jamesclavell.noblehouse-第239章

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d　into　the　darkness。　〃In　'41　and　'50　it　was　along　Bonham；　'59　was　the　major　disaster　on　Robertson；　Lytton　Road；　the　lists's　endless；　sir。　I　remend　evacuation。〃
　〃Which　buildings？〃
　The　man　handed　the　governor　a　list　then　waved　into　the　dark　at　the　three　levels。　〃I'm　afraid　it'll　affect　more　than　two　thousand　people。〃
　Everyone　gasped。　All　eyes　went　to　the　governor。　He　read　the　list；　glanced　up　at　the　hillside。　The　slide　dominated　everything；　the　mass　of　the　mountain　looming　above。　Then　he　said；　〃Very　well；　do　it。　But　for　God's　sake　tell　your　fellows　to　make　it　an　orderly　withdrawal；　we　don't　want　a　panic。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　man　hurried　away。
　〃Can't　we　get　more　men　and　equipment；　Donald？〃
　〃Sorry；　not　at　the　moment；　sir；〃　the　police　missioner　replied。　He　was　a　strong…faced　man　in　his　fifties。　〃We're　spread　rather　thinly；　I'm　afraid。　There's　the　massive　slip　over　in　Kowloon；　another　at　Kwun　Tong　…　eighty　squatters　huts've　been　swamped；　we've　already　forty…four　dead　in　that　one　so　far；　twenty　children。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　stared　out　at　the　hillside。　〃Christ！〃　he　muttered。　〃With　Dunross　getting　us　Tiptop's　cooperation　I　thought　our　troubles　were　over；　at　least　for　tonight。〃
　The　fire　chief　shook　his　head；　his　face　drawn。　〃I'm　afraid　they're　just　beginning；　sir。　Our　estimates　suggest　there　may　be　a　hundred　or　more　still　buried　in　that　mess。〃　He　added　heavily；　〃It'll　take　us　weeks　to　sift　through　that　lot；　if　ever。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Again　the　governor　hesitated；　then　he　said　firmly；　〃I'm　going　to　go　up　to　Kotewall。　I'll　monitor　Channel　5。〃　He　went　to　his　car。　His　aide　opened　the　door　but　Sir　Geoffrey　stopped。　Roger　Crosse　and　Sinders　were　ing　back　from　the　great　gash　across　Sinclair　Road　where　the　roof　of　the　tunnel　culvert　had　been　ripped　off。　〃Any　luck？〃
　〃No　sir。　We　managed　to　get　into　the　culvert　but　it's　collapsed　fifty　yards　in。　We　could　never　get　into　Rose　Court　that　way；〃　Crosse　said。
　When　Rose　Court　had　collapsed　and　had　torn　the　side　from　the　top　four　stories　of　Sinclair　Towers；　Crosse　had　been　near　his　own　apartment　block；　seventy　yards　away。　Once　he　had　recovered　his　wits；　his　first　thought　had　been　for　Plumm；　the　second　Suslev。　Suslev　was　closer。　By　the　time　he　had　got　to　the　darkened　Sinclair　Towers　foyer；　terrified　tenants　were　already　pouring　out。　Shoving　them　aside　he　had　pushed　and　cursed　his　way　up　the　stairs　to　the　top　floor；　lighting　his　way　with　a　pencil　flashlight。　Apartment　32　had　almost　vanished；　the　adjoining　back　staircase　carried　away　for　three　stories。　As　Crosse　gaped　down　into　the　darkness；　it　was　obvious　that　if　Suslev　had　been　caught　here；　or　caught　with　Clinker；　he　was　dead　　…　the　only　possible　escape　place　was　the　tunnel…culvert。
　Back　on　the　ground　floor　once　more；　he　had　gone　around　the　back　and　slipped　into　the　secret　tunnel　entrance。　The　water　was　a　boiling　torrent　below。　Quickly　he　had　hurried　to　the　roadway　where　the　roof　of　the　tunnel　had　been　carried　away。　The　gash　was　overflowing。　More　than　a　little　satisfied；　for　he　was　certain　now　that　Suslev　was　dead；　he　had　gone　to　the　nearest　phone；　called　in　the　alarm；　then　asked　for　Sinders。　〃Yes？　Oh　hello；　Roger。〃
　He　had　told　Sinders　where　he　was　and　what　had　happened；　adding；　〃Suslev　was　with　Clinker。　My　people　know　he　hasn't　e　out；　so　he's　buried。　Both　of　them　must　be　buried。　No　chance　they　could　be　alive。〃
　〃Damn！〃　A　long　pause。　〃I'll　e　right　away。〃
　Crosse　had　gone　outside　again　and　begun　to　organize　the　evacuation　of　Sinclair　Towers　and　rescue　attempts。　Three　families　had　been　lost　when　the　corner　top　stories　went。　By　the　time　uniformed　police　and　fire　chiefs　had　arrived；　the　dead　count　was　seven　including　two　children　and　four　others　dying。　When　the　governor　and　Sinders　had　arrived；　they　had　gone　back　to　the　open　part　of　the　tunnel　to　see　if　they　could　obtain　access。
　〃There's　no　way　we　can　get　in　from　there；　Sir　Geoffrey。　The　whole　culvert's　collapsed；　I'd　say　gone　forever；　sir。〃　Crosse　was　suitably　grave；　though　inwardly　delighted　with　the　divine　solution　that　had　presented　itself。
　Sinders　was　very　sour。　〃Great　pity！　Yes；　very　bad　luck　indeed。　We've　lost　a　valuable　asset。〃
　〃Do　you　really　think　he'd've　told　you　who　this　devil　Arthur　is？〃　Sir　Geoffrey　asked。
　〃Oh　yes。〃　Sinders　was　very　confident。　〃Don't　you　agree；　Roger？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Crosse　was　hard　put　not　to　smile。　〃Yes；　I'm　sure　of　it。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　sighed。　〃There'll　be　the　devil　to　pay　on　a　diplomatic　level　when　he　doesn't　return　to　the　Ivanov。〃
　〃Not　our　fault；　sir；〃　Sinders　said。　〃That's　an　act　of　God。〃
　〃I　agree；　but　you　know　how　xenophobic　the　Soviets　are。　I'll　bet　any　money　they'll　believe　we　have　him　locked　up　and　under　investigation。　We'd　better　find　him　or　his　body　rather　quickly。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Sinders　turned　his　collar　higher　against　the　rain。　〃What　about　the　departure　of　the　Ivanov？〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃Roger？〃
　〃I　suggest　we　call　them　at　once；　sir；　tell　Boradinov　what's　happened　and　that　we'll　postpone　their　departure　if　they　wish。　I'll　send　a　car　for　him　and　whoever　he　wants　to　bring　to　help　in　the　search。〃
　〃Good。　I'll　be　up　at　Kotewall　for　a　while。〃
　They　watched　Sir　Geoffrey　go；　then　went　to　the　lee　of　the　building。　Sinders　stared　at　the　organized　confusion。　〃No　chance　he'd　still　be　alive；　is　there？〃
　〃None。〃
　A　harassed　policeman　hurried　up。　〃Here's　the　latest　list；　sir；　dead　and　rescued。〃　The　young　man　gave　Crosse　the　paper　and　added　quickly；　〃Radio　Hong　Kong's　got　Venus　Poon　ing　on　any　moment；　sir。　She's　up　at　Kotewall。〃
　〃All　right；　thank　you。〃　Rapidly　Crosse　scanned　the　list。　〃Christ！〃
　〃They　found　Suslev？〃
　〃No。　Just　a　lot　of　old　acquaintances're　dead。〃　He　handed　him　the　list。　〃I'll　take　care　of　Boradinov　then　I'm　going　back　to　the　Clinker　area。〃
　Sinders　nodded；　looked　at　the　paper。　Twenty…eight　rescued；　seventeen　dead；　the　names　meaningless　to　him。　Among　the　dead　was　Jason　Plumm。　。。。
　
　At　the　wharf　in　Kowloon　where　the　Ivanov　was　tied　up；　coolies　were　trudging　up　and　down　the　gangplanks；　laden　with　last…minute　cargo　and　equipment。　Because　of　the　emergency；　police　surveillance　had　been　cut　to　a　minimum　and　now　there　were　only　two　police　on　each　gangway。　Suslev；　disguised　under　a　huge　coolie　hat　and　wearing　a　coolie　smock　and　trousers；　barefoot　like　the　others；　went　past　them　unnoticed　and　up　on　deck。　When　Boradinov　saw　him；　he　hastily　guided　the　way　to　Suslev's　cabin。　Once　the　cabin　door　was　shut；　he　burst　out；　〃Kristos；　rade　Captain；　I'd　almost　given　you　up　for　lost。　We're　due　to　le…　〃
　〃Shut　up　and　listen。〃　Suslev　was　panting；　still　very　shaken。　He　tipped　the　vodka　bottle　and　gulped　the　spirit；　choking　a　little。　〃Is　our　radio　equipment　repaired？〃
　〃Yes　some　of　it；　yes　it　is；　except　the　top…security　scrambler。〃
　〃Good。〃　Shakily　he　related　what　had　happened。　〃I　don't　know　how　I　got　out；　but　the　next　thing　I　remember　was　I　was　halfway　down　the　hill。　I　found　a　taxi　and　made　my　way　here。〃　He　took　another　swallow；　the　liquor　helping　him；　the　wonder　of　his　escape　from　death　and　from　Sinders　enveloping　him。　〃Listen；　as　far　as　everyone　else　is　concerned；　I'm　still　there；　at　Rose　Court！　I'm　dead　or　missing　presumed　dead；〃　he　said；　the　plan　leaping　into　his　head。　Boradinov　stared　at　him。　〃But　Corn…　〃
　〃Get　on　to　police　headquarters　and　say　that　I've　not　returned　…　ask　if　you　can　delay　departure。　If　they　say　no；　good；　we　leave。　If　they　say　yes　we　can　stay；　we'll　stay　for　a　token　day；　then　regretfully　leave。　Understand？〃
　〃Yes；　rade　Captain；　but　why？〃
　〃Later。　Meanwhile　make　sure　everyone　else　aboard　thinks　I'm　missing。　Understand？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃No　one　is　to　e　into　this　cabin　until　we're　safe　in　international　waters。　The　girl's　aboard？〃
　〃Yes；　in　the　other　cabin　as　you　ordered。〃
　〃Good。〃　Suslev　considered　her。　He　could　put　her　back　ashore；　as　he　was　〃missing〃　and　would　stay　missing。　Or　keep　with　his　plan。　〃We　stay　with　that　plan。　Safer。　When　the　police　report　I'm　missing　…　I　had　my　usual　SI　followers　so　they'll　know　I'm　with　Clinker　…　just　tell　her　our　departure's　delayed；　to　stay　in　the　cabin　'until　I　arrive。'　Off　you　go。〃
　Suslev　locked　the　door；　his　relief　almost　overpowering；　and　switched　on　the　radio。　Now　he　could　vanish。　Sinders　could　never　betray　a　dead　man。　Now　he　could　easily　persuade　Center　to　allow　him　to　pass　over　his　duties　in　Asia　to　another　and　assume　a　different　identity　and　get　a　different　assignment。　He　could　say　that　the　various　European　security　leaks　documented　in　the　AMG　papers　made　it　necessary　for　someone　new　to　begin　with　Crosse　and　Plumm　…　if　either　of　them　is　still　alive；　he　thought。　Better　they're　both　dead。　No；　not　Roger。　Roger's　too　valuable。
　Happier　and　more　confident　than　he　had　been　in　years　he　went　into　the　bathroom；　found　a　razor　and　shaving　brush；　humming　a　Beatles　tune　along　with　the　radio。　Perhaps　I　should　request　a　posting　to　Canada。　Isn't　Canada　one　of　our　most　vital　and　important　posts　…　on　a　par　with　Mexico　in　importance？
　He　beamed　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　New　places　to　go　to；　new　assignments　to　achieve；　with　a　new　name　and　promotion；　where　a　few　hours　ago　there　was　only　disaster　ahead。　Perhaps　I'll　take　Vertinskaya　with　me　to　Ottawa。
　He　began　shaving。　When　Boradinov　returned　with　police　permission　to　delay　their　departure；　he　hardly　recognized　Gregor　Suslev　without　his　mustache　and　beard。
　
　85
　
　11：40　P。M。：
　Bartlett　was　twenty　feet　down　under　a　cat's　cradle　of　girders　that　kept　the　wreckage　from　crushing　him。　When　the　avalanche　had　hit　almost　three　hours　ago　he　had　been　standing　in　the　kitchen　doorway　sipping　an　ice…cold　beer；　staring　out　at　the　city。　He　was　bathed；　dressed　and　feeling　wonderful；　waiting　for　Orlanda　to　return。　Then　he　was　falling；　the　whole　world　wrong；　unearthly；　the　floor　ing　up；　the　stars　below；　the　city　above。　There　had　been　a　blinding；　monstrous；　soundless　explosion　and　all　air　had　rushed　out　of　him　and　he　had　fallen　into　the　upward　pit　forever。
　ing　back　to　consciousness　was　a　long　process　for　him。　It　was　dark　within　his　tomb　and　he　hurt　everywhere。　He　could　not　grasp　what　had　happened　or　where　he　was。　When　he　truly　awoke；　he　stared　around　trying　to　see　where　he　was；　his　hands　touching　things　he　could　not　understand。　The　closed　darkness　nauseated　him　and　he　reeled　in　panic　to　his　feet；　smashing　his　head　against　a　jutting　chunk　of　concrete　that　was　once　part　of　the　outside　wall　and　fell　back　stunned；　his　fall　protected　by　the　debris　of　an　easy　chair。　In　a　little　while　his　mind　cleared；　but　his　head　ached；　arms　ached；　body　ached。　The　phosphorescent　figures　on　his　watch　attracted　his　attention。　He　peered　at　them。　The　time　was　11：41。
　I　remember　。。。　what　do　I　remember？
　〃e　on　for　chrissake；〃　he　muttered；　〃get　with　it！　Get　yourself　together。　Where　the　hell　was　I？〃　His　eyes　traced　the　darkness　with　growing　horror。　Vague　shapes　of　girders；　broken　concrete　and　the　remains　of　a　room。　He　could　see　little　and　recognized　nothing。　Light　from　somewhere　glistened　off　a　shiny　surface。　It　was　a　wrecked　oven。　All　at　once　his　memory　flooded　back。
　〃I　was　standing　in　the　kitchen；〃　he　gasped　out　loud。　〃That's　it；　and　Orlanda　had　just　left；　about　an　hour；　no　less'n　that；　half　an　hour。　That'd　make　it　around　nine　when　。。。　when　whatever　happened　happened。　Was　it　an　earthquake？　What？〃
　Carefully　he　felt　his　limbs　and　face；　a　stab　of　pain　from