jamesclavell.noblehouse-第140节

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　Pennyworth　called　out　jovially；　〃We're　in　luck！　The　ship's　listing　this　way　so　when　she　goes　down　we'll　be　safe　enough。　Unless　she　capsizes。　Just　like　old　times；〃　he　added。　〃I　was　sunk　three　times　in　the　Med。〃
　〃So　was　I；〃　Marlowe　said；　〃but　it　was　in　the　Bangka　Strait　off　Sumatra。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　that；　Peter；〃　Fleur　said。
　〃It　was　nothing。〃
　〃How　deep's　the　water　here？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃It　must　be　twenty　feet　or　more；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃That'll　be　en…　〃　There　was　a　whoopwhoopwhoop　of　sirens　as　the　police　launch　came　bustling　through　the　narrow　byways　between　the　islands　of　boats；　its　searchlight　darting　here　and　there。　When　it　was　almost　alongside　the　Floating　Dragon；　the　megaphone　sounded　loudly；　first　in　Chinese；　〃All　sampans　clear　the　area；　clear　the　area　。。。〃　Then　in　English；　〃Those　on　the　top　deck　prepare　to　abandon　ship！　The　hull's　holed；　prepare　to　abandon　ship！〃
　Christian　Toxe　muttered　sourly　to　no　one；　〃Buggered　if　I'm　going　to　ruin　my　only　dinner　jacket。〃
　His　wife　tugged　at　his　arm。　〃You　never　liked　it　anyway；　Chris。〃
　〃I　like　it　now；　old　girl。〃　He　tried　to　smile。　〃You　can't　bloody　swim　either。〃
　She　shrugged。　〃I'll　bet　you　fifty　dollar　you　and　me　we　swim　like　a　one　hundred　percent　eel。〃
　〃Mrs。　Toxe；　you　have　a　bet。　But　it's　only　fitting　we're　the　last　to　go。　After　all；　I　want　an　eyewitness　account。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　and　found　his　cigarettes；　gave　her　one；　trying　to　feel　brave；　frightened　for　her　safety。　He　searched　for　a　match；　couldn't　find　one。　She　reached　into　her　purse　and　rummaged　around。　Eventually　she　found　her　lighter。　It　lit　on　the　third　go。　Both　were　oblivious　of　the　flames　that　were　ten　feet　behind　them。
　Dunross　said；　〃You　smoke　too　much；　Christian。〃
　The　deck　twisted　sickeningly。　The　boat　began　to　settle。　Water　was　pouring　through　the　great　hole　in　her　side。　Firemen　used　their　hoses　with　great　bravery　but　they　had　little　effect　on　the　conflagration。　A　murmur　went　through　the　crowd　as　the　whole　boat　shuddered。　Two　of　the　mooring　guys　snapped。
　Pennyworth　was　leaning　against　the　gunnel；　helping　others　to　jump　clear。　Quite　a　few　were　jumping　now。　Lady　Joanna　fell　awkwardly。　Paul　Havergill　helped　his　wife　over　the　side。　When　he　saw　she　had　surfaced　he　leaped　too。　The　police　launch　was　still　blaring　in　Cantonese　to　clear　the　area。　Sailors　threw　life　jackets　over　the　side　as　others　launched　a　cutter。　Then；　led　by　a　young　marine　inspector；　half　a　dozen　sailors　dived　over　the　side　to　help　those　in　trouble；　men；　women　and　a　few　children。　A　sampan　darted　in　to　help　Lady　Joanna；　Havergill　and　his　wife。　Gratefully　they　clambered　aboard　the　rickety　craft。　Others　from　the　top　deck　plunged　into　the　water。
　The　Floating　Dragon　was　listing　badly。　Someone　slipped　on　the　top　deck　and　knocked　Pennyworth　off　balance。　He　half…jumped；　half…fell　backward　before　he　could　catch　himself　and　fell　like　a　stone。　His　head　smashed　into　the　stem　of　the　sampan；　snapping　his　neck；　and　he　slithered　into　the　water　and　sank。　In　the　pandemonium　no　one　noticed　him。
　Casey　was　hanging　on　to　the　railings　with　Bartlett；　Dunross；　Gornt；　Orlanda　and　the　Marlowes。　Nearby；　Toxe　was　puffing　away；　trying　to　summon　his　courage。　His　wife　stubbed　her　cigarette　out　carefully。　Flames　were　surging　from　the　air　vents；　skylights　and　exit　door；　then　the　ship　grounded　heavily　and　lurched　as　another　of　her　anchoring　cables　snapped。　Gornt's　hold　was　torn　away　and　he　crashed　headfirst　into　the　railing；　stunning　himself。　Toxe　and　his　wife　lost　their　balance　and　went　over　the　side；　badly。　Peter　Marlowe　held　on　to　his　wife　and　just　managed　to　prevent　her　being　smashed　into　a　bulkhead　as　Bartlett　and　Casey　half…tumbled；　half…stumbled　past　and　fell　in　a　heap　at　the　railing；　Bartlett　protecting　her　as　best　he　could；　her　high　heels　dangerous。
　Below；　in　the　water；　sailors　were　helping　people　to　the　rescue　boat。　One　saw　Toxe　and　his　wife　rise　to　the　surface　for　an　instant　fifteen　yards　away；　both　gasping　and　spluttering；　before　they　choked；　and；　flailing；　went　down　again。　At　once　he　dived　for　them　and　after　a　seeming　eternity；　grabbed　her　clothing　and　shoved　her；　half…drowned；　to　the　surface。　The　young　lieutenant　swam　over　to　where　he　had　seen　Toxe　and　dived　but　missed　him　in　the　darkness。　He　came　up　for　air　and　dived　once　more　into　the　blackness；　groping　helplessly。　When　his　lungs　were　bursting；　his　outstretched　fingers　touched　some　clothing　and　he　grabbed　and　kicked　for　the　surface。　Toxe　clung　on　in　panic；　retching　and　choking　from　all　the　seawater　he　had　swallowed。　The　young　man　broke　his　hold；　turned　Toxe　over　and　hauled　him　to　the　cutter。
　Above　them；　the　boat　was　tilted　dangerously　and　Dunross　picked　himself　up。　He　saw　Gornt　inert　in　a　heap　and　he　stumbled　over　to　him。　He　tried　to　lift　him；　couldn't。
　〃I'm　。。。　I'm　all　right；〃　Gornt　gasped；　ing　around；　then　he　shook　his　head　like　a　dog。　〃Christ；　thanks　。。。〃　He　looked　up　and　saw　it　was　Dunross。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　smiled　grimly　as　he　got　up　shakily。　〃I'm　still　selling　tomorrow　and　by　next　week　you'll　have　had　it。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃Jolly　good　luck！　The　idea　of　burning　to　death　or　drowning　with　you　fills　me　with　equal　dismay。〃
　Ten　yards　away；　Bartlett　was　lifting　Casey　up。　The　angle　of　the　deck　was　bad　now；　the　fire　worse。　〃This　whole　goddamn　tub　could　capsize　any　second。〃
　〃What　about　them？〃　she　asked　quietly；　nodding　at　Fleur　and　Orlanda。
　He　thought　a　second；　then　said　decisively；　〃You　go　first；　wait　below！〃
　〃Got　it！〃　At　once　she　gave　him　her　small　purse。　He　stuffed　it　into　a　pocket　and　hurried　away　as　she　kicked　off　her　shoes；　unzipped　her　long　dress　and　stepped　out　of　it。　At　once　she　gathered　up　the　light　silk　material　into　a　rope；　tied　it　around　her　waist；　swung　neatly　over　the　railing　and　stood　there　poised　on　the　edge　a　moment；　gauged　her　impact　point　carefully；　and　leapt　out　into　a　perfect　swan　dive。　Gornt　and　Dunross　watched　her　go；　their　immediate　danger　forgotten。
　Bartlett　was　beside　Orlanda　now。　He　saw　Casey　break　the　surface　cleanly　and　before　Orlanda　could　do　anything　he　lifted　her　over　the　railing　and　said；　〃Hold　your　breath；　honey；〃　and　dropped　her　carefully。　They　all　watched　her　fall。　She　plummeted　down　feet　first　and　went　into　the　water　a　few　yards　from　Casey　who　had　already　anticipated　the　spot　and　had　swum　down　below　the　surface。　She　caught　Orlanda　easily；　kicked　for　the　surface；　and　Orlanda　was　breathing　almost　before　she　realized　she　was　off　the　deck。　Casey　held　her　safely　and　swam　strongly　for　the　cutter；　in　perfect　control。
　Gornt　and　Dunross　cheered　lustily。　The　boat　lurched　again　and　they　almost　lost　their　footing　as　Bartlett　stumbled　over　to　the　Marlowes。
　〃Peter；　how's　your　swimming？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃Average。〃
　〃Trust　me　with　her？　I　was　a　lifeguard；　beach　bum；　for　years。〃
　Before　Marlowe　could　say　no；　Bartlett　lifted　Fleur　into　his　arms　and　stepped　over　the　railing　onto　the　ledge　and　poised　himself　for　a　second。　〃Just　hold　your　breath！〃　She　put　one　arm　around　his　neck　and　held　her　nose　then　he　stepped　into　space；　Fleur　tightly　and　safely　in　his　arms。　He　plunged　into　the　sea　cleanly；　protecting　her　from　the　shock　with　his　own　legs　and　body；　and　kicked　smoothly　for　the　surface。　Her　head　was　hardly　under　a　few　seconds　and　she　was　not　even　spluttering　though　her　heart　was　racing。　In　seconds　she　was　at　the　cutter。　She　hung　on　to　the　side　and　they　looked　back。
　When　Peter　Marlowe　saw　she　was　safe　his　heart　began　again。　〃Oh；　jolly　good；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Did　you　see　Casey　go？〃　Dunross　asked。　〃Fantastic！〃
　〃What？　Oh；　no；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Just　bra　and　pants　with　stockings　attached　and　no　ironworks　and　a　dream　dive。　Christ；　what　a　figure！〃
　〃Oh　those're　pantyhose；〃　Marlowe　said　absently；　looking　at　the　water　below；　gathering　his　courage。　〃They've　just　e　out　in　the　States；　they're　all　the　rage　。。。〃
　Dunross　was　hardly　listening。　〃Christ　Agnes；　what　a　figure。〃
　〃Ah　yes；〃　Gornt　echoed。　〃And　what　cojones。〃
　The　boat　shrieked　as　the　last　of　its　mooring　guys　snapped。　The　deck　toppled　nauseatingly。
　As　one；　the　last　three　men　went　overboard。　Dunross　and　Gornt　dived；　Peter　Marlowe　jumped。　The　dives　were　good　but　both　men　knew　they　were　not　as　good　as　Casey's。
　
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　11：30　P。M。：
　On　the　other　side　of　the　island　the　old　taxi　was　grinding　up　the　narrow　street　high　above　West　Point　in　Mid　Levels；　Suslev　sprawled　drunkenly　in　the　backseat。　The　night　was　dark　and　he　was　singing　a　sad　Russian　ballad　to　the　sweating　driver；　his　tie　askew；　coat　off；　his　shirt　streaked　with　sweat。　The　overcast　had　thickened　and　lowered；　the　humidity　was　worse；　the　air　stifling。
　〃Matyeryebyets！〃　he　muttered；　cursing　the　heat；　then　smiled；　the　twisted　obscenity　pleasing　him。　He　looked　out　the　window。　The　city　and　harbor　lights　far　below　were　misted　by　wisps　of　clouds；　Kowloon　mostly　obscured。　〃It'll　rain　soon；　rade；〃　he　said　to　the　driver；　his　English　slurred；　not　caring　if　the　man　understood　or　not。
　The　ancient　taxi　was　wheezing。　The　engine　coughed　suddenly　and　that　reminded　him　of　Arthur's　cough　and　their　ing　meeting。　His　excitement　quickened。
　The　taxi　had　picked　him　up　at　the　Golden　Ferry　Terminal；　then　climbed　to　Mid　Levels　on　the　Peak；　turned　west；　skirting　Government　House　where　the　governor　lived；　and　the　Botanical　Gardens。　Passing