if.thunderball-第20章

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　〃We　won't　get　on；　then。　I　won't　sink　lower　than　conch　chowder。〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　curiously。　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　Nassau。〃
　
　〃You　mean　about　conch　being　an　aphrodisiac？　That's　not　only　a　Nassau　idea。　It's　all　over　the　world　where　there　are　conchs。〃
　
　〃Is　it　true？〃
　
　〃Island　people　have　it　on　their　wedding　night。　I　haven't　found　it　to　have　any　effect　on　me。〃
　
　〃Why？〃　She　looked　mischievous。　〃Are　you　married？〃
　
　〃No。〃　Bond　smiled　across　into　her　eyes。　〃Are　you？〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　Then　we　might　both　try　some　conch　soup　some　time　and　see　what　happens。〃
　
　〃That's　only　a　little　better　than　the　millionaires。　You'll　have　to　try　harder。〃
　
　The　drinks　came。　The　girl　stirred　hers　with　a　finger；　to　mix　in　the　brown　sediment　of　Worcester　sauce；　and　drank　half　of　it。　She　reached　for　the　carton　of　Dukes；　broke　it　open；　and　slit　a　packet　with　her　thumbnail。　She　took　out　a　cigarette；　sniffed　it　cautiously；　and　lit　it　with　Bond's　lighter。　She　inhaled　deeply　and　blew　out　a　long　plume　of　smoke。　She　said　doubtfully；　〃Not　bad。　At　least　the　smoke　looks　like　smoke。　Why　did　you　say　you　were　such　an　expert　on　giving　up　smoking？〃
　
　〃Because　I've　given　it　up　so　often。〃　Bond　thought　it　time　to　get　away　from　the　small　talk。　He　said；　〃Why　do　you　talk　such　good　English？　Your　accent　sounds　Italian。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　name's　Dominetta　Vitali。　But　I　was　sent　to　school　in　England。　To　the　Cheltenham　Ladies　College。　Then　I　went　to　RADA　to　learn　acting。　The　English　kind　of　acting。　My　parents　thought　that　was　a　ladylike　way　to　be　brought　up。　Then　they　were　both　killed　in　a　train　crash。　I　went　back　to　Italy　to　earn　my　living。　I　remembered　my　English　but〃…she　laughed　without　bitterness…〃I　soon　forgot　most　of　the　rest。　You　don't　get　far　in　the　Italian　theater　by　being　able　to　walk　about　with　a　book　balanced　on　your　head。〃
　
　〃But　this　relative　with　the　yacht。〃　Bond　looked　out　to　sea。　〃Wasn't　he　there　to　look　after　you？〃
　
　〃No。〃　The　answer　was　curt。　When　Bond　made　no　ment　she　added；　〃He's　not　exactly　a　relative；　not　a　close　one。　He's　a　sort　of　close　friend。　A　guardian。〃　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　
　〃You　must　e　and　visit　us　on　the　yacht。〃　She　felt　that　a　bit　of　gush　was　needed。　〃He's　called　Largo；　Emilio　Largo。　You've　probably　heard。　He's　here　on　some　kind　of　a　treasure　hunt。〃
　
　〃Really？〃　Now　it　was　Bond's　turn　to　gush。　〃That　sounds　rather　fun；　Of　course　I'd　like　to　meet　him。　What's　it　all　about？　Is　there　anything　in　it？〃
　
　〃Heaven　knows。　He's　very　secretive　about　it。　Apparently　there's　some　kind　of　a　map。　But　I'm　not　allowed　to　see　it　and　I　have　to　stay　ashore　when　he　goes　off　prospecting　or　whatever　he　does。　A　lot　of　people　have　put　up　money　for　it；　sort　of　shareholders。　They've　all　just　arrived。　As　we're　going　in　a　week　or　so；　I　suppose　everything's　ready　and　the　real　hunt's　going　to　start　any　moment　now。〃
　
　〃What　are　the　shareholders　like？　Do　they　seem　sensible　sort　of　people？　The　trouble　with　most　treasure　hunts　is　that　either　someone's　been　there　before　and　sneaked　off　with　the　treasure　or　the　ship's　so　deep　in　the　coral　you　can't　get　at　it。〃
　
　〃They　seem　all　right。　Very　dull　and　rich。　Terribly　serious　for　something　as　romantic　as　treasure　hunting。　They　seem　to　spend　all　their　time　with　Largo。　Plotting　and　planning；　I　suppose。　And　they　never　seem　to　go　out　in　the　sun　or　go　bathing　or　anything。　It's　as　if　they　didn't　want　to　get　sunburned。　As　far　as　I　can　gather；　none　of　them　have　ever　been　in　the　tropics　before。　Just　a　typical　bunch　of　stuffy　businessmen。　They're　probably　better　than　that。　I　haven't　seen　much　of　them。　Largo's　giving　a　party　for　them　at　the　Casino　tonight。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　do　all　day？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　fool　around。　Do　a　bit　of　shopping　for　the　yacht。　Drive　around　in　the　car。　Bathe　on　other　people's　beaches　when　their　houses　are　empty。　I　like　underwater　swimming。　I've　got　an　aqualung　and　I　take　one　of　the　crew　out　or　a　fisherman。　The　crew　are　better。　They　all　do　it。〃
　
　〃I　used　to　do　it　a　bit。　I've　brought　my　gear。　Will　you　show　me　some　good　bits　of　reef　sometime？〃
　
　The　girl　looked　pointedly　at　her　watch。　〃I　might　do。　It's　time　I　went。〃　She　got　up。　〃Thanks　for　the　drink。　I'm　afraid　I　can't　take　you　back。　I'm　going　the　other　way。　They'll　get　you　a　taxi　here。〃　She　shuffled　her　feet　into　her　sandals。
　
　Bond　followed　the　girl　through　the　restaurant　to　her　car。　She　got　in　and　pressed　the　starter。　Bond　decided　to　risk　another　snub。　He　said；　〃Perhaps　I'll　see　you　at　the　Casino　tonight；　Dominetta。〃
　
　〃Praps。〃　She　put　the　car　pointedly　into　gear。　She　took　another　look　at　him。　She　decided　that　she　did　want　to　see　him　again。　She　said；　〃But　for　God's　sake　don't　call　me　Dominetta。　I'm　never　called　that。　People　call　me　Domino。〃　She　gave　him　a　brief　smile；　but　it　was　a　smile　into　the　eyes。　She　raised　a　hand。　The　rear　wheels　spat　sand　and　gravel　and　the　little　blue　car　whirled　out　along　the　driveway　to　the　main　road。　It　paused　at　the　intersection　and　then；　as　Bond　watched；　turned　righthanded　toward　Nassau。
　
　Bond　smiled。　He　said；　〃Bitch；〃　and　walked　back　into　the　restaurant　to　pay　his　bill　and　have　a　taxi　called。
　
　12。　The　Man　from　the　C。I。A。
　
　The　taxi　took　Bond　out　to　the　airport　at　the　other　end　of　the　island　by　the　Interfield　Road。　The　man　from　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency　Was　due　in　by　Pan　American　at　one…fifteen。　His　name　was　Larkin；　F。　Larkin。　Bond　hoped　he　wouldn't　be　a　muscle…bound　ex…college　man　With　a　crew…cut　and　a　desire　to　show　up　the　inpetence　of　the　British；　the　backwardness　of　their　little　Colony；　and　the　clumsy　ineptitude　of　Bond；　in　order　to　gain　credit　with　his　chief　in　Washington。　Bond　hoped　that　at　any　rate　he　would　bring　the　equipment　he　had　asked　for　before　he　left　London　through　Section　A；　who　looked　after　the　liaison　with　C。I。A。　This　was　the　latest　transmitter　and　receiver　for　agents　in　the　field；　so　that　the　two　of　them　could　be　independent　of　cable　offices；　and　have　instant　munication　with　London　and　Washington；　and　the　most　modern　portable　Geiger　counters　for　operating　both　on　land　and　under　water。　One　of　the　chief　virtues　of　C。I。A。；　in　Bond's　estimation；　was　the　excellence　of　their　equipment；　and　he　had　no　false　pride　about　borrowing　from　them。
　
　New　Providence；　the　island　containing　Nassau；　the　capital　of　the　Bahamas；　is　a　drab　sandy　slab　of　land　fringed　with　some　of　the　most　beautiful　beaches　in　the　world。　But　the　interior　is　nothing　but　a　waste　of　low…lying　scrub；　casuarinas；　mastic；　and　poison…wood　with　a　large　brackish　lake　at　the　western　end。　There　are　birds　and　tropical　flowers　and　palm　trees；　imported　fully　grown　from　Florida；　in　the　beautiful　gardens　of　the　millionaires　round　the　coast；　but　in　the　middle　of　the　island　there　is　nothing　to　attract　the　eye　but　the　skeleton　fingers　of　spidery　windmill　pumps　sticking　up　above　the　pine　barrens；　and　Bond　spent　the　ride　to　the　airport　reviewing　the　morning。
　
　He　had　arrived　at　seven　a。m。　to　be　met　by　the　Governor's　A。D。C。　…a　mild　error　of　security…and　taken　to　the　Royal　Bahamian；　a　large　old…fashioned　hotel　to　which　had　recently　been　applied　a　thin　veneer　of　American　efficiency　and　tourist　gimmicks…ice　water　in　his　room；　a　Cellophane…wrapped　basket　of　dingy　fruit　〃with　the　pliments　of　the　Manager；〃　and　a　strip　of　〃sanitized〃　paper　across　the　lavatory　seat。　After　a　shower　and　a　tepid；　touristy　breakfast　on　his　balcony　overlooking　the　beautiful　beach；　he　had　gone　up　to　Government　House　at　nine　o'clock　for　a　meeting　with　the　missioner　of　Police；　the　Chief　of　Immigration　and　Customs；　and　the　Deputy　Governor。　It　was　exactly　as　he　had　imagined　it　would　be。　The　MOST　IMMEDIATES　and　the　TOP　SECRETS　had　made　a　superficial　impact　and　he　was　promised　full　cooperation　in　every　aspect　of　his　assignment；　but　the　whole　business　was　clearly　put　down　as　a　ridiculous　flap　and　something　that　must　not　be　allowed　to　interfere　with　the　normal　routine　of　running　a　small；　sleepy　colony；　nor　with　the　fort　and　happiness　of　the　tourists。　Roddick；　the　Deputy　Governor；　careful；　middle…of…the…way　man　with　a　ginger　mustache　and　gleaming　pince…nez；　had　put　the　whole　affair　in　a　most　sensible　light。　〃You　see；　mander　Bond；　in　our　opinion…and　we　have　most　carefully　debated　all　the　possibilities；　all　the；　er；　angles；　as　our　American　friends　would　say…it　is　inconceivable　that　a　large　four…engined　plane　could　have　been　hidden　anywhere　within　the　confines　of　the　Colony。　The　only　airstrip　cable　of　taking　such　a　plane…am　I　right；　Harling？…　is　here　in　Nassau。　So　far　as　a　landing　on　the　sea　is　concerned；　a；　er；　ditching　I　think　they　call　it；　we　have　been　in　radio　contact　with　the　Administrators　on　all　the　larger　outer　islands　and　the　replies　are　all　negative。　The　radar　people　at　the　meteorological　station　。　。　。〃
　
　Bond　had　interrupted　at　this　point。　〃Might　I　ask　if　the　radar　screen　is　manned　round　the　clock？　My　impression　is　that　the　airport　is　very　busy　during　the　day；　but　that　there　is　very　little　traffic　at　night。　Would　it　be　possible　that　the　radar　is　not　so　closely　watched　at　night？〃
　
　The　missioner　of　Police；　a　pleasant；　very　military…looking　man　in　his　forties；　the　silver　buttons　and　insignia　on　whose　dark　blue　uniform　glittered　as　they　can　only　when　spit　and　polish　is　a　main　activity　and　there　are　plenty　of　batmen　around；　said　judiciously；　〃I　think　the　mander　has　a　point　there；　sir。　The　airport　mandant　admits　that　things　do　slacken　off　a　bit　when　there's　nothing　scheduled。　He　hasn't　got　all　that　amount　of　staff　and　of　course　most　of　them　are　locals；　sir。　Good　men；　but　hardly　up　to　London　Airport　standards。　And　the　radar　at　the　met。　station　is　only　a　G。C。A。　set　with　a　low　horizon　and　range…mostly　used　for　shipping。〃
　
　〃Quite；　quite。〃　The　Deputy　Governor　didn't　want　to　be　dragged　into　a　discussion　about　radar　sets　or　the　merits　of　Nassavian　labor。　〃There's　certainly　a　point　there。　No　doubt　mander　Bond　will　be　making　his　own　inquiries。　Now　there　was　a　request　from　the　Secretary　of　State〃…the　title　rolled　sonorously　forth…〃for　details　and　ments　on　recent　arrivals　in　the　island；　suspicious　characters；　and　so　forth。　Mr。　Pitman？〃
　
　The　Chief　of　Immigration　and　Customs　was　a　sleek　Nassavian　with　quick　brown　eyes　and　an　ingratiating　manner。　He　smiled　pleasantly。　Nothing　out　of　the　ordinary；　sir。　The　usual　mixture　of　tourists　and　businessmen　and　local　people　ing　home。　We　were　asked　to　have　details　for　the　past　two　weeks；　sir。〃　He　touched　the　brief　case　on　his　lap。　〃I　have　all　the　immigration　forms　here；　sir。　Perhaps　mander　Bond　would　care　to　go　through　them　with　me。〃　The　brown　eyes　flicked　toward　Bond　and　away。　〃All　the　big　hotels　have　house　detectives。　I　could　probably　get　him　further　details　on　any　particular　name。　All　Passports　were　checked　in　the　normal　manner。　There　were　no　irregularities　and　none　of　these　people　was　on　our　Wanted　List。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃Might　I　ask　a　question？〃
　
　The　Deputy　Governor　nodded　enthusiastically。　〃Of　course。　Of　course。　Anything　you　like。　We're　all　here　to　help。〃
　
　〃I'm　looking　for　a　group　of　men。　Probably　ten　or　more。　They　probably　stick　together　a　good　deal。　Might　be　as　many　as　twenty　or　thirty。　I　guess　they　would　be　Europeans。　They　probably　have　a　ship　or　a　plane。　They　may　have　been　here　for　months　or　only　a　few　days。　I　gather　you　have　plenty　of　conventions