James clavell

The crowd gasped, the race momentarily forgotten. Another blinding flash of lightning, pandemonium swooped over them, the downpour increased, mixing nicely with the thunder above.

"Pilot Fish by a nose..."

"Balls, it was Noble Star by a hair..."

"You're wrong, old boy, it was Pilot Fish..."

"Dew neh loh moh..."

"Christ what a race..."

"Oh Christ! Look! There's the stewards' objection flag..."

"Where? Oh my God! Who fouled..."

"I didn't see anything, did you..."

"No. Difficult in this rain, even with glasses..."

"Christ, now what? Those bloody stewards, if they take victory from my winner by Christ..."

Dunross had rushed for the elevator the moment he saw Noble Star fall and throw Travkin. He had not seen the cause. Travkin was too clever.

Others were excitedly crowding the corridors waiting for the elevator, everyone talking, no one listening. "We won by a nostril "What's the objection for chrissake? Noble St—"

"What's the objection, tai-pan?"

"That's up to the stewards to announce." In the uproar Dunross stabbed the button again.

Gornt hurried up as the doors opened, everyone packing in, Dunross wanting to bellow with rage at the slowness. "It was Pilot Fish by a nose, Ian," Gornt shouted above the uproar, his face flushed.

"What a race!" someone shouted. "Anyone know what the objection is?"

"Do you, Ian?" Gornt asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"It's against my Pilot Fish?"

"You know the procedure. First the stewards investigate, then they make an announcement." He saw Gornt's flat brown eyes and he knew his enemy was suddenly blind with rage that he wasn't a steward. And you won't become one, you bastard, Dunross thought, enraged. I'll blackball you till I'm dead.

"Is it against Pilot Fish, tai-pan?" someone shouted.

"Good God," he called back. "You know the procedure."

The elevator stopped at every level. More owners and friends crammed in. More shouts about what a great race but what the hell's the objection?

At last they reached ground level. Dunross rushed out onto the track where a group of ma-foo and officials surrounded Travkin who lay there crumpled and inert. Noble Star had fought to her feet, unhurt, and was now on the far side galloping riderless around the course, stable hands scattered and waiting to intercept her. Up the track on the last bend, the vet was kneeling beside the agonised roan gelding, Kingplay, his back leg broken, the bone jutting through. The sound of the shot did not penetrate the roars and counter roars of the impatient onlookers, their eyes fixed on the tote, waiting for the stewards' judgment.

Dunross knelt beside Travkin, one of the ma-foo holding an umbrella over the unconscious man. "How is he, Doctor?"

"He didn't slam into the rails, missed them by a miracle. He's not dead, at least not yet, tai-pan," Dr. Meng, the police pathologist, said nervously, used to dead bodies, not live patients. "I can't tell, not until he comes around. There's no apparent haemorrhaging externally. His neck... and his back seem all right... I can't tell yet..."

Two St. John's ambulance men hurried up with a stretcher. "Where should we take him, sir?" Dunross looked around. "Sammy," he said to one of his stableboys, "go and fetch Doc Tooley. He should be in our box." To the ambulance men he said, "Keep Mr. Travkin in the ambulance till Doc Tooley gets here. What about the other three jockeys?"

"Two are just shook up, sir. One, Captain Pettikin, has a broken leg but he's already in a splint."

Very carefully the men put Travkin on the stretcher. McBride joined them, then Gornt and others. "How is he, Ian?"

"We don't know. Yet. He seems all right." Gently Dunross lifted one of Travkin's hands, examining it. He had thought he had seen a blow in the far turn and Travkin falter. A heavy red weal disfigured the back of his right hand. And the other one. "What could have caused this, Dr. Meng?"

"Oh!" More confidently the little man said, "The reins perhaps. Perhaps a whip, could be a blow... perhaps in falling."

Gornt said nothing, just watched, inwardly seething that Bluey White could have been so inept when everything had been so neatly set up beforehand with a word here, a promise there. Half the bloody stadium must have seen him, he thought.

Dunross examined Travkin's ashen face. No marks other than inevitable bruising. A little blood seeped out of the nose.

"It's already coagulating. That's a good sign," Dr. Meng volunteered. The governor hurried up. "How is he?"

Dunross repeated what the doctor had said.

"Damned bad luck, Noble Star shying like that."

"Yes."

"We're just going to discuss that, sir. Would you care to join us?"

"Oh, no, no thank you. I'll just wait and be patient. I wanted to make sure Travkin was all right." The governor felt the rain running down his back. He looked up at the sky. "Blasted weather—looks like it's here to stay. Are you going to continue the meet?"

"I'm going to recommend we cancel, or postpone."

"Good idea."

"Yes," McBride said. "I agree. We can't afford another accident."

"When you have a moment, Ian," Sir Geoffrey said, "I'll be in my box."

Dunross's attention focused. "Did you talk to the minister, sir?" he asked, trying to sound matter-of-fact.

"Yes." Sir Geoffrey was equally casual. "Yes, he called on the private line."

Abruptly the tai-pan was conscious of Gornt and the others. "I'll walk you back, sir." To McBride he said, "I'll follow you at once," then turned away and the two of them walked for the elevator.

Once alone Sir Geoffrey muttered, "Hardly the place for a private conversation, what?"

"We could examine the course, sir." Dunross led the way to the rail, praying. "The turfs terrible, isn't it?" he said, pointing.

"Very." Sir Geoffrey also kept his back to the eyes. "The minister was very perturbed. He left the decision about Brian to me, providing Mr. Sinders and Mr. Crosse first agree to the release, pro—"

"Surely they'll agree with you, sir?" Uneasily Dunross recalled his conversation with them last night.

"I can only advise. I will advise them it is necessary providing you assure me it is. You personally."

"Of course," Dunross said slowly. "But surely Havergill, Southerby or the other bankers would carry more weight."

"In banking matters, Ian, yes. But I think I require your personal assurance and cooperation also."

"Sir?"

"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 uncomfortable 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 complaint. I agree with Pug."

"Roger?"

"Jason?"

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 favour 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 1 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 centre—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 commissioner have it for a private party."

"Ian?"

"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 company 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. "Marvellous 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 a few minutes. Thank you!" in both languages.

Another huge cheer and those in the rain scurried for cover or for the winning windows, everyone chattering, groaning, cursing the gods or blessing them, choking the exits, long lines of men, women and children seeking the long way home, a wonderful new happiness possessing them. Only those who possessed the winning double quinella numbers, eight and five in the second, one and seven in the fifth, stood paralysed, staring at the tote, waiting for the winning odds to be declared.

"Another announcement, tai-pan?" the announcer asked anxiously.

"Yes," Dunross said. "Around five." Havergill had told him that the deal with Richard Kwang had been struck and had asked him to go to the Victoria box as soon as possible. He reached the exit door and went down the steps three at a time to the next level, very pleased with himself. Giving the race to Pilot Fish's got to throw Gornt, he thought. Gornt knew and I knew it was a carve-up and that Alexi was set up whatever he did—which is the major reason I didn't ride. They'd've tried it on me and I would have killed someone. But next Saturday... ah, next Saturday I'll ride and Bluey White won't dare, nor will the other trainers, next Saturday'll be fair game and they'll be on notice by God. His excitement picked up a beat. Then ahead in the crowded corridor he saw Murtagh waiting for him. , "Oh tai-pan, can I se—"

"Of course." Dunross led him through the kitchen into his private room.

"That was a great race. I won a bundle," the young man said excitedly, "and great about Saturday."

"Good." Then Dunross noticed the sweat on the man's forehead. Oh Christ, he thought. "Are we in business, Mr. Murtagh?"

"Please call me Dave, the brass said, er, they said maybe. They've scheduled a board meeting for tomorrow, 9:00 A.M. their time. Our time that's..."

"10:00 P.M. this evening. Yes. Excellent, Mr. Murtagh, then call me on this number." Dunross wrote it down. "Please don't lose it and don't give it to anyone else."

"Oh, of course, tai-pan, I'll call the very moment... How late can I call?"

"The moment you put the phone down to them. Keep calling till you get me." Dunross got up. "Sorry but there's rather a lot to do."

"Oh sure, sure!" Murtagh added uneasily, "Say, tai-pan, I just heard about the 2 million down on the General Stores tender .2 million from us by 9:30 Monday's gotta be kinda pushing it."

"I rather expected it would be—for your group. Fortunately, Mr. Murtagh, I never planned on that modest amount of cash being your money. I know First Central is inclined to be like the mills of God—they grind slowly—unless they wish to remove themselves from the arena," he added, remembering many friends who had been hurt by their precipitous withdrawal years back. "Not to worry, my new external source of credit's more th—"

"What?" Murtagh blanched.

"My new external source of finance reacts at once to any sudden business opportunities, Mr. Murtagh. This took them just eight minutes. They seem to have more confidence than your principals."

"Hell, tai-pan, please call me Dave, it's not lack of confidence but, well, they've no idea of Asia. I've got to convince them the General Stores takeover's got to double your gross in three years."

"In one," Dunross interrupted firmly, enjoying himself. "So sorry your group won't share in our huge profits from that minor section of our immense expansion plans. Do have some tea in the box, sorry, I just have to make a phone call." He took Murtagh's elbow and firmly led him out of the door, shutting it after him.

In the kitchen Murtagh was staring at the closed door, the happy clatter of plates and Cantonese obscenities from the twenty cooks and helpers a vast din. "Jesus," he muttered in near panic, "eight minutes? Shit, are the goddamn Swiss horning in on our client?" He tottered away.

Inside the room Dunross was on his private phone, listening to the ringing tone. 'Weyyyyy?"

"Mr. Tip please," he said carefully in Cantonese. "This is Mr. Dunross calling."

He heard the phone put down with a clatter and the amah shriek, "It's the phone! For you, Father!"

"Who is it?"

"A foreign devil."

Dunross smiled.

"Hello?"

"Ian Dunross, Mr. Tip. I was just concerned that your illness wasn't worse."

"Ah, ah, yes, so sorry I could not arrive. Yes. I, I had some pressing business, you understand? Yes. Very pressing. Oh by the way, that was bad joss about Noble Star. I just heard on the wireless that Pilot Fish won by a nose after an objection. What was the objection?"

Patiently Dunross explained and answered questions about his General Stores takeover bid, delighted that that news had already reached him. If Tiptop, then all newspapers. Good, he thought, waiting Tiptop out but Tiptop outsmarted him. "Well, thank you for calling, tai-pan."

At once Dunross said, "It was my pleasure, oh by the way, confidentially, I understand it may well be possible that the police have discovered one of their underlings has made a mistake."

"Ah. I presume the mistake will be corrected immediately?"

"I would presume very soon, if the person concerned wishes to resign and take advantage of permission to travel abroad."

"How soon might very soon be, tai-pan?"

Dunross was picking his words carefully, deliberately vague though formal now. "There are certain formalities, but it is possible that it could be quickly achieved. Unfortunately VIPs have to be consulted elsewhere. I'm sure you understand."

"Certainly. But the mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent, heya? I understand there is one of your VVIPs already in Hong Kong. A Mr, Sinders?"

Dunross blinked at the extent of Tiptop's knowledge. "I have certain approvals already," he said, disquieted.

"I would have thought very few approvals were necessary. True gold fears no fire."

"Yes. Is there somewhere I could call you this evening—to report progress?"

"This number will find me. Please call me at 9:00 P.M." Tiptop's voice became even drier. "I understand it might well be possible that your last suggestion about banking might be serviced. Of course any bank would need proper documentation to secure an immediate half billion Hong Kong dollars in cash, but I hear that the Victoria's chop, the governor's chop and yours would be all that's required to secure the loan for thirty days. This... minor amount of cash is ready, for a limited time, whenever the correct procedures are entered into. Until that time this matter is confidential, very strictly confidential."

"Of course."

"Thank you for calling."

Dunross put the phone down and wiped his palms. "For a limited time" was branded on his mind. He knew, and he knew Tiptop knew he understood that the two "procedures" were absolutely interlinked but not necessarily. Christ Jesus I love Asia, he thought happily as he rushed off.

The corridors were filled, many people already crowding the elevators to go home. He peered into his box, caught Gavallan's eye. "Andrew, go down to the members' stand and get hold of Roger Crosse—he's there with a fellow called Sinders. Ask them if they've a moment to join me in my box! Hurry!"

Gavallan took off. Dunross hurried along the corridor past the betting windows.

"Tai-pan!" Casey called out. "Sorry about Noble Star! Did y—"

"Be back in a minute, Casey. Sorry, can't stop!" Dunross called back on the run. He noticed Gornt at the winning window but it did not take away his happiness. First things first, he thought. "How do you want the 10,000? Our bet?"

"Cash will do very nicely, thank you," Gornt said.

"I'll send it around later."

"Monday will do just as well."

"Later tonight. Monday I'll be busy." Dunross walked off with a polite nod.