jamesclavell.noblehouse-第316章

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　Putting　it　that　way　gave　Tiptop　the　option　of　accepting　or　refusing　without　loss　of　face　…　and；　at　the　same　time；　protected　the　face　of　the　governor　who　would　thus　avoid　sending　such　a　politically　important　invitation　that　might　be　refused。　Dunross　smiled　to　himself；　since　the　governor　knew　nothing　yet　about　this　important　party　he　would　be　giving。
　Another　silence　while　Tiptop　considered　the　political　implications。　〃Please　thank　him　for　his　consideration。　I　believe　I　will　be　here。　May　I　confirm　it　Tuesday？〃
　〃I　will　be　glad　to　pass　your　message　on。〃　Dunross　considered　mentioning　Brian　Kwok　but　decided　to　leave　that　in　limbo。　〃Will　you　be　at　the　bank　at　9：00　a。m。；　Mr。　Tip？〃
　〃Oh　no。　It　is　really　nothing　to　do　with　me。　I'm　merely　an　interested　bystander。〃　Another　silence。　〃Your　representatives　should　see　the　chief　manager。〃
　Dunross　sighed；　all　his　senses　honed。　No　mention　of　the　governor's　physical　presence。　Have　I　won？　〃I　wonder　if　someone　could　confirm　to　Radio　Hong　Kong；　in　time　for　tonight's　nine　o'clock　news；　that　the　Bank　of　China　is　extending　the　Colony　an　immediate　credit　of　one　half　a　billion　dollars　of　cash。〃
　Another　silence。　〃Oh　I'm　sure　that's　not　necessary；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　Tiptop　said　and　now；　for　the　first　time；　there　was　a　chuckle　in　his　voice。　〃Surely　the　word　of　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　is　sufficient　for　a　simple　capitalist　radio　station。　Good　night。〃
　Dunross　put　down　the　phone。　His　fingers　were　trembling。　There　was　an　ache　in　his　back　and　his　heart　was　pounding。　〃Half　a　billion　dollars！〃　he　muttered；　his　mind　blown。　〃No　paper；　no　chop；　no　handshake；　a　few　phone　calls；　a　little　negotiation　and　one　half　a　billion　dollars　will　be　available　for　transfer　by　truck　at　9：00　a。m。！〃
　We've　won！　Murtagh's　money　and　now　China's！　Yes。　But　how　to　use　this　knowledge　to　the　best　advantage？　How？　he　asked　himself　helplessly。　No　point　in　going　to　Plumm's　now。　What　to　do？　What　to　do？
　His　knees　felt　weak；　his　mind　was　buzzing　with　plan　and　counter…plan。　Then　his　pent…up　excitement　erupted　in　a　huge　bellow　that　ricocheted　off　his　study　walls；　and　he　jumped　up　and　down　and　let　out　another　war　cry　that　melted　into　a　laugh。　He　went　into　the　bathroom　to　splash　water　on　his　face。　He　ripped　off　his　soaking　shirt；　not　bothering　about　the　buttons　and　threw　it　into　a　trash　can。　The　study　door　whirled　open。　Adryon　rushed　in；　white…faced　and　anxious。　〃Father！〃
　〃Good　God　what's　up？〃　Dunross　said；　aghast。
　〃What's　up　with　you？　I　heard　you　shout　like　a　mad　bull。　Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Oh；　oh　yes　I'm；　I；　er；　I　just　stubbed　my　toe！〃　Dunross's　happiness　exploded　again　and　he　caught　her　up；　lifting　her　easily。　〃Thank　you；　my　darling；　everything's　fine！　Oh　very　fine！〃
　〃Oh；　thank　God；〃　she　said　and　at　once　added；　〃Then　I　can　have　my　own　flat　starting　next　month？〃
　〃Ye…　〃　He　caught　himself　just　in　time。　〃Oh　no　you　don't；　Miss　Smarty　Pants。　Just　because　I'm　happy　th…　〃
　〃But　Father；　do…　〃
　〃No。　Thank　you；　Adryon；　but　no。　Off　you　go！〃　She　glared　at　him　then　burst　out　laughing。　〃I　almost　caught　you　that　time！〃
　〃Yes；　yes　you　did！　Don't　forget　Duncan's　in　tomorrow　on　the　Qantas　noon　flight。〃
　〃I　won't；　don't　worry。　I'll　meet　him。　It'll　be　fun　to　have　Dunc　back；　haven't　had　a　good　game　of　billiards　since　he　left。　Where're　you　off　to　now？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　Plumm's　at　Rose　Court　to　celebrate　the　General　Foods　takeover　but　I　don't　th…　〃
　〃Martin　thought　that　was　a　wonderful　coup！　If　the　stock　market　doesn't　crash。　I　told　the　silly　man　you　were　bound　to　arrange　everything。〃
　All　at　once　Dunross　realized　that　Plumm's　party　would　be　the　ideal　place。　Gornt　would　be　there；　Phillip　Chen　and　all　the　others。　Gornt！　Now　I　can　put　that　bugger　away　for　all　time；　he　told　himself；　his　heart　racing。　〃Is　Murtagh　still　downstairs？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　We　were　just　leaving。　He's　dreamy。〃　Dunross　turned　away　to　hide　a　smile　and　grabbed　a　clean　silk　shirt。　〃Could　you　hang　on　a　second？　I've　got　some　rather　good　news　for　him。〃
　〃All　right。〃　She　came　over　to　him；　big　blue　eyes。　〃My　own　flat　for　a　Christmas　present；　pretty　please？〃
　〃After　university；　if　you　qualify；　off　you　go！〃
　〃Christmas。　I'll　love　you　forever。〃
　He　sighed；　remembering　how　upset　and　frightened　she　had　been　seeing　Gornt　in　the　billiards　room。　Perhaps　I　can　give　you　a　present　of　his　head　tomorrow；　he　thought。　〃Not　this　Christmas；　next！〃
　She　hurled　her　arms　around　his　neck。　〃Oh　thank　you　Daddy　darling　but　this　Christmas；　please　please　please。〃
　〃No；　because　yo…　〃
　〃Please　please　please！〃
　〃All　right。　But　don't　tell　your　mother　I　agreed　for　God's　sake！　She'll　skin　me　alive！〃
　
　78
　
　7：15　P。M。：
　The　curtains　around　Orlanda's　bed　moved　gently；　touched　by　the　night　breeze；　the　air　clean　and　salt　tasting。　She　was　in　his　arms　as　they　slept；　a　pervading　warmth　between　them；　and　then；　as　her　hand　moved；　Bartlett　awoke。　For　a　moment　he　wondered　where　he　was　and　who　he　was；　and　then　everything　came　back　and　his　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　Their　lovemaking　had　been　wonderful。　He　remembered　how　she　had　responded；　cresting　again　and　again；　lifting　him　to　heights　he　had　never　experienced　before。　And　then　the　after。　She　had　got　out　of　bed　and　walked　to　the　kitchen　and　warmed　water　and　brought　back　a　hot；　wet　towel　and　toweled　the　sweat　off　him。　〃I'm　so　sorry　there's　no　bath　or　shower；　my　darling；　that's　such　a　shame；　but　if　you're　patient　I　can　make　everything　nice。〃
　A　new　clean　towel　and　feeling　grand；　never　before　knowing　the　wonder　of　a　real　afterward　…　her　gentle　ministrations；　tender；　loving；　unself…conscious；　the　tiny　crucifix　around　her　neck　her　only　adornment。　He　had　noticed　it　glinting　in　the　half…light。　Its　implications　had　begun　to　seep　into　his　brain　but　somehow；　all　at　once；　she　was　caressing　the　alien　thoughts　away　with　magic　hands　and　touch　and　lips　until；　in　time；　they　had　both　bee　one　with　the　gods　again　and；　through　their　generosity；　slid　into　euphoria　…　and　thence　into　sleep　again。
　Idly　he　watched　the　curtains　that　fell　from　the　ceiling　waver　in　the　air　currents；　their　surrounding　embrace　making　the　bed　more　intimate；　the　patterns　against　the　light　of　the　window　pleasing；　everything　pleasing。　He　lay　still；　not　wishing　to　move　to　awaken　her；　not　wanting　to　break　the　spell；　her　breath　soft　against　his　chest；　her　sleep　face　blemishless。　What　to　do；　what　to　do；　what　to　do？
　Nothing；　for　the　moment；　he　answered　himself。　The　airplane's　free；　you're　free；　she's　unbelievable　and　no　woman's　ever　pleased　you　more。　Never。　But　can　it　last；　could　it　last　…　and　then　there's　Casey。
　Bartlett　sighed。　Orlanda　moved　again　in　her　sleep。　He　waited　but　she　did　not　awaken。
　His　eyes　were　mesmerized　by　the　patterns；　his　spirit　at　rest。　It　was　neither　hot　nor　cold　in　the　room；　everything　was　perfect；　her　weight　imperceptible。　What　is　it　about　her？　he　asked　himself。　What　causes　the　spell；　because　sure　as　death　and　taxes　you're　under　a　spell；　enchanted。　We've　pillowed；　that's　all；　I've　made　no　promises　and　yet　。。。　You're　enchanted；　old　buddy。
　Yes。　And　it's　wonderful。
　He　closed　his　eyes　and　drifted　into　sleep。
　When　Orlanda　awoke　she　was　careful　not　to　move。　She　did　not　want　to　awaken　him；　both　for　his　pleasure　and　for　hers。　And　she　wanted　time　to　think。　Sometimes　she　would　do　that　in　Gornt's　arms　but　she　knew　it　was　not　the　same；　would　never　be　the　same。　Always　she　had　been　afraid　of　Quillan；　on　guard；　desperately　wanting　to　please；　wondering　if　she　had　forgotten　anything。　No；　she　thought　in　ecstasy；　this　pillowing　was　better　than　I　ever　remember　it　with　Quillan；　oh　so　much　better。　Linc's　so　clean　and　no　smoke　taste；　just　clean　and　wonderful　and　I　promise　by　the　Madonna　I　will　make　him　a　perfect　wife；　I'll　be　the　best　that　ever　was。　I　will　use　my　mind　and　hands　and　lips　and　body　to　please　and　to　satisfy　and　there　will　be　nothing　he　needs　that　I　will　not　do。　Nothing。　Everything　that　Quillan　taught　me　I　will　do　for　Linc；　even　the　things　I　did　not　enjoy；　I　will　enjoy　now　with　Linc。　My　body　and　soul　will　be　an　instrument　for　his　pleasure；　and　for　mine；　when　he's　learned。
　She　smiled　to　herself；　curled　up　in　his　arms。　Linc's　technique　is　nothing　in　parison　with　Quillan's　but　what　my　darling　lacks　in　skill　he　more　than　makes　up　with　strength　and　vigor。　And　tendern