jamesclavell.noblehouse-第156节

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　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。　I　love　it。　You　can　see　all　of　Kowloon。　Before　Sinclair　Towers　was　built　…　that's　the　block　straight　ahead　…　we　had　the　best　view　in　Hong　Kong。　Did　you　know　Struan's　own　Sinclair　Towers？　I　think　Ian　Dunross　helped　have　it　built　to　spite　Quillan。　Quillan　has　the　penthouse　apartment　here　。。。　at　least　he　did。〃
　〃It　spoiled　his　view？〃
　〃Ruined　it。〃
　〃That's　an　expensive　attack。〃
　〃No。　Both　blocks　are　immensely　profitable。　Quillan　told　me　everything　in　Hong　Kong's　amortized　over　three　years。　Everything。　Property's　the　thing　to　own。　You　could　make　。。。〃　She　laughed。　〃You　could　improve　your　fortune　if　you　wanted　to。〃
　〃If　I　stay；　where　should　I　live？〃
　〃Here　in　Mid　Levels。　Farther　up　the　Peak　you're　always　very　damp；　the　walls　sweat　and　everything　mildews。〃　She　took　off　her　headscarf　and　shook　her　hair　free；　then　sat　on　the　arm　of　a　chair；　looking　at　his　back；　waiting　patiently。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃Five；　almost　six　years。　Since　the　block　was　built。〃
　He　turned　and　leaned　against　the　window。　〃It's　great；〃　he　said。　〃And　so　are　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；　kind　sir。　Would　you　like　coffee？〃
　〃Please。〃　Linc　Bartlett　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　peering　at　an　oil　painting。　〃This　a　Quance？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　is。　Quillan　gave　it　to　me。　Espresso？〃
　〃Yes。　Black；　please。　Wish　I　knew　more　about　paintings　。。。〃　He　was　going　to　add；　Casey　does；　but　he　stopped　himself　and　watched　her　open　one　of　the　doors。　The　kitchen　was　large；　modern　and　very　well　equipped。　〃That's　like　something　out　of　House　and　Garden！〃
　〃This　was　all　Quillan's　idea。　He　loves　food　and　loves　cooking。　This's　all　his　design；　the　rest　。。。　the　rest　is　mine　though　he　taught　me　good　from　kitsch。〃
　〃You　sorry　you　broke　up　with　him？〃
　〃Yes　and　no。　It's　joss；　karma。　He　。。。　that　was　joss。　The　time　had　e。〃　Her　quietness　touched　him。　〃It　could　never　have　lasted。　Never。　Not　here。〃　He　saw　a　sadness　go　over　her　momentarily　but　she　brushed　it　aside　and　busied　herself　with　the　sparkling　espresso　maker。　All　the　shelves　were　spotless。　〃Quillan　was　a　stickler　for　tidiness；　thank　God　it　rubbed　off　on　me。　My　amah；　Ah　Fat；　she　drives　me　insane。〃
　〃Does　she　live　here？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course；　but　she's　shopping　now　…　her　room's　at　the　end　of　the　corridor。　Look　around　if　you　like。　I　won't　be　a　minute。〃
　Filled　with　curiosity　he　wandered　off。　A　good　dining　room　with　a　round　table　to　seat　eight。　Her　bedroom　was　white　and　pink；　light　and　airy　with　soft　pink　drapes　hung　from　the　ceiling　that　fell　around　the　huge　bed　making　it　into　a　vast　four…poster。　There　were　flowers　in　a　delicate　arrangement。　A　modern　bathroom；　tiled　and　perfect；　with　matching　towels。　A　second　bedroom　with　books　and　phone　and　hi…fi　and　smaller　bed；　again　everything　neat　and　tasteful。
　Casey's　outclassed；　he　told　himself；　remembering　the　easy；　careless　untidiness　of　her　little　house　in　the　Los　Angeles　canyon；　red　brick；　piles　of　books　everywhere；　barbecue；　phones；　duplicators　and　electric　typewriters。　Troubled　at　his　thought　and　the　way　he　automatically　seemed　to　be　paring　them；　he　strolled　back　to　the　kitchen；　bypassing　the　amah's　room；　his　walk　soundless。　Orlanda　was　concentrating　on　the　coffee　maker；　unaware　that　now　he　was　watching　her。　He　enjoyed　watching　her。
　This　morning　he　had　phoned　her　early；　very　concerned；　waking　her；　wanting　to　remind　her　to　see　a　doctor；　just　in　case。　In　the　melee　last　night；　by　the　time　he　and　Casey　and　Dunross　had　got　ashore　she　had　already　gone　home。
　〃Oh；　thank　you；　Linc；　how　thoughtful　of　you　to　phone！　No；　I'm　fine；〃　she　had　said　in　a　happy　rush。　〃At　least　I　am　now。　Are　you　all　right？　Is　Casey　all　right？　Oh　I　can't　thank　you　enough；　I　was　petrified　。。。　You　saved　my　life；　you　and　Casey　。。。〃
　They　had　chatted　happily　on　the　phone　and　she　had　promised　to　see　her　doctor　anyway；　and　then　he　had　asked　if　she'd　like　breakfast。　At　once　she　had　said　yes　and　he　had　gone　Hong　Kong　side；　enjoying　the　downpour；　the　temperature　nice。　Breakfast　atop　the　Mandarin；　eggs　Benedict　and　toast　and　coffee；　feeling　grand；　Orlanda　sparkling　and　so　appreciative　of　him　and　of　Casey。
　〃I　thought　I　was　dead。　I　knew　I'd　drown；　Linc；　but　I　was　too　frightened　to　scream。　If　you　hadn't　done　it　all　so　quickly　I'd　never　。。。　The　moment　I　was　under；　dear　Casey　was　there　and　I　was　alive　again　and　safe　before　I　knew　it。　。。。〃
　It　was　the　best　breakfast　he　had　ever　had。　She　had　ministered　to　him；　small　things；　passing　him　toast　and　pouring　coffee　without　having　to　ask　for　it；　picking　up　his　serviette　when　it　fell；　entertaining　and　being　entertained；　assured　and　feminine；　making　him　feel　masculine　and　strong。　And　she　reached　out　once　and　put　her　hand　on　his　arm；　long　fingers　and　exquisite　nails；　and　the　feel　of　that　touch　still　lingered。　Then　he　had　escorted　her　home　and　inveigled　an　invitation　up　to　her　apartment　and　now　he　was　here；　watching　her　concentrate　in　the　kitchen；　silk　skirt　and　Russian…style　rain　boots；　loose　blouse　that　was　tight　to　her　tiny　waist；　letting　his　eyes　flow　over　her。
　Jesus；　he　thought；　I'd　better　be　careful。
　〃Oh；　I　didn't　see　you；　Linc。　You　walk　quietly　for　a　man　of　your　height！〃
　〃Sorry。〃
　〃Don't　be　sorry；　Linc！〃　The　steam　hissed　to　a　crescendo。　Jet　droplets　began　to　fill　the　cups。　〃A　twist　of　lemon？〃
　〃Thanks。　You？〃
　〃No。　I　prefer　cappuccino。〃　She　heated　the　milk；　the　sound　fine　and　the　smell　of　the　coffee　grand；　then　carried　the　tray　to　the　breakfast　area。　Silver　spoons　and　good　porcelain；　both　of　them　aware　of　the　currents　in　the　room　but　pretending　there　were　none。
　Bartlett　sipped　his　coffee。　〃It's　wonderful；　Orlanda！　The　best　I've　ever　had。　But　it's　different。〃
　〃It's　the　dash　of　chocolate。〃
　〃You　like　cooking？〃
　〃Oh　yes！　Very　much。　Quillan　said　I　was　a　good　pupil。　I　love　keeping　house　and　organizing　parties；　and　Quillan　always　。。。〃A　small　frown　was　on　her　face　now。　She　looked　at　him　directly。　〃I　seem　to　be　always　mentioning　him。　Sorry　but　it's　still　。。。　it's　still　automatic。　He　was　the　first　man　in　my　life　…　the　only　man　…　so　he's　a　part　of　me　that's　indelible。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to　explain；　Orlanda；　I　und…　〃
　〃I　know；　but　I'd　like　to。　I've　no　real　friends；　I've　never　talked　about　him　to　anyone；　never　wanted　to；　but　somehow　。。。　somehow　well；　I　like　being　with　you　and　。。。〃　A　sudden；　vast　smile　went　across　her。　〃Of　course！　I'd　forgotten！　Now　I'm　your　responsibility！〃　She　laughed　and　clapped　her　tiny　hands。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃According　to　Chinese　custom　you've　interfered　with　joss　or　fate。　Oh　yes。　You　interfered　with　the　gods。　You　saved　my　life　because　without　you　I'd　surely　have　died　…　probably　would　have　died　…　but　that　would　have　been　up　to　the　gods。　But　because　you　interfered　you　took　over　their　responsibility；　so　now　you　have　to　look　after　me　forever！　That's　good　wise　Chinese　custom！〃　Her　eyes　were　dancing　and　he　had　never　seen　whites　as　white　or　dark　brown　pupils　so　limpid；　or　a　face　so　pleasing。　〃Forever！〃
　〃You're　on！〃　He　laughed　with　her；　the　strength　of　her　joy　surrounding　him。
　〃Oh　good！〃　she　said；　then　became　a　little　serious　and　touched　him　on　the　arm。　〃1　was　only　joking；　Linc。　You're　so　gallant　…　I'm　not　used　to　such　gallantry。　I　formally　release　you　…　my　Chinese　half　releases　you。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　don't　want　to　be　released。〃　At　once　he　saw　her　eyes　widen。　His　chest　was　feeling　tight；　his　heart　quickening。　Her　perfume　tantalized　him。　Abruptly　the　force　between　them　surged。　His　hand　reached　out　and　touched　her　hair；　so　silky　and　fine　and　sensuous。　First　touch。　Caressing　her。　A　little　shiver　and　then　they　were　kissing。　He　felt　her　lips　soft　and；　in　a　moment；　weling；　just　a　little　moist；　without　lipstick；　the　taste　so　clean　and　good。
　Their　passion　grew。　His　hand　moved　to　her　breast　and　the　heat　came　through　the　silk。　Again　she　shivered　and　weakly　tried　to　back　off　but　he　held　her　firmly；　his　heart　racing；　fondling　her；　then　her　hands　went　to　his　chest　and　stayed　a　while；　touching　him；　then　pressed　against　him　and　she　broke　the　kiss　but　stayed　close；　gathering　her　breath；　her　heart　racing；　as　intoxicated　as　he　was。
　〃Linc　。。。　you　。。。〃
　〃You　feel　so　good；〃　he　said　softly；　holding　her　close。　He　bent　to　kiss　her　again　but　she　avoided　his　kiss。
　〃Wait；　Linc。　First　。。。〃
　He　kissed　her　neck　and　tried　again；　sensing　her　want。
　〃Linc；　wait　。。。　first　。。。〃
　〃First　kiss；　then　wait！〃
　She　laughed。　The　tension　broke。　He　cursed　himself　for　making　the　mistake；　his　desire　strong；　whipped　by　hers。　Now　the　moment　had　passed　and　they　were　fencing　again。　His　anger　began　to　flood　but　before　it　possessed　him　she　reached　up　and　kissed　him　perfectly。　At　once　his　anger　vanished。　Only　warmth　remained。
　〃You're　too　strong　for　me；　Linc；〃　she　said；　her　voice　throaty；　arms　around　his　neck　but　cautiously。　〃Too　strong　and　too　attractive　and　too　nice　and　truly；　truly　I　do　owe　you　a　life。〃　Her　hand　caressed　his　neck　and　he　felt　it　in　his　loins　as　she　looked　up　at　him；　all　her　defenses　settled；　strong　yet　inviolate。　Perhaps；　he　thought。
　〃First　talk；〃　she　said；　moving　away；　〃then　perhaps　we　will　kiss　again。〃
　〃Good。〃　At　once　he　went　to　her　but；　both　of　them　in　good　humor　now；　she　put　her　finger　on　his　lips；　preventing　him。
　〃Mr。　Bartlett！　Are　all　Americans　like　you？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said　immediately　but　she　would　n