jamesclavell.noblehouse-第32章

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s　who　hate　our　guts　never　mind。〃
　Brian　Kwok　laughed。　It　was　an　infectious　laugh　and　Armstrong　laughed　with　him　and　added；　〃Up　yours　again　for　getting　me　going。〃
　〃Likewise。　Meanwhile　are　you　going　to　read　that　first　or　am　I？〃
　Armstrong　looked　down　at　the　file　he　held　in　his　hand。　It　was　thin　and　contained　twelve　closely　typewritten　pages　and　seemed　to　be　more　of　a　newsletter　with　topics　under　different　headings。　The　contents　page　read：　Part　One：　The　Political　and　Business　Forecast　of　the　United　Kingdom。　Part　Two：　The　KGB　in　Asia。　Part　Three：　Gold。　Part　Four：　Recent　CIA　Developments。
　Wearily　Armstrong　put　his　feet　on　the　desk　and　eased　himself　more　fortably　in　his　chair。　Then　he　changed　his　mind　and　passed　the　file　over。　〃Here；　you　can　read　it。　You　read　faster　than　I　do　anyway。　I'm　tired　of　reading　about　disaster。〃
　Brian　Kwok　took　it；　his　impatience　barely　contained；　his　heart　thumping　heavily。　He　opened　it　and　began　to　read。
　Armstrong　watched　him。　He　saw　his　friend's　face　change　immediately　and　lose　color。　That　troubled　him　greatly。　Brian　Kwok　was　not　easily　shocked。　He　saw　him　read　through　to　the　end　without　ment；　then　flick　back　to　check　a　paragraph　here　and　there。　He　closed　the　file　slowly。
　〃It's　that　bad；〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃It's　worse。　Some　of　it　…　well；　if　it　wasn't　signed　by　A。　Medford　Grant；　I'd　say　he　was　off　his　rocker。　He　claims　the　CIA　have　a　serious　connection　with　the　Mafia；　that　they're　plotting　and　have　plotted　to　knock　off　Castro；　they're　into　Vietnam　in　strength；　into　drugs　and　Christ　knows　what　else　…　here　…　read　it　for　yourself。〃
　〃What　about　the　mole？〃
　〃We've　a　mole　all　right。〃　Brian　reopened　the　file　and　found　the　paragraph。　〃Listen：　'There's　no　doubt　that　presently　there　is　a　high…level　munist　agent　in　the　Hong　Kong　police。　Top…secret　documents　brought　to　our　side　by　General　Hans　Richter　…　second…in…mand　of　the　East　German　Department　of　Internal　Security　…　when　he　defected　to　us　in　March　of　this　year　clearly　state　the　agent's　code　name　is　〃Our　Friend；〃　that　he　has　been　in　situ　for　at　least　ten；　probably　fifteen　years。　His　contact　is　probably　a　KGB　officer　in　Hong　Kong　posing　as　a　visiting　friendly　businessman　from　the　Iron　Curtain　countries；　possibly　as　a　banker　or　journalist；　or　posing　as　a　seaman　off　one　of　the　Soviet　freighters　visiting　or　being　repaired　in　Hong　Kong。　Among　other　documented　information　we　now　know　〃Our　Friend〃　has　provided　the　enemy　with　are：　All　restricted　radio　channels；　all　restricted　private　phone　numbers　of　the　governor；　chief　of　police　and　top　echelon　of　the　Hong　Kong　Government；　along　with　very　private　dossiers　on　most　of　them　。。。'　〃
　〃Dossiers？〃　Armstrong　interrupted。　〃Are　they　included？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Shit！　Go　on；　Brian。〃
　〃　'。。。　most　of　them；　the　classified　police　battle　plans　against　a　munist…provoked　insurrection；　or　a　recurrence　of　the　Kowloon　riots；　copies　of　all　private　dossiers　of　all　police　officers　above　the　rank　of　inspector；　the　names　of　the　chief　six　Nationalist　undercover　agents　of　the　Kuomintang　operating　in　Hong　Kong　under　the　present　authority　of　General　Jen　Tang…wa　（Appendix　A）；　a　detailed　list　of　Hong　Kong's　Special　Intelligence　agents　in　Kwantung　under　the　general　authority　of　Senior　Agent　Wu　Fong　Fong　（Appendix　B）。'　〃
　〃Jesus！〃　Armstrong　gasped。　〃We'd　better　get　old　Fong　Fong　and　his　lads　out　right　smartly。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Is　Wu　Tat…sing　on　the　list？〃
　Kwok　checked　the　appendix。　〃Yes。　Listen；　this　section　ends：　'。。。　It　is　the　conclusion　of　your　mittee　that　until　this　traitor　is　eliminated；　the　internal　security　of　Hong　Kong　is　hazardous。　Why　this　information　has　not　yet　been　passed　on　to　the　police　themselves　we　do　not　yet　know。　We　presume　this　ties　in　with　the　current　political　Soviet　infiltration　of　UK　administration　on　all　levels　which　enables　the　Philbys　to　exist；　and　permits　such　information　as　this　to　be　buried；　or　toned　down；　or　misrepresented　（which　was　the　material　for　Study　4/1962）。　We　would　suggest　this　report　…　or　portions　of　it；　should　be　leaked　at　once　to　the　governor　or　the　missioner　of　police；　Hong　Kong；　if　you　consider　them　trustworthy。'　〃　Brian　Kwok　looked　up；　his　mind　rocking。　〃There's　a　couple　of　other　pieces　here；　Christ；　the　political　situation　in　the　UK　and　then　there's　Sevrin。　。。。　Read　it。〃　He　shook　his　head　helplessly。　〃Christ；　if　this's　true　。。。　we're　in　it　up　to　our　necks。　God　in　Heaven！〃
　Armstrong　swore　softly。　〃Who？　Who　could　the　spy　be？　Got　to　be　high　up。　Who？〃
　After　a　great　silence；　Brian　said；　〃The　only　one　。。。　the　only　one　who　could　know　all　of　this's　Crosse　himself。〃
　〃Oh　e　on　for　chrissake！〃
　〃Think　about　it；　Robert。　He　knew　Philby。　Didn't　he　go　to　Cambridge　also？　Both　have　similar　backgrounds；　they're　the　same　age　group；　both　were　in　Intelligence　during　the　war　…　like　Burgess　and　Maclean。　If　Philby　could　get　away　with　it　for　all　those　years；　why　not　Crosse？〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃Who　else　but　him？　Hasn't　he　been　in　MI…6　all　his　life？　Didn't　he　do　a　tour　here　in　the　early　fifties　and　wasn't　he　brought　back　here　to　set　up　our　SI　as　a　separate　branch　of　SB　five　years　ago？　Hasn't　he　been　director　ever　since？〃
　〃That　proves　nothing。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。　Armstrong　was　watching　his　friend　closely。　He　knew　him　too　well　not　to　know　when　he　was　serious。　〃What've　you　got？〃　he　asked　uneasily。
　〃Say　Crosse　is　homosexual。〃
　〃You're　plain　bonkers；〃　Armstrong　exploded。　〃He's　married　and　。。。　and　he　may　be　an　evil　son　of　a　bitch　but　there's　never　been　a　smell　of　anything　like　that；　never。〃
　〃Yes；　but　he's　got　no　children；　his　wife's　almost　permanently　in　England　and　when　she's　here　they　have　separate　rooms。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃The　amah　would　know　so　if　I　wanted　to　know　it'd　be　easy　to　find　out。〃
　〃That　proves　nothing。　Lots　of　people　have　separate　rooms。　You're　wrong　about　Crosse。〃
　〃Say　I　could　give　you　proof？〃
　〃What　proof？〃
　〃Where　does　he　always　go　for　part　of　his　leave？　The　Cameron　Highlands　in　Malaya。　Say　he　had　a　friend　there；　a　young　Malayan；　a　known　deviate。〃
　〃I'd　need　photos　and　we　both　know　photos　can　be　easily　doctored；〃　Armstrong　said　harshly。　〃I'd　need　tape　recordings　and　we　both　know　those　can　be　doctored　too。　The　youth　himself？　That　proves　nothing　…　it's　the　oldest　trick　in　the　book　to　produce　false　testimony　and　false　witnesses。　There's　never　been　a　hint　。。。　and　even　if　he's　AC…DC；　that　proves　nothing　…　not　all　deviates　are　traitors。〃
　〃No。　But　all　deviates　lay　themselves　open　to　blackmail。　And　if　he　is；　he'd　be　highly　suspect。　Highly　suspect。　Right？〃
　Armstrong　looked　around　uneasily。　〃I　don't　even　like　talking　about　it　here；　he　could　have　this　place　tapped。〃
　〃And　if　he　has？〃
　〃If　he　has　and　if　it's　true　he　can　fry　us　so　quickly　your　head　would　spin。　He　can　fry　us　anyway。〃
　〃Perhaps　…　but　if　he　is　the　one　then　he'll　know　we're　on　to　him　and　if　he's　not　he'll　laugh　at　us　and　I'm　out　of　SI。　In　any　event；　Robert；　he　can't　fry　every　Chinese　in　the　force。〃
　Armstrong　stared　at　him。　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　〃Perhaps　there's　a　file　on　him。　Perhaps　every　Chinese　above　the　rank　of　corporal's　read　it。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃e　on；　Robert；　you　know　Chinese　are　great　joiners。　Perhaps　there's　a　file；　per…　〃
　〃You　mean　you're　all　organized　into　a　brotherhood？　A　tong；　a　secret　society？　A　triad　within　the　force？〃
　〃I　said　perhaps。　This　is　all　surmise；　Robert。　I　said　perhaps　and　maybe。〃
　〃Who's　the　High　Dragon？　You？〃
　〃I　never　said　there　was　such　a　grouping。　I　said　perhaps。〃
　〃Are　there　other　files？　On　me；　for　instance？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃And　if　there　was；　Robert；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　gently；　〃it'd　say　you　were　a　fine　policeman；　uncorrupted；　that　you　had　gambled　heavily　on　the　stock　market　and　gambled　wrong　and　needed　twenty…odd　thousand　to　clean　up　some　pressing　debts　…　and　a　few　other　things。〃
　〃What　other　things？〃
　〃This　is　China；　old　chum。　We　know　almost　everything　that　goes　on　with　quai　loh　here。　We　have　to；　to　survive；　don't　we？〃
　Armstrong　looked　at　him　strangely。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　before？〃
　〃I　haven't　told　you　anything　now。　Nothing。　I　said　perhaps　and　I　repeat　perhaps。　But　if　this's　all　true　。。。〃　He　passed　over　the　file　and　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　upper　lip。　〃Read　it　yourself。　If　it's　true　we're　up　the　creek　without　a　paddle　and　we'll　need　to　work　very　quickly。　What　I　said　was　all　surmise。　But　not　about　Crosse。　Listen　Robert；　I'll　bet　you　a　thousand　。。。　a　thousand　to　one；　he's　the　mole。〃
　
　10
　
　7：43　P。M。：
　
　Dunross　finished　reading　the　blue…covered　file　for　the　third　time。　He　had　read　it　as　soon　as　it　had　arrived　…　as　always　…　then　again　on　the　way　to　the　Governor's　Palace。　He　closed　the　blue　cover　and　set　it　onto　his　lap　for　a　moment；　his　mind　possessed。　Now　he　was　in　his　study　on　the　second　floor　of　the　Great　House　that　sat　on　a　knoll　on　the　upper　levels　of　the　Peak；　the　leaded　bay　windows　overlooking　floodlit　gardens；　and　then　far　below；　the　city　and　the　immensity　of　the　harbor。
　The　ancient　grandfather　clock　chimed　a　quarter　to　eight。
　Fifteen　minutes　to　go；　he　thought。　Then　our　guests　arrive　and　the　party　begins　and　we　all　take　part　in　a　new　charade。　Or　perhaps　we　just　continue　the　same　one。
　The　room　had　high　ceilings　and　old　oak　paneling；　dark　green　velvet　curtains　and　Chinese　silk　rugs。　It　was　a　man's　room；　fortable；　old；　a　little　worn　and　very　cherished。　He　heard　the　muted　voices　of　the　servants　below。　A　car　came　up　the　hill　and　passed　by。
　The　phone　rang。　〃Yes？　Oh　hello；　Claudia。〃
　〃I　haven't　reached　Tsu…yan　yet；　tai…pan。　He　wasn't　in　his　office。　Has　he　called？〃
　〃No。　No　not　yet。　You　keep　trying。〃
　〃Yes。　See　you　in　a　little　while。　'Bye。〃
　He　was　sitting　in　a　deep；　high…winged　chair　and　wore　a　dinner　jacket；　his　tie　not　yet　tied。　Absently　he　stared　out　of　the　windows；　the　view　ever　pleasing。　But　tonight　he　was　filled　with　foreboding；　thinking　about　Sevrin　and　the　traitor　and　all　the　other　evil　things　the　report　had　foretold。　What　to　do？
　〃Laugh；〃　he　said　out　loud。　〃And　fight。〃
　He　got　up　and　went　with　his　easy　stride　to　the　oil　painting　of　Dirk　Struan　that　was　on　the　wall　over　the　mantelpiece。　Its　frame　was　heavy　and　carved　gilt　and　old；　the　gilt　chipped　off　here　and　there；　and　it　was　secretly　hinged　on　one　side。　He　moved　it　away　from　the　wall　and　opened　the　safe　the　painting　covered。　In　the　safe　were　many　papers；　some　neatly　tied　with　scarlet　ribbons；　some　ancient；　some　new；　a　few　small　boxes；　a　neat；　well…oiled；　loaded　Mauser　in　a　clip　attached　to　one　of　the　sides；　a　box　of　ammunition；　a　vast　old　Bible　with　the　Struan　arms　etched　into　the　fine　old　leather　and　seven　blue…covered　files　similar　to　the　one　he　had　in　his　hand。
　Thoughtfully　he　slid　the　file　alongside　the　others　in　sequence。　He　stared　at　them　a　moment；　began　to　close　the　safe　but　changed　his　mind　as　his　eyes　fell　on　the　ancient　Bible。　His　fingers　caressed　it；　then　he　lifted　it　out　and　opened　it。　Affixed　to　the　thick　flyleaf　with　old　sealing　wax　were　halves　of　two　old　Chinese　bronze　coins；　crudely　broken。　Clearly；　once　upon　a　time；　there　had　been　four　such　half…coins　for　there　was　still　the　imprint　of　the　missing　two　and　the　remains　of　the　same　red　sealing　wax　attached　to　the　ancient　paper。　The　handwriting　heading　the　page　was　beautiful　copperplate：　〃I　swear　by　the　Lord　God　that　whomsoever　produces　the　other　half　of