iam fleming.for your eyes only-第7章

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　Major　Gonzales　laughed。　It　sounded　quite　genuine　laughter。　He　shook　his　head　as　if　he　was　explaining　something　to　a　rather　dense　child。　〃You　misunderstand　me；　Colonel。　My　gentleman　desires　this　property　and　no　other　property　in　Jamaica。　He　has　some　funds；　some　extra　funds；　to　invest。　These　funds　are　seeking　a　home　in　Jamaica。　My　gentleman　wishes　this　to　be　their　home。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　said　patiently：　〃I　quite　understand；　Major。　And　I　am　so　sorry　you　have　wasted　your　time。　Content　will　never　be　for　sale　in　my　lifetime。　And　now；　if　you'll　forgive　me。　My　wife　and　I　always　dine　early；　and　you　have　a　long　way　to　go。〃　He　made　a　gesture　to　the　left；　along　the　veranda。　〃I　think　you'll　find　this　is　the　quickest　way　to　your　car。　Let　me　show　you。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　moved　invitingly；　but　when　Major　Gonzales　stayed　where　he　was；　he　stopped。　The　blue　eyes　began　to　freeze。
　There　was　perhaps　one　less　tooth　in　Major　Gonzales's　smile　and　his　eyes　had　bee　watchful。　But　his　manner　was　still　jolly。　He　said　cheerfully；　〃Just　one　moment；　Colonel。〃　He　issued　a　curt　order　over　his　shoulder。　Both　the　Havelocks　noticed　the　jolly　mask　slip　with　the　few　sharp　words　through　the　teeth。　For　the　first　time　Mrs　Havelock　looked　slightly　uncertain。　She　moved　still　closer　to　her　husband。　The　two　men　picked　up　their　blue　Pan　American　bags　and　stepped　forward。　Major　Gonzales　reached　for　the　zipper　on　each　of　them　in　turn　and　pulled。　The　taut　mouths　sprang　open。　The　bags　were　full　to　the　brim　with　neat　solid　wads　of　American　money。　Major　Gonzales　spread　his　arms。　〃All　hundred　dollar　bills。　All　genuine。　Half　a　million　dollars。　That　is；　in　your　money；　let　us　say；　one　hundred　and　eighty　thousand　pounds。　A　small　fortune。　There　are　many　other　good　places　to　live　in　the　world；　Colonel。　And　perhaps　my　gentleman　would　add　a　further　twenty　thousand　pounds　to　make　the　round　sum。　You　would　know　in　a　week。　All　I　need　is　half　a　sheet　of　paper　with　your　signature。　The　lawyers　can　do　the　rest。　Now；　Colonel；〃　the　smile　was　winning；　〃shall　we　say　yes　and　shake　hands　on　it？　Then　the　bags　stay　here　and　we　leave　you　to　your　dinner。〃
　The　Havelocks　now　looked　at　the　Major　with　the　same　expression　…　a　mixture　of　anger　and　disgust。　One　could　imagine　Mrs　Havelock　telling　the　story　next　day。　〃Such　a　mon；　greasy　little　man。　And　those　filthy　plastic　bags　full　of　money！　Timmy　was　wonderful。　He　just　told　him　to　get　out　and　take　the　dirty　stuff　away　with　him。〃
　Colonel　Havelock's　mouth　turned　down　with　distaste。　He　said：　〃I　thought　I　had　made　myself　clear。　Major。　The　property　is　not　for　sale　at　any　price。　And　I　do　not　share　the　popular　thirst　for　American　dollars。　I　must　now　ask　you　to　leave。〃　Colonel　Havelock　laid　his　cold　pipe　on　the　table　as　if　he　was　preparing　to　roll　up　his　sleeves。
　For　the　first　time　Major　Gonzales's　smile　lost　its　warmth。　The　mouth　continued　to　grin　but　it　was　now　shaped　in　an　angry　grimace。　The　liquid　golden　eyes　were　suddenly　brassy　and　hard。　He　said　softly：　〃Colonel。　It　is　I　who　have　not　made　myself　clear。　Not　you。　My　gentleman　has　instructed　me　to　say　that　if　you　will　not　accept　his　most　generous　terms　we　must　proceed　to　other　measures。〃
　Mrs　Havelock　was　suddenly　afraid。　She　put　her　hand　on　Colonel　Havelock's　arm　and　pressed　it　hard。　He　put　his　hand　over　hers　in　reassurance。　He　said　through　tight　lips：　〃Please　leave　us　alone　and　go；　Major。　Otherwise　I　shall　municate　with　the　police。〃
　The　pink　tip　of　Major　Gonzales's　tongue　came　out　and　slowly　licked　along　his　lips。　All　the　light　had　gone　out　of　his　face　and　it　had　bee　taut　and　hard。　He　said　harshly。　〃So　the　property　is　not　for　sale　in　your　lifetime；　Colonel。　Is　that　your　last　word？〃　His　right　hand　went　behind　his　back　and　he　clicked　his　fingers　softly；　once。　Behind　him　the　gun…hands　of　the　two　men　slid　through　the　opening　of　their　gay　shirts　above　the　waistbands。　The　sharp　animal　eyes　watched　the　Major's　fingers　behind　his　back。
　Mrs　Havelock's　hand　went　up　to　her　mouth。　Colonel　Havelock　tried　to　say　yes；　but　his　mouth　was　dry。　He　swallowed　noisily。　He　could　not　believe　it。　This　mangy　Cuban　crook　must　be　bluffing。　He　managed　to　say　thickly：　〃Yes；　it　is。〃
　Major　Gonzales　nodded　curtly。　〃In　that　case；　Colonel；　my　gentleman　will　carry　on　the　negotiations　with　the　next　owner　…　with　your　daughter。〃
　The　fingers　clicked。　Major　Gonzales　stepped　to　one　side　to　give　a　clear　field　of　fire。　The　brown　monkey…hands　came　out　from　under　the　gay　shirts。　The　ugly　sausage…shaped　hunks　of　metal　spat　and　thudded　…　again　and　again；　even　when　the　two　bodies　were　on　their　way　to　the　ground。
　Major　Gonzales　bent　down　and　verified　where　the　bullets　had　hit。　Then　the　three　small　men　walked　quickly　back　through　the　rose　and　white　drawing…room　and　across　the　dark　carved　mahogany　hall　and　out　through　the　elegant　front　door。　They　climbed　unhurriedly　into　a　black　Ford　Consul　Sedan　with　Jamaican　number　plates　and；　with　Major　Gonzales　driving　and　the　two　gunmen　sitting　upright　in　the　back　seat；　they　drove　off　at　an　easy　pace　down　the　long　avenue　of　Royal　Palms。　At　the　junction　of　the　drive　and　the　road　to　Port　Antonio　the　cut　telephone　wires　hung　down　through　the　trees　like　bright　lianas。　Major　Gonzales　slalomed　the　car　carefully　and　expertly　down　the　rough　parochial　road　until　he　was　on　the　metalled　strip　near　the　coast。　Then　he　put　on　speed。　Twenty　minutes　after　the　killing　he　came　to　the　outer　sprawl　of　the　little　banana　port。　There　he　ran　the　stolen　car　on　to　the　grass　verge　beside　the　road　and　the　three　men　got　out　and　walked　the　quarter　of　a　mile　through　the　sparsely　lit　main　street　to　the　banana　wharves。　The　speedboat　was　waiting；　its　exhaust　bubbling。　The　three　men　got　in　and　the　boat　zoomed　off　across　the　still　waters　of　what　an　American　poetess　has　called　the　most　beautiful　harbour　in　the　world。　The　anchor　chain　was　already　half　up　on　the　glittering　fifty…ton　Chriscraft。　She　was　flying　the　Stars　and　Stripes。　The　two　graceful　antennae　of　the　deep…sea　rods　explained　that　these　were　tourists　…　from　Kingston；　perhaps；　or　from　Montego　Bay。　The　three　men　went　on　board　and　the　speedboat　was　swung　in。　Two　canoes　were　circling；　begging。　Major　Gonzales　tossed　a　fifty…cent　piece　to　each　of　them　and　the　stripped　men　dived。　The　twin　diesels　awoke　to　a　stuttering　roar　and　the　Chriscraft　settled　her　stern　down　a　fraction　and　made　for　the　deep　channel　below　the　Titchfield　hotel。　By　dawn　she　would　be　back　in　Havana。　The　fishermen　and　wharfingers　ashore　watched　her　go；　and　went　on　with　their　argument　as　to　which　of　the　filmstars　holidaying　in　Jamaica　this　could　have　been。
　Up　on　the　broad　veranda　of　Content　the　last　rays　of　the　sun　glittered　on　the　red　stains。　One　of　the　doctor　birds　whirred　over　the　balustrade　and　hovered　close　above　Mrs　Havelock's　heart；　looking　down。　No；　this　was　not　for　him。　He　flirted　gaily　off　to　his　roosting…perch　among　the　closing　hibiscus。
　There　came　the　sound　of　someone　in　a　small　sports　car　making　a　racing　change　at　the　bend　of　the　drive。　If　Mrs　Havelock　had　been　alive　she　would　have　been　getting　ready　to　say：　〃Judy；　I'm　always　telling　you　not　to　do　that　on　the　corner。　It　scatters　gravel　all　over　the　lawn　and　you　know　how　it　ruins　Joshua's　lawn…mower。〃
　
　It　was　a　month　later。　In　London；　October　had　begun　with　a　week　of　brilliant　Indian　summer；　and　the　noise　of　the　mowers　came　up　from　Regent's　Park　and　in　through　the　wide　open　windows　of　M's　office。　They　were　motor…mowers　and　James　Bond　reflected　that　one　of　the　most　beautiful　noises　of　summer；　the　drowsy　iron　song　of　the　old　machines；　was　going　for　ever　from　the　world。　Perhaps　today　children　felt　the　same　about　the　puff　and　chatter　of　the　little　two…stroke　engines。　At　least　the　cut　grass　would　smell　the　same。
　Bond　had　time　for　these　reflections　because　M　seemed　to　be　having　difficulty　in　ing　to　the　point。　Bond　had　been　asked　if　he　had　anything　on　at　the　moment；　and　he　had　replied　happily　that　he　hadn't　and　had　waited　for　Pandora's　box　to　be　opened　for　him。　He　was　mildly　intrigued　because　M　had　addressed　him　as　James　and　not　by　his　number　…　007。　This　was　unusual　during　duty　hours。　It　sounded　as　if　there　might　be　some　personal　angle　to　this　assignment　…　as　if　it　might　be　put　to　him　more　as　a　request　than　as　an　order。　And　it　seemed　to　Bond　that　there　was　an　extra　small　cleft　of　worry　between　the　frosty；　damnably　clear；　grey　eyes。　And　three　minutes　was　certainly　too　long　to　spend　getting　a　pipe　going。
　M　swivelled　his　chair　round　square　with　the　desk　and　flung　the　box　of　matches　down　so　that　it　skidded　across　the　red　leather　top　towards　Bond。　Bond　fielded　it　and　skidded　it　politely　back　to　the　middle　of　the　desk。　M　smiled　briefly。　He　seemed　to　make　up　his　mind。　He　said　mildly：　〃James；　has　it　ever　occurred　to　you　that　every　man　in　the　fleet　knows　what　to　do　except　the　manding　admiral？〃
　Bond　frowned。　He　said：　〃It　hadn't　occurred　to　me；　sir。　But　I　see　what　you　mean。　The　rest　only　have　to　carry　out　orders。　The　admiral　has　to　decide　on　the　orders。　I　suppose　it's　the　same　as　saying　that　Supreme　mand　is　the　loneliest　post　there　is。〃
　M　jerked　his　pipe　sideways。　〃Same　sort　of　idea。　Someone's　got　to　be　tough。　Someone's　got　to　decide　in　the　end。　If　you　send　a　havering　signal　to　the　Admiralty　you　deserve　to　be　put　on　the　beach。　Some　people　are　religious　…　pass　the　decision　on　to　God。〃　M's　eyes　were　defensive。　〃I　used　to　try　that　sometimes　in　the　Service；　but　He　always　passed　the　buck　back　again　…　told　me　to　get　on　and　make　up　my　own　mind。　Good　for　one；　I　suppose；　but　tough。　Trouble　is；　very　few　people　keep　tough　after　about　forty。　They've　been　knocked　about　by　life　…　had　troubles；　tragedies；　illnesses。　These　things　soften　you　up。〃　M　looked　sharply　at　Bond。　〃How's　your　coefficient　of　toughness；　James？　You　haven't　got　to　the　dangerous　age　yet。〃
　Bond　didn't　like　personal　questions。　He　didn't　know　what　to　answer；　nor　what　the　truth　was。　He　had　not　got　a　wife　or　children　…　had　never　suffered　the　tragedy　of　a　personal　loss。　He　had　not　had　to　stand　up　to　blindness　or　a　mortal　disease。　He　had　absolutely　no　idea　how　he　would　face　these　things　that　needed　so　much　more　toughness　than　he　had　ever　had　to　show。　He　said　hesitantly：　〃I　suppose　I　can　stand　most　things　if　I　have　to　and　if　I　think　it's　right；　sir。　I　mean〃　…　he　did　not　like　using　such　words　…　〃if　the　cause　is　…　er　…　sort　of　just；　sir。〃　He　went　on；　feeling　ashamed　at　himself　for　throwing　the　ball　back　at　M：　〃Of　course　it's　not　easy　to　know　what　is　just　and　what　isn't。　I　suppose　I　assume　that　when　I'm　given　an　unpleasant　job　in　the　Service　the　cause　is　a　just　one。〃
　〃Dammit；〃　M's　eyes　glittered　impatiently。　〃That's　just　what　I　mean！　You　rely　on　me。　You　won't　take　any　damned　responsibility　yourself。〃　He　thrust　the　stem　of　his　pipe　towards　his　chest。　〃I'm　the　one　who　has　to　do　that。　I'm　the　one　who　has　to　decide　if　a　thing　is　right　or　not。〃　The　anger　died　out　of　the　eyes。　The　grim　mouth　bent　sourly。　He　said　gloomily：　〃Oh　well；　I　suppose　it's　what　I'm　paid　for。　Somebody's　got　to　drive　the　bloody　train。〃　M　put　his　pipe　back　in　his　mouth　and　drew　on　it　deeply　to　relieve　his　feelings。
　Now　Bond　felt　sorry　for　M。　He　had　never　before　heard　M　use　as　strong　a　word　as　'bloody'。　Nor　had　M　ever　given　a　member　of　his　staff　any　hint　that　he　felt　the　weight　of　the　burden　he　was　carrying　and　had　carried　ever　since　he　had　thrown