jamesclavell.noblehouse-第244章

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　〃Right　away。　Linc！　Stay　awake。　We're　starting　again。〃
　〃Okay；　no　sweat。　Say；　Ian；　would　you　consider　being　a　best　man？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　he　said　at　once；　his　brain　shouting；　Which　one？　〃It'd　be　an　honor。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　he　heard　Bartlett　say　and　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　know；　he　knew　he　could　never　ask。　He　was　sure　Bartlett　would　volunteer　the　who。　But　all　Bartlett　said　was；　〃Thanks。　Yes；　thanks　very　much。〃　He　smiled；　surprised。　Linc's　learning；　he　told　himself。　It'll　be　good　to　have　him　as　a　partner　…　and　a　voting　member　of　the　Turf　Club。　Casey　too　…　〃We'll　have　you　out　in　a　jiffy！〃
　Just　as　he　was　leaving　he　heard：　〃Wouldn't　it　be　great　if　they　could　be　friends？　Guess　that's　too　much　to　hope　for？〃
　Dunross　was　not　sure　if　it　had　been　meant　for　him。　〃What？〃　he　called　out。
　〃Nothing；〃　Bartlett　replied。　〃Say；　Ian；　we've　got　lots　to　do　this　week！　Hey；　I'm　glad　you　won　over　Gornt！〃　Yes；　he　told　himself　happily。　It'll　be　good　maneuvering　with　you；　watching　you　carefully；　building　our　Noble　House。
　About　eight　yards　away；　a　few　feet　up；　Dunross　turned　awkwardly　and　began　to　climb　back。
　Sixteen　feet　above　him；　Gornt　and　the　others　were　waiting　beside　the　greatly　widened　mouth　of　the　pit。　Dawn　was　lightening　the　east；　a　patch　of　sky　now　among　the　enveloping　clouds。　All　over　the　slope　tired　men　were　still　digging；　searching；　calling　and　listening。　Wearily　Hooks　clambered　out　of　the　deepening　pit。　At　that　moment　there　was　a　tremendous　noise　from　up　near　Po　Shan　Road。　All　heads　jerked　around。　Then　far　above　and　to　the　left　they　saw　part　of　the　slope　moving。　The　noise　increased；　then　a　wall　of　water　and　mud　surged　from　behind　the　curve　of　the　hillside　up　Kotewall　Road　and；　gathering　speed；　rushed　at　them。　Men　began　to　flee　as　the　sludge　crest　swept　down　to　where　the　foyer　had　been　and　poured　over　the　slope　and　wreckage；　inundating　it；　the　enormous　mass　of　the　sludge　pressing　the　crest　forward　and　down。　Gornt　saw　it　ing　and　hung　on　to　an　H…beam；　the　others　hanging　on　as　best　they　could。　The　foul；　stinking　murk　swept　up　to　them　and　passed；　Gornt　buried　to　his　knees　but　his　grip　firm　against　the　suction。　The　wave　surged　onward　leaving　inches　of　slush　over　everything。　Hooks　and　the　others　pulling　themselves　out；　everything　else　momentarily　forgotten。
　Gornt　had　not　forgotten。
　From　where　he　was　he　could　see　down　into　the　pit。　He　saw　Dunross's　hands　and　head　appear　out　of　the　sludge。　The　hands　grabbed　a　hold。　More　sludge　was　sweeping　downward　into　the　pit；　finding　a　level；　filling　it。　Dunross's　grip　slipped　and　he　was　sucked　under　but　he　fought　out　again　and　hung　on　precariously。
　Gornt　watched。　And　waited。　And　did　not　move。　The　mud　poured　down。　The　level　rose　more。
　Dunross　felt　himself　falling；　the　suction　very　great。　He　was　choking　in　the　slime；　but　his　fingers　held；　he　forced　his　toes　into　a　crevice　and　began　to　climb。　Somehow　he　tore　himself　out　of　the　suction　and　now　he　was　safe；　hugging　the　side；　half　out　of　the　mud；　his　chest　heaving；　heart　pounding；　retching。　Still　half　in　shock；　his　knees　trembling；　he　wiped　the　mud　from　his　eyes　and　mouth　and　stared　around　blankly。　Then　he　saw　Gornt　ten　feet　above；　watching　him；　resting　easily　against　an　outcrop　。。。
　For　an　instant　his　whole　being　concentrated；　seeing　the　sardonic　twisted　smile；　the　hate　open　and　disappointment　vast；　and　he　knew　that　if　he　had　been　above　and　Gornt　trapped　as　he　had　been　trapped；　he　would　have　watched　and　waited　too。
　Would　I？
　I'd've　watched　and　waited　equally　and　never　never　a　helping　hand。　Not　for　Gornt。　And　then；　at　long　last；　Dirk　Struan's　curse　would　be　ended；　be　laid　to　rest；　and　those　who　follow　me　never　bedeviled　again。
　Then　the　instant　was　over。　His　head　cleared。　He　remembered　Bartlett　and　he　stared　downward　in　horror。　Where　the　crawlspace　had　been　was　now　only　a　slimy　pool。
　〃Oh　Christ！　Helllp！〃　he　cried　out。　Then　there　was　sudden　pandemonium　and　others　were　in　the　pit；　Hooks　and　firemen　and　soldiers；　and　they　hurled　themselves　impotently　at　the　slime　with　shovels　and　with　hands。
　Dunross　pulled　himself　out。　Shakily　he　stood　on　the　edge。　In　anguish。　Gornt　had　already　gone。　In　a　little　while　all　attempts　ceased。　The　puddle　remained。
　
　
　TUESDAY
　
　89
　
　5：39　P。M。：
　Dunross　stood　at　the　bay　window　of　his　penthouse　atop　the　Struan　Building；　watching　the　harbor。　The　sunset　was　wonderful；　visibility　unlimited；　the　sky　clear　except　for　a　few　tinged　cumulus　westward　over　Mainland　China；　reddish　there；　darkness　touching　the　eastern　horizon。　Below；　the　harbor　was　busy　as　usual；　ordinary　as　usual；　Kowloon　glowing　in　the　falling　sun。
　Claudia　knocked　and　opened　the　door。　Casey　came　in。　Her　face　was　stark；　her　tawny　hair　like　the　sunset。　Her　grief　made　her　ethereal。
　〃Hello；　Casey。〃
　〃Hello；　Ian。〃
　There　was　no　need　to　say　any　more。　Everything　about　Bartlett　had　been　said　already。　It　had　taken　until　late　last　night　to　get　his　body　out。　Casey　had　waited　on　the　slope　for　him。　Then　she　had　gone　back　to　the　hotel。　This　morning　she　had　called　and　now　she　was　here。
　〃Drink？　Tea？　Coffee？　There's　wine。　I　made　martinis。〃
　〃A　martini。　Thanks；　Ian；〃　she　said；　her　voice　flat；　the　hurt　in　it　tearing　him。　〃Yes；　I'd　like　that。〃
　She　sat　on　the　sofa。　He　poured　and　put　in　an　olive。　〃Everything　can　wait；　Casey；〃　he　said　passionately。　〃There's　no　hurry。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know。　But　we　agreed。　Thanks。〃　She　accepted　the　chilled　glass　and　raised　it。　〃Joss。〃
　〃Joss。〃
　She　sipped　the　ice…cold　liquor；　all　her　movements　studied；　almost　apart　from　herself；　then　opened　her　briefcase　and　put　a　manila　envelope　on　his　desk。　〃This　contains　all　the　John　Chen　papers　about　Struan's　and　everything　he　offered　or　told　us。　These're　all　the　copies　I　have　here。　The　ones　in　the　States　I'll　shred。〃　Casey　hesitated。　〃You're　sure　to　have　made　changes　by　now　but；　well；　it's　all　there。〃
　〃Thanks。　Did　Linc　give　anything　to　Gornt？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。〃　Again　the　hesitation。　〃For　safety　I'd　consider　part　of　the　information　leaked。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Next；　our　Par…Con…Struan　deal。〃　The　sheaf　of　documents　she　gave　him　was　quite　thick。　〃All　six　copies　are　signed　and　sealed　with　the　corporate　seal。　I've　the　executive　power　to　sign。〃　She　hesitated。　〃We　had　a　deal；　Linc　and　I。　I　willed　him　voting　power　of　all　my　stock　for　ten　years；　he　did　the　same　for　me。　So　I'm　head　of　Par…Con。〃
　Dunross's　eyes　widened　slightly。　〃For　ten　years？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said　without　emotion；　feeling　nothing；　wanting　nothing　except　to　weep　and　to　die。
　Later　I　can　be　weak；　she　thought。　Now　I　must　be　strong　and　wise。　〃For　ten　years。　Linc　。。。　Linc　had　voting　control。　I'll　send　you　a　formal　verification　when　it's　official。〃
　Dunross　nodded。　From　the　lacquer　desk　he　brought　back　an　equivalent　set　of　papers。　〃These　are　the　same。　I've　chopped　them　formally。　This〃　…　he　put　an　envelope　onto　the　pile　…　〃this's　our　private　agreement　giving　Par…Con　title　to　my　ships　as　collateral。〃
　〃Thanks。　But　with　your　revolving　fund　that's　not　necessary。〃
　〃Even　so；　it　was　part　of　our　agreement。〃　Dunross　watched　her；　admiring　her　courage。　There　had　been　no　tears　at　the　new　beginning　on　the　slope；　just　a　numbed　nod　and；　〃I'll　wait。　I'll　wait　until　。。。　I'll　wait。〃　Orlanda　had　broken　at　once。　He　had　sent　her　to　a　hotel　and；　later；　a　doctor　to　succor　her。　〃It　was　part　of　our　deal。〃
　〃All　right。　Thanks。　But　it's　not　necessary。〃
　〃Next：　Here　is　the　letter　of　agreement　on　our　deal　on　General　Stores。　I'll　get　you　the　formal　documents　within　ten　days。　I'll　nee…　〃
　〃But　Linc　never　put　up　the　2　million。〃
　〃Oh　but　he　did。　He　did　it　by　cable　Saturday　night。　My　Swiss　bank　confirmed　the　transaction　yesterday　and　the　money　was　duly　passed　over　to　the　board　of　General　Stores。　They　accepted　so　that　deal's　acplished　now。〃
　〃Even　though　Pug's　dead？〃
　〃Yes。　His　widow　agreed　to　the　board's　remendation。　It's　a　very　good　deal　by　the　way。　Far　better　than　the　Superfoods　tender。〃
　〃I　don't　want　that；　any　part　of　that。〃
　〃When　I　was　down　in　the　pit；　chatting　with　Linc；　he　said　how　happy　he　was　that　the　General　Stores　deal　was　going　through。　His　exact　words　were；　'Great！　5　mill？　I　always　wanted　her　to　get　her　drop　dead　money。　She　always　wanted　to　be　independent；　and　now；　she　is。　Great！'〃
　〃But　at　what　a　cost；〃　she　told　him；　her　misery　welling。　〃Linc　always　warned　me　that　drop　dead　money　costs　more　than　you're　prepared　to　pay。　It　has。　I　don't　want　it。〃
　〃Money　is　money。　You're　not　thinking　clearly。　It　was　his　to　give　and　he　gave　it　to　you。　Freely。〃
　〃You　gave　it　to　me。〃
　〃You're　wrong；　he　did。　I　just　helped　you　as　you　helped　me。〃　He　sipped　his　drink。　〃I'll　need　to　know　where　to　send　his　profits。　You'll　remember　there　were　no　voting　rights　included。　Who's　his　trustee？〃
　〃It's　a　bank。　First　Central。　I'm　his　executor；　along　with　a　man　from　the　bank。〃　She　hesitated。　〃I　guess　his　mother's　his　heir。　She's　the　only　one　named　in　his　will　…　Linc；　Linc　was　open　about　that；　to　me。　His　ex…wife　and　their　kids　are　well　taken　care　of　and　specifically　excluded　from　his　will。　There's　just　the　voting　control　to　me　and　the　rest　goes；　the　rest　to　his　ma。〃
　〃Then　she'll　be　very　rich。〃
　〃That　won't　help　her。〃　Casey　was　trying　very　hard　to　keep　her　voice　level　and　the　tears　away。　〃I　talked　to　her　last　night　and　she　broke　up；　poor　lady。　She's　。。。　she's　in　her　sixties；　nice　woman。　Linc's　her　only　son。〃　A　tear　seeped　in　spite　of　her　resolve。　〃She；　she　asked　me　to　bring　him　back。　His　will　says　he's　to　be　cremated。〃
　〃Look；　Casey；〃　Dunross　said　quickly；　〃perhaps　I　could　make　the　arr…　〃
　〃No。　Oh　no；　thanks；　Ian。　Everything's　done。　I've　done　it。　I　wanted　to　do　it。　The　airplane's　cleared　and　all　the　paper　work　done。〃
　〃When　do　you　leave？〃
　〃At　ten　tonight。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Dunross　was　surprised。　〃I'll　be　there　to　see　you　off。〃
　〃No；　no　thanks。　The　car's　fine　but　there's　no　ne…　〃
　〃I　insist。〃
　〃No。　Please？〃　She　looked　at　him；　begging　him。　After　a　moment　he　said；　〃What's　your　plan？〃
　〃Nothing　very　much。　I'm　going　to　。。。　I'm　going　to　make　sure　all　his　wishes　are　taken　care　of；　papers；　his　will；　and　wind　up　his　affairs。　Then　I'll　reorganize　Par…Con　…　I'll　try　to　reorganize　it　as　he'd　want；　and　then；　then　I　don't　know。　All　that'll　take　me　thirty　days。　Maybe　I'll　be　back　in　thirty　days　to　begin；　maybe　I'll　send　Forrester　or　someone　else。　I　don't　know。　I'll　let　you　know　in　thirty　days。　Everything's　covered　till　then。　You've　got　my　numbers。　Please　call　me　anytime　if　there's　a　problem。〃　She　started　to　get　up　but　he　stopped　her。
　〃Before　you　go　there's　something　I　should　tell　you。　I　didn't　last　night　because　the　time　wasn't　right。　Perhaps　now　is；　I'm　not　sure；　but　just　before　I　left　Linc　he　asked　me　if　I'd　consider　being　a　best　man。〃　He　saw　Casey　go　white　and　rushed　on。　〃I　told　him　it　would　be　an　honor。〃
　〃He　said　me？　He　wanted　to　marry　me？〃　she　asked　incredulously。
　〃We'd　been　talking　about　you。　Doesn't　that　follow？〃
　〃He　never　mentioned　Orlanda？〃
　〃Not　at　that　time。　No。　Earlier　on　he'd　been　very　concerned　about　her　because　he　was　in　her　flat　and　didn't　know　what　had　happened　to　her。〃　Dunross　watched　her。　〃When　I　told　him　she　was　safe　he　was　very　relieved；　naturally。　When　I　told　him　you'd　almost　been　caught　in　the　landslide　he　almost　had　a　heart　attack。　Then；　just　as　I　was　leaving　I　heard　him　say　softly；　'Guess　it'd　be　too　much　to　hope