iam fleming.for your eyes only-第27章

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　giant　tortoise　from　Aldabra。　I　want　the　plete　range　of　your　local　cowries　and　I　want　this　fish　we're　after。　The　first　two　are　protected　by　law。　Last　evening　I　pay　a　call　on　your　Governor　after　making　certain　inquiries　in　the　town。　Excellency；　I　says；　I　understand　you　want　to　build　a　public　swimming…pool　to　teach　the　local　kids　to　swim。　Okay。　The　Krest　Foundation　will　put　up　money。　How　much？　Five　thousand；　ten　thousand？　Okay；　so　it's　ten　thousand。　Here's　my　cheque。　And　I　write　it　out　there　and　then。　Just　one　little　thing；　Excellency；　I　says；　holding　on　to　the　cheque。　It　happens　I　want　a　specimen　of　this　black　parrot　you　have　here　and　one　of　these　Aldabra　tortoises。　I　understand　they're　protected　by　law。　Mind　if　I　take　one　of　each　back　to　America　for　the　Smithsonian？　Well；　there　s　a　bit　of　a　palaver；　but　seeing　it's　the　Smithsonian　and　seeing　I've　still　got　hold　of　the　cheque；　in　the　end　we　shake　hands　on　the　deal　and　everyone's　happy。　Right？　Well；　on　the　way　back　I　stop　in　the　town　to　arrange　with　your　nice　Mr　Abendana；　the　merchant　feller；　to　have　the　parrot　and　tortoise　collected　and　held　for　me；　and　I　get　talking　about　the　cowries。　Well；　it　so　happens　that　this　Mr　Abendana　has　been　collecting　the　dam'　things　since　he　was　a　child。　He　shows　them　to　me。　Beautifully　kept　…　each　one　in　its　bit　of　cotton　wool。　Fine　condition　and　several　of　those　Isabella　and　Mappa　ones　I　was　asked　particularly　to　watch　out　for。　Sorry；　he　couldn't　think　of　selling。　They　meant　so　much　to　him　and　so　on。　Crap！　I　just　look　at　Mr　Abendana　and　I　say；　how　much？　No　no。　He　couldn't　think　of　it。　Crap　again！　I　take　out　my　chequebook　and　write　a　cheque　for　five　thousand　dollars　and　push　it　under　his　nose。　He　looks　at　it。　Five　thousand　dollars！　He　can't　stand　it。　He　folds　the　cheque　and　puts　it　in　his　pocket　and　then　the　dam'　sissy　breaks　down　and　weeps！　Would　you　believe　it？〃　Mr　Krest　opened　his　palms　in　disbelief。　〃Over　a　few　goddam　sea…shells。　So　I　just　tell　him　to　take　it　easy；　and　I　pick　up　the　trays　of　sea…shells　and　get　the　hell　out　of　there　before　the　crazy　so…and…so　shoots　himself　from　remorse。〃
　Mr　Krest　sat　back；　well　pleased　with　himself。　〃Well；　what'd　you　say　to　that；　fellers？　Twenty…four　hours　in　the　island　and　I've　already　knocked　off　three…quarters　of　my　list。　Pretty　smart；　eh；　Jim？〃
　Bond　said：　〃You'll　probably　get　a　medal　when　you　get　home。　What　about　this　fish？〃
　Mr　Krest　got　up　from　the　table　and　rummaged　in　a　drawer　of　his　desk。　He　brought　back　a　typewritten　sheet。　〃Here　you　are。〃　He　read　out：　〃'Hildebrand　Rarity。　Caught　by　Professor　Hildebrand　of　the　University　of　the　Witwatersrand　in　a　net　off　Chagrin　Island　in　the　Seychelles　group；　April　1925'。〃　Mr　Krest　looked　up。　〃And　then　there's　a　lot　of　scientific　crap。　I　got　them　to　put　it　into　plain　English；　and　here's　the　translation。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　paper。　〃'This　appears　to　be　a　unique　member　of　the　squirrel…fish　family。　The　only　specimen　known；　named　the　〃Hildebrand　Rarity〃　after　its　discoverer；　is　six　inches　long。　The　colour　is　a　bright　pink　with　black　transverse　stripes。　The　anal；　ventral　and　dorsal　fins　are　pink。　The　tail　fin　is　black。　Eyes；　large　and　dark　blue。　If　found；　care　should　be　taken　in　handling　this　fish　because　all　fins　are　even　more　sharply　spiked　than　is　usual　with　the　rest　of　this　family。　Professor　Hildebrand　records　that　he　found　the　specimen　in　three　feet　of　water　on　the　edge　of　the　south…western　reef'。〃　Mr　Krest　threw　the　paper　down　on　the　table。　〃Well；　there　you　are；　fellers。　We're　travelling　about　a　thousand　miles　at　a　cost　of　several　thousand　dollars　to　try　and　find　a　goddam　six…inch　fish。　And　two　years　ago　the　Revenue　people　had　the　gall　to　suggest　that　my　Foundation　was　a　phoney！〃
　Liz　Krest　broke　in　eagerly：　〃But　that's　just　it；　Milt；　isn't　it？　It's　really　rather　important　to　bring　back　plenty　of　specimens　and　things　this　time。　Weren't　those　horrible　tax　people　talking　about　disallowing　the　yacht　and　the　expenses　and　so　on　for　the　last　five　years　if　we　didn't　show　an　outstanding　scientific　achievement？　Wasn't　that　the　way　they　put　it？〃
　〃Treasure；〃　Mr　Krest's　voice　was　soft　as　velvet。　〃Just　supposin'　you　keep　that　flippin'　trap　shut　about　my　personal　affairs。　Yes？〃　The　voice　was　amiable；　nonchalant。　〃You　know　what　you　just　done；　treas？　You　just　earned　yourself　a　little　meeting　with　the　Corrector　this　evening。　That's　what　you've　gone　and　done。〃
　The　girl's　hand　flew　to　her　mouth。　Her　eyes　were　wide。　She　said　in　a　whisper：　〃Oh　no；　Milt。　Oh　no；　please。〃
　
　On　the　second　day　out；　at　dawn；　they　came　up　with　Chagrin　Island。　It　was　first　picked　up　by　the　radar　…　a　small　bump　in　the　dead　level　line　on　the　scanner　and　then　a　minute　blur　on　the　great　curved　horizon　grew　with　infinite　slowness　into　half　a　mile　of　green　fringed　with　white。　It　was　extraordinary　to　e　upon　land　after　two　days　in　which　the　yacht　had　seemed　to　be　the　only　moving；　the　only　living　thing　in　an　empty　world。　Bond　had　never　seen　or　even　clearly　imagined　the　doldrums　before。　Now　he　realized　what　a　terrible　hazard　they　must　have　been　in　the　days　of　sail　…　the　sea　of　glass　under　a　brazen　sun；　the　foul；　heavy　air；　the　trail　of　small　clouds　along　the　rim　of　the　world　that　never　came　closer；　never　brought　wind　or　blessed　rain。　How　must　centuries　of　mariners　have　blessed　this　tiny　dot　in　the　Indian　Ocean　as　they　bent　to　the　oars　that　moved　the　heavy　ship　perhaps　a　mile　a　day！　Bond　stood　in　the　bows　and　watched　the　flying…fish　squirt　from　beneath　the　hull　as　the　blue…black　of　the　sea　slowly　mottled　into　the　brown　and　white　and　green　of　deep　shoal。　How　wonderful　that　he　would　soon　be　walking　and　swimming　again　instead　of　just　sitting　and　lying　down。　How　wonderful　to　have　a　few　hours'　solitude　…　a　few　hours　away　from　Mr　Milton　Krest！
　They　anchored　outside　the　reef　in　ten　fathoms　and　Fidele　Barbey　took　them　through　the　opening　in　the　speedboat。　In　every　detail　Chagrin　was　the　prototype　coral　island。　It　was　about　twenty　acres　of　sand　and　dead　coral　and　low　scrub　surrounded；　after　fifty　yards　of　shallow　lagoon；　by　a　necklace　of　reef　on　which　the　quiet；　long　swell　broke　with　a　soft　hiss。　Clouds　of　birds　rose　when　they　landed　…　terns；　boobies；　men…of…war；　frigates　…　but　quickly　settled　again。　There　was　a　strong　ammoniac　smell　of　guano；　and　the　scrub　was　white　with　it。　The　only　other　living　things　were　the　land　crabs　that　scuttled　and　scraped　among　the　liane　sans　fin　and　the　fiddler…crabs　that　lived　in　the　sand。
　The　glare　from　the　white　sand　was　dazzling　and　there　was　no　shade。　Mr　Krest　ordered　a　tent　to　be　erected　and　sat　in　it　smoking　a　cigar　while　gear　of　various　kinds　was　ferried　ashore。　Mrs　Krest　swam　and　picked　up　sea　shells　while　Bond　and　Fidele　Barbey　put　on　masks　and；　swimming　in　opposite　directions；　began　systematically　to　b　the　reef　all　the　way　round　the　island。
　When　you　are　looking　for　one　particular　species　underwater　…　shell　or　fish　or　seaweed　or　coral　formation　…　you　have　to　keep　your　brain　and　your　eyes　focused　for　that　one　individual　pattern。　The　riot　of　colour　and　movement　and　the　endless　variety　of　light　and　shadow　fight　your　concentration　all　the　time。　Bond　trudged　slowly　along　through　the　wonderland　with　only　one　picture　in　his　mind　…　a　six…inch　pink　fish　with　black　stripes　and　big　eyes　…　the　second　such　fish　man　had　ever　seen。　〃If　you　see　it；〃　Mr　Krest　had　enjoined；　〃just　you　let　out　a　yell　and　stay　with　it。　I'll　do　the　rest。　I　got　a　little　something　in　the　tent　that's　just　the　dandiest　thing　for　catching　fish　you　ever　saw。〃
　Bond　paused　to　rest　his　eyes。　The　water　was　so　buoyant　that　he　could　lie　face　downwards　on　the　surface　without　moving。　Idly　he　broke　up　a　sea…egg　with　the　tip　of　his　spear　and　watched　the　horde　of　glittering　reef…fish　darting　for　the　shreds　of　yellow　flesh　among　the　needle…sharp　black　spine。　How　infernal　that　if　he　did　find　the　Rarity　it　would　benefit　only　Mr　Krest！　Should　he　say　nothing　if　be　found　it？　Rather　childish；　and　anyway　he　was　under　contract；　so　to　speak。　Bond　moved　slowly　on；　his　eyes　automatically　taking　up　the　search　again　while　his　mind　turned　to　considering　the　girl。　She　had　spent　the　previous　day　in　bed。　Mr　Krest　had　said　it　was　a　headache。　Would　she　one　day　turn　on　him？　Would　she　get　herself　a　knife　or　a　gun　and　one　night；　when　he　reached　for　that　damnable　whip；　would　she　kill　him？　No。　She　was　too　soft；　too　malleable。　Mr　Krest　had　chosen　well。　She　was　the　stuff　of　slaves。　And　the　trappings　of　her　'fairytale'　were　too　precious。　Didn't　she　realize　that　a　jury　would　certainly　acquit　her　if　the　sting…ray　whip　was　produced　in　court？　She　could　have　the　trappings　without　this　dreadful；　damnable　man。　Should　Bond　tell　her　that？　Don't　be　ridiculous！　How　could　he　put　it？　〃Oh　Liz；　if　you　want　to　murder　your　husband；　it'll　be　quite　all　right。〃　Bond　smiled　inside　his　mask。　To　hell　with　it！　Don't　interfere　with　other　people's　lives。　She　probably　likes　it　…　masochist。　But　Bond　knew　that　that　was　too　easy　an　answer。　This　was　a　girl　who　lived　in　fear。　Perhaps　she　also　lived　in　loathing。　One　couldn't　read　much　in　those　soft　blue　eyes；　but　the　windows　had　opened　once　or　twice　and　a　flash　of　something　like　a　childish　hate　had　shown　through。　Had　it　been　hate？　It　had　probably　been　indigestion。　Bond　put　the　Krests　out　of　his　mind　and　looked　up　to　see　how　far　round　the　island　he　had　got。
　Fidele　Barbey's　schnorkel　was　only　a　hundred　yards　away。　They　had　nearly　pleted　the　circuit。
　They　came　up　with　each　other　and　swam　to　the　shore　and　lay　on　the　hot　sand。　Fidele　Barbey　said：　〃Nothing　on　my　side　of　the　property　except　every　fish　in　the　world　bar　one。　But　I've　had　a　stroke　of　luck。　Ran　into　a　big　colony　of　green　snail。　That's　the　pearl　shell　as　big　is　a　small　football。　Worth　quite　a　lot　of　money。　I'll　send　one　of　my　boats　after　them　one　of　these　days。　Saw　a　blue　parrot…fish　that　must　have　been　a　good　thirty　pounds。　Tame　as　a　dog；　like　all　the　fish　round　here。　Hadn't　got　the　heart　to　kill　it。　And　if　I　had；　there　might　have　been　trouble。　Saw　two　or　three　leopard　sharks　cruising　around　over　the　reef。　Blood　in　the　water　might　have　brought　them　through。　Now　I'm　ready　for　a　drink　and　something　to　eat。　After　that　we　can　swap　sides　and　have　another　go。〃
　They　got　up　and　walked　along　the　beach　to　the　tent。　Mr　Krest　heard　their　voices　and　came　out　to　meet　them。　〃No　dice；　eh？〃　He　scratched　angrily　at　an　arm　pit。　〃Goddam　sandfly　bit　me。　This　is　one　hell　of　a　god…awful　island。　Liz　couldn't　stand　the　smell。　Gone　back　to　the　ship。　Guess　we'd　better　give　it　one　more　going…over　and　then　get　the　hell　out　of　here。　Help　yourselves　to　some　chow　and　you'll　find　cold　beer　in　the　icepack。　Here；　gimme　one　of　those　masks。　How　do　you　use　the　dam'　things？　I　guess　I　might　as　well　take　a　peek　at　the　sea's　bottom　while　I'm　about　it。〃
　They　sat　in　the　hot　tent　and　ate　the　chicken　salad　and　drank　beer；　and　moodily　watched　Mr　Krest　poking　and　peering　about　in　the　shallows。　Fidele　Barbey　said：　〃He's　right；　of　course。　These　little　islands　are　bloody　awful　places。　Nothing　but　crabs　and　bird　dung　surrounded　by　too　dam'　much　sea。　It's　only　the　poor　bloody　frozen　Europeans　that　dream　of　coral　islands。　East　of　Suez；　you　won't　find　any　sane　man　who　gives　a　damn　for　them。　My　family　owns　about　ten　of　them　…　decent…sized　ones　too；　with　small　villages　on　them　and　a　good　ine　from　copra　and　turtle。　Well；　you　can　h