jamesclavell.noblehouse-第44章

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grade　or　twisting　road　ahead。　He　was　still　going　too　fast　into　the　new　hairpin　and　ing　out　of　the　first　part　he　was　too　far　over。　The　heavily　laden　truck　grinding　up　the　hill　was　helpless。
　Panic…stricken　he　tore　the　wheel　left　and　just　managed　to　get　around　the　truck　with　a　glancing　blow。　He　tried　to　jerk　the　gear　lever　into　reverse　but　it　wouldn't　go；　the　cogs　shrieking　in　protest。　Then；　aghast；　he　saw　slow　traffic　ahead　in　his　lane；　oning　traffic　in　the　other　and　the　road　vanish　around　the　next　bend。　He　was　lost　so　he　turned　left　into　the　mountainside；　trying　to　ricochet　and　stop　that　way。
　There　was　a　howl　of　protesting　metal；　the　back　side　window　shattered　and　he　bounced　away。　The　oning　car　lurched　for　the　far　shoulder；　its　horn　blaring。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　braced　for　the　head…on　collision　but　somehow　it　didn't　happen　and　he　was　past　and　just　had　enough　strength　to　jerk　the　wheel　hard　over　again　and　went　into　the　mountainside。　He　hit　with　a　glancing　blow。　The　front　left　fender　ripped　away。　The　car　ploughed　into　the　shrub　and　earth；　then　slammed　into　a　rock　outcrop；　reared　up　throwing　Gornt　aside；　but　as　the　car　fell　back　the　near…side　wheel　went　into　the　storm　drain　and　held；　and；　just　before　smashing　into　the　paralyzed　little　Mini　ahead；　it　stopped。
　Gornt　weakly　pulled　himself　up。　The　car　was　still　half　upright。　Sweat　was　pouring　off　him　and　his　heart　was　pounding。　He　found　it　hard　to　breathe　or　to　think。　Traffic　both　ways　was　stopped；　snarled。　He　heard　some　horns　hooting　impatiently　below　and　above；　then　hurried　footsteps。
　〃You　all　right；　old　chap？〃　the　stranger　asked。
　〃Yes；　yes　I　think　so。　My；　my　brakes　went。〃　Gornt　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead；　trying　to　get　his　brain　to　work。　He　felt　his　chest；　then　moved　his　feet　and　there　was　no　pain。　〃I　。。。　the　brakes　went　。。。　I　was　turning　a　corner　and　。。。　and　then　everything　。。。〃
　〃Brakes；　eh？　Not　like　a　Rolls。　I　thought　you　were　pretending　to　be　Stirling　Moss。　You　were　very　lucky。　I　thought　you'd　had　it　twenty　times。　If　I　were　you　I'd　switch　off　the　engine。〃
　〃What？〃　Then　Gornt　realized　the　engine　was　still　gently　purring　and　the　radio　playing　so　he　turned　the　ignition　off　and；　after　a　moment；　pulled　the　keys　out。
　〃Nice　car；〃　the　stranger　said；　〃but　it's　a　right　proper　mess　now。　Always　liked　this　model。　'62；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　call　the　police？〃
　Gornt　made　the　effort　and　thought　a　moment；　his　pulse　still　pounding　in　his　ears。　Weakly　he　unsnapped　the　seat　belt。　〃No。　There's　a　police　station　just　back　up　the　hill。　If　you'd　give　me　a　lift　to　there？〃
　〃Delighted；　old　chap。〃　The　stranger　was　short　and　rotund。　He　looked　around　at　the　other　cars　and　taxis　and　trucks　that　were　stopped　in　both　directions；　their　Chinese　drivers　and　Chinese　passengers　gawking　at　them　from　their　windows。　〃Bloody　people；〃　he　muttered　sourly。　〃You　could　be　dying　in　the　street　and　you'd　be　lucky　if　they　stepped　over　you。〃　He　opened　the　door　and　helped　Gornt　out。
　〃Thanks。〃　Gornt　felt　his　knees　shaking。　For　a　moment　he　could　not　dominate　his　knees　and　he　leaned　against　the　car。
　〃You　sure　you're　all　right？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　It's　。。。　that　frightened　me　to　death！〃　He　looked　at　the　damage；　the　nose　buried　into　earth　and　shrub；　a　huge　score　down　the　right　side；　the　car　jammed　well　into　the　inside　curve。　〃What　a　bloody　mess！〃
　〃Yes；　but　it　hasn't　telescoped　a　sausage！　You　were　bloody　lucky　you　were　in　a　good　car；　old　chap。〃　The　stranger　let　the　door　swing　and　it　closed　with　a　muted　click。　〃Great　workmanship。　Well；　you　can　leave　it　here。　No　one's　likely　to　steal　it。〃　The　stranger　laughed；　leading　the　way　to　his　own　car　which　was　parked；　its　blinker　lights　on；　just　behind。　〃Hop　in；　won't　take　a　jiffy。〃
　It　was　then　Gornt　remembered　the　mocking　half…smile　on　Dunross's　face　that　he　had　taken　for　bravado　as　he　left。　His　mind　cleared。　Would　there　have　been　time　for　Dunross　to　tamper　。。。　with　his　knowledge　of　engines　。。。　surely　he　wouldn't　。。。　？
　〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　he　muttered；　aghast。
　〃Not　to　worry；　old　chap；〃　the　stranger　said；　as　he　eased　past　the　wreck；　making　the　turn。　〃The　police'll　make　all　the　arrangements　for　you。〃
　Gornt's　face　closed。　〃Yes。　Yes　they　will。〃
　
　13
　
　10：25　P。M。　：
　
　〃Grand　dinner；　Ian；　better　than　last　year's；〃　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　said　expansively　from　across　the　table。
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　raised　his　glass　politely　and　took　a　sip　of　the　fine　cognac　from　the　brandy　snifter。
　Barre　gulped　his　port　then　refilled　his　glass；　more　florid　than　usual。　〃Ate　too　much；　as　usual；　by　God！　Eh　Phillip？　Phillip！〃
　〃Yes　。。。　oh　yes　。。。　much　better　。。。〃　Phillip　Chen　muttered。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　old　chap？〃
　〃Oh　yes　。。。　it's　just　。。。　oh　yes。〃
　Dunross　frowned；　then　let　his　eyes　rove　the　other　tables；　hardly　listening　to　them。
　There　were　just　the　three　of　them　now　at　this　round　table　that　had　seated　twelve　fortably。　At　the　other　tables　spread　across　the　terraces　and　lawns；　men　were　lounging　over　their　cognac；　port　and　cigars；　or　standing　in　clusters；　all　the　ladies　now　inside　the　house。　He　saw　Bartlett　standing　over　near　the　buffet　tables　that　an　hour　ago　had　been　groaning　under　the　weight　of　roast　legs　of　lamb；　salads；　sides　of　rare　beef；　vast　hot　steak…and…kidney　pies；　roast　potatoes　and　vegetables　of　various　kinds；　and　the　pastries　and　cakes　and　ice　cream　sculptures。　A　small　army　of　servants　was　cleaning　away　the　debris。　Bartlett　was　in　deep　conversation　with　Chief　Superintendent　Roger　Crosse　and　the　American　Ed　Langan。　In　a　little　while　I'll　deal　with　him；　he　told　himself　grimly　…　but　first　Brian　Kwok。　He　looked　around。　Brian　Kwok　was　not　at　his　table；　the　one　that　Adryon　had　hosted；　or　at　any　of　the　others；　so　he　sat　back　patiently；　sipped　his　cognac　and　let　himself　drift。
　Secret　files；　MI…6；　Special　Intelligence；　Bartlett；　Casey；　Gornt；　no　Tsu…yan　and　now　Alan　Medford　Grant　very　dead。　His　phone　call　before　dinner　to　Kiernan；　Alan　Medford　Grant's　assistant　in　London；　had　been　a　shocker。　〃It　was　sometime　this　morning；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　Kiernan　had　said。　〃It　was　raining；　very　slippery　and　he　was　a　motorcycle　enthusiast　as　you　know。　He　was　ing　up　to　town　as　usual。　As　far　as　we　know　now　there　were　no　witnesses。　The　fellow　who　found　him　on　the　country　road　near　Esher　and　the　A3　highway；　just　said　he　was　driving　along　in　the　rain　and　then　there　in　front　of　him　was　the　bike　on　its　side　and　a　man　sprawled　in　a　heap　on　the　edge　of　the　road。　He　said　as　far　as　he　could　tell；　AMG　was　dead　when　he　reached　him。　He　called　the　police　and　they've　begun　inquiries　but　。。。　well；　what　can　I　say？　He's　a　great　loss　to　all　of　us。〃
　〃Yes。　Did　he　have　any　family？〃
　〃Not　that　I　know　of；　sir。　Of　course　I　informed　MI…6　at　once。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Why？〃
　There　was　heavy　static　on　the　line。　〃He'd　left　instructions　with　me；　sir。　If　anything　happened　to　him　I　was　to　call　two　numbers　at　once　and　cable　you；　which　I　did。　Neither　number　meant　anything　to　me。　The　first　turned　out　to　be　the　private　number　of　a　high…up　official　in　MI…6　…　he　arrived　within　half　an　hour　with　some　of　his　people　and　they　went　through　AMG's　desk　and　private　papers。　They　took　most　of　them　when　they　left。　When　he　saw　the　copy　of　the　last　report；　the　one　we'd　just　sent　you；　he　just　about　hit　the　roof；　and　when　he　asked　for　copies　of　all　the　others　and　I　told　him；　following　AMG's　instructions　…　I　always　destroyed　the　office　copy　once　we'd　heard　you　had　received　yours　…　he　just　about　had　a　hemorrhage。　It　seems　AMG　didn't　really　have　Her　Majesty's　Government's　permission　to　work　for　you。〃
　〃But　I　have　Grant's　assurance　in　writing　he'd　got　clearance　from　HMG　in　advance。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　You've　done　nothing　illegal　but　this　MI…6　fellow　just　about　went　bonkers。〃
　〃Who　was　he？　What　was　his　name？〃
　〃I　was　told；　told；　sir；　not　to　mention　any　names。　He　was　very　pompous　and　mumbled　something　about　the　Official　Secrets　Act。〃
　〃You　said　two　numbers？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　The　other　was　in　Switzerland。　A　woman　answered　and　after　I'd　told　her；　she　just　said；　oh；　so　sorry；　and　hung　up。　She　was　foreign；　sir。　One　interesting　thing；　in　AMG's　final　instructions　he　had　said　not　to　tell　either　number　about　the　other　but；　as　this　gentleman　from　MI…6　was；　to　put　it　lightly；　incensed；　I　told　him。　He　called　at　once　but　got　a　busy　line　and　it　was　busy　for　a　very　long　time　and　then　the　exchange　said　it　had　been　temporarily　disconnected。　He　was　bloody　furious；　sir。〃
　〃Can　you　carry　on　AMG's　reports？〃
　〃No　sir。　I　was　just　a　feeder　…　I　collated　information　that　he　got。　I　just　wrote　the　reports　for　him；　answered　the　phone　when　he　was　away；　paid　office　bills。　He　spent　a　good　part　of　the　time　on　the　Continent　but　he　never　said　where　he'd　been；　or　volunteered　anything。　He　was　。。。　well；　he　played　his　cards　close　to　his　nose。　I　don't　know　who　gave　him　anything　…　I　don't　even　know　his　office　number　in　Whitehall。　As　I　said；　he　was　very　secretive。　。。。〃
　Dunross　sighed　and　sipped　his　brandy。　Bloody　shame；　he　thought。　Was　it　an　accident　…　or　was　he　murdered？　And　when　do　MI…6　fall　on　my　neck？　The　numbered　account　in　Switzerland？　That's　not　illegal　either；　and　no　one's　business　but　mine　and　his。
　What　to　do？　There　must　be　a　substitute　somewhere。
　Was　it　an　accident？　Or　was　he　killed？
　〃Sorry？〃　he　asked；　not　catching　what　Barre　had　said。
　〃I　was　just　saying　it　was　bloody　funny　when　Casey　didn't　want　to　go　and　you　threw　her　out。〃　The　big　man　laughed。　〃You've　got　balls；　old　boy。〃
　At　the　end　of　the　dinner　just　before　the　port　and　cognac　and　cigars　had　arrived；　Penelope　had　got　up　from　her　table　where　Linc　Bartlett　was　deep　in　conversation　with　Havergill　and　the　ladies　had　left　with　her；　and　then　Adryon　at　her　table；　and　then；　all　over　the　terraces；　ladies　had　begun　trickling　away　after　her。　Lady　Joanna；　who　was　sitting　on　Dunross's　right；　had　said；　〃e　on　girls；　time　to　powder。〃
　Obediently　the　other　women　got　up　with　her　and　the　men　politely　pretended　not　to　be　relieved　by　their　exodus。
　〃e　along；　dear；〃　Joanna　had　said　to　Casey；　who　had　remained　seated。
　〃Oh　I'm　fine；　thanks。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　are　but；　er；　e　along　anyway。〃
　Then　Casey　had　seen　everyone　staring。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Nothing；　dear；〃　Lady　Joanna　had　said。　〃It's　custom　that　the　ladies　leave　the　men　alone　for　a　while　with　the　port　and　cigars。　So　e　along。〃
　Casey　had　stared　at　her　blankly。　〃You　mean　we're　sent　off　while　the　men　discuss　affairs　of　state　and　the　price　of　tea　in　China？〃
　〃It's　just　good　manners；　dear。　When　in　Rome　。。。〃　Lady　Joanna　had　watched　her；　a　slight；　contemptuous　smile　on　her　lips；　enjoying　the　embarrassed　silence　and　the　shocked　looks　of　most　of　the　men。　All　eyes　went　back　to　the　American　girl。
　〃You　can't　be　serious。　That　custom　went　out　before　the　Civil　War；〃　Casey　said。
　〃In　America　I'm　sure　it　did。〃　Joanna　smiled　her　twisted　smile。　〃Here　it's　different；　this　is　part　of　England。　It's　a　matter　of　manners。　Do　e　along；　dear。〃
　〃I　will　…　dear；〃　Casey　said　as　sweetly。　〃Later。〃
　Joanna　had　sighed　and　shrugged　and　raised　an　eyebrow　at　Dunross　and　smiled　crookedly　and　gone　off　with　the　other　ladies。　There　was　a　stunned　silence　at　the　table。
　〃Tai…pan；　you　don't　mind　if　I　stay；　do　you？〃　Casey　had　said　with　a　laugh。
　〃Yes；　I'm　sorry　but　I　do；〃　he　had　told　her　gently。　〃It's　just　a　custom；　nothing　important。　It's　re