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e of iron。 〃Ready when you are。〃
〃What's your name？〃
〃Clinker； Ernie Clinker。 Wot's yorn？〃
〃Dunross。 Ian Dunross。〃
〃Oh！〃 Clinker moved his head painfully and peered upward； his face and head bleeding； hair matted and lips raw。 〃Thanks； tai…pan；〃 he said。 〃Ready； ready when you are。〃
Dunross put his weight and strength onto his makeshift lever。 The beam raised an inch。 Clinker squirmed but could not dislodge himself。 〃Bit more； mate；〃 he gasped； in great pain。 Again Dunross bore down。 He felt the sinews of his arms and legs cry out under the strain。 The beam came up a fraction。 A trickle of rubble cascaded into the cavity。 Higher still。 〃Now！〃 he said urgently。 〃I can't hold it。 。。。〃
The old man's grip on the iron tightened and he dragged himself out inch by inch。 More rubble moved as he shifted his grip。 Now he was halfway out。 Once his trunk was free； Dunross let the rafter settle back； oh so gently； and when it was pletely at rest he grabbed the old man and wrenched him free。 It was then that he saw the trail of blood； the left foot missing。 〃Don't move； old fellow；〃 he said passionately as Clinker lay panting； half unconscious； trying to stop the whimpers of pain。 Dunross tore open a bandage； tying a rough tourniquet just under the knee。
Then he stood up in the small space and looked at the vicious overhang above him； trying to decide what to do next。 Next I get the poor bugger out； he thought； loathing the closeness。 Then he heard the rumble and shriek of shifting debris。 The earth lurched and he ducked； his arms protecting his head。 A new avalanche began。 。。。
83
9：13 P。M。：
It was just sixteen minutes since Rose Court was struck； but all over the vast area of destruction people were moving。 Some had fought themselves out of the rubble。 Others were rescuers and down below； near the mand post set up at the junction； police cars； four fire trucks and rescue units were there； their mobile lights washing the slope； firemen and police frantically working their way through the wreckage。 A small fire flickered and it was quickly doused； everyone aware of the gas danger。 An ambulance with wounded or dying had already been dispatched； more were converging。
It was chaotic in the darkness； all streetlighting failed； the rain beginning again。 The senior divisional fire officer had arrived a moment ago and had sent for gas pany engineers and organized other experts to inspect the foundations of the other high rises and buildings nearby in case they should be evacuated … the whole three tiers of Kotewall； Conduit and Po Shan Roads suspect。 〃Christ；〃 he muttered； appalled； 〃this's going to take weeks to dig out and clean up。〃 But he stood in the open； an outward picture of calm。 Another patrol car whined to a halt。 〃Oh hello； Robert；〃 he said as Armstrong joined him。 〃Yes；〃 he said； seeing his shock； 〃Christ knows how many're buried th… 〃
〃Look out！〃 someone shouted and everyone ran for cover as a huge lump of reinforced concrete came crashing down from the mutilated top stories of Sinclair Towers。 One of the police cars turned its light upward。 Now they could see the shreds of rooms open to the skies。 A tiny figure was teetering on the brink。 〃Get someone up there and see what the hell's going on！〃
A fireman took to his heels。 。。。
* * *
In the darkness at the roadblock up on Kotewall Road； onlookers from nearby buildings had been collecting； everyone petrified that there would be another slide； tenants frantic； not knowing whether to evacuate or not。 Orlanda was still leaning numbly against the car； the rain on her face mixing with her tears。 Another group of police reinforcements poured over the barrier onto the morass and fanned out with heavy…duty flashlights searching the terrain。 One heard a call for help from below and directed his light into the brush； then changed direction quickly as he saw Riko waving and shouting； two figures inert beside her。
Down Kotewall Road at the fork； Gornt's car skidded to a halt。 Brushing aside orders from the harassed policeman there； he pressed the keys into his hand and rushed off up the hill。 When he got near to the barrier and saw the extent of the disaster he was stunned。 Only moments ago he had been there； drinking and flirting with Casey； everything settled； Orlanda settled； then his whole victory upside down and raging at Dunross； but some miracle had sent him away in time and now perhaps all the others were dead and buried and gone forever。 Christ！ Dunross Orlanda Casey Jason Bar…
〃Keep out of the way！〃 the policeman shouted。 More ambulance bearers hurried past； firemen with axes following； up and over the mess of mud and boulders and trees toward the ruins。 〃Sorry； but you can't stay there； sir。〃
Gornt moved aside； breathing heavily from his run。 〃Did anyone get out？〃
〃Oh yes； of course； I'm sure th… 〃
〃Have you seen Dunross； Ian Dunross？〃
〃Who？〃
〃The tai…pan； Dunross？〃
〃No； no sorry I haven't。〃 The policeman turned away to intercept and calm some disheveled parents。
Gornt's eyes went back to the disaster； still appalled by its immensity。
〃Jesus；〃 an American voice muttered。
Gornt turned。 Paul Choy and Venus Poon were crammed in a new group who were straggling up。 Everyone stared； dumbfounded； into the darkness。 〃Jesus！〃
〃What're you doing here； Paul？〃
〃Oh hello； Mr。 Gornt！ My 。。。 my uncle's in there；〃 Paul Choy said； hardly able to talk。 〃Jesus Christ； lookit！〃
〃Four Fingers？〃
〃Yes。 He 。。。〃
Venus Poon overrode him grandly。 〃Mr。 Wu's waiting for me to discuss a movie contract。 He's going to be a film producer。〃
Gornt dismissed the patent fabrication as his mind raced。 If he could save Four Fingers； perhaps the old man would help extricate him from the looming stock market debacle。 〃What floor was he on？〃
〃The fifth；〃 Venus Poon said。
〃Paul； cut around to Sinclair Road and work your way up this side of the slope。 I'll work down to meet you！ Off you go！〃
The young man raced off before Venus Poon could stop him。 The policeman was still distracted。 Without hesitation Gornt darted for the barrier。 He knew Plumm's fifth…floor apartment well … Four Fingers should be nearby。 In the darkness he did not notice Orlanda on the other side of the road。
Once over the barrier he moved as fast as he could； his feet sinking into the earth。 From time to time he stumbled。 〃Heya； Honored Sir！〃 he called out in Cantonese to a nearby stretcher bearer。 〃Do you have a spare flashlight？〃
〃Yes； yes； here you are！〃 the man said。 〃But beware； the path is treacherous。 There are many ghosts here。〃
Gornt thanked him and hurried off； making better time。 Nearing where the foyer would have been he stopped。 Up the mountainside as far as he could see was the ugly sloping gash of the slide； a hundred yards wide。 On the edges of all three tiers were other buildings and high rises； one under construction； and the thought of being caught in one of those nauseated him。 All of Conduit Road had gone； trees torn up； parapets gone。 When he looked below he shuddered。 〃It's impossible；〃 he muttered； remembering the size and strength of the high rise and the joy of Rose Court over the years。 Then he saw the li