jamesclavell.noblehouse-第30章

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　〃It's　not　the　British　way；　Brian；〃　he　had　always　said　to　his　friend。　〃I'm　for　a　fair；　open　trial。〃
　〃What's　it　matter？　Be　practical；　Robert。　You　know　the　bastards're　all　guilty　…　that　they're　the　enemy；　mie　enemy　agents　who　twist　our　rules　to　stay　here；　to　destroy　us　and　our　society　…　aided　and　abetted　by　a　few　bastard　lawyers　who'd　do　anything　for　thirty　pieces　of　silver；　or　less。　The　same　in　Canada。　Christ；　we　had　the　hell　of　a　time　in　the　RCMP；　our　own　lawyers　and　politicians　were　the　enemy　…　and　recent　Canadians　…　curiously　always　British　…　all　socialist　trades　unionists　who　were　always　in　the　forefront　of　any　agitation。　What　does　it　matter　so　long　as　you　get　rid　of　the　parasites？〃
　〃It　matters；　that's　what　I　think。　And　they're　not　all　mie　villains　here。　There's　a　lot　of　Nationalist　villains　who　want　to…　〃
　〃The　Nationalists　want　mies　out　of　Hong　Kong；　that's　all。〃
　〃Balls！　Chiang　Kai…shek　wanted　to　grab　the　Colony　after　the　war。　It　was　only　the　British　navy　that　stopped　him　after　the　Americans　gave　us　away。　He　still　wants　sovereignty　over　us。　In　that　he's　no　different　from　Mao　Tse…tung！〃
　〃If　SI　doesn't　have　the　same　freedom　as　the　enemy　how　are　we　going　to　keep　us　out　of　the　creek？〃
　〃Brian；　lad；　I　just　said　I　don't　like　being　in　SI。　You're　going　to　enjoy　it。　I　just　want　to　be　a　copper；　not　a　bloody　Bond！〃
　Yes；　Armstrong　thought　grimly；　just　a　copper；　in　CID　until　I　retire　to　good　old　England。　Christ；　I've　enough　trouble　now　with　the　god…cursed　Werewolves。　He　looked　back　at　Crosse　and　kept　his　face　carefully　nonmittal　and　waited。
　Crosse　watched　him　then　tapped　the　file。　〃According　to　this　we're　very　much　deeper　in　the　mire　than　even　I　imagined。　Very　distressing。　Yes。〃　He　looked　up。　〃This　report　refers　to　previous　ones　sent　to　Dunross。　I'd　certainly　like　to　see　them　as　soon　as　possible。　Quickly　and　quietly。〃
　Armstrong　glanced　at　Brian　Kwok。　〃How　about　Claudia　Chen？〃
　〃No。　No　chance。　None。〃
　〃Then　what　do　you　suggest；　Brian？〃　Crosse　asked。　〃I　imagine　my　American　friend　will　have　the　same　idea　。。。　and　if　he's　been　misguided　enough　to　pass　on　the　file；　a　copy　of　the　file；　to　the　director　of　the　CIA　here　。。。　I　really　would　be　very　depressed　if　they　were　there　first　again。〃
　Brian　Kwok　thought　a　moment。　〃We　could　send　a　specialized　team　into　the　tai…pan's　executive　offices　and　his　penthouse；　but　it'd　take　time　…　we　just　don't　know　where　to　look　…　and　it　would　have　to　be　at　night。　That　one　could　be　hairy；　sir。　The　other　reports　…　if　they　exist　…　might　be　in　a　safe　up　at　the　Great　House；　or　at　his　place　at　Shek…O　…　even　at　his；　er；　at　his　private　flat　at　Sinclair　Towers　or　another　one　we　don't　even　know　about。〃
　〃Distressing；〃　Crosse　agreed。　〃Our　intelligence　is　getting　appallingly　lax　even　in　our　own　bailiwick。　Pity。　If　we　were　Chinese　we'd　know　everything；　wouldn't　we；　Brian？〃
　〃No　sir；　sorry　sir。〃
　〃Well；　if　you　don't　know　where　to　look　you'll　have　to　ask。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Ask。　Dunross's　always　seemed　to　be　cooperative　in　the　past。　After　all　he　is　a　friend　of　yours。　Ask　to　see　them。〃
　〃And　if　he　says；　no；　or　that　they　were　destroyed？〃
　〃You　use　your　talented　head。　You　cajole　him　a　little；　you　use　a　little　art；　you　warm　to　him；　Brian。　And　you　barter。〃
　〃Do　we　have　something　current　to　barter　with；　sir？〃
　〃Nelson　Trading。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Part's　in　the　report。　Plus　a　modest　little　piece　of　information　I'll　be　delighted　to　give　you　later。〃
　〃Yes　sir；　thank　you　sir。〃
　〃Robert；　what　have　you　done　to　find　John　Chen　and　the　Werewolf　or　Werewolves？〃
　〃The　whole　of　CID's　been　alerted；　sir。　We　got　the　number　of　his　car　at　once　and　that's　on　a　1098。　We've　interviewed　his　wife　Mrs。　Barbara　Chen；　among　others　…　she　was　in　hysterics　most　of　the　time；　but　lucid；　very　lucid　under　the　flood。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　She's　。。。　Well；　you　understand。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃She　said　it　wasn't　unusual　for　her　husband　to　stay　out　late　…　she　said　he　had　many　late　business　conferences　and　sometimes　he'd　go　early　to　the　track　or　to　his　boat。　I'm　fairly　certain　she　knew　he　was　a　man　about　town。　Retracing　his　movements　last　night's　been　fairly　easy　up　to　2：00　a。m。　He　dropped　Casey　Tcholok　at　the　Old　Vic　at　about　10：30…　〃
　〃Did　he　see　Bartlett　last　night？〃
　〃No　sir；　Bartlett　was　in　his　aircraft　at　Kai　Tak　all　the　time。〃
　〃Did　John　Chen　talk　to　him？〃
　〃Not　unless　there's　some　way　for　the　airplane　to　link　up　with　our　phone　system。　We　had　it　under　surveillance　until　the　pickup　this　morning。〃
　〃Go　on。〃
　〃After　dropping　Miss　Tcholok　…　I　discovered　it　was　his　father's　Rolls　by　the　way　…　he　took　the　car　ferry　to　the　Hong　Kong　side　where　he　went　to　a　private　Chinese　club　off　Queen's　Road　and　dismissed　the　car　and　chauffeur；　。。。〃　Armstrong　took　out　his　pad　and　referred　to　it。　〃。。。　It　was　the　Tong　Lau　Club。　There　he　met　a　friend　and　business　colleague；　Wo　Sang　Chi；　and　they　began　to　play　mah…jong。　About　midnight　the　game　broke　up。　Then；　with　Wo　Sang　Chi　and　the　two　other　players；　both　friends；　Ta　Pan　Fat；　a　journalist；　and　Po　Cha　Sik；　a　stockbroker；　they　caught　a　taxi。〃　Robert　Armstrong　heard　himself　reporting　the　facts；　falling　into　the　familiar　police　pattern　and　this　pleased　him　and　took　his　mind　off　the　file　and　all　the　secret　knowledge　he　possessed；　and　the　problem　of　the　money　that　he　needed　so　quickly。　I　wish　to　God　I　could　just　be　a　policeman；　he　thought；　detesting　Special　Intelligence　and　the　need　for　it。　〃Ta　Pan　Fat　left　the　taxi　first　at　his　home　on　Queen's　Road；　then　Wo　Sang　Chi　left　on　the　same　road　shortly　afterwards。　John　Chen　and　Po　Cha　Sik　…　we　think　he's　got　triad　connections；　he's　being　checked　out　now　very　carefully　…　went　to　the　Ting　Ma　Garage　on　Sunning　Road；　Causeway　Bay；　to　collect　John　Chen's　car；　a　1960　Jaguar。〃　Again　he　referred　to　his　notebook；　wanting　to　be　accurate；　finding　the　Chinese　names　confusing　as　always；　even　after　so　many　years。　〃A　garage　apprentice；　Tong　Ta　Wey；　confirms　this。　Then　John　Chen　drove　his　friend　Po　Cha　Sik　to　his　home　at　17　Village　Street　in　Happy　Valley；　where　the　latter　left　the　car。　Meanwhile　Wo　Sang　Chi；　John　Chen's　business　colleague；　who；　curiously；　heads　Struan's　haulage　pany　which　has　the　monopoly　of　cartage　to　and　from　Kai　Tak；　had　gone　to　the　Sap　Wah　Restaurant　on　Fleming　Road。　He　states　that　after　being　there　for　thirty　minutes；　John　Chen　joined　him　and　they　left　the　restaurant　in　Chen's　car；　intending　to　pick　up　some　dancing　girls　in　the　street　and　take　them　to　supper　…　〃
　〃He　wouldn't　even　go　to　the　dance　hall　and　buy　the　girls　out？〃　Crosse　asked　thoughtfully。　〃What's　the　going　rate；　Brian？〃
　〃Sixty　dollars　Hong　Kong；　sir；　at　that　time　of　night。〃
　〃I　know　Phillip　Chen's　got　the　reputation　of　being　a　miser；　but　is　John　Chen　the　same？〃
　〃At　that　time　of　night；　sir；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　helpfully；　〃lots　of　girls　start　leaving　the　clubs　if　they　haven't　arranged　a　partner　yet　…　most　of　the　clubs　close　around　1：00　a。m。　…　Sunday's　not　a　good　pay　night；　sir。　It's　quite　usual　to　cruise；　there's　certainly　no　point　in　wasting　sixty；　perhaps　two　or　three　times　sixty　dollars；　because　the　decent　girls　are　in　twos　or　threes　and　you　usually　take　two　or　three　to　dinner　first。　No　point　wasting　all　that　money　is　there；　sir？〃
　〃Do　you　cruise；　Brian？〃
　〃No　sir。　No　need　…　no　sir。〃
　Crosse　sighed　and　turned　back　to　Armstrong。　〃Go　on；　Robert。〃
　〃Well　sir；　they　failed　to　pick　up　any　girls　and　went　to　the　Copacabana　Night　Club　in　the　Sap　Chuk　Hotel　in　Gloucester　Road　for　supper；　getting　there　about　one　o'clock。　About　1：45　a。m。　they　left　and　Wo　Sang　Chi　said　he　saw　John　Chen　get　into　his　car；　but　he　did　not　see　him　drive　off　…　then　he　walked　home；　as　he　lived　nearby。　He　said　John　Chen　was　not　drunk　or　bad…tempered；　anything　like　that；　but　seemed　in　good　spirits；　though　earlier　at　the　club；　the　Tong　Lau　Club；　he'd　appeared　irritable　and　cut　the　mah…jong　game　short。　There　it　ends。　John　Chen's　not　known　to　have　been　seen　again　by　any　of　his　friends　…　or　family。〃
　〃Did　he　tell　Wo　Sang　Chi　where　he　was　going？〃
　〃No。　Wo　Sang　Chi　told　us　he　presumed　he　was　going　home　…　but　then　he　said；　'He　might　have　gone　to　visit　his　girl　friend。'　We　asked　him　who；　but　he　said　he　didn't　know。　After　pressing　him　he　said　he　seemed　to　remember　a　name；　Fragrant　Flower；　but　no　address　or　phone　number　…　that's　all。〃
　〃Fragrant　Flower？　That　could　cover　a　multitude　of　ladies　of　the　night。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Crosse　was　lost　in　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Why　would　Dunross　want　John　Chen　eliminated？〃
　The　two　police　officers　gaped　at　their　superior。
　〃Put　that　in　your　abacus　brain；　Brian。〃
　〃Yes　sir；　but　there's　no　reason。　John　Chen's　no　threat　to　Dunross；　wouldn't　possibly　be　…　even　if　he　became　pradore。　In　the　Noble　House　the　tai…pan　holds　all　the　power。〃
　〃Does　he？〃
　〃Yes。　By　definition。〃　Brian　Kwok　hesitated；　thrown　off　balance　again。　〃Well　yes　sir　…　I　。。。　in　the　Noble　House；　yes。〃
　Crosse　turned　his　attention　to　Armstrong。　〃Well？〃
　〃No　reason　I　can　think　of；　sir。　Yet。〃
　〃Well　think　about　it。〃
　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette　and　Armstrong　felt　the　smoke　hunger　pangs　heavily。　I'll　never　keep　my　vow；　he　thought。　Bloody　bastard　Crosse…that…we…all…have…to…carry！　What　the　hell's　in　his　mind？　He　saw　Crosse　offer　him　a　packet　of　Senior　Service；　the　brand　he　always　used　to　smoke　…　don't　fool　yourself；　he　thought；　the　brand　you　still　smoke。　〃No　thank　you　sir；〃　he　heard　himself　say；　shafts　of　pain　in　his　stomach　and　through　all　of　him。
　〃You're　not　smoking；　Robert？〃
　〃No　sir；　I've　stopped　。。。　I'm　just　trying　to　stop。〃
　〃Admirable！　Why　should　Bartlett　want　John　Chen　eliminated？〃
　Again　both　police　officers　gawked　at　him。　Then　Armstrong　said　throatily；　〃Do　you　know　why；　sir？〃
　〃If　I　knew；　why　should　I　ask　you？　That's　for　you　to　find　out。　There's　a　connection　somewhere。　Too　many　coincidences；　too　neat；　too　pat　…　and　too　smelly。　Yes　it　smells　of　KGB　involvement　to　me；　and　when　that　happens　in　my　domain　I　must　confess　I　get　irritable。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Well；　so　far　so　good。　Put　surveillance　on　Mrs。　Phillip　Chen　…　she　could　easily　be　implicated　somewhere。　The　stakes　for　her　are　certainly　high　enough。　Tail　Phillip　Chen　for　a　day　or　two　as　well。〃
　〃That's　already　done；　sir。　Both　of　them。　On　Phillip　Chen；　not　that　I　suspect　him　but　just　because　I　think　they'll　both　do　the　usual　…　be　uncooperative；　keep　mum；　negotiate　secretly；　pay　off　secretly　and　breathe　a　sigh　of　relief　once　it's　over。〃
　〃Quite。　Why　is　it　these　fellows　…　however　well　educated　…　think　they're　so　much　smarter　than　we　are　and　won't　help　us　do　the　work　we're　paid　to　do？〃
　Brian　Kwok　felt　the　steely　eyes　grinding　into　him　and　the　sweat　trickled　down　his　back。　Control　yourself；　he　thought。　This　bastard's　only　a　foreign　devil；　an　uncivilized；　manure…eating；　dung…ladened；　motherless；　dew　neh　loh　moh　saturated；　monkey…descended　foreign　devil。　〃It's　an　old　Chinese　custom　which　I'm　sure　you　know；　sir；〃　he　said　politely；　〃to　distrust　all　police；　all　government　officials　…　they've　four　thousand　years　of　experience；　sir。〃
　〃I　agree　with　the　hypothesis；　but　with　one　exception。　The　British。　We　have　proved　beyond　all　doubt　we're　to　be　trusted；　we　can　govern；　and；　by　and　large；　our　bureaucracy's　incorruptible。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Crosse　watched　him　for　a　moment；　puffing　his　cigarette。　Then　he　said；　〃Robert；　do　you　know　what　John　Chen　and　Miss　Tcholok　said