Struan put the letter on the desk. “Did you buy the land?”
“No. The land sale’s been postponed.” Robb tried to keep his eyes off the letter.
“It’s tomorrow, Father. There wasn’t enough time to get the lots surveyed. So it was postponed.” Culum lurched unsteadily as the ship heeled under a press of canvas. He steadied himself against the desk. “Shall I open the letter for you?”
“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.”