jamesclavell.noblehouse-第247部分

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　a　few　days　prior　to　her　marriage。
　〃Ah；　mistress；　I　am　so　happy　you　have　e　home　at　long　last。　Traveling　in　all　those　foreign　places　must　be　very　tiring；〃　the　pleasant；　though　simple　old　lady　had　said　in　greeting。　〃Oh；　for　the　last　year　or　so；　your　home　has　been　rented　to　such　a　charming；　quiet　Englishman。　He　paid　promptly　every　month；　here　are　the　accounts。　Perhaps　he　will　e　back　this　year；　he　said；　perhaps　not。　Your　agent　is　on　Avenue　Firmet。　。。。〃
　Later；　wandering　around　the　lovely　house；　the　lake　vast　and　clean　in　the　bowl　of　mountains；　the　house　clean　like　the　mountains；　pictures　on　the　walls；　flowers　in　vases；　three　bedrooms　and　a　living　room　and　verandas；　tiny　but　perfect　for　her；　the　garden　cherished；　she　had　gone　into　the　main　bedroom。　Among　a　kaleidoscope　of　small　pictures　of　various　shapes　and　sizes　on　one　of　the　walls　was　what　seemed　to　be　part　of　an　old　letter　in　a　glass…covered　frame；　the　paper　already　yellowing。　She　recognized　his　writing。　It　was　in　English。　〃So　many　happy　hours　in　your　arms；　Ri…chan；　so　many　happy　days　in　your　pany；　how　do　I　say　that　I　love　you？　Forget　me；　I　will　never　forget　you。　How　do　I　beg　God　to　grant　you　ten　thousand　days　for　every　one　of　mine；　my　darling；　my　darling；　my　darling。〃
　The　huge　double　bed　was　almost　convex　with　its　thick　eiderdown　quilt；　multicolored；　the　windows　opened　to　the　tender　air；　late　summer　perfumes　within　it；　snow　dusting　the　mountaintops。　She　had　wept　again；　the　chalet　taking　her　to　itself。
　Within　a　few　hours　of　being　there　Dunross　had　called　and　she　had　boarded　the　first　jet　and　now　she　was　here；　most　of　her　work　pleted；　never　a　need　to　return；　the　past　obliterated　…　if　she　wished　it。　The　new　passport　was　genuine　as　far　as　she　could　tell；　and　the　birth　certificate。　No　reason　ever　to　return　to　Switzerland　…　except　for　the　chalet。　And　the　picture。
　She　had　left　it　on　the　wall　undisturbed。　And　she　had　resolved；　as　long　as　she　owned　the　house；　the　picture　would　stay　where　he　had　placed　it。　Always。
　
　76
　
　5：10　P。M。：
　Orlanda　was　driving　her　small　car；　Bartlett　beside　her；　his　hand　resting　lightly　across　her　shoulders。　They　had　just　e　over　the　pass　from　Aberdeen　and　now；　still　in　cloud；　were　heading　down　the　mountainside　in　Mid　Levels　toward　her　home　in　Rose　Court。　They　were　happy　together；　aware　and　filled　with　expectation。　After　lunch　they　had　crossed　to　Hong　Kong　and　she　had　driven　to　Shek…O　on　the　southeastern　tip　of　the　Island　to　show　him　where　some　of　the　tai…pans　had　weekend　houses。　The　countryside　was　rolling　and　sparsely　populated；　hills；　ravines；　the　sea　always　near；　sheer　cliffs　and　rocks。
　From　Shek…O　they　had　slid　along　the　southern　road　that　curled　and　twisted　until　they　got　to　Repulse　Bay　where　she　had　stopped　at　the　wonderful　hotel　for　tea　and　cakes　on　the　veranda；　looking　out　at　the　sea；　then　on　again；　past　Deepwater　Cove　to　Discovery　Bay　where　she　stopped　again　at　a　lookout。　〃Look　over　there；　Linc；　that's　Castle　Tok！〃　Castle　Tok　was　a　vast；　incongruous　house　that　looked　like　a　Norman　castle　and　was　perched　on　the　cliffside　high　over　the　water。　〃During　the　war　the　Canadians　…　Canadian　soldiers　…　were　defending　this　part　of　the　Island　against　the　invading　Japanese　and　they　all　retreated　to　Castle　Tok　for　a　last　stand。　When　they　were　overwhelmed　and　surrendered　there　were　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　of　them　left　alive。　The　Japanese　herded　them　all　onto　the　terrace　of　Castle　Tok　and　drove　them　by　bayonet　over　the　terrace　wall　to　the　rocks　below。〃
　〃Jesus。〃　The　drop　was　a　hundred　feet　or　more。
　〃Everyone。　The　wounded；　the　。。。　the　others；　everyone。〃　He　had　seen　her　shiver　and　at　once　had　reached　out　to　touch　her。
　〃Don't；　Orlanda；　that's　such　a　long　time　ago。〃
　〃It's　not；　no；　not　at　all。　I'm　afraid　history　and　the　war's　still　very　much　with　us；　Linc。　It　always　will　be。　Ghosts　walk　those　terraces　by　night。〃
　〃You　believe　that？〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　He　remembered　looking　back　at　the　brooding　house；　the　surf　crashing　against　the　rocks　below；　her　perfume　surrounding　him　as　she　leaned　back　against　him；　feeling　her　heat；　glad　to　be　alive　and　not　one　of　those　soldiers。　〃Your　Castle　Tok　looks　like　something　out　of　the　movies。　You　ever　been　inside？〃
　〃No。　But　they　say　there　are　suits　of　armor　and　dungeons　and　it's　a　copy　of　a　real　castle　in　France。　The　owner　was　old　Sir　Cha…sen　Tok；　Builder　Tok。　He　was　a　multimillionaire　who　made　his　money　in　tin。　They　say　that　when　he　was　fifty　a　soothsayer　told　him　to　begin　building　a　'big　mansion'　or　he　would　die。　So　he　began　to　build　and　he　built　dozens　of　places；　all　mansions；　three　in　Hong　Kong；　one　near　Sha　Tin　and　many　in　Malaya。　Castle　Tok　was　the　last　one　he　built。　He　was　eighty…nine　but　hale　and　hearty　and　like　a　middle…aged　man。　But　after　Castle　Tok　the　story　is　he　said　enough；　and　quit　building。　Within　a　month　he　was　dead　and　the　soothsayer's　prophecy　came　true。〃
　〃You're　making　it　all　up；　Orlanda！〃
　〃Oh　no；　Linc；　I　wouldn't；　not　without　telling。　But　what's　true　and　what's　false？　Who　really　knows；　eh；　my　darling？〃
　〃I　know　I'm　mad　about　you。〃
　〃Oh　Linc；　you　must　know　I　feel　the　same。〃
　They　had　driven　on　past　Aberdeen；　warm　and　together；　his　hand　on　her　shoulder；　her　hair　brushing　his　hand。　From　time　to　time　she　would　point　out　houses　and　places　and　the　hours　went　by　imperceptibly；　delightfully　for　both　of　them。　Now；　as　they　came　down　from　the　pass　through　the　clouds　and　broke　out　of　them；　they　could　see　most　of　the　city　below。　Lights　were　not　on　yet；　though　here　and　there　the　huge　colored　neon　signs　down　by　the　water's　edge　were　beginning　to　brighten。
　The　traffic　was　heavy　and　on　the　steep　mountain　roads　water　still　ran　in　the　gutters　with　piles　of　fresh　mud　and　rocks　and　vegetation　here　and　there。　She　drove　deftly；　without　taking　chances；　and　he　felt　safe　with　her　though　driving　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road　had　been　hair…raising　on　the　bends。
　〃But　we're　on　the　correct　side；〃　she　said。　〃You　drive　on　the　wrong　side！〃
　〃The　hell　we　do。　It's　only　the　English　who　drive　on　the　left。　You're　as　American　as　I　am；　Orlanda。〃
　〃I　wish　I　were；　Linc；　oh　so　very　much。〃
　〃You　are。　You　sound　American　and　you　dress　American。〃
　〃Ah；　but　I　know　what　I　am；　my　darling。〃
　He　let　himself　just　watch　her。　I've　never　enjoyed　watching　anyone　so　much；　he　thought。　Not　Casey；　not　anyone　in　my　whole　life。　Then　his　mind　took　him　again　to　Biltzmann　and　he　wished　he　had　that　man's　neck　in　his　hands。
　Put　him　away；　old　buddy；　away　with　the　shit　of　the　world。　That's　what　he　is　…　he　and　Banastasio。　Bartlett　felt　another　twinge　go　through　him。　He　had　had　a　phone　call　just　before　lunch；　and　an　apology　that　was　really　an　added　threat。
　〃Let's　break　bread；　baby；　you'n　me？　Hell；　Linc；　it's　shitsville　with　you'n　me　hollerin'。　How　about　steaks　tonight？　There's　a　great　steak　house　off　Nathan　Road；　the　San　Francisco。〃
　〃No　thanks。　I've　got　a　date；〃　he　had　said　coldly。　〃Anyway；　you　made　your　point　yesterday。　Let's　leave　it　at　that；　okay？　We'll　get　together　at　the　annual　board　meeting；　if　you　attend。〃
　〃Hey　Linc；　this　is　me；　your　old　buddy。　Remember　we　came　through　for　you　when　you　needed　the　cash。　Didn't　we　give　you　cash　up　front？〃
　〃Cash　up　front　in　return　for　shares　which　have　been　the　best　investment　…　the　best　regular　investment　you　ever　had。　You've　doubled　your　money　in　five　years。〃
　〃Sure　we　have。　Now　we　want　a　little　of　the　say…so；　that's　only　fair；　isn't　it？〃
　〃No。　Not　after　yesterday。　What　about　the　guns？〃　he　had　asked　on　a　sudden　hunch。
　There　was　a　pause。　〃What　guns？〃
　〃The　ones　aboard　my　airplane。　The　hijacked　M14's　and　grenades。〃
　〃It's　news　to　me；　baby。〃
　〃My　name's　Linc。　Baby。　Got　it？〃
　Another　pause。　The　voice　grated　now。　〃I　got　it。　About　our　deal。　You　gonna　change　your　mind？〃
　〃No。　No　way。〃
　〃Not　now；　not　later？〃
　〃No。〃
　There　had　been　the　silence　on　the　other　end　of　the　line　and　then　a　click　and　the　endless　dial　tone　began。　At　once　he　had　called　Rosemont。
　〃Don't　worry；　Linc。　Banastasio's　a　top　target　of　ours　and　we　have　lots　of　help　in　these　parts。〃
　〃Anything　on　the　guns？〃
　〃You're　in　the　clear。　The　Hong　Kong　brass　here've　withdrawn　the　lien　on　you。　You'll　hear　that　officially　tomorrow。〃
　〃They　found　something？〃
　〃No。　We　did。　We　checked　out　your　hangar　in　L。A。　One　of　the　night　watchmen　remembered　seeing　a　couple　of　jokers　fiddling　around　in　your　landing　bay。　He　thought　nothing　about　it　till　we　asked。〃
　〃Jesus。　You　catch　anybody？〃
　〃No。　Maybe　never　will。　No　sweat。　About　Banastasio；　he'll　be　off　your　back　soon　enough。　Don't　worry。〃
　Now；　thinking　about　it；　Bartlett　felt　chilled　again。
　〃What's　the　matter；　darling？〃　Orlanda　asked。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃Tell　me。〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　that　fear's　lousy　and　can　destroy　you　if　you　don't　watch　out。〃
　〃Oh　yes　I　know；　I　know　so　very　well。〃　She　took　her　eyes　off　the　road　a　second　and　smiled　hesitantly　and　put　her　hand　on　his　knee。　〃But　you're　strong；　my　darling。　You're　afraid　of　nothing。〃
　He　laughed。　〃I　wish　that　were　true。〃
　〃Oh　but　it　is。　I　know。〃　She　slowed　to　go　around　a　pile　of　slush；　the　road　steeper　here；　water　swirling　in　a　minor　flood　in　and　out　of　the　gutters。　The　car　was　hugging　the　tall　retaining　wall　as　she　turned　down　into　Kotewall　Road　and　around　the　corner　to　Rose　Court。　When　she　came　alongside　he　held　his　breath　as　she　hesitated　a　moment；　then　firmly　bypassed　the　foyer　and　turned　into　the　steep　down…path　that　led　to　the　garage。　〃It's　cocktail　time；〃　she　said。
　〃Great；〃　he　said；　his　voice　throaty。　He　did　not　look　at　her。　When　they　stopped　he　got　out　and　went　to　her　side　and　opened　the　door。　She　locked　the　car　and　they　went　to　the　elevator。　Bartlett　felt　the　pulse　in　his　neck　throbbing。
　Two　Chinese　caterers　carrying　trays　of　canapés　got　in　with　them　and　asked　for　the　Asian　Properties　flat。　〃It's　on　the　fifth　floor；〃　she　said；　and　after　the　caterers　had　got　out　Bartlett　said；　〃Asian　Properties're　the　landlords　here？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃They're　also　the　original　builders。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Jason　Plumm　and　Quillan　are　good　friends。　Quillan　still　owns　the　penthouse　though　he　sublet　it　when　we　broke　up。〃
　Bartlett　put　his　arm　around　her。　〃I'm　glad　you　did。〃
　〃So'm　I。〃　Her　smile　was　tender　and　her　wide…eyed　innocence　tore　at　him。　〃Now　I　am。〃
　They　reached　the　eighth　fl