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〃Sure。 Say； Ian；〃 he had begun； his anxiety almost overwhelming； 〃Orlanda； Orlanda Ramos； you know her？ I was wai… 〃
〃Yes。 Yes I saw her just after the slip hit the building。 She's fine。 She's waiting up at Kotewall。 She's fine。 How about you？〃
〃Hell； no sweat；〃 he had said； almost light…headed now； knowing she was safe。 And when Dunross had told him about his own miraculous escape and that Casey had seen the whole catastrophe happen； he was appalled at the thought of how close the others had all been to disaster。 〃Jesus！ A couple of minutes either way and you'd all've been clobbered。〃
〃Joss！〃
They had chatted for a while then Dunross had moved out of the way so the rescue could continue。
Thinking about Orlanda now； another tremor shook him and again he thanked God that she was safe and Casey was safe。 Orlanda'd never make it underground； he thought。 Casey maybe； but not Orlanda。 Never。 But that's no loss of face either。
He eased himself more fortably； his soaking clothes making his skin crawl； the shouts and noises of the approaching rescue forting。 To pass the time； he continued his reverie about the two women。 I've never known a body like Orlanda's or a woman like her。 It's almost as though I've known her for years； not a couple of days。 That's a fact。 She's exciting； unknown； female； wonderfully dangerous。 Casey's no danger。 She'd make a great wife； a great partner but she's not female like Orlanda is。 Sure Orlanda likes pretty clothes； expensive presents； and if what people here say is true she'll spend money like there's no tomorrow。 But isn't that what most of it's for？ My ex's taken care of； so're the kids。 Shouldn't I have some fun？ And be able to protect her from the Biltzmanns of the world？
Sure。 But I still don't know what it is about her … or Hong Kong … that's got to me。 It's the best place I've ever been and I feel more at home here than back home。 〃Maybe； Linc； you've been here in a previous lifetime；〃 Orlanda had said。
〃You believe in reincarnation？〃
〃Oh yes。〃
Wouldn't that be wonderful； he thought in his reverie； not noticing the gas or that now the gas was touching him a little。 To have more than one lifetime would be the best luck in all the world an…
〃Linc！〃
〃Hey！ Hi； Ian； what's cooking？〃 Bartlett's happiness picked up。 Dunross's voice was quite close。 Very close。
〃Nothing。 We're just going to take a short break。 It's heavy going。 We've got to detour again but we're only a few yards away。 Thought I'd chat。 As far as we can judge we're about five feet above you； ing in from the west。 Can you see us yet？〃
〃No。 There's a floor above me； all busted up； and beams； but I'm okay。 I can last out easy。 Hey； you know something？〃
〃What？〃
〃Tonight's the first time you called me Linc。〃
〃Oh？ I hadn't noticed。〃
Bullshit； Bartlett thought and grinned to himself。 〃What y… 〃 A sudden chill took both men as the wreckage began groaning； twisting here and there。 In a moment the noise ceased； most of it。 Bartlett began to breathe easier。 〃What you going to do tomorrow？〃
〃What about？〃
〃The stock market。 How are you going to beat Gornt？〃 He listened with growing awe as Dunross told him about the Bank of China's money； Plumm's party and his challenge to Gornt； backed by his new 50 million revolving fund。
〃Fantastic！ Who's supporting you； Ian？〃
〃Father Christmas！〃
Bartlett laughed。 〃So Murtagh came through； huh？〃 He heard the silence and smiled again。
〃Casey told you？〃
〃No。 No； I had that figured。 I told you Casey's as smart as a whip。 So you're home free。 Congratulations；〃 he said with a grin； meaning it。 〃I thought I had you； Ian。〃 Bartlett laughed。 〃You really think your stock'll open at 30？〃
〃I'm hoping。〃
〃If you're hoping； that means you and your pals have fixed it。 But Gornt's smart。 You won't get him。〃
〃Oh yes I will。〃
〃No you won't！ How about our deal？〃
〃Par…Con？ That stands of course。 I thought that was all arranged？〃
Bartlett heard the dry innocence。 〃Quillan must be fit to be tied。〃
〃He is！ He's just above。 He's helping too。〃
Bartlett was surprised。 〃Why？〃
There was a pause。 〃Quillan's a first…class； twenty…four…carat berk but 。。。 I don't know。 Maybe he likes you！〃
〃Screw you too！〃 Bartlett was equally good…natured。 〃What're you going to do about Quillan？〃
〃I've made him a proposal。〃 Dunross told it to him。
Bartlett grunted。 〃So my 2 mill's down the sewer？〃
〃Of course。 That 2 million is。 But your share of the General Stores takeover'll bring you 5； perhaps more； our Struan…Par…Con deal much more。〃
〃You really figure 5？〃
〃Yes。 You 5； Casey 5。〃
〃Great！ I always wanted her to get her drop dead money。〃 I wonder what she'll do now？ he asked himself。 〃She's always wanted to be independent and now she is。 Great！ What？〃 he asked； missing what Dunross had said。
〃I just said； would you like to talk to her？ It's dicey but safe enough。〃
〃No；〃 Bartlett said firmly。 〃Just say hi； I can say it better when I'm out。〃
〃Casey's said she's not moving till you are。〃 There was a slight pause。 〃Orlanda too。 How about her？ You want to say hello or anything？〃
〃No thanks。 Plenty of time later。 Tell them both to go home。〃
〃They won't。 I'm afraid you're rather popular。〃
Bartlett laughed and sat up and bumped his head。 A pain snaked down his back and he grunted； then moved more fortably； his head almost touching the roof。
Dunross was cramped in a small space not far away at the bottom of the twisting passage； hating the closeness； his claustrophobia nauseating； a chill cold sweat soaking him because of it。 He could see no sign of Bartlett but he had noted his voice sounded strong and confident。 Hooks had asked him to keep Bartlett talking while they rested； in case the gas was enveloping him。 〃You never know； tai…pan； gas can sneak up on you。 We need him alert。 We'll be needing his help soon now。〃
The tai…pan squirmed around uneasily； sensing danger。 Someone was climbing down； rubble cascading with him。 It was Hooks。 He stopped a few feet above。
〃All right； tai…pan。 Best e out now； we'll get some of my lads back in。〃
〃Right away。 Linc！ Stay awake。 We're starting again。〃
〃Okay； no sweat。 Say； Ian； would you consider being a best man？〃
〃Certainly；〃 he said at once； his brain shouting； Which one？ 〃It'd be an honor。〃
〃Thanks；〃 he heard Bartlett say and as much as he wanted to know； he knew he could never ask。 He was sure Bartlett would volunteer the who。 But all Bartlett said was； 〃Thanks。 Yes； thanks very much。〃 He smiled； surprised。 Linc's learning； he told himself。 It'll be good to have him as a partner … and a voting member of the Turf Club。 Casey too … 〃We'll have you out in a jiffy！〃
Just as he was leaving he heard： 〃Wouldn't it be great if they could be friends？ Guess that's too much to hope for？〃
Dunross was not sure if it had been meant for him。 〃What？〃 he called out。
〃Nothing；〃 Bartlett replied。 〃Say； Ian； we've got lots to do this week！ Hey； I'm glad you won over Gornt！〃 Yes； he told himself happily。 It'll be good maneuvering with you； watching you carefully； building our Noble House。
About eight yards away； a few feet up； Dunross turned awkwardly and began to climb back。