jamesclavell.noblehouse-第47章

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　〃Yes；　Penelope。　Yes　I　do。〃　Kathren　looked　at　Casey　with　the　same　level　gaze　that　Dunross　had。　〃I　hope　you　choose　correctly；　Casey。　Everyone　here's　pretty　vengeful。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃One　reason's　because　we're　such　a　closely　knit　society；　very　interrelated；　and　everyone　knows　everyone　else　…　and　almost　all　their　secrets。　Another's　because　hatreds　here　go　back　generations　and　have　been　nurtured　for　generations。　When　you　hate　you　hate　with　all　your　heart。　Another's　because　this　is　a　piratical　society　with　very　few　curbs　so　you　can　get　away　with　all　sorts　of　vengeances。　Oh　yes。　Another's　because　here　the　stakes　are　high　…　if　you　make　a　pile　of　gold　you　can　keep　it　legally　even　if　it's　made　outside　the　law。　Hong　Kong's　a　place　of　transit　…　no　one　ever　es　here　to　stay；　even　Chinese；　just　to　make　money　and　leave。　It's　the　most　different　place　on　earth。〃
　〃But　the　Struans　and　Dunrosses　and　Gornts　have　been　here　for　generations；〃　Casey　said。
　〃Yes；　but　individually　they　came　here　for　one　reason　only：　money。　Money's　our　god　here。　And　as　soon　as　you　have　it；　you　vanish；　European；　American　…　and　certainly　the　Chinese。〃
　〃You　exaggerate；　Kathy　dear；〃　Penelope　said。
　〃Yes。　It's　still　the　truth。　Another　reason's　that　we　live　on　the　edge　of　catastrophe　all　the　time：　fire；　flood；　plague；　landslide；　riots。　Half　our　population　is　munist；　half　Nationalist；　and　they　hate　each　other　in　a　way　no　European　can　ever　understand。　And　China　…　China　can　swallow　us　any　moment。　So　you　live　for　today　and　to　hell　with　everything；　grab　what　you　can　because　tomorrow；　who　knows？　Don't　get　in　the　way！　People　are　rougher　here　because　everything　really　is　precarious；　and　nothing　lasts　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Except　the　Peak；〃　Penelope　said。　〃And　the　Chinese。〃
　〃Even　the　Chinese　want　to　get　rich　quickly　to　get　out　quickly　…　them　more　than　most。　You　wait；　Casey；　you'll　see。　Hong　Kong　will　work　its　magic　on　you　…　or　evil；　depending　how　you　see　it。　For　business　it's　the　most　exciting　place　on　earth　and　soon　you'll　feel　you're　at　the　center　of　the　earth。　It's　wild　and　exciting　for　a　man；　my　God；　it's　marvelous　for　a　man　but　for　us　it's　awful　and　every　woman；　every　wife；　hates　Hong　Kong　with　a　passion　however　much　they　pretend　otherwise。〃
　〃e　on；　Kathren；〃　Penelope　began；　〃again　you　exaggerate。〃
　〃No。　No　I　don't。　We're　all　threatened　here；　Penny；　you　know　it！　We　women　fight　a　losing　battle　。。。〃　Kathren　stopped　and　forced　a　weary　smile。　〃Sorry；　I　was　getting　quite　worked　up。　Penn；　I　think　I'll　find　Andrew　and　if　he　wants　to　stay　I'll　slip　off　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right；　Kathy？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　just　tired。　The　young　one's　a　bit　of　a　trial　but　next　year　he'll　be　off　to　boarding　school。〃
　〃How　was　your　checkup？〃
　〃Fine。〃　Kathy　smiled　wearily　at　Casey。　〃When　you've　the　inclination　give　me　a　call。　I'm　in　the　book。　Don't　choose　Gornt。　That'd　be　fatal。　'Bye；　darling；〃　she　added　to　Penelope　and　left。
　〃She's　such　a　dear；〃　Penelope　said。　〃But　she　does　work　herself　into　a　tizzy。〃
　〃Do　you　feel　threatened？〃
　〃I'm　very　content　with　my　children　and　my　husband。〃
　〃She　asked　whether　you　feel　threatened；　Penelope。〃　Susanne　deVille　deftly　powdered　her　nose　and　studied　her　reflection。　〃Do　you？〃
　〃No。　I'm　overwhelmed　at　times。　But　。。。　but　I'm　not　threatened　any　more　than　you　are。〃
　〃Ah；　chérie；　but　I　am　Parisienne；　how　can　I　be　threatened？　You've　been　to　Paris；　m'selle？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Casey　said。　〃It's　beautiful。〃
　〃It　is　the　world；〃　Susanne　said　with　Gallic　modesty。　〃Ugh；　I　look　at　least　thirty…six。〃
　〃Nonsense；　Susanne。〃　Penelope　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃I　think　we　can　start　going　back　now。　Excuse　me　a　second。　。。。〃
　Susanne　watched　her　go　then　turned　her　attention　back　to　Casey。　〃Jacques　and　I　came　out　to　Hong　Kong　in　1946。〃
　〃You're　family　too？〃
　〃Jacques's　father　married　a　Dunross　in　the　First　World　War　…　an　aunt　of　the　tai…pan's。〃　She　leaned　forward　to　the　mirror　and　touched　a　fleck　of　powder　away。　〃In　Struan's　it　is　important　to　be　family。〃
　Casey　saw　the　shrewd　Gallic　eyes　watching　her　in　the　mirror。　〃Of　course；　I　agree　with　you　that　it　is　nonsense　for　the　ladies　to　leave　after　dinner；　for　clearly；　when　we　have　gone；　the　heat　she　has　left　too；　no？〃
　Casey　smiled。　〃I　think　so。　Why　did　Kathren　say　'threatened'？　Threatened　by　what？〃
　〃By　youth；　of　course　by　youth！　Here　there　are　tens　of　thousands　of　chic；　sensible；　lovely　young　Chinoise　with　long　black　hair　and　pretty；　saucy　derrières　and　golden　skins　who　really　understand　men　and　treat　sex　for　what　it　is：　food；　and　often；　barter。　It　is　the　gauche　English　puritan　who　has　twisted　the　minds　of　their　ladies；　poor　creatures。　Thank　God　I　was　born　French！　Poor　Kathy！〃
　〃Oh；〃　Casey　said；　understanding　at　once。　〃She's　found　out　that　Andrew's　having　an　affair？〃
　Susanne　smiled　and　did　not　answer；　just　stared　at　her　reflection。　Then　she　said；　〃My　Jacques　。。。　of　course　he　has　affairs；　of　course　all　the　men　have　affairs；　and　so　do　we　if　we're　sensible。　But　we　French；　we　understand　that　such　transgressions　should　not　interfere　with　a　good　marriage。　We　put　correctly　the　amount　of　importance　on　to　it；　non？〃　Her　dark　brown　eyes　changed　a　little。　〃Oui！〃
　〃That's　tough；　isn't　it？　Tough　for　a　woman　to　live　with？〃
　〃Everything　is　tough　for　a　woman；　chérie；　because　men　are　such　cretins。〃　Susanne　deVille　smoothed　a　crease　away　then　touched　perfume　behind　her　ears　and　between　her　breasts。　〃You　will　fail　here　if　you　try　to　play　the　game　according　to　masculine　rules　and　not　according　to　feminine　rules。　You　have　a　rare　chance　here；　mademoiselle；　if　you　are　woman　enough。　And　if　you　remember　that　the　Gornts　are　all　poisonous。　Watch　your　Linc　Bartlett；　Ciranoush；　already　there　are　ladies　here　who　would　like　to　possess　him；　and　humble　you。〃
　
　14
　
　10：42　P。M。：
　Upstairs　on　the　second　floor　the　man　came　cautiously　out　of　the　shadows　of　the　long　balcony　and　slipped　through　the　open　French　windows　into　the　deeper　darkness　of　Dunross's　study。　He　hesitated；　listening；　his　black　clothes　making　him　almost　invisible。　The　distant　sounds　of　the　party　drifted　into　the　room　making　the　silence　and　the　waiting　more　heavy。　He　switched　on　a　small　flashlight。
　The　circle　of　light　fell　on　the　picture　over　the　mantelpiece。　He　went　closer。　Dirk　Struan　seemed　to　be　watching　him；　the　slight　smile　taunting。　Now　the　light　moved　to　the　edges　of　the　frame。　His　hand　reached　out　delicately　and　he　tried　it；　first　one　side　and　then　the　other。　Silently　the　picture　moved　away　from　the　wall。
　The　man　sighed。
　He　peered　at　the　lock　closely　then　took　out　a　small　bunch　of　skeleton　keys。　He　selected　one　and　tried　it　but　it　would　not　turn。　Another。　Another　failure。　Another　and　another；　then　there　was　a　slight　click　and　the　key　almost　turned；　almost　but　not　quite。　The　rest　of　the　keys　failed　too。
　Irritably　he　tried　the　almost…key　again　but　it　would　not　work　the　lock。
　Expertly　his　fingers　traced　the　edges　of　the　safe　but　he　could　find　no　secret　catch　or　switch。　Again　he　tried　the　almost…key；　this　way　and　that；　gently　or　firmly；　but　it　would　not　turn。
　Again　he　hesitated。　After　a　moment　he　pushed　the　painting　carefully　back　into　place；　the　eyes　mocking　him　now；　and　went　to　the　desk。　There　were　two　phones　on　it。　He　picked　up　the　phone　that　he　knew　had　no　other　extensions　within　the　house　and　dialed。
　The　ringing　tone　went　on　monotonously；　then　stopped。　〃Yes？〃　a　man's　voice　said　in　English。
　〃Mr。　Lop…sing　please；〃　he　said　softly；　beginning　the　code。
　〃There's　no　Lop…ting　here。　Sorry；　you　have　a　wrong　number。〃
　This　code　response　was　what　he　wanted　to　hear。　He　continued；　〃I　want　to　leave　a　message。〃
　〃Sorry；　you　have　a　wrong　number。　Look　in　your　phone　book。〃
　Again　the　correct　response；　the　final　one。　〃This　is　Lim；〃　he　whispered；　using　his　cover　name。　〃Arthur　please。　Urgent。〃
　〃Just　a　moment。〃
　He　heard　the　phone　being　passed　and　the　dry　cough　he　recognized　at　once。　〃Yes；　Lim？　Did　you　find　the　safe？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃It's　behind　the　painting　over　the　fireplace　but　none　of　the　keys　fit。　I'll　need　special　equip…　〃　He　stopped　suddenly。　Voices　were　approaching。　He　hung　up　gently。　A　quick；　nervous　check　that　everything　was　in　place　and　he　switched　off　the　flashlight　and　hurried　for　the　balcony　that　ran　the　length　of　the　north　face。　The　moonlight　illuminated　him　for　an　instant。　It　was　Wine　Waiter　Feng。　Then　he　vanished；　his　black　waiter's　clothes　melding　perfectly　with　the　darkness。
　The　door　opened。　Dunross　came　in　followed　by　Brian　Kwok。　He　switched　on　the　lights。　At　once　the　room　became　warm　and　friendly。　〃We　won't　be　disturbed　here；〃　he　said。　〃Make　yourself　at　home。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　This　was　the　first　time　Brian　Kwok　had　been　invited　upstairs。
　Both　men　were　carrying　brandy　snifters　and　they　went　over　to　the　cool　of　the　windows；　the　slight　breeze　moving　the　gossamer　curtains；　and　sat　in　the　high…backed　easy　chairs　facing　one　another。　Brian　Kwok　was　looking　at　the　painting；　its　own　light　perfectly　placed。　〃Smashing　portrait。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　glanced　over　and　froze。　The　painting　was　imperceptibly　out　of　place。　No　one　else　would　have　noticed　it。
　〃Something's　the　matter；　Ian？〃
　〃No。　No　nothing；〃　Dunross　said；　recovering　his　senses　that　had　instinctively　reached　out；　probing　the　room　for　an　alien　presence。　Now　he　turned　his　full　attention　back　to　the　Chinese　superintendent；　but　he　wondered　deeply　who　had　touched　the　painting　and　why。　〃What's　on　your　mind？〃
　〃Two　things。　First；　your　freighter；　Eastern　Cloud。〃
　Dunross　was　startled。　〃Oh？〃　This　was　one　of　Struan's　many　coastal　tramps　that　plied　the　trade　routes　of　Asia。　Eastern　Cloud　was　a　ten　thousand　tonner　on　the　highly　lucrative　Hong　Kong；　Bangkok；　Singapore；　Calcutta；　Madras；　Bombay　route；　with　a　sometimes　stop　at　Rangoon　in　Burma　…　all　manner　of　Hong　Kong　manufactured　goods　outward　bound；　and　all　manner　of　Indian；　Malayan；　Thai　and　Burmese　raw　materials；　silks；　gems；　teak；　jute；　foodstuffs；　inbound。　Six　months　ago　she　had　been　impounded　by　Indian　authorities　in　Calcutta　after　a　sudden　customs　search　had　discovered　36；000　taels　of　smugglers'　gold　in　one　of　the　bunkers。　A　little　over　one　ton。
　〃The　gold's　one　thing；　your　Excellency；　that's　nothing　to　do　with　us；〃　Dunross　had　said　to　the　consul　general　of　India　in　Hong　Kong；　〃but　to　impound　our　ship's　something　else！〃
　〃Ah；　very　so　sorry；　Mr。　Dunross　sah。　The　law　is　the　law　and　the　smuggling　of　gold　into　India　very　serious　indeed　sah　and　the　law　says　any　ship　with　smuggled　goods　aboard　may　be　impounded　and　sold。〃
　〃Yes；　may　be。　Perhaps；　Excellency；　in　this　instance　you　could　prevail　on　the　authorities　。。。〃　But　all　of　his　entreaties　had　been　shuttled　aside　and　attempted　high…level　intercessions　over　the　months；　here；　in　India；　even　in　London；　had　not　helped。　Indian　and　Hong　Kong　police　inquiries　had　produced　no　evidence　against　any　member　of　his　crew　but；　even　so；　Eastern　Cloud　was　still　tied　up　in　Calcutta　harbor。
　〃What　about　Eastern　Cloud？〃　he　asked。
　〃We　think　we　can　persuade　the　Indian　authorities　to　let　her　go。〃
　〃In　return　for　what？〃　Dunross　asked　suspiciously。
　Brian　Kwok　laughed。　〃Nothing。　We　don't　know　who　the　smugglers　are；　but　we　know　who　did　the　informing。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Seven　odd　months　ago　you　changed　your　crewing　policy。　Up　to　that　time　Struan's　had　used　exclusively　Cantonese　crew　on　their