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！
g said； envying Dunross； as many did in the room … because he was the tai…pan and because of her。
〃Gehen Sie？〃 she asked in German。 Are you going？
〃To Japan； Riko…san？ Oh yes；〃 he answered in the same language； 〃the week after next。 We take delivery of a new super…cargo ship from Toda Shipping。 Did you chat with Hiro Toda yesterday？〃
〃Yes； yes I had that honor。 The Toda family is famous in Japan。 Before the Restoration when the samurai class was abolished； my family served the Toda。〃
〃Your family was samurai？〃
〃Yes； but of low degree。 I； I did not mention about my family to him。 Those were ancient days。 I would not like him to know。〃
〃As you wish；〃 he said； his curiosity piqued。 〃Hiro Toda's an interesting man；〃 he added； leading her on。
〃Toda…sama is very wise； very strong； very famous。〃 The waiter brought their salad and when he had left she said； 〃Struan's are famous in Japan too。〃
〃Not really。〃
〃Oh yes。 We remember Prince Yoshi。〃
〃Ah。 I didn't know you knew。〃
In 1854 when Perry forced the Shōgun Yoshimitsu Toranaga to open up Japan to trade； the Hag had sailed north from Hong Kong； her father and enemy； Tyler Brock； in pursuit。 Thanks to her； Struan's was the first into Japan； first to buy land for a trading post and the first outsider to trade。 Over the years and many voyages； she made Japan a cornerstone of Struan policy。
During the early years she met a young prince； Prince Yoshi； a relation of the Emperor and cousin to the Shōgun … without whose permission nothing happened in Japan。 At her suggestion and with her help； this prince went to England on a Struan clipper to learn about the might of the British Empire。 When he returned home a few years later； it was in another Struan ship； and that year some of the feudal barons … daimyo … hating the incursion of foreigners； revolted against the Shōgun whose family； the Toranaga； had exclusively ruled Japan for two and a half centuries in an unbroken line back to the great general Yoshi Toranaga。 The revolt of the daimyo succeeded and power was restored to the Emperor but the land was riven。 〃Without Prince Yoshi； who became one of the Emperor's chief ministers；〃 she said； unconsciously turning to English； 〃Japan would still be trembling and torn apart in civil war。〃
〃Why so？〃 he asked； wanting to keep her talking； her lilting accent pleasing him。
〃Without his help； the Emperor could not have succeeded； could not have abolished the Shōgunate； abolished feudal law； the daimyo； the whole samurai class； and forced them to accept a modern constitution。 It was Prince Yoshi who negotiated a peace among the daimyo； and then invited English experts to Japan to build our navy； our banks and our civil service； and help us into the modern world。〃 A small shadow went across her face。 〃My father told me much about those times； tai…pan； not yet a hundred years ago。 Transition from samurai rule to democracy was often bloody。 But the Emperor had decreed an ending so there was an ending and all the daimyo and samurai dragged themselves painfully into a new life。〃 She toyed with her glass； watching the bubbles。 〃The Toda were Lords of Izu and Sagami where Yokohama is。 For centuries they had had shipyards。 It was easy for them and their allies； the Kasigi； to e into this modern age。 For us 。。。〃 She stopped。 〃Oh； but you already know this； so sorry。〃
〃Only about Prince Yoshi。 What happened to your family？〃
〃My great…grandfather became a very minor member of Prince Yoshi's staff； as a civil servant。 He was sent to Nagasaki where my family have lived since。 He found it difficult not to wear the two swords。 My grandfather was also a civil servant； like my father； but only very tiny。〃 She looked up and smiled at him。 〃The wine is too good。 It makes my tongue run away。〃
〃No； not at all；〃 he said； then conscious of the eyes watching them； he added in Japanese； 〃Let us talk Japanese for a while。〃
〃It is my honor； tai…pan…san。〃
Later； over coffee； he said； 〃Where should I deposit the money owing to you； Riko…san？〃
〃If you could give me a cashier's check or bank draft〃 … she used the English words for there was no Japanese equivalent … 〃before I leave that would be perfect。〃
〃On Monday morning I will have it sent to you。 There's ￡10；625； and a further ￡8；500 payable in January； and the same the following year；〃 he told her； knowing her good manners would not permit to ask outright。 He saw the flash of relief and was glad he had decided to give her two extra years of salary … AMG's information about oil alone was more than worth it。 〃Would eleven o'clock be convenient for the 'sight draft' ？〃 Again Dunross used the English word。
〃Whatever pleases you。 I do not wish to put you to any trouble。〃
Dunross noticed how she was speaking slowly and distinctly to help him。 〃What will be your travel plans？〃
〃On Monday I think I will go to Japan； then 。。。 then I don't know。 Perhaps back to Switzerland though I have no real reason to return。 I have no relations there； the house was a rented house and the garden not mine。 My Gresserhoff life ended with his death。 Now I think I should be Riko Anjin again。 Karma is karma。〃
〃Yes；〃 he told her； 〃karma is karma。〃 He reached into his pocket and brought out a gift…wrapped package。 〃This is a present from the Noble House to thank you for taking so much trouble and such a tiring trip on our behalf。〃
〃Oh。 Oh thank you； but it was my honor and pleasure。〃 She bowed。 〃Thank you。 May I open it now？〃
〃Perhaps later。 It is just a simple jade pendant but the box also contains a confidential envelope that your husband wanted you to have； for your eyes only and not for the eyes that surround us。〃
〃Ah。 I understand。 Of course。〃 She bowed again。 〃So sorry； please excuse my stupidity。〃
Dunross smiled back at her。 〃No stupidity； never； only beauty。〃
Color came into her face and she sipped coffee to cover。 〃The envelope is sealed； tai…pan…san？〃
〃Yes； as he instructed。 Do you know what's in it？〃
〃No。 Only that 。。。 only that Mr。 Gresserhoff said that you would give me a sealed envelope。〃
〃Did he say why？ Or what you were supposed to do with it？〃
〃One day someone would e to claim it。〃
〃By name？〃
〃Yes； but my husband told me I was never to divulge the name； not even to you。 Never。 Everything else I could tell you but not the 。。。 the name。 So sorry； please excuse me。〃
Dunross frowned。 〃You're just to give it to him？〃
〃Or her；〃 she said pleasantly。 〃Yes； when I am asked； not before。 After it has been digested； Mr。 Gresserhoff said the person would repay a debt。 Thank you for the gift； tai…pan…san。 I will cherish it。〃
The waiter came and poured the last of the champagne for him then went away again。 〃How do I reach you in the future； Riko…san？〃
〃I will give you three addresses and phone numbers that will find me； one in Switzerland； two in Japan。〃
After a pause he said； 〃Will you be in Japan the week after next？〃
Riko looked up at him and his spirit twisted at such beauty。 〃Yes。 If you wish it；〃 she said。
〃I wish it。〃
75
2：30 P。M。：
The Sea Witch was tied just offshore beside Sha Tin boat harbor where they had moored for lunch。 As soon as they had arriv