Sons of Fortune (27 page)

“We’re
beginning to rely a lot on them in the insurance business,” said Michael as he
refilled his pipe.

“How
big is your firm’s computer, Mr. Cartwright?” asked Su Ling.

“About the size of this room.”

“The
next generation of students will work with computers no larger than the lids of
their desks, and the generation after that will be able to hold them in the
palm of their hand.”

“Do
you really believe that’s possible?” asked Susan, transfixed.

“The
technology is moving at such a pace, and the demand will be so high, that the
price must fall quickly. Once that happens, computers will become like the
phone and the
television were
in the forties and
fifties, as more people purchase them, the cheaper and smaller they will be.”

“But
surely some computers will still need to be large?” suggested Michael. “After
all, my company has over forty thousand customers.”

“Not
necessarily,” said Su Ling. “The computer that sent the first man to the moon
was larger than this house, but we will live to see a space capsule land on
Mars controlled by a computer no larger than this kitchen table.”

“No
larger than the kitchen table?” repeated Susan, trying to grasp the concept.

“In
California, Silicon Valley has become the new hotbed of technology. Already IBM
and Hewlett Packard are finding that their latest models can be out of date in
a matter of months, and once the Japanese are fully up to speed, it might even
be weeks.”

“Then
how can firms like mine be expected to keep up?” asked Michael.

“You’ll
simply have to replace your computer just as often as you change your car, and
in the not-too-distant future, you’ll be able to carry in your inside pocket
detailed information on every customer you represent.”

“But
I repeat,” said Michael, “our company currently has forty-two thousand
clients.”

“It
won’t matter if you have four hundred thousand, Mr. Cart-wright, a handheld
computer will still be able to do the same job.”

“But
think of the consequences,” said Susan.

“They
are very exciting, Mrs. Cartwright,” said Su Ling. She paused and blushed, “I
apologize,
I’ve
been talking far too much.”

“No,
no,” said Susan, “it’s fascinating, but I was hoping to ask you about Korea, a country
I’ve always wanted to visit. If it’s not a silly question, are you more like
the Chinese or the Japanese?”

“Neither,”
replied Su Ling. “We are as different as a Russian is from an Italian. The
Korean nation was originally a tribal one and probably first existed as early
as the second century...”

“And
to think I told them that you were shy,” Nat remarked as he slipped in beside
her later that night.

“I’m
very sorry,” said Su Ling. “I broke your mother’s golden rule.”

“Which
one?” said
Nat.

“That
when two people meet, the conversation should be equally shared, three people,
thirty-three percent, four people, twenty-five percent. I talked,” she paused,
“for about ninety percent of the time. I feel ashamed, because I behaved so
disgracefully, I don’t know what came over me. I was just so nervous. I feel
sure they already regret any suggestion of me as a daughter-in-law.”

Nat
laughed. “They adored you,” he said, “my father was 176 mesmerized by your
knowledge of computers, and my mother fascinated by the customs of Korea,
though you didn’t mention what has to take place if a Korean girl takes tea
with her suitor’s parents.”

“That
doesn’t apply to a first-generation American, like
myself
.”

“Who
wears pink lipstick and
mini skirts
,” said Nat,
holding up a tube of pink lipstick.

“I
didn’t know you used lipstick, Nat.

Another
habit you picked up in Vietnam?”

“Only
on night ops, now turn over.”

“Turn
over?”

“Yes,”
said Nat firmly, “I thought Korean women were meant to be subservient, so do as
you’re told and turn over.”

Su
Ling turned over, and placed her face down on the pillow. “What is your next
order, Captain Cartwright?”

“To
take off your nightdress, little flower.”

“Does
this happen to all American girls on the second night?”

“Take
off your nightdress.”

“Yes,
Captain.” She slowly pulled her white silk nightdress over the top of her head,
and dropped it on the floor. “What next,” she asked. “Is it now that you beat
me?”

I

“No,
that doesn’t happen until the third date, but I am going to ask you a
question.” Nat took the pink lipstick and wrote four words on her olive skin,
followed by a question mark.

“What
have you written, Captain Cartwright?”

“Why
don’t you find out for yourself?”

Su
Ling climbed off the bed and stared over her shoulder into the long mirror. It
was some time before a smile spread across her face. She turned to find Nat
lying spread-eagled on the bed, holding the lipstick high above his head. Su
Ling walked slowly across, grabbed the lipstick,
stared
down at his broad shoulders for some time, before she wrote the words, YES I W.

“Annie’s
pregnant.”

“That’s
wonderful news,” said Jimmy as they left the dining hall and strolled across
the campus for their first lecture of the morning. “How many months is she?”

“Only
a couple, so now it will be your turn to give the advice.”

“What
do you mean?”

“Don’t
forget, you’re the one with all the experience. You’re a father of a
six-month-old baby daughter. To start with, how can I help Annie during the
next seven months?”

“Just
try to be supportive. Never forget to tell her that she looks wonderful even
when she resembles a beached whale, and if she gets any crazy ideas, just play
along with them.”

“Such
as?” asked Fletcher.

“Joanna
liked to eat half-pint tubs of double chocolate chip ice cream just before she
went to bed each night, so I had a tub as well, and then if she woke up in the
middle of the night she often asked for another one.”

“That
must have been a real sacrifice,” said Fletcher.

“Yes
it was, because it always had to be followed by a spoonful of cod liver oil.”

Fletcher
laughed. “Keep going,” he said as they approached the Andersen building.

“Annie
will start going to pre-natal classes fairly soon, and the instructors usually
recommend that husbands also attend so they can appreciate what their wives are
going through.”

“I’d
enjoy that,” said Fletcher, “especially if I’m going to have to eat all that
ice cream.” They climbed the steps and walked through the swing doors.

“With
Annie, it may turn out to be onions or pickle,” said Jimmy.

“Then
I may not be quite as enthusiastic.”

“And
then there’s the preparation for the birth. Who’ll help Annie with this?”

“Mom
asked if she wanted Miss Nichol, my old nanny, to come out of retirement, but
Annie wouldn’t hear of it. She’s determined to bring up this child without any
outside assistance.”

“Joanna
would have taken advantage of Miss Nichol without a second thought, because
from what I remember of that lady, she would have happily agreed to paint the
nursery as well as change the diapers.”

“We
don’t have a nursery,” said Fletcher, “just a spare room.”

“Then
as of today, that becomes the nursery, and Annie will expect you to repaint it,
while she goes out and buys a whole new wardrobe.”

“She’s
got more than enough clothes already,” said Fletcher.

“No
woman has more than enough clothes,” said Jimmy, “and in a couple of months”
time she won’t be able to fit into any of them, and that’s before she starts
thinking about the baby’s needs.”

“I’d
better start looking for a job as a waiter or bartender right away,” said
Fletcher, as they walked down the corridor.

“But
surely your father will
..”

“I
don’t intend to spend my whole life sponging off my old man.”

“If
my father had that sort of money,” said Jimmy, “I wouldn’t do a day’s work.”

“Yes,
you would,” said Fletcher, “otherwise Joanna would never have agreed to marry
you.”

“I
don’t think you’11 end up being a bartender, Fletcher, because after your
triumph in the Kirsten case you’ll get the pick of the summer association jobs.
And if there’s one thing I know about my kid sister, she won’t allow anything
to get in the way of you coming out top of our year.” Jimmy paused. “Why don’t
I have a word with my mother? She certainly helped Joanna with a lot of the
chores without ever making it at all obvious.” He paused. “But I’d expect
something in return.”

“What
do you have in mind?” asked Fletcher.

“Well,
for a start, how about your father’s money?” he said with a grin.

Fletcher
laughed. “You want my father’s money in exchange for asking your mother to help
her daughter with the birth of her grandchild? You know, Jimmy, I have a
feeling you’d make a very successful divorce lawyer.”

“I’ve
decided to run for president,” he said without even announcing who it was on
the other end of the line.

“That’s
good news,” said Tom, “but how does Su Ling feel about it?”

“I
wouldn’t have taken the first step if she hadn’t suggested it. And she also
wants to play a role in the campaign. She’s asked to be responsible for polling
and anything to do with figures or statistics.”

“Then
that’s one of your problems solved,” said Tom. “Have you appointed a campaign
manager?”

“Yes,
just after you returned to Yale, I settled on a guy called Joe Stein. He’s
fought two campaigns in the past, and will also bring in the Jewish vote,” said
Nat.

“There’s
a Jewish vote in Connecticut?” said Tom.

“In
America, there’s always a Jewish vote, and on this campus, there are four
hundred and eighteen Jews, and I need the support of every one of them.”

“So
what’s your considered opinion on the future of the Golan Heights?” asked Tom.

“I
don’t even know where the Golan Heights are,” Nat replied.

“Well
you’d better find out by this time tomorrow.”

“I
wonder what Elliot’s view is on the Golan Heights?”

“That
they should always be part of Israel, and not one inch should ever be
sacrificed to the Palestinians, would be my bet,” said Tom.

“So
what will be his line with the Palestinians?”

“There
are probably so few on campus, he won’t have an opinion.”

“That
would certainly make the decision easy for him.”

“The
next thing you’ll have to consider is your opening address, and where you’re
going to deliver it,” said Tom.

“I
was thinking of Russell Hall.”

“But
that only holds four hundred. Isn’t there anything bigger?”

“Yes,”
said Nat, “the Assembly Rooms hold over a thousand, but Elliot made that
mistake, because when he gave his opening speech, the place looked half empty.
No, I’d rather book the hall and have people sitting on the ledges, hanging
from the rafters, even standing on the steps outside unable to get in, which
will leave a much better impression with the voters.”

“Then
you’d better select a date and reserve the hall immediately, and at the same
time get on with putting the rest of your team in place.”

“What
else should I be worrying about?” asked Nat.

“The
candidate’s bread-and-butter speech, and don’t forget to talk to every student
you come across-you remember the routine, “Hi, my name is Nat Cartwright, and
I’m running for president, and I hope I can rely on your support.” Then listen
to what they have to say, because if they believe you’re interested in their
views, you have a far better chance of their support.”

“Anything else?”

“Be
ruthless in using Su Ling, and ask her to carry out the same routine with every
female student, because she’s bound to be one of the most admired women on
campus after her decision to remain at the university. There aren’t many people
who turn down Harvard.”

“Don’t
remind me,” said Nat. “Is that it, because you seem to have thought of just
about everything?”

“Yes,
I’ll come back and help you for the last ten days of the term, but I won’t be
officially part of your team.”

“Why not?”

“Because
Elliot will tell everyone your campaign is being run by an outsider and worse,
a millionaire banker’s son from Yale. Try not to forget you would have won your
last election if it hadn’t been for Elliot’s deceit, so be prepared for him to
come up with something that might derail you.”