jamesclavell.noblehouse-第194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！


　storm；　Struan's　stock　crash；　the　bank　runs　and　the　market　falling　apart　…　one　thing　about　Hong　Kong：　it's　never　dull。　You　think　he'll　make　it？〃
　〃The　tai…pan？　I've　just　left　him。　I　hope　so。　He's　confident；　yes　very　confident。　I　like　him。〃
　〃Yes。　I　like　Bartlett　too。　You　been　with　him　long？〃
　〃Seven　years；　almost。〃
　They　were　out　of　the　terminal　now；　the　road　just　as　crowded。　On　the　right　was　the　harbor　and　they　chatted；　heading　east　for　the　pedestrian　underpass　that　would　take　them　to　the　V　and　A。　Rosemont　pointed　at　a　small　shop；　the　Rice　Bowl。　〃Athena　works　there　from　time　to　time。　It's　a　charity　shop；　run　by　Americans。　All　the　profit　goes　to　refugees。　Lot　of　the　wives　put　in　a　day　or　two　there；　keeps　them　busy。　I　guess　you're　busy　all　the　time。〃
　〃Only　seven　days　a　week。〃
　〃I　heard　Linc　say　that　you　were　taking　off　over　the　weekend　for　Taipei。　Will　that　be　your　first　visit？〃
　〃Yes　…　but　I'm　not　going；　just　Linc　and　the　tai…pan。〃　Casey　tried　to　stop　the　immediate　thought　welling　but　she　could　not：　Is　he　going　to　take　Orlanda？　He's　right；　it's　none　of　my　affair。　But　Par…Con　is。　And　since　Linc's　hooked；　lined　and　sinkered　by　the　enemy；　the　less　he　knows　about　the　First　Central　ploy　the　better。
　Pleased　that　she　could　e　to　the　decision　dispassionately；　she　continued　to　talk　with　Rosemont；　answering　his　questions；　not　really　concentrating；　pleased　to　converse　with　a　friendly　soul　who　was　as　informative　as　he　was　interested。　〃。。。　and　Taipei's　different；　more　easygoing；　less　hard…nosed；　but　a　er；〃　he　was　saying。　〃We're　popular　in　Taiwan　which's　a　change。　So　you're　really　going　to　spread？　On　a　big　deal　like　this　I　guess　you've　a　dozen　execs　on　hand？〃
　〃No。　There's　just　the　two　of　us　at　the　moment；　and　Forrester　…　he's　head　of　our　foam　division　…　and　our　attorney。〃　Mentioning　him；　Casey　hardened。　Damn　him　for　trying　to　stymie　us。　〃Linc's　got　Par…Con　organized　very　well。　I　handle　the　day…to…day　and　he　fixes　policy。〃
　〃You're　a　public　pany？〃
　〃Oh　sure；　but　that's　okay　too。　Linc　has　control　and　our　directors　and　stockholders　don't　give　us　a　hassle。　Dividends're　on　the　rise；　and　if　the　Struan　deal　goes　through　they'll　skyrocket。〃
　〃We　could　use　more　U。S。　firms　in　Asia。　Trade　is　what　made　the　Empire　great　for　the　British。　I　wish　you　luck；　Casey。　Hey；　that　reminds　me；〃　he　added　casually；　〃you　remember　Ed；　Ed　Langan；　my　buddy；　who　was　with　me　at　the　tai…pan's　party？　He　knows　one　of　your　stockholders。　A　guy　called　Bestacio；　some　name　like　that。〃
　Casey　was　startled。　〃Banastasio？　Vincenzo　Banastasio？〃
　〃Yes；　I　think　that　was　it；〃　he　told　her；　lying　easily；　watching　her；　and　at　her　look　added；　〃Did　I　say　something？〃
　〃No；　it's　just　a　coincidence。　Banastasio　arrives　tomorrow。　Tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃What？〃
　Casey　saw　him　staring　at　her　and　she　laughed。　〃You　can　tell　your　friend　he's　staying　at　the　Hilton。〃
　Rosemont's　mind　buzzed。　〃Tomorrow？　I'll　be　goddamned。〃
　Casey　said　carefully；　〃He's　a　good　friend　of　Langan's？〃
　〃No；　but　he　knows　him。　He　says　Banastasio's　quite　a　guy。　A　gambler；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　don't　like　him？〃
　〃I've　only　met　him　a　couple　of　times。　At　the　races。　He's　big　at　Del　Mar。　I'm　not　much　on　gamblers　or　gambling。〃
　They　were　weaving　through　the　crowds。　People　jostled　from　behind　and　oning　hordes　jostled　from　the　front。　The　underpass　stank　of　mildew　and　bodies。　She　was　very　glad　to　get　back　into　the　air　once　more　and　looking　forward　to　a　shower　and　an　aspirin　and　a　rest　before　8：00　p。m。　Beyond　the　buildings　ahead　was　the　whole　of　the　eastern　harbor。　A　departing　jet　barreled　into　the　overcast。　Rosemont　caught　sight　of　the　tall　deck　derricks　of　the　Sovetsky　Ivanov　tied　up　alongside。　Involuntarily　he　glanced　Hong　Kong　side　and　saw　how　easy　it　would　be　for　high…powered　binoculars　to　rake　the　U。S。　carrier　and　almost　count　her　rivets。
　〃Makes　you　proud　to　be　an　American；　doesn't　it？〃　Casey　said　happily；　following　his　look。　〃If　you're　consulate；　you'll　get　to　go　aboard　her？〃
　〃Sure。　Guided　tour！〃
　〃Lucky　you。〃
　〃I　was　there　yesterday。　The　captain　had　a　shindig　for　locals。　I　tagged　along。〃　Again　Rosemont　told　the　lie　easily。　He　had　gone　aboard　late　last　night　and　again　this　morning。　His　initial　interview　with　the　admiral；　captain　and　security　chief　had　been　stormy。　It　was　not　until　he　produced　photocopies　of　the　secret　manifest　of　the　ship's　armaments　and　the　guidance　systems　manual　that　they　had　truly　believed　there　had　been　a　vast　security　leak。　Now　the　traitor　was　under　tight　surveillance　in　the　ship's　brig；　guarded　by　his　own　CIA　people；　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Soon　the　man　would　break。　Yes；　Rosemont　thought；　and　after　that；　jail　for　twenty　years。　If　it　was　up　to　me　I'd　drop　the　bastard　in　the　goddamn　harbor。　Shit；　I've　got　nothing　against　the　Metkins　and　the　KGB。　Those　bastards're　just　doing　their　job　for　their　side　…　however　wrong　they　are。　But　our　own　Joes？
　〃Okay；　fella；　you're　caught！　First　tell　us　why　you　did　it。〃
　〃Money。〃
　Jesus　H。　Christ！　The　sailor's　dossier　had　shown　that　he　had　e　from　a　small　town　in　the　Middle　West；　his　work　exemplary　with　nothing　in　his　past　or　present　to　indicate　a　potential　security　risk。　He　was　a　quiet　man；　good　at　puter　programming；　liked　by　his　patriots　and　trusted　by　his　superiors。　No　left…wing　indications；　no　homosexuality；　no　problem　of　blackmail；　no　nothing。　〃Then　why？〃　he　had　asked　him。
　〃This　guy　came　up　to　me　in　San　Diego　and　said　he'd　like　to　know　all　about　the　Corregidor　and　he'd　pay。〃
　〃But　don't　you　understand　about　treason？　About　betraying　your　country？〃
　〃Hell；　all　he　wanted　was　a　few　facts　and　figures。　So　what？　What's　the　difference？　We　can　blast　the　hell　outta　the　goddamn　mies　anytime　we　like。　The　Corregidor's　the　greatest　carrier　afloat！　It　was　a　caper　and　I　wanted　to　see　if　I　could　do　it　and　they　paid　on　the　dot。　。。。〃
　Jesus；　how　we　going　to　keep　security　when　there　are　guys　like　him　with　their　brains　in　their　asses；　Rosemont　asked　himself　wearily。
　He　walked　along；　listening　to　himself　chatting　with　Casey；　probing　her；　trying　to　decide　what　sort　of　a　risk　she　was　and　Bartlett　was；　with　their　tie…in　to　Banastasio。　Soon　they　joined　other　people　going　up　the　wide　steps　to　the　hotel。　A　smiling　pageboy　opened　the　swing　doors。　The　foyer　was　bustling。　〃Casey；　I'm　early　for　my　appointment。　Can　I　buy　you　a　drink？〃
　Casey　hesitated；　then　smiled；　liking　him；　enjoying　chatting。　〃Sure；　thanks。　First　let　me　collect　my　messages；　okay？〃　She　went　to　the　desk。　There　were　a　sheaf　of　telexes；　and　messages　from　Jannelli；　Steigler　and　Forrester　to　please　call。　And　a　handwritten　note　from　Bartlett。　The　note　contained　routine　instructions　about　Par…Con；　all　of　which　she　agreed　to；　and　asked　her　to　make　sure　that　the　airplane　was　ready　to　take　off　on　Sunday。　The　note　ended：　〃Casey；　we're　going　with　Rothwell…Gornt。　Let's　meet　for　breakfast　in　the　suite；　9：00　a。m。　See　you　then。〃
　She　went　back　to　Rosemont。　〃Can　I　take　a　raincheck？〃
　〃Bad　news？〃
　〃Oh　no；　just　a　load　of　stuff　to　deal　with。〃
　〃Sure；　but　maybe　you'd　like　dinner　next　week；　you　and　Linc？　I'd　like　Athena　to　meet　you。　She'll　give　you　a　call　to　fix　the　day；　okay？〃
　〃Thanks；　I'd　like　that。〃　Casey　left　him；　her　whole　being　more　than　ever　mitted　to　the　course　she　had　decided　upon。
　Rosemont　watched　her　go；　then　ordered　a　Cutty　Sark　and　soda　and　began　to　wait；　lost　in　thought。　How　much　money's　Banastasio　got　in　Par…Con　and　what's　he　get　in　return？　Jesus　H。　Christ；　Par…Con's　hot　in　defense　and　space　and　a　lot　of　secret　crap。　What's　that　bum　doing　here？　Thank　God　I　took　on　Casey　today　and　didn't　leave　her　to　one　of　the　guys。　He　might've　missed　Banastasio。　。。。
　Robert　Armstrong　arrived。
　〃Jesus；　Robert；　you　look　terrible；〃　the　American　said。　〃You　better　get　yourself　a　vacation　or　a　good　night's　rest　or　lay　off　the　broads。〃
　〃Get　stuffed！　You　ready？　We'd　better　leave。〃
　〃You've　time　for　a　quick　one。　The　bank　date's　been　changed　to　seven；　there's　plenty　of　time。〃
　〃Yes；　but　I　don't　want　to　be　late　as　we're　to　meet　the　governor　at　his　office。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　Obediently　Rosemont　finished　his　drink；　signed　the　bill　and　they　walked　back　toward　the　ferry　terminal。
　〃How's　Dry　Run？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　〃They're　still　there　with　flags　flying。　Looks　like　the　Azerbaijan　revolt　fizzled。〃　Rosemont　noticed　the　heaviness　on　the　Englishman。　〃What's　eating　you；　Robert？〃
　〃Sometimes　I　don't　like　being　a　copper；　that's　all。〃　Armstrong　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。
　〃I　thought　you　gave　up　smoking。〃
　〃I　did。　Listen；　Stanley　old　friend；　I'd　better　warn　you：　you're　in　the　proverbial　creek　without　a　paddle。　Crosse's　so　mad　he's　fit　to　be　mitted。〃
　〃So　what　else's　new？　A　lot　of　guys　think　he's　a　basket　case　anyway。　Jesus；　it　was　Ed　Langan　who　tipped　you　off　about　the　AMG　files　in　the　first　place。　We're　allies　for　chrissake！〃
　〃True；〃　Armstrong　replied　sourly；　〃but　that's　no　license　to　mount　a　totally　unauthorized　raid　on　a　totally　clean　flat　belonging　to　the　totally　clean　telephone　pany！〃
　〃Who　me？〃　Rosemont　looked　pained。　〃What　flat？〃
　〃Sinclair　Towers；　flat　32。　You　and　your　gorillas　knocked　down　the　door　in　the　dead　of　the　night。　For　what；　may　I　ask？〃
　〃How　should　I　know？〃　Rosemont　knew　he　had　to　bluff　this　one　through；　but　he　was　still　furious　that　whoever　was　in　the　apartment　had　escaped　without　identification。　His　rage　over　the　carrier　leak；　Metkin's　not　being　available　for　questioning；　the　whole　Sevrin　mess　and　Crosse's　perfidy；　had　prompted　him　to　order　the　raid。　One　of　his　Chinese　informants　had　picked　up　a　rumor　that　though　the　apartment　was　empty　most　of　the　time；　sometimes　it　was　used　by　munist　enemy　agents　…　of　gender　unknown　…　and　there　was　a　meeting　tonight。　Connochie；　one　of　his　best　agents；　had　led　the　raid　and　thought　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　two　men　going　out　the　back　but　he　wasn't　sure；　and　though　he　searched　diligently；　they　had　vanished　and　he　found　nothing　in　the　apartment　to　prove　or　disprove　the　rumor；　just　two　half…empty　glasses。　The　glasses　were　brought　back　and　tested　for　fingerprints。　One　was　clean；　the　other　well　marked。　〃I've　never　been　to　32　Sinclair　Towers；　for　chrissake！〃
　〃Maybe；　but　your　Keystone　Kops　were　there。　Several　tenants　reported　four　tall；　meaty　Caucasians　charging　up　and　down　the　stairs。〃　Armstrong　added　even　more　sourly；　〃All　fat…