cc.floodtide-第68部分

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in　nineteen　forty…eight　during　the　war　when　the　People's　Army　of　Mao　Tse…tung　crushed　the　forces　of　Chiang　Kai…shek。〃
　〃The　burner　is　still　in　China？〃
　〃No；　it　was　on　a　ship　with　many　other　ancient　treasures　stolen　from　my　country　by　Chiang　that　were　lost　at　sea。〃
　〃The　ship's　final　resting　place　is　a　mystery？〃
　〃A　mystery　I　have　worked　many　years　to　solve。　To　find　the　ship　and　its　cargo　is　my　life's　most　passionate　desire。〃
　〃It's　been　my　experience　that　shipwrecks　are　never　found　until　they　want　to　be　found。〃
　〃Very　poetic；〃　Qin　Shang　said；　pausing　to　glance　at　his　watch。　〃I　must　return　and　tend　to　my　guests　so　I'll　be　brief　before　I　have　my　security　people　escort　you　to　the　door。　Please　tell　me　the　purpose　behind　your　uninvited　presence。〃
　〃I　thought　the　purpose　was　transparent；〃　Pitt　replied　conversationally。　〃Ms。　Lee　and　I　wanted　to　meet　the　man　we're　going　to　hang。〃
　〃You're　very　succinct；　Mr。　Pitt。　I　appreciate　that　in　an　adversary。　But　it　is　you　who　will　be　a　casualty　in　the　war。〃
　〃What　war　is　that？〃
　〃The　economic　war　between　the　People's　Republic　of　China　and　the　United　States。　A　war　for　extraordinary　power　and　wealth　for　the　winner。〃
　〃I　have　no　ambitions　on　that　score。〃
　〃Ah；　but　I　do。　That's　the　difference　between　us　and　between　our　countrymen。　Like　most　of　the　rabble　in　America；　you　lack　determination　and　zeal。〃
　Pitt　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃If　greed　is　your　god；　then　you　possess　very　little　of　true　value。〃
　〃You　think　of　me　as　a　greedmonger？〃　Qin　Shang　asked　pleasantly。
　〃I've　seen　little　of　your　lifestyle　that　persuades　me　otherwise。〃
　〃All　the　great　men　of　history　were　driven　by　ambition。　It　goes　hand　in　hand　with　power。　Contrary　to　public　opinion；　the　world　is　not　divided　by　good　and　evil；　but　between　those　who　do　and　those　who　do　not；　the　visionaries　and　the　blind；　the　realists　and　the　romanticists。　The　world　does　not　turn　on　good　deeds　and　sentiment；　Mr。　Pitt；　but　on　achievement。〃
　〃What　do　you　ultimately　hope　to　gain　in　the　end　besides　a　pretentious　edifice　over　your　coffin？〃
　〃You　misunderstand　me。　My　goal　is　to　help　China　bee　the　greatest　nation　the　world　has　ever　known。〃
　〃While　you　bee　even　more　filthy…rich　than　you　already　are。　Where　does　it　end；　Mr。　Shang？〃
　〃There　is　no　end；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　〃You'll　have　a　tough　fight　on　your　hands　if　you　think　China　can　surpass　the　United　States。〃
　〃Ah；　but　the　deed　is　done；〃　Qin　Shang　said　matter…of…factly。　〃You　country　has　died　a　slow　death　as　a　world　power　while　my　country　is　in　its　ascendancy。　Already　we　have　passed　the　United　States　to　bee　the　largest　economy　in　history。　Already　we　have　passed　your　trade　deficit　with　Japan。　Your　government　is　impotent　despite　its　nuclear　arsenal。　Soon　it　will　be　unthinkable　for　your　leaders　to　intervene　when　we　assume　control　of　Taiwan　and　the　rest　of　the　Asian　nations。〃
　〃So　what　does　it　really　matter？〃　asked　Pitt。　〃You'll　still　be　playing　catch…up　to　our　standard　of　living　for　the　next　hundred　years。〃
　〃Time　is　on　our　side。　Not　only　will　we　erode　America　from　the　outside；　but　with　the　help　of　your　own　countrymen　we　will　eventually　cause　it　to　crumble　from　within。　If　nothing　else；　future　division　and　internal　race　wars　will　seal　your　fate　as　a　great　nation。〃
　Pitt　began　to　see　Qin　Shang's　direction。　〃Aided　and　abetted　by　your　doctrine　of　illegal　immigration；　is　that　it？〃
　Qin　Shang　looked　at　Julia。　〃Your　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service　estimates　that　nearly　a　million　Chinese　enter　America　and　Canada　legally　and　illegally　each　year。　Actually；　the　figure　is　closer　to　two　million。　While　you　concentrated　on　keeping　out　your　neighbors　to　the　south；　we　have　been　flooding　masses　of　my　countrymen　across　the　sea　and　across　your　shoreline。　One　day；　sooner　than　you　think；　your　coastal　states　and　the　Canadian　provinces　will　be　an　extension　of　China。〃
　To　Pitt　the　concept　was　inconceivable。　〃I'll　grade　you　with　an　A　for　wishful　thinking　and　an　F　for　practicality。〃
　〃Not　as　ridiculous　as　you　may　think；〃　Qin　Shang　said　patiently。　〃Consider　how　the　boundaries　of　Europe　have　changed　in　the　past　hundred　years。　Migration　through　the　centuries　has　shattered　old　empires　and　built　new；　only　to　have　them　fall　again　from　new　waves　of　migrants。〃
　〃An　interesting　theory；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　a　theory　nonetheless。　The　only　way　for　your　scenario　to　bee　reality　is　for　the　American　people　to　lie　down　and　play　dead。〃
　〃Your　countrymen　have　slept　through　the　nineteen　nineties；〃　Qin　Shang　replied；　a　visceral；　even　menacing　quality　in　his　voice。　〃When　they　finally　wake　up；　it　will　be　a　decade　too　late。〃
　〃You　paint　a　grim　picture　for　humanity；〃　said　Julia；　visibly　shaken。
　Pitt　went　silent。　He　did　not　have　the　answer　nor　was　he　Nostradamus。　His　brain　told　him　that　Qin　Shang's　prophecy　might　indeed　e　to　pass。　But　his　heart　refused　to　reject　hope；　He　came　to　his　feet　and　nodded　at　Julia。　〃I　think　we've　heard　enough　of　Mr。　Shang's　meaningless　drivel。　It's　plain　to　see　that　he's　a　man　who　loves　to　hear　himself　talk。　Let's　clear　out　of　this　architectural　monstrosity　and　its　phony　decor　and　breathe　fresh　air　again。〃
　Qin　Shang　leaped　to　his　feet。　〃You　dare　mock　me；〃　he　snarled。
　Pitt　moved　to　the　desk　and　leaned　across　the　surface　until　his　face　was　bare　inches　away　from　Qin　Shang's。　〃Mock　you；　Mr。　Shang？　That's　putting　it　mildly。　I'd　rather　have　my　Christmas　stocking　filled　with　cow　dung　than　listen　to　your　retarded　philosophy　on　future　affairs。〃　Then　he　took　Julia's　hand。　〃e　on；　we're　out　of　here。〃
　Julia　made　no　effort　to　move；　she　appeared　dazed。　Pitt　had　to　pull　her　along　behind　him。　At　the　doorway　he　paused　and　looked　back。
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Shang；　for　a　most　provocative　evening。　I　enjoyed　your　excellent　champagne　and　seafood；　especially　the　abalone。〃
　The　Chinese's　face　was　tight　and　cold；　twisted　in　a　mask　of　malevolence。　〃No　man　speaks　to　Qin　Shang　in　this　manner。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　for　you；　Shang。　On　the　surface　you　are　fabulously　rich　and　almighty；　but　underneath　you're　only　a　self…made　man　who　worships　his　inventor。〃
　Qin　Shang　fought　to　regain　control　of　his　emotions。　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　came　as　though　out　of　an　arctic　mist。　〃You　have　made　a　fatal　error；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　Pitt　smiled　thinly。　〃I　was　about　to　say　the　same　about　the　two　cretins　you　sent　to　kill　me　earlier　this　evening。〃
　〃Another　time；　another　place；　you　may　not　be　so　fortunate。〃
　Pitt　said　coldly；　〃Just　so　we　keep　a　level　playing　field；　please　be　advised　that　I　have　hired　a　team　of　professional　assassins　to　terminate　you；　Mr。　Shang。　With　luck；　we'll　never　meet　again。〃
　Before　Qin　Shang　could　respond；　Pitt　and　Julia　were　walking　through　the　mass　of　guests　toward　the　front　entrance。　Julia　discreetly　opened　her　purse；　held　it　close　to　her　face　as　though　searching　for　cosmetics　and　spoke　into　the　tiny　radio。
　〃This　is　Dragon　Lady。　We're　ing　out。〃
　〃Dragon　Lady；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Is　that　the　best　you　could　dream　up　for　a　code　name？〃
　The　dove…gray　eyes　gazed　at　him　as　if　he　was　thick　between　the　ears。　〃It　fits；〃　she　said　simply。
　If　Qin　Shang's　paid　killers　had　any　plans　of　following　the　Duesenberg　and　blasting　its　occupants　at　the　first　stoplight；　they　were　quickly　laid　to　rest　as　two　unmarked　vans　fell　into　a　convoy　behind　the　big　car。
　〃I　hope　they're　on　our　side；〃　said　Pitt。
　〃Peter　Harper　is　very　thorough。　The　INS　protects　its　own　with　specialists　outside　the　service。　The　people　in　the　vans　are　from　a　little…known　security　force　that　supplies　teams　of　bodyguards　on　request　from　different　branches　of　government。〃
　〃A　great　pity。〃
　She　looked　at　him　quizzically。　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃With　all　these　armed　chaperons　watching　our　every　move；　I　can't　very　well　take　you　to　my　place　for　a　nightcap。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　a　nightcap　is　all　you　had　in　mind？〃　Julia　replied　in　a　sultry　voice。
　Pitt　took　one　hand　off　the　wheel　and　patted　her　bare　knee。　〃Women　have　always　been　an　enigma　to　me。　I　had　hoped　you　might　forget　you　were　an　agent　of　the　government　and　throw　caution　to　the　winds。〃
　
　She　moved　across　the　leather　bench　seat　until　her　body　was　pressed　against　his　and　slid　her　hands　around　his　arm。　She　found　the　muffled　roar　of　the　engine　and　the　smell　of　the　leather　sensual。　〃I　went　off　duty　the　minute　we　wal