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gods。
Poor little Fifth Niece。 So pretty； so sweet。
〃Gods are gods；〃 he muttered wearily； echoing the last words he remembered her ever saying； then put her out of his mind。
77
6：30 P。M。：
Ah Tat hobbled up the wide staircase in the Great House； her old joints creaking； muttering to herself； and went along the Long Gallery； hating the gallery and the faces that seemed ever to be watching her。 Too many ghosts here； she thought with superstitious dread； knowing too many of the faces in life； growing up in this house； born in this house eighty…five years ago。 Uncivilized to hold their spirits in thrall by hanging their likenesses on the wall。 Better to act civilized and cast them into memory where spirits belong。
As always when she saw the Hag's knife stuck through the heart of her father's portrait a shudder went through her。 Dew neh loh moh； she thought； now there was a wild one； her with the unquenchable demon in her Jade Gate； ever secretly bemoaning the loss of the tai…pan； her husband's father； bemoaning her fate that she had married the weakling son and not the father； never to be bedded by the father； her Jade Gate unquenchable because of that。
Ayeeyah； and all the strangers that climbed these stairs over the years to enter her bed； barbarians of all nations； of all ages； shapes and sizes； to be cast aside like so much chaff once their essence had been taken and used up； the fire never touched。
Ah Tat shuddered again。 All gods bear witness！ The Jade Gate and the One…Eyed Monk are truly yin and yang； truly everlasting； truly godlike； both insatiable however much one consumes the other。 Thank all gods my parents allowed me to take the vow of chastity； to devote my life to bringing up children； never to be split by a Steaming Stalk； never to be the same ever after。 Thank all gods all women do not need men to elevate them to be one with the gods。 Thank all gods some women wisely prefer women to cuddle and touch and kiss and enjoy。 The Hag had had women too； many； when she was old； finding in their youth…filled arms pleasure but never satisfaction； not like me。 Curious she would pillow with a civilized girl but not a civilized man who would surely have put out her fire； one way or another； with pillow tools or without。 All gods bear witness； how many times did I tell her？ Me the only one she would talk to about such things！
Poor fool； her with her twisted dreams of power； twisted dreams of lust； just like the old dowager empress … nightmares of a lifetime that no shaft could allay。
Ah Tat pulled her eyes off the knife and plodded onward。 The House will never be whole until someone pulls out the knife and casts it into the sea … curse or no curse。
The old woman did not knock on the bedroom door but went in noiselessly so as not to wake him and stood over the vast double bed and looked down。 This was the time she enjoyed the most； when her man…child was still sleeping； alone； and she could see his sleeping face and study it and not have to worry about Chief Wife's spleen and ill…temper over her ings and goings。
Silly woman； she thought gravely； seeing the lines in his face。 Why doesn't she do her duty as Chief Wife and provide my son with another wife； young； child bearing； a civilized person； like old Green…Eyed Devil had。 Then this house would be bright again。 Yes； the house needs more sons … stupid to risk posterity on the shoulders of one son。 And stupid to leave this bull alone； stupid to leave this bed empty； stupid to leave him to be tempted by some mealy…mouthed whore to waste his essence in alien pastures。 Why doesn't she realize we have the house to protect！ Barbarians。
She saw his eyes open and focus and then he stretched luxuriously。 〃Time to get up； my son；〃 she said； trying to sound harsh and manding。 〃You have to bathe and get dressed and make more phone calls； heya； and leave your poor old Mother with more chores and more work； heya？〃
〃Yes； Mother；〃 Dunross mumbled through a yawn in Cantonese； then shook himself like a dog； stretched once more and got out of bed and strode naked for the bathroom。
She studied his tall body critically； the crinkled； savage scars of the old burns from his airplane crash covering most of his legs。 But the legs were strong； the flanks strong and the yang resolute and healthy。 Good； she thought。 I'm glad to see all's well。 Even so； she was concerned at his perpetual leanness； with no substantial belly that his wealth and position merited。 〃You're not eating enough； my son！〃
〃More than enough！〃
〃There's hot water in the bucket。 Don't forget to wash your teeth。〃
Contentedly she began to remake the bed。 〃He needed that rest；〃 she muttered； not realizing she was talking aloud。 〃He's been like a man possessed for the last week； working all hours； fear in his face and over him。 Such fear can kill。〃 When she had finished the bed she called out； 〃Now don't stay out late tonight。 You must take care of yourself and if you go with a whore bring her here like a sensible person； heya？〃
She heard him laugh and she was glad for it。 There hasn't been enough laughter from him the last few days； she thought。 〃A man needs laughter and youthful yin to nourish the yang。 Eh what； what did you say？〃
〃I said； where's Number One Daughter？〃
〃In； out； always out； out with that new barbarian；〃 she said going to the bathroom door and peering at him as he doused water over himself。 〃The one with long hair and crumpled clothes who works for the China Guardian。 I don't approve of him； my son。 No； not at all！〃
〃Where are they 'out；' Ah Tat？〃
The old woman shrugged； chomping her gums。 〃The sooner Number One Daughter's married the better。 Better for her to be another man's problem than yours。 Or you should give her a good whip to her rump。〃 He laughed again and she wondered why he laughed this time。 〃He's getting simple in the head；〃 she muttered； then turned away。 At the far door； remembering； she called out； 〃There's small chow for you before you leave。〃
〃Don't worry about food 。。。〃 Dunross stopped； knowing it was a waste of time。 He heard her go off mumbling； closing the door after her。
He was standing in the bath and bailed more cold water over himself。 Christ； I wish this bloody water shortage'd cease； he thought。 I could use a really long hot shower； his mind inexorably zeroing in on Adryon。 At once he heard Penelope's admonition； 〃Do grow up； Ian！ It really is her own life； do grow up！〃
〃I'm trying；〃 he muttered； toweling himself vigorously。 Just before he had slept he had called Penelope。 She was already at Castle Avisyard； Kathy still in the London clinic for more tests。 〃She'll be ing up next week。 I do so hope everything will be all right。〃
〃I'm in touch with the doctors； Penn。〃 He told her about sending Gavallan to Scotland。 〃He's always wanted to be there； Kathy too； it'll be better for both of them； eh？〃
〃Oh； that's marvelous； Ian。 That'll be a marvelous tonic。〃
〃They can take over the whole east wing。〃
〃Oh yes。 Ian； the weather's wonderful today； wonderful； and the house so lovely。 No chance you can e for a few days I suppose？〃
〃I'm up to my nose in it； Penn！ You heard about the market？〃
He had heard the mo