cc.floodtide-第60部分

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g；　Peter　failed　to　give　me　a　description　of　him。〃
　〃For　an　investigative　agent；〃　said　Pitt　between　bites　of　lobster；　〃your　powers　of　observation　are　sadly　lacking。〃　〃You　know　his　appearance。〃
　〃Never　laid　eyes　on　him。　But　if　you　look　through　the　doorway　on　the　west　wall；　guarded　by　a　giant　dressed　in　a　dynastic　costume；　you'll　find　Qin　Shang's　private　audience　room。　My　guess　is　he　sits　in　there　and　holds　court。〃
　Julia　began　to　rise　to　her　feet。
　〃Let's　get　this　over　with。〃
　Pitt　held　out　a　hand　and　restrained　her。
　〃Not　so　fast。　I　haven't　had　my　after…dinner　cognac　yet。〃
　〃You're　impossible。〃
　〃Women　are　always　telling　me　that。〃　A　steward　took　thek　plates；　and　Pitt　left　Julia　momentarily　for　the　bar；　returning　in　a　few　minutes　with　two　crystal　snifters　containing　a　fifty…year…old　cognac。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　as　if　he　hadn't　a　care　in　the　world；　he　savored　the　smooth　flavor。　As　he　held　the　snifter　to　his　lips；　he　saw　a　man；　reflected　in　the　crystal；　approach　their　table。
　
　〃Good　evening；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。　〃I　hope　you're　enjoying　yourselves。　I　am　your　host。〃
　Julia　froze　as　she　looked　up　into　the　smiling　face　of　Qin　Shang。　He　looked　nothing　like　what　she　imagined。　She　did　not　envision　him　as　tall　and　stout。　The　face　was　not　that　of　a　cruel；　cold…blooded　murderer　with　vast　power。　There　was　no　hint　of　authority　behind　the　friendly　tone；　and　yet　she　could　sense　an　underlying　coldness。　He　stood　immaculate　in　a　beautifully　cut　tuxedo　embroidered　with　golden　tigers。
　
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　said　Julia；　barely　able　to　remain　polite；　〃It　truly　is　a　magnificent　affair。〃
　Pitt　rose　to　his　feet　slowly　in　a　conscious　effort　not　to　appear　patronizing。　〃May　I　present　Ms。　Julia　Lee。〃
　〃And　you；　sir？〃　asked　Qin　Shang。
　〃My　name　is　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　
　There　it　was。　No　skyrockets；　no　drumroll。　The　guy　has　style；　Pitt　had　to　give　him　that。　The　smile　remained　fixed。　If　there　was　surprise　at　finding　Pitt　alive　and　breathing；　Qin　Shang　didn't　show　it。　The　only　detectable　response　was　a　slight　shift　of　the　eyes。　For　long　moments　jade…green　eyes　locked　with　opaline…green；　neither　man　willing　to　break　off。　Pitt　knew　damned　well　it　was　stupid　and　saw　no　purpose　in　the　staredown　other　than　egotistical　satisfaction　by　the　winner。　Gradually；　his　gaze　lifted　to　Qin　Shang's　eyebrows；　then　forehead；　lingered　and　moved　to　the　hair。　Then　Pitt's　eyes　widened　a　fraction　as　if　he　found　something；　and　his　lips　broke　into　a　slight　grin。
　
　The　ruse　worked。　Qin　Shang's　concentration　was　broken。　He　involuntarily　raised　his　eyeballs　to　look　upward。　〃May　I　ask　what　you　find　so　amusing；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　〃I　was　just　wondering　who　your　hairstylist　was；〃　Pitt　answered　innocently。
　〃She　is　a　Chinese　lady　who　attends　me　once　a　day。　I'd　give　you　her　name；　but　she　is　in　my　private　employ。〃
　〃I　envy　you。　My　barber　is　a　mad　Hungarian　with　palsy。〃
　There　came　a　brief　icy　stare。
　〃The　photo　of　you　in　your　dossier　does　not　do　you　justice。〃
　〃I　applaud　a　man　who　does　his　homework。〃
　〃May　I　have　a　word　with　you　in　private；　Mr。　Pitt？〃
　Pitt　nodded　toward　Julia。　〃Only　if　Ms。　Lee　is　present。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　our　conversation　may　not　be　of　interest　to　the　lovely　lady。〃
　Pitt　realized　that　Qin　Shang　did　not　know　Julia's　credentials。　〃On　the　contrary。　Rude　of　me　not　to　mention　that　Ms。　Lee　is　an　agent　with　the　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service。　She　was　also　a　passenger　on　one　of　your　cattle　boats　and　had　the　misfortune　of　enjoying　your　hospitality　at　Orion　Lake。　You　are　familiar；　I　trust；　with　Orion　Lake。　It's　in　the　state　of　Washington。〃
　
　For　an　instant　there　was　a　red　glare　in　the　jade　eyes；　and　then　it　was　just　as　quickly　extinguished。　Qin　Shang　remained　as　impenetrable　as　marble。　His　voice　came　even　and　calm。　〃If　you　both　will　please　follow　me。〃　He　turned　and　strode　away；　knowing　unquestionably　Pitt　and　Julia　would　trail　in　his　wake。
　
　〃I　think　the　time　has　e；〃　said　Pitt　as　he　helped　Julia　from　her　chair。
　〃You　crafty　dog；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　knew　all　along　he　would　seek　us　out。〃
　〃Shang　didn't　get　where　he's　at　without　a　healthy　dose　of　curiosity。〃
　
　Obediently；　they　followed　Qin　Shang　through　the　milling　congregation　until　he　came　to　the　costumed　giant　who　opened　the　door　for　him。　They　entered　a　room　unlike　the　heavily　furnished　and　decorated　one　they　just　left。　This　room　was　modest　and　austere。　The　walls　were　merely　painted　in　a　soft　blue。　The　only　furnishings　were　a　settee；　two　chairs　and　a　desk　whose　surface　was　barren　except　for　a　telephone。　He　motioned　for　them　to　sit　on　the　settee　as　he　took　his　place　behind　the　desk。　Pitt　was　amused　to　see　that　the　desk　and　chair　were　slightly　elevated　so　that　Qin　Shang　looked　down　at　his　visitors。　〃Forgive　me　for　mentioning　it；〃　Pitt　said　offhandedly；　〃but　the　bronze　incense　burner　in　the　main　entry。　From　the　Liao　dynasty；　I　believe。〃
　
　〃Why　yes；　you　are　quite　correct。〃
　〃I　assume　you　know　that　it's　a　fake。〃
　〃You　are　most　observant；　Mr。　Pitt；〃　said　Qin　Shang　without　taking　offense。　〃The　piece　is　not　fake；　but　a　well…executed　replica。　The　original　was　lost　in　nineteen　forty…eight　during　the　war　when　the　People's　Army　of　Mao　Tse…tung　crushed　the　forces　of　Chiang　Kai…shek。〃
　〃The　burner　is　still　in　China？〃
　〃No；　it　was　on　a　ship　with　many　other　ancient　treasures　stolen　from　my　country　by　Chiang　that　were　lost　at　sea。〃
　〃The　ship's　final　resting　place　is　a　mystery？〃
　〃A　mystery　I　have　worked　many　years　to　solve。　To　find　the　ship　and　its　cargo　is　my　life's　most　passionate　desire。〃
　〃It's　been　my　experience　that　shipwrecks　are　never　found　until　they　want　to　be　found。〃
　〃Very　poetic；〃　Qin　Shang　said；　pausing　to　glance　at　his　watch。　〃I　must　return　and　tend　to　my　guests　so　I'll　be　brief　before　I　have　my　security　people　escort　you　to　the　door。　Please　tell　me　the　purpose　behind　your　uninvited　presence。〃
　〃I　thought　the　purpose　was　transparent；〃　Pitt　replied　conversationally。　〃Ms。　Lee　and　I　wanted　to　meet　the　man　we're　going　to　hang。〃
　〃You're　very　succinct；　Mr。　Pitt。　I　appreciate　that　in　an　adversary。　But　it　is　you　who　will　be　a　casualty　in　the　war。〃
　〃What　war　is　that？〃
　〃The　economic　war　between　the　People's　Republic　of　China　and　the　United　States。　A　war　for　extraordinary　power　and　wealth　for　the　winner。〃
　〃I　have　no　ambitions　on　that　score。〃
　〃Ah；　but　I　do。　That's　the　difference　between　us　and　between　our　countrymen。　Like　most　of　the　rabble　in　America；　you　lack　determination　and　zeal。〃
　Pitt　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃If　greed　is　your　god；　then　you　possess　very　little　of　true　value。〃
　〃You　think　of　me　as　a　greedmonger？〃　Qin　Shang　asked　pleasantly。
　〃I've　seen　little　of　your　lifestyle　that　persuades　me　otherwise。〃
　〃All　the　great　men　of　history　were　driven　by　ambition。　It　goes　hand　in　hand　with　power。　Contrary　to　public　opinion；　the　world　is　not　divided　by　good　and　evil；　but　between　those　who　do　and　those　who　do　not；　the　visionaries　and　the　blind；　the　realists　and　the　romanticists。　The　world　does　not　turn　on　good　deeds　and　sentiment；　Mr。　Pitt；　but　on　achievement。〃
　〃What　do　you　ultimately　hope　to　gain　in　the　end　besides　a　pretentious　edifice　over　your　coffin？〃
　〃You　misunderstand　me。　My　goal　is　to　help　China　bee　the　greatest　nation　the　world　has　ever　known。〃
　〃While　you　bee　even　more　filthy…rich　than　you　already　are。　Where　does　it　end；　Mr。　Shang？〃
　〃There　is　no　end；　Mr。　Pitt。〃
　〃You'll　have　a　tough　fight　on　your　hands　if　you　think　China　can　surpass　the　United　States。〃
　〃Ah；　but　the　deed　is　done；〃　Qin　Shang　said　matter…of…factly。　〃You　country　has　died　a　slow　death　as　a　world　power　while　my　country　is　in　its　ascendancy。　Already　we　have　passed　the　United　States　to　bee　the　largest　economy　in　history。　Already　we　have　passed　your　trade　deficit　with　Japan。　Your　government　is　impotent　despite　its　nuclear　arsenal。　Soon　it　will　be　unthinkable　for　your　leaders　to　intervene　when　we　assume　control　of　Taiwan　and　the　rest　of　the　Asian　nations。〃
　〃So　what　does　it　really　matter？〃　asked　Pitt。　〃You'll　still　be　playing　catch…up　to　our　standard　of　living　for　the　next　hundred　years。〃
　〃Time　is　on　our　side。　Not　only　will　we　erode　America　from　the　outside；　but　with　the　help　of　your　own　countrymen　we　will　eventually　cause　it　to　crumble　from　within。　If　nothing　else；　future　division　and　internal　race　wars　will　seal　your　fate　as　a　great　nation。〃
　Pitt　began　to　see　Qin　Shang's　direction。　〃Aided　and　abetted　by　your　doctrine　of　illegal　immigration；　is　that　it？〃
　Qin　Shang　looked　at　Julia。　〃Your　Immigration　and　Naturalization　Service　estimates　that　nearly　a　million　Chinese　enter　America　and　Canada　legally　and　illegally　each　year。　Actually；　the　figure　is　closer　to　two　million。　While　you　concentrated　on　keeping　out　your　neighbors　to　the　south；　we　have　been　flooding　masses　of　my　countrymen　across　the　sea　and　across　your　shoreline。　One　day；　sooner　than　you　think；　your　coastal　states　and　the　Canadian　provinces　will　be　an　extension　of　China。〃
　To　Pitt　the　concept　was　inconceivable。　〃I'll　grade　you　with　an　A　for　wishful　thinking　and　an　F　for　practicality。〃
　〃Not　as　ridiculous　as　you　may　think；〃　Qin　Shang　said　patiently。　〃Consider　how　the　boundaries　of　Europe　have　changed　in　the　past　hundred　years。　Migration　through　the　centuries　has　shattered　old　empires　and　built