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！
。〃
〃Yes； that's special。〃 John Chen said it flat。 Ever since he could think； he had been bedeviled by his heritage。 He could feel eyes watching him … him； the eldest son； the next in line … he could feel the everlasting greed and the envy。 It had terrified him continuously； however much he tried to conquer the terror。 He had never wanted any of the power or any of the responsibility。 Only yesterday he had had another grinding row with his father； worse than ever before。 〃I don't want any part of Struan's！〃 he had shouted。 〃For the hundredth time I want to get the hell out of Hong Kong； I want to go back to the States； I want to lead my own life； as I want； where I want； and how I want！〃
〃For the thousandth time； you'll listen to me。 I sent you to Am… 〃
〃Let me run our American interests； Father。 Please。 There's more than enough to do！ You could let me have a couple of mill… 〃
〃Ayeeyah you will listen to me！ It's here； here in Hong Kong and Asia we make our money！ I sent you to school in America to prepare the family for the modern world。 You are prepared； it's your duty to the fam… 〃
〃There's Richard； Father； and young Kevin … Richard's ten times the businessman I am and chomping at the bit。 What about Uncle Jam… 〃
〃You'll do as I say！ Good God； you know this American Bartlett is vital to us。 We need your knowl… 〃
〃 … Uncle James or Uncle Thomas。 Uncle James'd be the best for you； best for the family and the bes… 〃
〃You're my eldest son。 You're the next head of the family and the next pradore！〃
〃I won't be by God！〃
〃Then you won't get another copper cash！〃
〃And that won't be much of a change！ We're all kept on a pittance； whatever outsiders think！ What are you worth？ How many millions？ Fifty？ Seventy？ A hun… 〃
〃Unless you apologize at once and finish with all this nonsense； finish with it once and for all； I'll cut you off right now！ Right now！〃
〃I apologize for making you angry but I'll never change！ Never！〃
〃I'll give you until my birthday。 Eight days。 Eight days to bee a dutiful son。 That's my last word。 Unless you bee obedient by my birthday I'll chop you and your line off our tree forever！ Now get out！〃
John Chen's stomach twisted uneasily。 He hated the interminable quarreling； his father apoplectic with rage； his wife in tears； his children petrified； his stepmother and brothers and cousins all gloating； wanting him gone； all of his sisters； most of his uncles； all their wives。 Envy； greed。 The hell with it and them； he thought。 But Father's right about Bartlett； though not the way he thinks。 No。 This one is for me。 This deal。 Just this one then I'll be free forever。
They were almost through the long； brightly lit Customs Hall now。
〃You going racing Saturday？〃 John Chen asked。
〃Who isn't！〃 The week before； to the ecstasy of all； the immensely powerful Turf Club with its exclusive monopoly on horse racing … the only legal form of gambling allowed in the Colony … had put out a special bulletin： 〃Though our formal season does not start this year until October 5； with the kind permission of our illustrious Governor； Sir Geoffrey Allison； the Stewards have decided to declare Saturday； August 24 a Very Special Race Day for the enjoyment of all and as a salute to our hardworking population who are bearing the heavy weight of the second worst drought in our history with fortitude。 。。。〃
〃I hear you've got Golden Lady running in the fifth；〃 Armstrong said。
〃The trainer says she's got a chance。 Please e by Father's box and have a drink with us。 I could use some of your tips。 You're a great punter。〃
〃Just lucky。 But my ten dollars each way hardly pares with your ten thousand。〃
〃But that's only when we've one of our horses running。 Last season was a disaster。 。。。 I could use a winner。〃
〃So could I。〃 Oh Christ how I need a winner； Armstrong thought。 But you； Johnny Chen； it doesn't matter a twopenny tick in hell if you win or lose ten thousand or a hundred thousand。 He tried to curb his soaring jealousy。 Calm down； he told himself。 Crooks're a fact and it's your job to catch them if you can … however rich； however powerful … and to be content with your rotten pay when every street corner's groaning with free silver。 Why envy this bastard … he's for the chopper one way or another。 〃Oh by the way； I sent a constable to your car to take it through the gate。 It'll be waiting at the gangway for you and your guests。〃
〃Oh； that's great； thanks。 Sorry for the trouble。〃
〃No trouble。 It's a matter of face。 Isn't it。 I thought it must be pretty special for you to e yourself。〃 Armstrong could not resist another barb。 〃As I said； nothing's too much trouble for the Noble House。〃
John Chen kept his polite smile but screw you； he thought。 We tolerate you because of what you are； a very important cop； filled with envy； heavily in debt； surely corrupt and you know nothing about horses。 Screw you in spades。 Dew neh loh moh on all your generations； John Chen thought； but he kept the obscenity hidden carefully； for though Armstrong was roundly hated by all Hong Kong yan； John Chen knew from long experience that Armstrong's ruthless； vengeful cunning was worthy of a filthy Manchu。 He reached up to the half…coin he wore on a thin leather thong around his neck。 His fingers trembled as they touched the metal through his shirt。 He shivered involuntarily。
〃What's the matter？〃 Armstrong asked。
〃Nothing。 Nothing at all。〃 Get hold of yourself； John Chen thought。
Now they were through the Customs Hall and into the Immigration area； the night dark outside。 Lines of anxious； unsettled； tired people waited in front of the neat； small desks of the cold…faced； uniformed Immigration officers。 These men saluted Armstrong。 John Chen felt their searching eyes。
As always； his stomach turned queasy under their scrutiny even though he was safe from their probing questions。 He held a proper British passport； not just a second…class Hong Kong passport； also an American Green Card … the Alien Card … that most priceless of possessions that gave him free access to work and play and live in the U。S。A。； all the privileges of a born American except the right to vote。 Who needs to vote； he thought； and stared back at one of the men； trying to feel brave； but still feeling naked under the man's gaze。
〃Superintendent？〃 One of the officers was holding up a phone。 〃It's for you； sir。〃
He watched Armstrong walk back to take the call and he wondered what it would be like to be a policeman with so much opportunity for so much graft； and； for the millionth time； what it would be like to be all British or all Chinese； and not a Eurasian despised by both。
He watched Armstrong listening intently； then heard him say above the hubbub； 〃No； just stall。 I'll deal with it personally。 Thanks； Tom。〃
Armstrong came back。 〃Sorry；〃 he said； then headed past the Immigration cordon； up a small corridor and into the VIP Lounge。 It was neat and expansive； with bar facilities and a good view of the airport and the city and the bay。 The lounge was empty except for two Immigration and Customs officers and one of Armstrong's men waiting beside Gate 16 … a glass door that let out onto the floodlit tarmac。 They could se