〃Will they？ I bet they won't； Peter； not in time。 Blast！ We 。。。 we're so tight on our budget already。〃
〃I can always borrow against next year's drop dead check。 Don… 〃
〃Oh no！ No we won't do that； Peter。 We mustn't。 We agreed。 Other 。。。 otherwise you're trapped ag 。。。 again。〃
〃Something'll turn up；〃 he said confidently。 〃Next month we've got a Friday the thirteenth and that's always been lucky for us。〃 His novel was published on a thirteenth and went on to the best…seller list on a thirteenth。 When he and his wife were at bottom； three years ago； on another thirteenth he had made a fine screenwriting deal that had carried them again。 His first directing assignment had been confirmed on a thirteenth。 And last April； Friday the thirteenth； one of the studios in Hollywood had bought the film rights to his novel for 157；000。 The agent had taken 10 percent and then Peter Marlowe had spread the remainder over five years … in advance。 Five years of family drop dead money。 25；000 per year every January。 Enough； with care； for school and medical expenses and mortgage and car and other payments … five glorious years of freedom from all the usual worries。 And freedom to turn down a directing…screenwriting job to e to Hong Kong for a year； unpaid； but free to look for the second book。 Oh Christ； Peter Marlowe thought； suddenly petrified。 What the hell am I looking for anyway？ What the hell am I doing here？ 〃Christ；〃 he said miserably； 〃if I hadn't insisted on us going to that party this would never have happened。〃
〃Joss。〃 She smiled faintly。 〃Joss； Peter。 Remember what you're 。。。 you're always saying to me。 Joss。 It's joss； just joss； Peter。 Oh Christ I feel awful。〃
42
10：01 A。M。：
Orlanda Ramos opened the door of her apartment and put her sodden umbrella into a stand。 〃e in； Linc；〃 she said radiantly。 〃Minha casa é vossa casa。 My house is yours。〃
Linc smiled。 〃You're sure？〃
She laughed and said lightly； 〃Ah！ That remains to be seen。 It's just an old Portuguese custom 。。。 to offer one's house。〃 She was taking off her shiny； very fashionable raincoat。 In the corridor he was doing the same to a soaked； well…used raincoat。
〃Here； let me hang it up；〃 she said。 〃Oh； don't mind about the wet； my amah will mop it up。 e on in。〃
He noticed how neat and tidy the living room was； feminine； in very good taste and weling。 She shut the door behind him and hung his coat on a peg。 He went over to the French windows that let out onto a small balcony。 Her apartment was on the eighth floor of Rose Court in Kotewall Road。
〃Is the rain always this heavy？〃 he asked。
〃In a real typhoon it's much worse。 Perhaps twelve to eighteen inches in a day。 Then there are mud slides and the resettlement areas get washed away。〃
He was looking down through the overcast。 Most of the view was blocked by high rises； ribbon…built on the winding roads that were cut into the mountainside。 From time to time he could see glimpses of Central and the shoreline far below。 〃It's like being in an airplane； Orlanda。 On a balmy night it must be terrific。〃
〃Yes。 Yes it is。 I love it。 You can see all of Kowloon。 Before Sinclair Towers was built … that's the block straight ahead … we had the best view in Hong Kong。 Did you know Struan's own Sinclair Towers？ I think Ian Dunross helped have it built to spite Quillan。 Quillan has the penthouse apartment here 。。。 at least he did。〃
〃It spoiled his view？〃
〃Ruined it。〃
〃That's an expensive attack。〃
〃No。 Both blocks are immensely profitable。 Quillan told me everything in Hong Kong's amortized over three years。 Everything。 Property's the thing to own。 You could make 。。。〃 She laughed。 〃You could improve your fortune if you wanted to。〃
〃If I stay； where should I live？〃
〃Here in Mid Levels。 Farther up the Peak you're always very damp； the walls sweat and everything mildews。〃 She took off her headscarf and shook her hair free； then sat on the arm of a chair； looking at his back； waiting patiently。
〃How long have you been here？〃 he asked。
〃Five； almost six years。 Since the block was built。〃
He turned and leaned against the window。 〃It's great；〃 he said。 〃And so are you。〃
〃Thank you； kind sir。 Would you like coffee？〃
〃Please。〃 Linc Bartlett ran his fingers through his hair； peering at an oil painting。 〃This a Quance？〃
〃Yes。 Yes it is。 Quillan gave it to me。 Espresso？〃
〃Yes。 Black； please。 Wish I knew more about paintings 。。。〃 He was going to add； Casey does； but he stopped himself and watched her open one of the doors。 The kitchen was large； modern and very well equipped。 〃That's like something out of House and Garden！〃
〃This was all Quillan's idea。 He loves food and loves cooking。 This's all his design； the rest 。。。 the rest is mine though he taught me good from kitsch。〃
〃You sorry you broke up with him？〃
〃Yes and no。 It's joss； karma。 He 。。。 that was joss。 The time had e。〃 Her quietness touched him。 〃It could never have lasted。 Never。 Not here。〃 He saw a sadness go over her momentarily but she brushed it aside and busied herself with the sparkling espresso maker。 All the shelves were spotless。 〃Quillan was a stickler for tidiness； thank God it rubbed off on me。 My amah； Ah Fat； she drives me insane。〃
〃Does she live here？〃
〃Oh yes； yes of course； but she's shopping now … her room's at the end of the corridor。 Look around if you like。 I won't be a minute。〃
Filled with curiosity he wandered off。 A good dining room with a round table to seat eight。 Her bedroom was white and pink； light and airy with soft pink drapes hung from the ceiling that fell around the huge bed making it into a vast four…poster。 There were flowers in a delicate arrangement。 A modern bathroom； tiled and perfect； with matching towels。 A second bedroom with books and phone and hi…fi and smaller bed； again everything neat and tasteful。
Casey's outclassed； he told himself； remembering the easy； careless untidiness of her little house in the Los Angeles canyon； red brick； piles of books everywhere； barbecue； phones； duplicators and electric typewriters。 Troubled at his thought and the way he automatically seemed to be paring them； he strolled back to the kitchen； bypassing the amah's room； his walk soundless。 Orlanda was concentrating on the coffee maker； unaware that now he was watching her。 He enjoyed watching her。
This morning he had phoned her early； very concerned； waking her； wanting to remind her to see a doctor； just in case。 In the melee last night； by the time he and Casey and Dunross had got ashore she had already gone home。
〃Oh； thank you； Linc； how thoughtful of you to phone！ No； I'm fine；〃 she had said in a happy rush。 〃At least I am now。 Are you all right？ Is Casey all right？ Oh I can't thank you enough； I was petrified 。。。 You saved my life； you and Casey 。。。〃
They had chatted happily on the phone and she had promised to see her doctor anyway； and then he had asked if she'd like breakfast。 At once she had said yes and he had gone Hong Kong side； enjoying the downpour； the temperature nice。 Breakfast atop the Mandarin； eggs Benedict and toast and coffee； feeling grand； Orlanda sparkling and so appreciative of him and of Casey。
〃I thought I was dead。 I knew I'd drown； Linc； but I was too frightened to scream。 If you hadn't done it all so quickly I'd never 。。。 The moment I was under； dear Casey was there and I was alive again and safe before I knew it。 。。。〃
It was the best breakfast he had ever had。 She had ministered to him； small things； passing him toast and pouring coffee without having to ask for it； picking up his serviette when it fell； entertaining and being entertained； assured and feminine； making him feel masculine and strong。 And she reached out once and put her hand on his arm； long fingers and exquisite nails； and the feel of that touch still lingered。 Then he had escorted her home and inveigled an invitation up to her apartment and now he was here； watching her concentrate in the kitchen； silk skirt and Russian…style rain boots； loose blouse that was tight to her tiny waist； letting his eyes flow over her。
Jesus； he thought； I'd better be careful。
〃Oh； I didn't see you； Linc。 You walk quietly for a man of your height！〃
〃Sorry。〃
〃Don