jamesclavell.noblehouse-第37章

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　〃Any　foreign　devils　there？〃
　〃Two　or　three；　Honored　Lord。　No　one　of　importance。〃
　〃Give　Honorable　Happy　Wang　a　message　from　me：　He　has　three　weeks　to　improve　his　business。　Then　we'll　reconsider。　Corporal　Ho；　tell　some　of　the　girls　at　the　Great　New　Oriental　to　remend　the　Happy　Hostess　for　a　month　or　so　…　they've　plenty　of　foreign　devil　customers　。。。　and　tell　Wang　that　there's　a　nuclear　aircraft　carrier　…　the　Corregidor　…　ing　in　the　day　after　tomorrow　for　R　and　R　。。。〃　He　used　the　English　letters；　everyone　understanding　rest　and　recreation　from　the　Korean　War　days。　〃I'll　ask　my　Brother　Dragon　in　Wanchai　and　the　dock　area　if　Happy　Wang　can　send　some　visiting　cards　over　there。　A　thousand　or　so　Golden　Country　barbarians　will　certainly　be　a　help！　They're　here　for　eight　days。〃
　〃Honored　Sir；　I'll　do　that　tonight；〃　Corporal　Ho　promised。
　〃My　friend　in　marine　police　told　me　that　there　are　going　to　be　lots　of　visiting　warships　soon　…　the　American　Seventh　Fleet　is　being　increased。〃　Tang…po　frowned。　〃Doubled；　so　he　says。　The　talk　from　the　Mainland　is　that　American　soldiers　are　going　to　go　into　Vietnam　in　strength　…　they　already　run　an　airline　there　…　at　least；〃　he　added；　〃their　triad　CIA　does。〃
　〃Eeee；　that's　good　for　business！　We'll　have　to　repair　their　ships。　And　entertain　their　men。　Good！　Very　good　for　us。〃
　〃Yes。　Very　good。　But　very　stupid　for　them。　Honorable　Chou　En…lai's　sent　them　warnings；　politely；　for　months　that　China　doesn't　want　them　there！　Why　won't　they　listen？　Vietnam's　our　outer　barbarian　sphere！　Stupid　to　pick　that　foul　jungle　and　those　detestable　barbarians　to　fight　against。　If　China　couldn't　subdue　those　outer　barbarians　for　centuries；　how　can　they？〃　Tang…po　laughed　and　lit　another　cigarette。　〃Where's　old　One　Eye　Pok　gone？〃
　〃That　old　fox's　permanent　visa　came　through　and　he　was　off　on　the　next　airplane　to　San　Francisco　…　him；　his　wife　and　eight　kids。〃
　Tang…po　turned　to　his　accountant。　〃Did　he　owe　us　any　money？〃
　〃Oh　no　Honored　Sir。　He　was　fully　paid　up…to…date；　Sergeant　Lee　saw　to　that。〃
　〃How　much　did　it　cost　that　old　fornicator？　To　get　the　visa？〃
　〃His　exit　was　smoothed　by　a　gift　of　3；000　HK　to　Corporal　Sek　Pun　So　in　Immigration　on　our　remendation　…　our　percentage　was　paid　…　we　also　assisted　him　to　find　the　right　diamond　merchant　to　convert　his　wealth　into　the　best　blue　whites　available。〃　Ho　referred　to　his　books。　〃Our　2　percent　mission　came　to　8；960　HK。〃
　〃Good　old　One　Eye！〃　Tang…po　said；　pleased　for　him。　〃He's　done　very　well　for　himself。　What　was　his　'unique　services'　job　for　his　visa？〃
　Sergeant　Lee　said；　〃A　cook　in　a　restaurant　in　Chinatown　…　the　Good　Eating　Place　it's　called。　Oh　ko；　I've　tasted　his　home　cooking　and　old　One　Eye　is　very　bad　indeed。〃
　〃He'll　hire　another　to　take　his　place　while　he　goes　into　real　estate；　or　gambling　and　a　nightclub；〃　someone　said。　〃Eeee；　what　joss！〃
　〃But　what　did　his　U。S。　visa　cost　him？〃
　〃Ah；　the　golden　gift　to　Paradise！〃　Ho　sighed。　〃I　heard　he　paid　5；000　U。S。　to　jump　to　the　head　of　the　list。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　that's　more　than　usual！　Why？〃
　〃It　seems　there's　also　a　promise　of　a　U。S。　passport　as　soon　as　the　five　years　are　up　and　not　too　much　harassment　about　his　English　…　old　One　Eye　doesn't　talk　English　as　you　know。　。。。〃
　〃Those　fornicators　from　the　Golden　Country　…　they　squeeze　but　they　aren't　organized。　They've　no　style；　none　at　all；〃　Tang…po　said　scornfully。　〃One　or　two　visas　here　and　there　…　when　everyone　here　knows　you　can　buy　one　if　you're　at　the　right　time　with　the　right　squeeze。　So　why　don't　they　do　it　properly　in　a　civilized　way？　Twenty　visas　a　week　…　even　forty　…　they're　all　mad　these　foreign　devils！〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　you're　right；〃　Sergeant　Lee　said；　his　mind　boggled　at　the　potential　amount　of　squeeze　he　could　make　if　he　were　a　vice…consul　in　the　U。S。　Consulate　of　Hong　Kong　in　the　Visa　Department。　〃Eeeeee！〃
　〃We　should　have　a　civilized　person　in　that　position；　then　we'd　soon　be　set　up　like　Mandarins　and　policing　San　Francisco！〃　Tang…po　said；　and　they　all　guffawed　with　him。　Then　he　added　disgustedly；　〃At　least　they　should　have　a　man　there；　not　one　who　likes　a　Steaming　Stalk　in　his　Ghastly　Gulley；　or　his　in　another's！〃
　They　laughed　even　more。　〃Hey；〃　one　of　them　called　out；　〃I　heard　his　partner's　young　Foreign　Devil　Stinknose　Pork　Belly　in　the　Public　Works　…　you　know；　the　one　who's　selling　building　permits　that　shouldn't　be！〃
　〃That's　old　news；　Chan；　very　old。　They've　both　moved　on　to　unwiser　pastures。　The　latest　rumor　is　our　vice…consul　devil's　connected　with　a　youth。　。。。〃　Tang…po　added　delicately；　〃Son　of　a　prominent　accountant　who's　also　a　prominent　munist。〃
　〃Eeeee；　that's　not　good；〃　Sergeant　Lee　said；　knowing　at　once　who　the　man　was。
　〃No；〃　Tang…po　agreed。　〃Particularly　as　I　heard　yesterday　the　youth　has　a　secret　flat　around　the　corner。　In　my　district！　And　my　district　has　the　least　crime　of　any。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　they　all　said　proudly。
　〃Should　he　be　spoken　to；　Elder　Brother？〃　Lee　asked。
　〃No；　just　put　under　special　surveillance。　I　want　to　know　all　about　these　two。　Everything。　Even　if　they　belch。〃　Tang…po　sighed。　He　gave　Sergeant　Lee　the　address　and　made　the　work　assignments。　〃Since　you're　all　here；　I've　decided　to　bring　payday　forward　from　tomorrow。〃　He　opened　the　large　bag　that　contained　bank　notes。　Each　man　received　the　equivalent　of　his　police　pay　plus　authorized　expenses。
　300　HK　a　month　salary　with　no　expenses　was　not　enough　for　a　constable　to　feed　even　a　small　family　and　have　a　small　flat；　not　even　a　two…room　apartment　with　one　tap　and　no　sanitation；　and　to　send　one　child　to　school；　or　enough　to　be　able　to　send　a　little　back　to　the　home　village　in　the　Kwantung　to　needy　fathers　and　grandmothers　and　mothers　and　uncles　and　grandfathers；　many　of　whom；　years　upon　years　ago；　had　given　their　life's　saving　to　help　launch　him　on　the　broken　road　to　Hong　Kong。
　Tang…po　had　been　one　of　these。　He　was　very　proud　that　he　had　survived　the　journey　as　a　six…year…old；　alone；　and　had　found　his　relations　and　then；　when　he　was　eighteen；　had　joined　the　police　…　thirty…six　years　ago。　He　had　served　the　Queen　well；　the　police　force　impeccably；　the　Japanese　enemy　during　their　occupation　not　at　all　and　now　was　in　charge　of　a　key　division　in　the　Colony　of　Hong　Kong。　Respected；　rich；　with　one　son　in　college　in　San　Francisco；　another　owning　half　a　restaurant　in　Vancouver；　Canada；　his　family　in　Kwantung　supported　…　and；　most　important；　his　Division　of　Tsim　Sha　Tsui　with　less　unsolved　robberies；　less　unsolved　woundings　and　maimings　and　triad　wars　than　any　other　district　…　and　only　three　murders　in　four　years　and　all　solved　and　the　culprits　caught　and　sentenced；　and　one　of　those　a　foreign　devil　seaman　who'd　killed　another　over　a　dance…hall　girl。　And　almost　no　petty　theft　and　never　a　tourist　foreign　devil　harassed　by　beggars　or　sneak　thieves　and　this　the　largest　tourist　area　with　upward　of　also　300；000　civilized　persons　to　police　and　protect　from　evildoers　and　from　themselves。
　Ayeeyah；　yes；　Tang…po　told　himself。　If　it　wasn't　for　us　those　bone…headed　fornicating　peasants'd　be　at　each　other's　throats；　raging；　looting；　killing；　and　then　the　inevitable　mob　cry　would　go　up：　Kill　the　foreign　devils！　And　they　would　try　and　then　we　would　be　back　in　the　riots　again。　Fornicate　disgustingly　all　wrongdoers　and　unpeaceful　persons！
　〃Now；〃　he　said　affably；　〃we'll　meet　in　three　days。　I've　ordered　a　ten…course　feast　from　Great　Food　Chang's。　Until　then；　let　everyone　put　an　eye　to　the　orifice　of　the　gods　and　get　me　the　answers。　I　want　the　Werewolves　…　and　I　want　John　Chen　back。　Sergeant　Lee；　you　stay　a　moment。　Corporal　Ho；　write　up　the　minutes　and　let　me　have　the　accounts　tomorrow　at　five。〃
　〃Yes；　Honored　Lord。〃
　They　all　trooped　out。　Tang…po　lit　another　cigarette。　So　did　Sergeant　Lee。　Tang…po　coughed。
　〃You　should　quit　smoking；　Elder　Brother。〃
　〃So　should　you！〃　Tang…po　shrugged。　〃Joss！　If　I'm　to　go；　I'm　to　go。　Joss。　Even　so；　for　peace　I've　told　my　Chief　Wife　I've　stopped。　She　nags　and　nags　and　nags。〃
　〃Show　me　one　that　doesn't　and　she'll　turn　out　to　be　a　he　with　a　ghastly　gulley。〃
　They　laughed　together。
　〃That's　the　truth。　Heya；　last　week　she　insisted　I　see　a　doctor　and　you　know　what　that　motherless　fornicator　said？　He　said；　you'd　better　give　up　smoking；　old　friend；　or　you'll　be　nothing　but　a　few　cinders　in　a　burial　jar　before　you're　twenty　moons　older　and　then　I　guarantee　your　Chief　Wife'll　be　spending　all　your　money　on　loose　boys　and　your　concubine'll　be　tasting　another's　fruits！〃
　〃The　swine！　Oh　the　swine！〃
　〃Yes。　He　really　frightened　me　…　I　felt　his　words　right　down　in　my　secret　sack！　But　maybe　he　was　speaking　the　truth。〃
　He　took　out　a　handkerchief；　blew　his　nose；　his　breath　wheezing；　cleared　his　throat　noisily　and　spat　into　the　spittoon。　〃Listen；　Younger　Brother；　our　High　Dragon　says　the　time　has　e　to　organize　Smuggler　Yuen；　White　Powder　Lee；　and　his　cousin　Four　Finger　Wu。〃
　Sergeant　Lee　stared　at　him　in　shock。　These　three　men　were　believed　to　be　the　High　Tigers　of　the　opium　trade　in　Hong　Kong。　Importers　and　exporters。　For　local　use　and　also；　rumor　had　it；　for　export　to　the　Golden　Country　where　the　great　money　was。　Opium　brought　in　secretly　and　converted　into　morphine　and　then　into　heroin。　〃Bad；　very　bad。　We've　never　touched　that　trade　before。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Tang…po　said　delicately。
　〃That'd　be　very　dangerous。　Narcotics　Branch　are　very　serious　against　it。　Big　Mountain　of　Dung　himself　is　very　seriously　interested　in　catching　those　three　…　very　fornicating　serious。〃
　Tang…po　stared　at　the　ceiling。　Then　he　said；　〃The　High　Dragon　explained　it　this　way：　A　ton　of　opium　in　the　Golden　Triangle　costs　67；000　U。S。　Changed　into　fornicating　morphine　and　then　into　fornicating　heroin　and　the　pure　heroin　diluted　to　5　percent；　the　usual　strength　on　the　streets　of　the　Golden　Country；　delivered　there　you　have　almost　680　million　worth　in　American　dollars。　From　one　ton　of　opium。〃　Tang…po　coughed　and　lit　another　cigarette。
　The　sweat　began　on　Lee's　back。　〃How　many　tons　could　go　through　those　three　fornicators？〃
　〃We　don't　know。　But　he's　been　told　about　380　tons　a　year　are　grown　in　the　whole　Golden　Triangle　…　Yunnan；　Burma；　Laos　and　Thailand。　Much　of　it　es　here。　They'd　handle　50　tons；　he　said。　He's　certain　of　50　tons。〃
　〃Oh　ko！〃
　〃Yes。〃　Tang…po　was　sweating　too。　〃Our　High　Dragon　says　we　should　invest　in　the　trade　now。　It's　going　to　grow　and　grow。　He　has　a　plan　to　get　Marine　with　us。　。。。〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh；　you　can't　trust　those　seagoing　bastards。〃
　〃That's　what　I　said；　but　he　said　we　need　the　seagoing　bastards　and　we　can　trust　a　selected　few；　who　else　can　snatch　and　intercept　a　token　20　percent　…　even　50　percent　to　appease　Mountain　of　Dung　himself　at　prearranged　moments？〃　Tang…po　spat　deftly　again。　〃If　we　could　get　Marine；　Narcotics　Branch；　and　the　Gang　of　Three；　our　present　h'eung　yau　would　be　like　an　infant's　piddle　in　the　harbor。〃
　There　was　a　serious　silence　in　the　room。
　〃We　would　have　to　recruit　new　members　and　that's　always　dangerous。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Lee　helped　himself　to　the　teapot　and　poured　some　jasmine　tea；　sweat　running　down　his　back　now；　the　smoke…ladened　air　sultry　and　overbearing。　He　waited。
　〃What　do　you　think；　Younger　Brother？〃
　These　two　men　were　not　related　but　used　the　Chinese　politeness　between　themselves　because　they　had