jamesclavell.noblehouse-第94章

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supplement　their　ine　from　illicit　gambling。　It　was　another　for　a　British　officer　to　sell　influence；　and　to　squeeze　like　an　old…fashioned　Mandarin。　But　though　almost　everyone　believed　Smyth　was　on　the　make；　there　was　no　proof；　he　had　never　been　caught；　and　had　never　been　investigated。　Rumor　had　it　that　he　was　protected　by　certain　VIP　individuals　who　were　deeply　involved　with　him　as　well　as　in　their　own　graft。　〃What's　up？〃　he　asked。
　〃Had　a　bit　of　luck。　I　think。　You're　heading　up　the　John　Chen　kidnapping；　aren't　you？〃
　〃That's　right。〃　Armstrong's　interest　soared。　Smyth's　graft　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　quality　of　his　police　work　…　East　Aberdeen　had　the　lowest　crime　rate　in　the　Colony。　〃Yes。　What've　you　got？〃
　Smyth　told　him　about　the　old　amah　and　what　had　happened　with　Sergeant　Mok　and　Spectacles　Wu；　then　added；　〃He's　a　bright　young　chap；　that；　Robert。　I'd　remend　him　for　SI　if　you　want　to　pass　it　on。　Wu　followed　the　old　bird　back　to　her　fairly　filthy　lair；　then　called　us。　He　obeys　orders　too；　which　is　rare　these　days。　On　a　hunch　I　told　him　to　wait　around　and　if　she　came　out；　to　follow　her。　What　do　you　think？〃
　〃A　twenty…four…carat　lead！〃
　〃What's　your　pleasure？　Wait；　or　pull　her　in　for　real　questioning？〃
　〃Wait。　I'll　bet　the　Werewolf　never　es　back　but　it's　worth　waiting　until　tomorrow。　Keep　the　place　under　surveillance　and　keep　me　posted。〃
　〃Good。　Oh　very　good！〃
　Armstrong　heard　Smyth　chortle　down　the　phone　and　he　could　not　think　why　he　was　so　happy。　Then　he　remembered　the　huge　reward　that　the　High　Dragons　had　offered。　〃How's　your　arm？〃
　〃It's　my　shoulder。　Bloody　thing's　dislocated　and　I　lost　my　favorite　sodding　hat。　Apart　from　that　everything's　fine。　Sergeant　Mok's　going　through　all　our　mug　shots　now　and　I've　got　one　of　my　lads　doing　an　Identi…Kit　on　him　…　I　think　I　even　saw　the　sod　myself。　His　face　is　quite　pockmarked。　If　we've　got　him　on　file　we'll　have　him　nailed　by　sundown。〃
　〃Excellent。　How's　it　going　down　there？〃
　〃Everything　under　control　but　it's　bad。　The　Ho…Pak's　still　paying　out　but　too　slowly　…　everyone　knows　they're　stalling。　I　hear　it's　the　same　all　over　the　Colony。　They're　finished；　Robert。　The　queue'll　go　on　till　every　last　cent's　out。　There's　another　run　on　the　Vic　here　and　no　letup　in　the　crowds。　。。。〃
　Armstrong　gasped。　〃The　Vic？〃
　〃Yes；　they're　handing　out　cash　by　the　bagful　and　taking　nothing　in。　Triads　are　swarming　。。。　the　pickings　must　be　huge。　We　arrested　eight　pickpockets　and　busted　up　twenty…odd　fights。　I'd　say　it's　very　bad。〃
　〃Surely　the　Vic's　okay？〃
　〃Not　in　Aberdeen　it　isn't；　old　lad。　Me；　I'm　liquid。　I've　closed　all　my　accounts。　I　took　every　cent　out。　I'm　all　right。　If　I　were　you　I'd　do　the　same。〃
　Armstrong　felt　queasy。　His　life's　savings　were　in　the　Victoria。　〃The　Vic's　got　to　be　all　right。　All　the　government　funds're　in　it。〃
　〃Right　you　are。　But　nothing　in　their　constitution　says　your　money's　protected　too。　Well；　I've　got　to　get　back　to　work。〃
　〃Yes。　Thanks　for　the　info。　Sorry　about　your　shoulder。〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　going　to　have　my　bloody　head　bashed　in。　The　sods'd　just　started　the　old　'kill　the　quai　loh'　bit。　I　thought　I　was　a　goner。〃
　Armstrong　shivered　in　spite　of　himself。　Ever　since　the　'56　riots　it　was　a　recurring　nightmare　of　his　that　he　was　back　in　that　insane；　screaming　mob　again。　It　was　in　Kowloon。　The　mob　had　just　overturned　the　car　with　the　Swiss　consul　and　his　wife　in　it　and　set　it　afire。　He　and　other　policemen　had　charged　through　the　mob　to　rescue　them。　When　they　got　to　the　car　the　man　was　already　dead　and　the　young　wife　afire。　By　the　time　they'd　dragged　her　out；　all　her　clothes　had　burned　off　her　and　her　skin　came　away　like　a　pelt。　And　all　around；　men；　women　and　young　people　were　raving；　〃Kill　the　quai　loh　。。。〃
　He　shivered　again；　his　nostrils　still　smelling　burned　flesh。　〃Christ；　what　a　bastard！〃
　〃Yes；　but　all　in　the　day's　work。　I'll　keep　you　posted。　If　that　bloody　Werewolf　es　back　to　Aberdeen　he'll　be　in　a　net　tighter　than　a　gnat's　arsehole。〃
　
　30
　
　2：20　P。M。：
　Phillip　Chen　stopped　flipping　through　his　mail；　his　face　suddenly　ashen。　The　envelope　was　marked；　〃Mr。　Phillip　Chen　to　open　personally。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　his　wife　asked。
　〃It's　from　them。〃　Shakily　he　showed　it　to　her。　〃The　Werewolves。〃
　〃Oh！〃　They　were　at　their　lunch　table　that　was　set　haphazardly　in　a　corner　of　the　living　room　of　the　house　far　up　on　the　crest　of　Struan's　Lookout。　Nervously　she　put　down　her　coffee　cup。　〃Open　it；　Phillip。　But；　but　better　use　your　handkerchief　in　。。。　in　case　of　fingerprints；〃　she　added　uneasily。
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course；　Dianne；　how　stupid　of　me！〃　Phillip　Chen　was　looking　very　old。　His　coat　was　over　his　chair　and　his　shirt　damp。　There　was　a　slight　breeze　from　the　open　window　behind　him　but　it　was　hot　and　humid　and　a　brooding　afternoon　haze　had　settled　over　the　Island。　Carefully　he　used　an　ivory　paper　knife　and　unfolded　the　paper。　〃Yes；　it's　。。。　it's　from　the　Werewolves。　It's　。。。　it's　about　the　ransom。〃
　〃Read　it　out。〃
　〃All　right：　'To　Phillip　Chen；　pradore　of　the　Noble　House；　greetings。　I　beg　to　inform　you　now　how　the　ransom　money　is　to　be　paid。　500；000　to　you　is　as　meaningless　as　a　pig's　scream　in　a　slaughterhouse　but　to　us　poor　farmers　would　be　a　heritage　for　our　star　…　'〃
　〃Liars！〃　Dianne　hissed；　her　lovely　gold　and　jade　necklace　glittering　in　a　shaft　of　muted　sunlight。　〃As　if　farmers　would　kidnap　John　or　mutilate　him　like　that。　Dirty　stinky　foreign　triads！　Go　on；　Phillip。〃
　〃　'。。。　would　be　a　heritage　for　our　starving　grandchildren。　That　you　have　already　consulted　the　police　is　to　us　like　pissing　in　the　ocean。　But　now　you　will　not　consult。　No。　Now　you　will　keep　secret　or　the　safety　of　your　son　will　be　endangered　and　he　will　not　return　and　everything　bad　will　be　your　own　fault。　Beware；　our　eyes　are　everywhere。　If　you　try　to　betray　us；　the　worst　will　happen　and　everything　will　be　your　own　fault。　Tonight　at　six　o'clock　I　will　phone　you。　Tell　no　one；　not　even　your　wife。　Meanw…　'　〃
　〃Dirty　triads！　Dirty　whores'　sons　to　try　to　spread　trouble　between　husband　and　wife；〃　Dianne　said　angrily。
　〃　'。。。　meanwhile　prepare　the　ransom　money　in　used　100…dollar　notes。　。。。'　〃　Irritably　Phillip　Chen　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃I　don't　have　much　time　to　get　to　the　bank。　I'll　have　…　〃
　〃Finish　the　letter！〃
　〃All　right；　be　patient；　my　dear；〃　he　said　placatingly；　his　overtaxed　heart　skipping　a　beat　as　he　recognized　the　edge　to　her　voice。　〃Where　was　I？　Ah　yes；'　。。。　notes。　If　you　obey　my　instructions　faithfully；　you　may　have　your　son　back　tonight。　。。。'　Oh　God　I　hope　so；〃　he　said；　breaking　off　momentarily；　then　continued；　〃　'Do　not　consult　the　police　or　try　to　trap　us。　Our　eyes　are　watching　you　even　now。　Written　by　the　Werewolf。'　〃　He　took　off　his　glasses。　His　eyes　were　red…rimmed　and　tired。　Sweat　was　on　his　brow。　〃　'Watching　you　even　now'　？　Could　one　of　the　servants　。。。　or　the　chauffeur　be　in　their　pay？〃
　〃No；　no　of　course　not。　They've　all　been　with　us　for　years。〃
　He　wiped　the　sweat　off；　feeling　dreadful；　wanting　John　back；　wanting　him　safe；　wanting　to　strangle　him。　〃That　means　nothing。　I'd　。。。　I'd　better　call　the　police。〃
　〃Forget　them！　Forget　them　until　we　know　what　you　have　to　do。　Go　to　the　bank。　Get　200；000　only　…　you　should　be　able　to　settle　for　that。　If　you　get　more　you　might　be　tempted　to　give　it　all　to　them　if　tonight　。。。　if　they　really　mean　what　they　say。〃
　〃Yes　。。。　very　wise。　If　we　could　settle　for　that　。。。〃　He　hesitated。　〃What　about　the　tai…pan？　Do　you　think　I　should　tell　the　tai…pan；　Dianne？　He；　he　might　be　able　to　help。〃
　〃Huh！〃　she　said　scornfully。　〃What　help　can　he　give　us？　We're　dealing　with　dog…bone　triads　not　foreign　devil　crooks。　If　we　need　help　we　have　to　stay　with　our　own。〃　Her　eyes　began　boring　into　him。　〃And　now　you'd　better　tell　me　what's　really　the　matter；　why　you　were　so　angry　the　night　before　last　and　why　you've　been　like　a　spiteful　cat　with　a　thorn　in　its　rump　ever　since　and　not　attending　to　business！〃
　〃I've　been　attending　to　business；〃　he　said　defensively。
　〃How　many　shares　have　you　bought？　Eh？　Struan　shares？　Have　you　taken　advantage　of　what　the　tai…pan　told　us　about　the　ing　boom？　Do　you　remember　what　Old　Blind　Tung　forecast？〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course　I　remember！〃　he　stuttered。　〃I've；　I've　secretly　doubled　our　holdings　and　have　equally　secret　orders　out　with　various　brokers　for　half　as　much　again。〃
　Dianne　Chen's　abacus　mind　glowed　at　the　thought　of　that　vast　profit；　and　all　the　private　profit　she　would　be　making　on　all　the　shares　she　had　bought　on　her　own　behalf；　pledging　her　entire　portfolio。　But　she　kept　her　face　cold　and　her　voice　icy。　〃And　how　much　did　you　pay？〃
　〃They　averaged　out　at　28。90。〃
　〃Huh！　According　to　today's　paper　Noble　House　opened　at　28。80；〃　she　said　with　a　disapproving　sniff；　furious　that　he　had　paid　five　cents　less　a　share　than　she　had。　〃You　should　have　been　at　the　market　this　morning　instead　of　moping　around　here；　sleeping　your　life　away。〃
　〃I　wasn't　feeling　very　well；　dear。〃
　〃It　all　goes　back　to　the　night　before　last。　What　sent　you　into　that　unbelievable　rage？　Heya？〃
　〃It　was　nothing。〃　He　got　up；　hoping　to　flee。　〃Noth…　〃
　〃Sit　down！　Nothing　that　you　shouted　at　me；　me　your　faithful　wife　in　front　of　the　servants？　Nothing　that　I　was　ordered　into　my　own　dining　room　like　a　mon　whore？　Heya？〃　Her　voice　began　rising　and　she　let　herself　go；　knowing　instinctively　that　this　was　the　perfect　time；　now　that　they　were　alone　in　the　house；　knowing　that　he　was　defenseless　and　she　could　press　her　advantage。　〃You　think　it's　nothing　that　you　abuse　me；　me　who　has　given　you　the　best　years　of　her　life；　working　and　slaving　and　guarding　you　for　twenty…three　years？　Me；　Dianne　Mai…wei　T'Chung　who　has　the　blood　of　the　great　Dirk　Struan　in　her　veins；　who　came　to　you　virgin；　with　property　in　Wanchai；　North　Point　and　even　on　Lan　Tao；　with　stocks　and　shares　and　the　best　schooling　in　England？　Me　who　never　plains　about　your　snoring　and　whoring　or　about　the　brat　you　sired　out　of　that　dance…hall　girl　you've　sent　to　school　in　America！〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Oh　I　know　all　about　you　and　her　and　all　the　others　and　all　the　other　nasty　things　you　do；　and　that　you　never　loved　me　but　just　wanted　my　property　and　a　perfect　decoration　to　your　drab　life。　。。。〃
　Phillip　Chen　was　trying　to　close　his　ears　but　he　could　not。　His　heart　was　pounding。　He　hated　rows　and　hated　the　shriek　to　her　voice　that；　somehow；　was　perfectly　tuned　to　set　his　teeth　on　edge；　his　brain　oscillating　and　his　bowels　in　turmoil。　He　tried　to　interrupt　her　but　she　overrode　him；　battering　him；　accusing　him　of　all　sorts　of　dalliances　and　mistakes　and　private　matters　that　he　was　shocked　she　knew　about。
　〃。。。　and　what　about　your　club？〃
　〃Eh；　what　club？〃
　〃The　private　Chinese　lunch　club　with　forty…three　members　called　the　74　in　a　block　off　Pedder　Street　that　contains　a　gourmet　chef　from　Shanghai；　teen…age　hostesses　and　bedrooms　and　saunas　and　devices　that　dirty　old　men　need　to　raise　their　Steamless　Stalks？　Eh？〃
　〃It's　nothing　like　that　at　all；〃　Phillip　Chen　spluttered；　aghast　that　she　knew。　〃It's　a　pi…　〃
　〃Don't　lie　to　me！　You　put　up　87；000　good　U。S。　greenbacks　as　the　down　payment　with　Shitee　T'Chung　and　those　two　mealy…mouthed　friends　of　yours　and　even　now　pay　4；000　HK…a…month　fees。　Fees　for　what？　You'd　better　。。。　Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃
　Meekly　he　sat　d