jamesclavell.noblehouse-第115节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃I　thought　I　was　going　to　have　my　bloody　head　bashed　in。　The　sods'd　just　started　the　old　'kill　the　quai　loh'　bit。　I　thought　I　was　a　goner。〃
　Armstrong　shivered　in　spite　of　himself。　Ever　since　the　'56　riots　it　was　a　recurring　nightmare　of　his　that　he　was　back　in　that　insane；　screaming　mob　again。　It　was　in　Kowloon。　The　mob　had　just　overturned　the　car　with　the　Swiss　consul　and　his　wife　in　it　and　set　it　afire。　He　and　other　policemen　had　charged　through　the　mob　to　rescue　them。　When　they　got　to　the　car　the　man　was　already　dead　and　the　young　wife　afire。　By　the　time　they'd　dragged　her　out；　all　her　clothes　had　burned　off　her　and　her　skin　came　away　like　a　pelt。　And　all　around；　men；　women　and　young　people　were　raving；　〃Kill　the　quai　loh　。。。〃
　He　shivered　again；　his　nostrils　still　smelling　burned　flesh。　〃Christ；　what　a　bastard！〃
　〃Yes；　but　all　in　the　day's　work。　I'll　keep　you　posted。　If　that　bloody　Werewolf　es　back　to　Aberdeen　he'll　be　in　a　net　tighter　than　a　gnat's　arsehole。〃
　
　30
　
　2：20　P。M。：
　Phillip　Chen　stopped　flipping　through　his　mail；　his　face　suddenly　ashen。　The　envelope　was　marked；　〃Mr。　Phillip　Chen　to　open　personally。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃　his　wife　asked。
　〃It's　from　them。〃　Shakily　he　showed　it　to　her。　〃The　Werewolves。〃
　〃Oh！〃　They　were　at　their　lunch　table　that　was　set　haphazardly　in　a　corner　of　the　living　room　of　the　house　far　up　on　the　crest　of　Struan's　Lookout。　Nervously　she　put　down　her　coffee　cup。　〃Open　it；　Phillip。　But；　but　better　use　your　handkerchief　in　。。。　in　case　of　fingerprints；〃　she　added　uneasily。
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course；　Dianne；　how　stupid　of　me！〃　Phillip　Chen　was　looking　very　old。　His　coat　was　over　his　chair　and　his　shirt　damp。　There　was　a　slight　breeze　from　the　open　window　behind　him　but　it　was　hot　and　humid　and　a　brooding　afternoon　haze　had　settled　over　the　Island。　Carefully　he　used　an　ivory　paper　knife　and　unfolded　the　paper。　〃Yes；　it's　。。。　it's　from　the　Werewolves。　It's　。。。　it's　about　the　ransom。〃
　〃Read　it　out。〃
　〃All　right：　'To　Phillip　Chen；　pradore　of　the　Noble　House；　greetings。　I　beg　to　inform　you　now　how　the　ransom　money　is　to　be　paid。　500；000　to　you　is　as　meaningless　as　a　pig's　scream　in　a　slaughterhouse　but　to　us　poor　farmers　would　be　a　heritage　for　our　star　…　'〃
　〃Liars！〃　Dianne　hissed；　her　lovely　gold　and　jade　necklace　glittering　in　a　shaft　of　muted　sunlight。　〃As　if　farmers　would　kidnap　John　or　mutilate　him　like　that。　Dirty　stinky　foreign　triads！　Go　on；　Phillip。〃
　〃　'。。。　would　be　a　heritage　for　our　starving　grandchildren。　That　you　have　already　consulted　the　police　is　to　us　like　pissing　in　the　ocean。　But　now　you　will　not　consult。　No。　Now　you　will　keep　secret　or　the　safety　of　your　son　will　be　endangered　and　he　will　not　return　and　everything　bad　will　be　your　own　fault。　Beware；　our　eyes　are　everywhere。　If　you　try　to　betray　us；　the　worst　will　happen　and　everything　will　be　your　own　fault。　Tonight　at　six　o'clock　I　will　phone　you。　Tell　no　one；　not　even　your　wife。　Meanw…　'　〃
　〃Dirty　triads！　Dirty　whores'　sons　to　try　to　spread　trouble　between　husband　and　wife；〃　Dianne　said　angrily。
　〃　'。。。　meanwhile　prepare　the　ransom　money　in　used　100…dollar　notes。　。。。'　〃　Irritably　Phillip　Chen　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃I　don't　have　much　time　to　get　to　the　bank。　I'll　have　…　〃
　〃Finish　the　letter！〃
　〃All　right；　be　patient；　my　dear；〃　he　said　placatingly；　his　overtaxed　heart　skipping　a　beat　as　he　recognized　the　edge　to　her　voice。　〃Where　was　I？　Ah　yes；'　。。。　notes。　If　you　obey　my　instructions　faithfully；　you　may　have　your　son　back　tonight。　。。。'　Oh　God　I　hope　so；〃　he　said；　breaking　off　momentarily；　then　continued；　〃　'Do　not　consult　the　police　or　try　to　trap　us。　Our　eyes　are　watching　you　even　now。　Written　by　the　Werewolf。'　〃　He　took　off　his　glasses。　His　eyes　were　red…rimmed　and　tired。　Sweat　was　on　his　brow。　〃　'Watching　you　even　now'　？　Could　one　of　the　servants　。。。　or　the　chauffeur　be　in　their　pay？〃
　〃No；　no　of　course　not。　They've　all　been　with　us　for　years。〃
　He　wiped　the　sweat　off；　feeling　dreadful；　wanting　John　back；　wanting　him　safe；　wanting　to　strangle　him。　〃That　means　nothing。　I'd　。。。　I'd　better　call　the　police。〃
　〃Forget　them！　Forget　them　until　we　know　what　you　have　to　do。　Go　to　the　bank。　Get　200；000　only　…　you　should　be　able　to　settle　for　that。　If　you　get　more　you　might　be　tempted　to　give　it　all　to　them　if　tonight　。。。　if　they　really　mean　what　they　say。〃
　〃Yes　。。。　very　wise。　If　we　could　settle　for　that　。。。〃　He　hesitated。　〃What　about　the　tai…pan？　Do　you　think　I　should　tell　the　tai…pan；　Dianne？　He；　he　might　be　able　to　help。〃
　〃Huh！〃　she　said　scornfully。　〃What　help　can　he　give　us？　We're　dealing　with　dog…bone　triads　not　foreign　devil　crooks。　If　we　need　help　we　have　to　stay　with　our　own。〃　Her　eyes　began　boring　into　him。　〃And　now　you'd　better　tell　me　what's　really　the　matter；　why　you　were　so　angry　the　night　before　last　and　why　you've　been　like　a　spiteful　cat　with　a　thorn　in　its　rump　ever　since　and　not　attending　to　business！〃
　〃I've　been　attending　to　business；〃　he　said　defensively。
　〃How　many　shares　have　you　bought？　Eh？　Struan　shares？　Have　you　taken　advantage　of　what　the　tai…pan　told　us　about　the　ing　boom？　Do　you　remember　what　Old　Blind　Tung　forecast？〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course　I　remember！〃　he　stuttered。　〃I've；　I've　secretly　doubled　our　holdings　and　have　equally　secret　orders　out　with　various　brokers　for　half　as　much　again。〃
　Dianne　Chen's　abacus　mind　glowed　at　the　thought　of　that　vast　profit；　and　all　the　private　profit　she　would　be　making　on　all　the　shares　she　had　bought　on　her　own　behalf；　pledging　her　entire　portfolio。　But　she　kept　her　face　cold　and　her　voice　icy。　〃And　how　much　did　you　pay？〃
　〃They　averaged　out　at　28。90。〃
　〃Huh！　According　to　today's　paper　Noble　House　opened　at　28。80；〃　she　said　with　a　disapproving　sniff；　furious　that　he　had　paid　five　cents　less　a　share　than　she　had。　〃You　should　have　been　at　the　market　this　morning　instead　of　moping　around　here；　sleeping　your　life　away。〃
　〃I　wasn't　feeling　very　well；　dear。〃
　〃It　all　goes　back　to　the　night　before　last。　What　sent　you　into　that　unbelievable　rage？　Heya？〃
　〃It　was　nothing。〃　He　got　up；　hoping　to　flee。　〃Noth…　〃
　〃Sit　down！　Nothing　that　you　shouted　at　me；　me　your　faithful　wife　in　front　of　the　servants？　Nothing　that　I　was　ordered　into　my　own　dining　room　like　a　mon　whore？　Heya？〃　Her　voice　began　rising　and　she　let　herself　go；　knowing　instinctively　that　this　was　the　perfect　time；　now　that　they　were　alone　in　the　house；　knowing　that　he　was　defenseless　and　she　could　press　her　advantage。　〃You　think　it's　nothing　that　you　abuse　me；　me　who　has　given　you　the　best　years　of　her　life；　working　and　slaving　and　guarding　you　for　twenty…three　years？　Me；　Dianne　Mai…wei　T'Chung　who　has　the　blood　of　the　great　Dirk　Struan　in　her　veins；　who　came　to　you　virgin；　with　property　in　Wanchai；　North　Point　and　even　on　Lan　Tao；　with　stocks　and　shares　and　the　best　schooling　in　England？　Me　who　never　plains　about　your　snoring　and　whoring　or　about　the　brat　you　sired　out　of　that　dance…hall　girl　you've　sent　to　school　in　America！〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Oh　I　know　all　about　you　and　her　and　all　the　others　and　all　the　other　nasty　things　you　do；　and　that　you　never　loved　me　but　just　wanted　my　property　and　a　perfect　decoration　to　your　drab　life。　。。。〃
　Phillip　Chen　was　trying　to　close　his　ears　but　he　could　not。　His　heart　was　pounding。　He　hated　rows　and　hated　the　shriek　to　her　voice　that；　somehow；　was　perfectly　tuned　to　set　his　teeth　on　edge；　his　brain　oscillating　and　his　bowels　in　turmoil。　He　tried　to　interrupt　her　but　she　overrode　him；　battering　him；　accusing　him　of　all　sorts　of　dalliances　and　mistakes　and　private　matters　that　he　was　shocked　she　knew　about。
　〃。。。　and　what　about　your　club？〃
　〃Eh；　what　club？〃
　〃The　private　Chinese　lunch　club　with　forty…three　members　called　the　74　in　a　block　off　Pedder　Street　that　contains　a　gourmet　chef　from　Shanghai；　teen…age　hostesses　and　bedrooms　and　saunas　and　devices　that　dirty　old　men　need　to　raise　their　Steamless　Stalks？　Eh？〃
　〃It's　nothing　like　that　at　all；〃　Phillip　Chen　spluttered；　aghast　that　she　knew。　〃It's　a　pi…　〃
　〃Don't　lie　to　me！　You　put　up　87；000　good　U。S。　greenbacks　as　the　down　payment　with　Shitee　T'Chung　and　those　two　mealy…mouthed　friends　of　yours　and　even　now　pay　4；000　HK…a…month　fees。　Fees　for　what？　You'd　better　。。。　Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃
　Meekly　he　sat　down　again。　〃I　…　I　was　…　I　want　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃Huh！　Whenever　we　have　a　discussion　you　want　the　bathroom！　You're　just　ashamed　of　the　way　you　treat　me　and　guilty。　。。。〃　Then；　seeing　him　about　to　explode　back　at　her；　she　switched　abruptly；　her　voice　crooningly　gentle。　〃Poor　Phillip！　Poor　boy！　Why　were　you　so　angry？　Who's　hurt　you？〃
　So　he　told　her；　and　once　he　began　the　telling　he　felt　better　and　his　anguish　and　fear　and　fury　started　to　melt　away。　Women　are　clever　and　cunning　in　these　things；　he　told　himself　confidently；　rushing　on。　He　told　her　about　opening　John's　safety　deposit　in　the　bank；　about　the　letters　to　Linc　Bartlett　and　about　finding　a　duplicate　key　to　his　own　safe　in　their　bedroom。　〃I　brought　all　the　letters　back；〃　he　said；　almost　in　tears；　〃they're　upstairs；　you　can　read　them　for　yourself。　My　own　son！　He's　betrayed　us！〃
　〃My　God；　Phillip；〃　she　gasped；　〃if　the　tai…pan　found　out　you　and　Father　Chen…chen　were　keeping　。。。　if　he　knew　he'd