Tai-Pan (36 page)

“Jin-qua cheated you. He cheated you,” Culum said.

“No. Outsmarted me, yes, but even that’s na correct. I was na smart enough. Me, lad! Na him. When you sit down at a table to make a deal, each side is obligated to make the best deal possible. It’s very simple. Aye, I was weaker than he, that’s all. But even if I’d thought that the coins would be split among other men—I still must make the deal as he wanted it. We’d nae option, nae option at all.”

“If you get outsmarted, Dirk, what chance is there for me? For Culum?”

“None. Unless you’re ready to think for yoursel’ and learn by the mistakes of others. And na treat the Chinese like one of us. They’re different.”

“Yes, they are,” Culum said. “Ugly, repulsive, heathen. And impossible to tell apart.”

“I dinna agree. I meant they think differently,” Struan said.

“Then what’s the answer to them, Father?”

“If I knew that, I’d be right every time. They’ve just had five thousand years of practice, that’s all. Now pass the stew please, there’s a good laddie.”

Culum handed him the dish and Struan helped himself to a third portion.

“You don’t seem perturbed, Dirk,” Robb said. “This could ruin us. Ruin Asian trade.”

“You’re na eating, Robb. And you, Culum. Eat.” Struan tore off a chicken leg and put it on his plate. “The situation’s na quite so dismal as all that. First the nineteen men: Aye, they’ll be spies for Wu Fang Choi and his scum. But for us to teach ’em they have to learn English, eh? And if we can 
speak
 to them, why can we na change them? From pirate to useful citizen? Perhaps even to Christian, eh? Nineteen chances to bring them to our side. Good odds, I’d say. And if they’re on our side—even one of them—we’ll know the pirate lairs. Then we control them and destroy them at will. Second, the clipper: In a year and a day I’ve a sea battle to look forward to, that’s all. I’ll hand the ship over, then sink it. I made nae promise na to sink it.”

“Why not hand it over with kegs of powder in the hold and a slow taper to them?” Robb said.

“Wu Kwok’s too smart for that.”

“Is there no way you could hang mines on the outside of the hull, below sea level?”

“That’d be possible, perhaps. That might pass their scrutiny. But even when you’re trapped you have to try to work your way out, you canna break a holy oath. Nae trick, Robb. We’d lose face for a hundred years. I’m going to kill Wu Kwok.”

“Why?”

“To teach him the value of an oath. And to protect oursel’ for the next generation.”

There was a silence. “I thought you were going home in five months,” Robb said.

“I am. I’ll sail the new ship back when she’s ready. We’ll call her 
Lotus Cloud
.” Struan wiped his mouth with a napkin. “The men and the ship I can understand. But why train three boys as ‘toffs’? I dinna understand that. The boys worry me and I dinna know why.”

“They’d be Wu Kwok’s sons?”

“Sons or nephews, aye, certainly. But why? What do they gain?”

“Everything English. All our secrets,” Culum said.

“No, lad. The same applies to the boys as to the men. More so. Boys will be easier to convert to our ways. Wu Fang and Wu Kwok must have thought of that. Why would they be prepared to lose three sons? Why as ‘toffs’ —not as captains or soldiers or boat builders or armorers or anything useful? Why ‘toffs’?”

They could not answer him.

When 
China Cloud
 broke through the west entrance into Hong Kong harbor, Struan was coming onto the quarterdeck to join Culum and Robb. The rain had ceased and the wind was brisk. Dusk was gathering. Struan felt greatly refreshed, and serene. But as soon as he stepped on deck, his serenity was shattered.

“Great God Almighty!”

The harbor was packed with the merchant shipping of Asia, and with the Royal Naval Fleet. And the beach was crowded with the tents which quartered the four thousand soldiers of the expeditionary force.

What really jolted Struan, however, was the hundreds of Chinese sampans clustered to the north of Glessing’s Point. Swarms of junks and sampans were leaving and arriving. Thousands of tiny hovels had sprung up like obscene mushrooms on the slopes of one of the hills.

“Chinese’ve been pouring in ever since I got back from Canton,” Culum said. “God alone knows how many. At least four or five thousand. They’re swamping us. They arrive by sampan or junk loads and stream ashore. Then they get swallowed up in that mess. By night those devils sneak out and steal anything that’s movable.”

“Great God Almighty!”

“At first they were spreading over all the island. Then I got Longstaff to allocate them that hillside temporarily. They call it Tai Ping Shan, something like that.”

“Why did you na tell me?”

“We wanted you to see for yourself, Uncle and I. A few hours wouldn’t make any difference. The European population—
apart
 from soldiers—is about a hundred and fifty. Longstaff is tearing out what little hair he has left. We’ve been picking up ten or fifteen Chinese bodies a night in the harbor. Murdered or drowned.”

“You’ve got to see the squalor up there to believe it,” Robb said. “The way they live! There was space enough, but they keep coming with every tide.”

“Well,” Struan said, “we will na suffer for lack of coolies and help.” He turned to Orlov. “Salute the flagship and send a signal in your name: ‘Permission to moor within eight cables.’ All hands on deck, and come aft!”

Orlov nodded.

China Cloud’s
 cannons boomed and there was an answering gun. Permission was granted. The crew was assembled. Then Struan walked to the quarterdeck rail. “Everyone’s confined to the ship till noon tomorrow. And no one’s to come aboard until noon tomorrow. Nae word of our cargo. Or that I’m aboard. I’ll keelhaul any that spills a word. A double month’s pay to all hands, paid in silver tomorrow at dusk. Officers will mount armed guard by the watch on the quarterdeck. Dismissed.”

There were three cheers for the Tai-Pan, and the men dispersed.

“What time’s the land sale, Culum?”

“Three o’clock, Father, tomorrow. In Happy Valley.”

“Robb, make sure we’ve the correct lot numbers well in advance.”

“Yes. We brought a list. We buy the knoll?”

“Of course.”

Robb thought a moment. “If Brock’s as inflexible as you, we may have to put our whole future on that damned hill.”

“Aye.” Struan beckoned Orlov. “At two bells in the forenoon watch, send a signal to Brock in Robb’s name, asking him to come aboard at four bells. Wake me at two bells. Until that time I’m na to be disturbed. You’re in command now.”

“Good,” Orlov said.

“I’m going to get some sleep. Robb, you and Culum do the same. We’ve a long day tomorrow. Oh yes, and, Culum, perhaps you’d like to think about the ball. Where and how. In thirty-one days.” He went below.

When 
China Cloud
 was nearing the flagship, Culum walked over to Orlov. “Please bring the longboat alongside as soon as we’re anchored.”

“The Tai-Pan said everyone’s confined aboard. There’s no longboat without his permission.”

“That obviously didn’t apply to us, to Mr. Struan and me,” Culum said sharply.

Orlov chuckled. “You don’t know your father, Culum the Strong. He said ‘everyone.’ And that’s the way it’ll be.”

Culum turned for the hatch, but Orlov stopped him, the fighting iron easy in his hand. “He’s not to be disturbed. That’s his orders.”

“Get out of my way!”

“He never gives an order without meaning it. Ask your uncle. No one goes ashore while I’m captain o’ 
China Cloud!
 If he wanted you ashore, he’da said so.”

“We’re aboard till noon, Culum,” Robb said.

Through his fury Culum asked himself if he would be obeyed with such finality when he was Tai-Pan. He knew that such obedience was not paid automatically to the title. It had to be earned. “Very well, Captain.” He went and stood beside Robb at the gunnel. Silently they watched the island grow nearer. Soon they could see the knoll.

“That’s going to break us,” Robb said.

“Now we’ve the bullion, Brock won’t compete.”

“He’ll bid and bid and bid, knowing that Dirk’ll have it, whatever the cost. Brock’ll stop bidding when the price is astronomic. Dirk’s committed to the knoll like we’re committed to The Noble House. Now it’s a matter of face, godrotting face! Their godrotting hatred for one another will destroy both of them eventually.”

“Father said he’d deal with him, in five months, didn’t he?”

“Yes, lad. He has to. I canna. Nor can you.”

Culum riveted his eyes on the knoll and Hong Kong.

Like it or not, he told himself, his stomach twisting, there’s your kingdom. If you’ve the strength. And the guts to take it.

Suddenly he was very frightened.

At dawn Orlov turned out all hands and had the immaculate ship holystoned and cleaned. At two bells he sent the signal and went below.

“Morning. Two bells.” Orlov said to the bolted door.

“Morning, Cap’n,” Struan said, opening the door. “Come in.” He wore a green silk brocade dressing gown, and nothing underneath. Cold or hot, Struan slept naked. “Order breakfast for me. And ask Mr. Robb and Culum to join me in half an hour.”

“It’s ordered.”

“Where’s Wolfgang?”

“Aloft.”

“And the Chinese lad?”

“With him. Following him around like a dog.” Orlov handed Struan a neatly written list. “These boats came alongside last night or this morning, asking for you. Your brother’s wife sent a boat to ask for him to go aboard as soon as possible. Captain Glessing asked for your son—Sinclair and his sister asked for him too. She asked for you, so she’s on your list. There were a signal from the flagship. ‘Your son to go aboard the soonest.’ Cap’n Glessing cursed like a gutter rat when I sent him away.”

“Thank you.”

There was a knock on the door.

“Aye?”

“Morning, sorr!” the seaman said. “Signal from the 
White Witch:
 ‘With pleasure.’ ”

“Thank you, signalman.”

The man hurried away. Struan handed Orlov a bank draft for one thousand guineas. “With our compliments, Captain.”

Orlov read the amount. He blinked and read it again. “That’s princely. Princely.” He handed it back. “I was only doing my job.”

“Na’ with that amount of bullion. Take it. You’ve earned it.”

Orlov hesitated, then put it in his pocket. He unthonged the fighting iron and thoughtfully placed it in the rack with the others. “Your son,” he said at length, “best watch him. There’s bad trouble ahead for him.”

“Eh?” Struan’s eyes snapped away from the list.

“Yes.” Orlov rubbed the stubble of his beard.

“What’s this? More of your devil witchcraft?”

“More of my second sight, yes.”

“What trouble?” Struan knew from long experience that Orlov did not forecast lightly. Too many times the strange little man had been right.

“I don’t know.” A sudden smile lit his face. “When he’s Tai-Pan he thinks he’s going to take away my ship.”

“Then you’ll have to earn his respect, change his mind, else you lose her.”

Orlov grinned. “Yes. And I will, never fear.” Then the smile faded. “But he’ll take over on a bad day. There’ll be blood on his hands.”

After a pause Struan said, “Whose? Mine?”

Orlov shrugged. “I don’t know. But he’ll be much trouble to you. Of that I’m sure.”

“What son is na?”

“You’re right there.” Orlov thought of his family in Narvik, of his own two sons, fine strapping men of twenty. Both of them hated him, despised him, even though he adored them and adored his wife Leka, a Laplander. They had been happy until the sons turned her against him. “Yes,” he said, feeling very tired, “you’re right. As usual.”

“Best get some sleep,” Struan said. “I’ll need you at eight bells.”

Orlov left.

For a long time Struan stared into space. What trouble? Whose blood? Why a “bad day”? Then he turned his mind away from the unanswerable, content to think about today, perhaps tomorrow. “You’re becoming more Chinese every day,” he said aloud. He smiled and perused the list again. Gorth Brock. Miss Tillman. Quance. Gordon Chen. Skinner. Bosun McKay. McKay?

“Steward!” he called out.

“Yus, sorr.” The steward set the hot water on the cabinet beside the shaving gear.

“Send word to Mr.Cudahy. If Bosun McKay comes alongside, bring him aboard.”

“Yus, sorr.” The steward vanished.

Struan stood by the cabin windows. He could see the pulsating mass that was the Chinese settlement of Tai Ping Shan. But his mind was elsewhere: Why did Shevaun Tillman come alongside? Now there’s a beddable queen if ever there was one. I wonder if she’s a virgin. Surely she is! Has to be. Would you bed her if you knew she was? Without marrying her? Nay. I would na bed her then. A man needs virginity but twice in his life. Once with his wife, and once in the prime of life with a young mistress chosen with great care. When the man has learned the knowledge of patience, and compassion, and can painlessly transmute girl into woman.

Of course Shevaun’s a virgin; you’re thinking like a fool. But the sparkle behind her eyes and the waggle of her buttocks promise well for her husband, eh? She’d make an interesting mistress. Do you want to marry Shevaun? Or just bed her?

If you were Chinese, you could have many wives openly. And they’d all live in peace under the same roof. Struan chuckled. I’d like to see Shevaun and May-may together under the same roof. Who’d win that battle? For battle it would be, hellcats both of them.

“Hello, Father.” Culum stood in the doorway.

“You sleep well, laddie?”

“All right, thank you.” Culum had had bad dreams: Orlov mixed with the knoll and prophesying poverty again. Oh God, don’t let us lose again. Help me to do that which I must do. “By the way, if we’re to be hosts at the ball, should we invite a partner?”

“Mary Sinclair?”

Culum tried unsuccessfully to be offhand. “Yes.”

Struan told himself that he had better find a girl for his son and quickly. “Perhaps, as we’re hosts, it would be better if we just welcomed everyone without favor. There’re twenty-odd young ladies for you to cast your eye on.”