jamesclavell.noblehouse-第237节

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　〃No；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Navy。　Destroyers。　I　was　at　the　Battle　of　the　Coral　Sea　in　'42；　then　at　Midway；　sub…lieutenant；　later　at　Guadalcanal。　I　was　sunk　twice　but　lucky。　Yes；　I　was　lucky；　apparently　more　lucky　than　you。〃
　〃We're　both　alive；　both　in　one　piece；　more　or　less。〃
　〃More　or　less；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I　agree。　War　is　a　curious　way　of　life。〃　Toda　puffed　his　cigarette。　〃Sometime；　if　it　would　please　you　and　not　hurt；　I　would　like　to　talk　about　your　Changi；　about　its　lessons　and　our　wars。　Please？〃
　〃Sure。〃
　〃I'm　here　for　a　few　days；〃　Toda　said。　〃At　the　Mandarin；　back　next　week。　A　lunch；　or　dinner　perhaps？〃
　〃Thank　you。　I'll　call。　If　not　this　time　perhaps　next。　One　day　I'll　be　in　Tokyo。〃
　After　a　pause　the　Japanese　said；　〃We　need　not　discuss　your　Changi；　if　you　wish。　I　would　like　to　know　you　better。　England　and　Japan　have　much　in　mon。　Now　if　you'll　excuse　me；　I　think　I　should　place　my　bet。〃　He　bowed　politely　and　walked　off。　Casey　sipped　her　coffee。
　〃Was　that　very　hard　for　you？　Being　polite？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Casey。　No；　it　wasn't；　not　at　all。　Now　we're　equal；　he　and　I；　any　Japanese。　The　Japanese　…　and　Koreans　…　I　hated　were　the　ones　with　bayonets　and　bullets　when　I　had　none。〃　She　saw　him　wipe　the　sweat　off；　noticing　his　twisted　smile。　〃　'Mahlu；　I　wasn't　ready　to　meet　one　here。〃
　〃　'Mahlu？　What's　that；　Cantonese？〃
　〃Malayan。　It　means　'ashamed。'　〃　He　smiled　to　himself。　It　was　a　contraction　of　puki　mahlu。　Mahlu　ashamed；　puki　a　Golden　Gulley。　Malays　grant　feelings　to　that　part　of　a　woman：　hunger；　sadness；　kindness；　rapaciousness；　hesitancy；　shame；　anger　…　anything　and　everything。
　〃No　need　to　be　ashamed；　Peter；〃　she　said；　not　understanding。　〃I'm　astonished　you'd　talk　to　any　of　them　after　all　that　POW　horror。　Oh　I　really　liked　the　book。　Isn't　it　marvelous　that　he'd　read　it　too？〃
　〃Yes。　That　threw　me。〃
　〃May　I　ask　you　one　question？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃You　said　Changi　was　genesis。　What　did　you　mean？〃
　He　sighed。　〃Changi　changed　everyone；　changed　values　permanently。　For　instance；　it　gave　you　a　dullness　about　death　…　we　saw　too　much　of　it　to　have　the　same　sort　of　meaning　to　outsiders；　to　normal　people。　We're　a　generation　of　dinosaurs；　we　the　few　who　survived。　I　suppose　anyone　who　goes　to　war；　any　war；　sees　life　with　different　eyes　if　they　end　up　in　one　piece。〃
　〃What　do　you　see？〃
　〃A　lot　of　bull　that's　worshipped　as　the　be…all　and　end…all　of　existence。　So　much　of　'normal；　civilized'　life　is　bull　that　you　can't　imagine　it。　For　us　ex…Changi…ites　…　we're　lucky；　we're　cleansed；　we　know　what　life　is　really　all　about。　What　frightens　you；　doesn't　frighten　me；　what　frightens　me；　you'd　laugh　at。〃
　〃Like　what？〃
　He　grinned　at　her。　〃That's　enough　about　me　and　my　karma。　I've　a　hot　tip　for　th…　〃　He　stopped　and　stared　off。　〃Good　sweet　Christ　who's　that？〃
　Casey　laughed。　〃Riko　Gresserhoff。　She's　Japanese。〃
　〃Which　one's　Mr。　Gresserhoff？〃
　〃She's　a　widow。〃
　〃Hallelujah！〃　They　watched　her　go　across　the　room；　out　onto　the　terrace。
　〃Don't　you　dare；　Peter！〃
　His　voice　became　Olympian。　〃I'm　a　writer！　It's　a　matter　of　research！〃
　〃Baloney！〃
　〃You're　right。〃
　〃Peter；　they　say　all　first　novels　are　autobiographical。　Who　were　you　in　the　book？〃
　〃The　hero　of　course。〃
　〃The　King？　The　American　trader？〃
　〃Oh　no。　Not　him。　And　that's　quite　enough　of　my　past。　Let's　talk　about　you。　You　sure　you're　all　right？〃　His　eyes　held　hers；　willing　the　truth　out　of　her。
　〃What？〃
　〃There　was　a　rumor　that　you　were　in　tears　last　night。〃
　〃Nonsense。〃
　〃Sure？〃
　She　looked　back　at　him；　knowing　he　saw　inside　of　her。　〃Of　course。　I'm　fine。〃　A　hesitation。　〃Sometime；　sometime　I　might　need　a　favor。〃
　〃Oh？〃　He　frowned。　〃I'm　in　McBride's　box；　two　down　the　hall。　It's　quite　okay　to　visit　if　you　want。〃　He　glanced　off　at　Riko。　His　pleasure　faded。　Now　she　was　talking　to　Robin　Grey　and　Julian　Broadhurst；　the　Labour　MPs。　〃Guess　it's　not　my　day；〃　he　muttered。　〃I'll　be　back　later；　got　to　bet。　See　you；　Casey。〃
　〃What's　your　hot　tip？〃
　〃Number　seven；　Winner's　Delight。〃
　Winner's　Delight；　an　outsider；　won　handily　by　half　a　length　over　the　favorite；　Excellent　Day。　Hugely　pleased　with　herself；　Casey　joined　the　line　in　front　of　the　winner's　pay　window　clutching　her　winning　tickets；　well　aware　of　the　envious　stares　of　others　who　walked　along　the　corridor　outside　the　boxes。　Agonized　betters　were　already　putting　down　their　money　at　other　windows　for　the　second　race　that　was　the　first　leg　of　the　double　quinella。　To　win　a　quinella　they　had　to　forecast　the　first　and　second　runners　in　any　order。　The　double　quinella　put　the　second　race　together　with　the　fifth　that　was　today's　big　race。　The　double　quinella　payout　would　be　huge；　the　odds　against　forecasting　four　horses　immense。　The　minimum　bet　was　5　HK。　There　was　no　maximum。　〃Why's　that；　Linc？〃　she　had　asked　just　before　the　race；　craning　over　the　balcony　watching　the　horses　in　the　gate；　all　Hong　Kong　yan　with　their　binoculars　focused。
　〃Look　at　the　tote。〃　The　electronic　numbers　were　flashing　and　changing　as　money　went　onto　different　horses；　narrowing　the　odds；　to　freeze　just　before　the　off。　〃Look　at　the　total　money　invested　on　this　race；　Casey！　It's　better　than　three　and　a　half　million　Hong　Kong。　That's　almost　a　dollar　for　every　man　woman　and　child　in　Hong　Kong　and　it's　only　the　first　race。　This's　gotta　be　the　richest　track　in　the　world！　These　guys　are　gambling　crazy。〃
　A　vast　roar　went　up　as　the　starters'　gate　opened。　She　had　looked　at　him　and　smiled。　〃You　okay？〃
　〃Sure。　You？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Yes　I　am；　she　thought　again；　waiting　her　turn　to　collect　her　money。　I'm　a　winner！　She　laughed　out　loud。
　〃Oh　hello；　Casey！　Ah；　you　won　too？〃
　〃Oh！　Oh　hello；　Quillan；　yes　I　did。〃　She　moved　out　of　her　place　back　to　Gornt；　the　others　in　the　line　all　strangers　to　her。　〃I　only　had　10　on　her　but　yes　I　won。〃
　〃The　amount　doesn't　matter；　it's　the　winning。〃　Gornt　smiled。　〃I　like　your　hat。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Curious；　she　thought；　both　Quillan　and　Ian　had　mentioned　it　immediately。　Damn　Linc！
　〃It's　very　lucky　to　pick　the　first　winner；　first　time　at　the　track。〃
　〃Oh　I　didn't。　It　was　a　tip。　Peter　gave　it　to　me。　Peter　Marlowe。〃
　〃Ah　yes。　Marlowe。〃　She　saw　his　eyes　change　slightly。　〃You're　still　on　for　tomorrow？〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　yes。　Is　it　weather　permitting？〃
　〃Even　if　it's　raining。　Lunch　anyway。〃
　〃Great。　The　dock　at　ten　sharp。　Which's　your　box？〃　She　noticed　an　instant　change　which　he　tried　to　hide。
　〃I　don't　have　one。　I'm　not　a　steward。　Yet。　I'm　a　fairly　permanent　guest　at　the　Blacs　box　and　from　time　to　time　I　borrow　the　whole　place　for　a　party。　It's　down　the　corridor。　Would　you　care　to　e　by？　Blacs　is　an　excellent　bank　an…　〃
　〃Ah　but　not　as　good　as　the　Vic；〃　Johnjohn　called　out　good…naturedly　as　he　passed。　〃Don't　believe　a　word　he　says；　Casey。　Congratulations！　Good　joss　to　get　the　first。　See　you　both　later。〃
　Casey　watched　him　thoughtfully。　Then　she　said；　〃What　about　all　the　bank　runs；　Quillan？　No　one　seems　to　care　…　it's　as　though　they're　not　happening；　the　stock　market's　not　crashing；　and　there's　no　pending　doom。〃
　Gornt　laughed；　conscious　of　the　ears　that　were　tuned　to　their　conversation。　〃Today　is　race　day；　a　rarity；　and　tomorrow　will　take　care　of　tomorrow。　Joss！　The　stock　market　opens　10：00　a。m。　Monday　and　next　week　will　decide　a　lot　of　fates。　Meanwhile　every　Chinese　who　could　get　his　money　out；　has　it　in　his　fist；　here　today。　Casey；　it's　your　turn。〃
　She　collected　her　money。　15　to　one。　150　HK。　〃Hallelujah！〃　Gornt　collected　a　vast　bundle　of　red　notes；　15；000。　〃Hey；　fantastic！〃
　〃Worst　race　I've　ever　seen；〃　a　sour　American　voice　said。　〃Hell；　it　was　fantastic　they　didn't　bust　the　jockey　and　disallow　the　win。〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Mr。　Biltzmann；　Mr。　Pugmire。〃　Casey　remembered　them　from　the　night　of　the　fire。　〃Bust　who？〃
　Biltzmann　stood　in　the　place　line。　〃Stateside　there'd　be　an　objection　a　mile　wide。　ing　into　the　straight　out　of　the　last　bend　you　could　see　Excellent　Day's　jockey　pull　the　bejesus　out　of　her。　It　was　a　fix　…　he　wasn't　trying。〃
　Those　in　the　know；　the　very　few；　smiled　to　themselves。　The　whisper　in　the　jockeys'　rooms　and　trainers'　rooms　had　been　that　Excellent　Day　wasn't　to　win　but　Winner's　Delight　would。
　〃e　now；　Mr。　Biltzmann；〃　Dunross　said。　Unnoticed；　he'd　heard　the　exchange　as　he　was　passing　and　had　stopped。　〃If　the　jockey　wasn't　trying；　or　if　there　was　any　tampering；　the　stewards　would　be　on　to　it　at　once。〃
　〃Maybe　it's　okay　for　amateurs；　Ian；　and　this　little　track　but　on　any　professional　track　at　home；　Excellent　Day's　jockey'd　be　banned　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　I　had　my　glasses　on　him　all　the　time。〃　Biltzmann　sourly　collected　his　place　winnings　and　stomped　off。
　Dunross　said　quietly；　〃Pug；　did　you　see　the　jockey　do　anything　untoward？　I　didn't　watch　the　race　myself。〃
　〃No；　no　I　didn't。〃
　〃Anyone？〃　Those　nearby　shook　their　heads。
　〃Seemed　all　right　to　me；〃　someone　said。　〃Nothing　out　of　the　ordinary。〃
　〃None　of　the　stewards　queried　anything。〃　Then　Dunross　noticed　the　large　roll　of　notes　in　Gornt's　hand。　He　looked　up　at　him。　〃Quillan？〃
　〃No。　But　I　must　tell　you　frankly　I　find　that　berk's　manner　appalling。　I　hardly　think　he'd　be　a　proper　addition　to　the　Turf　Club。〃　Just　then　he　saw　Robin　Grey　go　past　to　place　a　bet　and　smiled　at　a　sudden　thought。　〃Excuse　me；　will　you？〃　He　nodded　politely　a