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〃All his holdings？〃 Dunross asked sharply。 〃When did you talk to him？〃
〃We've been in contact all day。 Why？〃
〃I reached him after lunch and he promised he wouldn't sell or loan any Struan's。 Has he changed his mind？〃
〃No。 I'm sure he hasn't。 He can't。 He hasn't any Struan stock。〃
〃He has 400；000 shares！〃
〃He did have； tai…pan； though actually the number was nearer 600；000 … Sir Luis had very few shares of his own； he's one of Tightfist's many nominees。 He's unloaded all 600；000 shares。 Today。〃
Dunross bit back an obscenity。 〃Oh？〃
〃Listen； my young friend； this is all in the strictest confidence but you should be prepared： Tightfist ordered Sir Luis to sell or loan all his Noble House stock the moment the rumors started this morning。 100；000 was spread throughout the brokers and sold immediately； the remainder 。。。 the half million shares you bought from Gornt were Tightfist's。 The moment it was evident there was a major assault on the House and Gornt was selling short； Tightfist told Sir Luis to go ahead and loan it all； except for a token 1；000 shares； which he's kept。 For face。 Yours。 When the exchange closed； Tightfist was very pleased。 On the day he's almost 2 million ahead。〃
Dunross was standing rock still。 He heard that his voice was matter…of…fact and level and controlled and that pleased him； but he was in shock。 If Tightfist had sold； the Chins would sell and a dozen other friends would follow his lead and that meant chaos。 〃The old bugger！〃 he said； bearing him no grudge。 It was his own fault； he had not reached Tightfist in time。 〃Lando； what about your 300；000 shares … plus？〃
He heard the Portuguese hesitate and his stomach twisted again。 〃I've still got them。 I bought at 16 when you first went public so I'm not worried yet。 Perhaps Alastair Struan was right when he advised against going public … the Noble House's only vulnerable because of that。〃
〃Our growth rate's five times Gornt's and without going public we could never have weathered the disasters I inherited。 We're supported by the Victoria。 We've still got our bank stock and a majority vote on the board so they have to support us。 We're really very strong and once this temporary situation's over we'll be the biggest conglomerate in Asia。〃
〃Perhaps。 But perhaps you'd have been wiser to accept our proposal instead of leaving yourself constantly open to the risk of takeovers or market disasters。〃
〃I couldn't then。 I can't now。 Nothing's changed。〃 Dunross smiled grimly。 Lando Mata； Tightfist Tung and Gambler Chin collectively had offered him 20 percent of their gold and gambling syndicate revenue for 50 percent of Struan's … if he kept it as a wholly private…owned pany。
〃e； tai…pan； be sensible！ Tightfist and I will give you 100 million cash today for 50 percent ownership。 U。S。 dollars。 Your position as tai…pan will not be touched； you will head the new syndicate and manage our gold and gambling monopolies； secretly or openly … with 10 percent of all profit as a personal fee。〃
〃Who appoints the next tai…pan？〃
〃You do … in consultation。〃
〃There； you see！ It's impossible。 A 50 percent control gives you power over Struan's and that I'm not allowed to give。 That would negate Dirk's legacy； make my oath invalid and give away absolute control。 Sorry； it's not possible。〃
〃Because of an oath to an unknown； unknowable god in which you don't believe … on behalf of a murdering pirate who's been dead over a hundred years？〃
〃For whatever reason the answer is； thank you； no。〃
〃You could easily lose the whole pany。〃
〃No。 Between the Struans and the Dunrosses we have 60 percent voting control and I alone vote all the stock。 What I'd lose is everything material we own； and cease to be the Noble House； and that by the Lord God； is not going to happen either。〃
There was a long silence。 Then Mata said； his voice friendly as always； 〃Our offer is good for two weeks。 If joss is against you and you fail； the offer to head the new syndicate stands。 I shall sell or lend my stock at 21。〃
〃Below 20 … not at 21。〃
〃It will go that low？〃
〃No。 Just a habit I have。 20 is better than 21。〃
〃Yes。 Good。 Then let us see what tomorrow brings。 I wish you good joss。 Good night； tai…pan。〃
Dunross put down the phone and sipped the last of his champagne。 He was up the creek without a paddle。 That old bugger Tightfist； he thought again； admiring his cleverness … to agree so reluctantly not to sell or barter any Struan shares； knowing that only 1；000 remained； knowing the revenue from almost 600；000 was already safe … that old bastard's a great negotiator。 It's so very clever of both Lando and Tightfist to make the new offer now。 100 million！ Jesus Christ； that'd stop Gornt farting in church！ I could use that to smash him to pieces； and in short order take over Asian Properties and put Dunstan into an early retirement。 Then I could pass the House over to Jacques or Andrew in great shape and 。。。
And then what？ What would I do then？ Retire to the moors and shoot grouse？ Throw vast parties in London？ Or go into Parliament and sleep in the Back Bench while the bloody Socialists give the country to the munists？ Christ； I'd be bored to bloody death！ I'd 。。。
〃What？〃 He was startled。 〃Oh sorry； Penn； what did you say？〃
〃I just said that all sounded like bad news！〃
〃Yes。 Yes it was。〃 Then Dunross grinned and all his anxiety dropped away。 〃It's joss！ I'm tai…pan；〃 he said happily。 〃You've got to expect it。〃 He picked up the bottle。 It was empty。 〃I think we deserve another 。。。 No； pet； I'll get it。〃 He went to the concealed refrigerator that was set into a vast old Chinese scarlet； lacquered sideboard。
〃How do you cope； Ian？〃 she asked。 〃I mean； it always seems to be something bad； ever since you took over … and there's always some disaster； every phone call； you work all the time； never take a holiday 。。。 ever since we came back to Hong Kong。 First your father and then Alastair and then 。。。 Isn't it ever going to stop pouring cats and dogs？〃
〃Of course not … that's the job。〃
〃Is it worth it？〃
He concentrated on the cork； knowing there was no future in this conversation。 〃Of course。〃
To you it is； Ian； she thought。 But not to me。 After a moment she said； 〃Then it's all right for me to go？〃
〃Yes； yes of course。 I'll watch Adryon and don't worry about Duncan。 You just have a great time and hurry back。〃
〃Are you going to do the hill climb Sunday？〃
〃Yes。 Then I'm going to Taipei； back Tuesday。 I'm taking Bartlett。〃
She thought about Taipei and wondered if there was a girl there； a special girl； a Chinese girl； half her age； with lovely soft skin and warmth； not much warmer than herself or softer or trimmer but half her age； with a ready smile； without the years of survival bowing her … the rotten growing…up years； the good and terrible war years； and childbearing years and child…rearing years and the exhausting reality of marriage； even to a good man。
I wonder I wonder I wonder。 If I was a man 。。。 there're so many beauties here； so anxious to please； so readily available。 If you believe a tenth of what the others say。
She watched him pour the fine wine； the bubbles and froth good； his face strong and c