jamesclavell.noblehouse-第161节
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ll the other banks in the area； big and small … even the Victoria which was across the street from the Ho…Pak … everyone impatiently waiting to get in to get their money out。
Everywhere the mood was volatile and dangerous； the downpour adding to the tension。 Barricades erected to channel people into and out of the banks were manned in strength by equally anxious and irritable police … twenty per thousand； unarmed but for truncheons。
〃Thank God for the rain；〃 Armstrong muttered。
〃Sir？〃 the driver asked； the irritating screech of ill…adjusted windshield wipers drowning his voice。
Armstrong repeated it louder and added； 〃If it was hot and humid； this whole bloody place'd be up in arms。 The rain's a godsend。〃
〃Yes sir。 Yes it is。〃
In time the police car stopped outside the station。 He hurried in。 Chief Inspector Donald C。C。 Smyth was waiting for him。 His left arm was in a sling。
〃Sorry to be so long；〃 Armstrong said。 〃Bloody traffic's jammed for bloody miles。〃
〃Never mind。 Sorry but I'm a bit shorthanded； old chap。 West Aberdeen's cooperating and so is Central； but they've problems too。 Bloody banks！ We'll have to do with one copper in the back … he's already in position in case we flush one of the villains … and us up front with Spectacles Wu。〃 Smyth told Armstrong his plan。
〃Good。〃
〃Shall we go now？ I don't want to be away too long。〃
〃Of course。 It looks pretty dicey outside。〃
〃I hope the bloody rain lasts until the bloody banks close their doors or pay out the last penny。 Did you go liquid yourself？〃
〃You must be joking！ My pittance makes no difference！〃 Armstrong stretched； his back aching。 〃Ah Tam in the flat？〃
〃As far as we know。 The family she works for is called Ch'ung。 He's a dustman。 One of the villains might be there too so we'll have to get in quickly。 I've the missioner's authority to carry a revolver。 Do you want one too？〃
〃No。 No thanks。 Let's go； shall we？〃
Smyth was shorter than Armstrong but well built and his uniform suited him。 Awkwardly； because of his arm； he picked up his raincoat and began to lead the way； then stopped。 〃Bugger； I forgot！ Sorry； SI； Brian Kwok called； would you call him？ Want to use my office？〃
〃Thanks。 Is there any coffee？ I could use a cuppa。〃
〃ing up。〃
The office was neat； efficient and drab； though Armstrong noticed the expensive chairs and desk and radio and accoutrements。 〃Gifts from grateful customers；〃 Smyth said airily。 〃I'll leave you for a couple of minutes。〃
Armstrong nodded and dialed。 〃Yes； Brian？〃
〃Oh hello； Robert！ How's it going？ The Old Man says you should bring her to HQ and not investigate her at East Aberdeen。〃
〃All right。 We're just about to leave。 HQ eh？ What's the reason？〃
〃He didn't tell me； but he's in a good mood today。 It seems we've a 16/2 tonight。〃
Armstrong's interest peaked。 A 16/2 in SI terms meant they had broken an enemy cover and were going to take the spy or spies into custody。 〃Anything to do with our problem？〃 he asked cautiously； meaning Sevrin。
〃Perhaps。〃 There was a pause。 〃Remember what I was saying about our mole？ I'm more convinced than ever I'm right。〃 Brian Kwok switched to Cantonese； using oblique phrases and innuendoes in case he was overheard。 Armstrong listened with growing concern as his best friend told him what had happened at the track； the long private meeting between Crosse and Suslev。
〃But that means nothing。 Crosse knows the bugger。 Even I've drunk with him once or twice； feeling him out。〃
〃Perhaps。 But if Crosse's our mole it'd be just like him to do an exchange in public。 Heya？〃
Armstrong felt sick with apprehension。 〃Now's not the time； old chum；〃 he said。 〃Soon as I get to HQ we should have a chat。 Maybe lunch and talk。〃
Another pause。 〃The Old Man wants you to report to him as soon as you bring the amah in。〃
〃All right。 See you soon。〃
Armstrong put down the phone。 Smyth came back in。 Thoughtfully he handed him a coffee。 〃Bad news？〃
〃Nothing but bloody trouble；〃 Armstrong said sourly。 〃Always bloody trouble。〃 He sipped his coffee。 The cup was excellent porcelain and the coffee fresh； expensive and delicious。 〃This's good coffee！ Very good。 Crosse wants me to bring her to HQ directly； not here。〃
Smyth's eyebrows soared。 〃Christ； what's so important about an old hag amah？〃 he asked sharply。 〃She's in my jurisdic… 〃
〃Christ I don't know！ I don't give the f… 〃 The bigger man stopped his explosion。 〃Sorry； I haven't been getting much sleep the last few days。 I don't give the orders。 Crosse said to bring her to HQ。 No explanation。 He can override anyone。 SI overrides everyone； you know how it is！〃
〃Arrogant bastard！〃 Smyth finished his coffee。 〃Thank God I'm not in SI。 I'd hate to deal with that bugger every day。〃
〃I'm not in SI and he still gives me trouble。〃
〃Was it about our mole？〃
Armstrong glanced up at him。 〃What mole？〃
Smyth laughed。 〃e on for chrissake！ There's a rumor among the Dragons that our fearless leaders have been advised to find the bugger very quickly。 It seems that the minister's even roasting the governor！ London's so pissed off they're sending out the head of MI…6 … presume you know Sinders arrives tomorrow on the BOAC flight。〃
Armstrong sighed。 〃Where the hell do they get all their information？〃
〃Telephone operators； amahs； street cleaners … who cares。 But you can bet； old lad； at least one of them knows everything。 You know Sinders？〃
〃No； never met him。〃 Armstrong sipped his coffee； enjoying the excellence； the rich； nutty flavor that was giving him new strength。 〃If they know everything； who's the mole？〃
After a pause； Smyth said； 〃That sort of info'd be expensive。 Shall I ask the price？〃
〃Yes。 Please。〃 The big man put his cup down。 〃The mole doesn't bother you； does he？〃
〃No； not at all。 I'm doing my job thank you very much and it's not my job to worry about moles or to try to catch them。 The moment you catch and snatch the bugger there'll be another bugger subverted or put into place and we'll do the same to them； whoever the them are。 Meanwhile if it wasn't for this bloody Ho…Pak mess this station'd still be the best run and my East Aberdeen area the quietest in the Colony and that's all I'm concerned about。〃 Smyth offered a cigarette from an expensive gold case。 〃Smoke？〃
〃No thanks； I quit。〃
〃Good for you。 No； so long as I'm left alone until I retire in four years all's well in the world。〃 He lit the cigarette with a gold lighter and Armstrong hated him a little more。 〃By the way； I think you're foolish not to take the envelope that's left in your desk monthly。〃
〃Do you now？〃 Armstrong's face hardened。
〃Yes。 You don't have to do anything for it。 Nothing at all。 Guaranteed。〃
〃But once you've taken one you're up the creek without a paddle。〃
〃No。 This's China and not the same。〃 Smyth's blue eyes hardened too。 〃But then you know that better than I。〃
〃One of your 'friends' asked you to give me the message？〃
Smyth shrugged。 〃I heard another rumor。 Your share of the Dragons reward for finding John Chen es to 40；000 HK an… 〃
〃I didn't find him！〃 Armstrong's voice grated。
〃Even so； that'll be in an envelope in your desk this evening。 So I hear； old chap。 Just a rumor； of course。〃
Armstrong's mind was sifting this information。 40；000 HK covered exactly and beautifully his most pressing； long overdue debt that he had to clear by Monday； losses on the stock market that； 〃Well really； old boy； you should pay up。 It has been over a year and we do have rules。 Though I'm not pressing I really must have the matter settled。 。。。〃
Smyth's right again； he thought without bitterness； the bastards know everything and it'd be so easy to find out what debts I have。 So am I going to take it or not？
〃Only forty？〃 he asked with a twisted smile。
〃I imagine that's enough to cover your most pressing problem；〃 Smyth said with the same hard eyes。 〃Isn't it？〃
Armstrong was not angry that the Snake knew so much about his private life。 I know just as much about his； though not how much he has or where it's stacked away。 But it'd be easy to find out； easy to break him if I wanted to。 Very easy。 〃Thanks for the coffee。 Best I've had in years。 Shall we go？〃
Awkwardly； Smyth put on his regulation raincoat over his well…cut uniform； adjusted the sling for his arm and put his cap to the usual jaunty angle and led the way。 As they went； Armstrong made Wu repeat what had happened and what had been said by the youth who claimed to be one of the Werewolves and later by the old amah。 〃Very good； Wu；〃 Armstrong said when the young man had finished。 〃An excellent piece of surveillance and investigation。 Excellent。 Chief Inspector Smyth tells me you want to get into SI？〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃Why？〃
〃It's important； an important branch of SB； sir。 I've always been interested in security and how to keep our enemies out and the Colony safe and I feel it would be very interesting and important。 I'd like to help if I could； sir。〃
Momentarily their ears focused on the distant wail of fire engines that came from the hillside above。
〃Some stupid bastard's kicked over another stove；〃 Smyth said sourly。 〃Christ； thank God for the rain！〃
〃Yes；〃 Armstrong said； then added to Wu； 〃If this turn
