按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e； until the second woman's fingertips and tongue reached the apex。 Lights exploded behind his eyes as he felt the pressure。 His thrusts were deep； ragged； almost uncontrollable。 Fingers and tongue insinuating； penetrating as he penetrated。 It was all too much； and he howled over and over in heartfelt release。
The three of them collapsed in a sweaty mass。 He smelled their musk； watched； his heart still palpitating as the two women entwined their bodies like serpents； slithering； tongues flickering； pleasuring each other； watching as he grew hard again。 They used him as he had used them； doing to him whatever they wanted； whatever gave them pleasure until right up to the end； when he took charge again； rearing up as they fell back； accepting his seed as if it were wine。
Afterward； saturated with their fluids； he dropped into a sleep that was； unfortunately； not dreamless。 There； in a place he could not name and a time he preferred not to remember； his father stalked him through dark tenement rooms； cloying with putrefaction； inhabited by cockroaches and rats。
Just remember I made you what you are。 His father's fierce voice echoed off the filthy walls； being more and more of a physical presence； until the room Rock found himself in was filled with blood； and he drowned。
He awoke with such tenor that he screamed at the drowsy； naked women； beating them insanely until he drove them； tearstained and bloody； from his presence。
7
Vung Tau/Washington/Tokyo
When Chief Inspector Van Kiet arrived at the Lang Ca Ong； it was with the face of the devil himself。 If he were fuming any harder； steam would have been pouring out of his ears。
〃It's difficult enough having a semblance of a private life without people like you dragging me out of my home at all hours；〃 he said to Tachi。 This was before he saw Nicholas and let out a groan。 〃You're an evil omen； you know that？〃 He turned back to the oyabun。 〃If you ever owe me a favor； I swear I will ask you for permission to kill this man。〃
〃Thanks for the warning；〃 Tachi said dryly。 〃I'll try to keep it in mind。〃
The skeletons of the whales loomed above them； dark and grotesque。
〃Must we stay here？〃 Van Kiet glanced around nervously。 〃I like to keep moving； especially at night。〃
Nicholas took careful note as they went out of the temple and along the street。 This man's manner was markedly different from the last time they had met when； surrounded by his men and their weaponry； he had seemed totally in control of the situation。 What had changed？
〃There was something of an incident two days ago；〃 Tachi began； 〃at the Giac Lam Pagoda。〃
〃Christ； don't I know it。〃 Van Kiet was clearly agitated。 〃I'm under tremendous pressure from the government to find the perpetrator。 The problem is I know who ordered it and he pays me far more than the government ever would。〃
〃This man here was the target of the bomb；〃 Tachi said； indicating Nicholas。 〃It was only by extenuating circumstances that he survived。〃
〃The worse for all of us； I can tell you；〃 Van Kiet said sourly。 He glanced over his shoulder as if he were longing for a bulletproof vest。
〃Who ordered me killed？〃 Nicholas asked。
〃Jesus； Rock； of course。〃
Nicholas looked at Van Kiet。 〃Who is Rock？〃
〃The emperor of Floating City。〃 Van Kiet grunted。 〃He built the damn place； carved it out of the jungle and solid rock。 God alone knows how he did it； but money can buy you anything； they say； and Rock has so much of it he can't spend it fast enough。〃
〃If he owns you； why are you telling us this？〃 Nicholas asked。 〃If Rock wants me dead； you should have taken one look at me； pulled out your sidearm； and shot me yourself。〃
Van Kiet gave Tachi a sidelong glance。 〃Is this guy kidding？〃
Tachi shrugged； then said； 〃Tell him。〃
Van Kiet's eyebrows raised。 〃Really？〃
〃Really。〃
Van Kiet shifted his gaze to Nicholas。 〃I get rented out； not owned。 I may be a whore； but I haven't yet sold my soul。〃
Tachi rolled his eyes。 〃You're starting to chew the scenery。 No； I meant tell him the truth。〃
Van Kiet shivered。 〃I'm not fortable here。 Can we go somewhere？〃
Somewhere meant Van Kiet's boat； a twenty…one…foot ketch with a white fiberglass hull； a teak deck； and gleaming brass fittings。 It was hardly an item a policeman … even a chief inspector … could normally afford。 Van Kiet brought the engine to life； turned on the running lights； while Nicholas and Tachi untied the boat from her mooring。 They had reached her by a dinghy； which bobbed at the ketch's side。
Van Kiet took them out about half a mile； until the crescent of lights from Vung Tau made a bracelet in the night。 Then he dropped anchor； broke out a chest full of 33 beer。 They all drank； sitting in the velvet night； luxuriating in the feeling of being apart from everything and everyone。
〃The real truth；〃 Van Kiet said at last； 〃is that Tachi and I have been working for two years to infiltrate Rock's Floating City。〃
〃Rock owns the poppy fields in the Shan States；〃 Tachi said。
Van Kiet nodded。 〃As far as I can tell； he's a U。S。 veteran of the war here。 He stayed on after the troops went home。 How he managed this particular feat without his superiors knowing about it is a mystery。 Maybe he faked his death … he wouldn't have been the first； I can tell you。 Maybe he just disappeared himself。 Whatever； he apparently got the idea that opportunity presented itself here； so he took himself to Burma and systematically muscled into the drug trade。 He hired himself out as an assassin to those warlords wilting to listen。 He murdered their main rivals in exchange for a fee。 What they didn't know was that part of the fee was an alliance with Rock。 He wasn't just in it for the money … he wanted the trade itself。〃
Van Kiet sipped his beer thoughtfully。 〃Those who wouldn't acquiesce； he did in。〃
〃All by himself？〃 Nicholas was clearly skeptical。
〃Listen； the man was a monster during the war。 Who knows how many people he blew away and how much he came to like it？ Killing can bee a kind of addiction in those circumstances。 He could handle any sort of ordnance。 To this day； he carries a LAW。 Do you know what that is？ An M72 light antitank rocket launcher。 Can you imagine having one of those beasts leveled at you？ And word is he has modified the thing so it's even more deadly。 Plus； he's a clever bastard。 There's a pretty nasty rumor that he destroyed the last remaining major warlord by killing his most prized possession … a young girl … and serving her severed ear to him in a stew。〃
〃Monster seems to be the right word for him；〃 Nicholas agreed。 〃Have you been inside Floating City？〃
〃No； but I think I was close。 And then you showed up with your puter…chip scheme。 Rock saw through that one right away； which is why he's marked you。 It's why you pissed me off so badly。〃 Van Kiet hawked and spat over the side of the boat。 〃Don't expect an apology。 I would have blown your brains out just like I did that woman you were with after I'd had a chance to interrogate you to find out who you really were and what you were up to。〃
〃Same thing as you； it would seem。〃
Tachi twirled his beer bottle between his hands。 〃Tell me； does this second