if.goldfinger-第53部分

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　Bond；　under　cover　of　scanning　his　plastic　map…case　and　keeping　an　eye　on　the　stop…watch；　measured　inches　and　angles。　He　glanced　at　the　next…door　group　of　the　four　men　and　the　woman。　They　were　gazing；　in　frozen　attention；　at　the　scene　before　them。　Now　Jack　Strap　said　excitedly；　'They're　through　the　first　gates。'　Bond；　putting　half　his　mind　to　work　on　his　own　plans；　took　a　quick　look　at　the　battlefield。
　It　was　an　extraordinary　scene。　In　the　centre　stood　the　huge　squat　mausoleum；　the　sun　glinting　off　the　polished　granite　of　its　walls。　Outside　the　big　open　field　in　which　it　stood；　the　roads　…　the　Dixie　Highway；　Vine　Grove　and　Bullion　Boulevard　…　were　lined　with　trucks　and　transporters　two　deep　with　the　recognition　flags　of　the　gangs　flying　from　the　first　and　last　vehicle　of　each　convoy。　Their　drivers　lay　piled　up　outside　the　shelter　of　the　surrounding　guard　wall　of　the　vault　while；　through　the　main　gate；　poured　the　tidy　disciplined　squads　from　the　train。　Outside　this　world　of　movement　there　was　absolute　stillness　and　silence　as　if　the　rest　of　America　was　holding　its　breath　at　the　mittal　of　this　gigantic　crime。　And　outside　lay　the　bodies　of　the　soldiers；　sprawling　where　they　had　fallen　…　the　sentries　by　their　pill　boxes；　still　clutching　their　automatic　pistols；　and；　inside　the　protecting　wall；　two　ragged　squads　of　soldiers　in　battledress。　They　lay　in　vague；　untidy　heaps；　some　bodies　athwart　or　on　top　of　their　neighbours。　Outside；　between　Bullion　Boulevard　and　the　main　gate；　two　armoured　cars　had　crashed　into　each　other　and　now　stood　locked；　their　heavy　machine　guns　pointing；　one　at　the　ground　and　the　other　at　the　sky。　A　driver's　body　sprawled　out　of　the　turret　of　one　of　the　vehicles。
　Desperately　Bond　looked　for　a　sign　of　life；　a　sign　of　movement；　a　hint　that　all　this　was　a　careful　ambush。　Nothing！　Not　a　cat　moved；　not　a　sound　came　out　of　the　crowded　buildings　that　formed　a　backdrop　to　the　scene。　Only　the　squads　hurried　about　their　tasks　or　now　stood　waiting　in　their　planned　dispositions。
　Goldfinger　spoke　quietly　into　his　microphone。　'Last　stretcher　out。　Bomb　squad　ready。　Prepare　to　take　over。'
　Now　the　covering　troops　and　the　stretcher…bearers　were　hurrying　for　the　exit；　getting　down　under　cover　of　the　guard　wall。　There　would　be　five　minutes'　delay　to　clear　the　area　before　the　bomb　squad；　now　waiting　bunched　at　the　main　gate；　would　go　in。
　Bond　said　efficiently；　'They're　a　minute　ahead　of　time。'
　Goldfinger　looked　past　Oddjob's　shoulder。　The　pale　eyes　were　aflame。　They　stared　into　Bond's。　Goldfinger's　mouth　twisted　into　a　harsh　snarl。　He　said　through　his　teeth；　'You　see；　Mr　Bond。　You　were　wrong　and　I　was　right。　Ten　more　minutes　and　I　shall　be　the　richest　man　in　the　world；　the　richest　man　in　history！　What　do　you　say　to　that？'　His　mouth　spat　out　the　words。
　Bond　said　equably；　'I'll　tell　you　after　those　ten　minutes　are　up。'
　'Will　you？'　said　Goldfinger。　'Maybe。'　He　looked　at　his　watch　and　spoke　rapidly　into　his　microphone。　The　Goldfinger　squad　loped　slowly　through　the　main　gate；　their　heavy　burden　slung　from　four　shoulders　in　a　cradle　of　webbing。
　Goldfinger　looked　past　Bond　at　the　group　on　the　roof　of　the　second　diesel。　He　called　out　triumphantly；　'Another　five　minutes；　gentlemen；　and　then　we　must　take　cover。'　He　turned　his　eyes　on　Bond　and　added　softly；　'And　then　we　will　say　goodbye；　Mr　Bond。　And　thank　you　for　the　assistance　you　and　the　girl　have　given　me。'
　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Bond　saw　something　moving　…　moving　in　the　sky。　It　was　a　black；　whirling　speck。　It　reached　the　top　of　its　trajectory；　paused　and　then　came　the　ear…splitting　crack　of　a　maroon　signal。
　Bond's　heart　leapt。　A　quick　glance　showed　him　the　ranks　of　dead　soldiers　springing　to　life；　the　machine　guns　on　the　locked　armoured　cars　swinging　to　cover　the　gates。　A　loudspeaker　roared　from　nowhere；　'Stand　where　you　are。　Lay　down　your　arms。'　But　there　came　a　futile　crackle　of　fire　from　one　of　the　rearguard　covering　party　and　then　all　hell　broke　loose。
　Bond　seized　the　girl　round　the　waist　and　jumped　with　her。
　It　was　a　tenfoot　drop　to　the　platform。　Bond　broke　his　fall　with　his　left　hand　and　hoisted　the　girl　to　her　feet　with　a　jerk　of　his　hip。　As　he　began　to　run；　close　to　the　train　for　cover；　he　heard　Goldfinger　shout；　'Get　them　and　kill　them。'　A　splatter　of　lead　from　Goldfinger's　automatic　whipped　at　the　cement　to　his　left。　But　Goldfinger　would　have　to　shoot　left　handed。　It　was　Oddjob　that　Bond　feared。　Now；　as　Bond　tore　down　the　platform　with　the　girl's　hand　in　his；　he　heard　the　lightning　scuffle　of　the　running　feet。
　The　girl's　hand　tugged　at　him。　She　screamed　angrily；　'No；　No。　Stop！　I　want　to　stay　close　to　Pussy。　I'll　be　safe　with　her。'
　Bond　shouted　back；　'Shut　up；　you　little　fool！　Run　like　hell！'　But　now　she　was　dragging　at　him；　checking　his　speed。　Suddenly　she　tore　her　hand　out　of　his　and　made　to　dart　into　an　open　Pullman　door。　Christ；　thought　Bond；　that's　torn　it！　He　whipped　the　knife　out　of　his　belt　and　swirled　to　meet　Oddjob。
　Ten　yards　away　Oddjob　hardly　paused　in　his　rush。　One　hand　whipped　off　his　ridiculous；　deadly　hat；　a　glance　to　take　aim　and　the　black　steel　half…moon　sang　through　the　air。　Its　edge　caught　the　girl　exactly　at　the　nape　of　the　neck。　Without　a　sound　she　fell　backwards　on　to　the　platform　in　Oddjob's　path。　The　hurdle　was　just　enough　to　put　Oddjob　off　the　flying　high　kick　he　had　started　to　launch　at　Bond's　head。　He　turned　the　kick　into　a　leap；　his　left　hand　cutting　the　air　towards　Bond　like　a　sword。　Bond　ducked　and　struck　upwards　and　sideways　with　his　knife。　It　got　home　somewhere　near　the　ribs　but　the　momentum　of　the　flying　body　knocked　the　knife　out　of　his　hand。　There　was　a　tinkle　on　the　platform。　Now　Oddjob　was　ing　back　at　him；　apparently　unharmed；　his　hands　outstretched　and　his　feet　？　splayed　back　ready　for　another　leap　or　a　kick。　His　blood　was　up。　The　eyes　were　red　and　there　was　a　fleck　of　saliva　at　the　open；　panting　mouth。
　Above　the　boom　and　rattle　of　the　guns　outside　the　station；　three　blasts　sounded　on　the　diesel's　windhorn。　Oddjob　snarled　angrily　and　leapt。　Bond　dived　at　full　length　sideways。　Something　hit　him　a　gigantic　blow　on　the　shoulder　and　sent　him　sprawling。　Now；　he　thought　as　he　hit　the　ground；　now　the　death　stroke！　He　scrambled　clumsily　to　his　feet；　his　neck　hunched　into　his　shoulders　to　break　the　impact。　But　no　blow　came　and　Bond's　dazed　eyes　took　in　the　figure　of　Oddjob　flying　away　from　him　up　the　platform。
　Already　the　leading　diesel　was　on　the　move。　Oddjob　got　to　it　and　leapt　for　the　footplate。　For　a　moment　he　hung；　his　legs　scrabbling　for　a　foothold。　Then　he　had　disappeared　into　the　cabin　and　the　huge　streamlined　engine　gathered　speed。
　Behind　Bond　the　door　of　the　quartermaster's　office　burst　open。　There　was　the　hammer　of　running　feet　and　a　yell　'Santiago！'　…　St　James；　the　battle…cry　of　Cortez　that　Leiter　had　once　jokingly　allotted　to　Bond。
　Bond　swivelled。　The　straw…haired　Texan；　clad　in　his　wartime　Marine　Corps　battledress；　was　pounding　up　the　platform　followed　by　a　dozen　men　in　khaki。　He　carried　a　one…man　bazooka　by　the　steel　hook　he　used　for　a　right　hand。　Bond　ran　to　meet　him。　He　said；　'Don't　shoot　my　fox；　you　bastard。　Give　over。'　He　snatched　the　bazooka　out　of　Leiter's　hand　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　platform；　splaying　out　his　legs。　Now　the　diesel　was　two　hundred　yards　away　and　about　to　cross　the　bridge　over　the　Dixie　Highway。　Bond　shouted；　'Stand　clear！'　to　get　the　men　out　of　line　of　the　recoil　flash；　clicked　up　the　safe　and　took　careful　aim。　The　bazooka　shuddered　slightly　and　the　ten…pound　armour…piercing　rocket　was　on　its　way。　There　was　a　flash　and　a　puff　of　blue　smoke。　Some　bits　of　metal　flew　off　the　rear　of　the　flying　engine。　But　then　it　had　crossed　the　bridge　and　taken　the　curve　and　was　away。
　'Not　bad　for　a　rookie；'　mented　Leiter。　'May　put　the　rear　diesel　out；　but　those　jobs　are　twins　and　he　can　make　it　on　the　forward　engine。'
　Bond　got　to　his　feet。　He　smiled　warmly　into　the　hawk…like；　slate…grey　eyes。　'You　bungling　oaf；'　he　said　sarcastically；　'why　in　hell　didn't　you　block　that　line？'
　'Listen；　shamus。　If　you've　got　any　plaints　about　the　stage　management　you　can　tell　them　to　the　President。　He　took　personal　mand　of　this　operation　and　it's　a　honey。　There's　a　spotter