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hen's body was found。〃
The others came closer。 〃The Werewolves？〃 George T'Chung asked； shocked。 〃More kidnap victims？〃
〃We presume so。 They were both young。 One had his head bashed in and the other poor bugger half his head cut off； looks like with a spade。 Both were Chinese。〃
〃Christ！〃 Young George T'Chung had gone white。
Smyth nodded sourly。 〃You haven't heard of any rich sons being kidnapped； have you？〃
Everyone shook their heads。
〃Not surprised；〃 Smyth said。 〃Stupid for the families of victims to deal with kidnappers and keep quiet about it。 Unfortunately the bodies were discovered by locals so it'll be headlines by tonight from here to Peking！〃
〃You want to fly the bodies back？〃
〃Oh no； tai…pan。 The hurry's to get some CID experts here to search the area before the rain es again。 We need to try to identify the poor buggers。 Can you leave at once？〃
〃Yes； certainly。〃
〃Thanks。 Sorry to bother you。 Sorry about Noble Star； but my bundle'll be on you on Saturday。〃 Smyth nodded politely and walked off。
George T'Chung was openly upset。 〃We're all targets for those bastards； the Werewolves。 You； me； my old man； anyone！ Christ； how can we protect ourselves against them？〃
No one answered him。
Then Dunross said with a laugh； 〃No need to worry； old chap； we're inviolate； we're all inviolate。〃
73
10：01 A。M。：
The phone rang in the semidarkness of the bedroom。 Bartlett scrambled out of sleep。 〃Hello？〃
〃Good morning； Mr。 Bartlett； this is Claudia Chen。 The tai…pan asked if you'd need the car today anyway？〃
〃No； no thanks。〃 Bartlett glanced at his watch。 〃Jesus；〃 he muttered aloud； astounded he had slept so long。 〃Er； thanks； thanks； Claudia。〃
〃The Taipei trip's rescheduled for next Friday； Friday back Monday noon。 Is that convenient？〃
〃Yes； er yes； sure。〃
〃Thank you。〃
Bartlett hung up and lay back a moment； collecting his wits。 He stretched luxuriously； glad that there was no rush for anything； enjoying the rare pleasantness of being just a little lazy。
It had been four o'clock this morning when he had hung up a 〃do not disturb；〃 cut off the phones till 10：00 a。m。 and had gone to bed。 Last night Orlanda had taken him to Aberdeen where she had hired a Pleasure Boat。 They had drifted the channels； the rain making the hooped cabin more cozy； the brazier warming； the food hot and spicy。
〃In Shanghai we cook with garlic and chilies and peppers and all manner of spices；〃 she had told him； serving him； her chopsticks a delicate extension of her fingers。 〃The farther north you go the hotter the food； the less rice is eaten； more breads and noodles。 The north's wheat…eating； only the southern part of China's rice…eating； Linc。 More？〃
He had eaten well and drunk the beer she had brought with her。 The night had been happy for him； the time going unnoticed as she regaled him with stories of Asia and Shanghai； her mind deft and darting。 Then； afterward； the rain pattering on the canvas； the dishes taken away and they reclining side…by…side on the cushions； fingers entwined； she had said； 〃Linc； I'm sorry； but I love you。〃
It had taken him by surprise。
〃No need to be sorry；〃 he had said； not ready yet to reply in kind。
〃Oh but I am。 It plicates things； oh yes； it plicates things very much。〃
Yes； he thought。 It's so easy for a woman to say I love you； so hard for a man； unwise for a man； for then you're stuck。 Is that the right word？ Again the answer did not present itself。
As he lay now in bed； his head cradled on his arms； he rethought the night。 Touching and leaving alone； then hands searching； his and hers； but not finalizing。 Not that she prevented him or stopped him。 He just held back。 Finally。
〃You've never done that before；〃 he muttered out loud。 〃Once you had a girl going； you went all the way；〃 and he wished he had； remembering how heavy the desire had been upon them。 〃I'm not a one…night stand or Eurasian tramp〃 had rung in his ears。
In the taxi to her home they had not spoken； just held hands。 That's the goddamnedest part； he thought； feeling foolish； childish； just holding hands。 If anyone had told me a month ago； a week ago that I'd settle for that； I'd've said he was a meathead and bet big money。
Money。 I have more than enough for Orlanda and me。 But what about Casey？ And Par…Con？ First things first。 Let's see if Casey tells me about Murtagh and why she's been sitting on that hot potato。 Gornt？ Gornt or Dunross？ Dunross has style and if Banastasio's against him that's one great vote of confidence。
After he had told Armstrong their theory about Banastasio； Armstrong had said； 〃We'll see what we can e up with； though Mr。 Gornt's credentials are as impeccable as any in the Colony。 You can rest assured Vincenzo Banastasio will be high up on our shit list； but isn't his real threat in the States？〃
〃Oh yes。 But I told Rosemont an… 〃
〃Ah； good！ That was wise。 He's a good man。 Did you see Ed Langan？〃
〃No。 Is he CIA too？〃
〃I don't even know； officially； if Rosemont is； Mr。 Bartlett。 Leave it with me。 Did he have any suggestion about the guns？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well； never mind。 I'll pass on your information and liaise with him … he's very good by the way。〃
A small tremor went through Bartlett。 He'll have to be very good to clobber Mafia； if Banastasio really is Mafia。
He reached over and dialed Casey's room number。 No answer； so he called down for his messages。 The receptionist told him everything was already under his door。 〃Would you like your cables and telexes sent up？〃
〃Sure； thanks。 Any message from Casey Tcholok？〃
〃No sir。〃
〃Thanks。〃
He jumped out of bed and went to the door。 Among the phone messages was an envelope。 He recognized her writing。 The messages were all business calls except one： 〃Mr。 Banastasio called。 Please return his call。〃 Bartlett put that aside。 He opened Casey's envelope。 The note was timed 9：45 a。m。 and read： 〃Hi； Linc！ Didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep … back sixish。 Have fun！〃
Where's she off to？ he asked himself absently。
He picked up the phone to call Rosemont but changed his mind and dialed Orlanda。 No answer。 He redialed the number。 The calling tone droned on and on。
〃Shit！〃 He pushed away his discontent。
You've a date for lunch so what's so tough？ Sunday brunch here atop the V and A and lots of time； Sunday brunch where 〃all the best people go for lunch； Linc。 Oh it's super； the hot and cold buffet's the talk of Asia。 The very best！〃
〃Jesus； all this food； by next week I'll weigh a ton！〃
〃Not you； never never never。 If you like； we'll go for a long walk or when the rain stops we'll play tennis。 Whatever you want we'll do！ Oh Linc； I love you so。 。。。〃
Casey was leaning on the balustrade at the Kowloon wharf among the crowds。 She wore khaki pants and a yellow silk shirt that showed her figure without flaunting it； a matching cashmere sweater tied casually around her neck； sneakers； and in her big handbag was a swimsuit … not that I'll need it today； she told herself； the Peak shrouded to Mid Levels with cloud； black…dark sky to the east and a heavy line of rain squall already touching the Island。 A small helicopter putt…putted overhead to go out across the harbor on course for Central。 She saw it land on one of the buildings。 Isn't that the Struan Building？ Sure； sure it is。 Wonder if Ian's in it？
Wonder if the hill climb's back on again？ Last night he had said it was off but that some of them might do it anyway。
Then her eyes saw the approaching motor cruiser。 It was big； expensive； the lines sleek； a Red Ensign aft； a colorful pennant on the stubby mast。 She picked out Gornt at the helm。 He was dressed casually； shirt…sleeves rolled up； canvas pants； his black hair ruffled by the sea breeze。 He waved and she waved back。 There were others on the bridge main deck： Jason Plumm she had met at the races； Sir Dunstan Barre at the tai…pan's … he was wearing a smart blue blazer and white pants； Pugmire was equally nautical。
Gornt put the cumbersome craft alongside skillfully； fenders out； two deckhands with hooked fending poles。 She headed along the quay toward the wet slippery steps。 Five Chinese girls were already waiting on the landing； gaily dressed in boating clothes； laughing and chattering and waving。 As she watched； they jumped awkwardly aboard helped by a deckhand； kicked their high heels off。 One went to Barre； another to Pugmire； another to Plumm as old friends would and the other two went cheerfully below。
I'll be goddamned； she thought disgustedly。 It's one of those parties。 She began to turn to leave but she saw Gornt leaning over the side； watching her。 〃Hello； Casey； sorry about the rain； e aboard！〃
The craft was dipping and twisting in the swell； waves slapping the steps and the hull。 〃e aboard； it's quite safe；〃 he called out。 Reacting at once to what she interpreted as a taunt； she came down the steps quickly； refused the proffered help of the deckhand； waited for the correct moment and jumped。 〃You did that as though you've been aboard a yacht before；〃 Gornt said with admiration； ing to meet her。 〃Wele aboard the Sea Witch。〃
〃I like sailing； Quillan； though I think maybe I'm out of my depth here。〃
〃Oh？〃 Gornt frowned and she co