jamesclavell.noblehouse-第79章

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　〃Of　course　not。　We'll　pick　you　up　at　the　wharf；　just　opposite　the　hotel；　near　the　Golden　Ferry。　Ten　o'clock　…　casual。　Do　you　swim？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃Good　…　the　water's　refreshing。　Water…ski？〃
　〃Love　it！〃
　〃Very　good！〃
　〃Can　I　bring　anything？　Food　or　wine　or　anything？〃
　〃No。　I　think　we'll　have　everything　aboard。　We'll　go　to　one　of　the　outer　islands　and　picnic；　water…ski　…　be　back　just　after　sunset。〃
　〃Mr。　Gornt；　I'd　like　to　keep　this　excursion　to　ourselves。　I'm　told　Confucius　said；　'A　closed　mouth　catches　no　flies。'　〃
　〃Confucius　said　many　things。　He　once　likened　a　lady　to　a　moonbeam。〃
　She　hesitated；　the　danger　signals　up。　But　then　she　heard　herself　say　lightly；　〃Should　I　bring　a　chaperone？〃
　〃Perhaps　you　should；〃　he　said　and　she　heard　his　smile。
　〃How　about　Dunross？〃
　〃He'd　hardly　be　a　chaperone　…　merely　the　destruction　of　what　could　perhaps　be　a　perfect　day。〃
　〃I　look　forward　to　Sunday；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　The　phone　clicked　off　instantly。
　You　arrogant　bastard！　she　almost　said　aloud。　How　much　are　you　taking　for　granted？　Just　thank　you　and　click　and　no　good…bye。
　I'm　Linc's　and　not　up　for　grabs。
　Then　why　did　you　play　the　coquette　on　the　phone　and　at　the　party？　she　asked　herself。　And　why　did　you　want　that　bastard　to　keep　your　Sunday　date　quiet？
　Women　like　secrets　too；　she　told　herself　grimly。　Women　like　a　lot　of　things　men　like。
　
　26
　
　8：35　P。M。：
　The　coolie　was　in　the　dingy　gold　vaults　of　the　Ho…Pak　Bank。　He　was　a　small；　old　man　who　wore　a　tattered　grimy　undershirt　and　ragged　shorts。　As　the　two　porters　lifted　the　canvas　sack　onto　his　bent　back；　he　adjusted　the　forehead　halter　and　leaned　against　it；　taking　the　strain　with　his　neck　muscles；　his　hands　grasping　the　two　worn　straps。　Now　that　he　had　the　full　weight；　he　felt　his　overtaxed　heart　pumping　against　the　load；　his　joints　shrieking　for　relief。
　The　sack　weighed　just　over　ninety　pounds　…　almost　more　than　his　own　weight。　The　tally　clerks　had　just　sealed　it。　It　contained　exactly　250　of　the　little　gold　smuggler　bars；　each　of　five　taels　…　a　little　over　six　ounces　…　just　one　of　which　would　have　kept　him　and　his　family　secure　for　months。　But　the　old　man　had　no　thought　of　trying　to　steal　even　one　of　them。　All　of　his　being　was　concentrated　on　how　to　dominate　the　agony；　how　to　keep　his　feet　moving；　how　to　do　his　share　of　the　work；　to　get　his　pay　at　the　end　of　his　shift；　and　then　to　rest。
　〃Hurry　up；〃　the　foreman　said　sourly；　〃we've　still　more　than　twenty　fornicating　tons　to　load。　Next！〃
　The　old　man　did　not　reply。　To　do　so　would　take　more　of　his　precious　energy。　He　had　to　guard　his　strength　zealously　tonight　if　he　was　to　finish。　With　an　effort　he　set　his　feet　into　motion；　his　calves　knotted　and　varicosed　and　scarred　from　so　many　years　of　labor。
　Another　coolie　took　his　place　as　he　shuffled　slowly　out　of　the　dank　concrete　room；　the　shelves　ladened　with　a　seemingly　never…ending　supply　of　meticulous　stacks　of　little　gold　bars　that　waited　under　the　watchful　eyes　of　the　two　neat　bank　clerks　…　waited　to　be　loaded　into　the　next　canvas　sack；　to　be　counted　and　recounted；　then　sealed　with　a　flourish。
　On　the　narrow　stairway　the　old　man　faltered。　He　regained　his　balance　with　difficulty；　then　lifted　a　foot　to　climb　another　step　…　only　twenty…eight　more　now　…　and　then　another　and　he　had　just　made　the　landing　when　his　calves　gave　out。　He　tottered　against　the　wall；　leaning　against　it　to　ease　the　weight；　his　heart　grinding；　both　hands　grasping　the　straps；　knowing　he　could　never　resettle　the　load　if　he　stepped　out　of　the　harness；　terrified　lest　the　foreman　or　a　subforeman　would　pass　by。　Through　the　spectrum　of　pain　he　heard　footsteps　ing　toward　him　and　he　fought　the　sack　higher　onto　his　back　and　into　motion　once　more。　He　almost　toppled　over。
　〃Hey；　Nine　Carat　Chu；　are　you　all　right？〃　the　other　coolie　asked　in　Shantung　dialect；　steadying　the　sack　for　him。
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。〃　He　gasped　with　relief；　thankful　it　was　his　friend　from　his　village　far　to　the　north　and　the　leader　of　his　gang　of　ten。　〃Fornicate　all　gods；　I　。。。　I　just　slipped。　。。。〃
　The　other　man　peered　at　him　in　the　coarse　light　from　the　single　bare　light　overhead。　He　saw　the　tortured；　rheumy　old　eyes　and　the　stretched　muscles。　〃I'll　take　this　one；　you　rest　a　moment；〃　he　said。　Skillfully　he　eased　off　the　weight　and　swung　the　sack　to　the　floorboards。　〃I'll　tell　that　motherless　foreigner　who　thinks　he's　got　brains　enough　to　be　a　foreman　that　you've　gone　to　relieve　yourself。〃　He　reached　into　his　ragged；　torn　pants　pocket　and　handed　the　old　man　one　of　his　small；　screwed…up　pieces　of　cigarette　foil。　〃Take　it。　I'll　deduct　it　from　your　pay　tonight。〃
　The　old　man　mumbled　his　thanks。　He　was　all　pain　now；　barely　thinking。　The　other　man　swung　the　sack　onto　his　back；　grunting　with　the　effort；　leaned　against　the　head　band；　then；　his　calves　knotted；　slowly　went　back　up　the　stairs；　pleased　with　the　deal　he　had　made。
　The　old　man　slunk　off　the　landing　into　a　dusty　alcove　and　squatted　down。　His　fingers　trembled　as　he　smoothed　out　the　cigarette　foil　with　its　pinch　of　white　powder。　He　lit　a　match　and　held　it　carefully　under　the　foil　to　heat　it。　The　powder　began　to　blacken　and　smoke。　Carefully　he　held　the　smoking　powder　under　his　nostrils　and　inhaled　deeply；　again　and　again；　until　every　grain　had　vanished　into　the　smoke　that　he　pulled　oh　so　gratefully　into　his　lungs。
　He　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　Soon　the　pain　vanished　and　left　euphoria。　It　was　all…pervading。　He　felt　young　again　and　strong　again　and　now　he　knew　that　he　would　finish　his　shift　perfectly　and　this　Saturday；　when　he　went　to　the　races；　he　would　win　the　double　quinella。　Yes；　this　would　be　his　lucky　week　and　he　would　put　most　of　his　winnings　down　on　a　piece　of　property；　yes；　a　small　piece　of　property　at　first　but　with　the　boom　my　property　will　go　up　and　up　and　up　and　then　I'll　sell　that　piece　and　make　a　fortune　and　buy　more　and　more　and　then　I'll　be　an　ancestor；　my　grandchildren　flocking　around　my　knees　。。。
　He　got　up　and　stood　tall　then　went　back　down　the　stairs　again　and　stood　in　line；　waiting　his　turn　impatiently。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　hurry　up；〃　he　said　in　his　lilting　Shantung　dialect；　〃I　haven't　all　night！　I've　another　job　at　midnight。〃
　The　other　job　was　on　a　construction　site　in　Central；　not　far　from　the　Ho…Pak　and　he　knew　he　was　blessed　to　have　two　bonus　jobs　in　one　night　on　top　of　his　regular　day　job　as　a　construction　laborer。　He　knew；　too；　that　it　was　the　expensive　white　powder　that　had　transformed　him　and　taken　his　fatigue　and　pain　away。　Of　course；　he　knew　the　white　powder　was　dangerous。　But　he　was　sensible　and　cautious　and　only　took　it　when　he　was　at　the　limit　of　strength。　That　he　took　it　most　days　now；　twice　a　day　most　days　now；　did　not　worry　him。　Joss；　he　told　himself　with　a　shrug；　taking　the　new　canvas　sack　on　his　back。
　Once　he　had　been　a　farmer　and　the　eldest　son　of　landowning　farmers　in　the　northern　province　of　Shantung；　in　the　fertile；　shifting　delta　of　the　Yellow　River　where；　for　centuries；　they　had　grown　fruit　and　grain　and　soybeans；　peanuts；　tobacco　and　all　the　vegetables　they　could　eat。
　Ah；　our　lovely　fields；　he　thought　happily；　climbing　the　stairs　now；　oblivious　of　his　pounding　heart；　our　lovely　fields　rich　with　growing　crops。　So　beautiful！　Yes。　But　then　the　Bad　Times　began　thirty　years　ago。　The　Devils　from　the　Eastern　Sea　came　with　their　guns　and　their　tanks　and　raped　our　earth；　and　then；　after　warlord　Mao　Tse…tung　and　warlord　Chiang　Kai…shek　beat　them　off；　they　fought　among　themselves　and　again　the　land　was　laid　waste。　So　we　fled　the　famine；　me　and　my　young　wife　and　my　two　sons　and　came　to　this　place；　Fragrant　Harbor；　to　live　among　strangers；　southern　barbarians　and　foreign　devils。　We　walked　all　the　way。　We　survived。　I　carried　my　sons　most　of　the　way　and　now　my　sons　are　sixteen　and　fourteen　and　we　have　two　daughters　and　they　all　eat　rice　once　a　day　and　this　year　will　be　my　lucky　year。　Yes。　I'll　win　the　quinella　or　the　daily　double　and　one　day　we'll　go　home　to　my　village　and　I'll　take　our　lands　back　and　plant　them　again　and　Chairman　Mao　will　wele　us　home　and　let　us　take　our　lands　back　and　we'll　live　so　happily；　so　rich　and　so　happy。　。。。
　He　was　out　of　the　building　now；　in　the　night；　standing　beside　the　truck。　Other　hands　lifted　the　sack　and　stacked　it　with　all　the　other　sacks　of　gold；　more　clerks　checking　and　rechecking　the　numbers。　There　were　two　trucks　in　the　side　street。　One　was　already　filled　and　waiting　under　its　guards。　A　single　unarmed　policeman　was　watching　idly　as　the　traffic　passed。　The　night　was　warm。
　The　old　man　turned　to　go。　Then　he　noticed　the　three　Europeans；　two　men　and　a　woman；　approaching。　They　stopped　near　the　far　truck；　watching　him。　His　mouth　dropped　open。
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh！　Look　at　that　whore　…　the　monster　with　the　straw　hair；〃　he　said　to　no　one　in　particular。
　〃Unbelievable！〃　another　replied。
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　revolting　the　way　their　whores　dress　in　public；　isn't　it？〃　a　wizened　old　loader　said　disgustedly。　〃Flaunting　their　loins　with　those　tight　trousers。　You　can　see　every　fornicating　wrinkle　in　her　lower　lips。〃
　〃I'll　bet　you　could　put　your　whole　fist　and　whole　arm　in　it　and　never　reach　bottom！〃　another　said　with　a　laugh。
　〃Who'd　want　to？〃　Nine　Carat　Chu　asked　and　hawked　loudly　and　spat　and　let　his　mind　drift　pleasantly　to　Saturday　as　he　went　below　again。
　〃I　wish　they　wouldn't　spit　like　that。　It's　disgusting！〃　Casey　said　queasily。
　〃It's　an　old　Chinese　custom；〃　Dunross　said。　〃They　believe　there's　an　evil　god…spirit　in　your　throat　which　you've　got　to　get　rid　of　constantly　or　it　will　choke　you。　Of　course　spitting's　against　the　law　but　that's　meaningless　to　them。〃
　〃What'd　that　old　man　say？〃　Casey　asked；　watching　him　plod　back　into　the　side　door　of　the　bank；　now　over　her　anger　and　very　glad　to　be　going　to　dinner　with　them　both。
　〃I　don't　know　…　I　didn't　understand　his　dialect。〃
　〃I'll　bet　it　wasn't　a　pliment。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃You'd　win　that　one；　Casey。　They　don't　think　much　of　us　at　all。〃
　〃That　old　man　must　be　eighty　if　he's　a　day　and　he's　carried　his　load　as　though　it　was　a　feather。　How'd　they　stay　so　fit？〃
　Dunross　shrugged　and　said　nothing。　He　knew。
　Another　coolie　heaved　his　burden　into　the　truck；　stared　at　her；　hawked；　spat　and　plodded　away　again。　〃Up　yours　too；〃　Casey　muttered　and　then　parodied　an　awful　hawk　and　a　twenty…foot　spit　and　they　laughed　with　her。　The　Chinese　just　stared。
　〃Ian；　what's　this　all　about？　What're　we　here　for？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　see　fifty　tons　of　gold。〃
　Casey　gasped。　〃Those　sacks're　filled　with　gold？〃
　〃Yes。　e　along。〃　Dunross　led　the　way　down　the　dingy　stairs　into　the　gold　vault。　The　bank　officials　greeted　him　politely　and　the　unarmed　guards　and　loaders　stared。　Both　Americans　felt　disquieted　under　the　stares。　But　their　disquiet　was　swamped　by　the　gold。　Neat　stacks　of　gold　bars　on　the　steel　shelves　that　surrounded　them　…　ten　to　a　layer；　each　stack　ten　layers　high。
　〃Can　I　pick　one　up？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃Help　yourself；〃　Dunross　told　them；　watching　them；　trying　to　test　the　extent　of　their　greed。　I'm　gambling　for　high　stakes；　he　thought　again。　I　have　to　know　the　measure　of　these　two。
　Casey　had　never　touched　so　much　gold　in　her　life。　Nor　had　Bartlett。　Their　fingers　trembled。　She　caressed　one