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〃What about them； sir？〃
〃That's for you to answer。 Mr。 Sinders told me of his conversation with you last night。〃 Sir Geoffrey lit his pipe； his hands cupping the flame； protecting it from the rain。 After the tai…pan's call to him this morning he had at once sent for Crosse and Sinders to discuss the matter of the exchange prior to asking the minister。 Sinders had reiterated his concern that the files might have been doctored。 He said he might agree to release Kwok if he was sure of those files。 Crosse had suggested trading Kwok for Fong…fong and the others。
Now Sir Geoffrey looked at Dunross searchingly。 〃Well； Ian？〃
〃Tiptop's due； or was due this afternoon。 May I assume that I can say yes to his proposal？〃
〃Yes； providing you first get Mr。 Sinders's agreement。 And Mr。 Crosse's。〃
〃Can't you give that to me； sir？〃
〃No。 The minister was quite clear。 If you want to ask them now； they are in the members' stands。〃
〃They know the result of your call？〃
〃Yes。 Sorry but the minister made it very clear。〃 Sir Geoffrey was gentle。 〃It seems the reputation for fairness and honesty of the present tai…pan of the Noble House is known even in those hallowed places。 Both the minister and I bank on it。〃 A burst of cheering distracted them。 Noble Star had broken through the cordon of ma…foo trying to recapture her； and galloped past them； officials and stableboys scattering。 〃Perhaps you'd better deal with the race objection first。 I'll be in my box。 Join me for tea or a cocktail if you wish。〃
Dunross thanked him then hurried for the stewards' room； his mind in turmoil。
〃Ah； Ian；〃 Shitee T'Chung； the nominal chairman called out anxiously as he came in； all the stewards now present。 〃We really have to decide quickly。〃
〃That's hard without Travkin's evidence；〃 Dunross said。 〃How many of you saw Bluey White slash at him？〃
Only McBride put up his hand。
〃That's only two of us out of twelve。〃 Dunross saw Crosse watching him。 〃I'm certain。 And there was a weal across both his hands。 Dr。 Meng said it could have been made by a whip or the reins in falling。 Pug； what's your opinion？〃
Pugmire broke an unfortable silence。 〃I saw nothing malicious； personally。 I was watching like hell because I was on Noble Star； 1；000 on the nose。 Whether there was a blow or not it didn't seem to make much difference。 I didn't see her falter； or any of the pack； other than Kingplay。 Noble Star was well in the running till the post and everyone had their whips out。〃 He tossed over one of the copies of the photo finish。
Dunross picked it up。 The photo was as he had seen it： Pilot Fish by a nose from Noble Star； by a nostril from Butterscotch Lass； by a nose from Winning Billy。
〃They've all got their whips out；〃 Pugmire continued； 〃and they had in the turn； quite rightly。 It could easily have been accidental … if there was a blow。〃
〃Shitee？〃
〃I must confess； old boy； I was watching my Street Vendor and cursing Kingplay。 I thought your filly'd pipped Pilot Fish。 We； er； we've polled the other trainers and there's； er； no formal plaint。 I agree with Pug。〃
〃Roger？〃
〃I saw nothing untoward。〃
〃Jason？〃
To his surprise Plumm shook his head and disagreed and Dunross wondered again about AMG and his astonishing accusation of Plumm and Sevrin。 〃We all know Bluey White's cunning；〃 Plumm was saying。 〃We've had to warn him before。 If the tai…pan and Donald say they saw it I vote we debar him and disqualify Pilot Fish when it es to a vote。〃
Dunross polled the other stewards； the rest wavering。
〃Let's call in the jockeys； White last。〃
They did。 All the jockeys muttered permutations of the same thing： they were too busy with their own mounts to notice anything。
Now the stewards looked at Dunross； waiting。 He stared back； well aware that if he said； I vote we unanimously debar Bluey White for interference and disqualify Pilot Fish； all in favor say aye！ that they would concede and vote as he wished。
I saw him do it； he told himself； so did Donald； and others； and it shook Alexi for that necessary split second。 Even so； in all honesty I don't think that cost Noble Star the race。 I blew the race myself。 Alexi was the wrong choice for this race。 He should have shoved Pilot Fish into the rails on the second corner when he had the chance； or put his whip across Bluey White's face； not his hands as I'd have done； oh yes； without hesitation。 And there are other considerations。
〃There's no doubt in my mind there was interference；〃 he said。 〃But whether by accident or design I doubt if even Alexi will know。 I agree it didn't cost Noble Star the race so I suggest we just caution Bluey and let the result stand。〃
〃Excellent。〃 Shitee T'Chung exhaled and beamed and they all relaxed； none of them； least of all Pugmire； wanting a confrontation with the tai…pan。 〃Anyone against？ Good！ Let's release the photo finish to the papers and make the announcement over the loudspeakers。 Will you do that； tai…pan？〃
〃Certainly。 But what about the rest of the program？ Look at the rain。〃 It was pelting down now。 〃Listen； I've an idea。〃 He told it to them。
A whoop of excitement and they all laughed。 〃Very good； oh very good！〃
〃Grand！〃 Dunstan Barre exploded。
〃That'll give the buggers something to think about！〃 Pugmire said。
〃Great idea； tai…pan！〃 McBride beamed。 〃Oh very good。〃
〃I'll go to the control center … perhaps you'd get Bluey back and give him what for； scare him； eh？〃
Pugmire said； 〃A word； Ian？〃
〃Can we make it later？〃
〃Of course。 Roger； can I have a word？〃
〃Of course。 I'll be down in the members' stand with Sinders。〃
〃Oh； not in your box？〃
〃No； I let the missioner have it for a private party。〃
〃Ian？〃
〃Yes； Jason？〃
〃Do you think they'll hold the hill climb tomorrow？〃
〃If this keeps up； no。 That whole area'll be a quagmire。 Why？〃
〃Nothing。 I was planning a cocktail party early Sunday evening to celebrate your Superfoods coup！〃
Shitee T'Chung chortled。 〃Jolly good idea！ Congratulations； Ian！ Did you see Biltzmann's face？〃
〃Ian； would you be free？ I won't invite Biltzmann；〃 Plumm added to much laughter。 〃It'll be at our pany flat in Sinclair Towers。〃
〃Sorry； I'm going to Taipei early afternoon； sorry； at least that's my present plan。 Th… 〃
Pugmire interrupted with sudden concern； 〃You won't be here Monday？ What about our papers； and everything？〃
〃No problem； Pug。 9：30 we close。〃 To Plumm Dunross said； 〃Jason if I cancel or postpone Taipei； I'll accept。〃
〃Good。 7：30 to 9：30 casual。〃
Dunross walked off； his frown deepening； surprised that Plumm was so friendly。 Ordinarily he was the opposition on all the boards they shared； siding with Gornt and Havergill against him； particularly on the Victoria's board。
Outside the stewards' room there were milling clusters of anxious reporters； owners； trainers and bystanders。 Dunross brushed aside the barrage of questions all the way to the control room。 It was on the top floor。
〃Hello； sir；〃 the announcer said； everyone tense in the small glass booth that had the best view of the course。 〃Marvelous race； pity about 。。。 Do you have the decision？ It's Bluey； isn't it； we all saw the whip。 。。。〃
〃May I use the mike？〃
〃Oh of course。〃 The man hastily moved and Dunross sat in his place。 He clicked on the switch。 〃This is Ian Dunross； the stewards have asked me to make two announcements。 。。。〃
The silence was vast as his words echoed and re…echoed over the stadium。 The fifty thousand held their breaths； careless of the rain； in the stands and on every soaring level。 〃First； the result of the fifth race。〃 Dead silence but for the sound of the rain。 Dunross took a deep breath。 〃Pilot Fish by a nose from Noble Star by a whisker from Butterscotch Lass。 。。。〃 but the last was drowned by the cheers and counter cheers； happiness and disgust； and everyone throughout the stadium was shouting； arguing； cheering； cursing and； down in the paddock； Gornt was astonished； having been convinced that his jockey had been seen as he had seen him； had been caught and carpeted and the result would be set aside。 In the pandemonium the winning numbers flashed on to the tote： one； seven； eight。
Dunross waited a moment and breezily repeated the result in Cantonese； the crowd more docile； their pent…up anxieties allayed； for the stewards' decision was final。 〃Second； the stewards have decided； due to the weather and bad conditions； to cancel the rest of the meet 。。。〃 A vast groan went over the crowd。 〃。。。 actually to postpone until next Saturday for another special meet。〃 A sudden great roar and excitement picked up。 〃We will have a meet of eight races and the fifth will be the same as today； with the same runners； Pilot Fish； Butterscotch Lass； Winning Billy； Street Vendor； Golden Lady； Lochinvar and Noble Star。 A special return challenge with double stakes； 30；000 added。 。。。〃
Cheers and more cheers； applause and roars and someone in the booth said； 〃Christ what a great idea； tai…pan！ Noble Star'll take that black bastard！〃
〃Oh no he won't！ Butterscotch 。。。〃
〃Great idea； tai…pan。〃
Into the mike Dunross said； 〃The stewards appreciate your continued support。〃 He repeated it in Cantonese； adding； 〃There will be a further special announcement in