jamesclavell.noblehouse-第38部分

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t　to　us　because　of　his　Mafia　and　CIA　connections。'　〃
　Grant　had　continued；　Guillio　is　believed　to　be　Vincenzo　Banastasio；　a　substantial　racketeer　and　the　present　don　of　the　Sallapione　family。　This　is　being　checked　through　our　U。S。　sources。　We　don't　know　if　the　deep…cover　enemy　agent　in　the　police　（covered　in　detail　in　another　section）　is　part　of　Sevrin　or　not　but　presume　he　is。
　〃In　our　opinion；　China　will　be　forced　to　seek　ever…increasing　amounts　of　trade　with　the　West　to　counterbalance　imperialist　Soviet　hegemony　and　to　fill　the　void　and　chaos　created　by　the　sudden　withdrawal　in　1960　of　all　Soviet　funding　and　technicians。　China's　armed　forces　badly　need　modernizing。　Harvests　have　been　bad。　Therefore　all　forms　of　strategic　materials　and　military　hardware　will　find　a　ready　market　for　many　years　to　e；　and　food；　basic　foodstuffs。　The　long…range　purchase　of　American　rice　futures　is　remended。
　〃I　have　the　honor　to　be；　sir；　your　obedient　servant；　AMG；　London；　August　15；　1963。〃
　Jets　and　tanks　and　nuts　and　bolts　and　rockets　and　engines　and　trucks　and　petrol　and　tires　and　electronics　and　food；　Dunross　thought；　his　mind　soaring。　A　limitless　spectrum　of　trade　goods；　easy　to　obtain；　easy　to　ship；　and　nothing　on　earth　like　a　war　for　profit　if　you　can　trade。　But　China's　not　buying　now；　whatever　they　need；　whatever　Grant　says。
　Who　could　Arthur　be？
　Who　in　Struan's？　Jesus　Christ！　John　Chen　and　Tsu…yan　and　smuggled　guns　and　now　a　KGB　agent　within。　Who？　What　about　。。。
　There　was　a　gentle　knock　on　the　door。
　〃e　in；〃　he　said；　recognizing　his　wife's　knock。
　〃Ian；　it's　almost　eight；〃　Penelope；　his　wife；　said；　〃I　thought　I'd　better　tell　you。　You　know　how　you　are。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　did　it　go　today？　Awful　about　John　Chen；　isn't　it？　I　suppose　you　read　the　papers？　Are　you　ing　down？〃
　〃Yes。　Champagne？〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　He　poured　for　her　and　replenished　his　glass。　〃Oh　by　the　way；　Penn；　I　invited　a　fellow　I　met　this　afternoon；　an　ex…RAF　type。　He　seemed　a　decent　fellow　…　Peter　Marlowe。〃
　〃Fighters？〃
　〃Yes。　But　Hurricanes　…　and　Spits。　Is　that　a　new　dress？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　look　pretty；〃　he　said。
　〃Thank　you　but　I'm　not。　I　feel　so　old；　but　thank　you。〃　She　sat　in　the　other　winged　chair；　her　perfume　as　delicate　as　her　features。　〃Peter　Marlowe；　you　said？〃
　〃Yes。　Poor　bugger　got　caught　in　Java　in　'42。　He　was　a　POW　for　three　and　a　half　years。〃
　〃Oh；　poor　man。　He　was　shot　down？〃
　〃No；　the　Japanese　plastered　the　'drome　before　he　could　scramble。　Perhaps　he　was　lucky。　The　Zeros　got　two　on　the　ground　and　the　last　two　just　after　they　were　airborne　…　the　pilots　flamed　in。　Seems　those　four　Hurricanes　were　the　last　of　the　Few　…　the　last　of　the　whole　air　defense　of　the　Far　East。　What　a　balls…up　that　was！〃
　〃Terrible。〃
　〃Yes。　Thank　God　our　war　was　in　Europe。〃　Dunross　watched　her。　〃He　said　he　was　a　year　in　Java；　then　the　Japanese　sent　him　to　Singapore　on　a　work　party。〃
　〃To　Changi？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　different。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Oh！〃
　〃He　was　there　for　two　and　a　half　years。〃　Changi　in　Malay　meant　〃clinging　vine；〃　and　Changi　was　the　name　of　the　jail　in　Singapore　that　was　used　by　the　Japanese　in　World　War　II　for　one　of　their　infamous　prisoner…of…war　camps。
　She　thought　a　moment；　then　smiled　a　little　nervously。　〃Did　he　know　Robin　there？〃　Robin　Grey　was　her　brother；　her　only　living　relative：　her　parents　had　been　killed　in　an　air　raid　in　London　in　1943；　just　before　she　and　Dunross　were　married。
　〃Marlowe　said　yes；　he　seemed　to　remember　him；　but　clearly　he　didn't　want　to　talk　about　those　days　so　I　let　it　drop。〃
　〃I　can　imagine。　Did　you　tell　him　Robin　was　my　brother？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃When's　Robin　due　back　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know　exactly。　In　a　few　days。　This　afternoon　the　governor　told　me　the　delegation's　in　Peking　now。〃　A　British　Parliamentary　Trade　Delegation　drawn　from　MPs　of　the　three　parties　…　Conservative；　Liberal　and　Labour　…　had　been　invited　out　from　London　by　Peking　to　discuss　all　manner　of　trade。　The　delegation　had　arrived　in　Hong　Kong　two　weeks　ago　and　had　gone　directly　on　to　Canton　where　all　trade　negotiations　were　conducted。　It　was　very　rare　for　anyone　to　get　an　invitation；　let　alone　a　parliamentary　delegation　…　and　even　rarer　to　be　invited　on　to　Peking。　Robin　Grey　was　one　of　the　members　…　representative　of　the　Labour　Party。　〃Penn　darling；　don't　you　think　we　should　acknowledge　Robin；　give　a　reception　for　him？　After　all；　we　haven't　seen　him　for　years；　this's　the　first　time　he's　been　to　Asia　…　isn't　it　time　you　buried　the　hatchet　and　made　peace？〃
　〃He's　not　invited　to　my　house。　Any　of　my　houses。〃
　〃Isn't　it　time　you　relaxed　a　little；　let　bygones　be　bygones？〃
　〃No；　I　know　him；　you　don't。　Robin　has　his　life　and　we　have　ours；　that's　what　he　and　I　agreed　years　ago。　No；　I've　no　wish　to　see　him　ever　again。　He's　awful；　dangerous；　foul…mouthed　and　a　bloody　bore。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃I　agree　he's　obnoxious　and　I　detest　his　politics　…　but　he's　only　one　of　a　half　dozen　MPs。　This　delegation's　important。　I　should　do　something　to　entertain　them；　Penn。〃
　〃Please　do；　Ian。　But　preferably　not　here　…　or　else　tell　me　in　good　time　so　I　can　have　the　vapors　and　see　that　the　children　do　the　same。　It's　a　matter　of　face　and　that's　the　end　of　it。〃　Penelope　tossed　her　head　and　shook　off　her　mood。　〃God！　Let's　not　let　him　spoil　this　evening！　What's　this　Marlowe　doing　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃He's　a　writer。　Wants　to　do　a　book　on　Hong　Kong；　he　said。　He　lives　in　America　now。　His　wife's　ing　too。　Oh；　by　the　way；　I　also　invited　the　Americans；　Linc　Bartlett　and　Casey　Tcholok。〃
　〃Oh！〃　Penelope　Dunross　laughed。　〃Oh　well；　four　or　forty　extra　won't　make　any　difference　at　all　…　I　won't　know　most　of　them　anyway；　and　Claudia's　organized　everything　with　her　usual　efficiency。〃　She　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃So！　A　gun…runner　amongst　the　pirates！　That　won't　even　cause　a　ripple。〃
　〃Is　he？〃
　〃Everyone　says　so。　Did　you　see　the　piece　in　this　afternoon's　Mirror；　Ian？　Ah　Tat's　convinced　the　American　is　bad　joss　…　she　informed　the　whole　staff；　the　children　and　me　…　so　that　makes　it　official。　Ah　Tat　told　Adryon　that　her　astrologer　insisted　she　tell　you　to　watch　out　for　bad　influence　from　the　East。　Ah　Tat's　sure　that　means　the　Yanks。　Hasn't　she　bent　your　ear　yet？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃God；　I　wish　I　could　chatter　Cantonese　like　you　and　the　children。　I'd　tell　that　old　harpy　to　keep　her　superstitions　and　opinions　to　herself　…　she's　a　bad　influence。〃
　〃She'd　give　her　life　for　the　children。〃
　〃I　know　she's　your　gan　sun　and　almost　brought　you　up　and　thinks　she's　God's　gift　to　the　Dunross　clan。　But　as　far　as　I'm　concerned　she's　a　cantankerous；　loathsome　old　bitch　and　I　hate　her。〃　Penelope　smiled　sweetly。　〃I　hear　the　American　girl's　pretty。〃
　〃Attractive　…　not　pretty。　She's　giving　Andrew　a　bad　time。〃
　〃I　can　imagine。　A　lady　talking　business！　What　are　we　ing　to　in　this　great　world　of　ours？　Is　she　any　good？〃
　〃Too　soon　to　tell。　But　she's　very　smart。　She's　…　she'll　make　things　awkward　certainly。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　Adryon　tonight？〃
　〃No　…　what's　up？〃　he　asked；　instantly　recognizing　the　tone　of　voice。
　〃She's　been　into　my　wardrobe　again　…　half　my　best　nylons　are　gone；　the　rest　are　scattered；　my　scarves　are　all　jumbled　up；　my　new　blouse's　missing　and　my　new　belt's　disappeared。　She's　even　whipped　my　best　Hermès　。。。　that　child's　the　end！〃
　〃Nineteen's　hardly　a　child；〃　he　said　wearily。
　〃She's　the　end！　The　number　of　times　I've　told　her！〃
　〃I'll　talk　to　her　again。〃
　〃That　won't　do　a　bit　of　good。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　She　laughed　with　him。　〃She's　such　a　pill。〃
　〃Here。〃　He　handed　her　a　slim　box。　〃Happy　twentieth！〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Ian。　Yours　is　downstairs。　You'll　。。。〃　She　stopped　and　opened　the　box。　It　contained　a　carved　jade　bracelet；　the　jade　inset　into　silver　filigree；　very　fine；　very　old　…　a　collector's　piece。　〃Oh　how　lovely；　thank　you；　Ian。〃　She　put　it　on　her　wrist　over　the　thin　gold　chain　she　was　wearing　and　he　heard　neither　real　pleasure　nor　real　disappointment　under　her　voice；　his　ears　tuned　to　her。　〃It's　beautiful；〃　she　said　and　leaned　forward　and　brushed　her　lips　against　his　cheek。　〃Thank　you；　darling。　Where　did　you　get　it？　Taiwan？〃
　〃No；　here　on　Cat　Street。　At　Wong　Chun　Kit's；　he　ga…　〃
　The　door　flew　open　and　a　girl　barreled　in。　She　was　tall　and　slim　and　oh　so　fair　and　she　said　in　a　breathless　rush；　〃I　hope　it's　all　right　I　invited　a　date　tonight　and　I　just　had　the　call　that　he's　ing　and　he'll　be　late　but　I　thought　it'd　be　okay。　He's　cool。　And　very　trick。〃
　〃For　the　love　of　God；　Adryon；〃　Dunross　said　mildly；　〃how　many　times　do　I　have　to　ask　you　to　knock　before　you　charge　in　here　and　would　you　kindly　talk　English？　What　the　hell's　trick？〃
　〃Good；　great；　cool；　trick。　Sorry；　Father；　but　you　really　are　rather　square　because　cool　and　trick　are　very　in；　even　in　Hong　Kong。　See　you　soon；　have　to　dash；　after　the　party　I'm　going　out　…　I'll　be　late　so　don't…　〃
　〃Wait　a　min…　〃
　〃That's　my　blouse；　my　new　blouse；〃　Penelope　burst　out。　〃Adryon；　you　take　it　off　this　minute！　I've　told　you　fifty　times　to　stay　the　hell　out　of　my　wardrobe。〃
　〃Oh；　Mother；〃　Adryon　said　as　sharply；　〃you　don't　need　it；　can't　I　borrow　it　for　this　evening？〃　Her　tone　changed。　〃Please？　Pretty　please？　Father；　talk　to　her。〃　She　switched　to　perfect　amah　Cantonese；　〃Honorable　Father　。。。　please　help　your　Number　One　Daughter　to　achieve　the　unachievable　or　I　shall　weep　weep　weep　oh　ko　。。。〃　Then　back　into　English　in　the　same　breath；　〃Mother　。。。　you　don't　need　it　and　I'll　look　after　it；　truly。　Please？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃e　on；　pretty　please；　I'll　look　after　it；　I　promise。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Mother！〃
　〃Well　if　you　pr…　〃
　〃Oh　thanks。〃　The　girl　beamed　and　turned　and　rushed　out　and　the　door　slammed　behind　her。
　〃Jesus　bloody　Christ；〃　Dunross　said　sourly；　〃why　the　hell　does　a　door　always　happen　to　slam　behind　her！〃
　〃Well　at　least　it's　not　deliberate　now。〃　Penelope　sighed。　〃I　don't　think　I　could　go　through　that　siege　again。〃
　〃Nor　me。　Thank　God　Glenna's　reasonable。〃
　〃It's　purely　temporary；　Ian。　She　takes　after　her　father；　that　one；　like　Adryon。〃
　〃Huh！　I　don't　have　a　filthy　temper；〃　he　said　sharply。　〃And　since　we're　on　the　subject　I　hope　to　God　Adryon　has　found　someone　decent　to　date　instead　of　the　usual　shower！　Who　is　this　she's　bringing？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Ian。　This　is　the　first　I've　heard　of　it　too。〃
　〃They're　always　bloody　a