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〃Fighters?〃
〃Yes。 But Hurricanes … and Spits。 Is that a new dress?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You look pretty;〃 he said。
〃Thank you but I'm not。 I feel so old; but thank you。〃 She sat in the other winged chair; her perfume as delicate as her features。 〃Peter Marlowe; you said?〃
〃Yes。 Poor bugger got caught in Java in '42。 He was a POW for three and a half years。〃
〃Oh; poor man。 He was shot down?〃
〃No; the Japanese plastered the 'drome before he could scramble。 Perhaps he was lucky。 The Zeros got two on the ground and the last two just after they were airborne … the pilots flamed in。 Seems those four Hurricanes were the last of the Few … the last of the whole air defense of the Far East。 What a balls…up that was!〃
〃Terrible。〃
〃Yes。 Thank God our war was in Europe。〃 Dunross watched her。 〃He said he was a year in Java; then the Japanese sent him to Singapore on a work party。〃
〃To Changi?〃 she asked; her voice different。
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh!〃
〃He was there for two and a half years。〃 Changi in Malay meant 〃clinging vine;〃 and Changi was the name of the jail in Singapore that was used by the Japanese in World War II for one of their infamous prisoner…of…war camps。
She thought a moment; then smiled a little nervously。 〃Did he know Robin there?〃 Robin Grey was her brother; her only living relative: her parents had been killed in an air raid in London in 1943; just before she and Dunross were married。
〃Marlowe said yes; he seemed to remember him; but clearly he didn't want to talk about those days so I let it drop。〃
〃I can imagine。 Did you tell him Robin was my brother?〃
〃No。〃
〃When's Robin due back here?〃
〃I don't know exactly。 In a few days。 This afternoon the governor told me the delegation's in Peking now。〃 A British Parliamentary Trade Delegation drawn from MPs of the three parties … Conservative; Liberal and Labour … had been invited out from London by Peking to discuss all manner of trade。 The delegation had arrived in Hong Kong two weeks ago and had gone directly on to Canton where all trade negotiations were conducted。 It was very rare for anyone to get an invitation; let alone a parliamentary delegation … and even rarer to be invited on to Peking。 Robin Grey was one of the members … representative of the Labour Party。 〃Penn darling; don't you think we should acknowledge Robin; give a reception for him? After all; we haven't seen him for years; this's the first time he's been to Asia … isn't it time you buried the hatchet and made peace?〃
〃He's not invited to my house。 Any of my houses。〃
〃Isn't it time you relaxed a little; let bygones be bygones?〃
〃No; I know him; you don't。 Robin has his life and we have ours; that's what he and I agreed years ago。 No; I've no wish to see him ever again。 He's awful; dangerous; foul…mouthed and a bloody bore。〃
Dunross laughed。 〃I agree he's obnoxious and I detest his politics … but he's only one of a half dozen MPs。 This delegation's important。 I should do something to entertain them; Penn。〃
〃Please do; Ian。 But preferably not here … or else tell me in good time so I can have the vapors and see that the children do the same。 It's a matter of face and that's the end of it。〃 Penelope tossed her head and shook off her mood。 〃God! Let's not let him spoil this evening! What's this Marlowe doing in Hong Kong?〃
〃He's a writer。 Wants to do a book on Hong Kong; he said。 He lives in America now。 His wife's ing too。 Oh; by the way; I also invited the Americans; Linc Bartlett and Casey Tcholok。〃
〃Oh!〃 Penelope Dunross laughed。 〃Oh well; four or forty extra won't make any difference at all … I won't know most of them anyway; and Claudia's organized everything with her usual efficiency。〃 She arched an eyebrow。 〃So! A gun…runner amongst the pirates! That won't even cause a ripple。〃
〃Is he?〃
〃Everyone says so。 Did you see the piece in this afternoon's Mirror; Ian? Ah Tat's convinced the American is bad joss … she informed the whole staff; the children and me … so that makes it official。 Ah Tat told Adryon that her astrologer insisted she tell you to watch out for bad influence from the East。 Ah Tat's sure that means the Yanks。 Hasn't she bent your ear yet?〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃God; I wish I could chatter Cantonese like you and the children。 I'd tell that old harpy to keep her superstitions and opinions to herself … she's a bad influence。〃
〃She'd give her life for the children。〃
〃I know she's your gan sun and almost brought you up and thinks she's God's gift to the Dunross clan。 But as far as I'm concerned she's a cantankerous; loathsome old bitch and I hate her。〃 Penelope smiled sweetly。 〃I hear the American girl's pretty。〃
〃Attractive … not pretty。 She's giving Andrew a bad time。〃
〃I can imagine。 A lady talking business! What are we ing to in this great world of ours? Is she any good?〃
〃Too soon to tell。 But she's very smart。 She's … she'll make things awkward certainly。〃
〃Have you seen Adryon tonight?〃
〃No … what's up?〃 he asked; instantly recognizing the tone of voice。
〃She's been into my wardrobe again … half my best nylons are gone; the rest are scattered; my scarves are all jumbled up; my new blouse's missing and my new belt's disappeared。 She's even whipped my best Hermès 。。。 that child's the end!〃
〃Nineteen's hardly a child;〃 he said wearily。
〃She's the end! The number of times I've told her!〃
〃I'll talk to her again。〃
〃That won't do a bit of good。〃
〃I know。〃
She laughed with him。 〃She's such a pill。〃
〃Here。〃 He handed her a slim box。 〃Happy twentieth!〃
〃Oh thank you; Ian。 Yours is downstairs。 You'll 。。。〃 She stopped and opened the box。 It contained a carved jade bracelet; the jade inset into silver filigree; very fine; very old … a collector's piece。 〃Oh how lovely; thank you; Ian。〃 She put it on her wrist over the thin gold chain she was wearing and he heard neither real pleasure nor real disappointment under her voice; his ears tuned to her。 〃It's beautiful;〃 she said and leaned forward and brushed her lips against his cheek。 〃Thank you; darling。 Where did you get it? Taiwan?〃
〃No; here on Cat Street。 At Wong Chun Kit's; he ga… 〃
The door flew open and a girl barreled in。 She was tall and slim and oh so fair and she said in a breathless rush; 〃I hope it's all right I invited a date tonight and I just had the call that he's ing and he'll be late but I thought it'd be okay。 He's cool。 And very trick。〃
〃For the love of God; Adryon;〃 Dunross said mildly; 〃how many times do I have to ask you to knock before you charge in here and would you kindly talk English? What the hell's trick?〃
〃Good; great; cool; trick。 Sorry; Father; but you really are rather square because cool and trick are very in; even in Hong Kong。 See you soon; have to dash; after the party I'm going out … I'll be late so don't… 〃
〃Wait a min… 〃
〃That's my blouse; my new blouse;〃 Penelope burst out。 〃Adryon; you take it off this minute! I've told you fifty times to stay the hell out of my wardrobe。〃
〃Oh; Mother;〃 Adryon said as sharply; 〃you don't need it; can't I borrow it for this evening?〃 Her tone changed。 〃Please? Pretty please? Father; talk to her。〃 She switched to perfect amah Cantonese; 〃Honorable Father 。。。 please help your Number One Daughter to achieve the unachievable or I shall weep weep weep oh ko 。。。〃 Then back into English in the same breath; 〃Mother 。。。 you don't need it and I'll look after it; truly。 Please?〃
〃No。〃
〃e on; pretty please; I'll look after it; I promise。〃
〃No。〃
〃Mother!〃
〃Well if you pr… 〃
〃Oh thanks。〃 The girl beamed and turned and rushed out and the door slammed behind her。
〃Jesus bloody Christ;〃 Dunross said sourly; 〃why the hell does a door always happen to slam behind her!〃
〃Well at least it's not deliberate now。〃 Penelope sighed。 〃I don't think I could go through that siege again。〃
〃Nor me。 Thank God Glenna's reasonable。〃
〃It's purely temporary; Ian。 She takes after her father; that one; like Adryon。〃
〃Huh! I don't have a filthy temper;〃 he said sharply。 〃And since we're on the subject I hope to God Adryon has found someone decent to date instead of the usual shower! Who is this she's bringing?〃
〃I don't know; Ian。 This is the first I've heard of it too。〃
〃They're always bloody awful! Her taste in men's appalling。 。。。 Remember that melon…headed berk with the neolithic arms that she was 'madly in love with' ? Christ Jesus; she was barely fifteen an… 〃
〃She was almost sixteen。〃
〃What was his name? Ah yes; Byron。 Byron for chrissake!〃
〃You really shouldn't have threatened to blow his head off; Ian。 It was just puppy love。〃
〃It was gorilla bloody love; by God;〃 Dunross said even more sourly。 〃He was a bloody gorilla。 。。。 You remember that other one; the one before bloody Byron … the psychiatric bastard 。。。 what was his name?〃
〃Victor。 Yes; Victor Hopper。 He was the one 。。。 oh yes; I remember; he was the one who asked if it was all right if he slept with Adryon。〃
〃He what?〃
〃Oh yes。〃 She smiled up at him so innocently。 〃I didn't tell you at the time 。。。 thought I'd better not。〃
〃He what?〃
〃Don't get yourself all worked up; Ian。 That's at least four years ago。 I told him no; not at the moment; Adryon's only fourteen; but yes; certainly; when she was twenty…one。 That was another that died on the vine。〃
〃Jesus Christ! He asked you if he co… 〃
〃At least he asked; Ian! That was something。 It's all so very ordinary。〃 She got up and poured more champagne into his glass; and some for herself。 〃You've only got another ten years or so of purgatory; then there'll be the grandchildren。 Happy anniversary and the best of British to you!〃 She laughed and touched his glass and drank and smiled at him。
〃You're right again;〃 he said and smiled back; liking her very much。 So many years; good years。 I've been lucky; he thought。 Yes。 I was blessed that first day。 It was at his RAF station at Biggin Hill; a warm; sunny August morning in 1940 during the Battle of Britain and she was a WAAF and newly posted there。 It was his eighth day at war; his third mission that day and first kill。 His Spitfire was latticed with bullet holes; parts of his wing gone; his tail section tattooed。 By all the rules of joss; he should be dead but he wasn't and the Messerschmitt was and her pilot was and he was home and safe and blood raging; drunk with fear and shame and relief that he had e back and the youth he had seen in the other cockpit; the enemy; had burned screaming as he spiraled。
〃Hello; sir;〃 Penelope Grey had said。 〃Wele home sir。 Here。〃 She had given him a cup of hot sweet tea and she had said nothing else though she should have begun debriefing him at once … she was in Signals。 She said nothing but smiled and gave him time to e out of the skies of death into life again。 He had not thanked her; just drank the tea and it was the best he had ever had。
〃I got a Messerschmitt;〃 he had said when he could talk; his voice trembling like his knees。 He could not remember unsnapping his harness or getting out of his cockpit or climbing into the truck with the other survivors。 〃It was a 109。〃
〃Yes sir; Squadron Leader Miller has already confirmed the kill and he says to please get ready; you're to scramble any minute again。 You're to take Poppa Mike Kilo this time。 Thank you for the kill; sir; that's one less of those devils 。。。 oh how I wish I could go up with you to help you all kill those monsters。 。。。〃
But they weren't monsters; he thought; at least the first pilot and first plane that he had killed had not been … just a youth like himself; perhaps the same age; who had burned screaming; died screaming; a flaming falling leaf; and this afternoon or tomorrow or soon it would be his turn … too many of them; the enemy; too few of us。
〃Did Tommy get back; Tom Lane?〃
〃No sir; sorry sir。 He 。。。 the squadron leader said Flight Lieutenant Lane was jumped over Dover。〃
〃I'm petrified of burning; going down;〃 he had said。
〃Oh you won't; sir; not you。 They won't shoot you down。 I know。 You won't; sir; no; not you。 They'll never get you; never never never;〃 she had said; pale blue eyes; fair hair and fair of face; not quite eighteen but strong; very strong and very confident。
He had believed her and her faith had carried him through four more months of mi