jamesclavell.noblehouse-第250节

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　〃What　about　them；　sir？〃
　〃That's　for　you　to　answer。　Mr。　Sinders　told　me　of　his　conversation　with　you　last　night。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　lit　his　pipe；　his　hands　cupping　the　flame；　protecting　it　from　the　rain。　After　the　tai…pan's　call　to　him　this　morning　he　had　at　once　sent　for　Crosse　and　Sinders　to　discuss　the　matter　of　the　exchange　prior　to　asking　the　minister。　Sinders　had　reiterated　his　concern　that　the　files　might　have　been　doctored。　He　said　he　might　agree　to　release　Kwok　if　he　was　sure　of　those　files。　Crosse　had　suggested　trading　Kwok　for　Fong…fong　and　the　others。
　Now　Sir　Geoffrey　looked　at　Dunross　searchingly。　〃Well；　Ian？〃
　〃Tiptop's　due；　or　was　due　this　afternoon。　May　I　assume　that　I　can　say　yes　to　his　proposal？〃
　〃Yes；　providing　you　first　get　Mr。　Sinders's　agreement。　And　Mr。　Crosse's。〃
　〃Can't　you　give　that　to　me；　sir？〃
　〃No。　The　minister　was　quite　clear。　If　you　want　to　ask　them　now；　they　are　in　the　members'　stands。〃
　〃They　know　the　result　of　your　call？〃
　〃Yes。　Sorry　but　the　minister　made　it　very　clear。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　was　gentle。　〃It　seems　the　reputation　for　fairness　and　honesty　of　the　present　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　is　known　even　in　those　hallowed　places。　Both　the　minister　and　I　bank　on　it。〃　A　burst　of　cheering　distracted　them。　Noble　Star　had　broken　through　the　cordon　of　ma…foo　trying　to　recapture　her；　and　galloped　past　them；　officials　and　stableboys　scattering。　〃Perhaps　you'd　better　deal　with　the　race　objection　first。　I'll　be　in　my　box。　Join　me　for　tea　or　a　cocktail　if　you　wish。〃
　Dunross　thanked　him　then　hurried　for　the　stewards'　room；　his　mind　in　turmoil。
　〃Ah；　Ian；〃　Shitee　T'Chung；　the　nominal　chairman　called　out　anxiously　as　he　came　in；　all　the　stewards　now　present。　〃We　really　have　to　decide　quickly。〃
　〃That's　hard　without　Travkin's　evidence；〃　Dunross　said。　〃How　many　of　you　saw　Bluey　White　slash　at　him？〃
　Only　McBride　put　up　his　hand。
　〃That's　only　two　of　us　out　of　twelve。〃　Dunross　saw　Crosse　watching　him。　〃I'm　certain。　And　there　was　a　weal　across　both　his　hands。　Dr。　Meng　said　it　could　have　been　made　by　a　whip　or　the　reins　in　falling。　Pug；　what's　your　opinion？〃
　Pugmire　broke　an　unfortable　silence。　〃I　saw　nothing　malicious；　personally。　I　was　watching　like　hell　because　I　was　on　Noble　Star；　1；000　on　the　nose。　Whether　there　was　a　blow　or　not　it　didn't　seem　to　make　much　difference。　I　didn't　see　her　falter；　or　any　of　the　pack；　other　than　Kingplay。　Noble　Star　was　well　in　the　running　till　the　post　and　everyone　had　their　whips　out。〃　He　tossed　over　one　of　the　copies　of　the　photo　finish。
　Dunross　picked　it　up。　The　photo　was　as　he　had　seen　it：　Pilot　Fish　by　a　nose　from　Noble　Star；　by　a　nostril　from　Butterscotch　Lass；　by　a　nose　from　Winning　Billy。
　〃They've　all　got　their　whips　out；〃　Pugmire　continued；　〃and　they　had　in　the　turn；　quite　rightly。　It　could　easily　have　been　accidental　…　if　there　was　a　blow。〃
　〃Shitee？〃
　〃I　must　confess；　old　boy；　I　was　watching　my　Street　Vendor　and　cursing　Kingplay。　I　thought　your　filly'd　pipped　Pilot　Fish。　We；　er；　we've　polled　the　other　trainers　and　there's；　er；　no　formal　plaint。　I　agree　with　Pug。〃
　〃Roger？〃
　〃I　saw　nothing　untoward。〃
　〃Jason？〃
　To　his　surprise　Plumm　shook　his　head　and　disagreed　and　Dunross　wondered　again　about　AMG　and　his　astonishing　accusation　of　Plumm　and　Sevrin。　〃We　all　know　Bluey　White's　cunning；〃　Plumm　was　saying。　〃We've　had　to　warn　him　before。　If　the　tai…pan　and　Donald　say　they　saw　it　I　vote　we　debar　him　and　disqualify　Pilot　Fish　when　it　es　to　a　vote。〃
　Dunross　polled　the　other　stewards；　the　rest　wavering。
　〃Let's　call　in　the　jockeys；　White　last。〃
　They　did。　All　the　jockeys　muttered　permutations　of　the　same　thing：　they　were　too　busy　with　their　own　mounts　to　notice　anything。
　Now　the　stewards　looked　at　Dunross；　waiting。　He　stared　back；　well　aware　that　if　he　said；　I　vote　we　unanimously　debar　Bluey　White　for　interference　and　disqualify　Pilot　Fish；　all　in　favor　say　aye！　that　they　would　concede　and　vote　as　he　wished。
　I　saw　him　do　it；　he　told　himself；　so　did　Donald；　and　others；　and　it　shook　Alexi　for　that　necessary　split　second。　Even　so；　in　all　honesty　I　don't　think　that　cost　Noble　Star　the　race。　I　blew　the　race　myself。　Alexi　was　the　wrong　choice　for　this　race。　He　should　have　shoved　Pilot　Fish　into　the　rails　on　the　second　corner　when　he　had　the　chance；　or　put　his　whip　across　Bluey　White's　face；　not　his　hands　as　I'd　have　done；　oh　yes；　without　hesitation。　And　there　are　other　considerations。
　〃There's　no　doubt　in　my　mind　there　was　interference；〃　he　said。　〃But　whether　by　accident　or　design　I　doubt　if　even　Alexi　will　know。　I　agree　it　didn't　cost　Noble　Star　the　race　so　I　suggest　we　just　caution　Bluey　and　let　the　result　stand。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　Shitee　T'Chung　exhaled　and　beamed　and　they　all　relaxed；　none　of　them；　least　of　all　Pugmire；　wanting　a　confrontation　with　the　tai…pan。　〃Anyone　against？　Good！　Let's　release　the　photo　finish　to　the　papers　and　make　the　announcement　over　the　loudspeakers。　Will　you　do　that；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Certainly。　But　what　about　the　rest　of　the　program？　Look　at　the　rain。〃　It　was　pelting　down　now。　〃Listen；　I've　an　idea。〃　He　told　it　to　them。
　A　whoop　of　excitement　and　they　all　laughed。　〃Very　good；　oh　very　good！〃
　〃Grand！〃　Dunstan　Barre　exploded。
　〃That'll　give　the　buggers　something　to　think　about！〃　Pugmire　said。
　〃Great　idea；　tai…pan！〃　McBride　beamed。　〃Oh　very　good。〃
　〃I'll　go　to　the　control　center　…　perhaps　you'd　get　Bluey　back　and　give　him　what　for；　scare　him；　eh？〃
　Pugmire　said；　〃A　word；　Ian？〃
　〃Can　we　make　it　later？〃
　〃Of　course。　Roger；　can　I　have　a　word？〃
　〃Of　course。　I'll　be　down　in　the　members'　stand　with　Sinders。〃
　〃Oh；　not　in　your　box？〃
　〃No；　I　let　the　missioner　have　it　for　a　private　party。〃
　〃Ian？〃
　〃Yes；　Jason？〃
　〃Do　you　think　they'll　hold　the　hill　climb　tomorrow？〃
　〃If　this　keeps　up；　no。　That　whole　area'll　be　a　quagmire。　Why？〃
　〃Nothing。　I　was　planning　a　cocktail　party　early　Sunday　evening　to　celebrate　your　Superfoods　coup！〃
　Shitee　T'Chung　chortled。　〃Jolly　good　idea！　Congratulations；　Ian！　Did　you　see　Biltzmann's　face？〃
　〃Ian；　would　you　be　free？　I　won't　invite　Biltzmann；〃　Plumm　added　to　much　laughter。　〃It'll　be　at　our　pany　flat　in　Sinclair　Towers。〃
　〃Sorry；　I'm　going　to　Taipei　early　afternoon；　sorry；　at　least　that's　my　present　plan。　Th…　〃
　Pugmire　interrupted　with　sudden　concern；　〃You　won't　be　here　Monday？　What　about　our　papers；　and　everything？〃
　〃No　problem；　Pug。　9：30　we　close。〃　To　Plumm　Dunross　said；　〃Jason　if　I　cancel　or　postpone　Taipei；　I'll　accept。〃
　〃Good。　7：30　to　9：30　casual。〃
　Dunross　walked　off；　his　frown　deepening；　surprised　that　Plumm　was　so　friendly。　Ordinarily　he　was　the　opposition　on　all　the　boards　they　shared；　siding　with　Gornt　and　Havergill　against　him；　particularly　on　the　Victoria's　board。
　Outside　the　stewards'　room　there　were　milling　clusters　of　anxious　reporters；　owners；　trainers　and　bystanders。　Dunross　brushed　aside　the　barrage　of　questions　all　the　way　to　the　control　room。　It　was　on　the　top　floor。
　〃Hello；　sir；〃　the　announcer　said；　everyone　tense　in　the　small　glass　booth　that　had　the　best　view　of　the　course。　〃Marvelous　race；　pity　about　。。。　Do　you　have　the　decision？　It's　Bluey；　isn't　it；　we　all　saw　the　whip。　。。。〃
　〃May　I　use　the　mike？〃
　〃Oh　of　course。〃　The　man　hastily　moved　and　Dunross　sat　in　his　place。　He　clicked　on　the　switch。　〃This　is　Ian　Dunross；　the　stewards　have　asked　me　to　make　two　announcements。　。。。〃
　The　silence　was　vast　as　his　words　echoed　and　re…echoed　over　the　stadium。　The　fifty　thousand　held　their　breaths；　careless　of　the　rain；　in　the　stands　and　on　every　soaring　level。　〃First；　the　result　of　the　fifth　race。〃　Dead　silence　but　for　the　sound　of　the　rain。　Dunross　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Pilot　Fish　by　a　nose　from　Noble　Star　by　a　whisker　from　Butterscotch　Lass。　。。。〃　but　the　last　was　drowned　by　the　cheers　and　counter　cheers；　happiness　and　disgust；　and　everyone　throughout　the　stadium　was　shouting；　arguing；　cheering；　cursing　and；　down　in　the　paddock；　Gornt　was　astonished；　having　been　convinced　that　his　jockey　had　been　seen　as　he　had　seen　him；　had　been　caught　and　carpeted　and　the　result　would　be　set　aside。　In　the　pandemonium　the　winning　numbers　flashed　on　to　the　tote：　one；　seven；　eight。
　Dunross　waited　a　moment　and　breezily　repeated　the　result　in　Cantonese；　the　crowd　more　docile；　their　pent…up　anxieties　allayed；　for　the　stewards'　decision　was　final。　〃Second；　the　stewards　have　decided；　due　to　the　weather　and　bad　conditions；　to　cancel　the　rest　of　the　meet　。。。〃　A　vast　groan　went　over　the　crowd。　〃。。。　actually　to　postpone　until　next　Saturday　for　another　special　meet。〃　A　sudden　great　roar　and　excitement　picked　up。　〃We　will　have　a　meet　of　eight　races　and　the　fifth　will　be　the　same　as　today；　with　the　same　runners；　Pilot　Fish；　Butterscotch　Lass；　Winning　Billy；　Street　Vendor；　Golden　Lady；　Lochinvar　and　Noble　Star。　A　special　return　challenge　with　double　stakes；　30；000　added。　。。。〃
　Cheers　and　more　cheers；　applause　and　roars　and　someone　in　the　booth　said；　〃Christ　what　a　great　idea；　tai…pan！　Noble　Star'll　take　that　black　bastard！〃
　〃Oh　no　he　won't！　Butterscotch　。。。〃
　〃Great　idea；　tai…pan。〃
　Into　the　mike　Dunross　said；　〃The　stewards　appreciate　your　continued　support。〃　He　repeated　it　in　Cantonese；　adding；　〃There　will　be　a　further　special　announcement　in