jamesclavell.noblehouse-第66章

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　〃I　was　told　there　was　a　queue　at　Tsim　Sha　Tsui。〃
　''Oh？　I　hadn't　heard　that。　I'll　check。　Even　so；　surely　the　Ching　Prosperity　and　the　Lo　Fat　banks　will　support　him。　My　God；　he's　built　up　the　Ho…Pak　into　a　major　banking　institution。　If　he　went　broke　God　knows　what'll　happen。　We　even　had　some　withdrawals　at　Aberdeen　ourselves。　No；　Ian；　let's　hope　it'll　all　blow　over。　Talking　about　that；　do　you　think　we'll　get　some　rain？　It　feels　dicey　today；　don't　you　think？　The　news　said　there　might　be　a　storm　ing　through。　Do　you　think　it'll　rain？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Let's　hope　so。　But　not　on　Saturday！〃
　〃My　God　yes！　If　the　races　were　rained　out　that　would　be　terrible。　We　can't　have　that。　Oh；　by　the　way；　Ian；　it　was　a　lovely　party　last　night。　I　enjoyed　meeting　Bartlett　and　his　girl　friend。　How're　your　negotiations　with　Bartlett　proceeding？〃
　〃First　class！　Listen；　Paul　。。。〃
　Dunross　smiled　to　himself；　remembering　how　he　had　dropped　his　voice　even　though　in　Havergill's　office　。。。　Havergill's　office　which　overlooked　the　whole　of　Central　District　was　book…lined　and　very　carefully　soundproofed。　〃I've　closed　my　deal。　It's　two　years　initially。　We　sign　the　papers　within　seven　days。　They're　putting　up　20　million　cash　in　each　of　the　years；　succeeding　ones　to　be　negotiated。〃
　〃Congratulations；　my　dear　fellow。　Heartiest　congratulations！　And　the　down　payment？〃
　〃Seven。〃
　〃That's　marvelous！　That　covers　everything　nicely。　It'll　be　marvelous　to　have　the　Toda　specter　away　from　the　balance　sheet　…　and　with　another　million　for　Orlin；　well；　perhaps　they'll　give　you　more　time；　then　at　long　last　you　can　forget　all　the　bad　years　and　look　forward　to　a　very　profitable　future。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　you　got　your　ships　chartered　yet？〃
　〃No。　But　I'll　have　charterers　in　time　to　service　our　loan。〃
　〃I　noticed　your　stock's　jumped　two　points。〃
　〃It's　on　the　way　now。　It's　going　to　double；　within　thirty　days。〃
　〃Oh？　What　makes　you　think　so？〃
　〃The　boom。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃All　the　signs　point　that　way；　Paul。　Confidence's　up。　Our　Par…Con　deal　will　lead　the　boom。　It's　long　overdue。〃
　〃That　would　be　marvelous！　When　do　you　make　the　initial　announcement　about　Par…Con？〃
　〃Friday；　after　the　market　closes。〃
　〃Excellent。　My　thought　entirely。　By　Monday　everyone　will　be　on　the　bandwagon！〃
　〃But　let's　keep　everything　in　the　family　until　then。〃
　〃Of　course。　Oh；　did　you　hear　Quillan　almost　killed　himself　last　night？　It　was　just　after　your　party。　His　brakes　failed　on　the　Peak　Road。〃
　〃Yes　I　heard。　He　should　have　killed　himself　…　that　would　have　sent　Second　Great　pany's　stock　skyrocketing　with　happiness！〃
　〃e　now；　Ian！　A　boom　eh？　You　really　think　so？〃
　〃Enough　to　want　to　buy　heavily。　How　about　a　million　credit　…　to　buy　Struan's？〃
　〃Personal　…　or　for　the　House？〃
　〃Personal。〃
　〃We　would　hold　the　stock？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃And　if　the　stock　goes　down？〃
　〃It　won't。〃
　〃Say　it　does；　Ian？〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃Well；　it's　all　in　the　family　so　why　don't　we　say　if　it　goes　two　points　below　market　at　today's　closing；　we　can　sell　and　debit　your　account　with　the　loss？〃
　〃Three。　Struan's　is　going　to　double。〃
　〃Yes。　Meanwhile；　let's　say　two　until　you　sign　the　Par…Con　deal。　The　House　is　rather　a　lot　over　on　its　revolving　credit　already。　Let's　say　two；　eh？〃
　〃All　right。〃
　I'm　safe　at　two；　Dunross　thought　again；　reassuring　himself。　I　think。
　Before　he　had　left　the　bank　he　had　gone　by　Johnjohn's　office。　Bruce　Johnjohn；　second　deputy　chief　manager　and　heir　apparent　to　Havergill；　was　a　stocky；　gentle　man　with　a　hummingbird's　vitality。　Dunross　had　given　him　the　same　news。　Johnjohn　had　been　equally　pleased。　But　he　had　advised　caution　on　projecting　a　boom　and；　contrary　to　Havergill；　was　greatly　concerned　with　the　Ho…Pak　run。
　〃I　don't　like　it　at　all；　Ian。　It's　very　smelly。〃
　〃Yes。　What　about　Haply's　article？〃
　〃Oh；　it's　all　nonsense。　We　don't　go　in　for　those　sort　of　shenanigans。　Blacs？　Equally　foolish。　Why　should　we　want　to　eliminate　a　major　Chinese　bank；　even　if　we　could。　The　Ching　Bank　might　be　the　culprit。　Perhaps。　Perhaps　old　Smiler　Ching　would　…　he　and　Richard　have　been　rivals　for　years。　It　could　be　a　bination　of　half　a　dozen　banks；　Ching　included。　It　might　even　be　that　Richard's　depositors　are　really　scared。　I've　heard　all　sorts　of　rumors　for　three　months　or　so。　They're　in　deep　with　dozens　of　dubious　property　schemes。　Anyway；　if　he　goes　under　it'll　affect　us　all。　Be　bloody　careful；　Ian！〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　when　you're　upstairs；　Bruce。〃
　〃Don't　sell　Paul　short　…　he's　very　clever　and　he's　been　awfully　good　for　Hong　Kong　and　the　bank。　But　we're　in　for　some　hairy　times　in　Asia；　Ian。　I　must　say　I　think　you're　very　wise　to　try　to　diversify　into　South　America　…　it's　a　huge　market　and　untapped　by　us。　Have　you　considered　South　Africa？〃
　〃What　about　it？〃
　〃Let's　have　lunch　next　week。　Wednesday？　Good。　I've　an　idea　for　you。〃
　〃Oh？　What？〃
　〃It'll　wait；　old　chum。　You　heard　about　Gornt？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Very　unusual　for　a　Rolls；　what？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He's　very　sure　he　can　take　Par…Con　away　from　you。〃
　〃He　won't。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Phillip　today？〃
　〃Phillip　Chen？　No；　why？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Bumped　into　him　at　the　track。　He　seemed　。。。　well；　he　looked　awful　and　very　distraught。　He's　taking　John's　。。。　he's　taking　the　kidnapping　very　badly。〃
　〃Wouldn't　you？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　would。　But　I　didn't　think　he　and　his　Number　One　Son　were　that　close。〃
　Dunross　thought　about　Adryon　and　Glenna　and　his　son　Duncan　who　was　fifteen　and　on　holiday　on　a　friend's　sheep　station　in　Australia。　What　would　I　do　if　one　of　them　were　kidnapped？　What　would　I　do　if　a　mutilated　ear　came　through　the　mails　at　me　like　that？
　I'd　go　mad。
　I'd　go　mad　with　rage。　I'd　forget　everything　else　and　I'd　hunt　down　the　kidnappers　and　then；　and　then　my　vengeance　would　last　a　thousand　years。　I'd　。。。
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　〃Yes？　Oh　hello；　Kathy；〃　he　said；　happy　as　always　to　see　his　younger　sister。
　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　Ian　dear；〃　Kathy　Gavallan　said　in　a　rush　from　the　door　to　his　office；　〃but　Claudia　said　you　had　a　few　minutes　before　your　next　appointment。　Is　it　all　right？〃
　〃　'Course　it's　all　right；〃　he　said　with　a　laugh；　and　put　aside　the　memo　he　was　working　on。
　〃Oh　good；　thanks。〃　She　closed　the　door　and　sat　in　the　high　chair　that　was　near　the　window。
　He　stretched　to　ease　the　ache　in　his　back　and　grinned　at　her。　〃Hey；　I　like　your　hat。〃　It　was　pale　straw　with　a　yellow　band　that　matched　her　cool…looking　silk　dress。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃I've　got　multiple　sclerosis。〃
　He　stared　at　her　blankly。　〃What？〃
　〃That's　what　the　tests　say。　The　doctor　told　me　yesterday　but　yesterday　I　couldn't　tell　you　or　。。。　Today　he　checked　the　tests　with　another　specialist　and　there's　no　mistake。〃　Her　voice　was　calm　and　her　face　calm　and　she　sat　upright　in　the　chair；　looking　prettier　than　he　had　ever　seen　her。　〃I　had　to　tell　someone。　Sorry　to　say　it　so　suddenly。　I　thought　you　could　help　me　make　a　plan；　not　today；　but　when　you've　time；　perhaps　over　the　weekend。　。。。〃　She　saw　his　expression　and　she　laughed　nervously。　〃It's　not　as　bad　as　that。　I　think。〃
　Dunross　sat　back　in　his　big　leather　chair　and　fought　to　get　his　shocked　mind　working。　〃Multiple　。。。　that's　dicey；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。　Apparently　it's　something　that　attacks　your　nervous　system　that　they　can't　cure　yet。　They　don't　know　what　it　is　or　where　or　how　you　。。。　how　you　get　it。〃
　〃We'll　get　other　specialists。　No；　even　better；　you　go　to　England　with　Penn。　There'd　be　specialists　there　or　in　Europe。　There's　got　to　be　some　form　of　cure；　Kathy；　got　to　be！〃
　〃There　isn't；　dear。　But　England　is　a　good　idea。　I'm　。。。　Dr。　Tooley　said　he'd　like　me　to　see　a　Harley　Street　specialist　for　treatment。　I'd　love　to　go　with　Penn。　I'm　not　too　advanced　and　there's　nothing　to　be　too　concerned　about；　if　I'm　careful。〃
　〃Meaning？〃
　〃Meaning　that　if　I　take　care　of　myself；　take　their　medication；　nap　in　the　afternoon　to　stop　getting　tired；　I'll　still　be　able　to　take　care　of　Andrew　and　the　house　and　the　children　and　play　a　little　tennis　and　golf　occasionally；　but　only　one　round　in　the　mornings。　You　see；　they　can　arrest　the　disease　but　they　can't　repair　the　damage　already　done　so　far。　He　said　if　I　don't　take　care　of　myself　and　rest　…　it's　rest　mostly　he　said　…　if　I　don't　rest；　it　will　start　up　again　and　then　each　time　you　go　down　a　plateau。　Yes。　And　then　you　can　never　get　back　up　again。　Do　you　see；　dear？〃
　He　stared　at　her；　keeping　his　agony　for　her　bottled。　His　heart　was　grinding　in　his　chest　and　he　had　eight　plans　for　her　and　he　thought　Oh　Christ　poor　Kathy！　〃Yes。　Well；　thank　God　you　can　rest　all　you　want；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　calm　like　hers。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　talk　to　Tooley？〃
　〃I　think　that　would　be　all　right。　There's　no　need　to　be　alarmed；　Ian。　He　said　I'd　be　all　right　if　I　took　care　of　myself；　and　I　told　him　I'd　be　ever　so　good　so　he　needn't　have　any　worries　on　that　score。〃　Kathy　was　surprised　that　her　voice　was　calm　and　her　hands　and　fingers　rested　in　her　lap　so　easily；　betraying　none　of　the　horror　she　felt　within。　She　could　almost　feel　the　disease　bugs　or　microbes　or　viruses　seeping　through　her　system；　feeding　on　her　nerves；　eating　them　away　oh　so　slowly；　second　by　second　hour　by　hour　until　there　would　be　more　tingling　and　more　numbness　in　her　fingers　and　her　toes；　then　her　wrists　and　ankles　and　legs　and　and　and　and　and　oh　Jesus　Christ　God　almighty　。。。
　She　took　a　little　tissue　out　of　her　purse　and　gently　dabbed　beside　her　nose　and　forehead。　〃It's　awfully　humid　today；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　Kathy；　why　is　it　so　sudden？〃
　〃Well　it　isn't　dear；　not　really。　They　just　couldn't　diagnose　it。　That's　what　all　the　tests　were　for。〃　It　had　begun　as　a　slight　dizziness　and　headaches　about　six　months　ago。　She'd　noticed　it　most　when　she　was　playing　golf。　She　would　be　standing　over　her　ball；　steadying　herself；　but　her　eyes　would　go　dizzy　and　she　could　not　focus　and　the　ball　would　split　and　bee　two　and　three　and　two　again　and　they　would　never　stay　still。　Andrew　had　laughed　and　told　her　to　see　an　optician。　But　it　wasn't　glasses；　and　aspirins　did　not　help；　nor　stronger　pills。　Then　dear　old　Tooley；　their　family　doctor　forever；　had　sent　her　to　Matilda　Hospital　on　the　Peak　for　tests　and　more　tests　and　brain　scans　in　case　there　was　a　tumor　but　they　had　shown　nothing；　nor　had　all　the　other　tests。　Only　the　awful　spinal　tap　gave　a　clue。　Other　tests　confirmed　it。　Yesterday。　Oh　sweet　Jesus　was　it　only　yesterday　they　condemned　me　to　the　wheelchair；　at　length　to　bee　a　helpless　slobbering　thing？
　〃You've　told　Andrew？〃
　〃No　dear；〃　she　said；　pulled　once　more　back　from　the　brink。　〃I　haven't　told　him　yet。　I　couldn't；　not　yet。　Poor　dear　Andrew　does　get　into　a　tizzy　so　easily。　I'll　tell　him　tonight。　I　couldn't　tell　him　before　I　told　you。　I　had　to　tell　you　first。　We　always　used　to　tell　you　everything　first；　didn't　we？　Lechie；　Scotty　and　I？　You　always　used　to　know　first。　。。。〃　She　was　remembering　when　they　were　all　young；　all　the　lovely　happy　times　here　in　Hong　Kong　and　in　Ayr　at　Castle　Avisyard；　at　their　lovely　old　rambling　house　on　the　crest　of　the　hill　amid　the　heather；　overlooking　the　sea　…　Christmas　and　Easter　and　the　long　summer　holidays；　she　and　Ian　…　and　Lechie；　the　oldest；　and　Scott；　her　twin　brother　…　such　happy　days　when　Father　wasn't　there；　all　of　them　terrified　of　their　fat