jamesclavell.noblehouse-第148章

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And　oh　so　wise。　He　was　right　again。
　This　morning　she　had　called　him　in　tears　on　his　private　line　to　report　what　had　happened　and；　〃Oh　Quillan；　I　think　I've　ruined　everything。　。。。〃
　〃What　did　you　say　and　what　did　he　say？〃
　She　had　told　him　exactly　and　he　had　reassured　her。　〃I　don't　think　you've　any　need　to　worry；　Orlanda。　He'll　e　back。　If　not　tonight；　tomorrow。〃
　〃Oh　are　you　sure？〃　she　had　said　so　gratefully。
　〃Yes。　Now　dry　those　tears　and　listen。〃　Then　he　had　told　her　what　to　do　and　what　to　wear　and　above　all　to　be　a　woman。
　Ah　how　happy　I　am　to　be　a　woman；　she　thought；　and　remembered　with　sadness　now　the　old　days　when　they　were　happy　together；　she　and　Quillan；　she　nineteen；　already　his　mistress　for　two　years　and　no　longer　shy　or　afraid　…　of　the　pillow　or　him　or　of　herself　…　how　sometimes　they　would　go　on　his　yacht　for　a　midnight　cruise；　just　the　two　of　them　and　he　would　lecture　her。　〃You're　a　woman　and　Hong　Kong　yan　so　if　you　want　to　have　a　good　life　and　pretty　things；　to　be　cherished　and　loved　and　pillowed　and　safe　in　this　world　be　female。〃
　〃How；　my　darling？〃
　〃Think　only　of　my　satisfaction　and　pleasure。　Give　me　passion　when　I　need　it；　quiet　when　I　need　it；　privacy　when　I　need　it；　and　happiness　and　discretion　all　the　time。　Cook　as　a　gourmet；　know　great　wine；　be　discreet　always；　protect　my　face　always　and　never　nag。〃
　〃But　Quillan；　you　make　it　sound　all　so　one…sided。〃
　〃Yes。　It　is；　of　course　it　is。　In　return　I　do　my　part　with　equal　passion。　But　that's　what　I　want　from　you；　nothing　less。　You　wanted　to　be　my　mistress。　I　put　it　to　you　before　we　began　and　you　agreed。〃
　〃I　know　I　did　and　I　love　being　your　mistress　but　。。。　but　sometimes　I'm　worried　about　the　future。〃
　〃Ah；　my　pet；　you　have　nothing　to　worry　about。　You　know　our　rules　were　set　in　advance。　We　will　renew　our　arrangement　yearly；　providing　you　want　to　until　you're　twenty…four；　and　then；　if　you　choose　to　leave　me　I　will　give　you　the　flat；　money　enough　for　reasonable　needs　and　a　handsome　dowry　for　a　suitable　husband。　We　agreed　and　your　parents　approved。　。。。〃
　Yes　they　did。　Orlanda　remembered　how　her　mother　and　father　had　enthusiastically　approved　the　liaison　…　had　even　suggested　it　to　her　when　she　had　just　e　back　from　school　in　America　when　they　told　her　that　Quillan　had　asked　if　he　might　approach　her；　saying　that　he　had　fallen　in　love　with　her。　〃He's　a　good　man；〃　her　father　had　said；　〃and　he's　promised　to　provide　well　for　you；　if　you　agree。　It's　your　choice；　Orlanda。　We　think　we　would　remend　it。〃
　〃But　Father；　I　won't　be　eighteen　until　next　month；　and　besides　I　want　to　go　back　to　the　States　to　live。　I'm　sure　I　can　get　a　Green　Card　to　remain　there。〃
　〃Yes；　you　can　go；　child；〃　her　mother　had　said；　〃but　you　will　be　poor。　We　can　give　you　nothing；　no　help。　What　job　will　you　get？　Who　will　support　you？　This　way　in　a　little　while　you　can　go　with　an　ine；　with　property　here　to　support　you。〃
　〃But　he's　so　old。　He's　。。。〃
　〃A　man　doesn't　wear　age　like　a　woman；〃　both　had　told　her。　〃He's　strong　and　respected　and　he's　been　good　to　us　for　years。　He's　promised　to　cherish　you　and　the　financial　arrangements　are　generous；　however　long　you　stay　with　him。〃
　〃But　I　don't　love　him。〃
　〃You　talk　nonsense　in　eight　directions！　Without　the　protection　of　the　lips　the　teeth　grow　cold！〃　her　mother　had　said　angrily。　〃This　opportunity　you　are　being　offered　is　like　the　hair　of　the　phoenix　and　the　heart　of　the　dragon！　What　do　you　have　to　do　in　return？　Just　be　a　woman　and　honor　and　obey　a　good　man　for　a　few　years　…　renewable　yearly　…　and　even　after　that　there's　no　end　to　the　years　if　you　choose　and　are　faithful　and　clever。　Who　knows？　His　wife　is　an　invalid　and　wasting。　If　you　satisfy　him　and　cherish　him　enough　why　wouldn't　he　marry　you？〃
　〃Marry　a　Eurasian？　Quillan　Gornt？〃　she　had　burst　out。
　〃Why　not？　You're　not　just　Eurasian；　you're　Portuguese。　He　has　British　sons　and　daughters　already；　heya？　Times　are　changing；　even　here　in　Hong　Kong。　If　you　do　your　best；　who　knows？　Bear　him　a　son；　in　a　year　or　two；　with　his　permission；　and　who　knows？　Gods　are　gods　and　if　they　want　they　can　make　thunder　from　a　clear　sky。　Don't　be　stupid！　Love？　What　is　that　word　to　you？〃
　Orlanda　Ramos　was　staring　down　at　the　city　now；　not　seeing　it。　How　stupid　and　naive　I　was　then；　she　thought。　Naive　and　very　stupid。　But　now　I　know　better。　Quillan　taught　me　very　well。
　She　glanced　up　at　Linc　Bartlett；　moving　just　her　eyes；　not　wanting　to　disturb　him。
　Yes；　I'm　trained　very　well；　she　told　herself。　I'm　trained　to　be　the　best　wife　any　man　could　ever　have；　that　Bartlett　will　ever　have。　No　mistakes　this　time。　Oh　no；　no　mistakes。　Quillan　will　guide　me。　He　will　help　remove　Casey。　I　will　be　Mrs。　Linc　Bartlett。　All　gods　and　all　devils　bear　witness；　that　is　what　must　happen。　。。。
　Soon　he　took　his　eyes　off　the　city；　having　thought　through　what　she　had　said。　She　was　watching　him；　wearing　a　little　smile　that　he　could　not　read。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I　was　thinking　how　lucky　I　was　to　meet　you。〃
　〃Do　you　always　pliment　a　man？〃
　〃No；　just　the　ones　who　please　me　…　and　they're　as　rare　as　the　hair　of　the　phoenix　or　the　heart　of　a　dragon。　Paté？〃
　〃Thanks。〃　He　accepted　it。　〃You're　not　eating？〃
　〃I'm　saving　for　dinner。　I　have　to　watch　my　diet；　I'm　not　like　you。〃
　〃I　work　out　daily。　Tennis　when　I　can；　golf。　You？〃
　〃I　play　a　little　tennis；　I'm　a　good　walker　but　I'm　still　taking　golf　lessons。〃　Yes；　she　thought；　I　try　very　hard　to　be　the　best　at　everything　I　do　and　I'm　the　best　for　you；　Linc　Bartlett；　in　the　whole　wide　world。　Her　tennis　was　very　good　and　golf　quite　good　because　Quillan　had　insisted　she　be　adept　at　both　…　because　he　enjoyed　them。　〃Are　you　hungry？〃
　〃Starving。〃
　〃You　said　Chinese　food。　Is　that　what　you　really　want？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃It　doesn't　matter　to　me。　Whatever　you　want。〃
　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Positive。　Why；　what　would　you　like？〃
　〃e　in　a　moment。〃
　He　followed　her。　She　opened　the　dining　room　door。　The　table　was　set　exquisitely　for　two。　Flowers；　and　a　bottle　of　Verdicchio　on　ice。　〃Linc；　I　haven't　cooked　for　anyone　for　such　a　long　time；〃　she　said　in　her　breathless　rush　that　he　found　so　pleasing。　〃But　I　wanted　to　cook　for　you。　If　you'd　like　it；　I　have　an　Italian　dinner　all　set　to　go。　Fresh　pasta　aglio　e　olio　…　garlic　and　oil　…　veal　piccata；　a　green　salad；　zabaglione；　espresso；　and　brandy。　How　does　that　sound？　It　will　only　take　me　twenty　minutes　and　you　can　read　the　paper　while　you　wait。　Then　afterwards　we　can　leave　everything　for　when　the　amah　es　back　and　go　dancing　or　drive。　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃Italian's　my　favorite　food；　Orlanda！〃　he　told　her　enthusiastically。　Then　a　vagrant　memory　surfaced；　and　for　a　moment　he　wondered　whom　he　had　told　about　Italian　being　his　favorite。　Was　it　Casey　…　or　was　it　Orlanda　this　morning？
　
　51
　
　8：32　P。M。：
　Brian　Kwok　jerked　out　of　sleep。　One　moment　he　was　in　a　nightmare；　the　next　awake　but　somehow　still　in　the　deep　dark　pit　of　sleep；　his　heart　pounding；　his　mind　disordered　and　no　change　between　sleep　and　awake。　Panic　swamped　him。　Then　he　realized　he　was　naked　and　still　in　the　same　warm　darkness　of　the　cell　and　remembered　who　he　was　and　where　he　was。
　They　must　have　drugged　me；　he　thought。　His　mouth　was　parched；　his　head　ached；　and　he　lay　back　on　the　mattress　that　was　slimy　to　his　touch　and　tried　to　collect　himself。　Vaguely　he　remembered　being　in　Armstrong's　office　and　before　that　with　Crosse　discussing　the　16/2　but　after　that　not　much；　just　waking　in　this　darkness；　groping　for　the　walls　to　get　his　bearings；　feeling　them　close　by；　biting　back　the　terror　of　knowing　he　was　betrayed　and　defenseless　in　the　bowels　of　Central　Police　HQ　within　a　box　with　no　windows　and　a　door　somewhere。　Then；　exhaustedly　sleeping　and　waking　and　angry　voices　…　or　did　I　dream　that　…　and　then　sleeping　again　。。。　no；　eating　first；　didn't　I　eat　first　。。。　yes；　slop　they　called　dinner　and　cold　tea　。。。　e　on；　think！　It's　important　to　think　and　to　remember　。。。　Yes；　I　remember；　it　was　bedraggled　stew　and　cold　tea　then；　later；　breakfast。　Eggs。　Was　it　eggs　first　or　the　stew　first　and　。。。　yes　the　lights　came　on　for　a　moment　each　time　I　ate；　just　enough　time　to　eat　。。。　no；　the　lights　went　off　and　each　time　I　finished　in　darkness；　I　remember　finishing　in　darkness　and　hating　to　eat　in　darkness　and　then　I　peed　in　the　pail　in　darkness；　got　back　onto　the　mattress　and　lay　down　again。
　How　long　have　I　been　here？　Must　count　the　days。　Wearily　he　swung　his　legs　off　the　cot　and　stumbled　to　a　wall；　his　limbs　aching　to　match　his　head。　Got　to　exercise；　he　thought；　got　to　help　work　the　drugs　out　of　my　system　and　get　my　head　clear　and　ready　for　the　interrogation。　Must　get　my　mind　ready　for　when　they　go　at　me；　really　begin　…　when　they　think　I've　softened　up　…　then　they'll　keep　me　awake　until　they　break　me。
　No；　they　won't　break　me。　I'm　strong　and　prepared　and　I　know　some　of　the　pitfalls。
　Who　gave　me　away？
　The　effort　to　solve　that　was　too　much　for　him　so　he　mustered　his　strength　and　did　a　few　weak　knee　bends。　Then　he　heard　muffled　footsteps　approaching。　Hastily　he　groped　back　for　the　cot　and　lay　down；　pretending　sleep；　his　heart　hurting　in　his　chest　as　he　held　down　his　terror。
　The　footsteps　stopped。　A　sudden　bolt　clanged　back　and　a　trapdoor　opened。　A　shaft　of　light　came　into　the　cell　and　a　half…seen　hand　put　down　a　metal　plate　and　a　metal　cup。
　〃Eat　your　breakfast　and　hurry　up；〃　the　voice　said　in　Cantonese。　〃You're　due　for　more　interrogation　shortly。〃
　〃Listen；　I　want　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　called　out　but　the　trapdoor　had　already　clanged　back　and　he　was　alone　in　the　darkness　with　the　echo　of　his　own　words。
　Keep　calm；　he　ordered　himself。　Calm　yourself　and　think。
　Abruptly　the　cell　flooded　with　light。　The　light　hurt　his　eyes。　When　he　had　adjusted　he　saw　that　the　light　came　from　fixtures　in　the　ceiling　high　above；　and　he　remembered　seeing　them　before。　The　walls　were　dark；　almost　black；　and　seemed　to　be　pressing　inward　on　him。　Don't　worry　about　them；　he　thought。　You've　seen　the　dark　cells　before　and　though　you've　never　been　part　of　an　in…depth　interrogation　you　know　the　principles　and　some　of　the　tricks。
　A　surge　of　nausea　came　into　his　mouth　at　the　thought　of　the　ordeal　ahead。
　The　door　was　hardly　discernible　and　the　trapdoor　equally　hidden。　He　could　feel　eyes　though　he　could　see　no　spyholes。　On　the　plate　were　two　fried　eggs　and　a　thick　piece　of　rough　bread。　The　bread　was　a　little　toasted。　The　eggs　were　cold　and　greasy　and　unappetizing。　In　the　cup　was　cold　tea。　There　were　no　utensils。
　He　drank　the　tea　thirstily；　trying　to　make　it　last；　but　it　was　finished　before　he　knew　it　and　the　small　amount　had　not　quenched　his　thirst。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　what　I　wouldn't　give　for　a　toothbrush　and　a　bottle　of　beer　an…　
　The　lights　went　out　as　suddenly　as　they　had　e　on。　It　took　him　much　time　to　adjust　again　to　the　darkness。　Be　calm；　it's　just　darkness　and　light；　light　and　darkness。　It's　just　to　confuse　and　disorient。　Be　calm。　Take　each　day　as　it　es；　each　interrogation　as　it　es。
　His　terror　returned。　He　knew　he　was　not　really　prepared；　not　experienced　enough；　though　he　had　had　some　survival　training　against　capture；　what　to　do　if　the　enemy　captured　you；　the　PRC　munist　enemy。　But　the　PRC's　not　the　enemy。　The　real　enemy　are　the　British　and　Canadians　who've　pretended　to　be　friend　and　teacher；　they're　the　real　enem