if.thunderball-第6节

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ing　at　200！　His　head　dropped　back；　exhausted。　Through　a　mist　of　sweat　he　watched　the　hand　softly　release　the　lever。　The　hand　paused　and　turned　slowly　so　that　the　back　of　the　wrist　was　just　below　his　eyes。　In　the　center　of　the　wrist　was　the　little　red　sign　of　the　zigzag　and　the　two　bisecting　lines。　A　voice　said　quietly；　close　up　against　his　ear；　〃You　will　not　meddle　again；　my　friend。〃　Then　there　was　nothing　but　the　great　whine　and　groan　of　the　machine　and　the　bite　of　the　straps　that　were　tearing　his　body　in　half。　Bond　began　to　scream；　weakly；　while　the　sweat　poured　from　him　and　dripped　off　the　leather　cushions　onto　the　floor。　Then　suddenly　there　was　blackness。
　
　4。　Tea　and　Animosity
　
　It　is　just　as　well　that　the　body　retains　no　memory　of　pain。　Yes；　it　hurt；　that　abscess；　that　broken　bone；　but　just　how　it　hurt；　and　how　much；　is　soon　forgotten　by　the　brain　and　the　nerves。　It　is　not　so　with　pleasant　sensations；　a　scent；　a　taste；　the　particular　texture　of　a　kiss。　These　things　can　be　almost　totally　recalled。　Bond；　gingerly　exploring　his　sensations　as　life　came　flooding　back　into　his　body；　was　astonished　that　the　web　of　agony　that　had　held　his　body　so　utterly　had　now　pletely　dissolved。　It　was　true　that　his　whole　spine　ached　as　if　it　had　been　beaten；　each　vertebra　separately；　with　wooden　truncheons；　but　his　pain　was　recognizable；　something　within　his　knowledge　and　therefore　capable　of　control。　The　searing　tornado　that　had　entered　his　body　and　utterly　dominated　it；　replacing　his　identity　with　its　own；　had　gone。　How　had　it　been？　What　had　it　been　like？　Bond　couldn't　remember　except　that　it　had　reduced　him　to　something　lower　in　the　scale　of　existence　than　a　handful　of　grass　in　the　mouth　of　a　tiger。　The　murmur　of　voices　grew　more　distinct。
　
　〃But　what　told　you　first　that　something　was　wrong；　Miss　Fearing？〃
　
　〃It　was　the　noise；　the　noise　of　the　machine。　I　had　just　finished　a　treatment。　A　few　minutes　later　I　heard　it。　I'd　never　heard　it　so　loud。　I　thought　perhaps　the　door　had　been　left　open。　I　wasn't　really　worried　but　I　came　along　to　make　sure。　And　there　it　was。　The　indicator　up　to　200！　I　tore　down　the　lever　and　got　the　straps　off　and　ran　to　the　surgery　and　found　the　coramine　and　injected　it　into　the　vein…one　c。c；　The　pulse　was　terribly　weak。　Then　I　telephoned　you。〃
　
　〃You　seem　to　have　done　everything　possible；　Miss　Fearing。　And　I'm　sure　you　bear　no　responsibility　for　this　terrible　thing。〃　Mr。　Wain's　voice　was　doubtful。　〃It　really　is　most　unfortunate。　I　suppose　the　patient　must　have　jerked　the　lever；　somehow。　Perhaps　he　was　experimenting。　He　might　easily　have　killed　himself。　We　must　tell　the　pany　about　this　and　have　some　safety　arrangement　installed。〃
　
　A　hand　gingerly　clasped　Bond's　wrist；　feeling　for　his　pulse。　Bond　thought　it　was　time　to　re…enter　the　world。　He　must　quickly　get　himself　a　doctor；　a　real　one；　not　one　of　these　grated…carrot　merchants。　A　sudden　wave　of　anger　poured　through　him。　This　was　all　M's　fault。　M　was　mad。　He　would　have　it　out　with　him　when　he　got　back　to　Headquarters。　If　necessary　he　would　go　higher…to　the　Chiefs　of　Staff；　the　Cabinet；　the　Prime　Minister。　M　was　a　dangerous　lunatic…a　danger　to　the　country。　It　was　up　to　Bond　to　save　England。　The　weak；　hysterical　thoughts　whirled　through　his　brain；　mixed　themselves　up　with　the　hairy　hand　of　Count　Lippe；　the　mouth　of　Patricia　Fearing；　the　taste　of　hot　vegetable　soup；　and；　as　consciousness　slipped　away　from　him　again　the　diminishing　voice　of　Mr。　Wain：　〃No　structural　damage。　Only　considerable　surface　abrasion　of　the　nerve　ends。　And　of　course　shock。　You　will　take　personal　charge　of　the　case；　Miss　Fearing。　Rest；　warmth；　and　effleurage。　Is　that　under　。　。　。　？〃
　
　***
　
　Rest；　warmth；　and　effleurage。　When　Bond　came　round　again；　he　was　lying　face　downward　on　his　bed　and　his　whole　body　was　bathed　in　exquisite　sensation。　Beneath　him　was　the　soft　warmth　of　an　electric　blanket；　his　back　glowed　with　the　heat　from　two　large　sun　lamps；　and　two　hands；　clad　in　what　felt　to　be　some　particularly　velvety　fur；　were　rhythmically　passing；　one　after　the　other；　up　and　down　the　whole　length　of　his　body　from　his　neck　to　the　backs　of　his　knees。　It　was　a　most　gentle　and　almost　piercingly　luxurious　experience；　and　Bond　lay　and　bathed　himself　in　it。
　
　Presently　he　said　sleepily；　〃Is　that　what　they　call　effleurage？〃
　
　The　girl's　voice　said　softly；　〃I　thought　you'd　e　round。　The　whole　tone　of　your　skin　suddenly　changed。　How　are　you　feeling？〃
　
　〃Wonderful。　I'd　be　still　better　for　a　double　whisky　on　the　rocks。〃
　
　The　girl　laughed。　〃Mr。　Wain　did　say　dandelion　tea　would　be　best　for　you。　But　I　thought　a　little　stimulant　might　be　good；　I　mean　just　this　once。　So　I　brought　the　brandy　with　me。　And　there's　plenty　of　ice　as　I'm　going　to　give　you　an　ice…pack　presently。　Would　you　really　like　some？　Wait；　I'll　put　your　dressing　gown　over　you　and　then　you　can　see　if　you　can　turn　over。　I'll　look　the　other　way。〃
　
　Bond　heard　the　lamps　being　pulled　away。　Gingerly；　he　turned　on　his　side。　The　dull　ache　returned；　but　it　was　already　wearing　off。　He　cautiously　slipped　his　legs　over　the　side　of　the　bed　and　sat　up。
　
　Patricia　Fearing　stood　in　front　of　him；　clean；　white；　forting；　desirable。　In　one　hand　was　a　pair　of　heavy　mink　gloves；　but　with　the　fur　covering　the　palm　instead　of　the　back。　In　the　other　was　a　glass。　She　held　out　the　glass。　As　Bond　drank　and　heard　the　reassuring；　real…life　tinkle　of　the　ice；　he　thought：　This　is　a　most　splendid　girl。　I　will　settle　down　with　her。　She　will　give　me　effleurage　all　day　long　and　from　time　to　time　a　good　tough　drink　like　this。　It　will　be　a　life　of　great　beauty。　He　smiled　at　her　and　held　out　the　empty　glass　and　said；　〃More。〃
　
　She　laughed；　mostly　with　relief　that　he　was　pletely　alive　again。　She　took　the　glass　and　said；　〃Well；　just　one　more；　then。　But　don't　forget　it's　on　an　empty　stomach。　It　may　make　you　dreadfully　tight。〃　She　paused　with　the　brandy　bottle　in　her　hand。　Suddenly　her　gaze　was　cool；　clinical。　〃And　now　you　must　try　and　tell　me　what　happened。　Did　you　accidentally　touch　the　lever　or　something？　You　gave　us　all　a　dreadful　fright。　Nothing　like　that　has　ever　happened　before。　The　traction　table's　really　perfectly　safe；　you　know。〃
　
　Bond　looked　candidly　into　her　eyes。　He　said　reassuringly；　〃Of　course。　I　was　just　trying　to　get　more　fortable。　I　heaved　about　and　I　do　remember　that　my　hand　hit　something　rather　hard。　I　suppose　it　must　have　been　the　lever。　Then　I　don't　remember　any　more。　I　must　have　been　awfully　lucky　you　came　along　so　quickly。〃
　
　She　handed　him　the　fresh　drink。　〃Well；　it's　all　over　now。　And　thank　heavens　nothing's　badly　strained。　Another　two　days　of　treatment　and　you'll　be　right　as　rain。〃　She　paused。　She　looked　rather　embarrassed；　〃Oh；　and　Mr。　Wain　asks　if　you　could　possibly　keep　all　this；　all　this　trouble；　to　yourself。　He　doesn't　want　the　other　patients　to　get　worried。〃
　
　I　should　think　not；　thought　Bond。　He　could　see　the　headlines；　〃PATIENT　TORN　NEARLY　LIMB　FROM　LIMB　AT　NATURE　CLINIC。　RACK　MACHINE　GOES　BERSERK。　MINISTRY　OF　HEALTH　STEPS　IN。〃
　
　He　said；　〃Of　course　I　won't　say　anything。　It　was　my　fault；　anyway。〃　He　finished　his　drink；　handed　back　the　glass；　and　cautiously　lay　back　on　the　bed。　He　said；　〃That　was　marvelous。　Now　how　about　some　more　of　the　mini　treatment。　And　by　the　way。　Will　you　marry　me？　You're　the　only　girl　I've　ever　met　who　knows　how　to　treat　a　man　properly。〃
　
　She　laughed。　〃Don't　be　silly。　And　turn　over　on　your　face。　It's　your　back　that　needs　treatment。〃
　
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　
　***
　
　Two　days　later；　Bond　was　once　more　back　in　the　half…world　of　the　nature　cure。　The　routine　of　the　early　morning　glass　of　hot　water；　the　orange；　carefully　sliced　into　symmetrical　pigs　by　some　ingenious　machine　wielded；　no　doubt；　by　the　wardress　in　charge　of　diets；　then　the　treatments；　the　hot　soup；　the　siesta；　and　the　blank；　aimless　walk　or　bus　ride　to　the　nearest　tea　shop　for　the　priceless　strength…giving　cups　of　tea　laced　with　brown　sugar。　Bond　loathed　and　despised　tea；　that　flat；　soft；　time…wasting　opium　of　the　masses；　but　on　his　empty　stomach；　and　in　his　febrile　state；　the　sugary　brew　acted　almost　as　an　intoxicant。　Three　cups；　he　reckoned；　had　the　effect；　not　of　hard　liquor。　but　of　just　about　half　a　bottle　of　champagne　in　the　outside　world；　in　real　life。　He　got　to　know　them　all；　these　dainty　opium　dens…Rose　Cottage；　which　he　avoided　after　the　woman　charged　him　extra　for　emptying　the　sugar　bowl；　The　Thatched　Barn；　which　amused　him　because　it　was　a　real　den　of　iniquity…large　plates　of　sugar　cakes　put　on　one's　table；　the　piercing　temptation　of　the　smell　of　hot　scones；　The　Transport　Cafe；　where　the　Indian　tea　was　black　and　strong　and　the　lorry　drivers　brought　in　a　smell　of　sweat　and　petrol　and　the　great　world　（Bond　found　that　all　his　senses；　particularly　his　palate　and　nose；　had　miraculously　bee　sharpened）；　and　a　dozen　other　cottagey；　raftery　nooks　where　elderly　couples　with　Ford　Populars　and　Morris　Minors　talked　in　muted　tones　about　children　called　Len　and　Ron　and　Pearl　and　Ethel；　and　ate　in　small　mouthfuls　with　the　points　of　their　teeth　and　made　not　a　sound　with　the　tea　things。　It　was　all　a　world　whose　ghastly　daintiness　and　propriety　would　normally　have　sickened　him。　NOW；　empty；　we