jamesclavell.noblehouse-第95部分

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rcent　of　the　box　at　the　Turf　Club　including　his　stewardship。〃
　Gornt　glanced　at　him　keenly。　Bartlett　smiled。　〃We　know　that's　kind　of　special　to　you。　But　everything　else　right　down　the　middle。〃
　〃Except　their　Kai　Tak　operations。　I　need　that　for　my　airline。〃
　〃All　right。　But　then　I　want　Kowloon　Investments。〃
　〃No；〃　Gornt　said；　immediately　on　guard。　〃We　should　split　that　50…50；　and　everything　50…50。〃
　〃No。　You　need　Kai　Tak；　I　need　Kowloon　Investments。　It'll　be　a　great　nucleus　for　Par…Con's　jump　into　Asia。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　all　great　fortunes　in　Hong　Kong　are　based　on　property。　K。　I。　will　give　me　a　perfect　base。〃
　〃For　further　raids？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Bartlett　said　easily。　〃Your　friend　Jason　Plumm's　next　on　the　list。　We　could　swallow　his　Asian　Properties　easy。　50…50。　Right？〃
　Gornt　said　nothing　for　a　long　time。　〃And　after　him？〃
　〃Hong　Kong　and　Lan　Tao　Farms。〃
　Again　Gornt's　heart　leapt。　He　had　always　hated　Dunstan　Barre　and　that　hatred　was　tripled　last　year　when　Barre　had　been　given　a　knighthood　in　the　Queen's　Birthday　Honors　List　…　an　honor　maneuvered；　Gornt　was　sure；　with　judicious　contributions　to　the　Conservative　Party　fund。　〃And　how　would　you　swallow　him？〃
　〃There's　always　a　time　when　any　army；　any　country；　any　pany's　vulnerable。　Every　general　or　pany　president　has　to　take　chances；　sometime；　to　stay　ahead。　You've　got　to；　to　stay　ahead。　There's　always　some　enemy　snapping　at　your　heels；　wanting　yours；　wanting　your　place　in　the　sun；　wanting　your　territory。　You've　got　to　be　careful　when　you're　vulnerable。〃
　〃Are　you　vulnerable　now？〃
　〃No。　I　was　two　years　ago　but　not　now。　Now　I've　the　muscle　I　need　…　we　need。　If　you're　in。〃
　A　flock　of　seabirds　were　dipping　and　weaving　and　cawing　overhead。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃You're　the　pathfinder；　the　spearhead。　I　defend　the　rear。　Once　you've　punched　a　hole　through　his　defense；　I'll　deliver　the　knockout。　We　sell　Struan's　short　…　I　guess　you've　already　taken　a　position　on　the　Ho…Pak？〃
　〃I've　sold　short；　yes。　Modestly。〃　Gornt　told　the　lie　easily。
　〃Good。　In　the　States　you　could　get　their　own　accountants　to　leak　the　cash　flow　facts　to　the　right　big　mouth。　That'd　soon　be　all　over　town。　Could　the　same　ploy　work　here？〃
　〃Probably。　But　you'd　never　get　their　accountants　to　do　that。〃
　〃Not　for　the　right　fee？〃
　〃No。　But　rumors　could　be　started。〃　Gornt　smiled　grimly。　〃It's　very　bad　of　Dunross　to　hide　his　inept　position　from　his　shareholders。　Yes。　That's　possible。　And　then？〃
　〃You　sell　Struan's　short；　as　soon　as　the　market　opens。　Big。〃
　Gornt　lit　a　cigarette。　〃I　sell　short；　and　what　do　you　do？〃
　〃Nothing　openly。　That's　our　ace　in　the　hole。〃
　〃Perhaps　it　really　is；　and　I'm　being　set　up；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃What　if　I　cover　all　losses？　Would　that　be　proof　enough　I'm　with　you？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　pay　all　losses　and　take　half　the　profit　for　today；　tomorrow　and　Friday。　If　we　haven't　got　him　on　the　run　by　Friday　afternoon　you　buy　back　in；　just　before　closing；　and　we've　failed。　If　it　looks　like　we've　got　him；　we　sell　heavily；　to　the　limit；　just　before　closing。　That'll　sweat　him　out　over　the　weekend。　Monday　I　jerk　the　rug　and　our　blitzkrieg's　on。　It's　infallible。〃
　〃Yes。　If　you're　to　be　trusted。〃
　〃I'll　put　2　million　in　any　Swiss　bank　you　name　by　ten　o'clock　today。　That's　10　million　HK　which　sure　as　hell's　enough　to　cover　any　shorting　losses　you　might　have。　2　million　with　no　strings；　no　paper；　no　promissory　note；　just　your　word　it's　to　cover　any　losses；　that　if　we　win　we　split　profits　and　the　rest　of　the　deal　as　it's　been　laid　out　…　50…50　except　Kowloon　Investments　for　me；　Struan's　at　Kai　Tak　Airport　for　you；　and　for　Casey　and　me；　voting　membership　at　the　Turf　Club。　We'll　put　it　to　paper　Tuesday　…　after　he's　crashed。〃
　〃You'll　put　up　2　million　U。S。；　and　it's　my　decision　as　to　when　I　buy　to　cover　any　losses？〃　Gornt　was　incredulous。
　〃Yes。　2　million's　the　extent　of　my　gamble。　So　how　can　you　get　hurt？　You　can't。　And　because　he　knows　how　you　feel　about　him；　if　you　mount　the　attack　he　won't　be　suspicious；　won't　be　prepared　for　a　flanking　blitz　from　me。〃
　〃This　all　depends　on　whether　your　figures　are　correct　…　the　amounts　and　the　dates。〃
　〃Check　them　out。　There　must　be　a　way　you　can　do　that　…　enough　to　convince　yourself。〃
　〃Why　the　sudden　change；　Mr。　Bartlett？　You　said　you'd　wait　till　Tuesday　…　perhaps　later。〃
　〃We've　done　some　checking　and　I　don't　like　the　figures　I've　e　up　with。　We　owe　Dunross　nothing。　We'd　be　crazy　to　go　with　him　when　he's　so　weak。　As　it　is；　what　I'm　offering　you　is　a　great　gamble；　great　odds：　the　Noble　House　against　2　lousy　million。　If　we　win　that'd　be　parlayed　into　hundreds　of　millions。〃
　〃And　if　we　fail？〃
　Bartlett　shrugged。　〃Maybe　I'll　go　home。　Maybe　we'll　work　out　a　Rothwell…Gornt…Par…Con　deal。　You　win　sometimes　and　you　lose　a　lot　more　times。　But　this　raid's　too　good　not　to　try　it。　Without　you　it'd　never　work。　I've　seen　enough　of　Hong　Kong　to　know　it　has　its　own　special　rules。　I've　no　time　to　learn　them。　Why　should　I　…　when　I've　got　you。〃
　〃Or　Dunross？〃
　Bartlett　laughed　and　Gornt　read　no　guile　in　him。　〃You're　not　stretched；　you're　not　vulnerable；　he　is　…　that's　his　bad　luck。　What　d'you　say？　Is　the　raid　on？〃
　〃I'd　say　you're　very　persuasive。　Who　gave　you　the　information　…　and　the　document？〃
　〃Tuesday　I'll　tell　you。　When　Struan's　have　crashed。〃
　〃Ah；　there's　a　payoff　to　Mister　X？〃
　〃There's　always　a　payoff。　It'll　e　off　the　top；　but　no　more　than　5　percent　…　any　more　es　out　of　my　share。〃
　〃Two　o'clock　Friday；　Mr。　Bartlett？　That's　when　I　decide　to　buy　back　in　and　perhaps　lose　your　2　million　…　or　we　confer　and　continue　the　surge？〃
　〃Friday　at　two。〃
　〃If　we　continue　over　the　weekend　you'll　cover　any　further　risk　with　further　funds？〃
　〃No。　You　won't　need　any　more。　2　million's　tops。　By　Friday　afternoon　either　his　stock　will　be　way　down　and　we'll　have　him　running　scared；　or　not。　This's　no　long…term；　well…organized　raid。　It's　a　once；　er；　a　onetime　attempt　to　fool's　mate　an　opponent。〃　Bartlett　grinned　happily。　〃I　risk　2　lousy　million　for　a　game　that　will　go　down　in　history　books。　In　less　than　a　week　we　knock　off　the　Noble　House　of　Asia！〃
　Gornt　nodded；　torn。　How　far　can　I　trust　you；　Mr。　Bloody　Raider；　you　with　the　key　to　Devil　Dunross？　He　glanced　out　of　the　window　and　watched　a　child　skulling　a　boat　among　the　junks；　the　sea　as　safe　and　familiar　to　her　as　dry　land。　〃I'll　think　about　what　you　said。〃
　〃How　long？〃
　〃Till　eleven。〃
　〃Sorry；　this's　a　raid；　not　a　business　deal。　It's　now　…　or　not　at　all！〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃There's　a　lot　to　do；　Mr。　Gornt。　I　want　this　settled　now　or　not　at　all。〃
　Gornt　glanced　at　his　watch。　There　was　plenty　of　time。　A　call　to　the　right　Chinese　newspaper　and　whatever　he　told　them　would　be　on　the　stands　in　an　hour。　He　smiled　grimly　to　himself。　His　own　ace　in　the　hole　was　Havergill。　Everything　dovetailed　perfectly。
　A　seabird　cawed　and　flew　inland；　riding　some　thermals　toward　the　Peak。　He　watched　it。　Then　his　eyes　noticed　the　Great　House　on　the　crest；　white　against　the　green　of　the　slopes。　〃It's　a　deal；〃　he　said　and　stuck　out　his　hand。　Bartlett　shook。　〃Great。　This　is　strictly　between　us？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Where　d'you　want　the　2　million？〃
　〃The　Bank　of　Switzerland　and　Zurich；　in　Zurich；　account　number　181819。〃　Gornt　reached　into　his　pocket；　noticing　his　fingers　were　trembling。　〃I'll　write　it　down　for　you。〃
　〃No　need。　The　account's　in　your　name？〃
　〃Good　God；　no！　Canberra　Limited。〃
　〃Canberra　Limited's　2　million　richer！　And　in　three　days　with　any　luck；　you'll　be　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。　How　about　that！〃　Bartlett　opened　the　door　and　got　out。　〃See　you。〃
　〃Wait；〃　Gornt　said；　startled；　〃I'll　drop　you　wh…　〃
　〃No　thanks。　I've　got　to　get　to　a　phone。　Then　at　9：15　I've　an　interview　with　your　friend　Orlanda；　Miss　Ramos　…　thought　there　was　no　harm　in　it。　After　that　maybe　I'll　take　a　few　pictures。〃　He　waved　cheerily　and　walked　off。
　Gornt　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　hands。　Before　leaving　the　club　he　had　phoned　Orlanda　to　phone　Bartlett　and　make　the　date。　That's　very　good；　he　thought；　still　in　shock。　She'll　keep　an　eye　on　him　once　they're　lovers；　and　they　will　be；　Casey　or　not。　Orlanda　has　too　much　to　gain。
　He　watched　Bartlett；　envying　him。　In　a　few　moments　the　American　had　vanished　into　the　crowds　of　Wanchai。
　Suddenly　he　was　very　tired。　It's　all　too　pat；　too　fine；　too　easy；　he　told　himself。　And　yet　。。。　and　yet！　Shakily　he　lit　a　cigarette。　Where　did　Bartlett　get　those　papers？
　Inexorably　his　eyes　went　back　to　the　Great　House　on　the　Peak。　He　was　possessed　by　it　and　by　a　hatred　so　vast　that　it　swept　his　mind　back　to　his　ancestors；　to　Sir　Morgan　Brock　whom　the　Struans　broke；　to　Gorth　Brock　whom　Dirk　Struan　murdered；　to　Tyler　Brock　whom　his　daughter　betrayed。　Without　wishing　it；　he　renewed　the　oath　of　vengeance　that　he　had　sworn　to　his　father；　that　his　father　had　sworn　to　his　…　back　to　Sir　Morgan　Brock　who；　penniless；　destroyed　by　his　sister；　Hag　Struan；　paralyzed；　a　shell　of　a　man；　had　begged　for　vengeance　on　behalf　of　all　the　Brock　ghosts　on　the　Noble　House　and　all　the　descendents　of　the　most　evil　man　who　had　ever　lived。
　Oh　gods　give　me　strength；　Quillan　Gornt　prayed。　Let　the　American　be　telling　the　truth。　I　will　have　vengeance。
　
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　10：50　A。M。：
　The　sun　bore　down　on　Aberdeen　through　a　slight　overcast。　The　air　was　sultry；　ninety…two　degrees　Fahrenheit　with　ninety　percent　humidity。　It　was　low　tide。　The　smell　of　rotting　kelp　and　offal　and　exposed　mudflats　added　to　the　oppressive　weight　of　the　day。
　There　were　five　hundred　or　more　sullen　impatient　people　jamming　against　one　another；　trying　to　surge　through　the　bottleneck　of　barriers　ahead　that　the　police　had　erected　outside　this　branch　of　Ho…Pak。　The　barriers　allowed　only　one　person　through　at　a　time。　Men　and　women　of　all　ages；　some　with　infants；　were　constantly　jostling　each　other；　no　one　waiting　a　turn；　everyone　trying　to　inch　forward　to　get　to　the　head　of　the　line。
　〃Look　at　the　bloody　fools；〃　Chief　Inspector　Donald　C。C。　Smyth　said。　〃If　they'd　stretch　out　and　not　crowd　they'd　all　get　through　quicker；　and　we　could　leave　one　copper　here　to　keep　order　and　the　rest　of　us　could　go　to　lunch　instead　of　getting　the　riot　squad　ready。　Do　it！〃
　〃Yes　sir；〃　Divisional　Sergeant　Mok　said　politely。　Ayeeyah；　he　was　thinking　as　he　walked　over　to　the　s