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jamesclavell.noblehouse-第92章

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。 Since Blacs and the Victoria're the top bananas it figures they'd be the ones to do a bail…out。〃
 〃What's your point; Mr。 Choy?〃
 〃If someone knew in advance when Ho…Pak stock'd bottom out and either bank; or both; were launching a bail…out operation; that person could make a fortune。〃
 Gornt was trying to decide what to do but he was tired now and not as sharp as he should be。 That accident must have taken more out of me than I thought; he told himself。 Was it Dunross? Was that bastard trying to even the score; repay me for the Christmas night or the Pacific Orient victory or fifty other victories … perhaps even the old Macao sore。
 Gornt felt a sudden glow as he remembered the white hot thrill he had felt watching the road race; knowing that any moment the tai…pan's engine would seize up … watching the cars howl past lap after lap; and then Dunross; the leader; not ing in his turn … then waiting and hoping and then the news that he had spun out at Meico Hairpin in a metal screaming crash when his engine went。 Waiting again; his stomach churning。 Then the news that the whole racing car had exploded in a ball of fire but Dunross had scrambled out unscathed。 He was both very sorry and very glad。
 He didn't want Dunross dead。 He wanted him alive and destroyed; alive to realize it。
 He chuckled to himself。 Oh it wasn't me who pressed the button that put that ploy into operation。 Of course I did nudge young Donald Nikklin a little and suggest all sorts of ways and means that a little h'eung yau in the right hands 。。。
 His eyes saw Paul Choy and the old seaman waiting; watching him; and all of his good humor vanished。 He pushed away his vagrant thoughts and concentrated。
 〃Yes; you're right of course; Mr。 Choy。 But your premise is wrong。 Of course this is all theoretical; the Ho…Pak hasn't failed yet。 Perhaps it won't。 But there's no reason why any bank should do what you suggest; it never has in the past。 Each bank stands or falls on its own merits; that's the joy of our free enterprise system。 Such a scheme as you propose would set a dangerous precedent。 It would certainly be impossible to prop up every bank that was mismanaged。 Neither bank needs the Ho…Pak; Mr。 Choy。 Both have more than enough customers of their own。 Neither has ever acquired other banking interests here and I doubt whether either would ever need to。〃
 Horseshit; Paul Choy was thinking。 A bank's mitted to growth like any other business and Blacs and the Victoria are the most rapacious of all … except Struan's and Rothwell…Gornt。 Shit; and Asian Properties and all the other hongs。
 〃I'm sure you're right; sir。 But my uncle Wu'd appreciate it if you heard anything; one way or another。〃
 He turned to his father and said in Haklo; 〃I'm finished now; Honored Uncle。 This barbarian agrees the bank may be in trouble。〃
 Wu's face lost color。 〃Eh? How bad?〃
 〃I'll be the first in line tomorrow。 You should take all your money out quickly。〃
 〃Ayeeyah! By all the gods!〃 Wu said; his voice raw; 〃I'll personally slit Banker Kwang's throat if I lose a single fornicating cash piece; even though he's my nephew!〃
 Paul Choy stared at him。 〃He is?〃
 〃Banks are just fornicating inventions of foreign devils to steal honest people's wealth;〃 Wu raged。 〃I'll get back every copper cash or his blood will flow! Tell me what he said about the bank!〃
 〃Please be patient; Honored Uncle。 It is polite; according to barbarian custom; not to keep this barbarian waiting。〃
 Wu bottled his rage and said to Gornt in his execrable pidgin; 〃Bank bad; heya? Thank tell true。 Bank bad custom; heya?〃
 〃Sometimes;〃 Gornt said cautiously。
 Four Finger Wu unknotted his bony fists and forced calmness。 〃Thank for favor 。。。 yes 。。。 also want like sister son say heya?〃
 〃Sorry; I don't understand。 What does your uncle mean; Mr。 Choy?〃
 After chatting with his father a moment for appearances; the young man said; 〃My uncle would consider it a real favor if he could hear privately; in advance; of any raid; takeover attempt or bail…out … of course it'd be kept pletely confidential。〃
 Wu nodded; only his mouth smiling now。 〃Yes。 Favor。〃 He put out his hand and shook with Gornt in friendly style; knowing that barbarians liked the custom though he found it uncivilized and distasteful; and contrary to correct manners from time immemorial。 But he wanted his son trained quickly and it had to be with Second Great pany and he needed Gornt's information。 He understood the importance of advance knowledge。 Eeeee; he thought; without my friends in the Marine Police forces of Asia my fleets would be powerless。
 〃Go ashore with him; Nephew。 See him into a taxi then wait for me。 Fetch Two Hatchet Tok and wait for me; there; by the taxi stand。〃
 He thanked Gornt again; then followed them to the deck and watched them go。 His ferry sampan was waiting and he saw them get into it and head for the shore。
 It was a good night and he tasted the wind。 There was moisture on it。 Rain? At once he studied the stars and the night sky; all his years of experience concentrating。 Rain would e only with storm。 Storm could mean typhoon。 It was late in the season for summer rains but rains could e late and be sudden and very heavy and typhoon as late as November; as early as May; and if the gods willed; any season of the year。
 We could use rain; he thought。 But not typhoon。
 He shuddered。 Now we're almost into Ninth Month。
 Ninth Month had bad memories for him。 Over the years of his life; typhoon had savaged him nineteen times in that month; seven times since his father had died in 1937 and he had bee Head of the House of the Seaborne Wu and Captain of the Fleets。
 Of these seven times the first was that year。 Winds of 115 knots tore out of the north/northwest and sank one whole fleet of a hundred junks in the Pearl River Estuary。 Over a thousand drowned that time … his eldest son with all his family。 In '49 when he had ordered all his Pearl River…based armada to flee the munist Mainland and settle permanently into Hong Kong waters; he had been caught at sea and sunk along with ninety junks and three hundred sampans。 He and his family were saved but he had lost 817 of his people。 Those winds came out of the east。 Twelve years ago from the east/northeast again and seventy junks lost。 Ten years ago Typhoon Susan with her eighty…knot gales from the northeast; veering to east/southeast; had decimated his Taiwan…based fleet and cost another five hundred lives there; and another two hundred as far south as Singapore and another son with all his family。 Typhoon Gloria in '57; one…hundred…knot gales; another multitude drowned。 Last year Typhoon Wanda came and wrecked Aberdeen and most of the Haklo sea villages in the New Territories。 Those winds came from the north/northwest and backed to northwest then veered south。
 Wu knew the winds well and the number of the days well。 September second; eighth; second again; eighteenth; twenty…second; tenth; and Typhoon Wanda first day。 Yes; he thought; and those numbers add up to sixty…three; which is divisible by the magic number three; which then makes twenty…one which is three again。 Will typhoon e on the third day of the Ninth Month this year? It never ha
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