jamesclavell.noblehouse-第3章

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。　Leave　all　the　hill　climbs　and　Macao　Grand　Prix　to　the　semiprofessionals。　The　Nikklins　have　more　time　to　spend　on　their　cars；　it's　their　life；　and　now　you've　other　races　to　run；　more　important　ones。〃
　〃Macao's　amateur　and　those　bastards　cheated　last　year。〃
　〃That　was　never　proved　…　your　engine　blew　up。　A　lot　of　engines　blow　up；　Ian。　That　was　just　joss！〃
　〃My　car　was　tampered　with。〃
　〃And　that　was　never　proved　either！　For　Christ's　sake；　you　talk　about　bad　blood？　You're　as　stupid　about　some　things　as　Devil　Struan　himself！〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes；　and…　〃
　Phillip　Chen　interrupted　quickly；　wanting　an　end　to　the　violence　in　the　room。　〃If　it's　so　important；　please　let　me　see　if　I　can　find　out　the　truth。　I've　sources　not　available　to　either　of　you。　My　Chinese　friends　will　know；　should　know；　if　either　Tom　or　young　Donald　Nikklin　were　involved。　Of　course；〃　he　added　delicately；　〃if　the　tai…pan　wishes　to　race；　then　that's　up　to　the　tai…pan。　Isn't　it；　Alastair？〃
　The　older　man　controlled　his　rage　though　his　neck　was　still　choleric。　〃Yes；　yes　you're　right。　Still；　Ian；　my　advice　is　you　cease。　They'll　be　after　you　even　more　because　they　detest　you　equally。〃
　〃Are　there　others　I　should　know　about　…　on　the　list？〃
　After　a　pause；　Struan　said；　〃No；　not　now。〃　He　opened　the　second　bottle　and　poured　as　he　talked。　〃Well；　now　it's　all　yours　…　all　the　fun　and　all　the　sweat。　I'm　glad　to　pass　everything　over　to　you。　After　you've　been　through　the　safe　you'll　know　the　best；　and　the　worst。〃　He　gave　them　each　a　glass　and　sipped　his。　〃By　the　Lord　Jesus；　that's　as　fine　a　wine　as　ever　came　out　of　France。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Phillip　Chen　said。
　Dunross　thought　Dom　Pérignon　overpriced　and　overrated　and　knew　the　year；　'54；　was　not　a　particularly　good　one。　But　he　held　his　peace。
　Struan　went　over　to　the　barometer。　It　read　979。2。　〃We're　in　for　a　bad　one。　Well；　never　mind　that。　Ian；　Claudia　Chen　has　a　file　for　you　on　important　matters；　and　a　plete　list　of　our　stockholdings　…　with　names　of　the　nominees。　Any　questions；　have　them　for　me　before　the　day　after　tomorrow　…　I'm　booked　for　London　then。　You'll　keep　Claudia　on；　of　course。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Claudia　Chen　was　the　second　link　from　tai…pan　to　tai…pan　after　Phillip　Chen。　She　was　executive　secretary　to　the　tai…pan；　a　distant　cousin　to　Phillip　Chen。
　〃What　about　our　bank　…　the　Victoria　Bank　of　Hong　Kong　and　China？〃　Dunross　asked；　savoring　the　question。　〃I　don't　know　our　exact　holdings。〃
　〃That's　always　been　tai…pan　knowledge　only。〃
　Dunross　turned　to　Phillip　Chen。　〃What's　your　holding；　openly　or　through　nominees？〃
　The　pradore　hesitated；　shocked。
　〃In　future　I'm　going　to　vote　your　holdings　as　a　block　with　ours。〃　Dunross　kept　his　eyes　on　the　pradore's。　〃I　want　to　know　now　and　I'll　expect　a　formal　transfer　of　perpetual　voting　power；　in　writing；　to　me　and　following　tai…pans；　tomorrow　by　noon；　and　first　refusal　on　the　shares　should　you　ever　decide　to　sell。〃
　The　silence　grew。
　〃Ian；〃　Phillip　Chen　began；　〃those　shares　。。。〃　But　his　resolve　wavered　under　the　power　of　Dunross's　will。　〃6　percent　。。。　a　little　over　6　percent。　I　。。。　you'll　have　it　as　you　wish。〃
　〃You　won't　regret　it。〃　Dunross　put　his　attention　on　Alastair　Struan　and　the　older　man's　heart　missed　a　beat。　〃How　much　stock　have　we？　How　much's　held　by　nominees？〃
　Alastair　hesitated。　〃That's　tai…pan　knowledge　only。〃
　〃Of　course。　But　our　pradore　is　to　be　trusted；　absolutely；〃　Dunross　said；　giving　the　old　man　face；　knowing　how　much　it　had　hurt　to　be　dominated　in　front　of　Alastair　Struan。　〃How　much？〃
　Struan　said；　〃15　percent。〃
　Dunross　gasped　and　so　did　Phillip　Chen　and　he　wanted　to　shout；　Jesus　bloody　Christ；　we　have　15　percent　and　Phillip　another　6　percent　and　you　haven't　had　the　sodding　intelligence　to　use　what's　got　to　be　a　major　interest　to　get　us　major　funding　when　we're　almost　bankrupt？
　But　instead　he　reached　forward　and　poured　the　remains　of　the　bottle　into　the　three　glasses　and　this　gave　him　time　to　stop　the　pounding　of　his　heart。
　〃Good；〃　he　said　with　his　flat　unemotional　voice。　〃I　was　hoping　together　we'd　make　it　better　than　ever。〃　He　sipped　his　wine。　〃I'm　bringing　forward　the　Special　Meeting。　To　next　week。〃
　Both　men　looked　up　sharply。　Since　1880；　the　tai…pans　of　Struan's；　Rothwell…Gornt　and　the　Victoria　Bank　had；　despite　their　rivalry；　met　annually　in　secret　to　discuss　matters　that　affected　the　future　of　Hong　Kong　and　Asia。
　〃They　may　not　agree　to　bring　the　meeting　forward；〃　Alastair　said。
　〃I　phoned　everyone　this　morning。　It's　set　for　Monday　next　at　9　a。m。　here。〃
　〃Who's　ing　from　the　bank？〃
　〃Deputy　Chief　Manager　Havergill　…　the　old　man's　in　Japan　then　England　on　leave。〃　Dunross's　face　hardened。　〃I'll　have　to　make　do。〃
　〃Paul's　all　right；〃　Alastair　said。　〃He'll　be　the　next　chief。〃
　〃Not　if　I　can　help　it；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃You've　never　liked　Paul　Havergill；　have　you；　Ian？〃　Phillip　Chen　said。
　〃No。　He's　too　insular；　too　Hong　Kong；　too　out　of　date　and　too　pompous。〃
　〃And　he　supported　your　father　against　you。〃
　〃Yes。　But　that's　not　the　reason　he　should　go；　Phillip。　He　should　go　because　he's　in　the　way　of　the　Noble　House。　He's　too　conservative；　far　too　generous　to　Asian　Properties　and　I　think　he's　a　secret　ally　of　Rothwell…Gornt。〃
　〃I　don't　agree；〃　Alastair　said。
　〃I　know。　But　we　need　money　to　expand　and　I　intend　to　get　the　money。　So　I　intend　to　use　my　21　percent　very　seriously。〃
　The　storm　outside　had　intensified　but　they　did　not　seem　to　notice。
　〃I　don't　advise　you　to　set　your　cap　against　the　Victoria；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　gravely。
　〃I　agree；〃　Alastair　Struan　said。
　〃I　won't。　Provided　my　bank　cooperates。〃　Dunross　watched　the　rain　streaks　for　a　moment。　〃By　the　way；　I've　also　invited　Jason…Plumm　to　the　meeting。〃
　〃What　the　hell　for？〃　Struan　asked；　his　neck　reddening　again。
　〃Between　us　and　his　Asian　Properties　we…　〃
　〃Plumm's　on　Dirk　Struan's　oblit　list；　as　you　call　it；　and　absolutely　opposed　to　us。〃
　〃Between　the　four　of　us　we　have　a　majority　say　in　Hong　Kong…　〃　Dunross　broke　off　as　the　phone　rang　loudly。　They　all　looked　at　it。
　Alastair　Struan　said　sourly；　〃It's　your　phone　now；　not　mine。〃　Dunross　picked　it　up。　〃Dunross！〃　He　listened　for　a　moment　then　said；　〃No；　Mr。　Alastair　Struan　has　retired；　I'm　tai…pan　of　Struan's　now。　Yes。　Ian　Dunross。　What's　the　telex　say？〃　Again　he　listened。　〃Yes；　thank　you。〃
　He　put　down　the　phone。　At　length　he　broke　the　silence。　〃It　was　from　our　office　in　Taipei。　Lasting　Cloud　has　foundered　off　the　north　coast　of　Formosa。　They　think　she's　gone　down　with　all　hands。　。。。〃
　
　
　SUNDAY；
August　18；　1963
　
　1
　
　8：45　P。M。：
　The　police　officer　was　leaning　against　one　corner　of　the　information　counter　watching　the　tall　Eurasian　without　watching　him。　He　wore　a　light　tropical　suit　and　a　police　tie　and　white　shirt；　and　it　was　hot　within　the　brightly　lit　terminal　building；　the　air　humid　and　smell…laden；　milling　noisy　Chinese　as　always。　Men；　women；　children；　babes。　An　abundance　of　Cantonese；　some　Asians；　a　few　Europeans。
　〃Superintendent？〃
　One　of　the　information　girls　was　offering　him　a　phone。　〃It's　for　you；　sir；〃　she　said　and　smiled　prettily；　white　teeth；　dark　hair；　dark　sloe　eyes；　lovely　golden　skin。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　noticing　that　she　was　Cantonese　and　new；　and　did　not　mind　that　the　reality　of　her　smile　was　empty；　with　nothing　behind　it　but　a　Cantonese　obscenity。　〃Yes？〃　he　said　into　the　phone。
　〃Superintendent　Armstrong？　This　is　the　tower　…　Yankee　2's　just　landed。　On　time。〃
　〃Still　Gate　16？〃
　〃Yes。　She'll　be　there　in　six　minutes。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　Robert　Armstrong　was　a　big　man　and　he　leaned　across　the　counter　and　replaced　the　phone。　He　noticed　her　long　legs　and　the　curve　of　her　rump　in　the　sleek；　just　too　tight；　uniformed　chong…sam　and　he　wondered　briefly　what　she　would　be　like　in　bed。　〃What's　your　name？〃　he　asked；　knowing　that　any　Chinese　hated　to　be　named　to　any　policeman；　let　alone　a　European。
　〃Mona　Leung；　sir。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mona　Leung。〃　He　nodded　to　her；　kept　his　pale　blue　eyes　on　her　and　saw　a　slight　shiver　of　apprehension　go　through　her。　This　pleased　him。　Up　yours　too；　he　thought；　then　turned　his　attention　back　to　his　prey。
　The　Eurasian；　John　Chen；　was　standing　beside　one　of　the　exits；　alone；　and　this　surprised　him。　Also　that　he　was　nervous。　Usually　John　Chen　was　unperturbable；　but　now　every　few　moments　he　would　glance　at　his　watch；　then　up　at　the　arrivals　board；　then　back　to　his　watch　again。
　Another　minute　and　then　we'll　begin；　Armstrong　thought。
　He　began　to　reach　into　his　pocket　for　a　cigarette；　then　remembered　that　he　had　given　up　smoking　two　weeks　ago　as　a　birthday　present　to　his　wife；　so　he　cursed　briefly　and　stuck　his　hands　deeper　into　his　pockets。
　Around　the　information　counter　harassed　passengers　and　meeters…of…passengers　rushed　up　and　pushed　and　went　away　and　came　back　again；　loudly　asking　the　where　and　when　and　how　and　why　and　where　once　more　in　myriad　dialects。　Cantonese　he　understood　well。　Shanghainese　and　Mandarin　a　little。　A　few　Chu　Chow　expressions　and　most　of　their　swear　words。　A　little　Taiwanese。
　He　left　the　counter　now；　a　head　taller　than　most　of　the　crowd；　a　big；　broad…shouldered　man　with　an　easy；　athletic　stride；　seventeen　years　in　the　Hong　Kong　Police　Force；　now　head　of　CID　…　Criminal　Investigation　Department　…　of　Kowloon。
　〃Evening；　John；〃　he　said。　〃How're　things？〃
　〃Oh　hi；　Robert；〃　John　Chen　said；　instantly　on　guard；　his　English　American…accented。　〃Everything's　great；　thanks。　You？〃
　〃Fine。　Your　airport　contact　mentioned　to　Immigration　that　you　were　meeting　a　special　plane。　A　charter　…　Yankee　2。〃
　〃Yes　…　but　it's　not　a　charter。　It's　privately　owned。　By　Lincoln　Bartlett　…　the　American　millionaire。〃
　〃He's　aboard？〃　Armstrong　asked；　knowing　he　was。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃With　an　entourage？〃
　〃Just　his　Executive　VP　…　and　hatchet　man。〃
　〃Mr。　Bartlett's　a　friend？〃　he　asked；　knowing　he　was　not。
　〃A　guest。　We　hope　to　do　business　with　him。〃
　〃Oh？　Well；　his　plane's　just　landed。　Why　don't　you　e　with　me？　We'll　bypass　all　the　red　tape　for　you。　It's　the　least　we　can　do　for　the　Noble　House；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Thanks　for　your　trouble。〃
　〃No　trouble。〃　Armstrong　led　the　way　through　a　side　door　in　the　Customs　barrier。　Uniformed　police　looked　up；　saluting　him　instantly　and　watched　John　Chen　thoughtfully；　recognizing　him　at　once。
　〃This　Lincoln　Bartlett；〃　Armstrong　continued　with　pretended　geniality；　〃doesn't　mean　anything　to　me。　Should　it？〃
　〃Not　unless　you　were　in　business；〃　John　Chen　said；　then　rushed　on　nervously；　〃He's　nicknamed　'Raider'　…　because　of　his　successful　raids　and　takeovers　of　other　panies；　most　times　much　bigger　than　himself。　Interesting　man；　I　met　him　in　New　York　last　year。　His　conglomerate　grosses　almost　half　a　billion　dollars　a　year。　He　says　he　started　in　'45　with　two　thousand　borrowed　dollars。　Now　he's　into　petrochemicals；　heavy　engineering；　electronics；　missiles　…　lots　of　U。S。　Government　work　…　foam；　polyurethane　foam　products；　fertilizers　…　he　even　has　one　pany　that　makes　and　sells　skis；　sports　goods。　His　group's　Par…Con　Industries。　You　name　it；　he　has　it。〃
　〃I　thought　your　pany　owned　everything　already。〃
　John　Chen　smiled　politely。　〃Not　in　America；〃　he　said；　〃and　it　is　not　my　pany。　I'm　just　a　minor　stockholder　of　Struan's；　an　employee。〃
　〃But　you're　a　director　and　you're　the　eldest　son　of　Noble　H