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〃I believe immediately； as much as can be obtained。 As you know； the PRC is attempting to modernize but much of our lighting is still by gas。〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Where would you obtain the oxides or nitrates？〃
〃Australia would probably be the quickest； though I've no idea at this moment about quality。 Outside of the United States；〃 he added delicately； 〃it's only found in Tasmania； Brazil； India； South Africa； Rhodesia and the Urals 。。。 big deposits there。〃 Neither man smiled。 〃I imagine Rhodesia and Tasmania'd be best。 Is there anyone Phillip or I should deal with？〃
〃A Mr。 Vee Cee Ng； in Princes Building。〃
Dunross bit back a whistle as another piece of the puzzle fell into place。 Mr。 Vee Cee Ng； Photographer Ng； was a great friend of Tsu…yan； the missing Tsu…yan； his old friend and associate who had mysteriously fled into China over the Macao border。 Tsu…yan had been one of the thorium importers。 Up to now； the connection had been meaningless。 〃I know Mr。 Ng。 By the way； how is my old friend； Tsu…yan？〃
L'eung was plainly startled。 Bull's…eye； Dunross thought grimly； shocked that he had never once suspected Tsu…yan of being munist or having munist leanings。
〃Tsu…yan？〃 Tiptop frowned。 〃I haven't seen him for a week or more。 Why？〃
〃I heard he was visiting Peking by way of Macao。〃
〃Curious！ That's very curious。 I wonder why he'd want to do that … an arch…capitalist？ Well； wonders will never cease。 If you'd be kind enough to contact Mr。 Ng direct； I'm sure he will give you the details。〃
〃I'll do that this morning。 As soon as I get back to the office。〃 Dunross waited。 There would be other concessions before they would grant what he sought； if it was to be granted。 His mind was racing with the implication of their first request； how to get thorium oxides； whether to get them； wanting to know how far along the PRC was with its atomic program； knowing they would never tell him that。 L'eung took out a pack of cigarettes and offered it。
〃No thanks；〃 he said。
Both men lit up。 Tiptop coughed and blew his nose。 〃It's curious； tai…pan；〃 he said； 〃very curious that you go out of your way to help the Victoria and Blacs and all your capitalist banks while the strong rumor is that they'll not help you in your need。〃
〃Perhaps they'll see the error of their ways；〃 Dunross said。 〃Sometimes it's necessary to forget present advantages for the mon good。 It would be bad for the Middle Kingdom for Hong Kong to falter。〃 He noted the scorn on L'eung's face but it did not bother him。 〃It's ancient Chinese doctrine not to forget Old Friends； trusted ones； and as long as I'm tai…pan of the Noble House and have power； Mr。 Tip； I and those like me … Mr。 Johnjohn for one； our governor for another … will give eternal friendship to the Middle Kingdom and will never permit hegemonists to thrive on our barren rock。〃
Tiptop said sharply； 〃It is our barren rock； Mr。 Dunross； that is presently administered by the British； is it not？〃
〃Hong Kong is and always was earth of the Middle Kingdom。〃
〃I will let your definition pass for the moment but everything in Kowloon and the New Territories north of Boundary Road reverts to us in thirty…five…odd years doesn't it … even if you accept the Unequal Treaties forced on our forebears which we don't。〃
〃My forebears have always found their Old Friends wise； very wise； and never men to cut off their Stalks to spite a Jade Gate。〃
Tiptop laughed。 L'eung continued to be set…faced and hostile。
〃What do you forecast will happen in 1997； Mr。 Dunross？〃
〃I am not Old Blind Tung； nor a soothsayer； Mr。 Tip。〃 Dunross shrugged。 〃1997 can take care of 1997。 Old friends will still need old friends。 Heya？〃
After a pause Tiptop said； 〃If your bank will not help the Noble House； nor Old Friends； nor Orlin； how will you remain the Noble House？〃
〃My forebear； Green…Eyed Devil； was asked the same question by the Great and Honorable Jin…qua when he was beset by his enemies； Tyler Brock and his scum； and he just laughed and said； 'Neng che to lao' … an able man has many burdens。 As I'm abler than most I have to sweat more than most。〃
Tip Tok…toh smiled with him。 〃And you are sweating； Mr。 Dunross？〃
〃Well； let me put it this way；〃 Dunross told him cheerfully； 〃I'm trying to avoid the eighty…fourth。 As you know； Buddha said that all men have eighty…three burdens。 If we succeed in eliminating one we automatically acquire another。 The secret of life is to adjust to eighty…three and avoid at all costs acquiring the eighty…fourth。〃
The older man smiled。 〃Have you considered selling part of your pany； perhaps even 51 percent？〃
〃No； Mr。 Tip。 Old Green…Eyed Devil forbade that。〃 The lines around Dunross's eyes crinkled。 〃He wanted us to sweat。〃
〃Let us hope you don't have to sweat too much。 Yes。〃 Tiptop stubbed out his cigarette。 〃In troubled times it would be good for the Bank of China to have a closer liaison with your banking system。 Then these crises would not be so continuous。〃
Instantly Dunross's mind leaped forward。 〃I wonder if the Bank of China would consider having a permanent contact stationed within the Vic and an equivalent one in yours？〃 He saw the fleeting smile and knew he had guessed correctly。 〃That would ensure close monitoring of any crisis； and assist you should you ever need international assistance。〃
〃Chairman Mao advises self…help and that's what we are doing。 But your suggestion might be worthwhile。 I will be glad to pass it on。〃
〃I'm sure the bank would be grateful if you would remend someone to be their contact with the great Bank of China。〃
〃I would be glad to pass that on too。 Do you think Blacs or the Victoria would advance the necessary foreign exchange for Mr。 Ng's imports？〃
〃I'm sure they'd be delighted to be of service； the Victoria certainly。 After all； the Victoria has had a century and more of association with China。 Wasn't it instrumental in making most of your foreign loans； railway loans； aircraft loans？〃
〃To great profit；〃 Tiptop said dryly。 His eyes darted at L'eung who was staring intently at Dunross。 〃Capitalist profit；〃 he added thinly。
〃Quite；〃 Dunross said。 〃You must excuse us capitalists； Mr。 Tip。 Perhaps our only defense is that many of us are Old Friends of the Middle Kingdom。〃
L'eung spoke to Tiptop briefly in a dialect Dunross did not understand。 Tiptop answered him affirmatively。 Both men looked back at him。 〃I'm sorry but you must excuse me now； Mr。 Dunross； I really must get some medication。 Perhaps you'd phone me here after lunch； say around 2：30。〃
Dunross got up and stretched out his hand； not sure if he had succeeded but very sure he had better do something about the thorium very quickly； certainly before 2：30。 〃Thank you for seeing me。〃
〃What about our fifth race？〃 The older man peered up at him； walking with him to the door。
〃Noble Star's worth a bet。 Each way。〃
〃Ah！ Butterscotch Lass？〃
〃Same。〃
〃And Pilot Fish？〃
Dunross laughed。 〃The stallion's good but not in the same class； unless there's an act of God； or the devil。〃
They were at the front door now and a servant had opened it wide。 Again L'eung spoke in the dialect Dunross did not recognize。 Again Tiptop answered affirmatively and led the way outside。 At once L'eung walked off down toward the tennis court。
〃I'd like you to meet a friend； a new friend； Mr。 Dunross；〃 Tiptop said。 〃He could； perhaps； be doing a lot of business with you in the future。 If you wish。〃
Dunross saw the flinty eyes and his good humor vanished。
The Chinese ing back with L'eung was well formed； fit and in his forties。 His hair was blue…black and tousled from his game； his tennis clothes modern； smart and American。 On the court behind him； the other three waited and watched。 All were fit and well dressed。
〃May I introduce Dr。 Joseph Yu from California？ Mr。 Ian Dunross。〃
〃Hi； Mr。 Dunross；〃 Joseph Yu said with easy American familiarity。 〃Mr。 Tip's filled me in on you and Struan's … happy to meet you。 Mr。 Tip thought we should meet before I leave … we're going into China tomorrow； Betty 'n' I； my wife and I。〃 He waved a vague hand toward one of the women on the tennis court。 〃We're not expecting to e back for some time so I'd like to make a date to meet in Canton in a month or so。〃 He glanced back at Tiptop。 〃No trouble about Mr。 Dunross's visa； anything like that？〃
〃No； Dr。 Yu。 Oh no。 None at all。〃
〃Great。 If I give you a call； Mr。 Dunross； or Mr。 Tip does； can we arrange something at a couple days' notice？〃
〃Certainly； if all the paper work's done。〃 Dunross kept the smile on his face； noticing the assured hardness in Yu。 〃What had you in mind？〃
〃If you'll excuse us；〃 Tiptop said； 〃we'll leave you two together。〃 He nodded politely and went back inside with L'eung。
〃I'm from the States；〃 Yu continued cheerfully； 〃American born； Sacramento。 I'm third…generation California though I was educated； in part； in Canton。 My Ph。 D。 is from Stanford； aerospace engineering； my specialty rocketry and rocket fuels。 NASA's where I've spent my best years； best since college。〃 Yu was no longer smiling。 〃The equipment I'll be ordering will be all manner of sophisticated metallurgy and aerospace hardware。 Mr。 Tip said you'd be our best bet as the importer。 T