jamesclavell.noblehouse-第88章

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nk　and　even　the　great　high　governor　himself　…　put　them　away　like　mon　criminals；　into　Stanley　with　all　their　women　and　all　the　children　and　treated　them　like　turds！
　And　then　after　the　war；　even　though　they　had　humbled　the　Eastern　Devils；　they　never　regained　their　power；　or　their　face。
　Now　in　Hong　Kong　and　in　all　Asia；　now　it's　not　the　same　and　never　will　be　as　before。　Now　every　year　the　British　get　poorer　and　poorer　and　less　powerful　and　how　can　they　protect　me　and　my　family　from　evildoers　if　they're　not　rich　and　powerful？　They　pay　me　nothing　and　treat　me　like　dogmeat！　Now　my　only　protection　is　money；　money　in　gold　so　that　we　can　flee　if　need　be　…　or　money　in　land　or　houses　if　we　do　not　need　to　flee。　How　can　I　educate　my　sons　in　England　or　America　without　money？　Will　the　grateful　Government　pay？　Not　a　fornicating　brass　cash；　and　yet　I'm　supposed　to　risk　my　life　to　keep　the　streets　clean　of　fornicating　triads　and　pickpockets　and　rioting　lumps　of　leper　turd！
　Mok　shivered。　The　only　safety　for　my　family　is　in　my　own　hands　as　always。　Oh　how　wise　the　teachings　of　our　ancestors　are！　Was　the　police　missioner　loyal　to　me　when　I　needed　money；　even　steerage　money；　for　my　son　to　go　to　school　in　America？　No。　But　the　Snake　was。　He　loaned　me　10；000　dollars　at　only　10　percent　interest　so　my　son　went　like　a　Mandarin　by　Pan　American　aircraft；　with　three　years　of　school　money；　and　now　he's　a　qualified　architect　with　a　Green　Card　and　next　month　he'll　have　an　American　passport　and　then　he　can　e　back　and　no　one　will　be　able　to　touch　him。　He　can　help　protect　my　generation　and　will　protect　his　own　and　his　son's　and　his　son's　sons！　Yes；　the　Snake　gave　me　the　money；　long　since　paid　back　with　full　interest　out　of　money　he　helped　me　earn。　I　shall　be　loyal　to　the　Snake　…　until　he　turns。　One　day　he'll　turn；　all　quai　loh　do；　all　snakes　do；　but　now　I'm　a　High　Dragon　and　neither　gods　nor　devils　nor　the　Snake　himself　can　hurt　my　family　or　my　bank　accounts　in　Switzerland　and　Canada。
　〃e　along；　we'd　better　go　back；　young　Spectacles　Wu；〃　he　said　kindly　and　when　he　got　back　to　the　barriers　he　told　Chief　Inspector　Smyth　what　had　happened。
　〃Put　the　money　in　our　kitty；　'Major；〃　Smyth　said。　〃Order　a　grand　banquet　for　our　lads　tonight。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃It　was　Detective　Constable　Wu？　The　one　who　wants　to　join　SI？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Spectacles　is　very　keen。〃
　Smyth　sent　for　Wu；　mended　him。　〃Now；　where's　that　old　amah？〃
　Wu　pointed　her　out。　They　saw　her　looking　at　the　corner　the　thug　had　gone　around；　waiting　impatiently。　After　a　minute　she　squirmed　out　of　the　swarm　and　hobbled　away；　muttering　obscenities。
　〃Wu；〃　Smyth　ordered；　〃follow　her。　Don't　let　yourself　be　seen。　She'll　lead　you　to　the　rotten　little　bugger　who　fled。　Be　careful；　and　when　she　goes　to　ground；　phone　the　'major。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Do　not　take　any　risks　…　perhaps　we　can　catch　the　whole　gang；　there's　bound　to　be　a　gang。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Off　you　go。〃　They　watched　him　following　her。　〃That　lad's　going　to　be　good。　But　not　for　us；　'Major；　eh？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃I　think　I'll　remend　him　to　SI。　Perhaps　…　〃
　Suddenly　there　was　an　ominous　silence；　then　shouts　and　an　angry　roar。　The　two　policemen　rushed　back　around　the　corner。　In　their　absence　the　crowd　had　shoved　aside　parts　of　the　barricade；　overpowering　the　four　policemen；　and　now　were　surging　into　the　bank。　Manager　Sung　and　his　assistant　were　vainly　trying　to　close　the　doors　against　the　shouting；　cursing　throng。　The　barricades　began　to　buckle。
　〃Get　the　riot　squad！〃
　Mok　raced　for　the　squad　car。　Fearlessly　Smyth　rushed　to　the　head　of　the　line　with　his　bullhorn。　The　tumult　drowned　his　order　to　stop　fighting。　More　reinforcements　came　running　from　across　the　street。　Quickly　and　efficiently　they　charged　to　Smyth's　support；　but　the　mob　was　gathering　strength。　Sung　and　his　tellers　slammed　the　door　shut　but　it　was　forced　open　again。　Then　a　brick　came　out　of　the　crowd　and　smashed　one　of　the　plate…glass　windows。　There　was　a　roar　of　approval。　The　people　in　front　were　trying　to　get　out　of　the　way　and　those　at　the　back　were　trying　to　get　to　the　door。　More　bricks　were　hurtled　at　the　building；　then　pieces　of　wood　grabbed　from　a　building　site　nearby。　Another　stone　went　through　the　glass　and　it　totally　shattered。　Roaring；　the　mob　surged　forward。　A　girl　fell　and　was　crushed。
　〃e　on；〃　Smyth　shouted；　〃give　me　a　hand！〃　He　grabbed　one　of　the　barriers　and；　with　four　other　policemen；　used　it　as　a　shield　and　shoved　it　against　the　front　of　the　mob；　forcing　them　back。　Above　the　uproar　he　shouted　for　them　to　use　their　shoulders　and　they　fought　the　frenzied　crowd。　Other　policemen　followed　his　lead。　More　bricks　went　into　the　bank　and　then　the　shout　went　up；　〃Kill　the　fornicating　bank　thieves；　kill　them；　they've　stolen　our　money　。。。〃
　〃Kill　the　fornicators　。。。〃
　〃I　want　my　money　。。。〃
　〃Kill　the　foreign　devils　。。。〃
　Smyth　saw　the　mood　of　those　near　him　change　and　his　heart　stopped　as　they　took　up　the　shout　and　forgot　the　bank　and　their　hands　reached　out　for　him。　He　had　seen　that　look　before　and　knew　he　was　a　dead　man。　That　other　time　was　during　the　riots　of　'56　when　200；000　Chinese　suddenly　went　on　a　senseless　rampage　in　Kowloon。　He　would　have　been　killed　then　if　he　had　not　had　a　Sten　gun。　He　had　killed　four　men　and　blasted　a　path　to　safety。　Now　he　had　no　gun　and　he　was　fighting　for　his　life。　His　hat　was　ripped　away；　someone　grabbed　his　Sam　Browne　belt　and　a　fist　went　into　his　groin；　another　into　his　face　and　talons　clawed　at　his　eyes。　Fearlessly；　Mok　and　others　charged　into　the　milling　mess　to　rescue　him。　Someone　hacked　at　Mok　with　a　brick；　another　with　a　piece　of　wood　that　tore　a　great　gash　in　his　cheek。　Smyth　was　engulfed；　his　hands　and　arms　desperately　trying　to　protect　his　head。　Then　the　riot　squad's　Black　Maria；　siren　screaming；　skidded　around　the　corner。　The　ten…man　team　fell　on　the　crowd　roughly　and　pulled　Smyth　away。　Blood　seeped　from　his　mouth；　his　left　arm　dangled　uselessly。
　〃You　all　right；　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　for　chrissake　get　those　sodding　barriers　up！　Get　those　bastards　away　from　the　bank　…　fire　hoses！〃
　But　the　fire　hoses　weren't　necessary。　At　the　first　violent　charge　of　the　riot　squad　the　front　of　the　mob　had　wilted　and　now　the　rest　had　retreated　to　a　safe　distance　and　stood　there　watching　sullenly；　some　of　them　still　shouting　obscenities。　Smyth　grabbed　the　bullhorn。　In　Cantonese　he　said；　〃If　anyone　es　within　twenty　yards；　he'll　be　arrested　and　deported！〃　He　tried　to　catch　his　breath。　〃If　anyone　wants　to　visit　the　Ho…Pak；　line　up　a　hundred　yards　away。〃
　The　scowling　crowd　hesitated；　then　as　Mok　and　the　riot　squad　came　forward　fast；　they　retreated　hastily　and　began　to　move　away；　treading　on　each　other。
　〃I　think　my　bloody　shoulder's　dislocated；〃　Smyth　said　and　cursed　obscenely。
　〃What　do　we　do　about　those　bastards；　sir？〃　Mok　asked；　in　great　pain；　breathing　hard；　his　cheek　raw　and　bleeding；　his　uniform　ripped。
　Smyth　held　his　arm　to　take　the　growing　pain　away　and　looked　across　the　street　at　the　sullen；　gawking　crowd。　〃Keep　the　riot　squad　here。　Get　another　from　West　Aberdeen；　inform　Central。　Where's　my　bloody　hat？　If　I　catch　the　bas…　〃
　〃Sir！〃　one　of　his　men　called　out。　He　was　kneeling　beside　the　girl　who　had　been　trampled　on。　She　was　a　bar　girl　or　a　dance　hall　girl：　she　had　that　sad；　sweet　oh　so　hard；　young…old　look。　Blood　was　dribbling　from　her　mouth；　her　breathing　ing　in　hacking　gasps。
　〃Christ；　get　an　ambulance！〃
　As　Smyth　watched　helplessly；　the　girl　choked　in　her　own　blood　and　died。
　Christian　Toxe；　editor　of　the　Guardian；　was　scribbling　notes；　the　phone　jammed　against　his　ear。　〃What　was　her　name；　Dan？〃　he　asked　over　the　hubbub　of　the　newsroom。
　〃I'm　not　sure。　One　savings　book　said　Su　Tzee…Ian；〃　Dan　Yap　the　reporter　on　the　other　end　of　the　phone　at　Aberdeen　told　him。　〃There　was　4；360　in　it　…　the　other　was　in　the　name　。。。　Hang　on　a　second；　the　ambulance's　just　leaving　now。　Can　you　hear　all　right；　Chris；　the　traffic's　heavy　here。〃
　〃Yes。　Go　on。　The　second　savings　book？〃
　〃The　second　book　was　in　the　name　of　Tak　H'eung　fah。　Exactly　3；000　in　that　one。〃
　Tak　H'eung　fah　seemed　to　touch　a　memory。　〃Do　any　of　the　names　mean　anything？〃　Toxe　asked。　He　was　a　tall　rumpled　man　in　his　untidy　cubbyhole　of　an　office。
　〃No。　Except　one　means　Wisteria　Su　and　the　other　Fragrant　Flower　Tak。　She　was　pretty；　Chris。　Might　have　been　Eurasian。　。。。〃
　Toxe　felt　a　sudden　ice　shaft　in　his　stomach　as　he　remembered　his　own　three　daughters；　six　and　seven　and　eight；　and　his　lovely　Chinese　wife。　He　tried　to　push　that　perpetual　cross　back　into　the　recess　of　his　mind；　the　secret　worry　of　was　it　right　to　mix　East　and　West；　and　what　does　the　future　hold　for　them；　my　darlings；　in　this　lousy　rotten　bigoted　world？
　With　an　effort　he　concentrated　again。　〃That's　quite　a　lot　of　money　for　a　dance　hall　girl；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　I'd　say　she　had　a　patron。　One　interesting　bit：　in　her　purse　was　a　crumpled　envelope　dated　a　couple　of　weeks　ago　with　a　mushy　love　letter　in　it。　It　was　addressed　to　。。。　hang　on　。。。　to　Tak　H'eung　fah；　apartment　14；　Fifth　Alley；　Tsung…pan　Street　in　Aberdeen。　It　was　soppy；　swearing　eternal　love。　Educated　writing　though。〃
　〃English？〃　Toxe　asked　surprised；　writing　swiftly。
　〃No。　Characters。　There　was　something　about　the　writing　…　could　be　a　quai　loh。〃
　〃Did　you　get　a　copy？〃
　〃The　police　wouldn't　le…　〃
　〃Get　a　photocopy。　Beg　borrow　or　steal　a　photocopy　in　time　for　the　afternoon　edition。　A　week's　bonus　if　you　do　it。〃
　〃Cash　this　afternoon？〃
　〃All　right。〃
　〃You　have　it。〃
　〃Any　signature？〃
　〃　'Your　only　love。'　The　love　was　in　English。〃
　〃Mr。　Toxe！　Mrs。　Publisher's　on　line　two！〃　The　English　secretary　called　out　through　the　open　door；　her　desk　just　outside　the　glass　partition。
　〃Oh　Christ；　I'll　。。。　I'll　call　her　back。　Tell　her　I've　got　a　big　story　breaking。〃　Then　into　the　phone　again；　〃Dan；　keep　on　this　story　…　keep　close　to　the　police；　go　with　them　to　the　dead　girl's　flat　…　if　it's　her　flat。　Find　out　who　owns　it　…　who　her　people　are；　where　they　live。　Call　me　back！〃　Toxe　hung　up　and　called　out　to　his　assistant　editor；　〃Hey；　Mac！〃
　The　lean；　dour；　gray…haired　man　got　up　from　his　desk　and　wandered　in。　〃Aye？〃
　〃I　think　we　should　put　out　an　extra。　Headline　。。。〃　He　scrawled　on　a　piece　of　paper；　〃Mob　Kills　Fragrant　Flower！〃
　〃How　about　'Mob　Murders　Fragrant　Flower'　？〃
　〃Or；　'First　Death　at　Aberdeen'　？〃
　〃　'Mob　Murders'　is　better。〃
　〃That's　it　then。　Martin！〃　Toxe　called　out。　Martin　Haply　looked　up　from　his　desk　and　came　over。　Toxe　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　as　he　told　them　both　what　Dan　Yap　had　related。　〃Martin；　do　a　follow…up：　'The　beautiful　young　girl　was　crushed　by　the　feet　of　the　mob　…　but　who　were　the　real　killers？　Is　it　an　inpetent　government　who　refuses　to　regulate　our　outdated　banking　system？　Are　the　killers　those　who　started　the　rumors？　Is　the　run　on　the　Ho…Pak　as　simple　as　it　sounds　。。。　'　etcetera。〃
　〃Got　it。〃　Haply　grinned　and　went　back　to　his　desk　in　the　main　office。　He　gulped　a　cold　cup　of　coffee　out　of　a　plastic　cup　and　started　to　type；　his　desk　piled　high　with　reference　books；　Chinese　newspapers　and　stock　market　reports。　Teletypes　chattered　in　the　background。　A　few　silent　copy　boys　and　trainees　delivered　or　picked　up　copy。
　〃Hey；　Martin！　What's　the　latest　from　the　stock　market？〃
　Martin　Haply　dialed　a　number　withou