jamesclavell.noblehouse-第258部分

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n　Special　Branch　that　Sinders　has　tripled　security　on　Kai　Tak；　the　same　on　the　Ivanov　wharf；　and　that；　right　now；　they're　opening　every　crate；　every　bag；　searching　every　piece　of　equipment；　checking　every　coolie　that　goes　aboard。　If　they'd　intercepted　Dunross；　and　they　would　…　SI's　too　smart　…　we'd　be　trapped。〃
　Plumm's　nervousness　increased。　A　tremor　went　through　him。　〃What；　what　about　。。。　Say　we　give　Sinders　Gregor？〃　he　burst　out。　〃What　if　we　gi…　〃
　〃Keep　your　voice　down！　You're　not　thinking　clearly；　for　God's　sake！　Gregor　knows　all　of　us。　Sinders'd　shove　him　on　a　sleep…wake…sleep　regimen　and　into　the　Red　Room　and　he'd　tell　everything！　That'd　wreck　us；　wreck　Sevrin　and　put　the　Soviets　back　ten　years　in　Asia。〃
　Plumm　shivered　and　wiped　his　face。　〃Then　what're　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Let　Gregor　go　aboard　and　out　of　Hong　Kong；　and　hope　to　God　he　convinces　his　bosses。　Even　if　he　leaks　your　name　to　Sinders　I　think　we're　buried　so　deep　we　can　squeeze　out　of　that。　You're　British；　not　a　foreign　national。　Thank　God　we've　laws　to　protect　us　…　even　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act。　Don't　worry；　nothing'll　happen　without　me　knowing　and　if　anything　happens　I'll　know　at　once。　There'll　always　be　time　enough　for　Plan　Three。〃　Plan　Three　was　an　elaborate　escape　that　Plumm　had　erected　against　such　an　eventuality　…　with　false　passports；　valid　air　tickets；　ready　luggage；　clothes；　disguises　and　covers；　even　including　passkeys　to　airplane　waiting　areas　without　going　through　Immigration　…　that　had　a　ninety…five　percent　chance　of　success　given　an　hour's　notice。
　〃Christ！〃　Plumm　looked　down　at　the　waiting　trunk。　〃Christ；〃　he　said　again；　then　went　to　the　mirror　to　look　at　his　face。　The　redness　was　going。　He　doused　some　water　on　it。
　Crosse　watched　him；　wondering　if　Plumm　was　convinced。　It　was　the　best　he　could　do　under　the　circumstances。　He　hated　improvisation；　but　in　this　case　he　had　little　option。　What　a　life　we　lead！　Every　one　expendable　except　yourself：　Suslev；　Plumm；　Sinders；　Kwok；　Armstrong；　even　the　governor。
　〃What？〃　Plumm　asked；　looking　at　him　in　the　mirror。
　〃I　was　just　thinking　we're　in　a　rough　business。〃
　〃The　Cause　makes　it　worthwhile。　That's　the　only　part　that　counts。〃
　Crosse　hid　his　contempt。　I　really　think　you've　outlived　your　usefulness；　Jason　old　fellow；　he　thought；　then　went　over　to　the　phone。　There　were　no　extensions　on　this　line　and　he　knew　it　was　not　bugged。　He　dialed。
　〃Yes？〃　He　recognized　Suslev　and　coughed　Arthur's　dry　cough。　〃Mr。　Lop…sing　please；〃　continuing　the　code　in　a　perfect　imitation　of　Plumm's　voice；　then　said　urgently；　〃There's　been　a　foul…up。　The　target　did　not　appear。　Be　careful　at　the　dock。　Surveillance　is　tripled。　We　cannot　deliver　the　trunk。　Good　luck。〃　He　hung　up。　The　silence　gathered。
　〃That's　his　death　knell；　isn't　it？〃　Plumm　said　sadly。
　Crosse　hesitated。　He　smiled　thinly。　〃Better　his　death　than　yours。　Eh？〃
　
　81
　
　8：25　P。M。：
　In　the　noise…filled　living　room　at　the　other　end　of　the　hall；　Casey　finished　her　drink　and　set　it　down。　She　was　feeling　unsettled　and　very　strange。　Part　of　her　was　joyous　at　Dunross's　reprieve　and　the　other　part　sad　that　Gornt　was　now　entrapped。　It　was　quite　clear　to　her　with　the　wheeling　and　dealing　now　going　on　around　her　that　Struan's　opening　price　would　be　very　high。　Poor　Quillan；　she　thought。　If　he　doesn't　cover　his　position　he'll　be　in　shitsville　…　and　let's　face　it；　I　put　him　there。　Didn't　I？
　Sure；　but　I　had　to　bail　out　Dunross　because；　without　him；　Gornt　would　have　squeezed　us　dry　…　and　maybe　everyone　else。　And　don't　forget；　I　didn't　start　the　raid　on　Struan's。　That　was　Linc's　raid；　not　mine。　Hasn't　Linc　always　said　business　and　pleasure　should　never　mix？　Haven't　we　both　always　gone　along　with　that？
　Linc。　Always　back　to　Linc。
　Casey　had　not　seen　him　all　day；　nor　even　heard　from　him。　They　were　supposed　to　have　met　for　breakfast　but　there　was　a　〃do　not　disturb〃　on　his　door　and　a　〃do　not　disturb〃　on　his　phone　so　she　left　him　and　pushed　away　the　thought　of　Orlanda　…　was　Orlanda　there　too？　And　tonight；　when　she　had　returned　from　the　day's　sailing；　there　was　a　message：　〃Hi；　have　fun。〃　So　she　had　showered　and　changed　and　bottled　her　impatience　and　had　e　here　tonight。　It　had　been　no　fun　in　the　beginning；　everyone　gloom　and　doom…filled；　then　after　the　news　and　Gornt　slamming　out；　no　fun　again。　Shortly　afterward　Dunross　had　forced　his　way　over　and　thanked　her　again　but　almost　at　once　he　had　been　surrounded　by　excited　men　discussing　deals　and　chances。　She　watched　them；　feeling　very　lonely。　Perhaps　Linc's　back　at　the　hotel　now；　she　thought。　I　wish　。。。　never　mind；　but　it　is　time　to　go　home。　No　one　noticed　her　slip　out。
　Roger　Crosse　was　standing　at　the　elevator。　He　held　the　door　for　her　then　pressed　the　down　button。
　〃Thanks。　Nice　party；　wasn't　it？〃　she　said。
　〃Yes；　yes　it　was；〃　he　replied　absently。
　On　the　ground　floor　Crosse　let　her　get　out　first　then　strode　off　out　the　front　door　and　down　the　hill。　What's　his　hurry？　she　asked　herself；　heading　for　the　group　that　waited　for　taxis；　glad　that　it　was　not　raining　again。　She　jerked　to　a　stop。　Orlanda　Ramos；　with　packages　in　her　arms；　was　ing　into　the　foyer。　Each　woman　saw　the　other　at　the　same　instant。　Orlanda　was　the　first　to　recover。　〃Evening；　Casey；〃　she　said　with　her　best　smile。　〃How　pretty　you　look。〃
　〃So　do　you；〃　Casey　replied。　Her　enemy　did。　The　pale　blue　skirt　and　blouse　were　perfectly　matched。
　Orlanda　poured　a　stream　of　impatient　Cantonese　over　the　crumpled　concierge　who　was　lounging　nearby。　At　once　he　took　her　packages；　mumbling。
　〃Sorry；　Casey；〃　she　said　nicely；　a　thread　of　nervousness　to　her　voice；　〃but　there's　been　a　small　landslide　just　down　the　hill　and　I　had　to　leave　my　car　there。　You're；　you're　visiting　here？〃
　〃No；　just　leaving。　You　live　here？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　do。〃
　Another　silence　between　them；　both　readying。　Then　Casey　nodded　a　polite　good　night　and　began　to　leave。
　〃Perhaps　we　should　talk；〃　Orlanda　said　and　Casey　stopped。
　〃Certainly；　Orlanda；　whenever　you　wish。〃
　〃Do　you　have　time　now？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃Would　you　like　to　walk　with　me　back　to　my　car？　I've　got　to　get　the　rest　of　my　packages。　You　won't　be　able　to　get　a　taxi　here　anyway。　Below　will　be　easy。〃
　〃Sure。〃
　The　two　women　went　out。　The　night　was　cool　but　Casey　was　burning　and　so　was　Orlanda；　each　knowing　what　was　ing；　each　fearful　of　the　other。　Their　feet　picked　a　way　carefully。　The　street　was　wet　from　the　water　that　rushed　downward。　There　was　a　promise　of　more　rain　soon　from　the　heavy　nimbus　overcast。　Ahead；　fifty　yards　away；　Casey　could　see　where　the　embankment　had　partially　given　way；　sending　a　mess　of　earth　and　rocks　and　shrubs　and　rubble　across　the　road。　There　was　no　sidewalk。　On　the　other　side　of　the　slip；　a　line　of　cars　were　stopped；　impatiently　maneuvering　to　turn　around。　A　few　pedestrians　scrambled　over　the　embankment。
　〃Have　you　lived　in　Rose　Court　long？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃A　few　years。　It's　very　pleasant。　I　th…　　Oh！　Were　you　at　Jason　Plumm's　party；　the　Asian　Properties　party？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Casey　saw　the　relief　on　Orlanda's　face　and　it　angered　her　but　she　contained　the　anger　and　stopped　and　said　quietly；　〃Orlanda；　there's　nothing　really　for　us　to　talk　about；　is　there？　Let's　say　good　night。〃
　Orlanda　looked　up　at　her。　〃Linc's　with　me。　He's　with　me　in　my　apartment。　At　the　moment。〃
　〃I　presumed　that。〃
　〃That　doesn't　bother　you？〃
　〃It　bothers　me　very　much。　But　that's　up　to　Linc。　We're　not　married；　as　you　know；　not　even　engaged；　as　you　know　…　you　have　your　way；　I　have　mine；　so　th…　〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　Orlanda　asked。
　〃I　mean　that　I've　known　Linc　for　seven　years；　you　haven't　known　him　for　seven　days。〃
　〃That　doesn't　matter；〃　Orlanda　said　defiantly。　〃I　love　him　and　he　loves　me。〃
　〃That's　y…　〃　Casey　was　almost　shoved　aside　by　some　Chinese　who　barreled　past；　chattering　noisily。　Others　were　approaching　up　the　incline。　Then　some　of　the　party　guests　walked　around　them；　heading　down　the　slope。　One　of　the　women　was　Lady　Joanna；　and　she　eyed　them　curiously　but　went　on。
　When　they　were　alone　again；　Casey　said；　〃That's　yet　to　be　proved。　Good　night；　Orlanda；〃　she　said；　wanting　to　scream　at　her；　You　make　your　money　on　your　back；　I　work　for　mine；　and　all　the　love　you　protest　is　spelled　money。　Men　are　such　jerks。
　〃Curiously　I　don't　blame　Linc；〃　she　muttered　out　loud　seeing　the　firm　jaw；　the　flashing　determined　eyes；　the　perfect；　voluptuous　yet　trim　body。　〃Good　night。〃
　She　walked　on。　Now　my　plan　has　to　change；　she　was　thinking；　all　her　being　concentrated。　Tonight　I　was　going　to　love　Linc　properly；　but　now　everything　has　to　change。　If　he's　in　her　bed　he's　under　her　spell。　Jesus；　I'm　glad　I　found　that　out。　God；　if　I'd　offered　he　would　have　had　to　say　no　and　then。　。。。　Now　I　can　。。。　what　should　I　do？
　Shit　on　the　Orlandas　of　the　world！　It's　so　easy　for　them。　They　have　a　game　plan　from　day　one。　But　the　rest　of　us？
　What　do　I　do？　Stick　to　November　25　and　gamble　Orlanda　will　bore　the　hell　out　of　him　by　that　time？
　Not　that　lady。　That　one's　dynamite　and　she　knows　Linc's　her　passport　to　eternity。
　Her　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　I'm　a　match　for　her；　she　told　herself　confidently。　Maybe　not　in　bed　or　in　the　kitchen；　but　I　can　learn。
　She　stepped　up　and　over　a　boulder；　cursing　the　mud　that　fouled　her　shoes；　and　jumped　down　the　other　side　of　the　earth　barrier。　Dunross's　Rolls　and　his　chauffeur　were　at　the　head　of　the　line。
　〃Excuse；　Missee；　is　the　tai…pan　still　there？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　he　is。〃
　〃Ah；　thank　you。〃　The　driver　locked　the　car　and　hurried　over　the　roadblock　back　up　the　hill。　Casey　turned　and　watched　him。　Her　eyes　centered　on　Orlanda　who　was　approaching　and　she　looked　at　her；　wanting　to　shove　her　into　the　mud。　The　thought　amused　her　and　she　stood　there；　letting　her　enemy　approach；　letting　her　wonder　what　she　would　do。　She　saw　the　eyes　harden　and　there　was　no　fear　on　Orlanda's　face；　just　a　very　confident　half…smile。　Orlanda　passed　her　fearlessly；　and　a　tremor　of　apprehension　went　through　Casey　that　she　managed　to　dominate。　Maybe　you're　just　as　afraid　of　me　and　my　power　as　I　am　of　yours；　she　thought；　her　eyes　now　on　Rose　Court；　a　brilliant　tower　of　light；　wondering　which　light　surrounded　Linc　or　which　darkened　window。　。。。
　
　When　Orlanda　had　first　seen　Casey；　she　had　immediately　jumped　to　th