jamesclavell.noblehouse-第51章

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　〃One　way　or　the　other？〃
　Crosse　appeared　shocked。　〃Good　Lord；　tai…pan；　we　weren't　bartering！　Brian；　didn't　you　say　we　were　just　trying　to　help　out？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Friends　should　always　help　out　friends；　shouldn't　they；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes。　Absolutely。　Thank　you。〃
　They　watched　him　walk　away　until　he　was　lost。
　〃Do　they　or　don't　they？〃　Brian　Kwok　muttered。
　〃Exist？　I'd　say　yes；〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃Of　course　they　exist；〃　Crosse　said　irritably。　〃But　where？〃　He　thought　a　moment；　then　added　more　irritably　and　both　men's　hearts　skipped　a　beat；　〃Brian；　while　you　were　with　Ian；　Wine　Waiter　Feng　told　me　none　of　his　keys　would　fit。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　bad；　sir；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　cautiously。
　〃Yes。　The　safe　here　won't　be　easy。〃
　Armstrong　said；　〃Perhaps　we　should　look　at　Shek…O；　sir；　just　in　case。〃
　〃Would　you　keep　such　documents　there　…　if　they　exist？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　sir。　Dunross's　unpredictable。　I'd　say　they　were　in　his　penthouse　at　Struan's；　that'd　be　the　safest　place。〃
　〃Have　you　been　there？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃Brian？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃Neither　have　I。〃　Crosse　shook　his　head。　〃Bloody　nuisance！〃
　Brian　Kwok　said　thoughtfully；　〃We'd　only　be　able　to　send　in　a　team　at　night；　sir。　There's　a　private　lift　to　that　floor　but　you　need　a　special　key。　Also　there's　supposed　to　be　another　lift　from　the　garage　basement；　nonstop。〃
　〃There's　been　one　hell　of　a　slipup　in　London；〃　Crosse　said。　〃I　can't　understand　why　those　bloody　fools　weren't　on　the　job。　Nor　why　AMG　didn't　ask　for　clearance。〃
　〃Perhaps　he　didn't　want　insiders　to　know　he　was　dealing　with　an　outsider。〃
　〃If　there　was　one　outsider；　there　could　have　been　others。〃　Crosse　sighed；　and；　lost　in　thought；　lit　a　cigarette。　Armstrong　felt　the　smoke　hunger　pangs。　He　took　a　swallow　of　his　brandy　but　that　did　not　ease　the　ache。
　〃Did　Langan　pass　on　his　copy；　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　to　Rosemont　here　and　in　the　diplomatic　bag　to　his　FBI　HQ　in　Washington。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　sourly；　〃then　it'll　be　all　over　Hong　Kong　by　morning。〃
　〃Rosemont　assured　me　it　would　not。〃　Crosse's　smile　was　humorless。　〃However；　we'd　better　be　prepared。〃
　〃Perhaps　Ian'd　be　more　cooperative　if　he　knew；　sir。〃
　〃No；　much　better　to　keep　that　to　ourselves。　He's　up　to　something　though。〃
　Armstrong　said；　〃What　about　getting　Superintendent　Foxwell　to　talk　to　him；　sir；　they're　old　friends。〃
　〃If　Brian　couldn't　persuade　him；　no　one　can。〃
　〃The　governor；　sir？〃
　Crosse　shook　his　head。　〃No　reason　to　involve　him。　Brian；　you　take　care　of　Shek…O。〃
　〃Find　and　open　his　safe；　sir？〃
　〃No。　Just　take　a　team　out　there　and　make　sure　no　one　else　moves　in。　Robert；　go　to　HQ；　get　on　to　London。　Call　Pensely　at　MI…5　and　Sinders　at　MI…6。　Find　out　exact　times　on　AMG；　everything　you　can；　check　the　tai…pan's　story。　Check　everything　…　perhaps　other　copies　exist。　Next；　send　back　a　team　of　three　agents　here　to　watch　this　place　tonight；　particularly　to　guard　Dunross；　without　his　knowledge　of　course。　I'll　meet　the　senior　man　at　the　junction　of　Peak　Road　and　Culum's　Way　in　an　hour；　that'll　give　you　enough　time。　Send　another　team　to　watch　Struan's　building。　Put　one　man　in　the　garage　…　just　in　case。　Leave　me　your　car；　Robert。　I'll　see　you　in　my　office　in　an　hour　and　a　half。　Off　you　both　go。〃
　The　two　men　sought　out　their　host　and　made　their　apologies　and　gave　their　thanks　and　went　to　Brian　Kwok's　car。　Going　down　Peak　Road　in　the　old　Porsche；　Armstrong　said　what　they　both　had　been　thinking　ever　since　Dunross　had　told　them。　〃If　Crosse's　the　spy　he'd　have　had　plenty　of　time　to　phone　London；　or　to　pass　the　word　to　Sevrin；　the　KGB　or　who　the　hell　ever。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃We　left　his　office　at　6：10　…　that'd　be　11：00　A。M。　London　time　…　so　it　couldn't've　been　us；　not　enough　time。〃　Armstrong　shifted　to　ease　the　ache　in　his　back。　〃Shit；　I'd　like　a　cigarette。〃
　〃There's　a　packet　in　the　glove　partment；　old　chum。〃
　〃Tomorrow　…　I'll　smoke　tomorrow。　Just　like　AA；　like　a　bloody　addict！〃　Armstrong　laughed　but　there　was　no　humor　in　it。　He　glanced　across　at　his　friend。　〃Find　out　quietly　who　else's　read　the　AMG　file　today　…　apart　from　Crosse　…　quick　as　you　can。〃
　〃My　thought　too。〃
　〃If　he's　the　only　one　who　read　it　。。。　well；　it's　another　piece　of　evidence。　It's　not　proof　but　we'd　be　getting　there。〃　He　stifled　a　nervous　yawn；　feeling　very　tired。　〃If　it's　him　we　really　are　up　shit's　creek。〃
　Brian　was　driving　very　fast　and　very　well。　〃Did　he　say　when　he　gave　the　copy　to　Langan？〃
　〃Yes。　At　noon。　They　had　lunch。〃
　〃The　leak　could　be　from　them；　from　the　consulate　…　that　place's　like　a　sieve。〃
　〃It's　possible　but　my　nose　says　no。　Rosemont's　all　right；　Brian　…　and　Langan。　They're　professionals。〃
　〃I　don't　trust　them。〃
　〃You　don't　trust　anyone。　They've　both　asked　their　HQs　to　check　the　Bartlett　and　Casey　Moscow　frankings。〃
　〃Good。　I　think　I'll　send　a　telex　to　a　friend　in　Ottawa。　They　might　have　something　on　file　on　them　also。　That　Casey's　a　bird　amongst　birds；　isn't　she　though？　Was　she　wearing　anything　underneath　that　sheath？〃
　〃Ten　dollars　to　a　penny　you　never　find　out。〃
　〃Done。〃
　As　they　turned　a　corner；　Armstrong　looked　at　the　city　below　and　the　harbor；　the　American　cruiser　lit　all　over　tied　up　at　the　dockyard；　Hong　Kong　side。　〃In　the　old　days　we'd　have　had　half　a　dozen　warships　here　of　our　own；〃　he　said　sadly。　〃Good　old　Royal　Navy！〃　He　had　been　in　destroyers　during　the　war；　lieutenant　R。N。　Sunk　twice；　once　at　Dunkirk；　the　second　time　on　D…Day　plus　three；　off　Cherbourg。
　〃Yes。　Pity　about　the　Navy；　but；　well；　time　marches　on。〃
　〃Not　for　the　better；　Brian。　Pity　the　whole　bloody　Empire's　up　the　spout！　It　was　better　when　it　wasn't。　The　whole　bloody　world　was　better　off！　Bloody　war！　Bloody　Germans；　bloody　Japs　。。。〃
　〃Yes。　Talking　about　Navy；　how　was　Mishauer？〃
　〃The　U。S。　Naval　Intelligence　fellow？　He　was　okay；〃　Armstrong　said　wearily。　〃He　talked　a　lot　of　shop。　He　whispered　to　the　Old　Man　that　the　U。S。're　going　to　double　their　Seventh　Fleet。　It's　so　supersecret　he　didn't　even　want　to　trust　the　phone。　There's　going　to　be　a　big　land　expansion　in　Vietnam。〃
　〃Bloody　fools　…　they'll　get　chewed　up　like　the　French。　Don't　they　read　the　papers；　let　alone　intelligence　reports？〃
　〃Mishauer　whispered　also　their　nuclear　carrier's　ing　in　the　day　after　tomorrow　for　an　eight…day　R　and　R　visit。　Another　top　secret。　He　asked　us　to　double　up　on　security　…　and　wet…nurse　all　Yankees　ashore。〃
　〃More　bloody　trouble。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Armstrong　added　thinly；　〃Particularly　as　the　Old　Man　mentioned　a　Soviet　freighter　'limped　in'　for　repairs　on　the　evening　tide。〃
　〃Oh　Christ！〃　Brian　corrected　an　involuntary　swerve。
　〃That's　what　I　thought。　Mishauer　almost　had　a　coronary　and　Rosemont　swore　for　two　minutes　flat。　The　Old　Man　assured　them　of　course　none　of　the　Russian　seamen'll　be　allowed　ashore　without　special　permission；　as　usual；　and　we'll　tail　them　all；　as　usual；　but　a　couple'll　manage　to　need　a　doctor　or　whatever；　suddenly；　and　mayhaps　escape　the　net。〃
　〃Yes。〃　After　a　pause　Brian　Kwok　said；　〃I　hope　we　get　those　AMG　files；　Robert。　Sevrin　is　a　knife　in　the　guts　of　China。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　They　drove　in　silence　a　while。
　〃We're　losing　our　war；　aren't　we？〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃Yes。〃
　
　16
　
　11：25　P。M。：
　The　Soviet　freighter；　Sovetsky　Ivanov；　was　tied　up　alongside　in　the　vast　Wampoa　Dockyard　that　was　built　on　reclaimed　land　on　the　eastern　side　of　Kowloon。　Floodlights　washed　her。　She　was　a　twenty…thousand　tonner　that　plied　the　Asian　trade　routes　out　of　Vladivostok；　far　to　the　north。　Atop　her　bridge　were　many　aerials　and　modern　radar　equipment。　Russian　seamen　lounged　at　the　foot　of　the　fore　and　the　aft　gangways。　Nearby；　a　uniformed　policeman；　a　youthful　Chinese；　in　neat　regulation　khaki　drills；　short　pants；　high　socks；　black　belt　and　shoes；　was　at　each　gangway。　A　shore…going　seaman　had　his　pass　checked　by　his　shipmates　and　then　by　the　constable；　and　then；　as　he　walked　toward　the　dockyard　gates；　two　Chinese　in　civilian　clothes　came　out　of　the　shadows　and　began　to　dog　his　footsteps　…　openly。
　Another　seaman　went　down　the　aft　gangway。　He　was　checked　through　and　then；　soon；　more　silent　Chinese　plainclothes　police　began　to　follow　him。
　Unnoticed；　a　rowing　boat　eased　silently　from　the　blind　side　of　the　ship's　stern　and　ducked　into　the　shadows　of　the　wharf。　It　slid　quietly　along　the　high　wall　toward　a　flight　of　dank　sea　steps　half　a　hundred　yards　away。　There　were　two　men　in　the　boat　and　the　rowlocks　were　muffled。　At　the　foot　of　the　sea　steps　the　boat　stopped。　Both　men　began　listening　intently。
　At　the　forward　gangway　a　third　seaman　going　ashore　reeled　raucously　down　the　slippery　steps。　At　the　foot　he　was　intercepted　and　his　pass　checked　and　an　argument　began。　He　was　refused　permission　by　the　shore　guard　and　he　was　clearly　drunk；　so；　cursing　loudly；　he　let　fly　at　one　of　them；　but　this　man　sidestepped　and　gave　him　a　haymaker　which　was　returned　in　kind。　Both　policemen's　attention　zeroed　on　the　one…sided　brawl。　The　tousled；　thickset　man　who　sat　in　the　aft　of　the　rowing　boat　ran　up　the　sea　steps；　across　the　floodlit　wharf　and　railway　tracks；　and　vanished　into　the　alleyways　of　the　dockyard　without　being　seen。　Leisurely　the　rowing　boat　began　to　return　the　way　it　had　e；　and　in　a　moment；　the　brawl　ceased。　The　helpless　drunk　was　carried　back　aboard；　not　unkindly。
　Deep　in　the　dockyard's　byways；　the　tousled　man　sauntered　now。　From　time　to　time；　casually　and　expertly；　he　glanced　behind　to　ensure　he　was　not　being　followed。　He　wore　dark　tropicals　and　neat　rubber…soled　shoes。　His　ship's　papers　documented　him　as　Igor　Voranski；　seaman　first　class；　Soviet　Merchant　Marine。
　He　avoided　the　dock　gates　and　the　policeman　who　watched　them　and　followed　the　wall　for　a　hundred　yards　or　so　to　a　side　door。　The　door　opened　onto　an　alley　in　the　Tai…wan　Shan　resettlement　area　…　a　maze　of　corrugated　iron；　plywood　and　cardboard　hovels。　His　pace　quickened。　Soon　he　was　out　of　the　area　and　into　brightly　lighted　streets　of　shops　and　stalls　and　crowds　that　eventually　led　him　to　Chatham　Road。　There　he　hailed　a　taxi。
　〃Mong　Kok；　quick　as　you　can；〃　he　said　in　English。　〃Yaumati　Ferry。〃
　The　driver　stared　at　him　insolently。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Ayeeyah！〃　Voranski　replied　at　once　and　added　in　harsh；　perfect　Cantonese；　〃Mong　Kok！　Are　you　deaf！　Have　you　been　sniffing　the　White　Powder？　Do　you　take　me　for　a　foreign　devil　tourist　from　the　Golden　Mountain　…　me　who　is　clearly　a　Hong　Kong　person　who　has　lived　here　twenty　years？　Ayeeyah！　Yaumati　Ferry　on　the　other　side　of　Kowloon。　Do　you　need　directions？　Are　you　from　Outer　Mongolia？　Are　you　a　stranger；　eh？〃
　The　driver　sullenly　pulled　the　flag　down　and　sped　off；　heading　south　and　then　west。　The　man　in　the　back　of　the　car　watched　the　street　behind。　He　could　see　no　trailing　car　but　he　still　did　not　relax。
　They're　too　clever　here；　he　thought。　Be　cautious！
　At　Yaumati　Ferry　station　he　paid　off　the　taxi　and　gave　the　man　barely　the　correct　tip　then　went　into　the　crowds　and　slid　out　of　them　and　hailed　another　taxi。　〃Golden　Ferry。〃
　The　driver　nodded　sleepily；　yawned　and　headed　south。
　At　the　ferry　terminal　he　paid　off　the　driver　almost　before　he　had　stopped　and　joined　the　crowds　that　were　hurrying　for　the　turnstiles　of　the　Hong　Kong　ferries。　But　once　through　the　turnstiles　he　did　not　go　to　the　ferry　gate　but　instead　went　to　the　men's　room　and　then；　out　once　more；