Dunross thanked him then hurried for the stewards' room, his mind in turmoil.

"Ah, Ian," Shitee T'chung, the nominal chairman called out anxiously as he came in, all the stewards now present. "We really have to decide quickly."

"That's hard without Travkin's evidence," Dunross said. "How many of you saw Bluey White slash at him?"

Only McBride put up his hand.

"That's only two of us out of twelve." Dunross saw Crosse watching him. "I'm certain. And there was a weal across both his hands. Dr. Meng said it could have been made by a whip or the reins in falling. Pug, what's your opinion?"

Pugmire broke an uncomfortable silence. "I saw nothing malicious, personally. I was watching like hell because I was on Noble Star, 1,000 on the nose. Whether there was a blow or not it didn't seem to make much difference. I didn't see her falter, or any of the pack, other than Kingplay. Noble Star was well in the running till the post and everyone had their whips out." He tossed over one of the copies of the photo finish.

Dunross picked it up. The photo was as he had seen it: Pilot Fish by a nose from Noble Star, by a nostril from Butterscotch Lass, by a nose from Winning Billy.

"They've all got their whips out," Pugmire continued, "and they had in the turn, quite rightly. It could easily have been accidental if there was a blow."

"Shitee?"

"I must confess, old boy, I was watching my Street Vendor and cursing Kingplay. I thought your filly'd pipped Pilot Fish. We, er, we've polled the other trainers and there's, er, no formal complaint. I agree with Pug."

"Roger?"

"I saw nothing untoward."

"Jason?"

To his surprise Plumm shook his head and disagreed and Dunross wondered again about AMG and his astonishing accusation of Plumm and Sevrin. "We all know Bluey White's cunning," Plumm was saying. "We've had to warn him before. If the tai-pan and Donald say they saw it I vote we debar him and disqualify Pilot Fish when it comes to a vote."

Dunross polled the other stewards, the rest wavering.

"Let's call in the Jockeys, White last."

They did. All the jockeys muttered permutations of the same thing: they were too busy with their own mounts to notice anything.

Now the stewards looked at Dunross, waiting. He stared back, well aware that if he said, I vote we unanimously debar Bluey White for interference and disqualify Pilot Fish, all in favor say aye! that they would concede and vote as he wished.

I saw him do it, he told himself, so did Donald, and others, and it shook Alexi for that necessary split second. Even so, in all honesty I don't think that cost Noble Star the race. I blew the race myself. Alexi was the wrong choice for this race. He should have shoved Pilot Fish into the rails on the second corner when he had the chance, or put his whip across Bluey White's face, not his hands as I'd have done, oh yes, without hesitation. And there are other considerations.

"There's no doubt in my mind there was interference," he said. "But whether by accident or design I doubt if even Alexi will know. I agree it didn't cost Noble Star the race so I suggest we just caution Bluey and let the result stand."

"Excellent." Shitee T'chung exhaled and beamed and they all relaxed, none of them, least of all Pugmire, wanting a confrontation with the tai-pan. "Anyone against? Good! Let's release the photo finish to the papers and make the announcement over the loudspeakers. Will you do that, tai-pan?"

"Certainly. But what about the rest of the program? Look at the rain." It was pelting down now. "Listen, I've an idea." He told it to them.

A whoop of excitement and they all laughed. "Very good, oh very good!"

"Grand!" Dunstan Barre exploded.

"That'll give the buggers something to think about!" Pugmire said.

"Great idea, tai-pan!" McBride beamed. "Oh very good."

"I'll go to the control center perhaps you'd get Bluey back and give him what for, scare him, eh?"

Pugmire said, "A word, Ian?"

"Can we make it later?"

"Of course. Roger, can I have a word?"

"Of course. I'll be down in the members' stand with Sinders."

"Oh, not in your box?"

"No, I let the commissioner have it for a private party."

"fan?"

"Yes, Jason?"

"Do you think they'll hold the hill climb tomorrow?"

"If this keeps up, no. That whole areatll be a quagmire. Why?"

"Nothing. I was planning a cocktail party early Sunday evening to celebrate your Superfoods coupl"

Shitee T'chung chortled. "Jolly good idea! Congratulations, fan! Did you see Biltzmann's face?"

"Ian, would you be free? I won't invite Biltzmann," Plumm added to much laughter. "It'll be at our company flat in Sinclair Towers."

"Sorry, I'm going to Taipei early afternoon, sorry, at least that's my present plan. Th"

Pugmire interrupted with sudden concern, "You won't be here Monday? What about our papers, and everything?"

"No problem, Pug. 9:30 we close." To Plumm Dunross said, "Jason if I cancel or postpone Taipei, I'll accept."

"Good. 7:30 to 9:30 casual."

Dunross walked off, his frown deepening, surprised that Plumm was so friendly. Ordinarily he was the opposition on all the boards they shared, siding with Gornt and Havergill against him, particularly on the Victoria's board.

Outside the stewards' room there were milling clusters of anxious reporters, owners, trainers and bystanders. Dunross brushed aside the barrage of questions all the way to the control room. It was on the top floor.

"Hello, sir," the announcer said, everyone tense in the small glass booth that had the best view of the course. "Marvelous race, pity abouta Do you have the decision? It's Bluey, isn't it, we all saw the whipa"

"May I use the mike?"

"Oh of course." The man hastily moved and Dunross sat in his place. He clicked on the switch. "This is Ian Dunross, the stewards have asked me to make two announcementsa"

The silence was vast as his words echoed and re-echoed over the stadium. The fifty thousand held their breaths, careless of the rain, in the stands and on every soaring level. "First, the result of the fifth race." Dead silence but for the sound of the rain. Dunross took a deep breath. "Pilot Fish by a nose from Noble Star by a whisker from Butterscotch Lassa" but the last was drowned by the cheers and counter cheers, happiness and disgust, and everyone throughout the stadium was shouting, arguing, cheering, cursing and, down in the paddock, Gornt was astonished, having been convinced that his jockey had been seen as he had seen him, had been caught and carpeted and the result would be set aside. In the pandemonium the winning numbers flashed on to the tote: one, seven, eight.

Dunross waited a moment and breezily repeated the result in Cantonese, the crowd more docile, their pent-up anxieties allayed, for the stewards' decision was final. "Second, the stewards have decided, due to the weather and bad conditions, to cancel the rest of the meeta" A vast groan went over the crowd. "a actually to postpone until next Saturday for another special meet." A sudden great roar and excitement picked up. "We will have a meet of eight races and the fifth will be the same as today, with the same runners, Pilot Fish, Butterscotch Lass, Winning Billy, Street Vendor, Golden Lady, Lochinvar and Noble Star. A special return challenge with double stakes, 30,000 addeda"

Cheers and more cheers, applause and roars and someone in the booth said, "Christ what a great idea, tai-pan! Noble Startll take that black bastardI"

"Oh no he won'tl Butterscotcha"

"Great idea, tai-pan."

Into the mike Dunross said, "The stewards appreciate your con- tinued support." He repeated it in Cantonese, adding, "There will be a further special announcement in a few minutes. Thank you!" in both languages.

Another huge cheer and those in the rain scurried for cover or for the winning windows, everyone chattering, groaning, cursing the gods or blessing them, choking the exits, long lines of men, women and children seeking the long way home, a wonderful new happiness possessing them. Only those who possessed the winning double quinella numbers, eight and five in the second, one and seven in the fifth, stood paralyzed, staring at the tote, waiting for the winning odds to be declared.

"Another announcement, tai-pan?" the announcer asked anx- iously.

"Yes," Dunross said. "Around five." Havergill had told him that the deal with Richard Kwang had been struck and had asked him to go to the Victoria box as soon as possible. He reached the exit door and went down the steps three at a time to the next level, very pleased with himself. Giving the race to Pilot Fish's got to throw Gornt, he thought. Gornt knew and I knew it was a carve-up and that Alexi was set up whatever he did which is the major reason I didn't ride. They'dtve tried it on me and I would have killed someone. But next Saturdaya ah, next Saturday I'll ride and Bluey White won't dare, nor will the other trainers, next Saturday'll be fair game and they'll be on notice by God. His excitement picked up a beat. Then ahead in the crowded corridor he saw Murtagh waiting for him.

"Oh tai-pan, can I se"

"Of course." Dunross led him through the kitchen into his pri- vate room.

"That was a great race. I won a bundle," the young man said excitedly, "and great about Saturday."

"Good." Then Dunross noticed the sweat on the man's forehead. Oh Christ, he thought. "Are we in business, Mr. Murtagh?"

"Please call me Dave, the brass said, er, they said maybe. They've scheduled a board meeting for tomorrow, 9:00 A.M. their time. Our time that'sa"

"10:00 P.M. this evening. Yes. Excellent, Mr. Murtagh, then call me on this number." Dunross wrote it down. "Please don't lose it and don't give it to anyone else."

"Oh, of course, tai-pan, I'll call the very momenta How late can I call?"

"The moment you put the phone down to them. Keep calling till you get me." Dunross got up. "Sorry but there's rather a lot to do."

"Oh sure, sure!" Murtagh added uneasily, "Say, tai-pan, I just heard about the 2 million down on the General Stores tender. 2 million from us by 9:30 Monday's gotta be Linda pushing it."

"I rather expected it would be for your group. Fortunately, Mr. Murtagh, I never planned on that modest amount of cash being your money. I know First Central is inclined to be like the mills of God they grind slowly unless they wish to remove themselves from the areria," he added, remembering many friends who had been hurt by their precipitous withdrawal years back. "Not to worry, my new external source of credit's more th"

"What?" Murtagh blanched.

"My new external source of finance reacts at once to any sudden business opportunities, Mr. Murtagh. This took them just eight minutes. They seem to have more confidence than your principals."

"Hell, tai-pan, please call me Dave, it's not lack of confidence but, well, they've no idea of Asia. I've got to convince them the General Stores takeover's got to double your gross in three years."

"In one," Dunross interrupted firmly, enjoying himself. "So sorry your group won't share in our huge profits from that minor section of our immense expansion plans. Do have some tea in the box, sorry, I just have to make a phone call." He took Murtagh's elbow and firmly led him out of the door, shutting it after him.

In the kitchen Murtagh was staring at the closed door, the happy clatter of plates and Cantonese obscenities from the twenty cooks and helpers a vast din. "Jesus," he muttered in near panic, "eight minutes? Shit, are the goddamn Swiss horning in on our client?" He tottered away.

Inside the room Dunross was on his private phone, listening to the ringing tone. "Weyyyyy?"

"Mr. Tip please," he said carefully in Cantonese. "This is Mr. Dunross calling."

He heard the phone put down with a clatter and the amah shriek, "It's the phone! For you, FatherI"

"Who is it?"

"A foreign devil."

Dunross smiled.

"Hello?"

"Ian Dunross, Mr. Tip. I was just concerned that your illness wasn't worse."

"Ah, ah, yes, so sorry I could not arrive. Yes. I, I had some pressing business, you understand? Yes. Very pressing. Oh by the way, that was bad joss about Noble Star. I just heard on the wireless that Pilot Fish won by a nose after an objection. What was the objection?"

Patiently Dunross explained and answered questions about his General Stores takeover bid, delighted that that news had already reached him. If Tiptop, then all newspapers. Good, he thought, waiting Tiptop out but Tiptop outsmarted him. "Well, thank you for calling, tai-pan."

At once Dunross said, "It was my pleasure, oh by the way confidentially, I understand it may well be possible that the police have discovered one of their underlings has made a mistake."

"Ah. I presume the mistake will be corrected immediately?"

"I would presume very soon, if the person concerned wishes to resign and take advantage of permission to travel abroad."

"How soon might very soon be, tai-pan?"

Dunross was picking his words carefully, deliberately vague though formal now. "There are certain formalities, but it is possible that it could be quickly achieved. Unfortunately VIPs have to be consulted elsewhere. I'm sure you understand."

"Certainly. But the mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent, heya? I understand there is one of your VVIPs already in Hong~Kong. A Mr. Sinders?"

Dunross blinked at the extent of Tiptop's knowledge. "I have certain approvals already," he said, disquieted.

"I would have thought very few approvals were necessary. True gold fears no fire."

"Yes. Is there somewhere I could call you this evening to report progress?"

"This number will find me. Please call me at 9:00 P.M." Tiptop's voice became even drier. "I understand it might well be possible that your last suggestion about banking might be serviced. Of course any bank would need proper documentation to secure an immediate half billion Hong Kong dollars in cash, but I hear that the Victoria's chop, the governor's chop and yours would be all that's required to secure the loan for thirty days. Thisa minor amount of cash is ready, for a limited time, whenever the correct procedures are entered into. Until that time this matter is confidential, very strictly confidential."

"Of course."

"Thank you for calling."

Dunross put the phone down and wiped his palms. "for a limited time" was branded on his mind. He knew, and he knew Tiptop knew he understood that the two "procedures" were absolutely inter- linked but not necessarily. Christ Jesus I love Asia, he thought happily as he rushed off.

The corridors were filled, many people already crowding the elevators to go home. He peered into his box, caught Gavallan's eye. "Andrew, go down to the members' stand and get hold of Roger Crosse he's there with a fellow called Sinders. Ask them if they've a moment to join me in my box! Hurry!"

Gavallan took off. Dunross hurried along the corridor past the betting windows.

"Tai-pan!" Casey called out. "Sorry about Noble Star! Did y"

"Be back in a minute, Casey. Sorry, can't stop!" Dunross called back on the run. He noticed Gornt at the winning window but it did not take away his happiness. First things first, he thought. "How do you want the 10,000? Our bet?"