if.goldfinger-第37部分

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er's　ego　had　been　returned　by　Goldfinger　a　thousand；　a　millionfold。　'She　left　my　employ'　…　the　flat　words　in　the　sunshine　at　Sandwich　two　days　before。　How　Goldfinger　must　have　enjoyed　saying　that！　Bond's　fingernails　dug　into　the　palms　of　his　hands。　By　God；　he'd　pin　this　murder　on　Goldfinger　if　it　was　the　last　act　of　his　life。　As　for　himself。。。？　Bond　knew　the　answer。　This　death　he　would　not　be　able　to　excuse　as　being　part　of　his　job。　This　death　he　would　have　to　live　with。
　The　girl　was　pulling　at　her　finger　…　at　the　Claddagh　ring；　the　entwined　hands　round　the　gold　heart。　She　put　her　knuckle　to　her　mouth。　The　ring　came　off。　She　held　it　up　for　Bond　to　take。　The　tiny　gold　circle；　silhouetted　against　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　glittered　in　the　moonlight。
　The　noise　in　Bond's　ear　was　something　between　a　hiss　and　a　shrill　whistle。　There　was　a　dry；　twanging　thud。　The　aluminium　feathers　of　the　steel　arrow　trembled　like　a　humming　bird's　wings　in　front　of　Bond's　eyes。　The　shaft　of　the　arrow　straightened。　The　gold　ring　tinkled　down　the　shaft　until　it　reached　the　bark　of　the　tree。
　Slowly；　almost　incuriously；　Bond　turned　his　head。
　Ten　yards　away　…　half　in　moonlight；　half　in　shadow　…　the　black　melon…headed　figure　crouched；　its　legs　widely　straddled　in　the　judo　stance。　The　left　arm；　thrust　forward　against　the　glinting　semicircle　of　the　bow；　was　straight　as　a　duellist's。　The　right　hand；　holding　the　feathers　of　the　second　arrow；　was　rigid　against　the　right　cheek。　Behind　the　head；　the　taut　right　elbow　lanced　back　in　frozen　suspense。　The　silver　tip　of　the　second　arrow　pointed　exactly　between　the　two　pale　raised　profiles。
　Bond　breathed　the　words；　'Don't　move　an　inch。'　Aloud　he　said；　'Hullo；　Oddjob。　Damned　good　shot。'
　Oddjob　jerked　the　tip　of　the　arrow　upwards。
　Bond　got　to　his　feet；　shielding　the　girl。　He　said　softly；　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth；　'He　mustn't　see　the　rifle。'　He　said　to　Oddjob；　speaking　casually；　peaceably；　'Nice　place　Mr　Goldfinger　has　here。　Want　to　have　a　word　with　him　sometime。　Perhaps　it's　a　bit　late　tonight。　You　might　tell　him　I'll　be　along　tomorrow。'　Bond　said　to　the　girl；　'e　on；　darling。　We've　had　our　walk　in　the　woods。　Time　to　get　back　to　the　hotel。'　He　took　a　step　away　from　Oddjob　towards　the　fence。
　Oddjob　stamped　his　forward　foot。　The　point　of　the　second　arrow　swung　to　the　centre　of　Bond's　stomach。
　'Oargn。'　Oddjob　jerked　his　head　sideways　and　downwards　towards　the　house。
　'Oh；　you　think　he'd　like　to　see　us　now？　All　right。　You　don't　think　we'll　be　disturbing　him？　e　on；　darling。'
　Bond　led　the　way　to　the　left　of　the　tree；　away　from　the　rifle　that　lay　in　the　shadowed　grass。
　As　they　went　slowly　down　the　hill；　Bond　talked　softly　to　the　girl；　briefing　her。　'You're　my　girl　friend。　I　brought　you　out　from　England。　Seem　surprised　and　interested　by　our　little　adventure。　We're　in　a　tough　spot。　Don't　try　any　tricks。'　Bond　jerked　back　his　head。　'This　man's　a　killer。'
　The　girl　said　angrily；　'If　only　you　hadn't　interfered。'
　'Same　to　you；'　said　Bond　shortly。　He　took　it　back。　'I'm　sorry；　Tilly。　Didn't　mean　that。　But　I　don't　think　you　could　have　got　away　with　it。'
　'I　had　my　plans。　I'd　have　been　over　the　frontier　by　midnight。'
　Bond　didn't　answer。　Something　had　caught　his　eye。　On　top　of　the　tall　chimney；　the　oblong　mouth　of　the　radar…thing　was　revolving　again。　It　was　that　that　had　spotted　them　…heard　them。　It　must　be　some　kind　of　sonic　detector。　What　a　bag　of　tricks　this　man　was！　Bond　hadn't　meant　to　underestimate　Goldfinger。　Had　he　managed　to　do　so　…　decisively？　Perhaps；　if　he　had　had　his　gun。。。？　No。　Bond　knew　that　even　his　split…second　draw　wouldn't　have　beaten　the　Korean　…　wouldn't　do　so　now。　There　was　a　total　deadliness　about　this　man。　Whether　Bond　had　been　armed　or　unarmed；　it　would　have　been　a　man　fighting　a　tank。
　They　reached　the　courtyard。　As　they　did　so；　the　back　door　of　the　house　opened。　Two　more　Koreans；　who　might　have　been　the　servants　from　Reculver；　ran　out　towards　them　through　the　warm　splash　of　electric　light。　They　carried　ugly…looking　polished　sticks。　'Stop！'　Both　men　wore　the　savage；　empty　grin　that　men　from　Station　J；　who　had　been　in　Japanese　prison　camps；　had　described　to　Bond。　'We　search。　No　trouble　or。。。'　The　man　who　had　spoken；　cut　the　air　with　a　whistling　lash　of　his　stick。　'Hands　up！'
　Bond　put　his　hands　slowly　up。　He　said　to　the　girl；　'Don't　react。。。　whatever　they　do。'
　Odd　job　came　forward　and　stood；　menacingly；　watching　the　search。　The　search　was　expert。　Bond　coldly　watched　the　hands　on　the　girl；　the　grinning　faces。
　'Okay。　e！'
　They　were　herded　through　the　open　door　and　along　a　stone…flagged　passage　to　the　narrow　entrance　hall　at　the　front　of　the　house。　The　house　smelled　as　Bond　had　imagined　it　would　musty　and　fragrant　and　summery。　There　were　white…panelled　doors。　Oddjob　knocked　on　one　of　them。
　'Yes？'
　Oddjob　opened　the　door。　They　were　prodded　through。
　Goldfinger　sat　at　a　big　desk。　It　was　neatly　encumbered　with　important…looking　papers。　The　desk　was　flanked　by　grey　metal　filing　cabinets。　Beside　the　desk；　within　reach　of　Gold…finger's　hand；　stood　a　short…wave　wireless　set　on　a　low　table。　There　was　an　operator's　keyboard　and　a　machine　that　ticked　busily　and　looked　like　a　barograph。　Bond　guessed　that　this　had　something　to　do　with　the　detector　that　had　intercepted　them。
　Goldfinger　wore　his　purple　velvet　smoking…jacket　over　an　open…necked　white　silk　shirt。　The　open　neck　showed　a　tuft　of　orange　chest…hair。　He　sat　very　erect　in　a　high…backed　chair。　He　hardly　glanced　at　the　girl。　The　big　china…blue　eyes　were　fixed　on　Bond。　They　showed　no　surprise。　They　held　no　expression　except　a　piercing　hardness。
　Bond　blustered；　'Look　here；　Goldfinger。　What　the　hell's　all　this　about？　You　put　the　police　on　to　me　over　that　ten　thousand　dollars　and　I　got　on　your　tracks　with　my　girl　friend　here；　Miss　Soames。　I've　e　to　find　out　what　the　hell　you　mean　by　it。　We　climbed　the　fence　…　I　know　it's　trespassing；　but　I　wanted　to　catch　you　before　you　moved　on　somewhere　else。　Then　this　ape　of　yours　came　along　and　damned　near　killed　one　of　us　with　his　bow　and　arrow。　Two　more　of　your　bloody　Koreans　held　us　up　and　searched　us。　What　the　hell's　going　on？　If　you　can't　give　me　a　civil　answer　and　full　apologies　I'll　put　the　police　on　you。'
　Goldfinger's　flat；　hard　stare　didn't　flicker。　He　might　not　have　heard　Bond's　angry…gentleman's　outburst。　The　finely　chiselled　lips　parted。　He　said；　'Mr　Bond；　they　have　a　saying　in　Chicago：　〃Once　is　happenstance。　Twice　is　coincidence。　The　third　time　it's　enemy　action。〃　Miami；　Sandwich　and　now　Geneva。　I　propose　to　wring　the　truth　out　of　you。'　Gold…finger's　eyes　slid　slowly　past　Bond's　head。　'Oddjob。　The　Pressure　Room。'
　
　PART　THREE：　ENEMY　ACTION
　
　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　
　THE　PRESSURE　ROOM
　
　BOND'S　REACTION　was　automatic。　There　was　no　reason　behind　it。　He　took　one　quick　step　forward　and　hurled　himself　across　the　desk　at　Goldfinger。　His　body；　launched　in　a　shallow　dive；　hit　the　top　of　the　desk　and　ploughed　through　the　litter　of　papers。　There　was　a　heavy　thud　as　the　top　of　his　head　crashed　into　Goldfinger's　breastbone。　The　momentum　of　the　blow　rocked　Goldfinger　in　his　chair。　Bond　kicked　back　at　the　edge　of　the　desk；　got　a　purchase　and　rammed　forward　again。　As　the　chair　toppled　backwards　and　the　two　bodies　went　down　in　the　splintering　woodwork；　Bond's　fingers　got　to　the　throat　and　his　thumbs　went　into　its　base　and　downwards　with　every　ounce　of　his　force。
　Then　the　whole　house　fell　on　Bond；　a　baulk　of　timber　hit　him　at　the　base　of　the　neck　and　he　rolled　sluggishly　off　Goldfinger　on　to　the　floor　and　lay　still。
　　
　The　vortex　of　light　through　which　Bond　was　whirling　slowly　flattened　into　a　disc；　a　yellow　moon；　and　then　into　a　burning　Cyclops　eye。　Something　was　written　round　the　fiery　eyeball。　It　was　a　message；　an　important　message　for　him。　He　must　read　it。　Carefully；　one　by　one；　Bond　spelled　out　the　tiny　letters。　The　message　said：　SOCIéTé　ANONYME　MAZDA。　What　was　its　significance？　A　hard　bolt　of　water　hit　Bond　in　the　face。　The　water　stung　his　eyes　and　filled　his　mouth。　He　retched　desperately　and　tried　to　move。　He　couldn't。　His　eyes　cleared；　and　his　brain。　There　was　a　throbbing　pain　at　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　was　staring　up　into　a　big　enamelled　light　bow