jamesclavell.noblehouse-第31章

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　〃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　or　talked　about？〃
　〃No　sir。　We　haven't　been　able　to　interview　her　yet　…　she's　been　at　Struan's　all　day。　Could　it　be　important？〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　Dunross's　party　tonight？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃Brian？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Robert；　I'm　sure　Dunross　won't　mind　if　I　bring　you　with　me；　call　for　me　at　8：00　p。m。　All　Hong　Kong　that　counts　will　be　there　…　you　can　keep　your　ears　to　the　grindstone　and　your　nose　everywhere。〃　He　smiled　at　his　own　joke　and　did　not　mind　that　neither　smiled　with　him。　〃Read　the　report　now。　I'll　be　back　shortly。　And　Brian；　please　don't　fail　tonight。　It　really　would　be　very　boring。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Crosse　left。
　When　they　were　alone　Brian　Kwok　mopped　his　brow。　〃That　bugger　petrifies　me。〃
　〃Yes。　Same　for　me；　old　chum；　always　has。〃
　〃Would　he　really　order　a　team　into　Struan's？〃　Brian　Kwok　asked　incredulously。　〃Into　the　inner　kernel　of　the　Noble　House？〃
　〃Of　course。　He'd　even　lead　it　himself。　This's　your　first　tour　with　SI；　old　lad；　so　you　don't　know　him　like　I　do。　That　bugger'd　lead　a　team　of　assassins　into　hell　if　he　thought　it　important　enough。　Bet　you　he　got　the　file　himself。　Christ；　he's　been　over　the　border　twice　that　I　know　of　to　chat　to　a　friendly　agent。　He　went　alone；　imagine　that！〃
　Brian　gasped。　〃Does　the　governor　know？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　think　so。　He'd　have　a　hemorrhage；　and　if　MI…6　ever　heard；　he'd　be　roasted　and　Crosse'd　get　sent　to　the　Tower　of　London。　He　knows　too　many　secrets　to　take　that　chance　…　but　he's　Crosse　and　not　a　thing　you　can　do　about　it。〃
　〃Who　was　the　agent？〃
　〃Our　guy　in　Canton。〃
　〃Wu　Fong　Fong？〃
　〃No；　a　new　one　…　at　least　he　was　new　in　my　time。　In　the　army。〃
　〃Captain　Ta　Quo　Sa？〃
　Armstrong　shrugged。　〃I　forget。〃
　Kwok　smiled。　〃Quite　right。〃
　〃Crosse　still　went　over　the　border。　He's　a　law　unto　himself。〃
　〃Christ；　you　can't　even　go　to　Macao　because　you　were　in　SI　a　couple　of　years　ago　and　he　goes　over　the　border。　He's　bonkers　to　take　that　risk。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Armstrong　began　to　mimic　Crosse。　〃And　how　is　it　tradesmen　know　things　before　we　do；　dear　boy？　Bloody　simple；〃　he　said；　answering　himself；　and　his　voice　lost　its　banter。　〃They　spend　money。　They　spend　lots　of　bloody　money；　whereas　we've　sweet　f。a。　to　spend。　He　knows　it　and　I　know　it　and　the　whole　world　knows　it。　Christ；　how　does　the　FBI；　CIA；　KGB　or　Korean　CIA　work？　They　spend　money！　Christ；　it's　too　easy　to　get　Alan　Medford　Grant　on　your　team　…　Dunross　hired　him。　Ten　thousand　pounds　retainer；　that'd　buy　lots　of　reports；　that's　more　than　enough；　perhaps　it　was　less。　How　much　are　we　paid？　Two　thousand　quid　a　year　for　three　hundred　and　sixty…six；　twenty…five…hour　days　and　a　copper　on　the　beat　gets　four　hundred　quid。　Look　at　the　red　tape　we'd　have　to　go　through　to　get　a　secret　ten　thousand　quid　to　pay　to　one　man　to　buy　info。　Where'd　the　FBI；　CIA　and　god…cursed　KGB　be　without　unlimited　funds？　Christ；〃　he　added　sourly；　〃it'd　take　us　six　months　to　get　the　money；　if　we　could　get　it；　whereas　Dunross　and　fifty　others　can　take　it　out　of　petty　cash。〃　The　big　man　sat　in　his　chair　slouched　and　loose…limbed；　dark　shadows　under　his　eyes　that　were　red　rimmed；　his　cheekbones　etched　by　the　overhead　light。　He　glanced　at　the　file　on　the　desk　in　front　of　him　but　did　not　touch　it　yet；　just　wondered　at　the　evil　news　it　must　contain。　〃It's　easy　for　the　Dunrosses　of　the　world；〃　he　said。
　Brian　Kwok　nodded　and　wiped　his　hands　and　put　his　kerchief　away。　〃They　say　Dunross's　got　a　secret　fund　…　the　tai…pan's　fund　…　started　by　Dirk　Struan　in　the　beginning　with　the　loot　he　got　when　he　burned　and　sacked　Foochow；　a　fund　that　only　the　current　tai…pan　can　use　for　just　this　sort　of　thing；　for　h'eung　yau　and　payoffs；　anything　…　maybe　even　a　little　murder。　They　say　it　runs　into　millions。〃
　〃I'd　heard　that　rumor　too。　Yes。　I　wish　to　Christ　。。。　oh　well。〃　Armstrong　reached　for　the　file；　hesitated；　then　got　up　and　went　for　the　phone。　〃First　things　first；〃　he　told　his　Chinese　friend　with　a　sardonic　smile。　〃First　we'd　better　breathe　on　a　few　VIPs。〃　He　dialed　Police　HQ　in　Kowloon。　〃Armstrong　…　give　me　Divisional　Staff　Sergeant　Tang…po　please。〃
　〃Good　evening；　sir。　Yes　sir？〃　Divisional　Staff　Sergeant　Tang…po's　voice　was　warm　and　friendly。
　〃Evening；　'Major；〃　he　said　sweetly　using　the　contraction　of　Sergeant　Major　as　was　customary。　〃I　need　information。　I　need　information　on　who　the　guns　were　destined　for。　I　need　information　on　who　the　kidnappers　of　John　Chen　are。　I　want　John　Chen　…　or　his　body　…　back　in　three　days。　And　I　want　this　Werewolf　…　or　Werewolves；　in　the　dock　very　quickly。〃
　There　was　a　slight　pause。　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Please　spread　the　word。　The　Great　White　Father　is　very　angry　indeed。　And　when　he　gets　even　just　a　little　angry　superintendents　get　posted　to　other　mands；　and　so　do　inspectors　…　even　sergeants；　even　divisional　staff　sergeants　class　one。　Some　even　get　demoted　to　police　constable　and　sent　to　the　border。　Some　might　even　get　discharged　or　deported　or　go　to　prison。　Eh？〃
　There　was　an　even　longer　pause。　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃And　when　he's　very　angry　indeed　wise　men　flee；　if　they　can；　before　anticorruption　falls　on　the　guilty　…　and　even　on　innocents。〃
　Another　pause。　〃Yes　sir。　I'll　spread　the　word；　sir；　at　once。　Yes；　at　once。〃
　〃Thank　you；　'Major。　The　Great　White　Father　is　really　very　angry　indeed。　And　oh；　yes。〃　His　voice　became　even　thinner。　〃Perhaps　you'd　ask　your　brother　sergeants　to　help。　They'll　surely　understand；　too；　my　modest　problem　is　theirs　as　well。〃　He　switched　to　Cantonese。　〃When　the　Dragons　belch；　all　Hong　Kong　defecates。　Heya？〃
　A　longer　pause。　〃I'll　take　care　of　it；　sir。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Armstrong　replaced　the　receiver。
　Brian　Kwok　grinned。　〃That's　going　to　cause　a　few　sphincter　muscles　to　oscillate。〃
　The　Englishman　nodded　and　sat　down　again　but　his　face　did　not　lose　its　hardness。　〃I　don't　like　to　pull　that　too　often　…　actually　that's　only　the　second　time　I've　ever　done　it　…　but　I've　no　option。　He　made　that　clear；　so　did　the　Old　Man。　You　better　do　the　same　with　your　sources。〃
　〃Of　course。　'When　the　Dragons　belch　。。。'　You　were　punning　on　the　legendary　Five　Dragons？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Now　Brian　Kwok's　handsome　face　settled　into　a　mold　…　cold　black　eyes　in　his　golden　skin；　his　square　chin　almost　beardless。　〃Tang…po's　one　of　them？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　not　for　certain。　I've　always　thought　he　was；　though　I've　nothing　to　go　on。　No；　I'm　not　certain；　Brian。　Is　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Well；　it　doesn't　matter　if　he　is　or　isn't。　The　word'll　get　to　one　of　them；　which　is　all　I'm　concerned　about。　Personally　I'm　pretty　certain　the　Five　Dragons　exist；　that　they're　five　Chinese　divisional　sergeants；　perhaps　even　station　sergeants；　who　run　all　the　illegal　street　gambling　of　Hong　Kong　…　and　probably；　possibly；　some　protection　rackets；　a　few　dance　halls　and　girls　…　five　out　of　eleven。　Five　senior　sergeants　out　of　eleven　possibilities。　Eh？〃
　〃I'd　say　the　Five　Dragons're　real；　Robert　…　perhaps　there　are　more；　perhaps　less；　but　all　street　gambling's　run　by　police。〃
　〃Probably　run　by　Chinese　members　of　our　Royal　Police　Force；　lad；〃　Armstrong　said；　correcting　him。　〃We've　still　no　proof；　none　…　and　we've　been　chasing　that　will　o'　the　wisp　for　years。　I　doubt　if　we'll　ever　be　able　to　prove　it。〃　He　grinned。　〃Maybe　you　will　when　you're　made　assistant　missioner。〃
　〃e　off　it；　for　God's　sake；　Robert。〃
　〃Christ；　you're　only　thirty…nine；　you've　done　the　special　bigwig　Staff　College　course　and　you're　a　super　already。　A　hundred　to　ten　says　you'll　end　up　with　that　rank。〃
　〃Done。〃
　〃I　should　have　made　it　a　hundred　thousand；〃　Armstrong　said；　pretending　sourness。　〃Then　you　wouldn't　have　taken　it。〃
　〃Try　me。〃
　〃I　won't。　I　can't　afford　to　lose　that　amount　of　tootie　…　you　might　get　killed　or　something；　this　year　or　next；　or　resign　…　but　if　you　don't　you're　in　for　the　big　slot　before　you　retire；　presuming　you　want　to　go　the　distance。〃
　〃Both　of　us。〃
　〃Not　me　…　I'm　too　mad　dog　English。〃　Armstrong　clapped　him　on　the　back　happily。　〃That'll　be　a　great　day。　But　you　won't　close　down　the　Dragons　either　…　even　if　you'll　be　able　to　prove　it；　which　I　doubt。〃
　〃No？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　care　about　the　gambling。　All　Chinese　want　to　gamble　and　if　some　Chinese　police　sergeants　run　illegal　street　gambling　it'll　be　mostly　clean　and　mostly　fair　though　bloody　illegal。　If　they　don't　run　it；　triads　will；　and　then　the　splinter　groups　of　rotten　little　bastards　we　so　carefully　keep　apart　will　join　together　again　into　one　big　tong　and　then　we'll　really　have　a　real　problem。　You　know　me；　lad；　I'm　not　one　to　rock　any　boats；　that's　why　I　won't　make　assistant　missioner。　I　like　the　status　quo。　The　Dragons　run　the　gambling　so　we　keep　the　triads　splintered　…　and　just　so　long　as　the　police　always　stick　together　and　are　absolutely　the　strongest　triad　in　Hong　Kong；　we'll　always　have　peace　in　the　streets；　a　well…ordered　population　and　almost　no　crime；　violent　crime。〃
　Brian　Kwok　studied　him。　〃You　really　believe　that；　don't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　In　a　funny　sort　of　a　way；　right　now　the　Dragons　are　one　of　our　strongest　supports。　Let's　face　it；　Brian；　only　Chinese　can　govern　Chinese。　The　status　quo's　good　for　them　too　…　violent　crime's　bad　for　them。　So　we　get　help　when　we　need　it　…　sometimes；　probably　…　help　that　we　foreign　devils　couldn't　get　any　other　way。　I'm　not　in　favor　of　their　corruption　or　of　breaking　the　law；　not　at　all　…　or　bribery　or　all　the　other　shitty　things　we　have　to　do；　or　informers；　but　what　police　force　in　the　world　could　operate　without　dirty　hands　sometimes　and　snotty　little　bastard　informers？　So　the　evil　the　Dragons　represent　fills　a　need　here；　I　think。　Hong　Kong's　China　and　China's　a　special　case。　Just　so　long　as　it's　just　illegal　gambling　I　don't　care　never　mind。　Me；　if　it　was　left　up　to　me　I'd　make　gambling　legal　tonight　but　I'd　break　anyone　for　any　protection　racket；　any　dance　hall　protection　or　girls　or　whatever。　I　can't　stand　pimps　as　you　know。　Gambling's　different。　How　can　you　stop　a　Chinese　gambling？　You　can't。　So　make　it　legal　and　everyone's　happy。　How　many　years　have　the　Hong　Kong　police　been　advising　that　and　every　year　we're　turned　down。　Twenty　that　I　know　of。　But　oh　no　and　why？　Macao！　Simple　as　that。　Dear　old　Portuguese　Macao　feeds　off　illegal　gambling　and　gold　smuggling　and　that's　what　keeps　them　alive　and　we　can't　afford；　we；　the　UK；　we　can't　afford　to　have　our　old　ally　go　down　the　spout。〃
　〃Robert　Armstrong　for　prime　minister！〃
　〃Up　yours！　But　it's　true。　The　take　on　illegal　gambling's　our　only　slush　fund　…　a　lot　of　it　goes　to　pay　our　ring　of　informers。　Where　else　can　we　get　quick　money？　From　our　grateful　government？　Don't　make　me　laugh！　From　a　few　extra　tax　dollars　from　the　grateful　population　we　protect？　Ha！〃
　〃Perhaps。　Perhaps　not；　Robert。　But　it's　certainly　going　to　backfire　one　day。　The　payoffs　…　the　loose　and　uncounted　money　that　'happens'　to　be　in　a　station　drawer？　Isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but　not　on　me　'cause　I'm　not　in　on　it；　or　a　taker；　and　the　vast　majority　aren't　either。　British　or　Chinese。　Meanwhile　how　do　we　three　hundred　and　twenty…seven　poor　foreign　devil　police　officers　control　eight　odd　thousand　civilized　junior　officers　and　coppers；　and　another　three　and　a　half　million　civilized　little　bastards　who　hate　our