The man went away。 Like a conspirator she moved closer。 Now their legs were touching。 Linc put his arm around her。 She directed the pencil light at the playbill。 There were photographs； portraits of twenty or thirty girls。 Underneath each were rows of Chinese characters。 〃Not all these girls will be here tonight； but if you see one you like we'll bring her over。〃
He stared at her。 〃Are you serious？〃
〃Very serious； Linc。 You don't have to worry； I'll negotiate for you； if you like her； after you've met her and talked to her。〃
〃I don't want one of these； I want you。〃
〃Yes。 Yes I know； my darling； and 。。。 but for tonight； bear with me； please。 Play a little game； let me design your night。〃
〃Jesus； you're something else！〃
〃And you're the most marvelous man I've ever known and I want to make your night perfect。 I can't give you me now； much as I want to； so we'll find a temporary substitute。 What do you say？〃
Bartlett was still staring at her。 He finished his drink and did not taste it。 Another appeared out of nowhere。 He drank half of it。
Orlanda knew the chance she was taking but felt that either way she would draw him tighter to her。 If he accepted he would be beholden to her for an exciting night； a night that Casey or any quai loh woman would never in a thousand years have offered to him。 If he refused； then he would still be grateful for her generosity。 〃Linc； this is Asia。 Here sex is not Anglo…Saxon mumbo…jumbo and guilt…ridden。 It's a pleasure to be sought like great food or great wine。 What's the value of one night to a man； a real man； with one of these Pleasure Ladies？ A moment of pleasure。 A memory。 Nothing more。 What has that to do with love； real love？ Nothing。 I'm not for one night or for hire。 I felt your yang。 。。。 No please； Linc；〃 she added quickly as she saw him bridle。 〃About yang and yin things we cannot lie or tell falsehoods； that would destroy us。 I felt you and I was filled with joy。 Didn't you feel me？ You're strong and a man； yang； and I'm a woman； yin； and when the music is soft and 。。。 Oh； Linc。〃 She put her hand around his and looked up at him beseechingly。 〃I beg you； don't be bound by Anglo…American nonsense。 This is Asia and I … I want to be everything a woman could be for you。〃
〃Jesus； you really mean it？〃
〃Of course。 By the Madonna； I would like to be everything that you could desire in a woman；〃 she said。 〃Everything。 And I also swear that when I'm old or you no longer desire me I will help arrange that part of your life to be joyous； openly； freely。 All that I would ask is to be tai…tai； to be part of your life。〃 Orlanda kissed him lightly。 And then she saw the sudden change in him。 She saw the awe and his defenselessness and she knew she had won。 Her glee almost swamped her。 Oh Quillan； you're a genius； she wanted to shout。 I never believed； truly believed； that your suggestion would be so perfect； I never believed that you were so wise； oh thank you thank you。
But her face showed none of this and she waited patiently； motionless。
〃What does tai…tai mean？〃 he asked throatily。
Tai…tai meant 〃supreme of the supreme；〃 wife。 By ancient Chinese custom； in the home the wife was supreme； all powerful。 〃To be part of your life；〃 she said softly； her whole being shouting caution。
Again she waited。 Bartlett leaned down and she felt his lips brush hers。 But his kiss was different and she knew that from now on their relationship would be on a different plane。 Her excitement soared。 She broke the spell。 〃Now；〃 she said as though to a naughty child； 〃now； Mr。 Linc Bartlett； which one do you choose？〃
〃You。〃
〃And I choose you； but meanwhile we have to decide which one you're going to consider。 If these aren't to your liking we'll go to another club。〃 Deliberately she kept her voice matter…of…fact。 〃Now what about her？〃 The girl was lovely； the one he had looked at。 Orlanda had already decided against her and had chosen the one that she would prefer but； she thought contentedly； very sure of herself； the poor boy's entitled to an opinion。 Oh I'm going to be such a perfect wife for you！ 〃Her résumé says she's Lily Tee … all the girls have working names they choose themselves。 She's twenty； from Shanghai； speaks Shanghainese and Cantonese and her hobbies are dancing； boating and 。。。〃 Orlanda peered at the tiny characters and he saw the lovely curve of her neck。 〃。。。 and hiking。 What about her？〃
His eyes went to the picture。 〃Listen； Orlanda； I haven't been with a whore for years； not since I was in the army。 I've never been much on them。〃
〃I understand pletely and you're right；〃 she told him patiently； 〃but these aren't whores； not in the American sense。 There's nothing vulgar or secret about them or what I propose。 These are Pleasure Ladies who may offer you their youth which has great value； in exchange for some of your money which has almost none。 It's a fair exchange； given and received with face on both sides。 For instance； you should know in advance how much she should receive and you must never give her the money directly； you must only put it into her handbag。 That's important； and it's very important to me that your first encounter be perfect。 I've got to protect your face too； an… 〃
〃e on； Orlan… 〃
〃But I'm serious； Linc。 This choosing； this gift from me to you has nothing to do with you and me； nothing。 What happens with us is joss。 It's just important to me for you to enjoy life； to know what Asia is； really is； not what Americans think it is。 Please？〃
Bartlett was floundering now； all his well…tested signposts and guides shattered and useless against this woman who fascinated and astounded him。
He was drunk with her warmth and tenderness。 All of him believed her。
Then； suddenly； he remembered and his inner self screamed caution。 His euphoria fled。 He had just remembered to whom he had mentioned how much he loved Italian food。 Gornt。 Gornt； a couple of days ago。 Talking about the best meal he had ever had。 Italian food with beer。 Gornt。 Jesus are these two in cahoots？ Can't be； just can't be！ Maybe I told her about the same meal。 Did I？
He searched his mind but could not remember exactly； all of him rocked but his eyes kept seeing her waiting there； smiling at him； loving him。 Gornt and Orlanda？ They can't be in cahoots！ No way！ Even so； be cautious。 You know almost nothing about her； so watch out for chrissake； you're in a web； her web。 Is it a Gornt web too？
Test her； the devil in him shouted。 Test her。 If she means what she says then that's something else and she's from outer space and just as rare and you'll have to decide about her … you'll only have her on her terms。
Test her while you've the chance … you've nothing to lose。
〃What？〃 she asked； sensing a change。
〃I was just thinking about what you said； Orlanda。 Shall I choose now？〃
55
11：35 P。M。：
Suslev was sitting in the half…dark of their safe house at 32 Sinclair Towers。 Because of his meeting with Grey he had changed the rendezvous with Arthur to here。
He sipped his drink in the dark。 Beside him on the side table was a bottle of vodka； two glasses and the telephone。 His heart thumped heavily as it always did when he was waiting for a clandestine meeting。 Will I never get used to them？ he asked himself。 No。 Tonight I'm tired though everything has gone beautifully。 Grey's programmed now。 That poor fool； driven by hatred and envy and jealousy！ Center must further caution the leadership of the BCP about him … the trend's too vulnerable。 And Travkin； once a prince； now nothing； and Jacques deVille … that impetuous inpetent … and all the others。
Never mind！ Everything goes excellently。 Everything's prepared against tomorrow and the arrival of the man Sinders。 An involuntary shudder went through Suslev。 I wouldn't want to be trapped by them。 MI…6 are dangerous； mitted and fanatic against us； like the CIA； but much worse。 If the CIA and MI…6 plan； code name Anubis； to join Japan； China； England； Canada and America together ever es to pass； Mother Russia will be ruined forever。 Ah my country my country！ How I miss Georgia； so beautiful and gentle and verdant。
The songs of his childhood； the folk songs of Georgia； welled up and took him back。 He