cc.floodtide-第67部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


finest　French　champagne　was　served　alongside　vintage　wines；　none　of　which　had　labels　from　later　than　1950。　In　one　er　of　the：　ornate　room　a　string　orchestra　played　themes　from　motion；　pictures。　Though　Julia　had　e　from　a　wealthy　family　in　Si　Francisco；　she　had　seen　nothing　to　pare　with　this　affair。
　　She　stood　in　solemn　awe　as　her　eyes　scanned　the　room。　Finally；　she　recovered　enough　to　say；　〃I　can　see　what　Peter　mean　when　he　said　Qin　Shang's　invitation　was　the　most　desired　in　Washington　aside　from　the　White　House。〃
　〃Frankly；　I　prefer　the　ambiance　at　the　French…embassy　parties。　More　elegant；　more　refined。〃
　〃I　feel　so。。。　so　plain　among　all　these　beautifully　dressed　women。〃
　Pitt　gave　Julia　an　adoring　look　and　squeezed　her　around　the　waist。　〃Stop　belittling　yourself。　You're　a　class　act。　You'd　have　to　be　blind　not　to　notice　that　every　man　in　the　room　is　devouring　you。〃
　Julia　blushed　at　the　flattery。　It　embarrassed　her　to　see　that　he　was　right。　The　men　were　staring　at　her　openly；　as　were　many　of　the　women。　She　also　observed　a　dozen　exquisite　Chinese　women　dressed　in　silk　sheath　dresses　mingling　with　the　male　guests。　〃It　seems　I'm　not　the　only　woman　with　Chinese　ancestry。〃
　Pitt　made　a　passing；　offhand　glance　at　the　women　Julia　referred　to。　〃Daughters　of　joy。〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon。〃
　〃Hookers。〃
　〃What　are　you　suggesting？〃
　〃Qin　Shang　hires　them　to　work　the　men　who　came　along　without　their　wives。　You　might　call　it　a　subtle　form　of　political　patronage。　What　influence　he　can't　buy；　he　slips　through　the　back　door　with　sexual　favors。〃
　Julia　looked　bewildered。　〃I　have　a　lot　to　learn　about　government　lobbying。〃
　〃They　are　exotic；　aren't　they？　A　good　thing　I'm　with　someone　who　puts　them　to　shame　or　they　might　prove　a　temptation　I　couldn't　resist。〃
　〃You've　got　nothing　Qin　Shang　wants；〃　Julia　said　testily。　〃Perhaps　we　should　find　him　and　make　our　presence　known。〃
　Pitt　gazed　at　her　as　if　shocked。　〃What；　and　miss　out　on　all　the　free　food　and　drink？　Not　on　your　life。　First　things　first。　Let's　head　to　the　bar　for　champagne；　and　then　indulge　ourselves　at　the　buffet。　Later；　we'll　enjoy　a　cognac　before　making　ourselves　known　to　the　arch…villain　of　the　Orient。〃
　
　Julia　said　to　him；　〃I　think　you're　the　craziest；　most　plex　and　reckless　man　I've　ever　met。〃
　〃You　left　out　charming　and　cuddly。〃
　〃I　can't　imagine　any　woman　putting　up　with　you　for　more　than　twenty…four　hours。〃
　〃To　know　me　is　to　love　me。〃　The　mirth　lines　around　his　eyes　crinkled；　and　he　gave　a　tilt　of　his　head　toward　the　bar。　〃All　this　talk　makes　me　thirsty。〃
　
　They　strolled　across　the　crowded　floor　to　the　bar　and　casually　sipped　the　offered　champagne。　Then　they　wandered　to　the　buffet　table　and　filled　their　plates。　Pitt　was　profoundly　surprised　to　find　a　large　platter　of　fried　abalone；　a　shellfish　that　was　on　the　verge　of　extinction。　He　spotted　an　empty　table　by　the　fireplace　and　mandeered　it。　Julia　could　not　keep　her　eyes　from　exploring　the　throng　in　the　immense　room。　〃I　see　several　Chinese　men；　but　I　can't　tell　which　one　is　Qin　Shang；　Peter　failed　to　give　me　a　description　of　him。〃
　〃For　an　investigative　agent；〃　said　Pitt　between　bites　of　lobster；　〃your　powers　of　observation　are　sadly　lacking。〃　〃You　know　his　appearance。〃
　〃Never　laid　eyes　on　him。　But　if　you　look　through　the　doorway　on　the　west　wall；　guarded　by　a　giant　dressed　in　a　dynastic　costume；　you'll　find　Qin　Shang's　private　audience　room。　My　guess　is　he　sits　in　there　and　holds　court。〃
　Julia　began　to　rise　to　her　feet。
　〃Let's　get　this　over　with。〃
　Pitt　held　out　a　hand　and　restrained　her。
　〃Not　so　fast。　I　haven't　had　my　after…dinner　cognac　yet。〃
　〃You're　impossible。〃
　〃Women　are　always　telling　me　that。〃　A　steward　took　thek　plates；　and　Pitt　left　Julia　momentarily　for　the　bar；　returning　in　a　few　minutes　with　two　crystal　snifters　containing　a　fifty…year…old　cognac。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　as　if　he　hadn't　a　care　in　the　world；　he　savored　the　smooth　flavor。　As　he　held　the　snifter　to　his　lips；　he　saw　a　man；　reflected　in　the　crystal；　approach　their　table。
　
　〃Good　evening；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I　hope　you're　enjoying　yourselves。　I　am　your　host。〃
　Julia　froze　as　she　looked　up　into　the　smiling　face　of　Qin　Shang。　He　looked　nothing　like　what　she　imagined。　She　did　not　envision　him　as　tall　and　stout。　The　face　was　not　that　of　a　cruel；　cold…blooded　murderer　with　vast　power。　There　was　no　hint　of　authority　behind　the　friendly　tone；　and　yet　she　could　sense　an　underlying　coldness。　He　stood　immaculate　in　a　beautifully　cut　tuxedo　embroidered　with　golden　tigers。
　
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　said　Julia；　barely　able　to　remain　polite；　〃It　truly　is　a　magnificent　affair。〃
　Pitt　rose　to　his　feet　slowly　in　a　conscious　effort　not　to　appear　patronizing。　〃May　I　present　Ms。　Julia　Lee。〃
　〃And　you；　sir？〃　asked　Qin　Shang。
　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　
　There　it　was。　No　skyrockets；　no　drumroll。　The　guy　has　style；　Pitt　had　to　give　him　that。　The　smile　remained　fixed。　If　there　was　surprise　at　finding　Pitt　alive　and　breathing；　Qin　Shang　didn't　show　it。　The　only　detectable　response　was　a　slight　shift　of　the　eyes。　For　long　moments　jade…green　eyes　locked　with　opaline…green；　neither　man　willing　to　break　off。　Pitt　knew　damned　well　it　was　stupid　and　saw　no　purpose　in　the　staredown　other　than　egotistical　satisfaction　by　the　winner。　Gradually；　his　gaze　lifted　to　Qin　Shang's　eyebrows；　then　forehead；　lingered　and　moved　to　the　hair。　Then　Pitt's　eyes　widened　a　fraction　as　if　he　found　something；　and　his　lips　broke　into　a　slight　grin。
　
　The　ruse　worked。　Qin　Shang's　concentration　was　broken。　He　involuntarily　raised　his　eyeballs　to　look　upward。　〃May　I　ask　what　you　find　so　amusing；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃I　was　just　wondering　who　your　hairstylist　was；〃　Pitt　answered　innocently。
　〃She　is　a　Chinese　lady　who　attends　me　once　a　day。　I'd　give　you　her　name；　but　she　is　in　my　private　employ。〃
　〃I　envy　you。　My　barber　is　a　mad　Hungarian　with　palsy。〃
　There　came　a　brief　icy　stare。
　〃The　photo　of　you　in　your　dossier　does　not　do　you　justice。〃
　〃I　applaud　a　man　who　does　his　homework。〃
　〃May　I　have　a　word　with　you　in　private；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　Pitt　nodded　toward　Julia。　〃Only　if　Ms。　Lee　is　present。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　our　conversation　may　not　be　of　interest　to　the　lovely　lady。〃
　Pitt　realized　that　Qin　Shang　did　not　know　Julia's　credentials。　〃On　the　contrary。　Rude　of　me　not　to　mention　that　Ms。　Lee　is　an　agent　with　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service。　She　was　also　a　passenger　on　one　of　your　cattle　boats　and　had　the　misfortune　of　enjoying　your　hospitality　at　Orion　Lake。　You　are　familiar；　I　trust；　with　Orion　Lake。　It's　in　the　state　of　Washington。〃
　
　For　an　instant　there　was　a　red　glare　in　the　jade　eyes；　and　then　it　was　just　as　quickly　extinguished。　Qin　Shang　remained　as　impenetrable　as　marble。　His　voice　came　even　and　calm。　〃If　you　both　will　please　follow　me。〃　He　turned　and　strode　away；　knowing　unquestionably　Pitt　and　Julia　would　trail　in　his　wake。
　
　〃I　think　the　time　has　e；〃　said　Pitt　as　he　helped　Julia　from　her　chair。
　〃You　crafty　dog；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　knew　all　along　he　would　seek　us　out。〃
　〃Shang　didn't　get　where　he's　at　without　a　healthy　dose　of　curiosity。〃
　
　Obediently；　they　followed　Qin　Shang　through　the　milling　congregation　until　he　came　to　the　costumed　giant　who　opened　the　door　for　him。　They　entered　a　room　unlike　the　heavily　furnished　and　decorated　one　they　just　left。　This　room　was　modest　and　austere。　The　walls　were　merely　painted　in　a　soft　blue。　The　only　furnishings　were　a　settee；　two　chairs　and　a　desk　whose　surface　was　barren　except　for　a　telephone。　He　motioned　for　them　to　sit　on　the　settee　as　he　took　his　place　behind　the　desk。　Pitt　was　amused　to　see　that　the　desk　and　chair　were　slightly　elevated　so　that　Qin　Shang　looked　down　at　his　visitors。　〃Forgive　me　for　mentioning　it；〃　Pitt　said　offhandedly；　〃but　the　bronze　incense　burner　in　the　main　entry。　From　the　Liao　dynasty；　I　believe。〃
　
　〃Why　yes；　you　are　quite　correct。〃
　〃I　assume　you　know　that　it's　a　fake。〃
　〃You　are　most　observant；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Qin　Shang　without　taking　offense。　〃The　piece　is　not　fake；　but　a　well…executed　replica。　The　original　was　lost　in　nineteen　forty…eight　during　the　war　when　the　People's　Army　of　Mao　Tse…tung　crushed　the　forces　of