jamesclavell.noblehouse-第243章

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　〃I'm　going　to　move　the　light　around；　sah。　Please　if　it　gets　near；　please　give　me　right　or　left；　up　or　down；　sah。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Bartlett　could　see　a　tiny　part　of　light　up　and　to　his　right　through　a　mass　of　the　beams；　girders　and　joists　and　broken　rooms。　Directly　above　him　was　an　impenetrable　mess　of　flooring　and　girders。　Once　he　lost　the　light　beam　but　soon　picked　it　up　again。　〃Right　a　bit；〃　he　called；　his　voice　already　a　little　hoarse。　Obediently　the　light　moved。　〃Down！　Stop　there！　Now　up　a　fraction。〃　It　seemed　to　take　an　age　but　the　light　centered　on　him。　〃That's　it！〃
　The　soldier　held　the　flash　steadily；　made　a　cradle　for　it　with　rubble；　then　took　his　hand　away。　'〃All　right；　sah？〃　he　shouted。
　〃Yesss！　You're　on　the　money！〃
　〃I'm　going　back　for　more　help。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　The　soldier　retreated。　In　ten　minutes　he　had　guided　Hooks　back。　The　fire　chief　gauged　the　path　of　the　beam　and　meticulously　examined　the　obstacle　course　ahead。　〃Stone　the　crows；　it'll　take　a　month　of　Sundays；〃　he　muttered。　Then；　containing　his　dread；　he　took　out　his　pass　and　measured　the　angle　carefully。
　〃Don't　you　worry；　mate；〃　he　called　down。　〃We'll　get　you　out　nice　and　easy。　Can　you　get　closer　to　the　light？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃Just　stay　where　you　are　and　rest。　Are　you　hurt？〃
　〃No；　no　but　I　can　smell　gas。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　lad；　we're　not　far　away。〃　Hooks　clambered　out　of　the　passage。　On　the　surface　again；　he　measured　the　line　on　the　pass　and　then　paced　out　over　the　tilted　surface。　〃He's　below　this　spot；　tai…pan；　Mr。　Gornt；　within　five　feet　or　so；　about　twenty　feet　down。〃　They　were　two　thirds　of　the　way　down　the　slope；　closer　to　Sinclair　Road　than　to　Kotewall。　There　was　no　way　in　from　the　sides　that　they　could　see；　mud　and　earth　of　the　slide　heavier　to　the　right　than　to　the　left。
　〃The　only　thing　we　can　do's　dig；〃　he　said　with　finality。　〃We　can't　get　a　crane　here；　so　it's　elbow　grease。　We'll　try　here　first。〃　Hooks　indicated　an　area　that　seemed　promising；　ten　feet　away；　close　to　the　hole　the　soldiers　had　discovered。
　〃Why　there？〃
　〃Safer；　tai…pan；　in　case　we　start　the　whole　mess　a…shifting。　e　on；　mates；　lend　a　hand。　But　take　care！〃
　So　they　began　to　dig　and　to　carry　away　everything　removable。　It　was　very　hard　work。　All　surfaces　were　wet　and　treacherous；　the　wreckage　itself　unbalanced。　Beams；　joists；　flooring；　planks；　concrete；　plaster；　pots；　radios；　TV　sets；　bureaus；　clothes；　all　in　an　untidy　impossible　jumble。　Work　stopped　as　they　uncovered　another　body。
　〃Get　a　medic　up　here！〃　Hooks　shouted。
　〃She's　alive？〃
　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking。〃　The　woman　was　old；　her　once　white　smock　and　black　trousers　tattered　and　mud…colored；　her　long　hair　tied　in　a　ratty　queue。　It　was　Ah　Poo。
　〃Someone's　gan　sun；〃　Dunross　said。
　Gornt　was　staring　incredulously　at　the　place　she　had　been　found；　a　tiny　hole　within　an　ugly；　almost　solid；　jagged　mess　of　broken　and　reinforced　concrete。　〃How　the　hell　do　people　survive？〃
　Hooks's　face　split　with　his　grin；　his　broken　teeth　brown　and　tobacco　stained。　〃Joss；　Mr。　Gornt。　There's　always　hope　so　long　as　a　body　can　breathe。　Joss。〃　Then　he　bellowed　below。　〃Send　a　stretcher　up　here；　Charlie！　On　the　double！〃
　It　came　quickly。　The　stretcher　bearers　carried　her　away。　Work　continued。　The　pit　deepened。　An　hour　later；　four　or　five　feet　lower　they　were　blocked　by　tons　of　steel　beams。　〃We'll　have　to　detour；〃　Hooks　said。　Patiently　they　began　again。　A　few　feet　later　again　blocked。　〃Detour　over　there。〃
　〃Can't　we　saw　through　this　mess？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　tai…pan；　but　one　spark　and　we're　all　bloody　angels。　e　on；　lads。　Here。　Let's　try　here。〃
　Men　rushed　to　obey　。。。
　
　88
　
　4：10　A。M。：
　Bartlett　could　hear　them　loudly　now。　From　time　to　time　dust　and　dirt　would　cascade；　sodden　rubble　in　its　wake；　as　timbers　and　beams　and　mess　above　were　removed。　His　rescuers　seemed　to　be　about　ten　yards　away　as　far　as　he　could　judge；　still　five　or　six　feet　above　him；　the　trickle　of　light　making　the　waiting　easier。　His　own　escape　was　blocked　all　around。　Earlier　he　had　considered　going　back；　down　under　this　flooring；　then　down　again　to　try　to　find　another　route　and　seek　better　safety　that　way。
　〃Better　wait；　Mr。　Bartlett！〃　Hooks　had　shouted　to　him。　〃We　knows　where　you　be！〃
　So　he　had　stayed。　He　was　rain　soaked；　lying　on　some　boards；　not　too　unfortably　and　well　protected　by　heavy　beams。　Most　of　his　line　of　sight　was　blocked　a　few　feet　away。　Above　was　more　twisted　flooring。　There　was　just　enough　room　to　lie　down　or；　with　care；　to　sit　up。　The　smell　of　gas　was　strong　but　he　had　no　headache　yet　and　felt　he　was　safe　enough；　the　air　good　enough　to　last　forever。　He　was　tired；　very　tired。　Even　so；　he　forced　himself　to　stay　awake。　From　his　vantage　point　he　knew　it　would　take　them　the　rest　of　the　night；　perhaps　part　of　the　day；　to　work　a　shaft　to　him。　That　did　not　worry　him　at　all。　They　were　there。　And　he　had　made　contact。　An　hour　ago　he　had　heard　Dunross　nearby。　〃Linc？　Linc；　it's　Ian！〃
　〃What　the　hell're　you　doing　here？〃　he　had　called　back　happily。
　〃Looking　for　you。　Don't　worry；　we're　not　far　away。〃
　〃Sure。　Say；　Ian；〃　he　had　begun；　his　anxiety　almost　overwhelming；　〃Orlanda；　Orlanda　Ramos；　you　know　her？　I　was　wai…　〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　saw　her　just　after　the　slip　hit　the　building。　She's　fine。　She's　waiting　up　at　Kotewall。　She's　fine。　How　about　you？〃
　〃Hell；　no　sweat；〃　he　had　said；　almost　light…headed　now；　knowing　she　was　safe。　And　when　Dunross　had　told　him　about　his　own　miraculous　escape　and　that　Casey　had　seen　the　whole　catastrophe　happen；　he　was　appalled　at　the　thought　of　how　close　the　others　had　all　been　to　disaster。　〃Jesus！　A　couple　of　minutes　either　way　and　you'd　all've　been　clobbered。〃
　〃Joss！〃
　They　had　chatted　for　a　while　then　Dunross　had　moved　out　of　the　way　so　the　rescue　could　continue。
　Thinking　about　Orlanda　now；　another　tremor　shook　him　and　again　he　thanked　God　that　she　was　safe　and　Casey　was　safe。　Orlanda'd　never　make　it　underground；　he　thought。　Casey　maybe；　but　not　Orlanda。　Never。　But　that's　no　loss　of　face　either。
　He　eased　himself　more　fortably；　his　soaking　clothes　making　his　skin　crawl；　the　shouts　and　noises　of　the　approaching　rescue　forting。　To　pass　the　time；　he　continued　his　reverie　about　the　two　women。　I've　never　known　a　body　like　Orlanda's　or　a　woman　like　her。　It's　almost　as　though　I've　known　her　for　years；　not　a　couple　of　days。　That's　a　fact。　She's　exciting；　unknown；　female；　wonderfully　dangerous。　Casey's　no　danger。　She'd　make　a　great　wife；　a　great　partner　but　she's　not　female　like　Orlanda　is。　Sure　Orlanda　likes　pretty　clothes；　expensive　presents；　and　if　what　people　here　say　is　true　she'll　spend　money　like　there's　no　tomorrow。　But　isn't　that　what　most　of　it's　for？　My　ex's　taken　care　of；　so're　the　kids。　Shouldn't　I　have　some　fun？　And　be　able　to　protect　her　from　the　Biltzmanns　of　the　world？
　Sure。　But　I　still　don't　know　what　it　is　about　her　…　or　Hong　Kong　…　that's　got　to　me。　It's　the　best　place　I've　ever　been　and　I　feel　more　at　home　here　than　back　home。　〃Maybe；　Linc；　you've　been　here　in　a　previous　lifetime；〃　Orlanda　had　said。
　〃You　believe　in　reincarnation？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Wouldn't　that　be　wonderful；　he　thought　in　his　reverie；　not　noticing　the　gas　or　that　now　the　gas　was　touching　him　a　little。　To　have　more　than　one　lifetime　would　be　the　best　luck　in　all　the　world　an…　
　〃Linc！〃
　〃Hey！　Hi；　Ian；　what's　cooking？〃　Bartlett's　happiness　picked　up。　Dunross's　voice　was　quite　close。　Very　close。
　〃Nothing。　We're　just　going　to　take　a　short　break。　It's　heavy　going。　We've　got　to　detour　again　but　we're　only　a　few　yards　away。　Thought　I'd　chat。　As　far　as　we　can　judge　we're　about　five　feet　above　you；　ing　in　from　the　west。　Can　you　see　us　yet？〃
　〃No。　There's　a　floor　above　me；　all　busted　up；　and　beams；　but　I'm　okay。　I　can　last　out　easy。　Hey；　you　know　something？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Tonight's　the　first　time　you　called　me　Linc。〃
　〃Oh？　I　hadn't　noticed。〃
　Bullshit；　Bartlett　thought　and　grinned　to　himself。　〃What　y…　〃　A　sudden　chill　took　both　men　as　the　wreckage　began　groaning；　twisting　here　and　there。　In　a　moment　the　noise　ceased；　most　of　it。　Bartlett　began　to　breathe　easier。　〃What　you　going　to　do　tomorrow？〃
　〃What　about？〃
　〃The　stock　market。　How　are　you　going　to　beat　Gornt？〃　He　listened　with　growing　awe　as　Dunross　told　him　about　the　Bank　of　China's　money；　Plumm's　party　and　his　challenge　to　Gornt；　backed　by　his　new　50　million　revolving　fund。
　〃Fantastic！　Who's　supporting　you；　Ian？〃
　〃Father　Christmas！〃
　Bartlett　laughed。　〃So　Murtagh　came　through；　huh？〃　He　heard　the　silence　and　smiled　again。
　〃Casey　told　you？〃
　〃No。　No；　I　had　that　figured。　I　told　you　Casey's　as　smart　as　a　whip。　So　you're　home　free。　Congratulations；〃　he　said　with　a　grin；　meaning　it。　〃I　thought　I　had　you；　Ian。〃　Bartlett　laughed。　〃You　really　think　your　stock'll　open　at　30？〃
　〃I'm　hoping。〃
　〃If　you're　hoping；　that　means　you　and　your　pals　have　fixed　it。　But　Gornt's　smart。　You　won't　get　him。〃
　〃Oh　yes　I　will。〃
　〃No　you　won't！　How　about　our　deal？〃
　〃Par…Con？　That　stands　of　course。　I　thought　that　was　all　arranged？〃
　Bartlett　heard　the　dry　innocence。　〃Quillan　must　be　fit　to　be　tied。〃
　〃He　is！　He's　just　above。　He's　helping　too。〃
　Bartlett　was　surprised。　〃Why？〃
　There　was　a　pause。　〃Quillan's　a　first…class；　twenty…four…carat　berk　but　。。。　I　don't　know。　Maybe　he　likes　you！〃
　〃Screw　you　too！〃　Bartlett　was　equally　good…natured。　〃What're　you　going　to　do　about　Quillan？〃
　〃I've　made　him　a　proposal。〃　Dunross　told　it　to　him。
　Bartlett　grunted。　〃So　my　2　mill's　down　the　sewer？〃
　〃Of　course。　That　2　million　is。　But　your　share　of　the　General　Stores　takeover'll　bring　you　5；　perhaps　more；　our　Struan…Par…Con　deal　much　more。〃
　〃You　really　figure　5？〃
　〃Yes。　You　5；　Casey　5。〃
　〃Great！　I　always　wanted　her　to　get　her　drop　dead　money。〃　I　wonder　what　she'll　do　now？　he　asked　himself。　〃She's　always　wanted　to　be　independent　and　now　she　is。　Great！　What？〃　he　asked；　missing　what　Dunross　had　said。
　〃I　just　said；　would　you　like　to　talk　to　her？　It's　dicey　but　safe　enough。〃
　〃No；〃　Bartlett　said　firmly。　〃Just　say　hi；　I　can　say　it　better　when　I'm　out。〃
　〃Casey's　said　she's　not　moving　till　you　are。〃　There　was　a　slight　pause。　〃Orlanda　too。　How　about　her？　You　want　to　say　hello　or　anything？〃
　〃No　thanks。　Plenty　of　time　later。　Tell　them　both　to　go　home。〃
　〃They　won't。　I'm　afraid　you're　rather　popular。〃
　Bartlett　laughed　and　sat　up　and　bumped　his　head。　A　pain　snaked　down　his　back　and　he　grunted；　then　moved　more　fortably；　his　head　almost　touching　the　roof。
　Dunross　was　cramped　in　a　small　space　not　far　away　at　the　bottom　of　the　twisting　passage；　hating　the　closeness；　his　claustrophobia　nauseating；　a　chill　cold　sweat　soaking　him　because　of　it。　He　could　see　no　sign　of　Bartlett　but　he　had　noted　his　voice　sounded　strong　and　confident。　Hooks　had　asked　him　to　keep　Bartlett　talking　while　they　rested；　in　case　the　gas　was　enveloping　him。　〃You　never　know；　tai…pan；　gas　can　sneak　up　on　you。　We　need　him　alert。　We'll　be　needing　his　help　soon　now。〃
　The　tai…pan　squirmed　around　uneasily；　sensing　danger。　Someone　was　climbing　down；　rubble　cascading　with　him。　It　was　Hooks。　He　stopped　a　few　feet　above。
　〃All　right；　tai…pan。　Best　e　out　now；　we'll　get　some　of　my　lads　back　in。〃
　〃Right　away。　Linc！　Stay　awake。　We're　starting　again。〃
　〃Okay；　no　sweat。　Say；　Ian；　would　you　consider