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red it was never to be used when the tai…pan was in the car。 Never never never。 It never had been。 Yet。 Lim felt queasy at the thought of being caught but their wish to know … of course to protect … overcame their anxiety。 Oh oh oh； he chortled； Golden Pubics is certainly in a rage！ Casey was seething。
〃Let's quit this； Linc； huh？〃 she said。 〃Since our breakfast meeting you've been like a bear with a sore ass！〃
〃And what about you？〃 Bartlett glared at her。 〃We're going with Gornt … the way I want it。〃
〃This's my deal； you've said that fifty times； you promised； you've always listened before。 Jesus； we're on the same side。 I'm only trying to protect you。 I know you're wrong。〃
〃You think I'm wrong。 And it's all because of Orlanda！〃
〃That's a crock！ I went through my reasons fifty times。 If Ian gets out of the trap then we're better off to go with him than Gornt。〃
Bartlett's face was cold。 〃We've never had a bust before； Casey； but if you want to vote your shares； I'll vote mine and your ass'll be in a vise before you can count to ten！〃
Casey's heart was thumping。 Ever since their breakfast meeting with Seymour Steigler； the day had been heavy going。 Bartlett was adamant that their best course lay with Gornt and nothing she could say would dissuade him。 After an hour of trying she had closed the meeting and gone off to deal with a pile of overnight telexes； then； remembering suddenly at the last moment； had rushed out in a panic and bought her hat。
When she had met Bartlett in the foyer with great trepidation； wanting the hat to please him； she had begun to make peace but he had interrupted her。 〃Forget it；〃 he had said。 〃So we disagree。 So what？〃
She had waited and waited but he hadn't even noticed。 〃What do you think？〃
〃I told you。 Gornt's best for us。〃
〃I meant my hat。〃 She had seen his blank stare。
〃Oh that's what's different！ Hey； it's okay。〃
She had felt like tearing it off and hurling it at him。 〃It's Parisian；〃 she had said half…heartedly。 〃It says hats and gloves on the invitation； remember？ It's a crock but Ian said that la… 〃
〃What makes you think he can get out of the trap？〃
〃He's clever。 And the tai…pan。〃
〃Gornt's got him on the run。〃
〃It looks that way。 So let's forget it for now。 Maybe we'd better wait outside。 The car's ing at noon promptly。〃
〃Just a minute； Casey。 What have you got cooking？〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I know you better than anyone。 What do you have on the burner？〃
Casey hesitated； unsure of herself； wondering if she should reveal the First Central ploy。 But there's no reason to； she reassured herself。 If Ian gets the credit and squeezes out； I'll be the first to know。 Ian promised。 Then Linc can cover his 2 million with Gornt and they can buy back in to cover their selling short and make a huge profit。 At the same time Ian； Linc and I get in at the bottom of the market and make our own killing。 I'll be the first to know after Murtagh and Ian。 Ian promised。 Yes； yes he did。 But can I trust him？
A wave of nausea went through her。 Can you trust anyone in business here； or anywhere？ Man or woman？
At dinner last night she had trusted him。 Influenced by the wine and food she had told him about her relationship with Linc； and about the bargain they had made。
〃That's a bit rough； isn't it？ On both of you？〃
〃Yes； yes and no。 We were both over twenty…one； Ian； and I wanted so much more than being just Mrs。 Linc Bartlett； a mother…mistress…servant…dishwasher…diaperwasher…slave and a left…at…home。 That's the thing that kills off any woman。 You're always left。 At home。 So home bees a prison in the end； and it drives you mad； being trapped until death do us part！ I've seen it too many times。〃
〃Someone has to look after the home and the children。 It's the man's job to make the money。 It's the wife's j… 〃
〃Yes。 Most times。 But not for me。 I'm not prepared to accept that and I don't think it's wrong to want a different sort of life。 I'm the wage earner for my family。 My sister's husband died so there's my sister and her kids； and my Ma and uncle are getting on。 I'm educated and good and better than most in business。 The world's changing； everything's changing； Ian。〃
〃I said before； not here thank God！〃
Casey remembered how she had readied to return measure for measure； but had bitten back the old Casey and said instead； 〃Ian； what about the Hag？ How did she do it？ What was her secret？ How did she bee more equal than anyone？〃
〃She kept her hands on the purse strings。 Absolutely。 Oh she conceded outward position and face to Culum and following tai…pans but she kept the books； she hired and fired through him … she was the strength of that family。 When Culum was dying； it was easy to persuade him to make her tai…pan。 He gave her the Struan chop； family chop and all the reins and all the secrets。 But； wisely； she kept it all very secret and after Culum she only appointed those she could control； and never once gave any one of them the purse strings； or real power； not until she herself was dying。〃
〃But ruling through others； is that enough？〃
〃Power is power and I don't think it matters so long as you rule。 For a woman … after a certain age … power only es with control of the purse。 But you're right about drop dead money。 Hong Kong's the only place on earth you can get it to keep it。 With money； real money； you can be more equal than anyone。 Even Linc Bartlett。 I like him； by the way。 I like him very much。〃
〃I love him。 Our partnership's worked； Ian。 I think it's been good for Linc … oh how I hope so。 He's our tai…pan and I'm not trying to bee one。 I just want to succeed as a woman。 He's helped me tremendously； of course he has。 Without him I'd never have made it。 So we're in business together； until my birthday。 November 25 this year。 That's D Day。 That's when we both decide。〃
〃And？〃
〃I don't know。 I honestly don't know。 Oh I love Linc； more than ever； but we're not lovers。〃
Later； ing back on the ferry； she had been sorely tempted to ask him about Orlanda。 She had decided not to。 〃Perhaps I should have；〃 she muttered out loud。
〃Eh？〃
〃Oh！〃 She came out of her reverie； finding herself in the limo on the car ferry en route to Hong Kong。 〃Sorry； Linc； I was daydreaming。〃
She looked at him and saw that he was as handsome as ever； even though now he stared back coldly。 You're more attractive to me than either Ian or Quillan； she thought。 And yet； right now； I'd prefer to pillow with either of them than with you。 Because you're a bastard。
〃Do you want to have at it？〃 he said。 〃You want to vote your shares against mine？〃
Casey stared back at him； enraged。 Tell him to go screw； the devil half of her screamed； he needs you more than you need him； you've got the reins of Par…Con； you know where the bodies are buried； you can take apart what you helped to create。 But the other half of her urged caution。 She remembered what the tai…pan had said about this man's world； and about power。 And about the Hag。
So she dropped her gaze a moment and allowed tears to seep。 At once she saw the change in him。
〃Jesus； Casey； don't cry； I'm sorry 。。。〃 he was saying and his arms reached out for her。 〃Jesus； you've never cried be