jamesclavell.noblehouse-第302节

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　〃You're　free；　Brian。〃
　〃No　。。。　no；　I　know　what's　happening。　The　moment　I；　the　moment　I'm　almost　there　they'll　pull　me　back；　the　torture　of　hope；　that's　it；　isn't　it？〃　There　was　a　shrillness　creeping　into　his　voice；　a　fleck　of　foam　at　the　corner　of　his　lips。　〃Of　course！　The　torture　of　hope。〃
　〃For　chrissake；　I've　told　you　you're　free！　You're　free　to　go；〃　Armstrong　said；　his　voice　hard；　wanting　to　end　it。　〃Go　for　chrissake！　Don't　ask　me　why　they're　letting　you　go　but　they　are。　Go！〃
　Filled　with　disbelief；　Brian　Kwok　wiped　his　mouth；　started　to　speak；　stopped。　〃You're　。。。　it's　a　。。。　it's　a　lie；　has　to　be！〃
　〃Go！〃
　〃All　right；　I'll　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　went　off　a　pace　then　stopped。　They　had　not　moved。　〃You're；　you　really　mean　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Shakily　Brian　Kwok　put　out　his　hand　to　Smyth。　Smyth　looked　at　it；　then　into　his　face。　〃If　it　was　up　to　me　I'd　have　you　shot。〃
　A　flash　of　hatred　went　over　Kwok's　face。　〃What　about　you　and　graft？　What　about　you　selling　police　pro…　〃
　〃Don't　let's　get　into　that！　H'eung　yau's　part　of　China！〃　Smyth　snarled　and　Armstrong　nodded　uneasily；　remembering　the　first　40；000　gambled　on　Saturday。
　〃A　little　feathering's　an　old　Chinese　custom；〃　Smyth　continued；　shaking　with　rage。　〃Treason　isn't。　Fong…fong　was　one　of　my　lads　before　he　went　to　SI。　Go　get　stuffed　and　get　the　hell　across　the　bridge　or　I'll　whip　you　across　it！〃
　Brian　Kwok　began　to　speak；　stopped。　Bleakly　he　offered　his　hand　to　Armstrong。　Armstrong　shook　it　without　friendship。　〃That's　just　for　old　times'　sake；　for　the　Brian　I　used　to　know。　I　don't　approve　of　traitors　either。〃
　〃I；　I　know　I　was　drugged　but　thanks。〃　Brian　Kwok　backed　away；　still　suspecting　a　trick；　then　turned。　Every　few　seconds　he　looked　back；　petrified　that　they　were　ing　after　him。　When　his　halting　feet　reached　the　bridge　he　broke　into　a　frantic　run。　Tension　skyrocketed。　Police　at　the　barrier　did　not　stop　him。　Neither　did　the　soldiers。　Both　sides；　forewarned；　pretended　not　to　notice　him。　The　crowds　streaming　across　either　side　of　the　tracks；　bicycles；　pedestrians；　carts；　mostly　laden；　paid　him　no　attention　at　all。　At　the　other　side　of　the　barrier；　Brian　Kwok　skidded　to　a　stop　and　turned　back。
　〃We'll　win；　we'll；　we'll　win　you　know；〃　he　called　back　to　them；　his　chest　heaving。　〃We　will！〃　Then　still　suspecting　a　trick；　he　hunched　down　and　fled　into　China。　Near　the　train　they　saw　a　nondescript　group　of　people　intercept　him　but　now　it　was　too　far　away　to　see　clearly。　Tension　on　the　bridge　subsided。　The　sun　began　to　set。
　In　the　small　observation　tower　atop　the　police　station；　Roger　Crosse　watched　with　high…powered　binoculars。　He　was　well　concealed。　Beside　him　was　an　SI　operator　with　a　telescopic　camera；　equally　concealed。　His　face　closed。　One　of　the　men　meeting　Brian　Kwok　was　Tsu…yan；　the　missing　millionaire。
　
　The　sun　was　almost　under　the　western　seas。　Casey　was　at　the　Peak　lookout；　all　Hong　Kong　spread　below；　lights　on　in　the　gloaming；　part　of　the　city　and　Kowloon　blood…colored；　part　already　dark　with　deep　shadows　and　blazing　highlights。　The　sun　vanished　and　night；　true　night；　began。
　But　she　saw　none　of　the　beauty　of　it。　Her　face　was　wet　with　the　tears　that　still　coursed。　She　was　leaning　on　the　railing　at　a　far　corner；　oblivious。　The　other　sightseers　and　people　waiting　at　the　nearby　bus　stops　left　her　alone　…　too　interested　in　their　own　affairs。
　〃By　all　the　gods　I　made　a　fortune　today。　。。。〃
　〃I　bought　in　first　thing　and　doubled　my　fornicating　money。　。。。〃
　〃Ayeeyah　so　did　I；　and　I　spent　most　of　the　day　negotiating　a　loan　from　Best　Bank　against　my　portfolio。　。。。〃
　〃Thank　all　gods　the　Middle　Kingdom　bailed　out　those　stupid　foreign　devils　。。。〃
　〃I　bought　Noble　House　at　20。　。。。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　they　dug　out　two　more　bodies　at　Kotewall　and　now　the　count's　sixty…seven　dead。　。。。〃
　〃Joss！　Isn't　it　wonderful　about　the　market！　Old　Blind　Tung's　prediction　came　true　again。　。。。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　about　my　sister；　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　from　Great　Hotel？　She　and　her　syndicate　bought　at　the　darkest　time　and　now　she's　a　millionaire。　。。。〃
　Casey　heard　nothing；　saw　nothing；　misery　overwhelming　her。　People　came　and　went；　a　few　lovers。　The　only　Europeans　were　tourists　with　their　cameras。　Casey　hid　from　them　as　best　she　could。
　〃Say；　can　I　help？〃　one　of　them　said。
　〃No；　no　thank　you；〃　she　replied；　her　voice　flat；　not　looking　at　him；　helpless　to　stop　the　tears。
　I　have　to　stop；　she　thought。　I　have　to　stop。　I　have　to　begin　again。　I　have　to　begin　again　and　be　strong　and　live；　for　me　and　for　Linc。　I've　got　to　guard　him　and　his；　I've　got　to　be　strong；　be　strong。
　But　how？
　〃I　won't　let　go；〃　she　told　herself　aloud。　I　won't。　I　have　to　think。
　I　have　to　think　about　what　the　tai…pan　said。　Not　about　marriage；　oh　Linc；　not　about　that。　I　have　to　think　about　Orlanda。
　〃Is　it　too　much　to　hope　they'd　be　friends？〃　Did　he　really　say　that？
　What　to　do　about　her？
　Bury　her。　She　took　Linc　away　from　me。　Yes。　But　that　was　within　my　rules；　the　rules　I　set　down。　Ian's　right。　She's　not　like　Quillan　and　it　was　Linc　…　he　fell　for　her；　he　went　out　with　her。　She's　not　like　Quillan　Gornt。
　Quillan。　What　about　him？　He　had　e　to　the　hotel　this　afternoon；　again　offering　her　whatever　help　she　needed。　She　had　thanked　him　and　refused。　〃I'm　okay；　Quillan。　I　have　to　work　this　out　myself。　No；　please　don't　see　me　off。　Please。　I'll　be　back　in　thirty　days；　maybe。　Then　I'll　be　more　sensible。〃
　〃You're　signing　with　Struan's？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　that's　what　I　want　to　do。　Sorry。〃
　〃No　need　to　be　sorry。　You've　been　warned。　But　that　doesn't　preclude　dinner　the　first　night　you're　back。　Yes？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Oh　Quillan；　what　to　do　about　you？
　Nothing　for　thirty　days。　Linc　must　have　the　next　thirty　days。　Totally。　I　have　to　protect　him　against　the　vultures。
　Seymour　Steigler　for　one。　This　morning　he　had　e　to　her　suite。　〃Hey　Casey；　I'll　get　the　coffin　arranged　and…　〃
　〃It's　done；　everything's　done。〃
　〃That　a　fact？　Great。　Listen；　I'm　all　packed。　Jannelli　can　take　my　bags　and　I'll　be　at　the　airplane　in　good　time　so　we　c…　〃
　〃No。　I'm　taking　Linc　home　alone。〃
　〃But　hell；　Casey；　we've　got　a　lot　to　talk　about。　There's　his　will；　there's　the　Par…Con　deal；　we　got　time　now　to　figure　it　good。　We　can　delay　and　maybe　get　us　a　few　extra　points。　We…　〃
　〃It　can　all　wait。　I'll　see　you　back　in　L。A。　Take　off　a　couple　of　days；　Seymour。　Be　back　next　Monday。〃
　〃Monday？　For　chrissake　there's　a　million　things　to　do！　Linc's　affairs'll　take　a　year　to　untangle。　We　gotta　get　counsel　fast。　Sure；　the　best　in　town。　I'll　do　that　first　thing；　the　best。　Don't　forget　there's　his　widow　and　his　kids。　She'll　sue　on　their　behalf；　of　course　she'll　sue　…　and　then　there's　you！　For　chrissake　you're　entitled　to　a　fat　share。　We'll　sue　too；　haven't　you　been　like　a　wife　to　him　for　seven　ye…　〃
　〃Seymour；　you're　fired！　Get　your　ass　out　of　here　an…　〃
　〃What　the　hell's　with　you？　I'm　only　thinking　of　your　legal　rights　an…　〃
　〃Don't　you　hear；　Seymour？　You're　fired！〃
　〃You　can't　fire　me。　I've　got　rights。　I　got　a　contract！〃
　〃You're　a　son　of　a　bitch。　You'll　get　top　dollar　to　settle　your　contract　but　if　you　take　after　me　or　Linc　or　Linc's　affairs　I'll　see　to　it　you　get　nothing。　Nothing。　Now　get　the　hell　out　of　here！〃
　Casey　wiped　away　her　tears；　remembering　her　exploding　rage。　Well　he　is　a　son　of　a　bitch。　I　was　never　sure　before　but　I　am　now。　I'm　glad　I　fired　him。　I'll　bet　any　money　he'll　e　sniffing　around　like　a　hyena。　Sure。　I'll　bet　he'll　go　see　the　ex…Mrs。　Bartlett　if　he　hasn't　already　called　her　and　work　her　into　a　frenzy；　to　represent　her　brood　to　attack　Par…Con　and　Linc。　Sure；　I'll　bet　any　money　I'll　see　him　in　court；　one　way　or　another。　Well；　God　help　me；　I　swear　he　won't　beat　me。　I'll　protect　Linc　whatever。
　Forget　that　bastard；　Casey。　Forget　the　battles　you're　going　to　fight；　concentrate　on　the　now。　What　about　Orlanda？　Linc；　Linc　liked　her　…　loved　her　maybe。　Did　he？　I　don't　know　for　sure。　And　never　will；　not　now。
　Orlanda。
　Should　I　go　see　her？
　
　91
　
　8：05　P。M。：
　Orlanda　was　sitting　in　the　dark　of　her　room　at　the　Mandarin　Hotel　staring　out　at　the　night。　Her　grief　was　spent。
　Joss　about　Linc；　she　told　herself　for　the　ten　thousandth　time。　Joss。　Now　everything's　as　before。　Everything　has　to　start　again。　The　gods　laughed　at　me　again。　Perhaps　there'll　be　another　chance　…　of　course　there'll　be　another　chance。　There　are　other　men　。。。　Oh　God！　Don't　worry；　everything　will　be　as　it　was。　Quillan　said　not　to　worry；　my　allowance　would　contin…　
　The　phone　jangled；　startling　her。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Orlanda？　It's　Casey。〃　Orlanda　sat　bolt　upright；　astonished。　〃I'm　leaving　tonight　but　I　wanted　to　see　you　before　I　go。　Is　that　possible？　I'm　downstairs。〃
　Her　enemy　calling　her？　Why？　To　gloat？　But　they'd　both　lost。　〃Yes；　Casey；〃　she　said　hesitantly。　〃Would　you　like　to　e　up？　It's　more　private　here。　363。〃
　〃Sure。　363。〃
　Orlanda　switched　on　a　light　and　hurried　to　the　bathroom　to　check　her　face。　She　saw　sadness　and　recent　tears　…　but　no　age。　Not　yet。　But　age　is　ing；　she　thought；　a　shiver　of　apprehension　taking　her。　A　b　to　her　hair　and　a　little　makeup　on　her　eyes。　Nothing　else　needed。　Not　yet。
　Stop　it！　Age　is　inevitable。　Be　Asian！　Be　aware。
　She　slipped　on　her　shoes。　The　waiting　seemed　long。　Her　heart　was　grinding。　The　bell　rang