if.thunderball-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　I　gather　you　have　plenty　of　conventions　ing　to　Nassau…salesmen；　tourist　associations；　religious　groups；　heaven　knows　what　all。　Apparently　they　take　a　block　of　rooms　in　some　hotel　and　hold　meetings　and　so　forth　for　a　week　or　so。　Is　there　anything　like　that　going　on　at　the　moment？〃
　
　〃Mr。　Pitman？〃
　
　〃Well；　of　course　we　do　have　plenty　of　those　sort　of　gatherings。　Very　wele　to　the　Tourist　Board。〃　The　Chief　of　Immigration　smiled　conspiratorially　at　Bond　as　if　he　had　just　given　away　a　closely　guarded　secret。　〃But　in　the　last　two　weeks　we've　only　had　a　Moral　Rearmament　Group　at　the　Emerald　Wave　and　the　Tiptop　Biscuit　people　at　the　Royal　Bahamian。　They've　gone　now。　Quite　the　usual　convention　pattern。　All　very　respectable。〃
　
　〃That's　just　it；　Mr。　Pitman。　The　people　I'm　looking　for；　the　people　who　may　have　arranged　to　steal　this　plane；　will　certainly　take　pains　to　look　respectable　and　behave　in　a　respectable　fashion。　We're　not　looking　for　a　bunch　of　flashy　crooks。　We　think　these　must　be　very　big　people　indeed。　Now；　is　there　anything　like　that　on　the　island；　a　group　of　people　like　that？〃
　
　〃Well〃…the　Chief　of　Immigration　smiled　broadly…〃of　course　we've　got　our　annual　treasure　hunt　going　on。〃
　
　The　Deputy　Governor　barked　a　quick；　deprecating　laugh。　〃Now；　steady　on；　Mr。　Pitman。　Surely　we　don't　want　them　to　get　mixed　up　in　all　this；　or　heaven　knows　where　we　shall　end。　I　can't　believe　mander　Bond　wants　to　bother　his　head　over　a　lot　of　rich　beachbers。〃
　
　The　missioner　of　Police　said　doubtfully；　〃The　only　thing　is；　sir…they　do　have　a　yacht；　and　a　small　plane　for　the　matter　of　that。　And　I　did　hear　that　a　lot　of　shareholders　in　the　swindle　had　e　in　lately。　Those　points　do　tally　with　what　the　mander　was　asking　about。　I　admit　it's　ridiculous；　but　this　man　Largo's　respectable　enough　for　mander　Bond's　requirements　and　his　men　have　never　once　given　us　trouble。　Unusual　to　have　not　even　one　case　of　drunkenness　in　a　ship's　crew　in　nearly　six　months。〃
　
　And　Bond　had　leaped　at　the　flimsy　thread　and　had　pursued　it　for　another　two　hours…　in　the　Customs　building　and　in　the　missioner's　office…　and；　as　a　result；　he　had　gone　walking　in　the　town　to　see　if　he　could　get　a　look　at　Largo　or　any　of　his　party　or　pick　up　any　other　shreds　of　gossip。　As　a　result　he　had　got　a　good　look　at　Domino　Vitali。
　
　And　now？
　
　The　taxi　had　arrived　at　the　airport。　Bond　told　the　driver　to　wait　and　walked　into　the　long　low　entrance　hall　just　as　the　arrival　of　Larkin's　flight　was　being　announced　over　the　Tannoy。　He　knew　there　would　be　the　usual　delay　for　customs　and　immigration。　He　went　to　the　souvenir　shop　and　bought　a　copy　of　the　New　York　Times　。　In　its　usual　discreet　headlines　it　was　still　leading　with　the　loss　of　the　Vindicator。　Perhaps　it　knew　also　about　the　loss　of　the　atom　bombs；　because　Arthur　Krock；　on　the　editorial　page；　had　a　heavyweight　column　about　the　security　aspects　of　the　NATO　alliance。　Bond　was　halfway　through　this　when　a　quiet　voice　in　his　ear　said；　〃007？　Meet　No。　000。〃
　
　Bond　swung　round。　It　was！　It　was　Felix　Leiter！
　
　Leiter；　his　C。I。A。　panion　on　some　of　the　most　thrilling　cases　in　Bond's　career；　grinned　and　thrust　the　steel　hook　that　was　his　right　hand　under　Bond's　arm。　〃Take　it　easy；　friend。　Dick　Tracy　will　tell　all　when　we　get　out　of　here。　Bags　are　out　front。　Let's　go。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃Well　God　damn　it！　You　old　so…and…so！　Did　you　know　it　was　going　to　be　me？〃
　
　〃Sure。　C。I。A。　knows　all。〃
　
　At　the　entrance　Leiter　had　his　luggage；　which　was　considerable；　put　aboard　Bond's　taxi；　and　told　the　driver　to　take　it　to　the　Royal　Bahamian。　A　man　standing　beside　an　undistinguished…looking　black　Ford　Consul　sedan　left　the　car　and　came　up。　〃Mr。　Larkin？　I'm　from　the　Hertz　pany。　This　is　the　car　you　ordered。　We　hope　she's　what　you　want。　You　did　specify　something　conventional。〃
　
　Leiter　glanced　casually　at　the　car。　〃Looks　all　right。　I　just　want　a　car　that'll　go。　None　of　those　ritzy　jobs　with　only　room　for　a　small　blonde　with　a　sponge　bag。　I'm　here　to　do　property　work…　not　jazz　it　up。
　
　〃May　I　see　your　New　York　license；　sir？　Right。　Then　if　you'll　just　sign　here　。　。　。　and　I'll　make　a　note　of　the　number　of　your　Diner's　Club　card。　When　you　go；　leave　the　car　anywhere　you　like　and　just　notify　us。　We'll　collect　it。　Have　a　good　holiday；　sir。〃
　
　They　got　into　the　car。　Bond　took　the　wheel。　Leiter　said　that　he'd　have　to　practice　a　bit　on　what　he　called　〃this　Limey　southpaw　routine〃　of　driving　on　the　left；　and　anyway　he'd　be　interested　to　see　if　Bond　had　improved　his　cornering　since　their　last　drive　together。
　
　When　they　were　out　of　the　airport　Bond　said；　〃Now　go　ahead　and　tell。　Last　time　we　met　you　were　with　Pinkertons。　What's　the　score？〃
　
　〃Drafted。　Just　damned　well　drafted。　Hell；　anyone　would　think　there　was　a　war　on。　You　see；　James；　once　you've　worked　for　C。I。A。；　you're　automatically　put　on　the　reserve　of　officers　when　you　leave。　Unless　you've　been　cashiered　for　not　eating　the　code　book　under　fire　or　something。　And　apparently　my　old　Chief；　Alien　Dulles　that　is；　just　didn't　have　the　men　to　go　round　when　the　President　sounded　the　fire　alarm。　So　I　and　twenty　or　so　other　guys　were　just　pulled　in…drop　everything；　twenty…four　hours　to　report。　Hell！　I　thought　the　Russians　had　landed！　And　then　they　tell　me　the　score　and　to　pack　my　bathing　trunks　and　my　spade　and　bucket　and　e　on　down　to　Nassau。　So　of　course　I　griped　like　hell。　Asked　them　if　I　shouldn't　brush　up　on　my　Canasta　game　and　take　some　quick　lessons　in　the　cha…cha。　So　then　they　unbuttoned　and　told　me　I　was　to　team　up　with　you　down　here　and　I　thought　maybe　if　that　old　bastard　of　yours；　N　or　M　or　whatever　you　call　him；　had　sent　you　down　here　with　your　old　equalizer；　there　might　be　something　cooking　in　the　pot　after　all。　So　I　picked　up　the　gear　you'd　asked　for　from　Admin。；　packed　the　bow　and　arrows　instead　of　the　spade　and　bucket；　and　here　I　am。　And　that's　that。　Now　you　tell；　you　old　sonofabitch。　Hell；　it's　good　to　see　you。〃
　
　Bond　took　Leiter　through　the　whole　story；　point　by　point　from　the　moment　he　had　been　summoned　to　M's　office　the　morning　before。　When　he　came　to　the　shooting　outside　his　headquarters；　Leiter　stopped　him。
　
　〃Now　what　do　you　make　of　that；　James？　In　my　book　that's　a　pretty　funny　coincidence。　Have　you　been　fooling　around　with　anybody's　wife　lately？　Sounds　more　like　around　the　Loop　in　Chicago　than　a　mile　or　so　from　Piccadilly。〃
　
　Bond　said　seriously；　〃It　makes　no　sense　to　me；　and　none　to　anyone　else。　The　only　man　who　might　have　had　it　in　for　me；　recently　that　is；　is　a　crazy　bastard　I　met　down　at　a　sort　of　clinic　place　I　had　to　go　to　on　some　blasted　medical　grounds。〃　Bond；　to　Leiter's　keen　pleasure；　rather　sheepishly　gave　details　of　his　〃cure〃　at　Shrublands。　〃I　bowled　this　man　out　as　a　member　of　a　Chinese　Tong；　one　of　their　secret　societies；　the　Red　Lightning　Tong。　He　must　have　heard　me　getting　the　gen　on　his　outfit　from　Records…on　an　open　line　from　a　call　box　in　the　place。　Next　thing；　he　damned　near　managed　to　murder　me。　Just　for　a　lark；　and　to　get　even；　I　did　my　best　to　roast　him　alive。〃　Bond　gave　the　details。　〃Nice　quiet　place；　Shrublands。　You'd　be　surprised　how　carrot　juice　seems　to　affect　people。〃　〃Where　was　this　lunatic　asylum？〃
　
　〃Place　called　Washington。　Modest　little　place　pared　with　yours。　Not　far　from　Brighton。〃
　
　〃And　the　letter　was　posted　from　Brighton。〃　〃That's　the　hell　of　a　long　shot。〃
　
　〃I'll　try　another。　One　of　the　points　our　chaps　brought　up　was　that　if　a　plane　was　to　be　stolen　at　night　and　landed　at　night；　a　full　moon　would　be　the　hell　of　an　aid　to　the　job。　But　the　plane　was　taken　five　days　after　the　full。　Just　supposing　your　roast　chicken　was　the　letter…sender。　And　supposing　the　roasting　forced　him　to　delay　sending　the　letter　while　he　recovered。　His　employers　would　be　pretty　angry。　Yes？〃
　
　〃I　suppose　so。〃
　
　〃And　supposing　they　gave　orders　for　him　to　be　rubbed　for　inefficiency。　And　supposing　the　killer　got　to　him　just　as　he　got　to　you　to　settle　his　private　account。　From　what　you　tell　me　he　wouldn't　have　lain　down　under　what　you　did　to　him。　Well；　now。　Just　supposing　all　that。　It　adds　up；　doesn't　it？〃
　
　Bond　laughed；　partly　in　admiration。　〃You've　been　taking　mescalin　or　something。　It's　a　damned　good　sequence　for　a　ic　strip；　but　these　things　don't　happen　in　real　life。〃
　
　〃Planes　with　atom　bombs　don't　get　stolen　in　real　life。　Except　that　they　do。　You're　slowing　down；　James。　How　many　people　would　believe　the　files　on　some　of　the　cases　you　and　I　have　got　mixed　up　in？　Don't　give　me　that　crap　about　real　life。　There　ain't　no　such　animal。〃
　
　Bond　said　seriously；　〃Well；　look　here；　Felix。　Tell　you　what　I'll　do。　There's　just　enough　sense　in　your　story；　so　I'll　put　it　on　the　machine　to　M　tonight　and　see　if　the　Yard　can　get　anywhere　with　it。　They　could　check　with　the　clinic　and　the　hospital　in　Brighton；　if　that's　where　he　was　taken；　and　they　may　be　able　to　get　on　from　there。　Trouble　is；　wherever　they　get；　there's　nothing　left　of　the　man　but　his　shoes；　and　I　doubt　if　they'll　catch　up　with　the　man　on　the　motorbike。　It　looked　a　real　pro　job　to　me。〃
　
　〃Why　not？　These　highjackers　sound　like　pros。　It's　a　pro　plan。　It　all　fits　all　right。　You　go　ahead　and　put　it　on　the　wire　and　don't　be　ashamed　of　saying　it　was　my　idea。　My　medal　collection　has　got　to　looking　a　bit　thin　since　I　left　the　outfit。〃
　
　They　pulled　up　under　the　portico　of　the　Royal　Bahamian　and　Bond　gave　the　keys　to　the　parking　attendant。　Leiter　checked　in　and　they　went　up　to　his　room　and　sent　for　two　double　dry　martinis　on　the　rocks　and　the　menu。
　
　From　the　pretentious　dishes；　〃For　Your　Particular　Consideration；〃　printed　in　Ornamental　Gothic；　Bond　chose　Native　Seafood　Cocktail　Supreme　followed　by　Disjointed　Home　Farm　Chicken；　Sauté　au　Cresson；　which　was　described　in　italics　as　〃Tender　Farm　Chicken；　Broiled　to　a　Rich　Brown；　Basted　with　Creamery　Butter　and　Disjointed　for　Your　Convenience。　Price　38/6　or　dollars　5。35。〃　Felix　Leiter　went　for　the　Baltic　Herring　in　Sour　Cream　followed　by　〃Chopped　Tenderloin　of　Beef；　French　Onion　Rings　（Our　Renowned　Beef　is　Chef…Selected　from　the　Finest　Corn…fed；　Mid…Western　Cattle；　and　Aged　to　Perfection　to　Assure　You　of　the　Very　Best）。　Price　40/3　or　dollars　5。65。〃
　
　When　they　had　both　mented　sourly　and　at　length　about　the　inflated　bogosity　of　tourist…hotel　food　and　particularly　the　mendacious　misuse　of　the　English　language　to　describe　materials　which　had　certainly　been　in　various　deepfreezes　for　at　least　six　months；　they　settled　down　on　the　balcony　to　discuss　Bond's　findings　of　the　morning。　Half　an　hour　and　one　more　double　dry　martini　later；　their　luncheon　came。　The　whole　thing　amounted　to　about　five　shillings'　worth　of　badly　cooked　rubbish。　They　ate　in　a　mood　of　absent…minded　irritation；　saying　nothing。　Finally　Leiter　threw　down　his　knife　and　fork。　〃This　is　hamburger　and　bad　hamburger。　The　French　onion　rings　were　never　in　France；　and　what's　more〃…he　poked　at　the　remains　with　a　fork…〃they're　not　even　rings。　They're　oval。〃　He　looked　belligerently　across　at　Bond。　〃All　right；　Hawkshaw。　Where　do　we　go　from　here？〃
　
　〃The　major　decision　is　to　eat　out　in　future。　The　next　is　to　pay　a　visit　to　the　Disco　…now。〃　Bond　got　up　from　the　table。　〃When　we've　done　that；　we'll　have　to　decide　whether　or　not　thes