jamesclavell.noblehouse-第94节

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　The　old　man　sighed；　lying　back　in　his　huge　bed；　tired　now。　〃It　was　time　for　her　to　go。　It　is　always　too　easy　for　a　young　man　to　give　too　much　to　a　girl；　too　much　time；　too　much　thought。　It　was　time　for　her　to　go　。。。　after　her　you　could　choose　for　yourself　and　you　needed　to　put　your　mind　on　the　House　and　not　on　her。　。。。　Oh　don't　try　to　hide　your　desire；　I　understand；　oh；　how　I　understand！　Don't　worry；　she　was　well　paid；　my　son；　you　had　no　child　by　her　。。。〃
　〃Where　is　she　now？〃
　〃She　went　to　Taiwan。　I　made　sure　she　had　enough　money　to　begin　her　own　house；　she　said　that's　what　she　wanted　to　do　and　。。。　and　part　of　my　arrangement　was　that　I　bought　her　out　of　her　contract。　That　cost　me；　was　it　5　。。。　or　10；000。　。。。　I　can't　remember。　。。。　Please　excuse　me；　I'm　tired　now。　I　must　sleep　a　little。　Please　e　back　tomorrow；　my　son。　。。。〃
　Dunross　sipped　his　wine；　remembering。　That　was　the　only　time　that　old　Chen…chen　ever　called　me　my　son；　he　thought。　What　a　grand　old　man！　If　only　I　could　be　so　wise；　so　kind　and　so　wise；　and　worthy　of　him。
　Chen…chen　had　died　a　week　later。　His　funeral　was　the　greatest　Hong　Kong　had　ever　seen；　with　a　thousand　professional　wailers　and　drums　following　the　coffin　to　its　burial　place。　The　white…clad　women　had　been　paid　to　follow　the　coffin；　wailing　loudly　to　the　Heavens；　petitioning　the　gods　to　grease　the　way　of　this　great　man's　spirit　to　the　Void　or　rebirth　or　to　whatever　happens　to　the　spirit　of　the　dead。　Chen…chen　was　a　nominal　Christian　so　he　had　had　two　services　for　safety；　one　Christian；　the　other　Buddhist。　。。。
　〃Hello；　tai…pan！〃
　Casey　was　there　with　Linc　Bartlett　beside　her。　Both　were　smiling　though　both　were　looking　a　little　tired。
　He　greeted　them　and　Casey　ordered　a　Scotch　and　soda　and　Linc　a　beer。
　〃How's　your　day　been？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃Up　and　down；〃　he　said　after　a　pause。　〃How　was　yours？〃
　〃Busy；　but　we're　getting　there；〃　she　said。　〃Your　attorney；　Dawson；　canceled　our　date　this　morning　…　that's　on　again　for　tomorrow　at　noon。　The　rest　of　my　day　was　on　the　phone　and　the　telex　to　the　States；　getting　things　organized。　Service　is　good　here；　this　is　a　great　hotel。　We're　all　set　to　plete　our　side　of　the　agreement。〃
　〃Good。　I　think　I'll　attend　the　meeting　with　Dawson；〃　Dunross　said。　〃That'll　expedite　matters。　I'll　get　him　to　e　over　to　our　offices。　I'll　send　a　car　for　you　at　11：10。〃
　〃No　need　for　that；　tai…pan。　I　know　my　way　on　the　ferry；〃　she　said。　〃I　went　back　and　forth　this　afternoon。　Best　five　cents　American　I've　ever　spent。　How'd　you　keep　the　fares　so　low？〃
　〃We　carried　forty…seven　million　passengers　last　year。〃　Dunross　glanced　at　Bartlett。　〃Will　you　be　at　the　meeting　tomorrow？〃
　〃Not　unless　you　want　me　for　something　special；〃　he　said　easily。　〃Casey　handles　the　legals　initially。　She　knows　what　we　want；　and　we've　got　Seymour　Steigler　III　ing　in　on　Pan　Am's　flight　Thursday　…　he's　our　head　counsel　and　tax　attorney。　He'll　keep　everything　smooth　with　your　attorneys　so　we　can　close　in　seven　days；　easy。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　A　smiling　obsequious　waiter　brought　their　drinks　and　topped　up　Dunross's　glass。　When　they　were　alone　again　Casey　said　quietly；　〃Tai…pan；　your　ships。　You　want　them　as　a　separate　agreement？　If　the　attorneys　draw　it　up　it　won't　be　private。　How　do　we　keep　it　private？〃
　〃I'll　draw　up　the　document　and　put　our　chop　on　it。　That'll　make　it　legal　and　binding。　Then　the　agreement　stays　secret　between　the　three　of　us；　eh？〃
　〃What's　a　chop；　Ian？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃It's　the　equivalent　of　a　seal。〃　Dunross　took　out　a　slim；　oblong　bamboo　container；　perhaps　two　inches　long　and　half　an　inch　square；　and　slid　back　the　tight…fitting　top。　He　took　out　the　chop；　which　fitted　the　scarlet　silk…lined　box；　and　showed　it　to　them。　It　was　made　of　ivory。　Some　Chinese　characters　were　carved　in　relief　on　the　bottom。　〃This　is　my　personal　chop　…　it's　hand…carved　so　almost　impossible　to　forge。　You　stick　this　end　in　the　ink　。。。〃　The　ink　was　red　and　almost　solid；　neatly　in　its　partment　in　one　end　of　the　box。　〃。。。　and　imprint　the　paper。　Quite　often　in　Hong　Kong　you　don't　sign　papers；　you　just　chop　them。　Most　aren't　legal　without　a　chop。　The　pany　seal's　the　same　as　this；　only　a　little　bigger。〃
　〃What　do　the　characters　mean？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃They're　a　pun　on　my　name；　and　ancestor。　Literally　they　mean　'illustrious；　razor　sharp；　throughout　the　noble　green　seas。'　The　pun's　on　Green…Eyed　Devil；　as　Dirk　was　called；　the　Noble　House；　and　a　dirk　or　knife。〃　Dunross　smiled　and　put　it　away。　〃It　has　other　meanings　…　the　surface　one's　'tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。'　In　Chinese　。。。〃　He　glanced　around　at　the　sound　of　a　bicycle　bell。　The　young　bellhop　was　walking　through　the　crowds　carrying　a　small　paging　board　aloft　on　a　pole　that　bore　the　scrawled　name　of　the　person　wanted。　The　page　was　not　for　them　so　he　continued；　〃With　Chinese　writing；　there　are　always　various　levels　of　meanings。　That's　what　makes　it　plex；　and　interesting。〃
　Casey　was　fanning　herself　with　a　menu。　It　was　warm　in　the　foyer　though　the　ceiling　fans　were　creating　a　gentle　breeze。　She　took　out　a　tissue　and　pressed　it　beside　her　nose。　〃Is　it　always　this　humid？〃　she　asked。
　Dunross　smiled。　〃It's　relatively　dry　today。　Sometimes　it's　ninety　degrees　and　ninety…five　humidity　for　weeks　on　end。　Autumn　and　spring　are　the　best　times　to　be　here。　July；　August；　September　are　hot　and　wet。　Actually；　though；　they're　forecasting　rain。　We　might　even　get　a　typhoon。　I　heard　on　the　wireless　there's　a　tropical　depression　gathering　southeast　of　us。　Yes。　If　we're　lucky　it'll　rain。　There's　no　water　rationing　in　the　V　and　A　yet；　is　there？〃
　〃No；〃　Bartlett　said；　〃but　after　seeing　the　pails　in　your　house　last　night；　I　don't　think　I'll　ever　take　water　for　granted　again。〃
　〃Nor　me；〃　Casey　said。　〃It　must　be　terribly　hard。〃
　〃Oh；　you　get　used　to　it。　By　the　way　my　suggestion　about　the　document　is　satisfactory？〃　Dunross　asked　Bartlett；　wanting　it　settled　and　irritated　with　himself　that　he　was　trapped　into　having　to　ask。　He　was　grimly　amused　to　notice　that　Bartlett　hesitated　a　fraction　of　a　second　and　glanced　imperceptibly　at　Casey　before　saying；　〃Sure。〃
　〃Ian；〃　Bartlett　continued；　〃I've　got　Forrester　…　the　head　of　our　foam　division　…　ing　in　on　the　same　flight。　I　thought　we　might　as　well　get　the　show　on　the　road。　There's　no　reason　to　wait　until　we　have　papers；　is　there？〃
　〃No。〃　Dunross　thought　a　moment　and　decided　to　test　his　theory。　〃How　expert　is　he？〃
　〃Expert。〃
　Casey　added；　〃Charlie　Forrester　knows　everything　there　is　to　know　about　polyurethane　foam　…　manufacturing；　distribution　and　sales。〃
　〃Good。〃　Dunross　turned　to　Bartlett　and　said　innocently；　〃Would　you　like　to　bring　him　to　Taipei？〃　He　saw　a　flash　behind　the　American's　eyes　and　knew　that　he　had　been　correct。　Squirm；　you　bastard；　he　thought；　you　haven't　told　her　yet！　I　haven't　forgotten　the　rough　time　you　gave　me　last　night；　with　all　your　secret　information。　Squirm　out　of　this　one　with　face！　〃While　we're　golfing　or　whatever；　I'll　put　Forrester　with　my　experts　…　he　can　check　out　possible　sites　and　set　that　in　motion。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Bartlett　said；　not　squirming　at　all；　and　Dunross's　opinion　of　him　went　up。
　〃Taipei？　Taipei　in　Taiwan？〃　Casey　asked　excitedly。　〃We're　going　to　Taipei？　When？〃
　〃Sunday　afternoon；〃　Bartlett　said；　his　voice　calm。　〃We're　going　for　a　couple　of　days；　Ian　an…　〃
　〃Perfect；　Linc；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃While　you're　golfing；　I　can　check　things　out　with　Charlie。　Let　me　play　next　time　around。　What's　your　handicap；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Ten；〃　Dunross　answered；　〃and　since　Linc　Bartlett　knows　I'm　sure　you　do　too。〃
　She　laughed。　〃I'd　forgotten　that　vital　statistic。　Mine's　fourteen　on　a　very　good　day。〃
　〃Give　or　take　a　stroke　or　two？〃
　〃Sure。　Women　cheat　in　golf　as　much　as　men。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　But　unlike　men　they　cheat　to　lower　their　handicap。　A　handicap's　a　status　symbol；　right？　The　lower　the　score；　the　more　the　status！　Women　don't　usually　bet　more　than　a　few　dollars　so　a　low　handicap's　not　that　vital　except　for　face。　But　men？　I've　seen　them　hit　one　deliberately　into　the　rough　to　pick　up　two　extra　strokes　if　they　were　on　a　dynamite　round　that　would　drop　their　handicap　a　notch。　Of　course　that　was　only　if　they　weren't　playing　that　particular　round　for　money。　What's　the　stake　between　your　pairs？〃
　〃500　HK。〃
　She　whistled。　〃A　hole？〃
　〃Hell；　no；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃The　game。〃
　〃Even　so；　I　think　I'd　better　kibitz　this　one。'
　Dunross　said；　〃What's　that　mean？〃
　〃To　watch。　If　I'm　not　careful；　Linc　will　put　my　end　of　Par…Con　on　the　line。〃　Her　smile　warmed　both　of　them；　and　then；　because　Dunross　had　deliberately　dropped　Bartlett　into　the　trap；　he　decided　to　extract　him。
　〃That's　a　fine　idea；　Casey；〃　he　said；　watching　her　carefully。　〃But　on　second　thought；　perhaps　it　would　be　better　for　you　and　Forrester　to　check　out　Hong　Kong　before　Taipei　…　this　will　be　our　biggest　market。　And　if　your　lawyer　arrives　Thursday　you　might　wish　to　spend　time　with　him　here。〃　He　looked　at　Bartlett　directly；　the　picture　of　innocence。　〃If　you　want　to　cancel　our　trip；　that's　all　right　too；　you've　plenty　of　time　to　go　to　Taipei。　But　I　must　go。〃
　〃No；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃Casey；　you　cover　this　end。　Seymour　will　need　all　the　help　you　can　give　him。　I'll　make　a　preliminary　tour　this　time　and　we　can　do　it　together　later。〃
　She　sipped