jamesclavell.noblehouse-第243节

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　〃Just　to　frighten　all　the　KGB　aboard；　to　frighten　them　enough　to　flush　out　Sevrin。　Pressure。　Same　as　the　order　for　Suslev　and　the　new　missar　to　appear　at　HQ　on　Sunday。　It　was　just　to　frighten。〃
　〃Suslev's　frightened　all　right。〃　A　sardonic　smile　flickered　over　Plumm's　handsome　face。　〃His　sphincter's　out　of　joint　for　ten　years　at　least。　They'll　all　have　some　explaining　to　do。　When　Armstrong　'happened'　to　bust　open　the　radio　room；　Red　One　operated　and　they　dutifully　and　unnecessarily　wrecked　all　their　scramble　and　decoding　equipment；　along　with　their　classified　radar　scanners。〃
　Crosse　shrugged。　〃The　Ivanov's　leaving　and　they've　got　plenty　to　replace　them　with。　It　wasn't　Suslev's　fault；　or　ours。　We　can　send　a　report　telling　Center　what　happened。　If　we　want。〃
　Plumm's　eyes　narrowed。　〃If？〃
　〃Rosemont　and　his　CIA　thugs　picked　up　a　glass　in　their　raid　on　Sinclair　Towers。　Suslev's　prints　are　all　over　it。〃
　Plumm　went　white。　〃Christ！　Now　he's　on　file？〃
　〃Has　to　be。　He's　in　our　files　as　you　know；　not　as　KGB；　and　I　think　I've　the　only　copies　of　his　fingerprints　existing。　I　removed　them　from　his　dossier　years　ago。　I'd　say　it's　only　a　matter　of　time　before　the　CIA　are　on　to　him；　so　the　sooner　he　leaves　Hong　Kong　the　better。〃
　〃You　think　we　should　tell　Center？〃　Plumm　asked　uneasily。　〃They'll　throw　their　book　at　him　for　being　so　careless。〃
　〃We　can　decide　over　the　weekend。　We　knew　Voranski　over　a　number　of　years；　knew　he　was　to　be　trusted。　But　this　man？〃　Crosse　left　the　word　hanging；　keeping　up　the　pretense　that　his　contact　with　Suslev　was　recent；　the　same　as　Plumm's。　〃After　all；　isn't　he　only　a　minor　KGB　officer；　a　jumped…up　courier。　He's　not　even　Voranski's　official　replacement　and　we've　ourselves　to　think　of。〃
　〃True！〃　Plumm　hardened。　〃Maybe　he's　a　real　berk。　I　know　I　wasn't　followed　to　Sinclair　Towers。　And　as　to　the　decoded　cable　…　God　stone　the　crows！〃
　〃What？〃
　〃The　decoded　cable　…　the　one　he　dropped　and　Armstrong　picked　off　the　Ivanov's　deck。　We've　got　to　decide　about　that。〃
　Crosse　turned　away　to　hide　his　shock　and　fought　for　control；　appalled　that　neither　Armstrong　nor　Sinders　had　mentioned　any　cable。　He　pretended　to　stifle　a　yawn　to　cover。　〃Sorry；　I　was　up　most　of　the　night；〃　he　said；　making　a　major　effort　to　keep　his　voice　matter…of…fact。　〃Did　he　tell　you　what　was　in　it？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　insisted。〃
　Crosse　saw　Plumm　watching　him。　〃Exactly　what　did　he　tell　you　was　in　it？〃
　〃Oh？　You　mean　he　might　be　lying？〃　Plumm's　anxiety　showed。　〃It　went　something　like：　'Inform　Arthur　that　following　his　request　for　a　Priority　One　on　the　traitor　Metkin　an　immediate　intercept　was　ordered　for　Bombay。　Second；　the　meeting　with　the　American　is　brought　forward　to　Sunday。　Third　and　final：　The　AMG　files　continue　to　be　Priority　One。　Maximum　effort　must　be　made　by　Sevrin　to　achieve　success。　Center。'　〃　Plumm　licked　his　lips；　〃Is　it　correct？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Crosse　said；　gambling；　almost　wet　with　relief。　He　began　weighing　odds　on　Armstrong　and　Sinders。　Now　why；　deliberately；　why　didn't　they　tell　me　that？
　〃Terrible；　eh？〃　Plumm　said。
　〃Yes；　but　not　serious。〃
　〃I　don't　agree；〃　Plumm　said　irritably。　〃It　absolutely　ties　the　KGB　to　Sevrin；　absolutely　confirms　Arthur's　existence　and　Sevrin's　existence。〃
　〃Yes；　but　the　AMG　files　have　already　done　that。　Calm　down；　Jason；　we're　quite　safe。〃
　〃Are　we？　There've　been　too　many　leaks　for　my　liking。　Far　too　many。　Perhaps　we　should　close　down　for　a　time。〃
　〃We　are　closed　down。　It's　only　those　bloody　AMG　files　that　are　causing　us　any　grief。〃
　〃Yes。　At　least　that　bugger　Grant　wasn't　pletely　accurate。〃
　〃You　mean　about　Banastasio？〃
　〃Yes。　I　still　wonder　where　the　hell　he　fits　in。〃
　〃Yes。〃　In　AMG's　intercepted　file　Banastasio　had　been　named　erroneously　as　Sevrin's　American　connection。　It　was　only　after　the　file　that　Crosse　had　learned　from　Rosemont　who　Banastasio　actually　was。
　〃The　fellow　who　met　him　was　Vee　Cee　Ng；〃　Crosse　said。
　Plumm's　eyebrows　soared。　〃Photographer　Ng？　How　does　he　connect？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Shipping；　ships；　smuggling。　He's　into　all　kinds　of　shady　deals。〃　Crosse　shrugged。
　〃Could　that　writer　fellow's　theory　work？　What's　his　name？　Marlowe。　Could　the　KGB　be　doing　an　op　in　our　territory　without　telling　us？〃
　〃Possible。　Or　it　could　be　an　utterly　different　department；　perhaps　GRU；　instigated　in　America　by　the　KGB　or　GRU　there。　Or　just　a　coincidence。〃　Crosse　was　back　in　control　now；　the　fright　of　the　cable　wearing　off。　He　was　thinking　much　clearer。　〃What's　Suslev　want　that's　so　urgent？〃
　〃Our　cooperation。　Koronski　arrives　by　the　afternoon　plane。〃
　Crosse　whistled。　〃Center？〃
　〃Yes。　There　was　a　message　this　morning。　Now　that　the　Ivanov's　equipment　is　wrecked　I'm　the　go…between。〃
　〃Good。　What's　his　cover　name？〃
　〃Hans　Meikker；　West　German。　He's　to　stay　at　the　Seven　Dragons。〃　Plumm's　anxiety　increased。　〃Listen；　Suslev　said　Center's　ordered　us　to　prepare　to　snatch　Ian　an…　〃
　〃They've　gone　mad！〃　Crosse　exploded。
　〃I　agree　but　Suslev　says　it's　the　only　way　to　find　out　quickly　if　the　files　are　counterfeit　or　not；　and　if　so；　where　they're　hidden。　He　claims　Koronski　can　do　it。　In　a　chemical　debriefing；　well；　Ian's　memory　can　be　。。。　can　be　emptied。〃
　〃That's　madness；〃　Crosse　said。　〃We're　not　even　sure　if　the　files　are　counterfeit。　That's　a　plete　supposition　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃Suslev　says　Center　told　him　we　can　blame　it　on　the　Werewolves　…　those　buggers　snatched　John　Chen　so　why　wouldn't　they　go　after　the　big　money；　the　tai…pan？〃
　〃No。　Too　dangerous。〃
　Plumm　wiped　his　hands。　〃To　snatch　Ian　now'd　put　the　tai…pans　and　Hong　Kong　into　a　furor。　It　could　be　a　perfect　time；　Roger。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃The　Noble　House　would　be　in　total　disarray　and　with　all　the　bank　runs　and　the　stock　market　disaster；　Hong　Kong'd　be　down　the　sewer　and　that'd　send　all　China　into　shock。　We'd　jump　the　Cause　forward　ten　years　and　immeasurably　assist　international　munism　and　the　workers　of　the　world。　Christ；　Roger；　aren't　you　sick　of　just　sitting　and　being　a　messenger？　Now　we　can　fulfill　Sevrin　with　hardly　any　risk。　Then　we　close　everything　down　for　a　time。〃
　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette。　He　had　heard　the　tension　in　Plumm's　voice。　〃I'll　think　about　it；〃　he　said　at　length。　〃Leave　it　for　the　moment。　I'll　call　you　tonight。　Did　Suslev　say　who　the　American　in　the　cable　was？〃
　〃No。　He　just　said　it　wasn't　anything　to　do　with　us。〃
　Crosse's　voice　hardened。　〃Everything　here's　to　do　with　us。〃
　〃I　agree。〃　Plumm　watched　him。　〃It　could　also　be　a　code　word；　a　code　for　anyone。〃
　〃Possible。〃
　〃I　have　a　wild　one　for　you。　Banastasio。〃
　〃Why　him？〃　Crosse　asked；　having　jumped　to　the　same　conclusion。
　〃I　don't　know　why；　but　I'll　bet　that　whole　scam；　if　it　is　a　scam；　has　to　be　KGB　inspired；　or　assisted。　It's　classic　Sun　Tzu：　using　the　enemy's　strength　against　himself　…　both　enemies；　the　U。S。　and　China。　A　strong　unified　Vietnam's　guaranteed　militantly　anti…Chinese。　Eh？〃
　〃Possible。　Yes；　it　all　fits；〃　Crosse　agreed。　Except　one　thing；　he　thought：　Vee　Cee　Ng。　Until　Brian　Kwok　had　blurted　out；　〃Vee　Cee's　one　of　us；〃　he　had　had　no　inkling　that　the　man　was　anything　other　than　a　swinging　photographer　and　trader…shipping　capitalist。　〃If　Banastasio's　the　American；　we'll　know。〃　He　finished　his　cigarette。　〃Was　there　anything　else？〃
　〃No。　Roger；　consider　Dunross。　Please。　The　Werewolves　make　it　possible。〃
　〃It's　considered。〃
　〃This　weekend　would　be　perfect；　Roger。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　
　Orlanda　was　watching　the　horses　through　her　high…powered　binoculars　as　they　broke　out　of　the　starting　gate　for　the　fourth　race。　She　stood　in　a　corner　of　the　members'　balcony；　Bartlett　happily　beside　her；　everyone　watching　the　horses　except　him。　He　was　watching　her；　the　curve　of　her　breasts　under　the　silk；　the　angle　of　her　cheekbones　and　the　intensity　of　her　excitement。　〃e　on；　Crossfire；〃　she　muttered；　〃e　on！　He's　lying　fifth；　Linc；　oh　e　on；　you　beauty；　e　on　。。。〃
　He　chuckled；　Orlanda　oblivious。　They　had　arranged　to　meet　here　between　the　third　and　fourth　race。　〃Are　you　a　voting　member？〃　he　had　asked　her　last　night。
　〃Oh　no；　my　darling；　I'm　just　going　with　friends。　Old　friends　of　my　family。　Another　drink？〃
　〃No；　no　thanks　…　I'd　better　go。〃
　They　had　kissed　and　again　he　had　felt　her　overpowering　wele。　It　had　kept　him　unsettled　and　on　edge　all　the　way　back　across　the　harbor　home　and　most　of　the　night。　Much　as　he　tried；　he　found　the　wanting　of　her　difficult　to　contain　and　to　keep　in　perspective。
　You're　hooked；　old　buddy；　he　told　himself；　watching　her；　the　tip　of　her　tongue　touching　her　lips；　her　eyes　concentrating；　everything　forgotten　but　her　50　on　the　nose　of　the　big　gray；　the　favorite。
　〃e　on　。。。　e　。。。　oh　he's　moving　up；　Linc　。。。　oh　he's　second。　。。。〃
　Bartlett　looked　at　the　pack　galloping　now　into　the　last　stretch：　Crossfire；　the　big　gray　well　placed　to　Western　Scot；　a　brown　gelding　who　was　slightly　in　the　lead；　the　going　very　slow　…　one　horse　had　fallen　in　the　third　race。　Now　a　contender　made　his　dash；　Winwell　Stag；　a　gelding　belonging　to　Havergill　that　Peter　Marlowe　had　tipped　to　win；　and　he　was　ing　up　strong　on　the　outside　with　Crossfire　and　Western　Scot　neck　and　neck　just　ahead；　all　whips　out　now　in　the　gathering　roar。
　〃Oh　e　on　e　on　e　on　Crossfire　。。。　oh　he's　won；　he's　won！〃
　Bartlett　laughed　in　the　pandemonium　as