mself； pleased to be in a game where the stakes were very high。
He opened the note that was in his hand。 It was short and in Russian： 〃Greetings from Kurgan； Highness。 I have news of Nestorova 。。。〃 Alexi gasped。 The color drained from his face。 By the blood of Christ； he wanted to shout。 No one in Asia knows my home was in Kurgan； in the flatlands on the banks of the River Tobol； nor that my father was Prince of Kurgan and Tobol； nor that my darling Nestorova； my child…wife of a thousand lifetimes ago； swallowed up in the revolution while I was with my regiment 。。。 I swear to God I've never mentioned her name to anyone； not even to myself。 。。。
In shock he reread the note。 Is this more of their devilment； the Soviets … the enemy of all the Russians？ Or is it a friend？ Oh Christ Jesus let it be a friend。
After 〃Nestorova〃 the note had ended； 〃Please meet me at the Green Dragon Restaurant； in the alley just off 189 Nathan Road； the back room at three this afternoon。〃 There was no signature。
Across the paddock； near the winning post； Richard Kwang was walking toward his trainer when he saw his sixth cousin； Smiler Ching； chairman of the huge Ching Prosperity Bank； in the stands； his binoculars trained on Pilot Fish。
〃Hello； Sixth Cousin；〃 he said affably in Cantonese； 〃have you eaten rice today？〃
The sly old man was instantly on guard。 〃You won't get any money out of me；〃 he said coarsely； his lips sliding back from protruding teeth that gave him a perpetual smiling grimace。
〃Why not？〃 Richard Kwang said equally rudely。 〃I've got 17 fornicating millions on loan to you an… 〃
〃Yes but that's on ninety…day call and well invested。 We've always paid the 40 percent interest；〃 the old man snarled。
〃You miserable old dog bone； I helped you when you needed money！ Now it's time to repay！〃
〃Repay what？ What？〃 Smiler Ching spat。 〃I've repaid you a fortune over the years。 I've taken the risks and you've reaped the profit。 This whole disaster couldn't happen at a worse time！ I've every copper cash out … every one！ I'm not like some bankers。 My money's always put to good use。〃
The good use was narcotics； so legend went。 Of course Richard Kwang had never asked； and no one knew for certain； but everyone believed that Smiler Ching's bank was secretly one of the main clearinghouses for the trade； the vast majority of which emanated from Bangkok。 〃Listen； Cousin； think of the family；〃 Richard Kwang began。 〃It's only a temporary problem。 The fornicating foreign devils are attacking us。 When that happens civilized people have to stick together！〃
〃I agree。 But you're the cause of the run on the Ho…Pak。 You are。 It's on you … not on my bank。 You've offended the fornicators somehow！ They're after you … don't you read the papers？ Yes； and you've got all your cash out on some very bad deals so I hear。 You； Cousin； you've put your own head into the cangue。 Get money out of that evil son of a Malayan whore half…caste partner of yours。 He's got billions … or out of Tightfist。 。。。〃 The old man suddenly cackled。 〃I'll give you 10 for every 1 that old fornicator loans you！〃
〃If I go down the toilet the Ching Prosperity Bank won't be far behind。〃
〃Don't threaten me！〃 the old man said angrily。 His lips had a flick of saliva permanently in the corners and then they worked over his teeth once and fell apart again in his grimace。 〃If you go down it won't be my fault … why wish your rotten joss on family？ I've done nothing to hurt you … why try and pass your bad joss on to me？ If today 。。。 ayeeyah； if today your bad joss spills over and those dog bone depositors start a run on me I won't last the day！〃
Richard Kwang momentarily felt better that the Ching empire was equally threatened。 Good； very good。 I could use all his business … particularly the Bangkok connection。 Then he saw the big clock over the totalizator and groaned。 It was just past six now and at ten； banks would open and the stock market would open and though arrangements had been made with Blacs； the Victoria and the Bombay and Eastern Bank of Kowloon to pledge securities that should cover everything and to spare； he was still nervous。 And enraged。 He had had to make some very tough deals that he had no wish to honor。 〃e on； Cousin； just 50 million for ten days … I'll extend the 17 million for two years and add another 20 in thirty days。〃
〃50 million for three days at 10 percent interest a day； your present loan to be collateral and I'll also take deed to your property in Central as further collateral！〃
〃Go fornicate in your mother's ear！ That property's worth four times that。〃
Smiler Ching shrugged and turned his binoculars back on Pilot Fish。 〃Is the big black going to beat Butterscotch Lass too？〃
Richard Kwang looked at Gornt's horse sourly。 〃Not unless my weevil…mouthed trainer and jockey join together to pull her or dope her！〃
〃Filthy thieves！ You can't trust one of them！ My horse's never e in the money once。 Never。 Not even third。 Disgusting！〃
〃50 million for one week … 2 percent a day？〃
〃5。 Plus the Central pro… 〃
〃Never！〃
〃I'll take a 50 percent share of the property。〃
〃6 percent；〃 Richard Kwang said。
Smiler Ching estimated his risk。 And his potential profit。 The profit was huge if。 If the Ho…Pak didn't fail。 But even if it did； the loan would be well covered by the property。 Yes； the profit would be huge； provided there wasn't a real run on himself。 Perhaps I could gamble and pledge some future shipments and raise the 50 million。
〃15 percent and that's final；〃 he said knowing that he would withdraw or change by noon once he saw how the market was； and the run was … and he would continue to sell Ho…Pak short to great profit。 〃And also you can throw in Butterscotch Lass。〃
Richard Kwang swore obscenely and they bargained back and forth then agreed that the 50 million was on call at two o'clock。 In cash。 He would also pledge Smiler Ching 39 percent of the Central property as added collateral； and a quarter share in his mare。 Butterscotch Lass was the clincher。
〃What about Saturday？〃
〃Eh？〃 Richard Kwang said； loathing the grimace and buck teeth。
〃Our horse's in the fifth race； heya？ Listen； Sixth Cousin； perhaps we'd better make an acmodation with Pilot Fish's jockey。 We pull our horse … she'll be favorite … and back Pilot Fish and Noble Star for safety！〃
〃Good idea。 We'll decide Saturday morning。〃
〃Better to eliminate Golden Lady too； eh？〃
〃John Chen's trainer suggested that。〃
〃Eeeee； that fool； to get himself kidnapped。 I'll expect you to give me the real information on who's going to win。 I want the winner too！〃 Smiler hawked and spat。
〃All gods defecate； don't we all！ Those filthy trainers and jockeys！ Disgusting the way they puppet us owners。 Who pays their salaries； heya？〃
〃The Turf Club； the owners； but most the punters who aren't in the know。 I hear you were at the Old Vic last night for foreign devil food。〃
Richard Kwang beamed。 His dinner with Venus Poon had been an enormous success。 She had worn the new knee…length Christian Dior he had bought for her； black clinging silk and gossamer underneath。 When he had seen her get out of his Rolls and e up the steps of the Old Vic his heart had turned over and his Secret Sack had jiggled。
She had been all smiles at the effect her entrance had on the entire foyer； her chunky gold bracelets glittering； and had insisted on walking up the grand staircase instead of using the elevator。 His chest had been tight with suppressed glee and terror。 They had walked through the formal； well…groomed diners； European and Chinese； many in evening dress … husbands and wives； tourists and locals； men at business dinners； lovers and would…be lovers of all ages and nationalities。 He was wearing a new； Savile Row dark suit of the most expensive lightweight cashmere wool。 As they moved toward the choice table that had cost him a red … 100 dollars … he had waved to many friends； and groaned inwardly four times as he saw four of his Chinese intimates with their wives； bouffant and overjeweled。 The wives had stared at him glassily。
Richard Kwang shuddered。 Wives really are dragons and all the same； he thought。 Oh oh oh！ And your lies sound false to them even b