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jamesclavell.noblehouse-第218章

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t that he was reading a letter from a dead man。 The letter concluded; 〃Jamie's a geologist; a marine geologist; one of the best in the world。 Ask him about his work; the last years; preferably not with Frances there … not that she's not party to everything he knows but she does carry on a bit。 He has some interesting theories that could perhaps benefit the Noble House and your contingency planning。 Kindest regards; AMG。〃
 Dunross looked up。 〃AMG says you're old school friends?〃
 〃Oh yes。 Yes; we were at school together。 Charterhouse actually。 Then I went on to Cambridge; he to Oxford。 Yes。 We've; er; kept in contact over the years; haphazardly; of course。 Yes。 Have you; er; known him long?〃
 〃About three years。 I liked him too。 Perhaps you don't want to talk now?〃
 〃Oh。 Oh no; that's all right。 I'm 。。。 it's a shock of course but well; life must go on。 Old Alan 。。。 he's a funny sort of laddie isn't he; with all his papers and books and pipe and ash and carpet slippers。〃 Kirk sadly steepled his fingers。 〃I suppose I should say he was。 It doesn't seem right yet to talk about him in the past tense 。。。 but I suppose we should。 Yes。 He always wore carpet slippers。 I dinna think I've ever been to his chambers when he wasn't wearing carpet slippers。〃
 〃You mean his flat? I've never been there。 We always met in my London office though he did e to Ayr once。〃 Dunross searched his memory。 〃I don't remember him wearing carpet slippers there。〃
 〃Ah; yes; he told me about Ayr; Mr。 Dunross。 Yes; he told me。 It was; er; a high point in his life。 You're 。。。 you're very lucky to have such an estate。〃
 〃Castle Avisyard's not mine; Mr。 Kirk; though it's been in the family for more than a hundred years。 Dirk Struan bought it for his wife and family … a country seat so to speak。〃 As always; Dunross felt a sudden glow at the thought of all that loveliness; gentle rolling hills; lakes; moors; forests; glades; six thousand acres or more; good shooting; good hunting and Scotland at its best。 〃It's tradition that the current tai…pan's always laird of Avisyard … while he's tai…pan。 But; of course; all the families; particularly children of the various families; know it well。 Summer holidays 。。。 Christmas at Avisyard's a wonderful tradition。 Whole sheep and sides of beef; haggis at New Year; whiskey and huge roaring fires; the pipes sounding。 It's a bonnie place。 And a working farm; cattle; milk; butter … and not forgetting the Loch Vey distillery! I wish I could spend more time there … my wife just left today to get things ready for the Christmas vacation。 Do you know that part of the world?〃
 〃A wee bit。 Mostly I know the Highlands。 I know the Highlands better。 My family came from Inverness。〃
 〃Ah; then you must visit us when we're in Ayr; Mr。 Kirk。 AMG says in his letter you're a geologist; one of the best in the world?〃
 〃Oh。 Oh he's too kind … was too kind。 My; er; my speciality's marine。 Yes。 With particular emph… 〃 He stopped abruptly。
 〃What's the matter?〃
 〃Oh; er; nothing; nothing really; but do you think Frances will be all right?〃
 〃Absolutely。 Would you like me to tell her about AMG?〃
 〃No。 No I can do that later。 No; I 。。。 I; on second thought I think I'm going to pretend he's not dead; Mr。 Dunross。 You need not have told me; then I won't have to spoil her holiday。 Yes。 That's best; don't you think?〃 Kirk brightened a little。 〃Then we can discover the bad news when we get home。〃
 〃Whatever you wish。 You were saying? With particular emphasis on?〃
 〃Oh yes 。。。 petrology; which is; of course; the broad study of rocks including their interpretation and description。 Within petrology my field has been narrowed down more recently to sedimentary rocks。 I've; er; I've been on a research project for the last few years as a consultant on Paleozoic sedimentaries; porous ones。 Yes。 The study concentrated on the eastern coastal shelf of Scotland。 AMG thought you might like to hear about it。〃
 〃Of course。〃 Dunross curbed his impatience。 His eyes were looking at the package on his desk。 He wanted to open it and call Johnjohn and do a dozen other pressing things。 There was so much to do and he did not yet understand the AMG connection between the Noble House and Kirk。 〃It sounds very interesting;〃 he said。 〃What was the study for?〃
 〃Eh?〃 Kirk stared at him; startled。 〃Hydrocarbons。〃 At Dunross's blank look he added hastily; 〃Hydrocarbons are only found in porous sedimentary rocks of the Paleozoic era。 Oil; Mr。 Dunross; crude oil。〃
 〃Oh! You were exploring for oil?〃
 〃Oh no! It was a research project to determine the possibility of hydrocarbons being present offshore。 Off Scotland。 I'm happy to say I think they'll be there abundantly。 Not close in but out in the North Sea。〃 The small man's pink face became pinker and he mopped his brow。 〃Yes。 Yes; I; think there'll be quite a number of good fields out there。〃 Dunross was perplexed; still not seeing the connection。 〃Well; I know a little about offshore drilling in the Middle East and the Texas Gulf but out in the North Sea? Good God; Mr。 Kirk; that sea's the worst in the world; probably the most fickle in the world; almost always in storm with mountainous seas。 How could you drill there? How could you make the rigs safe; how would you supply the rigs; how could you possibly get the oil in bulk ashore; even if you found it? And if you got it ashore; my God; the cost'd be prohibitive。〃
 〃Oh quite right; Mr。 Dunross;〃 Kirk agreed。 〃Everything you say's quite right; but then it's not my job to be mercial; just to find our elusive; supremely valuable hydrocarbons。〃 He added proudly; 〃This is the first time we've ever thought they could exist there。 Of course; it's still only a theory; my theory … you never know for certain until you drill … but part of my expertise's in seismic interpretation; that's the study of waves resulting from induced explosions; and my approach to the latest findings was a wee bitty unorthodox。 。。。〃
 Dunross listened now with only the surface of his brain; still trying to puzzle out why AMG should consider this important。 He allowed Kirk to continue for a while then politely brought him back。 〃You've convinced me; Mr。 Kirk。 I congratulate you。 How long are you staying in Hong Kong?〃
 〃Oh。 Oh just till Monday。 Then; er; then we're going to New Guinea。〃
 Dunross concentrated; very concerned。 〃Where in New Guinea?〃
 〃To a place called Sukanapura; on the north coast; that's in the new Indonesian part。 I've been 。。。〃 Kirk smiled。 〃Sorry; of course you'd know President Sukarno took over Dutch New Guinea in May。〃
 〃Stolen might be another way of putting it。 If it hadn't been for more ill…advised U。S。 pressure; Dutch New Guinea'd still be Dutch and far better off; I think。 I don't believe it'd be a good idea at all for you and Mrs。 Kirk to go there for a while。 It's very dicey; the political situation's very unstable and President Sukarno's hostile。 The insurrection in Sarawak is Indonesian…sponsored and supported … he's very antagonistic to the West; to all Malaysia; and pro his Marxists。 Besides Sukanapura is a hot; rotten; spooky port with lots of disease on top of all the other troubles。〃
 〃Oh you don't have to worry; I have a Scots constitution
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