jamesclavell.noblehouse-第268节

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　〃I　like　sailing；　Quillan；　though　I　think　maybe　I'm　out　of　my　depth　here。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Gornt　frowned　and　she　could　read　no　taunt　or　challenge　there。　〃You　mean　the　girls？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃They're　just　guests　of　my　guests。〃　His　eyes　bored　into　her。　〃I　understood　you　wanted　to　be　treated　with　equality。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　be　treated　equally　in　a　masculine　world；　in　business　and　pleasure？　To　be　accepted；　eh？〃
　〃I　do；〃　she　said　coldly。
　His　warmth　did　not　change。　〃Are　you　upset　because　the　others　are　married　and　you've　met　some　of　their　wives？〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　am。〃
　〃Isn't　that　rather　unfair？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　it　is；〃　she　said　unfortably。
　〃You　're　my　guest；　my　guest；　the　others　are　my　guests'　guests。　If　you　want　equality；　perhaps　you　should　be　prepared　to　accept　equality。〃
　〃This　isn't　equality。〃
　〃I'm　certainly　putting　you　in　a　position　of　trust。　As　an　equal。　I　must　tell　you　the　others　didn't　think　you　as　trustworthy　as　I　consider　you。〃　The　smile　hardened。　〃I　told　them　they　could　leave　or　stay。　I　do　what　I　like　on　my　ship　and　I　stood　surety　for　your　discretion　and　good　manners。　This　is　Hong　Kong；　our　customs　are　different。　This　isn't　a　puritan　society　though　we　have　very　serious　rules。　You're　alone。　Unmarried。　Very　attractive　and　very　wele。　As　an　equal。　If　you　were　married　to　Linc；　you　would　not　have　been　asked；　together　or　by　yourself；　though　he　might　have　been　and　what　he　told　you　when　he　came　back　would　be　his　own　affair。〃
　〃You're　saying　this　is　regular　Hong　Kong　custom　…　the　boys　out　with　the　girls　bit　on　a　Sunday　afternoon？〃
　〃No；　not　at　all。　I'm　saying　my　guests　asked　if　they　could　invite　some　guests　who'd　brighten　what　might　otherwise　be　a　dull　luncheon　for　them。〃　Gornt's　eyes　were　level。
　The　Sea　Witch　heeled　under　another　wave　and　Barre　and　his　girl　friend　stumbled　and　almost　lost　their　footing。　She　dropped　her　glass　of　champagne。　Gornt　had　not　moved。　Nor　did　Casey。　She　didn't　even　need　to　hold　on。
　〃You've　done　lots　of　sailing？〃　he　said　with　admiration。
　〃I've　an　eighteen…footer；　fiberglass；　Olympic　class；　sloop…rigged；　on　a　trailer。　I　sail　some　weekends。〃
　〃Alone？〃
　〃Mostly。　Sometimes　Linc　es　along。〃
　〃He's　at　the　hill　climb？〃
　〃No。　I　heard　it　was　canceled。〃
　〃He's　going　to　Taipei　this　afternoon？〃
　〃No。　I　heard　that　was　canceled　too。〃
　Gornt　nodded。　〃Wise。　A　lot　to　do　tomorrow。〃　His　eyes　were　kindly。　〃I'm　sorry　you're　offended。　I　thought　you　different　from　the　usual。　I'm　sorry　the　others　came　now。〃
　Casey　heard　the　strange　gentleness。　〃Yes；　I'm　sorry　too。〃
　〃Would　you　still　like　to　stay？　I　hope　so；　though　I　will　expect　your　discretion　…　I　did　guarantee　it。〃
　〃I'll　stay；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Thanks　for　trusting　me。〃
　〃e　on　the　bridge。　There's　champagne　and　I　think　lunch'll　please　you。〃
　Having　chosen；　Casey　put　away　her　reservations　and　decided　to　enjoy　the　day。　〃Where're　we　going？〃
　〃Up　by　Sha　Tin。　The　sea'll　be　calm　there。〃
　〃Say；　Quillan；　this　is　a　wonderful　boat。〃
　〃I'll　show　you　around　in　a　moment。〃　There　was　a　spatter　of　rain　and　they　moved　into　the　lee　of　the　overhanging　deck。　Gornt　glanced　at　the　clock　tower。　It　was　10：10。　He　was　about　to　order　their　castoff　when　Peter　Marlowe　hurried　down　the　steps　and　came　aboard。　His　eyes　widened　as　he　noticed　Casey。
　〃Sorry　I'm　late；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I　was　going　to　give　you　a　couple　of　minutes　…　I　know　how　it　is　with　young　children。　Excuse　me　a　second；　I　believe　you　know　each　other。　Oh；　Casey's　my　guest　…　her　discretion's　guaranteed。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　〃Isn't　it？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　He　turned　and　left　them；　going　to　the　bridge　to　take　the　conn。　They　watched　a　moment；　both　embarrassed；　the　sea　breeze　freshening　the　rain　that　slanted　down。
　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you；　Peter；〃　she　said。
　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　either。〃
　She　studied　him；　her　hazel　eyes　level。　〃Is　one　of　the；　the　others　yours？　Give　it　to　me　straight。〃
　His　smile　was　curious。　〃Even　if　one　was　I'd　say　it　wasn't　any　of　your　business。　Discretion　and　all　that。　By　the　way；　are　you　Gornt's　girl　friend？〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃No。　No；　of　course　not！〃
　〃Then　why're　you　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He　。。。　he　just　said　I　was　invited　as　an　equal。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　I　see。〃　Peter　Marlowe　was　equally　relieved。　〃He's　got　a　strange　sense　of　humor。　Well；　I　did　warn　you。　To　answer　your　question；　at　least　eight　are　part　of　the　Marlowe　harem！〃　She　laughed　with　him　and　he　added　more　seriously；　〃You　don't　have　to　worry　about　Fleur。　She's　very　wise。〃
　〃I　wish　I　was；　Peter。　This's　all　rather　new　to　me。　Sorry　about　。。。　yes；　sorry。〃
　〃It's　new　to　me　too。　I've　never　been　on　a　Sunday　cruise　before。　Why　did　y…　〃　His　smile　vanished。　She　followed　his　glance。　Robin　Grey　had　e　up　from　below　and　was　pouring　himself　a　glass　of　champagne；　one　of　the　girls　holding　out　her　glass　too。　Casey　turned　and　stared　up　at　Gornt；　watching　him　glance　from　man　to　man；　then　at　her。
　〃e　aloft；〃　Gornt　called　out。　〃There's　wine；　champagne；　Bloody　Marys　or；　if　you　prefer；　coffee。〃　He　kept　his　face　expressionless　but　inside　he　was　vastly　amused。
　
　74
　
　11：15　A。M。：
　〃I　repeat；　Mr。　Sinders；　I　know　nothing　of　any　cable；　any　Arthur；　any　files；　any　American　and　I　know　no　Major　Yuri　Bakyan　…　the　man　was　Igor　Voranski；　seaman　first　class。〃　Suslev　kept　a　firm　hold　on　his　temper。　Sinders　sat　opposite　him；　behind　the　desk　in　the　drab　interview　room　at　police　headquarters。　Suslev　had　expected　Roger　Crosse　to　be　there；　to　help。　But　he　had　not　seen　him　since　he　arrived。
　Be　careful；　he　cautioned　himself；　you're　on　your　own。　You'll　get　no　help　from　Roger。　Rightly。　That　spy　has　to　be　protected。　And　as　to　Boradinov；　he's　no　help　either。　He　glanced　at　his　first　officer　who　sat　beside　him；　stiff；　upright　in　his　chair　and　greatly　ill…at…ease。
　〃And　you　still　insist　this　spy　Dimitri　Metkin's　name　was　not　Leonov　…　Nicoli　Leonov　…　also　a　major　in　the　KGB？〃
　〃It's　nonsense；　all　nonsense。　I　shall　report　this　whole　incident　to　my　government；　I　sh…　〃
　〃Are　your　repairs　pleted？〃
　〃Yes；　at　least　they　will　be　by　midnight。　We　bring　good　money　into　Hong　Kong　and　pay　our　bi…　〃
　〃Yes　and　create　nothing　but　curious　troubles。　Like　Major　Leonov；　like　Bakyan？〃
　〃You　mean　Metkin？〃　Suslev　glared　at　Boradinov　to　take　off　some　of　the　heat。　〃Did　you　know　any　Leonov？〃
　〃No；　rade　Captain；〃　Boradinov　stuttered。　〃We　didn't　know　anything。〃
　〃What　a　lot　of　cobblers！〃　Sinders　sighed。　〃Fortunately　Leonov　told　us　quite　a　lot　about　you　and　the　Ivanov　before　you　murdered　him。　Yes；　your　Major　Leonov　was　very　cooperative。〃　Suddenly　his　voice　became　a　whiplash。　〃First　Officer　Boradinov；　please　wait　outside！〃
　The　younger　man　was　on　his　feet　before　he　knew　it；　white…faced。　He　opened　the　door。　Outside　a　hostile　Chinese　SI　agent　motioned　him　to　a　chair；　closing　the　door　once　more。
　Sinders　put　his　pipe　aside；　took　out　a　package　of　cigarettes　and　leisurely　lit　one。　Rain　battered　the　windows。　Suslev　waited；　his　heart　grinding。　He　watched　his　enemy　from　under　his　bushy　eyebrows；　wondering　what　Roger　Crosse　had　for　him　that　was　so　urgent。　This　morning　when　the　secret　phone　had　rung　it　was　Arthur　asking　if　Suslev　would　meet　Roger　Crosse　around　eight　o'clock　tonight　at　Sinclair　Towers。　〃What's　so　urgent？　I　should　be　on　my　ship　and　mak…　〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Roger　said　it　was　urgent。　There　was　no　time　to　discuss　anything。　Did　you　see　Koronski？〃
　〃Yes。　Everything's　arranged。　Can　you　deliver？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Long　before　midnight。〃
　〃Don't　fail。　Center's　counting　on　you　now；〃　he　had　added；　lying。　〃Tell　our　friend　it's　ordered。〃
　〃Excellent。　We　won't　fail。〃
　Suslev　had　heard　the　excitement。　Some　of　his　dread　had　left　him。　Now　it　was　returning。　He　did　not　like　being　here；　so　near　to　staying　permanently。　Sinders's　reputation　was　well　known　in　the　KGB：　dedicated；　smart　and　given　to　great　leaps　of　insight。　〃I'm　very　tired　of　these　questions；　Mr。　Sinders；〃　he　said；　astonished　that　the　head　of　MI…6　had　personally　e　to　Hong　Kong　and　could　appear　to　be　so　unimportant。　He　stood　up；　testing　him。　〃I'm　leaving。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　Sevrin。〃
　〃Severin？　What　is　Severin？　I　do　not　have　to　stay　to　answer　your　questions；　I　do　n…　〃
　〃I　agree；　rade　Captain；　normally；　but　one　of　your　men　has　been　caught　spying　and　our　American　friends　really　want　possession　of　you。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Oh　yes　and　I'm　afraid　they're　not　as　patient　as　we　are。〃
　Suslev's　dread　swooped　back。　〃More　threats！　Why　threaten　me？〃　he　flustered。　〃We　are　law…abiding。　I'm　not　responsible　for　troubles！　I　demand　to　be　allowed　to　go　back　to　my　ship！　Now！〃
　Sinders　just　looked　at　him。　〃All　right。　Please　leave；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃I　can　go？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course。　Good　morning。〃
　Astonished；　Suslev　stared　at　him　a　moment；　then　turned　and　went　for　the　door。
　〃Of　course　we　will　certainly　leak　it　to　your　superiors　that　you　gave　us　Leonov。〃
　Suslev　stopped；　ashen。　〃What；　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃Leonov　told　us；　among　other　things；　that　you　encouraged　him　to　make　the　intercept。　Then　you　leaked　the　exchange。〃
　〃Lies　。。。　lies；〃　he　said；　suddenly　aghast　that　perhaps　Roger　Crosse　had　been　caught　as　Metkin　was　caught。
　〃Didn't　you　also　leak　to　North　Korean　agents　about　Bakyan？〃
　〃No；　no　I　did　not；〃　Suslev　stuttered；　enormously　relieved　to　discover