if.goldfinger-第48部分

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the　morning　glory　by　the　fence。　Mebbe　you　weren't　around　in　the　days　when　we　used　to　hide　up　between　fights　in　Little　Bohemia　up　behind　Milwaukee？　Well；　siree；　in　those　days；　people　were　shooting　at　each　other　so　fast　you'd　often　need　a　programme　to　tell　the　act　from　the　spectators。　So　all　right；　people　got　tired　of　it　…　those　that　hadn't　already　got　tired　to　death；　if　you　get　my　meaning　…and　when　the　'fifties　e　along　and　I　take　over　the　team；　it's　unanimous　that　we　get　out　of　the　fireworks　business。　And　now　what；　mister？　Now　you　e　along　and　put　it　to　me　that　me　and　my　friends　assist　you　to　let　off　the　biggest　fizzbang　in　history！　So　what　do　I　figger　to　say　to　your　proposition；　Mister…er　…　Whoosis？　Well；　I　tell　you；　mister。　Everybody's　got　his　price；　see？　…　and　for　a　billion　dollars　it's　a　deal。　We'll　put　away　the　marbles　and　bring　out　the　sling…shots。　We're　in。'
　'Grinner；　you　sure　take　one　hell　of　a　long　time　to　say　yes；'　mented　Mr　Midnight　sourly。
　Goldfinger　said　cordially；　'Thank　you　for　your　most　interesting　statement；　Mr　Ring。　I　am　very　happy　to　wele　you　and　your　associates。　Mr　Solo？'
　Mr　Solo　prefaced　his　reply　by　reaching　into　his　coat　pocket　and　taking　out　a　battery　shaver。　He　switched　it　on。　The　room　filled　with　the　noise　of　angry　bees。　Mr　Solo　leant　his　head　back　and　began　running　the　machine　thoughtfully　up　the　right　side　of　his　face　while　his　uptilted　eyes　sought　decision　in　the　ceiling。　Suddenly　he　switched　the　razor　off；　put　it　down　on　the　table　in　front　of　him　and　jerked　his　head　down　and　forward　like　a　snake　striking。　The　black　gun…muzzles　of　his　eyes　pointed　threateningly　across　the　table　at　Goldfinger　and　moved　slowly　from　feature　to　feature　of　the　big　moon…face。　Half　Mr　Solo's　own　face　now　looked　naked。　The　other　half　was　dark　with　the　Italian　swarthiness　that　es　from　an　uncontrollable　beard　growth。　Bond　guessed　that　he　probably　had　to　shave　every　three　or　four　hours。　Now　Mr　Solo　decided　to　speak。　He　spoke　in　a　voice　that　brought　chill　into〃　the　room。　He　said　softly；　'Mister；　I　been　watching　you。　You　are　a　very　relaxed　man　for　someone　who　speaks　such　big　things。　Last　man　I　knew　was　so　much　relaxed　he　got　himself　totally　relaxed　by　a　quick　burst　of　the　chopper。　Okay；　okay。'　Mr　Solo　sat　back。　He　spread　open　palms　in　reluctant　surrender。　'So　I　e　in；　yes。　But　mister'　…　there　was　a　pause　for　emphasis　…　'either　we　get　that　billion　or　you　get　dead。　Is　okay　with　you？'
　Goldfinger's　lips　bent　ironically。　'Thank　you；　Mr　Solo。　Your　conditions　are　quite　acceptable。　I　have　every　wish　to　stay　alive。　Mr　Helmut　Springer？'
　Mr　Springer's　eyes　looked　deader　than　ever。　He　said　pompously；　'I　am　still　giving　the　matter　my　full　consideration。　Pray　consult　my　colleagues　while　I　deliberate。'
　Mr　Midnight　mented　impatiently；　'Same　old　Hell。　Waits　for　what　he　calls　inspiration。　He's　guided　…　messages　from　the　Almighty　on　the　angels'　wavelength。　I　guess　he　hasn't　heard　a　human　voice　in　twenty　years。'
　'And　Mr　Strap？'
　Mr　Jack　Strap　crinkled　his　eyes　at　Goldfinger。　He　said　smoothly；　'Mister；　I　figure　you　know　the　odds　and　you　surely　pay　the　best　since　one　of　our　machines　at　Vegas　got　the　trots　and　gave　continuous　jackpots。　I　guess　if　we　provide　the　muscles　and　the　guns　this　caper'll　pay　off。　You　can　count　me　in。'　Mr　Strap　turned　off　the　charm。　His　eyes；　now　frightening　again；　turned；　with　Goldfinger's；　to　Miss　Pussy　Galore。
　Miss　Galore　veiled　her　violet　eyes　so　as　not　to　have　to　look　at　either　of　them。　She　said　indifferently　to　the　room　at　large；　'Business　ain't　been　so　brisk　in　my　corner　of　the　woods。'　She　tapped　with　long；　silver…painted　finger…nails　on　the　gold　bar　before　her。　'Mind　you；　I　won't　say　I'm　overdrawn　at　the　bank。　Let's　put　it　I'm　just　a　shade　under…deposited。　Yup。　Sure　I'll　e　in。　Me　and　my　gals　got　to　eat。'
　Goldfinger　allowed　himself　a　half…smile　of　sympathy。　'That　is　excellent　news；　Miss　Galore。　And　now；'　he　turned　to　face　across　the　table；　'Mr　Springer；　might　we　ask　if　you　have　made　up　your　mind？'
　Slowly　Mr　Springer　rose　to　his　feet。　He　gave　the　controlled　yawn　of　an　opera　goer。　He　followed　the　yawn　with　a　small　belch。　He　took　out　a　fine　linen　handkerchief　and　patted　his　lips。　His　glazed　eyes　moved　round　the　table　and　finally　rested　on　Goldfinger。　Slowly　his　head　moved　from　side　to　side　as　if　he　was　trying　to　exercise　fibrositis　in　his　neck　muscles。　He　said　gravely；　like　a　bank　manager　refusing　a　loan；　'Mr　Gold；　I　fear　your　proposal　would　not　find　favour　with　my　colleagues　in　Detroit。'　He　gave　a　little　bow　which　included　everyone。　'It　only　remains　for　me　to　thank　you　for　a　most　interesting　occasion。　Good　afternoon；　gentlemen　and　madam。'　In　the　chilly　silence；　Mr　Springer　tucked　his　handkerchief　carefully　into　the　left…hand　cuff　of　his　immaculate　pin…stripe；　turned　and　walked　softly　to　the　door　and　let　himself　out。
　The　door　closed　with　a　sharp　click。　Bond　noticed　Gold　finger's　hand　slip　casually　below　the　table。　He　guessed　that　Oddjob　was　getting　his　signal。　Signal　for　what？
　Mr　Midnight　said　nastily；　'Glad　he's　out。　He's　strictly　a　four…ulcer　man。　Now　then'　…　he　got　up　briskly　and　turned　to　Bond　…　'how　about　a　little　drink？'
　They　all　rose　and　gathered　round　the　buffet。　Bond　found　himself　between　Miss　Pussy　Galore　and　Tilly　Masterton。　He　offered　them　champagne。　Miss　Galore　looked　at　him　coldly　and　said；　'Move　over；　Handsome。　Us　girls　want　to　talk　secrets。　Don't　we；　yummy？'　Miss　Masterton　blushed　and　then　turned　very　pale。　She　whispered　adoringly；　'Oh　yes　please；　Miss　Galore。'
　Bond　smiled　sourly　at　Tilly　Masterton　and　moved　down　the　room。
　Jed　Midnight　had　witnessed　the　snub。　He　got　close　to　Bond　and　said　earnestly；　'Mister；　if　that's　your　doll；　you　better　watch　her。　Pussy　gets　the　girls　she　wants。　She　consumes　them　in　bunches　…　like　grapes；　if　you　follow　me。'　Mr　Midnight　sighed　wearily。　'Cheesus　how　they　bore　me；　the　lizzies！　You'll　see；　she'll　soon　have　that　frail　parting　her　hair　three　ways　in　front　of　the　mirror。'
　Bond　said　cheerfully；　'I'll　watch　out。　There's　nothing　much　I　can　do。　She's　an　independent　sort　of　a　girl。'
　'That　so？'　said　Mr　Midnight　with　a　spark　of　interest。　'Well　mebbe　I　can　help　to　break　it　up。'　He　straightened　his　tie。　'I　could　go　for　that　Masterton。　She's　sure　got　natural　resources。　See　you　around。〃　He　grinned　at　Bond　and　moved　off　down　the　room。
　Bond　was　having　a　quiet　square　meal　off　caviar　and　champagne　and　thinking　how　well　Goldfinger　had　handled　the　meeting　when　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　room　opened　and　one　of　the　Koreans　hurried　in　and　went　up　to　Goldfinger。　Goldfinger　bent　his　head　to　the　whispered　words。　His　face　became　grave。　He　rapped　a　fork　on　his　glass　of　Saratoga　Vichy。
　'Gentlemen　and　madam。'　He　looked　sadly　round　the　group。　'I　have　received　bad　news。　Our　friend　Mr　Helmut　Springer　has　met　with　an　accident。　He　fell　down　the　stairs。　Death　was　instantaneous。'
　'Ho；　ho！'　Mr　Ring's　laugh　was　not　a　laugh。　It　was　a　hole　in　the　face。　'And　what　does　that　Slappy　Hapgood；　his　torpedo；　have　to　say　about　it？'
　Goldfinger　said　gravely；　'Alas；　Mr　Hapgood　also　fell　down　the　stairs　and　has　succumbed　to　his　injuries。'
　Mr　Solo　looked　at　Goldfinger　with　new　respect。　He　said　softly；　'Mister；　you　better　get　those　stairs　fixed　before　me　and　my　friend　Giulio　e。to　use　them。'
　Goldfinger　said　seriously；　'The　fault　has　been　located。　Repairs　will　be　put　in　hand　at　once。'　His　face　grew　thoughtful。　'I　fear　these　accidents　may　be　misconstrued　in　Detroit。'
　Jed　Midnight　said　cheerfully；　'Don't　give　it　a　thought；　mister。　They　love　funerals　up　there。　And　it'll　take　a　load　off　their　minds。　Old　Hell　wouldn't　have　lasted　much　longer。　They　been　stoking　the　fires　under　him　these　twelve　months。'　He　appealed　to　Mr　Strap　who　stood　next　to　him。　'Am　I　right；　Jacko？'
　'Sure；　Jed；'　said　Mr　Strap　sagely。　'You　got　the　score。　Mr　Helmut　M。　Springer　had　to　be　hit。'
　　
　'Hit'　…　mobese　for　murder。　When　Bond　at　last　got　to　bed　that　night；　he　couldn't　wipe　the　word　out　of　his　mind。　Oddjob　had　got　the　signal；　a　double　ring；…and　Springer　and　his　guard　had　got　hit。　There　had　been　nothing　Bond　could　have　done　about　it　…　even　if　he　had　wanted　to；　and　Mr　Helmut　Springer　meant　nothing　to　him；　probably　richly　deserved　to　be　hit　anyway　…　but　now　some　59；998　other　people　were　going　to　ge