jamesclavell.noblehouse-第239节

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ve　up　his　place　and　pushed　his　way　out　of　the　press　into　the　air。　Once　in　the　air　he　felt　a　little　better；　still　nauseated　but　better。　He　had　walked　all　the　way　from　his　night　shift　of　work　at　the　construction　site　of　the　new　high　rise　up　above　Kotewall　Road　in　Mid　Levels　to　save　the　fare。
　Again　he　checked　his　tickets。　Eight　and　five　in　this　race　and　seven　and　one　in　the　fifth；　the　big　race。　Good；　he　thought；　putting　them　carefully　into　his　pocket。　I've　done　the　best　I　can。　Now　it　is　up　to　the　gods。
　His　chest　was　hurting　him　very　much　so　he　fought　through　the　crowd　to　the　toilet　and　there　he　lit　a　match　and　inhaled　the　smoke　from　the　bubbling　White　Powder。　In　time　he　felt　better　and　went　outside　again。　The　second　race　was　already　on。　Beside　himself　with　anxiety　he　pushed　and　shoved　his　way　to　the　rails；　careless　of　the　curses　that　followed　him。　The　horses　were　rounding　the　far　bend；　galloping　toward　him　into　the　last　straight　for　the　winning　post；　now　past　in　a　thundering　blur　as　he　strained　his　rheumy　old　eyes　to　find　his　numbers。
　〃Who's　leading？〃　he　gasped　but　no　one　paid　any　attention　to　him；　just　shouted　their　own　choice　on　to　victory　in　a　growing　seething　roar　that　was　all　possessing；　then　vanished　as　the　winner　won。
　〃Who　won？〃　Nine　Carat　Chu　gasped；　his　head　exploding。
　〃Who　cares！〃　someone　said　with　a　stream　of　curses。　〃It　wasn't　mine！　All　gods　piss　on　that　jockey　forever！〃
　〃I　can't　read　the　tote；　who　won？〃
　〃It　was　a　photo　finish；　old　fool；　can't　you　see！　There　were　three　horses　bunched　together。　Fornicate　all　photo　finishes！　We　must　wait。〃
　〃But　the　numbers　。。。　what　are　the　numbers？〃
　〃Five　and　eight　and　four；　Lucky　Court；　my　horse！　e　on　you　son　of　a　whore's　left　tit！　Four　and　eight　for　the　quinella　by　all　the　gods！〃
　They　waited。　And　waited。　The　old　man　thought　he　would　faint　so　he　put　his　mind　on　to　better　things；　like　his　conversation　with　Noble　House　Chen　this　morning。　Three　times　he　had　called　and　each　time　a　servant　had　answered　and　hung　up。　It　was　only　when　he　had　said　〃Werewolf〃　that　Noble　House　Chen　himself　had　e　to　the　phone。
　〃Please　excuse　me　for　mentioning　the　terrible　slayers　of　your　son；〃　he　had　said。　〃It　wasn't　me；　Honored　Sir；　oh　no。　I　am　just　the　father　of　your　late　honorable　son's　mistress；　Wisteria　Su；　to　whom　he　has　written　his　undying　love　in　the　letter　that　was　printed　in　all　the　newspapers。〃
　〃Eh？　Liar！　All　lies。　Do　you　think　I'm　a　fool　to　be　squeezed　by　any　dogmeat　caller？　Who　are　you？〃
　〃My　name　is　Hsi…men　Su；〃　he　had　said；　the　lie　ing　easily。　〃There　are　two　more　letters；　Honorable　Chen。　I　thought　you　might　wish　to　have　them　back　even　though　they're　all　we　have　from　my　poor　dead　daughter　and　your　poor　dead　son　who　I　considered　like　my　own　son　over　all　the　months　that　he　an…　〃
　〃More　lies！　The　mealy…mouthed　strumpet　never　had　any　letters　from　my　son！　Our　deadly　police　put　forgers　in　jail；　oh　yes！　Am　I　a　peasant…headed　monkey　from　the　Outer　Provinces？　Beware！　Now　I　suppose　you'll　produce　an　infant　that　you'll　claim　my　son　sired？　Eh？　Eh？〃
　Nine　Carat　Chu　almost　dropped　the　phone。　He　had　discussed　and　arranged　that　very　ploy　with　his　wife　and　his　sons　and　Lily。　It　had　been　easy　to　find　a　relation　who　would　lend　a　babe　in　arms　for　a　fee。
　〃Eh；〃　he　spluttered　in　shock；　〃am　I　a　liar？　Me　who　fairly；　for　modest　cash；　gave　his　only　virgin　daughter　to　be　your　son's　whore　and　only　love。〃　He　used　the　English　words　carefully；　his　daughter　Lily　having　coached　him　for　hours　so　that　he　could　say　it　properly。　〃By　all　the　gods　we've　protected　your　great　name　at　no　charge！　When　we　went　to　claim　my　poor　daughter's　body　we　did　not　tell　the　deadly　police　who　desire；　oh　ko；　yes；　who　desire　to　find　out　who　the　writer　was　to　trap　the　Werewolves！　All　gods　curse　those　evil　sons　of　whores！　Haven't　four　Chinese　papers　already　offered　rewards　for　the　name　of　the　writer；　heya？　It　is　only　fair　I　offer　the　letters　to　you　before　collecting　the　newspapers'　reward；　heya？〃
　Patiently　he　had　listened　to　the　stream　of　invective　that　had　begun　the　negotiation。　Several　times　both　sides　had　pretended　they　were　going　to　put　the　phone　down；　but　neither　side　broke　off　the　bargaining。　At　length　it　was　left　that　if　a　photocopy　of　one　of　the　other　letters　was　sent　to　Noble　House　Chen　as　proof　that　it　and　the　others　were　no　forgery；　then　〃it　might　be；　Honorable　Su；　the　other　letters　…　and　this　one　…　might　be　worth　a　very　modest　amount　of　Fragrant　Grease。〃
　Nine　Carat　Chu　chortled　to　himself　now。　Oh　yes；　he　thought　contentedly；　Noble　House　Chen　will　pay　handsomely；　particularly　when　he　reads　the　parts　about　himself。　Oh　if　those　were　printed　surely　it　would　hold　him　up　to　ridicule　before　all　Hong　Kong　and　take　his　face　away　forever。　Now；　how　much　should　I　settle　f…　
　A　sudden　roar　surrounded　him　and　he　almost　fell　over。　His　heart　began　pounding；　his　breath　short。　He　held　on　to　the　rails　and　peered　at　the　distant　tote。　〃Who　。。。　what　are　the　numbers？〃　he　asked；　then　screeched　over　the　noise　and　tugged　at　his　neighbors。　〃The　numbers；　tell　me　the　numbers！〃
　〃The　winner's　eight；　Buccaneer；　the　gelding　of　the　Noble　House。　Ayeeyah；　can't　you　see　the　tai…pan　leading　him　into　the　winner's　circle　now？　Buccaneer's　paying　7　to　1。〃
　〃The　second？　Who　was　the　second　horse？〃
　〃Number　five；　Winsome　Lady；　3　to　1　for　a　place。　。。。　What's　wrong；　old　man；　have　you　a　palsy？〃
　〃No　。。。　no　。。。〃　Weakly　Nine　Carat　Chu　groped　away。　At　length　he　found　a　small　empty　patch　of　concrete　and　spread　his　racing　form　on　the　wet　concrete　and　sat　down；　his　head　on　his　knees　and　arms；　his　mind　sweeping　him　into　the　ecstasy　of　winning　the　first　leg。　Oh　oh　oh！　And　nothing　to　do　now　but　wait；　and　if　the　time　of　waiting　is　too　long　I　will　use　one　more　of　the　White　Powders；　yes；　and　that　will　leave　me　the　last　to　see　me　through　tonight's　work。　Now；　all　gods　concentrate！　The　first　leg　was　won　by　my　own　shrewdness。　Please　concentrate　on　the　fifth！　Seven　and　one！　All　gods　concentrate。　。。。
　
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　Over　by　the　winner's　circle　the　stewards　and　owners　and　officials　clustered。　Dunross　had　intercepted　his　horse　and　congratulated　the　jockey。　Buccaneer　had　run　a　fine　race　and　now　as　he　led　the　gelding　into　the　winner's　circle　amid　another　burst　of　cheering　and　congratulations　he　kept　his　exuberance　deliberately　open。　He　wanted　to　let　the　world　see　his　pleasure　and　confidence；　very　aware　that　winning　this　race　was　an　immense　omen；　over　and　above　the　fact　of　winning。　The　omen　would　be　doubled　and　tripled　if　he　won　with　Noble　Star。　Two　horses　in　the　double　quinella　would　absolutely　set　Gornt　and　his　allies　back　on　their　heels。　And　if　Murtagh　works　his　magic　or　if　Tiptop　keeps　his　bargain　to　swap　the　money　for　Brian　Kwok　or　if　Tightfist　or　Lando　or　Four　Fingers　。。。
　〃Hey；　Mr。　Dunross；　sir；　congratulations！〃
　Dunross　glanced　at　the　crowd　on　the　rails。　〃Oh　hello；　Mr。　Choy；〃　he　said；　recognizing　Four　Finger　Wu's　Seventh　Son　and　supposed　nephew。　He　went　closer　and　shook　hands。　〃Did　you　have　the　winner？〃
　〃Yes　sir；　sure；　I'm　with　the　Noble　House　all　the　way！　We're　on　the　double　quinella；　my　uncle　and　me。　We　just　won　the　first　leg　five　and　eight；　and　we've　seven　and　eight　in　the　fifth。　He's　got　10；000　riding；　me；　my　whole　week's　salary！〃
　〃Then　let's　hope　we　win；　Mr。　Choy。〃
　〃You　can　say　that　again；　tai…pan；〃　the　young　man　said　with　his　easy　American　familiarity。
　Dunross　smiled　and　walked　over　to　Travkin。　〃Are　you　sure　Johnny　Moore　can't　ride　Noble　Star？　I　don't　want　Tom　Wong。〃
　〃I　told　you；　tai…pan；　Johnny's　sicker　than　a　drunken　cossack。〃
　〃I　need　the　win。　Noble　Star　is　to　win。〃
　Travkin　saw　Dunross　look　at　Buccaneer　speculatively。　〃No；　tai…pan；　please　don't　ride　Noble　Star。　The　going's　bad；　very　bad　and　very　dangerous　and　it'll　get　worse　as　they　hack　up　the　turf。　Kristos！　I　suppose　that'll　only　make　you　want　to　ride　her　more。〃
　〃My　future　could　ride　on　that　race　…　and　the　face　of　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃I　know。〃　Angrily　the　gnarled　old　Russian　slapped　the　switch　he　carried　perpetually　against　his　ancient　jodhpurs；　shining　with　use。　〃And　I　know　you're　better　than　all　the　other　jockeys　but　that　turf's　danger…　〃
　〃I　don't　trust　anyone　in　this；　Alexi。　I　can't　afford　any　mistake。〃　Dunross　dropped　his　voice。　〃Was　the　first　race　fixed？〃
　Travkin　stared　back　levelly。　〃They　weren't　doped；　tai…pan。　Not　to　my　knowledge。　The　police　doctor　has　put　the　fear　of　God　into　those　who　might　be　tempted。〃
　〃Good。　But　was　it　fixed？〃
　〃It　wasn't　my　race；　tai…pan。　I'm　only　interested　in　my　horses　and　my　races。　I　didn't　watch　that　race。〃
　〃That's　convenient；　Alexi。　Seems　that　none　of　the　other　trainers　did　either。〃
　〃Listen；　tai…pan。　I　have　a　jockey　for　you。　Me。　I'll　ride　Noble　Star。〃
　Dunross's　eyes　narrowed。　He　glanced　at　the　sky。　It　was　darker　than　before。　There'll　be　rain　soon；　he　thought　and　there's　much　to　do　before　the　rain。　Me　or　Alexi？　Alexi's　legs　are　good；　his　hands　the　best；　his　experience　immense。　But　he　thinks　more　of　the　horse　than　of　winning。　〃I'll　consider　it；〃　he　said。　〃After　the　fourth　race　I'll　decide。〃
　〃I'll　win；〃　the　older　man　said；　desperate　for　the　chance　to　extricate　himself　from　his　agreement　with　Suslev。　〃I'll　win　even　if　I　have　to　kill　Noble　Star。〃
　〃No　need　to　do　that；　Alexi。　I'm　rather　fond　of　that　horse。〃
　〃Tai…