jamesclavell.noblehouse-第84章

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　Armstrong　smiled　his　jaundiced　smile。　〃I'm　just　a　suspicious　copper。　Villains　exist　in　very　high　places；　as　well　as　in　the　boghole。　Peter；　old　fellow；　give　your　friendly　journalist　a　message：　If　he　wants　to　give　me　information；　phone　me　direct。〃
　〃He's　frightened　of　you。　So　am　I！〃
　〃In　my　hat　you　are。〃　Armstrong　smiled　back　at　him；　liking　him；　very　glad　for　the　information　and　that　Peter　Marlowe　was　a　safe　go…between　who　could　keep　his　mouth　shut。　〃Peter；　ask　him　where　in　Macao　and　when　and　who　and　…　〃　At　a　sudden　thought；　Armstrong　said；　stabbing　into　the　unknown；　〃Peter；　if　you　were　to　choose　the　best　place　in　the　Colony　to　smuggle　in　and　out；　where'd　you　pick？〃
　〃Aberdeen　or　Mirs　Bay。　Any　fool　knows　that　…　they're　just　the　places　that've　always　been　used　first；　ever　since　there　was　a　Hong　Kong。〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃I　agree。〃　Aberdeen；　he　thought。　What　Aberdeen　smuggler？　Any　one　of　two　hundred。　Four　Finger　Wu'd　be　first　choice。　Four　Fingers　with　his　big　black　Rolls　and　lucky　8　number　plate；　that　bloody　thug　Two　Hatchet　Tok　and　that　young　nephew　of　his；　the　one　with　the　Yankee　passport；　the　one　from　Yale；　was　it　Yale？　Four　Fingers　would　be　first　choice。　Then　Goodweather　Poon；　Smuggler　Pa；　Ta　Sap…fok；　Fisherman　Pok　。。。　Christ；　the　list's　endless；　just　of　the　ones　we　know　about。　In　Mirs　Bay；　northeast　beside　the　New　Territories？　The　Pa　Brothers；　Big　Mouth　Fang　and　a　thousand　others　。。。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　very　very　glad　now　for　the　information　…　something　tweaking　him　about　Four　Finger　Wu　though　there　had　never　been　any　rumor　that　he　was　in　the　heroin　trade。　〃One　good　turn　deserves　another：　Tell　your　journalist　friend　our　visiting　members　of　Parliament；　the　trade　delegation；　e　in　today　from　Peking　。。。　What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　trying　to　keep　his　face　clear。　〃You　were　saying？〃
　Armstrong　watched　him　keenly；　then　added；　〃The　delegation　arrives　on　the　afternoon　train　from　Canton。　They'll　be　at　the　border；　transferring　trains　at　4：32　…　we　just　heard　of　the　change　of　plan　last　night　so　perhaps　your　friend　could　get　an　exclusive　interview。　Seems　they've　made　very　good　progress。〃
　〃Thanks。　On　my　friend's　behalf。　Yes　thanks。　I'll　pass　it　on　at　once。　Well；　I　must　be　off。　。。。〃
　Brian　Kwok　came　hurrying　toward　them。　〃Hello；　Peter。〃　He　was　breathing　quite　hard。　〃Robert；　sorry　but　Crosse　wants　to　see　us　right　now。〃
　〃Bloody　hell！〃　Armstrong　said　wearily。　〃I　told　you　it'd　be　better　to　wait　before　checking　in。　That　bugger　never　sleeps。〃　He　rubbed　his　face　to　clear　his　tiredness　away；　his　eyes　red…rimmed。　〃You　get　the　car；　Brian；　and　I'll　meet　you　at　the　front　entrance。〃
　〃Good。〃　Brian　Kwok　hurried　away。　Perturbed；　Armstrong　watched　him　go。
　Peter　Marlowe　said　as　a　joke；　〃The　Town　Hall's　on　fire？〃
　〃In　our　business　the　Town　Hall's　always　on　fire；　lad；　somewhere。〃　The　policeman　studied　Peter　Marlowe。　〃Before　I　leave；　Peter；　I'd　like　to　know　what's　so　important　about　the　trade　delegation　to　you。〃
　After　a　pause　the　man　with　the　curious　eyes　said；　〃I　used　to　know　one　of　them　during　the　war。　Lieutenant　Robin　Grey。　He　was　provost　marshal　of　Changi　for　the　last　two　years。〃　His　voice　was　flat　now；　more　flat　and　more　icy　than　Armstrong　had　imagined　possible。　〃I　hated　him　and　he　hated　me。　I　hope　I　don't　meet　him；　that's　all。〃
　
　Across　the　winner's　circle　Gornt　had　his　binoculars　trained　on　Armstrong　as　he　walked　after　Brian　Kwok。　Then；　thoughtfully；　he　turned　them　back　on　Peter　Marlowe　who　was　wandering　toward　a　group　of　trainers　and　jockeys。
　〃Nosy　bugger！〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Eh？　Who？　Oh　Marlowe？〃　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　chuckled。　〃He's　not　nosy；　just　wants　to　know　everything　about　Hong　Kong。　It's　your　murky　past　that　fascinates　him；　old　boy；　yours　and　the　tai…pan's。〃
　〃You've　no　skeletons；　Dunstan？〃　Gornt　asked　softly。　〃You're　saying　you　and　your　family're　lily　white？〃
　〃God　forbid！〃　Barre　was　hastily　affable；　wanting　to　turn　Gornt's　sudden　venom　into　honey。　〃Good　God　no！　Scratch　an　Englishman　find　a　pirate。　We're　all　suspect！　That's　life；　what？〃
　Gornt　said　nothing。　He　despised　Barre　but　needed　him。　〃I'm　having　a　bash　on　my　yacht　on　Sunday；　Dunstan。　Would　you　care　to　e　…　you'll　find　it　interesting。〃
　〃Oh？　Who's　the　honored　guest？〃
　〃I　thought　of　making　it　stag　only　…　no　wives；　eh？〃
　〃Ah！　Count　me　in；〃　Barre　said　at　once；　brightening。　〃I　could　bring　a　lady　friend？〃
　〃Bring　two　if　you　like；　old　chap；　the　more　the　merrier。　It'll　be　a　small；　select；　safe　group。　Plumm；　he's　a　good　sort　and　his　girl　friend's　lots　of　fun。〃　Gornt　saw　Marlowe　change　direction　as　he　was　called　over　to　a　group　of　stewards　dominated　by　Donald　McBride。　Then；　at　a　sudden　thought；　he　added；　〃I　think　I'll　invite　Marlowe　too。〃
　〃Why　if　you　think　he's　nosy？〃
　〃He　might　be　interested　in　the　real　stories　about　the　Struans；　our　founding　pirates　and　the　present…day　ones。〃　Gornt　smiled　with　the　front　of　his　face　and　Barre　wondered　what　devilment　Gornt　was　planning。
　The　red…faced　man　mopped　his　brow。　〃Christ；　I　wish　it　would　rain。　Did　you　know　Marlowe　was　in　the　Hurricanes　…　he　got　three　of　the　bloody　Boche　in　the　Battle　of　Britain　before　he　got　sent　out　to　Singapore　and　that　bloody　mess。　I'll　never　forgive　those　bloody　Japs　for　what　they　did　to　our　lads　there；　here；　or　in　China。〃
　〃Nor　will　I；〃　Gornt　agreed　darkly。　〃Did　you　know　my　old　man　was　in　Nanking　in　'37；　during　the　rape　of　Nanking？〃
　〃No；　Christ；　how　did　he　get　out？〃
　〃Some　of　our　people　hid　him　for　a　few　days　…　we'd　had　associates　there　for　generations。　Then　he　pretended　to　the　Japs　that　he　was　a　friendly　correspondent　for　the　London　Times　and　talked　his　way　back　to　Shanghai。　He　still　has　nightmares　about　it。〃
　〃Talking　about　nightmares；　old　chap；　were　you　trying　to　give　Ian　one　last　night　by　going　to　his　party？〃
　〃You　think　he　got　even　by　taking　care　of　my　car？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Barre　was　appalled。　〃Good　God！　You　mean　your　car　was　tampered　with？〃
　〃The　master　cylinder　was　ruptured　by　a　blow　of　some　kind。　The　mechanic　said　it　could've　been　done　by　a　rock　thrown　up　against　it。〃
　Barre　stared　at　him　and　shook　his　head。　〃Ian's　not　a　fool。　He's　wild；　yes；　but　he's　no　fool。　That'd　be　attempted　murder。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time。〃
　〃If　I　were　you　I'd　not　say　that　sort　of　thing　publicly；　old　chap。〃
　〃You're　not　public；　old　chap。　Are　you？〃
　〃No。　Of　cour…　〃
　〃Good。〃　Gornt　turned　his　dark　eyes　on　him。　〃This　is　going　to　be　a　time　when　friends　should　stick　together。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Barre　was　instantly　on　guard。
　〃Yes。　The　market's　very　nervous。　This　Ho…Pak　mess　could　foul　up　a　lot　of　all　our　plans。〃
　〃My　Hong　Kong　and　Lan　Tao　Farms's　as　solid　as　the　Peak。〃
　〃You　are；　providing　your　Swiss　bankers　continue　to　grant　you　your　new　line　of　credit。〃
　Barre's　florid　face　whitened。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Without　their　loan　you　can't　take　over　Hong　Kong　Docks　and　Wharves；　Royal　Insurance　of　Hong　Kong　and　Malaya；　expand　into　Singapore　or　plete　a　lot　of　other　tricky　little　deals　you've　on　your　agenda　…　you　and　your　newfound　friend；　Mason　Loft；　the　whiz　kid　of　Threadneedle　Street。　Right？〃
　Barre　watched　him；　cold　sweat　running　down　his　back；　shocked　that　Gornt　was　privy　to　his　secrets。　〃Where'd　you　hear　about　those？〃
　Gornt　laughed。　〃I've　friends　in　high　places；　old　chap。　Don't　worry；　your　Achilles'　heel's　safe　with　me。〃
　〃We're　。。。　we're　in　no　danger。〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃　Gornt　turned　his　binoculars　back　on　his　horse。　〃Oh　by　the　way；　Dunstan；　I　might　need　your　vote　at　the　next　meeting　of　the　bank。〃
　〃On　what？〃
　〃I　don't　know　yet。〃　Gornt　looked　down　at　him。　〃I　just　need　to　know　that　I　can　count　on　you。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　of　course。〃　Barre　was　wondering　nervously　what　Gornt　had　in　mind　and　where　the　leak　was。　〃Always　happy　to　oblige；　old　chap。〃
　〃Thank　you。　You're　selling　Ho…Pak　short？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　got　all　my　money　out　yesterday；　thank　God。　Why？〃
　〃I　heard　Dunross's　Par…Con　deal　won't　go　through。　I'm　considering　selling　him　short　too。〃
　〃Oh？　The　deal's　not　on？　Why？〃
　Gornt　smiled　sardonically。　〃Because；　Dunstan　…　〃
　〃Hello；　Quillan；　Dunstan；　sorry　to　interrupt；〃　Donald　McBride　said；　bustling　up　to　them；　two　men　in　tow。　〃May　I　introduce　Mr。　Charles　Biltzmann；　vice…president　of　American　Superfoods。　He'll　be　heading　up　the　new　General　Stores…Superfoods　merger　and　based　in　the　Colony　from　now　on。　Mr。　Gornt　and　Sir　Dunstan　Barre。〃
　The　tall；　sandy…haired　American　wore　a　gray　suit　and　tie　and　rimless　glasses。　He　stuck　out　his　hand　affably。　〃Glad　to　meet　you。　This's　a　nice　little　track　you've　got　here。〃
　Gornt　shook　hands　without　enthusiasm。　Next　to　Biltzmann　was　Richard　Hamilton　Pugmire；　the　present　tai…pan　of　H。K。　General　Stores；　a　steward　of　the　Turf　Club；　a　short　arrogant　man　in　his　late　forties　who　carried　his　smallness　as　a　constant　challenge。　〃Hello；　you　two！　Well；　who's　the　winner　of　the　fifth？〃
　Gornt　towered　over　him。　〃I'll　tell　you　after　the　race。〃
　〃Oh　e　on；　Quillan；　you　know　it'll　be　fixed　before　the　horses　even　parade。〃
　〃If　you　can　prove　that　I'm　sure　we'd　all　like　to　know。　I　certainly　would；　wouldn't　you；　Donald？〃
　〃I'm　sure　Richard　was　just　joking；〃　Donald　McBride　replied。　He　was　in　his　sixties；　his　Eurasian　features　pleasing；　and　the　warmth　of　his　smile　pervaded　him。　He　added　to　Biltzmann；　〃There're　always　these　rumors　about　race　fixing　but　we　do　what　we　can　and　when　we　catch　anyone　…　off　with　his　head！　At　least　off　the　course　he　goes。〃
　〃Hell；　races　get　fixed　in　the　States　too　but　I　guess　here　where　it's　all　amateur　and　wide　open；　it's　got　to　be　easier；〃　Biltzmann　said　breezily。　〃That　stallion　you　have；　Quillan。　He's　Australian；　partial　pedigree；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gornt　said　abruptly；　detesting　his　familiarity。
　〃Don　here　was　explaining　some　of　the　rules　of　your　racing。　I'd　sure　like　to　be　part　of　your　racing　fraternity　…　hope　I　can　get　to　be　a　voting　member　too。〃
　The　Turf　Club　was　very　exclusive　and　very　tightly　controlled。　There　were　two　hundred　voting　members　and　four　thousand　non…voting　members。　Only　voting　members　could　get　into　the　members'　box。　Only　voting　members　could　own　horses。　Only　voting　members　could　propose　two　persons　a　year　to　be　nonvoting　members　…　the　stewards'　decision；　approval　or　nonapproval　being　final；　their　voting　secret。　And　only　voting　members　could　bee　a　steward。
　〃Yes；〃　Biltzmann　repeated；　〃that'd　be　just　great。〃
　〃I'm　sure　that　could　be　arranged；〃　McBride　said　with　a　smile。　〃The　club's　always　looking　for　new　blood　…　and　new　horses。〃
　〃Do　you　plan　to　stay　in　Hong　Kong；　Mr。　Biltzmann？〃　Gornt　asked。
　〃Call　me　Chuck。　I'm　here　for　the　duration；〃　the　American　replied。　〃I　suppose　I'm　Superfoods　of　Asia's　new　tai…pan。　Sounds　great；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Marvelous！〃　Barre　said；　witheringly。
　Biltzmann　continued　happily；　not　yet　tuned　to　English　sarcasm；　〃I'm　the　fall　guy　for　our　board　in　New　York。　As　the　man　from　Missouri　said；　the　buck　stops　here。〃　He　smiled　but　no　one　smiled　with　him。　〃I'll　be　here　at　least　a　couple　of　years　and　I'm　looking　forward　to　every　minute。　We're　getting　ready　to　settle　in　right　now。　My　bride　arrives　tomorrow　an…　〃
　〃You're　just　married；　Mr。　Biltzmann？〃
　〃Oh　no；　that's　just　a；　an　American　expression。　We've　been　married　twenty　years。　Soon　as　our　new　place's　fixed　the　way　she　wants　it；　we'd　be　happy　for　you　to　e　to　dinner。　Maybe　a　barbecue？　We　got　the　steaks　organized；　all　prime；　T…bones　and　New