jamesclavell.noblehouse-第7章

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e。　Boats　of　all　sizes　were　moored　precariously　to　each　other；　seemingly　without　order；　with　tiny　sea　alleys　between　the　floating　villages。　These　were　the　homes　of　the　Tanka　and　Haklo　people　…　the　boat　dwellers　…　who　lived　their　lives　afloat；　were　born　afloat　and　died　afloat。　Many　of　these　boats　never　moved　from　these　moorings　but　stayed　locked　together　until　they　sank　or　fell　apart；　or　went　down　in　a　typhoon　or　were　burnt　in　one　of　the　spectacular　conflagrations　that　frequently　swept　the　clusters　when　a　careless　foot　or　hand　knocked　over　a　lamp　or　dropped　something　inflammable　into　the　inevitable　open　fires。
　〃Grandfather！〃　the　youthful　lookout　called。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Wu　asked。
　〃On　the　jetty；　look！　Seventh　Son！〃　The　boy；　barely　twelve；　was　pointing　to　the　shore。
　Wu　and　the　others　got　up　and　peered　shorewards。　The　young　Chinese　was　paying　off　a　taxi。　He　wore　jeans　and　a　neat　T…shirt　and　sneakers。　The　taxi　had　stopped　near　the　gangway　of　one　of　the　huge　floating　restaurants　that　were　moored　to　the　modern　jetties；　a　hundred　yards　away。　There　were　four　of　these　gaudy　floating　palaces　…　three；　four　or　five　stories　tall　…　ablaze　with　lights；　splendiferous　in　scarlet　and　green　and　gold　with　fluted　Chinese　roofs　and　gods；　gargoyles　and　dragons。
　〃You've　good　eyes；　Number　Three　Grandson。　Good。　Go　and　meet　Seventh　Son。〃　Instantly　the　child　scurried　off；　sure…footed　across　the　rickety　planks　that　joined　this　junk　to　others。　Four　Fingers　watched　his　seventh　son　head　for　one　of　the　jetties　where　ferry　sampans　that　serviced　the　harbor　were　clustered。　When　he　saw　that　the　boatman　he　had　sent　had　intercepted　him；　he　turned　his　back　on　the　shore　and　sat　down　again。　〃e　on；　let's　finish　the　game；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃This's　my　last　fornicating　hand。　I've　got　to　go　ashore　tonight。〃
　They　played　for　a　moment；　picking　up　tiles　and　discarding　them。
　〃Ayeeyah！〃　Pockmark　Tang　said　with　a　shout　as　he　saw　the　face　of　the　tile　that　he　had　just　picked　up。　He　slammed　it　onto　the　table　face　upwards　with　a　flourish　and　laid　down　his　other　thirteen　hidden　tiles　that　made　up　his　winning　hand。　〃Look；　by　all　the　gods！〃
　Wu　and　the　others　gawked　at　the　hand。　〃Piss！〃　he　said　and　hawked　loudly。　〃Piss　on　all　your　generations；　Pockmark　Tang！　What　luck！〃
　〃One　more　game？　Twenty　thousand；　Four　Finger　Wu？〃　Tang　said　gleefully；　convinced　that　tonight　old　devil；　Chi　Kung；　the　god　of　gamblers；　was　sitting　on　his　shoulder。
　Wu　began　to　shake　his　head；　but　at　that　moment　a　seabird　flew　overhead　and　called　plaintively。　〃Forty；〃　he　said　immediately；　changing　his　mind；　interpreting　the　call　as　a　sign　from　heaven　that　his　luck　had　changed。　〃Forty　thousand　or　nothing！　But　it'll　have　to　be　dice　because　I've　no　time　now。〃
　〃I　haven't　got　forty　cash　by　all　gods；　but　with　the　twenty　you　owe　me；　I'll　borrow　against　my　junk　tomorrow　when　the　bank　opens　and　give　you　all　my　fornicating　profit　on　our　next　gold　or　opium　shipment　until　you're　paid；　heya？〃
　Goodweather　Poon　said　sourly；　〃That's　too　much　on　one　game。　You　two　fornicators've　lost　your　minds！〃
　〃Highest　score；　one　throw？〃　Wu　asked。
　〃Ayeeyah；　you've　gone　mad；　both　of　you；〃　Poon　said。　Nonetheless；　he　was　as　excited　as　the　others。　〃Where　are　the　dice？〃
　Wu　produced　them。　There　were　three。　〃Throw　for　your　fornicating　future；　Pockmark　Tang！〃
　Pockmark　Tang　spat　on　his　hands；　said　a　silent　prayer；　then　threw　them　with　a　shout。
　〃Oh　oh　oh；〃　he　cried　out　in　anguish。　A　four；　a　three　and　another　four。　〃Eleven！〃　The　other　men　were　hardly　breathing。
　Wu　spat　on　the　dice；　cursed　them；　blessed　them　and　threw。　A　six；　a　two　and　a　three。　〃Eleven！　Oh　all　gods　great　and　small！　Again　…　throw　again！〃
　Excitement　gathered　on　the　deck。　Pockmark　Tang　threw。　〃Fourteen！〃
　Wu　concentrated；　the　tension　intoxicating；　then　threw　the　dice。　〃Ayeeyah！〃　he　exploded；　and　they　all　exploded。　A　six；　a　four　and　a　two。
　〃Eeeee；〃　was　all　Pockmark　Tang　could　say；　holding　his　belly；　laughing　with　glee　as　the　others　congratulated　him　and　miserated　with　the　loser。
　Wu　shrugged；　his　heart　still　pounding　in　his　chest。　〃Curse　all　seabirds　that　fly　over　my　head　at　a　time　like　that！〃
　〃Ah；　is　that　why　you　changed　your　mind；　Four　Finger　Wu？〃
　〃Yes　…　it　was　like　a　sign。　How　many　seabirds　call　as　they　fly　overhead　at　night？〃
　〃That's　right。　I　would　have　done　the　same。〃
　〃Joss！〃　Then　Wu　beamed。　〃Eeeee；　but　the　gambling　feeling's　better　than　the　Clouds　and　the　Rain；　heya？〃
　〃Not　at　my　age！〃
　〃How　old　are　you；　Pockmark　Tang？〃
　〃Sixty　…　perhaps　seventy。　Almost　as　old　as　you　are。〃　Haklos　did　not　have　permanent　records　of　births　like　all　village　land　dwellers。　〃I　don't　feel　more　than　thirty。〃
　〃Have　you　heard　the　Lucky　Medicine　Shop　at　Aberdeen　Market's　got　a　new　shipment　of　Korean　ginseng；　some　of　it　a　hundred　years　old！　That'll　stick　fire　in　your　stalk！〃
　〃His　stalk's　all　right；　Goodweather　Poon！　His　third　wife's　with　child　again！〃　Wu　grinned　toothlessly　and　pulled　out　a　big　roll　of　500…dollar　notes。　He　began　counting；　his　fingers　nimble　even　though　his　left　thumb　was　missing。　Years　ago　it　had　been　hacked　off　during　a　fight　with　river　pirates　during　a　smuggling　expedition。　He　stopped　momentarily　as　his　number　seven　son　came　on　deck。　The　young　man　was　tall　for　a　Chinese；　twenty…six。　He　walked　across　the　deck　awkwardly。　An　ining　jet　began　to　whine　past　overhead。
　〃Did　they　arrive；　Seventh　Son？〃
　〃Yes；　Father；　yes　they　did。〃
　Four　Fingers　pounded　the　upturned　keg　with　glee。　〃Very　good。　Now　we　can　begin！〃
　〃Hey；　Four　Fingers；〃　Pockmark　Tang　said　thoughtfully；　motioning　at　the　dice。　〃A　six；　a　four　and　a　two　…　that's　twelve；　which's　also　three；　the　magic　three。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　saw。〃
　Pockmark　Tang　beamed　and　pointed　northwards　and　a　little　east　to　where　Kai　Tak　airport　would　be　…　behind　the　Aberdeen　mountains；　across　the　harbor　in　Kowloon；　six　miles　away。　〃Perhaps　your　luck　has　changed；　heya？〃
　
　
　MONDAY
　
　3
　
　5：16　A。M。：
　At　half…dawn　a　jeep　with　two　overalled　mechanics　aboard　came　around　Gate　16　at　the　eastern　end　of　the　terminal　and　stopped　close　beside　the　main　landing　gear　of　Yankee　2。　The　gangway　was　still　in　place　and　the　main　door　slightly　ajar。　The　mechanics；　both　Chinese；　got　out　and　one　began　to　inspect　the　eight…wheeled　main　gear　while　the　other；　equally　carefully；　scrutinized　the　nose　gear。　Methodically；　they　checked　the　tires　and　wheels　and　then　the　hydraulic　couplings　of　the　brakes；　then　peered　into　the　landing　bays。　Both　used　flashlights。　The　mechanic　at　the　main　landing　gear　took　out　a　spanner　and　stood　on　one　of　the　wheels　for　a　closer　inspection；　his　head　and　shoulder　now　well　into　the　belly　of　the　airplane。　After　a　moment　he　called　out　softly　in　Cantonese；　〃Ayeeyah！　Hey；　Lim；　take　a　look　at　this。〃
　The　other　man　strolled　back　and　peered　up；　sweat　staining　his　white　overalls。　〃Are　they　there　or　not；　I　can't　see　from　down　here。〃
　〃Brother；　put　your　male　stalk　into　your　mouth　and　flush　yourself　down　a　sewer。　Of　course　they're　here。　We're　rich。　We'll　eat　rice　forever！　But　be　quiet　or　you'll　wake　the　dung…stained　foreign　devils　above！　Here　。。。〃　The　man　handed　down　a　long；　canvas…wrapped　package　which　Lim　took　and　stowed　quietly　and　quickly　in　the　jeep。　Then　another　and　another　small　one；　both　men　sweating　and　very　nervous；　working　fast　but　quietly。
　Another　package。　And　another　。。。
　And　then　Lim　saw　the　police　jeep　whirl　around　the　corner　and　simultaneously　other　uniformed　men　e　pouring　out　of　Gate　16；　among　them　Europeans。　〃We're　betrayed；〃　he　gasped　as　he　fled　in　a　hopeless　dash　for　freedom。　The　jeep　intercepted　him　easily　and　he　stopped；　shivering　with　pent…up　terror。　Then　he　spat　and　cursed　the　gods　and　withdrew　into　himself。
　The　other　man　had　jumped　down　at　once　and　leaped　into　the　driving　seat。　Before　he　could　turn　on　the　ignition　he　was　swamped　and　handcuffed。
　〃So；　little　oily　mouth；〃　Sergeant　Lee　hissed；　〃where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃
　〃Nowhere；　Officer；　it　was　him；　him　there；　that　bastard　son　of　a　whore；　Officer；　he　swore　he'd　cut　my　throat　if　I　didn't　help　him。　I　don't　know　anything　on　my　mother's　grave！〃
　〃You　lying　bastard；　you　never　had　a　mother。　You're　going　to　go　to　jail　for　fifty　years　if　you　don't　talk！〃
　〃I　swear；　Officer；　by　all　the　gods　th…　〃
　〃Piss　on　your　lies；　dungface。　Who's　paying　you　to　do　this　job？〃
　Armstrong　was　walking　slowly　across　the　tarmac；　the　sick　sweet　taste　of　the　kill　in　his　mouth。　〃So；〃　he　said　in　English；　〃what　have　we　here；　Sergeant？〃　It　had　been　a　long　night's　vigil　and　he　was　tired　and　unshaven　and　in　no　mood　for　the　mechanic's　whining　protestations　of　innocence；　so　he　said　softly　in　perfect　gutter　Cantonese；　〃One　more　tiny；　insignificant　word　out　of　you；　purveyor　of　leper　dung；　and　I'll　have　my　men　jump　on　your　Secret　Sack。〃
　The　man　froze。
　〃Good。　What's　your　name？〃
　〃Tan　Shu　Ta；　lord。〃
　〃Liar！　What's　your　friend's　name？〃
　〃Lim　Ta…cheung；　but　he's　not　my　friend；　lord；　I　never　met　him　before　this　morning。〃
　〃Liar！　Who　paid　you　to　do　this？〃
　〃I　don't　know　who　paid　him；　lord。　You　see　he　swore　he'd　cut…　〃
　〃Liar！　Your　mouth's　so　full　of　dung　you　must　be　the　god　of　dung　himself。　What's　in　those　packages？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　swear　on　my　ancestor's　gr…　〃
　〃Liar！〃　Armstrong　said　it　automatically；　knowing　that　the　lies　were　inevitable。
　〃John　Chinaman's　not　the　same　as　us；〃　his　first　police　teacher；　an　old　China　hand；　had　told　him。　〃Oh　I　don't　mean　cut　on　the　cross　or　anything　like　that　…　he's　just　different。　He　lies　through　his　teeth　all　the　time　to　a　copper　and　when　you　nab　a　villain　fair　and　square　he'll　still　lie　and　be　as　slippery　as　a　greased　pole　in　a　pile　of　shit。　He's　different。　Take　their　names。　All　Chinese　have　four　different　names；　one　when　he's　born；　one　at　puberty；　one　when　he's　an　adult　and　one　he　chooses　for　himself；　and　they　forget　one　or　add　another　at　the　drop　of　a　titfer。　And　their　names　…　God　stone　the　crows！　Chinese　call　themselves　lao…tsi…sing　…　the　Ancient　One　Hundred　Names。　They've　only　got　a　basic　hundred　surnames　in　all　China　and　of　those　there're　twenty　Yus；　eight　Yens；　ten　Wus　and　God　knows　how　many　Pings；　Lis；　Lees；　Chens；　Chins；　Chings；　Wongs　and　Pus　and　each　one　of　them　you　pronounce　five　different　ways　so　God　knows　who's　who！〃
　〃Then　it's　going　to　be　difficult　to　identify　a　suspect；　sir？〃
　〃Full　marks；　young　Armstrong！　Full　marks；　lad。　You　can　have　fifty　Lis；　fifty　Changs　and　four　hundred　Wongs　and　not　one　related　to　the　other。　God　stone　the　crows！　That's　the　problem　here　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　After　eighteen　years　Chinese　names　were　still　as　confusing　as　ever。　And　on　top　of　that　everyone　seemed　to　have　a　nickname　by　which　they　were　generally　known。
　〃What's　your　name？〃　he　asked　again　and　didn't　bother　to　listen　to　the　answer。　〃Liar！　Sergeant！　Unwrap　one　of　those！　Let's　see　what　we've　got。〃
　Sergeant　Lee　eased　aside　the　last　covering。　Inside　was　an　M14；　an　automatic　rifle；　U。S。　Army。　New　and　well　greased。
　〃For　this；　you　evil　son　of　a　whore's　left　tit；〃　Armstrong　grated；　〃you'll　howl　for　fifty　years！〃
　The　man　was　staring　at　the　gun　stupidly；　aghast。　Then　a　low　moan　came　from　him。　〃Fornicate　all　gods　I　never　knew　they　were　guns。〃
　〃Ah；　but　you　did　know！〃　Armstrong　said。　〃Sergeant；　put　this　piece　of　dung　in　the　wagon　and　book　him　for　smuggling　guns。〃
　The　man　was