jamesclavell.noblehouse-第102节

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history　of　smuggling　…　for　shipment　to　one　of　the　guerrilla　bands　operating　in　South　Vietnam；　called　Viet　Cong。〃
　Armstrong　grunted。　〃That's　farfetched；　Peter；　Hong　Kong's　not　the　place　to　transit　guns。〃
　〃Yes。　But　this　shipment　was　special；　the　first；　and　it　was　asked　for　in　a　hurry　and　was　to　be　delivered　in　a　hurry。　You've　heard　of　Delta　Force？〃
　〃No；〃　Armstrong　said；　staggered　that　Peter　Marlowe　had　already　heard　of　what　Rosemont；　CIA；　had　assured　them　in　great　secrecy　was　a　very　classified　operation。
　〃I　understand　it's　a　group　of　specially　trained　U。S。　bat　soldiers；　Robert；　a　special　force　who're　operating　in　Vietnam　in　small　units　under　the　control　of　the　American　Technical　Group；　which's　a　cover　name　for　the　CIA。　It　seems　they're　succeeding　so　well　that　the　Viet　Cong　need　modern　weapons　fast　and　in　great　quantity　and　are　prepared　to　pay　handsomely。　So　these　were　rushed　here　on　Bartlett's　plane。〃
　〃Is　he　involved？〃
　〃My　friends　doubt　it；〃　he　said　after　a　pause。　〃Anyway；　the　guns're　U。S。　Army　issue；　Robert；　right？　Well；　once　this　shipment　was　approved；　delivery　in　quantity　was　going　to　be　easy。〃
　〃Oh；　how？〃
　〃The　U。S。　is　going　to　supply　the　arms。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Sure。〃　Peter　Marlowe's　face　settled。　〃It's　really　very　simple：　Say　these　Viet　Cong　guerrillas　were　provided　in　advance　with　all　exact　U。S。　shipment　dates；　exact　destinations；　quantities　and　types　of　arms　…　small　arms　to　rockets　…　when　they　arrived　in　Vietnam？〃
　〃Christ！〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　Asia。　A　little　h'eung　yau　here　and　there　and　constant　hijacking'd　be　simple。〃
　〃It'd　be　like　them　having　their　own　stockpile！〃　Armstrong　said；　appalled。　〃How're　the　guns　going　to　be　paid　for？　A　bank　here？〃
　Peter　Marlowe　looked　at　him。　〃Bulk　opium。　Delivered　here。　One　of　our　banks　here　supplies　the　financing。〃
　The　police　officer　sighed。　The　beauty　of　it　fell　into　place。　〃Flawless；〃　he　said。
　〃Yes。　Some　rotten　bastard　traitor　in　the　States　just　passes　over　schedules。　That　gives　the　enemy　all　the　guns　and　ammunition　they　need　to　kill　off　our　own　soldiers。　The　enemy　pays　for　the　guns　with　a　poison　that　costs　them　nothing　…　I　imagine　it's　about　the　only　salable　modity　they've　got　in　bulk　and　can　easily　acquire。　The　opium's　delivered　here　by　the　Chinese　smuggler　and　converted　to　heroin　because　this's　where　the　expertise　is。　The　traitors　in　the　States　make　a　deal　with　the　Mafia　who　sell　the　heroin　at　enormous　profit　to　more　kids　and　so　subvert　and　destroy　the　most　important　bloody　asset　we　have：　youth。〃
　〃As　I　said；　flawless。　What　some　buggers'll　do　for　money！〃　Armstrong　sighed　again　and　eased　his　shoulders。　He　thought　a　moment。　The　theory　tied　in　everything　very　neatly。　〃Does　the　name　Banastasio　mean　anything？〃
　〃Sounds　Italian。〃　Peter　Marlowe　kept　his　face　guileless。　His　informants　were　two　Portuguese　Eurasian　journalists　who　detested　the　police。　When　he　had　asked　them　if　he　could　pass　on　the　theory；　da　Vega　had　said；　〃Of　course；　but　the　police'll　never　believe　it。　Don't　quote　us　and　don't　mention　any　names；　not　Four　Finger　Wu；　Smuggler　Pa；　the　Ching　Prosperity；　or　Banastasio　or　anyone。〃
　After　a　pause；　Armstrong　said；　〃What　else　have　you　heard？〃
　〃Lots；　but　that's　enough　for　today　…　it's　my　turn　to　get　the　kids　up；　cook　breakfast　and　get　them　toddling　off　to　school。〃　Peter　Marlowe　lit　a　cigarette　and　again　Armstrong　achingly　felt　the　smoke　need　in　his　own　lungs。　〃Except　one　thing；　Robert。　I　was　asked　by　a　friendly　member　of　the　press　to　tell　you　he'd　heard　there's　to　be　a　big　narcotics　meeting　soon　in　Macao。〃
　The　blue　eyes　narrowed。　〃When？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃What　sort　of　meeting？〃
　〃Principals。　'Suppliers；　importers；　exporters；　distributors'　was　the　way　he　put　it。〃
　〃Where　in　Macao？〃
　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　〃Names？〃
　〃None。　He　did　add　that　the　meeting'll　include　a　visiting　VIP　from　the　States。〃
　〃Bartlett？〃
　〃Christ；　Robert；　I　don't　know　and　he　didn't　say　that。　Linc　Bartlett　seems　a　jolly　nice　fellow；　and　straight　as　an　arrow。　I　think　it's　all　gossip　and　jealousy；　trying　to　implicate　him。〃
　Armstrong　smiled　his　jaundiced　smile。　〃I'm　just　a　suspicious　copper。　Villains　exist　in　very　high　places；　as　well　as　in　the　boghole。　Peter；　old　fellow；　give　your　friendly　journalist　a　message：　If　he　wants　to　give　me　information；　phone　me　direct。〃
　〃He's　frightened　of　you。　So　am　I！〃
　〃In　my　hat　you　are。〃　Armstrong　smiled　back　at　him；　liking　him；　very　glad　for　the　information　and　that　Peter　Marlowe　was　a　safe　go…between　who　could　keep　his　mouth　shut。　〃Peter；　ask　him　where　in　Macao　and　when　and　who　and　…　〃　At　a　sudden　thought；　Armstrong　said；　stabbing　into　the　unknown；　〃Peter；　if　you　were　to　choose　the　best　place　in　the　Colony　to　smuggle　in　and　out；　where'd　you　pick？〃
　〃Aberdeen　or　Mirs　Bay。　Any　fool　knows　that　…　they're　just　the　places　that've　always　been　used　first；　ever　since　there　was　a　Hong　Kong。〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃I　agree。〃　Aberdeen；　he　thought。　What　Aberdeen　smuggler？　Any　one　of　two　hundred。　Four　Finger　Wu'd　be　first　choice。　Four　Fingers　with　his　big　black　Rolls　and　lucky　8　number　plate；　that　bloody　thug　Two　Hatchet　Tok　and　that　young　nephew　of　his；　the　one　with　the　Yankee　passport；　the　one　from　Yale；　was　it　Yale？　Four　Fingers　would　be　first　choice。　Then　Goodweather　Poon；　Smuggler　Pa；　Ta　Sap…fok；　Fisherman　Pok　。。。　Christ；　the　list's　endless；　just　of　the　ones　we　know　about。　In　Mirs　Bay；　northeast　beside　the　New　Territories？　The　Pa　Brothers；　Big　Mouth　Fang　and　a　thousand　others　。。。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　very　very　glad　now　for　the　information　…　something　tweaking　him　about　Four　Finger　Wu　though　there　had　never　been　any　rumor　that　he　was　in　the　heroin　trade。　〃One　good　turn　deserves　another：　Tell　your　journalist　friend　our　visiting　members　of　Parliament；　the　trade　delegation；　e　in　today　from　Peking　。。。　What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　trying　to　keep　his　face　clear。　〃You　were　saying？〃
　Armstrong　watched　him　keenly；　then　added；　〃The　delegation　arrives　on　the　afternoon　train　from　Canton。　They'll　be　at　the　border；　transferring　trains　at　4：32　…　we　just　heard　of　the　change　of　plan　last　night　so　perhaps　your　friend　could　get　an　exclusive　interview。　Seems　they've　made　very　good　progress。〃
　〃Thanks。　On　my　friend's　behalf。　Yes　thanks。　I'll　pass　it　on　at　once。　Well；　I　must　be　off。　。。。〃
　Brian　Kwok　came　hurrying　toward　them。　〃Hello；　Peter。〃　He　was　breathing　quite　hard。　〃Robert；　sorry　but　Crosse　wants　to　see　us　right　now。〃
　〃Bloody　hell！〃　Armstrong　said　wearily。　〃I　told　you　it'd　be　better　to　wait　before　checking　in。　That　bugger　never　sleeps。〃　He　rubbed　his　face　to　clear　his　tiredness　away；　his　eyes　red…rimmed。　〃You　get　the　car；　Brian；　and　I'll　meet　you　at　the　front　entrance。〃
　〃Good。〃　Brian　Kwok　hurried　away。　Perturbed；　Armstrong　watched　him　go。
　Peter　Marlowe　said　as　a　joke；　〃The　Town　Hall's　on　fire？〃
　〃In　our　business　the　Town　Hall's　always　on　fire；　lad；　somewhere。〃　The　policeman　studied　Peter　Marlowe。　〃Before　I　leave；　Peter；　I'd　like　to　know　what's　so　important　about　the　trade　delegation　to　you。〃
　After　a　pause　the　man　with　the　curious　eyes　said；　〃I　used　to　know　one　of　them　during　the　war。　Lieutenant　Robin　Grey。　He　was　provost　marshal　of　Changi　for　the　last　two　years。〃　His　voice　was　flat　now；　more　flat　and　more　icy　than　Armstrong　had　imagined　possible。　〃I　hated　him　and　he　hated　me。　I　hope　I　don't　meet　him；　that's　all。〃
　
　Across　the　winner's　circle　Gornt　had　his　binoculars　trained　on　Armstrong　as　he　walked　after　Brian　Kwok。　Then；　thoughtfully；　he　turned　them　back　on　Peter　Marlowe　who　was　wandering　toward　a　group　of　trainers　and　jockeys。
　〃Nosy　bugger！〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Eh？　Who？　Oh　Marlowe？〃　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　chuckled。　〃He's　not　nosy；　just　wants　to　know　everything　about　Hong　Kong。　It's　your　murky　past　that　fascinates　him；　old　boy；　yours　and　the　tai…pan's。〃
　〃You've　no　skeletons；　Dunstan？〃　Gornt　asked　softly。　〃You're　saying　you　and　your　family're　lily　white？〃
　〃God　forbid！〃　Barre　was　hastily　affable；　wanting　to　turn　Gornt's　sudden　venom　into　honey。　〃Good　God　no！　Scratch　an　Englishman　find　a　pirate。　We're　all　suspect！　That's　life；　what？〃
　Gornt　said　nothing。　He　despised　Barre　but　needed　him。　〃I'm　having　a　bash　on　my　yacht　on　Sunday；　Dunstan。　Would　you　care　to　e　…　you'll　find　it　interesting。〃
　〃Oh？　Who's　the　honored　guest？〃
　〃I　thought　of　making　it　stag　only　…　no　wives；　eh？〃
　〃Ah！　Count　me　in；〃　Barre　said　at　once；　brightening。　〃I　could　bring　a　lady　friend？〃
　〃Bring　two　if　you　like；　old　chap；　the　more　the　merrier。　It'll　be　a　small；　select；　safe　group。　Plumm；　he's　a　good　sort　and　his　girl　friend's　lots　of　fun。〃　Gornt　saw　Marlowe　change　direction　as　he　was　called　over　to　a　group　of　stewards　dominated　by　Donald　McBride。　Then；　at　a　sudden　thought；　he　added；　〃I　think　I'll　invite　Marlowe　too。〃
　〃Why　if　you　think　he's　nosy？〃
　〃He　might　be　interested　in　the　real　stories　about　the　Struans；　our　founding　pirates　and　the　present…day　ones。〃　Gornt　smiled　with　the　front　of　his　face　and　Barre　wondered　what　devilment　Gornt　was　planning。
　The　red…faced　man　mopped　his　brow。　〃Christ；　I　wish　it　would　rain。　Did　you　know　Marlowe　was　in　the　Hurricanes　…　he　got　three　of　the　bloody　Boche　in　the　Battle　of　Britain　before　he　got　sent　out　to　Singapore　and　that　bloody　mess。　I'll　never　forgive　those　bloody　Japs　for　what　they　did　to　our　lads　the