jamesclavell.noblehouse-第313部分

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　bed　and　strode　naked　for　the　bathroom。
　She　studied　his　tall　body　critically；　the　crinkled；　savage　scars　of　the　old　burns　from　his　airplane　crash　covering　most　of　his　legs。　But　the　legs　were　strong；　the　flanks　strong　and　the　yang　resolute　and　healthy。　Good；　she　thought。　I'm　glad　to　see　all's　well。　Even　so；　she　was　concerned　at　his　perpetual　leanness；　with　no　substantial　belly　that　his　wealth　and　position　merited。　〃You're　not　eating　enough；　my　son！〃
　〃More　than　enough！〃
　〃There's　hot　water　in　the　bucket。　Don't　forget　to　wash　your　teeth。〃
　Contentedly　she　began　to　remake　the　bed。　〃He　needed　that　rest；〃　she　muttered；　not　realizing　she　was　talking　aloud。　〃He's　been　like　a　man　possessed　for　the　last　week；　working　all　hours；　fear　in　his　face　and　over　him。　Such　fear　can　kill。〃　When　she　had　finished　the　bed　she　called　out；　〃Now　don't　stay　out　late　tonight。　You　must　take　care　of　yourself　and　if　you　go　with　a　whore　bring　her　here　like　a　sensible　person；　heya？〃
　She　heard　him　laugh　and　she　was　glad　for　it。　There　hasn't　been　enough　laughter　from　him　the　last　few　days；　she　thought。　〃A　man　needs　laughter　and　youthful　yin　to　nourish　the　yang。　Eh　what；　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　said；　where's　Number　One　Daughter？〃
　〃In；　out；　always　out；　out　with　that　new　barbarian；〃　she　said　going　to　the　bathroom　door　and　peering　at　him　as　he　doused　water　over　himself。　〃The　one　with　long　hair　and　crumpled　clothes　who　works　for　the　China　Guardian。　I　don't　approve　of　him；　my　son。　No；　not　at　all！〃
　〃Where　are　they　'out；'　Ah　Tat？〃
　The　old　woman　shrugged；　chomping　her　gums。　〃The　sooner　Number　One　Daughter's　married　the　better。　Better　for　her　to　be　another　man's　problem　than　yours。　Or　you　should　give　her　a　good　whip　to　her　rump。〃　He　laughed　again　and　she　wondered　why　he　laughed　this　time。　〃He's　getting　simple　in　the　head；〃　she　muttered；　then　turned　away。　At　the　far　door；　remembering；　she　called　out；　〃There's　small　chow　for　you　before　you　leave。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　food　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped；　knowing　it　was　a　waste　of　time。　He　heard　her　go　off　mumbling；　closing　the　door　after　her。
　He　was　standing　in　the　bath　and　bailed　more　cold　water　over　himself。　Christ；　I　wish　this　bloody　water　shortage'd　cease；　he　thought。　I　could　use　a　really　long　hot　shower；　his　mind　inexorably　zeroing　in　on　Adryon。　At　once　he　heard　Penelope's　admonition；　〃Do　grow　up；　Ian！　It　really　is　her　own　life；　do　grow　up！〃
　〃I'm　trying；〃　he　muttered；　toweling　himself　vigorously。　Just　before　he　had　slept　he　had　called　Penelope。　She　was　already　at　Castle　Avisyard；　Kathy　still　in　the　London　clinic　for　more　tests。　〃She'll　be　ing　up　next　week。　I　do　so　hope　everything　will　be　all　right。〃
　〃I'm　in　touch　with　the　doctors；　Penn。〃　He　told　her　about　sending　Gavallan　to　Scotland。　〃He's　always　wanted　to　be　there；　Kathy　too；　it'll　be　better　for　both　of　them；　eh？〃
　〃Oh；　that's　marvelous；　Ian。　That'll　be　a　marvelous　tonic。〃
　〃They　can　take　over　the　whole　east　wing。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Ian；　the　weather's　wonderful　today；　wonderful；　and　the　house　so　lovely。　No　chance　you　can　e　for　a　few　days　I　suppose？〃
　〃I'm　up　to　my　nose　in　it；　Penn！　You　heard　about　the　market？〃
　He　had　heard　the　momentary　silence　and　he　could　see　her　face　change　and　within　her　head　hear　her　impotent　raging　against　the　market　and　Hong　Kong　and　business；　as　much　as　she　tried　to　cast　it　away。
　〃Yes。　It　must　be　terrible；〃　she　had　said；　still　a　thread　in　her　voice。　〃Poor　you。　Alastair　was　carrying　on　a　bit　last　night。　It'll　be　all　right；　won't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　he　said　with　great　confidence；　wondering　what　she　would　say　if　he　told　her　that　he　would　have　to　guarantee　personally　the　Murtagh　loan　if　it　came　through。　Oh　Christ　let　it　e　through。　He　gave　her　all　the　news；　then　told　her　that　AMG　had　sent　him　a　very　interesting　message　that　he　would　tell　her　about　when　he　saw　her；　adding　that　the　messenger　was　a　Japanese…Swiss　woman。　〃She's　quite　a　bird！〃
　〃I　hope　not　too　much！〃
　〃Oh　no！　How's　Glenna　and　how're　you？〃
　〃Just　fine。　Have　you　heard　from　Duncan？〃
　〃Yes。　He　arrives　tomorrow　…　I'll　get　him　to　phone　you　the　moment　he's　home。　That's　about　it；　Penn；　love　you！〃
　〃I　love　you　too　and　wish　you　were　here。　Oh；　how's　Adryon？〃
　〃More　of　the　same。　She　and　that　Haply　fellow　seem　to　be　inseparable！〃
　〃Do　remember　she's　very　grown　up；　darling；　and　don't　worry　about　her。　Just　try　to　grow　up　yourself。〃
　He　finished　drying　himself　and　looked　at　his　reflection　in　the　mirror；　wondering　if　he　was　old　for　his　years　or　young；　not　feeling　any　different　from　when　he　was　nineteen　…　at　university　or　at　war。　After　a　moment；　he　said；　〃You're　lucky　to　be　alive；　old　chum。　You're　oh　so　lucky。〃　His　sleep　had　been　heavy　and　he　had　been　dreaming　about　Tiptop　and；　just　at　waking；　someone　had　said　in　his　dream；　〃What're　you　going　to　do？〃　I　don't　know；　he　thought。　How　far　do　I　trust　that　bugger　Sinders？　Not　far。　But　I　got　under　his　guard　with　my　threat　。。。　no；　my　promise　to　publish　the　eleven　pieces　of　paper。　And　I　will；　by　God！
　I'd　better　call　Tiptop　before　I　leave　for　Plumm's。　I'd　better。
　
　His　ears　heard　the　bedroom　door　swing　open　again　and　Ah　Tat　padded　back　across　the　room　to　stand　at　the　bathroom　door。　〃Ah；　my　son；　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　there's　a　barbarian　waiting　for　you　downstairs。〃
　〃Oh？　Who？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃A　barbarian。　Not　as　tall　as　you。　He　has　a　strange　name；　and　he's　more　ugly　than　usual　with　hair　of　straw！〃　She　searched　in　her　pocket　and　found　the　card。　〃Here。〃
　The　card　read；　Dave　Murtagh　III；　Royal　Belgium　and　Far　East　Bank。　Dunross's　stomach　twisted。　〃How　long's　he　been　waiting？〃
　〃An　hour；　perhaps　more。〃
　〃What？　Fornicate　all　gods。　Why　didn't　you　wake　me？〃
　〃Eh？　Why　didn't　I　wake　you？〃　she　asked　caustically。　〃Why？　Why　do　you　think？　Am　I　a　fool？　A　foreign　devil？　Ayeeyah；　what　is　more　important；　him　waiting　or　your　rest？　Ayeeyah！〃　she　added　disdainfully　and　stalked　off；　grumbling；　〃As　if　I　didn't　know　what　was　best　for　you。〃
　Dunross　dressed　hurriedly　and　rushed　downstairs。　Murtagh　was　sprawled　out　in　an　easy　chair。　He　awoke　with　a　start　as　the　door　opened。　〃Oh；　hi！〃
　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　I　was　having　a　kip　and　didn't　know　you　were　here。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　tai…pan。〃　Dave　Murtagh　was　haggard。　〃The　old　biddy　threatened　the　hell　out　of　me　if　I　so　much　as　murmured　but　it　didn't　matter；　I　dropped　off。〃　He　stretched　wearily；　stifling　a　yawn　and　shook　his　head　to　try　to　clear　it。　〃Jesus；　sorry　to　e　uninvited　but　it's　better　than　on　the　phone。〃
　Dunross　held　his　aching　disappointment　off　his　face。　It　must　be　a　turndown；　he　thought。　〃Whiskey？〃
　〃Sure；　with　soda。　Thanks。　Jesus　I'm　tired。〃
　Dunross　went　to　the　decanter　and　poured；　and　a　brandy　and　soda　for　himself。　〃Health；〃　he　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　ask。
　They　touched　glasses。
　〃Health。　And　you　got　your　deal！〃　The　young　man's　face　cracked　into　an　enormous　grin。　〃We　did　it！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃They　screamed　and　they　hollered　but　an　hour　ago　they　agreed。　We　got　everything！　120　percent　of　the　ships　and　a　50　million　U。S。　revolving　fund；　cash's　up　Wednesday；　but　you　can　mit　Monday　at　10：00　a。m。；　the　offer　of　the　tanker　deals　was　the　clincher。　Jesus；　we　did　it　for　chrissake！〃
　It　took　all　of　Dunross's　training　to　hold　in　his　bellow　of　triumph　and　keep　the　joy　off　his　face　and　say　calmly；　〃Oh；　jolly　good；〃　and　take　another　sip　of　his　brandy。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　seeing　the　shock　on　the　younger　man's　face。
　Murtagh　shook　his　head　and　slumped　down　exhaustedly。　〃You　limeys're　something　else！　I'll　never　understand　you。　I　give　you　a　hundred　percent　parole　with　the　sweetest　deal　God　ever　gave　man　and　all　you　say　is　'Oh　jolly　good。'　〃
　Dunross　laughed。　It　was　a　great　bellow　of　laughter　and　all　his　happiness　spilled　out。　He　pummeled　Murtagh's　hand　and　thanked　him。　〃How's　that？〃　he　asked；　beaming。
　〃That's　better！〃　He　grabbed　his　briefcase　and　opened　it　and　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　contracts　and　papers。　〃These're　just　as　we　agreed。　I　was　up　all　night　drafting　them。　Here's　the　main　loan　agreement；　this's　your　personal　guarantee；　these're　for　the　corporate　seal；　ten　copies　of　everything。〃
　〃I'll　initial　one　set　now　which　you　keep；　you　initial　one　which　I'll　keep　and　then　we'll　sign　formally　tomorrow　morning。　Can　you　meet　me　in　my　office　tomorrow　morning；