jamesclavell.noblehouse-第26章

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　ring　…　amid　many　other　rings。　〃Yes；　joss；〃　she　repeated。
　Dunross　nodded；　disliking　her　a　little　more　than　usual。　He　peered　down　at　the　contents　of　the　box　without　touching　them。　Among　loose；　crumpled　newspaper　he　saw　a　fountain　pen　that　he　recognized　as　John　Chen's；　a　driving　license；　some　keys　on　a　key　ring；　a　letter　addressed　to　John　Chen；　14A　Sinclair　Towers；　and　a　small　plastic　bag　with　a　piece　of　cloth　half…stuffed　into　it。　With　a　pen　that　he　took　out　of　his　pocket　he　flipped　open　the　cover　of　the　driving　license。　John　Chen。
　〃Open　the　plastic　bag；〃　Phillip　said。
　〃No。　I　might　mess　up　any　fingerprints　that're　on　it；〃　Dunross　said；　feeling　stupid　but　saying　it　anyway。
　〃Oh…　I'd　forgotten　about　that。　Damn。　Of　course；　fingerprints！　Mine　are　。。。　I　opened　it　of　course。　Mine　must　be　all　over　it　…　all　over　everything。〃
　〃What's　in　it？〃
　〃It's…　〃　Phillip　Chen　came　over　and　before　Dunross　could　stop　him　pulled　the　cloth　out　of　the　plastic；　without　touching　the　plastic　again。　〃You　can't　have　fingerprints　on　cloth；　can　you？　Look！〃　The　cloth　contained　most　of　a　severed　human　ear；　the　cut　clean　and　sharp　and　not　jagged。
　Dunross　cursed　softly。　〃How　did　the　box　arrive？〃　he　asked。
　〃It　was　hand　delivered。〃　Phillip　Chen　shakily　rewrapped　the　ear　and　put　it　back　in　the　box。　〃I　just　。。。　I　just　opened　the　parcel　as　anyone　would。　It　was　hand　delivered　half　an　hour　or　so　ago。〃
　〃By　whom？〃
　〃We　don't　know。　He　was　just　a　youth；　the　servant　said。　A　youth　on　a　motor　scooter。　She　didn't　recognize　him　or　take　any　number。　We　get　lots　of　parcels　delivered。　It　was　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary　…　except　the　'Mr。　Phillip　Chen；　a　matter　of　great　importance；　to　open　personally；'　on　the　outside　of　the　package；　which　she　didn't　notice　at　once。　By　the　time　I'd　opened　it　and　read　the　letter　。。。　it　was　just　a　youth　who　said；　'Parcel　for　Mr。　Phillip　Chen；'　and　went　away。〃
　〃Have　you　called　the　police？〃
　〃No；　tai…pan；　you　said　to　do　nothing。〃
　Dunross　went　to　the　phone。　〃Have　you　got　hold　of　John's　wife　yet？〃
　Dianne　said　at　once；　〃Why　should　Phillip　bear　bad　tidings　to　her？　She'll　throw　a　temperament　that　will　raise　the　roof　tiles　never　mind。　Call　Barbara？　Oh　dear　no；　tai…pan；　not　。。。　not　until　we've　informed　the　police。　They　should　tell　her。　They　know　how　to　do　these　things。〃
　Dunross's　disgust　increased。　〃You'd　better　get　her　here　quickly。〃　He　dialed　police　headquarters　and　asked　for　Armstrong。　He　was　not　available。　Dunross　left　his　name　then　asked　for　Brian　Kwok。
　〃Yes　tai…pan？〃
　〃Brian；　can　you　e　over　here　right　away？　I'm　at　Phillip　Chen's　house　up　on　Struan's　Lookout。　John　Chen's　been　kidnapped。〃　He　told　him　about　the　contents　of　the　box。
　There　was　a　shocked　silence；　then　Brian　Kwok　said；　〃I'll　be　there　right　away。　Don't　touch　anything　and　don't　let　him　talk　to　anyone。〃
　〃All　right。〃
　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　〃Now　give　me　the　letter；　Phillip。〃　He　handled　it　carefully；　holding　it　by　the　edges。　The　Chinese　characters　were　clearly　written　but　not　by　a　well…educated　person。　He　read　it　slowly；　knowing　most　of　the　characters：
　
　Mr。　Phillip　Chen；　I　beg　to　inform　you　that　I　am　badly　in　need　of　500；000　Hong　Kong　currency　and　I　hereby　consult　you　about　it。　You　are　so　wealthy　that　this　is　like　plucking　one　hair　from　nine　oxen。　Being　afraid　that　you　might　refuse　I　therefore　have　no　alternative　but　to　hold　your　son　hostage。　By　doing　so　there　is　not　a　fear　of　your　refusal。　I　hope　you　will　think　it　over　carefully　thrice　and　take　it　into　serious　consideration。　It　is　up　to　you　whether　you　report　to　the　police　or　not。　I　send　herewith　some　articles　which　your　son　uses　every　day　as　proof　of　the　situation　your　son　is　in。　Also　sent　is　a　little　bit　of　your　son's　ear。　You　should　realize　the　mercilessness　and　cruelty　of　my　actions。　If　you　smoothly　pay　the　money　the　safety　of　your　son　will　be　ensured。　Written　by　the　Werewolf。
　
　Dunross　motioned　at　the　box。　〃Sorry；　but　do　you　recognize　the；　er　。。。　that？〃
　Phillip　Chen　laughed　nervously　and　so　did　his　wife。　〃Do　you；　Ian？　You've　known　John　all　your　life。　That's　。。。　how　does　one　recognize　something　like　that；　heya？〃
　〃Does　anyone　else　know　about　this？〃
　〃No；　except　the　servants　of　course；　and　Shitee　T'Chung　and　some　friends　who　were　lunching　with　me　here。　They　。。。　they　were　here　when　the　parcel　arrived。　They；　yes；　they　were　here。　They　left　just　before　you　arrived。〃
　Dianne　Chen　shifted　in　her　chair　and　said　what　Dunross　was　thinking。　〃So　of　course　it　will　be　all　over　Hong　Kong　by　evening！〃
　〃Yes。　And　banner　headlines　by　dawn。〃　Dunross　tried　to　collate　the　multitude　of　questions　and　answers　flooding　his　mind。　〃The　press'll　pick　up　about　the；　er；　ear　and　the　'Werewolf'　and　make　it　a　field　day。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　they　will。〃　Phillip　Chen　remembered　what　Shitee　T'Chung　had　said　the　moment　they　had　all　read　the　letter。　〃Don't　pay　the　ransom　for　at　least　a　week；　Phillip　old　friend；　and　you'll　be　world　famous！　Ayeeyah；　fancy；　a　piece　of　his　ear　and　Werewolf！　Eeeee；　you'll　be　world　famous！〃
　〃Perhaps　it's　not　his　ear　at　all　and　a　trick；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　hopefully。
　〃Yes。〃　If　it　is　John's　ear；　Dunross　thought；　greatly　perturbed；　and　if　they've　sent　it　on　the　first　day　before　any　negotiation　or　anything；　I'll　bet　the　poor　sod's　already　dead。　〃No　point　in　hurting　him　like　that；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course　you'll　pay。〃
　〃Of　course。　It's　lucky　we're　not　in　Singapore；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃　By　law　in　Singapore　now；　the　moment　anyone　was　kidnapped　all　bank　accounts　of　the　family　were　frozen　to　prevent　payment　to　the　kidnappers。　Kidnapping　had　bee　endemic　there　with　almost　no　arrests；　Chinese　preferring　to　pay　quickly　and　quietly　and　say　nothing　to　the　police。　〃What　a　bastard！　Poor　old　John。〃
　Phillip　said；　〃Would　you　like　some　tea　…　or　a　drink？　Are　you　hungry？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I'll　wait　until　Brian　Kwok　gets　here　then　I'll　be　off。〃　Dunross　looked　at　the　box　and　at　the　keys。　He　had　seen　the　key　ring　many　times。　〃The　safety　deposit　key's　missing；〃　he　said。
　〃What　key？〃　Dianne　Chen　asked。
　〃John　always　had　a　deposit　box　key　on　his　ring。〃
　She　did　not　move　from　her　chair。　〃And　it's　not　there　now？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Perhaps　you're　mistaken。　That　he　always　had　it　on　the　ring。〃
　Dunross　looked　at　her　and　then　at　Phillip　Chen。　They　both　stared　back　at　him。　Well；　he　thought；　if　the　crooks　didn't　take　it；　now　Phillip　or　Dianne　have；　and　if　I　were　them　I'd　do　the　same。　God　knows　what　might　be　in　such　a　box。　〃Perhaps　I'm　mistaken；〃　he　said　levelly。
　〃Tea；　tai…pan？〃　Dianne　asked；　and　he　saw　the　shadow　of　a　smile　in　the　back　of　her　eyes。
　〃Yes；　I　think　I　will；〃　he　said；　knowing　they　had　taken　the　key。
　She　got　up　and　ordered　tea　loudly　and　sat　down　again。　〃Eeee；　I　wish　they'd　hurry　up　。。。　the　police。〃
　Phillip　was　looking　out　of　the　window　at　the　parched　garden。　〃I　wish　it　would　rain。〃
　〃I　wonder　how　much　it'll　cost　to　get　John　back；〃　she　muttered。
　After　a　pause；　Dunross　said；　〃Does　it　matter？〃
　〃Of　course　it　matters；〃　Dianne　said　at　once。　〃Really；　tai…pan！〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Phillip　Chen　echoed。　〃500；000！　Ayeeyah；　500；000　…　that's　a　fortune。　Damn　triads！　Well；　if　they　ask　five　I　can　settle　for　150；000。　Thank　God　they　didn't　ask　a　million！〃　His　eyebrows　soared　and　his　face　became　more　ashen。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　kidnappers。　They　should　get　the　chop　…　all　of　them。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dianne　said。　〃Filthy　triads。　The　police　should　be　more　clever！　More　sharp　and　more　clever　and　protect　us　better。〃
　〃Now　that's　not　fair；〃　Dunross　said　sharply。　〃There　hasn't　been　a　major　kidnapping　in　Hong　Kong　for　years　and　it　happens　every　month　in　Singapore！　Crime's　fantastically　low　here　…　our　police　do　a　grand　job　…　grand。〃
　〃Huh；〃　Dianne　sniffed。　〃They're　all　corrupt。　Why　else　be　a　policeman　if　it's　not　to　get　rich？　I　don't　trust　any　of　them。　。。。　We　know；　oh　yes　we　know。　As　to　kidnapping；　huh；　the　last　one　was　six　years　ago。　It　was　my　third　cousin；　Fu　San　Sung　…　the　family　had　to　pay　600；000　to　get　him　back　safely。　。。。　It　nearly　bankrupted　them。〃
　〃Ha！〃　Phillip　Chen　scoffed。　〃Bankrupt　Hummingbird　Sung？　Impossible！〃　Hummingbird　Sung　was　a　very　wealthy　Shanghainese　shipowner　in　his　fifties　with　a　sharp　nose　…　long　for　a　Chinese。　He　was　nicknamed　Hummingbird　Sung　because　he　was　always　darting　from　dance　hall　to　dance　hall；　from　flower　to　flower；　in　Singapore；　Bangkok　and　Taipei；　Hong　Kong；　dipping　his　manhood　into　a　myriad　of　ladies'　honey　pots；　the　rumor　being　it　wasn't　his　manhood　because　he　enjoyed　cunnilingus。
　〃The　police　got　most　of　the　money　back　if　I　remember　rightly；　and　sent　the　criminals　to　jail　for　twenty　years。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan；　they　did。　But　it　took　them　months　and　months。　And　I　wouldn't　mind　betting　one　or　two　of　the　police　knew　more　than　they　said。〃
　〃Absolute　nonsense！〃　Dunross　said。　〃You've　no　cause　to　believe　anything　like　that！　None。〃
　〃Quite　right！〃　Phillip　Chen　said　irritably。　〃They　caught　them；　Dianne。〃　She　looked　at　him。　At　once　he　changed　his　tone。　〃Of　course；　dear；　some　police　may　be　corrupt　but　we're　very　lucky　here；　very　lucky。　I　suppose　I　wouldn't　mind　so　much　about；　about　John　…　it's　only　a　matter　of　ransom　and　as　a　family　we've　been　very　lucky　so　far　…　I　wouldn't　mind　except　for　。。。　for　that。〃　He　motioned　at　the　box　disgustedly。　〃Terrible！　And　totally　uncivilized。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　and　wondered　if　it　wasn't　John　Chen's　ear；　whose　was　it　…　where　do　you　get　an　ear　from？　He　almost　laughed　at　the　ridiculousness　of　his　questions。　Then　he　put　his　mind　back　to　pondering　if　the　kidnapping　was　somehow　tied　in　with　Tsu…yan　and　the　guns　and　Bartlett。　It's　not　like　a　Chinese　to　mutilate　a　victim。　No；　and　certainly　not　so　soon。　Kidnapping's　an　ancient　Chinese　art　and　the　rules　have　always　been　clear：　pay　and　keep　silent　and　no　problem；　delay　and　talk　and　many　problems。
　He　stared　out　of　the　window　at　the　gardens　and　at　the　vast　northern　panorama　of　city　and　seascape　below。　Ships　and　junks　and　sampans　dotted　the　azure　sea。　There　was　a　fine　sky　above　and　no　promise　of　rain　weather；　the　summer　monsoon　steady　from　the　southwest　and　he　wondered　absently　what　the　clippers　had　looked　like　as　they　sailed　before　the　wind　or　beat　up　against　the　winds　in　his　ancestors'　time。　Dirk　Struan　had　always　had　a　secret　lookout　atop　the　mountain　above。　There　the　man　could　see　south　and　east　and　west　and　the　great　Sheung　Sz　Mun　Channel　which　approached　Hong　Kong　from　the　south　…　the　only　path　inward　bound　for　ships　from　home；　from　England。　From　Struan's　Lookout；　the　man　could　secretly　spot　the　ining　mail　ship　and　secretly　signal　below。　Then　the　tai…pan　would　dispatch　a　fast　cutter　to　get　the　mails　first；　to　have　a　few　hours　leeway　over　his　rivals；　the　few　hours　perhaps　meaning　the　trading　difference　between　fortune　and　bankruptcy　…　so　vast　the　time　from　home。　Not　like　today　with　instant　munication；　Dunross　thought。　We're　lucky　…　we　don't　have　to　wait　almost　two　years　for　a　reply　like　Dirk　did。　Christ；　what　a　man　he　must　have　been。
　I　must　not　fail　with　Bartlett。　I　must　have　those　20　million。
　〃The　deal　looks　very　good；　tai…pan；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　as　though　reading　his　mind。
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。〃
　〃If　they　really　put　up　cash　we'll　all　make　a　fortune　and　it'll　be　h'eung　yau　for　the　Noble　House；〃　he　added　with　a　beam。
　Dunross's　smile　was　again　sardonic。　H'eung　yau　meant　〃fragrant　grease〃　and　normally　referred　t