jamesclavell.noblehouse-第254章

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and　radar　rooms：　arm　destructs　on　all　secret　equipment。〃　He　switched　the　sender　off　and　hissed　at　Boradinov；　〃Go　on　deck；　down　the　gangway；　greet　them；　delay　for　five　minutes　then　invite　the　leaders　aboard；　only　them　if　you　can。　Go　on！〃
　〃Surely　they　daren't　e　aboard　to　sear…　〃
　〃Intercept　them　…　now！〃
　Boradinov　rushed　out。　Once　alone　Suslev　armed　the　secret　destruct　on　his　safe。　If　anyone　but　him　tried　to　open　it　now　its　incendiary　napalm　would　obliterate　everything。
　He　tried　to　put　his　panicked　mind　at　ease。　Think！　Is　everything　covered　against　a　sudden　search？　Yes。　Yes　we've　done　the　Red　One　drill　a　dozen　times。　But　God　curse　Roger　Crosse　and　Arthur！　Why　the　devil　didn't　we　get　a　warning？　Was　Arthur　caught？　Or　Roger？　Kristos；　let　it　not　be　Roger！　What　ab…　
　His　eyes　caught　the　pile　of　coded　and　decoded　cables。　Frantically　he　scooped　them　into　an　ashtray；　cursing　himself　for　not　doing　it　earlier；　not　knowing　if　there　was　enough　time　now。　He　found　his　lighter。　His　fingers　were　trembling。　The　lighter　flamed　as　the　inter　crackled　on：　〃Two　men're　ing　aboard　with　Boradinov；　two　men；　the　rest're　staying　below。〃
　〃All　right；　but　delay　them。　I'll　e　on　deck。〃　Suslev　doused　the　flame　with　a　curse　and　stuffed　the　cables　in　his　pocket。　He　grabbed　a　half…empty　vodka　bottle；　took　a　deep　breath；　put　a　broad　beam　on　his　face　and　went　on　deck。　〃Ah；　wele　aboard！　What's　the　trouble；　eh？〃　he　said；　a　slight　slur　now　in　his　voice；　keeping　up　his　well…known　cover。　〃One　of　our　sailors　has　himself　in　trouble；　Superintendent　Armstrong？〃
　〃This　is　Mr。　Sun。　May　we　have　a　word　with　you？〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃Of　course；　of　course！〃　Suslev　said　with　a　forced　joviality　be　did　not　feel。　He　had　never　seen　the　Chinese　before。　He　examined　the　cold…eyed；　sallow；　hate…filled　face。　〃Follow　me　please；〃　he　said；　then　added　in　Russian　to　Boradinov　who　spoke　perfect　English；　〃You　too；〃　then　again　to　Armstrong　with　continuing　forced　good　humor；　〃Who's　going　to　win　the　fifth　race；　Superintendent？〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew；　sir。〃
　Suslev　led　the　way　to　the　small　wardroom　that　adjoined　his　cabin。　〃Sit　down；　sit　down。　Can　I　offer　you　tea　or　vodka？　Orderly；　bring　tea　and　vodka！〃
　They　came　quickly。　Expansively　Suslev　poured　vodka　even　though　the　two　policemen　refused　politely。　〃Prosit；〃　he　said　and　laughed　jovially。　〃Now　what's　the　trouble？〃
　〃It　seems　that　one　of　your　crew　is　engaged　in　espionage　against　Her　Majesty's　Government；〃　Armstrong　said　politely。
　〃Impossible；　tovarich！　Why　joke　with　me；　eh？〃
　〃We've　caught　one。　Her　Majesty's　Government　is　really　quite　upset。〃
　〃This　is　a　peaceful　freighter；　trading。　You've　known　us　for　years。　Your　Superintendent　Crosse　has　watched　us　for　years。　We　don't　deal　in　espionage。〃
　〃How　many　of　your　crew　are　ashore；　sir？〃
　〃Six。　Now　listen；　I　don't　want　any　trouble。　I've　had　enough　cursed　trouble　this　voyage　already　with　one　of　my　innocent　seamen　murdered　by　unkn…　〃
　〃Ah　yes；　the　late　Major　Yuri　Bakyan　of　the　KGB。　Very　unfortunate。〃
　Suslev　pretended　sullen　anger。　〃His　name　was　Voranski。　I　know　nothing　of　this　major　you　talk　about。　I　know　nothing　about　that；　nothing。〃
　〃Of　course。　Now；　sir；　when　are　your　sailors　back　from　shore　leave？〃
　〃Tomorrow；　at　dusk。〃
　〃Where　are　they　staying？〃
　Suslev　laughed。　〃They're　ashore；　on　leave。　Where　else　should　they　be　but　with　a　girl　or　in　a　bar？　With　a　girl；　eh；　happily；　eh？〃
　〃Not　all　of　them　are；〃　Armstrong　said　coldly。　〃At　least　one　is　very　miserable　right　now。〃
　Suslev　watched　him；　glad　that　he　knew　Metkin　was　gone　forever　and　they　could　not　bluff　him。　〃e　now；　Superintendent；　I　know　nothing　about　any　espionage。〃
　Armstrong　put　the　eight…by…ten　photos　on　the　table。　They　showed　Metkin　going　into　the　restaurant；　then　under　guard；　then　being　hustled　into　the　Black　Maria；　then　a　mug　shot　of　him；　terror　in　the　face。
　〃Kristos！〃　Suslev　gasped；　a　consummate　actor。　〃Dimitri？　It's　impossible！　It's　another　false　arrest！　I　will　have　my　gov…　〃
　〃It's　already　been　reported　to　your　government　in　London。　Major　Nicoli　Leonov　admitted　espionage。〃
　Now　Suslev's　shock　was　real。　He　had　never　expected　Metkin　to　break　so　quickly。　〃Who？　Who　did　you　say？〃
　Armstrong　sighed。　〃Major　Nicoli　Leonov　of　your　KGB。　That's　his　real　name　and　rank。　He　was　also　political　missar　on　this　ship。〃
　〃Yes　。。。　yes　that　is　true　but　his　。。。　his　name　is　Metkin；　Dimitri　Metkin。〃
　〃Oh？　You　have　no　objection　if　we　search　this　ship？〃　Armstrong　began　to　get　up。　Suslev　was　aghast；　Boradinov　equally。
　〃Oh　yes　I　object；〃　Suslev　stuttered。　〃Yes；　Superintendent；　so　sorry　but　I　formally　object；　and　I　mu…　〃
　〃If　your　ship　is　not　engaged　in　espionage　and　is　a　peaceful　freighter　why　should　you　object？〃
　〃We　have　international　protections。　Unless　you　have　a　formal　search　warrant　th…　〃
　Armstrong's　hand　went　into　his　pocket　and　Suslev's　stomach　turned　over。　He　would　have　to　ply　with　a　formal　warrant　and　then　he　would　be　ruined　because　they　would　find　more　evidence　than　even　they　could　ever　hope　for。　That　god…cursed　son　of　a　whore　bitch　Metkin　must've　told　them　something　vital。　He　wanted　to　shout　in　rage；　the　decoded　and　coded　messages　in　his　pocket　suddenly　lethal。　His　face　had　gone　white。　Boradinov　was　paralyzed。　Armstrong's　hand　came　out　of　his　pocket　with　only　a　pack　of　cigarettes。　Suslev's　heart　began　again　though　his　nausea　still　almost　overwhelmed　him。　〃Matyeryebyets！〃　he　muttered。
　〃Sir？〃　Armstrong　asked　innocently。　〃Is　anything　the　matter？〃
　〃No；　no；　nothing。〃
　〃Would　you　care　for　an　English　cigarette？〃
　Suslev　fought　for　control；　wanting　to　smash　the　other　man　for　tricking　him。　Sweat　was　on　his　back　and　on　his　face。　He　took　the　cigarette　shakily。　〃These　things　are　。。。　are　terrible；　eh？　Espionage　and　searches　and　threats　of　searches。〃
　〃Yes。　Perhaps　you'd　be　kind　enough　to　leave　tomorrow；　not　Tuesday。〃
　〃Impossible！　Are　we　being　hounded　like　rats？〃　Suslev　blustered；　not　knowing　how　far　he　dare　go。　〃I　will　have　to　inform　my　government　and　th…　〃
　〃Please　do。　Please　tell　them　we　have　intercepted　Major　Leonov　of　the　KGB；　caught　him　in　an　espionage　act；　and　that　he　has　been　charged　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act。〃
　Suslev　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　face；　trying　to　stay　calm。　Only　the　knowledge　that　Metkin　was　probably　dead　now　kept　him　in　one　piece。　But　what　else　did　he　tell　them；　he　was　shrieking　in　his　head；　what　else？　He　looked　at　Boradinov　who　was　standing　beside　him；　white…faced。
　〃Who're　you？〃　Armstrong　asked　sharply；　following　his　glance。
　〃First　Officer　Boradinov；〃　the　younger　man　said；　his　voice　strangled。
　〃Who's　the　new　missar；　Captain　Suslev？　Who　took　over　from　your　Mr。　Leonov？　Who's　the　senior　Party　man　aboard？〃
　Boradinov　went　ashen　and　Suslev　was　thankful　that　some　of　the　pressure　was　turned　off　him。
　〃Well？〃
　Suslev　said；　〃He　is。　First　Officer　Boradinov。〃
　At　once　Armstrong　put　his　icy　eyes　on　the　younger　man。　〃Your　full　name　please？〃
　〃Vassili　Boradinov；　first　officer；〃　the　man　stuttered。
　〃Very　well；　Mr。　Boradinov；　you're　responsible　for　getting　this　ship　under　way　by　midnight　Sunday　at　the　latest。　You　are　formally　warned　we　have　reason　to　believe　there　might　be　an　attack　on　you　by　triads　…　by　Chinese　bandits。　The　rumor　is　the　attack's　planned　for　the　early　hours　of　Monday　…　just　after　midnight　Sunday。　It's　a　very　strong　rumor。　Very。　There　are　lots　of　Chinese　bandits　in　Hong　Kong；　and　Russians　have　stolen　lots　of　Chinese　land。　We　are　concerned　for　your　safety　and　health。　I　suggest　it　politic　。。。　eh？〃
　Boradinov　was　ashen。　〃Yes；　yes；　I　understand。〃
　〃But　my　。。。　my　repairs；〃　Suslev　began；　〃if　my　repai…　〃
　〃Please　see　they're　pleted；　Captain。　If　you　need　extra　help　or　a　tow　outside　Hong　Kong　waters；　just　ask。　Oh　yes；　and　would　you　be　kind　enough　to　appear　at　police　headquarters　at　10：00　a。m。　Sunday　…　sorry　about　the　weekend。〃
　Suslev　blanched。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Here's　your　formal　invitation。〃　Armstrong　handed　him　an　official　letter。　Suslev　accepted　it；　began　to　read　as　Armstrong　took　out　a　second　copy；　wrote　in　Boradinov's　name。　〃Here's　yours；　missar　Boradinov。〃　He　shoved　it　into　his　hand。　〃I　suggest　you　confine　the　rest　of　your　crew　aboard　…　with　the　exception　of　yourselves　of　course　…　and　bring　your　shore　party　back　right　smartly。　I'm　sure　you'll　have　lots