if.thespywholovedme-第21节

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　all　right；　pretty　fast；　when　I　ran　into　the　hell　of　a　storm；　the　tail　of　yours　I　suppose。　I　got　through　it　as　far　as　Lake　George；　and　I　meant　to　stay　the　night　there；　but　it　looked　such　a　hellish　place　that　when　I　saw　a　sign　up　at　a　side　road　advertising　this　motel　I　took　a　chance。〃　He　smiled　at　me；　and　now　he　looked　quite　cheerful　again。　〃Perhaps　something　told　me　you　were　at　the　end　of　the　road　and　that　you　were　in　trouble。　Anyway；　I　had　a　puncture　a　mile　from　here；　and　here　I　am。〃　He　smiled　again；　and　reached　out　and　put　his　hand　on　mine　on　the　counter。　〃Funny　the　way　things　work　out！〃
　〃But　you　must　be　absolutely　beat；　driving　all　that　way。〃
　〃I've　got　something　for　that。　Be　a　good　girl　and　give　me　another　cup　of　coffee。〃
　While　I　busied　myself　with　the　percolator；　he　opened　his　case　and　took　out　a　small　bottle　of　white　pills。　He　took　out　two　and　when　I　gave　him　the　coffee　he　swallowed　them　down。　〃Benzedrine。　That'll　keep　me　awake　for　tonight。　I'll　fit　in　some　sleep　tomorrow。〃　His　eyes　went　to　the　mirror。　〃Hullo。　Here　they　e。〃　He　gave　me　a　smile　of　encouragement。　〃Now　just　don't　worry。　Get　some　sleep。　I'll　be　around　to　see　there's　no　trouble。〃
　The　music　on　the　radio　faded；　and　musical　chimes　sounded　midnight。
　　
　Twelve：　To　Sleep…Perchance　to　Die！
　
　WHILE　Sluggsy　made　for　the　back　door　and　went　out　into　the　night；　the　thin　man　came　slowly　over　to　us。　He　leaned　against　the　edge　of　the　counter。　〃Okay；　folks。　Break　it　up。　It's　midnight。　We're　turning　off　the　electricity。　My　friend's　getting　emergency　oil…lamps　from　the　storehouse。　No　sense　wasting　juice。　Mr。　Sanguinetti's　orders。〃　The　words　were　friendly　and　reasonable。　Had　they　decided　to　give　up　their　plans；　whatever　they　were；　because　of　this　man　Bond？　I　doubted　it。　The　thoughts　that　listening　to　James　Bond's　story　had　driven　away　came　flooding　back。　I　was　going　to　have　to　sleep　with　these　two　men　in　the　adjoining　cabins　on　both　sides　of　me。　I　must　make　my　room　impregnable。　But　they　had　the　passkey！　I　must　get　this　man　Bond　to　help　me。
　James　Bond　yawned　hugely。　〃Well；　I'll　certainly　be　glad　of　some　sleep。　Came　a　long　way　today；　and　I've　got　plenty　more　to　cover　tomorrow。　And　you　must　be　ready　for　bed；　too；　with　all　your　worries。〃
　〃e　again；　mister？〃　The　thin　man's　eyes　had　sharpened。
　〃It's　a　pretty　responsible　job　you've　got。〃
　〃What　job's　that？〃
　〃Oh；　being　an　insurance　assessor。　On　a　valuable　property　like　this。　Must　be　worth　half　a　million　dollars；　I'd　say。　By　the　way；　are　either　of　you　bonded？〃
　〃No；　we　ain't。　Mr。　Sanguinetti　don't　need　to　bond　no　one　what　works　for　him。〃
　〃That's　a　great　pliment　to　his　staff。　Must　have　good　men。　Quite　right　to　put　a　lot　of　trust　in　them。　Incidentally；　what's　the　name　of　his　insurance　pany？〃
　〃Metro　Accident　and　Home。〃　The　thin　man　still　leaned；　relaxed；　against　the　counter；　but　the　gray　face　was　now　tense。　〃Why？　What's　it　to　you；　mister？　Suppose　you　quit　with　the　double…talk　and　say　what's　on　your　mind。〃
　Bond　said　carelessly；　〃Miss　Michel　here　was　telling　me　the　motel　hadn't　been　doing　so　well。　I　gather　the　place　hasn't　been　accepted　for　membership　in　Quality　Courts　or　Holiday　Inns　or　Congress。　Difficult　to　do　much　trade　without　one　of　those　affiliations。　And　all　this　trouble　to　send　up　you　fellows　to　count　the　spoons　and　turn　off　the　electric　light　and　so　on。〃　James　Bond　looked　sympathetic。　〃Just　crossed　my　mind　that　the　business　might　be　on　the　rocks。　Too　bad　if　it　is。　Nice　set…up　here；　and　a　fine　site。〃
　The　red　fleck　that　I　had　seen　once；　terribly；　before　was　now　in　the　thin　man's　eyes。　He　said　softly；　〃Just　suppose　you　bag　your　lip；　mister。　I　ain't　standin'　for　no　more　limey　cracks；　get　me？　You　suggestin'　this　ain't　legit？　Mebbe　you　think　we　set　one　up；　huh？〃
　〃Now　don't　burn　yourself　up；　Mr。　Horowitz。　No　need　to　sing　the　weeps。〃　James　Bond　smiled　broadly。　〃You　see；　I　know　the　lingo　too。〃　His　smile　suddenly　went。　〃And　I　also　know　where　it　es　from。　Now；　do　you　get　me？〃
　I　suppose　he　meant　this　was　gangster；　jailbird　language。　The　thin　man　certainly　thought　so。　He　looked　startled；　but　now　he　had　conquered　his　anger　and　he　just　said；　〃Okay；　wise　guy。　I've　got　the　photo。　You　gumshoes　are　all　the　same…looking　for　dirt　where　there　ain't　none。　Now；　where　in　hell's　that　pal　of　mine？　C'mon。　Let's　hit　the　sack。〃
　As　we　filed　out　through　the　back　door；　the　lights　went　out。　James　Bond　and　I　stopped；　but　the　thin　man　went　on　along　the　covered　way　as　if　he　could　see　in　the　dark。　Sluggsy　appeared　round　the　corner　of　the　building　carrying　two　oil…lamps。　He　handed　one　to　each　of　us。　His　naked　face；　yellow　in　the　light；　split　into　a　grin。　〃Happy　dreams；　folks！〃
　James　Bond　followed　me　over　to　my　cabin　and　came　inside。　He　shut　the　door。　〃Damned　if　I　know　what　they're　up　to；　but　the　first　thing　to　do　is　see　that　you're　properly　closed　down　for　the　night。　Now　then；　let's　see。〃　He　prowled　round　the　room；　examining　the　window　fastenings；　inspecting　the　hinges　on　the　door；　estimating　the　size　of　the　ventilator　louvers。　He　seemed　satisfied。　He　said。　〃There's　only　the　door。　You　say　they've　got　the　master　key。　We'll　wedge　the　door；　and　when　I've　gone；　just　move　the　desk　over　as　an　extra　barricade。〃　He　went　into　the　bathroom；　tore　off　strips　of　lavatory　paper；　moistened　them；　and　made　them　into　firm　wedges。　He　rammed　several　under　the　door；　turned　the　handle；　and　pulled。　They　held；　but　could　have　been　shaken　loose　by　ramming。　He　took　the　wedges　out　again　and　gave　them　to　me。　Then　he　put　his　hand　to　the　belt　of　his　trousers　and　took　out　a　short；　stumpy　revolver。　〃Ever　fired　one　of　these　things？〃
　I　said　I'd　shot　at　rabbits　with　a　long…barreled　。22　target　pistol　when　I　was　young。
　〃Well；　this　is　a　Smith　and　Wesson　Police　Positive。　A　real　stopper。　Remember　to　aim　low。　Hold　your　arm　out　straight　like　this。〃　He　showed　me。　〃And　try　to　squeeze　the　trigger　and　not　snatch　at　it。　But　it　won't　really　matter。　I'll　hear　it　and　I'll　e　running。　Now　remember。　You've　got　absolute　protection。　The　windows　are　good　solid　stuff；　and　there's　no　way　of　getting　in　between　the　glass　slats；　short　of　smashing　them。〃　He　smiled。　〃Trust　these　motel　designers。　They　know　all　there　is　to　know　about　break…ins。　These　hoodlums　won't　take　a　shot　at　you　through　them　in　the　dark；　but；　just　in　case；　leave　your　bed　where　it　is　and　make　up　a　camp　bed　with　some　cushions　and　bedding　in　that　far　corner　on　the　floor。　Put　the　gun　under　your　pillow。　Pull　the　desk　in　front　of　the　door　and　balance　the　television　set　on　the　edge　of　it　so　that　if　anyone　barges　the　door　they　knock　it　off。　That'll　wake　you；　and　then　you　just　fire　a　shot　through　the　door；　close　to　the　handle；　where　the　man　will　be　standing；　and　listen　for　the　squawk。　Got　it？〃
　I　said　yes；　as　happily　as　I　could；　and　wished　he　would　stay　in　the　room　with　me。　But　I　hadn't　the　guts　to　ask　him；　and　anyway　he　seemed　to　have　his　own　plans。
　He　came　up　to　me　and　kissed　me　gently　on　the　lips。　I　was　so　surprised　I　just　stood　there。　He　said　lightly；　〃I'm　sorry；　Viv；　but　you're　a　beautiful　girl。　In　those　overalls　you're　the　prettiest　garage…hand　I've　ever　seen。　Now　don't　you　worry。　Get　some　sleep。　I'll　keep　an　eye　on　you。〃
　I　threw　my　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed　him　back…hard；　on　the　lips。　I　said；　〃You're　the　most　wonderful　man　I've　ever　met　in　my　life。　Thank　you　for　being　here。　And　please；　James。　Be　careful！　You　haven't　seen　them　like　I　have。　They're　really　tough。　Please　don't　get　hurt。〃
　He　kissed　me　back；　but　only　lightly；　and　I　let　go　of　him。　He　said；　〃Don't　worry。　I've　seen　this　sort　before。　Now　you　do　all　I　told　you　and　get　off　to　sleep。　Night；　Viv。〃
　And　then　he　had　gone。
　I　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　closed　door；　and　then　I　went　and　brushed　my　teeth　and　got　ready　for　bed。　I　looked　at　myself　in　the　mirror。　I　looked　like　hell…　washed　out；　no　make…up；　and　deep　circles　under　my　eyes。　What　a　day！　And　now　this！　I　mustn't　lose　him！　I　mustn't　let　him　go！　But　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　I　had　to。　He　would　go　on　alone；　and　I　would　have　to；　too。　No　woman　had　ever　held　this　man。　None　ever　would。　He　was　a　solitary；　a　man　who　walked　alone　and　kept　his　heart　to　himself。　He　would　hate　involvement。　I　sighed。　All　right。　I　would　play　it　that　way。　I　would　let　him　go。　I　wouldn't　cry　when　he　did。　Not　even　afterward。　Wasn't　I　the　girl　who　had　decided　to　operate　without　a　heart？
　Silly　idiot！　Silly；　infatuated　goose！　This　was　a　fine　time　to　maunder　like　a　girl　in　a　women's　magazine！　I　shook　my　head　angrily　and　went　into　the　bedroom　and　got　on　with　what　I　had　to　do。
　It　was　still　blowing　hard；　and　the　pine　trees　clashed　fiercely　outside　my　back　window。　The　moon；　filtering　through　high　scudding　clouds；　lit　up　the　two　high　squares　of　glass　at　each　end　of　the　room　and　shone　eerily　through　the　thin；　red…patterned　curtains。　When　the　moon　went　behind　the　clouds；　the　blocks　of　blood…red　photographer's　light　went　dark　and　there　was　only　the　meager　pool　of　yellow　from　the　oil…lamp。　Without　the　brightness　of　electricity；　there　was　a　nasty　little　movie…set　feeling　about　the　oblong　room。　The　corners　were　dark；　and　the　room　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　a　director　to　call　people　out　of　the　shadows　and　tell　them　what　to　do。
　I　tried　not　to　be　nervous。　I　put　my　ears　to　the　connecting　walls　to　right　and　left；　but　across　the　spac