bed and strode naked for the bathroom。
She studied his tall body critically； the crinkled； savage scars of the old burns from his airplane crash covering most of his legs。 But the legs were strong； the flanks strong and the yang resolute and healthy。 Good； she thought。 I'm glad to see all's well。 Even so； she was concerned at his perpetual leanness； with no substantial belly that his wealth and position merited。 〃You're not eating enough； my son！〃
〃More than enough！〃
〃There's hot water in the bucket。 Don't forget to wash your teeth。〃
Contentedly she began to remake the bed。 〃He needed that rest；〃 she muttered； not realizing she was talking aloud。 〃He's been like a man possessed for the last week； working all hours； fear in his face and over him。 Such fear can kill。〃 When she had finished the bed she called out； 〃Now don't stay out late tonight。 You must take care of yourself and if you go with a whore bring her here like a sensible person； heya？〃
She heard him laugh and she was glad for it。 There hasn't been enough laughter from him the last few days； she thought。 〃A man needs laughter and youthful yin to nourish the yang。 Eh what； what did you say？〃
〃I said； where's Number One Daughter？〃
〃In； out； always out； out with that new barbarian；〃 she said going to the bathroom door and peering at him as he doused water over himself。 〃The one with long hair and crumpled clothes who works for the China Guardian。 I don't approve of him； my son。 No； not at all！〃
〃Where are they 'out；' Ah Tat？〃
The old woman shrugged； chomping her gums。 〃The sooner Number One Daughter's married the better。 Better for her to be another man's problem than yours。 Or you should give her a good whip to her rump。〃 He laughed again and she wondered why he laughed this time。 〃He's getting simple in the head；〃 she muttered； then turned away。 At the far door； remembering； she called out； 〃There's small chow for you before you leave。〃
〃Don't worry about food 。。。〃 Dunross stopped； knowing it was a waste of time。 He heard her go off mumbling； closing the door after her。
He was standing in the bath and bailed more cold water over himself。 Christ； I wish this bloody water shortage'd cease； he thought。 I could use a really long hot shower； his mind inexorably zeroing in on Adryon。 At once he heard Penelope's admonition； 〃Do grow up； Ian！ It really is her own life； do grow up！〃
〃I'm trying；〃 he muttered； toweling himself vigorously。 Just before he had slept he had called Penelope。 She was already at Castle Avisyard； Kathy still in the London clinic for more tests。 〃She'll be ing up next week。 I do so hope everything will be all right。〃
〃I'm in touch with the doctors； Penn。〃 He told her about sending Gavallan to Scotland。 〃He's always wanted to be there； Kathy too； it'll be better for both of them； eh？〃
〃Oh； that's marvelous； Ian。 That'll be a marvelous tonic。〃
〃They can take over the whole east wing。〃
〃Oh yes。 Ian； the weather's wonderful today； wonderful； and the house so lovely。 No chance you can e for a few days I suppose？〃
〃I'm up to my nose in it； Penn！ You heard about the market？〃
He had heard the momentary silence and he could see her face change and within her head hear her impotent raging against the market and Hong Kong and business； as much as she tried to cast it away。
〃Yes。 It must be terrible；〃 she had said； still a thread in her voice。 〃Poor you。 Alastair was carrying on a bit last night。 It'll be all right； won't it？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 he said with great confidence； wondering what she would say if he told her that he would have to guarantee personally the Murtagh loan if it came through。 Oh Christ let it e through。 He gave her all the news； then told her that AMG had sent him a very interesting message that he would tell her about when he saw her； adding that the messenger was a Japanese…Swiss woman。 〃She's quite a bird！〃
〃I hope not too much！〃
〃Oh no！ How's Glenna and how're you？〃
〃Just fine。 Have you heard from Duncan？〃
〃Yes。 He arrives tomorrow … I'll get him to phone you the moment he's home。 That's about it； Penn； love you！〃
〃I love you too and wish you were here。 Oh； how's Adryon？〃
〃More of the same。 She and that Haply fellow seem to be inseparable！〃
〃Do remember she's very grown up； darling； and don't worry about her。 Just try to grow up yourself。〃
He finished drying himself and looked at his reflection in the mirror； wondering if he was old for his years or young； not feeling any different from when he was nineteen … at university or at war。 After a moment； he said； 〃You're lucky to be alive； old chum。 You're oh so lucky。〃 His sleep had been heavy and he had been dreaming about Tiptop and； just at waking； someone had said in his dream； 〃What're you going to do？〃 I don't know； he thought。 How far do I trust that bugger Sinders？ Not far。 But I got under his guard with my threat 。。。 no； my promise to publish the eleven pieces of paper。 And I will； by God！
I'd better call Tiptop before I leave for Plumm's。 I'd better。
His ears heard the bedroom door swing open again and Ah Tat padded back across the room to stand at the bathroom door。 〃Ah； my son； I forgot to tell you； there's a barbarian waiting for you downstairs。〃
〃Oh？ Who？〃
She shrugged。 〃A barbarian。 Not as tall as you。 He has a strange name； and he's more ugly than usual with hair of straw！〃 She searched in her pocket and found the card。 〃Here。〃
The card read； Dave Murtagh III； Royal Belgium and Far East Bank。 Dunross's stomach twisted。 〃How long's he been waiting？〃
〃An hour； perhaps more。〃
〃What？ Fornicate all gods。 Why didn't you wake me？〃
〃Eh？ Why didn't I wake you？〃 she asked caustically。 〃Why？ Why do you think？ Am I a fool？ A foreign devil？ Ayeeyah； what is more important； him waiting or your rest？ Ayeeyah！〃 she added disdainfully and stalked off； grumbling； 〃As if I didn't know what was best for you。〃
Dunross dressed hurriedly and rushed downstairs。 Murtagh was sprawled out in an easy chair。 He awoke with a start as the door opened。 〃Oh； hi！〃
〃I'm terribly sorry； I was having a kip and didn't know you were here。〃
〃That's all right； tai…pan。〃 Dave Murtagh was haggard。 〃The old biddy threatened the hell out of me if I so much as murmured but it didn't matter； I dropped off。〃 He stretched wearily； stifling a yawn and shook his head to try to clear it。 〃Jesus； sorry to e uninvited but it's better than on the phone。〃
Dunross held his aching disappointment off his face。 It must be a turndown； he thought。 〃Whiskey？〃
〃Sure； with soda。 Thanks。 Jesus I'm tired。〃
Dunross went to the decanter and poured； and a brandy and soda for himself。 〃Health；〃 he said； resisting the urge to ask。
They touched glasses。
〃Health。 And you got your deal！〃 The young man's face cracked into an enormous grin。 〃We did it！〃 he almost shouted。 〃They screamed and they hollered but an hour ago they agreed。 We got everything！ 120 percent of the ships and a 50 million U。S。 revolving fund； cash's up Wednesday； but you can mit Monday at 10：00 a。m。； the offer of the tanker deals was the clincher。 Jesus； we did it for chrissake！〃
It took all of Dunross's training to hold in his bellow of triumph and keep the joy off his face and say calmly； 〃Oh； jolly good；〃 and take another sip of his brandy。 〃What's the matter？〃 he asked； seeing the shock on the younger man's face。
Murtagh shook his head and slumped down exhaustedly。 〃You limeys're something else！ I'll never understand you。 I give you a hundred percent parole with the sweetest deal God ever gave man and all you say is 'Oh jolly good。' 〃
Dunross laughed。 It was a great bellow of laughter and all his happiness spilled out。 He pummeled Murtagh's hand and thanked him。 〃How's that？〃 he asked； beaming。
〃That's better！〃 He grabbed his briefcase and opened it and pulled out a sheaf of contracts and papers。 〃These're just as we agreed。 I was up all night drafting them。 Here's the main loan agreement； this's your personal guarantee； these're for the corporate seal； ten copies of everything。〃
〃I'll initial one set now which you keep； you initial one which I'll keep and then we'll sign formally tomorrow morning。 Can you meet me in my office tomorrow morning；