jamesclavell.noblehouse-第182章

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ted　to。　Very　easy。　〃Thanks　for　the　coffee。　Best　I've　had　in　years。　Shall　we　go？〃
　Awkwardly；　Smyth　put　on　his　regulation　raincoat　over　his　well…cut　uniform；　adjusted　the　sling　for　his　arm　and　put　his　cap　to　the　usual　jaunty　angle　and　led　the　way。　As　they　went；　Armstrong　made　Wu　repeat　what　had　happened　and　what　had　been　said　by　the　youth　who　claimed　to　be　one　of　the　Werewolves　and　later　by　the　old　amah。　〃Very　good；　Wu；〃　Armstrong　said　when　the　young　man　had　finished。　〃An　excellent　piece　of　surveillance　and　investigation。　Excellent。　Chief　Inspector　Smyth　tells　me　you　want　to　get　into　SI？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃It's　important；　an　important　branch　of　SB；　sir。　I've　always　been　interested　in　security　and　how　to　keep　our　enemies　out　and　the　Colony　safe　and　I　feel　it　would　be　very　interesting　and　important。　I'd　like　to　help　if　I　could；　sir。〃
　Momentarily　their　ears　focused　on　the　distant　wail　of　fire　engines　that　came　from　the　hillside　above。
　〃Some　stupid　bastard's　kicked　over　another　stove；〃　Smyth　said　sourly。　〃Christ；　thank　God　for　the　rain！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Armstrong　said；　then　added　to　Wu；　〃If　this　turns　out　as　you've　reported；　I'll　put　in　a　word　with　SB　or　SI。〃
　Spectacles　Wu　could　not　stop　the　beam。　〃Yes　sir；　thank　you；　sir。　Ah　Tam　is　really　from　my　village。　Yes　sir。〃
　They　turned　into　the　alley。　Crowds　of　shoppers　and　stall　keepers　and　shopkeepers　under　umbrellas　or　under　the　canvas　overhangs　watched　them　sullenly　and　suspiciously；　Smyth　the　most　well　known　and　feared　quai　loh　in　Aberdeen。
　〃That's　the　one；　sir；〃　Wu　whispered。　By　prearrangement　Smyth　casually　stopped　at　a　stall；　this　side　of　the　doorway；　ostensibly　to　look　at　some　vegetables；　the　owner　at　once　in　shock。　Armstrong　and　Wu　walked　past　the　entrance　then　turned　abruptly　and　the　three　of　them　converged。　They　went　up　the　stairs　quickly　as　two　uniformed　policemen　who　had　been　trailing　from　a　safe　distance　materialized　to　bottle　up　the　front。　Once　the　narrow　passageway　was　secure　one　of　them　hurried　up　an　even　smaller　alley　and　around　the　back　to　make　sure　the　plainclothes　detective　was　still　in　position　guarding　the　single　exit　there；　then　he　rushed　back　to　reinforce　the　undermanned　barricades　in　front　of　the　Victoria。
　The　inside　of　the　tenement　was　as　dingy　and　filthy　as　the　outside　with　mess　and　debris　on　every　landing。　Smyth　was　leading　and　he　stopped　on　the　third　landing；　unbuttoned　his　revolver　holster　and　stepped　aside。　Without　hesitation　Armstrong　leaned　against　the　flimsy　door；　burst　the　lock　and　went　in　quickly。　Smyth　followed　at　once；　Spectacles　Wu　nervously　staying　to　guard　the　entrance。　The　room　was　drab　with　old　sofas　and　old　chairs　and　old　grimy　curtains；　the　sweet…rank　smell　of　opium　and　cooking　oil　on　the　air。　A　heavy…set；　middle…aged　matron　gaped　at　them　and　dropped　her　newspaper。　Both　men　went　for　the　inner　doors。　Smyth　pulled　one　open　to　find　a　scruffy　bedroom；　the　next　revealed　a　messy　toilet　and　bathroom；　a　third　another　bedroom　crammed　with　unmade　bunks　for　four。　Armstrong　had　the　last　door　open。　It　let　into　a　cluttered；　filthy；　tiny　kitchen；　where　Ah　Tam　bent　over　a　pile　of　wash　in　the　grimy　sink。　She　stared　at　him　blankly。　Behind　her　was　another　door。　At　once　he　shoved　past　and　jerked　it　open。　It　was　empty　too；　more　of　a　closet　than　a　room；　windowless　with　a　vent　cut　in　the　wall　and　just　enough　space　to　fit　the　small　string　mattressless　bunk　and　a　broken…down　chest　of　drawers。
　He　came　back　into　the　living　room；　Ah　Tam　shuffling　after　him；　his　breathing　good　and　his　heart　settling　down。　It　had　taken　them　only　seconds　and　Smyth　took　out　the　papers　and　said　sweetly；　〃Sorry　to　interrupt；　madam；　but　we've　a　search　warrant。〃
　〃Wat？〃
　〃Translate　for　us；　Wu；〃　Smyth　ordered　and　at　once　the　young　constable　repeated　what　had　been　said　and；　as　previously　arranged；　began　to　act　as　though　he　was　the　interpreter　for　two　dullard　quai　loh　policemen　who　did　not　speak　Cantonese。
　The　woman's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃Search！〃　she　shrieked。　〃Search　what？　We　obey　the　law　here！　My　husband　works　for　the　government　and　has　important　friends　and　if　you're　looking　for　the　gambling　school　it's　nothing　to　do　with　us　but　it's　on　the　fourth　floor　at　the　back　and　we　know　nothing　about　the　smelly　whores　in　16　who　set　up　shop　and　work　till　all　hours　making　the　rest　of　us　civ…　〃
　〃Enough；〃　Wu　said　sharply；　〃we　are　police　on　important　matters！　These　Lords　of　the　police　are　important！　You're　the　wife　of　Ch'ung　the　dustman？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　replied　sullenly。　〃What　do　you　want　with　us？　We've　done　noth…　〃
　〃Enough！〃　Armstrong　interrupted　in　English　with　deliberate　arrogance。　〃Is　that　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃You！　You're　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃Eh；　me？　Wat？〃　The　old　amah　tugged　at　her　apron　nervously；　not　recognizing　Wu。
　〃So　you're　Ah　Tam！　You're　under　arrest。〃
　Ah　Tam　went　white　and　the　middle…aged　woman　cursed　and　said　in　a　rush；　〃Ah！　So　it's　you　they're　after！　Huh；　we　know　nothing　about　her　except　we　picked　her　off　the　street　a　few　months　ago　and　gave　her　a　home　and　sal…　〃
　〃Wu；　tell　her　to　shut　up！〃
　He　told　her　impolitely。　She　obeyed　even　more　sullenly。　〃These　Lords　want　to　know　is　there　anyone　else　here？〃
　〃Of　course　there　isn't。　Are　they　blind？　Haven't　they　raped　my　house　like　assassins　and　seen　for　themselves？〃　the　shrew　said　truculently。　〃I　know　nothing　about　nothing。〃
　〃Ah　Tam！　These　Lords　want　to　know　where　your　room　is。〃
　The　amah　found　her　voice　and　began　to　bluster；　〃What　do　you　want　with　me；　Honorable　Policeman？　I've　done　nothing；　I'm　not　an　illegal；　I've　papers　since　last　year。　I've　done　nothing；　I'm　a　law…abiding　civilized　person　who's　worked　all　her　li…　〃
　〃Where's　your　room？〃
　The　younger　woman　pointed。　〃There；〃　she　said　in　her　screeching；　irritating　voice；　〃where　else　would　her　room　be？　Of　course　it's　there　off　the　kitchen！　Are　these　foreign　devils　senseless？　Where　else　do　maids　live？　And　you；　you　old　maggot！　Getting　honest　people　into　trouble！　What's　she　done？　If　it's　stolen　vegetables　it's　nothing　to　do　with　me！〃
　〃Quiet　or　we　shall　take　you　to　our　headquarters　and　surely　the　judge　will　want　you　kept　in　custody！　Quiet！〃
　The　woman　started　to　curse　but　bit　it　back。
　Armstrong　said；　〃Now；　what　。。。〃　Then　he　noticed　that　several　curious　Chinese　were　peering　into　the　room　from　the　landing。　He　stared　back；　took　a　sudden　pace　toward　them。　They　vanished。　He　closed　the　door；　hiding　his　amusement。　〃Now；　ask　both　of　them　what　they　know　about　the　Werewolves。〃
　The　woman　gaped　at　Wu。　Ah　Tam　went　a　little　grayer。　〃Eh；　me？　Werewolves？　Nothing！　Why　should　I　know　about　those　foul　kidnappers。　What　have　they　to　do　with　me？　Nothing　nothing　at　all！〃
　〃What　about　you；　Ah　Tam？〃
　〃Me？　Nothing　at　all；〃　she　said　querulously；　〃I'm　a　respectable　amah　who　does　her　work　and　nothing　else！〃
　Wu　translated　their　answers。　Both　men　noticed　that　his　translation　was　accurate；　fast　and　easy。　Both　were　patient　and　they　continued　to　play　the　game　they　had　played　so　many　times　before。　〃Tell　her　she'd　better　tell　the　truth　quickly。〃　Armstrong　glowered　down　at　her。　He　bore　her　no　ill　feeling；　neither　did　Smyth。　They　just　wanted　the　truth。　The　truth　might　lead　to　the　identity　of　the　Werewolves　and　the　sooner　those　villains　were　hung　for　murder　the　easier　it　would　be　to　control　Hong　Kong　and　the　sooner　law…abiding　citizens；　including　themselves；　could　go　about　their　own　business　or　hobbies　…　making　money　or　racing　or　whoring。　Yes；　Armstrong　thought；　sorry　for　the　old　woman。　Twenty　dollars　to　a　broken　hatpin　the　shrew　knows　nothing　but　Ah　Tam　knows　more　than　she'll　ever　tell　us。
　〃I　want　the　truth。　Tell　her！〃　he　said。
　〃Truth？　What　truth；　Honorable　Lord？　How　could　this　poor　old　body　be　anyth…　〃
　Armstrong　put　up　his　hand　dramatically。　〃Enough！〃　This　was　another　prearranged　signal。　At　once　Spectacles　Wu　switched　to　Ning…tok　dialect　which　he　knew　neither　of　them　understood。　〃Elder　Sister；　I　suggest　you　talk　quickly　and　openly。　We　know　everything　already！〃
　Ah　Tam　gaped　at　him。　She　had　only　two　twisted　teeth　in　a　lower　gum。　〃Eh；　Younger　Brother？〃　she　replied　in　the　same　dialect；　caught　off　guard。　〃What　do　you　want　with　me？〃
　〃The　truth！　I　know　all　about　you！〃
　She　peered　at　him　without　recognition。　〃What　truth？　I've　never　seen　you　before　in　my　life！〃
　〃Don't　you　remember　m