if.thunderball-第22节

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e　no　more　than　a　nuisance；　one　of　the　team；　despite　Largo's　assurances；　might　lose　his　nerve。
　
　They　swam　on　in　the　soft　moonlit　mist　of　the　sea。　At　first　there　was　nothing　but　a　milky　void　below　them；　but　then　the　coral　shelf　of　the　island　showed　up；　climbing　steeply　toward　the　surface。　Sea　fans；　like　small　shrouds　in　the　moonlight；　waved　softly；　beckoning；　and　the　clumps　and　trees　of　coral　were　gray　and　enigmatic。　It　was　because　of　these　things；　the　harmless　underwater　mysteries　that　make　the　skin　crawl　on　the　inexperienced；　that　Largo　had　decided　to　lead　the　disposal　teams　himself。　Out　in　the　open；　where　the　plane　had　foundered；　the　eye　of　the　big　searchlight　made；　with　the　known　object　of　the　plane　itself；　the　underwater　world　into　the　semblance　of　a　big　room。　But　this　was　different。　This　gray…white　world　needed　the　contempt　of　a　swimmer　who　had　experienced　these　phantom　dangers　a　thousand　times　before。　That　was　the　main　reason　why　Largo　led　the　teams。　He　also　wanted　to　know　exactly　how　the　two　gray　sausages　were　stored　away。　It　could　happen；　if　things　went　wrong；　that　he　would　have　to　salvage　them　himself。
　
　The　underpart　of　the　small　island　had　been　eroded　by　the　waves　so　that；　seen　from　below；　it　resembled　a　thick　mushroom。　Under　the　umbrella　of　coral　there　was　a　wide　fissure；　a　dark　wound　in　the　side　of　the　stem。　Largo　made　for　it　and；　when　he　was　close；　switched　on　his　torch。　Beneath　the　umbrella　of　coral　it　was　dark。　The　yellow　light　of　the　torch　showed　up　the　minute　life　of　an　inshore　coral　munity…the　pale　sea　urchins　and　the　fierce　black　spines　of　sea　eggs；　the　shifting　underbrush　of　seaweeds；　the　yellow　and　blue　seeking　antennae　of　a　langouste；　the　butterfly　and　angel　fish；　fluttering　like　moths　in　the　light；　a　coiled　bêche　de　mer　；　a　couple　of　meandering　sea　caterpillars　and　the　black　and　green　jelly　of　a　sea　hare。
　
　Largo　lowered　the　black　fins　on　his　feet；　got　his　balance　on　a　ledge；　and　looked　round；　shining　his　torch　on　the　rock　so　that　the　two　teams　could　get　a　foothold。　Then　he　waved　them　on　and　into　the　smooth　broad　fissure　that　showed　a　glimmer　of　moonlight　at　its　far　end　inside　the　center　of　the　rock。　The　underwater　cave　was　only　about　ten　yards　long。　Largo　led　the　teams　one　after　the　other　through　and　into　the　small　chamber　that　might　once　perhaps　have　been　a　wonderful　repository　for　a　different　kind　of　treasure。　From　the　chamber　a　narrow　fissure　led　to　the　upper　air；　and　this　would　certainly　bee　a　fine　blow…hole　in　a　storm；　though　it　would　be　unlikely　that　fishermen　would　be　close　enough　to　the　Dog　Shoal　in　a　storm　to　see　the　water　fountaining　out　of　the　center　of　the　island。　Above　the　present　water　line　in　the　chamber；　Largo's　men　had　hammered　stanchions　into　the　rock　to　form　cradles　for　the　two　atomic　weapons　with　leather　straps　to　hold　them　secure　against　any　weather。　Now；　one　by　one；　the　two　teams　lifted　the　rubber　packages　up　onto　the　iron　bars　and　made　them　secure。　Largo　examined　the　result　and　was　satisfied。　The　weapons　would　be　ready　for　him　when　he　needed　them。　In　the　meantime　such　radiation　as　there　was　would　be　quarantined　within　this　tiny　rock　a　hundred　miles　from　Nassau　and　his　men　and　his　ship　would　be　clean　and　innocent　as　snow。
　
　The　five　men　trudged　calmly　back　to　the　ship　and　into　the　hold　through　the　hatch。　To　the　boom　of　the　engines　the　bows　of　the　Disco　lifted　slowly　out　of　the　water　and　the　beautiful　ship；　streamlined　like　the　gondola　of　some　machine　of　the　air　rather　than　of　the　sea；　skimmed　off　on　the　homeward　journey。
　
　Largo　stripped　off　his　equipment　and；　with　a　towel　round　his　slim　waist；　went　forward　to　the　radio　cabin。　He　had　missed　the　midnight　call。　It　was　now　one…fifteen…seven…fifteen　in　the　morning　for　Blofeld。　Largo　thought　of　this　while　contact　was　being　made。　Blofeld　would　be　sitting　there；　haggard　perhaps；　probably　unshaven。　There　would　be　coffee　beside　him；　the　last　of　an　endless　chain　of　cups。　Largo　could　smell　it。　Now　Blofeld　would　be　able　to　take　a　taxi　to　the　Turkish　baths　in　the　Rue　Aubert；　his　resort　when　there　were　tensions　to　be　dissipated。　And　there；　at　last；　he　would　sleep。　〃Number　1　speaking。〃　〃Number　2　listening。〃
　
　〃Phase　III　pleted。　Phase　III　pleted。　Successful。　One　a。m。　here。　Closing　down。〃　〃I　am　satisfied。〃
　
　Largo　stripped　off　the　earphones。　He　thought　to　himself；　〃So　am　I！　We　are　more　than　three…quarters　home。　Now　only　the　devil　can　stop　us。〃
　
　He　went　into　the　stateroom　and　carefully　made　himself　a　tall　of　his　favorite　drink…crème　de　menthe　frappé　with　a　maraschino　cherry　on　top。
　
　He　sipped　it　delicately　to　the　end　and　ate　the　cherry。　Then　he　took　one　more　cherry　out　of　the　bottle；　slipped　it　into　his　mouth；　and　went　up　on　the　bridge。
　
　11。　Domino
　
　The　girl　in　the　sapphire　blue　MG　two…seater　shot　down　the　slope　of　Parliament　Street　and　at　the　junction　with　Bay　Street　executed　an　admirable　racing　change　through　third　into　second。　She　gave　a　quick　glance　to　the　right；　correctly　estimated　the　trot　of　the　straw…hatted　horse　in　the　shafts　of　the　rickety　cab　with　the　gay　fringe；　and　swerved　out　of　the　side　street　left…handed。　The　horse　jerked　back　his　head　indignantly　and　the　coachman　stamped　his　foot　up　and　down　on　the　big　Bermuda　bell。　The　disadvantage　of　the　beautiful　deep　ting…tong；　ting…tong　of　the　Bermuda　carriage　bell　is　that　it　cannot　possibly　sound　angry；　however　angrily　you　may　sound　it。　The　girl　gave　a　cheerful　wave　of　a　sunburned　hand；　raced　up　the　street　in　second；　and　stopped　in　front　of　the　Pipe　of　Peace；　the　Dunhills　of　Nassau。
　
　Not　bothering　to　open　the　low　door　of　the　MG；　the　girl　swung　one　brown　leg　and　then　the　other　over　the　side　of　the　car；　showing　her　thighs　under　the　pleated　cream　cotton　skirt　almost　to　her　waist；　and　slipped　to　the　pavement。　By　now　the　cab　was　alongside。　The　cabby　reined　in。　He　was　mollified　by　the　gaiety　and　beauty　of　the　girl。　He　said；　〃Missy；　you　done　almost　shaved　de　whiskers　off　of　Old　Dreamy　here。　You　wanna　be　more　careful。〃
　
　The　girl　put　her　hands　on　her　hips。　She　didn't　like　being　told　anything　by　anyone。　She　said　sharply；　〃Old　Dreamy　yourself。　Some　people　have　got　work　to　do。　Both　of　you　ought　to　be　put　out　to　grass　instead　of　cluttering　up　the　streets　getting　in　everyone's　way。〃
　
　The　ancient　Negro　opened　his　mouth；　thought　better　of　it；　said　a　pacifying　〃Hokay；　Missy。　Hokay；〃　flicked　at　his　horse；　and　moved　on；　muttering　to　himself。　He　turned　on　his　seat　to　get　another　look　at　the　she…devil；　but　she　had　already　disappeared　into　the　shop。　〃Dat's　a　fine　piece　of　gal；〃　he　said　inconsequentially；　and　put　his　horse　into　an　ambling　trot。
　
　Twenty　yards　away；　James　Bond　had　witnessed　the　whole　scene。　He　felt　the　same　way　about　the　girl　as　the　cabby　did。　He　also　knew　who　she　was。　He　quickened　his　step　and　pushed　through　the　striped　sun　blinds　into　the　blessed　cool　of　the　tobacconist's。
　
　The　girl　was　standing　at　a　counter　arguing　with　one　of　the　assistants。　〃But　I　tell　you　I　don't　want　Senior　Service。　I　tell　you　I　want　a　cigarette　that's　so　disgusting　that　I　shan't　want　to　smoke　it。　Haven't　you　got　a　cigarette　that　stops　people　smoking？　Look　at　all　that。〃　She　waved　a　hand　toward　the　stacked　shelves。　〃Don't　tell　me　some　of　those　don't　taste　horrible。〃
　
　The　man　was　used　to　crazy　tourists；　and　anyway　the　Nassavian　doesn't　get　excited。　He　said；　〃Well；　Ma'am　。　。　。〃　and　turned　and　languidly　looked　along　the　shelves。
　
　Bond　said　sternly　to　the　girl；　〃You　can　choose　between　two　kinds　of　cigarette　if　you　want　to　smoke　less。〃
　
　She　looked　sharply　up　at　him。　〃And　who　might　you　be？〃　〃My　name's　Bond；　James　Bond。　I'm　the　world's　authority　on　giving　up　smoking。　I　do　it　constantly。　You're　lucky　I　happen　to　be　handy。〃
　
　The　girl　looked　him　up　and　down。　He　was　a　man　she　hadn't　seen　before　in　Nassau。　He　was　about　six　feet　tall　and　somewhere　in　his　middle　thirties。　He　had　dark；　rather　cruel　good　looks　and　very　clear　blue…gray　eyes　that　were　now　observing　her　inspection　sardonically。　A　scar　down　his　right　cheek　showed　pale　against　a　tan　so　mild　that　he　must　have　only　recently　e　to　the　island。　He　was　wearing　a　very　dark　blue　lightweight　single…breasted　suit　over　a　cream　silk　shirt　and　a　black　knitted　silk　tie。　Despite　the　heat；　he　looked　cool　and　clean；　and　his　only　concession　to　the　tropics　appeared　to　be　the　black　saddle…stitched　sandals　on　his　bare　feet。　It　was　an　obvious　attempt　at　a　pick…up。　He　had　an　exciting　face；　and　authority。　She　decided　to　go　along。　But　she　wasn't　going　to　make　it　easy。　She　said　coldly；　〃All　right。　Tell　me。〃
　
　〃The　only　way　to　stop　smoking　is　to　stop　it　and　not　start　again。　If　you　want　to　pretend　to　stop　for　a　week　or　two；　it's　no　good　trying　to　ration　yourself。　You'll　bee　a　bore　and　think　about　nothing　else。　And　you'll　snatch　at　a　cigarette　every　time　the　hour　strikes　or　whatever　the　intervals　may　be。　You'll　behave　greedily。　That's　unattractive。　The　other　way　is　to　have　cigarettes　that　are　either　too　mild　or　too　strong。　The　mild　ones　are　probably　the　best　for　you。〃　Bond　said　to　the　attendant；　〃A　carton　of　Dukes；　king…size　with　filter。〃　Bond　handed　them　to　the　girl。　〃Here；　try　these。　With　the　pliments　of　Faust。〃
　
　〃Oh；　but　I　can't。　I　mean　。　。　。〃
　
　But　Bond　had　already　paid　for　the　carton　and