jamesclavell.noblehouse-第56章

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o…secret　Eurasian　daughter　of　Robb　Struan；　the　tai…pan's　half…brother　and　cofounder　of　the　Noble　House；　so　we　have　blood　from　both　sides　of　the　Struans。　Alastair　Struan　is　a　cousin　and　Colin　Dunross　is　a　cousin　…　the　MacStruans　are　not；　their　history's　in　Grandfather's　diaries。　My　son；　the　English　and　Scots　barbarians　came　to　China　and　they　never　married　those　whom　they　adored　and　most　times　abandoned　when　they　returned　to　the　gray　island　of　mist　and　rain　and　overcast。　My　God　how　I　hate　the　English　weather　and　loathe　the　past！
　〃Yes；　Phillip；　we're　Eurasian；　not　of　one　side　or　the　other。　I've　never　been　able　to　e　to　terms　with　it。　It　is　our　curse　and　our　cross　but　it　is　up　to　all　of　us　to　make　it　a　blessing。　I　pass　our　House　on　to　you　rich　and　strong　like　Jin…qua　wished　…　do　so　to　your　son　and　make　sure　he　does　it　to　his。　Jin…qua　birthed　us；　in　a　way；　gave　us　wealth；　secret　knowledge；　continuity　and　power　…　and　he　gave　us　one　of　the　coins。　Here；　Phillip；　read　about　the　coin。〃
　The　calligraphy　of　the　ancient　scroll　was　exquisite：　〃On　this　nineteenth　day　of　the　second　month　of　the　year　1841　by　barbarian　count；　I；　Chen…tse　Jin　Arn　of　Canton；　Chief　Merchant　of　the　co…hong；　have　this　day　loaned　to　Green…Eyed　Devil　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House；　chief　pirate　of　all　foreign　devils　who　have　made　war　on　the　Heavenly　Kingdom　and　have　stolen　our　island　Hong　Kong；　forty　lacs　of　silver　。。。　one　million　sterling　in　their　specie　。。。　and　have；　with　this　bullion；　saved　him　from　being　swallowed　by　One…Eye；　his　arch…enemy　and　rival。　In　return；　the　tai…pan　grants　us　special　trade　advantages　for　the　next　twenty　years；　promises　that　one　of　the　House　of　Chen　will　forever　be　pradore　to　the　Noble　House；　and　swears　that　he　or　his　descendents　will　honor　all　debts　and　the　debt　of　the　coins。　There　are　four　of　them。　The　coins　are　broken　into　halves。　I　have　given　the　tai…pan　four　halves。　Whenever　one　of　the　other　halves　is　presented　to　him；　or　to　a　following　tai…pan；　he　has　sworn　whatever　favor　is　asked　will　be　granted　。。。　whether　within　their　law；　or　ours；　or　outside　it。
　〃One　coin　I　keep；　one　I　give　to　the　warlord　Wu　Fang　Choi；　my　cousin；　one　will　be　given　to　my　grandson　Gordon　Chen；　and　the　last　recipient　I　keep　secret。　Remember；　he　who　reads　this　in　the　future；　do　not　use　the　coin　lightly；　for　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　must　grant　anything　…　but　only　once。　And　remember　that　though　the　Green…Eyed　Devil　himself　will　honor　his　promise　and　so　will　his　descendents；　he　is　still　a　mad…dog　barbarian；　cunning　as　a　filthy　Manchu　because　of　our　training；　and　as　dangerous　always　as　a　nest　of　vipers。〃
　Phillip　Chen　shuddered　involuntarily；　remembering　the　violence　that　was　always　ready　to　explode　in　Ian　Dunross。　He's　a　descendent　of　Green…Eyed　Devil　all　right；　he　thought。　Yes；　him　and　his　father。
　Goddamn　John！　What　possessed　him？　What　devilment　has　he　planned　with　Linc　Bartlett？　Has　Bartlett　got　the　coin　now？　Or　does　John　still　have　it　with　him　and　now　perhaps　the　kidnappers　have　it。
　While　his　tired　brain　swept　over　the　possibilities；　his　fingers　checked　the　jewel　boxes；　one　by　one。　Nothing　was　missing。　The　big　one　he　left　till　last。　There　was　a　tightness　in　his　throat　as　he　opened　it　but　the　necklace　was　still　there。　A　great　sigh　of　relief　went　through　him。　The　beauty　of　the　emeralds　in　the　flashlight　gave　him　enormous　pleasure　and　took　away　some　of　his　anxiety。　How　stupid　of　Hag　Struan　to　order　them　to　be　burned　with　her　body。　What　an　arrogant；　awful；　unholy　waste　that　would　have　been！　How　wise　of　Father　to　intercept　the　coffin　before　the　fire　and　remove　them。
　Reluctantly　he　put　the　necklace　away　and　began　to　close　up　the　safe。　What　to　do　about　the　coin？　I　almost　used　it　the　time　the　tai…pan　took　away　our　bank　stock　…　and　most　of　our　power。　Yes。　But　I　decided　to　give　him　time　to　prove　himself　and　this　is　the　third　year　and　nothing　is　yet　proved；　and　though　the　American　deal　seems　grand　it　is　not　yet　signed。　And　now　the　coin　is　gone。
　He　groaned　aloud；　distraught；　his　back　aching　like　his　head。　Below　was　all　the　city；　ships　tied　up　at　Glessing's　Point　and　others　in　the　roads。　Kowloon　was　equally　brilliant　and　he　could　see　a　jetliner　taking　off　from　Kai　Tak；　another　turning　to　make　a　landing；　another　whining　high　overhead；　its　lights　blinking。
　What　to　do？　he　asked　himself　exhaustedly。　Does　Bartlett　have　the　coin？　Or　John？　Or　the　Werewolves？
　In　the　wrong　hands　it　could　destroy　us　all。
　
　
　TUESDAY
　
　18
　
　12：36　A。M。：
　Gornt　said；　〃Of　course　Dunross　could　have　buggered　my　brakes；　Jason！〃
　〃Oh　e　on；　for　God's　sake！　Climbing　under　your　car　during　a　party　with　two　hundred　guests　around？　Ian's　not　that　stupid。〃
　They　were　in　Jason　Plumm's　penthouse　above　Happy　Valley；　the　midnight　air　good　though　the　humidity　had　increased　again。　Plumm　got　up　and　threw　his　cigar　butt　away；　took　a　fresh　one　and　lit　it。　The　tai…pan　of　Asian　Properties；　the　third　largest　hong；　was　taller　than　Gornt；　in　his　late　fifties；　thin…faced　and　elegant；　his　smoking　jacket　red　velvet。　〃Even　Ian　bloody　Dunross's　not　that　much　of　a　bloody　berk。〃
　〃You're　wrong。　For　all　his　Scots　cunning；　he's　an　animal　of　sudden　action；　unpremeditated　action；　that's　his　failing。　I　think　he　did　it。〃
　Plumm　steepled　his　fingers　thoughtfully。　〃What　did　the　police　say？〃
　〃All　I　told　them　was　that　my　brakes　had　failed。　There　was　no　need　to　involve　those　nosy　buggers；　at　least　not　yet。　But　Rolls　brakes　just　don't　go　wrong　by　themselves　for　God's　sake。　Well；　never　mind。　Tomorrow　I'll　make　sure　Tom　Nikklin　gets　me　an　answer；　an　absolute　answer；　if　there　is　one。　Time　enough　for　the　police　then。〃
　〃I　agree。〃　Plumm　smiled　thinly。　〃We　don't　need　police　to　wash　our　various　linens　however　droll　…　do　we？〃
　〃No。〃　Both　men　laughed。
　〃You　were　very　lucky。　The　Peak's　no　road　to　lose　your　brakes　on。　Must　have　been　very　unpleasant。〃
　〃For　a　moment　it　was；　Jason；　but　then　it　was　no　problem；　once　I　was　over　the　initial　shock。〃　Gornt　stretched　the　truth　and　sipped　his　whiskey　and　soda。　They　had　eaten　an　elegant　dinner　on　the　terrace　overlooking　Happy　Valley；　the　racecourse　and　city　and　sea　beyond；　just　the　two　of　them　…　Plumm's　wife　was　in　England　on　vacation　and　their　children　grown　up　and　no　longer　in　Hong　Kong。　Now　they　were　sitting　over　cigars　in　great　easy　chairs　in　Plumm's　book…lined　study；　the　room　luxurious　though　subdued；　in　perfect　taste　like　the　rest　of　the　ten…room　penthouse。　〃Tom　Nikklin'll　find　out　if　my　car　was　tampered　with　if　anyone　can；〃　he　said　with　finality。
　〃Yes。〃　Plumm　sipped　a　glass　of　iced　Perrier　water。　〃Are　you　going　to　wind　up　young　Nikklin　again　about　Macao？〃
　〃Me？　You　must　be　joking！〃
　〃No。　I'm　not；　actually；〃　Plumm　said　with　his　mocking　well…bred　chuckle。　〃Didn't　Dunross's　engine　blow　up　during　the　race　three　years　ago　and　he　bloody　nearly　killed　himself？〃
　〃Racing　cars　are　always　going　wrong。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　they　do　frequently；　though　they're　not　always　helped　by　the　opposition。〃　Plumm　smiled。
　Gornt　kept　his　smile　but　inside　he　was　not　smiling。　〃Meaning？〃
　〃Nothing；　dear　boy。　Just　rumors。〃　The　older　man　leaned　over　and　poured　more　whiskey　for　Gornt；　then　used　the　soda　syphon。　〃Rumor　has　it　that　a　certain　Chinese　mechanic；　for　a　small　fee；　put　。。。　put；　as　we　say；　a　small　spanner　in　the　works。〃
　〃I　doubt　if　that'd　be　true。〃
　〃I　doubt　if　it　could　be　proved。　One　way　or　another。　It's　disgusting；　but　some　people　will　do　anything　for　quite　a　small　amount　of　money。〃
　〃Yes。　Fortunately　we're　in　the　big…money　market。〃
　〃My　whole　point；　dear　boy。　Now。〃　Plumm　tapped　the　ash　off　his　cigar。　〃What's　the　scheme？〃
　〃It's　very　simple：　providing　Bartlett　does　not　actually　sign　a　deal　with　Struan's　in　the　next　ten　days　we　can　pluck　the　Noble　House　like　a　dead　duck。〃
　〃Lot's　of　people　have　thought　that　before　and　Struan's　is　still　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃Yes。　But　at　the　moment；　they're　vulnerable。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃The　Toda　Shipping　notes；　and　the　Orlin　installment。〃
　〃Not　true。　Struan's　credit　is　excellent　…　oh；　they're　stretched；　but　no　more　than　anyone　else。　They'll　just　increase　their　line　of　credit　…　or　Ian　will　go　to　Richard　Kwang　…　or　Blacs。〃
　〃Say　Blacs　won't　help　…　they　won't　…　and　say　Richard　Kwang's　neutralized。　That　leaves　only　the　Victoria。〃
　〃Then　Dunross'll　ask　the　bank　for　more　credit　and　we'll　have　to　give　it　to　him。　Paul　Havergill　will　put　it　to　a　vote　of　the　board。　We　all　know　we　can't　outvote　the　Struan's　block　so　we'll　go　along　with　it　and　save　face；　pretending　we're　very　happy　to　oblige；　as　usual。〃
　〃Yes。　But　this　time　I'm　happy　to　say　Richard　Kwang　will　vote　against　Struan's。　That　will　tie　up　the　board；　the　credit　request　will　be　delayed　…　he　won't　be　able　to　make　his　payments；　so　Dunross　goes　under。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　Richard　Kwang's　not　even　on　the　board！　Have　you　gone　bonkers？〃
　Gornt　puffed　his　cigar。　〃No；　you've　forgotten　my　game　plan。　The　one　called　petition。　It　was　started　a　couple　of　days　ago。〃
　〃Against　Richard？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Poor　old　Richard！〃
　〃Yes。　He'll　be　our　deciding　vote。　And　Dunross'll　never　expect　an　attack　from　there。〃
　Plumm　stared　at　him。　〃Richard　and　Dunross　are　great　friends。〃
　〃But　Richard's　in　trouble。　The　run's　started　on　the　Ho…Pak。　He'll　do　anything　to　save　himself。〃
　〃I　see。　How　much　Ho…Pak　stock　did　you　sell　short？〃
　〃Lots。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　Richard　hasn't　got　the　resources　to　stave　off　the　run　…　that　he　can't　pull　in　extra　funds？〃
　〃If　he　does；　we　can　always　abort；　you　and　I。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　we　can。〃　Jason　Plumm　watched　his　cigar　smoke　spiral。　〃But　just　because　Dunross　won't　meet　those　payments　doesn't　mean　he's　finished。〃
　〃I　agree。　But　after　the　Ho…Pak　'disaster；'　the　news　that　Struan's　have　defaulted　will　send　his　stock　plummeting。　The　market'll　be　very　nervous；　there'll　be　all　the　signs　of　a　crash　looming　which　we　fuel　by　selling　short。　There's　no　board　meeting　scheduled　for　a　couple　of　weeks　unless　Paul　Havergill　calls　a　special　meeting。　And　he　won't。　Why　should　he？　He　wants　their　chunk　of　stock　back　more　than　anything　else　in　the　world。　So　everything　will　be　fixed　beforehand。　He'll　set　the　ground　rules　for　rescuing　Richard　Kwang；　and　voting　as　Paul　decides　will　be　one　of　them。　So　the　board　lets　Ian　stew　for　a　few　days；　then　offers　to　extend　credit　and　restore　confidence　…　in　return　for　Struan's　piece　of　the　bank　stock　…　it's　pledged　against　the　credit　anyway。〃
　〃Dunross'll　never　agree　…　neither　he　nor　Phillip　Chen；　nor　Tsu…yan。〃
　〃It's　that　or　Struan's　goes　under　…　providing　you　hold　tight　and　you've　voting　control。　Once　the　bank　gets　his　block　of　stock　away　from　him　。。。　if　you　control　the　board；　and　therefore　the　Victoria　Bank；　then　he's　finished。〃
　〃Yes。　But　say　he　gets　a　new　line　of　credit？〃
　〃Then　he's　only　badly　mauled；　maybe　permanently　weakened；　Jason；　but　we　make　a　killing　either　way。　It's　all　a　matter　of　timing；　you　know　that。〃
　〃And　Bartlett？〃
　〃Bartlett　and　Par…Con　are　mine。　He'll　never　go　with　Struan's　sinking　ship。　I'll　see　to　that。〃
　After　a　pause　Plumm　said；　〃It's　possible。　Yes；　it's　possible。〃
　〃Are　you　in　then？〃
　〃After　Struan's；　how　are　you　going　to　gobble　up　Par…Con？〃
　〃I'm　not。　But　we　could　…　possibly。〃　Gornt　stubbed　out　his　cigar。　〃Par…Con's　a　long…term　effort　and　a　whole　different　set　of　problems。　First　Struan's。　Well？〃
　〃If　I　get　Struan's　Hong