jamesclavell.noblehouse-第267节

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hen's　body　was　found。〃
　The　others　came　closer。　〃The　Werewolves？〃　George　T'Chung　asked；　shocked。　〃More　kidnap　victims？〃
　〃We　presume　so。　They　were　both　young。　One　had　his　head　bashed　in　and　the　other　poor　bugger　half　his　head　cut　off；　looks　like　with　a　spade。　Both　were　Chinese。〃
　〃Christ！〃　Young　George　T'Chung　had　gone　white。
　Smyth　nodded　sourly。　〃You　haven't　heard　of　any　rich　sons　being　kidnapped；　have　you？〃
　Everyone　shook　their　heads。
　〃Not　surprised；〃　Smyth　said。　〃Stupid　for　the　families　of　victims　to　deal　with　kidnappers　and　keep　quiet　about　it。　Unfortunately　the　bodies　were　discovered　by　locals　so　it'll　be　headlines　by　tonight　from　here　to　Peking！〃
　〃You　want　to　fly　the　bodies　back？〃
　〃Oh　no；　tai…pan。　The　hurry's　to　get　some　CID　experts　here　to　search　the　area　before　the　rain　es　again。　We　need　to　try　to　identify　the　poor　buggers。　Can　you　leave　at　once？〃
　〃Yes；　certainly。〃
　〃Thanks。　Sorry　to　bother　you。　Sorry　about　Noble　Star；　but　my　bundle'll　be　on　you　on　Saturday。〃　Smyth　nodded　politely　and　walked　off。
　George　T'Chung　was　openly　upset。　〃We're　all　targets　for　those　bastards；　the　Werewolves。　You；　me；　my　old　man；　anyone！　Christ；　how　can　we　protect　ourselves　against　them？〃
　No　one　answered　him。
　Then　Dunross　said　with　a　laugh；　〃No　need　to　worry；　old　chap；　we're　inviolate；　we're　all　inviolate。〃
　
　73
　
　10：01　A。M。：
　The　phone　rang　in　the　semidarkness　of　the　bedroom。　Bartlett　scrambled　out　of　sleep。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Bartlett；　this　is　Claudia　Chen。　The　tai…pan　asked　if　you'd　need　the　car　today　anyway？〃
　〃No；　no　thanks。〃　Bartlett　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Jesus；〃　he　muttered　aloud；　astounded　he　had　slept　so　long。　〃Er；　thanks；　thanks；　Claudia。〃
　〃The　Taipei　trip's　rescheduled　for　next　Friday；　Friday　back　Monday　noon。　Is　that　convenient？〃
　〃Yes；　er　yes；　sure。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　Bartlett　hung　up　and　lay　back　a　moment；　collecting　his　wits。　He　stretched　luxuriously；　glad　that　there　was　no　rush　for　anything；　enjoying　the　rare　pleasantness　of　being　just　a　little　lazy。
　It　had　been　four　o'clock　this　morning　when　he　had　hung　up　a　〃do　not　disturb；〃　cut　off　the　phones　till　10：00　a。m。　and　had　gone　to　bed。　Last　night　Orlanda　had　taken　him　to　Aberdeen　where　she　had　hired　a　Pleasure　Boat。　They　had　drifted　the　channels；　the　rain　making　the　hooped　cabin　more　cozy；　the　brazier　warming；　the　food　hot　and　spicy。
　〃In　Shanghai　we　cook　with　garlic　and　chilies　and　peppers　and　all　manner　of　spices；〃　she　had　told　him；　serving　him；　her　chopsticks　a　delicate　extension　of　her　fingers。　〃The　farther　north　you　go　the　hotter　the　food；　the　less　rice　is　eaten；　more　breads　and　noodles。　The　north's　wheat…eating；　only　the　southern　part　of　China's　rice…eating；　Linc。　More？〃
　He　had　eaten　well　and　drunk　the　beer　she　had　brought　with　her。　The　night　had　been　happy　for　him；　the　time　going　unnoticed　as　she　regaled　him　with　stories　of　Asia　and　Shanghai；　her　mind　deft　and　darting。　Then；　afterward；　the　rain　pattering　on　the　canvas；　the　dishes　taken　away　and　they　reclining　side…by…side　on　the　cushions；　fingers　entwined；　she　had　said；　〃Linc；　I'm　sorry；　but　I　love　you。〃
　It　had　taken　him　by　surprise。
　〃No　need　to　be　sorry；〃　he　had　said；　not　ready　yet　to　reply　in　kind。
　〃Oh　but　I　am。　It　plicates　things；　oh　yes；　it　plicates　things　very　much。〃
　Yes；　he　thought。　It's　so　easy　for　a　woman　to　say　I　love　you；　so　hard　for　a　man；　unwise　for　a　man；　for　then　you're　stuck。　Is　that　the　right　word？　Again　the　answer　did　not　present　itself。
　As　he　lay　now　in　bed；　his　head　cradled　on　his　arms；　he　rethought　the　night。　Touching　and　leaving　alone；　then　hands　searching；　his　and　hers；　but　not　finalizing。　Not　that　she　prevented　him　or　stopped　him。　He　just　held　back。　Finally。
　〃You've　never　done　that　before；〃　he　muttered　out　loud。　〃Once　you　had　a　girl　going；　you　went　all　the　way；〃　and　he　wished　he　had；　remembering　how　heavy　the　desire　had　been　upon　them。　〃I'm　not　a　one…night　stand　or　Eurasian　tramp〃　had　rung　in　his　ears。
　In　the　taxi　to　her　home　they　had　not　spoken；　just　held　hands。　That's　the　goddamnedest　part；　he　thought；　feeling　foolish；　childish；　just　holding　hands。　If　anyone　had　told　me　a　month　ago；　a　week　ago　that　I'd　settle　for　that；　I'd've　said　he　was　a　meathead　and　bet　big　money。
　Money。　I　have　more　than　enough　for　Orlanda　and　me。　But　what　about　Casey？　And　Par…Con？　First　things　first。　Let's　see　if　Casey　tells　me　about　Murtagh　and　why　she's　been　sitting　on　that　hot　potato。　Gornt？　Gornt　or　Dunross？　Dunross　has　style　and　if　Banastasio's　against　him　that's　one　great　vote　of　confidence。
　After　he　had　told　Armstrong　their　theory　about　Banastasio；　Armstrong　had　said；　〃We'll　see　what　we　can　e　up　with；　though　Mr。　Gornt's　credentials　are　as　impeccable　as　any　in　the　Colony。　You　can　rest　assured　Vincenzo　Banastasio　will　be　high　up　on　our　shit　list；　but　isn't　his　real　threat　in　the　States？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　But　I　told　Rosemont　an…　〃
　〃Ah；　good！　That　was　wise。　He's　a　good　man。　Did　you　see　Ed　Langan？〃
　〃No。　Is　he　CIA　too？〃
　〃I　don't　even　know；　officially；　if　Rosemont　is；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Leave　it　with　me。　Did　he　have　any　suggestion　about　the　guns？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Well；　never　mind。　I'll　pass　on　your　information　and　liaise　with　him　…　he's　very　good　by　the　way。〃
　A　small　tremor　went　through　Bartlett。　He'll　have　to　be　very　good　to　clobber　Mafia；　if　Banastasio　really　is　Mafia。
　He　reached　over　and　dialed　Casey's　room　number。　No　answer；　so　he　called　down　for　his　messages。　The　receptionist　told　him　everything　was　already　under　his　door。　〃Would　you　like　your　cables　and　telexes　sent　up？〃
　〃Sure；　thanks。　Any　message　from　Casey　Tcholok？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　He　jumped　out　of　bed　and　went　to　the　door。　Among　the　phone　messages　was　an　envelope。　He　recognized　her　writing。　The　messages　were　all　business　calls　except　one：　〃Mr。　Banastasio　called。　Please　return　his　call。〃　Bartlett　put　that　aside。　He　opened　Casey's　envelope。　The　note　was　timed　9：45　a。m。　and　read：　〃Hi；　Linc！　Didn't　want　to　disturb　your　beauty　sleep　…　back　sixish。　Have　fun！〃
　Where's　she　off　to？　he　asked　himself　absently。
　He　picked　up　the　phone　to　call　Rosemont　but　changed　his　mind　and　dialed　Orlanda。　No　answer。　He　redialed　the　number。　The　calling　tone　droned　on　and　on。
　〃Shit！〃　He　pushed　away　his　discontent。
　You've　a　date　for　lunch　so　what's　so　tough？　Sunday　brunch　here　atop　the　V　and　A　and　lots　of　time；　Sunday　brunch　where　〃all　the　best　people　go　for　lunch；　Linc。　Oh　it's　super；　the　hot　and　cold　buffet's　the　talk　of　Asia。　The　very　best！〃
　〃Jesus；　all　this　food；　by　next　week　I'll　weigh　a　ton！〃
　〃Not　you；　never　never　never。　If　you　like；　we'll　go　for　a　long　walk　or　when　the　rain　stops　we'll　play　tennis。　Whatever　you　want　we'll　do！　Oh　Linc；　I　love　you　so。　。。。〃
　
　Casey　was　leaning　on　the　balustrade　at　the　Kowloon　wharf　among　the　crowds。　She　wore　khaki　pants　and　a　yellow　silk　shirt　that　showed　her　figure　without　flaunting　it；　a　matching　cashmere　sweater　tied　casually　around　her　neck；　sneakers；　and　in　her　big　handbag　was　a　swimsuit　…　not　that　I'll　need　it　today；　she　told　herself；　the　Peak　shrouded　to　Mid　Levels　with　cloud；　black…dark　sky　to　the　east　and　a　heavy　line　of　rain　squall　already　touching　the　Island。　A　small　helicopter　putt…putted　overhead　to　go　out　across　the　harbor　on　course　for　Central。　She　saw　it　land　on　one　of　the　buildings。　Isn't　that　the　Struan　Building？　Sure；　sure　it　is。　Wonder　if　Ian's　in　it？
　Wonder　if　the　hill　climb's　back　on　again？　Last　night　he　had　said　it　was　off　but　that　some　of　them　might　do　it　anyway。
　Then　her　eyes　saw　the　approaching　motor　cruiser。　It　was　big；　expensive；　the　lines　sleek；　a　Red　Ensign　aft；　a　colorful　pennant　on　the　stubby　mast。　She　picked　out　Gornt　at　the　helm。　He　was　dressed　casually；　shirt…sleeves　rolled　up；　canvas　pants；　his　black　hair　ruffled　by　the　sea　breeze。　He　waved　and　she　waved　back。　There　were　others　on　the　bridge　main　deck：　Jason　Plumm　she　had　met　at　the　races；　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　at　the　tai…pan's　…　he　was　wearing　a　smart　blue　blazer　and　white　pants；　Pugmire　was　equally　nautical。
　Gornt　put　the　cumbersome　craft　alongside　skillfully；　fenders　out；　two　deckhands　with　hooked　fending　poles。　She　headed　along　the　quay　toward　the　wet　slippery　steps。　Five　Chinese　girls　were　already　waiting　on　the　landing；　gaily　dressed　in　boating　clothes；　laughing　and　chattering　and　waving。　As　she　watched；　they　jumped　awkwardly　aboard　helped　by　a　deckhand；　kicked　their　high　heels　off。　One　went　to　Barre；　another　to　Pugmire；　another　to　Plumm　as　old　friends　would　and　the　other　two　went　cheerfully　below。
　I'll　be　goddamned；　she　thought　disgustedly。　It's　one　of　those　parties。　She　began　to　turn　to　leave　but　she　saw　Gornt　leaning　over　the　side；　watching　her。　〃Hello；　Casey；　sorry　about　the　rain；　e　aboard！〃
　The　craft　was　dipping　and　twisting　in　the　swell；　waves　slapping　the　steps　and　the　hull。　〃e　aboard；　it's　quite　safe；〃　he　called　out。　Reacting　at　once　to　what　she　interpreted　as　a　taunt；　she　came　down　the　steps　quickly；　refused　the　proffered　help　of　the　deckhand；　waited　for　the　correct　moment　and　jumped。　〃You　did　that　as　though　you've　been　aboard　a　yacht　before；〃　Gornt　said　with　admiration；　ing　to　meet　her。　〃Wele　aboard　the　Sea　Witch。〃
　〃I　like　sailing；　Quillan；　though　I　think　maybe　I'm　out　of　my　depth　here。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Gornt　frowned　and　she　co