jamesclavell.noblehouse-第28章

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　〃The　writing　could　have　been　a　civilized　person's；　yes　…　equally　it　could　have　been　done　by　a　quai　loh　pretending　to　be　a　civilized　person。　But　if　he　or　she　was　a　civilized　person　that　doesn't　necessarily　mean　that　the　same　person　who　did　the　act　wrote　the　letter。〃
　〃I　know　that。　What　are　the　odds　that　John　Chen's　dead？〃
　〃From　the　mutilation？〃
　〃From　the　fact　that　the　Werewolf；　or　more　probably　Werewolves；　sent　the　ear　even　before　starting　negotiations。〃
　The　little　man　smiled　and　said　dryly；　〃You　mean　old　Sun　Tzu's　'kill　one　to　terrorize　ten　thousand'？　I　don't　know。　I　don't　speculate　on　such　imponderables。　I　only　estimate　odds　on　horses；　Brian；　or　the　stock　market。　What　about　John　Chen's　Golden　Lady　on　Saturday？〃
　〃She's　got　a　great　chance。　Definitely。　And　Struan's　Noble　Star　…　Gornt's　Pilot　Fish　and　even　more；　Richard　Kwang's　Butterscotch　Lass。　She'll　be　the　favorite　I'll　bet。　But　Golden　Lady's　a　real　goer。　She'll　start　about　three　to　one。　She's　a　flier　and　the　going'll　be　good　for　her。　Dry。　She's　useless　in　the　wet。〃
　〃Ah；　any　sign　of　rain？〃
　〃Possible。　They　say　there's　a　storm　ing。　Even　a　sprinkle　could　make　all　the　difference。〃
　〃Then　it　better　not　rain　till　Sunday；　heya？〃
　〃It　won't　rain　this　month　…　not　unless　we're　enormously　lucky。〃
　〃Well　if　it　rains　it　rains　and　if　it　doesn't　it　doesn't　never　mind！　Winter's　ing　…　then　this　cursed　humidity　will　go　away。〃　Dr。　Meng　glanced　at　the　wall　clock。　It　was　5：35　p。m。　〃How　about　a　quick　one　before　we　go　home？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I've　still　got　a　few　things　to　do。　Bloody　nuisance　this。〃
　〃Tomorrow　I'll　see　what　clues　I　can　e　up　with　from　the　cloth；　or　the　wrapping　paper　or　the　other　things。　Perhaps　fingerprinting　will　help　you；〃　the　doctor　added。
　〃I　wouldn't　bet　on　that。　This　whole　operation　is　very　smelly。　Very　smelly　indeed。〃
　Dr。　Meng　nodded　and　his　voice　lost　its　gentleness。　〃Anything　to　do　with　the　Noble　House　and　their　puppet　House　of　Chen's　smelly。　Isn't　it？〃
　Brian　Kwok　switched　to　sei　yap；　one　of　the　main　dialects　of　the　Kwantung　Province；　spoken　by　many　Hong　Kong　Cantonese。　〃Eh；　Brother；　don't　you　mean　any　and　all　capitalist　running　dogs　are　smelly；　of　which　the　Noble　House　and　the　House　of　Chen　are　chief　and　dung　heavy？〃　he　said　banteringly。
　〃Ah；　Brother；　don't　you　know　yet；　deep　in　your　head；　that　the　winds　of　change　are　whirling　throughout　the　world？　And　China　under　the　immortal　guidance　of　Chairman　Mao；　and　Mao　Thought；　is　the　lead　…　〃
　〃Keep　your　proselytizing　to　yourself；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　coldly；　switching　back　to　English。　〃Most　of　the　thoughts　of　Mao　are　out　of　the　writings　of　Sun　Tzu；　Confucius；　Marx；　Lao　Tsu　and　others。　I　know　he's　a　poet　…　a　great　one　…　but　he's　usurped　China　and　there's　no　freedom　there　now。　None。〃
　〃Freedom？〃　the　little　man　said　defiantly。　〃What's　freedom　for　a　few　years　when；　under　the　guidance　of　Chairman　Mao；　China's　once　more　China　and　has　taken　back　her　rightful　place　in　the　world。　Now　China　is　feared　by　all　filthy　capitalists！　Even　by　revisionist　Russia。〃
　〃Yes。　I　agree。　For　that　I　thank　him。　Meanwhile　if　you　don't　like　it　here　go　home　to　Canton　and　sweat　your　balls　off　in　your　munist　paradise　and　dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　munists　…　and　their　fellow　travelers！〃
　〃You　should　go　there；　see　for　yourself。　It's　propaganda　that　munism's　bad　for　China。　Don't　you　read　the　newspapers？　No　one's　starving　now。〃
　〃What　about　the　twenty…odd　million　who　were　murdered　after　the　takeover？　What　about　all　the　brainwashing？〃
　〃More　propaganda！　Just　because　you've　been　to　English　and　Canadian　public　schools　and　talk　like　a　capitalist　swine　doesn't　mean　you're　one　of　them。　Remember　your　heritage。〃
　〃I　do。　I　remember　it　very　well。〃
　〃Your　father　was　mistaken　to　send　you　away！〃　It　was　mon　knowledge　that　Brian　Kwok　had　been　born　in　Canton　and；　at　the　age　of　six；　sent　to　school　in　Hong　Kong。　He　was　such　a　good　student　that　in　'37；　when　he　was　twelve；　he　had　won　a　scholarship　to　a　fine　public　school　in　England　and　had　gone　there；　and　then　in　'39；　with　the　beginning　of　World　War　II；　the　whole　school　was　evacuated　to　Canada。　In　'42；　at　eighteen；　he　had　graduated　top　of　his　class；　senior　prefect；　and　had　joined　the　Royal　Canadian　Mounted　Police　in　their　plainclothes　branch　in　Vancouver's　huge　Chinatown。　He　spoke　Cantonese；　Mandarin；　sei　yap；　and　had　served　with　distinction。　In　'45　he　had　requested　a　transfer　to　the　Royal　Hong　Kong　Police。　With　the　reluctant　approval　of　the　RCMP；　who　had　wanted　him　to　stay　on；　he　had　returned。　〃You're　wasted　working　for　them；　Brian；〃　Dr。　Meng　continued。　〃You　should　serve　the　masses　and　work　for　the　Party！〃
　〃The　Party　murdered　my　father　and　my　mother　and　most　of　my　family　in　'43！〃
　〃There　was　never　proof　of　that！　Never。　It　was　hearsay。　Perhaps　the　Kuomintang　devils　did　it　…　there　was　chaos　then　in　Canton。　I　was　there；　I　know！　Perhaps　the　Japanese　swine　were　responsible　…　or　triads　…　who　knows？　How　can　you　be　certain？〃
　〃I'm　certain；　by　God。〃
　〃Was　there　a　witness？　No！　You　told　me　that　yourself！〃　Meng's　voice　rasped　and　he　peered　up　at　him　myopically。　〃Ayeeyah；　you're　Chinese；　use　your　education　for　China；　for　the　masses；　not　for　the　capitalist　overlord。〃
　〃Up　yours！〃
　Dr。　Meng　laughed　and　his　glasses　fell　on　to　the　top　of　his　nose。　〃You　wait；　Superintendent　Kar…shun　Kwok。　One　day　your　eyes　will　open。　One　day　you　will　see　the　beauty　of　it　all。〃
　〃Meanwhile　get　me　some　bloody　answers！〃　Brian　Kwok　strode　out　of　the　laboratory　and　went　up　the　corridor　to　the　elevator；　his　shirt　sticking　to　his　back。　I　wish　it　would　rain；　he　thought。
　He　got　into　the　elevator。　Other　policemen　greeted　him　and　he　them。　At　the　third　floor　he　got　out　and　walked　along　the　corridor　to　his　office。　Armstrong　was　waiting　for　him；　idly　reading　a　Chinese　newspaper。　〃Hi；　Robert；〃　he　said；　pleased　to　see　him。　〃What's　new？〃
　〃Nothing。　How　about　you？〃
　Brian　Kwok　told　him　what　Dr。　Meng　had　said。
　〃That　little　bugger　and　his　'could　possiblys'！　The　only　thing　he's　ever　emphatic　about's　a　corpse　…　and　even　then　he'll　have　to　check　a　couple　of　times。〃
　〃Yes　…　or　about　Chairman　Mao。〃
　〃Oh；　he　was　on　that　broken　record　again？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Brian　Kwok　grinned。　〃I　told　him　to　go　back　to　China。〃
　〃He'll　never　leave。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Brian　stared　at　the　pile　of　papers　in　his　in　tray　and　sighed。　Then　he　said；　〃It's　not　like　a　local　to　cut　off　an　ear　so　soon。〃
　〃No；　not　if　it's　a　proper　kidnapping。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃It　could　be　a　grudge　and　the　kidnapping　a　cover；〃　Armstrong　said；　his　well…used　face　hardening。　〃I　agree　with　you　and　Dunross。　I　think　they　did　him　in。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　〃Perhaps　John　was　trying　to　escape；　started　a　fight；　and　they　or　he　panicked　and　before　they　or　he　knew　what　was　happening；　they　or　he'd　knifed　him；　or　bonked　him　with　a　blunt　instrument。〃　Armstrong　sighed　and　stretched　to　ease　the　knot　in　his　shoulders。　〃In　any　event；　old　chap；　our　Great　White　Father　wants　this　solved　quickly。　He　honored　me　with　a　call　to　say　the　governor　had　phoned　personally　to　express　his　concern。〃
　Brian　Kwok　cursed　softly。　〃Foul　news　travels　quickly！　Nothing　in　the　press　yet？〃
　〃No；　but　it's　all　over　Hong　Kong　and　we'll　have　a　red　hot　wind　fanning　our　tails　by　morning。　Mr。　Bloody　Werewolf　Esquire　…　assisted　by　the　pox…ridden；　black…hearted；　uncooperative　Hong　Kong　press　…　will；　I　fear；　cause　us　nothing　but　grief　until　we　catch　the　bastard；　or　bastards。〃
　〃But　catch　him　we　will；　oh　yes；　catch　him　we　will！〃
　〃Yes。　How　about　a　beer　…　or　better；　a　very　large　gin　and　tonic？　I　could　use　one。〃
　〃Good　idea。　Your　stomach　off　again？〃
　〃Yes。　Mary　says　it's　all　the　good　thoughts　I　keep　bottled　up。〃　They　laughed　together　and　headed　for　the　door　and　were　in　the　corridor　when　the　phone　rang。
　〃Leave　the　bloody　thing；　don't　answer　it；　it's　only　trouble；〃　Armstrong　said；　knowing　neither　he　nor　Brian　would　ever　leave　it。
　Brian　Kwok　picked　up　the　phone　and　froze。
　It　was　Roger　Crosse；　senior　superintendent；　director　of　Special　Intelligence。　〃Yes　sir？〃
　〃Brian；　would　you　please　e　up　right　away。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Is　Armstrong　with　you？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Bring　him　too。〃　The　phone　clicked　off。
　〃Yes　sir。〃　He　replaced　the　receiver　and　felt　the　sweat　on　his　back。
　〃God　wants　us；　on　the　double。〃
　Armstrong's　heart　jumped　a　beat。　〃Eh？　Me？〃　He　caught　up　with　Brian　who　was　heading　for　the　elevator。　〃What　the　hell　does　he　want　me　for？　I'm　not　in　SI　now。〃
　〃Ours　not　to　reason　why；　ours　just　to　shit　when　he　murmurs。〃
　Brian　Kwok　pressed　the　up　button。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Got　to　be　important。　The　Mainland　perhaps？〃
　〃Chou　En…lai's　ousted　Mao　and　the　moderates're　in　power？〃
　〃Dreamer！　Mao'll　die　in　office　…　the　Godhead　of　China。〃
　〃The　only　good　thing　you　can　say　about　Mao　is　that　he's　Chinese　first　and　mie　second。　God…cursed　mies！〃
　〃Hey；　Brian；　maybe　the　Soviets　are　hotting　up　the　border　again。　Another　incident？〃
　〃Could　be。　Yes。　War's　ing　…　yes；　war's　ing　between　Russia　and　China。　Mao's　right　in　that　too。〃
　〃The　Soviets　aren't　that　stupid。〃
　〃Don't　bet　on　it；　old　chum。　I've　said　it　before　and　I've　said　it　again；　the　Soviets　are　the　world　enemy。　There'll　be　war　…　you'll　soon　owe　me　a　thousand　dollars；　Robert。〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　pay　that　bet。　The　killing'll　be　hideous。〃
　〃Yes。　But　it'll　still　happen。　Again　Mao's　right　in　that。　It'll　be　hideous　all　right　…　but　not　catastrophic。〃　Irritably　Brian　Kwok　punched　the　elevator　button　again。　He　looked　up　suddenly。　〃You　don't　think　the　invasion　from　Taiwan's　launched　at　long　last？〃
　〃That　old　chestnut？　That　old　pipe　dream？　e　off　it；　Brian！　Chiang　Kai…shek'll　never　get　off　Taiwan。〃
　〃If　he　doesn't　the　whole　world's　in　the　manure　pile。　If　Mao　gets　thirty　years　to　consolidate　。。。　Christ；　you've　no　idea。　A　billion　automatons？　Chiang　was　so　right　to　go　after　the　mie　bastards　…　they're　the　real　enemy　of　China。　They're　the　plague　of　China。　Christ；　if　they　get　time　to　Pavlov　all　the　kids。〃
　Armstrong　said　mildly；　〃Anyone'd　think　you're　a　running　dog　Nationalist。　Simmer　down；　lad；　everything's　lousy　in　the　world　which　is　now　and　ever　shall　be　normal　…　but　you；　capitalist　dog；　you　can　go　racing　Saturday；　hill　climbing　Sunday　and　there're　lots　of　birds　ready　to　be　plucked。　Eh？〃
　〃Sorry。〃　They　got　into　the　elevator。　〃That　little　bastard　Meng　caught　me　off　balance；〃　Brian　said；　stabbing　the　top…floor　button。
　Armstrong　switched　to　Cantonese。　〃Thy　mother　on　your　sorry；　Brother。　〃
　〃And　thine　was　stuffed　by　a　vagrant　monkey　with　one　testicle　in　a　pail　of　pig's　nightsoil。〃
　Armstrong　beamed。　〃That's　not　bad；　Brian；〃　he　said　in　English。　〃Not　bad　at　all。〃
　The　elevator　stopped。　They　walked　along　the　drab　corridor。　At　the　door　they　prepared　themselves。　Brian　knocked　gently。
　〃e　in。〃
　Roger　Crosse　was　in　his　fifties；　a　thin　tall　man　with　pale　blue　eyes　and　fair　thinning　hair　and　small；　long…fingered　hands。　His　desk　was　meticulous；　like　his　civilian　clothes　…　his　office　Spartan。　He　motioned　to　chairs。　They　sat。　He　continued　to　read　a　file。　At　length　he　closed　it　carefully　and　set　it　in　front　of　him。　The　cover　was　drab；　interoffice　and　ordinary。　〃An　American　millionaire　arrives　with　smuggled　guns；　an　ex…drug　peddling；　very　suspect　Shanghainese　millionaire　flees　to　Taiwan；　and　now　a　VIP　kidnapping　with；　God　help　us；　Werewolves　and　a　mutilated　ear。　All　in　nineteen…odd　hours。