jamesclavell.noblehouse-第157章

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rcase。　Flames　were　everywhere。　He　felt　his　own　fear　surging　again　but　once　more　he　held　it　down；　darted　forward　and　began　to　drag　the　man　back　up　the　stairs。　The　Chinese　was　heavy　and　he　did　not　know　if　the　man　was　alive　or　dead。　The　heat　was　scorching　and　again　he　smelt　burning　flesh　and　felt　his　bile　rising。　Then　Bartlett　was　beside　him　and　together　they　half…dragged；　half…carried　the　man　across　the　room　out　onto　the　deck。
　〃Thanks；〃　Dunross　gasped。
　Quillan　Gornt　came　over　to　them；　bent　down　and　turned　the　man　over。　The　face　was　partially　burned。　〃You　could　have　saved　yourself　the　heroics。　He's　dead。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　Gornt　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Do　you　know　him；　Ian？〃
　Dunross　was　staring　at　the　body。　〃Yes。　It's　Zep　。。。　Zeppelin　Tung。〃
　〃Tightfist's　son？〃　Gornt　was　surprised。　〃My　God；　he's　put　on　weight。　I'd　never　have　recognized　him。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃We'd　better　get　everyone　ready　to　jump。　This　boat's　a　graveyard。〃　He　saw　Casey　standing　by　the　railing。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked；　going　over　to　her。
　〃Yes；　thanks。　You？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃
　Orlanda　was　still　beside　her；　staring　blankly　at　the　water　below。　People　were　milling　around　the　deck。　〃I'd　better　help　get　them　organized；〃　Gornt　said。　〃I'll　be　back　in　a　second。〃　He　walked　off。
　Another　explosion　jarred　the　boat　again。　The　list　began　to　increase。　Several　people　climbed　over　the　side　and　jumped。　Sampans　went　in　to　rescue　them。
　Christian　Toxe　had　his　arm　around　his　Chinese　wife　and　he　was　staring　sourly　overboard。
　〃You're　going　to　have　to　jump；　Christian；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃Into　Aberdeen　Harbor？　You　must　be　bloody　joking　old　chap！　If　you　don't　bounce　off　all　the　bloody　effluvia　you'll　catch　the　bloody　plague。〃
　〃It's　that　or　a　red…hot　tail；〃　someone　called　out　with　a　laugh。
　At　the　end　of　the　deck　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth　was　holding　on　to　the　railing　as　he　worked　his　way　down　the　boat　encouraging　everyone。　〃e　on；　young　lady；〃　he　said　to　Orlanda；　〃it's　an　easy　jump。〃
　She　shook　her　head；　petrified。　〃No　。。。　no　not　yet　。。。　I　can't　swim。〃
　Fleur　Marlowe　put　her　arm　around　her。　〃Don't　worry；　I　can't　swim　either。　I'm　staying　too。〃
　Bartlett　said；　〃Peter；　you　can　hold　her　hand；　she'll　be　safe。　All　you　have　to　do；　Fleur；　is　hold　your　breath！〃
　〃She's　not　going　to　jump；〃　Marlowe　said　quietly。　〃At　least；　not　till　the　last　second。〃
　〃It's　safe。〃
　〃Yes；　but　it's　not　safe　for　her。　She's　enceinte。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Fleur's　with　child。　About　three　months。〃
　〃Oh　Jesus。〃
　Flames　roared　skyward　out　of　one　of　the　flues。　Inside　the　top　deck　restaurant　tables　were　afire　and　the　great　carved　temple　screens　at　the　far　end　were　burning　merrily。　There　was　a　great　gust　of　sparks　as　the　inner　central　staircase　collapsed。　〃Jesus；　this　whole　boat's　a　firetrap。　What　about　the　folk　below？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃They're　all　out　long　ago；〃　Dunross　said；　not　believing　it。　Now　that　he　was　in　the　open　he　felt　fine。　His　successful　domination　of　his　fear　made　him　light…headed。　〃The　view　here　is　quite　splendid；　don't　you　think？〃
　Pennyworth　called　out　jovially；　〃We're　in　luck！　The　ship's　listing　this　way　so　when　she　goes　down　we'll　be　safe　enough。　Unless　she　capsizes。　Just　like　old　times；〃　he　added。　〃I　was　sunk　three　times　in　the　Med。〃
　〃So　was　I；〃　Marlowe　said；　〃but　it　was　in　the　Bangka　Strait　off　Sumatra。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　that；　Peter；〃　Fleur　said。
　〃It　was　nothing。〃
　〃How　deep's　the　water　here？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃It　must　be　twenty　feet　or　more；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃That'll　be　en…　〃　There　was　a　whoopwhoopwhoop　of　sirens　as　the　police　launch　came　bustling　through　the　narrow　byways　between　the　islands　of　boats；　its　searchlight　darting　here　and　there。　When　it　was　almost　alongside　the　Floating　Dragon；　the　megaphone　sounded　loudly；　first　in　Chinese；　〃All　sampans　clear　the　area；　clear　the　area　。。。〃　Then　in　English；　〃Those　on　the　top　deck　prepare　to　abandon　ship！　The　hull's　holed；　prepare　to　abandon　ship！〃
　Christian　Toxe　muttered　sourly　to　no　one；　〃Buggered　if　I'm　going　to　ruin　my　only　dinner　jacket。〃
　His　wife　tugged　at　his　arm。　〃You　never　liked　it　anyway；　Chris。〃
　〃I　like　it　now；　old　girl。〃　He　tried　to　smile。　〃You　can't　bloody　swim　either。〃
　She　shrugged。　〃I'll　bet　you　fifty　dollar　you　and　me　we　swim　like　a　one　hundred　percent　eel。〃
　〃Mrs。　Toxe；　you　have　a　bet。　But　it's　only　fitting　we're　the　last　to　go。　After　all；　I　want　an　eyewitness　account。〃　He　reached　into　his　pocket　and　found　his　cigarettes；　gave　her　one；　trying　to　feel　brave；　frightened　for　her　safety。　He　searched　for　a　match；　couldn't　find　one。　She　reached　into　her　purse　and　rummaged　around。　Eventually　she　found　her　lighter。　It　lit　on　the　third　go。　Both　were　oblivious　of　the　flames　that　were　ten　feet　behind　them。
　Dunross　said；　〃You　smoke　too　much；　Christian。〃
　The　deck　twisted　sickeningly。　The　boat　began　to　settle。　Water　was　pouring　through　the　great　hole　in　her　side。　Firemen　used　their　hoses　with　great　bravery　but　they　had　little　effect　on　the　conflagration。　A　murmur　went　through　the　crowd　as　the　whole　boat　shuddered。　Two　of　the　mooring　guys　snapped。
　Pennyworth　was　leaning　against　the　gunnel；　helping　others　to　jump　clear。　Quite　a　few　were　jumping　now。　Lady　Joanna　fell　awkwardly。　Paul　Havergill　helped　his　wife　over　the　side。　When　he　saw　she　had　surfaced　he　leaped　too。　The　police　launch　was　still　blaring　in　Cantonese　to　clear　the　area。　Sailors　threw　life　jackets　over　the　side　as　others　launched　a　cutter。　Then；　led　by　a　young　marine　inspector；　half　a　dozen　sailors　dived　over　the　side　to　help　those　in　trouble；　men；　women　and　a　few　children。　A　sampan　darted　in　to　help　Lady　Joanna；　Havergill　and　his　wife。　Gratefully　they　clambered　aboard　the　rickety　craft。　Others　from　the　top　deck　plunged　into　the　water。
　The　Floating　Dragon　was　listing　badly。　Someone　slipped　on　the　top　deck　and　knocked　Pennyworth　off　balance。　He　half…jumped；　half…fell　backward　before　he　could　catch　himself　and　fell　like　a　stone。　His　head　smashed　into　the　stem　of　the　sampan；　snapping　his　neck；　and　he　slithered　into　the　water　and　sank。　In　the　pandemonium　no　one　noticed　him。
　Casey　was　hanging　on　to　the　railings　with　Bartlett；　Dunross；　Gornt；　Orlanda　and　the　Marlowes。　Nearby；　Toxe　was　puffing　away；　trying　to　summon　his　courage。　His　wife　stubbed　her　cigarette　out　carefully。　Flames　were　surging　from　the　air　vents；　skylights　and　exit　door；　then　the　ship　grounded　heavily　and　lurched　as　another　of　her　anchoring　cables　snapped。　Gornt's　hold　was　torn　away　and　he　crashed　headfirst　into　the　railing；　stunning　himself。　Toxe　and　his　wife　lost　their　balance　and　went　over　the　side；　badly。　Peter　Marlowe　held　on　to　his　wife　and　just　managed　to　prevent　her　being　smashed　into　a　bulkhead　as　Bartlett　and　Casey　half…tumbled；　half…stumbled　past　and　fell　in　a　heap　at　the　railing；　Bartlett　protecting　her　as　best　he　could；　her　high　heels　dangerous。
　Below；　in　the　water；　sailors　were　helping　people　to　the　rescue　boat。　One　saw　Toxe　and　his　wife　rise　to　the　surface　for　an　instant　fifteen　yards　away；　both　gasping　and　spluttering；　before　they　choked；　and；　flailing；　went　down　again。　At　once　he　dived　for　them　and　after　a　seeming　eternity；　grabbed　her　clothing　and　shoved　her；　half…drowned；　to　the　surface。　The　young　lieutenant　swam　over　to　where　he　had　seen　Toxe　and　dived　but　missed　him　in　the　darkness。　He　came　up　for　air　and　dived　once　more　into　the　blackness；　groping　helplessly。　When　his　lungs　were　bursting；　his　outstretched　fingers　touched　some　clothing　and　he　grabbed　and　kicked　for　the　surface。　Toxe　clung　on　in　panic；　retching　and　choking　from　all　the　seawater　he　had　swallowed。　The　young　man　broke　his　hold；　turned　Toxe　over　and　hauled　him　to　the　cutter。
　Above　them；　the　boat　was　tilted　dangerously　and　Dunross　picked　himself　up。　He　saw　Gornt　inert　in　a　heap　and　he　stumbled　over　to　him。　He　tried　to　lift　him；　couldn't。
　〃I'm　。。。　I'm　all　right；〃　Gornt　gasped；　ing　around；　then　he　shook　his　head　like　a　dog。　〃Christ；　thanks　。。。〃　He　looked　up　and　saw　it　was　Dunross。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　smiled　grimly　as　he　got　up　shakily。　〃I'm　still　selling　tomorrow　and　by　next　week　you'll　have　had　it。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃Jolly　good　luck！　The　idea　of　burning　to　death　or　drowning　with　you　fills　me　with　equal　dismay。〃
　Ten　yards　away；　Bartlett　was　lifting　Casey　up。