jamesclavell.noblehouse-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rst　one　who　had　explained　about　drop　dead　money。　He　had　called　it　screw　you　money。　Enough　to　say　screw　you　to　anybody　or　anything。　〃Screw　you　money's　the　most　valuable　in　the　world　。。。　but　the　most　expensive；〃　he　had　said。　〃If　you　work　for　me　…　with　me　but　for　me　…　I'll　help　you　get　your　screw　you　money。　But　Casey；　I　don't　know　if　you'll　want　to　pay　the　cost。〃
　〃What's　the　cost？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　only　know　it　varies；　person　to　person　…　and　always　costs　you　more　than　you're　prepared　to　pay。〃
　〃Has　yours？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Well；　she　thought；　the　price　hasn't　been　too　high　yet。　I　make　52；000　a　year；　my　expense　account　is　good　and　my　job　stretches　my　brain。　But　the　government　takes　too　much　and　there's　not　enough　left　to　be　drop　dead　money。　〃Drop　dead　money　es　from　a　killing；〃　Linc　had　said。　〃Not　from　cash　flow。〃
　How　much　do　I　need？
　She　had　never　asked　herself　the　question　before。
　500；000？　At　7　percent　that'll　bring　35；000　a　year　forever　but　that's　taxable。　What　about　the　Mexican　Government　guarantee　of　11　percent；　less　1　for　them　for　their　trouble？　Still　taxable。　In　tax　free　bonds　at　4　percent　it's　20；000　but　bonds　are　dangerous　and　you　don't　gamble　your　drop　dead　money。
　〃That's　the　first　rule；　Casey；〃　Linc　had　said。　〃You　never　risk　it。　Never。〃　Then　he　had　laughed　that　lovely　laugh　of　his　which　disarmed　her　as　always。　〃You　never　risk　your　screw　you　money　except　the　once　or　twice　you　decide　to。〃
　A　million？　Two？　Three？
　Get　your　mind　on　the　meeting　and　don't　dream；　she　told　herself。　I　won't　but　my　price　is　2　million　cash　in　the　bank。　Tax　free。　That's　what　I　want。　2　million　at　51/4　percent　tax　free　will　bring　105；000　a　year。　And　that　will　give　me　and　the　family　everything　I　want　with　enough　to　spare　forever。　And　I　could　better　51/4　percent　on　my　money。
　But　how　to　get　2　million　tax　free？
　I　don't　know。　But　somehow　I　know　this's　the　place。
　The　Rolls　stopped　suddenly　as　a　mass　of　pedestrians　dodged　through　the　tightly　packed　lines　of　cars　and　double…decker　buses　and　taxis　and　trucks　and　carts　and　lorries　and　bicycles　and　handcarts　and　some　rickshaws。　Thousands　of　people　scurried　this　way　and　that；　pouring　out　of　or　into　the　alleys　and　side　roads；　spilling　off　the　pavements　onto　the　roadway　in　the　morning　rush　hour。　Rivers　of　human　ants。
　Casey　had　researched　Hong　Kong　well；　but　she　was　still　not　prepared　for　the　impact　that　the　incredible　overcrowding　had　made　upon　her。
　〃I　never　saw　anything　like　it；　Linc；〃　she　had　said　this　morning　when　he　had　arrived　at　the　hotel　just　before　she　left　for　the　meeting。　〃It　was　after　ten　when　we　drove　here　from　the　airport；　but　there　were　thousands　of　people　out　…　including　kids　…　and　everything　…　restaurants；　markets；　shops　…　were　still　open。〃
　〃People　mean　profit　…　why　else're　we　here？〃
　〃We're　here　to　usurp　the　Noble　House　of　Asia　with　the　secret　help　and　collusion　of　a　Judas　Iscariot；　John　Chen。〃
　Linc　had　laughed　with　her。　〃Correction。　We're　here　to　make　a　deal　with　Struan's；　and　to　look　around。〃
　〃Then　the　plan's　changed？〃
　〃Tactically　yes。　The　strategy's　the　same。〃
　〃Why　the　change；　Linc？〃
　〃Charlie　called　last　night。　We　bought　another　200；000　shares　of　Rothwell…Gornt。〃
　〃Then　the　bid　for　Struan's　is　just　a　blind　and　our　real　target's　Rothwell…Gornt？〃
　〃We　still　have　three　targets：　Struan's；　Rothwell…Gornt　and　Asian　Properties。　We　look　around　and　we　wait。　If　things　look　good　we　attack。　If　not；　we　can　make　5；　maybe　8　million　this　year　on　our　straight　deal　with　Struan's。　That's　cream。〃
　〃You're　not　here　for　5　or　8　million。　What's　the　real　reason？〃
　〃Pleasure。〃
　The　Rolls　gained　a　few　yards　then　stopped　again；　the　traffic　heavier　now　as　they　approached　Central　District。　Ah　Linc；　she　thought；　your　pleasure　covers　a　multitude　of　piracies。
　〃This　first　visit　to　Hong　Kong；　Missee？〃　broke　into　her　thoughts。
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is。　I　arrived　last　night；〃　she　said。
　〃Ah　very　good。　Weather　very　bad　never　mind。　Very　smelly；　very　humid。　Always　humid　in　summer。　First　day　very　pretty；　heya？〃
　First　day　had　started　with　the　sharp　buzz　of　her　citizens　band　transceiver　jerking　her　out　of　sleep。　And　〃Geronimo。〃
　It　was　their　code　word　for　danger　…　beware。　She　had　showered　and　dressed　quickly；　not　knowing　where　the　danger　was　ing　from。　She　had　just　put　in　her　contact　lenses　when　the　phone　rang。　〃This　is　Superintendent　Armstrong。　Sorry　to　bother　you　so　early；　Miss　Tcholok；　but　could　I　see　you　for　a　moment？〃
　〃Certainly；　Superintendent。〃　She　had　hesitated。　〃Give　me　five　minutes　…　I'll　meet　you　in　the　restaurant？〃
　They　had　met　and　he　had　questioned　her；　telling　her　only　that　contraband　had　been　found　aboard　the　airplane。
　〃How　long　have　you　worked　for　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃Directly；　six　years。〃
　〃Have　there　ever　been　any　police　problems　before？　Of　any　sort？〃
　〃You　mean　with　him　…　or　with　me？〃
　〃With　him。　Or　with　you。〃
　〃None。　What's　been　found　aboard；　Superintendent？〃
　〃You　don't　seem　unduly　worried；　Miss　Tcholok。〃
　〃Why　should　I　be？　I've　done　nothing　illegal；　neither　has　Linc。　As　to　the　crew；　they're　carefully　picked　professionals；　so　I'd　doubt　they　have　anything　to　do　with　smuggling。　It's　drugs；　isn't　it？　What　sort　of　drugs？〃
　〃Why　should　it　be　drugs？〃
　〃Isn't　that　what　people　smuggle　in　here？〃
　〃It　was　a　very　large　shipment　of　guns。〃
　〃What？〃
　There　had　been　more　questions；　most　of　which　she　had　answered；　and　then　Armstrong　was　gone。　She　had　finished　her　coffee　and　refused；　for　the　fourth　time；　the　home…baked；　warm　hard　French　rolls　offered　by　a　starched　and　smiling　boy…waiter。　They　reminded　her　of　those　she　had　had　in　the　south　of　France　three　years　ago。
　Ah；　Nice　and　Cap　D'Ail　and　the　vin　de　Provence。　And　dear　Linc；　she　had　thought；　going　back　to　the　suite　to　wait　for　him　to　phone。
　〃Casey？　Listen；　th…　〃
　〃Ah　Linc；　I'm　glad　you　called；〃　she　had　said　at　once；　deliberately　interrupting　him。　〃Superintendent　Armstrong　was　here　a　few　minutes　ago　…　and　I　forgot　to　remind　you　last　night　to　call　Martin　about　the　shares。〃　Martin　was　also　a　code　word；　meaning；　〃I　think　this　conversation's　being　overheard。〃
　〃I'd　thought　about　him　too。　That's　not　important　now。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。〃
　So　she　told　him。　He　related　briefly　what　had　occurred。　〃I'll　fill　in　the　rest　when　I　get　there。　I'm　heading　for　the　hotel　right　now。　How's　the　suite？〃
　〃Fantastic！　Yours's　called　Fragrant　Spring；　my　room's　adjoining；　guess　it's　normally　part　of　it。　Seems　like　there　are　ten　houseboys　per　suite。　I　called　room　service　for　coffee　and　it　arrived　on　a　silver　tray　before　I'd　put　the　phone　down。　The　bathrooms're　big　enough　for　a　cocktail　party　for　twenty　with　a　three…piece　bo。〃
　〃Good。　Wait　for　me。〃
　She　sat　in　one　of　the　deep　leather　sofas　in　the　luxurious　sitting　room　and　began　to　wait；　enjoying　the　quality　that　surrounded　her。　Beautiful　Chinese　lacquered　chests；　a　well…stocked　bar　in　a　mirrored　alcove；　discreet　flower　arrangements　and　a　bottle　of　monogrammed　Scotch　…　Lincoln　Bartlett　…　with　the　pliments　of　the　chief　manager。　Her　bedroom　suite　through　an　interlocking　door　was　one　side；　his；　the　master　suite；　the　other。　Both　were　the　biggest　she　had　ever　seen；　with　king…size　beds。
　Why　were　guns　put　on　our　airplane　and　by　whom？
　Lost　in　thought　she　glanced　out　of　the　wall…to…wall　window　and　faced　Hong　Kong　Island　and　the　dominating　Peak；　the　tallest　mountain　on　the　island。　The　city；　called　Victoria　after　Queen　Victoria；　began　at　the　shoreline；　then　rose；　tier　on　tier；　on　the　skirts　of　the　sharply　rising　mountain；　lessening　as　the　slopes　soared；　but　there　were　apartment　buildings　near　the　crest。　She　could　see　one　just　above　the　terminal　of　the　Peak's　funicular。　The　view　from　there　must　be　fantastic；　she　thought　absently。
　The　blue　water　was　sparkling　nicely；　the　harbor　as　traffic…bound　as　the　streets　of　Kowloon　below。　Liners　and　freighters　were　anchored　or　tied　up　alongside　the　wharves　of　Kowloon　or　steaming　out　or　in；　their　sirens　sounding　merrily。　Over　at　the　dockyard　Hong　Kong　side　was　a　Royal　Navy　destroyer　and；　nearby　at　anchor；　a　dark…gray　U。S。　Navy　frigate。　There　were　hundreds　of　junks　of　every　size　and　age　…　fishing　vessels　mostly　…　some　powered；　some　ponderously　sailing　this　way　and　that。　Crammed　double…decker　ferries　darted　in　and　out　of　the　traffic　like　so　many　dragonflies；　and　everywhere　tiny　sampans；　oared　or　powered；　scurried　unafraid　across　the　ordered　sea…lanes。
　Where　do　all　these　people　live？　she　asked　herself；　appalled。　And　how　do　they　support　themselves？
　A　room　boy　opened　the　door　with　his　passkey；　without　knocking；　and　Linc　Bartlett　strode　in。　〃You　look　great；　Casey；〃　he　said；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。
　〃So　do　you。　This　gun　thing's　bad；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Anyone　here？　Any　maids　in　the　rooms？〃
　〃We're　alone；　but　the　houseboys　seem　to　e　in　and　out　as　they　please。〃
　〃This　one　had　his　key　out　before　I　reached　the　door。〃　Linc　told　her　what　had　happened　at　the　airport。　Then　he　dropped　his　voice。　〃What　about　John　Chen？〃
　〃Nothing。　He　just　made　nervous；　light　conversation。　He　didn't　want　to　talk　shop。　I　don't　think　he'd　recovered　from　the　fact　that　I'd　turned　out　to　be　a　woman。　He　dropped　me　at　the　hotel　and　said　they'd　send　a　car　at　9：15。〃
　〃So　the　plan　worked　fine？〃
　〃Very　fine。〃
　〃Good。　Did　you　get　it？〃
　〃No。　I　said　I　was　authorized　by　you　to　take　delivery　and　offered　the　initial　sight　draft。　But　he　pretended　to　be　surprised　and　said　he'd　talk　to　you　privately　when　he　drives　you　back　after　the　lunch。　He　seemed　very　nervous。〃
　〃Doesn't　matter。　Your　car'll　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。　I'll　see　you　at　lunch。〃
　〃Should　I　mention　the　guns　to　Struan's？　To　Dunross？〃
　〃No。　Let's　wait　and　see　who　brings　it　up。〃
　〃You　think　it　might　be　them？〃
　〃Easily。　They　knew　our　flight　plan；　and　they've　a　motive。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃To　discredit　us。〃
　〃But　why？〃
　〃Maybe　they　think　they　know　our　battle　plan。〃
　〃But　then　wouldn't　it　have　been　much　wiser　for　them　not　to　do　anything　…　to　sucker　us　in？〃
　〃Maybe。　But　this　way　they've　made　the　opening　move。　Day　One：　Knight　to　King　Bishop　3。　The　attack's　launched　on　us。〃
　〃Yes。　But　by　whom　…　and　are　we　playing　White　or　Black？〃
　His　eyes　hardened　and　lost　their　friendliness。　〃I　don't　care；　Casey；　as　long　as　we　win。〃　He　left。
　Something's　up；　she　told　herself。　Something　dangerous　he's　not　telling　me　about。
　〃Secrecy's　vital；　Casey；〃　he　had　said　back　in　the　early　days。　〃Napoleon；　Caesar；　Patton　…　any　of　the　great　generals　…　often　hid　their　real　plan　from　their　staff。　Just　to　keep　them　…　and　therefore　enemy　spies　…　off　balance。　If　I　withhold　from　you　it's　not　mistrust；　Casey。　But　you　must　never　withhold　from　me。〃
　〃That's　not　fair。〃
　〃Life's　not　fair。　Death's　not　fair。　War's　not　fair。　Big　business　is　war。　I'm　playing　it　like　it　was　war　and　that's　why　I'm　going　to　win。〃
　〃Win　what？〃
　〃I　want　Par…Con　Industries　bigger　than　General　Motors　and　Exxon　bined。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃For　my　goddamn　pleasure。〃
　〃Now　tell　me　the　real　reason。〃
　〃Ah；　Casey；　that's　why　I　love　you。　You　listen　and　you　know。〃
　〃Ah；　Raider；　I　love　you　too。〃
　Then　they　had　both　laughed　together　for　they　knew　they　did　not　love　the　other；　not　in　the　ordinary　sense　of　that　word。　They　had　agreed；　way　back　in　the　beginning；　to　put　aside　the　ordinary　for　the　extraordinary。　For　seven　years。
　Casey　looked　out　o