jamesclavell.noblehouse-第97章

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　legislation　for　the　governor's　signature　to　govern　banks　like　they　had　in　England　and　the　poor　fellow　almost　had　a　fit。　I　really　mustn't　pull　his　leg　so　much。〃　Stern　smiled　with　him。　〃As　if　we　need　government　interference　here！〃　The　eyes　sharpened。　〃So　Joseph；　do　you　vote　to　let　well　alone　…　or　suspend　either　or　both　of　the　stocks；　if　so　when？〃
　Stern　glanced　at　the　clock。　If　he　went　to　the　board　now　he　would　have　plenty　of　time　to　write　up　both　sell　offerings　and　still　be　able　to　challenge　Forsythe。　It　was　a　good　feeling　to　know　that　he　held　the　fate　of　both　houses　in　his　hands；　if　only　temporarily。　〃Perhaps　it　would　be　very　good；　perhaps　bad。　What's　the　voting　so　far？〃
　〃I　said；　almost　equal。〃　There　was　another　burst　of　excitement　and　both　men　looked　up。　Some　more　Struan　shares　were　changing　hands。　The　new　market　price　dropped　to　24。70。　Now　Phillip　Chen　was　leaning　over　Holdbrook's　desk。
　〃Poor　Phillip；　he　doesn't　look　well　at　all；〃　Sir　Luis　said　passionately。
　〃No。　Pity　about　John。　I　liked　him。　What　about　the　Werewolves？　Do　you　think　the　papers　are　overplaying　it？〃
　〃No。　No；　I　don't。〃　The　old　eyes　twinkled。　〃No　more　than　you；　Joseph。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃You've　decided　to　pass。　You　want　to　let　today's　time　run　out；　don't　you？　That's　what　you　want；　isn't　it？〃
　〃What　better　solution　could　there　be？〃
　〃If　I　wasn't　so　old　I'd　agree　with　you。　But　being　so　old　and　not　knowing　about　tomorrow；　or　if　I　shall　live　to　see　tomorrow；　I　prefer　my　drama　today。　Very　well。　I'll　discount　your　vote　this　time　and　now　the　mittee's　deadlocked　so　I　will　decide；　as　I'm　allowed　to　do。　You　can　borrow　200；000　Noble　House　shares　until　Friday；　Friday　at　two。　Then　I　may　ask　for　them　back　…　I　have　to　think　of　my　own　House；　eh？〃　The　sharp　but　kindly　eyes　in　the　lined　face　urged　Stern　to　his　feet。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now；　my　friend？〃
　Joseph　Stern　smiled　sadly。　〃I'm　a　stockbroker。〃
　He　went　to　the　board　and　wrote　in　the　Ho…Pak　sell　column　with　a　firm　hand。　Then　in　the　new　silence　he　went　to　the　Struan　column　and　wrote　the　figure　clearly；　conscious　that　he　was　on　center　stage　now。　He　could　feel　the　hate　and　the　envy。　More　than　500；000　Noble　House　shares　were　now　on　offer；　more　than　at　any　one　time　in　the　history　of　the　exchange。　He　waited；　wanting　the　clock　to　run　out。　There　was　a　flurry　of　interest　as　Soorjani；　the　Parsee；　bought　some　blocks　of　shares　but　it　was　well　known　he　was　nominee　for　many　of　the　Struan　and　Dunross　family　and　supporters。　And　though　he　bought　150；000；　it　made　little　difference　to　the　enormity　of　Gornt's　offering。　The　quiet　was　hurting。　One　minute　to　go　now。
　〃We　buy！〃　The　tai…pan's　voice　shattered　the　silence。
　〃All　my　shares？〃　Stern　asked　hoarsely；　his　heart　racing。
　〃Yes。　Yours　and　all　the　rest。　At　market！〃
　Gornt　was　on　his　feet。　〃With　what？〃　he　asked　sardonically。　〃That's　almost　9　million　cash。〃
　Dunross　was　on　his　feet　too；　a　taunting　half…smile　on　his　face。　〃The　Noble　House　is　good　for　that　…　and　millions　more。　Has　anyone　ever　doubted　it？〃
　〃I　doubt　it　…　and　I　sell　short　tomorrow！〃
　At　that　moment　the　finish　bell　sounded　shrilly；　the　tension　broke　and　there　was　a　roar　of　approval。
　〃Christ　what　a　day。　。。。〃
　〃Good　old　tai…pan。　。。。〃
　〃Couldn't　stand　much　more　of　that　。。。〃
　〃Is　Gornt　going　to　beat　him　this　time　。。。　？〃
　〃Maybe　those　rumors　are　all　nonsense　。。。〃
　〃Christ　I　made　a　bloody　fortune　in　missions　。。。〃
　〃I　think　Ian's　running　scared。　。。。〃
　〃Don't　forget　he's　got　five　days　to　pay　for　the　shares　。。。〃
　〃He　can't　buy　like　that　tomorrow　。。。〃
　〃Christ；　tomorrow！　What's　going　to　happen　tomorrow　。。。〃
　Casey　shifted　in　her　seat；　her　heart　thumping。　She　pried　her　eyes　off　Gornt　and　Dunross　and　looked　back　at　Bartlett；　who　sat　staring　at　the　board；　whistling　tonelessly。　She　was　awed　…　awed　and　a　little　frightened。
　Just　before　ing　here　to　meet　Dunross；　Linc　Bartlett　had　told　her　his　plan；　about　his　call　to　Gornt　and　all　about　the　meeting　with　him。　〃Now　you　know　it　all；　Casey；〃　he　had　said　softly；　grinning　at　her。　〃Now　they're　both　set　up　and　we　control　the　battlefield；　all　for　2　million。　Both're　at　each　other's　throats；　both　going　for　the　jugular；　each　ready　to　cannibalize　the　other。　Now　we　wait。　Monday's　D　Day。　If　Gornt　wins；　we　win。　If　Dunross　wins；　we　win。　Either　way　we　bee　the　Noble　House。〃
　
　32
　
　3：03　P。M。：
　Alexi　Travkin　who　trained　the　racehorses　of　the　Noble　House　went　up　the　busy　alley　off　Nathan　Road　in　Kowloon　and　into　the　Green　Dragon　Restaurant。　He　wore　a　small　。38　under　his　left　arm　and　his　walk　was　light　for　a　man　of　his　age。
　The　restaurant　was　small；　ordinary　and　drab；　with　no　tablecloths　on　the　dozen　or　so　tables。　At　one　of　them；　four　Chinese　were　noisily　eating　soup　and　noodles；　and；　as　he　came　in；　a　bored　waiter　by　the　cash　register　looked　up　from　his　racing　form　and　began　to　get　up　with　a　menu。　Travkin　shook　his　head　and　walked　through　the　archway　that　led　to　the　back。
　The　little　room　contained　four　tables。　It　was　empty　but　for　one　man。
　〃Zdrastvuytye；〃　Suslev　said　lazily；　his　light　clothes　well　cut。
　〃Zdrastvuytye；〃　Travkin　replied；　his　Slavic　eyes　narrowing　even　more。　Then　he　continued　in　Russian；　〃Who're　you？〃
　〃A　friend；　Highness。〃
　〃Please　don't　call　me　that；　I'm　not　a　highness。　Who're　you？〃
　〃Still　a　friend。　Once　you　were　a　prince。　Will　you　join　me？〃　Suslev　politely　motioned　to　a　chair。　There　was　an　opened　bottle　of　vodka　on　his　table　and　two　glasses。　〃Your　father　Nicoli　Petrovitch　was　a　prince　too；　like　his　father　and　back　for　generations；　Prince　of　Kurgan　and　even　Tobol。〃
　〃You　talk　in　ciphers；　friend；〃　Travkin　said；　outwardly　calm；　and　sat　opposite　him。　The　feel　of　the　。38　took　away　some　of　his　apprehension。　〃From　your　accent　you're　Muscovite　…　and　Georgian。〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃Your　ear　is　very　good；　Prince　Kurgan。　Yes　I'm　Muscovite　but　I　was　born　in　Georgia。　My　name's　unimportant　but　I'm　a　friend　wh…　〃
　〃Of　me；　Russia　or　the　Soviets？〃
　〃Of　all　three。　Vodka？〃　Suslev　asked；　lifting　the　bottle。
　〃Why　not？〃　Travkin　watched　the　other　man　pour　the　two　glasses；　then　without　hesitation　he　picked　up　the　wrong　glass；　the　one　farthest　from　him；　and　lifted　it。　〃Health！〃
　Without　hesitation　Suslev　picked　up　the　other；　touched　glasses；　drained　it　and　poured　again。　〃Health！〃
　〃You're　the　man　who　wrote　to　me？〃
　〃I　have　news　of　your　wife。〃
　〃I　have　no　wife。　What　do　you　want　from　me；　friend？〃　The　way　Travkin　used　the　word　it　was　an　insult。　He　saw　the　flash　of　anger　as　Suslev　looked　up　from　his　glass　and　he　readied。
　〃I　excuse　your　rudeness　this　once；　Alexi　Ivanovitch；〃　Suslev　said　with　dignity。　〃You've　no　cause　to　be　rude　to　me。　None。　Have　I　insulted　you？〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃Your　wife's　name　is　Nestorova　Mikail　and　her　father　was　Prince　Anotoli　Zergeyev　whose　lands　straddle　Karaganda；　which　is　not　so　far　away　from　your　own　family　lands　east　of　the　Urals。　He　was　a　Kazaki；　wasn't　he；　a　great　prince　of　the　Kazaki；　whom　some　people　call　Cossacks？〃
　Travkin　kept　his　gnarled　hands　still　and　his　face　impassive；　but　he　could　not　keep　the　blood　from　draining　from　his　face。　He　reached　out　and　poured　two　more　glasses；　the　bottle　still　half　full。　He　sipped　the　spirit。　〃This's　good　vodka；　not　like　the　piss　in　Hong　Kong。　Where　did　you　get　it？〃
　〃Vladivostok。〃
　〃Ah。　Once　I　was　there。　It's　a　flat　dirty　town　but　the　vodka's　good。　Now；　what's　your　real　name　and　what　do　you　want？〃
　〃You　know　Ian　Dunross　well？〃
　Travkin　was　startled。　〃I　train　his　horses　。。。　I've　。。。　this　is　my　third　year；　why？〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　see　the　Princess　Nestor…　〃
　〃Good　sweet　Christ　Jesus　whoever　you　are；　I　told　you　I　have　no　wife。　Now；　for　the　last　time；　what　do　you　want　from　me？〃
　Suslev　filled　his　glass　and　his　voice　was　even　more　kindly。　〃Alexi　Ivanovitch　Travkin；　your　wife　the　princess　today　is　sixty…three。　She　lives　in　Yakutsk　on　th…　〃
　〃On　the　Lena？　In　Siberia？〃　Travkin　felt　his　heart　about　to　explode。　〃What　gulag　is　that；　you　turd？〃
　Through　the　archway　in　the　other　room；　which　was　empty　now；　the　waiter　looked　up　momentarily；　then　yawned　and　went　on　reading。
　〃It's　not　a　gulag；　why　should　it　be　a　gulag？〃　Suslev　said；　his　voice　hardening。　〃The　princess　went　there　of　her　own　accord。　She's　lived　there　since　she　left　Kurgan。　Her　。。。〃　Suslev's　hand　went　into　his　pocket　and　he　brought　out　his　wallet。　〃This　is　her　dacha　in　Yakutsk；〃　he　said；　putting　down　a　photograph。　〃It　belonged　to　her　family；　I　believe。〃　The　cottage　was　snowbound；　within　a　nice　glade　of　trees；　the　fences　well　kept；　and　it　was　pretty　with　good　smoke　ing　out　of　the　chimney。　A　tiny　bundled…up　figure　waved　gaily　at　the　camera　…　too　far　away　for　the　face　to　be　seen　clearly。
　〃And　that's　my　wife？〃　Travkin　said；　his　voice　raw。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you！〃
　Suslev　put　down　a　new　snapshot。　A　portrait。　The　lady　was　white…haired　and　in　her　fifties　or　sixties　and　though　the　cares　of　a　whole　world　marked　her；　her　face　was　still　elegant；　still　patrician。　The　warmth　of　her　smile　reached　out　and　broke　him。
　〃You　。。。　you　KGB　turd；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　sure　that　he　recognized　her。　〃You　filthy　rotten　mother…eating　。。。〃
　〃To　have　found　her？〃　Suslev　said　angrily。　〃To　have　seen　that　she　was　looked　after　and　left　in　peace　and　not　troubled　and　not　sent　to　。。。　to　the　correction　places　she　and　your　whole　class　deserved？〃　Irritably　he　poured　himself　another　drink。　〃I'm　Russian　and　proud　of　it　…　you're　émigré　and　you　left。　My　father　and　his　were　owned　by　one　of　your　class。　My　father　died　at　the　barricades　in　1916；　and　my　mother　…　and　before　they　died　they　were　starving。　They　。。。〃　With　an　effort　he　stopped。　Then　he　said　in　a　different　voice；　〃I　agree　there's　much　to　forgive　and　much　to　forget　on　both　sides；　and　that's　all　past　now　but　I　tell　you　we　Soviets；　we're　not　all　animals　…　not　all　of　us。　We're　not　all　like　Bloody　Beria　and　the　murdering　archfiend　Stalin。　。。。　Not　everyone。〃　He　found　his　pack　of　cigarettes。　〃Do　you　smoke？〃
　〃No。　Are　you　KGB　or　GRU？〃　KGB　stood　for　the　mittee　for　State　Security；　GRU　for　the　Chief　Intelligence　Directorate　of　the　General　Staff。　This　was　not　the　first　time　Travkin　had　been　approached　by　one　of　them。　Before；　he　had　always　been　able　to　slough　them　off　with　his　drab；　unimportant　cover　story。　But　now　he　was　trapped。　This　one　knew　too　much　about　him；　too　much　truth。　Who　are　you；　bastard？　And　what　do　you　really　want？　he　thought　as　he　watched　Suslev　light　a　cigarette。
　〃Your　wife　knows　you're　alive。〃
　〃Impossible。　She's　dead。　She　was　murdered　by　mobs　when　our　pal…　when　our　house　in　Kurgan　was　sacked；　put　to　the　torch；　torn　apart　…　the　prettiest；　most　unarmed　mansion　within　a　hundred　miles。〃
　〃The　masses　had　the　right　t…　〃
　〃Those　weren't　my　people　and　they　were　led　by　imported　Trotskyites　who　afterwards　murdered　my　peasants　by　the　thousands　…　until　they　themselves　were　all　purged　by　more　of　their　own　vermin。〃
　〃Perhaps；　perhaps　not；〃　Suslev　said　coldly。　〃Even　so；　Prince　of　Kurgan　and　Tobol；　she　escaped　with　one　old　servant　and　fled　east　thinking　she　could　find　you；　could　escape　after　you　through　Siberia　to　Manchuria。　The　servant　came　originally　from　Austria。　Pavchen　was　her　name。〃
　The　breath　seemed　to　have　vanished　from　Travkin's　lungs。　〃More　lies；〃　he　heard　himself　say；　no　longer　believing　it；　his　spirit　ripped　apart　by　her　lovely　smile。　〃My　wife's　dead。　Sh