jamesclavell.noblehouse-第211节

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ty…three；　undisputed　warlord　of　Hong　Kong　and　Asia。
　Is　it　always　〃those　whom　the　gods　love　die　young〃？　he　asked　himself。　Dirk　was　not　much　more　than　my　age　when　the　Devil　Winds　of　the　Great　Typhoon　tore　our　brand…new　three…story　factory　in　Happy　Valley　to　pieces　and　buried　him　in　the　rubble。　Is　that　old　or　young？　I　don't　feel　old。　Was　that　the　only　way　for　Dirk　to　die？　Violently？　In　storm？　Young？　Killed　by　nature？　Or　does　the　expression　mean；　those　whom　the　gods　love　die　young　in　heart？
　〃Never　mind；〃　he　said　to　his　mentor　and　friend。　〃I　wish　I'd　known　you。　I　tell　you　openly；　tai…pan；　I　hope　to　God　there　is　a　life　after　death　so　that　in　some　eon　of　time；　I　can　thank　you　personally。〃
　Confident　again；　he　went　back　to　his　desk。　In　his　top　drawer　was　Four　Finger　Wu's　matrix。　His　fingers　touched　it；　caressing　it。　How　do　I　squeeze　out　of　this　one？　he　asked　himself　grimly。
　There　was　a　knock。　Phillip　Chen　came　in。　He　had　aged　in　the　last　few　days。　〃Good　God；　tai…pan；　what　are　we　going　to　do？　9。50！〃　he　said　in　a　rush；　a　nervous　screech　in　his　voice。　〃I　could　tear　my　hair　out！　Dew　neh　loh　moh　because　of　the　boom；　you　remember　I　bought　in　at　28。90；　every　penny　of　spare　cash　and　a　lot　more　and　Dianne　bought　at　28。80　and　sold　at　16。80　and　demands　I　make　up　the　difference。　Oh　ko　what're　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Pray　…　and　do　what　we　can；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Have　you　got　hold　of　Tiptop？〃
　〃Eh　。。。　no；　no；　tai…pan。　I've　been　trying　every　few　minutes　but　the　phone's　still　out　of　order。　The　phone　pany　says　the　phone's　been　left　off　the　hook。　I　had　my　cousin　in　the　phone　pany　check　it　personally。　Both　lines　into　his　house　are　off　the　hook。〃
　〃What　do　you　advise？〃
　〃Advise？　I　don't　know；　I　think　we　should　send　a　messenger　but　I　didn't　want　to　until　I'd　consulted　with　you　。。。　what　with　our　stock　crash　and　the　bank　run　and　poor　John　and　the　reporters　pestering　。。。　all　my　stocks　are　down；　all　of　them！〃　The　old　man　went　into　a　paroxysm　of　Cantonese　obscenities　and　curses　on　Gornt；　his　ancestors　and　all　his　future　generations。　〃If　the　Vic　goes；　what　are　we　going　to　do；　tai…pan？〃
　〃The　Vic　won't　go。　The　governor　will　certainly　declare　Monday　a　bank　holiday　if　Tiptop　fails　us。〃　Dunross　had　already　apprised　his　pradore　of　his　conversations　with　Tiptop；　Yu；　Johnjohn　and　Havergill。　〃e　on；　Phillip；　think！〃　he　added　with　pretended　anger；　deliberately　sharpening　his　voice　to　help　the　old　man。　〃I　can't　just　send　a　god…cursed　messenger　there　to　say　'you've　deliberately　left　your　bloody　phone　off　the　hook'！〃
　Phillip　Chen　sat　down；　the　rare　anger　pulling　him　a　little　together。　〃Sorry；　yes；　sorry　but　everything　。。。　and　John；　poor　John　。。。〃
　〃When's　the　funeral？〃
　〃Tomorrow；　tomorrow　at　ten；　the　Christian　one；　Monday's　the　Chinese　one。　I　was　。。。　I　was　wondering　if　you'd　say　a　few　words；　tomorrow。〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course　I　will。　Now；　what　about　Tiptop？〃
　Phillip　Chen　concentrated；　the　effort　hard　for　him。　At　length　he　said；　〃Invite　him　to　the　races。　To　your　box。　He's　never　been　and　that　would　be　great　face。　That's　the　way。　You　could　say　。。。　No；　sorry；　I'm　not　thinking　clearly。　Better；　much　better；　tai…pan；　I　will　write。　I'll　write　the　note　asking　him　for　you。　I'll　say　you　wanted　to　ask　personally　but　unfortunately　his　phone　is　out　of　order　…　then　if　he　wants　to　e；　or　is　forbidden　by　his　superiors；　his　face　is　saved　and　so　is　yours。　I　could　add　that　'by　the　way；　the　Noble　House　has　already　telexed　firm　orders　to　Sydney　for　the　thoriums　。。。'　〃　Phillip　Chen　brightened　a　little。　〃That　will　be　a　very　good　trade　for　us；　tai…pan；　the　price　offered。　。。。　I've　checked　prices　and　we　can　supply　all　their　needs　easily　and　get　very　petitive　bids　from　Tasmania；　South　Africa　and　Rhodesia。　Ah！　Why　not　send　young　George　Trussler　from　Singapore　to　Johannesburg　and　Salisbury　on　an　exploratory　mission　for　thoriums　。。。〃　Phillip　Chen　hesitated。　〃。。。　and　er；　certain　other　vital　aerospace　metals　and　materials。　I　did　some　quick　checking；　tai…pan。　I　was　astounded　to　discover　that；　outside　Russia；　almost　90　percent　of　all　the　Free　World's　supply　of　vanadium；　chrome；　platinums；　manganese；　titanium　…　all　vital　and　essential　in　aerospace　and　rocketry　…　e　from　the　southern　part　of　Rhodesia　and　South　Africa。　Think　of　that！　90　percent　outside　Russia。　I　never　realized　how　vastly　important　that　area　is　to　the　Free　World；　with　all　the　gold；　diamonds；　uranium；　thorium　and　God　knows　what　other　essential　raw　materials。　Perhaps　Trussler　could　also　investigate　the　possibility　of　opening　an　office　there。　He's　a　sharp　young　man　and　due　for　promotion。〃　Now　that　his　mind　was　fully　occupied；　the　old　man　was　breathing　easier。　〃Yes。　This　trade　and；　er；　Mr。　Yu's；　could　be　immense　for　us；　tai…pan。　I'm　sure　it　can　be　handled　delicately。〃　He　looked　up　at　Dunross。　〃I'd　also　mention　to　Tiptop　about　Trussler；　that　we　were　sending　an　executive；　one　of　the　family；　in　preparation。〃
　〃Excellent。　Do　it　immediately。〃　Dunross　clicked　on　the　inter。　〃Claudia；　get　George　Trussler　please。〃　He　glanced　back　at　Phillip。　〃Why　would　Tiptop　cut　himself　off？〃
　〃To　bargain；　to　increase　the　pressure　on　us；　to　get　more　concessions。〃
　〃Should　we　keep　on　calling　him？〃
　〃No。　After　the　hand…delivered　note；　he　will　call　us。　He　knows　we're　not　fools。〃
　〃When　will　he　call？〃
　〃When　he　has　permission；　tai…pan。　Not　before。　Sometime　before　Monday　at　10：00　a。m。　when　the　banks　are　due　to　open。　I　suggest　you　tell　that　lump　of　dogmeat　Havergill　and　Johnjohn　not　to　call　…　they'll　muddy　already　dark　waters。　You　don't　use　a　tadpole　to　catch　a　shark。〃
　〃Good。　Don't　worry；　Phillip；〃　he　said　passionately；　〃we're　going　to　get　out　of　this　mess。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　tai…pan。　I　hope　so。〃　Phillip　Chen　rubbed　his　red…rimmed　eyes　tiredly。　〃Dianne　。。。　those　damned　shares！　I　see　no　way　out　of　the　morass。　Th…　〃
　Claudia　interrupted　on　the　inter。　〃Master　Trussler　on　line　two。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Claudia。〃　He　stabbed　line　two。　〃Hello；　George；　how's　Singapore？〃
　〃Afternoon；　sir。　Fine；　sir；　hot　and　rainy；〃　the　breezy；　enthusiastic　voice　said。　〃This's　a　pleasant　surprise；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I　want　you　to　get　on　the　next　plane　to　Johannesburg。　Leave　at　once。　Telex　me　your　flight　and　hotel　and　call　me　as　soon　as　you　arrive　at　the　hotel　in　Johannesburg。　Got　it？〃
　There　was　a　slight　hesitation　and　slightly　less　breeziness。　〃Johannesburg；　South　Africa；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes。　The　next　plane　out。〃
　〃I'm　on　my　way。　Anything　else？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Right　you　are；　tai…pan。　I'm　on　my　way。　'Bye！〃
　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　Power's　a　marvelous　device；　he　thought　with　great　satisfaction；　but　being　tai…pan's　better。
　Phillip　got　up。　〃I'll　deal　with　that　letter　at　once。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；　Phillip。　I've　another　problem　that　I　need　your　advice　on。〃　He　opened　the　desk　and　brought　out　the　matrix。　Apart　from　himself　and　previous　tai…pans　who　were　still　alive；　only　Phillip　Chen　in　all　the　world　knew　the　secret　of　the　four　coins。　〃Here。　This　was　giv…　〃
　Dunross　stopped；　paralyzed；　totally　unprepared　for　the　effect　the　matrix　had　on　his　pradore。　Phillip　Chen　was　staring　at　it；　his　eyes　almost　popped　from　their　sockets；　his　lips　stretched　back　from　his　teeth。　As　though　in　a　dream；　everything　in　slow　motion；　Phillip　Chen　reached　out　and　took　the　matrix；　his　fingers　trembling；　and　peered　at　it　closely；　mouthing　soundlessly。
　Then　Dunross's　brain　detonated　and　he　realized　the　half…coin　must　have　belonged　to　Phillip　Chen；　that　it　had　been　stolen　from　him。　Of　course；　Dunross　wanted　to　shout。　Sir　Gordon　Chen　must　have　been　given　one　of　the　four　coins　by　Jin…qua！　But　why？　What　was　the　connection　between　the　Chen　family　and　a　Co…hong　Mandarin　that　would　make　Jin…qua　give　the　Eurasian　son　of　Dirk　Struan　so　valuable　a　gift？
　Still　in　slow　motion；　he　saw　the　old　man　raise　his　head　to　squint　up　at　him。　Again　the　mouth　moved。　No　sound。　Then　in　a　strangled　gasp；　〃Bar　。。。　Bartlett　gave　this　。。。　this　to　you　already？〃
　〃Bartlett？〃　Dunross　echoed　incredulously。　〃What　in　the　name　of　Christ's　Bartlett　got　to　d…　〃　He　stopped　as　another　explosion　seemed　to　shatter　his　head　and　more　pieces　of　the　jigsaw　slammed　into　place。　Bartlett's　secret　knowledge！　Knowledge　that　could　only　e　from　one　of　seven　men；　all　of　them　unthinkable；　Phillip　Chen　the　most　unthinkable　of　all！
　Phillip　Chen's　the　traitor！　Phillip　Chen's　working　in　conjunction　with　Bartlett　and　Casey　。。。　it's　Phillip　Chen　who's　sold　us　out　and　passed　over　our　secrets　and　passed　over　the　coin。
　A　blinding　rage　overcame　him。　It　took　all　of　his　training　to　hold　the　fury　bottled。　He　saw　himself　get　up　and　stride　to　the　window　and　stare　out　of　it。　He　did　not　know　how　long　he　stood　there。　But　when　he　turned；　his　mind　was　purged　clean　and　the　vast　error　in　his　logic　now　clear　to　him。
　〃Well？〃　His　voice　was　chilling。
　〃Tai…pan　。。。　tai…pan　。。。〃　the　old　man　began　brokenly；　wringing　his　hands。
　〃Tell　the　truth；　pradore。　Now！〃　The　word　frightened　Phillip。
　〃It　。。。　it　was　John；〃　he　gasped；　tears　spilling。　〃It　wasn't　me　I　sw…　〃
　〃I　know　that！　Hurry　up　for　chrissake！〃
　Phillip　Chen　spewed　out　everything；　how　he　had　taken　his　son's　key　and　opened　his　son's　safety　deposit　box　and　discovered　the　letters　to　and　from　Bartlett　and　the　second　key　and　how；　at　dinner　the　night　of　the　tai…pan's　party；　he　had　suddenly　had　a　premonition　a