"Bloody man's a Socialist that's why! He should be blackballed too."

"Oh come off it, Pug. Toxe's all right so're some Socialists," Shi-teh said. "But he should fire Haply, and we'd all be better of fl" They had all been subject to Haply's attacks. A few weeks ago he had written a series of scathing exposes of some of Shi-teh's trading deals within his huge conglomeration of companies and implied that all sorts of dubious contributions were being made to various VIPs in the Hong Kong Government for favors.

"I agree," Pugmire said, hating him too. Haply, with his accu- racy, had reported the private details of Pugmire's forthcoming merger with Superfoods and had made it abundantly clear Pugmire benefited far more than his shareholders in General Stores who were barely consulted on the terms of the merger. "Rotten bastard! I'd certainly like to know where he gets his information."

"Curious Haply should be with her," Crosse said, watching their lips, waiting for them to speak. "The only major company he hasn't gone after yet is Struan's."

"You think it's Struan's turn and Haply's pumping Adryon?" one of the others asked. "Wouldn't that be smashing!"

Excitedly they watched Dunross go into the stands, the two young people still not having noticed him.

"Maybe he'll whip him like he did the other bastard," Pugmire said gleefully.

"Eh?" Shi-teh said. "Who? What was that?"

"Oh, I thought you knew. About two years ago one of the Vic's junior execs straight out from England started pursuing Adryon. She was sixteen, perhaps seventeen he was twenty-two, as big as a house, bigger than Ian, his name was Byron. He thought he was Lord Byron on the rampage and he mounted a campaign. The poor girl was bowled over. Ian warned him a last time. The creep kept calling, so Ian invited him out to his gym at Shek-O, put on gloves he knew the bugger fancied himself as a boxer and proceeded to pulp him." The others laughed. "Within the week the bank had sent him packing."

"Did you see it?" Shi-teh asked.

"Of course not. They were alone for God's sake, but the bloody fool was really in a bad way. I wouldn't like to go against the tai-pan not when his temper's up."

Shi-teh looked back at Dunross. "Perhaps he'll do the same to that little rotter," he said happily.

They watched. Hopefully. Crosse wandered off with Brian Kwok, going closer.

Dunross was running up the steps in the stands now with his easy strength and he stopped beside them. "Hello, darling, you're up early," he said.

"Oh hello, Dad," Adryon said, startled. "I didn't se What happened to your face?"

"I ran into the back end of a bus. Morning, Haply."

"Morning, sir." Haply half got up and sat down again.

"A bus?" she said, then suddenly, "Did you prang the Jag? Oh, did you get a ticket?" she asked hopefully, having had three this year herself.

"No. You're up early aren't you?" he said, sitting beside her.

"Actually we're late. We've been up all night."

"Oh?" He held on to forty-eight immediate questions and said instead, "You must be tired."

"No. No, actually I'm not."

"What's this all about, a celebration?"

"No. Actually it's poor Martin." She put a gentle hand on the youth's shoulder. With an effort Dunross kept his smile as gentle as her hand. He turned his attention to the young Canadian. "What's the problem?"

Haply hesitated, then told him what had happened at the paper when the publisher had called and Christian Toxe, his editor, had canceled his rumor series. "That bastard's sold us out. He's allowed the publisher to censor us. I know I'm right. I know I'm right."

"How?" Dunross asked, thinking, What a callous little bastard you are!

"Sorry, I can't reveal my source."

"He really can't, Dad, that's an infringement of freedom of the press," Adryon said defensively.

Haply was bunching his fists, then absently he put his hand on Adryon's knee. She covered it with one of her own. "The Ho-Pak's being shoved into the ground for nothing."

"Why?"

"I don't know. But Gor but tai-pans are behind the raid and it doesn't make sense."

"Gornt's behind it?" Dunross frowned at this new thought.

"I didn't say Gornt, sir. No I didn't say that."

"He didn't, Father," Adryon said. "What should Martin do? Should he resign or just swallow his pride an"

"I just can't, Adryon," Martin Haply said.

"Let Father talk, he'll know."

Dunross saw her turn her lovely eyes back on him and he felt a glow at her confident innocence that he had never felt before. "Two things: First you go back at once. Christian will need all the help he can get. Second, y"

"Help?"

"Haven't you heard about his wife?"

"What about her?"

"Don't you know she's dead?"

They stared at him blankly.

Quickly he told them about Aberdeen. Both of them were shocked and Haply stuttered, "Jesus, wea we didn't listen to a radio or anythinga we were just dancing and talkinga" He jumped up and started to leave then came back. "Ia I'd better go at once. Jesus!"

Adryon was on her feet. "I'll drop you."

Dunross said, "Haply, would you ask Christian to emphasize in bold type that anyone who got dunked or went swimming should see their doctors right smartly very important."

"Got it!"

Adryon said anxiously, "Father, did you see Doc Too"

"Oh yes," Dunross said. "Cleansed inside and out. Off you go!"

"What was the second thing, tai-pan?" Haply asked.

"Second was that you should remember it's the publisher's money, therefore his newspaper and he can do what he likes. But publishers can be persuaded. I wonder, for instance, who got to him or her and why he and she agreed to call Christiana if you're so sure your story's true."

Haply beamed suddenly. "Come on, honey," he said and shouted thanks. They ran off hand-ir~hand.

. Dunross stayed sitting in the stands for the moment. He sighed deeply, then got up and went away.

Roger Crosse was with Brian Kwok under cover near the jockeys' changing rooms and he had been lip-reading the tai-pan's conversation. He watched him leave, the SI guard following him. "No need to waste any more time here, Brian. Come along." He headed for the far exit. "I wonder if Robert found anything at Sha Tin."

"Those bloody Werewolves are going to have a field day. All Hong Kong'll be frightened to death. I'll bet wea" Brian Kwok stopped suddenly. "Sir! Look!" He nodded at the stands, noticing Suslev and Clinker among the scattered groups who watched out of the rain. "I wouldn't've thought he'd be up yet!"

Crosse's eyes narrowed. "Yes. That's curious. Yes." He hesitated, then changed direction, watching their lips carefully. "Since he's honored us we might as well have a little chat. Aha they've seen us. Clinker really doesn't like us at all." Leisurely he led the way into the stands.

The big Russian put a smile on his face and slid out a thin flask and took a sip. He offered it to Clinker.

"No thanks, mate, I just drink beer." Clinker's cold eyes were on the approaching policemen. "Proper niffyaround here, ain't it?" he said loudly.

"Morning, Clinker," Crosse said, equally coldly. Then he smiled at Suslev. "Morning, Captain. Filthy day, what?"

"We're alive, tovarich, alive, so how can a day be filthy, eh?" Suslev was filled with outward bonhomie, continuing his cover as a hail-fellow-well-met. "Will there be racing Saturday, Superintendent?"

"Probably. The final decisional be made Saturday morning. How long will you be in port?"

"Not long, Superintendent. The repairs to the rudder go slowly."

"Not too slowly I hope. We all get very nervous if our VIP harbor guests don't get very rapid service." Crosse's voice was crisp. "I'll talk to the harbor master."

"Thank you, that'sa that's very thoughtful of you. And it was thoughtful of your departmenta" Suslev hesitated, then turned to Clinker. "Old friend, do you mind?"

"Not on your nelly," Clinker said. "Narks make me nervous." Brian Kwok looked at him. Clinker looked back unafraid. "I'll be in me car." He wandered off.

Suslev's voice hardened. "It was thoughtful of your department to send back the body of our poor comrade Voranski. Have you found the murderers?"

"Unfortunately no. They could be hired assassins from any point of the compass. Of course if he hadn't slipped ashore mysteri- ously he'd still be a useful operative of thea of whatever department he servedfl'

"He was just a seaman and a good man. I thought Hong Kong was safe."

"Did you pass on the assassins' photographs and information about their phone call to your KGB superiors?"

"I'm not KGB, piss on KGB! Yes, the information was passed ona by my superior," Suslev said irritably. "You know how it is, Superintendent, for God's sake. But Voranski was a good man and his murderers must be caught."

"We'll find them soon enough," Crosse said easily. "Did you know Voranski was in reality Major Yuri Bakyan, First Directorate, Department 6, KGB?"

They saw shock on Suslev's face. "He wasa he was just a friend to me and he came with us from time to time."

"Who arranges that, Captain?" Crosse said.

Suslev looked at Brian Kwok who stared back at him with unconcealed distaste. "Why're you so angry? What have I done to you?"

"Why's the Russian empire so greedy, particularly when it comes to Chinese soil?"

"Politics!" Suslev said sourly then added to Crosse, "I don't interfere in politics."

"You buggers interfere all the time! What's your KGB rank?"

"I don't have one."

Crosse said, "A little cooperation could go a long way. Who arranges your crews, Captain Suslev?"

Suslev glanced at him. Then he said, "A word in private, eh?"

"Certainly," Crosse said. "Wait here, Brian."

Suslev turned his back on Brian Kwok and led the way down the exit stairs onto the grass. Crosse followed. "What do you think of Noble Star's chances?" Suslev asked genially.

"Good. But she's never raced in the wet."

"Pilot Fish?"

"Look at him you can see for yourself. He loves the wet. He'll be the favorite. You plan to be here Saturday?"

Suslev leaned on the railings. And smiled. "Why not?"

Crosse laughed softly. "Why not indeed?" He was sure they were quite alone now. "You're a good actor, Gregor, very good."

"So're you, comrade."

"You're taking a hell of a risk, aren't you?" Crosse said, his lips hardly moving now as he talked.

"Yes, but then all life's a risk. Center told me to take over until Voranski's replacement arrives there are too many important contacts and decisions to be made on this trip. Not the least, Sevrin. And anyway, as you know, Arthur wanted it this way."

"Sometimes I wonder if he's wise."

"He's wise." The lines around Suslev's eyes crinkled with his smile. "Oh yes. Very wise. I'm pleased to see you. Center's very very pleased with your year's work. I've much to tell you."

"Who's the bastard who leaked Sevrin to AMG?"

"I don't know. It was a defector. As soon as we know, he's a dead man."

"Someone's betrayed a group of my people to the PRC. The leak had to come from the AMG file. You read my copy. Who else on your ship did? Someone's infiltrated your operation here!"

Suslev blanched. "I'll activate a security check immediately. It could have come from London, or Washington."

"I doubt it. Not in time. I think it came from here. And then there's Voranski. You're infiltrated."

"If the PRCa yes, it will be done. But who? I'd bet my life there's no spy aboard."

Crosse was equally grim. "There's always someone who can be subverted."

"You have an escape plan?"

"Several."