jamesclavell.noblehouse-第241章

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ldiers；　police；　firemen　and　distraught　people　were　doing　the　same。
　It　was　very　dark；　the　arcs　set　up　below　not　touching　this　area　halfway　up　the　wreckage。
　〃Anyone　there？〃　a　soldier　called；　listened　again；　then　moved　on　a　few　feet。　Over　to　the　left　of　the　line　one　of　them　stumbled　and　fell　into　a　crevice。　This　soldier　was　very　tired　but　he　laughed　to　himself　and　lay　there　a　moment；　then　called　down　into　the　earth；　〃Anyone　there？〃　He　began　to　get　up　then　froze；　listening。　Once　more　he　lay　down　and　shouted　into　the　wreckage；　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃　and　listened　intently。
　〃Yesss！　。。。〃　came　back　faintly；　very　faintly。
　Excitedly　the　soldier　scrambled　up。　〃Sergeant！　Sergeant　Sah！〃
　Fifty　yards　away；　on　the　edge　of　the　wreckage；　Gornt　was　with　the　young　lieutenant　who　had　been　directing　rescue　operations　in　this　section。　They　were　listening　to　a　news　broadcast　on　a　small　transistor：　〃。。。　slips　all　over　the　Colony。　And　now　here　is　another　report　direct　from　Kotewall　Road。〃　There　was　a　short　silence　then　the　well…known　voice　came　on　and　the　young　man　smiled　to　himself。　〃Good　evening。　This　is　Venus　Poon　reporting　live　on　the　single　worst　disaster　to　hit　the　Colony。〃　There　was　a　wonderful　throb　to　her　voice；　and；　remembering　the　brave；　harrowing　way　she　had　described　the　Aberdeen　fire　disaster　that　she　also　had　been　involved　in；　his　excitement　quickened。　〃Rose　Court　on　Kotewall　Road　is　no　more。　The　great　twelve…story　tower　of　light　that　all　Hong　Kong　could　see　as　a　landmark　has　vanished　into　an　awesome　pyre　of　rubble。　My　home　is　no　more。　Tonight；　the　finger　of　the　Almighty　struck　down　the　tower　and　those　who　lived　there；　amongst　them　my　devoted　gan　sun　who　raised　me　from　birth。　。。。〃
　〃Sir；〃　the　sergeant　called　out　from　the　middle　of　the　slip；　〃there's　one　over　here！〃
　At　once　the　officer　and　Gornt　began　hurrying　toward　him。　〃Is　it　a　man　or　woman？〃
　〃Man；　sah！　I　think　he　said　his　name　was　Barter　or　something　like　that。　。。。〃
　
　Up　at　the　Kotewall　Road　barrier　Venus　Poon　was　enjoying　herself；　the　center　of　all　attention　in　the　lights　of　mobile　radio　and　television　teams。　She　continued　to　read　the　script　that　had　been　thrust　into　her　hand；　changing　it　here　and　there；　dropping　her　voice　a　little；　raising　it；　letting　the　tears　flow　…　though　not　enough　to　spoil　her　makeup　…　describing　the　holocaust　so　that　all　her　listeners　felt　they　were　there　with　her　on　the　slope；　felt　chills　of　horror；　and　thanked　their　joss　that　death　had　passed　them　by　this　time；　and　that　they　and　theirs　were　safe。
　〃The　rain　is　still　falling；〃　she　whispered　into　the　microphone。　〃Where　Rose　Court　tore　away　part　of　the　upper　stories　of　Sinclair　Towers；　seven　dead　already　counted；　four　children；　three　Chinese；　one　English；　more　still　buried。　。。。〃　The　tears　were　seeping　out　of　her　eyes　now。　She　stopped　and　those　watching　caught　their　breath　too。
　In　the　beginning　she　had　almost　torn　her　hair　out　at　the　thought　of　her　apartment　gone　and　all　her　clothes　and　all　her　jewelry　and　her　new　mink。　But　then　she　had　remembered　that　all　her　real　jewelry　was　safely　in　the　jewelers　being　reset　…　a　present　of　her　old　suitor；　Banker　Kwang　…　and　her　mink　was　being　altered　at　the　tailor's。　And　as　to　her　clothes；　pshaw；　Four　Fingers　will　be　happy　to　replace　them！
　Four　Fingers！　Oh　oh　I　hope　that　old　goat　got　out　and　will　be　saved　like　Smiler　Ching；　she　had　prayed　fervently。　Eeeee；　what　a　miracle！　If　one；　why　not　another？　And　surely　no　building　falling　can　kill　old　Ah　Poo。　She'll　survive！　Of　course　she　will！　And　Banker　Kwang　saved！　Didn't　I　weep　with　happiness　that　he　was　saved？　Oh　lucky　lucky　day！　And　now　Profitable　Choy；　such　a　smart；　good…looking　interesting　fellow。　Now　if　he　had　money；　real　money；　he　would　be　the　one　for　me。　No　more　of　these　old　bags　of　fart　with　their　putty　yangs　for　delectable　yin；　the　most　delectable　。。。
　The　producer　could　not　wait　anymore。　He　leaped　for　the　mike　and　said　urgently；　〃We　will　continue　the　report　as　soon　as　Miss　Ven…　〃
　Instantly　she　came　out　of　her　reverie。　〃No；　no；〃　she　said　bravely；　〃the　show　must　go　on！〃　Dramatically　she　wiped　her　tears　away　and　continued　reading　and　improvising；　〃Down　the　slope　members　of　our　glorious　Gurkha　and　Irish　Guards；　heroically　risking　their　lives；　are　digging　out　our　Brothers　and　Sisters。　。。。〃
　〃My　God；〃　an　Englishman　muttered。　〃What　courage！　She　deserves　a　medal；　don't　you　think　so；　old　boy？〃　He　turned　to　his　neighbor　and　was　embarrassed　to　see　the　man　was　Chinese。　〃Oh；　oh　sorry。〃
　Paul　Choy　hardly　heard　him；　his　attention　on　the　stretchers　that　were　ing　back　from　the　wreckage；　the　bearers　slipping　and　sliding　under　the　arc　lamps　that　had　been　erected　a　few　minutes　ago。　He　had　just　e　back　from　the　aid　station　that　was　set　up　at　the　fork　of　Kotewall　Road　under　a　makeshift　overhang　where　frantic　relations　like　himself　were　trying　to　identify　the　dead　or　injured　or　report　the　names　of　those　who　were　missing　and　believed　still　buried。　All　evening　he　had　been　going　back　and　forth　in　case　Four　Fingers　had　been　found　somewhere　else　and　was　ing　in　from　another　direction。　Half　an　hour　ago　one　of　the　firemen　had　broken　through　a　mass　of　wreckage　to　reach　into　the　area　of　the　collapsed　fifth　floor。　That　was　when　Richard　and　Mai…ling　Kwang　had　been　pulled　out；　then　Jason　Plumm　with　half　his　head　missing；　then　others；　more　dead　than　living。
　Paul　Choy　counted　the　stretchers。　Four　of　them。　Three　had　blankets　covering　the　bodies；　two　very　small。　He　shuddered；　thinking　how　fleeting　life　was；　wondering　again　what　would　now　happen　at　the　stock　exchange　tomorrow。　Would　they　keep　it　closed　as　a　mark　of　respect？　Jesus；　if　they　keep　it　closed　all　Monday；　Struan's　is　sure　to　be　at　30　by　Tuesday　opening　…　gotta　be！　His　stomach　churned　and　he　felt　faint。　Friday；　just　before　closing；　he　had　gambled　five　times　every　penny　that　Four　Fingers　had　reluctantly　loaned　him；　buying　on　margin。　Five　times　2　million　HK。　He　had　bought　Struan's；　Blacs；　Victoria　Bank　and　the　Ho…Pak；　gambling　that　somehow　this　weekend　the　tai…pan　would　turn　disaster　into　victory；　that　the　rumors　of　China　being　approached　for　cash　were　true；　and　Blacs　or　the　Victoria　had　a　scam　going。　Ever　since　the　meeting　with　Gornt　at　Aberdeen　when　he　had　put　his　theory　of　a　bail…out　by　Blacs　or　the　Victoria　of　the　Ho…Pak　to　Gornt　and　had　seen　a　flicker　behind　those　cunning　eyes；　he　had　wondered　if　he　had　sniffed　out　a　scam　of　the　Big　Boys。　Oh　sure；　they're　Big　Boys　all　right。　They've　got　Hong　Kong　by　the　shorts；　Jesus；　have　they　got　an　inside　track！　And　Jesus；　oh　Jesus　when　at　the　races　Richard　Kwang　asked　him　to　buy　Ho…Pak　and；　almost　at　once；　Havergill　had　announced　his　takeover；　he　had　gone　to　the　men's　room　and　vomited。　10　million　in　Ho…Pak；　Blacs；　Victoria　and　Struan's；　bought　at　the　bottom　of　the　market。　And　then；　tonight；　when　the　nine　o'clock　news　announced　that　China　was　advancing　half　a　billion　cash　so　all　bank　runs　were　finished；　he　knew　he　was　a　multimillionaire；　a　multi…multimillionaire。
　The　young　man　could　not　hold　his　stomach　together　and　rushed　off　to　the　bushes　by　the　side　of　the　road　and　retched　till　he　thought　he　would　die。
　The　English　bystander　turned　his　back　on　him　and　said　quietly　to　a　friend；　〃These　Chinese　fellows　really　don't　have　much　of　a　stiff　upper　lip；　do　they；　old　boy？〃
　Paul　Choy　wiped　his　mouth；　feeling　terrible；　the　thought　of　all　his　maybe　money；　so　near　now；　too　much　for　him。
　The　stretchers　were　passing。　Numbly　he　followed　them　to　the　aid　station。　In　the　background　under　the　makeshift　overhang；　Dr。　Meng　was　doing　emergency　surgery。　Paul　Choy　watched　Dr。　Tooley　turn　back　the　blankets。　A　European　woman。　Her　eyes　were　open　and　staring。　Dr。　Tooley　sighed　and　closed　them。　The　next　was　an　English　boy　of　ten。　Dead　too。　Then　a　Chinese　child。　The　last　stretcher　was　a　Chinese　man；　bleeding　and　in　pain。　。Quickly　the　doctor　gave　him　a　morphia　injection。
　Paul　Choy　turned　aside　and　was　sick　again。　When　he　came　back　Dr。　Tooley　said　kindly；　〃Nothing　you　can　do　here；　Mr。　Choy。　Here；　this'll　settle　your　stomach。〃　He　gave　him　two　aspirins　and　some　water。　〃Why　don't　you　wait　in　one　of　the　cars？　We'll　tell　you　the　instant　we　hear　anything　about　your　uncle。〃
　〃Yes；　thanks。〃
　More　stretchers　were　arriving。　An　ambulance　pulled　up。　Stretcher　bearers　got　the　tagged　injured　aboard　and　the　ambulance　took　off　into　the　drizzle。　Outside；　away　from　the　stench　of　blood　and　death；　the　young　man　felt　better。
　〃Hello；　Paul；　how're　things　going？〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　hello；　tai…pan。　Fine；　thanks。〃　He　had　encountered　the　tai…pan　earlier　and　told　him　about　Four　Fingers。　Dunross　had　been　shocked　and　very　concerned。
　〃Nothing　yet；　Paul？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　Dunross　hesitated。　〃No　news　is　good　news　perhaps。　If　Smiler　Ching　could　survive；　let's　hope　for　the　best；　eh？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Paul　Choy　had　watched　Dunross　hurry　off　up　the　road　toward　the　barrier；　his　mind　rehashing　all　the　permutations　he　had　worked　out。　With　the　tai…pan's　fantastic　takeover　of　General　Stores　…　that　was　so　smart；　oh　so　smart　…　and　now　sliding　out　of　Gornt's　trap；　his　stock's　gotta　go　to　30。　And　with　Ho…Pak　pegged　at　12。50；　the　moment　that's　back　on　the　board　it's　gotta　go　back　to　20。　Now；　figure　it；　17。5　percent　of　10　million　times　50　is　…　
　〃Mr。　Choy！　Mr。　Choy！〃
　It　was　Dr。　Tooley　beckoning　him　from　the　aid　station。　His　heart　stopped。　He　ran　back　as　fast　as　he　could。
　〃I'm　not　sure　but　follow　me；　please。〃
　There　was　no　mistake。　It　was　Four　Finger　Wu。　He　was　dead；　seemingly　unharmed。　On　his　face　was　a　wonderful　calmness　and　a　strange；　seraphic　smile。
　Tears　spilled　down　Paul　Choy's　cheeks。　He　squatted　beside　the　stretcher；　his　grief　possessing　him。　passionately　Dr。　Tooley　left　him　and　hurried　over　to　the　other　stretchers；　someone　screaming　now；　another　distraught　mother　clutching　the　broken　body　of　a　child　in　her　arms。
　Paul　Choy　stared　at　the　face；　a　good　face　in　death；　hardly　seeing　it。
　Now　what？　he　asked　himself；　wiping　away　his　tears；　not　really　feeling　he　had　lost　a　father　but　rather　the　head　of　the　family；　which　in　Chinese　families　is　worse　than　losing　your　own　father。　Jesus；　now　what？　I'm　not　the　eldest　son　so　I　don't　have　to　make　the　arrangements。　But　even　so；　what　do　I　do　now？
　Sobbing　distracted　him。　It　was　an　old　man　sobbing　over　an　old　woman；　lying　on　a　nearby　stretcher。　So　much　death　here；　too　much；　Paul　Choy　thought。　Yes。　But　the　dead　must　bury　the　dead；　the　living　must　go　on。　I'm　no　longer　bound　to　him。　And　I'm　American。
　He　lifted　the　blanket　as　though　to　cover　Four　Finger　Wu's　face　and　deftly　slipped　off　the　thong　necklace　with　its　half…coin　and　pocketed　it。　Again　making　sure　no　one　was　watching；　he　went　through　the　pockets。　Money　in　a　billfold；　a　bunch　of　keys；　the　personal　pocket　chop。　And　the　diamond　ring　in　its　little　box。
　He　got　up　and　went　to　Dr。　Tooley。　〃Excuse　me；　Doc。　Would　you；　would　you　please　leave　the　old　man　there？　I'll　be　back　with　a　car。　The　family；　we'd　。。。　Is　that　okay？〃
　〃Of　course。　Inform　the　police　before　you　take　him　away；　their　Missing　Persons　is　set　up　at　the　roadblock。　I'll　sign　the　death　certificate　tomorrow。　Sorry　there's　no　ti…　〃　Again　the　kind　man　was　distracted　and　he　went　over　to　Dr。　Meng。　〃Here；　let　me　help。　It's　like　Korea；　eh？〃
　Paul　Choy　walked　down　the　hill；　careless　of　the　drizzle；　his　heart　light；　stomach　settled；　future　settle