jamesclavell.noblehouse-第340章

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　But　she　saw　none　of　the　beauty　of　it。　Her　face　was　wet　with　the　tears　that　still　coursed。　She　was　leaning　on　the　railing　at　a　far　corner；　oblivious。　The　other　sightseers　and　people　waiting　at　the　nearby　bus　stops　left　her　alone　…　too　interested　in　their　own　affairs。
　〃By　all　the　gods　I　made　a　fortune　today。　。。。〃
　〃I　bought　in　first　thing　and　doubled　my　fornicating　money。　。。。〃
　〃Ayeeyah　so　did　I；　and　I　spent　most　of　the　day　negotiating　a　loan　from　Best　Bank　against　my　portfolio。　。。。〃
　〃Thank　all　gods　the　Middle　Kingdom　bailed　out　those　stupid　foreign　devils　。。。〃
　〃I　bought　Noble　House　at　20。　。。。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　they　dug　out　two　more　bodies　at　Kotewall　and　now　the　count's　sixty…seven　dead。　。。。〃
　〃Joss！　Isn't　it　wonderful　about　the　market！　Old　Blind　Tung's　prediction　came　true　again。　。。。〃
　〃Did　you　hear　about　my　sister；　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　from　Great　Hotel？　She　and　her　syndicate　bought　at　the　darkest　time　and　now　she's　a　millionaire。　。。。〃
　Casey　heard　nothing；　saw　nothing；　misery　overwhelming　her。　People　came　and　went；　a　few　lovers。　The　only　Europeans　were　tourists　with　their　cameras。　Casey　hid　from　them　as　best　she　could。
　〃Say；　can　I　help？〃　one　of　them　said。
　〃No；　no　thank　you；〃　she　replied；　her　voice　flat；　not　looking　at　him；　helpless　to　stop　the　tears。
　I　have　to　stop；　she　thought。　I　have　to　stop。　I　have　to　begin　again。　I　have　to　begin　again　and　be　strong　and　live；　for　me　and　for　Linc。　I've　got　to　guard　him　and　his；　I've　got　to　be　strong；　be　strong。
　But　how？
　〃I　won't　let　go；〃　she　told　herself　aloud。　I　won't。　I　have　to　think。
　I　have　to　think　about　what　the　tai…pan　said。　Not　about　marriage；　oh　Linc；　not　about　that。　I　have　to　think　about　Orlanda。
　〃Is　it　too　much　to　hope　they'd　be　friends？〃　Did　he　really　say　that？
　What　to　do　about　her？
　Bury　her。　She　took　Linc　away　from　me。　Yes。　But　that　was　within　my　rules；　the　rules　I　set　down。　Ian's　right。　She's　not　like　Quillan　and　it　was　Linc　…　he　fell　for　her；　he　went　out　with　her。　She's　not　like　Quillan　Gornt。
　Quillan。　What　about　him？　He　had　e　to　the　hotel　this　afternoon；　again　offering　her　whatever　help　she　needed。　She　had　thanked　him　and　refused。　〃I'm　okay；　Quillan。　I　have　to　work　this　out　myself。　No；　please　don't　see　me　off。　Please。　I'll　be　back　in　thirty　days；　maybe。　Then　I'll　be　more　sensible。〃
　〃You're　signing　with　Struan's？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　that's　what　I　want　to　do。　Sorry。〃
　〃No　need　to　be　sorry。　You've　been　warned。　But　that　doesn't　preclude　dinner　the　first　night　you're　back。　Yes？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Oh　Quillan；　what　to　do　about　you？
　Nothing　for　thirty　days。　Linc　must　have　the　next　thirty　days。　Totally。　I　have　to　protect　him　against　the　vultures。
　Seymour　Steigler　for　one。　This　morning　he　had　e　to　her　suite。　〃Hey　Casey；　I'll　get　the　coffin　arranged　and…　〃
　〃It's　done；　everything's　done。〃
　〃That　a　fact？　Great。　Listen；　I'm　all　packed。　Jannelli　can　take　my　bags　and　I'll　be　at　the　airplane　in　good　time　so　we　c…　〃
　〃No。　I'm　taking　Linc　home　alone。〃
　〃But　hell；　Casey；　we've　got　a　lot　to　talk　about。　There's　his　will；　there's　the　Par…Con　deal；　we　got　time　now　to　figure　it　good。　We　can　delay　and　maybe　get　us　a　few　extra　points。　We…　〃
　〃It　can　all　wait。　I'll　see　you　back　in　L。A。　Take　off　a　couple　of　days；　Seymour。　Be　back　next　Monday。〃
　〃Monday？　For　chrissake　there's　a　million　things　to　do！　Linc's　affairs'll　take　a　year　to　untangle。　We　gotta　get　counsel　fast。　Sure；　the　best　in　town。　I'll　do　that　first　thing；　the　best。　Don't　forget　there's　his　widow　and　his　kids。　She'll　sue　on　their　behalf；　of　course　she'll　sue　…　and　then　there's　you！　For　chrissake　you're　entitled　to　a　fat　share。　We'll　sue　too；　haven't　you　been　like　a　wife　to　him　for　seven　ye…　〃
　〃Seymour；　you're　fired！　Get　your　ass　out　of　here　an…　〃
　〃What　the　hell's　with　you？　I'm　only　thinking　of　your　legal　rights　an…　〃
　〃Don't　you　hear；　Seymour？　You're　fired！〃
　〃You　can't　fire　me。　I've　got　rights。　I　got　a　contract！〃
　〃You're　a　son　of　a　bitch。　You'll　get　top　dollar　to　settle　your　contract　but　if　you　take　after　me　or　Linc　or　Linc's　affairs　I'll　see　to　it　you　get　nothing。　Nothing。　Now　get　the　hell　out　of　here！〃
　Casey　wiped　away　her　tears；　remembering　her　exploding　rage。　Well　he　is　a　son　of　a　bitch。　I　was　never　sure　before　but　I　am　now。　I'm　glad　I　fired　him。　I'll　bet　any　money　he'll　e　sniffing　around　like　a　hyena。　Sure。　I'll　bet　he'll　go　see　the　ex…Mrs。　Bartlett　if　he　hasn't　already　called　her　and　work　her　into　a　frenzy；　to　represent　her　brood　to　attack　Par…Con　and　Linc。　Sure；　I'll　bet　any　money　I'll　see　him　in　court；　one　way　or　another。　Well；　God　help　me；　I　swear　he　won't　beat　me。　I'll　protect　Linc　whatever。
　Forget　that　bastard；　Casey。　Forget　the　battles　you're　going　to　fight；　concentrate　on　the　now。　What　about　Orlanda？　Linc；　Linc　liked　her　…　loved　her　maybe。　Did　he？　I　don't　know　for　sure。　And　never　will；　not　now。
　Orlanda。
　Should　I　go　see　her？
　
　91
　
　8：05　P。M。：
　Orlanda　was　sitting　in　the　dark　of　her　room　at　the　Mandarin　Hotel　staring　out　at　the　night。　Her　grief　was　spent。
　Joss　about　Linc；　she　told　herself　for　the　ten　thousandth　time。　Joss。　Now　everything's　as　before。　Everything　has　to　start　again。　The　gods　laughed　at　me　again。　Perhaps　there'll　be　another　chance　…　of　course　there'll　be　another　chance。　There　are　other　men　。。。　Oh　God！　Don't　worry；　everything　will　be　as　it　was。　Quillan　said　not　to　worry；　my　allowance　would　contin…　
　The　phone　jangled；　startling　her。　〃Hello？〃
　〃Orlanda？　It's　Casey。〃　Orlanda　sat　bolt　upright；　astonished。　〃I'm　leaving　tonight　but　I　wanted　to　see　you　before　I　go。　Is　that　possible？　I'm　downstairs。〃
　Her　enemy　calling　her？　Why？　To　gloat？　But　they'd　both　lost。　〃Yes；　Casey；〃　she　said　hesitantly。　〃Would　you　like　to　e　up？　It's　more　private　here。　363。〃
　〃Sure。　363。〃
　Orlanda　switched　on　a　light　and　hurried　to　the　bathroom　to　check　her　face。　She　saw　sadness　and　recent　tears　…　but　no　age。　Not　yet。　But　age　is　ing；　she　thought；　a　shiver　of　apprehension　taking　her。　A　b　to　her　hair　and　a　little　makeup　on　her　eyes。　Nothing　else　needed。　Not　yet。
　Stop　it！　Age　is　inevitable。　Be　Asian！　Be　aware。
　She　slipped　on　her　shoes。　The　waiting　seemed　long。　Her　heart　was　grinding。　The　bell　rang。　The　door　opened。　Each　saw　the　desolation　of　the　other。
　〃e　in；　Casey。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　The　room　was　small。　Casey　noticed　two　small　cases　standing　neatly　beside　the　bed。　〃You　leaving　too？〃　Her　voice　sounded　far　away　to　her。
　〃Yes。　Yes　I'm　moving　in　with　friends　of　my　parents。　The　hotel's　a；　it's　a　bit　expensive。　My　friends　said　I　could　stay　with　them　until　I　can　find　another　apartment。　Please　sit　down。〃
　〃But　you're　covered　by　insurance？〃
　Orlanda　blinked。　〃Insurance？　No；　no　I　don't　think　so。　I　never　。。。　no；　I　don't　think　so。〃
　Casey　sighed。　〃So　you've　lost　everything？〃
　〃Joss。〃　Orlanda　half…shrugged。　〃It　doesn't　matter。　I　have　a　little　money　in　the　bank　and　。。。　I'm　fine。〃　She　saw　the　misery　in　Casey's　face；　and　her　passion　reached　out。　〃Casey；〃　she　said　quickly；　〃about　Linc。　I　wasn't　trying　to　trap　him；　not　for　anything　bad。　Oh　yes；　I　loved　him　and　yes；　I'd've　done　anything　to　marry　him；　but　that's　only　fair；　and　honestly　I　believe　I'd've　been　a　wonderful　wife　for　him；　I'd've　tried　so　very　hard　to　be　the　best；　honestly。　I　did　love　him　and　。。。〃　Again　Orlanda　shrugged　her　tiny　shrug。　〃You　know。　Sorry。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know。　No　need　to　be　sorry。〃
　〃The　first　time　I　met　you　at　Aberdeen；　the　night　of　the　fire；〃　Orlanda　said；　rushing　on；　〃I　thought　how　foolish　Linc　was；　perhaps　you　were　for　not　。。。〃　She　sighed。　〃Perhaps　it's　as　you　said；　Casey；　there's　nothing　to　talk　about。　Now　most　of　all。〃　The　tears　began　again。　And　her　tears；　the　reality　of　them；　brought　tears　from　Casey。
　For　a　moment　they　sat　there；　the　two　women。　Then　Casey　found　a　tissue；　dried　her　eyes；　feeling　awful；　nothing　resolved；　wanting　now　to　finish　quickly　what　she　had　begun。　She　took　out　an　envelope。　〃Here's　a　check。　It's　for　10；000　U。S。　I　th…　〃
　Orlanda　gasped。　〃I　don't　want　your　money！　I　don't　want　anything　fr…　〃
　〃It's　not　from　me。　It's　Linc's。　Listen　a　moment。〃　Casey　told　her　what　Dunross　had　said　about　Bartlett。　All　of　it。　The　repeating　of　it　tearing　her　anew。　〃That's　what　Linc　said。　I　think　it　was　you　he　wanted　to　marry。　Maybe　I'm　wrong。　I　don't　know。　Even　so；　h