if.goldfinger-第46节

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the　truth　or　part　of　the　giant　cover　plan　that　would　be　necessary　to　get　every　member　of　the　conspiracy　in　the　bag？　If　it　was　a　cover　plan；　how　meticulously　had　it　been　prepared？　Would　someone　slip　up？　Would　there　be　some　ghastly　bungle　that　would　warn　Goldfinger　in　time？　Or　if　the　news　was　true；　if　the　poison　had　been　successful；　what　did　there　remain　for　Bond　to　do？
　Bond　had　made　up　his　mind　on　one　score。　Somehow；　in　the　excitement　of　H…Hour；　he　would　get　close　to　Goldfinger　and　cut　his　throat　with　one　of　his　hidden　knives。　How　much　would　that　achieve　apart　from　an　act　of　private　vengeance？　Would　Goldfinger's　squad　accept　another　man's　order　to　arm　the　warhead　and　fire　it？　Who　would　be　strong　enough；　cool　enough　to　take　over？　Mr　Solo？　。Probably。　The　operation　would　perhaps　be　half　successful；　they　would　get　away　with　plenty　of　gold　…　except　Goldfinger's　men　who　would　be　lost　without　him　to　lead　them。　And　in　the　meantirne；　whatever　else　Bond　could　not　do；　had　sixty　thousand　people　already　died？　Was　there　anything　he　could　have　done　to　prevent　that？　Had　there　ever　been　a　chance　to　kill　Goldfinger？　Would　it　have　done　any　good　to　make　a　scene　at　Pennsylvania　Station？　Bond　stared　at　his　dark　reflection　in　the　window；　listened　to　the　sweet　ting　of　the　grade…crossing　bells　and　the　howl　of　the　windhorn　clearing　their　way；　and　shredded　his　nerves　with　doubts；　questions；　reproaches。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　
　THE　RICHEST　MAN　IN　HISTORY
　
　SLOWLY　THE　red　dawn　broke　over　the　endless　plain　of　black　grass　that　gradually　turned　to　the　famous　Kentucky　blue　as　the　sun　ironed　out　the　shadows。　At　six　o'clock　the　train　began　to　slacken　speed　and　soon　they　were　gliding　gently　through　the　waking　suburbs　of　Louisville　to　e　to　rest　with　a　sigh　of　hydraulics　in　the　echoing；　almost　deserted　station。
　A　small；　respectful　group　was　awaiting　them。　Goldfinger；　his　eyes　black…ringed　with　lack　of　sleep；　beckoned　to　one　of　the　Germans；　picked　up　his　authoritative　little　black　bag　and　stepped　down　on　to　the　platform。　There　was　a　short；　serious　conclave；　the　Louisville　Superintendent　doing　the　talking　and　Goldfinger　interjecting　a　few　questions　and　nodding　gravely　at　the　answers。　Goldfinger　turned　wearily　back　to　the　train。　Mr　Solo　had　been　deputed　to　take　his　report。　He　stood　at　the　open　door　at　the　end　of　the　Pullman。　Bond　heard　Goldfinger　say　sorrowfully；　'I　am　afraid；　Doctor；　the　situation　is　as　bad　as　we　feared。　I　will　now　go　forward　to　the　leading　diesel　with　this；'　he　held　up　the　black　bag；　'and　we　will　proceed　slowly　into　the　infected　area。　Would　you　please　tell　all　personnel　to　be　prepared　to　put　on　their　masks？　I　have　masks　for　the　driver　and　fireman。　All　other　railway　personnel　will　leave　the　train　here。'
　Mr　Solo　nodded　solemnly。　'Right；　Professor。'　He　closed　his　door。　Goldfinger　walked　off　down。the　platform　followed　by　his　German　strong…arm　man　and　the　respectful；　head…shaking　group。
　There　was　a　short　pause　and　then　silently；　almost　reverently；　the　long　train　whispered　its　way　out　of　the　station　leaving　the　little　group　of　officials；　now　reinforced　by　four　rather　shamefaced　conductors；　with　hands　raised　in　benediction。
　Thirty…five　miles；　half　an　hour；　to　go！　Coffee　and　doughnuts　were　brought　round　by　the　nurses；　and　（Goldfinger　thought　of　everything）　for　those　whose　nerves　needed　it；　two　grains　of　dexedrine。　The　nurses　were　pale；　silent。　There　were　no　jokes；　no　smart　remarks。　The　train　was　electric　with　tension。
　After　ten　minutes　there　was　a　sudden　slackening　of　speed　and　a　sharp　hiss　from　the　brakes。　Coffee　was　spilled。　The　train　almost　stopped。　Then　there　was　a　jerk　and　it　gathered　speed　again。　A　new　hand　had　taken　over　on　the　dead　man's　handle。
　A　few　minutes　later；　Mr　Strap　came　hurrying　through　the　train。　'Ten　minutes　to　go！　On　your　toes；　folks！　Squads　A；　B　and　C　get　their　equipment　on。　Everything's　going　fine。　Stay　calm。　Remember　your　duties。'　He　hurried　through　to　the　next　partment　and　Bond　heard　the　voice　repeating　its　message。
　Bond　turned　to　Oddjob。　'Listen；　you　ape；　I'm　going　to　the　lavatory　and　probably　Miss　Masterton　will　too。'　He　turned　to　the　girl。　What　about　it；　Tilly？〃
　'Yes；'　she　said　indifferently；　'I　suppose　I'd　better。〃
　Bond　said；　'Well；　go　ahead。'
　The　Korean　beside　the　girl　looked　inquiringly　at　Oddjob。　Oddjob　shook　his　head。
　Bond　said；　〃Unless　you　leave　her　alone　I'm　going　to　start　a　fight。　Goldfinger　won't　like　that。'　He　turned　to　the　girl。　'Go　ahead；　Tilly。　I'll　see　to　these　apes。'
　Oddjob　uttered　a　series　of　barks　and　snarls　which　the　other　Korean　seemed　to　understand。　The　guard　got　up　and　said；　'Okay；　but　not　locking　the　door。'　He　followed　the　girl　down　the　Pullman　and　stood　and　waited　for　her　to　e　out。
　Oddjob　carried　out　the　same　routine　with　Bond。　Once　inside；　Bond　took　off　his　right　shoe；　slid　out　the　knife　and　slipped　it　down　inside　the　waist…band　of　his　trousers。　One　shoe　would　now　have　no　heel；　but　no　one　was　going　to　notice　that　this　morning。　Bond　washed　himself。　The　face　in　the　mirror　was　pale　and　the　blue…grey　eyes　dark　with　tension。　He　went　out　and　back　to　his　seat。
　Now　there　was　a　distant　shimmer　away　to　the　right　and　a　hint　of　low　buildings　rising　like　a　mirage　in　the　early　morning　ground　mist。　They　slowly　defined　themselves　as　hangars　with　a　squat　control　tower。　Godman　Field！　The　soft　pounding　howl　of　the　train　slackened。　Some　trim　modern　villas；　part　of　a　new　housing　development；　slid　by。　They　seemed　to　be　unoccupied。　Now；　on　the　left；　there　was　the　black　ribbon　of　Brandenburg　Station　Road。　Bond　craned。　The　gleaming　modern　sprawl　of　Fort　Knox　looked　almost　soft　in　the　light　mist。　Above　its　jagged　outline　the　air　was　dear　as　crystal　…not　a　trace　of　smoke；　no　breakfasts　cooking！　The　train　slowed　to　a　canter。　On　Station　Road　there　had　been　a　bad　motor　accident。　Two　cars　seemed　to　have　met　head　on。　The　body　of　a　man　sprawled　half　out　of　a　smashed　door。　The　other　car　lay　on　its　back　like　a　dead　beetle。　Bond's　heart　pounded。　The　main　signal　box　came　and　went。　Over　the　levers　something　white　was　draped。　It　was　a　man's　shirt。
　Inside　the　shirt　the　body　hung　down；　its　head　below　the　level　of　the　window。　A　row　of　modern　bungalows。　A　body　clad　in　singlet　and　trousers　flat　on　its　face　in　the　middle　of　a　trim　lawn。　The　lines　of　mown　grass　were　beautifully　exact　until；　near　the　man；　the　mower　had　written　an　ugly　flourish　and　had　then　e　to　rest　on　its　side　in　the　newly　turned　earth　of；　the　border。　A　line　of　washing　that　had　broken　when　the　woman　had　grasped　it。　The　woman　lay　in　a　white　pile　at　one　end　of　the　sagging　string　of　family　underclothes；　cloths　and　towels。　And　now　the　train　was　moving　at　walking　pace　into　the　town　and　everywhere；　down　every　street；　on　every　sidewalk；　there　were　the　sprawling　figures　…　singly；　in　clumps；　in　rocking…chairs　on　the　porches；　in　the　middle　of　intersections　where　the　traffic　lights　still　unhurriedly　ticked　off　their　coloured　signals；　in　cars　that　had　managed　to　pull　up　and　in　others　that　had　smashed　into　shop　windows。　Death！　Dead　people　everywhere。　No　movement；　no　sound　save　the　click　of　the　murderer's　iron　feet　as　his　train　slid　through　the　graveyard。
　Now　there　was　bustle　in　the　carriages。　Billy　Ring　came　through　grinning　hugely。　He　stopped　by　Bond's　chair。　'Oh　boy！'　he　said　delightedly；　'old　Goldie　certainly　slipped　them　the　Micky　Finn！　Too　bad　some　people　were　out　for　a　ride　when　they　got　hit。　But　you　know　what　they　say　about　omelettes：　can't　make　'em　without　you　break　some　eggs；　right？'
　Bond　smiled　tightly。　'That's　right。'
　Billy　Ring　made　his　silent　O　of　a　laugh　and　went　on　his　way。
　The　train　trundled　through　Brandenburg　Station。　Now　there　were　scores　of　bodies　…　men；　women；　children；　soldiers。　The　platform　was　scribbled　with　them；　faces　upwards　to　the　roof；　down　in　the　dust；　cradled　sideways。　Bond　searched　for　movement；　for　an　inquisitive　eye；　for　a　twitching　hand。　Nothing！　Wait！　What　was　that？　Thinly　through　the　closed　window　there　came　a　soft；　mewing　wail。　Three　perambulators　stood　against　the　ticket　office；　the　mothers　collapsed　beside　them。　Of　course！　The　babies　in　the　perambulators　would　have　drunk　milk；　not　the　deadly　water。
　Oddjob　got　to　his　feet。　So　did　the　whole　of　Goldfinger's　team。　The　faces　of　the　Koreans　were　indifferent；　unchanged；　only　their　eyes　flickered　constantly　like　nervous　animals。　The
　Germans　were　pale；　grim。　Nobody　looked　at　anyone　else。　Silently　they　filed　towards　the　exit　and　lined　up；　waiting。
　Tilly　Masterton　touched　Bond's　sleeve。　Her　voice　trembled。　'Are　you　sure　they're　only　asleep？　I　thought　I　saw　some　sort　of。。。　sort　of　froth　on　some　of　the　lips。'
　Bond　had　seen　the　same　thing。　The　froth　had　been　pink。　He　said；　'I　expect　some　of　them　were　eating　sweets　or　something　when　they　fell　asleep。　You　know　what　these　Americans　are　…　always　chewing　something。'　He　softly　mouthed　the　next　words。　'Stay　away　from　me。　There　may　be　shooting。'　He　looked　hard　at　her　to　see　she　understood。
　She　nodded　dumbly；　not　looking　at　him。　She　whispered　out　of　the　corner　of　her　mouth；　'I'm　going　to　get　near　Pussy。　She'll　look　after　me。'
　Bond　gave　her　a　smile　and　said　'Good'；　encouragingly。
　The　train　clicked　slowly　over　some　points　and　slid　to　rest。　There　came　one　blast　of　the　diesel's　windhorn。　The　doors　swung