jamesclavell.noblehouse-第164章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Paul　Choy　obeyed。　Dunross　sighed；　satisfied。　Paul　Choy　had　not　translated　〃I'm　the　arbiter　of　Hong　Kong。〃　Again　a　silence。　He　relaxed；　more　at　ease　now；　sensing　both　men　had　taken　the　bait。
　〃Tai…pan；　my　suggestion；　about　the　coin；　you　agree？〃　the　old　man　said。
　〃About　my　ask；　my　ask　for　money　support；　you　agree？〃
　Wu　said　angrily；　〃The　two　are　not　interwoven　like　rain　in　a　fornicating　storm。　Yes　or　no　on　the　coin？〃
　〃I　agree　on　the　coin。　But　not　tomorrow。　Next　week。　Fifth　day。〃
　〃Tomorrow。〃
　Paul　Choy　carefully　interjected；　〃Honored　Uncle；　perhaps　you　could　ask　your　friends　again　tomorrow。　Tomorrow　morning。　Perhaps　they　could　help　the　tai…pan。〃　His　shrewd　eyes　turned　to　Dunross。　〃Tomorrow's　Friday；〃　he　said　in　English；　〃how　about　Monday　at　。。。　at　4：00　p。m。　for　the　coin？〃　He　repeated　it　in　Haklo。
　〃Why　that　time？〃　Wu　asked　irritably。
　〃The　foreign　devil　money　market　closes　at　the　third　hour　of　the　afternoon；　Honored　Uncle。　By　that　time　the　Noble　House　will　be　noble　or　not。〃
　〃We　will　always　be　the　Noble　House；　Mr。　Choy；〃　Dunross　said　politely　in　English；　impressed　with　the　man's　skill　…　and　shrewdness　to　take　an　oblique　hint。　〃I　agree。〃
　〃Heya？〃
　When　Paul　Choy　had　finished　the　old　man　grunted。　〃First　I　will　check　the　Heaven…Earth　currents　to　see　if　that　is　an　auspicious　day。　If　it　is；　then　I　agree。〃　He　jerked　his　thumb　at　Paul　Choy。　〃Go　aboard　the　other　boat。〃
　Paul　Choy　got　up。　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Good　night。〃
　〃See　you　soon；　Mr。　Choy；〃　Dunross　replied；　expecting　him　the　next　day。
　When　they　were　quite　alone；　the　old　man　said　softly；　〃Thank　you；　Old　Friend。　Soon　we'll　do　much　closer　business。〃
　〃Remember；　Old　Friend；　what　my　forebears　say；〃　Dunross　said　ominously。　〃Both　Green…Eyed　Devil　and　her　of　Evil　Eye　and　Dragon's　Teeth　…　how　they　put　a　great　curse　and　Evil　Eye　on　White　Powders　and　those　who　profit　from　White　Powders。〃
　The　gnarled　old　seaman　in　the　nice　clothes　shrugged　nervously。　〃What's　that　to　me？　I　know　nothing　of　White　Powders。　Fornicate　all　White　Powders。　I　know　nothing　of　them。〃
　Then　he　was　gone。
　Shakily　Dunross　poured　a　long　drink。　He　felt　the　new　motion　of　the　sampan　being　sculled　again。　His　fingers　brought　out　the　waxen　imprints。　A　thousand　to　one　the　coin's　genuine。　Christ　almighty；　what　will　that　devil　ask？　Drugs；　I'll　bet　it's　something　to　do　with　drugs！　That　about　the　curse　and　the　Evil　Eye　was　made　up　…　not　part　of　Dirk's　bargain　at　all。　Even　so；　I　won't　agree　to　drugs。
　But　he　was　ill…at…ease。　He　could　see　Dirk　Struan's　writing　in　the　Bible　that　he　had　signed　and　endorsed；　agreeing　before　God　〃to　grant　to　whomsoever　shall　present　one　of　the　half…coins；　whatsoever　he　shall　ask；　if　it　is　in　the　tai…pan's　power　to　give。　。。。〃
　His　ears　sensed　the　alien　presence　before　the　sound　arrived。　Another　boat　scraped　his　gently。　The　pad　of　feet。　He　readied；　not　knowing　the　danger。
　The　girl　was　young；　beautiful　and　joyous。　〃My　name　is　Snow　Jade；　tai…pan；　I'm　eighteen　years　and　Honorable　Wu　Sang's　personal　gift　for　the　night！〃　Lilting　Cantonese；　neat　chong…sam；　high　collar；　long　stockinged　legs　and　high　heels。　She　smiled；　showing　her　lovely　white　teeth。　〃He　thought　you　might　be　in　need　of　sustenance。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　he　muttered；　trying　to　collect　himself。
　She　laughed　and　sat　down。　〃Oh　yes；　that's　what　he　said　and　I'd　like　your　sustenance　also　…　I'm　starving；　aren't　you？　Honorable　Goldtooth　has　ordered　a　morsel　or　two　to　whet　your　appetite：　quick　fried　prawns　with　peapods；　shredded　beef　in　black　bean　sauce；　some　deep…fried　dumplings　Shanghai　style；　quick　fried　vegetables　spiced　with　Szechuan　cabbage　and　tangy　Ch'iang　Pao　chicken。〃　She　beamed。　〃I'm　dessert！〃
　
　
　FRIDAY
　
　57
　
　12：35　A。M。：
　Irritably；　Banker　Kwang　stabbed　the　doorbell　again　and　again。　The　door　swung　open　and　Venus　Poon　screeched　in　Cantonese；　〃How　dare　you　e　here　at　this　time　of　night　without　an　invitation！〃　Her　chin　jutted　and　she　stood　with　one　hand　on　the　door；　the　other　imperiously　on　her　hip；　her　low…cut　evening　dress　devastating。
　〃Quiet；　you　mealy…mouthed　whore！〃　Banker　Kwang　shouted　back　at　her　and　shoved　past　into　her　apartment。　〃Who's　paying　the　rent？　Who　bought　all　this　furniture？　Who　paid　for　that　dress？　Why　aren't　you　ready　for　bed？　Wh…　〃
　〃Quiet！〃　Her　voice　was　piercing　and　easily　drowned　out　his。　〃You　were　paying　the　rent；　but　today's　the　day　when　the　rent　was　due　and　where　is　it；　heyaheyaheyaheya？〃
　〃Here！〃　Banker　Kwang　ripped　the　check　out　of　his　pocket　and　waved　it　under　her　nose。　〃Do　I　forget　my　fornicating　promises　…　no！　Do　you　forget　your　fornicating　promises　…　yes！〃
　Venus　Poon　blinked。　Her　rage　disappeared；　her　face　changed；　her　voice　became　laden　with　honey。　〃Oh　did　Father　remember？　Oh　I　was　told　you'd　forsaken　your　poor　lonely　Daughter　and　gone　back　to　the　whores　of　1　Blore　Street。〃
　〃Lies！〃　Banker　Kwang　gasped；　almost　apoplectic　even　though　it　was　the　truth。　〃Why　aren't　you　dressed　for　bed？　Why　are　you　wear…　〃
　〃But　I　was　called　by　three　different　people　who　said　you'd　been　there　this　afternoon　at　4：15。　Oh　how　terrible　people　are；〃　she　said　crooningly；　knowing　that　he　was　there　though　he　only　went　to　introduce　Banker　Ching　from　whom　he　was　trying　to　borrow　funds。　〃Oh　poor　Father；　how　dreadful　people　are。〃　As　she　talked　placatingly；　she　moved　closer。　Suddenly　her　hand　snaked　out　and　she　snatched　the　check　before　he　could　withdraw　it　though　her　voice　continued　to　be　sweet。　〃Oh　thank　you；　Father；　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart　。。。　oh　ko！〃　Her　eyes　crossed；　her　voice　hardened　and　the　screech　returned。　〃The　check　is　not　signed；　you　dirty　old　dogmeat！　It's　another　of　your　banker　tricks！　Oh　oh　oh　I　think　I　shall　kill　myself　on　your　doorstep　。。。　no；　better　I　shall　do　it　in　front　of　the　TV　camera；　telling　all　Hong　Kong　how　you　。。。　Oh　oh　oh。　。。。〃
　Her　amah　was　in　the　living　room　now；　joining　in；　wailing　and　caterwauling；　both　women　swamping　him　in　a　swelter　of　invective；　challenges　and　accusations。
　Impotently　he　cursed　them　both　back　but　that　only　made　them　increase　their　volume。　He　stood　his　ground　for　a　moment；　then；　vanquished；　pulled　out　a　fountain　pen　with　a　flourish；　grabbed　the　check　and　signed　it。　The　noise　ceased。　Venus　Poon　took　it　and　examined　it　carefully。　Very　very　carefully。　It　vanished　into　her　purse。
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Honorable　Father；〃　she　said　meekly　and　abruptly　whirled　on　her　amah。　〃How　dare　you　interfere　in　a　discussion　between　the　love　of　my　life　and　your　mistress；　you　lump　of　festering　dogmeat。　It's　all　your　fault　for　spreading　other　people's　cruel　lies　about　Father's　infidelity！　Out！　Fetch　tea　and　food！　Out！　Father　needs　a　brandy　。。。　fetch　a　brandy；　hurry！〃
　The　old　woman　pretended　to　buckle　under　the　assumed　rage　and　scuttled　out　in　pretended　tears。　Venus　Poon　cooed　and　bustled　and　her　hands　were　soft　on　Richard　Kwang's　neck。
　At　length；　under　their　magic；　he　allowed　himself　to　be　mollified　and　helped　to　drink；　groaning　aloud　all　the　time　at　his　ill　joss　and　how　his　subordinates；　friends；　allies　and　debtors　had　maliciously　forsaken　him；　after　he　alone　in　the　whole　Ho…Pak　empire　had　worked　his　fingers　to　their　tendons；　his　feet　to　the　flesh；　worrying　over　all　of　them。
　〃Oh　you　poor　man；〃　Venus　Poon　said　soothingly；　her　mind　darting　while　her　fingers　were　tender　and　deft。　She　had　barely　half　an　hour　to　reach　her　rendezvous　with　Four　Finger　Wu；　and　while　she　knew　it　would　be　wise　to　keep　him　waiting；　she　did　not　want　to　keep　him　waiting　too　long　in　case　his　ardor　lagged。　Their　last　encounter　had　excited　him　so　much　he　had　promised　her　a　diamond　if　the　performance　was　repeated。
　〃I　guarantee　it；　Lord；〃　she　had　gasped　weakly；　her　skin　clammy　with　sweat　from　two　hours　of　concentrated　labor；　feeling　herself　afloat　with　the　immensity　of　his　at　long　last　explosion。
　Her　eyes　crossed　as　she　remembered　Four　Finger　Wu's　prodigious　efforts；　his　size；　conformity　and　undoubted　technique。　Ayeeyah；　she　thought；　still　massaging　the　neck　of　her　former　lover；　I　will　need　every　tael　of　energy　and　every　measure　of　juice　the　yin　can　muster　to　dominate　that　old　reprobate's　yowling　yang。　〃How　is　your　neck；　my　dearest　love？〃　she　crooned。
　〃Better；　better；〃　Richard　Kwang　said　reluctantly。　His　head　had　cleared　and　he　was　well　aware　that　her　fingers　were　as　skilled　as　her　mouth　and　her　peerless　parts。
　He　pulled　her　down　onto　his　knee　and　confidently　slipped　his　hand　into　the　low…cut　black　silk　evening　dress　that　he　had　bought　for　her　last　week　and　fondled　her　breasts。　When　she　did　not　resist；　he　slipped　one　strap　off　and　plimented　her　on　the　size；　texture；　taste　and　shape　of　the　whole。　Her　warmth　shafted　him　and　he　stirred。　At　once　his　other　hand　went　for　the　yin　but　before　he　knew　it　she　had　neatly　squirmed　out　of　his　grasp。　〃Oh　no；　Father！　Honorable　Red's　visiting　me　and　as　much　as　I　wa…　〃
　〃Eh？〃　Banker　Kwang　said　suspiciously。　〃Honorable　Red？　Honorable　Red's　not　due　till　the　day　after　tomorrow！〃
　〃Oh　no；　he　arrived　with　storm　th…　〃
　〃Eh？　He's　due　the　day　after　tomorrow。　I　know。　I　looked　at　my　calendar　and　made　sure　before　I　came　here！　Am　I　a　fool？　Do　I　fish　for　a　tiger　in　a　stream？　We　have　a　long…standing　date　tonight；　all　night。　Why　else　am　I　supposed　to　be　in　Taiwan？　You're　never　early　and　ne…　〃
　〃Oh　no　it　was　this　morning　…　the　shock　of　the　fire　and　the　greater　shock　that　you　had　forsaken　me；　br…　〃
　〃e　here；　you　little　baggage…　〃
　〃Oh　no；　Father；　Honorable　R…　〃
　Before　she　could　avoid　him；　his　hands　darted　out　and　he　sat　her　back　on　his　knees　and　began　to　lift　her　dress　but　Venus　Poon　was　an　old　stager　in　this　kind　of　warfare　and　champion　of　a　hundred　jousts；　even　though　she　was　only　nineteen。　She　fought　him　not；　just　pressed　closer；　twisted　and　got　one　hand　on　him；　caressingly；　and　whispered　throatily；　〃Oh　but　Father；　it's　very　bad　joss　to　interfere　with　Honorable　Red　and　as　much　as　I　desire　your　immensity　within；　we　both　know　there　are　other　ways　for　the　yin　to　titillate　the　vital　vortex。〃
　〃But　first　I　wan…　〃
　〃First？　First？〃　Pleased　with　herself；　she　felt　him　strengthening。　〃Ah；　how　strong　you　are！　It's　easy　to　see　why　all　the　weevil…mouthed　baggages　want　my　old　Father；　ayeeyah；　such　a　strong；　violent；　marvelous　man。〃
　Deftly　she　revealed　the　yang。　Deftly　she　dominated　it　and　left　him　gasping。　〃Bed；　dearest　love；〃　he　croaked。　〃First　a　brandy　then　a　little　sleep　an…　〃
　〃Quite　right；　but　not　here　oh　no！〃　she　said　firmly；　helping　him　up。
　〃Eh？　But　I'm　supposed　to　be　in　Tai…　〃
　〃Yes；　so　you'd　better　go　to　your　club！〃
　〃But　I…　〃
　〃Oh　but　you've　exhausted　your　poor　Daughter。〃　She　feigned　weakness　as　she　tidied　him　and　had　him　up　and　at　the　door　before　he　really　knew　what　was　happening。　There；　she　kissed　him　passionately；　swore　eternal　love；　promised　that　she　would　see　him　tomorrow　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　Shakily　he　stared　at　the　door；　his　knees　gone；　his　skin　clammy；　wanting　to　hammer　on　it　to　demand　rest　in　the　bed　he　had　paid　for。　But　he　didn't。　He　had　no　strength　and　tottered　to　the　elevator。
　Going　down；　he　suddenly　beamed；　delighted　with　himself。　The　check　he　had　given　her　was　for　one　month's　rent　only。　She　had　forgotten　he　had　agreed　the　month　before　to　increase　the　amount　by　500　a　month。　Eeeee；　Little　Marvelous　Mouth；　he　chortled；　the　yang　outsmarted　the　yin　after　all！　Oh　what　a　good　drubbing　I　gave　you　tonight