jamesclavell.noblehouse-第272节

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n　the　rest　of　us　were　starving；〃　he　said；　his　face　stark。　〃Used　to　drive　us　mad。〃　He　looked　at　Peter　Marlowe；　his　hate　open　now。　〃Didn't　you？〃
　After　a　pause；　Peter　Marlowe　said；　〃Everyone　had　coffee　some　of　the　time。　Everyone　roasted　coffee　beans。〃
　〃Not　like　you　two。〃　Grey　turned　to　Casey。　〃They　had　coffee　every　day；　him　and　his　Yankee　friend。　Me；　I　was　provost　marshal　and　I　had　it　once　a　month　if　I　was　lucky。〃　He　glanced　back。　〃How　did　you　get　coffee　and　food　while　the　rest　of　us　starved？〃
　Casey　noticed　the　vein　in　Peter　Marlowe's　forehead　knotting　and　she　realized；　aghast；　that　no　answer　was　also　an　answer。　〃Robin　。。。〃　she　began；　but　Grey　overrode　her；　his　voice　taunting。　〃Why　don't　you　answer；　Marlowe？〃　In　the　silence　they　all　looked　from　Grey　to　Peter　Marlowe；　staring　at　each　other；　even　the　girls　tense　and　on　guard；　feeling　the　sudden　violence　in　the　cabin。
　〃My　dear　fellow；〃　Gornt　interrupted；　deliberately　using　that　slight　nuance　of　accent　he　knew　would　goad　Grey；　〃surely　those　are　ancient　times　and　rather　unimportant　now。　It　is　Sunday　afternoon　and　we're　all　friends。〃
　〃I　think　'em　rather　important；　Sunday　afternoon　or　not　and　Marlowe　and　I　aren't　friends；　never　have　been！　He's　a　toff；　I'm　not。〃　Grey　aped　the　long　a　he　loathed　and　broadened　his　accent。　〃Yes。　But　the　war　changed　everything　and　us　workers'll　never　forget！〃
　〃You　consider　yourself　a　worker　and　me　not？〃　Peter　Marlowe　asked；　his　voice　grating。
　〃We're　the　exploited；　you're　the　exploiters。　Like　in　Changi。〃
　〃Get　off　that　old　broken　record；　Grey！　Changi　was　another　world；　another　place　and　other　time　an…　〃
　〃It　was　the　same　as　everywhere。　There　was　bosses　and　the　bossed；　workers　and　them　that　fed　off　the　workers。　Like　you　and　the　King。〃
　〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃
　Casey　was　near　to　Grey　and　she　reached　out　and　took　his　arm。　〃Let's　have　coffee；　okay？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Grey　said。　〃But　first　ask　him；　Casey。〃　Grimly　Grey　stood　his　ground；　well　aware　he　had；　at　long　last；　brought　his　enemy　to　bay　in　front　of　his　peers。　〃Mr。　Gornt；　ask　him；　eh？　Any　of　you　。。。〃
　They　all　stood　there　in　silence；　embarrassed　for　Peter　Marlowe　and　shocked　with　the　implied　accusations　…　Gornt　and　Plumm　privately　amused　and　fascinated。　Then　one　of　the　girls　turned　for　the　gangway　and　left　quietly；　the　others　following。　Casey　would　have　liked　to　have　gone　too　but　she　did　not。
　〃Now　is　not　the　time；　Mr。　Grey；〃　she　heard　Gornt　say　gently　and　she　was　glad　he　was　there　to　break　it　up。　〃Would　you　kindly　leave　this　matter　alone。　Please？〃
　Grey　looked　at　them　all；　his　eyes　ending　up　on　his　adversary。　〃You　see；　Casey；　not　one's　got　the　guts　to　ask　…　they're　all　his　class；　so…called　upper　class　and　they　look　after　their　own。〃
　Barre　flushed。　〃I　say；　old　chap；　don't　you　th…　〃
　Peter　Marlowe　said；　his　voice　flat；　〃It's　easy　to　stop　this　nonsense。　You　can't　equate　Changi　…　or　Dachau　or　Buchenwald　with　normality。　You　just　can't。　There　were　different　rules；　different　patterns。　We　were　soldiers；　war　prisoners；　teen…agers　most　of　us。　Changi　was　genesis；　everything　new；　upside　down；　ev…　〃
　〃Were　you　a　black　marketeer？〃
　〃No。　I　was　an　interpreter　in　Malay　for　a　friend　who　was　a　trader　and　there's　a　lot　of　difference　between　trading　and　black　marketing　an…　
　〃But　it　was　against　camp　rules；　camp　law；　and　that　makes　it　black　marketing；　right？〃
　〃Trading　with　the　guards　was　against　enemy　rules；　Japanese　rules。〃
　〃And　tell　them　how　the　King'd　buy　some　poor　bugger's　watch　or　ring　or　fountain　pen　for　a　pittance；　the　last　bloody　thing　he　had　in　the　world；　and　sell　it　high　and　never　tell　and　cheat　on　the　price；　cheat；　always　cheat。　Eh？〃
　Peter　Marlowe　stared　back。　〃Read　my　book。　In　it　th…　〃
　〃Book？〃　Again　Grey　laughed；　goading　him。　〃Tell　'em　on　your　honor　as　a　gent；　your　father's　honor　and　your　family's　honor　you're　so　bloody　proud　of　…　did　the　King　cheat　or　didn't　he？　On　your　honor！　Eh？〃
　Almost　paralyzed；　Casey　saw　Peter　Marlowe　make　a　fist。　〃If　we　weren't　guests　here；〃　he　hissed；　〃I'd　tell　them　what　a　shower　you　really　were！〃
　〃You　can　rot　in　hell。　。。。〃
　〃Now　that's　enough；〃　Gornt　said　as　a　mand　and　Casey　began　to　breathe　again。　〃For　the　last　time；　kindly　leave　this　all　alone！〃
　Grey　tore　his　eyes　off　Marlowe。　〃I　will。　Now；　can　I　get　a　taxi　in　the　village？　I　think　I'd　rather　get　home　meself　by　meself　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Gornt　said；　his　face　suitably　grave；　delighted　that　Grey　had　asked　so　that　he　did　not　have　to　finesse　the　suggestion　into　the　open。　〃But　surely；〃　he　added；　delivering　the　coup　de　grace；　〃surely　you　and　Marlowe　could　shake　hands　like　gentlemen　and　forget　about　th…　〃
　〃Gentlemen？　Ta；　but　no。　No；　I've　had　gentlemen　like　Marlowe　forever。　Gentlemen？　Thank　God　England's　changing　and　soon'll　be　in　proper　hands　again　…　and　the　very　British　Oxford　accent　won't　be　a　permanent　passport　to　gentry　and　power；　not　ever　again。　We'll　reform　the　Lords　and　if　I　have　my　way　。。。〃
　〃Let's　hope　you　don't！〃　Pugmire　said。
　Gornt　said　firmly；　〃Pug！　It's　coffee　and　port　time！〃　Affably　he　took　Grey's　arm。　〃If　you'll　excuse　Mr。　Grey　and　myself　a　moment　。。。〃
　They　went　on　deck。　The　chatter　of　the　Chinese　girls　stopped　a　moment。　Secretly　very　pleased　with　himself；　Gornt　led　the　way　to　the　gangway　and　went　ashore　onto　the　wharf。　Everything　was　turning　out　far　better　than　he　had　thought。
　〃Sorry　about　that；　Mr。　Grey；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　no　idea　that　Marlowe　。。。　Disgusting！　Well；　you　never　know；　do　you？〃
　〃He's　a　bastard；　always　was；　always　will　be　…　him　and　his　filthy　Yank　friend。　Hate　Yanks　too！　About　time　we　broke　up　with　that　shower！〃
　Gornt　found　a　taxi　easily。
　〃Are　you　sure；　Mr。　Grey；　you　won't　change　your　mind？〃
　〃Ta；　but　no　thanks。〃
　〃Sorry　about　Marlowe。　Clearly　you　were　provoked。　When　are　you　and　your　trade　mission　off？〃
　〃In　the　morning；　early。〃
　〃If　there's　anything　I　can　do　for　you　here；　just　let　me　know。〃
　〃Ta。　When　you　e　home　give　me　a　tinkle。〃
　〃Thank　you。　I　will；　and　thanks　for　ing。〃　He　paid　the　fare　in　advance　and　waved　politely　as　the　taxi　drove　off。　Grey　did　not　look　around。
　Gornt　smiled。　That　revolting　bastard's　going　to　be　a　useful　ally　in　the　years　to　e；　he　chortled　as　he　walked　back。
　Most　of　the　others　were　on　deck；　drinking　coffee　and　liqueurs；　Casey　and　Peter　Marlowe　to　one　side。
　〃What　a　bloody　berk！〃　Gornt　called　out　to　general　agreement。　〃Frightfully　sorry　about　that；　Marlowe；　the　bugger　pr…　〃
　〃No；　it　was　my　fault；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　clearly　very　upset。　〃Sorry。　I　feel　terrible　that　he　left。〃
　〃No　need　to　apologize。　I　should　never　have　invited　him　…　thanks　for　being　such　a　gentleman　about　it；　he　clearly　provoked　you。〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　Pugmire　said　to　more　agreement。　〃If　I'd　been　you　I'd've　given　him　one。　Whatever　happened　is　in　the　past。〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Casey　said　quickly；　〃what　an　awful　man！　If　you　hadn't　stopped　it；　Quillan；　Grey　wou…　〃
　〃Enough　of　that　berk；〃　Gornt　said　warmly；　wanting　the　specter　laid　to　rest。　〃Let's　forget　him；　let's　not　allow　him　to　spoil　a　wonderful　afternoon。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　Casey　and　gave　her　a　hug。　〃Eh？〃　He　saw　the　admiration　in　her　eyes　and　he　knew；　gleefully；　he　was　getting　there　fast。　〃It's　too　cold　for　a　swim。　Shall　we　just　cruise　leisurely　home？〃
　〃Good　idea！〃　Dunstan　Barre　said。　〃I　think　I'm　going　to　have　a　siesta。〃
　〃Smashing　idea！〃　someone　said　to　laughter。　The　girls　joined　in　but　the　laughter　was　forced。　Everyone　was　still　unsettled　and　Gornt　felt　it　strongly。　〃First　some　brandy！　Marlowe？〃
　〃No　thank　you；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　Gornt　studied　him。　〃Listen　to　me；　Marlowe；〃　he　said　with　real　passion　and　everyone　fell　silent。　〃We've　all　seen　too　much　of　life；　too　much　of　Asia；　not　to　know　that　whatever　you　did；　you　did　for　good　and　not　evil。　What　you　said　was　right。　Changi　was　special　with　special　problems。　Pug　was　locked　up　in　Stanley　Prison　…　that's　on　Hong　Kong　Island；　Casey　…　for　three　and　a　half　years。　I　got　out　of　Shanghai　barely　with　my　skin；　and　blood　on　my　hands。　Jason　was　grabbed　by　the　Nazis　after　Dunkirk　and　had　a　couple　of　dicey　years　with　them；　Dunstan　operated　in　China　…　Dunstan's　been　in　Asia　forever　and　he　knows　too。　Eh？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunstan　Barre　said　sadly。　〃Casey；　in　war　to　survive　you　have　to　stretch　things　a　bit　sometimes。　As　to　trading；　Marlowe；　I　agree；　most　times　you　have　to　equate　the　problem　to　the　time　and　place。　I　thank　God　I　was　never　caught。　Don't　think　I'd've　survived；　know　I　wouldn't。〃　He　refilled　his　port　from　the　decanter；　embarrassed　to　be　speaking　real　truths。
　〃What　was　Changi　really　like；　Peter？〃　Casey　asked　for　all　of　them。
　〃It's　hard　to　talk　about；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　the　nearest　to　no…life　that　you　could　get。　We　were　issued　a　quarter　of　a　pound　of　dry　rice　a　day；　some　vegetables；　one　egg　a　week。　Sometimes　meat　was　。。。　was　waved　over　the　soup。　It　was　different；　that's　all　I　can　say　about　it。　Most　of　us　had　never　seen　a　jungle　before；　let　alone　Chinese　and　Japanese　and　to　lose　a　war　。。。　I　was　just　eighteen　when　Changi　began。〃
　〃Christ；　I　can't　stand　Japs；　just　can't！〃　Pugmire　said　and　the　others　nodded。
　〃But　that's　not　fair；　really。　They　were　just　playing　the　game　according　to　their　rules；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said。　〃That　was　fair　from　the　Japanese　point　of　view。　Look　what　wonderful　soldiers　they　were；　look　how　they　fought　and