jamesclavell.noblehouse-第83章

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　〃Brian；　it's　me　for　bed；〃　he　said。　〃Waste　of　another　fang…pi　night。〃
　Brian　Kwok　yawned　too。　〃Yes。　But　while　we're　this　side；　how　about　breakfast　at　the　Para　and　then；　then　let's　go　and　look　at　the　morning　workouts？〃
　At　once　most　of　Robert　Armstrong's　tiredness　fell　away。　〃Great　idea！〃
　The　Para　Restaurant　in　Wanchai　Road　near　Happy　Valley　Racecourse　was　always　open。　The　food　was　excellent；　cheap　and　it　was　a　well…known　meeting　place　for　triads　and　their　girls。　When　the　two　policemen　strode　into　the　large；　noisy；　bustling；　plate…clattering　room　a　sudden　silence　fell。　The　proprietor；　One　Foot　Ko；　limped　over　to　them　and　beamed　them　to　the　best　table　in　the　place。
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　you　too；　Old　Friend；〃　Armstrong　said　grimly　and　added　some　choice　obscenities　in　gutter　Cantonese；　staring　back　pointedly　at　the　nearest　group　of　gaping　young　thugs　who　nervously　turned　away。
　One　Foot　Ko　laughed　and　showed　his　bad　teeth。　〃Ah；　Lords；　you　honor　my　poor　establishment。　Dim　sum？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Dim　sum　…　small　chow　or　small　foods　…　were　bite…sized　dough　envelopes　packed　with　minced　shrimps　or　vegetables　or　various　meats　then　steamed　or　deep…fried　and　eaten　with　a　touch　of　soya；　or　saucers　of　chicken　and　other　meats　in　various　sauces　or　pastries　of　all　kinds。
　〃Your　Worships　are　going　to　the　track？〃
　Brian　Kwok　nodded；　sipping　his　jasmine　tea；　his　eyes　roving　the　diners；　making　many　of　them　very　nervous。　〃Who's　going　to　win　the　fifth？〃　he　asked。
　The　restaurateur　hesitated；　knowing　he'd　better　tell　the　truth。　He　said　carefully　in　Cantonese；　〃They　say　that　neither　Golden　Lady；　Noble　Star；　Pilot　Fish　or　Butterscotch　Lass　has　。。。　has　yet　been　touted　as　having　an　edge。〃　He　saw　the　cold　black…brown　eyes　e　to　rest　on　him　and　he　tried　not　to　shudder。　〃By　all　the　gods；　that's　what　they　say。〃
　〃Good。　I'll　e　here　Saturday　morning。　Or　I'll　send　my　sergeant。　Then　you　can　whisper　in　his　ear　if　some　foul　play's　contemplated。　Yes。　And　if　it　turns　out　one　of　those　are　doped　or　cut　and　I　don't　know　about　it　on　Saturday　morning　。。。　perhaps　your　soups　will　addle　for　fifty　years。〃
　One　Foot　smiled　nervously。　〃Yes；　Lord。　Let　me　see　to　your　food　no…　〃
　〃Before　you　go；　what's　the　latest　gossip　on　John　Chen？〃
　〃None。　Oh　very　none；　Honored　Lord；〃　the　man　said；　a　little　perspiration　on　his　upper　lip。　〃Fragrant　Harbor's　as　clean　of　information　on　him　as　a　virgin's　treasure。　Nothing；　Lord。　Not　a　dog's　fart　of　a　real　rumor　though　everyone's　looking。　I　hear　there's　an　extra　great　reward。〃
　〃What？　How　much？〃
　〃100；000　extra　dollars　if　within　three　days。〃
　Both　policemen　whistled。　〃Offered　by　whom？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　One　Foot　shrugged；　his　eyes　hard。　〃No　one　knows；　Sire。　They　say　by　one　of　the　Dragons　…　or　all　the　Dragons。　100；000　and　promotion　if　within　three　days　…　if　he's　recovered　alive。　Please；　now　let　me　see　about　your　food。〃
　They　watched　him　go。　〃Why　did　you　lean　on　One　Foot？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　〃I'm　tired　of　his　mealy…mouthed　hypocrisy　…　and　all　these　rotten　little　thugs。　The　cat…o'…nine…tails'd　solve　our　triad　problems。〃
　Armstrong　called　for　a　beer。　〃When　I　leaned　on　Sergeant　Tang…po　I　didn't　think　I'd　get　such　action　so　fast。　100；000's　a　lot　of　money！　This　can't　be　just　a　simple　kidnapping。　Jesus　Christ　that's　a　lot　of　reward！　There's　got　to　be　something　special　about　John。〃
　〃Yes。　If　it's　true。〃
　But　they　had　arrived　at　no　conclusions　and　when　they　came　to　the　track；　Brian　Kwok　had　gone　to　check　in　with　HQ　and　now　Armstrong　had　his　binoculars　trained　on　the　mare。　Butterscotch　Lass　was　leaving　the　track　to　walk　back　up　the　hill　to　the　stables。　She　looks　in　great　fettle；　he　thought。　They　all　do。　Shit；　which　one？
　〃Robert？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Peter。〃
　Peter　Marlowe　smiled　at　him。　〃Are　you　up　early　or　going　to　bed　late？〃
　〃Late。〃
　〃Did　you　notice　the　way　Noble　Star　charged　without　her　jockey　doing　a　thing？〃
　〃You've　sharp　eyes。〃
　Peter　Marlowe　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　He　pointed　at　a　group　of　men　around　one　of　the　horses。　〃Donald　McBride　told　me。〃
　〃Ah！〃　McBride　was　an　immensely　popular　racing　steward；　a　Eurasian　property　developer　who　had　e　to　Hong　Kong　from　Shanghai　in　'49。　〃Has　he　given　you　the　winner？　He'll　know　if　anyone　does。〃
　〃No；　but　he　invited　me　to　his　box　on　Saturday。　Are　you　racing？〃
　〃Do　you　mind！　I'll　see　you　in　the　members'　box　…　I　don't　cavort　with　the　nobs！〃
　They　both　watched　the　horses　for　a　while。　〃Golden　Lady　looks　good。〃
　〃They　all　do。〃
　〃Nothing　on　John　Chen　yet？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Armstrong　caught　sight　of　Dunross　in　his　binoculars；　talking　to　some　stewards。　Not　far　away　was　the　SI　guard　that　Crosse　had　assigned　to　him。　Roll　on　Friday；　the　policeman　thought。　The　sooner　we　see　those　AMG　files　the　better。　He　felt　slightly　sick　and　he　could　not　decide　if　it　was　apprehension　about　the　papers；　or　Sevrin；　or　if　it　was　just　fatigue。　He　began　to　reach　for　a　cigarette　…　stopped。　You　don't　need　a　smoke；　he　ordered　himself。　〃You　should　give　up　smoking；　Peter。　It's　very　bad　for　you。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　should。　How's　it　going　with　you？〃
　〃No　trouble。　Which　reminds　me；　Peter；　the　Old　Man　approved　your　trip　around　the　border　road。　Day　after　tomorrow；　Friday；　6：00　a。m。　on　the　dot　at　Kowloon　HQ。　That　all　right？〃
　Peter　Marlowe's　heart　leaped。　At　long　last　he　could　look　into　Mainland　China；　into　the　unknown。　In　all　the　borderland　of　the　New　Territories　there　was　only　one　accessible　lookout　that　tourists　could　use　to　see　into　China；　but　the　hill　was　so　far　away　you　could　not　see　much　at　all。　Even　with　binoculars。　〃How　terrific！〃　he　said；　elated。　At　Armstrong's　suggestion　he　had　written　to　the　missioner　and　applied　for　this　permission。　The　border　road　meandered　from　shore　to　shore。　It　was　forbidden　to　all　traffic　and　all　persons　　…　except　locals　in　certain　areas。　It　ran　in　a　wide　stretch　of　no…man's…land　between　the　Colony　and　China。　Once　a　day　it　was　patrolled　under　very　controlled　circumstances。　The　Hong　Kong　Government　had　no　wish　to　rock　any　PRC　boats。
　〃One　condition；　Peter：　You　don't　mention　it　or　talk　about　it　for　a　year　or　so。〃
　〃My　word　on　it。〃
　Armstrong　suppressed　another　yawn。　〃You'll　be　the　only　Yank　who's　ever　gone　along　it；　perhaps　ever　will。〃
　〃Terrific！　Thanks。〃
　〃Why　did　you　bee　a　citizen？〃
　After　a　pause　Peter　Marlowe　said；　〃I'm　a　writer。　All　my　ine　es　from　there；　almost　all　of　it。　Now　people　are　beginning　to　read　what　I　write。　Perhaps　I'd　like　the　right　to　criticize。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　been　to　any　Iron　Curtain　countries？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　I　went　to　Moscow　in　July　for　the　film　festival。　One　of　the　films　I　wrote　was　the　American　entry。　Why？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Armstrong　said；　remembering　Bartlett's　and　Casey's　Moscow　franks。　He　smiled。　〃No　reason。〃
　〃One　good　turn　deserves　another。　I　heard　a　buzz　about　Bartlett's　guns。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Armstrong　was　instantly　attentive。　Peter　Marlowe　was　very　rare　in　Hong　Kong　inasmuch　as　he　crossed　social　strata　and　was　accepted　as　a　friend　by　many　normally　hostile　groups。
　〃It's　just　talk　probably　but　some　friends　have　a　theory　…　〃
　〃Chinese　friends？〃
　〃Yes。　They　think　the　guns　were　a　sample　shipment；　bound　for　one　of　our　piratical　Chinese　citizens　…　at　least；　one　with　a　history　of　smuggling　…　for　shipment　to　one　of　the　guerrilla　bands　operating　in　South　Vietnam；　called　Viet　Cong。〃
　Armstrong　grunted。　〃That's　farfetched；　Peter；　Hong　Kong's　not　the　place　to　transit　guns。〃
　〃Yes。　But　this　shipment　was　special；　the　first；　and　it　was　asked　for　in　a　hurry　and　was　to　be　delivered　in　a　hurry。　You've　heard　of　Delta　Force？〃
　〃No；〃　Armstrong　said；　staggered　that　Peter　Marlowe　had　already　heard　of　what　Rosemont；　CIA；　had　assured　them　in　great　secrecy　was　a　very　classified　operation。
　〃I　understand　it's　a　group　of　specially　trained　U。S。　bat　soldiers；　Robert；　a　special　force　who're　operating　in　Vietnam　in　small　units　under　the　control　of　the　American　Technical　Group；　which's　a　cover　name　for　the　CIA。　It　seems　they're　succeeding　so　well　that　the　Viet　Cong　need　modern　weapons　fast　and　in　great　quantity　and　are　prepared　to　pay　handsomely。　So　these　were　rushed　here　on　Bartlett's　plane。〃
　〃Is　he　involved？〃
　〃My　friends　doubt　it；〃　he　said　after　a　pause。　〃Anyway；　the　guns're　U。S。　Army　issue；　Robert；　right？　Well；　once　this　shipment　was　approved；　delivery　in　quantity　was　going　to　be　easy。〃
　〃Oh；　how？〃
　〃The　U。S。　is　going　to　supply　the　arms。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Sure。〃　Peter　Marlowe's　face　settled。　〃It's　really　very　simple：　Say　these　Viet　Cong　guerrillas　were　provided　in　advance　with　all　exact　U。S。　shipment　dates；　exact　destinations；　quantities　and　types　of　arms　…　small　arms　to　rockets　…　when　they　arrived　in　Vietnam？〃
　〃Christ！〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　Asia。　A　little　h'eung　yau　here　and　there　and　constant　hijacking'd　be　simple。〃
　〃It'd　be　like　them　having　their　own　stockpile！〃　Armstrong　said；　appalled。　〃How're　the　guns　going　to　be　paid　for？　A　bank　here？〃
　Peter　Marlowe　looked　at　him。　〃Bulk　opium。　Delivered　here。　One　of　our　banks　here　supplies　the　financing。〃
　The　police　officer　sighed。　The　beauty　of　it　fell　into　place。　〃Flawless；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes。　Some　rotten　bastard　traitor　in　the　States　just　passes　over　schedules。　That　gives　the　enemy　all　the　guns　and　ammunition　they　need　to　kill　off　our　own　soldiers。　The　enemy　pays　for　the　guns　with　a　poison　that　costs　them　nothing　…　I　imagine　it's　about　the　only　salable　modity　they've　got　in　bulk　and　can　easily　acquire。　The　opium's　delivered　here　by　the　Chinese　smuggler　and　converted　to　heroin　because　this's　where　the　expertise　is。　The　traitors　in　the　States　make　a　deal　with　the　Mafia　who　sell　the　heroin　at　enormous　profit　to　more　kids　and　so　subvert　and　destroy　the　most　important　bloody　asset　we　have：　youth。〃
　〃As　I　said；　flawless。　What　some　buggers'll　do　for　money！〃　Armstrong　sighed　again　and　eased　his　shoulders。　He　thought　a　moment。　The　theory　tied　in　everything　very　neatly。　〃Does　the　name　Banastasio　mean　anything？〃
　〃Sounds　Italian。〃　Peter　Marlowe　kept　his　face　guileless。　His　informants　were　two　Portuguese　Eurasian　journalists　who　detested　the　police。　When　he　had　asked　them　if　he　could　pass　on　the　theory；　da　Vega　had　said；　〃Of　course；　but　the　police'll　never　believe　it。　Don't　quote　us　and　don't　mention　any　names；　not　Four　Finger　Wu；　Smuggler　Pa；　the　Ching　Prosperity；　or　Banastasio　or　anyone。〃
　After　a　pause；　Armstrong　said；　〃What　else　have　you　heard？〃
　〃Lots；　but　that's　enough　for　today　…　it's　my　turn　to　get　the　kids　up；　cook　breakfast　and　get　them　toddling　off　to　school。〃　Peter　Marlowe　lit　a　cigarette　and　again　Armstrong　achingly　felt　the　smoke　need　in　his　own　lungs。　〃Except　one　thing；　Robert。　I　was　asked　by　a　friendly　member　of　the　press　to　tell　you　he'd　heard　there's　to　be　a　big　narcotics　meeting　soon　in　Macao。〃
　The　blue　eyes　narrowed。　〃When？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃What　sort　of　meeting？〃
　〃Principals。　'Suppliers；　importers；　exporters；　distributors'　was　the　way　he　put　it。〃
　〃Where　in　Macao？〃
　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　〃Names？〃
　〃None。　He　did　add　that　the　meeting'll　include　a　visiting　VIP　from　the　States。〃
　〃Bartlett？〃
　〃Christ；　Robert；　I　don't　know　and　he　didn't　say　that。　Linc　Bartlett　seems　a　jolly　nice　fellow；　and　straight　as　an　arrow。　I　think　it's　all　gossip　and　jealousy；　trying　to　implicate　him。〃
　Armstrong　smiled　his　jaundiced　smile。　〃I'm　just　a　suspicious　copper。　Villains　exist　in　very　high　places；