jamesclavell.noblehouse-第82章

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〃I'll　give　you　10　for　every　1　that　old　fornicator　loans　you！〃
　〃If　I　go　down　the　toilet　the　Ching　Prosperity　Bank　won't　be　far　behind。〃
　〃Don't　threaten　me！〃　the　old　man　said　angrily。　His　lips　had　a　flick　of　saliva　permanently　in　the　corners　and　then　they　worked　over　his　teeth　once　and　fell　apart　again　in　his　grimace。　〃If　you　go　down　it　won't　be　my　fault　…　why　wish　your　rotten　joss　on　family？　I've　done　nothing　to　hurt　you　…　why　try　and　pass　your　bad　joss　on　to　me？　If　today　。。。　ayeeyah；　if　today　your　bad　joss　spills　over　and　those　dog　bone　depositors　start　a　run　on　me　I　won't　last　the　day！〃
　Richard　Kwang　momentarily　felt　better　that　the　Ching　empire　was　equally　threatened。　Good；　very　good。　I　could　use　all　his　business　　…　particularly　the　Bangkok　connection。　Then　he　saw　the　big　clock　over　the　totalizator　and　groaned。　It　was　just　past　six　now　and　at　ten；　banks　would　open　and　the　stock　market　would　open　and　though　arrangements　had　been　made　with　Blacs；　the　Victoria　and　the　Bombay　and　Eastern　Bank　of　Kowloon　to　pledge　securities　that　should　cover　everything　and　to　spare；　he　was　still　nervous。　And　enraged。　He　had　had　to　make　some　very　tough　deals　that　he　had　no　wish　to　honor。　〃e　on；　Cousin；　just　50　million　for　ten　days　…　I'll　extend　the　17　million　for　two　years　and　add　another　20　in　thirty　days。〃
　〃50　million　for　three　days　at　10　percent　interest　a　day；　your　present　loan　to　be　collateral　and　I'll　also　take　deed　to　your　property　in　Central　as　further　collateral！〃
　〃Go　fornicate　in　your　mother's　ear！　That　property's　worth　four　times　that。〃
　Smiler　Ching　shrugged　and　turned　his　binoculars　back　on　Pilot　Fish。　〃Is　the　big　black　going　to　beat　Butterscotch　Lass　too？〃
　Richard　Kwang　looked　at　Gornt's　horse　sourly。　〃Not　unless　my　weevil…mouthed　trainer　and　jockey　join　together　to　pull　her　or　dope　her！〃
　〃Filthy　thieves！　You　can't　trust　one　of　them！　My　horse's　never　e　in　the　money　once。　Never。　Not　even　third。　Disgusting！〃
　〃50　million　for　one　week　…　2　percent　a　day？〃
　〃5。　Plus　the　Central　pro…　〃
　〃Never！〃
　〃I'll　take　a　50　percent　share　of　the　property。〃
　〃6　percent；〃　Richard　Kwang　said。
　Smiler　Ching　estimated　his　risk。　And　his　potential　profit。　The　profit　was　huge　if。　If　the　Ho…Pak　didn't　fail。　But　even　if　it　did；　the　loan　would　be　well　covered　by　the　property。　Yes；　the　profit　would　be　huge；　provided　there　wasn't　a　real　run　on　himself。　Perhaps　I　could　gamble　and　pledge　some　future　shipments　and　raise　the　50　million。
　〃15　percent　and　that's　final；〃　he　said　knowing　that　he　would　withdraw　or　change　by　noon　once　he　saw　how　the　market　was；　and　the　run　was　…　and　he　would　continue　to　sell　Ho…Pak　short　to　great　profit。　〃And　also　you　can　throw　in　Butterscotch　Lass。〃
　Richard　Kwang　swore　obscenely　and　they　bargained　back　and　forth　then　agreed　that　the　50　million　was　on　call　at　two　o'clock。　In　cash。　He　would　also　pledge　Smiler　Ching　39　percent　of　the　Central　property　as　added　collateral；　and　a　quarter　share　in　his　mare。　Butterscotch　Lass　was　the　clincher。
　〃What　about　Saturday？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Richard　Kwang　said；　loathing　the　grimace　and　buck　teeth。
　〃Our　horse's　in　the　fifth　race；　heya？　Listen；　Sixth　Cousin；　perhaps　we'd　better　make　an　acmodation　with　Pilot　Fish's　jockey。　We　pull　our　horse　…　she'll　be　favorite　…　and　back　Pilot　Fish　and　Noble　Star　for　safety！〃
　〃Good　idea。　We'll　decide　Saturday　morning。〃
　〃Better　to　eliminate　Golden　Lady　too；　eh？〃
　〃John　Chen's　trainer　suggested　that。〃
　〃Eeeee；　that　fool；　to　get　himself　kidnapped。　I'll　expect　you　to　give　me　the　real　information　on　who's　going　to　win。　I　want　the　winner　too！〃　Smiler　hawked　and　spat。
　〃All　gods　defecate；　don't　we　all！　Those　filthy　trainers　and　jockeys！　Disgusting　the　way　they　puppet　us　owners。　Who　pays　their　salaries；　heya？〃
　〃The　Turf　Club；　the　owners；　but　most　the　punters　who　aren't　in　the　know。　I　hear　you　were　at　the　Old　Vic　last　night　for　foreign　devil　food。〃
　Richard　Kwang　beamed。　His　dinner　with　Venus　Poon　had　been　an　enormous　success。　She　had　worn　the　new　knee…length　Christian　Dior　he　had　bought　for　her；　black　clinging　silk　and　gossamer　underneath。　When　he　had　seen　her　get　out　of　his　Rolls　and　e　up　the　steps　of　the　Old　Vic　his　heart　had　turned　over　and　his　Secret　Sack　had　jiggled。
　She　had　been　all　smiles　at　the　effect　her　entrance　had　on　the　entire　foyer；　her　chunky　gold　bracelets　glittering；　and　had　insisted　on　walking　up　the　grand　staircase　instead　of　using　the　elevator。　His　chest　had　been　tight　with　suppressed　glee　and　terror。　They　had　walked　through　the　formal；　well…groomed　diners；　European　and　Chinese；　many　in　evening　dress　…　husbands　and　wives；　tourists　and　locals；　men　at　business　dinners；　lovers　and　would…be　lovers　of　all　ages　and　nationalities。　He　was　wearing　a　new；　Savile　Row　dark　suit　of　the　most　expensive　lightweight　cashmere　wool。　As　they　moved　toward　the　choice　table　that　had　cost　him　a　red　…　100　dollars　…　he　had　waved　to　many　friends；　and　groaned　inwardly　four　times　as　he　saw　four　of　his　Chinese　intimates　with　their　wives；　bouffant　and　overjeweled。　The　wives　had　stared　at　him　glassily。
　Richard　Kwang　shuddered。　Wives　really　are　dragons　and　all　the　same；　he　thought。　Oh　oh　oh！　And　your　lies　sound　false　to　them　even　before　you've　spoken　them。　He　had　not　gone　home　yet　to　face　Mai…ling　who　would　have　already　been　told　by　at　least　three　very　good　friends　about　Venus　Poon。　He　would　let　her　rant　and　scream　and　weep　and　tear　her　hair　for　a　while　to　release　her　devil　wind　and　would　say　that　enemies　had　filled　her　head　with　bile　…　how　can　she　listen　to　such　evil　women？　…　and　then　he　would　meekly　tell　her　about　the　full…length　mink　that　he　had　ordered　three　weeks　ago；　that　he　was　to　collect　today　in　time　for　her　to　wear　to　the　races　Saturday。　Then　there　would　be　peace　in　the　house　…　until　the　next　time。
　He　chortled　at　his　acumen　in　ordering　the　mink。　That　he　had　ordered　it　for　Venus　Poon　and　had；　this　morning；　just　an　hour　ago　in　the　warmth　of　her　embrace；　promised　it　to　her　tonight　so　she　would　wear　it　to　the　races　on　Saturday　did　not　bother　him　at　all。　It's　much　too　good　for　the　strumpet　anyway；　he　was　thinking。　That　coat　cost　40；000　HK。　I'll　get　her　another　one。　Ah；　perhaps　I　could　find　a　secondhand　one。　。。。
　He　saw　Smiler　Ching　leering　at　him。　〃What？〃
　〃Venus　Poon；　heya？〃
　〃I'm　thinking　of　going　into　film　production　and　making　her　a　star；〃　he　said　grandly；　proud　of　the　cover　story　he　had　invented　as　part　of　his　excuse　to　his　wife。
　Smiler　Ching　was　impressed。　〃Eeee；　but　that's　a　risky　business；　heya？〃
　〃Yes；　but　there　are　ways　to　。。。　to　insure　your　risk。〃　He　winked　knowingly。
　〃Ayeeyah；　you　mean　a　nudie　film？　Oh！　Let　me　know　when　you　set　the　production；　I　might　take　a　point　or　two。　Venus　Poon　naked！　Ayeeyah；　all　Asia'd　pay　to　see　that！　What's　she　like　at　the　pillow？〃
　〃Perfect！　Now　that　I've　educated　her。　She　was　a　virgin　when　I　fir…　〃
　〃What　joss！〃　Smiler　Ching　said；　then　added；　〃How　many　times　did　you　scale　the　Ramparts？〃
　〃Last　night？　Three　times　…　each　time　stronger　than　before！〃　Richard　Kwang　leaned　forward。　〃Her　Flower　Heart's　the　best　I've　ever　seen。　Yes。　And　her　triangle！　Lovely　silken　hair　and　her　inner　lips　pink　and　delicate。　Eeeee；　and　her　Jade　Gate　。。。　her　Jade　Gate's　really　heart…shaped　and　her　'one　square　inch'　is　a　perfect　oval；　pink；　fragrant；　and　the　Pearl　on　the　Step　also　pink。　。。。〃　Richard　Kwang　felt　himself　beginning　to　sweat　as　he　remembered　how　she　had　spread　herself　on　the　sofa　and　handed　him　a　big　magnifying　glass。　〃Here；〃　she　had　said　proudly。　〃Examine　the　goddess　your　bald…headed　monk's　about　to　worship。〃　And　he　had。　Meticulously。
　〃The　best　pillow　partner　I've　ever　had；〃　Richard　Kwang　continued　expansively；　stretching　the　truth。　〃I　was　thinking　about　buying　her　a　large　diamond　ring。　Poor　Little　Mealy　Mouth　wept　this　morning　when　I　left　the　apartment　I've　given　her。　She　was　swearing　suicide　because　she's　so　in　love　with　me。〃　He　used　the　English　word。
　〃Eeeee；　you're　a　lucky　man！〃　Smiler　Ching　spoke　no　English　except　the　words　of　love。　He　felt　eyes　on　his　back　and　he　glanced　around。　In　the　next　section　of　the　stands；　fifty　yards　away；　slightly　above　him；　was　the　foreign　devil　policeman　Big　Mountain　of　Dung；　the　hated　chief　of　the　CID　Kowloon。　The　cold　fish…eyes　were　staring　at　him；　binoculars　hanging　from　the　man's　neck。　Ayeeyah；　Ching　muttered　to　himself；　his　mind　darting　over　the　various　checks　and　traps　and　balances　that　guarded　his　main　source　of　revenue。
　〃Eh？　What？　What's　the　matter　with　you；　Smiler　Ching？〃
　〃Nothing。　I　want　to　piss；　that's　all。　Send　the　papers　over　at　two　o'clock　if　you　want　my　money。〃　Sourly　he　turned　away　to　go　to　the　toilet；　wondering　if　the　police　were　aware　of　the　imminent　arrival　of　the　foreign　devil　from　the　Golden　Mountain；　a　High　Tiger　of　the　White　Powders　with　the　outlandish　name　of　Vincenzo　Banastasio。
　He　hawked　and　spat　loudly。　Joss　if　they　do；　joss　if　they　don't。　They　can't　touch　me；　I'm　only　a　banker。
　
　*　*　*
　
　Robert　Armstrong　had　noted　that　Smiler　Ching　was　talking　to　Banker　Kwang　and　knew　surely　that　the　pair　of　them　were　up　to　no　good。　The　police　were　well　aware　of　the　whispers　about　Ching　and　his　Prosperity　Bank　and　the　narcotics　trade　but　so　far　had　no　real　evidence　implicating　him　or　his　bank；　not　even　enough　circumstantial　evidence　to　merit　SB　detention；　interrogation　and　summary　deportation。
　Well；　he'll　slip　sometime；　Robert　Armstrong　thought　calmly；　and　turned　his　binoculars　back　on　to　Pilot　Fish；　then　to　Noble　Star；　then　to　Butterscotch　Lass；　and　then　to　Golden　Lady；　John　Chen's　mare。　Which　one's　got　the　form？
　He　yawned　and　stretched　wearily。　It　had　been　another　long　night　and　he　had　not　yet　been　to　bed。　Just　as　he　was　leaving　Kowloon　Police　HQ　last　night　there　had　been　a　flurry　of　excitement　as　another　anonymous　caller　phoned　to　say　that　John　Chen　had　been　seen　out　in　the　New　Territories；　in　the　tiny　fishing　village　of　Sha　Tau　Kwok　which　bisected　the　eastern　tip　of　the　border。
　He　had　rushed　out　there　with　a　team　and　searched　the　village；　hovel　by　hovel。　His　search　had　had　to　be　done　very　cautiously　for　the　whole　border　area　was　extremely　sensitive；　particularly　at　the　village　where　there　was　one　of　the　three　border　checkpoints。　The　villagers　were　a　hardy；　tough；　unpromising　bellicose　lot　that　wanted　to　be　left　alone。　Particularly　by　foreign　devil　police。　The　search　had　proved　to　be　just　another　false　alarm　though　they　had　uncovered　two　illegal　stills；　a　small　heroin　factory　that　converted　raw　opium　into　morphine　and　thence　into　heroin；　and　had　broken　up　six　illegal　gambling　dens。
　When　Armstrong　had　got　back　to　Kowloon　HQ　there　was　another　call　about　John　Chen；　this　time　Hong　Kong　side　in　Wanchai；　down　near　Glessing's　Point　in　the　dock　area。　Apparently　John　Chen　had　been　seen　being　bundled　into　a　tenement　house；　a　dirty　bandage　over　his　right　ear。　This　time　the　caller　had　given　his　name　and　driver's　license　number　so　that　he　could　claim　the　reward　of　50；000　HK；　offered　by　Struan's　and　Noble　House　Chen。　Again　Armstrong　had　brought　units　to　surround　the　area　and　had　led　the　meticulous　search。　It　was　already　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　by　the　time　he　called　off　the　operation　and　dismissed　his　men。
　〃Brian；　it's　me　for　bed；〃　he　said。　〃Waste　of　another　fang…pi　night。〃
　Brian　Kwok　yawned　too。　〃Yes。　But　while　we're　this　sid