jamesclavell.noblehouse-第35章

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cted。　It　was　very　rare　for　anyone　to　get　an　invitation；　let　alone　a　parliamentary　delegation　…　and　even　rarer　to　be　invited　on　to　Peking。　Robin　Grey　was　one　of　the　members　…　representative　of　the　Labour　Party。　〃Penn　darling；　don't　you　think　we　should　acknowledge　Robin；　give　a　reception　for　him？　After　all；　we　haven't　seen　him　for　years；　this's　the　first　time　he's　been　to　Asia　…　isn't　it　time　you　buried　the　hatchet　and　made　peace？〃
　〃He's　not　invited　to　my　house。　Any　of　my　houses。〃
　〃Isn't　it　time　you　relaxed　a　little；　let　bygones　be　bygones？〃
　〃No；　I　know　him；　you　don't。　Robin　has　his　life　and　we　have　ours；　that's　what　he　and　I　agreed　years　ago。　No；　I've　no　wish　to　see　him　ever　again。　He's　awful；　dangerous；　foul…mouthed　and　a　bloody　bore。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃I　agree　he's　obnoxious　and　I　detest　his　politics　…　but　he's　only　one　of　a　half　dozen　MPs。　This　delegation's　important。　I　should　do　something　to　entertain　them；　Penn。〃
　〃Please　do；　Ian。　But　preferably　not　here　…　or　else　tell　me　in　good　time　so　I　can　have　the　vapors　and　see　that　the　children　do　the　same。　It's　a　matter　of　face　and　that's　the　end　of　it。〃　Penelope　tossed　her　head　and　shook　off　her　mood。　〃God！　Let's　not　let　him　spoil　this　evening！　What's　this　Marlowe　doing　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃He's　a　writer。　Wants　to　do　a　book　on　Hong　Kong；　he　said。　He　lives　in　America　now。　His　wife's　ing　too。　Oh；　by　the　way；　I　also　invited　the　Americans；　Linc　Bartlett　and　Casey　Tcholok。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Penelope　Dunross　laughed。　〃Oh　well；　four　or　forty　extra　won't　make　any　difference　at　all　…　I　won't　know　most　of　them　anyway；　and　Claudia's　organized　everything　with　her　usual　efficiency。〃　She　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃So！　A　gun…runner　amongst　the　pirates！　That　won't　even　cause　a　ripple。〃
　〃Is　he？〃
　〃Everyone　says　so。　Did　you　see　the　piece　in　this　afternoon's　Mirror；　Ian？　Ah　Tat's　convinced　the　American　is　bad　joss　…　she　informed　the　whole　staff；　the　children　and　me　…　so　that　makes　it　official。　Ah　Tat　told　Adryon　that　her　astrologer　insisted　she　tell　you　to　watch　out　for　bad　influence　from　the　East。　Ah　Tat's　sure　that　means　the　Yanks。　Hasn't　she　bent　your　ear　yet？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃God；　I　wish　I　could　chatter　Cantonese　like　you　and　the　children。　I'd　tell　that　old　harpy　to　keep　her　superstitions　and　opinions　to　herself　…　she's　a　bad　influence。〃
　〃She'd　give　her　life　for　the　children。〃
　〃I　know　she's　your　gan　sun　and　almost　brought　you　up　and　thinks　she's　God's　gift　to　the　Dunross　clan。　But　as　far　as　I'm　concerned　she's　a　cantankerous；　loathsome　old　bitch　and　I　hate　her。〃　Penelope　smiled　sweetly。　〃I　hear　the　American　girl's　pretty。〃
　〃Attractive　…　not　pretty。　She's　giving　Andrew　a　bad　time。〃
　〃I　can　imagine。　A　lady　talking　business！　What　are　we　ing　to　in　this　great　world　of　ours？　Is　she　any　good？〃
　〃Too　soon　to　tell。　But　she's　very　smart。　She's　…　she'll　make　things　awkward　certainly。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Adryon　tonight？〃
　〃No　…　what's　up？〃　he　asked；　instantly　recognizing　the　tone　of　voice。
　〃She's　been　into　my　wardrobe　again　…　half　my　best　nylons　are　gone；　the　rest　are　scattered；　my　scarves　are　all　jumbled　up；　my　new　blouse's　missing　and　my　new　belt's　disappeared。　She's　even　whipped　my　best　Hermès　。。。　that　child's　the　end！〃
　〃Nineteen's　hardly　a　child；〃　he　said　wearily。
　〃She's　the　end！　The　number　of　times　I've　told　her！〃
　〃I'll　talk　to　her　again。〃
　〃That　won't　do　a　bit　of　good。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　She　laughed　with　him。　〃She's　such　a　pill。〃
　〃Here。〃　He　handed　her　a　slim　box。　〃Happy　twentieth！〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Ian。　Yours　is　downstairs。　You'll　。。。〃　She　stopped　and　opened　the　box。　It　contained　a　carved　jade　bracelet；　the　jade　inset　into　silver　filigree；　very　fine；　very　old　…　a　collector's　piece。　〃Oh　how　lovely；　thank　you；　Ian。〃　She　put　it　on　her　wrist　over　the　thin　gold　chain　she　was　wearing　and　he　heard　neither　real　pleasure　nor　real　disappointment　under　her　voice；　his　ears　tuned　to　her。　〃It's　beautiful；〃　she　said　and　leaned　forward　and　brushed　her　lips　against　his　cheek。　〃Thank　you；　darling。　Where　did　you　get　it？　Taiwan？〃
　〃No；　here　on　Cat　Street。　At　Wong　Chun　Kit's；　he　ga…　〃
　The　door　flew　open　and　a　girl　barreled　in。　She　was　tall　and　slim　and　oh　so　fair　and　she　said　in　a　breathless　rush；　〃I　hope　it's　all　right　I　invited　a　date　tonight　and　I　just　had　the　call　that　he's　ing　and　he'll　be　late　but　I　thought　it'd　be　okay。　He's　cool。　And　very　trick。〃
　〃For　the　love　of　God；　Adryon；〃　Dunross　said　mildly；　〃how　many　times　do　I　have　to　ask　you　to　knock　before　you　charge　in　here　and　would　you　kindly　talk　English？　What　the　hell's　trick？〃
　〃Good；　great；　cool；　trick。　Sorry；　Father；　but　you　really　are　rather　square　because　cool　and　trick　are　very　in；　even　in　Hong　Kong。　See　you　soon；　have　to　dash；　after　the　party　I'm　going　out　…　I'll　be　late　so　don't…　〃
　〃Wait　a　min…　〃
　〃That's　my　blouse；　my　new　blouse；〃　Penelope　burst　out。　〃Adryon；　you　take　it　off　this　minute！　I've　told　you　fifty　times　to　stay　the　hell　out　of　my　wardrobe。〃
　〃Oh；　Mother；〃　Adryon　said　as　sharply；　〃you　don't　need　it；　can't　I　borrow　it　for　this　evening？〃　Her　tone　changed。　〃Please？　Pretty　please？　Father；　talk　to　her。〃　She　switched　to　perfect　amah　Cantonese；　〃Honorable　Father　。。。　please　help　your　Number　One　Daughter　to　achieve　the　unachievable　or　I　shall　weep　weep　weep　oh　ko　。。。〃　Then　back　into　English　in　the　same　breath；　〃Mother　。。。　you　don't　need　it　and　I'll　look　after　it；　truly。　Please？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃e　on；　pretty　please；　I'll　look　after　it；　I　promise。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Mother！〃
　〃Well　if　you　pr…　〃
　〃Oh　thanks。〃　The　girl　beamed　and　turned　and　rushed　out　and　the　door　slammed　behind　her。
　〃Jesus　bloody　Christ；〃　Dunross　said　sourly；　〃why　the　hell　does　a　door　always　happen　to　slam　behind　her！〃
　〃Well　at　least　it's　not　deliberate　now。〃　Penelope　sighed。　〃I　don't　think　I　could　go　through　that　siege　again。〃
　〃Nor　me。　Thank　God　Glenna's　reasonable。〃
　〃It's　purely　temporary；　Ian。　She　takes　after　her　father；　that　one；　like　Adryon。〃
　〃Huh！　I　don't　have　a　filthy　temper；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃And　since　we're　on　the　subject　I　hope　to　God　Adryon　has　found　someone　decent　to　date　instead　of　the　usual　shower！　Who　is　this　she's　bringing？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Ian。　This　is　the　first　I've　heard　of　it　too。〃
　〃They're　always　bloody　awful！　Her　taste　in　men's　appalling。　。。。　Remember　that　melon…headed　berk　with　the　neolithic　arms　that　she　was　'madly　in　love　with'　？　Christ　Jesus；　she　was　barely　fifteen　an…　〃
　〃She　was　almost　sixteen。〃
　〃What　was　his　name？　Ah　yes；　Byron。　Byron　for　chrissake！〃
　〃You　really　shouldn't　have　threatened　to　blow　his　head　off；　Ian。　It　was　just　puppy　love。〃
　〃It　was　gorilla　bloody　love；　by　God；〃　Dunross　said　even　more　sourly。　〃He　was　a　bloody　gorilla。　。。。　You　remember　that　other　one；　the　one　before　bloody　Byron　…　the　psychiatric　bastard　。。。　what　was　his　name？〃
　〃Victor。　Yes；　Victor　Hopper。　He　was　the　one　。。。　oh　yes；　I　remember；　he　was　the　one　who　asked　if　it　was　all　right　if　he　slept　with　Adryon。〃
　〃He　what？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃　She　smiled　up　at　him　so　innocently。　〃I　didn't　tell　you　at　the　time　。。。　thought　I'd　better　not。〃
　〃He　what？〃
　〃Don't　get　yourself　all　worked　up；　Ian。　That's　at　least　four　years　ago。　I　told　him　no；　not　at　the　moment；　Adryon's　only　fourteen；　but　yes；　certainly；　when　she　was　twenty…one。　That　was　another　that　died　on　the　vine。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ！　He　asked　you　if　he　co…　〃
　〃At　least　he　asked；　Ian！　That　was　something。　It's　all　so　very　ordinary。〃　She　got　up　and　poured　more　champagne　into　his　glass；　and　some　for　herself。　〃You've　only　got　another　ten　years　or　so　of　purgatory；　then　there'll　be　the　grandchildren。　Happy　anniversary　and　the　best　of　British　to　you！〃　She　laughed　and　touched　his　glass　and　drank　and　smiled　at　him。
　〃You're　right　again；〃　he　said　and　smiled　back；　liking　her　very　much。　So　many　years；　good　years。　I've　been　lucky；　he　thought。　Yes。　I　was　blessed　that　first　day。　It　was　at　his　RAF　station　at　Biggin　Hill；　a　warm；　sunny　August　morning　in　1940　during　the　Battle　of　Britain　and　she　was　a　WAAF　and　newly　posted　there。　It　was　his　eighth　day　at　war；　his　third　mission　that　day　and　first　kill。　His　Spitfire　was　latticed　with　bullet　holes；　parts　of　his　wing　gone；　his　tail　section　tattooed。　By　all　the　rules　of　joss；　he　should　be　dead　but　he　wasn't　and　the　Messerschmitt　was　and　her　pilot　was　and　he　was　home　and　safe　and　blood　raging；　drunk　with　fear　and　shame　and　relief　that　he　had　e　back　and　the　youth　he　had　seen　in　the　other　cockpit；　the　enemy；　had　burned　screaming　as　he　spiraled。
　〃Hello；　sir；〃　Penelope　Grey　had　said。　〃Wele　home　sir。　Here。〃　She　had　given　him　a　cup　of　hot　sweet　tea　and　she　had　said　nothing　else　though　she　should　have　begun　debriefing　him　at　once　…　she　was　in　Signals。　She　said　nothing　but　smiled　and　gave　him　time　to　e　out　of　the　skies　of　death　into　life　again。　He　had　not　thanked　her；　just　drank　the　tea　and　it　was　the　best　he　had　ever　had。
　〃I　got　a　Messerschmitt；〃　he　had　said　when　he　could　talk；　his　voice　trembling　like　his　knees。　He　could　not　remember　unsnapping　his　harness　or　getting　out　of　his　cockpit　or　climbing　into　the　truck　with　the　other　survivors。　〃It　was　a　109。〃
　〃Yes　sir；　Squadron　Leader　Miller　has　already　confirmed　the　kill　and　he　says　to　please　get　ready；　you're　to　scramble　any　minute　again。　You're　to　take　Poppa　Mike　Kilo　this　time。　Thank　you　for　the　kill；　sir；　that's　one　less　of　those　devils　。。。　oh　how　I　wish　I　could　go　up　with　you　to　help　you　all　kill　those　monsters。　。。。〃
　But　they　weren't　monsters；　he　thought；　at　least　the　first　pilot　and　first　plane　that　he　had　killed　had　not　been　…　just　a　youth　like　himself；　perhaps　the　same　age；　who　had　burned　screaming；　died　screaming；　a　flaming　falling　leaf；　and　this　afternoon　or　tomorrow　or　soon　it　would　be　his　turn　…　too　many　of　them；　the　enemy；　too　few　of　us。
　〃Did　Tommy　get　back；　Tom　Lane？〃
　〃No　sir；　sorry　sir。　He　。。。　the　squadron　leader　said　Flight　Lieutenant　Lane　was　jumped　over　Dover。〃
　〃I'm　petrified　of　burning；　going　down；〃　he　had　said。
　〃Oh　you　won't；　sir；　not　you。　They　won't　shoot　you　down。　I　know。　You　won't；　sir；　no；　not　you。　They'll　never　get　you；　never　never　never；〃　she　had　said；　pale　blue　eyes；　fair　hair　and　fair　of　face；　not　quite　eighteen　but　strong；　very　strong　and　very　confident。
　He　had　believed　her　and　her　faith　had　carried　him　through　four　more　months　of　missions　…　sometimes　five　missions　each　day　…　and　more　kills　and　though　she　was　wrong　and　later　he　was　blown　out　of　the　sky；　he　lived　and　burned　only　a　little。　And　then；　when　he　came　out　of　the　hospital；　grounded　forever；　they　had　married。
　〃Doesn't　seem　like　twenty　years；〃　he　said；　holding　in　his　happiness。
　〃Plus　two　before；〃　she　said；　holding　in　her　happiness。
　〃Plus　two　be…　〃
　The　door　opened。　Penelope　sighed　as　Ah　Tat　stalked　into　the　room；　talking　Cantonese　fifty　to　the　dozen；　〃Ayeeyah；　my　Son；　but　aren't　you　ready　yet；　our　honored　guests　will　be　here　any　moment　and　your　tie's　not　tied　and　that　motherless　foreigner　from　North　Kwantung　brought　unnecessarily　into　our　house　to　cook　tonight　。。。　that　smelly　offspring　of　a　one…dollar　strumpet　from　North　Kwantung　where　all　the　best　thieves　and　worst　whores　e　from　who　fancies　himself　a　cook　。。。　ha！　。。。　This　man　and　his　equally　despicable　foreign　staff　is　befouling　our　kitchen　and　stealing　our　peace。　Oh　ko；〃　the　tiny　wizened　old　woman　continued　without　a　breath　as　her　clawlike　fingers　rea