jamesclavell.noblehouse-第318部分

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upidity　to　be　kidnapped　and　now　murdered？　Oh　yes。　And　wasn't　he　meeting　with　the　same　foreign　devil　in　Macao　next　week　to　arrange　finances；　payments；　to　set　into　motion　the　whole　vast　operation？　Of　course　he　should　be　High　Tiger；　of　course　he　should　have　the　most　profit！　With　their　bined　expertise　…　and　Profitable　Choy's　modern　techniques　…　he　could　revolutionize　the　smuggling　of　the　opium　into　Hong　Kong；　and　once　here；　revolutionize　the　conversion　of　the　raw　narcotic　into　the　immensely　profitable　White　Powders；　and　finally；　the　means　of　export　to　the　markets　of　the　world。　Now　that　Paul　Choy　was　already　in　the　shipping　and　air　freighting　department　of　Second　Big　pany　and　two　grandsons　of　Yuen；　also　American　trained；　in　their　customs　broking　operation　…　and　another　four　English　university…trained　relations　of　White　Powder　Lee　placed　within　Noble　House's　Kai　Tak　go…down　operations　and　All　Asia　Air's　loading　and　unloading　division；　imports　and　exports　would　be　ever　safer；　easier　and　ever　more　profitable。
　They　had　discussed　whom　they　would　co…opt　in　the　police；　particularly　Marine。
　〃None　of　the　barbarians；　never　one　of　those　fornicators；〃　White　Powder　Lee　had　said　hotly。　〃They　won't　support　us；　never。　Not　in　drugs。　We　must　use　only　the　Dragons。〃
　〃Agreed。　All　the　Dragons　have　all　been　approached　and　all　will　cooperate。　All　except　Tang…po　of　Kowloon。〃
　〃We　must　have　Kowloon；　he's　senior　and　Marine　operates　from　there。　Is　he　holding　out　for　a　better　deal　personally？　Or　is　he　against　us？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　At　the　moment。〃　Four　Fingers　had　shrugged。　〃Tang…po　is　up　to　the　High　Dragon　to　solve。　The　High　Dragon　has　agreed；　so　it　is　agreed。〃
　Yes；　Four　Fingers　thought；　I　outsmarted　them　to　make　me　High　Tiger　and　I　outsmarted　Profitable　Choy　on　my　money。　I　didn't　give　the　young　fornicator　control　of　my　fortune　to　gamble　with　as　he　thought　I　would。　Oh　no！　I'm　not　that　much　of　a　fool！　I　only　let　him　have　2　million　and　promised　him　17　percent　of　all　profit　…　let's　see　what　he　can　do　with　that。　Yes。　Let's　see　what　he　can　do　with　that！
　The　old　man's　heart　picked　up　and　he　scratched　himself。　I'll　bet　the　cunning　young　man'll　triple　it　within　the　week；　he　told　himself　gleefully；　not　a　little　awed　…　the　diamond　paid　for　by　his　son's　wits　from　the　first　profit　on　the　stock　sale；　and　a　year　of　Venus　Poon　already　allocated　from　the　same　source　and　not　a　copper　cash　of　his　own　capital　to　lay　out！　Eeeee！　And　the　cunning　schemes　Profitable　es　up　with！　Like　the　one　to　deal　with　the　tai…pan　tomorrow　when　we　meet。
　Anxiously　his　fingers　reached　up　and　touched　the　half…coin　that　was　on　the　heavy　thong　around　his　neck　under　his　shirt；　a　coin　like　that　his　illustrious　ancestor；　Wu　Fang　Choi；　had　called　upon　to　claim　a　clipper　ship　to　rival　the　finest　in　Dirk　Struan's　fleet。　But　Wu　Fang　Choi；　he　thought　grimly；　had　been　the　fool　…　he　had　never　demanded　safe　passage　for　the　ship　as　part　of　his　favor　and　so　had　been　outsmarted　by　the　Green…Eyed　Devil；　the　tai…pan。
　Yes；　by　all　the　gods；　it　was　Wu　Fang　Choi's　own　fault　he　lost。　But　he　didn't　lose　everything。　He　hunted　down　that　hunchback　called　Stride　Orlov　who　ruled　the　ships　of　the　Noble　House　for　Culum　the　Weak。　His　men　caught　Orlov　ashore　in　Singapore　and　brought　him　in　chains　to　Taiwan　where　his　headquarters　were。　There　he　tied　him　to　a　post；　just　at　high…water　mark；　and　drowned　him　very　slowly。
　I　won't　be　foolish　like　Wu　Fang　Choi。　No。　I　will　make　sure　my　ask　from　this　tai…pan　is　watertight。
　Tomorrow；　the　tai…pan　will　agree　to　open　his　ships　to　my　cargoes　…　secretly　of　course；　will　agree　to　open　some　of　the　Noble　House　accounts　for　me　to　hide　in　…　secretly　of　course；　though　to　his　great　profit；　will　agree；　equally　secretly；　to　finance　with　me　the　vast　new　pharmaceutical　plant　that；　oh　ko；　Profitable　Choy　says　will　be　the　perfect；　legitimate　undetectable　narcotic　smoke　screen　for　me　and　mine　forever；　and　last；　the　tai…pan　will　intercede　with　the　half…person；　Lando　Mata；　and　choose　my　name　and　my　suggested　syndicate　to　replace　the　existing　Macao　gold　and　gambling　syndicate　of　Tightfist　Tung　and　the　Chin；　and　he；　the　tai…pan；　he　will　promise　to　be　part　of　it。
　Four　Finger　Wu　was　filled　with　ecstasy。　The　tai…pan　will　have　to　agree　to　everything。　Everything。　And　everything　is　within　his　fief。
　〃Here's　the　brandy。〃
　Four　Finger　Wu　took　it　from　the　amah　and　sipped　it　dreamily；　with　vast　enjoyment。　All　gods　bear　witness：　For　seventy…six　years；　I；　Four　Finger　Wu；　Head　of　the　Seaborne　Wu；　have　lived　life　to　the　full　and　if　you　gods　will　take　my　spirit　during　the　Clouds　and　the　Rain；　I　will　sing　your　praises　in　heaven　…　if　there　is　a　heaven　…　forever　more。　And　if　you　don't　。。。
　The　old　man　shrugged　to　himself　and　beamed　and　curled　his　toes。　He　yawned　and　closed　his　eyes；　warm　and　toasty　and　very　happy。　Gods　are　gods　and　gods　sleep　and　make　mistakes　but　as　sure　as　the　great　storms　will　e　this　year　and　next；　Little　Strumpet　will　earn　her　diamond　tonight。　Now　which　way　should　it　be；　he　asked　himself；　going　to　sleep。
　
　The　taxi　stopped　at　the　foyer　below。　Suslev　got　out　drunkenly　and　paid　the　man；　then；　reeling　slightly；　stepped　over　the　rainwater　swirling　in　the　gutters　and　went　in。
　There　was　a　crowd　of　people　chattering　and　waiting　at　the　elevator　and　he　recognized　Casey　and　Jacques　deVille　among　them。　Unsteadily　he　belched　his　way　down　the　stairs　to　the　lower　level；　crossed　the　garage　and　banged　on　Clinker's　door。
　〃Hello；　matey；〃　Clinker　said。
　〃Tovarich！〃　Suslev　gave　him　a　bear　hug。
　〃Vodka's　up！　Beer's　up。　Mabel；　say　hello　to　the　captain！〃　The　sleepy　old　bulldog　just　opened　one　eye；　chomped　her　gums　and　farted　loudly。
　Clinker　sighed　and　shut　the　door。　〃Poor　old　Mabel！　Wish　to　Christ　she　wouldn't　do　that；　the　place　gets　proper　niffy！　Here。〃　He　handed　Suslev　a　full　glass　of　water　with　a　wink。　〃It's　your　favorite；　old　mate。　120　proof。〃
　Suslev　winked　back　and　slurped　the　water　loudly。　〃Thanks；　old　shipmate。　Another　of　these'n　I'll　sail　away　from　this　capitalist　paradise　happily！〃
　〃Another　of　those；〃　Clinker　guffawed；　keeping　up　the　pretense；　〃an'　you'll　slip　out'uv　Hong　Kong　harbor　on　your　knees！〃　He　refilled　the　glass。　〃How　long　you　staying　tonight？〃
　〃Just　had　to　have　some　last　drinks　with　you；　eh？　So　long　as　I　leave　here　by　ten　I'm　fine。　Drink　up！〃　he　roared　with　forced　bonhomie。　〃Let's　have　some　music；　eh？〃
　Happily　Clinker　turned　on　the　tape　recorder；　loud。　The　sad　Russian　ballad　filled　the　room。
　Suslev　put　his　lips　close　to　Clinker's　ear。　〃Thanks；　Ernie。　I'll　be　back　in　good　time。〃
　〃All　right。〃　Clinker　winked；　still　believing　Suslev's　cover　that　he　had　an　assignation　with　a　married　woman　in　Sinclair　Towers。　〃Who　is　she；　eh？〃　He　had　never　asked　before。
　〃No　names；　no　pack　drill；〃　Suslev　whispered　with　a　broad　grin。　〃But　her　husband's　a　nob；　a　capitalist　swine　and　on　the　legislature！〃
　Clinker　beamed。　〃Smashing！　Give　her　one　for　me；　eh？〃
　Suslev　went　down　the　trapdoor　and　found　the　flashlight。　Water　dripped　from　the　cracked　concrete　roof　of　the　tunnel；　the　cracks　bigger　than　before。　Small　avalanches　of　rubble　made　the　floor　precarious　and　slippery。　His　nervousness　increased；　not　liking　the　closeness；　nor　the　necessity　to　go　to　meet　Crosse；　wanting　to　be　far　away；　safe　on　his　ship　with　a　plete　alibi　when　Dunross　was　drugged　and　snatched。　But　Crosse　had　been　adamant。
　〃Goddamn　it；　Gregor；　you　have　to　be　there！　I've　got　to　see　you　in　person　and　I'm　certainly　not　going　aboard　the　Ivanov。　It's　perfectly　safe；　I　guarantee　it！〃
　Guarantee？　Suslev　thought　angrily　again。　How　can　one　guarantee　anything？　He　took　out　the　snub…nosed　automatic　with　the　silencer；　checked　it　and　clicked　off　the　safety　catch。　Then　he　continued　again；　picking　his　way　carefully；　and　climbed　the　ladder　to　the　false　cupboard。　Once　on　the　stairs；　he　stopped　and　listened；　holding　his　breath；　all　his　concentration　seeking　danger。　Finding　none；　he　began　to　breathe　easier；　went　up　the　stairs　silently　and　into　the　apartment。　Light　from　the　high　rise　just　below　and　from　the　city　came　through　the　windows　and　illuminated　everything　well　enough　for　him　to　see。　He　checked　the　apartment　thoroughly。　When　he　had　finished　he　went　to　the　refrigerator　and　opened　a　bottle　of　beer。　Absently　he　stared　out