jamesclavell.noblehouse-第218章

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　〃Christ！　It　looks　terrible。〃
　〃I　was　up　at　dawn　this　morning。　The　fire　department　asked　me　to　help　them　on　Hill　Three；　over　above　Aberdeen。　They　had　a　slide　there　a　couple　of　days　ago；　a　child　almost　got　buried。　Last　night　there　was　another　slip　in　the　same　area。　Very　dicey。　The　slip's　about　two　hundred　feet　by　fifty。　Two　or　three　hundred　hovels　gone　but　only　ten　dead　…　bloody　lucky！〃　MacIver　circled　for　a　moment；　made　a　note　on　a　pad；　then　gunned　the　ship　back　to　altitude　and　to　course。　Once　she　was　steady；　level　and　trimmed　he　said；　〃She's　all　yours。〃　Dunross　took　control。
　Sha　Tin　was　ing　up　on　their　right…side　horizon。　When　they　were　close；　MacIver　took　off　the　cardboard　instrument　covers。　〃Good；〃　he　said　checking　the　readings。　〃Spot　on。〃
　〃Had　any　interesting　jobs　recently？〃
　〃Just　more　of　the　same。　Got　a　charter　for　Macao；　weather　permitting；　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Lando　Mata？〃
　〃No；　some　American　called　Banastasio。　Watch　your　revs！　Oh；　there's　your　landfall。〃
　The　fishing　village　at　Sha　Tin　was　near　tracks　that　led　back　into　the　hills　where　the　hill　climb　was　to　be　held。　The　course　consisted　of　a　crude　dirt　road　bulldozed　out　of　the　mountainside。　At　the　foot　of　the　slopes　were　a　few　cars；　some　on　trailers　and　trailer　rigs；　but　almost　no　spectators。　Normally　there　would　be　hundreds；　Europeans　mostly。　It　was　the　only　car…racing　event　in　the　Colony。　British　law　forbade　using　any　part　of　the　public　road　system　for　racing；　and　this　was　the　reason　that　the　annual　amateur　Grand　Prix　race　at　Macao　had　been　organized　under　the　joint　banner　of　the　Sportscar　and　Rally　Club　of　Hong　Kong　and　the　Portuguese　Municipal　Council。　Last　year　Guillo　Rodriguez　of　the　Hong　Kong　Police　had　won　the　sixty…lap　race　in　three　hours　twenty…six　minutes　at　an　average　speed　of　72　mph；　and　Dunross；　driving　a　Lotus；　and　Brian　Kwok　in　a　borrowed　E…Type　Jag　had　been　neck　and　neck　for　second　place　until　Dunross　blew　a　tire；　flat　out；　going　into　Fisherman's　Bend　and　nearly　killed　himself　at　the　same　spot　where　his　engine　blew　in　'59；　the　year　before　he　became　tai…pan。
　Dunross　was　concentrating　on　his　landing　now；　knowing　that　they　would　be　watched。
　The　chopper　was　lined　up；　revs　correct　for　descent；　wind　ahead　and　to　the　right；　swirling　a　little　as　they　came　closer　to　the　ground。　Dunross　held　her　meticulously。　At　the　exact　spot；　he　corrected　and　stopped；　hovering；　in　total　control；　then；　keeping　everything　coordinated；　eased　off　the　throttle　oh　so　gently；　raising　the　left　lever　to　change　the　pitch　of　the　blades　to　cushion　the　landing。　The　landing　skids　touched　the　earth。　Dunross　took　off　the　remaining　throttle　and　smoothly　lowered　the　lever　to　bottom。　The　landing　was　as　good　as　he　had　ever　done。
　MacIver　said　nothing；　paying　him　a　fine　pliment　by　pretending　to　take　it　for　granted；　and　watched　while　Dunross　began　the　shutdown　drill。　〃Tai…pan；　why　don't　you　let　me　finish　it　for　you；〃　he　said。　〃Those　fellows　look　somewhat　anxious。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　Dunross　kept　his　head　down　and　went　to　the　rain…coated　group；　his　feet　squelching　in　the　mud。　〃Morning。〃
　〃It's　bloody　awful；　tai…pan；〃　George　T'Chung；　Shitee　T'Chung's　eldest　son；　said。　〃I　tried　my　bus　out　and　she　stuck　on　the　first　bend。〃　He　pointed　at　the　track。　The　E…Type　was　bogged　down　with　one　of　its　fenders　bent。　〃I'll　have　to　get　a　tractor。〃　A　spatter　of　rain　washed　them。
　〃Bloody　waste　of　time；〃　Don　Nikklin　said　sourly。　He　was　a　short；　bellicose　man　in　his　late　twenties。　〃We　should　have　canceled　it　yesterday。〃
　Quite　true；　Dunross　thought　contentedly；　but　then　I　wouldn't　have　had　the　excuse　to　fly；　and　the　extreme　pleasure　of　seeing　you　here；　your　morning　wasted。　〃The　consensus　was　to　try　for　today。　Everyone　agreed　it　was　a　long　shot；〃　Dunross　said　sweetly。　〃You　were　there。　So　was　your　father。　Eh？〃
　McBride　said　hastily；　〃I　formally　suggest　we　postpone。〃
　〃Approved。〃　Nikklin　went　off　back　to　his　brand…new　four…wheel…drive　truck　with　its　souped…up　Porsche　under　a　neat　tarp。
　〃Friendly　fellow；〃　someone　said。
　They　watched　as　Nikklin　got　his　rig　into　motion　and　swirled　away　with　great　skill　on　the　treacherous　dirt　road；　past　the　chopper；　its　engine　dying　and　the　rotors　slowing　down。
　〃Pity　he's　such　a　shit；〃　someone　else　said。　〃He's　an　awfully　good　driver。〃
　〃Roll　on　Macao；　eh；　tai…pan？〃　George　T'Chung　said　with　a　laugh；　his　voice　patrician　and　English　public　school。
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　his　voice　sharpening；　looking　forward　to　November；　to　beating　Nikklin　again。　He　had　beaten　him　three　out　of　six　tries　but　he　had　never　won　the　Grand　Prix；　his　cars　never　strong　enough　to　sustain　his　heavy　right　foot。　〃This　time　I'll　win；　by　God。〃
　〃Oh　no　you　won't；　tai…pan。　This's　my　year！　I've　a　Lotus　22；　the　works；　my　old　man　sprung　for　the　lot。　You'll　see　my　tail　for　all　sixty　laps！〃
　〃Not　on　your　nelly！　My　new　E…Type'll　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped。　A　police　car　was　skidding　and　slipping　in　the　quagmire；　approaching　him。　Why's　Sinders　here　so　early？　he　asked　himself；　his　stomach　tightening。　He　had　said　noon。　Involuntarily　his　hand　moved　to　check　that　the　envelope　was　safe　in　his　buttoned…down　hip　pocket。　His　fingers　reassured　him。
　Last　night　when　he　had　returned　to　P。　B。　White's　study　he　had　taken　out　the　eleven　pieces　of　paper　and　examined　them　again　under　the　light。　The　ciphers　were　meaningless。　I'm　glad；　he　had　thought。　Then　he　had　gone　to　the　photocopier　that　was　beside　the　leather…topped　desk　and　made　two　copies　of　each　page。　He　put　each　set　into　a　separate　envelope　and　sealed　them。　One　he　marked：　〃P。　B。　White　…　please　hand　this　to　the　tai…pan　of　Struan's　unopened。〃　That　one　he　put　into　a　book　that　he　chose　at　random　from　the　bookshelves；　replacing　it　with　equal　care。　Following　AMG's　instructions；　he　marked　the　second　with　a　G　for　Riko　Gresserhoff　and　pocketed　it。　The　originals　he　sealed　in　a　last　envelope　and　pocketed　that　too。　With　a　final　check　that　the　secret　door　was　back　in　place；　he　unlocked　the　door　and　went　out。　In　a　few　minutes　he　and　Gavallan　had　left　with　Casey　and　Riko　and　though　there　was　plenty　of　opportunity　to　give　Riko　her　set　privately；　he　had　decided　it　was　better　to　wait　until　the　originals　were　delivered。
　Should　I　give　Sinders　the　originals　now　or　at　noon？　he　asked　himself；　watching　the　police　car。　The　car　stopped。　Chief　Inspector　Donald　C。　C。　Smyth　got　out。　Neither　Sinders　nor　Crosse　was　with　him。
　〃Morning；〃　Smyth　said　politely；　touching　his　peaked　cap　with　his　swagger　stick；　his　other　arm　still　in　a　sling。　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Dunross；　is　the　chopper　your　charter？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；　Chief　Inspector；〃　Dunross　said。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃I've　a　small　show　on　down　the　road　and　saw　you　ing　in。　Wonder　if　we　could　borrow　MacIver　and　the　bird　for　an　hour　…　or　if　you're　going　back　at　once；　perhaps　we　could　take　her　on　after？〃
　〃Certainly。　I'll　be　off　in　a　second。　The　hill　climb's　canceled。〃
　Smyth　glanced　at　the　mountain　track　and　the　sky　and　grunted。　〃I'd　say　that　was　wise；　sir。　Someone　would've　been　hurt；　sure　as　shooting。　If　it's　all　right；　I'll　talk　to　MacIver？〃
　〃Of　course。　Nothing　serious　I　hope？〃
　〃No；　no；　not　at　all。　Interesting　though。　The　rain's　uncovered　a　couple　of　bodies　that'd　been　buried　in　the　same　area　where　John　Chen's　body　was　found。〃
　The　others　came　closer。　〃The　Werewolves？〃　George　T'Chung　asked；　shocked。　〃More　kidnap　victims？〃
　〃We　presume　so。　They　were　both　young。　One　had　his　head　bashed　in　and　the　other　poor　bugger　half　his　head　cut　off；　looks　like　with　a　spade。　Both　were　Chinese。〃
　〃Christ！〃　Young　George　T'Chung　had　gone　white。
　Smyth　nodded　sourly。　〃You　haven't　heard　of　any　rich　sons　being　kidnapped；　have　you？〃
　Everyone　shook　their　heads。
　〃Not　surprised；〃　Smyth　said。　〃Stupid　for　the　families　of　victims　to　deal　with　kidnappers　and　keep　quiet　about　it。　Unfortunately　the　bodies　were　discovered　by　locals　so　it'll　be　headlines　by　tonight　from　here　to　Peking！〃
　〃You　want　to　fly　the　bodies　back？〃
　〃Oh　no；　tai…pan。　The　hurry's　to　get　some　CID　experts　here　to　search　the　area　before　the　rain　es　again。　We　need　to　try　to　identify　the　poor　buggers。　Can　you　leave　at　once？〃
　〃Yes；　certainly。〃
　〃Thanks。　Sorry　to　bother　you。　Sorry　about　Noble　Star；　but　my　bundle'll　be　on　you　on　Saturday。〃　Smyth　nodded　politely　and　walked　off。
　George　T'Chung　was　openly　upset。　〃We're　all　targets　for　those　bastards；　the　Werewolves。　You；　me；　my　old　man；　anyone！　Christ；　how　can　we　protect　ourselves　against　them？〃
　No　one　answered　him。
　Then　Dunross　said　with　a　laugh；　〃No　need　to　worry；　old　chap；　we're　inviolate；　we're　all　inviolate。〃
　
　73
　
　10：01　A。M。：
　The　phone　rang　in　the　semidarkness　of　the　bedroom。　Bartlett　scrambled　out　of　sleep。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Bartlett；　this　is　Claudia　Chen。　The　tai…pan　asked　if　you'd　need　the　car　today　anyway？〃
　〃No；　no　thanks。〃　Bartlett　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Jesus；〃　he　muttered　aloud；　astounded　he　had　slept　so　long。　〃Er；　thanks；　thanks；　Claudia。〃
　〃The　Taipei　trip's　rescheduled　for　next　Friday；　Friday　back　Monday　noon。　Is　that　convenient？〃
　〃Yes；　er　yes；　sure。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　Bartlett　hung　up　and　lay　back　a　moment；　collecting　his　wits。　He　stretched　luxuriously；　glad　that　there　was　no　rush　for　anything；　enjoying　the　rare　pleasantness　of　being　just　a　little　lazy。
　It　had　been　four　o'clock　this　morning　when　he　had　hung　up　a　〃do　not　disturb；〃　cut　off　the　phones　till　10：00　a。m。　and　had　gone　to　bed。　Last　night　Orlanda　had　taken　him　to　Aberdeen　where　she　had　hired　a　Pleasure　Boat。　They　had　drifted　the　channels；　the　rain　making　the　hooped　cabin　more　cozy；　the　brazier　warming；　the　food　hot　and　spicy。
　〃In　Shanghai　we　cook　with　garlic　and　chilies　and　peppers　and　all　manner　of　spices；〃　she　had　told　him；　serving　him；　her　chopsticks　a　delicate　extension　of　her　fingers。　〃The　farther　north　you　go　the　hotter　the　food；　the　less　rice　is　eaten；　more　breads　and　noodles。　The　north's　wheat…eating；　only　the　southern　part　of　China's　rice…eating；　Linc。　More？〃
　He　had　eaten　well　and　drunk　the　beer　she　had　brought　with　her。　The　night　had　been　happy　for　him；　the　time　going　unnoticed　as　she　regaled　him　with　stories　of　Asia　and　Shanghai；　her　mind　deft　and　darting。　Then；　afterward；　the　rain　pattering　on　the　canvas；　the　dishes　taken　away　and　they　reclining　side…by…side　on　the　cushions；　fingers　entwined；　she　had　said；　〃Linc；　I'm　sorry；　but　I　love　you。〃
　It　had　taken　him　by　surprise。
　〃No　need　to　be　sorry；〃　he　had　said；　not　ready　yet　to　reply　in　kind。
　〃Oh　but　I　am。　It　plicates　things；　oh　yes；　it　plicates　things　very　much。〃
　Yes；　he　thought。　It's　so　easy　for　a　woman　to　say　I　love　you；　so　hard　for　a　man；　unwise　for　a　man；　for　then　you're　stuck。　Is　that　the　right　word？　Again　the　answer　did　not　present　itself。
　As　he　lay　now　in　bed；　his　head　cradled　on　his　arms；　he　rethought　the　night。　Touching　and　leaving　alone；　then　hands　searching；　his　and　hers；　but　not　finalizing。　Not　that　she　prevented　him　or　stopped　him。　He　just　held　back。　Finally。
　〃You've　never　done　that　before；〃　he　muttered　out　loud。　〃Once　you　had　a　girl　going；　you　went　all　the　way；〃　and　he　wished　he　had；　remembering　how　heavy　the　desire　had　been　upon　them。　〃I'm　not　a　one…night　stand　or　Eurasian　tramp〃　had　rung　in　his　ears。
　In　the　taxi　to　her　home　they　had　not　spoken；　just　held　hands。　That's　the　goddamnedest　part；　he　thought；　feeling　foolish；　childish；