“Nay, thanks. Have you seen Brock?”
“The White Witch came back from Whampoa two days ago,” Robb said. “Haven’t seen him myself. We’re really at war again?”
“Aye,” Struan said. “Is the fleet still at Hong Kong?”
“Yes. But when Eliksen came with the news, it deployed into war positions. Patrols were sent to guard the east and west entrances. Will they attack Hong Kong?”
“Dinna be ridiculous, Robbie.”
Robb watched the wake of the ship. Dirk looks different, he thought. Then he noticed the clutter of the cabin. “Why are there so many weapons here, Dirk? What’s amiss?”
“What’s Longstaff been up to, Culum?” Struan asked.
“I don’t know,” Culum said. “I’ve only seen him but once, and that was to get his approval for the postponement.”
“I haven’t seen him either, Dirk. After the piece about us in the paper I’ve had great difficulty in seeing a lot of people. Especially Longstaff.”
“Oh? What happened?”
“I saw him the next day. He said, ‘’Pon me word, is it true?’ and when I told him ‘Yes’ he took a pinch of snuff and said, ‘Pity. Well, I’m very busy, Robb. Good day,’ and took another glass of port.”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know, Dirk. I suppose I expected sympathy. Or some help.”
“Longstaff did na sack Culum. That’s in his favor.”
“He wanted me back only because there’s no one else at the moment to do this for him,” Culum said. He had started to fill out in the last two weeks and was losing his plague pallor. “I think he enjoys the fact that we’re broken. At least,” Culum added quickly, “I’m unimportant. I mean that The Noble House is broken.”
“If it’s na us, it’s another company, Culum.”
“Yes, I know, Father. What I meant was … well, I think you were very special with Longstaff. He kowtowed to your knowledge because of your wealth. But without wealth you’ve no breeding. Without breeding you cannot be equal. Without equality you can’t have knowledge. None. I think that’s rather sad.”
“Where’d you learn ‘kowtow’?”
“Wait till you see Hong Kong.”
“What does that mean, lad?”
“We’ll be there in a few hours. You can see for yourself.” Then Culum’s voice sharpened. “Please open the letter, Father.”
“The news’ll keep. Winifred was failing when you left. Do you expect a miracle?”
“I hope for one, yes. I’ve prayed for one, yes.”
“Come below,” Struan said.
——
The neat stacks of silver bricks glinted eerily under the swaying lantern in the hold. The air was close and the sick-sweet smell of raw opium permeated it. Cockroaches swarmed.
“It’s impossible,” Robb whispered, touching the bullion.
“I didn’t know there was this much silver in one place on earth,” Culum said, as stunned.
“It’s here, right enough,” Struan said.
Robb picked up one of the bricks to reassure himself, his hand trembling. “Unbelievable.”
Struan told them how he obtained the bullion. He related all that Jin-qua had said, except about the chop and about the four half coins and about the five lacs to be put into Hong Kong land, and the five lacs to be kept safe and the one lac to Gordon Chen. He described the sea battle with Brock. But he made no mention of May-may.
“That bloody pirate!” Culum stormed. “Longstaff will have Brock and Gorth hanged when he hears about it.”
“Why?” Struan asked. “Brock did nae more than I’ve done. He simply happened to collide with me.”
“But that’s a lie. You can prove that he—”
“I can and will prove nothing. Brock tried and failed, that’s all. It’s our business, no one else’s.”
“I don’t like that,” Culum said. “That’s not a lawful way of looking at a deliberate piracy.”
“There’ll be a reckoning. In my own time.”
“God help us, we’re saved,” Robb said, his voice weak. “Now all the international money plans will go through. We’ll be the richest company in the Orient. Bless you, Dirk. You’re incredible.” Now the future’s assured, Robb inwardly exulted. Now there’ll be enough for even Sarah’s extravagant tastes. Now I can go home immediately. Perhaps Dirk will change his mind and never leave, will never go home, will forget Parliament. No more worries. Now I can buy a castle and live like a laird in peace. The children will marry and live well and there’ll be enough for their children’s children. Roddy can finish university and go into banking and never worry about the Orient. “Bless you, Dirk!”
Culum, too, was ecstatic. His brain shrieked, This isn’t bullion, but power. Power to buy guns, or to buy votes to dominate Parliament. Here is the answer for the Charter and the Chartists. As Tai-Pan I can use the power of all this wealth—and more—to a good end. I thank Thee, oh Lord, he prayed fervently, for helping us in our hour of need.
Culum saw his father very differently now. In the past weeks he had thought greatly about what his father had said concerning wealth and power and the uses thereof. Being close to Glessing and on the edge of Longstaff’s power, and feeling the covert smirks and open amusement at the death of The Noble House, he had realized that a man alone, without birthright or power, was defenseless.
Struan could feel Robb’s and Culum’s avarice. Aye, he told himself. But be honest. It’s what the bullion’d do to any. Look at yoursel’. You’ve killed eight, ten men to protect it. Aye, and you’ll kill a hundred more. Look what it’s forcing you to do to your son and to your brother.
“There’s something I want to make clear to you both,” he said. “This bullion’s been loaned to me. On my word. I’m responsible to Jin-qua for it. I am. Na The Noble House.”
“I don’t understand, Dirk,” Robb said.
“What did you say, Father?”
Struan took out a Bible. “First swear on the Holy Book that what I say will be secret among the three of us.”
“Is it necessary to swear?” Robb said. “Of course I would never tell anyone.”
“Will you swear, Robb?”
“Of course.”
He and Culum swore secrecy.
Struan placed the Bible on the silver. “This bullion will be used to salvage The Noble House only with the proviso that when and if either of you become Tai-Pan you agree, first, to commit the company totally to the support of Hong Kong and to China trade; second, to headquarter the company permanently in Hong Kong; third, to take over my responsibility and my word to Jin-qua and to his successors; fourth, to guarantee that the successor you choose as Tai-Pan does the same; last”—Struan pointed at the Bible—“agree now that only a Christian, a kinsman, can ever be Tai-Pan. Swear on the Holy Book, as you agree to swear your successor on the Holy Book to the conditions before passing over control.”
There was a silence. Then Robb said, knowing how his brother’s mind worked, “Do we know all the conditions that Jin-qua imposed?”
“Nay.”
“What are the rest?”
“I’ll tell you after you’ve sworn. You can trust me or na, just as you like.”
“That’s not very fair.”
“This bullion is na very fair, Robb. I have to be sure. This is nae game for children. And I’m na thinking of either of you as kin at this moment. We’re playing with a hundred years. Two hundred years.” Struan’s eyes were a luminous green in the half-light of the swaying lantern. “I’m committing The Noble House to Chinese time. With or without the both of you.”
The air seemed to thicken perceptibly. Robb felt the wetness on his shoulders and neck. Culum stared at his father, astounded.
Robb said, “What does ‘commit the company totally to the support of Hong Kong’ mean to you?”
“To back it, guard it, make it a permanent base for trade. And trade means to open up China. All China. To bring China into the family of na
tions.”
“That’s impossible,” Robb said. “Impossible!”
“Aye, maybe. But that’s what The Noble House is going to try to do.”
“You mean, help China become a world power?” Culum asked.
“Aye.”
“That’s dangerous!” Robb snapped. “That’s madness! There’s enough trouble on earth without helping that heathen mass of humanity! They’ll swamp us. All of us. All Europe!”
“Every fourth person on earth’s Chinese now, Robb. We’ve the great chance to help them now. To learn our ways. British ways. Law and order and justice. Christianity. They’ll swarm out one day, on their own. I say we’ve got to show them our way.”
“It’s impossible. You’ll never change them. Never. It’s futile.”
“Those are the conditions. In five months you’re Tai-Pan. Culum follows you in time—if he’s worthy.”
“Christ in heaven!” Robb exploded. “Is this what you’ve been striving for all these years?”
“Aye.”
“I’ve always known you had dreams, Dirk. But this—this is too much. I don’t know whether it’s monstrous or marvelous. It’s beyond me.”
“Maybe,” Struan said, his voice hard. “But it’s a condition for your survival, Robbie, and your family’s and their future. You’re Tai-Pan in five months. For at least one year.”
“I’ve told you before, I think that’s another unwise decision,” Robb flared, his face contorted. “I’ve not the knowledge or the cunning to deal with Longstaff or to keep The Noble House at the forefront of all this war intrigue. Or to cope with the Chinese.”
“I know. And I know the risk I take. But Hong Kong’s ours now. The war will be over as quickly as the last one.” Struan waved a hand at the bullion. “All this is a rock which canna be dissipated easily. From now on it’s a matter of trade. You’re a good trader.”
“It’s not just trading. There’s ships to be sailed, pirates to be fought, Brock to be dealt with, and a thousand other things.”
“Five months will clean up the important ones. The rest are your problem.”
“Are they?”
“Aye. Because of all this bullion we’re worth more than three million. When I leave I take one. And twenty per cent of the profit for my lifetime. You do the same.” He glanced at Culum. “At the end of your term we will be worth ten million because I’ll protect you and The Noble House from Parliament and make her rich beyond your dreams. We’ll nae longer have to rely on Sir Charles Crosse, Donald MacDonald, McFee, Smythe, Ross or all the others we support to do our bidding—I’ll do it mysel’. And I’ll come back and forth to Hong Kong, so both of you have nae need to worry.”
“I want only enough wealth to let me dream quietly and wake up peacefully,” Robb said, “in Scotland. Not in the Orient. I don’t want to die here. I’m off by the next boat.”
“A year and five months is na much to ask.”
“It’s a demand, not an ask, Dirk.”
“I’m forcing nothing on you. A month ago, Robb, you were prepared to accept fifty thousand and leave. Very well. That offer still holds. If you want what is rightfully yours—more than a million—you’ll get it within two years.” Struan turned to Culum. “From you, lad, I want two years of your life. If you become Tai-Pan, a further three years. Five years in all.”
“If I don’t agree to the conditions, then I have to leave?” Culum asked, his mouth parched, heart hurting.
“Nay. You’re still a partner, albeit a junior one. But you’ll never be Tai-Pan. Never. I’ll have to find and train someone else. A year’s as much as it’s fair to ask—to demand—from Robb. He’s already been eleven years abuilding.” He picked up one of the bricks. “You’ll have to prove yoursel’, Culum, even if you agree now. You’ll be heir apparent, that’s all. You’ll na wax fat on my sweat, or Robb’s. That’s clan law and a good law of life. Every man has to stand on his own feet. Of course I’ll help you all I can—as long as I’m alive—but it’s up to you to prove your worth. Only a real man has the right to stand at the pinnacle.”
Culum flushed.
Robb was staring at Struan, detesting him. “You don’t want a Tai-Pan in five months, Dirk. Just a nursemaid for a year, isn’t that it?”
“Guarantee to take over in five years and you choose whom you wish.”
“I can eliminate Culum right now, in return for a promise of five years?”
“Aye,” Struan said at once. “I think it would be a waste, but that’d be your decision. Aye.”
“You see what power does to a man, Culum?” Robb said, his voice strained.
“This version of The Noble House is dead without this bullion,” Struan said without rancor. “I’ve told you my conditions. Make up your own minds.”
“I understand why you’re hated throughout these seas,” Culum said.
“Do you, lad?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll never know that, truly know that, until your five years are up.”
“Then I’ve no option, Father. It’s five years or nothing?”
“It’s nothing or everything, Culum. If you’re prepared to be second-best, go topside now. What I’m trying to make you understand is that to be the Tai-Pan of The Noble House you have to be prepared to exist alone, to be hated, to have some aim of immortal value, and to be ready to sacrifice anyone you’re na sure of. Because you’re my son I’m offering you today, untried, a chance at supreme power in Asia. Thus a power to do almost anything on earth. I dinna offer that lightly. I know what it means to be the Tai-Pan. Choose, by God!”
Culum’s eyes were transfixed by the Bible. And the bullion. I don’t want to be second-best, he told himself. I know that now. Second-best can never do worthwhile things. There’s all the time in the world to worry about conditions and Jin-qua and the Chinese and about the problems of the world. Perhaps I won’t have to worry about being Tai-Pan; perhaps Robb won’t think I’m good enough. Oh God, let me prove myself to become Tai-Pan so that I can use the power for good. Let this be a means to Thy ends. The Charter must come to pass. It is the only way.
Sweat pocked his forehead. He picked up the Bible. “I swear by the Lord God to abide by these conditions. If and when I become Tai-Pan. So help me God.” His fingers were trembling as he replaced the Bible.
“Robb?” Struan said, not looking up.
“Five years as Tai-Pan and I can send Culum back to Scotland? Now? Change anything and everything I like?”
“Aye, by God. Do I have to repeat mysel’? In five months you do what you like. If you agree to the other conditions. Aye.”
There was a vast silence in the hold, but for the constant scurry of the rats in the darkness.
“Why should you want me out, Uncle?” Culum said.
“To hurt your father. You’re the last of his line.”
“Aye, Robb. That he is.”
“That’s a terrible thing to say! Terrible.” Culum was aghast. “We’re kin. Kin.”
“Yes,” Robb said, anguished. “But we’ve been talking truths. Your father will sacrifice me, you, my children, to his ends. Why shouldn’t I do the same?”
“Maybe you will, Robb. Maybe you will,” Struan said.
“You know I’d do nothing to hurt you. Lord God on high, what’s happening to us? We’ve acquired some bullion and all of a sudden we’re stinking with greed and God knows what else. Please let me go. In five months. Please, Dirk.”
“I must leave. Only in Parliament can I really control Longstaff and his successors—as you’ll do when you leave Asia. That’s where we can put the plan into effect. But Culum must be trained. A year as Tai-Pan and you leave.”
“How can he be trained in such a short time?”
“I’ll know in five months if he can be Tai-Pan. If na, I’ll make other arrangements.”
“What arrangements?”
“Are you ready to agree to the conditions, Robb? If so, swear on the Book and let’s go aloft.”
�
��What arrangements?”
“God’s death! Do you agree, Robb, or do you na? Is it one year or five? Or none?”
Robb shifted his weight on his legs as the ship heeled under a thickening wind. His whole being was warning him not to take the oath. But he had to. For his family’s sake he had to. He took the Bible and it was heavy. “Even though I loathe the Orient and everything it stands for, I swear by God to abide by the conditions to the best of my abilities, so help me God.” He handed the Bible to Struan. “I think you’ll regret making me stay as Tai-Pan—for one year.”
“I may. Hong Kong will na.” Struan opened the Bible and showed them the four half coins that he had stuck on the inside cover with sealing wax. He listed all Jin-qua’s conditions—except the one lac to Gordon Chen. That’s my business, Struan told himself, and he wondered briefly what Culum would think of his half brother—and of May-may—when he heard about them. Robb knew about May-may though he had never met her. Struan wondered if his enemies had already told Culum about Gordon and about May-may.
“I think you were right to swear us, Dirk,” Robb said. “God alone knows what devilment these coins mean.”
When they returned to the cabin, Struan went to the desk and broke the seal on the letter. He read the first paragraph and shouted with joy. “She’s alive! Winifred’s alive, by God. She got well!”
Robb grabbed the letter. Struan was beside himself and hugged Culum and began to dance a jig and the jig became a reel and Struan linked arms with Culum and they pulled Robb with them and all at once their hatred and distrust vanished.
Then Struan held them still with the hugeness of his strength. “Now, together! One, two, three,” and they shouted the Latin battle cry of the clan at the top of their voices.
“Feri!” Strike home!
Then he hugged them again and roared, “Steward!”
The seaman came running. “Aye, aye, sorr?”
“A double tot for all hands. Order the piper to the quarterdeck! Bring a bottle of champagne and another pot of tea, by God!”
Tai-Pan Page 24