jamesclavell.noblehouse-第125节

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e　my　oath；　I　haven't　called　the　police。　Why　should　I？　If　I　call　them　how　can　we　negotiate？〃
　There　was　another　long　hesitation；　then　the　man　said；　somewhat　mollified；　〃I　agree。　But　we　have　your　son　so　any　trouble　that　happens　is　your　fault　and　not　ours。　All　right；　I'll　be　reasonable　too。　I　will　accept　400；000；　but　it　must　be　tonight！〃
　〃That's　impossible！　You　ask　me　to　fish　in　the　sea　to　catch　a　tiger！　I　didn't　get　your　letter　till　after　the　banks　were　closed　but　I've　got　100；000　cash；　in　small　bills。　。。。〃　Dianne　nudged　him　and　held　up　two　fingers。　〃Listen；　Honorable　Werewolf；　perhaps　I　can　borrow　more　tonight。　Perhaps　。。。　listen；　I　will　give　you　two　tonight。　I'm　sure　I　can　raise　that　within　the　hour。　200；000！〃
　〃May　all　gods　smite　me　dead　if　I　sell　out　for　such　a　fornicating　pittance。　350；000！〃
　〃200；000　within　the　hour！〃
　〃His　other　ear　within　two　days　or　300；000　tonight！〃
　Phillip　Chen　wailed　and　pleaded　and　flattered　and　cursed　and　they　negotiated　back　and　forth。　Both　men　were　adept。　Soon　both　were　caught　up　in　the　battle　of　wits；　each　using　all　his　powers；　the　kidnapper　using　threats；　Phillip　Chen　using　guile；　flattery　and　promises。　At　length；　Phillip　Chen　said；　〃You　are　too　good　for　me；　too　good　a　negotiator。　I　will　pay　200；000　tonight　and　a　further　100；000　within　four　months。〃
　〃Within　one　month！〃
　〃Three！〃　Phillip　Chen　was　aghast　at　the　flow　of　obscenities　that　followed　and　he　wondered　if　he　had　misjudged　his　adversary。
　〃Two！〃
　Dianne　nudged　him　again；　nodding　agreement。　〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃I　agree。　Another　100；000　in　two　months。〃
　〃Good！〃　The　man　sounded　satisfied；　then　he　added；　〃I　will　consider　what　you　say　and　call　you　back。〃
　〃But　wait　a　moment；　Honorable　Werewolf。　When　wil…　〃
　〃Within　the　hour。〃
　〃Bu…　〃　The　line　went　dead。　Phillip　Chen　cursed；　then　mopped　his　brow　again。　〃I　thought　I　had　him。　God　curse　the　motherless　dog　turd！〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dianne　was　elated。　〃You　did　very　well；　Phillip！　Only　two　now　and　another　hundred　in　two　months！　Perfect！　Anything　can　happen　in　two　months。　Perhaps　the　dirty　police　will　catch　them　and　then　we　won't　have　to　pay　the　hundred！〃　Happily　she　took　out　a　tissue　and　blotted　the　perspiration　off　her　upper　lip。　Then　her　smile　faded。　〃What　about　Shitee　T'Chung？　We've　got　to　go　but　you'll　have　to　wait。〃
　〃Ah；　I　have　it！　Take　Kevin；　I'll　e　later。　There'll　be　plenty　of　space　for　me　whenever　I　get　there。　I'll　。。。　I'll　wait　for　him　to　call　back。〃
　〃Excellent！　How　clever　you　are！　We've　got　to　get　our　coin　back。　Oh　very　good！　Perhaps　our　joss　has　changed　and　the　boom　will　happen　like　Old　Blind　Tung　forecast。　Kevin's　so　concerned　for　you；　Phillip。　The　poor　boy's　so　upset　that　you　have　all　these　troubles。　He's　very　concerned　for　your　health。〃　She　hurried　out；　thanking　the　gods；　knowing　she　would　be　back　long　before　John　Chen　returned　safely。　Perfect；　she　was　thinking；　Kevin　can　wear　his　new　white　sharkskin　dinner　jacket。　It's　time　he　began　to　live　up　to　his　new　position。　〃Kevinnnnn！〃
　The　door　closed。　Phillip　Chen　sighed。　When　he　had　gathered　his　strength；　he　went　to　the　sideboard　and　poured　himself　a　brandy。　After　Dianne　and　Kevin　had　left；　he　poured　himself　another。　At　a　quarter　to　nine　the　phone　rang　again。
　〃Noble　House　Chen？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes；　Honorable　Werewolf？〃
　〃We　accept。　But　it　has　to　be　tonight！〃
　Phillip　Chen　sighed。　〃Very　well。　Now　wh…　〃
　〃You　can　get　all　the　money？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃The　notes　will　be　hundreds　as　I　asked？〃
　〃Yes。　I　have　100；000　and　can　get　another　hundred　from　a　friend　。。。〃
　〃You　have　rich　friends；〃　the　man　said　suspiciously。　〃Mandarins。〃
　〃He's　a　bookmaker；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　quickly；　cursing　himself　for　his　slip。　〃When　you　hung　up　I　。。。　I　made　the　arrangements。　Fortunately　this　happened　to　be　one　of　his　big　nights。〃
　〃All　right。　Listen；　take　a　taxi…　〃
　〃Oh　but　I　have　a　car　an…　〃
　〃I　know　you　have　a　fornicating　car　and　I　know　the　license　number；〃　the　man　said　rudely；　〃and　we　know　all　about　you　and　if　you　try　to　betray　us　to　the　police　you　will　never　see　your　son　again　and　you　will　be　next　on　our　list！　Understand？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes；　of　course；　Honorable　Werewolf；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　placatingly。　〃I'm　to　take　a　taxi　…　where　to？〃
　〃The　triangle　garden　at　Kowloon　Tong。　There's　a　road　called　Essex　Road。　There's　a　wall　fence　there　and　a　hole　in　the　wall。　An　arrow　drawn　on　the　pavement　of　the　road　has　its　arrowhead　pointing　at　the　hole。　You　put　your　hand　in　this　hole　and　you'll　get　a　letter。　You　read　it　then　our　street　fighters　will　approach　you　and　say　'Tin　koon　chi　fook'　and　you　hand　the　bag　over。〃
　〃Oh！　Isn't　it　possible　I　can　hand　it　to　the　wrong　man？〃
　〃You　won't。　You　understand　the　password　and　everything？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes。〃
　〃How　long　will　it　take　you　to　get　there？〃
　〃I　can　e　at　once。　I'll　。。。　I　can　get　the　other　money　on　the　way；　I　can　e　at　once。〃
　〃Then　e　immediately。　e　alone；　you　cannot　e　with　anyone　else。　You　will　be　watched　the　moment　you　leave　the　door。〃
　Phillip　Chen　mopped　his　brow。　〃And　my　son？　When　do　I　ge…　〃
　〃Obey　instructions！　Beware　and　e　alone。〃
　Again　the　phone　went　dead。　His　fingers　were　shaking　as　he　picked　up　the　glass　and　drained　the　brandy。　He　felt　the　warm　afterglow　but　it　took　away　none　of　his　apprehension。　When　he　had　collected　himself；　he　dialed　a　very　private　number。　〃I　want　to　speak　to　Four　Finger　Wu；〃　he　said　in　Wu's　dialect。
　〃One　moment　please。〃　There　were　some　muffled　Haklo　voices；　and　then；　〃Is　this　Mr。　Chen；　Mr。　Phillip　Chen？〃　the　voice　asked　in　American　English。
　〃Oh！〃　he　said；　startled；　then　added　cautiously；　〃Who's　this？〃
　〃This's　Paul　Choy；　Mr。　Chen。　Mr。　Wu's　nephew。　My　uncle　had　to　go　out　but　he　left　instructions　for　me　to　wait　until　you　called。　He's　made　some　arrangements　for　you。　This　is　Mr。　Chen？〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　it　is。〃
　〃Ah；　great。　Have　you　heard　from　the　kidnappers？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　have。〃　Phillip　Chen　was　uneasy　talking　to　a　stranger　but　now　he　had　no　option。　He　told　Paul　Choy　the　instructions　he　had　been　given。
　〃Just　a　moment；　sir。〃
　He　heard　a　hand　being　put　over　the　phone　and　again　muffled；　indistinct　talking　in　Haklo　dialect　for　a　moment。　〃Everything's　set；　sir。　We'll　send　a　cab　to　your　house　…　you're　phoning　from　Struan's　Lookout？〃
　〃Yes　…　yes；　I'm　home。〃
　〃The　driver'll　be　one　of　our　guys。　There'll　be　more　of　my　uncle's；　er；　people　scattered　over　Kowloon　Tong　so　not　to　worry；　you'll　be　covered　every　foot　of　the　way。　Just　hand　over　the　money　and；　er；　and　they'll　take　care　of　everything。　My　uncle's　chief　lieut…　er；　his　aide；　says　not　to　worry；　they'll　have　the　whole　area　swarming　。。。　Mr。　Chen？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　still　here。　Thank　you。〃
　〃The　cab'll　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　
　Paul　Choy　put　down　the　phone。　〃Noble　House　Chen　says　thank　you；　Honorable　Father；〃　he　told　Four　Finger　Wu　placatingly　in　their　dialect；　quaking　under　the　stony　eyes。　Sweat　was　beading　his　face。　He　tried　unsuccessfully　to　hide　his　fear　of　the　others。　It　was　hot　and　stuffy　in　the　crowded　main　cabin　of　this　ancient　junk　that　was　tied　up　in　a　permanent　berth　to　an　equally　ancient　dock　in　one　of　Aberdeen's　multitude　of　estuaries。　〃Can　I　go　with　your　fighters；　too？〃
　〃Do　you　send　a　rabbit　against　a　dragon？〃　Four　Finger　Wu　snarled。　〃Are　you　trained　as　a　street　fighter？　Am　I　a　fool　like　you？　Treacherous　like　you？〃　He　jerked　a　horny　thumb　at　Goodweather　Poon。　〃Lead　the　fighters！〃　The　man　hurried　out。　The　others　followed。
　Now　the　two　of　them　were　alone　in　the　cabin。
　The　old　man　was　sitting　on　an　upturned　keg。　He　lit　another　cigarette；　inhaled　deeply；　coughed　and　spat　loudly　on　the　deck　floor。　Paul　Choy　watched　him；　the　sweat　running　down　his　back；　more　from　fear　than　from　the　heat。　Around　them　were　some　old　desks；　filing　cabinets；　rickety　chairs　and　two　phones；　and　this　was　Four　Fingers's　office　and　munications　center。　It　was　mostly　from　here　that　he　sent　messages　to　his　fleets。　Much　of　his　business　was　regular　freighting　but　wherever　the　Silver　Lotus　flag　flew；　his　order　to　his　captains　was：　Anything；　shipped　anywhere；　at　any　time　…　at　the　right　price。
　The　tough　old　man　coughed　again　and　glared　at　him　under　shaggy　eyebrows。　〃They　teach　you　curious　ways　in　the　Golden　Mountain；　heya？〃
　Paul　Choy　held　his　tongue　and　waited；　his　heart　thumping；　and　wished　he　had　never　e　back　to　Hong　Kong；　that　he　was　still　Stateside；　or　even　better　in　Honolulu　surfing　in　the　Great　Waves　or　lying　on　the　beach　with　his　girl　friend。　His　spirit　twisted　at　the　thought　of　her。
　〃They　teach　you　to　bite　the　hand　that　feeds　you；　heya？〃
　〃No；　Honored　Father；　sorr…　〃
　〃They　teach　that　my　money　is　yours；　my　wealth　yours　and　my　chop　yours　to　use　as　you　wish；　heya？〃
　〃No；　Honored　Lord。　I'm　sorry　to　displease　you；〃　Paul　Choy　muttered；　wilting　under　the　weight　of　his　fear。
　This　morning；　early；　when　Gornt　had　jauntily　e　into　the　office　from　the　meeting　with　Bartlett；　it　was　still　before　the　secretaries　were　due　so　Paul　Choy　had　asked　if　he　could　help　him。　Gornt　had　told　him　to　get　several　people　on　the　phone。　Others　he　had　dialed　himself　on　his　private　line。　Paul　Choy　had　thought　nothing　of　it　at　the　time　until　he　happened　to　overhear　part　of　what　was；　obviously；　inside　information　about　Struan's　being　whispered　confidentially　over　the　phone。　Remembering　the　Bartlett　call　earlier；　deducing　that