jamesclavell.noblehouse-第8章

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　〃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　dragged　away　roughly。　One　of　the　young　Chinese　policemen　was　unwrapping　another　package。　It　was　small　and　square。　〃Hold　it！〃　Armstrong　ordered　in　English。　The　policeman　and　everyone　in　hearing　distance　froze。　〃One　of　them　may　be　booby…trapped。　Everyone　get　away　from　the　jeep！〃　Sweating；　the　man　did　as　he　was　ordered。　〃Sergeant；　get　our　bomb　disposal　wallahs。　There's　no　hurry　now。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Sergeant　Lee　hurried　to　the　inter　in　the　police　wagon。
　Armstrong　went　under　the　airplane　and　peered　into　the　main　gear　bay。　He　could　see　nothing　untoward。　Then　he　stood　on　one　of　the　wheels。　〃Christ！〃　he　gasped。　Five　snug　racks　were　neatly　bolted　to　each　side　of　the　inner　bulkhead。　One　was　almost　empty；　the　others　still　full。　From　the　size　and　shape　of　the　packages　he　judged　them　to　be　more　M14's　and　boxes　of　ammo　…　or　grenades。
　〃Anything　up　there；　sir？〃　Inspector　Thomas　asked。　He　was　a　young　Englishman；　three　years　in　the　force。
　〃Take　a　look！　But　don't　touch　anything。〃
　〃Christ！　There's　enough　for　a　couple　of　riot　squads！〃
　〃Yes。　But　who？〃
　〃mies？〃
　〃Or　Nationalists　…　or　villains。　These'd…　〃
　〃What　the　hell's　going　on　down　there？〃
　Armstrong　recognized　Linc　Bartlett's　voice。　His　face　closed　and　he　jumped　down；　Thomas　following　him。　He　went　to　the　foot　of　the　gangway。　〃I'd　like　to　know　that　too；　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　he　called　up　curtly。
　Bartlett　was　standing　at　the　main　door　of　the　airplane；　Svensen　beside　him。　Both　men　wore　pajamas　and　robes　and　were　sleep　tousled。
　〃I'd　like　you　to　take　a　look　at　this。〃　Armstrong　pointed　to　the　rifle　that　was　now　half　hidden　in　the　jeep。
　At　once　Bartlett　came　down　the　gangway；　Svensen　following。　〃What？〃
　〃Perhaps　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　wait　in　the　airplane；　Mr。　Svensen。〃
　Svensen　started　to　reply；　stopped。　Then　he　glanced　at　Bartlett　who　nodded。　〃Fix　some　coffee；　Sven；　huh？〃
　〃Sure；　Linc。〃
　〃Now　what's　this　all　about；　Superintendent？〃
　〃That！〃　Armstrong　pointed。
　〃That's　an　M14。〃　Bartlett's　eyes　narrowed。　〃So？〃
　〃So　it　seems　your　aircraft　is　bringing　in　guns。〃
　〃That's　not　possible。〃
　〃We've　just　caught　two　men　unloading。　There's　one　of　the　buggers〃　…　Armstrong　stabbed　a　finger　at　the　handcuffed　mechanic　waiting　sullenly　beside　the　jeep　…　〃and　the　other's　in　the　wagon。　Perhaps　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　look　up　in　the　main　gear　bay；　sir。〃
　〃Sure。　Where？〃
　〃You'll　have　to　stand　on　a　wheel。〃
　Bartlett　did　as　he　was　told。　Armstrong　and　Inspector　Thomas　watched　exactly　where　he　put　his　hands　for　fingerprint　identification。　Bartlett　stared　blankly　at　the　racks。　〃I'll　be　goddamned！　If　these're　more　of　the　same；　it's　a　goddamn　arsenal！〃
　〃Yes。　Please　don't　touch　them。〃
　Bartlett　studied　the　racks；　then　climbed　down；　wide　awake　now。　〃This　isn't　a　simple　smuggling　job。　Those　racks　are　custom　made。〃
　〃Yes。　You've　no　objection　if　the　aircraft's　searched？〃
　〃No。　Of　course　not。〃
　〃Go　ahead；　Inspector；〃　Armstrong　said　at　once。　〃And　do　it　very　carefully　indeed。　Now；　Mr。　Bartlett；　perhaps　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　explain。〃
　〃I　don't　run　guns；　Superintendent。　I　don't　believe　my　captain　would　…　or　Bill　O'Rourke。　Or　Svensen。〃
　〃What　about　Miss　Tcholok？〃
　〃Oh　for　chrissake！〃
　Armstrong　said　icily；　〃This　is　a　very　serious　matter；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Your　aircraft　is　impounded　and　without　police　approval　until　further　notice　neither　you　nor　any　of　your　crew　may　leave　the　Colony　pending　our　inquiries。　Now；　what　about　Miss　Tcholok？〃
　〃It's　impossible；　it's　totally　impossible　that　Casey　is　involved　in　any　way　with　guns；　gun　smuggling　or　any　kind　of　smuggling。　Impossible。〃　Bartlett　was　apologetic　but　quite　unafraid。　〃Nor　would　any　of　the　rest　of　us。〃　His　voice　sharpened。　〃You　were　tipped　off；　weren't　you？〃
　〃How　long　did　you　stop　at　Honolulu？〃
　〃An　hour　or　two；　just　to　refuel；　I　don't　remember　exactly。〃　Bartlett　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Jannelli　got　off　but　he　always　does。　Those　racks　couldn't've　been　loaded　in　an　hour　or　so。〃
　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃No；　but　I'd　still　bet　it　was　done　before　we　left　the　States。　Though　when　and　where　and　why　and　who　I've　no　idea。　Have　you？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃　Armstrong　was　watching　him　keenly。　〃Perhaps　you'd　like　to　go　back　to　your　office；　Mr。　Bartlett。　We　could　take　your　statement　there。〃
　〃Sure。〃　Bartlett　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　5：43　A。M。　〃Let's　do　that　now；　then　I　can　make　a　few　calls。　We're　not　wired　into　your　system　yet。　There's　a　local　phone　there？〃　He　pointed　to　the　terminal。
　〃Yes。　Of　course　we'd　prefer　to　question　Captain　Jannelli　and　Mr。　O'Rourke　before　you　do　…　if　you　don't　mind。　Where　are　they　staying？〃
　〃At　the　Victoria　and　Albert。〃
　〃Sergeant　Lee！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Get　on　to　HQ。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃We'd　also　like　to　talk　to　Miss　Tcholok　first。　Again　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　Bartlett　walked　up　the　steps；　Armstrong　beside　him。　At　length　he　said；　〃All　right。　Provided　you　do　that　personally；　and　not　before　7：45。　She's　been　working　overtime　and　she's　got　a　heavy　day　today　and　I　don't　want　her　disturbed　unnecessarily。〃
　They　went　into　the　airplane。　Sven　was　waiting　by　the　galley；　dressed　now　and　very　perturbed。　Uniformed　and　plainclothes　police　were　everywhere；　searching　diligently。
　〃Sven；　how　about　that　coffee？〃　Bartlett　led　the　way　through　the　anteroom　into　his　office…study。　The　central　door；　aft；　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　was　open。　Armstrong　could　see　part　of　the　master　suite　with　its　king…size　bed。　Inspector　Thomas　was　going　through　some　drawers。
　〃Shit！〃　Bartlett　muttered。
　〃Sorry；〃　Armstrong　said；　〃but　this　is　necessary。〃
　〃That　doesn't　mean　I　have　to　like　it；　Superintendent。　Never　did　like　strangers　peeking　into　my　private　life。〃
　〃Yes。　I　agree。〃　The　superintendent　beckoned　one　of　the　plain…clothes　officers。　〃Sung！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Take　this　down　will　you　please。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　let's　save　some　time；〃　Bartlett　said。　He　turned　to　a　bank　of　electronic　gear　and　pressed　two　switches。　A　twin　cassette　tape　deck　clicked　into　operation。　He　plugged　in　a　microphone　and　set　it　on　the　desk。　〃There'll　be　two　tapes；　one　for　you；　one　for　me。　After　your　man's　typed　it　up　…　if　you　want　a　signature　I'm　here。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Okay；　let's　begin。〃
　Armstrong　was　suddenly　uneasy。　〃Would　you　please　tell　me　what　you　know　about　the　illegal　cargo　found　in　the　main　gear　bay　of　your　aircraft；　Mr。　Bartlett。〃
　Bartlett　repeated　his　denial　of　any　knowledge。　〃I　don't　believe　any　of　my　crew　or　any　of　my　people　are　involved　in　any　way。　None　of　them　has　ever　been　involved　with　the　law　as　far　as　I　know。　And　I　would　know。〃
　〃How　long　has　Captain　Jannelli　been　with　you？〃
　〃Four　years。　O'Rourke　two。　Svensen　since　I　got　the　airplane　in　'58。〃
　〃And　Miss　Tcholok？〃
　After　a　pause　Bartlett　said；　〃Six　…　almost　seven　years。〃
　〃She's　a　senior　executive　in　your　pany？〃
　〃Yes。　Very　senior。〃
　〃That's　unusual；　isn't　it；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃Yes。　But　that　has　nothing　to　do　with　this　problem。〃
　〃You're　the　owner　of　this　aircraft？〃
　〃My　pany　is。　Par…Con　Industries　Incorporated。〃
　〃Do　you　have　any　enemies　…　anyone　who'd　want　to　embarrass　you　seriously？〃
　Bartlett　laughed。　〃Does　a　dog　have　fleas？　You　don't　get　to　head　a　half…billion…dollar　pany　by　making　friendships。〃
　〃No　enemy　in　particular？〃
　〃You　tell　me。　Running　guns　is　a　special　operation　…　this　has　to　have　been　done　by　a　professional。〃
　〃Who　knew　about　your　flight　plan　to　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃The　visit's　been　scheduled　for　a　couple　of　months。　My　board　knew。　And　my　planning　staff。〃　Bartlett　frowned。　〃It　was　no　real　secret。　No　reason　to　be。〃　Then　he　added；　〃Of　course　Struan's　knew　…　exactly。　For　at　least　two　weeks。　In　fact　we　confirmed　the　date　on　the　12th　by　telex；　exact　ETD　and　ETA。　I　wanted　it　sooner　but　Dunross　said　Monday　the　19th'd　suit　him　better；　which　is　today。　Maybe　you　should　ask　him。〃
　〃I　will；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Thank　you；　sir。　That　will　do　for　the　moment。〃
　〃I've　got　some　questions；　Superintendent；　if　you　don't　mind。　What's　the　penalty　for　smuggling　guns？〃
　〃Ten　years　without　parole。〃
　〃What's　the　value　of　this　cargo？〃
　〃Priceless；　to　the　right　buyer；　because　no　guns　…　absolutely　none　…　are　available　to　anyone。〃
　〃Who's　the　right　buyer？〃
　〃Anyone　who　wants　to　start　a　riot；　insurrection；　or　mit　mass　murder；　bank　robbery；　or　some　crime　of　whatever　magnitude。〃
　〃munists？〃
　Armstrong　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃They　don't　have　to　shoot　at　us　to　take　over　the　Colony；　or　smuggle　M14's　…　they've　got　guns　a…plenty　of　their　own。〃
　〃Nationalists？　Chiang　Kai…shek's　men？〃
　〃They're　more　than　well　supplied　with　all　sorts　of　armaments　by　the　U。S。　Government；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Aren't　they？　So　they　don't　need　to　smuggle　this　way　either。〃
　〃A　gang　war　maybe？〃
　〃Good　God；　Mr。　Bartlett；　our　gangs　don't　shoot　each　other。　Our　gangs　…　triads　as　we　call　them　…　our　triads　settle　their　differences　in　sensible；　civilized　Chinese　fashion；　with　knives　and　axes　and　fighting　irons　and　anonymous　calls　to　the　police。〃
　〃I'll　bet　it　was　someone　in　Struan's。　That's　where　you'll　find　the　answer　to　the　riddle。〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Armstrong　laughed　strangely；　then　said　again；　〃Perhaps。　Now　if　you'll　excuse　me　。。。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Bartlett　turned　off　the　recorder；　took　out　the　two　cassettes　and　handed　one　over。
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Bartlett。〃
　〃How　long　will　this　search　go　on？〃
　〃That　depends。　Perhaps　an　hour。　We　may　wish　to　bring　in　some　experts。　We'll　try　to　make　it　as　easy　as　possible。　You'll　be　off　the　plane　before　lunch？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃If　you　want　access　please　check　with　my　office。　The　number's　88…77…33。　There'll　be　a　permanent　police　guard　here　for　the　time　being。　You'll　be　staying　at　the　Vic？〃
　〃Yes。　Am　I　free　to　go　into　town　now；　do　what　I　like？〃
　〃Yes　sir；　provided　you　don't　leave　the　Colony；　pending　our　inquiries。〃
　Bartlett　grinned。　〃I've　got　that　message　already；　loud　and　clear。〃
　Armstrong　left。　Bartlett　showered　and　dressed　and　waited　until　all　the　police　went　away　except　the　one　who　was　guarding　the　gangway。　Then　he　went　back　into　his　office　suite　and　closed　the　door。　Quite　alone　now　he　checked　his　watch。　It　was　7：37。　He　went　over　to　his　munications　center　and　clicked　on　two　micro　switches　and　pressed　the　sending　button。
　In　a　moment　there　was　a　crackle　of　static　and　Casey's　sleepy　voice。　〃Yes；　Linc？〃
　〃Geronimo；〃　he　said　clearly；　into　the　mike。　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Got　it；〃　she　said。　The　loudspeaker　went　dead。
　
　4
　
　9：40　A。M。　：
　
　The　Rolls　came　off　the　car　ferry　that　linked　Kowloon　to　Hong　Kong　Island　and　turned　east　along　Connaught　Road；　joining　the　heavy　traffic。　The　morning　was　very　warm；　humid　and　cloudless　under　a　nice　sun。　Casey　settled　deeper　into　the　back　cushions。　She　glanced　at　her　watch；　her　excitement　growing。
　〃Plenty　time；　Missee；〃　the　sharp…eyed　chauffeur　said。　〃Noble　House　down　street；　tall　building；　ten；　fifteen　minutes　never　mind。〃
　〃Good。〃
　This　is　the　life；　she　told　herself。　One　day　I'll　have　a　Rolls　of　my　very　own　and　a　neat；　polite　quiet　Chinese　chauffeur　and　I'll　not　have　to　worry　about　the　price　of　gas。　Not　ever。　Maybe　…　at　long　last　…　this　is　where　I'm　going　to　get　my　drop　dead　money。　She　smiled　to　herself。　Linc　was　the　first　one　who　had　explained　about　drop　dead　money。　He　had　called