jamesclavell.noblehouse-第247节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　was　equally　anxious。　The　shower　turned　into　a　slight　drizzle　and　on　the　members'　balcony　Orlanda　quivered；　tense　with　excitement。　〃Oh　Linc；　I'm　going　to　bet　now。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃　he　asked　with　a　laugh　for　she　had　been　agonizing　over　her　decision　all　afternoon；　first　Pilot　Fish　then　Noble　Star；　then　a　hot　tip；　the　outsider　Winning　Billy；　and　back　to　Butterscotch　Lass　again。　The　odds　were　even　on　Butterscotch　Lass；　3　to　1　on　both　Pilot　Fish　and　Noble　Star　…　the　moment　Travkin　was　announced　the　money　started　pouring　on　…　6　to　1　on　Golden　Lady；　the　rest　hardly　in　the　running。　The　total　amount　so　far　at　risk　was　a　staggering　4；700；000　HK。　〃How　much　are　you　going　to　bet？〃
　She　shut　her　eyes　and　said　in　a　rush；　〃All　my　winnings　and　an　extra　。。。　an　extra　100！　Won't　be　a　moment；　Linc！〃
　〃Good　luck。　I'll　see　you　after　the　race。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　sorry；　in　the　excitement　I　forgot。　Have　fun！〃　She　gave　him　a　glorious　smile　and　rushed　off　before　he　could　ask　her　what　she　was　betting。　He　had　already　bet。　This　race　was　a　quinella；　as　well　as　the　second　leg　of　the　double　quinella。　10；000　HK　on　any　bination　of　Pilot　Fish　and　Butterscotch　Lass。　That　should　do　it；　he　thought；　his　own　excitement　growing。
　He　left　the　balcony　and　weaved　through　the　tables　heading　for　the　elevators　that　would　take　him　back　upstairs。　Many　people　watched　him；　some　greeted　him；　most　envious　of　the　little　badges　fluttering　in　his　lapel。
　〃Hi；　Linc！〃
　〃Oh　hello；〃　he　said　to　Biltzmann　who　had　intercepted　him。　〃How's　it　going？〃
　〃You　heard　about　the　foulup？　Of　course；　you　were　there！〃　Biltzmann　said。　〃Say；　Linc；　you　got　a　moment？〃
　〃Sure。〃　Bartlett　followed　him　down　the　corridor；　conscious　of　the　curious　gazes　of　passersby。
　〃Listen；〃　Biltzmann　said　when　they　reached　a　quiet　corner；　〃you'd　better　watch　yourself　with　these　limey　bastards。　We　sure　as　hell　had　a　deal　with　General　Stores。〃
　〃You　going　to　rebid？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃That's　up　to　head　office；　but　me；　hell；　me　I'd　let　this　whole　goddamn　Island　drown。〃
　Bartlett　did　not　reply；　aware　of　glances　in　their　direction。
　〃Say；　Linc！〃　Biltzmann　dropped　his　voice　and　bent　closer　with　a　twisted　grin。　〃You　got　something　special　going　with　that　girl？〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃The　broad。　The　Eurasian。　Orlanda；　the　one　you　were　talking　to。〃
　Bartlett　felt　the　blood　rush　into　his　face　but　Biltzmann　continued；
　〃Mind　if　I　put　my　two　cents　in？〃　He　winked。　〃Make　a　date。　Ask　her　for　a　date？〃
　〃It's　。。。　it's　a　free　country；〃　Bartlett　said；　suddenly　hating　him。
　〃Thanks。　She's　got　a　great　ass。〃　Biltzmann　beamed　and　came　even　closer。　〃How　much　does　she　charge？〃
　Bartlett　gasped；　totally　unprepared。　〃She's　not　a　hooker；　for　chrissake！〃
　〃Didn't　you　know？　Hey　it's　all　over　town。　But　Dickie　said　she　was　lousy　in　bed。　That　a　fact？〃　Biltzmann　misread　the　look　on　Bartlett's　face。　〃Oh；　you　haven't　got　there　yet？　Hell；　Linc；　all　you　gotta　do's　flash　a　little　of　the　green　st…　〃
　〃Listen　you　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Bartlett　hissed；　almost　blind　with　rage；　〃she's　no　hooker　and　if　you　talk　to　her　or　go　near　her　I'll　stick　my　fist　down　your　throat。　Got　it？〃
　〃Listen；　take　it　easy；〃　the　other　man　gasped。　〃I　didn'…　〃
　〃You　get　the　message？〃
　〃Sure　sure；　no　need　to　。。。〃　Biltzmann　backed　off。　〃Take　it　easy。　I　asked；　didn't　I？　Dickie　。。。〃　He　stopped；　frightened；　as　Bartlett　came　closer。　〃For　chrissake　it's　not　my　fault　…　take　it　easy；　huh？〃
　〃Shut　up！〃　Bartlett　contained　his　rage　with　an　effort；　knowing　this　was　not　the　time　or　the　place　to　smash　Biltzmann。　He　glanced　around　but　Orlanda　had　already　disappeared。　〃Get　lost；　you　son　of　a　bitch；〃　he　grated；　〃and　don't　go　near　her　or　else！〃
　〃Sure；　sure　take　it　easy；　okay？〃　Biltzmann　backed　off　another　pace；　then　turned　and　fled　thankfully。　Bartlett　hesitated；　then　went　into　the　men's　room　and　splashed　a　little　water　on　his　face　to　calm　himself。　The　tap　water；　specially　connected　for　the　races；　was　brackish　and　seemed　unclean。　In　a　moment　he　found　his　elevator　and　walked　to　Dunross's　box。　It　was　tea　time。　The　guests　were　being　served　little　sandwiches；　cakes；　cheese　and　great　pots　of　Indian　tea　with　milk　and　sugar　but　he　did　not　notice　any　of　it；　numb。
　Donald　McBride；　bustling　past；　stopped　briefly　on　his　way　back　to　his　own　box。　〃Ah；　Mr。　Bartlett；　I　must　tell　you　how　happy　we　all　are　that　you　and　Casey　are　going　to　be　in　business　here。　Pity　about　Biltzmann　but　all's　fair　in　business。　Your　Casey's　such　a　charming　person。　Sorry；　got　to　dash。〃
　He　hurried　off。　Bartlett　hesitated　in　the　doorway。
　〃Hey；　Linc；〃　Casey　called　out　joyously　from　the　balcony。　〃You　want　tea？〃　As　they　met　halfway　her　smile　faded。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　〃Nothing；　nothing；　Casey。〃　Bartlett　forced　a　smile。　〃They　at　the　starting　gate？〃
　〃Not　yet　but　any　moment　now。　You　sure　you're　okay？〃
　〃Of　course。　What　did　you　bet　on？〃
　〃Noble　Star；　what　else？　Peter's　tipping　Doc　Tooley's　outsider；　Winning　Billy；　for　a　place　so　I　put　50　on　him。　You　don't　look　well；　Linc。　Not　your　stomach；　is　it？〃
　He　shook　his　head；　warmed　by　her　concern。　〃No。　I'm　fine。　You　okay？〃
　〃Sure。　I've　been　having　a　wonderful　time。　Peter's　in　great　form　and　Old　Tooley's　a　gas。〃　Casey　hesitated。　〃I'm　glad　it's　not　your　stomach。　Doc　Tooley　says　we　should　be　safe　from　those　lousy　Aberdeen　bugs；　since　we　haven't　gotten　the　trots　yet。　Of　course　we　won't　know　for　sure　for　twenty　days。〃
　〃Jesus；〃　Bartlett　muttered；　trying　to　force　his　mind　off　what　Biltzmann　had　said。　〃I'd　almost　forgotten　about　Aberdeen　and　the　fire　and　that　whole　mess。　The　fire　seems　a　million　years　ago。〃
　〃To　me　too。　Where　did　the　time　go？〃
　Gavallan　was　nearby。　〃It's　Hong　Kong；〃　he　said　absently。
　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　〃It's　a　Hong　Kong　characteristic。　If　you　live　here　there's　never　enough　time；　whatever　your　work。　Always　too　much　to　do。　People　are　always　arriving；　leaving；　friends；　business　people。　There's　always　a　crisis　…　flood；　fire；　mud　slide；　boom；　scandal；　business　opportunity；　funeral；　banquet　or　cocktail　party　for　visiting　VIPs　…　or　some　disaster。〃　Gavallan　shook　off　his　anxieties。　〃This's　a　small　place　and　you　soon　get　to　know　most　people　in　your　own　circle。　Then　we're　the　crossroads　of　Asia　and　even　if　you're　not　in　Struan's　you're　always　on　the　move；　planning；　making　money；　risking　money　to　make　more；　or　you're　off　to　Taiwan；　Bangkok；　Singapore；　Sydney；　Tokyo；　London　or　wherever。　It's　the　magic　of　Asia。　Look　what　happened　to　you　both　since　you　got　here：　poor　John　Chen　was　kidnapped　and　murdered；　guns　were　found　on　your　aircraft；　then　there　was　the　fire；　the　stock　market　mess；　the　run　on　our　stock；　Gornt　after　us　and　we　after　him。　And　now　the　banks　may　close　on　Monday　or　if　Ian's　right；　Monday　will　be　boom　time。　And　we're　in　business　together。　。。。〃　He　smiled　wearily。　〃What　do　you　think　of　our　tender？〃
　Casey　held　back　her　immediate　ment　and　watched　Bartlett。
　〃Great；〃　Bartlett　said；　thinking　about　Orlanda。　〃You　think　Ian　will　be　able　to　turn　things　around？〃
　〃If　anyone　can；　he　can。〃　Gavallan　sighed　heavily。　〃Well；　let's　hope；　that's　all　we　can　do。　Have　you　put　your　money　on　the　winner　yet？〃
　Bartlett　smiled　and　Casey　felt　easier。　〃Who　you　backing；　Andrew？〃
　〃Noble　Star　and　Winning　Billy　for　the　quinella。　See　you　later。〃　He　left　them。
　〃Curious　what　he　was　saying　about　Hong　Kong。　He's　right。　It　makes　the　U。S。　seem　a　million　miles　away。〃
　〃Yes；　but　it　isn't；　not　truly。〃
　〃You　want　to　stay　here；　Casey？〃
　She　looked　at　him；　wondering　what　was　under　the　question；　what　he　was　really　asking　her。　〃That's　up　to　you；　Linc。〃
　He　nodded　slowly；　〃Think　I'll　get　me　some　tea。〃
　〃Hey；　I'll　do　that　for　you；〃　she　said；　then　she　saw　Murtagh　standing　nervously　at　the　doorway　and　her　heart　missed　a　beat。　〃You　haven't　met　our　banker；　Linc。　Let　me　bring　him　over。〃
　She　went　through　the　throng。　〃Hi；　Dave。〃
　〃Hi；　Casey；　have　you　seen　the　tai…pan？〃
　〃He's　busy　till　after　the　race。　Is　it　yes　or　no？〃　she　whispered　urgently；　keeping　her　back　to　Bartlett。
　〃It's　a　maybe。〃　Nervously　Murtagh　wiped　his　brow　and　took　off　his　wet　raincoat；　his　eyes　red　rimmed。　〃Couldn't　get　a　goddamn　cab　for　an　hour！　Jesus！〃
　〃Maybe　what？〃
　〃Maybe　maybe。　I　gave　them　the　plan　and　they　told　me　to　haul　ass　back　home　because　I'd　clearly　gone　mad。　Then；　after　they　calmed　down；　they　said　they'd　get　back　to　me。　Those　knuckleheads　called　me　at　4：00　a。m。；　asked　me　to　repeat　the　whole　scheme　then　S。J。　himself　came　on。〃　His　eyes　rolled。　〃S。J。　said　I　was　full　of　sh…　I　was　loco　and　hung　up　on　me。〃
　〃But　you　said　'maybe。'　What　happened　next？〃
　〃I　called　them　back　and　I've　been　on　the　phone　five　hours　in　the　last　ten　trying　to　explain　my　brilliance　to　them　since　your　harebrained　scheme　blew　my　mind。〃　Murtagh　suddenly　grinned。　〃Hey；　I'll　tell　you　one　thing；　Casey。　Now　S。J。　sure　as　hell　knows　who　Dave　Murtagh　III　is！〃
　She　laughed。　〃Listen；　don't　mention　it　to　anyone　here。　Anyone。　Except　the　tai…pan；　okay？〃
　He　looked　at　her；　pained。　〃You　think　I'm　about　to　tell　everybody　my　ass's　chewed　to　hamburger？〃
　There　was　a　burst　of　cheering　and　someone　in　the　balcony　called　out；　〃They're　approaching　the　gate！〃
　〃Quick；〃　Casey　said；　〃go　put　your　bundle　on　the　quinella。　One　and　seven。　Quick　while　you've　time。〃
　〃Which　are　they？〃
　〃Never　mind。　You've　no　time。〃　She　gave　him