jamesclavell.noblehouse-第167部分

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　〃Bloody　man's　a　Socialist　that's　why！　He　should　be　blackballed　too。〃
　〃Oh　e　off　it；　Pug。　Toxe's　all　right　…　so're　some　Socialists；〃　Shi…teh　said。　〃But　he　should　fire　Haply；　and　we'd　all　be　better　off！〃　They　had　all　been　subject　to　Haply's　attacks。　A　few　weeks　ago　he　had　written　a　series　of　scathing　exposés　of　some　of　Shi…teh's　trading　deals　within　his　huge　conglomeration　of　panies　and　implied　that　all　sorts　of　dubious　contributions　were　being　made　to　various　VIPs　in　the　Hong　Kong　Government　for　favors。
　〃I　agree；〃　Pugmire　said；　hating　him　too。　Haply；　with　his　accuracy；　had　reported　the　private　details　of　Pugmire's　forthing　merger　with　Superfoods　and　had　made　it　abundantly　clear　Pugmire　benefited　far　more　than　his　shareholders　in　General　Stores　who　were　barely　consulted　on　the　terms　of　the　merger。　〃Rotten　bastard！　I'd　certainly　like　to　know　where　he　gets　his　information。〃
　〃Curious　Haply　should　be　with　her；〃　Crosse　said；　watching　their　lips；　waiting　for　them　to　speak。　〃The　only　major　pany　he　hasn't　gone　after　yet　is　Struan's。〃
　〃You　think　it's　Struan's　turn　and　Haply's　pumping　Adryon？〃　one　of　the　others　asked。　〃Wouldn't　that　be　smashing！〃
　Excitedly　they　watched　Dunross　go　into　the　stands；　the　two　young　people　still　not　having　noticed　him。
　〃Maybe　he'll　whip　him　like　he　did　the　other　bastard；〃　Pugmire　said　gleefully。
　〃Eh？〃　Shi…teh　said。　〃Who？　What　was　that？〃
　〃Oh；　I　thought　you　knew。　About　two　years　ago　one　of　the　Vic's　junior　execs　straight　out　from　England　started　pursuing　Adryon。　She　was　sixteen；　perhaps　seventeen　…　he　was　twenty…two；　as　big　as　a　house；　bigger　than　Ian；　his　name　was　Byron。　He　thought　he　was　Lord　Byron　on　the　rampage　and　he　mounted　a　campaign。　The　poor　girl　was　bowled　over。　Ian　warned　him　a　last　time。　The　creep　kept　calling；　so　Ian　invited　him　out　to　his　gym　at　Shek…O；　put　on　gloves　　…　he　knew　the　bugger　fancied　himself　as　a　boxer　…　and　proceeded　to　pulp　him。〃　The　others　laughed。　〃Within　the　week　the　bank　had　sent　him　packing。〃
　〃Did　you　see　it？〃　Shi…teh　asked。
　〃Of　course　not。　They　were　alone　for　God's　sake；　but　the　bloody　fool　was　really　in　a　bad　way。　I　wouldn't　like　to　go　against　the　tai…pan　…　not　when　his　temper's　up。〃
　Shi…teh　looked　back　at　Dunross。　〃Perhaps　he'll　do　the　same　to　that　little　rotter；〃　he　said　happily。
　They　watched。　Hopefully。　Crosse　wandered　off　with　Brian　Kwok；　going　closer。
　Dunross　was　running　up　the　steps　in　the　stands　now　with　his　easy　strength　and　he　stopped　beside　them。　〃Hello；　darling；　you're　up　early；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh　hello；　Dad；〃　Adryon　said；　startled。　〃I　didn't　se…　What　happened　to　your　face？〃
　〃I　ran　into　the　back　end　of　a　bus。　Morning；　Haply。〃
　〃Morning；　sir。〃　Haply　half　got　up　and　sat　down　again。
　〃A　bus？〃　she　said；　then　suddenly；　〃Did　you　prang　the　Jag？　Oh；　did　you　get　a　ticket？〃　she　asked　hopefully；　having　had　three　this　year　herself。
　〃No。　You're　up　early　aren't　you？〃　he　said；　sitting　beside　her。
　〃Actually　we're　late。　We've　been　up　all　night。〃
　〃Oh？〃　He　held　on　to　forty…eight　immediate　questions　and　said　instead；　〃You　must　be　tired。〃
　〃No。　No；　actually　I'm　not。〃
　〃What's　this　all　about；　a　celebration？〃
　〃No。　Actually　it's　poor　Martin。〃　She　put　a　gentle　hand　on　the　youth's　shoulder。　With　an　effort　Dunross　kept　his　smile　as　gentle　as　her　hand。　He　turned　his　attention　to　the　young　Canadian。　〃What's　the　problem？〃
　Haply　hesitated；　then　told　him　what　had　happened　at　the　paper　when　the　publisher　had　called　and　Christian　Toxe；　his　editor；　had　canceled　his　rumor　series。　〃That　bastard's　sold　us　out。　He's　allowed　the　publisher　to　censor　us。　I　know　I'm　right。　I　know　I'm　right。〃
　〃How？〃　Dunross　asked；　thinking；　What　a　callous　little　bastard　you　are！
　〃Sorry；　I　can't　reveal　my　source。〃
　〃He　really　can't；　Dad；　that's　an　infringement　of　freedom　of　the　press；〃　Adryon　said　defensively。
　Haply　was　bunching　his　fists；　then　absently　he　put　his　hand　on　Adryon's　knee。　She　covered　it　with　one　of　her　own。　〃The　Ho…Pak's　being　shoved　into　the　ground　for　nothing。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　Gor…　but　tai…pans　are　behind　the　raid　and　it　doesn't　make　sense。〃
　〃Gornt's　behind　it？〃　Dunross　frowned　at　this　new　thought。
　〃I　didn't　say　Gornt；　sir。　No　I　didn't　say　that。〃
　〃He　didn't；　Father；〃　Adryon　said。　〃What　should　Martin　do？　Should　he　resign　or　just　swallow　his　pride　an…　〃
　〃I　just　can't；　Adryon；〃　Martin　Haply　said。
　〃Let　Father　talk；　he'll　know。〃
　Dunross　saw　her　turn　her　lovely　eyes　back　on　him　and　he　felt　a　glow　at　her　confident　innocence　that　he　had　never　felt　before。　〃Two　things：　First　you　go　back　at　once。　Christian　will　need　all　the　help　he　can　get。　Second；　y…　〃
　〃Help？〃
　〃Haven't　you　heard　about　his　wife？〃
　〃What　about　her？〃
　〃Don't　you　know　she's　dead？〃
　They　stared　at　him　blankly。
　Quickly　he　told　them　about　Aberdeen。　Both　of　them　were　shocked　and　Haply　stuttered；　〃Jesus；　we　。。。　we　didn't　listen　to　a　radio　or　anything　。。。　we　were　just　dancing　and　talking。　。。。〃　He　jumped　up　and　started　to　leave　then　came　back。　〃I　。。。　I'd　better　go　at　once。　Jesus！〃
　Adryon　was　on　her　feet。　〃I'll　drop　you。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃Haply；　would　you　ask　Christian　to　emphasize　in　bold　type　that　anyone　who　got　dunked　or　went　swimming　should　see　their　doctors　right　smartly　…　very　important。〃
　〃Got　it！〃
　Adryon　said　anxiously；　〃Father；　did　you　see　Doc　Too…　〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Cleansed　inside　and　out。　Off　you　go！〃
　〃What　was　the　second　thing；　tai…pan？〃　Haply　asked。
　〃Second　was　that　you　should　remember　it's　the　publisher's　money；　therefore　his　newspaper　and　he　can　do　what　he　likes。　But　publishers　can　be　persuaded。　I　wonder；　for　instance；　who　got　to　him　or　her　and　why　he　and　she　agreed　to　call　Christian　。。。　if　you're　so　sure　your　story's　true。〃
　Haply　beamed　suddenly。　〃e　on；　honey；〃　he　said　and　shouted　thanks。　They　ran　off　hand…in…hand。
　Dunross　stayed　sitting　in　the　stands　for　the　moment。　He　sighed　deeply；　then　got　up　and　went　away。
　Roger　Crosse　was　with　Brian　Kwok　under　cover　near　the　jockeys'　changing　rooms　and　he　had　been　lip…reading　the　tai…pan's　conversation。　He　watched　him　leave；　the　SI　guard　following　him。　〃No　need　to　waste　any　more　time　here；　Brian。　e　along。〃　He　headed　for　the　far　exit。　〃I　wonder　if　Robert　found　anything　at　Sha　Tin。〃
　〃Those　bloody　Werewolves　are　going　to　have　a　field　day。　All　Hong　Kong'll　be　frightened　to　death。　I'll　bet　we　。。。〃　Brian　Kwok　stopped　suddenly。　〃Sir！　Look！〃　He　nodded　at　the　stands；　noticing　Suslev　and　Clinker　among　the　scattered　groups　who　watched　out　of　the　rain。　〃I　wouldn't've　thought　he'd　be　up　yet！〃
　Crosse's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Yes。　That's　curious。　Yes。〃　He　hesitated；　then　changed　direction；　watching　their　lips　carefully。　〃Since　he's　honored　us　we　might　as　well　have　a　little　chat。　Ah　。。。　they've　seen　us。　Clinker　really　doesn't　like　us　at　all。〃　Leisurely　he　led　the　way　into　the　stands。
　The　big　Russian　put　a　smile　on　his　face　and　slid　out　a　thin　flask　and　took　a　sip。　He　offered　it　to　Clinker。
　〃No　thanks；　mate；　I　just　drink　beer。〃　Clinker's　cold　eyes　were　on　the　approaching　policemen。　〃Proper　niffy　around　here；　ain't　it？〃　he　said　loudly。
　〃Morning；　Clinker；〃　Crosse　said；　equally　coldly。　Then　he　smiled　at　Suslev。　〃Morning；　Captain。　Filthy　day；　what？〃
　〃We're　alive；　tovarich；　alive；　so　how　can　a　day　be　filthy；　eh？〃　Suslev　was　filled　with　outward　bonhomie；　continuing　his　cover　as　a　hail…fellow…well…met。　〃Will　there　be　racing　Saturday；　Superintendent？〃
　〃Probably。　The　final　decision'll　be　made　Saturday　morning。　How　long　will　you　be　in　port？〃
　〃Not　long；　Superintendent。　The　repairs　to　the　rudder　go　slowly。〃
　〃Not　too　slowly　I　hope。　We　all　get　very　nervous　if　our　VIP　harbor　guests　don't　get　very　rapid　service。〃　Crosse's　voice　was　crisp。　〃I'll　talk　to　the　harbor　master。〃
　〃Thank　you；　that's　。。。　that's　very　thoughtful　of　you。　And　it　was　thoughtful　of　your　department　。。。〃　Suslev　hesitated；　then　turned　to　Clinker。　〃Old　friend；　do　you　mind？〃
　〃Not　on　your　nelly；〃　Clinker　said。　〃Narks　make　me　nervous。〃　Brian　Kwok　looked　at　him。　Clinker　looked　back　unafraid。　〃I'll　be　in　me　car。〃　He　wandered　off。
　Suslev's　voice　hardened。　〃It　was　thoughtful　of　your　department　to　send　back　the　body　of　our　poor　rade　Voranski。　Have　you　found　the　murderers？〃
　〃Unfortunately　no。　They　could　be