jamesclavell.noblehouse-第81章

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iled　at　him。　It　was　a　tentative　smile。　〃It's　not　long　now。　Let's　do　it　as　we　agreed。　Please？〃
　He　stood　there　and　watched　her；　wanting　her。　Then　he　said；　〃Sure。〃　At　his　door　he　stopped。　〃Casey；　you're　right　about　this　place。　It　is　romantic　and　exciting。　It's　got　to　me　too。　Maybe；　maybe　you'd　better　get　another　room。〃
　His　door　closed。
　That　night　she　cried　herself　to　sleep。
　
　
　WEDNESDAY
　
　27
　
　5：45　A。M。：
　The　two　racehorses　came　out　of　the　turn　into　the　final　stretch　going　very　fast。　It　was　false　dawn；　the　sky　still　dark　to　the　west；　and　the　Happy　Valley　Racecourse　was　spotted　with　people　at　the　morning　workout。
　Dunross　was　up　on　Buccaneer；　the　big　bay　gelding；　and　he　was　neck　and　neck　with　Noble　Star；　ridden　by　his　chief　jockey；　Tom　Leung。　Noble　Star　was　on　the　rails　and　both　horses　were　going　well　with　plenty　in　reserve。　Then　Dunross　saw　the　winning　post　ahead　and　he　had　that　sudden　urge　to　jam　in　his　heels　and　best　the　other　horse。　The　other　jockey　sensed　the　challenge　and　looked　across　at　him。　But　both　riders　knew　they　were　there　just　to　exercise　and　not　to　race；　there　to　confuse　the　opposition；　so　Dunross　bottled　his　almost　blinding　desire。
　Both　horses　had　their　ears　down　now。　Their　flanks　were　wet　with　sweat。　Both　felt　the　bit　in　between　their　teeth。　And　now；　well　into　the　stretch；　they　pounded　toward　the　winning　post　excitedly；　the　inner　training　sand　track　not　as　fast　as　the　encircling　grass；　making　them　work　harder。　Both　riders　stood　high　in　the　stirrups；　leaning　forward；　reins　tight。
　Noble　Star　was　carrying　less　weight。　She　began　to　pull　away。　Dunross　automatically　used　his　heels　and　cursed　Buccaneer。　The　pace　quickened。　The　gap　began　to　close。　His　exhilaration　soared。　This　gallop　was　barely　half　a　lap　so　he　thought　he　would　be　safe。　No　opposing　trainer　could　get　an　accurate　timing　on　them　so　he　kicked　harder　and　the　race　was　on。　Both　horses　knew。　Their　strides　lengthened。　Noble　Star　had　her　nose　ahead　and　then；　feeling　Buccaneer　ing　up　fast；　she　took　the　bit；　laid　to　and　charged　forward　on　her　own　account　and　drew　away　and　beat　Dunross　by　half　a　length。
　Now　the　riders　slackened　speed　and；　standing　easily；　continued　around　the　lovely　course　…　a　patch　of　green　surrounded　by　massed　buildings　and　tiers　of　high　rises　that　dotted　the　mountainsides。　When　Dunross　had　cantered　up　the　final　stretch　again；　he　broke　off　the　exercising；　reined　in　beside　where　the　winner's　circle　would　normally　be　and　dismounted。　He　slapped　the　filly　affectionately　on　the　neck；　threw　the　reins　to　a　stable　hand。　The　man　swung　into　the　saddle　and　continued　her　exercise。
　Dunross　eased　his　shoulders；　his　heart　beating　nicely；　the　taste　of　blood　in　his　mouth。　He　felt　very　good；　his　stretched　muscles　aching　pleasantly。　He　had　ridden　all　of　his　life。　Horse　racing　was　still　officially　all　amateur　in　Hong　Kong。　When　he　was　young　he　had　raced　two　seasons　and　he　would　have　continued；　but　he　had　been　warned　off　the　course　by　his　father；　then　tai…pan　and　chief　steward；　and　again　by　Alastair　Struan　when　he　took　over　both　jobs；　and　ordered　to　quit　racing　on　pain　of　instant　dismissal。　So　he　had　stopped　racing　though　he　continued　to　exercise　the　Struan　stable　at　his　whim。　And　he　raced　in　the　dawn　when　the　mood　was　on　him。
　It　was　the　getting　up　when　most　of　the　world　slept；　to　gallop　in　half　light　…　the　exercise　and　excitement；　the　speed；　and　the　danger　that　cleared　his　head。
　Dunross　spat　the　sweet　sick　taste　of　not　winning　out　of　his　mouth。　That's　better；　he　thought。　I　could　have　taken　Noble　Star　today；　but　I'd've　done　it　in　the　turn；　not　in　the　stretch。
　Other　horses　were　exercising　on　the　sand　track；　more　joining　the　circuit　or　leaving　it。　Knots　of　owners　and　trainers　and　jockeys　were　conferring；　ma…foos　…　stable　hands　…　walking　horses　in　their　blankets。　He　saw　Butterscotch　Lass；　Richard　Kwang's　great　mare；　canter　past；　a　white　star　on　her　forehead；　neat　fetlocks；　her　jockey　riding　her　tightly；　looking　very　good。　Over　on　the　far　side　Pilot　Fish；　Gornt's　prize　stallion；　broke　into　a　controlled　gallop；　chasing　another　of　the　Struan　string；　Impatience；　a　new；　young；　untried　filly；　recently　acquired　in　the　first　balloting　of　this　season。　Dunross　watched　her　critically　and　thought　she　lacked　stamina。　Give　her　a　season　or　two　and　then　we'll　see；　he　thought。　Then　Pilot　Fish　ripped　past　her　and　she　skittered　in　momentary　fright；　then　charged　in　pursuit　until　her　jockey　pulled　her　in；　teaching　her　to　gallop　at　his　whim　and　not　at　hers。
　〃So；　tai…pan！〃　his　trainer　said。　He　was　a　leather…faced；　iron…hard　Russian　émigré　in　his　late　sixties　with　graying　hair　and　this　was　his　third　season　with　Struan's。
　〃So；　Alexi？〃
　〃So　the　devil　got　into　you　and　you　gave　him　your　heel　and　did　you　see　Noble　Star　surge　ahead？〃
　〃She's　a　trier。　Noble　Star's　a　trier；　everyone　knows　that；〃　Dunross　replied　calmly。
　〃Yes；　but　I'd've　preferred　only　you　and　I　to　be　reminded　of　it　today　and　not〃　…　the　small　man　jerked　a　calloused　thumb　at　the　onlookers　and　grinned　…　〃。。。　and　not　every　viblyadok　in　Asia。〃
　Dunross　grinned　back。　〃You　notice　too　much。〃
　〃I'm　paid　to　notice　too　much。〃
　Alexi　Travkin　could　outride；　outdrink；　outwork　and　outstay　a　man　half　his　age。　He　was　a　loner　among　the　other　trainers。　Over　the　years　he　had　told　various　stories　about　his　past　…　like　most　of　those　who　had　been　caught　in　the　great　turmoils　of　Russia　and　her　revolutions；　China　and　her　revolutions；　and　now　drifted　the　byways　of　Asia　seeking　a　peace　they　could　never　find。
　Alexi　Ivanovitch　Travkin　had　e　out　of　Russia　to　Harbin　in　Manchuria　in　1919；　then　worked　his　way　south　to　the　International　Settlement　of　Shanghai。　There　he　began　to　ride　winners。　Because　he　was　very　good　and　knew　more　about　horses　than　most　men　know　about　themselves；　he　soon　became　a　trainer。　When　the　exodus　happened　again　in　'49　he　fled　south；　this　time　to　Hong　Kong　where　he　stayed　a　few　years　then　drifted　south　again　to　Australia　and　the　circuits　there。　But　Asia　beckoned　him　so　he　returned。　Dunross　was　trainerless　at　that　time　and　offered　him　the　stable　of　the　Noble　House。
　〃I'll　take　it；　tai…pan；〃　he　had　said　at　once。
　〃We　haven't　discussed　money；〃　Dunross　had　said。
　〃You're　a　gentleman；　so　am　I。　You'll　pay　me　the　best　for　face　…　and　because　I'm　the　best。〃
　〃Are　you？〃
　〃Why　else　do　you　offer　me　the　post？　You　don't　like　to　lose　either。〃
　Last　season　had　been　good　for　both　of　them。　The　first　not　so　good。　Both　knew　this　ing　season　would　be　the　real　test。
　Noble　Star　was　walking　past；　settling　down　nicely。
　〃What　about　Saturday？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃She'll　be　trying。〃
　〃And　Butterscotch　Lass？〃
　〃She'll　be　trying。　So　will　Pilot　Fish。　So　will　all　the　others　…　in　all　eight　races。　This's　a　very　special　meeting。　We'll　have　to　watch　our　entries　very　carefully。〃
　Dunross　nodded。　He　caught　sight　of　Gornt　talking　with　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　by　the　winner's　circle。　〃I'll　be　very　peed　off　if　I　lose　to　Pilot　Fish。〃
　Alexi　laughed。　Then　added　wryly；　〃In　that　case　perhaps　you'd　better　ride　Noble　Star　yourself；　tai…pan。　Then　you　can　shove　Pilot　Fish　into　the　rails　in　the　turn　if　he　looks　like　a　threat；　or　put　the　whip　across　his　jockey's　eyes。　Eh？〃　The　old　man　looked　up　at　him。　〃Isn't　that　what　you'd've　done　with　Noble　Star　today　if　it'd　been　a　race？〃
　Dunross　smiled　back。　〃As　it　wasn't　a　race　you'll　never　know　…　will　you？〃
　A　ma…foo　came　up　and　saluted　Travkin；　handing　him　a　note。　〃Message；　sir。　Mr。　Choi'd　like　you　to　look　at　Chardistan's　bindings　when　you've　a　moment。〃
　〃I'll　be　there　shortly。　Tell　him　to　put　extra　bran　in　Buccaneer's　feed　today　and　tomorrow。〃　Travkin　glanced　back　at　Dunross；　who　was　watching　Noble　Star　closely。　He　frowned。　〃You're　not　considering　riding　Saturday？〃
　〃Not　at　the　moment。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　advise　it。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃I　know。　See　you　tomorrow；　Alexi。　Tomorrow　I'll　work　Impatience。〃　He　clapped　him　in　friendly　style　and　left。
　Alexi　Travkin　stared　after　him；　his　eyes　strayed　to　the　horses　that　were　in　his　charge；　and　their　opposition　that　he　could　see。　He　knew　this　Saturday　would　be　vicious　and　that　Noble　Star　would　have　to　be　guarded。　He　smiled　to　himself；　pleased　to　be　in　a　game　where　the　stakes　were　very　high。
　He　opened　the　note　that　was　in　his　hand。　It　was　short　and　in　Russian：　〃Greetings　from　Kurgan；　Highness。　I　have　news　of　Nestorova　。。。〃　Alexi　gasped。　The　color　drained　from　his　face。　By　the　blood　of　Christ；　he　wanted　to　shout。　No　one　in　Asia　knows　my　home　was　in　Kurgan；　in　the　flatlands　on　the　banks　of　the　River　Tobol；　nor　that　my　father　was　Prince　of　Kurgan　and　Tobol；　nor　that　my　darling　Nestorova；　my　child…wife　of　a　thousand　lifetimes　ago；　swallowed　up　in　the　revolution　while　I　was　with　my　regiment　。。。　I　swear　to　God　I've　never　mentioned　her　name　to　anyone；　not　even　to　myself。　。。。
　In　shock　he　reread　the　note。　Is　this　more　of　their　devilment；　the　Soviets　…　the　enemy　of　all　the　Russians？　Or　is　it　a　friend？　Oh　Christ　Jesus　let　it　be　a　friend。
　After　〃Nestorova〃　the　note　had　ended；　〃Please　meet　me　at　the　Green　Dragon　Restaurant；　in　the　alley　just　off　189　Nathan　Road；　the　back　room　at　three　this　afternoon。〃　There　was　no　signature。
　
　Across　the　paddock；　near　the　winning　post；　Richard　Kwang　was　walking　toward　his　trainer　when　he　saw　his　sixth　cousin；　Smiler　Ching；　chairman　of　the　huge　Ching　Prosperity　Bank；　in　the　stands；　his　binoculars　trained　on　Pilot　Fish。
　〃Hello；　Sixth　Cousin；〃　he　said　affably　in　Cantonese；　〃have　you　eaten　rice　today？〃
　The　sly　old　man　was　instantly　on　guard。　〃You　won't　get　any　money　out　of　me；〃　he　said　coarsely；　his　lips　sliding　back　from　protruding　teeth　that　gave　him　a　perpetual　smiling　grimace。
　〃Why　not？〃　Richard　Kwang　said　equally　rudely。　〃I've　got　17　fornicating　millions　on　loan　to　you　an…　〃
　〃Yes　but　that's　on　ninety…day　call　and　well　invested。　We've　always　paid　the　40　percent　interest；〃　the　old　man　snarled。
　〃You　miserable　old　dog　bone；　I　helped　you　when　you　needed　money！　Now　it's　time　to　repay！〃
　〃Repay　what？　What？〃　Smiler　Ching　spat。　〃I've　repaid　you　a　fortune　over　the　years。　I've　taken　the　risks　and　you've　reaped　the　profit。　This　whole　disaster　couldn't　happen　at　a　worse　time！　I've　every　copper　cash　out　…　every　one！　I'm　not　like　some　bankers。　My　money's　always　put　to　good　use。〃
　The　good　use　was　narcotics；　so　legend　went。　Of　course　Richard　Kwang　had　never　asked；　and　no　one　knew　for　certain；　but　everyone　believed　that　Smiler　Ching's　bank　was　secretly　one　of　the　main　clearinghouses　for　the　trade；　the　vast　majority　of　which　emanated　from　Bangkok。　〃Listen；　Cousin；　think　of　the　family；〃　Richard　Kwang　began。　〃It's　only　a　temporary　problem。　The　fornicating　foreign　devils　are　attacking　us。　When　that　happens　civilized　people　have　to　stick　together！〃
　〃I　agree。　But　you're　the　cause　of　the　run　on　the　Ho…Pak。　You　are。　It's　on　you　…　not　on　my　bank。　You've　offended　the　fornicators　somehow！　They're　after　you　…　don't　you　read　the　papers？　Yes；　and　you've　got　all　your　cash　out　on　some　very　bad　deals　so　I　hear。　You；　Cousin；　you've　put　your　own　head　into　the　cangue。　Get　money　out　of　that　evil　son　of　a　Malayan　whore　half…caste　partner　of　yours。　He's　got　billions　…　or　out　of　Tightfist。　。。。〃　The　old　man　suddenly　cackled。　〃I'll　give　you　10　for　every　1　that　old　fornicator　loans　you！〃
　〃If　I　go　down　the　toilet　the　Ching