if.thunderball-第25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！


　basic　economics　of　your　business　by　the　time　you'd　graduated　to　Coca…Cola。　One　bottle　of　Gordon's　gin　contains　sixteen　true　measures…double　measures；　that　is；　the　only　ones　I　drink。　Cut　the　gin　with　three　ounces　of　water　and　that　makes　it　up　to　twenty…two。　Have　a　jigger　glass　with　a　big　steal　in　the　bottom　and　a　bottle　of　these　fat　olives　and　you've　got　around　twenty…eight　measures。　Bottle　of　gin　here　costs　only　two　dollars　retail；　let's　say　around　a　dollar　sixty　wholesale。　You　charge　eighty　cents　for　a　martini；　a　dollar　sixty　for　two。　Same　price　as　a　whole　bottle　of　gin。　And　with　your　twenty…eight　measures　to　the　bottle；　you've　still　got　twenty…six　left。　That's　a　clear　profit　on　one　bottle　of　gin　of　around　twenty…one　dollars。　Give　you　a　dollar　for　the　olives　and　the　drop　of　vermouth　and　you've　still　got　twenty　dollars　in　your　pocket。　Now；　my　friend；　that's　too　much　profit；　and　if　I　could　be　bothered　to　take　this　martini　to　the　management　and　then　to　the　Tourist　Board；　you'd　be　in　trouble。　Be　a　good　chap　and　mix　us　two　large　dry　martinis　without　olives　and　with　some　slices　of　lemon　peel　separate。　Okay？　Right；　then　we're　friends　again。〃
　
　The　barman's　face　had　run　through　indignation；　respect；　and　then　the　sullenness　of　guilt　and　fear。　Reprieved；　but　clutching　at　his　scraps　of　professional　dignity；　he　snapped　his　fingers　for　the　waiter　to　take　away　the　glasses。　〃Okay；　suh。　Whatever　you　says。　But　we've　pot　plenty　overheads　here　and　the　majority　of　customers　they　doan　plain。〃
　
　Leiter　said；　〃Well；　here's　one　who's　dry　behind　the　ears。　A　good　barman　should　learn　to　be　able　to　recognize　the　serious　drinker　from　the　status…seeker　who　wants　just　to　be　seen　in　your　fine　bar。〃
　
　〃Yassuh。〃　The　barman　moved　away　with　Negro　dignity。
　
　Bond　said；　〃You　got　those　figures　right；　Felix？　I　always　knew　one　got　clipped；　but　I　thought　only　about　a　hundred　per　cent…not　four　or　five。〃
　
　〃Young　man；　since　I　graduated　from　Government　Service　to　Pinkertons；　the　scales　have　dropped　from　my　eyes。　The　cheating　that　goes　on　in　hotels　and　restaurants　is　more　sinful　than　all　the　rest　of　the　sin　in　the　world。　Anyone　in　a　tuxedo　before　seven　in　the　evening　is　a　crocodile；　and　if　he　couldn't　take　a　good　bite　at　your　pocketbook　he'd　take　a　good　bite　at　your　ear。　The　same　goes　for　the　rest　of　the　consumer　business；　even　when　it's　not　wearing　a　tuxedo。　Sometimes　it　gets　me　real　mad　to　have　to　eat　and　drink　the　muck　you　get　and　then　see　what　you're　charged　for　it。　Look　at　our　damned　lunch　today。　Six；　seven　bucks　with　fifteen　per　cent　added　for　what's　called　service。　And　then　the　waiter　hangs　about　for　another　fifty　cents　for　riding　up　in　the　elevator　with　the　stuff。　Hell〃…Leiter　ran　an　angry　hand　through　his　mop　of　straw　hair…〃just　don't　let's　talk　about　it。　I'm　fit　to　bust　a　gut　when　I　think　about　it。〃
　
　The　drinks　came。　They　were　excellent。　Leiter　calmed　down　and　ordered　a　second　round。　He　said；　〃Now　let's　get　angry　about　something　else。〃　He　laughed　curtly。　〃Guess　I'm　just　sore　at　being　back　in　Government　Service　again　watching　all　the　taxpayers'　money　going　down　the　drain　on　this　wild　goose　chase。　Mark　you；　James〃…there　was　apology　in　Leiter's　voice…〃I'm　not　saying　this　whole　operation　isn't　a　true　bill；　hell　of　a　　mess　in　fact；　but　what　riles　me　is　that　we　should　be　a　couple　of　arse…end　Charlies　stuck　down　on　this　sand　spit　while　the　other　guys　have　got　the　hot　spots…you　know；　places　where　something　really　may　be　happening…or　at　least　likely　to　happen。　Tell　you　the　truth；　I　felt　like　a　damned　fool　gumshoeing　around　that　feller's　yacht　this　afternoon　with　my　little　Geiger　toy。〃　He　looked　keenly　at　Bond。　〃You　don't　find　you　grow　out　of　these　things？　I　mean　it's　all　right　when　there's　a　war　on。　But　it　seems　kinda　childish　when　Peace　is　bustin'　out　all　over。〃
　
　Bond　said　doubtfully；　〃Of　course　I　know　what　you　mean；　Felix。　Perhaps　it's　just　that　in　England　we　don't　feel　quite　as　secure　as　you　do　in　America。　The　war　just　doesn't　seem　to　have　ended　for　us…　Berlin；　Cyprus；　Kenya；　Suez；　let　alone　these　jobs　with　people　like　SMERSH　that　I　used　to　get　tangled　up　in。　There　always　seems　to　be　something　boiling　up　somewhere。　Now　this　damned　business。　Dare　say　I'm　taking　it　all　too　seriously；　but　there's　something　fishy　going　on　around　here。　I　checked　up　on　that　fuel　problem　and　Largo　certainly　told　us　a　lie。〃　Bond　gave　the　details　of　what　he　had　learned　at　police　headquarters。　〃I　feel　I've　got　to　make　sure　tonight。　You　realize　there's　only　about　seventy　hours　to　go？　If　I　find　anything；　I　suggest　tomorrow　we　take　a　small　plane　and　really　run　a　search　over　as　much　of　the　area　as　we　can。　That　plane's　a　big　thing　to　hide　even　under　water。　You　still　got　your　license？〃
　
　〃Sure；　sure。〃　Leiter　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃I'll　go　along　with　you。　Of　course　I　will。　If　we　find　anything；　perhaps　the　signal　I　got　this　evening　won't　look　so　damned　silly　after　all。〃
　
　So　this　was　what　had　put　Leiter　into　such　a　vile　temper！　Bond　said；　〃What　was　that？〃
　
　Leiter　took　a　drink　and　gazed　morosely　into　his　glass。　〃Well；　for　my　money　it's　just　so　much　more　attitudinizing　by　those　power…struck　fatcats　at　the　Pentagon。　But　that　sheaf　of　stuff　I　was　waving　about　was　a　circular　to　all　our　men　on　this　job　to　say　that　the　Army　and　the　Navy　and　the　Air　Force　are　holding　themselves　ready　to　give　full　support　to　C。I。A。　if　anything　turns　up。　Think　of　that；　dammit！〃　Leiter　looked　angrily　at　Bond。　〃Think　of　the　waste　of　fuel　and　manpower　that　must　be　going　on　all　over　the　world　keeping　all　these　units　at　readiness！　Just　to　show　you；　know　what　I've　been　allocated　as　my　striking　force？〃　Leiter　gave　a　harsh；　derisive　laugh。　〃Half　squadron　of　Super　Sabre　fighter　bombers　from　Pensacola；　and…〃　Leiter　stabbed　at　Bond's　forearm　with　a　hard　finger…〃and；　my　friend；　the　Manta！　The　　Manta！　Our　latest　　atomic　submarine！〃　When　Bond　smiled　at　all　this　vehemence；　Leiter　continued　more　reasonably：　〃Mark　you；　it's　not　quite　so　idiotic　as　it　sounds。　These　Sabres　are　on　anti…submarine　sweep　duties　anyway。　Carrying　depth　charges。　They　have　to　be　at　readiness。　And　the　Manta　happens　to　be　on　some　sort　of　a　training　cruise　in　the　area；　getting　ready　to　go　under　the　South　Pole　for　a　change　I　suppose；　or　some　other　damned　promotion　job　to　help　along　the　Navy　Estimates。　But　I　ask　you！　Here's　all　these　million　dollars'　worth　of　material　on　instant　call　from　Ensign　Leiter；　manding　Room　201　in　the　Royal　Bahamian　Hotel！　Not　bad！〃
　
　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Seems　to　me　your　President　is　taking　all　this　a　bit　more　seriously　than　his　man　in　Nassau。　I　suppose　our　Chiefs　of　Staff　have　weighed　in　with　our　stuff　on　the　other　side　of　the　Atlantic。　Anyway；　no　harm　in　having　the　big　battalions　in　the　offing　just　in　case　Nassau　Casino　happens　to　be　Target　No。　1。　By　the　way；　what　ideas　have　your　people　got　about　these　targets？　What　have　you　got　in　this　part　of　the　world　that　fits　in　with　SPECTRE'S　letter？　We've　only　got　the　joint　rocket　base　at　a　place　called　Northwest　Cay　at　the　eastern　end　of　the　Grand　Bahamas。　That's　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　miles　north　of　here。　Apparently　the　gear　and　prototypes　we　and　your　people　have　got　there　would　easily　be　worth　￡100；000；000。〃
　
　〃The　only　possible　targets　I've　been　given　are　Cape　Canaveral；　the　naval　base　at　Pensacola；　and；　if　the　party　really　is　going　to　take　place　in　this　area；　Miami　for　target　No。　2；　with　Tampa　as　a　possible　runner…up。　SPECTRE　used　the　words　‘a　piece　of　property　belonging　to　the　Western　Powers。'　That　sounds　like　some　kind　of　installation　to　me…　something　like　the　uranium　mines　in　the　Congo；　for　instance。　But　a　rocket　base　would　fit　all　right。　If　we've　got　to　take　this　thing　seriously；　I'd　lay　odds　on　Canaveral　or　this　place　on　Grand　Bahama。　Only　thing　I　can't　understand；　if　they've　got　these　bombs；　how　are　they　going　to　transport　them　to　the　target　and　set　them　off？〃
　
　〃A　submarine　could　do　it…　just　lay　one　of　the　bombs　offshore　through　a　torpedo　tube。　Or　a　sailing　dinghy；　for　the　matter　of　that。　Apparently　exploding　these　things　is　no　problem　so　long　as　they　recovered　all　the　parts　from　the　plane。　Apparently　you'd　just　have　to　insert　some　kind　of　fuse　thing　in　the　right　place　between　the　T。N。T。　and　the　plutonium；　and　screw　the　impact　fuse　off　the　nose　and　fit　a　time　fuse　that　would　give　you　time　to　get　a　hundred　miles　away。〃　Bond　added　casually；　〃Have　to　have　an　expert　who　knows　the　drill　of　course；　but　the　trip　would　be　no　problem　for　the　Disco　；　for　instance。　She　could　lay　the　bomb　off　Grand　Bahama　at　midnight　and　be　back　at　anchor　off　Palmyra　by　breakfast　time。〃　He　smiled。　〃See　what　I　mean？　It　all　adds　up。〃
　
　〃Nuts；〃　said　Leiter　succinctly。　〃You'll　have　to　do　better　than　that　if　you　want　my　blood　pressure　to　go　up。　Anyway；　let's　get　the　hell　out　of　here　and　go　have　ourselves　some　eggs　and　bacon　in　one　of　those　clip　joints　on　Bay　Street。　It'll　cost　us　twenty　dollars　plus　tax；　but　the　Manta　probably　burns　that　every　time　her　screws　turn　full　circle。　Then　we'll　go　along　to　the　Casino　and　see　if　Mr。　Fuchs　or　Signor　Pontecorvo　is　sitting　beside　Largo　at　the　blackjack　table。〃
　
　
　15。　Cardboard　Hero
　
　The　Nassau　Casino　is　the　only　legal　casino　on　British　soil　anywhere　in　the　world。　How　this　is　justified　under　the　laws　of　the　monwealth　no　one　can　quite　figure。　It　is　leased　each　year　to　a　Canadian　gambling　syndicate　and　their　operating　profits　in　the　smart　winter　season　are　estimated　to　average　around　100；000。　The　only　games　played　are　roulette；　with　two　zeros　instead　of　one；　which　increases　the　take　to　the　house　from　the　European　3。6　to　a　handsome　5。4；　blackjack；　or　21；　on　which　the　house　makes　between　6　and　7　per　cent；　and　one　table　of　chemin　de　fer　；　whose　cagnotte　yields　a　modest　5　per　cent。　The　operation　is　run　as　a　club　in　a　handsome　private　house　on　West　Bay　Street　and　there　is　a　pleasant　dance　and　supper　room　with　a　three…piece　bo　that　plays　old　favorites　in　strict　time；　and　a　lounge　bar。　It　is　a　well…run；　elegant　place　that　deserves　its　profit。
　
　The　Governor's　A。D。C。　had　presented　Bond　and　Leiter　with　membership　cards；　and　after　they　had　had　coffee　and　a　stinger　at　the　bar　they　separated　and　went　to　the　tables。
　
　Largo　was　playing　chemin　de　fer　。　He　had　a　fat　pile　of　hundred…dollar　plaques　in　front　of　him　and　half　a　dozen　of　the　big　yellow　thousand…dollar　biscuits。　Domino　Vitali　sat　behind　him　chain…smoking　and　watching　the　play。　Bond　observed　the　game　from　a　distance。　Largo　was　playing　expansively；　bancoing　whenever　he　could　and　letting　his　own　banks　run。　He　was　winning　steadily；　but　with　excellent　manners；　and　by　the　way　people　joked　with　him　and　applauded　his　coups　he　was　obviously　a　favorite　in　the　Casino。　Domino；　in　black　with　a　square…cut　neckline　and　with　one　large　diamond　on　a　thin　chain　at　her　throat；　was　looking　morose　and　bored。　The　woman　on　Largo's　right；　having　bancoed　him　three　times　and　lost；　got　up　and　left　the　table。　Bond　went　quickly　across　the　room　and　slid　into　the　empty　place。　It　was　a　bank　of　eight　hundred　dollars…the　round　sum　being　due　to　Largo　making　up　the　cagnotte　after　each　play。
　
　It　is　good　for　the　banker　when　he　has　got　past　the　third　banco。　It　often　means　the　bank　is　going　to　run。　Bond　knew　this　perfectly　well。　He　was　also　painfully　aware　that　his　total　capital　was　only　o