jamesclavell.noblehouse-第149节

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　〃Gornt's　behind　it？〃　Dunross　frowned　at　this　new　thought。
　〃I　didn't　say　Gornt；　sir。　No　I　didn't　say　that。〃
　〃He　didn't；　Father；〃　Adryon　said。　〃What　should　Martin　do？　Should　he　resign　or　just　swallow　his　pride　an…　〃
　〃I　just　can't；　Adryon；〃　Martin　Haply　said。
　〃Let　Father　talk；　he'll　know。〃
　Dunross　saw　her　turn　her　lovely　eyes　back　on　him　and　he　felt　a　glow　at　her　confident　innocence　that　he　had　never　felt　before。　〃Two　things：　First　you　go　back　at　once。　Christian　will　need　all　the　help　he　can　get。　Second；　y…　〃
　〃Help？〃
　〃Haven't　you　heard　about　his　wife？〃
　〃What　about　her？〃
　〃Don't　you　know　she's　dead？〃
　They　stared　at　him　blankly。
　Quickly　he　told　them　about　Aberdeen。　Both　of　them　were　shocked　and　Haply　stuttered；　〃Jesus；　we　。。。　we　didn't　listen　to　a　radio　or　anything　。。。　we　were　just　dancing　and　talking。　。。。〃　He　jumped　up　and　started　to　leave　then　came　back。　〃I　。。。　I'd　better　go　at　once。　Jesus！〃
　Adryon　was　on　her　feet。　〃I'll　drop　you。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃Haply；　would　you　ask　Christian　to　emphasize　in　bold　type　that　anyone　who　got　dunked　or　went　swimming　should　see　their　doctors　right　smartly　…　very　important。〃
　〃Got　it！〃
　Adryon　said　anxiously；　〃Father；　did　you　see　Doc　Too…　〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Cleansed　inside　and　out。　Off　you　go！〃
　〃What　was　the　second　thing；　tai…pan？〃　Haply　asked。
　〃Second　was　that　you　should　remember　it's　the　publisher's　money；　therefore　his　newspaper　and　he　can　do　what　he　likes。　But　publishers　can　be　persuaded。　I　wonder；　for　instance；　who　got　to　him　or　her　and　why　he　and　she　agreed　to　call　Christian　。。。　if　you're　so　sure　your　story's　true。〃
　Haply　beamed　suddenly。　〃e　on；　honey；〃　he　said　and　shouted　thanks。　They　ran　off　hand…in…hand。
　Dunross　stayed　sitting　in　the　stands　for　the　moment。　He　sighed　deeply；　then　got　up　and　went　away。
　Roger　Crosse　was　with　Brian　Kwok　under　cover　near　the　jockeys'　changing　rooms　and　he　had　been　lip…reading　the　tai…pan's　conversation。　He　watched　him　leave；　the　SI　guard　following　him。　〃No　need　to　waste　any　more　time　here；　Brian。　e　along。〃　He　headed　for　the　far　exit。　〃I　wonder　if　Robert　found　anything　at　Sha　Tin。〃
　〃Those　bloody　Werewolves　are　going　to　have　a　field　day。　All　Hong　Kong'll　be　frightened　to　death。　I'll　bet　we　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　stopped　suddenly。　〃Sir！　Look！〃　He　nodded　at　the　stands；　noticing　Suslev　and　Clinker　among　the　scattered　groups　who　watched　out　of　the　rain。　〃I　wouldn't've　thought　he'd　be　up　yet！〃
　Crosse's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Yes。　That's　curious。　Yes。〃　He　hesitated；　then　changed　direction；　watching　their　lips　carefully。　〃Since　he's　honored　us　we　might　as　well　have　a　little　chat。　Ah　。。。　they've　seen　us。　Clinker　really　doesn't　like　us　at　all。〃　Leisurely　he　led　the　way　into　the　stands。
　The　big　Russian　put　a　smile　on　his　face　and　slid　out　a　thin　flask　and　took　a　sip。　He　offered　it　to　Clinker。
　〃No　thanks；　mate；　I　just　drink　beer。〃　Clinker's　cold　eyes　were　on　the　approaching　policemen。　〃Proper　niffy　around　here；　ain't　it？〃　he　said　loudly。
　〃Morning；　Clinker；〃　Crosse　said；　equally　coldly。　Then　he　smiled　at　Suslev。　〃Morning；　Captain。　Filthy　day；　what？〃
　〃We're　alive；　tovarich；　alive；　so　how　can　a　day　be　filthy；　eh？〃　Suslev　was　filled　with　outward　bonhomie；　continuing　his　cover　as　a　hail…fellow…well…met。　〃Will　there　be　racing　Saturday；　Superintendent？〃
　〃Probably。　The　final　decision'll　be　made　Saturday　morning。　How　long　will　you　be　in　port？〃
　〃Not　long；　Superintendent。　The　repairs　to　the　rudder　go　slowly。〃
　〃Not　too　slowly　I　hope。　We　all　get　very　nervous　if　our　VIP　harbor　guests　don't　get　very　rapid　service。〃　Crosse's　voice　was　crisp。　〃I'll　talk　to　the　harbor　master。〃
　〃Thank　you；　that's　。。。　that's　very　thoughtful　of　you。　And　it　was　thoughtful　of　your　department　。。。〃　Suslev　hesitated；　then　turned　to　Clinker。　〃Old　friend；　do　you　mind？〃
　〃Not　on　your　nelly；〃　Clinker　said。　〃Narks　make　me　nervous。〃　Brian　Kwok　looked　at　him。　Clinker　looked　back　unafraid。　〃I'll　be　in　me　car。〃　He　wandered　off。
　Suslev's　voice　hardened。　〃It　was　thoughtful　of　your　department　to　send　back　the　body　of　our　poor　rade　Voranski。　Have　you　found　the　murderers？〃
　〃Unfortunately　no。　They　could　be　hired　assassins　…　from　any　point　of　the　pass。　Of　course　if　he　hadn't　slipped　ashore　mysteriously　he'd　still　be　a　useful　operative　of　the　。。。　of　whatever　department　he　served。〃
　〃He　was　just　a　seaman　and　a　good　man。　I　thought　Hong　Kong　was　safe。〃
　〃Did　you　pass　on　the　assassins'　photographs　and　information　about　their　phone　call　to　your　KGB　superiors？〃
　〃I'm　not　KGB；　piss　on　KGB！　Yes；　the　information　was　passed　on　。。。　by　my　superior；〃　Suslev　said　irritably。　〃You　know　how　it　is；　Superintendent；　for　God's　sake。　But　Voranski　was　a　good　man　and　his　murderers　must　be　caught。〃
　〃We'll　find　them　soon　enough；〃　Crosse　said　easily。　〃Did　you　know　Voranski　was　in　reality　Major　Yuri　Bakyan；　First　Directorate；　Department　6；　KGB？〃
　They　saw　shock　on　Suslev's　face。　〃He　was　。。。　he　was　just　a　friend　to　me　and　he　came　with　us　from　time　to　time。〃
　〃Who　arranges　that；　Captain？〃　Crosse　said。
　Suslev　looked　at　Brian　Kwok　who　stared　back　at　him　with　unconcealed　distaste。　〃Why're　you　so　angry？　What　have　I　done　to　you？〃
　〃Why's　the　Russian　empire　so　greedy；　particularly　when　it　es　to　Chinese　soil？〃
　〃Politics！〃　Suslev　said　sourly　then　added　to　Crosse；　〃I　don't　interfere　in　politics。〃
　〃You　buggers　interfere　all　the　time！　What's　your　KGB　rank？〃
　〃I　don't　have　one。〃
　Crosse　said；　〃A　little　cooperation　could　go　a　long　way。　Who　arranges　your　crews；　Captain　Suslev？〃
　Suslev　glanced　at　him。　Then　he　said；　〃A　word　in　private；　eh？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　Crosse　said。　〃Wait　here；　Brian。〃
　Suslev　turned　his　back　on　Brian　Kwok　and　led　the　way　down　the　exit　stairs　onto　the　grass。　Crosse　followed。　〃What　do　you　think　of　Noble　Star's　chances？〃　Suslev　asked　genially。
　〃Good。　But　she's　never　raced　in　the　wet。〃
　〃Pilot　Fish？〃
　〃Look　at　him　…　you　can　see　for　yourself。　He　loves　the　wet。　He'll　be　the　favorite。　You　plan　to　be　here　Saturday？〃
　Suslev　leaned　on　the　railings。　And　smiled。　〃Why　not？〃
　Crosse　laughed　softly。　〃Why　not　indeed？〃　He　was　sure　they　were　quite　alone　now。　〃You're　a　good　actor；　Gregor；　very　good。〃
　〃So're　you；　rade。〃
　〃You're　taking　a　hell　of　a　risk；　aren't　you？〃　Crosse　said；　his　lips　hardly　moving　now　as　he　talked。
　〃Yes；　but　then　all　life's　a　risk。　Center　told　me　to　take　over　until　Voranski's　replacement　arrives　…　there　are　too　many　important　contacts　and　decisions　to　be　made　on　this　trip。　Not　the　least；　Sevrin。　And　anyway；　as　you　know；　Arthur　wanted　it　this　way。〃
　〃Sometimes　I　wonder　if　he's　wise。〃
　〃He's　wise。〃　The　lines　around　Suslev's　eyes　crinkled　with　his　smile。　〃Oh　yes。　Very　wise。　I'm　pleased　to　see　you。　Center's　very　very　pleased　with　your　year's　work。　I've　much　to　tell　you。〃
　〃Who's　the　bastard　who　leaked　Sevrin　to　AMG？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　It　was　a　defector。　As　soon　as　we　know；　he's　a　dead　man。〃
　〃Someone's　betrayed　a　group　of　my　people　to　the　PRC。　The　leak　had　to　e　from　the　AMG　file。　You　read　my　copy。　Who　else　on　your　ship　did？　Someone's　infiltrated　your　operation　here！〃
　Suslev　blanched。　〃I'll　activate　a　security　check　immediately。　It　could　have　e　from　London；　or　Washington。〃
　〃I　doubt　it。　Not　in　time。　I　think　it　came　from　here。　And　then　there's　Voranski。　You're　infiltrated。〃
　〃If　the　PRC　。。。　yes；　it　will　be　done。　But　who？　I'd　bet　my　life　there's　no　spy　aboard。〃
　Crosse　was　equally　grim。　〃There's　always　someone　who　can　be　subverted。〃
　〃You　have　an　escape　plan？〃
　〃Several。〃
　〃I'm　ordered　to　assist　in　any　way。　Do　you　want　a　berth　on　the　Ivanov？〃
　Crosse　hesitated。　〃I'll　wait　until　I've　read　the　AMG　files。　It　would　be　a　pity　after　such　a　long　time　。。。〃
　〃I　agree。〃
　〃It's　easy　for　you　to　agree。　If　you're　caught　you　just　get　deported　and　asked　politely；　please　don't　e　back。　Me？　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　caught　alive。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Suslev　lit　a　cigarette。　〃You　won't　get　caught；　Roger。　You're　much　too　clever。　You　have　something　for　me？〃
　〃Look　down　there；　along　the　rails。　The　tall　man。〃
　Casually　Suslev　put　his　binoculars　to　his　eyes。　He　took　his　time　about　centering　the　man　indicated；　then　looked　away。
　〃That's　Stanley　Rosemont；　CIA。　You　know　they're　tailing　you？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　I　can　lose　them　if　I　wish　to。〃
　〃The　man　next　to　him's　Ed　Langan；　FBI。　The　bearded　fellow's　Mishauer；　American　Naval　Intelligence。〃
　〃Mishauer？　That　sounds　familiar。　Do　you　have　files　on　them？〃
　〃Not　yet　but　there's　a　deviate　in　the　consulate　who's　having　a　jolly　affair　with　the　son　of　one　of　our　prominent　Chinese　solicitors。　By　the　time　you're　back　on　your　next　trip　he'll　be　happy　to　oblige　your　slightest　wish。〃
　Suslev　smiled　grimly。　〃Good。〃　Again；　casually；　he　glanced　at　Rosemont　and　the　others；　cementing　their　faces　into　his　memory。　〃What's　his　job？〃
　〃Deputy　chief　of　station。　CIA　for　fifteen　years。　OSS　and　all　that。　They've　a　dozen　more　cover　businesses　here　and　safe　houses　everywhere。　I've　sent　a　list　in　microdots　to　32。〃
　〃Good。　Center　wants　increased　surveillance　of　all　CIA　movements。〃
　〃No　problem。　They're　careless　but　their　funding's　big　and　growing。〃
　〃Vietnam？〃
　〃Of　course　Vietnam。〃
　Suslev　chuckled。　〃Those　poor　fools　don't　know　what　they've　been　sucked　into。　They　still　think　they　can　fight　a　jungle　war　w