jamesclavell.noblehouse-第196节

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　Tai…tai　meant　〃supreme　of　the　supreme；〃　wife。　By　ancient　Chinese　custom；　in　the　home　the　wife　was　supreme；　all　powerful。　〃To　be　part　of　your　life；〃　she　said　softly；　her　whole　being　shouting　caution。
　Again　she　waited。　Bartlett　leaned　down　and　she　felt　his　lips　brush　hers。　But　his　kiss　was　different　and　she　knew　that　from　now　on　their　relationship　would　be　on　a　different　plane。　Her　excitement　soared。　She　broke　the　spell。　〃Now；〃　she　said　as　though　to　a　naughty　child；　〃now；　Mr。　Linc　Bartlett；　which　one　do　you　choose？〃
　〃You。〃
　〃And　I　choose　you；　but　meanwhile　we　have　to　decide　which　one　you're　going　to　consider。　If　these　aren't　to　your　liking　we'll　go　to　another　club。〃　Deliberately　she　kept　her　voice　matter…of…fact。　〃Now　what　about　her？〃　The　girl　was　lovely；　the　one　he　had　looked　at。　Orlanda　had　already　decided　against　her　and　had　chosen　the　one　that　she　would　prefer　but；　she　thought　contentedly；　very　sure　of　herself；　the　poor　boy's　entitled　to　an　opinion。　Oh　I'm　going　to　be　such　a　perfect　wife　for　you！　〃Her　résumé　says　she's　Lily　Tee　…　all　the　girls　have　working　names　they　choose　themselves。　She's　twenty；　from　Shanghai；　speaks　Shanghainese　and　Cantonese　and　her　hobbies　are　dancing；　boating　and　。。。〃　Orlanda　peered　at　the　tiny　characters　and　he　saw　the　lovely　curve　of　her　neck。　〃。。。　and　hiking。　What　about　her？〃
　His　eyes　went　to　the　picture。　〃Listen；　Orlanda；　I　haven't　been　with　a　whore　for　years；　not　since　I　was　in　the　army。　I've　never　been　much　on　them。〃
　〃I　understand　pletely　and　you're　right；〃　she　told　him　patiently；　〃but　these　aren't　whores；　not　in　the　American　sense。　There's　nothing　vulgar　or　secret　about　them　or　what　I　propose。　These　are　Pleasure　Ladies　who　may　offer　you　their　youth　which　has　great　value；　in　exchange　for　some　of　your　money　which　has　almost　none。　It's　a　fair　exchange；　given　and　received　with　face　on　both　sides。　For　instance；　you　should　know　in　advance　how　much　she　should　receive　and　you　must　never　give　her　the　money　directly；　you　must　only　put　it　into　her　handbag。　That's　important；　and　it's　very　important　to　me　that　your　first　encounter　be　perfect。　I've　got　to　protect　your　face　too；　an…　〃
　〃e　on；　Orlan…　〃
　〃But　I'm　serious；　Linc。　This　choosing；　this　gift　from　me　to　you　has　nothing　to　do　with　you　and　me；　nothing。　What　happens　with　us　is　joss。　It's　just　important　to　me　for　you　to　enjoy　life；　to　know　what　Asia　is；　really　is；　not　what　Americans　think　it　is。　Please？〃
　Bartlett　was　floundering　now；　all　his　well…tested　signposts　and　guides　shattered　and　useless　against　this　woman　who　fascinated　and　astounded　him。
　He　was　drunk　with　her　warmth　and　tenderness。　All　of　him　believed　her。
　Then；　suddenly；　he　remembered　and　his　inner　self　screamed　caution。　His　euphoria　fled。　He　had　just　remembered　to　whom　he　had　mentioned　how　much　he　loved　Italian　food。　Gornt。　Gornt；　a　couple　of　days　ago。　Talking　about　the　best　meal　he　had　ever　had。　Italian　food　with　beer。　Gornt。　Jesus　are　these　two　in　cahoots？　Can't　be；　just　can't　be！　Maybe　I　told　her　about　the　same　meal。　Did　I？
　He　searched　his　mind　but　could　not　remember　exactly；　all　of　him　rocked　but　his　eyes　kept　seeing　her　waiting　there；　smiling　at　him；　loving　him。　Gornt　and　Orlanda？　They　can't　be　in　cahoots！　No　way！　Even　so；　be　cautious。　You　know　almost　nothing　about　her；　so　watch　out　for　chrissake；　you're　in　a　web；　her　web。　Is　it　a　Gornt　web　too？
　Test　her；　the　devil　in　him　shouted。　Test　her。　If　she　means　what　she　says　then　that's　something　else　and　she's　from　outer　space　and　just　as　rare　and　you'll　have　to　decide　about　her　…　you'll　only　have　her　on　her　terms。
　Test　her　while　you've　the　chance　…　you've　nothing　to　lose。
　〃What？〃　she　asked；　sensing　a　change。
　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　what　you　said；　Orlanda。　Shall　I　choose　now？〃
　
　55
　
　11：35　P。M。：
　Suslev　was　sitting　in　the　half…dark　of　their　safe　house　at　32　Sinclair　Towers。　Because　of　his　meeting　with　Grey　he　had　changed　the　rendezvous　with　Arthur　to　here。
　He　sipped　his　drink　in　the　dark。　Beside　him　on　the　side　table　was　a　bottle　of　vodka；　two　glasses　and　the　telephone。　His　heart　thumped　heavily　as　it　always　did　when　he　was　waiting　for　a　clandestine　meeting。　Will　I　never　get　used　to　them？　he　asked　himself。　No。　Tonight　I'm　tired　though　everything　has　gone　beautifully。　Grey's　programmed　now。　That　poor　fool；　driven　by　hatred　and　envy　and　jealousy！　Center　must　further　caution　the　leadership　of　the　BCP　about　him　…　the　trend's　too　vulnerable。　And　Travkin；　once　a　prince；　now　nothing；　and　Jacques　deVille　…　that　impetuous　inpetent　…　and　all　the　others。
　Never　mind！　Everything　goes　excellently。　Everything's　prepared　against　tomorrow　and　the　arrival　of　the　man　Sinders。　An　involuntary　shudder　went　through　Suslev。　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　trapped　by　them。　MI…6　are　dangerous；　mitted　and　fanatic　against　us；　like　the　CIA；　but　much　worse。　If　the　CIA　and　MI…6　plan；　code　name　Anubis；　to　join　Japan；　China；　England；　Canada　and　America　together　ever　es　to　pass；　Mother　Russia　will　be　ruined　forever。　Ah　my　country　my　country！　How　I　miss　Georgia；　so　beautiful　and　gentle　and　verdant。
　The　songs　of　his　childhood；　the　folk　songs　of　Georgia；　welled　up　and　took　him　back。　He　wiped　away　a　small　tear　at　the　thought　of　so　much　beauty；　so　far　away。　Never　mind；　my　leave's　due　soon。　Then　I'll　be　home。　And　my　son　will　be　home　on　leave　at　the　same　time　from　Washington　with　his　young　wife　and　their　infant　son；　born　so　wisely　in　America。　No　trouble　about　a　passport　for　him。　He'll　be　our　fourth　generation　to　serve。　We　advance。
　The　darkness　was　pressing　down　on　him。　At　Arthur's　request；　for　further　safety　he　had　drawn　the　curtains　and　kept　the　windows　closed　though　there　was　no　possibility　they　could　be　seen。　The　apartment　had　air　conditioning　but　again　for　safety　he　had　been　asked　to　leave　it　off；　as　well　as　the　lights。　It　had　been　wise　to　leave　the　Finns'　apartment　before　Grey　in　case　there　had　been　a　change　of　plan　and　there　was　an　SI　tail　on　him。　Crosse　had　told　him　there　would　be　none　tonight；　though　tomorrow　another　man　would　be　assigned　to　him。
　He　had　caught　a　taxi　and　stopped　at　Golden　Ferry　for　the　evening　papers；　pretending　to　lurch　drunkenly　in　case　he　was　being　observed；　then　went　to　Rose　Court　and　Clinker's　and　down　the　tunnel　and　then　here。　There　was　an　SI　man　stationed　outside　Rose　Court。　The　man　was　still　outside　and　would　stay　there　or　not　stay　there。　It　made　no　difference。
　The　phone　jangled。　The　sound　made　him　jump　even　though　the　bell　was　carefully　muted。　Three　rings；　then　silence。　His　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　Arthur　would　be　here　shortly。
　He　touched　the　automatic　that　was　secreted　behind　one　of　the　cushions。　Orders　from　Center。　It　was　one　of　many　orders　he　disapproved　of。　Suslev　did　not　like　guns；　handguns。　Guns　could　make　mistakes；　poison　never。　His　fingers　touched　the　tiny　phial　that　was　buried　in　his　lapel　close　enough　for　his　mouth　to　reach　it。　What　would　it　be　like　to　live　without　instant　death　so　close？
　Deliberately　he　relaxed　and　concentrated　his　senses　like　radar；　wanting　to　sense　Arthur's　presence　before　it　was　actually　there。　Would　Arthur　use　the　front　door　or　the　back？
　From　where　he　was　sitting　he　could　see　both　doors。　His　ears　searched　carefully；　mouth　slightly　open　to　increase　their　sensitivity。　The　whine　of　the　elevator。　His　eyes　went　to　the　front　door　but　the　whine　ceased　floors　below。　He　waited。　The　back　door　opened　before　he　sensed　anything。　His　insides　fell　over　as　he　failed　to　recognize　the　dark　shape。　For　a　moment　he　was　paralyzed。　Then　the　shape　straightened　one　shoulder　and　the　slight　stoop　vanished。
　〃Kristos！〃　Suslev　muttered。　〃You　gave　me　a　fright。〃
　〃All　part　of　the　service；　old　boy。〃　The　soft；　clipped　words　were　mixed　with　the　dry；　hacking；　put…on　cough。　〃Are　you　alone？〃
　〃Of　course！〃
　The　shape　moved　noiselessly　into　the　living　room。　Suslev　saw　the　automatic　being　put　away　and　he　relaxed　the　hold　on　his　but　left　it　ready　in　hiding。　He　got　up　and　stretched　out　his　hand　warmly。　〃You're　on　time　for　once。〃
　They　shook　hands。　Jason　Plumm　did　not　remove　his　gloves。　〃I　very　nearly　didn't　arrive；〃　he　said　in　his　normal　voice；　the　smile　on　the　surface　of　his　face　only。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　the　Russian　asked；　reading　the　quality　of　the　smile。　〃And　why　all　the　'pull　the　curtains　and　keep　the　windows　closed'？〃
　〃I　think　this　place　may　be　under　surveillance。〃
　〃Eh？〃　Suslev's　disquiet　soared。　〃Why　didn't　you　mention　it　before？〃
　〃I　said；　I　think　it　may　be。　I'm　not　sure。　We've　gone　to　a　lot　of　trouble　to　make　this　a　safe　house　and　I　don't　want　it　blown　for　any　reason。〃　The　tall　Englishman's　voice　had　a　raw　edge　to　it。　〃Listen；　rade；　all　hell's　broken　loose。　SI's　caught　a　fellow　called　Metkin　off　your　ship。　He…　〃
　〃What？〃　Suslev　stared　at　him　with　pretended　shock。
　〃Metkin。　He's　supposed　to　be　political　m…　〃
　〃But　that's　impossible；〃　Suslev　said　shakily；　his　acting　consummate；　hiding　his　delight　that　Metkin　had　fallen　into　his　trap。　〃Metkin　would　never　make　a　pickup　himself！〃
　〃Even　so；　SI　have　him！　Armstrong　got　him　and　an　American　off　the　carrier。　They　caught　them　in　the　act。　Does　Metkin　know　about　Sevrin？〃
　〃No；　absolutely　not。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃
　〃Yes。　Even　I　didn't　know　until　a　few　days　ago　when　Center　told　me　to　take　over　from　Voranski；〃　Suslev　said；　the