jamesclavell.noblehouse-第111章

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rom　death。　If　you'll　excuse　me　I'll　be　going。　。。。　You　know　everyone　has　place　cards？　Dinner'll　start　any　moment。　Matter　of　face。〃
　He　walked　off。
　Casey　said；　〃I　don't　think　he　likes　me　at　all。〃
　They　laughed　at　the　way　she　said　it。　〃What　you　said　was　right；　Casey；〃　Orlanda　told　her。　〃You　were　right。　War　is　terrible。〃
　〃You　were　here　during　it？〃　Casey　asked　innocently。
　〃Yes；　but　in　Macao。　I'm　Portuguese。　My　mother　told　me　it　wasn't　too　bad　there。　The　Japanese　didn't　trouble　Macao　because　Portugal　was　neutral。〃　Orlanda　added　sweetly；　〃Of　course　I'm　only　twenty…five　now　so　1　hardly　remember　any　of　it。　I　was　not　quite　seven　when　the　war　ended。　Macao's　nice；　Casey。　So　different　from　Hong　Kong。　You　and　Linc　might　like　to　go　there。　It's　worth　seeing。　I'd　love　to　be　your　guide。〃
　I'll　bet；　Casey　thought；　feeling　her　twenty…six　was　old　against　Orlanda　who　had　the　skin　of　a　seventeen…year…old。　〃That'd　be　great。　But　Lando；　what's　with　Andrew？　Why　was　he　so　teed　off？　Because　I'm　a　woman　VP　and　all　that？〃
　〃I　doubt　that。　I'm　sure　you　exaggerate；〃　Mata　said。　〃It's　just　that　he's　not　very　pro…American　and　it　drives　him　mad　that　the　British　Empire's　no　more；　that　the　U。S。　is　arbiter　of　the　world's　fate　and　making　obvious　mistakes；　he　thinks。　Most　British　people　agree　with　him；　I'm　afraid！　It's　part　jealousy　of　course。　But　you　must　be　patient　with　Andrew。　After　all；　your　government　did　give　away　Hong　Kong　in　'45　to　Chiang　…　only　the　British　navy　stopped　that。　America　did　side　with　Soviet　Russia　against　them　over　Suez；　did　support　the　Jews　against　them　in　Palestine　…　there　are　dozens　of　examples。　It's　also　true　lots　of　us　here　think　your　present　hostility　to　China's　ill…advised。〃
　〃But　they're　as　munist　as　Russia。　They　went　to　war　against　us　when　we　were　only　trying　to　protect　freedom　in　South　Korea。　We　weren't　going　to　attack　them。〃
　〃But　historically；　China's　always　crossed　the　Yalu　when　any　foreign　invader　approached　that　border。　Always。　Your　MacArthur　was　supposed　to　be　a　historian；〃　Mata　said　patiently；　wondering　if　she　was　as　naive　in　bed；　〃he　should　have　known。　He　…　or　your　President　…　forced　China　into　a　path　it　did　not　want　to　take。　I'm　absolutely　sure　of　that。〃
　〃But　we　weren't　invaders。　North　Korea　invaded　the　South。　We　just　wanted　to　help　a　people　be　free。　We'd　nothing　to　gain　from　South　Korea。　We　spend　billions　trying　to　help　people　stay　free。　Look　what　China　did　to　Tibet　…　to　India　last　year。　Seems　to　me　we're　always　the　fall　guy　and　all　we　want　is　to　protect　freedom。〃　She　stopped　as　a　murmur　of　relief　went　through　the　room　and　people　began　heading　for　their　tables。　Waiters　bearing　silver…domed　platters　were　trooping　in。　〃Thank　God！　I'm　starving！〃
　〃Me　too；〃　Bartlett　said。
　〃Shitee's　early　tonight；〃　Mata　said　with　a　laugh。　〃Orlanda；　you　should　have　warned　them　it's　an　old　custom　always　to　have　a　snack　before　any　of　Shitee's　banquets。〃
　Orlanda　just　smiled　her　lovely　smile　and　Casey　said；　〃Orlanda　warned　Linc；　who　told　me；　but　I　figured　I　could　last。〃　She　looked　at　her　enemy　who　was　almost　half　a　head　shorter；　about　five　foot　three。　For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　felt　big　and　oafish。　Be　honest；　she　reminded　herself；　ever　since　you　walked　out　of　the　hotel　into　the　streets　and　saw　all　the　Chinese　girls　and　women　with　their　tiny　hands　and　feet　and　bodies　and　smallness；　all　dark…eyed　and　dark…haired；　you've　felt　huge　and　alien。　Yes。　Now　I　can　understand　why　they　all　gape　at　us　so　much。　And　as　for　the　ordinary　tourist；　loud；　overweight；　waddling　along　。。。
　Even　so；　Orlanda　Ramos；　as　pretty　as　you　are　and　as　clever　as　you　think　you　are；　you're　not　the　girl　for　Linc　Bartlett。　So　you　can　blow　it　all　out　of　your　ass！　〃Next　time；　Orlanda；〃　she　said　so　nicely；　〃I'll　remember　to　be　very　cautious　about　what　you　remend。〃
　〃I　remend　we　eat；　Casey。　I'm　hungry　too。〃　Mata　said；　〃I　do　believe　we're　all　at　the　same　table。　I　must　confess　I　arranged　it。〃　Happily　he　led　the　way；　more　than　ever　excited　by　the　challenge　of　getting　Casey　into　bed。　The　moment　he　had　seen　her　he　had　decided。　Part　of　it　was　her　beauty　and　tallness　and　beautiful　breasts；　such　a　wele　contrast　to　the　smallness　and　sameness　of　the　normal　Asian　girl。　Part　was　because　of　the　clues　Orlanda　had　given　him。　But　the　biggest　part　had　been　his　sudden　thought　that　by　breaking　the　Bartlett…Casey　connection　he　might　wreck　Par…Con's　probe　into　Asia。　Far　better　to　keep　Americans　and　their　hypocritical；　impractical　morality　and　meddling　out　of　our　area　as　long　as　we　can；　he　had　told　himself。　And　if　Dunross　doesn't　have　the　Par…Con　deal；　then　he　will　have　to　sell　me　the　control　I　want。　Then；　at　long　last；　I　bee　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House；　all　the　Dunrosses　and　Struans　notwithstanding。
　Madonna；　life　is　really　very　good。　Curious　that　this　woman　could　be　the　key　to　the　best　lock　in　Asia；　he　thought。　Then　he　added　contentedly；　Clearly　she　can　be　bought。　It's　only　a　matter　of　how　much。
　
　37
　
　11：01　P。M。：
　Dinner　was　twelve　courses。　Braised　abalone　with　green　sprouts；　chicken　livers　and　sliced　partridge　sauce；　shark's　fin　soup；　barbecued　chicken；　Chinese　greens　and　peapods　and　broccoli　and　fifty　other　vegetables　with　crab　meat；　the　skin　of　roast　Peking　duck　with　plum　sauce　and　sliced　spring　onions　and　paper…thin　pancakes；　double…boiled　mushrooms　and　fish　maw；　smoked　pomfret　fish　with　salad；　rice　Yangchow　style；　home　sweet　home　noodles　…　then　happiness　dessert；　sweetened　lotus　seeds　and　lily　in　rice　gruel。　And　tea　continuously。
　Mata　and　Orlanda　helped　Casey　and　Bartlett。　Fleur　and　Peter　Marlowe　were　the　only　other　Europeans　at　their　table。　The　Chinese　presented　their　visiting　cards　and　received　others　in　exchange。　〃Oh　you　can　eat　with　chopsticks！〃　All　the　Chinese　were　openly　astonished；　then　slid　fortably　back　into　Cantonese；　the　bejeweled　women　clearly　discussing　Casey　and　Bartlett　and　the　Marlowes。　Their　ments　were　slightly　guarded　only　because　of　Lando　Mata　and　Orlanda。
　〃What're　they　saying；　Orlanda？〃　Bartlett　asked　quietly　amid　the　noisy　exuberance　particularly　of　the　Chinese。
　〃They're　just　wondering　about　you　and　Miss　Casey；〃　she　said　as　cautiously；　not　translating　the　lewd　remarks　about　the　size　of　Casey's　chest；　the　wondering　where　her　clothes　came　from；　how　much　they　cost；　why　she　didn't　wear　any　jewelry；　and　what　it　must　be　like　to　be　so　tall。　They　were　saying　little　about　Bartlett　other　than　wondering　out　loud　if　he　was　really　Mafia　as　one　of　the　Chinese　papers　had　suggested。
　Orlanda　was　sure　he　wasn't。　But　she　was　sure　also　that　she　would　have　to　be　very　circumspect　in　front　of　Casey；　neither　too　forward　nor　too　slow；　and　never　to　touch　him。　And　to　be　sweet　to　her；　to　try　to　throw　her　off　her　stride。
　Fresh　plates　for　each　course　were　laid　with　a　clatter；　the　used　ones　whisked　away。　Waiters　hurried　to　the　dumbwaiters　in　the　central　section　by　the　staircase　to　dispose　of　the　old　and　grab　steaming　platters　of　the　new。
　The　kitchens；　three　decks　below；　were　an　inferno　with　the　huge　four…feet…wide　iron　woks　fired　with　gas　that　was　piped　aboard。　Some　woks　for　steaming；　some　for　quick　frying；　some　for　deep　frying；　some　for　stewing；　and　many　for　the　pure　white　rice。　An　open；　wood…fired　barbecue。　An　army　of　helpers　for　the　twenty…eight　cooks　were　preparing　the　meats　and　vegetables；　plucking　chickens；　killing　fresh　fish　and　lobsters　and　crabs　and　cleaning　them；　doing　the　thousand　tasks　that　Chinese　food　requires　…　as　each　dish　is　cooked　fleshly　for　each　customer。
　The　restaurant　opened　at　10：00　a。m。　and　the　kitchen　closed　at　10：45　p。m。　…　sometimes　later　when　a　special　party　was　arranged。　There　could　be　dancing　and　a　floor　show　if　the　host　was　rich　enough。　Tonight；　though　there　was　no　late　shift　or　floor　show　or　dancing；　they　all　knew　that　their　share　of　the　tip　from　Shitee　T'Chung's　banquet　would　be　very　good。　Shitee　T'Chung　was　an　expansive　host；　though　most　of　them　believed　that　much　of　the　charity　money　he　collected　went　into　his　stomach　or　those　of　his　guests　or　onto　the　backs　of　his　lady　friends。　He　also　had　the　reputation　of　being　ruthless　to　his　detractors；　a　miser　to　his　family；　and　vengeful　to　his　enemies。
　Never　mind；　the　head　chef　thought。　A　man　needs　soft　lips　and　hard　teeth　in　this　world　and　everyone　knows　which　will　last　the　longer。　〃Hurry　up！〃　he　shouted。　〃Can　I　wait　all　manure…infested　night？　Prawns！　Bring　the　prawns！〃　A　sweating　helper　in　ragged　pants　and　ancient；　sweaty　undershirt　rushed　up　with　a　bamboo　platter　of　the　freshly　caught　and　freshly　peeled　prawns。　The　chef　cast　them　into　the　vast　wok；　added　a　handful　of　monosodium　glutamate；　whisked　them　twice　and　scooped　them　out；　put　a　handful　of　steaming　peapods　on　two　platters　and　divided　up　the　pink；　glistening　succulent　prawns　on　top　equally。
　〃All　gods　urinate　on　all　prawns！〃　he　said　sourly；　his　stomach　ulcer　paining　him；　his　feet　and　calves　leaden　from　his　ten…hour　shift。　〃Send　those　upstairs　before　they　spoil！　Dew　neh　loh　moh　hurry　。。。　that's　my　last　order。　It's　time　to　go　home！〃
　Other　cooks　were　shouting　last　orders　and　cursing　as　they　cooked。　They　were　all　impatient　to　be　gone。　〃Hurry　it　up！〃　Then　one　young　helper　carrying　a　pot　of　used　fat　stumbled　and　the　fat　sprayed　onto　one　of　the　gas　fires；　caught　with　a　whoosh　and　there　was　sudden　pandemonium。　A　cook　screamed　as　the　fire　surrounded　him　and　he　beat　at　it；　his　face　and　hair　singed。　Someone　threw　a　bucket　of　water　on　the　fire　and　spread　it　violently。　Flames　soared　to　the　rafters；　billowing　smoke。　Shouting；　shoving　cooks　moving　out　of　the　fire　were　causing　a　bottleneck。　The　acrid；　black；　oil　smoke　began　to　fill　the　air。
　The　man　nearest　the　single　narrow　staircase　to　the　first　deck　grabbed　one　of　the　two　fire　extinguishers　and　slammed　the　plunger　down　and　pointed　the　nozzle　at　the　fire。　Nothing　happened。　He　did　it　again　then　someone　else　grabbed　it　from　him　with　a　curse；　tried　unsuccessfully　to　make　it　work；　and　cast　it　aside。　The　other　extinguisher　was　also　a　dud。　The　staff　had　never　bothered　to　test　them。
　〃All　gods　defecate　on　these　motherless　foreign　devil　inventions！〃　a　cook　wailed　and　prepared　to　flee　if　the　fire　approached　him。　A　frightened　coolie　choking　on　the　smoke　at　the　other　end　of　the　kitchen　backed　away　from　a　shaft　of　flame　into　some　jars　and　toppled　them。　Some　contained　thousand…year…old　eggs　and　others　sesame　oil。　The　oil　flooded　the　floor　and　caught　fire。　The　coolie　vanished　in　the　sudden　sheet　of　flame。　Now　the　fire　owned　half　the　kitchen。
　It　was　well　past　eleven　o'clock　and　most　diners　had　already　left。　The　top　deck　of　the　Floating　Dragon　was　still　partially　filled。　Most　of　the　Chinese；　Four　Finger　Wu　and　Venus　Poon　among　them；　were　walking　out　or　had　already　left　as　the　last　course　had　already　been　served　long　since　and　it　was　polite　Chinese　custom　to　leave　as　soon　as　the　last　dish　was　finished；　table　by　table。　Only　the　Europeans　were　lingering　over　Cognac　or　port；　and　cigars。
　Throughout　the　boat；　tables　of　mah…jong　were　being　set　up　by　Chinese；　and　the　clitter…clatter　of　the　ivory　tiles　banging　on　the　tables　began　to　dominate。
　〃Do　you　play　mah…jong；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃　Mata　asked。
　〃No。　Please　call　me　Linc。〃
　〃You　should　learn　…　it's　better　than　bridge。　Do　you　play　bridge；　Casey？〃
　Linc　Bartlett　laughed。　〃She's　a　wiz；　Lando。　Don't　play　her　for　money。〃
　〃Perhaps　we　can　have　a　ga