jamesclavell.noblehouse-第89章

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y。
　〃Hey；　Martin！　What's　the　latest　from　the　stock　market？〃
　Martin　Haply　dialed　a　number　without　looking　at　the　phone；　then　called　back　to　the　editor。　〃Ho…Pak's　down　to　24。60；　four　points　from　yesterday。　Struan's　are　down　a　point　though　there's　been　some　heavy　buying。　Hong　Kong　Lan　Tao　up　three　points　…　the　story's　just　been　confirmed。　Dunstan　Barre　took　their　money　out　yesterday。〃
　〃They　did？　Then　you　were　right　again！　Shit！〃
　〃Victoria's　off　half　a　point　…　all　banks　are　edgy　and　no　buyers。　There's　a　rumor　a　line's　forming　outside　Blacs　and　the　Victoria's　head　office　in　Central。〃　Both　men　gasped。
　〃Send　someone　to　check　the　Vic！〃　Mac　hurried　out。　Jesus　Christ；　Toxe　thought；　his　stomach　churning；　Jesus　Christ　if　a　run　starts　on　the　Vic　the　whole　sodding　island'll　collapse　and　my　sodding　savings　with　it。
　He　leaned　back　in　his　old　chair　and　put　his　feet　on　the　desk；　loving　his　job；　loving　the　pressure　and　immediacy。
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　call　her？〃　his　secretary　asked。　She　was　round　and　unflappable。
　〃Who？　Oh　shit；　Peg；　I'd　forgotten。　Yes　…　call　the　Dragon。〃
　The　Dragon　was　the　wife　of　the　publisher；　Mong　Pa…tok；　the　present　head　of　the　sprawling　Mong　family　who　owned　this　paper　and　three　Chinese　newspapers　and　five　magazines；　whose　antecedents　went　back　to　the　earliest　days。　The　Mongs　were　supposed　to　have　descended　from　the　first　editor…owner…publisher　of　the　paper；　Morley　Skinner。　The　story　was　that　Dirk　Struan　had　given　Skinner　control　of　the　paper　in　return　for　helping　him　against　Tyler　Brock　and　his　son　Gorth　by　hushing　up　the　killing　of　Gorth　in　Macao。　It　was　said　Dirk　Struan　had　provoked　the　duel。　Both　men　had　used　fighting　irons。　Once；　some　years　ago；　Toxe　had　heard　old　Sarah　Chen　in　her　cups　relate　that　when　the　Brocks　came　to　collect　Gorth's　body　they　did　not　recognize　him。　The　old　woman　had　added　that　her　father；　Sir　Gordon　Chen；　had　had　to　mobilize　most　of　Chinatown　to　prevent　the　Brocks　from　setting　afire　the　Struan　warehouses。　Tyler　Brock　had　set　Tai…ping　Shan　alight　instead。　Only　the　great　typhoon　that　came　that　night　stopped　the　whole　city　from　going　up　in　flames　…　the　same　holocaust　that　had　destroyed　Dirk　Struan's　Great　House　and　him　and　his　secret　Chinese　wife；　May…may。
　〃She's　on　line　two。〃
　〃Eh？　Oh！　All　right；　Peg。〃　Toxe　sighed。
　〃Ah　Mr。　Toxe；　I　was　waiting　your　call；　heya？〃
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　or　Mr。　Mong？〃
　〃Your　pieces　on　the　Ho…Pak　Bank；　yesterday　and　today；　that　the　adverse　rumors　about　the　Ho…Pak　are　untrue　and　started　by　tai…pans　and　another　big　bank。　I　see　more　today。〃
　〃Yes。　Haply's　quite　sure。〃
　〃My　husband　and　I　hear　this　not　true。　No　tai…pans　or　banks　are　putting　out　rumors　or　have　put　out　rumors。　Perhaps　wise　to　drop　this　attack。〃
　〃It's　not　an　attack；　Mrs。　Mong；　just　an　attitude。　You　know　how　susceptible　Chinese　are　to　rumors。　The　Ho…Pak's　as　strong　as　any　bank　in　the　Colony。　We　feel　sure　the　rumors　were　started　by　a　bi…　〃
　〃Not　by　tai…pans　and　not　big　bank。　My　husband　and　I　not　like　this　attitude　never　mind。　Please　to　change；〃　she　said　and　he　heard　the　granite　in　her　voice。
　〃That's　editorial　policy　and　I　have　control　over　editorial　policy；〃　he　said　grimly。
　〃We　are　publisher。　It　is　our　newspaper。　We　tell　you　to　stop　so　you　will　stop。〃
　〃You're　ordering　me　to　stop？〃
　〃Of　course　it　is　order。〃
　〃Very　well。　As　you　order　it；　it's　stopped。〃
　〃Good！〃　The　phone　went　dead。　Christian　Toxe　snapped　his　pencil　and　threw　it　against　the　wall　and　began　to　curse。　His　secretary　sighed　and　discreetly　closed　the　door　and　when　he　was　done　Toxe　opened　the　door。　〃Peg；　how　about　some　coffee？　Mac！　Martin！〃
　Toxe　sat　back　at　his　desk。　The　chair　creaked。　He　mopped　the　sweat　off　his　cheeks　and　lit　a　cigarette　and　inhaled　deeply。
　〃Yes；　Chris？〃　Haply　asked。
　〃Martin；　cancel　the　piece　I　asked　for　and　do　another　on　Hong　Kong　banking　and　the　need　to　have　some　form　of　banking　insurance。　。。。〃
　Both　men　gaped　at　him。
　〃Our　publisher　doesn't　like　the　rumors　approach。〃
　Martin　Haply　flushed。　〃Well　screw　him！　You　heard　the　guys　yourself　at　the　tai…pan's　party！〃
　〃That　proves　nothing。　You've　no　proof。　We're　stopping　that　approach。　It's　not　proven　so　I　can't　take　a　stand。〃
　〃But；　lo…　〃
　Toxe's　neck　went　purple。　〃It's　bloody　well　stopped；〃　he　roared。　〃Understand？〃
　Haply　began　to　say　something　but　changed　his　mind。　Choked　with　rage　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　left。　He　walked　across　the　big　room　and　jerked　the　front　door　open　and　slammed　it　behind　him。
　Christian　Toxe　exhaled。　〃He's　got　a　lousy　bloody　temper　that　lad！〃
　He　stubbed　his　cigarette　out　and　lit　another。　〃Christ；　I'm　smoking　too　much！〃　Still　seething；　his　brown　eyes　watched　the　older　man。　〃Someone　must　have　called　her；　Mac。　Now　what　would　you　like　as　a　return　favor　if　you　were　Mrs。　Dragon　Mong？〃
　Suddenly　Mac　beamed。　〃Na　a　voting　membership　of　the　Turf　Club！〃
　〃Go　to　the　head　of　the　class！〃
　Singh；　the　Indian　reporter；　came　in　with　a　foot　of　teletype。　〃You　might　need　this　for　the　extra；　Chris。〃
　It　was　a　series　of　Reuters　reports　from　the　Middle　East。　〃Teheran　0832　hours：　High…level　diplomatic　sources　in　Iran　report　sudden　extensive　Soviet　military　maneuvers　have　begun　close　to　their　north　border　near　the　oil…rich　border　area　of　Azerbaijan　where　more　rioting　took　place。　Washington　is　reported　to　have　asked　permission　to　send　observers　to　the　area。〃
　The　next　paragraph　was：　〃Tel　Aviv　0600　hours：　The　Knesset　confirmed　late　last　night　that　another　huge　irrigation　project　had　been　funded　to　further　divert　the　waters　of　the　River　Jordan　into　the　southern　Negev　Desert。　There　was　immediate　adverse　and　hostile　reaction　from　Jordan；　Egypt　and　Syria。〃
　〃Negev？　Isn't　Israel's　brand　spanking　new　atomic　plant　in　the　Negev？〃　Toxe　asked。
　〃Aye。　Now　there's　another　splendid　addition　to　the　peace　conference　tables。　Would　the　water　be　for　that？〃
　〃I　don't　know　Mac；　but　this's　certainly　going　to　parch　a　few　Jordanian　and　Palestinian　throats。　Water　water　everywhere　but　not　a　drop　to　shower　in。　I　wish　to　Christ　it　would　rain。　Singh；　tidy　up　these　reports　and　we'll　put　them　on　the　back　page。　They　won't　sell　a　single　bloody　paper。　Do　a　follow…up　piece　on　the　Werewolves　for　the　front　page：　The　police　have　a　vast　dragnet　out　but　the　vicious　kidnappers　of　Mr。　John　Chen　continue　to　elude　them。　According　to　sources　close　to　the　family　of　his　father；　pradore　of　Struan's；　no　ransom　note　has　yet　been　received　but　one　is　expected　imminently。　The　China　Guardian　asks　all　its　readers　to　assist　in　the　capture　of　these　fiends　。。。　'　That　sort　of　thing。〃
　
　At　Aberdeen　Spectacles　Wu　saw　the　old　woman　e　out　of　the　tenement　building；　a　shopping　basket　in　her　hand；　and　join　the　noisy　crowds　in　the　narrow　alley。　He　followed　cautiously　feeling　very　pleased　with　himself。　While　he　had　waited　for　her　to　reappear　he　had　struck　up　a　conversation　with　a　street　hawker　whose　permanent　place　of　business　was　a　patch　of　broken　pavement　opposite。　The　hawker　sold　tea　and　small　bowls　of　hot　congee　…　rice　gruel。　Wu　had　ordered　a　bowl；　and　during　his　meal；　the　hawker　had　told　him　about　the　old　woman；　Ah　Tam；　who　had　been　in　the　neighborhood　since　last　year。　She'd　e　to　the　Colony　from　a　village　near　Canton　with　the　huge　waves　of　immigrants　who　had　flooded　over　the　border　last　summer。　She　didn't　have　any　family　of　her　own　and　the　people　she　worked　for　had　no　sons　around　twenty；　though　he　had　seen　her　with　a　young　man　early　this　morning。　〃She　says　her　village　was　Ning…tok。　。。。〃
　It　was　then　that　Wu　had　felt　a　glow　at　this　stroke　of　luck。　Ning…tok　was　the　same　village　his　own　parents　had　e　from　and　he　spoke　that　dialect。
　Now　he　was　twenty　paces　behind　her　and　he　watched　her　haggle　brilliantly　for　vegetables；　selecting　only　the　very　best　onions　and　greens；　all　just　a　few　hours　fresh　from　the　fields　in　the　New　Territories。　She　bought　very　little　so　he　knew　that　the　family　she　worked　for　was　poor。　Then　she　was　standing　in　front　of　the　poultry　stall　with　its　layers　of　barely　alive；　scrawny　chickens　crammed　helplessly　into　cages；　their　legs　tied。　The　rotund　stall　owner　bartered　with　her；　both　sides　enjoying　the　foul　language；　insults；　choosing　this　bird；　then　that；　then　another；　prodding　them；　discarding　them；　until　the　bargain　was　made。　Because　she　was　a　good；　salty　trader；　the　man　allowed　his　profit　to　be　shaved。　Then　he　strangled　the　bird　deftly　without　thought；　tossing　the　carcass　to　his　five…year…old　daughter；　who　squatted　in　a　pile　of　feathers　and　offal；　for　plucking　and　cleaning。
　〃Hey；　Mr。　Poultryman；〃　Wu　called　out；　〃I'd　like　a　bird　at　the　same　price。　That　one！〃　He　pointed　at　a　good　choice　and　paid　no　attention　to　the　man's　grumbling。　〃Elder　Sister；〃　he　said　to　her　politely；　〃clearly　you　have　saved　me　a　great　deal　of　cash。　Would　you　like　to　have　a　cup　of　tea　while　we　wait　for　our　birds　to　be　cleaned？〃
　〃Ah　thank　you；　yes；　these　old　bones　are　tired。　We'll　go　there！〃　Her　gnarled　finger　pointed　to　a　stall　opposite。　〃Then　we　can　watch　to　make　sure　we　get　what　we　paid　for。〃　The　poultry　man　muttered　an　obscenity　and　they　laughed。
　She　shoved　her　way　across　the　street；　sat　down　on　a　bench；　ordered　tea　and　a　cake　and　was　soon　telling　Wu　how　she　hated　Hong　Kong　and　living　among　strangers。　It　was　easy　for　him　to　butter　her　up　by　using　the　odd　word　of　Ning…tok　patois；　then　pretending　to　be　equally　surprised　when　she　switched　to　that　dialect　and　told　him　she　came　from　the　same　village　and　oh　how　wonderful　it　was　to　find　a　neighbor　after　all　these　months　among　foreigners！　She　told　him　that　she　had　worked　for　the　same　family　in　Ning…tok　ever　since　she　was　seven。　But；　sadly；　three　years　ago　her　mistress　…　the　child　that　she　had　brought　up；　now　an　old　lady　like　herself　…　had　died。　〃I　stayed　in　the　house　but　it　had　fallen　on　hard　times。　Then　last　year　the　famine　was　bad。　Many　in　the　village　decided　to　e　to　this　place。　Chairman　Mao's　people　didn't　mind；　in　fact　they　encouraged　us　…　'Useless　Mouths'　as　they　called　us。　Somehow　we　got　split　up　and　I　managed　to　get　over　the　border　and　found　my　way　to　this　place　here；　penniless；　hungry；　with　no　family；　no　friends；　nowhere　to　turn。　At　length　I　got　a　job　and　now　I　work　as　a　cock…amah　for　the　family　Ch'ung　who're　street　cleaners。　The　dog　bones　pay　me　nothing　but　my　keep　and　my　food　and　chief　wife　Ch'ung's　a　maggot…mouthed　hag　but　soon　I'll　be　rid　of　all　of　them！　You　said　your　father　came　here　with　his　family　ten　years　ago？〃
　〃Yes。　We　owned　a　field　near　the　bamboo　glade　beside　the　river。　His　name　was　Wu　Cho…tam　an　…　〃
　〃Ah；　yes　I　think　I　remember　the　family。　Yes；　I　think　so。　Yes；　and　I　know　the　field。　My　family　was　Wu　Ting…top　and　their　family　owned　the　pharmacy　at　the　crossroads　for　more　than　a　hundred　years。〃
　〃Ah；　Honorable　Pharmacy　Wu？　Oh　yes　of　course！〃　Spectacles　Wu　did　remember　the　family　well。　Pharmacy　Wu　had　always　been　a　Maoist　sympathizer。　Once　he　had　had　to　flee　the　Nationalists。　In　this　village　of　a　thousand　souls　he　had　been　well　liked　and　trusted　and　he　had　kept　life　in　the　village　as　calm　and　as　protected　from　outsiders　as　he　could。
　〃So；　you're　one　of　Wu　Cho…tam's　sons；　Younger　Brother！〃　Ah　Tam　was　saying。　〃Eeeee；　in　the　early　days　it　was　so　wonderful　in　Ning…tok　but　for　the　last　years　。。。　terrible。〃
　〃Yes。　We　were　lucky。　Our　field　was　fertile　and　we　tilled　the　soil　like　always　but　after　a　few　ye