jamesclavell.noblehouse-第147节

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saw　Casey　diving　for　someone。　Gornt　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Bartlett　came　up　with　Christian　Toxe　and　kicked　for　a　life　belt。　He　made　sure　that　Toxe　had　hold　of　the　life　ring　securely　before　he　shouted　to　Dunross；　〃I　think　Gornt　got　sucked　down　and　there　was　a　woman　。。。〃　and　at　once　dived　again。
　Dunross　looked　around。　The　Floating　Dragon　was　almost　on　her　side　now。　He　felt　a　slight　underwater　explosion　and　water　boiled　around　him　for　a　moment。　Casey　came　up　for　air；　filled　her　lungs　and　slid　under　the　surface　again。　Dunross　dived　too。　It　was　almost　impossible　to　see　but　he　groped　his　way　down　along　the　top　deck　that　was　now　almost　vertical　in　the　water。　He　swam　around　the　wreck；　searching；　and　stayed　below　as　long　as　he　could；　then　surfaced　carefully　for　there　were　many　swimmers　still　thrashing　around。　Toxe　was　choking　out　seawater；　precariously　hanging　onto　the　life　ring。　Dunross　swam　over　and　paddled　him　toward　a　sailor；　knowing　Toxe　could　not　swim。
　〃Hang　on；　Christian　。。。　you're　okay　now。〃
　Desperately　Toxe　tried　to　talk　through　his　retching。　〃My　。。。　my　wife's　。。。　she's　down　th　。。。　down　there　。。。　down　。。。〃
　The　sailor　swam　over。　〃I've　got　him；　sir；　you　all　right？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。　he　says　his　wife　was　sucked　down。〃
　〃Christ！　I　didn't　see　anyone　。。。　I'll　get　some　help！〃　The　sailor　turned　and　shouted　at　the　police　launch　for　assistance。　At　once　several　sailors　dived　overboard　and　began　the　search。　Dunross　looked　for　Gornt　and　could　not　see　him。　Casey　came　up　panting　and　held　onto　the　upturned　cutter　to　catch　her　breath。
　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。　thank　God　you're　okay　。。。〃　she　gasped；　her　chest　heaving。　〃There's　a　woman　down　there；　Chinese　I　think；　I　saw　her　sucked　down。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Gornt？〃
　〃No。　。。。　Maybe　he's　。。。〃　She　motioned　at　the　launch。　People　were　clambering　up　the　gangway；　others　huddling　on　the　deck。　Bartlett　surfaced　for　an　instant　and　dived　again。　Casey　took　another　great　breath　and　slid　into　the　depths。　Dunross　went　after　her　slightly　to　her　right。
　They　searched；　the　three　of　them；　until　everyone　else　was　safe　on　the　launch　or　in　sampans。　They　never　found　the　woman。
　When　Dunross　had　got　home　Penelope　was　deep　asleep。　She　awoke　momentarily。　〃Ian？〃
　〃Yes。　Go　back　to　sleep；　darling。〃
　〃Did　you　have　a　nice　time？〃　she　asked；　not　really　awake。
　〃Yes；　go　back　to　sleep。〃
　This　morning；　an　hour　ago；　he　had　not　awakened　her　when　he　left　the　Great　House。
　〃You　heard　that　Gornt　made　it；　Alexi？〃　he　said。
　〃Yes；　yes　I　did；　tai…pan。　As　God　wills。〃
　〃Meaning？〃
　〃After　yesterday's　stock　market　it　would　have　been　very　convenient　if　he　hadn't　made　it。〃
　Dunross　grinned　and　eased　an　ache　in　his　back。　〃Ah；　but　then　I　would　have　been　very　put　out；　very　put　out　indeed；　for　I'd　not　have　had　the　pleasure　of　smashing　Rothwell…Gornt　myself；　eh？〃
　After　a　pause　deVille　said；　〃It's　astonishing　more　didn't　die。〃　They　watched　Pilot　Fish　as　the　stallion　cantered　past　looking　very　good。　DeVille's　eyes　ranged　the　course。
　〃Is　it　true　that　Bartlett　saved　Peter　Marlowe's　wife？〃　Travkin　asked。
　〃He　jumped　with　her。　Yes。　Both　Linc　and　Casey　did　a　great　job。　Wonderful。〃
　〃Will　you　excuse　me；　tai…pan？〃　Jacques　deVille　nodded　at　the　stands。　〃There's　Jason　Plumm　…　I'm　supposed　to　be　playing　bridge　with　him　tonight。〃
　〃See　you　at　Prayers；　Jacques。〃　Dunross　smiled　at　him　and　deVille　walked　off。　He　sighed；　sad　for　his　friend。　〃I'm　off　to　the　office；　Alexi。　Call　me　at　six。〃
　〃Tai…pan　。。。〃
　〃What？〃
　Travkin　hesitated。　Then　he　said　simply；　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　I　。。。　I　admire　you　greatly。〃
　Dunross　was　nonplussed　at　the　suddenness　and　at　the　open；　curious　melancholy　that　emanated　from　the　other　man。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　warmly　and　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　He　had　never　touched　him　as　a　friend　before。　〃You're　not　so　bad　yourself。〃
　Travkin　watched　him　walk　off；　his　chest　hurting　him；　tears　of　shame　adding　to　the　rain。　He　wiped　his　face　with　the　back　of　his　hand　and　went　back　to　watching　Noble　Star；　trying　to　concentrate。
　In　the　periphery　of　his　vision　he　saw　someone　and　he　turned；　startled。　The　KGB　man　was　in　a　corner　of　the　stands；　another　man　joining　him　now。　The　man　was　old　and　gnarled　and　well　known　as　a　punter　in　Hong　Kong。　Travkin　searched　his　mind　for　the　name。　Clinker。　That's　it！　Clinker！
　He　watched　them　blankly　for　a　moment。　Jason　Plumm　was　in　the　stands　just　behind　the　KGB　man　and　he　saw　Plumm　get　up　to　return　Jacques　deVille's　wave　and　walk　down　the　steps　to　meet　him。　Just　then　the　KGB　man　glanced　in　his　direction　and　he　turned　carefully；　trying　not　to　be　sudden　again。　The　KGB　man　had　lifted　binoculars　to　his　eyes　and　Travkin　did　not　know　if　he　had　been　noticed　or　not。　His　skin　crawled　at　the　thought　of　those　high…powered　binoculars　focused　on　him。　Perhaps　the　man　can　lip…read；　he　thought；　aghast。　Christ　Jesus　and　Mother　of　God；　thank　God　I　didn't　blurt　out　the　truth　to　the　tai…pan。
　His　heart　was　grinding　nastily　and　he　felt　sick。　A　flicker　of　lightning　went　across　the　eastern　sky。　Rain　was　puddling　the　concrete　and　the　open；　lower　section　of　the　stands。　He　tried　to　calm　himself　and　looked　around　helplessly　not　knowing　what　to　do；　wanting　very　much　to　find　out　who　the　KGB　man　was。　Absently　he　noticed　Pilot　Fish　was　finishing　his　workout　in　fine　form。　Beyond　him　Richard　Kwang　was　talking　intently　to　a　group　of　other　Chinese　he　did　not　know。　Linbar　Struan　and　Andrew　Gavallan　were　leaning　on　the　rails　with　the　American　Rosemont　and　others　from　the　consulate　he　knew　by　sight。　They　were　watching　the　horses；　oblivious　of　the　rain。　Near　the　changing　rooms；　under　cover；　Donald　McBride　was　talking　to　other　stewards；　Sir　Shi…teh　T'Chung；　Pugmire　and　Roger　Crosse　among　them。　He　saw　McBride　glance　over　to　Dunross；　wave　and　beckon　him　to　join　them。　Brian　Kwok　was　waiting　for　Roger　Crosse　on　the　outskirts　of　the　stewards。　Travkin　knew　both　of　them　but　not　that　they　were　in　SI。
　Involuntarily　his　feet　began　to　move　toward　them。　The　foul　taste　of　bile　rose　into　his　mouth。　He　dominated　his　urge　to　rush　up　to　them　and　blurt　out　the　truth。　Instead　he　called　over　his　chief　ma…foo。　〃Send　our　string　home。　All　of　them。　Make　sure　they're　dry　before　they're　fed。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Unhappily　Travkin　trudged　for　the　changing　rooms。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　that　the　KGB　man　had　his　binoculars　trained　on　him。　Rain　trickled　down　his　neck　and　mixed　with　the　fear…sweat。
　
　〃Ah；　Ian；　we　were　thinking　that　if　it　rains　tomorrow；　we'd　better　cancel　the　meet。　Say　at　6：00　p。m。　tomorrow；〃　McBride　said。　〃Don't　you　agree？〃
　〃No；　actually　I　don't。　I　suggest　we　make　a　final　decision　at　ten　Saturday　morning。〃
　〃Isn't　that　a　little　late；　old　boy？〃　Pugmire　asked。
　〃Not　if　the　stewards　alert　the　wireless　and　television　fellows。　It'll　add　to　the　excitement。　Particularly　if　you　release　that　news　today。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Crosse　said。
　〃Then　that's　settled；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Was　there　anything　else？〃
　〃Don't　you　think　。。。　it's　a　matter　of　the　turf；〃　McBride　said。　〃We　don't　want　to　ruin　it。〃
　〃I　quite　agree；　Donald。　We'll　make　a　final　decision　Saturday　at　ten。　All　in　favor？〃　There　were　no　dissenters。　〃Good！　Nothing　else？　Sorry；　but　I've　got　a　meeting　in　half　an　hour。〃
　Shi…teh　said　unfortably；　〃Oh；　tai…pan；　I　was　terribly　sorry　about　last　night　。。。　terrible。〃
　〃Yes。　Shitee；　when　we　meet　the　governor　in　Council　at　noon　we　should　suggest　he　implants　new；　very　severe　fire　regulations　on　Aberdeen。〃
　〃Agreed；〃　Crosse　said。　〃It's　a　miracle　more　weren't　lost。〃
　〃You　mean　close　the　restaurants　down；　old　boy？〃　Pugmire　was　shocked。　His　pany　had　an　interest　in　two　of　them。　〃That'll　hurt　the　tourist　business　badly。　You　can't　put　in　more　exits。　。。。　You'd　have　to　start　from　scratch！〃
　Dunross　glanced　back　at　Shi…teh。　〃Why　don't　you　suggest　to　the　governor　that　he　order　all　kitchens　at　once　be　put　on　barges　that　can　be　moored　alongside　their　mother　ship？　He　could　order　that　fire　trucks　be　kept　nearby　until　the　changes　have　been　made。　The　cost'd　be　modest；　it　would　be　easy　to　operate　and　the　fire　hazard　would　be　solved　once　and　for　all。〃
　They　all　stared　at　him。　Shi…teh　beamed。　〃Ian；　you're　a　genius！〃
　〃No。　I'm　only　sorry　we　didn't　think　of　it　before。　Never　occurred　to　me。　Rotten　about　Zep　。。。　and　Christian's　wife；　isn't　it？　Have　they　found　her　body　yet？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃God　knows　how　many　others　went。　Did　the　MPs　get　out；　Pug？〃
　〃Yes；　old　chap。　Except　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth。　Poor　sod　got　his　head　bashed　in　on　a　sampan　when　he　fell。〃
　Dunross　was　shocked。　〃I　liked　him！　What　bloody　bad　joss！〃
　〃There　were　a　couple　of　the　others　near　me　at　one　stage。　That　bloody　radical　bastard；　what's　his　name？　Grey；　ah　yes。　Grey　that's　it。　And　the　other　one；　the　other　bloody　Socialist　berk；　Broadhurst。　Both　behaved　rather　well　I　thought。〃
　〃I　hear　your　Superfoods　got　out　too；　Pug。　Wasn't　our　'Call　me　Chuck'　first　ashore？〃
　Pugmire　shrugged　uneasily。　〃I　really　don't　know。〃　Then　he　beamed。　〃I　。。。　er　。。。　I　hear　Casey　and　Bartlett　did　a　very　good　job；　what？　Perhaps　they　should　have　a　medal。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　suggest　it？〃　Dunross　said；　anxious　to　leave。　〃If　there's　nothing　else　。。。〃
　Crosse　said；　〃Ian；　if　I　were　you　I'd　get　a　shot。　There　must　be　bugs　in　that　bay　that　haven't　been　invented　yet。〃
　Th