jamesclavell.noblehouse-第186章

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gade　at　once。　Malcolm；　get　th…　〃
　〃No　。。。　no！〃　Suslev　said；　then　snarled　in　Russian　to　Boradinov　and　the　deck　crew；　〃Get　the　fire　out！〃　He　jerked　a　fist　out　of　his　pocket　and　shoved　Boradinov　into　motion。　Unnoticed　by　him　his　cuff　caught　one　of　his　decoded　cables　and　it　fell　onto　the　deck。　Smoke　was　pouring　out　from　behind　one　of　the　plex　radio　panels。　Already　one　of　the　deckhands　had　a　fire　extinguisher。
　〃Dear　oh　dear！　What　could　have　happened？　You're　sure　you　don't　want　assistance？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　〃No；　no　thank　you；〃　Suslev　said；　his　face　mottled　with　rage；　〃thank　you；　Superintendent。　I'll　。。。　I'll　see　you　Sunday。〃
　〃Good　night；　sir。　e　along；　Malcolm。〃　In　the　growing　confusion　Armstrong　headed　for　the　gangway　but　stooped　and　before　Suslev　realized　what　was　happening　picked　up　the　piece　of　paper　and　was　halfway　down　the　gangway；　Malcolm　Sun　following　him。
　Appalled；　Suslev's　hand　went　to　his　pocket。　Forgetting　the　fire　he　rushed　into　his　cabin　to　check　which　cable　was　missing。
　
　Below　on　the　wharf；　uniformed　police　had　long　since　fanned　out；　covering　both　gangways。　Armstrong　was　getting　into　the　back　of　the　car　beside　Sinders。　The　eyes　of　the　chief　of　MI…6　were　dark…rimmed　and　his　suit　a　little　rumpled　but　he　was　icily　alert。　〃Well　done；　you　two！　Yes。　I　imagine　that'll　interrupt　their　munications　for　a　day　or　so。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Armstrong　began　rummaging　in　his　pocket　for　his　lighter；　his　heart　pounding。　Sinders　watched　Malcolm　Sun　get　into　the　driver's　seat。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked　thoughtfully；　seeing　his　face。
　〃Nothing；　nothing　really；　sir。〃　Malcolm　Sun　craned　around；　the　sweat　on　his　back；　his　heart　hurting　and　the　sick…sweet　excitement　rage…fear　taste　still　in　his　mouth。　〃When　。。。　when　I　was　conducting　delaying　tactics　for　the　superintendent　I　。。。　they　got　me　going；　those　two　bastards。〃
　〃Oh？　How？〃
　〃Just　。。。　they　started　cursing；　so　I　。。。　I　just　cursed　them　back。〃　Sun　faced　the　front；　settled　himself；　not　wanting　Sinders's　penetrating　eyes　on　his。　〃Just　cursing；〃　he　added；　trying　to　sound　light。
　〃Pity　one　of　them　didn't　hit　you。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　was　ready。〃
　Sinders　glanced　at　Armstrong　briefly　as　the　big　man　clicked　the　lighter　on；　lit　a　cigarette　and；　under　the　light　of　the　flame；　peered　at　the　paper。　Sinders　glanced　up　at　the　ship　above。　Once　more　Suslev　was　standing　at　the　head　of　the　gangway　staring　down　at　them。　〃He　looks　very　angry　indeed。　Good。〃　The　flicker　of　a　smile　went　over　him。　〃Very　good。〃　With　Sir　Geoffrey's　approval　he　had　ordered　the　sudden　arrival　and　attempt　to　disrupt　the　Ivanov's　munications　…　and　placency　…　to　put　pressure　on　Arthur　and　the　Sevrin　moles；　hoping　to　flush　them　out。　〃And　our　police　mole；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　had　added　grimly。　〃It's　impossible　that　Brian　Kwok's　the　spy　mentioned　in　the　AMG　papers。　Eh？〃
　〃I　agree；〃　he　had　said。
　Armstrong　clicked　the　lighter　off。　In　the　semidarkness　of　the　car　he　hesitated。　〃You'd　better　get　the　detail　organized；　Malcolm。　No　need　to　waste　any　more　time　here。　All　right；　Mr。　Sinders？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　we　can　go　now。〃
　Obediently　Malcolm　Sun　left。　Armstrong　was　watching　Suslev　on　the　deck。　〃You；　er；　you　read　Russian；　don't　you　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　do。　Why？〃
　Carefully　Armstrong　passed　over　the　paper；　holding　it　by　the　edges。　〃This　fell　out　of　Suslev's　pocket。〃
　Equally　carefully　Sinders　took　the　paper　but　his　eyes　never　left　Armstrong's。　〃You　don't　trust　senior　agent；　Sun？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。　But　Chinese　are　Chinese　and　it's　in　Russian。　I　don't　read　Russian。〃
　Sinders　frowned。　After　a　moment　he　nodded。　Armstrong　lit　the　flame　for　him。　The　older　man　scanned　the　paper　twice　and　sighed。　〃It's　a　weather　report；　Robert。　Sorry。　Unless　it's　in　code；　it's　just　a　meteorological　report。〃　Carefully　he　folded　the　paper　in　its　original　creases。　〃The　fingerprints　might　be　valuable。　Perhaps　it's　code。　Just　for　safety　I'll　pass　it　on　to　our　cipher　fellows。〃
　Sinders　settled　back　more　fortably　in　the　car。　The　paper　had　read：　〃Advise　Arthur　that；　following　his　request　for　a　Priority　One　on　the　traitor　Metkin；　an　immediate　intercept　was　ordered　for　Bombay。　Second；　the　meeting　with　the　American　is　brought　forward　to　Sunday。　Third　and　final；　the　AMG　files　continue　to　be　Priority　One。　Maximum　effort　must　be　made　by　Sevrin　to　achieve　success。　Center。〃
　Now　which　American！　Sinders　asked　himself　patiently；　and　is　it　Arthur's　meeting　or　whose？　Captain　Suslev？　Is　he　as　innocent　as　he　appears？　Which　American？　Bartlett；　Tcholok；　Banastasio　or　who？　Peter　Marlowe　…　Anglo…American…Know…all　writer　with　his　curious　theories？
　Did　Bartlett　or　Tcholok　make　contact　with　Center　in　June　in　Moscow　when　they　were　there；　with　or　without　Peter　Marlowe；　who　also　happened　to　be　there　when　a　highly　secret　meeting　of　foreign　agents　was　taking　place？
　Or　is　the　American　not　a　visitor　at　all　but　someone　who　lives　here　in　Hong　Kong？
　Is　it　Rosemont？　Or　Langan？　Both　would　be　perfect。
　So　much　to　wonder　about。
　Like　who's　the　fourth　man？　Who's　the　VVIP　above　Philby？　Where　will　those　threads　lead？　Into　Burke's　Peerage？　Perhaps　to　some　castle；　or　even　a　palace？
　Who's　this　mysterious　Mrs。　Gresserhoff　who　took　Kiernan's　second　call　and　then　vanished　like　a　smoke　ring？
　And　what　about　those　bloody　files？　What　about　bloody　AMG　and　bloody　Dunross　trying　to　be　so　bloody　clever。　。。。
　
　It　was　getting　toward　midnight　and　Dunross　and　Casey　were　sitting　happily　side…by…side　in　the　glassed…in　forward　section　of　one　of　the　Golden　Ferries；　which　swerved　confidently　toward　its　berth　Kowloon　side。　It　was　a　good　night　though　the　clouds　still　scudded　low。　Canvas　storm　panels　still　closed　in　and　protected　the　open　part　of　the　decks；　but　here　where　they　were；　the　view　was　good　and　a　fine　sea…salt　breeze　came　through　one　of　the　open　windows。
　〃It　is　going　to　rain　again？〃　she　asked；　breaking　their　fortable　silence。
　〃Oh　yes。　But　I　certainly　hope　the　heavy　stuff　stays　away　till　late　tomorrow　afternoon。〃
　〃You　and　your　races！　Are　they　that　important？〃
　〃To　all　Hong　Kong　yan；　oh　yes。　To　me；　yes　and　no。〃
　〃I'll　put　my　entire　fortune　on　your　Noble　Star。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　do　that；〃　he　said。　〃You　should　always　hedge　a　bet。〃
　Casey　glanced　across　at　him。　〃Some　bets　you　don't　hedge。〃
　〃Some　bets　you　can't　hedge；〃　he　said；　correcting　her　with　a　smile。　Casually　he　lifted　her　arm　and　linked　his　with　hers　and　settled　his　hand　back　in　his　lap。　The　contact　pleased　both　of　them。　It　was　their　first　real　touch。　All　during　their　stroll　from　the　Mandarin　Hotel　to　the　ferry　Casey　had　wanted　to　take　his　arm。　But　she　had　fought　back　the　impulse　and　now　she　pretended　not　to　notice　their　interlinking　though；　instinctively；　she　had　moved　a　fraction　closer。
　〃Casey；　you　never　finished　your　story　of　George　Toffer　…　did　you　fire　him？〃
　〃No；　no　I　never　did；　not　as　I　thought　I　would。　When　we'd　won　control　I　went　to　his　boardroom。　Of　course　he　was　fit　to　be　tied　but　by　that　time　I'd　found　out　he　wasn't　the　hero　he　claimed　to　be　and　a　few　other　things。　He　just　waved　one　of　my　letters　about　the　money　he　owed　me　in　my　face　and　shouted　that　I'd　never　get　that　back；　never。〃　She　shrugged。　〃I　never　did；　but　I　got　his　pany。〃
　〃What　happened　to　him？〃
　〃He's　still　around；　still　cheating　someone。　Say；　can　we　stop　talking　about　him；　it　gives　me　indigestion。〃
　He　laughed。　〃Perish　that　thought！　Terrific　night；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃　They　had　dined　impeccably　in　the　Dragon　Room　atop　the　skyscraper　hotel。　Chateaubriand；　a　few　thread…thin　French　fries；　salad　and　crème　br？lée。　The　wine　was　Chateau　Lafite。
　〃Celebration？〃　she　had　asked。
　〃Just　a　thank　you　for　the　First　Central　New　York。〃
　〃Oh；　Ian！　They　agreed？〃
　〃Murtagh　agreed　to　try。〃
　It　had　taken　just　a　few　seconds　to　fix　the　terms　based　on　the　bank's　agreeing　to　the　financing　that　Casey　had　laid　out　as　possible：　120　percent　of　the　cost　of　both　ships；　a　50　million　revolving　fund。　〃Everything　covered　by　your　personal　guarantee？〃　Murtagh　had　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　he　had　said；　mitting　his　future　and　his　family's　future。
　〃We；　er；　I　figure　with　Struan's　great　management　you'll　make　a　profit　so　our　money's　secure　and　。。。　but　Mr。　Dunross；　sir；　we　gotta　keep　this　secret　as　hell。　Meanwhile；　I'll　give　it　the　old　college　try。〃　Murtagh　was　trying　to　hide　his　nervousness。
　〃Please　do；　Mr。　Murtagh。　The　very　best　old　college　try　you　can。　How　about　joining　me　for　the　races　tomorrow？　Sorry；　I　can't　invite　you　to　lunch；　I'm　crammed　to　the　gills　and　overbooked；　but　here；　here's　a　pass　if　you're　free　to　join　us　from　2：30　on。〃
　〃Oh　Jesus；　tai…pan；　you　mean　it？〃
　Dunross　smiled　to　himself。　In　Hong　Kong　an　invitation　to　a　steward's　box　was　like　being　presented　at　court；　and　just　as　useful。
　〃Why　the　smile；　tai…pan？〃　Casey　asked；　shifting　slightly；　feeling　his　warmth。
　〃Because　all's　well；　at　the　moment；　in　the　world。　At　least　all　the　various　problems　are　in　their　partments。〃　Going　ashore　and　out　of　the　ferry　terminal　he　explained　his　theory　that　the　only　way　to　deal　with　problems　was　the　Asian　way；　to　put　them　into　individual　partments　and　take　them　up　only　when　ready　for　them。
　〃That's　good；　if　you　can　do　it；〃　she　said；　walking　close　beside　him　but　not　touching　now。
　〃If　you　can't　you'll　go　under　…　ulcers；　heart　attack；　old　before　your　time；　your　health　broken。〃
　〃A　woman　cries；　that's　her　safety　valve。　She　cries　and　then　she　feels　better。　。。。〃　Casey　had　wept　earlier；　before　leaving　the　V　and　A　to　meet　him。　Because　of　Linc　Bartlett。　Part　rage；　part　frustration；　part　longing；　and　part　need　…　physical　need。　It　was　six　months　since　she　had　had　one　of　her　rare；　very　casual　and　very　short　affairs。　When　the　need　became　too　strong　she　would　go　away　for　a　few　days；　skiing　or　sunning　and　she　would　choose　whom　she　would　allow　into　her　bed。　Then；　as　quickly；　she　would　forget　him。
　〃But　oh；　isn't　it　very　bad；　Ciran…chek；〃　her　mother　had　once　said；　〃to　be　so　callous？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Mama　darling；〃　she　had　told　her。　〃It's　a　fair　exchange。　I　enjoy　sex　…　I　mean　I　enjoy　it　when　I'm　in　the　mood；　though　I　try　to　keep　the　mood　as　infrequent　as　possible。　I　love　Linc　and　no　one　else。　But　I　th…　〃
　〃How　can　you　love　him　and　go　to　bed　with　someone　else？〃
　〃It's；　it's　not　easy；　in　fact；　it's　awful。　But　Mama；　I　work　hard　for　Linc　all　hours；　weekends　and　Sundays；　I　work　hard　for　all　of　us；　for　you　and　Uncle　Tashjian　and　Marian　and　the　kids；　I'm　the　wage　earner　now　that　Marian's　on　her　own　and　I　love　it；　truly　I　enjoy　it；　you　know　I　do。　But　sometimes　it　all　gets　too　much　so　I　just　go　away。　And　that's　when　I　choose　a　partner。　Honestly；　Mama；　it's　just　biological；　there's　no　difference　that　way　between　us　and　men；　and　now　that　we've　the　God…blessed　pill　we　can　choose。　It's　not　like　in　your　day；　thank　God；　my　darling　。。。〃
　Casey　stepped　aside　to　avoid　a　phalanx　of　oning　pedestrians　and　bumped　Dunross　slightly。　Automatically　she　took　his　arm。　He　did　not　withdraw。
　Since　she　had　asked　him　for　equality　this　afternoon　and　had　been　turned　down　。。。　No；　that's　not　fair；　Casey；　she　told　herself。　Ian　didn't　turn　me　down；　he　just　gave　me　the　truth　from　his　point　of　view。　From　mine？　I　don't　know。　I'm　not　sure。　But　the　one　thing　I'm　not　is　a　fool　and　so　tonight　I　dressed　carefully；　a　little　differently；　and　put　on　perfume　and　made　my　makeup　more　definite　and　tonight　I　bit　my　tongue