　out！〃
　〃Where's　Alpha　pany；　sir？〃
　〃Up　at　Po　Shan。　Delta's　halfway。　We've　an　aid　station　on　Kotewall。　I'm　monitoring　Channel　4。　Off　you　go！〃
　The　men　stared　at　the　devastation。　〃Glory　be　to　God；〃　someone　muttered。　They　charged　off；　following　their　sergeant。　The　officer　went　back　to　his　mand　post　and　picked　up　the　field　telephone。　〃Delta　pany；　this　is　mand。　Give　me　a　report。〃
　〃We've　recovered　four　bodies；　sir；　and　two　injured　up　here。　We're　halfway　across　the　slope　now。　One's　a　Chinese　woman　called　Kwang；　multiple　fractures　but　all　right；　and　her　husband；　he's　just　shook　up　a　bit。〃
　〃What　part　of　the　building　were　they　in？〃
　〃Fifth　floor。　We　think　the　heavy…duty　girders　protected　them。　Both　casualties're　on　their　way　to　our　aid　station　at　Kotewall。　We　can　hear　someone　buried　deep　but；　glory　be；　sir；　we　can't　get　at　him　…　the　firemen　can't　use　their　oxy…acetylene　cutters。　The　gas's　too　heavy。　Nothing　else　in　our　area；　sir。〃
　〃Keep　it　up。〃　The　officer　turned　around　and　snapped　at　an　orderly；　〃Go　and　chase　up　those　gas　board　fellows　and　see　what　the　hell's　holding　them　up！　Tell'em　to　get　their　fingers　out！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　He　switched　channels。　〃Kotewall　Aid　Station；　this　is　mand。　What's　the　score？〃
　〃Fourteen　bodies　so　far；　Captain；　and　nineteen　injured；　some　very　bad。　We're　getting　their　names　as　quick　as　we　can。　Sir　Dunstan　Barre；　we　dug　him　out；　he　just　has　a　broken　wrist。〃
　〃Keep　up　the　good　work！　The　police've　set　up　a　missing　persons　station　on　Channel　16。　Get　them　all　the　names；　dead；　injured；　everyone；　quick　as　you　can。　We've　some　pretty　anxious　people　down　here。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　The　rumor's　we're　going　to　evacuate　the　whole　area。〃
　〃The　governor；　missioner　and　the　fire　chief're　deciding　that　right　now。〃　The　officer　rubbed　his　face　tiredly；　then　rushed　out　to　intercept　another　ining　truck　with　Gurkhas　from　the　Engineers　Corps；　passing　the　governor；　missioner　and　senior　fire　officer　who　stood　at　the　central　mand　post　under　the　foyer　overhang　of　Sinclair　Towers。　A　white…haired　engineer…surveyor　from　the　Public　Works　Department　got　out　of　a　car　and　hurried　over　to　them。
　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said　anxiously。　〃We've　been　all　through　all　the　buildings　now；　from　Po　Shan　down　to　here。　I　remend　we　evacuate　nineteen　buildings。〃
　〃Good　God；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　exploded。　〃You　mean　the　whole　bloody　mountainside's　going　to　collapse？〃
　〃No　sir。　But　if　this　rain　keeps　up　another　slip　could　start。　This　whole　area's　got　a　history　of　them。〃　He　pointed　into　the　darkness。　〃In　'41　and　'