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ars and of their ing bout tonight。 〃Perhaps I shall just pay for this magic eye；〃 he said； testing the young man's resolve。
Paul Choy took his spirit pletely into his own hands。 〃Yes； yes you can； but then I'm leaving Hong Kong。〃
Wu's tongue darted spitefully。 〃You will leave when I tell you to leave。〃
〃But if I can't be profitable and put my expensive training to work； why should I stay？ Did you pay all that money for me to be a pimp on one of your Pleasure Boats？ A deckhand on a junk that can be raped at will by the nearest foreign devil cutter？ No； better I leave！ Better I bee profitable to someone else so that I can begin to repay your investment in me。 I will give Black Beard a month's notice and leave then。〃
〃You will leave when I tell you to leave！〃 Wu added malevolently。 〃You have fished in dangerous waters。〃
〃Yes。〃 And so have you； Paul Choy wanted to add； unafraid。 If you think you can blackmail me； that I'm on your hook； you're on mine and you've more to lose。 Haven't you heard of Queen's evidence； turning Queen's evidence … or plea bargaining？ But he kept this future ploy secret； to be used when necessary； and kept his face polite and bland。 〃All waters are dangerous if the gods decide they're dangerous；〃 he said cryptically。
Wu took a long deep drag of his cigarette； feeling the smoke deep within him。 He had noticed the change in this young man before him。 He had seen many such changes in many men。 In many sons and many daughters。 The experience of his long years screamed caution。 This whelp's dangerous； very dangerous； he thought。 1 think Goodweather Poon was right： it was a mistake to bring Profitable Choy aboard tonight。 Now he knows too much about us。
Yes。 But that's easy to rectify； when I need to； he reminded himself。 Any day or any night。
53
10：03 P。M。：
〃Well； what the devil are you going to do； Paul？〃 the governor asked Havergill。 Johnjohn was with them and they were on the terrace of Government House after dinner； leaning against the low balustrade。 〃Good God！ If the Victoria runs out of money too； this whole Island's ruined； eh？〃
Havergill looked around to make sure they were not being overheard； and dropped his voice。 〃We've been in touch with the Bank of England； sir。 By midnight tomorrow night； London time； there'll be an RAF transport at Heathrow stuffed full of five… and ten…pound notes。〃 His usual confidence returned。 〃As I said； the Victoria is perfectly sound； pletely liquid and our assets here and in England substantial enough to cover any eventuality； well almost any eventuality。〃
〃Meanwhile you may not have enough Hong Kong dollars to weather the run？〃
〃Not if the； er； the problem continues but I'm sure all will be well； sir。〃
Sir Geoffrey stared at him。 〃How the devil did we get into this mess？〃
〃Joss；〃 Johnjohn said wearily。 〃Unfortunately the mint can't print enough Hong Kong dollar notes for us in time。 It'd take weeks to print and to ship the amount we'd need； and it wouldn't be healthy to have all those extra notes in our economy。 The British currency's stopgap； sir。 We can just announce that the； er； that the mint is working overtime to supply our needs。〃
〃How much do we actually need？〃 The governor saw Paul Havergill and Johnjohn look at each other and his disquiet increased。
〃We don't know； sir；〃 Johnjohn said。 〃Colony…wide； apart from ourselves； every other bank will also need to pledge its securities … just as we've pledged ours temporarily to the Bank of England … to obtain the cash they need。 If every depositor on the Colony wants every dollar back 。。。〃 The sweat was beading the banker's face now。 〃We've no way of knowing how extended the other banks are； or the amount of their deposits。 No one knows。〃
〃Is one RAF transport enough？〃 Sir Geoffrey tried not to sound sarcastic。 〃I mean； well； a billion pounds in fives and tens？ How in the hell are they going to collect that number of notes？〃
Havergill mopped his brow。 〃We don't know； sir； but they've promised a first shipment will arrive Monday night at the latest。〃
〃Not till then？〃
〃No sir。 It's impossible before then。〃
〃There's nothing else we can do？〃
Johnjohn swallowed。 〃We considered asking you to declare a bank holiday to stem the tide but； er； we concluded … and the Bank of England agreed … if you did that it might blow the top off the Island。〃
〃No need to worry； sir。〃 Havergill tried to sound convincing。 〃By the end of next week it will all be forgotten。〃
〃I won't forget it； Paul。 And I doubt if China will … or our friends the Labour MPs will。 They may have a point about some form of bank controls。〃
Both bankers bridled and Paul Havergill said deprecatingly； 〃Those two berks don't know their rears from a hole in the wall！ Everything's in control。〃
Sir Geoffrey would have argued that point but he had just seen Rosemont； the CIA deputy director； and Ed Langan； the FBI man； wander out onto the terrace。 〃Keep me advised。 I want a full report at noon。 Would you excuse me a moment？ Please help yourself to another drink。〃
He went off to intercept Rosemont and Langan。 〃How're you two？〃
〃Great； thank you； sir。 Great evening。〃 Both Americans watched Havergill and Johnjohn going back inside。 〃How're our banker friends？〃 Rosemont asked。
〃Fine； perfectly fine。〃
〃That MP； the Socialist guy； Grey； was sure as hell getting under Havergill's skin！〃
〃And the tai…pan's；〃 Ed Langan added with a laugh。
〃Oh I don't know；〃 the governor said lightly。 〃A little opposition's a good thing； what？ Isn't that democracy at its best？〃
〃How's the Vic； sir？ How's the run？〃
〃No problems that can't be solved；〃 Sir Geoffrey replied with his easy charm。 〃No need to worry。 Would you give me a moment； Mr。 Langan？〃
〃Certainly； sir。〃 The American smiled。 〃I was just leaving。〃
〃Not my party； I trust！ Just to replenish your drink？〃
〃Yes sir。〃
Sir Geoffrey led the way into the garden； Rosemont beside him。 The trees were still dripping and the night dark。 He kept to a path that was puddled and muddy。 〃We've a slight problem； Stanley。 SI's just caught one of your sailors from the carrier passing secrets to a KGB fellow。 Bo… 〃
Rosemont stopped； aghast。 〃Off the Ivanov？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Was it Suslev？ Captain Suslev？〃
〃No。 No； it wasn't that name。 May I suggest you get on to Roger at once。 Both men are in custody； both have been charged under the Official Secrets Act but I've cleared it with the minister in London and he agrees you should take charge of your fellow at once 。。。 a little less embarrassing； what？ He's； er； he's a puter chap I believe。〃
〃Son of a bitch！〃 Rosemont muttered； then wiped the sudden sweat off his face with his hand。 〃What did he pass over？〃
〃I don't know exactly。 Roger will be able to fill you in on the details。〃
〃Do we get to interrogate 。。。 to interview the KGB guy too？〃
〃Why not discuss that with Roger？ The minister's in direct touch with him； too。〃 Sir Geoffrey hesitated。 〃I； er； I'm sure you'll appreciate 。。。〃
〃Yes； of course； sorry； sir。 I'd 。。。 I'd better get going at once。〃 Rosemont's face was chalky and he went off quickly； collecting Ed Langan with him。
Sir Geoffrey sighed。 Bloody spies； bloody bank