jamesclavell.noblehouse-第261节

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　three　months　we　should　know　if　young　Kevin　has　any　value　…　I　think　you'll　be　very　impressed；　tai…pan；　in　fact　I　guarantee　it。　In　three　months　we'll　know　what　young　George　Trussler　feels　about　Rhodesia　and　South　Africa。　When　he　has　that　office　set　up　we　could　send　him　to　New　York。　Or　we　could　perhaps　tempt　your　other　cousin；　the　Virginian；　Mason　Kern；　out　of　Cooper…Tillman　and　put　him　in　charge　of　our　New　York　office。　After　six　months　Kevin　should　go　to　Salisbury　and　Johannesburg　…　I　have　a　great　feeling　that　the　thorium　and　precious　metal　trade　will　go　from　strength　to　strength。〃
　〃Meanwhile；　we　still　have　our　immediate　problems。　Bartlett；　Gornt　and　the　run　on　our　stock？〃
　〃To　ensure　Bartlett's　silence　we　have　to　split　him　totally　from　Gornt　and　make　him　an　ally；　a　plete　ally。〃
　〃How　do　you　do　that；　Phillip？〃
　〃Leave　that　with　me。　There　are　。。。　there　are　possibilities。〃　Dunross　kept　his　eyes　on　Phillip　Chen　but　the　old　man　did　not　look　up　from　the　desk。　What　possibilities？　Orlanda？　Has　to　be。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Next？〃
　〃About　the　market。　With　the　Bank　of　China　supporting　us；　the　bank　runs　are　over。　With　the　General　Stores　takeover　and　massive　financial　backing；　the　run　on　our　stock　has　to　cease。　Everyone　will　rush　to　buy　and　the　boom　will　be　on。　Now；〃　Phillip　Chen　said；　〃I　know　you　didn't　want　to　before；　but　say　we　can　get　Sir　Luis　to　withdraw　our　stock　from　trading　till　Monday　at　noon　we　ca…　〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　Say　no　one　can　trade　Struan's　officially　until　noon；　say　we　set　the　price　where　it　was　on　Wednesday　last　…　28。80。　Gornt　is　trapped。　He　has　to　buy　at　whatever　price　he　can　to　cover。　If　no　one　offers　enough　stock　below　that　figure　all　his　profits　go　out　of　the　window；　he　might　even　be　mauled。〃
　Dunross　felt　weak。　The　idea　of　jerking　the　stock　now　had　not　occurred　to　him。　〃Christ；　but　Sir　Luis'd　never　go　for　it。〃
　Phillip　Chen　was　very　pale；　beads　of　sweat　on　his　forehead。　〃If　the　stock　exchange　mittee　agreed　that　it　was　necessary　'to　stabilize　the　market'　。。。　and　if　the　great　broking　firms　of　Joseph　Stern　and　Arjan　Soorjani　also　agree　not　to　offer　any　stock；　any　bulk　stock　below　28。80；　what　can　Gornt　do？〃　He　wiped　his　forehead　shakily。　〃That's　my　plan。〃
　〃Why　should　Sir　Luis　cooperate？〃
　〃I　think　。。。　I　think　he　will；　and　Stern　and　Soorjani　owe　us　many　favors。〃　The　old　man's　fingers　were　twitching　nervously。　〃Between　Sir　Luis；　Stern；　Soorjani；　you　and　me；　we　control　most　of　the　major　blocks　of　stock　Gornt　sold　short。〃
　〃Stern　is　Gornt's　broker。〃
　〃True；　but　he's　Hong　Kong　yan　and　he　needs　goodwill　more　than　one　client。〃　Phillip　Chen　shifted　more　into　the　light。　Dunross　noticed　the　pallor　and　was　greatly　concerned。　He　got　up　and　went　to　the　liquor　cabinet　and　fetched　two　brandy　and　sodas。　〃Here。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Phillip　Chen　drank　his　quickly。　〃Thank　God　for　brandy。〃
　〃You　think　we　can　line　them　all　up　by　Monday's　opening？　By　the　way；　I've　canceled　my　trip　to　Taipei。〃
　〃Good；　yes　that's　wise。　Will　you　be　going　to　Jason　Plumm's　cocktail　party　now？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　said　I　would。〃
　〃Good；　we　can　talk　more　then。　About　Sir　Luis。　There's　a　good　chance；　tai…pan。　Even　if　the　stock　isn't　withdrawn；　the　price　has　to　skyrocket；　it　must　…　if　we　get　the　support　we　need。〃
　That's　obvious　to　anyone；　Dunross　thought　sourly。　If。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　8：35。　Sinders　was　to　call　by　8：30。　He　had　given　him　half　an　hour　leeway　before　his　call　to　Tiptop。　His　stomach　seemed　to　fall　apart　but　he　dominated　it。　Christ；　I　can't　call　him；　he　thought　irritably。　〃What？〃　he　asked；　not　having　heard　Phillip　Chen。
　〃The　deadline　you　gave　me　to　have　my　resignation　on　your　desk　…　Sunday　midnight　if　Mata　and　Tightfist　or　…　may　I　ask　that　it　be　extended　a　week？〃
　Dunross　picked　up　Phillip　Chen's　glass　to　replenish　it；　liking　the　Asian　subtlety　of　the　request；　to　extend　it　to　a　time　when　it　would　have　no　value；　for；　in　a　week's　time；　the　crisis　would　be　long　resolved。　The　way　the　request　was　put　saved　face　on　both　sides。　Yes；　but　he　has　to　make　a　major　effort。　Can　his　health　stand　it？　That's　my　only　real　consideration。　As　he　poured　the　brandy　he　thought　about　Phillip　Chen；　Kevin　Chen；　Claudia　Chen　and　old　Chen…chen　and　what　he　would　do　without　them。　I　need　cooperation　and　service　and　no　more　betrayal　or　treachery。　〃I'll　consider　that；　Phillip。　Let's　discuss　it　just　after　Prayers　on　Monday。〃　Then　he　added　carefully；　〃Perhaps　extensions　would　be　justified。〃
　Gratefully　Phillip　Chen　accepted　the　brandy　and　took　a　big　swallow；　his　color　better。　He　had　heard　the　deft　plural　and　was　greatly　relieved。　All　I　have　to　do　is　deliver。　That's　all。　He　got　up　to　go。　〃Thank　y…　〃
　The　phone　jangled　irritatingly　and　he　almost　jumped。　So　did　Dunross。
　〃Hello？　Oh　hello；　Mr。　Sinders。〃　Dunross　could　hear　the　beating　of　his　heart　over　the　rain。　〃What's　new？〃
　〃Very　little　I'm　afraid。　I've　discussed　your　suggestion　with　the　governor。　If　'it'　is　in　my　possession　by　noon　tomorrow；　I　have　reason　to　believe　your　friend　could　be　delivered　to　the　Lo　Wu　border　terminal　by　sunset　Monday。　I　cannot　guarantee；　of　course；　that　he　will　wish　to　cross　the　border　into　Red　China。〃
　Dunross　got　his　voice　going。　〃There's　a　lot　of　'reason　to　believe'　and　'could　be'　in　that；　Mr。　Sinders。〃
　〃That's　the　best　I　can　do；　officially。〃
　〃What　guarantees　do　I　have？〃
　〃None；　I'm　afraid；　from　Mr。　Crosse　or　myself。　It　would　seem　there　has　to　be　trust　on　both　sides。〃
　Bastards；　Dunross　thought　furiously；　they　know　I'm　trapped。　〃Thank　you；　I'll　consider　what　you've　said。　Noon　tomorrow？　I'm　in　the　hill　climb　tomorrow　if　it's　on　…　ten　to　noon。　I'll　e　to　police　headquarters　as　soon　as　I　can　afterwards。〃
　〃No　need　to　worry；　Mr。　Dunross。　If　it's　on；　I'll　be　there　too。　Noon　can　be　a　deadline　here　or　there。　All　right？〃
　〃All　right。　Good　night。〃　Grimly　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　〃It's　a　maybe；　Phillip。　Maybe；　by　Monday　sunset。〃
　Phillip　Chen　sat　down；　aghast。　His　pallor　increased。　〃That's　too　late。〃
　〃We'll　find　out〃　He　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　again。
　〃Hello；　good　evening。　Is　the　governor　there；　please？　Ian　Dunross。〃　He　sipped　his　brandy。　〃Sorry　to　disturb　you；　sir；　but　Mr。　Sinders　just　called。　He　said；　in　effect：　perhaps。　Perhaps　by　sunset　Monday。　May　I　ask；　could　you　guarantee　that？〃
　〃No；　Ian；　no　I　can't。　I　don't　have　jurisdiction　over　this　matter。　Sorry。　You　have　to　make　any　arrangements　direct。　Sinders　struck　me　as　a　reasonable　man　though。　Didn't　you　think　so？〃
　〃He　seemed　very　unreasonable；〃　Dunross　said　with　a　hard　smile。　〃Thanks。　Never　mind。　Sorry　to　disturb　you；　sir。　Oh；　by　the　way　if　this　can　be　resolved；　Tiptop　said　your　chop　would　be　required；　with　the　bank's　and　mine。　Would　you　be　available　tomorrow；　if　need　be？〃
　〃Of　course。　And　Ian；　good　luck。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone。　After　a　moment；　he　said；　〃Would　they　agree；　the　money　tomorrow　for　the　fellow　Monday　sunset？〃
　〃I　wouldn't；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　helplessly。　〃Tiptop　was　clear。　'Whenever　the　correct　procedures　are　entered　into。'　The　exchange　would　be　simultaneous。〃
　Dunross　sat　back　in　the　high　chair；　sipped　his　brandy　and　let　his　mind　roam。
　At　9：00　p。m。　he　dialed　Tiptop；　and　chatted　inconsequentially　until　the　moment　had　e。　〃I　hear　the　police　underling　will　surely　be　fired　for　making　such　a　mistake　and　that　the　wronged　party　could　be　at　Lo　Wu　at　noon　Tuesday。〃
　There　was　a　great　silence。　The　voice　was　colder　than　ever。　〃I　hardly　think　that's　immediate。〃
　〃I　agree。　Perhaps　I　might　be　able　to　persuade　them　to　bring　it　forward　to　Monday。　Perhaps　your　friends　could　be　a　little　patient。　I　would　consider　it　a　very　great　favor。〃　He　used　the　word　deliberately　and　let　it　hang。
　〃I　will　pass　your　message　on。　Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Please　call　me　at　seven　o'clock　tomorrow　evening。　Good　night。〃
　〃Night。〃
　Phillip　Chen　broke　the　silence；　very　concerned。　〃That's　an　expensive　word；　tai…pan。〃
　〃I　know。　But　I　have　no　option；〃　he　said；　his　voice　hard。　〃Certainly　there'll　be　a　return　favor　asked　in　payment　someday。〃　Dunross　brushed　his　hair　away　from　his　eyes　and　added；　〃Perhaps　it'll　be　with　Joseph　Yu；　who　knows？　But　I　had　to　say　it。〃
　〃Yes。　You're　very　wise。　Wise　beyond　your　years；　much　wiser　than　Alastair　and　your　father；　not　as　wise　as　the　Hag。〃　A　small　shiver　went　through　him。　〃You　were　wise　to　barter　the　time；　and　wise　not　to　mention　the　money；　the　bank　money；　very　wise。　He's　much　too　smart　not　to　know　we　need　that　tomorrow　…　I'd　imagine　by　evening　at　the　latest。〃
　〃Somehow　we'll　get　it。　That'll　take　the　Victoria　pressure　off　us。　Paul's　got　to　call　a　board　meeting　soon；〃　Dunross　added　darkly。　〃With　Richard　on　the　board；　well；　Richard　owes　us　many　favors。　The　new　board　will　vote　to　increase　our　revolving　fund；　then　we　won't　need　Bartlett；　First　Central　or　Mata's　god…cursed　syndicate。〃
　Phillip　Chen　hesitated；　then　he　blurted　out；　〃I　hate　to　be　the　bearer　of　more　bad　tidings　but　I've　heard　that　part　of　Richard　Kwang's　arrangement　with　Havergill　included　his　signed；　undated　resignation　from　the　Victoria　board　and　a　promise　to　vote　exactly　as　Havergill　wishes。〃
　Dunross　sighed。　Everything　fell　into　place。　If　Richard　Kwang　voted　with　the　opposition　it　would　neutralize　his　dominating　position。　〃Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　lose　one　more　supporter　and　Paul　and　his　opposition　will