Welcome back, spies and double crossers! Once again we return to Noble House, part of James Clavell's Asian Saga, as we continue our journey through the confusing and sordid world of Hong Kong.

Chapter 53.

We open during the governor's evening party. He and the Victoria bankers are discussing how they can alleviate the banking crisis. They mention that Hong Kong will be in a lot of trouble if the Victoria bank has a run on it too. Later, the governor speaks to the American officials, and tells Rosemont that they have caught a spy from the American ship, and one of the KGB. Rosemont is floored by this. After the party is over, JohnJohn approaches Dunross, and asks about a man nicknamed Tip Top - he is a spy who comes from the same province (Hunan) as Mao did, but the people who know him suspect him to be a high up member of the Communist party. JohnJohn wants Dunross to ask him if the Victoria can borrow the money that is in the Bank of China. Dunross bargains for his loan from the Victoria in exchange for talking to Tip Top. Grey, on leaving the party, tries to find his rendezvous. It turns out to be Suslev (holy Mary). They discuss politics, and the reader learns that Grey is a Communist, and that Suslev is using him and his position in the British parliament to stoke fears about rearmament and nuclear war. Grey is astonishingly gullible. Whether or not it was an act for Suslev's benefit remains to be seen. We find that Grey still suffers from his time in Changi, and that it was at least part of what influenced him to become a Communist and spy.

Chapter 54.

We open to Dunross (in a men-only bar) waiting for Brian Kwok. The reader knows that he is currently in SI custody having his brain turned into tapioca before his interrogation begins, but Dunross is worried because Brian is usually never late. However, there is still plenty of time before his midnight rendezvous with Four Finger Wu, so Dunross stays a while longer. While he waits, he thinks about taking his family to Scotland for Christmas, and about the conversation he had with Toda Hiro, the head of Toda shipping in Japan. Finally Dunross makes a phone call to see if Brian is in the police headquarters, and now Armstrong knows about his meeting with Brian! Knowing that an SI informant will be a definite drawback when it comes to meeting with Four Finger Wu, Dunross takes steps to find out who it is. While doing so, he bumps into Marlowe, who tells him that Fleur is very ill and possibly going to miscarry. Marlowe mentions that during his research work, many people have said that Dunross is Dirk Struan come back to life. Dunross asks about the camp, and his black market ties. Marlowe claims to have been a trader and interpreter. (Okay, I loved this next bit) Dunross goes back up to the bar, and claims that he wants to avoid some journalists downstairs. The barman lets him exit using the servants entrance, and then speculates on which lady the Tai-pan would wish to avoid. On his way to Aberdeen, Dunross banters about racing with his taxi driver. We cut to Orlanda and Bartlett dancing in a club, which has prostitutes under the careful eye of their pimp. Orlanda finds herself getting too close to Bartlett, and so tries to end their dance. Orlanda catches him watching the prostitutes, and explains about how they live their lives in debt to the nightclub owners. And we get confirmation of just how much of a dick Bartlett is (no pun intended) when he considers that buying Orlanda out to have sex with her and be done would be easier than what he is currently doing. Orlanda then offers to arrange a night with one of the girls for him, on the private pretext that whether or he agrees to it he will be in her debt. Once Bartlett seemingly agrees to her deal, Orlanda is gleeful, thinking she has won him forever. Bartlett is nearly carried until he remembers That he told Gornt about his love of Italian food. He decides to go through with things, reasoning that this way he'll have Orlanda.

Chapter 55.

We are back to Suslev, waiting for a clandestine meeting and drinking! He thinks about an alleged plan that the CIA and MI-6 are working on together to join up countries around the world against Russia. The phone rings to indicate that the meet with the fabled Arthur is taking place. He listens to someone coming...and it is Jason Plumm. Plumm tells Suslev that the Russian KGB has been captured, which Suslev knows but pretends he doesn't. Although he does get a shock when Plumm reveals that the agent didn't have time to poison himself before capture. Plumm and Suslev talk at cross purposes for a while, they seem to be testing each other. Suslev then starts the process of moving Jacques into position in Canada. The chapter ends with the phone ringing to alert them of danger. The two men run away as four unidentified people chase them down.

Chapter 56.

We are back to Dunross, who is contemplating the fire ravaged ship while he waits for Four Finger Wu. The restaurant seems to have shifted its work onto the Quay next to what remains of the ship. We can see that Dunross' suggestion of kitchens that are on separate ships to their respective restaurants has already taken shape. We hear about the uses of the harbour - more prositution, drug buying and selling, food, and more. Soon Dunross is welcomed aboard by the eldest son of Four Finger Wu, which is an honour. Dunross pours himself a brandy, then his train of thought leads him to think about the possibility of infectious hepatitis from the boat fire, and thence to Gornt. Before he can think too much on the subject, the boat arrives, and Four Finger Wu and Paul appear. Four Finger is dressed up, putting Dunross on his guard. Four Finger Wu reveals the half coin, and asks Dunross to honour the bargain to have Wu's men on the Noble House's trading ships. There is a stand off, because Dunross wants to check the coin, and Wu won't let it out of his sight (perhaps understandably). Then Paul suggests a wax imprint might work. Dunross tries to think who could have given Wu the coin, and realises that Paul hates Wu. He takes advantage of it, and gives Paul a hint that he can use against Wu. When Paul leaves, Dunross and Wu reveal that they were putting on a front. Dunross thinks all this over, and then is interrupted by a prostitute offering food and herself.

Chapter 57.

We cut to the flat of Venus Poon. Kwang is there, demanding entry because he pays for it all. Venus won't let him until he gives her a cheque, at which point she switches to soothing and complimenting him. She serves him brandy, and listens to him talking while she gives him a neck massage and thinks about how to get out of the flat and go to Four Finger Wu. Kwang tries to initiate sex, but she claims that she is on her period. He wants to at least have a nap, but she steers him out of the house, telling him that he would be late for Taiwan if he stayed. We then switch to Havergill and his prostitute. He is leaving, and we find out that while Havergill loves the girl and wants to keep her with him, she sees it as purely a business transaction. We also find out that he is leaving Hong Kong. When Havergill leaves, Lily turns to thinking about John Chen. We find out that her sister was mixed up with him and the Werewolves, and has died as a result of it. She wonders how to use this connection to the house of Chen. Casey is in her hotel, admiring the view from her window. It does sound pretty cool in a cyberpunk kind of way. She thinks about money and her recent business with Steigler. She is reading Marlowe's book Changi, and thinking about a conversation she had with Marlowe himself about the land lease between China and Britain. Casey is seriously beginning to regret that she is the one who suggested to Bartlett that they extend into Asia and Hong Kong. She begins to worry that her pursuit of 'drop dead money' will eventually leave her with nothing - no job, no future, no Linc. She tries to sleep, consoling herself that everything will be okay, and then gives up and goes back to reading Changi. The phone rings, and Marlowe says that he has been called to the hospital. He wants to leave Casey;s number for his kids, but she says she'll come over and sit with them. Fleur loses the baby, and Marlowe makes tea while trying to console himself with the Japanese idea that babies don't become people until a month after death. Casey asks him if the novel is true, and then asks him if she and Bartlett should go with Gornt or Dunross for their business. Marlowe says that Gornt is best for business, but Dunross is best for the future. He also tells Casey that if she wants to fight Orlanda for Bartlett, she had best be prepared.

Chapter 58 (apologies for the bullet points, but this was thirty pages long and I don't want to run out of room).

We're back to Dunross, going to see Tip Top, they discuss the banking crisis, while Dunross tries to figure out who L'eung the third person in the room, is.

Dunross is asked about a shipment of rare earth which could be turned into fissionable material - he speculates that China is starting a nuclear programme

Dunross meets Yu, an American born third generation Chinese who is going back to China after too much discrimination in the US. He wants to revitalise the Chinese space programme.

Dunross tells the bankers at the Victoria about the meeting with Tip Top, and is told about more bank closures.

Havergill tries to leverage share prices and ownership of the Noble House over Dunross.

Dunross goes back to his office where Toda and his associates are waiting. He takes messages and thinks about his family and ChenChen. He thinks about the prostitute Four Finger Wu sent him.

Dunros suggests a new method of ship selling to Toda during their meeting.

He phones Casey, and then talks to Jacques, trying to feel him out and see if he is indeed a Communist operative. They talk about Grey and Broadhurst.

Dunross wonders how to get out of Four Finger Wu's request, and speaks to Philip Chen. Chen advises him on how to best handle the Tip Top situation. Dunross brings out the coin mould, and is astonished at how Philip Chen reacts.

He finds out ALLLLLLLL about John Chen and his dealings with Bartlett. Dunross sends Chen off with instructions to hand all his papers and records over to Andrew, and meets with Casey. Casey tells him about a new deal she has come with, one that Bartlett doesn't know about.

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Apologies for the lateness!