jamesclavell.noblehouse-第159部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　
　48
　
　7：05　P。M。：
　Linc　Bartlett　chose　his　tie　carefully。　He　was　wearing　a　pale　blue　shirt　and　light　tan　suit　and　the　tie　was　tan　with　a　red　stripe。　A　beer　was　open　on　the　chest　of　drawers；　the　can　pearled　from　the　cold。　All　day　he　had　debated　with　himself　whether　he　should　call　for　Orlanda　or　not　call　for　her；　whether　he　should　tell　Casey　or　not　tell　Casey。
　The　day　had　been　fine　for　him。　First；　breakfast　with　Orlanda　and　then　out　to　Kai　Tak　to　check　his　airplane　and　make　sure　he　could　use　it；　for　the　flight　with　Dunross　to　Taipei。　Lunch　with　Casey；　then　the　excitement　of　the　exchange。　After　the　exchange　had　closed　he　and　Casey　had　caught　the　ferry　to　Kowloon。　Canvas　storm　shades　lashed　against　the　rain　shut　out　the　view　and　made　the　deck　claustrophobic　and　the　crossing　not　pleasant。　But　it　was　pleasant　with　Casey；　his　awareness　of　her　heightened　by　the　knowledge　of　Orlanda；　and　the　dilemma。
　〃Ian's　had　it；　hasn't　he；　Linc？〃
　〃I'd　think　so；　sure。　But　he's　smart；　the　battle's　not　over　yet；　only　the　first　attack。〃
　〃How　can　he　get　back？　His　stock's　at　bargain　prices。〃
　〃pared　to　last　week；　sure；　but　we　don't　know　his　earning　ratio。　This　exchange's　like　a　yo…yo　…　you　said　so　yourself　…　and　dangerous。　Ian　was　right　in　that。〃
　〃I'll　bet　he　knows　about　the　2　million　you　put　up　with　Gornt。〃
　〃Maybe。　It's　nothing　he　wouldn't　do　if　he　had　the　chance。　You　meeting　Seymour　and　Charlie　Forrester？〃
　〃Yes。　The　Pan　Am　flight's　on　time　and　I've　a　limo　ing。　I'll　leave　soon　as　we　get　back。　You　think　they'll　want　dinner？〃
　〃No。　They'll　be　jet…lagged　to　hell。〃　He　had　grinned。　〃I　hope。〃　Both　Seymour　Steigler　III；　their　attorney；　and　Charlie　Forrester；　the　head　of　their　foam　division；　were　socially　very　hard　going。　〃What　time's　their　flight　in？〃
　〃4：50。　We'll　be　back　around　six。〃
　At　six　they　had　had　a　meeting　with　Seymour　Steigler　…　Forrester　was　unwell　and　had　gone　straight　to　bed。
　Their　attorney　was　a　New　Yorker；　a　handsome　man　with　wavy　black…gray　hair　and　dark　eyes　and　dark　rings　under　his　eyes。　〃Casey　filled　me　in　on　the　details；　Linc；〃　he　said。　〃Looks　like　we're　in　great　shape。〃
　By　prior　arrangement；　Bartlett　and　Casey　had　laid　out　the　whole　deal　to　their　attorney；　excluding　the　secret　arrangement　with　Dunross　about　his　ships。
　〃There're　a　couple　of　clauses　I'd　want　in；　to　protect　us；　Linc；〃　Steigler　said。
　〃All　right。　But　I　don't　want　the　deal　renegotiated。　We　want　a　wrap　by　Tuesday；　just　as　we've　laid　it　out。〃
　〃What　about　Rothwell…Gornt？　Best　I　should　feel　them　out；　huh？　We　can　kite　Struan's。〃
　〃No；〃　Casey　had　said。　〃You　leave　Gornt　and　Dunross　alone；　Seymour。〃　They　had　not　told　Steigler　about　Bartlett's　private　deal　with　Gornt　either。　〃Hong　Kong's　more　plicated　than　we　thought。　Best　leave　it　as　it　is。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃Leave　Gornt　and　Dunross　to　Casey　and　me。　You　just　deal　with　their　attorneys。〃
　〃What're　they　like？〃
　〃English。　Very　proper；〃　Casey　said。　〃I　met　with　John　Dawson　at　noon　…　he's　their　senior　partner。　Dunross　was　supposed　to　be　there　but　he　sent　Jacques　deVille　instead。　He's　one　of　Struan's　directors；　deals　with　all　their　corporate　affairs；　and　some　financing。　Jacques　is　very　good　but　Dunross　runs　everything　and　decides　everything。　That's　the　bottom　line。〃
　〃How　about　getting　this；　er；　Dawson　on　the　phone　right　now？　I'll　meet　with　him　over　breakfast；　say　here　at　eight。〃
　Bartlett　and　Casey　had　laughed。　〃No　way；　Seymour！〃　she　had　said。　〃It'll　be　a　leisurely　in　by　ten　and　a　two…hour　lunch。　They　eat　and　drink　like　there's　no　tomorrow；　and　everything's　the　'old　boy'　bit。〃
　〃Then　I'll　meet　him　after　lunch　when　he's　mellow　and　maybe　we　can　teach　him　a　trick　or　two；〃　Seymour　Steigler　had　said；　his　eyes　hardening。　He　stifled　a　yawn。　〃I've　got　to　call　New　York　before　I　hit　the　sack。　Hey；　I've　got　all　the　papers　on　the　GXR　merger　an…　〃
　〃I'll　take　those；　Seymour；〃　Casey　said。
　〃And　I　bought　the　200；000　block　of　Rothwell…Gornt　at　23。50　…　what're　they　today？〃
　〃21。〃
　〃Jesus；　Linc；　you're　down　300　grand；〃　Casey　said；　perturbed。　〃Why　not　sell　and　buy　back？　If　and　when。〃
　〃No。　We'll　hold　the　stock。〃　Bartlett　was　not　worried　about　the　Rothwell　stock　loss　for　he　was　well　ahead　on　his　share　of　Gornt's　selling…short　ploy。　〃Why　don't　you　quit　for　the　night；　Seymour？　If　you're　up　we'll　have　breakfast　…　the　three　of　us　…　say　about　eight？〃
　〃Good　idea。　Casey；　you'll　fix　me　with　Dawson？〃
　〃First　thing。　They'll　see　you　in　the　morning　sometime。　The　tai…pan　。。。　Ian　Dunross's　told　them　our　deal's　top　priority。〃
　〃It　should　be；〃　Steigler　said。　〃Our　down　payment　gets　Dunross　off　the　hook。〃
　〃If　he　survives；〃　Casey　said。　〃Here　today；　gone　tomorrow　so　let's　enjoy！〃　It　was　one　of　Steigler's　standard　sayings　and　the　phrase　was　still　ringing　in　Bartlett's　head。　Here　today；　gone　tomorrow　。。。　like　the　fire　last　night。　That　could've　been　bad。　I　could've　bashed　my　head　in　the　way　that　poor　bastard　Pennyworth　did。　You　never　know　when　it's　your　turn；　your　accident；　your　bullet　or　your　act　of　God。　Prom　outside　or　inside。　Like　Dad！　Jesus　…　bronzed　and　healthy；　hardly　sick　a　day　in　his　life；　then　the　doc　says　he's　got　the　big　C　and　in　three　months　he's　wasted　away　and　stinking　and　dying　in　great　pain。
　Bartlett　felt　a　sudden　sweat　on　his　forehead。　It　had　been　a　bad　time　then；　during　his　divorce；　burying　his　father；　his　mother　distraught　and　everything　falling　apart。　Then　finalizing　the　divorce。　The　settlement　had　been　vicious　but　he　had　just　managed　to　retain　control　of　the　panies；　to　pay　her　off　without　having　to　sell　out。　He　was　still　paying　even　though　she'd　remarried　…　along　with　an　escalating　maintenance　for　his　children　as　well　as　future　settlements　…　every　cent　still　hurting；　not　the　money　itself　but　the　unfairness　of　California　law；　the　attorney　in　for　a　third　until　death　us　do　part；　screwed　by　my　attorney　and　hers。　One　day　I'll　have　vengeance　on　them；　Bartlett　grimly　promised　himself　again。　On　them　and　all　the　other　goddamn　parasites。
　With　an　effort　he　thrust　them　aside。　For　today。
　Here　today；　gone　tomorrow；　so　let's　enjoy；　he　repeated　as　he　sipped　his　beer；　tied　his　tie　and　looked　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　Without　vanity。　He　liked　living　within　himself　and　he　had　made　his　peace　with　himself；　knowing　who　he　was　and　what　he　was　about。　The　war　had　helped　him　do　that。　And　surviving　the　divorce；　surviving　her；　finding　out　about　her　and　living　with　it　…　Casey　the　only　decent　thing　that　whole　year。
　Casey。
　What　about　Casey？
　Our　rules　are　quite　clear；　always　have　been。　She　set　them：　If　I　have　a　date　or　she　has　a　date；　we　have　dates　and　no　questions　and　no　recriminations。
　Then　why　is　it　I'm　all　uptight　now　that　I've　decided　to　see　Orlanda　without　telling　Casey？
　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　Almost　time　to　go。
　There　was　a　half…hearted　knock　on　the　door　and　instantly　it　opened　and　Nighttime　Song　beamed　at　him。　〃Missee；〃　the　old　man　announced　and　stepped　aside。　Casey　was　approaching　down　the　corridor；　a　sheaf　of　papers　and　a　notebook　in　her　hand。
　〃Oh　hi；　Casey；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃I　was　just　going　to　phone　you。〃
　〃Hi；　Linc；〃　she　called　out　and　then　said；　〃Doh　jeh；〃　in　Cantonese　to　the　old　man　as　she　passed。　Her　walk　was　happy　as　she　came　into　the　two…bedroom　suite。　〃Got　some　stuff　for　you。〃　She　handed　him　a　sheaf　of　telexes　and　letters　and　went　to　the　cocktail　bar　to　pour　herself　a　dry　martini。　She　wore　casual；　slim…fitting　gray　pants　and　flat　gray　shoes　with　a　gray　silk　open…necked　shirt。　Her　hair　was　tied　back　and　a　pencil　left　there　was　her　only　decoration。　Tonight　she　was　wearing　glasses；　not　her　usual　contacts。　〃The　first　couple　deal　with　the　GXR　merger。　It's　all　signed；　sealed　and　delivered；　and　we　take　possession　September　2。　There's　a　board　meeting　confirmed　at　3：00　p。m。　in　L。A。　…　that　gives　us　plenty　of　time　to　get　back。　I've　ask…　〃
　〃Turn　down　bed；　Master？〃　Nighttime　Song　interrupted　importantly　from　the　door。
　Bartlett　started　to　say　no；　but　Casey　was　already　shaking　her　head。　〃Um　ho；〃　she　said　pleasantly　in　Cantonese；　pronouncing　the　words　well　and　with　care。　〃Cha　z'er；　doh　jeh。〃　No　thank　you；　please　do　it　later。
　Nighttime　Song　stared　at　her　blankly。　〃Wat？〃
　Casey　repeated　it。　The　old　man　snorted；　irritated　that　Golden　Pubics　had　the　bad　manners　to　address　him　in　his　own　language。　〃Turn　down　bed；　heya？　Now　heya？〃　he　asked　in　bad　English。
　Casey　repeated　the　Cantonese；　again　with　no　reaction；　began　again　then　stopped　and　said　wearily　in　English；　〃Oh　never　mind！　Not　now。　You　can　do　it　later。〃
　Nighttime　Song　beamed；　having　made　her　lose　face。　〃Yes；　Missee。〃　He　closed　the　door　with　just　enough　of　a　slam　to　make　his　point。
　〃Asshole；〃　she　muttered。　〃He　had　to　understand　me；　I　know　I　said　it　right；　Linc。　Why　is　it　they　insist　on　not　understanding？　I　tried　it　on　my　maid　and　all　she　said　was　'wat'　too。〃　She　laughed　in　spite　of　herself　as　she　aped　the　coarse　guttural；　〃Wat　you　say；　heya？〃
　Bartlett　laughed。　〃They're　just　ornery。　But　where'd　you　learn　Chinese？〃
　〃It's　Cantonese。　I　got　a　teacher　…　fitted　in　an　hour　this　morning　…　thought　I　should　at　least　be　able　to　say；　Hi；　Good　morning。　Give　me　the　bill　please　。。。　ordinary　things。　Goddamn　but　it's　plicated。　All　the　tones。　In　Cantonese　there　are　seven　tones　…　seven　ways　of　saying　the　same　word。　You　ask　for　the　check；　it's　mai　dan；　but　if　you　say　it　just　a　little　wrong；　it　means　fried　eggs；　they're　mai　dan　too；　and　one'll　get　you　fifty　the　waiter'll　bring　you　the　fried　eggs　just　to　put　you　down。〃　She　sipped　her　martini　and　added　an　extra　olive。　〃I　needed　that。　You　want　another　beer？〃
　Bartlett　shook　his　head。　〃This's　fine。〃　He　had　read　all　the　telexes。
　Casey　sat　on　the　sofa　and　opened　her　notepad。　〃Vincenzo　Banastasio's　secretary　phoned　and　asked　me　to　confirm　his　suite　for　Saturday　an…　〃
　〃I　didn't　know　he　was　due　in　Hong　Kong。　You？〃
　〃I　think　I　remember　him　saying　something　about　going　to　Asia　the　last　time　we　saw　him　。。。　at　the　track　last　month　…　at　Del　Mar　…　the　time　John　Chen　was　there。　Terrible　about　John；　isn't　it？〃
　〃I　hope　they　get　those　Werewolves。　Bastards　to　murder　him　and　put　that　sign　on　him　like　that。〃
　〃I　wrote　a　condolence　note　for　us　to　his　father　and　to　his　wife　Dianne　…　you　remember　we　met　her　at　Ian's　and　at　Aberdeen　…　Jesus；　that　seems　like　a　million　years　ago。〃
　〃Ye