jamesclavell.noblehouse-第98章

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　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。　She'd　never　go　so　far　north。〃
　〃Ah　but　she　did。　Her　escape　train　was　diverted　northwards。　It　was　autumn。　Already　the　first　snows　had　e　so　she　decided　to　wait　the　winter　out　in　Yakutsk。　She　had　to。　。。。〃　Suslev　put　down　another　snapshot。　〃。。。　she　was　with　child。　This　is　your　son　and　his　family。　It　was　taken　last　year。〃　The　man　was　good…looking；　in　his　forties；　wearing　a　Soviet　major's　air　force　uniform；　self…consciously　smiling　at　the　camera；　his　arm　around　a　fine　woman　in　her　thirties　with　three　happy　children；　a　babe；　a　beaming　girl　of　six　or　seven　missing　front　teeth；　a　boy　of　about　ten　trying　to　be　serious。　〃Your　wife　called　him　Pietor　Ivanovitch　after　your　grandfather。〃
　Travkin　did　not　touch　the　photo。　He　just　stared　at　it；　his　face　chalky。　Then　he　pried　his　eyes　away　and　poured　a　drink　for　himself；　and　as　an　afterthought；　one　for　Suslev。　〃It's　。。。　it's　all　a　brilliant　reconstruction；〃　he　said；　trying　to　sound　convincing。　〃Brilliant。〃
　〃The　child's　name　is　Victoria；　the　girl　is　Nichola　after　your　grandmother。　The　boy　is　Alexi。　Major　Ivanovitch　is　a　bomber　pilot。〃
　Travkin　said　nothing。　His　eyes　went　back　to　the　portrait　of　the　beautiful　old　lady　and　he　was　near　tears　but　his　voice　was　still　controlled。　〃She　knows　I'm　alive；　eh？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃For　how　long？〃
　〃Three　months。　About　three　months　ago。　One　of　our　people　told　her。〃
　〃Who're　they？〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　see　her？〃
　〃Why　only　three　months　…　why　not　a　year　…　three　years？〃
　〃It　was　only　six　months　ago　we　discovered　who　you　were。〃
　〃How　did　you　do　that？〃
　〃Did　you　expect　to　remain　anonymous　forever？〃
　〃If　she　knows　I'm　alive　and　one　of　your　people　told　her　then　she'd've　written。　。。。　Yes。　They　would　have　asked　her　to　do　that　if　。。。〃　Travkin's　voice　was　strange。　He　felt　out　of　himself；　in　a　nightmare；　as　he　tried　to　think　clearly。　〃She　would　have　written　a　letter。〃
　〃She　has。　I　will　give　it　to　you　within　the　next　few　days。　Do　you　want　to　see　her？〃
　Travkin　forced　his　agony　down。　He　motioned　at　the　family　portrait。　〃And　。。。　and　he　knows　I'm　alive　too？〃
　〃No。　None　of　them　do。　That　was　not　at　our　suggestion；　Alexi　Ivanovitch。　It　was　your　wife's　idea。　For　safety　…　to　protect　him；　she　thought。　As　if　we　would　wreak　vengeance　for　the　sins　of　the　fathers　on　the　sons！　She　waited　out　two　winters　in　Yakutsk。　By　that　time　peace　had　e　to　Russia　so　she　stayed。　By　that　time　she　presumed　you　dead；　though　she　hoped　you　were　alive。　The　boy　was　brought　up　believing　you　dead；　and　knew　nothing　of　you。　He　still　doesn't。　As　you　can　see；　he's　a　credit　to　you　both。　He　was　head　of　his　local　school；　then　went　ю　university　as　all　gifted　children　do　nowadays。　。。。　Do　you　know；　Alexi　Ivanovitch；　in　my　day　I　was　the　first　of　my　whole　province　ever　to　get　to　a　university；　the　very　first；　ever　from　a　peasant　family。　We're　fair　in　Russia　today。〃
　〃How　many　corpses　have　you　made　to　bee　what　you　are　now？〃
　〃A　few；〃　Suslev　said　darkly；　〃all　of　them　criminals　or　enemies　of　Russia。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　them。〃
　〃I　will。　One　day。〃
　〃Did　you　fight　the　last　war　…　or　were　you　a　missar？〃
　〃Sixteenth　Tank　Corp；　Forty…fifth　Army。　I　was　at　Sebastopol　。。。　and　at　Berlin。　Tank　mander。　Do　you　want　to　see　your　wife？〃
　〃More　than　my　whole　life　is　worth；　if　this　really　is　my　wife　and　if　she's　alive。〃
　〃She　is。　I　can　arrange　it。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Vladivostok。〃
　〃No；　here　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Sorry；　that's　impossible。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Travkin　laughed　without　mirth。　〃Of　course；　friend。　Drink？〃　He　poured　the　last　of　the　vodka；　splitting　it　equally。　〃Health！〃
　Suslev　stared　at　him。　Then　he　looked　down　at　the　portrait　and　the　snapshot　of　the　air　force　major　and　his　family　and　picked　them　up；　lost　in　thought。　The　silence　grew。　He　scratched　his　beard。　Then　he　said　decisively；　〃All　right。　Here　in　Hong　Kong；〃　and　Travkin's　heart　leapt。
　〃In　return　for　what？〃
　Suslev　stubbed　his　cigarette　out。　〃Information。　And　cooperation。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　want　to　know　everything　you　know　about　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House；　everything　you　did　in　China；　who　you　know；　who　you　met。〃
　〃And　the　cooperation？〃
　〃I　will　tell　you　later。〃
　〃And　in　return　you'll　bring　my　wife　to　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃By　Christmas。〃
　〃How　can　I　trust　you？〃
　〃You　can't。　But　if　you　cooperate　she　will　be　here　at　Christmas。〃　Travkin　was　watching　the　two　photos　Suslev　toyed　with　in　his　fingers；　then　he　saw　the　look　in　his　eyes　and　his　stomach　twisted。　〃Either　way；　you　must　be　honest　with　me。　With　or　without　your　wife；　Prince　Kurgan；　we　always　have　your　son　and　your　grandchildren　hostage。〃
　Travkin　sipped　his　drink；　making　it　last。　〃Now　I　believe　you　are　what　you　are。　Where　do　you　want　to　start？〃
　〃The　tai…pan。　But　first　I　want　to　piss。〃　Suslev　got　up　and　asked　the　waiter　where　the　toilet　was　and　went　out　through　the　kitchen。
　Now　that　Travkin　was　alone　despair　gripped　him。　He　picked　up　the　snapshot　of　the　cottage　that　was　still　on　the　table　and　peered　at　it。　Tears　filled　his　eyes。　He　brushed　them　away　and　felt　the　gun　that　nestled　beneath　his　shoulder　but　that　did　not　help　him　now。　With　all　his　inner　strength　he　resolved　to　be　wise　and　not　believe；　but　in　his　heart　he　knew　he　had　seen　her　picture　and　that　he　would　do　anything；　risk　anything　to　see　her。
　For　years　he　had　tried　to　avoid　these　hunters；　knowing　that　he　was　always　pursued。　He　had　been　the　leader　of　the　Whites　in　his　area　across　the　Trans…Siberian　Railroad　and　he　had　killed　many　Reds。　At　length　he　had　wearied　of　the　killing　and　in　1919　had　left　for　Shanghai　and　a　new　home　until　the　Japanese　armies　came；　escaping　them　to　join　Chinese　guerrillas；　fighting　his　way　south　and　west　to　Chungking；　there　to　join　other　marauders；　English；　French；　Australian；　Chinese　…　anyone　who　would　pay　…　until　the　Japanese　unconditionally　surrendered；　and　so　back　to　Shanghai　again；　soon　to　flee　once　more。　Always　fleeing；　he　thought。
　By　the　blood　of　Christ；　my　darling；　I　know　you're　dead。　I　know　it。　I　was　told　by　someone　who　saw　the　mob　sack　our　palace；　saw　them　swarm　over　you。　。。。
　But　now？
　Are　you　really　alive？
　Travkin　looked　at　the　kitchen　door　with　hatred；　knowing　he　would　forever　be　haunted　until　he　was　certain　about　her。　Who　is　that　shit　eater？　he　thought。　How　did　they　find　me？
　Grimly　he　waited　and　waited　and　then　in　sudden　panic　went　to　find　him。　The　toilet　was　empty。　He　rushed　into　the　street　but　it　was　filled　with　other　people。　The　man　had　vanished。
　There　was　a　vile　taste　in　Travkin's　mouth　now　and　he　was　sick　with　apprehension。　In　the　name　of　God；　what　does　he　want　with　the　tai…pan？
　
　33
　
　5：50　P。M。：
　〃Hello；　Ian；〃　Penelope　said。　〃You're　home　early！　How　was　your　day？〃
　〃Fine；　fine；〃　Dunross　said　absently。　Apart　from　all　the　disasters；　just　before　he　left　the　office　he　had　had　a　call　from　Brian　Kwok　saying；　among　other　things；　that　AMG　was　probably　murdered　and　warned　him　to　take　serious　precautions。
　〃Oh；　it　was　one　of　those；　was　it？〃　she　said　at　once。　〃How　about　a　drink？　Yes。　How　about　champagne？〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　Then　he　noticed　her　smile　and　smiled　back　and　felt　much　better。　〃Penn；　you're　a　mind　reader！〃　He　tossed　his　briefcase　onto　a　sideboard　and　followed　her　into　one　of　the　sitting　rooms　of　the　Great　House。　The　champagne　was　already　in　an　ice　bucket；　opened；　with　two　glasses　partially　filled　and　another　waiting　for　him　in　the　ice。
　〃Kathy's　upstairs。　She's　reading　Glenna　a　bedtime　story；〃　Penelope　said；　pouring　for　him。　〃She　。。。　she's　just　told　me　about　。。。　about　the；　about　the　disease。〃
　〃Oh。〃　He　accepted　the　glass。　〃Thanks。　How's　Andrew　taking　it？　He　didn't　mention　anything　today。〃
　〃She's　going　to　tell　him　tonight。　The　champagne　was　to　give　her　some　courage。〃　Penelope　looked　up　at　him；　anguished。　〃She's　going　to　be　all　right；　isn't　she；　Ian？〃
　〃I　think　so。　I　had　a　long　talk　with　Doc　Tooley。　He　was　encouraging；　gave　me　the　names　of　the　top　three　experts　in　England　and　another　three　in　America。　I've　cabled　for　appointments　with　the　three　in　England　and　Doc　Ferguson's　air…mailing　them　case　histories　…　they'll　be　there　when　you　arrive。〃
　She　sipped　her　wine。　A　light　breeze　made　the　sultry　day　much　better。　The　French　doors　were　open　to　the　garden。　It　was　near　six　o'clock。　〃Do　you　think　we　should　go　at　once？　Will　a　few　days　make　any　difference？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃But　we　should　go？〃
　〃If　it　were　you；　Penn；　we'd've　been　on　the　first　plane　the　very　first　moment。〃
　〃Yes。　If　I'd　told　you。〃
　〃You　would　have　told　me。〃
　〃Yes。　I　suppose　I　would。　I've　made　reservations　for　tomorrow。　Kathy　thought　it　a　good　idea　too。　The　BOAC　flight。〃
　He　was　startled。　〃Claudia　never　mentioned　it。〃
　She　smiled。　〃I　made　them　myself。　I'm　really　quite　capable。　I've　reservations　for　Glenna；　me　and　Kathy。　We　could　take　the　case　histories　with　us。　I　thought　Kathy　should　go　without　any　of　her　children。　They'll　be　perfectly　all　right　with　the　amahs。〃
　〃Yes；　that's　much　the　best。　Doc　Tooley　was　adamant　about　her　taking　it　easy。　That's　the　main　thing　he　said；　lots　of　rest。〃　Dunross　smiled　at　her。　〃Thanks；　Penn。〃
　She　was　staring　at　the　beads　of　condensation　on　the　outside　of　the　bottle　and　the　ice　bucket。　〃Bloody　awful；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Worse；　Penn。　There's　no　cure。　He　thinks　。。。　he　thinks　the　medication　will　arrest　it。〃　He　finished　his　glass　and　poured　for　both　of　them。　〃Any　messages？〃
　〃Oh；　sorry！　Yes；　they're　on　the　sideboard。　There　was　a　long…distance　call　from　Marseilles　a　moment　ago。〃
　〃Susanne？〃
　〃No。　A　Mr。　Deland。〃
　〃He's　our　agent　there。〃
　〃Rotten　about　young　Borge。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　skimmed　the　messages。　Johnjohn　at　the　bank；　Holdbrook；　Phillip　Chen；　and　the　inevitable　catchall　〃please　call　Claudia。〃　He　sighed。　It　was　only　half　an　hour　since　he　left　the　office　and　he　was　going　to　call　her　anyway。　No　rest　for　the　wicked；　he　thought；　and　smiled　to　himself。
　He　had　enjoyed　besting　Gornt　at　the　exchange。　That　he　did　not　have　the　money　at　the　moment　to　pay　did　not　worry　him。　There's　five　days　of　grace；　he　thought。　Everything's　covered　…　with　joss。　Ah　yes；　joss！
　Since　his　stockbroker　had　called　him　in　panic　at　a　few　minutes　past　ten　about　the　rumors　sweeping　the　exchange　and　how　their　stock　was　shifting；　he　had　been　bolstering　his　defenses　against　the　sudden；　unexpected　attack。　With　Phillip　Chen；　Holdbrook；　Gavallan　and　deVille　he　had　marshaled　all　the　major　stockholders　they　could　reach　and　told　them　that　the　rumors　Struan's　couldn't　meet　their　obligations　were　nonsense　and　suggested　they　refuse　to　lend　Gornt　any　big　blocks　of　Struan　stock　but　to　keep　him　dangling；　letting　him　have　a　few　shares　here　and　there。　He　told　the　selected　few　in　the　strictest　confidence　that　the　Par…Con　deal　was　signed；　sealed　and　about　to　be　chopped；　and　that　this　was　a　marvelous　opportunity　to　smash　Rothwell…Gornt　once　and　for　all。
　〃If　Gornt　sells　short；　let　him。　We　pretend　to　be　vulnerable　but　support　the　stock。　Then　Friday　we　announce；　our　stock'll　soar　and　he'll　lose　his　shirt；　tie　and　trousers；〃　he　had　told　them　all。　〃We　get　back　our　airline　along　with　his；　and　with　his　ships　and　ours　together；　we'll　dominate　all　air　and　surface　inbound　and　outbound　trade　in　Asia。〃
　If