if.thunderball-第27节

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ff　a　clicking　sound；　and　if　you're　prospecting　for　uranium；　which　is　the　big　market　for　these　machines；　you　wear　earphones　to　try　and　pick　up　the　stuff　underground。　For　this　job　we　don't　need　anything　so　sensitive。　If　we　get　near　where　those　bombs　are　hidden；　this　damned　sweephand'll　go　right　off　the　dial。　Okay？　So　let's　go　hire　ourselves　a　sixpenny　sick　and　pay　a　call　on　the　ocean　greyhound。〃
　
　13。　〃My　Name　Is　Emilio　Largo〃
　
　Leiter's　〃sixpenny　sick〃　was　the　hotel　launch；　a　smart　Chrysler…engined　speedboat　that　said　it　would　be　20　an　hour。　They　ran　out　westward　from　the　harbor；　past　Silver　Cay；　Long　Cay；　and　Balmoral　Island　and　round　Delaporte　Point。　Five　miles　farther　down　the　coast；　encrusted　with　glittering　seashore　properties　the　boatman　said　cost　￡400　per　foot　of　beach　frontage；　they　rounded　Old　Fort　Point　and　came　upon　the　gleaming　white　and　dark　blue　ship　lying　with　two　anchors　out　in　deep　water　just　outside　the　reef。　Leiter　whistled。　He　said　in　an　awestruck　voice；　〃Boy；　is　that　a　piece　of　boat！　I'd　sure　like　to　have　one　of　those　to　play　with　in　my　bath。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃She's　Italian。　Built　by　a　firm　called　Rodrigues　at　Messina。　Thing　called　an　Aliscafo　。　She's　got　a　hydrofoil　under　the　hull　and　when　she　gets　going　you　let　this　sort　of　skid　down　and　she　rises　up　and　practically　flies。　Only　the　screws　and　a　few　feet　of　the　stern　stay　in　the　water。　The　Police　missioner　says　she　can　do　fifty　knots　in　calm　water。　Only　good　for　inshore　work　of　course；　but　they　can　carry　upwards　of　a　hundred　passengers　when　they're　designed　as　fast　ferries。　Apparently　this　one's　been　designed　for　about　forty。　The　rest　of　the　space　is　taken　up　with　the　owner's　quarters　and　cargo　space。　Must　have　cost　damned　near　a　quarter　of　a　million。〃
　
　The　boatman　broke　in。　〃They　say　on　Bay　Street　that　she　goin'　go　after　the　treasure　these　next　few　days　or　so。　All　the　people　that　own　share　in　the　gold　e　in　a　few　days　ago。　Then　she　spen'　one　whole　night　doin'　a　final　recce。　They　say　is　down　Exhuma　way；　or　over　by　Watlings　Island。　Guess　you　folks　know　that's　where　Columbus　make　him　first　landfall　on　this　side　of　the　Atlantic。　Around　fourteen　ninety　somethin'。　But　could　be　anywhere　down　there。　They's　always　been　talk　of　treasure　down　'mongst　the　Ragged　Islands…even　as　far　as　Crooked　Island。　Fact　is　she　sail　out　southward。　Hear　her　myself；　right　until　her　engines　died　away。　East　by　southeast；　I'da　say。〃　The　boatman　spat　discreetly　over　the　side。　〃Must　be　plenty　heap　of　treasure　with　the　cost　of　that　ship　and　all　the　money　they　throwing　'way。　Every　time　she　go　to　the　Hoiling　Wharf　they　say　the　bill's　five　hundred　pound。〃
　
　Bond　said　casually；　〃Which　night　was　it　they　did　the　final　recce？〃
　
　〃Night　after　she　hoiled。　That'd　be　two　nights　ago。　Sail　round　six。〃
　
　The　blank　portholes　of　the　ship　watched　them　approach。　A　sailor　polishing　brass　round　the　curve　of　the　enclosed　dome　that　was　the　bridge　walked　through　the　hatch　into　the　bridge　and　Bond　could　see　him　talking　into　a　mouthpiece。　A　tall　man　in　white　ducks　and　a　very　wide　mesh　singlet　appeared　on　deck　and　observed　them　through　binoculars。　He　called　something　to　the　sailor；　who　came　and　stood　at　the　top　of　the　ladder　down　the　starboard　side。　When　their　launch　came　alongside；　the　man　cupped　his　hands　and　called　down；　〃What　is　your　business；　please？　Have　you　an　appointment？〃
　
　Bond　called　back；　〃It's　Mr。　Bond；　Mr。　James　Bond。　From　New　York。　I　have　my　attorney　here。　I　have　an　inquiry　to　make　about　Palmyra；　Mr。　Largo's　property。〃
　
　〃One　moment；　please。〃　The　sailor　disappeared　and　returned　acpanied　by　the　man　in　white　ducks　and　singlet。　Bond　recognized　him　from　the　police　description。　He　called　down　cheerfully；　〃e　aboard；　e　aboard。〃　He　gestured　for　the　sailor　to　go　down　and　help　fend　the　launch。　Bond　and　Leiter　climbed　out　of　the　launch　and　went　up　the　ladder。
　
　Largo　held　out　a　hand。　〃My　name　is　Emilio　Largo。　Mr。　Bond？〃
　
　And　。　。　。？〃
　
　〃Mr。　Larkin；　my　attorney　from　New　York。　Actually　I'm　English；　but　I　have　property　in　America。〃　They　shook　hands。　〃I'm　sorry　to　bother　you；　Mr。　Largo；　but　it's　about　Palmyra；　the　property　I　believe　you　rent　from　Mr。　Bryce。〃
　
　〃Ah；　yes；　of　course。〃　The　beautiful　teeth　gleamed　warmth　and　wele。　〃e　on　down　to　the　stateroom；　gentlemen。　I'm　sorry　I　am　not　properly　dressed　to　receive　you。〃　The　big　brown　hands　caressed　his　flanks；　the　wide　mouth　turned　down　in　deprecation。　〃My　visitors　usually　announce　themselves　on　the　ship…to…shore。　But　if　you　will　forgive　the　informality　。　。　。〃　Largo　allowed　the　phrase　to　die　on　the　air　and　ushered　them　through　a　low　hatch　and　down　a　few　aluminum　steps　into　the　main　cabin。　The　rubber…lined　hatch　hissed　to　behind　him。
　
　It　was　a　fine　large　cabin　paneled　in　mahogany　with　a　deep　wine…Red　carpet　and　fortable　dark　blue　leather　club　chairs。　The　sun　shining　through　the　slats　of　Venetian　blinds　over　the　broad　square　ports　added　a　touch　of　gay　light　to　an　otherwise　rather　somber　and　masculine　room；　its　long　center　table　littered　with　papers　and　charts；　glass…fronted　cabinets　containing　fishing　gear　and　an　array　of　guns　and　other　weapons；　and　a　black　rubber　underwater　diving　suit　and　aqualung　suspended；　almost　like　the　skeleton　in　a　sorcerer's　den；　from　a　rack　in　one　corner。　The　air…conditioning　made　the　cabin　deliciously　cool；　and　Bond　felt　his　damp　shirt　slowly　freeing　itself　from　his　skin。
　
　〃Please　take　a　chair；　gentlemen。〃　Largo　carelessly　brushed　aside　the　charts　and　papers　on　the　table　as　if　they　were　of　no　importance。　〃Cigarettes？〃　He　placed　a　large　silver　box　between　them。　〃And　now　what　can　I　get　you　to　drink？〃　He　went　to　the　loaded　sideboard。　〃Something　cool　and　not　too　strong　perhaps？　A　Planter's　Punch？　Gin　and　tonic？　Or　there　are　various　beers。　You　must　have　had　a　hot　journey　in　that　open　launch。　I　would　have　sent　my　boat　for　you　if　only　I　had　known。〃
　
　They　both　asked　for　a　plain　tonic。　Bond　said；　〃I'm　very　sorry　to　barge　in　like　this；　Mr。　Largo；　No　idea　I　could　have　got　you　on　the　telephone。　We　just　got　in　this　morning；　and　as　I've　only　a　few　days　I　have　to　get　a　move　on。　The　point　is；　I'm　looking　for　a　property　down　here。〃
　
　〃Oh；　yes？〃　Largo　brought　the　glasses　and　bottles　of　tonic　to　the　table　and　sat　down　so　that　they　formed　a　fortable　group。　〃What　a　good　idea。　Wonderful　place。　I've　been　here　f9r　six　months　and　already　I'd　like　to　stay　forever。　But　the　prices　they're　asking…〃　Largo　threw　up　his　hands。　〃These　Bay　Street　pirates。　And　the　millionaires；　they　are　even　worse。　But　you　are　wise　to　e　at　the　end　of　the　season。　Perhaps　some　of　the　owners　are　disappointed　not　to　have　sold。　Perhaps　they　will　not　open　their　mouths　so　wide。〃
　
　〃That's　what　I　thought。〃　Bond　sat　fortably　back　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Or　rather　what　my　lawyer；　Mr。　Larkin；　advised。〃　Leiter　shook　his　head　pessimistically。　〃He　had　made　some　inquiries　and　he　frankly　advised　that　real…estate　values　down　here　have　gone　mad。〃　Bond　turned　politely　toward　Leiter　to　bring　him　into　the　conversation。　〃Isn't　that　so？〃
　
　〃Daft；　Mr。　Largo；　quite　daft。　Worse　even　than　Florida。　Out　of
　
　this　world。　I　wouldn't　advise　any　client　of　mine　to　invest　at　these　prices。〃
　
　〃Quite　so。〃　Largo　obviously　didn't　want　to　get　drawn　too　deeply　into　these　matters。　〃You　mentioned　something　about　Palmyra。　Is　there　anything　I　can　do　to　help　in　that　respect？〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃I　understand　you　have　a　lease　of　the　property；　Mr。　Largo。　And　there　is　talk　that　you　may　be　leaving　the　house　before　long。　Only　gossip；　of　course。　You　know　what　they　are　in　these　small　islands。　But　it　sounds　more　or　less　what　I'm　looking　for　and　I　gather　the　owner；　this　Englishman；　Bryce；　might　sell　if　he　got　the　right　price。　What　I　was　going　to　ask　you〃…Bond　looked　apologetic…〃was　whether　we　might　drive　out　and　look　the　place　over。　Some　time　when　you　weren't　there　of　course。　Any　time　that　might　suit　you。〃
　
　Largo　flashed　his　teeth　warmly。　He　spread　his　hands。　〃But　of　course；　of　course；　my　dear　fellow。　Whenever　you　wish。　There　is　no　one　in　residence　but　my　niece　and　a　few　servants。　And　she　is　out　most　of　the　time。　Please　just　call　her　up　on　the　telephone。　I　shall　tell　her　that　you　will　be　doing　so。　It　is　indeed　a　charming　property…so　imaginative。　A　beautiful　piece　of　design。　If　only　all　rich　men　had　such　good　taste。〃
　
　Bond　got　to　his　feet　and　Leiter　followed　suit。　〃Well；　that's　extraordinarily　kind　of　you；　Mr。　Largo。　And　now　we'll　leave　you　in　peace。　Perhaps　we　may　meet　again　in　the　town　some　time。　You　must　e　and　have　lunch。　But〃…Bond　poured　admiration　and　flattery　into　his　voice…〃with　a　yacht　like　this；　I　don't　suppose　you　ever　want　to　e　ashore。　Must　be　the　only　one　on　this　side　of　the　Atlantic。　Didn't　one　used　to　run　between　Venice　and　Trieste？　I　seem　to　remember　reading　about　it　somewhere。〃
　
　Largo　grinned　his　pleasure。　〃Yes；　that　is　right；　quite　right。　They　are　also　on　the　Italian　lakes。　For　passenger　traffic。　Now　they　are　buying　them　in　South　America。　A　wonderful　design　for　coastal　waters。　She　only　draws　four　feet　when　the　hydrofoil　is　operating。〃
　
　〃I　suppose　acmodation's　the　problem？〃
　
　It　is　a　weakness　of　all　men；　though　not　necessarily　of　all　women；　to　love　their　material　possessions。　Largo　said；　with　a　trace　of　pricked　van