jamesclavell.noblehouse-第6节

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　〃Who's　head　of　Special　Branch？〃　he　asked；　testing　her。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　that　department　was　listed。　Is　it？〃
　〃Sometimes。〃
　A　slight　frown　stood　in　her　eyes。　〃You　greet　all　private　airplanes；　Superintendent？〃
　〃Only　those　I　wish　to。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　〃Only　those　with　pretty；　well…informed　ladies　aboard。〃
　〃Something's　wrong？　There's　trouble？〃
　〃Oh　no；　just　routine。　Kai　Tak's　part　of　my　responsibility；〃　Armstrong　said　easily。　〃May　I　see　your　passport　please？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Her　frown　deepened　as　she　opened　her　handbag　and　handed　her　U。S。　passport　over。
　Years　of　experience　made　his　inspection　very　detailed　indeed。　〃Born　Providence；　Rhode　Island；　November　25；　1936；　height　5　feet　8　inches；　hair　blond；　eyes　hazel。〃　Passport's　valid　with　two　years　left　to　run。　Twenty…six；　eh？　I'd've　guessed　younger；　though　there's　a　strangeness　to　her　eyes　if　you　look　closely。
　With　apparent　haphazardness　he　flipped　carelessly　through　the　pages。　Her　three…month　Hong　Kong　visa　was　current　and　in　order。　A　dozen　immigration　visa　stamps；　all　England；　France；　Italy　or　South　American。　Except　one。　USSR；　dated　July　this　year。　A　seven…day　visit。　He　recognized　the　Moscow　frank。　〃Sergeant　Lee！〃
　〃Yes　sir？〃
　〃Get　it　stamped　for　her；〃　he　said　casually；　and　smiled　down　at　her。　〃You're　all　cleared。　You　may　stay　more　or　less　as　long　as　you　like。　Towards　the　end　of　three　months　just　go　to　the　nearest　police　station　and　we'll　extend　your　visa　for　you。〃
　〃Thanks　very　much。〃
　〃You'll　be　with　us　for　a　while？〃
　〃That　depends　on　our　business　deal；〃　Casey　said　after　a　pause。　She　smiled　at　John　Chen。　〃We　hope　to　be　in　business　for　a　long　time。〃
　John　Chen　said；　〃Yes。　Er；　we　hope　so　too。〃　He　was　still　nonplussed；　his　mind　churning。　It's　surely　not　possible　for　Casey　Tcholok　to　be　a　woman；　he　thought。
　Behind　them　the　steward；　Sven　Svensen；　came　bouncing　down　the　stairs；　carrying　two　air　suitcases。　〃Here　you　are；　Casey。　You're　sure　this's　enough　for　tonight？〃
　〃Yes。　Sure。　Thanks；　Sven。〃
　〃Linc　said　for　you　to　go　on。　You　need　a　hand　through　Customs？〃
　〃No　thanks。　Mr。　John　Chen　kindly　met　us。　Also；　Superintendent　Armstrong；　head　of　Kowloon　CID。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Sven　studied　the　policeman　thoughtfully　for　a　moment。　〃I'd　better　get　back。〃
　〃Everything　all　right？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　think　so。〃　Sven　Svensen　grinned。　〃Customs're　just　checking　our　stocks　of　booze　and　cigarettes。〃　Only　four　things　were　subject　to　any　import　license　or　customs　duty　in　the　Colony　…　gold；　liquor；　tobacco　and　gasoline　…　and　only　one　contraband　…　apart　from　narcotics　…　and　totally　forbidden：　all　forms　of　firearms　and　ammunition。
　Casey　smiled　up　at　Armstrong。　〃We've　no　rice　aboard；　Superintendent。　Linc　doesn't　eat　it。〃
　〃Then　he's　in　for　a　bad　time　here。〃
　She　laughed　then　turned　back　to　Svensen。　〃See　you　tomorrow。　Thanks。〃
　〃9　a。m。　on　the　dot！〃　Svensen　went　back　to　the　airplane　and　Casey　turned　to　John　Chen。
　〃Linc　said　for　us　not　to　wait　for　him。　Hope　that's　all　right；〃　she　said。
　〃Eh？〃
　〃Shall　we　go？　We're　booked　into　the　Victoria　and　Albert　Hotel；　Kowloon。〃　She　began　to　pick　up　her　bags　but　a　porter　materialized　out　of　the　darkness　and　took　them　from　her。　〃Linc'll　e　later　。。。　or　tomorrow。〃
　John　Chen　gawked　at　her。　〃Mr。　Bartlett's　not　ing？〃
　〃No。　He's　going　to　stay　in　the　airplane　overnight　if　he　can　get　permission。　If　not；　he'll　follow　us　by　cab。　In　any　event　he'll　join　us　tomorrow　for　lunch　as　arranged。　Lunch　is　still　on；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　but　。。。〃　John　Chen　was　trying　to　get　his　mind　working。　〃Then　you'll　want　to　cancel　the　10　a。m。　meeting？〃
　〃Oh　no。　I'll　attend　that　as　arranged。　Linc　wasn't　expected　at　that　meeting。　That's　just　financing　…　not　policy。　I'm　sure　you　understand。　Linc's　very　tired；　Mr。　Chen；〃　she　said。　〃He　just　got　back　yesterday　from　Europe。〃　She　looked　back　at　Armstrong。　〃The　captain　asked　the　tower　if　Linc　could　sleep　in；　Superintendent。　They　checked　with　Immigration　who　said　they'd　get　back　to　us　but　I　presume　our　request'll　e　through　channels　to　you。　We'd　certainly　appreciate　it　if　you'd　approve。　He's　really　been　on　the　jet　lag　trail　for　too　long。〃
　Armstrong　found　himself　saying；　〃I'll　chat　with　him　about　it。〃
　〃Oh　thanks。　Thanks　very　much；〃　she　said；　and　then　to　John　Chen；　〃Sorry　for　all　this　trouble；　Mr。　Chen。　Shall　we　go？〃　She　began　to　head　for　Gate　16；　the　porter　following；　but　John　Chen　pointed　to　his　Rolls。　〃No；　this　way；　Miss　Tchu　…　er；　Casey。〃
　Her　eyes　widened。　〃No　Customs？〃
　〃Not　tonight；〃　Armstrong　said；　liking　her。　〃A　present　from　Her　Majesty's　Government。〃
　〃I　feel　like　visiting　royalty。〃
　〃All　part　of　the　service。〃
　She　got　into　the　car。　Lovely　smell　of　leather。　And　luxury。　Then　she　saw　the　porter　hurrying　through　the　gate　into　the　terminal　building。　〃But　what　about　my　bags？〃
　〃No　need　to　worry　about　those；〃　John　Chen　said　irritably。　〃They'll　be　in　your　suite　before　you　are。〃
　Armstrong　held　on　to　the　door　for　a　moment。　〃John　came　with　two　cars。　One　for　you　and　Mr。　Bartlett　…　the　other　for　luggage。〃
　〃Two　cars？〃
　〃Of　course。　Don't　forget　you're　in　Hong　Kong　now。〃
　He　watched　the　car　drive　off。　Linc　Bartlett's　a　lucky　man；　he　thought；　and　wondered　absently　why　Special　Intelligence　was　interested　in　her。
　〃Just　meet　the　airplane　and　go　through　her　passport　personally；〃　the　director　of　SI　had　told　him　this　morning。　〃And　Mr。　Lincoln　Bartlett's。〃
　〃May　I　ask　why；　sir？〃
　〃No；　Robert；　you　may　not　ask　why。　You're　no　longer　in　this　branch　…　you're　in　a　nice　cushy　job　at　Kowloon。　A　positive　sinecure；　what？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃And　Robert；　kindly　don't　balls　up　this　operation　tonight　…　there　may　be　a　lot　of　very　big　names　involved。　We　go　to　a　great　deal　of　trouble　to　keep　you　fellows　abreast　of　what　the　nasties　are　doing。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Armstrong　sighed　as　he　walked　up　the　gangway　followed　by　Sergeant　Lee。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　senior　officers；　particularly　the　director　of　SI。
　One　of　the　Customs　officials　was　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　gangway　with　Svensen。　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃Everything's　shipshape　aboard。　There's　a　。38　with　a　box　of　a　hundred　shells　unopened　as　part　of　ship's　stores。　A　Verey　Light　pistol。　Also　three　hunting　rifles　and　a　twelve…bore　with　ammo　belonging　to　Mr。　Bartlett。　They're　all　listed　on　the　manifest　and　I　inspected　them。　There's　a　locked　gun　cabinet　in　the　main　cabin。　Captain　has　the　key。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃You　need　me　anymore；　sir？〃
　〃No；　thanks。〃　Armstrong　took　the　airplane's　manifest　and　began　to　check　it。　Lots　of　wine；　cigarettes；　tobacco；　beer　and　spirits。　Ten　cases　of　Dom　Pérignon　'59；　fifteen　Puligny　Montrachet　'53；　nine　Chateau　Haut　Brion　'53。　〃No　Lafite　Rothschild　1916；　Mr。　Svensen？〃　he　said　with　a　small　smile。
　〃No　sir。〃　Svensen　grinned。　〃　'16　was　a　very　bad　year。　But　there's　half　a　case　of　the　1923。　It's　on　the　next　page。〃
　Armstrong　nipped　the　page。　More　wines　and　the　cigars　were　listed。　〃Good；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course　all　this　is　in　bond　while　you're　on　the　ground。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　I'd　already　locked　it　…　your　man's　tagged　it。　He　said　it　was　okay　to　leave　a　twelve…pack　of　beer　in　the　cooler。〃
　〃If　the　owner　wants　to　import　any　of　the　wines；　just　let　me　know。　There's　no　fuss　and　just　a　modest　contribution　to　Her　Majesty's　bottom　drawer。〃
　〃Sir？〃　Svensen　was　perplexed。
　〃Eh？　Oh；　just　an　English　pun。　Refers　to　a　lady's　bottom　drawer　in　a　chest　of　drawers　…　where　she　puts　away　the　things　she　needs　in　the　future。　Sorry。　Your　passport　please。〃　Svensen's　passport　was　Canadian。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃May　I　introduce　you　to　Mr。　Bartlett？　He's　waiting　for　you。〃
　Svensen　led　the　way　into　the　airplane。　The　interior　was　elegant　and　simple。　Right　off　the　small　hallway　was　a　sitting　area　with　half　a　dozen　deep　leather　chairs　and　a　sofa。　A　central　door　closed　off　the　rest　of　the　airplane；　aft。　In　one　of　the　chairs　a　stewardess　was　half　asleep；　her　travel　bags　beside　her。　Left　was　the　cockpit　door。　It　was　open。
　The　captain　and　first　officer/copilot　were　in　their　seats；　still　going　through　their　paper　work。
　〃Excuse　me；　Captain。　This　is　Superintendent　Armstrong；〃　Svensen　said；　and　stepped　aside。
　〃Evening；　Superintendent；〃　the　captain　said。　〃I'm　Captain　Jannelli　and　this's　my　copilot；　Bill　O'Rourke。〃
　〃Evening。　May　I　see　your　passports　please？〃
　Both　pilots　had　massed　international　visas　and　immigration　stamps。　No　Iron　Curtain　countries。　Armstrong　handed　them　to　Sergeant　Lee　for　stamping。　〃Thank　you；　Captain。　Is　this　your　first　visit　to　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃No　sir。　I　was　here　a　couple　of　times　for　R　and　R　during　Korea。　And　I　had　a　six…month　tour　with　Far　Eastern　as　first　officer　on　their　round…the…world　route　in　'56；　during　the　riots。〃
　〃What　riots？〃　O'Rourke　asked。
　〃The　whole　of　Kowloon　blew　apart。　Couple　hundred　thousand　Chinese　went　on　a　sudden　rampage；　rioting；　burning。　The　cops　…　sorry；　the　police　tried　to　settle　it　with　patience；　then　the　mobs　started　killing　so　the　cops；　police；　they　got　out　a　couple　of　Sten　guns　and　killed　half　a　dozen　jokers　and　everything　calmed　down　very　fast。　Only　police　have　guns　here　which　is　a　great　idea。〃　To　Armstrong　he　said；　〃I　think　your　guys　did　a　hell　of　a　job。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Captain　Jannelli。　Where　did　this　flight　emanate？〃
　〃L。　A。　…　Los　Angeles。　Linc's　…　Mr。　Bartlett's　head　office's　there。〃
　〃Your　route　was　Ho