jamesclavell.noblehouse-第301部分

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　He　picked　up　the　phone　to　call　Rosemont　but　changed　his　mind　and　dialed　Orlanda。　No　answer。　He　redialed　the　number。　The　calling　tone　droned　on　and　on。
　〃Shit！〃　He　pushed　away　his　discontent。
　You've　a　date　for　lunch　so　what's　so　tough？　Sunday　brunch　here　atop　the　V　and　A　and　lots　of　time；　Sunday　brunch　where　〃all　the　best　people　go　for　lunch；　Linc。　Oh　it's　super；　the　hot　and　cold　buffet's　the　talk　of　Asia。　The　very　best！〃
　〃Jesus；　all　this　food；　by　next　week　I'll　weigh　a　ton！〃
　〃Not　you；　never　never　never。　If　you　like；　we'll　go　for　a　long　walk　or　when　the　rain　stops　we'll　play　tennis。　Whatever　you　want　we'll　do！　Oh　Linc；　I　love　you　so。　。。。〃
　
　Casey　was　leaning　on　the　balustrade　at　the　Kowloon　wharf　among　the　crowds。　She　wore　khaki　pants　and　a　yellow　silk　shirt　that　showed　her　figure　without　flaunting　it；　a　matching　cashmere　sweater　tied　casually　around　her　neck；　sneakers；　and　in　her　big　handbag　was　a　swimsuit　…　not　that　I'll　need　it　today；　she　told　herself；　the　Peak　shrouded　to　Mid　Levels　with　cloud；　black…dark　sky　to　the　east　and　a　heavy　line　of　rain　squall　already　touching　the　Island。　A　small　helicopter　putt…putted　overhead　to　go　out　across　the　harbor　on　course　for　Central。　She　saw　it　land　on　one　of　the　buildings。　Isn't　that　the　Struan　Building？　Sure；　sure　it　is。　Wonder　if　Ian's　in　it？
　Wonder　if　the　hill　climb's　back　on　again？　Last　night　he　had　said　it　was　off　but　that　some　of　them　might　do　it　anyway。
　Then　her　eyes　saw　the　approaching　motor　cruiser。　It　was　big；　expensive；　the　lines　sleek；　a　Red　Ensign　aft；　a　colorful　pennant　on　the　stubby　mast。　She　picked　out　Gornt　at　the　helm。　He　was　dressed　casually；　shirt…sleeves　rolled　up；　canvas　pants；　his　black　hair　ruffled　by　the　sea　breeze。　He　waved　and　she　waved　back。　There　were　others　on　the　bridge　main　deck：　Jason　Plumm　she　had　met　at　the　races；　Sir　Dunstan　Barre　at　the　tai…pan's　…　he　was　wearing　a　smart　blue　blazer　and　white　pants；　Pugmire　was　equally　nautical。
　Gornt　put　the　cumbersome　craft　alongside　skillfully；　fenders　out；　two　deckhands　with　hooked　fending　poles。　She　headed　along　the　quay　toward　the　wet　slippery　steps。　Five　Chinese　girls　were　already　waiting　on　the　landing；　gaily　dressed　in　boating　clothes；　laughing　and　chattering　and　waving。　As　she　watched；　they　jumped　awkwardly　aboard　helped　by　a　deckhand；　kicked　their　high　heels　off。　One　went　to　Barre；　another　to　Pugmire；　another　to　Plumm　as　old　friends　would　and　the　other　two　went　cheerfully　below。
　I'll　be　goddamned；　she　thought　disgustedly。　It's　one　of　those　parties。　She　began　to　turn　to　leave　but　she　saw　Gornt　leaning　over　the　side；　watching　her。　〃Hello；　Casey；　sorry　about　the　rain；　e　aboard！〃
　The　craft　was　dipping　and　twisting　in　the　swell；　waves　slapping　the　steps　and　the　hull。　〃e　aboard；　it's　quite　safe；〃　he　called　out。　Reacting　at　once　to　what　she　interpreted　as　a　taunt；　she　came　down　the　steps　quickly；　refused　the　proffered　help　of　the　deckhand；　waited　for　the　correct　moment　and　jumped。　〃You　did　that　as　though　you've　been　aboard　a　yacht　before；〃　Gornt　said　with　admiration；　ing　to　meet　her。　〃Wele　aboard　the　Sea　Witch。〃
　〃I　like　sailing；　Quillan；　though　I　think　maybe　I'm　out　of　my　depth　here。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Gornt　frowned　and　she　could　read　no　taunt　or　challenge　there。　〃You　mean　the　girls？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃They're　just　guests　of　my　guests。〃　His　eyes　bored　into　her。　〃I　understood　you　wanted　to　be　treated　with　equality。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　thought　you　wanted　to　be　treated　equally　in　a　masculine　world；　in　business　and　pleasure？　To　be　accepted；　eh？〃
　〃I　do；〃　she　said　coldly。
　His　warmth　did　not　change。　〃Are　you　upset　because　the　others　are　married　and　you've　met　some　of　their　wives？〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　am。〃
　〃Isn't　that　rather　unfair？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　it　is；〃　she　said　unfortably。
　〃You　're　my　guest；　my　guest；　the　others　are　my　guests'　guests。　If　you　want　equality；　perhaps　you　should　be　prepared　to　accept　equality。〃
　〃This　isn't　equality。〃
　〃I'm　certainly　putting　you　in　a　position　of　trust。　As　an　equal。　I　must　tell　you　the　others　didn't　think　you　as　trustworthy　as　I　consider　you。〃　The　smile　hardened。　〃I　told　them　they　could　leave　or　stay。　I　do　what　I　like　on　my　ship　and　I　stood　surety　for　your　discretion　and　good　manners。　This　is　Hong　Kong；　our　customs　are　different。　This　isn't　a　puritan　society　though　we　have　very　serious　rules。　You're　alone。　Unmarried。　Very　attractive　and　very　wele。　As　an　equal。　If　you　were　married　to　Linc；　you　would　not　have　been　asked；　together　or　by　yourself；　though　he　might　have　been　and　what　he　told　you　when　he　came　back　would　be　his　own　affair。〃
　〃You're　saying　this　is　regular　Hong　Kong　custom　…　the　boys　out　with　the　girls　bit　on　a　Sunday　afternoon？〃
　〃No；　not　at　all。　I'm　saying　my　guests　asked　if　they　could　invite　some　guests　who'd　brighten　what　might　otherwise　be　a　dull　luncheon　for　them。〃　Gornt's　eyes　were　level。
　The　Sea　Witch　heeled　under　another　wave　and　Barre　and　his　girl　friend　stumbled　and　almost　lost　their　footing。　She　dropped　her　glass　of　champagne。　Gornt　had　not　moved。　Nor　did　Casey。　She　didn't　even　need　to　hold　on。
　〃You've　done　lots　of　sailing？〃　he　said　with　admiration。
　〃I've　an　eighteen…footer；　fiberglass；　Olympic　class；　sloop…rigged；　on　a　trailer。　I　sail　some　weekends。〃
　〃Alone？〃
　〃Mostly。　Sometimes　Linc　es　along。〃
　〃He's　at　the　hill　climb？〃
　〃No。　I　heard　it　was　canceled。〃
　〃He's　going　to　Taipei　this　afternoon？〃
　〃No。　I　heard　that　was　canceled　too。〃
　Gornt　nodded。　〃Wise。　A　lot　to　do　tomorrow。〃　His　eyes　were　kindly。　〃I'm　sorry　you're　offended。　I　thought　you　different　from　the　usual。　I'm　sorry　the　others　came　now。〃
　Casey　heard　the　strange　gentleness。　〃Yes；　I'm　sorry　too。〃
　〃Would　you　still　like　to　stay？　I　hope　so；　though　I　will　expect　your　discretion　…　I　did　guarantee　it。〃
　〃I'll　stay；〃　she　said　simply。　〃Thanks　for　trusting　me。〃
　〃e　on　the　bridge。　There's　champagne　and　I　think　lunch'll　please　you。〃
　Having　chosen；　Casey　put　away　her　reservations　and　decided　to　enjoy　the　day。　〃Where're　we　going？〃
　〃Up　by　Sha　Tin。　The　sea'll　be　calm　there。〃
　〃Say；　Quillan；　this　is　a　wonderful　boat。〃
　〃I'll　show　you　around　in　a　moment。〃　There　was　a　spatter　of　rain　and　they　moved　into　the　lee　of　the　overhanging　deck。　Gornt　glanced　at　the　clock　tower。　It　was　10：10。　He　was　about　to　order　their　castoff　when　Peter　Marlowe　hurried　down　the　steps　and　came　aboard。　His　eyes　widened　as　he　noticed　Casey。
　〃Sorry　I'm　late；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I　was　going　to　give　you　a　couple　of　minutes　…　I　know　how　it　is　with　young　children。　Excuse　me　a　second；　I　believe　you　know　each　other。　Oh；　Casey's　my　guest　…　her　discretion's　guaranteed。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　〃Isn't　it？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　He　turned　and　left　them；　going　to　the　bridge　to　take　the　conn。　They　watched　a　moment；　both　embarrassed；　the　sea　breeze　freshening　the　rain　that　slanted　down。
　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you；　Peter；〃　she　said。
　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　either。〃
　She　studied　him；　her　hazel　eyes　level。　〃Is　one　of　the；　the　others　yours？　Give　it　to　me　straight。〃
　His　smile　was　curious。　〃Even　if　one　was　I'd　say　it　wasn't　any　of　your　business。　Discretion　and　all　that。　By　the　way；　are　you　Gornt's　girl　friend？〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃No。　No；　of　course　not！〃
　〃Then　why're　you　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He　。。。　he　just　said　I　was　invited　as　an　equal。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　I　see。〃　Peter　Marlowe　was　equally　relieved。　〃He's　got　a　strange　sense　of　humor。　Well；　I　did　warn　you。　To　answer　your　question；　at　least　eight　are　part　of　the　Marlowe　harem！〃　She　laughed　with　him　and　he　added　more　seriously；　〃You　don't　have　to　worry　about　Fleur。　She's　very　wise。〃
　〃I　wish　I　was；　Peter。　This's　all　rather　new　to　me。　Sorry　about　。。。　yes；　sorry。〃
　〃It's　new　to　me　too。　I've　never　been　on　a　Sunday　cruise　before。　Why　did　y…　〃　His　smile　vanished。　She　followed　his　glance。　Robin　Grey　had　e　up　from　below　and　was　pouring　himself　a　glass　of　champagne；　one　of　the　girls　holding　out　her　glass　too。　Casey　turned　and　stared　up　at　Gornt；　watching　him　glance　from　man　to　man；　then　at　her。
　〃e　aloft；〃　Gornt　called　out。　〃There's　wine；　champagne；　Bloody　Marys　or；　if　you　prefer；　coffee。〃　He　kept　his　face　expressionless　but　inside　he　was　vastly　amused。
　
　74
　
　11：15　A。M。：
　〃I　repeat；　Mr。　Sinders；　I