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od made little apples； he'd've been the first Chinese missioner； and probably head of SI en route。 That would have been catastrophic。 We can't recover the private dossiers； Fong…fong and others； or the riot and counterinsurrection plans。 A riot is a riot and there are only so many contingency plans。 As to Sevrin； he knows no more than we knew before we caught him。 Perhaps the 'it' could provide keys； possibly keys to questions we should put to him。〃
〃That occurred to me instantly too。 As I said； Mr。 Dunross is too bloody cool。〃 Sinders lit another match； smoked the match a moment； then tamped the used…up tobacco。 〃You believe him？〃
〃About the files； I don't know。 I certainly believe he has an 'it' and that AMG came back from the dead。 Sorry I never met him。 Yes。 The 'it' could easily be more important than this client … after Monday at noon。 He's mostly a husk now。〃
Since they had returned； the interrogation of Brian Kwok had continued； most of it rambling and incoherent but details here and there of value。 More about atomics and names and addresses of contacts in Hong Kong and Canton； security risks here and patterns of information about the Royal Mounted Police； along with an immensely interesting reiteration of vast Soviet infiltration into Canada。
〃Why Canada； Brian？〃 Armstrong had asked。
〃Northern border； Robert 。。。 the weakest fence in the world； there isn't any。 Such great riches in Canada 。。。 ah I wish 。。。 there was this girl I almost married； they said my duty 。。。 if Soviets can disrupt Canadians 。。。 they're so gullible； and wonderful up there。 。。。 Can I have a cigarette 。。。 oh thanks 。。。 Can I have a drink my 。。。 So we have counterespionage cells everywhere to disrupt Soviet…cells and find out 。。。 then there's Mexico 。。。 The Soviets are making a big push there too 。。。 Yes they have plants everywhere 。。。 did you know Philby 。。。〃
An hour had been enough。
〃Curious he should break so quickly；〃 Sinders said。
Crosse was shocked。 〃I guarantee that he's not controlled； not lying； that he's telling absolutely everything he believes； what has happened and will continue to do so un… 〃
〃Yes of course；〃 Sinders said somewhat testily。 〃I meant curious that a man of his quality should crumble so soon。 I'd say he'd been wavering for years； that his dedication was now nonexistent or very small and he was probably ready to e over to us but somehow couldn't extract himself。 Pity。 He could have been very valuable to us。〃 The older man sighed and lit another match。 〃After a time it always happens to their deep…cover moles in our societies。 There's always some kindness； or girl or man friend or freedom or happiness that turns their whole world upside down； poor buggers。 That's why we'll win； in the end。 Even in Russia the tables'll be turned and the KGB'll get their euppance … from Russians … that's why the pressure now。 No Soviet on earth can survive without dictatorship； secret police； injustice and terror。〃 He tapped out his pipe into the ashtray。 The dottle was wet at the base。 〃Don't you agree； Roger？〃
Crosse nodded and stared back at the intense； pale blue eyes； wondering what was behind them。 〃You'll phone the minister for instructions？〃
〃No。 I can take the responsibility for this one。 We'll decide at 8：30。〃 Sinders glanced at his watch。 〃Let's get back to Robert。 It's almost time to begin again。 Good fellow that； very good。 Did you hear that he was a big winner？〃
69
8：05 P。M。：
〃Ian？ Sorry to interrupt；〃 Bartlett said。
〃Oh hello！〃 Dunross turned back from the other guests he was chatting with。 Bartlett was alone。 〃You two aren't leaving； I hope … this'll go on till at least 9：30。〃
〃Casey's staying awhile。 I've a date。〃
Dunross grinned。 〃I hope she's suitably pretty。〃
〃She is； but that es later。 First a business meeting。 Do you have a minute？〃
〃Certainly； of course。 Excuse me a moment；〃 Dunross said to the others and led the way out of the crowded anteroom to one of the terraces。 The rain had lessened in strength but continued implacably。 〃The General Stores takeover's almost certain at our figure； without any overbid from Superfoods。 We really will make the proverbial bundle … if I can stop Gornt。〃
〃Yes。 Monday will tell。〃
Dunross looked at him keenly。 〃I'm very confident。〃
Bartlett smiled； tiredness and concern behind the smile。 〃I noticed。 But I wanted to ask； are we still on for Taipei tomorrow？〃
〃I was going to suggest we should postpone it till next week； next weekend？ Tomorrow and Monday are rather important for both of us。 Is that all right？〃
Bartlett nodded； hiding his relief。 〃Fine with me。〃 And that solves my problem about Orlanda； he thought。 〃Well then； I think I'll be off。〃
〃Take the car。 Just send Lim back when you're through with him。 You're going to the hill climb if it's on？ That's at 10：00 a。m。 till about noon。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃New Territories。 I'll send the car for you； weather permitting。 Casey too if she wants。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃Don't worry about Casey tonight … I'll see she gets back safely。 Is she free afterwards？〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Good； then I'll ask her to join us … a few of us are going for a Chinese supper。〃 Dunross studied him。 〃No problem？〃
〃No。 Nothing that can't be handled。〃 Bartlett grinned and walked away； girding himself for the next onslaught … Armstrong。 He had cornered Rosemont a few moments ago and told him about the meeting with Banastasio。
〃Best leave it with us； Linc；〃 Rosemont had said。 〃As far as you're concerned we're informed officially。 The consulate。 I'll pass it on to whomever。 Leave it all lie … tell Casey； okay？ If Banastasio calls either of you； stall him； call us and we'll work out a scam。 Here's my card … it's good twenty…four hours a day。〃
Bartlett was outside the front door now and he joined the others waiting impatiently for their cars。
〃Oh hi； Linc；〃 Murtagh said； hurriedly getting out of a cab； almost knocking him over。 〃Sorry！ Party still going on？〃
〃Sure it is； Dave。 What's the rush？〃
〃Got to see the tai…pan！〃 Murtagh dropped his voice； his excitement showing。 〃There's a chance that head office'll go for it； if Ian'll concede a little！ Casey still here？〃
〃Sure；〃 Bartlett said at once and all his senses focused； everything else forgotten。 〃What concessions？〃 he asked warily。
〃Double the foreign exchange period and he's to deal direct with First Central； giving us first option on all future loans for five years。〃
〃That's not much；〃 Bartlett said； hiding his perplexity。 〃What's the whole deal now？〃
〃Can't stop； Linc； gotta get the tai…pan's okay。 They're waiting； but it's just as Casey and me laid it out。 Hell； if we pull this off the tai…pan'll owe us favors till hell freezes！〃 Murtagh rushed off。
Bartlett stared after him blankly。 His feet began to take him back into the house but he stopped and returned to his place in the line。 There's plenty of time； he told himself。 No need to ask her yet。 Think it out。
Casey had told him about the Royal Belgium's connection with First Central； and Murtagh had elaborated this afternoon； adding how hard it was to get an in here with the Establishment but that was all。 Bartlett had noted the Texan's nervousness and Casey's nervousness。 At the time he'd put it down to the races。
But now？ he asked himself suspiciously。 Casey and Murtagh and the tai…pan！ 〃First Central'll go for the deal if 〃 and 〃the tai…pan'll owe us favors till hell freezes。 。。。〃 and 〃just as Casey and me laid it out。〃 She's the go…between？ Casey'd run rings around that joker and she's no messenger。 Hell； Casey has to lead him by the nose。 He's no match for her。 So probably she put him up to … to what？ What does the tai…pan need most？
Credit； fast； in millions by Monday。
Jesus； First Central's going to back him！ That's got to be it。 If。 If he makes concessions； and he's got to make some to get out from under 。。。
〃You want the car； sir？〃
〃Oh。 Yes； Lim； sure。 Police headquarters in Wanchai。 Thanks。〃 He got into the back； his mind buzzing。
So Casey's got a private game going。 It must've been in the works a day or so but she hasn't told me。 Why？ If I'm right and the scam succeeds； Ian's got the wherewithal to fight off Gornt； even cream him。 She's gone out of her way to help him against Gornt。 Without my okay。 Why？ And in return for what？
Drop dead money！ Is the 50…50 a payoff … my 2 mill but she shares 50…50？
Sure。 That's one possibility … one that I know about now。 What're the others？ Jesus！ Casey independent； maybe going with the enemy？ They're still both enemy； Ian and Gornt。
His excitement increased。
What to do？
The money at risk with Gornt is covered every which way。 The 2 mill with Struan's is covered too； and stays。 I'd never planned to jerk it … that was just testing Casey。 The Struan deal's good either way。 The Gornt deal's good； either way。 So my plan's still good … I can still jump either way； though the timing's critical。
But now there's Orlanda。
If it's Orlanda； it's the States or somewhere else but not here。 It's quite clear she'd never be wele in Happy Valley's winner's circle。 Or in the cliques and clubs。 She'd never be freely invited into the great houses； except maybe by Ian。 And Gornt； but that'd be to