jamesclavell.noblehouse-第71章

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　Shanghai　at　midnight；　five　days　a　week。
　〃Thanks；　Bruce。　See　you　later。〃　Then　to　the　others；　〃That's　all　taken　care　of。　Of　course　the　transfer　should　be　kept　quiet。　Richard；　I'll　need　a　cashier's　check　for　Nelson　Trading　balance。〃
　〃And　I'll　have　one　for　my　father's　balance！〃　Zeppelin　echoed。
　Richard　Kwang　said；　〃I'll　send　the　checks　over　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Tonight；〃　Mata　said；　〃then　they　can　clear　tonight。〃　His　eyes　lidded　even　more。　〃And；　of　course；　another　for　my　personal　balance。〃
　〃There　isn't　enough　cash　to　cover　those　three　checks　…　no　bank　could　have　that　amount；〃　Richard　Kwang　exploded。　〃Not　even　the　Bank　of　England。〃
　〃Of　course。　Please　call　whomever　you　wish　to　pledge　some　of　your　securities。　Or　Havergill；　or　Southerby。〃　Mata's　fingers　stopped　drumming。　〃They're　expecting　your　call。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　I　talked　to　both　of　them　this　afternoon。〃
　Richard　Kwang　said　nothing。　He　had　to　find　a　way　to　avoid　giving　the　money　over　tonight。　If　not　tonight；　he　would　gain　a　day's　interest　and　by　tomorrow　perhaps　it　would　not　be　necessary　to　pay。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　quai　loh　and　half　quai　loh；　who're　worse！　His　smile　was　as　sweet　as　Mata's。　〃Well；　as　you　wish。　If　you'll　both　meet　me　at　the　bank　in　an　hour　。。。〃
　〃Even　better；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Phillip　will　go　with　you　now。　You　can　give　him　all　the　checks。　Is　that　all　right　with　you；　Phillip？〃
　〃Oh；　oh　yes；　yes；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Good；　thank　you。　Then　if　you'll　take　them　right　over　to　Blacs；　they'll　clear　at　midnight。　Richard；　that　gives　you　plenty　of　time。　Doesn't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　tai…pan；〃　Richard　Kwang　said；　brightening。　He　had　just　thought　of　a　brilliant　answer。　A　pretended　heart　attack！　I'll　do　it　in　the　car　going　back　to　the　bank　and　then　。。。
　Then　he　saw　the　coldness　in　Dunross's　eyes　and　his　stomach　twisted　and　he　changed　his　mind。　Why　should　they　have　so　much　of　my　money？　he　thought　as　he　got　up。　〃You　don't　need　me　for　anything　more　at　the　moment？　Good；　e　along；　Phillip。〃　They　walked　out。　There　was　a　vast　silence。
　〃Poor　Phillip；　he　looks　ghastly；〃　Mata　said。
　〃Yes。　It's　no　wonder。〃
　〃Dirty　triads；〃　Zeppelin　Tung　said　with　a　shudder。　〃The　Werewolves　must　be　foreigners　to　send　his　ear　like　that！〃　Another　shudder。　〃I　hope　they　don't　e　to　Macao。　There's　a　strong　rumor　Phillip's　dealing　with　them　already；　negotiating　with　the　Werewolves　in　Macao。〃
　〃There's　no　truth　to　that；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃He　wouldn't　tell　you　if　he　was；　tai…pan。　I'd　keep　that　secret　from　everyone　too。〃　Zeppelin　Tung　stared　gloomily　at　the　phone。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　kidnappers。〃
　〃Is　the　Ho…Pak　finished？〃　Mata　asked。
　〃Unless　Richard　Kwang　can　stay　liquid；　yes。　This　afternoon　Dunstan　closed　all　his　accounts。〃
　〃Ah；　so　once　again　a　rumor's　correct！〃
　〃Afraid　so！〃　Dunross　was　sorry　for　Richard　Kwang　and　the　Ho…Pak　but　tomorrow　he　would　sell　short。　〃His　stock's　going　to　plummet。〃
　〃How　will　that　affect　the　boom　you've　forecast？〃
　〃Have　I？〃
　〃You're　buying　Struan's　heavily；　so　I　hear。〃　Mata　smiled　thinly。　〃So　has　Phillip；　and　his　tai…tai；　and　her　family。〃
　〃Anyone's　wise　to　buy　our　stock；　Lando；　at　any　time。　It's　very　underpriced。〃
　Zeppelin　Tung　was　listening　very　carefully。　His　heart　quickened。　He　too　had　heard　rumors　about　the　Noble　House　Chens　buying　today。　〃Did　you　see　Old　Blind　Tung's　column　today？　About　the　ing　boom？　He　was　very　serious。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said　gravely。　When　he　had　read　it　this　morning　he　had　chortled；　and　his　opinion　of　Dianne　Chen's　influence　had　soared。　In　spite　of　himself　Dunross　had　reread　it　and　had　wondered　briefly　if　the　soothsayer　had　really　been　forecasting　his　own　opinion。
　〃Is　Old　Blind　Tung　a　relation；　Zep？〃　he　asked。
　〃No；　tai…pan；　no；　not　that　I　know　of。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　it's　hot　today。　I'll　be　glad　to　get　back　to　Macao　…　the　weather's　much　better　in　Macao。　Are　you　in　the　motor　race　this　year；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　I　hope　so。〃
　〃Good！　Damn　the　Ho…Pak！　Richard　will　give　us　our　checks；　won't　he？　My　old　man　will　bust　a　blood　vessel　if　one　penny　cash　is　missing。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　then　noticed　a　strangeness　in　Mata's　eyes。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Mata　glanced　at　Zeppelin。　〃Zep；　it's　really　important　we　have　your　father's　approval　quickly。　Why　don't　you　and　Claudia　track　him　down。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　Obediently　the　Chinese　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　out；　closing　the　door。　Dunross　turned　his　attention　to　Mata。　〃And？〃
　Mata　hesitated。　Then　he　said　quietly；　〃Ian；　I'm　considering　taking　all　my　funds　out　of　Macao　and　Hong　Kong　and　putting　them　in　New　York。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　him；　perturbed。　〃If　you　did　that　you'd　rattle　our　whole　system。　If　you　withdraw；　Tightfist　will　too；　and　the　Chins；　Four　Fingers　。。。　and　all　the　others。〃
　〃Which　is　more　important；　tai…pan；　the　system　or　your　own　money？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　want　the　system　shaken　like　that。〃
　〃You've　closed　with　Par…Con？〃
　Dunross　watched　him。　〃Verbally　yes。　Contracts　in　seven　days。　Withdrawing　will　hurt　us　all；　Lando。　Badly。　What's　bad　for　us　will　be　very　bad　for　you　and　very　very　bad　for　Macao。〃
　〃I'll　consider　what　you　say。　So　Par…Con's　ing　into　Hong　Kong。　Very　good　…　and　if　American　Superfoods'　takeover　of　the　H。　K。　General　Stores　goes　through；　that'll　add　another　boost　to　the　market。　Perhaps　Old　Blind　Tung　wasn't　exaggerating　again。　Perhaps　we'll　be　lucky。　Has　he　ever　been　wrong　before？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Personally　I　don't　think　he　has　a　private　connection　with　the　Almighty；　though　a　lot　of　people　do。〃
　〃A　boom　would　be　very　good；　very　good　indeed。　Perfect　timing。　Yes；〃　Mata　added　strangely；　〃we　could　add　a　little　fuel　to　the　greatest　boom　in　our　history。　Eh？〃
　〃Would　you　assist？〃
　〃Ten　million　U。S。；　between　myself　and　the　Chins　…　Tightfist　won't　be　interested；　I　know。　You　suggest　where　and　when。〃
　〃Half　a　million　into　Struan's　last　thing　Thursday；　the　rest　spread　over　Rothwell…Gornt；　Asian　Properties；　Hong　Kong　Wharf；　Hong　Kong　Power；　Golden　Ferries；　Kowloon　Investments　and　H。　K。　General　Stores。〃
　〃Why　Thursday？　Why　not　tomorrow？〃
　〃The　Ho…Pak　will　bring　the　market　down。　If　we　buy　in　quantity　Thursday　just　before　closing；　we'll　make　a　fortune。〃
　〃When　do　you　announce　the　Par…Con　deal？〃
　Dunross　hesitated。　Then　he　said；　〃Friday；　after　the　market　closes。〃
　〃Good。　I'm　with　you；　Ian。　Fifteen　million。　Fifteen　instead　of　ten。　You'll　sell　the　Ho…Pak　short　tomorrow？〃
　〃Of　course。　Lando；　do　you　know　who's　behind　the　run　on　the　Ho…Pak？〃
　〃No。　But　Richard　is　overextended；　and　he　hasn't　been　too　wise。　People　talk；　Chinese　always　distrust　any　bank；　and　they　react　to　rumors。　I　think　the　bank　will　crash。〃
　〃Christ！〃
　〃Joss。〃　Mata's　fingers　stopped　drumming。　〃I　want　to　triple　our　gold　imports。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　him。　〃Why？　You're　up　to　capacity　now。　If　you　push　them　too　fast　they'll　make　mistakes　and　your　seizure　rate　will　go　up。　At　the　moment　you've　balanced　everything　perfectly。〃
　〃Yes；　but　Four　Fingers　and　others　assure　us　they　can　make　some　substantial　bulk　shipments　safely。〃
　〃No　need　to　push　them　…　or　your　market。　No　need　at　all。〃
　〃Ian；　listen　to　me　a　moment。　There's　trouble　in　Indonesia；　trouble　in　China；　India；　Tibet；　Malaya；　Singapore；　ferment　in　the　Philippines　and　now　the　Americans　are　going　into　Southeast　Asia　which　will　be　marvelous　for　us　and　dreadful　for　them。　Inflation　will　soar　and　then；　as　usual；　every　sensible　businessman　in　Asia；　particularly　Chinese　businessmen；　will　want　to　get　out　of　paper　money　and　into　gold。　We　should　be　ready　to　service　that　demand。〃
　〃What've　you　heard；　Lando？。〃
　〃Lots　of　curious　things；　tai…pan。　For　example；　that　certain　top　U。S。　generals　want　a　full…scale　confrontation　with　the　munists。　Vietnam's　chosen。〃
　〃But　the　Americans'll　never　win　there。　China　can't　let　them；　any　more　than　they　could　in　Korea。　Any　history　book　will　tell　them　China　always　crosses　her　borders　to　protect　her　buffer　zones　when　any　invader　approaches。〃
　〃Even　so；　the　confrontation　will　take　place。〃
　Dunross　studied　Lando　Mata　whose　enormous　wealth　and　longtime　involvement　in　the　honorable　profession　of　trading；　as　he　described　it；　gave　him　vast　entrée　into　the　most　secretive　of　places。　〃What　else　have　you　heard；　Lando？〃
　〃The　CIA　has　had　its　budget　doubled。〃
　〃That　has　to　be　classified。　No　one　could　know　that。〃
　〃Yes。　But　I　know。　Their　security's　appalling。　Ian；　the　CIA's　into　everything　in　Southeast　Asia。　I　believe　some　of　their　misguided　zealots　are　even　trying　to　wheedle　into　the　opium　trade　in　the　Golden　Triangle　for　the　benefit　of　their　friendly　Mekong　hill　tribes　…　to　encourage　them　to　fight　the　Viet　Cong。〃
　〃Christ！〃
　〃Yes。　Our　brethren　in　Taiwan　are　furious。　And　there's　a　growing　abundance　of　U。S。　Government　money　pouring　into　airfields；　harbors；　roads。　In　Okinawa；　Taiwan　and　particularly　in　South　Vietnam。　Certain　highly　connected　political　families　are　helping　to　supply　the　cement　and　steel　on　very　favorable　terms。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Who　makes　cement？　Perhaps　in　。。。　say　in　New　England？〃
　〃Good　sweet　Christ；　are　you　sure？〃
　Mata　smiled　humorlessly。　〃I　even　heard　that　part　of　a　very　large　government　loan　to　South　Vietnam　was　expended　on　a　nonexistent　airfield　that's　still　impenetrable　jungle。　Oh　yes；　Ian；　the　pickings　are　already　huge。　So　please　order　triple　shipments　from　tomorrow。　We　institute　our　new　hydrofoil　services　next　month　…　that'll　cut　the　time　to　Macao　from　three　hours　to　seventy…five　minutes。〃
　〃Wouldn't　the　Catalina　still　be　safer？〃
　〃No。　I　don't　think　so。　The　hydrofoils　can　carry　much　more　gold　and　can　outrun　anything　in　these　waters　…　we'll　have　constant　radar　munications；　the　best；　so　we　can　outrun　any　pirates。〃
　After　a　pause；　Dunross　said；　〃So　much　gold　could　attract　all　sorts　of　villains。　Perhaps　even　international　crooks。〃
　Mata　smiled　his　thin　smile。　〃Let　them　e。　They'll　never　leave。　We've　long　arms　in　Asia。〃　His　fingers　began　drumming　again。　〃Ian；　we're　old　friends；　I　would　like　some　advice。〃
　〃Glad　to　…　anything。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　in　change？〃
　〃Business　change？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It　depends；　Lando；〃　Dunross　answered　at　once。　〃The　Noble　House's　changed　little　in　almost　a　century　and　a　half；　in　other　ways　it's　changed　vastly。〃　He　watched　the　older　man；　and　he　waited。
　At　length　Mata　said；　〃In　a　few　weeks　the　Macao　Government　is　obliged　to　put　the　gambling　concession　up　for　bids　again。　。。。〃　Instantly　Dunross's　attention　zeroed。　All　big　business　in　Macao　was　conducted　on　monopoly　lines；　the　monopoly　going　to　the　person　or　pany　that　offered　the　most　taxes　per　year　for　the　privilege。　〃。。。　This's　the　fifth　year。　Every　five　years　our　department　asks　for　closed　bids。　The　auction's　open　to　anyone　but；　in　practice；　we　scrutinize　very　particularly　those　who　are　invited　to　bid。〃　The　silence　hung　a　moment；　then　Mata　continued；　〃My　old　associate；　Smuggler　Mo's　already　dead。　His　offspring're　mostly　profligate　or　more　interested　in　the　Western　world；　gambling　in　southern　France　or　playing　golf；　than　in　the　health　and　future　of　the　syndicate。　For　the　Mo　it's　the　age…old　destiny：　one…in…ten…thousand　coolie　strikes　gold；　harbors　money；　invests　in　land；　saves　money；　bees　rich；　buys　young　concubines　who　use　him　up　quickly。　Second　generation　discontented；　spend　money；　mortgage　land　to　buy　face　and　ladies'　favors。　Third　generation　sell　land；　go　bankrupt　for　same　favors。　F