jamesclavell.noblehouse-第181节
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。 He's promised to cherish you and the financial arrangements are generous； however long you stay with him。〃
〃But I don't love him。〃
〃You talk nonsense in eight directions！ Without the protection of the lips the teeth grow cold！〃 her mother had said angrily。 〃This opportunity you are being offered is like the hair of the phoenix and the heart of the dragon！ What do you have to do in return？ Just be a woman and honor and obey a good man for a few years … renewable yearly … and even after that there's no end to the years if you choose and are faithful and clever。 Who knows？ His wife is an invalid and wasting。 If you satisfy him and cherish him enough why wouldn't he marry you？〃
〃Marry a Eurasian？ Quillan Gornt？〃 she had burst out。
〃Why not？ You're not just Eurasian； you're Portuguese。 He has British sons and daughters already； heya？ Times are changing； even here in Hong Kong。 If you do your best； who knows？ Bear him a son； in a year or two； with his permission； and who knows？ Gods are gods and if they want they can make thunder from a clear sky。 Don't be stupid！ Love？ What is that word to you？〃
Orlanda Ramos was staring down at the city now； not seeing it。 How stupid and naive I was then； she thought。 Naive and very stupid。 But now I know better。 Quillan taught me very well。
She glanced up at Linc Bartlett； moving just her eyes； not wanting to disturb him。
Yes； I'm trained very well； she told herself。 I'm trained to be the best wife any man could ever have； that Bartlett will ever have。 No mistakes this time。 Oh no； no mistakes。 Quillan will guide me。 He will help remove Casey。 I will be Mrs。 Linc Bartlett。 All gods and all devils bear witness； that is what must happen。 。。。
Soon he took his eyes off the city； having thought through what she had said。 She was watching him； wearing a little smile that he could not read。 〃What is it？〃
〃I was thinking how lucky I was to meet you。〃
〃Do you always pliment a man？〃
〃No； just the ones who please me … and they're as rare as the hair of the phoenix or the heart of a dragon。 Paté？〃
〃Thanks。〃 He accepted it。 〃You're not eating？〃
〃I'm saving for dinner。 I have to watch my diet； I'm not like you。〃
〃I work out daily。 Tennis when I can； golf。 You？〃
〃I play a little tennis； I'm a good walker but I'm still taking golf lessons。〃 Yes； she thought； I try very hard to be the best at everything I do and I'm the best for you； Linc Bartlett； in the whole wide world。 Her tennis was very good and golf quite good because Quillan had insisted she be adept at both … because he enjoyed them。 〃Are you hungry？〃
〃Starving。〃
〃You said Chinese food。 Is that what you really want？〃
He shrugged。 〃It doesn't matter to me。 Whatever you want。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Positive。 Why； what would you like？〃
〃e in a moment。〃
He followed her。 She opened the dining room door。 The table was set exquisitely for two。 Flowers； and a bottle of Verdicchio on ice。 〃Linc； I haven't cooked for anyone for such a long time；〃 she said in her breathless rush that he found so pleasing。 〃But I wanted to cook for you。 If you'd like it； I have an Italian dinner all set to go。 Fresh pasta aglio e olio … garlic and oil … veal piccata； a green salad； zabaglione； espresso； and brandy。 How does that sound？ It will only take me twenty minutes and you can read the paper while you wait。 Then afterwards we can leave everything for when the amah es back and go dancing or drive。 What do you say？〃
〃Italian's my favorite food； Orlanda！〃 he told her enthusiastically。 Then a vagrant memory surfaced； and for a moment he wondered whom he had told about Italian being his favorite。 Was it Casey … or was it Orlanda this morning？
51
8：32 P。M。：
Brian Kwok jerked out of sleep。 One moment he was in a nightmare； the next awake but somehow still in the deep dark pit of sleep； his heart pounding； his mind disordered and no change between sleep and awake。 Panic swamped him。 Then he realized he was naked and still in the same warm darkness of the cell and remembered who he was and where he was。
They must have drugged me； he thought。 His mouth was parched； his head ached； and he lay back on the mattress that was slimy to his touch and tried to collect himself。 Vaguely he remembered being in Armstrong's office and before that with Crosse discussing the 16/2 but after that not much； just waking in this darkness； groping for the walls to get his bearings； feeling them close by； biting back the terror of knowing he was betrayed and defenseless in the bowels of Central Police HQ within a box with no windows and a door somewhere。 Then； exhaustedly sleeping and waking and angry voices … or did I dream that … and then sleeping again 。。。 no； eating first； didn't I eat first 。。。 yes； slop they called dinner and cold tea 。。。 e on； think！ It's important to think and to remember 。。。 Yes； I remember； it was bedraggled stew and cold tea then； later； breakfast。 Eggs。 Was it eggs first or the stew first and 。。。 yes the lights came on for a moment each time I ate； just enough time to eat 。。。 no； the lights went off and each time I finished in darkness； I remember finishing in darkness and hating to eat in darkness and then I peed in the pail in darkness； got back onto the mattress and lay down again。
How long have I been here？ Must count the days。 Wearily he swung his legs off the cot and stumbled to a wall； his limbs aching to match his head。 Got to exercise； he thought； got to help work the drugs out of my system and get my head clear and ready for the interrogation。 Must get my mind ready for when they go at me； really begin … when they think I've softened up … then they'll keep me awake until they break me。
No； they won't break me。 I'm strong and prepared and I know some of the pitfalls。
Who gave me away？
The effort to solve that was too much for him so he mustered his strength and did a few weak knee bends。 Then he heard muffled footsteps approaching。 Hastily he groped back for the cot and lay down； pretending sleep； his heart hurting in his chest as he held down his terror。
The footsteps stopped。 A sudden bolt clanged back and a trapdoor opened。 A shaft of light came into the cell and a half…seen hand put down a metal plate and a metal cup。
〃Eat your breakfast and hurry up；〃 the voice said in Cantonese。 〃You're due for more interrogation shortly。〃
〃Listen； I want 。。。〃 Brian Kwok called out but the trapdoor had already clanged back and he was alone in the darkness with the echo of his own words。
Keep calm； he ordered himself。 Calm yourself and think。
Abruptly the cell flooded with light。 The light hurt his eyes。 When he had adjusted he saw that the light came from fixtures in the ceiling high above； and he remembered seeing them before。 The walls were dark； almost black； and seemed to be pressing inward on him。 Don't worry about them； he thought。 You've seen the dark cells before and though you've never been part of an in…depth interrogation you know the principles and some of the tricks。
A surge of nausea came into his mouth at the thought of the ordeal ahead。
The door was hardly discernible and the trapdoor equally hidden。 He could feel eyes though he could see no spyholes。 On the plate were two fried eggs and a thick piece of rough bread。 The bread was a little toasted。 The eggs were cold and greasy and unappetizing。 In the cup was cold tea。 There were no utensils。
He drank the tea thirstily； trying to make it last； but it was finished before he knew it and the small amount had not quenched his thirst。 Dew neh loh moh what I wouldn't give for a toothbrush and a bottle of beer an…
The lights went out as suddenly as they had e on。 It took him much time to adjust again to the darkness。 Be calm； it's just darkness and light； light and darkness。 It's just to confuse and disorient。 Be calm。 Take each day as it es； each interrogation as it es。
His terror returned。 He knew he was not really prepared； not experienced enough； though he had had some survival training against capture； what to do if the enemy captured you； the PRC munist enemy。 But the PRC's not the enemy。 The real enemy are the British and Canadians who've pretended to be friend and teacher； they're the real enemy。
Don't think about that； don't try to convince yourself； just try to convince them。
I have to hold fast。 Have to pretend it's a mistake for as long as I can and then； then I tell the story I've woven over the years and confuse them。 That's duty。
His thirst was overpowering。 And his hunger。
Brian Kwok wanted to hurl the empty cup against the wall and the plate against the wall and shout and call for help but that would be a mistake。 He knew he must have great control and keep every particle of strength he could muster to fight back。
Use your head。 Use your training。 Put theory into practice。 Think about the survival course last year in England。 Now what do I do？
He remembered that part of the survival theory was that you must eat and drink and sleep whenever you can for you never know when they will cut off food and drink and sleep from you。 And to use your eyes and nose and touch and intelligence to keep track of time in the dark and remember that your captors will always make a mistake so
