jamesclavell.noblehouse-第275节

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　〃I　wish　I　were；　Linc；　oh　so　very　much。〃
　〃You　are。　You　sound　American　and　you　dress　American。〃
　〃Ah；　but　I　know　what　I　am；　my　darling。〃
　He　let　himself　just　watch　her。　I've　never　enjoyed　watching　anyone　so　much；　he　thought。　Not　Casey；　not　anyone　in　my　whole　life。　Then　his　mind　took　him　again　to　Biltzmann　and　he　wished　he　had　that　man's　neck　in　his　hands。
　Put　him　away；　old　buddy；　away　with　the　shit　of　the　world。　That's　what　he　is　…　he　and　Banastasio。　Bartlett　felt　another　twinge　go　through　him。　He　had　had　a　phone　call　just　before　lunch；　and　an　apology　that　was　really　an　added　threat。
　〃Let's　break　bread；　baby；　you'n　me？　Hell；　Linc；　it's　shitsville　with　you'n　me　hollerin'。　How　about　steaks　tonight？　There's　a　great　steak　house　off　Nathan　Road；　the　San　Francisco。〃
　〃No　thanks。　I've　got　a　date；〃　he　had　said　coldly。　〃Anyway；　you　made　your　point　yesterday。　Let's　leave　it　at　that；　okay？　We'll　get　together　at　the　annual　board　meeting；　if　you　attend。〃
　〃Hey　Linc；　this　is　me；　your　old　buddy。　Remember　we　came　through　for　you　when　you　needed　the　cash。　Didn't　we　give　you　cash　up　front？〃
　〃Cash　up　front　in　return　for　shares　which　have　been　the　best　investment　…　the　best　regular　investment　you　ever　had。　You've　doubled　your　money　in　five　years。〃
　〃Sure　we　have。　Now　we　want　a　little　of　the　say…so；　that's　only　fair；　isn't　it？〃
　〃No。　Not　after　yesterday。　What　about　the　guns？〃　he　had　asked　on　a　sudden　hunch。
　There　was　a　pause。　〃What　guns？〃
　〃The　ones　aboard　my　airplane。　The　hijacked　M14's　and　grenades。〃
　〃It's　news　to　me；　baby。〃
　〃My　name's　Linc。　Baby。　Got　it？〃
　Another　pause。　The　voice　grated　now。　〃I　got　it。　About　our　deal。　You　gonna　change　your　mind？〃
　〃No。　No　way。〃
　〃Not　now；　not　later？〃
　〃No。〃
　There　had　been　the　silence　on　the　other　end　of　the　line　and　then　a　click　and　the　endless　dial　tone　began。　At　once　he　had　called　Rosemont。
　〃Don't　worry；　Linc。　Banastasio's　a　top　target　of　ours　and　we　have　lots　of　help　in　these　parts。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　guns？〃
　〃You're　in　the　clear。　The　Hong　Kong　brass　here've　withdrawn　the　lien　on　you。　You'll　hear　that　officially　tomorrow。〃
　〃They　found　something？〃
　〃No。　We　did。　We　checked　out　your　hangar　in　L。A。　One　of　the　night　watchmen　remembered　seeing　a　couple　of　jokers　fiddling　around　in　your　landing　bay。　He　thought　nothing　about　it　till　we　asked。〃
　〃Jesus。　You　catch　anybody？〃
　〃No。　Maybe　never　will。　No　sweat。　About　Banastasio；　he'll　be　off　your　back　soon　enough。　Don't　worry。〃
　Now；　thinking　about　it；　Bartlett　felt　chilled　again。
　〃What's　the　matter；　darling？〃　Orlanda　asked。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Tell　me。〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　that　fear's　lousy　and　can　destroy　you　if　you　don't　watch　out。〃
　〃Oh　yes　I　know；　I　know　so　very　well。〃　She　took　her　eyes　off　the　road　a　second　and　smiled　hesitantly　and　put　her　hand　on　his　knee。　〃But　you're　strong；　my　darling。　You're　afraid　of　nothing。〃
　He　laughed。　〃I　wish　that　were　true。〃
　〃Oh　but　it　is。　I　know。〃　She　slowed　to　go　around　a　pile　of　slush；　the　road　steeper　here；　water　swirling　in　a　minor　flood　in　and　out　of　the　gutters。　The　car　was　hugging　the　tall　retaining　wall　as　she　turned　down　into　Kotewall　Road　and　around　the　corner　to　Rose　Court。　When　she　came　alongside　he　held　his　breath　as　she　hesitated　a　moment；　then　firmly　bypassed　the　foyer　and　turned　into　the　steep　down…path　that　led　to　the　garage。　〃It's　cocktail　time；〃　she　said。
　〃Great；〃　he　said；　his　voice　throaty。　He　did　not　look　at　her。　When　they　stopped　he　got　out　and　went　to　her　side　and　opened　the　door。　She　locked　the　car　and　they　went　to　the　elevator。　Bartlett　felt　the　pulse　in　his　neck　throbbing。
　Two　Chinese　caterers　carrying　trays　of　canapés　got　in　with　them　and　asked　for　the　Asian　Properties　flat。　〃It's　on　the　fifth　floor；〃　she　said；　and　after　the　caterers　had　got　out　Bartlett　said；　〃Asian　Properties're　the　landlords　here？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃They're　also　the　original　builders。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Jason　Plumm　and　Quillan　are　good　friends。　Quillan　still　owns　the　penthouse　though　he　sublet　it　when　we　broke　up。〃
　Bartlett　put　his　arm　around　her。　〃I'm　glad　you　did。〃
　〃So'm　I。〃　Her　smile　was　tender　and　her　wide…eyed　innocence　tore　at　him。　〃Now　I　am。〃
　They　reached　the　eighth　floor　and　he　noticed　her　fingers　tremble　slightly　as　she　put　the　key　into　her　lock。　〃e　in；　Linc。　Tea；　coffee；　beer　or　a　cocktail？〃　She　slipped　off　her　shoes　and　looked　up　at　him。　His　heart　was　pounding　and　his　senses　reached　out　to　feel　whether　the　apartment　was　empty。　〃We're　alone；〃　she　said　simply。
　〃How　do　you　know　what　I'm　thinking？〃
　She　shrugged　a　little　shrug。　〃It's　only　some　things。〃
　He　put　his　hands　on　her　waist。　〃Orlanda　。。。〃
　〃I　know；　my　darling。〃
　Her　voice　was　husky　and　it　sent　a　tremor　through　him。　When　he　kissed　her；　her　lips　weled　him；　her　loins　soft　and　unresisting。　His　hands　traced　her。　He　felt　her　nipples　harden　and　the　throb　of　her　heart　equal　his。　Then　her　hands　left　his　neck　and　pressed　against　his　chest　but　this　time　he　held　her　against　him；　his　kiss　more　urgent。　The　pressure　of　her　hands　ceased　and　once　more　the　hands　slid　around　his　neck；　her　loins　closer　now。　They　broke　from　the　kiss　but　held　each　other。
　〃I　love　you；　Linc。〃
　〃I　love　you；　Orlanda；〃　he　replied；　and　the　sudden　truth　of　it　consumed　him。　Again　they　kissed；　her　hands　tender　but　strong；　his　own　hands　wandering　and　in　their　wake；　fire。　For　him　and　for　her。　More　of　her　weight　rested　on　his　arms　as　her　knees　weakened　and　he　lifted　her　easily　and　carried　her　through　the　open　door　into　the　bedroom。　The　gossamer　curtains　that　hung　from　the　ceiling　to　form　the　four…poster　moved　gently　in　the　cool　sweet　breeze　from　the　open　windows。
　The　coverlet　was　soft　and　down…filled。
　〃Be　kind　to　me；　my　darling；〃　she　whispered　huskily。　〃Oh　how　I　love　you。〃
　
　*　*　*
　
　From　the　stern　of　the　Sea　Witch；　Casey　waved　good…bye　to　Dunstan　Barre；　Plumm　and　Pugmire　who　stood　on　the　wharf；　Hong　Kong　side；　where　they　had　just　been　dropped；　the　late　afternoon　pleasant　but　still　overcast。　The　boat　was　heading　back　across　the　harbor　again　…　Peter　Marlowe　and　the　girls　had　already　been　dropped　off　at　Kowloon　…　Gornt　having　persuaded　her　to　stay　on　board　for　the　extra　trip。　〃I've　got　to　e　back　to　Kowloon　again；〃　he　had　told　her。　〃I've　an　appointment　at　the　Nine　Dragons。　Keep　me　pany。　Please？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　she　had　agreed　happily；　in　no　hurry；　still　in　plenty　of　time　to　change　for　the　cocktail　party　to　which　Plumm　had　invited　her　this　afternoon。　She　had　decided　to　postpone　her　dinner　with　Lando　Mata　for　one　day　next　week。
　On　the　way　back　from　Sha　Tin　this　afternoon　she　had　dozed　part　of　the　time；　wrapped　up　warm　against　a　stiff　breeze；　curled　up　on　the　wide；　fortable　cushions　that　circled　the　stern；　the　other　guests　scattered；　sometimes　Gornt　there　at　the　conn；　tall；　strong　and　captain　of　the　ship；　Peter　Marlowe　alone　in　a　deck　chair　dozing　at　the　bow。　Later　they　had　had　tea　and　cakes；　he　and　Casey　and　Barre。　During　tea；　Pugmire　and　Plumm　had　appeared；　tousled　and　content；　their　girls　in　tow。
　〃Sleep　well？〃　Gornt　had　asked　with　a　smile。
　〃Very；〃　Plumm　had　said。
　I'll　bet；　she　had　thought；　watching　him　and　his　girl；　liking　her　…　big；　dark　eyes；　svelte；　a　happy　soul　called　Wei…wei　who　stayed　with　him　like　his　shadow。
　Earlier；　when　she　and　Gornt　had　been　alone　on　deck；　he　had　told　her　that　none　of　these　were　casual　friends；　all　of　them　special。
　〃Does　everyone　here　have　a　mistress？〃
　〃Good　lord　no。　But；　well；　sorry；　but　men　and　women　age　differently　and　after　a　certain　age　it's　difficult。　Bluntly；　pillowing　and　love　and　marriage　aren't　the　same。〃
　〃There's　no　such　thing　as　faithfulness？〃
　〃Of　course。　Absolutely。　For　a　woman　it　means　one　thing；　for　a　man　another。〃
　Casey　had　sighed。　〃That's　terrible。　Terrible　and　so　unfair。〃
　〃Yes。　But　only　if　you　wish　it　to　be。〃
　〃That's　not　right！　Think　of　the　millions　of　women　who　work　and　slave　all　their　lives；　looking　after　the　man；　scrubbing　and　cleaning　and　nowadays　helping　to　support　their　children；　to　be　shoved　aside　just　because　they're　old。〃
　〃You　can't　blame　men；　that's　the　way　society　is。〃
　〃And　who　runs　society？　Men！　Jesus；　Quillan；　you've　got　to　admit　men　are　responsible！〃
　〃I　already　agree　it's　unfair；　but　it's　unfair　on　men　too。　What　about　the　millions　of　men　who　work　themselves　to　death　to　provide　…　that　jolly　word　…　to　provide　the　money　for　others　to　spend；　mostly　women。　Face　it；　Ciranoush；　men　have　to　go　on　working　until　they　are　dead；　to　support　others；　and　more　than　frequently　at　the　end　of　their　lives；　a　hacking；　shrewish　wife　…　look　at　Pug's　wife　for　God's　sake！　I　could　point　out　fifty　who　are　unnecessarily　fat；　ugly　and　stink　…　literally。　Then　there's　the　other　neat　little　female　trick　of　the　women　who　use　their　sex　to　trap；　get　pregnant　to　ensnare；　then　cry　havoc　and　scream　for　a　highly　paid　divorce。　What　about　Linc　Bartlett；　eh？　What　sort　of　a　wringer　did　that　wonderful　wife　of　his　put　him　through；　eh？〃
　〃You　know　about　that？〃
　〃Of　course。　You　ran　a　tape　on　me；　I　ran　one　on　both　of　you。　Are　your　divorce　laws　fair？　Fifty　percent　of　everything　and　then　the　poor　bloody　American　male　has　to　go　to　court　to　decide　what　proportion　of　his　fifty　percent　he　can　retain。〃
　〃It's　true　Linc's　wife　and　her　attorney　almost