jamesclavell.noblehouse-第90章

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　〃Yes。　We　were　lucky。　Our　field　was　fertile　and　we　tilled　the　soil　like　always　but　after　a　few　years　outsiders　came　and　accused　all　the　landowners　…　as　if　we　were　exploiters！　We　only　tilled　our　own　field。　Even　so；　from　time　to　time　some　landowners　were　taken　away；　some　shot；　so　one　night　ten　years　ago　my　father　fled　with　all　of　us。　Now　my　father　is　dead　but　I　live　with　my　mother　not　far　away。〃
　〃There　were　many　fleeings　and　famines　in　the　early　days。　I　hear　that　now　it　is　better。　Did　you　hear　too？　Outsiders　came；　wasn't　it？　They　would　e　and　they　would　leave。　The　village　is　not　so　bad　again；　Younger　Brother；　oh　no！　Outsiders　leave　us　alone。　Yes；　they　left　my　mistress　and　us　alone　because　Father　was　important　and　one　of　Chairman　Mao's　supporters　from　the　beginning。　My　mistress's　name　was　Fang…ling；　she's　dead　now。　There's　no　collective　near　us　so　life　is　like　it's　always　been；　though　we　all　have　to　study　Chairman　Mao's　Red　Book。　The　village　isn't　so　bad；　all　my　friends　are　there。　。。。　Hong　Kong　is　a　foul　place　and　my　village　is　home。　Life　without　family　is　nothing。　But　now　。。。〃　Then　the　old　woman　dropped　her　voice　and　chortled；　carried　away　with　pleasure。　〃But　now　the　gods　have　favored　me。　In　a　month　or　two　I'm　going　home；　home　forever。　I'll　have　enough　money　to　retire　on　and　I'll　buy　the　small　house　at　the　end　of　my　street　and　perhaps　a　little　field　and　。。。〃
　〃Retire？〃　Wu　said；　leading　her　on。　〃Who　has　that　sort　of　money；　Elder　Sister？　You　said　you　were　paid　nothing　th…　〃
　〃Ah；〃　the　old　woman　replied；　puffed　up。　〃I've　an　important　friend。〃
　〃What　sort　of　friend？〃
　〃A　very　important　business　friend　who　needs　my　help！　Because　I've　been　so　useful　he's　promised　to　give　me　a　huge　amount　of　money　…　〃
　〃You're　making　this　all　up；　Elder　Sister；〃　he　scoffed。　〃Am　I　a　foolish　stranger　wh…　〃
　〃I　tell　you　my　friend's　so　important　he　can　hold　the　whole　island　in　thrall！〃
　〃There　are　no　such　persons！〃
　〃Oh　yes　there　are！〃　She　dropped　her　voice　and　whispered　hoarsely；　〃What　about　the　Werewolves！〃
　Spectacles　Wu　gaped　at　her。　〃What？〃
　She　chortled　again；　delighted　with　the　impact　of　her　confidence。　〃Yes。〃
　The　young　man　took　hold　of　his　blown　mind　and　put　the　pieces　quickly　back　together；　if　this　were　true　he　would　get　the　reward　and　the　promotion　and　maybe　an　invitation　to　join　Special　Intelligence。　〃You're　making　this　up！〃
　〃Would　I　lie　to　someone　from　my　own　village？　My　friend's　one　of　them　I　tell　you。　He's　also　a　489　and　his　Brotherhood's　going　to　be　the　richest　in　all　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Eeeee；　how　lucky　you　are；　Elder　Sister！　And　when　you　see　him　again　please　ask　if　perhaps　he　can　use　someone　like　me。　I'm　a　street　fighter　by　trade　though　my　triad's　poor　and　the　leader　stupid　and　a　stranger。　Is　he　from　Ning…tok？〃
　〃No。　He's　。。。　he's　my　nephew；〃　she　said；　and　the　young　man　knew　it　was　a　lie。　〃I'm　seeing　him　later。　Yes；　he's　ing　later。　He　owes　me　some　money。〃
　〃Eeeee；　that's　good；　but　don't　put　it　in　a　bank　and　certainly　not　in　the　Ho…Pak　or　y…　〃
　〃Ho…Pak？〃　she　said　suspiciously；　her　little　eyes　narrowing　suddenly　in　the　creases　of　her　face。　〃Why　do　you　mention　the　Ho…Pak？　What　has　the　Ho…Pak　to　do　with　me？〃
　〃Nothing；　Elder　Sister；〃　Wu　said；　cursing　himself　for　the　slip；　knowing　her　guard　was　now　up。　〃I　saw　the　queues　this　morning；　that's　all。〃
　She　nodded；　not　convinced；　then　saw　that　her　chicken　was　packaged　and　ready　so　she　thanked　him　for　the　tea　and　cake　and　scuttled　off；　muttering　to　herself。　Most　carefully　he　followed　her。　From　time　to　time　she　would　look　back　but　she　did　not　see　him。　Reassured；　she　went　home。
　
　The　CIA　man　got　out　of　his　car　and　walked　quickly　into　police　headquarters。　The　uniformed　sergeant　at　the　information　desk　greeted　him。　〃Afternoon；　Mr。　Rosemont。〃
　〃I've　an　appointment　with　Mr。　Crosse。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　He's　expecting　you。〃
　Sourly　Rosemont　went　to　the　elevator。　This　whole　goddamn…piss…poor　island　makes　me　want　to　shit；　and　the　goddamn　British　along　with　it。
　〃Hello；　Stanley；〃　Armstrong　said。　〃What're　you　doing　here？〃
　。〃Oh　hi；　Robert。　Gotta　meeting　with　your　chief。〃
　〃I've　already　had　that　displeasure　once　today。　At　7：01　precisely。〃　The　elevator　opened。　Rosemont　went　in　and　Armstrong　followed。
　〃I　hope　you've　got　some　good　news　for　Crosse；〃　Armstrong　said　with　a　yawn。　〃He's　really　in　a　foul　mood。〃
　〃Oh？　You　in　this　meeting　too？〃
　〃Afraid　so。〃
　Rosemont　flushed。　〃Shit；　I　asked　for　a　private　meeting。〃
　〃I'm　private。〃
　〃You　sure　are；　Robert。　And　Brian；　and　everyone　else。　But　some　bastard　isn't。〃
　Armstrong's　humor　vanished。　〃Oh？〃
　〃No。〃　Rosemont　said　nothing　more。　He　knew　he　had　hurt　the　Englishman　but　he　didn't　care。　It's　the　truth；　he　thought　bitterly。　The　sooner　these　goddamn　limeys　open　their　goddamn　eyes　the　better。
　The　elevator　stopped。　They　walked　down　the　corridor　and　were　ushered　into　Crosse's　room　by　Brian　Kwok。　Rosemont　felt　the　bolts　slide　home　behind　him　and　he　thought　how　goddamn　foolish　and　useless　and　unnecessary；　the　man's　a　knucklehead。
　〃I　asked　for　a　private　meeting；　Rog。〃
　〃It's　private。　Robert's　very　private；　Brian　is。　What　can　I　do　for　you；　Stanley？〃　Crosse　was　politely　cool。
　〃Okay；　Rog；　today　I　got　a　long　list　for　you：　first；　you're　personally　100　percent　in　the　creek　with　me；　my　whole　department；　up　to　the　director　in　Washington　himself。　I'm　told　to　tell　you　…　among　other　things　…　your　mole's　surpassed　himself　this　time。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　Rosemont's　voice　was　grating　now。　〃For　starters；　we　just　heard　from　one　of　our　sources　in　Canton　that　Fong…fong　and　all　your　lads　were　hit　last　night。　Their　cover's　gone　…　they're　blown。〃　Armstrong　and　Brian　Kwok　looked　shocked。　Crosse　was　staring　back　at　him　and　he　read　nothing　in　his　face。　〃Got　to　be　your　mole；　Rog。　Got　to　be　fingered　from　the　tai…pan's　AMG　papers。〃
　Crosse　looked　across　at　Brian　Kwok。　〃Use　the　emergency　wireless　code。　Check　it！〃
　As　Brian　Kwok　hurried　out；　Rosemont　said　again；　〃They're　blown；　the　poor　bastards。〃
　〃We'll　check　it　anyway。　Next？〃
　Rosemont　smiled　mirthlessly。　〃Next：　Almost　everything　that　was　in　the　tai…pan's　AMG　papers's　spread　around　the　intelligence　munity　in　London　…　on　the　wrong　side。〃
　〃God　curse　all　traitors；〃　Armstrong　muttered。
　〃Yeah；　that's　what　I　thought；　Robert。　Next；　another　little　gem　…　AMG　was　no　accident。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃No　one　knows　the　who；　but　we　all　know　the　why。　The　bike　was　hit　by　an　auto。　No　make；　no　serial　number；　no　witnesses；　no　nothing　yet；　but　he　was　hit　…　and　of　course；　fingered　from　here。〃
　〃Then　why　haven't　I　been　informed　by　Source？　Why's　the　information　ing　from　you？〃　Crosse　asked。
　Rosemont's　voice　sharpened。　〃I　just　got　off　the　phone　to　London。　It's　just　past　5：00　a。m。　there　so　maybe　your　people　plan　to　let　you　know　when　they　get　to　the　office　after　a　nice　leisurely　bacon　and　eggs　and　a　goddamn　cup　of　tea！〃
　Armstrong　shot　a　quick　glance　at　Crosse　and　winced　at　the　look　on　his　face。
　〃Your　。。。　your　point's　well　taken；　Stanley；〃　Crosse　said。　〃Next？〃
　〃The　photos　we　gave　you　of　the　guys　who　knocked　off　Voranski　。。。　what　happened？〃
　〃We　had　their　place　covered。　The　two　men　never　reappeared；　so　I　raided　the　place　in　the　early　hours。　We　went　through　that　whole　tenement；　room　by　room；　but　found　no　one　who　looked　anything　like　the　photographs。　We　searched　for　a　couple　of　hours　and　there　were　no　secret　doors　or　anything　like　that。　They　weren't　there。　Perhaps　your　fellow　made　a　mistake。　。。。〃
　〃Not　this　time。　Marty　Povitz　was　sure。　We　had　the　place　staked　out　soon　as　we　deciphered　the　address　but　there　was　a　time　when　it　wasn't　all　covered；　front　and　back。　I　think　they　were　tipped；　again　by　your　mole。〃　Rosemont　took　out　a　copy　of　a　telex　and　passed　it　over。　Crosse　read　it；　reddened　and　passed　it　over　to　Armstrong。
　Decoded　from　Director；　Washington；　to　Rosemont；　Deputy　Director　Station　Hong　Kong：　Sinders　MI…6　brings　orders　from　Source；　London；　that　you　are　to　go　with　him　Friday　to　witness　the　handover　of　the　papers　and　get　an　immediate　photocopy。
　〃You'll　get　your　copy　in　today's　mail；　Rog；〃　the　American　said。
　〃I　can　keep　this？〃　Crosse　asked。
　〃Sure。　By　the　way；　we　have　a　tail　on　Dunross　too。　W…　〃
　Crosse　said　angrily；　〃Would　you　kindly　not　interfere　in　our　jurisdiction！〃
　〃I　told　you　you　were　in　Shitsville；　Rog！〃　Tautly　Rosemont　placed　another　cable　on　the　table。
　Rosemont；　Hong　Kong。　You　will　hand　this　cable　to　Chief　of　SI　personally。　Until　further　orders　Rosemont　is　authorized　to　proceed　independently　to　assist　in　the　uncovering　of　the　hostile　in　any　way　he　chooses。　He　is；　however；　required　to　stay　within　the　law　and　keep　you　advised　personally　of　what　he　is　doing。　Source　8…98/3。
　Rosemont　saw　Crosse　bite　back　an　explosion。　〃What　else've　you　authorized？〃　Crosse　asked。
　〃Nothing。　Yet。　Next：　We'll　be　at　the　bank　on　Fri…　〃
　〃You　know　where　Dunross's　put　the　files？〃
　〃It's　all　over　town　…　among　the　munity。　I　told　you　your　mole's　been　working　overtime。〃　Abruptly　Rosemont　flared；　〃e　on　for　chrissake；　Rog；　you　know　if　you　tell　a　hot　item　to　someone　in　London；　it's　all　over　town！　We've　all　got　security　problems　but　yours're　worse！〃　With　an　effort　the　American　simmered　down。　〃You　could've　leveled　with　me　about　the　Dunross　screw…up　…　it　would've　save　us　all　a　lot　of　heartache　and　a　lotta　face。〃
　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Perhaps。　Perhaps　not。　I　was　trying　to　maintain　security。〃
　〃Remember　me？　I'm　on　our　side！〃
　〃Are　you？〃
　〃You　bet　your　ass！〃　Rosemont　said　it　very　angrily。　〃And　if　it　was　up　to　me　I'd　have　every　safety　deposit　box　open　before　sundown　…　and　the　hell　with　the　consequences。〃
　〃Thank　God　you　can't　do　that。〃
　〃For　chrissake　we're　at　war　and　God　only　knows　what's　in　those　other　files。　Maybe　they'll　finger　your　goddamn　mole　and　then　we　can　get　the　bastard　and　give　him　his！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Crosse　said；　his　voice　a　whiplash；　〃or　maybe　there's　nothing　in　the　papers　at　all！〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Dunross　agreed　to　hand　the　files　over　to　Sinders　on　Friday。　What　if　there's　nothing　in　them？　Or　what　if　he　burned　the　pages　and　gives　us　just　the　covers？　What　the　hell　do　we　do　then？〃
　Rosemont　gaped　at　him。　〃Jesus　…　is　that　a　possibility？〃
　〃Of　course　it's　a　possibility！　Dunross's　clever。　Perhaps　they're　not　there　at　all；　or　the　vault　ones　are　false　or　nonexistent。　We　don't　know　he　put　them　there；　he　just　says　he　put　them　there。　Jesus　Christ；　there're　fifty　possibilities。　You're　so　smart；　you　CIA　fellows；　you　tell　me　which　deposit　box　and　I'll　open　it　myself。〃
　〃Get　the　key　from　the　governor。　Give　me　and　some　of　my　boys　private　access　for　five　hours　an　…　〃
　〃Out　of　the　question！〃　Crosse　snarled；　suddenly　red…faced；　and　Armstrong　felt　the　violence　strongly。　Poor　Stanley；　you're　the　target　today。　He　suppressed　a　shudder；　remembering　the　times　he　had　had　to　face　Crosse。　He　had　soon　learned　that　it　was　easier　to　tell　the　man　the　truth；　to　tell　everything　at　once。　If　Crosse　ever　really　went　after　him　in　an　interrogation；　he　knew　beyond　doubt　he　would　be　broken。　Thank　God　he's　never　yet　had　reason　to　try；　he　thought　thankfully；　then　turned　his　eyes　on　Rosemont　who　was　flushed　with　rage。　I　wonder　who　Rosemont's　informants　are；　and　how　he　knows　for　certain　that　Fong…fong　and　his　team　have　been　obliterated。
　〃Out　of　the　question；〃　Crosse　said　again。
　〃Then　what　the　hell　do　we　do？　Sit　on　our　godd