jamesclavell.noblehouse-第92节

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ersation　or　meeting　he　would　go　to　the　permanently　guarded；　concrete；　cell…like　room　in　the　basement　that　was　meticulously　rechecked　by　security　experts　for　possible　electronic　bugs　every　week。
　Bloody　nuisance；　Sir　Geoffrey　thought。　Bloody　nuisance　all　this　cloak…and…dagger　stuff！　Roger？　Unthinkable；　even　so；　once　there　was　Philby。
　
　25
　
　6：20　P。M。：
　Captain　Gregor　Suslev　waved　jauntily　to　the　police　at　the　dockyard　gates　in　Kowloon；　his　two　plainclothes　detectives　fifty　yards　in　tow。　He　was　dressed　in　well…cut　civilians　and　he　stood　by　the　curb　a　moment　watching　the　traffic；　then　hailed　a　passing　taxi。　The　taxi　took　off　and　a　small　gray　Jaguar　with　Sergeant　Lee；　CID；　and　another　plainclothes　CID　man　driving；　followed　smartly。
　The　taxi　went　along　Chatham　Road　in　the　usual　heavy　traffic；　southward；　skirting　the　railway　line；　then　turned　west　along　Salisbury　Road　on　the　southmost　tip　of　Kowloon；　passing　the　railway　terminus；　near　the　Golden　Ferry　Terminal。　There　it　stopped。　Suslev　paid　it　off　and　ran　up　the　steps　of　the　Victoria　and　Albert　Hotel。　Sergeant　Lee　followed　him　as　the　other　detective　parked　the　police　Jag。
　Suslev　walked　with　an　easy　stride　and　he　stood　for　a　moment　in　the　immense；　crowded　foyer　with　its　high　ceilings；　lovely　and　ornate；　and　old…fashioned　electric　fans　overhead；　and　looked　for　an　empty　table　among　the　multitude　of　tables。　The　whole　room　was　alive　with　the　clink　of　ice　in　cocktail　glasses　and　conversation。　Mostly　Europeans。　A　few　Chinese　couples。　Suslev　wandered　through　the　people；　found　a　table；　loudly　ordered　a　double　vodka；　sat　and　began　to　read　his　paper。　Then　the　girl　was　standing　near　him。
　〃Hello；〃　she　said。
　〃Ginny；　doragaya！〃　he　said　with　a　great　beam　and　hugged　her；　lifting　her　off　her　little　feet　to　the　shocked　disapproval　of　every　woman　in　the　place　and　the　covert　envy　of　every　man。　〃It's　been　a　long　time；　golubchik。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　she　said　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　her　short　hair　dancing；　and　sat　down；　conscious　of　the　stares；　enjoying　them；　hating　them。　〃You　late。　Wat　for　you　keep　me　wait？　A　lady　no　like　wait　in　Victoria　by　her　self；　heya？〃
　〃You're　right；　golubchik！〃　Suslev　pulled　out　a　slim　package　and　gave　it　to　her　with　another　beam。　〃Here；　all　the　way　from　Vladivostok！〃
　〃Oh！　How　thank　you？〃　Ginny　Fu　was　twenty…eight　and　most　nights　she　worked　at　the　Happy　Drinkers　Bar　in　an　alley　off　Mong　Kok；　half　a　mile　or　so　to　the　north。　Some　nights　she　went　to　the　Good　Luck　Ballroom。　Most　days　she　would　pinch…hit　for　her　friends　behind　the　counter　of　tiny　shops　within　shops　when　they　were　with　a　client。　White　teeth　and　jet　eyes　and　jet　hair　and　golden　skin；　her　gaudy　chong…sam　slit　high　on　her　long；　stockinged　thighs。　She　looked　at　the　present　excitedly。　〃Oh　thank；　Gregor；　thank　very　much！〃　She　put　it　in　her　large　purse　and　grinned　at　him。　Then　her　eyes　went　to　the　waiter　who　was　strolling　up　with　Suslev's　vodka；　along　with　the　smug；　open　contempt　reserved　by　all　Chinese　for　all　young　Chinese　women　who　sat　with　quai　loh。　They　must　of　course　be　third…class　whores　…　who　else　would　sit　with　a　quai　loh　in　a　public　place；　particularly　in　the　foyer　of　the　Vic？　He　set　down　the　drink　with　practiced　insolence　and　stared　back　at　her。
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　your　pig…swill　ancestors；〃　she　hissed　in　gutter　Cantonese。　〃My　husband　here　is　a　489　in　the　police　and　if　I　say　the　word　he'll　have　those　insignificant　peanuts　you　call　your　balls　crushed　off　your　loathsome　body　an　hour　after　you　leave　work　tonight！〃
　The　waiter　blanched。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Hot　tea！　Bring　me　fornicating　hot　tea　and　if　you　spit　in　it　I'll　get　my　husband　to　put　a　knot　in　that　straw　you　call　your　stalk！〃
　The　waiter　fled。
　〃What　did　you　say　to　him？〃　Suslev　asked；　understanding　only　a　few　words　of　Cantonese；　though　his　English　was　very　good。
　Ginny　Fu　smiled　sweetly。　〃I　just　ask　him　bring　tea。〃　She　knew　the　waiter　would　automatically　spit　in　her　tea　now；　or　more　probably；　for　safety；　get　a　friend　to　do　it　for　him；　so　she　would　not　drink　it　and　thus　cause　him　to　lose　even　more　face。　Dirty　dog　bone！　〃Next　time　no　like　meet　here；　lotsa　nasty　peoples；〃　she　said　imperiously；　looking　around；　then　crinkled　her　nose　at　a　group　of　middle…aged　Englishwomen　who　were　staring　at　her。　〃Too　much　body　stinky；〃　she　added　loudly；　tossing　her　hair　again；　and　chortled　to　herself　seeing　them　flush　and　look　away。　〃This　gift；　Gregy。　Thank　so　very！〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Suslev　said。　He　knew　she　would　not　open　the　gift　now　…　or　in　front　of　him　…　which　was　very　good；　sensible　Chinese　manners。　Then；　if　she　did　not　like　the　gift　or　was　disappointed　or　cursed　aloud　that　what　was　given　was　the　wrong　size；　or　wrong　color；　or　at　the　miserliness　of　the　giver　or　bad　taste　or　whatever；　then　he　could　not　lose　face　and　she　could　not　lose　face。　〃Very　sensible！〃
　〃Wat？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃You　looks　good。〃
　〃You　too。〃　It　was　three　months　since　his　last　visit　and　though　his　mistress　in　Vladivostok　was　a　Eurasian　with　a　White　Russian　mother　and　Chinese　father；　he　enjoyed　Ginny　Fu。
　〃Gregy；〃　she　said；　then　dropped　her　voice；　her　smile　saucy。　〃Finish　drink。　We　begin　holiday！　I　got　vodka　。。。　I　got　other　things！〃
　He　smiled　back　at　her。　〃That　you　have；　golubchik！〃
　〃How　many　day　you　got？〃
　〃At　least　three　but　。。。〃
　〃Oh！〃　She　tried　to　hide　her　disappointment。
　〃。。。　I'm　back　and　forth　to　my　ship。　We've　tonight；　most　of　it；　and　tomorrow　and　all　tomorrow　night。　And　the　stars　will　shine！〃
　〃Three　month　long　time；　Gregy。〃
　〃I'll　be　back　soon。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Ginny　Fu　put　away　her　disappointment　and　became　pragmatic　again。　〃Finish　drink　and　we　begin！〃　She　saw　the　waiter　hurrying　with　her　tea。　Her　eyes　ground　into　the　man　as　he　put　it　down。　〃Huh！　Clearly　it's　cold　and　not　fresh！〃　she　said　disgustedly。　〃Who　am　I！　A　dirty　lump　of　foreign　devil　dogmeat？　No；　I'm　a　civilized　person　from　the　Four　Provinces　who；　because　her　rich　father　gambled　away　all　his　money；　was　sold　by　him　into　concubinage　to　bee　Number　Two　Wife　for　this　chief　of　police　of　the　foreign　devils！　So　go　piss　in　your　hat！〃　She　got　up。
　The　waiter　backed　off　a　foot。
　〃What's　up？〃　Suslev　asked。
　〃Don't　pay　for　teas；　Gregy。　Not　hot！〃　she　said　imperiously。　〃No　give　tip！〃
　Nonetheless　Suslev　paid　and　she　took　his　arm　and　they　walked　out　together；　eyes　following　them。　Her　head　was　high；　but　inside　she　hated　the　looks　from　all　the　Chinese；　even　the　young；　starched　bellboy　who　opened　the　door　…　the　image　of　her　youngest　brother　whose　life　and　schooling　she　paid　for。
　Dunross　was　ing　up　the　steps。　He　waited　for　them　to　pass　by；　an　amused　glint　in　his　eyes；　then　he　was　bowed　in　politely　by　the　beaming　bellboy。　He　headed　through　the　throng　for　the　house　phone。　Many　noticed　him　at　once　and　eyes　followed　him。　He　walked　around　a　group　of　tourists；　camera　bedecked；　and　noticed　Jacques　deVille　and　his　wife　Susanne　at　a　corner　table。　Both　were　set…faced；　staring　at　their　drinks。　He　shook　his　head；　wearily　amused。　Poor　old　Jacques　has　been　caught　again　and　she's　twisting　his　infidelity　in　its　well…worn　wound。　Joss！　He　could　almost　hear　old　Chen…chen　laugh。　〃Man's　life　is　to　suffer；　young　Ian！　Yes；　it's　the　eternal　yin　warring　on　our　oh　so　vulnerable　yang。　。。。〃
　Normally　Dunross　would　have　pretended　not　to　notice　them；　leaving　them　to　their　privacy；　but　some　instinct　told　him　otherwise。　〃Hello；　Jacques　…　Susanne。　How're　things？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　hello；　tai…pan。〃　Jacques　deVille　got　up　politely。　〃Would　you　care　to　join　us？〃
　〃No　thanks；　can't。〃　Then　he　saw　the　depth　of　his　friend's　agony　and　he　remembered　the　car　accident　in　France。　Jacques's　daughter　Avril　and　her　husband！　〃What's　happened？　Exactly！〃　Dunross　said　it　as　a　leader　would　say　it；　requiring　an　instant　answer。
　Jacques　hesitated。　Then　he　said；　〃Exactly；　tai…pan：　I　heard　from　Avril。　She　phoned　from　Cannes　just　as　I　was　leaving　the　office。　She；　she　said；　'Daddy　。。。　Daddy；　Borge's　dead。　。。。　Can　you　hear　me？　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　for　two　days　。。。　it　was　head…on；　and　the；　the　other　man　was　。。。　My　Borge's　dead　。。。　can　you　hear　me。　。。。'　〃　Jacques's　voice　was　flat。　〃Then　the　line　went　dead。　We　know　she's　in　the　hospital　at　Cannes。　I　thought　it　best　for　Susanne　to　go　at　once。　Her；　her　flight's　delayed　so　。。。　so　we're　just　waiting　here。　They're　trying　to　get　a　call　through　to　Cannes　but　I　don't　hope　for　much。〃
　〃Christ；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Dunross　said；　trying　to　dismiss　the　twinge　that　had　rushed　through　him　as　his　mind　had　substituted　Adryon　for　Avril。　Avril　was　just　twenty　and　Borge　Escary　a　fine　young　man。　They　had　been　married　just　a　year　and　a　half　and　this　was　their　first　holiday　after　the　birth　of　a　son。　〃What　time's　the　flight？〃
　〃Eight　o'clock　now。〃
　〃Susanne；　would　you　like　us　to　look　after　the　baby？　Jacques；　why　not　get　on　the　flight　…　I'll　take　care　of　everything　here。〃
　〃No；〃　Jacques　said。　〃Thanks　but　no。　It's　best　that　Susanne　go。　She'll　bring　Avril　home。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Susanne　said；　and　Dunross　noticed　that　she　seemed　to　have　sagged。　〃We　have　the　amahs　。。。　it's　best　just　me；　tai…pan。　Merci；　but　no；　this　way　is　best。〃　A　spill　of　tears　went　down　her　cheeks。　〃It's　not　fair　is　it？　Borge　was　so　nice　a　boy！〃
　〃Yes。　Susanne；　I'll　get　Penn　to　go　over　daily　so　don't　worry；　we'll　make　sure　the　babe's　fine　and　Jacques　too。〃　Dunross　weighed　them　both。