if.thunderball-第30节

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！


　is　a　small　puddle　here。　We're　not　used　to　the　crash　treatment　from　Whitehall。　No　doubt　we'll　get　used　to　it　if　this　flap　last　long　enough。　Now　then。　Yes；　we've　got　plenty　of　what　you　want。　We've　got　twenty　men　in　the　Harbor　Salvage　Unit。　Have　to。　You'd　be　surprised　how　often　a　small　boat　gets　wrecked　in　the　fairway；　just　where　some　cruise　ship's　going　to　anchor。　And　of　course　there's　the　occasional　body。　I'll　have　Constable　Santos　assigned　to　you。　Splendid　chap。　Native　of　Eleuthera；　where　he　used　to　win　all　the　swimming　prizes。　He'll　have　the　gear　you　want　where　you　want　it。　Now　just　give　me　the　details。　。　。　。〃
　
　Back　in　his　hotel；　Bond　took　a　shower；　swallowed　a　double　bourbon　old…fashioned；　and　threw　himself　down　on　his　bed。　He　felt　absolutely　beat…the　plane　trip；　the　heat；　the　nagging　sense　that　he　was　making　a　fool　of　himself　in　front　of　the　missioner；　in　front　of　Leiter；　in　front　of　himself；　added　to　the　dangers；　and　probably　futile　ones　at　that；　of　this　ugly　night　swim；　had　built　up　tensions　that　could　only　be　eased　by　sleep　and　solitude。　He　went　out　like　a　light…to　dream　of　Domino　being　pursued　by　a　shark　with　dazzling　white　teeth　that　suddenly　became　Largo；　Largo　who　turned　on　him　with　those　huge　hands。　They　were　ing　closer；　they　reached　slowly　for　him；　they　had　him　by　the　shoulder。　。　。　。　But　then　the　bell　rang　for　the　end　of　the　round；　and　went　on　ringing。
　
　Bond　reached　out　a　drugged　hand　for　the　receiver。　It　was　Leiter。　He　wanted　that　martini　with　the　jumbo　olive。　It　was　nine　o'clock。　What　the　hell　was　Bond　doing？　Did　he　want　someone　to　help　with　the　zipper？
　
　The　Pineapple　Room　was　paneled　in　bamboo　carefully　varnished　against　termites。　Wrought…iron　pineapples　on　the　tables　and　against　the　wall　contained　segments　of　thick　red　candle；　and　more　light　was　provided　by　illuminated　aquaria　let　into　the　walls　and　by　ceiling　lights　enclosed　in　pink　glass　starfish。　The　Vinylite　banquettes　were　in　ivory　white　and　the　barman　and　the　two　waiters　wore　scarlet　satin　calypso　shirts　with　their　black　trousers。
　
　Bond　joined　Leiter　at　a　corner　table。　They　both　wore　white　dinner　jackets　with　their　dress　trousers。　Bond　had　pointed　up　his　rich；　property…seeking　status　with　a　wine…red　cummerbund。　Leiter　laughed。　〃I　nearly　tied　a　gold…plated　bicycle　chain　round　my　waist　in　case　of　trouble；　but　I　remembered　just　in　time　that　I'm　a　peaceful　lawyer。　I　suppose　it's　right　that　you　should　get　the　girls　on　this　assignment。　I　suppose　I　just　stand　by　and　arrange　the　marriage　settlement　and　later　the　alimony。　Waiter！〃
　
　Leiter　ordered　two　dry　martinis。　〃Just　watch；〃　he　said　sourly。　The　martinis　arrived。　Leiter　took　one　look　at　them　and　told　the　waiter　to　send　over　the　barman。　When　the　barman　came；　looking　resentful；　Leiter　said；　〃My　friend；　I　asked　for　a　martini　and　not　a　soused　olive。〃　He　picked　the　olive　out　of　the　glass　with　the　cocktail　stick。　The　glass；　that　had　been　three…quarters　full；　was　now　half　full。　Leiter　said　mildly；　〃This　was　being　done　to　me　while　the　only　drink　you　knew　was　milk。　I'd　learned　the　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　cha