jamesclavell.noblehouse-第223节

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hen　you're　being　set　up；　or　betrayed；　or　being　sold　for　something　or　someone　more　valuable。　You　always　need　secrets　to　barter　with；　the　more　important　the　secrets　the　safer　you　are；　because　you　never　know　when　you　or　an　underling　or　overling　will　make　the　mistake　that　leaves　you　as　naked　and　as　helpless　as　a　spiked　butterfly。　Like　Voranski。　Like　Metkin。　Like　Dunross　with　his　phony　files。　Like　Rosemont　with　his　naive　idealism。　Like　Gregor　Suslev；　his　fingerprints　from　the　glass　now　on　record　with　the　CIA　and　so　in　a　trap　of　my　own　choosing。
　Crosse　laughed　aloud。　He　let　in　the　clutch；　easing　out　into　the　traffic。　Switching　sides　and　playing　them　all　off　against　each　other　makes　life　exciting；　he　told　himself。　Yes；　secrets　really　do　make　life　very　exciting　indeed。
　
　61
　
　9：45　P。M。：
　Pok　Liu　Chau　was　a　small　island　southwest　of　Aberdeen；　and　dinner　the　best　Chinese　food　Bartlett　had　ever　had。　They　were　on　their　eighth　course；　small　bowls　of　rice。　Traditionally　rice　was　the　last　dish　at　a　banquet。
　〃You're　not　really　supposed　to　eat　any；　Linc！〃　Orlanda　laughed。　〃That　sort　of　dramatizes　to　your　host　that　you're　full　to　bursting！〃
　〃You　can　say　that　again；　Orlanda！　Quillan；　it's　been　fantastic！〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　was；　Quillan；〃　she　echoed。　〃You　chose　beautifully。〃
　The　restaurant　was　beside　a　small　wharf　near　a　fishing　village　…　drab　and　lit　with　bare　bulbs　and　furnished　with　oilcloth　on　the　tables　and　bad　chairs　and　broken　tiles　on　the　floor。　Behind　it　was　an　alley　of　fish　tanks　where　the　daily　catch　of　the　island　was　kept　for　sale。　Under　the　proprietor's　direction　they　chose　from　what　was　swimming　in　the　tanks：　prawns；　squid；　shrimps；　lobster；　small　crabs　and　fish　of　all　kinds　of　shapes　and　sizes。
　Gornt　had　argued　with　the　proprietor　over　the　menu；　settling　with　what　fish　they　could　agree　on。　Both　were　experts　and　Gornt　a　valued　customer。　Later　they　had　sat　down　at　a　table　on　the　patio。　It　was　cool　and　they　drank　beer；　happy　together；　the　three　of　them。　All　knew　that　at　least　during　dinner　there　was　a　truce　and　no　need　for　guards。
　In　moments　the　first　dish　had　arrived　…　mounds　of　succulent　quick…fried　shrimps；　sea…sweet　and　as　delicious　as　any　in　the　world。　Then　tiny　octopus　with　garlic　and　ginger　and　chili　and　all　the　condiments　of　the　East。　Then　some　chicken　wings　deep　fried　which　they　ate　with　sea　salt；　then　the　great　fish　steamed　with　soy　and　slivers　of　fresh　green　onions　and　ginger　and　laid　on　a　platter；　the　cheek；　the　delicacy　of　the　fish；　given　to　Bartlett　as　the　honored　guest。　〃Jesus；　when　I　saw　this　dump；　sorry；　this　place；　I　figured　you　were　putting　me　on。〃
　〃Ah；　my　dear　fellow；〃　Gornt　said；　〃you　have　to　know　the　Chinese。　They　aren't　concerned　with　the　surroundings；　just　the　food。　They'd　be　very　suspicious　of　any　eating　place　that　wasted　money　on　decoration　or　tablecloths　or　candles。　They　want　to　see　what　they　eat　…　hence　the　harsh　light。　Chinese　are　at　their　best　eating。　They're　like　Italians。　They　love　to　laugh　and　eat　and　drink　and　belch。　。。。〃
　They　all　drank　beer。　〃That　goes　best　with　Chinese　food　though　Chinese　tea's　better　…　it's　more　digestive　and　breaks　down　all　the　oil。〃
　〃Why　the　smile；　Linc？〃　Orlanda　asked。　She　was　sitting　between　them。
　〃No　reason。　It's　just　that　you　really　know　how　to　eat　here。　Say；　what's　this？〃
　She　peered　at　the　dish　of　fried　rice　mixed　with　various　kinds　of　fish。　〃Squid。〃
　〃What？〃
　The　others　laughed　and　Gornt　said；　〃The　Chinese　say　if　its　back　faces　heaven　it's　edible。　Shall　we　go？〃
　As　soon　as　they　were　back　on　board　and　out　to　sea；　away　from　the　wharf；　there　was　coffee　and　brandy。　Gornt　said；　〃Will　you　excuse　me　for　a　while？　I've　got　some　paper　work　to　do。　If　you're　cold；　use　the　forward　stateroom。〃　He　went　below。
　Thoughtfully　Bartlett　sipped　his　brandy。　Orlanda　was　across　from　him　and　they　were　lounging　in　the　deck　chairs　on　the　aft　deck。　Suddenly　he　wished　that　this　was　his　boat　and　they　were　alone。　Her　eyes　were　on　him。　Without　being　asked；　she　moved　closer　and　put　her　hand　on　the　back　of　his　neck；　kneading　the　muscles　gently　and　expertly。
　〃That　feels　great；〃　he　said；　wanting　her。
　〃Ah；〃　she　replied；　very　pleased；　〃I'm　very　good　at　massage；　Linc。　I　took　lessons　from　a　Japanese。　Do　you　have　a　regular　massage？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　should。　It's　very　important　for　your　body；　very　important　to　keep　every　muscle　tuned。　You　tune　your　aircraft；　don't　you？　So　why　not　your　body？　Tomorrow　I'll　arrange　it　for　you。〃　Her　nails　dug　into　his　neck　mischievously。　〃She's　a　woman；　but　not　to　be　touched；　heya？〃
　〃e　on；　Orlanda！〃
　〃I　was　teasing；　silly；〃　she　told　him　at　once；　brightly；　taking　away　the　sudden　tension　easily。　〃This　woman's　blind。　In　olden　days　in　China　and　even　today　in　Taiwan；　blind　people　are　given　a　monopoly　on　the　art　and　business　of　massage；　their　fingers　being　their　eyes。　Oh　yes。　Of　course　there　are　lots　of　quacks　and　charlatans　who　pretend　to　have　knowledge　but　don't；　not　really。　In　Hong　Kong　you　soon　know　who's　real　and　who　isn't。　This　is　a　very　tiny　village。〃　She　leaned　forward　and　brushed　her　lips　against　his　neck。　〃That's　because　you're　beautiful。〃
　He　laughed。　〃I'm　supposed　to　say　that。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　her；　bewitched；　and　gave　her　a　little　hug；　very　conscious　of　the　captain　at　the　helm　ten　feet　away。
　〃Would　you　like　to　go　forward　and　see　the　rest　of　the　ship？〃　she　asked。
　He　stared　at　her。　〃You　a　mind　reader　too？〃
　She　laughed；　her　lovely　face　a　mirror　of　joy。　〃Isn't　it　the　girl's　part　to　notice　if　her　。。。　if　her　date's　happy　or　sad　or　wanting　to　be　alone　or　whatever？　I　was　taught　to　use　my　eyes　and　senses；　Linc。　Certainly　I　try　to　read　your　mind　but　if　I'm　wrong　you　must　tell　me　so　that　I　can　get　better。　But　if　I'm　correct　。。。　doesn't　that　make　it　grander　for　you？〃　And　so　much　easier　to　ensnare　you　beyond　escape。　To　control　you　on　a　line　you　can　so　easily　break　if　you　wish；　my　art　being　to　make　the　too　thin　line　like　a　steel　mesh。
　Oh　but　that　was　not　easy　to　learn！　Quillan　was　a　cruel　teacher；　oh　so　cruel。　Much　of　my　education　was　done　in　anger；　Quillan　cursing　me；　〃For　chrissake　can't　you　ever　learn　to　use　your　bloody　eyes？　It　should　have　been　crystal　clear　when　I　came　here　that　I　was　feeling　rotten　and　had　a　rotten　day！　Why　the　hell　didn't　you　get　me　a　drink　at　once；　touch　me　gently　at　once　and　then　keep　your　bloody　mouth　shut　for　ten　minutes　while　I　recoup　…　just　tender　and　understanding　for　ten　bloody　minutes　and　then　I'd　be　fine　again！〃
　〃But　Quillan；〃　she　had　whimpered　through　her　tears；　frightened　by　his　rage；　〃you　came　in　so　angrily　you　upset　me　and　th…　〃
　〃I've　told　you　fifty　times　not　to　be　upset　just　because　I'm　bloody　upset！　It's　your　job　to　take　the　tension　out　of　me！　Use　your　bloody　eyes　and　ears　and　sixth　sense！　All　I　need's　ten　minutes　and　I'm　docile　again　and　putty。　For　chrissake；　don't　I　watch　over　you　all　the　time？　Don't　I　use　my　bloody　eyes　and　try　to　defuse　you？　Every　month　at　the　same　time　you're　always　edgy；　eh？　Don't　I　take　care　to　be　as　calm　as　possible　then　and　keep　you　calmed？　Eh？〃
　〃Yes　but　d…　〃
　〃To　hell　with　but！　By　God；　now　I'm　in　a　worse　temper　than　when　I　came　in！　It's　your　bloody　fault　because　you're　stupid；　unwomanly；　and　you　of　all　people　should　know　better！〃
　Orlanda　remembered　how　he　had　slammed　out　of　the　apartment　and　she　had　burst　into　tears；　the　birthday　dinner　she　had　cooked　ruined　and　the　evening　wrecked。　Later；　he　had　e　back；　calm　now；　and　had　taken　her　into　his　arms　and　held　her　tenderly　as　she　wept；　sorry　for　the　row　that　she　agreed　was　unnecessary　and　her　fault。　〃Listen；　Orlanda；〃　he　had　said　so　gently。　〃I'm　not　the　only　man　you'll　have　to　control　in　this　life；　not　the　only　one　on　whom　you'll　depend　…　it's　a　basic　fact　that　women　depend　on　some　man；　however　rotten　and　evil　and　difficult。　It's　so　easy　for　a　woman　to　be　in　control。　Oh　so　easy　if　you　use　your　eyes；　understand　that　men　are　children　and；　from　time　to　time　…　most　of　the　time　…　stupid；　petulant　and　awful。　But　they　supply　the　money　and　it's　hard　to　do　that；　very　hard。　It's　very　hard　to　keep　supplying　the　money　day　after　day　whoever　you　are。　Moh　ching　moh　meng　。。。　no　money　no　life。　In　return　the　woman's　got　to　supply　the　harmony　…　the　man　can't；　not　all　the　time。　But　the　woman　can　always　cheer　her　man　if　she　wants　to；　can　always　take　the　poison　out　of　him。　Always。　Just　by　being　calm　and　loving　and　tender　and　understanding　for　such　a　short　time。　I'll　teach　you　the　game　of　life。　You'll　have　a　Ph。D。　in　survival；　as　a　woman；　but　you've　got　to　work　。。。〃
　Oh　how　I　worked；　Orlanda　thought　grimly；　remembering　all　her　tears。　But　now　I　know。　Now　I　can　do　instinctively　what　I　forced　myself　to　learn。　〃e　on；　let　me　show　you　the　forward　part　of　the　ship。〃　She　got　up；　conscious　of　the　captain's　eyes；　and　led　the　way　confidently。
　As　they　walked　she　slipped　her　arm　momentarily　in　Linc's；　then　took　the　railing　of　the　gangway　and　went　below。　The　stateroom　was　big；　with　fortable　chaises　and　sofas　and　deep　chairs　fixed　to　the　deck。　The　cocktail　cabinet　was　well　stocked。　〃The　galley's　forward　in　the　fo'c'sle　with　the　crew　quarters；〃　she　said。　〃They're　cramped　but　good　for　Hong　Kong。〃　A　small　corridor　led　forward。　Four　cabins；　two　with　a　double　bunk；　two　with　bunks　one　over　the　other。　Neat　and　shipshape　and　inviting。　〃Aft's