jamesclavell.noblehouse-第246章

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oldtooth　had　said　in　his　clipped　English　English　when　they　were　in　the　final　stages　of　negotiation。
　〃I　figure　we　can　work　together。〃
　〃Let's　be　blunt；　Brother。　We're　both　university　trained；　the　rest　aren't。　We　need　each　other　and　the　Seaborne　Wu　must　be　modernized。　I　can't　do　it。　I　need　serious　help　…　my　years　running　his　Pleasure　Boats　hardly　fit　me　for　mand。　I　kept　asking　but；　well；　you　know　our　father。　Good　God；　I　couldn't　even　change　a　girl's　hourly　rate　without　getting　his　approval。　His　four　fingers　were　on　every　ship；　in　every　transaction　in　the　fleet。〃
　〃Sure；　but　now　if　his　captains'll　go　along　with　change；　in　a　year　you'll　have　the　best…run　Chinese　operation　in　Asia。〃
　〃That's　exactly　what　I　want。　Exactly。〃
　〃What　about　opium？〃
　〃The　Seaborne　Wu　have　always　carried　that　cargo。〃
　〃What　about　guns？〃
　〃What　guns？〃
　〃I　heard　whispers　Four　Fingers　was　going　into　gun…running。〃
　〃I　know　nothing　about　guns。〃
　〃Let's　get　rid　of　the　opium…heroin　racket。　Let's　stay　to　hell　out　of　narcotics。　Isn't　it　true　he　was　joining　up　with　those　two　jokers；　Smuggler　Yuen　and　White　Powder　Lee？〃
　〃Rumors。　I'll　consider　what　you　suggest。　But　let　me　say　I'm　captain　of　the　fleets　and　head　of　the　Seaborne　Wu　now。　My　decision　is　final。　We'll　consult。　You'll　be　consigliere　with　all　that　means；　but　if　I　make　a　decision　it's　final。　For　instance；　I　heard　about　the　coup；　the　stock　market　coup；　that　you　pulled　off　without　his　permission。　It　was　brilliant；　yes；　but　there's　to　be　no　more　of　that　…　I　must　be　consulted　and　must　know　in　advance。〃
　〃Agreed。　But　from　here　on　in；　I'm　also　in　business　on　my　own　account。　I've　resigned　from　Gornt's。　Next；　any　private　dealings　I　began　with　Four　Fingers　are　mine　to　continue。〃
　〃What　are　they？〃
　〃Friday　he　advanced　me　2　million　to　play　the　market。　My　deal　was　17。5　percent　of　the　profits。　I　want　all　the　profits。〃
　〃50　percent。〃
　〃90。　As　of　right　now；　there's　nothing　to　keep　me　in　Hong　Kong。　Even　at　50　percent；　if　I　sell　the　present　holdings　…　and　only　I　know　what　they　are　by　the　way　…　I'm　worth　around　3　million　U。S。〃
　They　had　haggled　and　settled　at　70　percent；　Goldtooth's　30　percent　to　be　deposited　in　a　Swiss　bank；　a　numbered　account。
　〃I　figure　the　market'll　be　on　the　e　for　two　more　days；　then　I　off…load。　My　decision；　okay？〃
　〃Yes。　Profitable　suits　you；　Younger　Brother；　better　than　Paul。　I'd　like　to　stay　with　Profitable。　What　else　were　you　doing　with　Four　Fingers？〃
　〃There　was　one　last　scam。　He　swore　me　to　secrecy；　forever。　Forever；　with　blood　oaths。　I　have　to　honor　his　wish。〃
　Reluctantly　Goldtooth　Wu　had　agreed　and　now；　waiting　for　the　tai…pan　to　answer　him　about　Japan；　the　young　man's　confidence　was　brimming。　I'm　rich。　I've　all　Goldtooth's　power　if　I　need　it；　and　I've　a　U。S。　passport　and　I'm　going　to　Hawaii。　In　Japan　there's　a　chance　I　can　outsmart　Dunross　…　no；　not　outsmart　him；　he's　far　too　good　for　that；　but　maybe　there　I　can　get　a　safe；　fair　shake　to　prove；　once　and　for　all；　my　coin's　real。
　〃Would　Japan　suit　you；　tai…pan？〃　he　repeated。
　〃I　hear　you　made　a　killing　on　the　market？〃
　The　youth　beamed；　not　expecting　the　non　sequitur。　〃Yes　sir。　I'm　about　5。5　million　U。S。　ahead。〃
　Dunross　whistled。　〃That's　not　bad　for　a　couple　of　weeks　work；　Profitable　Choy。　At　15　percent　tax；〃　he　added　innocently。
　The　youth　winced　and　fell　into　the　trap。　〃Hell；　I'm　a　U。S。　citizen；　so　subject　to　U。S。　taxes　every　which　way。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I've　a　couple　of　ideas　that'd　。。。　say；　tai…pan；　we　might　make　a　deal　that'd　be　good　for　you　and　good　for　me。〃
　Dunross　saw　Paul　Choy's　eyes　flatten　and　his　caution　increase。
　〃My　Old　Man　trusted　you；〃　the　youth　said。　〃You　and　he　were　Old　Friends。　Maybe　I　could　inherit　that　…　be　worth　that；　one　day。〃
　〃Return　the　coin　freely　and　I'll　grant　all　sorts　of　favors。〃
　〃First　things　first；　tai…pan。　First　we　find　out　if　my　coin's　real。　Japan；　okay？〃
　〃No。　Here；　or　not　at　all！〃　Dunross　snapped；　deciding　to　gamble。
　Paul　Choy's　eyes　slitted　even　more。　Abruptly　he　decided　too　and　reached　under　his　shirt　and　took　out　the　coin　and　laid　it　on　the　desk。　〃I　ask　a　favor　in　Jin…qua's　name　from　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。〃
　In　the　silence　Dunross　stared　at　the　coin。　〃Well？〃
　〃First；　I　want　Old　Friend　status；　equal　to　Four　Fingers　with　all　that　that　implies。　Second：　I　want　to　be　appointed　a　director　of　Struan's　for　a　four…year　period　at　a　salary　equal　to　other　directors　…　for　face　I'll　buy　a　block　of　shares　at　market　bringing　my　holdings　to　100；000　shares。〃　He　felt　a　bead　of　sweat　drop　off　his　chin　in　the　silence。　〃Next：　I　want　to　joint　venture；　50…50　partners；　a　pharmaceutical　plant　with　Struan's；　capitalized　at　6　million　U。S。　…　I　put　up　half　within　30　days。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　him；　perplexed。　〃To　do　what？〃
　〃The　market　for　pharmaceuticals　throughout　Asia　is　vast。　We　could　make　a　bundle；　given　your　expertise　in　manufacturing；　mine　in　marketing。　Agreed？〃
　〃Is　that　all？　All　the　favor？〃
　〃Three　more　things。　Th…　〃
　〃Only　three？〃　Dunross　asked　witheringly。
　〃Three。　First；　next　year　I'm　going　to　start　another　stock　exchange。　I'll…　〃
　〃You'll　what？〃　Dunross　gaped　at　him；　thrown。　Profitable　Choy　grinned　and　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　face。　〃Sure。　A　stock　exchange　for　Chinese；　run　by　Chinese。〃
　Dunross　laughed　suddenly；　〃You've　got　balls；　Profitable　Choy。　Oh　yes。　Incidentally；　that's　not　a　bad　idea　at　all。　What　about　it；　the　new　exchange？〃
　〃Just　your　benevolent　Old　Friend　assistance　to　get　started；　to　stop　the　big　guys　from　blocking　me。〃
　〃For　50　percent。〃
　〃For　very　favorable　inside　terms。　Very　favorable；　guaranteed。　Next；〃　the　youth　held　on　to　his　hope；　〃I　want　you　to　introduce　me　to　Lando　Mata　and　tell　him　you're　backing　me　as　part　of　my　father's　group　to　bid　for　the　gambling　and　gold　syndicate　monopoly。　All　right？〃
　〃You　said　three　things。　What's　last？〃
　〃In　three　years　a　stewardship　of　the　Turf　Club。　In　that　time　I'll　guarantee　to　donate　a　million　U。S。　to　any　charity　or　charities　you　name；　I'll　back　all　worthy　causes　and　swear　by　God　I'll　make　it　as　easy　for　you　as　I　can。〃　The　young　man　wiped　the　sweat　off。　〃I'm　finished。〃
　Dunross　hesitated。　〃If　the　coin's　real　I'll　agree　to　everything　except　the　part　about　Lando　Mata。〃
　〃No。　That's　part　of　the　deal。〃
　〃I　don't　agree。〃
　〃I've　asked　for　nothing　illegal；　nothing　you　can't　gr…　〃
　〃Lando　Mata's　out！〃
　The　young　man　sighed。　He　took　the　coin　off　the　desk；　stared　at　it。　〃If　that's　out；　then　the　whole　deal's　off　and　I'll　put　Four　Finger　Wu's　ask　in　place。　It's　still　the　same　coin；〃　he　said；　readying　to　play　his　last　card。
　〃And？〃
　〃And　that'll　make　you　party　to　narcotics；　guns　and　everything　you　detest　but　will　have　to　honor。　Sorry；　tai…pan；　but　I'm　bucking　to　be　an　ancestor。〃　He　tossed　the　coin　back　on　the　table。　〃You　choose。〃
　Dunross　was　suddenly　perturbed。　The　favor　was　cleverly　couched。　Nothing　illegal；　nothing　extravagant。　Paul　Choy　had　done　very　well　against　him。　Too　well。　Four　Fingers　was　a　known　quantity。　But　this　one；　this　devil's　spawn？　I　can't　risk　narcotics　…　he　knows　that。
　To　give　himself　time　Dunross　reached　into　his　pocket　and　found　the　little　silk　pouch　and　put　his　coin　on　the　table。　He　moved　his　half　into　the　other。　The　fit　was　perfect。
　Without　knowing　it　both　men　exhaled；　staring　at　the　now…joined　coin　that　would　lock　them　immutably　together。　Dunross　knew　it　was　a　waste　of　time　but　he　would　go　to　the　assayist　anyway。　For　a　moment　he　held　the　two　halves　in　his　hand。　What　to　do　about　this　cocky　young　bugger；　he　asked　himself。　Ah；　now　there's　a　good　thought！　Phillip　Chen　should　be　given　the　problem！
　〃All　right；　Profitable　Choy；〃　he　said　putting　him　very　high　on　his　private　Suspected　Persons　list。　〃I'll　agree　to　grant　your　favor　…　if　your　half's　real　…　except　I'll　ask　Lando；　I　can't　tell　him　anything。　All　right？〃
　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan；　you　won't　regret　it。〃　Wet　with　relief　Profitable　Choy　took　out　a　list　of　names。　〃Here's　all　the　expert　assayists　in　Hong　Kong。　You　like　to　choose　one？　I；　er；　I　checked　and　they're　all　open　to　seven　o'clock。〃
　Dunross　smiled　faintly。　〃You're　very　sure　of　yourself；　Profitable　Choy。〃
　〃Just　try　to　keep　ahead　of　the　game；　sir。〃
　
　Casey　came　out　of　the　Struan　Building　and　went　to　the　waiting　Rolls。　At　once　Lim　opened　the　door　for　her。　She　sank　back　into　the　deep　cushions　feeling　nothing；　knowing　nothing　except　that　her　anguish　was　consuming　her　and　any　moment　she　would　break；　not　even　noticing　Lim　ease　the　car　into　the　heavy　traffic　to　head　for　the　vehicular　ferry。
　Tears　were　very　near。　So　much　time　before　we　leave；　she　thought。　Everything　packed　and　sent　to　the　airplane。　I'm　checked　out；　all　bills　paid；　but　so　much　time　still　left。
　For　a　moment　she　considered　just　stopping　the　car　and　walking　off　but　that　would　have　been　worse；　no　privacy；　no　protection　and　she　felt　so　terrible。　Yet　I've　got　to　get　out；　be　by　myself。　I've　got　to。　Oh　Jesus；　Linc　poor　Linc。　〃Lim；〃　she　said　on　an　impulse；　〃go　to　the　Peak。〃
　〃Missee？〃
　〃Just　drive　to　the　top　of　the　Peak；　to　the　lookout。　Please？〃　she　said；　desperately　trying　to　keep　her　voice　ordinary。　〃I've；　I　haven't　been　there。　I　want　to　see　it　before　I　go。　Please。〃
　〃Yes；　Missee。〃
　Casey　leaned　back　and　closed　her　eyes　against　the　tears　that　poured　out　silently。
　
　90
　
　6：45　P。M。：
　It　was　almost　sunset。
　Up　at　Lo　Wu；　the　central　border　village　between　the　Colony　and　China；　the　usual　crowds　of　Chinese　were　crossing　the　bridge　in　both　directions。　The　bridge　was　barely　fifty　yards　long　and　spanned　a　trickling　muddy　stream　and　yet　those　fifty　yards；　for　some；　were　a　million　miles。　At　both　ends　were　guard　posts　and　immigration　checkpoints　and　customs；　and　in　the　middle；　a　small　removable　barrier。　Two　Hong　Kong　police　stood　there　and　two　PRC　soldiers。　Two　train　tracks　went　across　the　bridge。
　In　the　old　days　trains　came　from　Canton　to　Hong　Kong　and　back　again；　nonstop；　but　now　passenger　trains　stopped　on　either　side　and　passengers　crossed　on　foot。　And　the　trains　themselves　went　back　the　way　they　came。　Freight　trains　from　China　went　through　without　problem。　Most　days。
　Each　day　hundreds　of　locals　crossed　the　border　as　they　would　cross　any　road。　Their　fields　or　work　was　on　both　sides　of　the　border　and　had　been　so　for　generations。　These　border　people　were　a　hardy；　suspicious　lot；　hating　change；　hating　interference；　hating　uniforms；　hating　police　particularly　and　foreigners　of　every　kind。　A　foreigner　to　them；　as　to　most　Chinese；　was　anyone　not　of　their　village。　To　them　there　was　no　border；　could　never　be　a　border。
　The　Lo　Wu　bridge　was　one　of　the　most　sensitive　single　spots　in　all　China　…　it　and　the　other　two　crossing　points。　Of　these；　one　was　at　Mau　Kam　Toh　where　cattle　and　vegetables　came　daily　over　a　rickety　bridge　across　this　same　stream　that　marked　most　of　the　border。　The　last；　at　the　very　eastern　tip　of　the　border；　was　at　the　fishing　village　of　Tau　Kok。　Here　the　border　was　not　marked　but；　by　mon　consent；　was　said　to　run　down　the　middle　of　the　single　village　street。
　These　were　China's　only　contact　points　with　the　West。　Everything　was　meticulously　controlled　and　monitored　…　by　both　sides。　The　tension　and　manner　of　the　guards　was　a　barometer。
　Today　the　guards　on　the　PRC　side　of　Lo　Wu　had　been　jittery。　Because　of　that；　the　Hong　Kong　side　was　nervous　too；　not