jamesclavell.noblehouse-第195部分

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　〃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…arsed　and　fat…headed。　Have　to　be　yours。〃
　〃Not　mine。　No　sir。〃
　〃Oh　yes　they　were　and　that　mistake's　going　to　backfire。　Crosse's　already　sent　two　pretty　foul　cables　to　London。　The　pity　of　it　is　you　failed　to　catch　anything　and　we　catch　hell　because　of　your　continual　screw…ups！〃
　Rosemont　sighed。　〃Get　off　my　back。　I've　got　something　for　you。〃　He　told　Armstrong　of　his　conversation　with　Casey　about　Banastasio。　〃Of　course　we　knew　his　connection　with　Par…Con　but　I　didn't　know　he　was　arriving　tomorrow。　What　do　you　think？〃
　Armstrong　had　seen　the　arrival　recorded　on　Photographer　Ng's　calendar。　〃Interesting；〃　he　said　nonmittally。　〃I'll　tell　the　Old　Man。　But　you'd　better　have　a　good　explanation　for　him　about　Sinclair　Towers　and　don't　mention　that　I　told　you。〃　His　fatigue　was　almost　overwhelming　him。　This　morning　at　6：30　a。m。　he　had　begun　the　first　real　probe　of　Brian　Kwok。
　It　was　an　orchestrated　set　piece：　while　still　drugged；　Brian　Kwok　had　been　taken　out　of　his　clean　white　cell　and　put　naked　into　a　filthy　dungeon　with　dank　walls　and　a　stinking　thin　mattress　on　the　mildewed　floor。　Then；　ten　minutes　after　the　wake…up　drug　had　jerked　him　into　parched；　aching　consciousness；　the　light　had　blazed　on　and　Armstrong　had　ripped　the　door　open　and　cursed　the　SI　jailer。　〃For　chrissake；　what're　you　doing　to　Superintendent　Kwok？　Have　you　gone　mad？　How　dare　you　treat　him　like　this！〃
　〃Superintendent　Crosse's　orders；　sir。　This　client's　b…　〃
　〃There　must　be　a　mistake！　I　don't　give　a　damn　about　Crosse！〃　He　had　thrown　the　man　out　and　put　his　full；　kind　attention　onto　his　friend。　〃Here；　old　chum；　do　you　want　a　cigarette？〃
　〃Oh　Christ。　Thank　。。。　thanks。〃　Brian　Kwok's　fingers　had　trembled　as　he　held　the　cigarette　and　drew　the　smoke　deep。　〃Robert；　what　。。。　what　the　hell's　going　on？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I've　just　heard；　that's　why　I'm　here。　I　was　told　you'd　been　on　leave　for　a　few　days。　Crosse's　gone　mad。　He　claims　you're　a　munist　spy。〃
　〃Me？　For　God's　sake　。。。　what's　the　date　today？〃
　〃The　thirtieth；　Friday；〃　he　had　said　at　once；　expecting　the　question；　adding　seven　days。
　〃Who　won　the　fifth　race？〃
　〃Butterscotch　Lass；〃　he　had　said；　caught　off　guard；　astonished　that　Brian　Kwok　was　still　functioning　so　well　and　not　at　all　certain　if　his　own　slight　hesitation　had　been　read　for　the　lie　it　was。　〃Why？〃
　〃Just　wondered　。。。　just　。。。　Listen；　Robert；　this's　a　mistake。　You've　got　to　help　me。　Don't　you　s…　〃
　On　cue　Roger　Crosse　had　e　in　like　the　wrath　of　God。　〃Listen；　spy；　I　want　names　and　addresses　of　all　your　contacts　right　now。　Who's　your　controller？〃
　Weakly　Brian　Kwok　had　stumbled　to　his　feet。　〃Sir；　it's　all　a　mistake。　There's　no　controller　and　I'm　no　spy　an…　〃
　Crosse　had　suddenly　shoved　blowups　of　the　photos　in　his　face。　〃Then　explain　how　you　were　photographed　in　Ning…tok　in　front　of　your　family　pharmacy　with　your　mother　Fang…ling　Wu。　Explain　how　your　real　name's　Chu…toy　Wu；　second　son　of　these　parents；　Ting…top　Wu　and　Fang…ling　Wu　。。。〃
　They　had　both　seen　the　instant　of　shock　on　Brian　Kwok's　face。
　〃Lies；〃　he　had　mumbled；　〃lies；　I'm　Brian　Kar…shun　Kwok　and　I'm　…　〃
　〃You're　a　liar！〃　Crosse　had　shouted。　〃We　have　witnesses！　We　have　evidence！　You　are　identified　by　your　gan　sun；　Ah　Tam！〃
　Another　gasp；　covered　almost　brilliantly；　then　〃I　。。。　I　have　no　gan　sun　called　Ah　Tam。　I　h…　〃
　〃You'll　spend　the　rest　of　your　life　in　this　cell　unless　you　tell　us　everything。　I'll　see　you　in　a　week。　You'd　better　answer　everything　truthfully　or　I'll　put　you　in　chains！　Robert！〃　Crosse　had　whirled　on　him。　〃You're　forbidden　to　e　here　without　permission！〃　Then　he　had　stalked　out　of　the　cell。
　In　the　silence　Armstrong　remembered　how　nauseated　he　had　been；　having　seen　the　truth　written　on　his　friend's　face。　He　was　too　well　trained　an　observer　to　be　mistaken。　〃Christ；　Brian；〃　he　had　said；　continuing　the　game；　hating　his　hypocrisy　even　so。　〃What　possessed　you　to　do　it？〃
　〃Do　what？〃　Brian　Kwok　had　said　defiantly。　〃You　can't　cheat　me　…　or　trick　me；　Robert　。。。　It　can't　be　seven　days。　I'm　innocent。〃
　〃And　the　photos？〃
　〃Fake　。。。　they're　fake；　dreamed　up　by　Crosse。〃　Brian　Kwok　had　held　onto　his　arm；　a　desperate　light　behind　his　eyes；　and　whispered　hoarsely；　〃I　told　you　Crosse's　the　real　mole。　He's　the　mole；　Robert　。。。　he's　a　homo　…　he's　trying　to　frame　me　an…　〃
　On　cue；　the　brittle；　officious　SI　jailer　jerked　the　cell　door　open。　〃Sorry；　sir；　but　you've　got　to　leave。〃
　〃All　right；　but　first　give　him　some　water。〃
　〃No　water's　allowed！〃
　〃Goddamn　you；　get　him　some　water！〃
　Reluctantly　the　jailer　obeyed。　While　they　were　momentarily　alone；　Armstrong　had　slipped　the　cigarettes　under　the　mattress。　〃Brian；　I'll　do　what　I　can　。。。〃　Then　the　jailer　was　back　in　the　room　with　a　battered　cup。
　〃That's　all　you　can　have！〃　he　said　angrily。　〃I　want　the　cup　back！〃
　Thankfully　Brian　Kwok　had　gulped　it　and　with　it　the　drug。　Armstrong　left。　The　door　slammed　and　the　bolts　shoved　home。　Abruptly　the　lights　went　out；　leaving　Brian　Kwok　in　darkness。　Ten　minutes　later　Armstrong　had　gone　back　in　with　Dr。　Dorn。　And　Crosse。　Brian　Kwok　was　unconscious；　deeply　drugged　again　and　dreaming　fitfully。　〃Robert；　you　did　very　well；〃　Crosse　had　said　softly。　〃Did　you　see　the　client's　shock？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Good。　So　did　I。　No　mistake　about　that；　or　his　guilt。　Doctor；　step　up　the　sleep…wake…up　every　hour　on　the　hour　for　the　next　twenty…four　。。。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Armstrong　burst　out；　〃don't　you　th…　〃
　〃Every　hour　on　the　hour；　Doctor；　provided　he　checks　out　medically　…　I　don't　want　him　harmed；　just　pliable　…　for　the　next　twenty…four。　Robert；　then　you　interrogate　him　again。　If　that　doesn't　work；　we　put　him　into　the　Red　Room。〃
　Dr。　Dorn　had　flinched　and　Armstrong　recalled　how　his　heart　had　missed　a　beat。　〃No；〃　he　said。
　〃For　chrissake；　the　client's　guilty；　Robert；〃　Crosse　snarled；　no　longer　playacting。　〃Guilty！　The　client　shopped　Fong…fong　and　our　lads　and　has　done　us　God　knows　what　damage。　We're　under　the　gun。　The　orders　e　from　London！　Remember　Metkin；　our　great　missar　catch　from　the　Ivanov？　I've　just　heard　the　RAF　transport's　vanished。　It　refueled　in　Bombay　then　vanished　somewhere　over　the　Indian　Ocean。〃
　
　60
　
　6：58　P。M。：
　The　governor　was　in　an　Olympian　rage。　He　got　out　of　the　car　and　stomped　to　the　side　door　of　the　bank　where　Johnjohn　was　waiting　for　him。
　〃Have　you　read　this？〃　The　governor　waved　the　evening　edition　of　the　Guardian　in　the　night　air。　The　huge　headline　read：　MPs　ACCUSE　PRC。　〃Bloody　inpetent　fools；　what？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Johnjohn　was　equally　choleric。　He　led　the　way　past　the　uniformed　doorman　into　a　large　anteroom。　〃Can't　you　hang　both　of　them？〃
　At　their　afternoon　press　conference；　Grey　and　Broadhurst　had　proclaimed　publicly　everything　that　he；　Johnjohn；　Dunross　and　the　other　tai…pans　had；　at　length；　patiently　condemned　as　totally　against　Britain's；　Hong　Kong's　and　China's　interest。　Grey　had　gone　on　at　length　discussing　his　private　and　personal　opinion　that　Red　China　was　bent　on　world　conquest　and　should　be　treated　as　the　great　enemy　of　world　peace。　〃I've　already　had　one　unofficial　official　scream。〃
　Johnjohn　winced。　〃Oh　God；　not　from　Tiptop？〃
　〃Of　course　from　Tiptop。　He　said；　in　that　calm　silky　voice　of　his；　'Your　Excellency；　when　our　peers　in　Peking　read　how　important　members　of　your　great　English　Parliament　view　the　Middle　Kingdom；　I　think　they　will　be　really　quite　angry。'　I'd　say　our　chances　of　getting　the　temporary　use　of　their　money　now　is　nil。〃
　Another　wave　of　anger　went　over　Johnjohn。
　〃That　damned　man　implied　his　views　were　the　mittee's　views；　which　is　totally　untrue！　Ridiculous　to　inflame　China　under　any　circumstances。　Without　China's　benevolence　our　position　here　is　totally　untenable。　Totally！　Bloody　fool！　And　we　all　went　out　of　our　way　to　explain！〃　The　governor　took　out　a　handkerchief　and　blew　his　nose。　〃Where　are　the　others？〃
　〃Superintendent　Crosse　and　Mr。　Sinders　are　using　my　office　for　a　moment。　Ian's　on　his　way。　What　about　Ian　and　Grey；　sir；　Grey　being　Ian's　brother…in…law？　Eh？〃
　〃Extraordinary。〃　Since　Grey　had　mentioned　it　in　response　to　a　question　this　afternoon　he　had　had　a　dozen　calls　about　it。　〃Astonishing　that　Ian　never　mentioned　it。〃
　〃Or　Penelope！　Very　odd。　Do　you　th…　〃　Johnjohn　glanced　up　and　stopped。　Dunross　was　walking　toward　them。
　〃Evening；　sir。〃
　〃Hello；　Ian。　I　put　the　time　back　to　7：00　p。m。　to　give　me　a　chance　to　see　Sinders　and　Stanley　Rosemont。〃　The　governor　held　up　the　paper。　〃You've　seen　this？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　The　Chinese　evening　papers　are　so　incensed；　I'm　surprised　every　edition's　not　on　fire　and　all　of　Central　with　them。〃
　〃I'd　try　them　for　treason；〃　Johnjohn　said；　his　face　sour。　〃What　the　devil　can　we　do；　Ian？〃
　〃Pray！　I've　already　spoken　to　Guthrie；　the　Liberal　MP；　and　some　of　the　Tories。　One　of　the　Guardian's　top　reporters　is　interviewing　them　right　now　and　their　opposite　opinions　will　be　the　morning　headlines　refuting　all　this　poppycock。〃　Dunross　wiped　his　hands。　He　could　feel　the　sweat　on　his　back　as　well。　The　bination　of　Grey；　Tiptop；　Jacques；　Phillip　Chen；　the　coin　and　the　AMG　files　was　unnerving　him。　Christ　Jesus；　he　thought；　what　next？　His　meeting　with　Murtagh　of　the　Royal　Belgium　had　been　what　Casey　had　forecast　…　a　long　shot　but　a　good　one。　ing　out　of　that　meeting　someone　had　given　him　the　afternoon　papers　and　the　bombshell　that　such　ill…advised　remarks　was　going　to　create　had　almost　knocked　him　over。　〃We'll　have　to　just　dismiss　the　whole　thing　publicly；　and　privately　work　like　hell　to　make　sure　Grey's　bill　to　bring　Hong　Kong　down　to　Britain's　level　never　gets　to　a　vote；　or　is　voted　down；　and　Labour　never　gets　elected。〃　He　felt　his　bile　rising。　〃Broadhurst　was　just　as　bad　if　not　worse。〃
　〃Ian；　have　you　talked　to　Tiptop？〃
　〃No；　Bruce。　His　line's　still　busy　though　I　did　send　a　message　around。〃　He　told　them　what　he　had　arranged　with　Phillip　Chen。　Then　the　governor　related　Tiptop's　plaint。　Dunross　was　aghast。　〃When　did　he　call；　sir？〃
　〃Just　before　six。〃
　〃He　would　have　had　our　message　by　then。〃　Dunross　felt　his　heart　thumping。　〃After　this　。。。　this　debacle；　I'd　lay　heavy　odds　there's　no　chance　for　Chinese　money。〃