ian fleming.casino royale-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　place；　but　let　it　alone。　Her　eyes　were　wide　apart　and　deep　blue　and　they　gazed　candidly　back　at　Bond　with　a　touch　of　ironical　disinterest　which；　to　his　annoyance；　he　found　he　would　like　to　shatter；　roughly。　Her　skin　was　lightly　sun…tanned　and　bore　no　trace　of　makeup　except　on　her　mouth　which　was　wide　and　sensual。　Her　bare　arms　and　hands　had　a　quality　of　repose　and　the　general　impression　of　restraint　in　her　appearance　and　movements　was　carried　even　to　her　fingernails　which　were　unpainted　and　cut　short。　Round　her　neck　she　wore　a　plain　gold　chain　of　wide　flat　links　and　on　the　fourth　finger　of　the　right　hand　a　broad　topaz　ring。　Her　medium…length　dress　was　of　grey　soie　sauvage　with　a　square…cut　bodice；　lasciviously　tight　across　her　fine　breasts。　The　skirt　was　closely　pleated　and　flowered　down　from　a　narrow；　but　not　a　thin；　waist。　She　wore　a　three…inch；　handstitched　black　belt。　A　handstitched　black　sabretache　rested　on　the　chair　beside　her；　together　with　a　wide　cart…wheel　hat　of　gold　straw；　its　crown　encircled　by　a　thin　black　velvet　ribbon　which　tied　at　the　back　in　a　short　bow。　Her　shoes　were　square…toed　of　plain　black　leather。
　Bond　was　excited　by　her　beauty　and　intrigued　by　her　posure。　The　prospect　of　working　with　her　stimulated　him。　At　the　same　time　he　felt　a　vague　disquiet。　On　an　impulse　he　touched　wood。
　Mathis　had　noticed　Bond's　preoccupation。　After　a　time　he　rose。
　'Forgive　me；'　he　said　to　the　girl；　'while　I　telephone　to　the　Dubernes。　I　must　arrange　my　rendezvous　for　dinner　tonight。　Are　you　sure　you　won't　mind　being　left　to　your　own　devices　this　evening？'
　She　shook　her　head。
　Bond　took　the　cue　and；　as　Mathis　crossed　the　room　to　the　telephone　booth　beside　the　bar；　he　said：　'If　you　are　going　to　be　alone　tonight；　would　you　care　to　have　dinner　with　me？'
　She　smiled　with　the　first　hint　of　conspiracy　she　had　shown。　'I　would　like　to　very　much；'　she　said；　'and　then　perhaps　you　would　chaperon　me　to　the　Casino　where　Monsieur　Mathis　tells　me　you　are　very　much　at　home。　Perhaps　I　will　bring　you　luck。'
　With　Mathis　gone；　her　attitude　towards　him　showed　a　sudden　warmth。　She　seemed　to　acknowledge　that　they　were　a　team　and；　as　they　discussed　the　time　and　place　of　their　meeting；　Bond　realized　that　it　would　be　quite　easy　after　all　to　plan　the　details　of　his　project　with　her。　He　felt　that　after　all　she　was　interested　and　excited　by　her　role　and　that　she　would　work　willingly　with　him。　He　had　imagined　many　hurdles　before　establishing　a　rapport；　but　now　he　felt　he　could　get　straight　down　to　professional　details。　He　was　quite　honest　to　himself　about　the　hypocrisy　of　his　attitude　towards　her。　As　a　woman；　he　wanted　to　sleep　with　her　but　only　when　the　job　had　been　done。
　When　Mathis　came　back　to　the　table　Bond　called　for　his　bill。　He　explained　that　he　was　expected　back　at　his　hotel　to　have　lunch　with　friends。　When　for　a　moment　he　held　her　hand　in　his　he　felt　a　warmth　of　affection　and　understanding　pass　between　them　that　would　have　seemed　impossible　half　an　hour　earlier。
　The　girl's　eyes　followed　him　out　on　to　the　boulevard。
　Mathis　moved　his　chair　close　to　hers　and　said　softly：　'That　is　a　very　good　friend　of　mine。　I　am　glad　you　have　met　each　other。　I　can　already　feel　the　ice…floes　on　the　two　rivers　breaking　up。'　He　smiled；　'I　don't　think　Bond　has　ever　been　melted。　It　will　be　a　new　experience　for　him。　And　for　you。'
　She　did　not　answer　him　directly。
　'He　is　very　good…looking。　He　reminds　me　rather　of　Hoagy　Carmichael；　but　there　is　something　cold　and　ruthless　in　his　。　。　。'
　The　sentence　was　never　finished。　Suddenly　a　few　feet　away　the　entire　plate…glass　window　shivered　into　confetti。　The　blast　of　a　terrific　explosion；　very　near；　hit　them　so　that　they　were　rocked　back　in　their　chairs。　There　was　an　instant　of　silence。　Some　objects　pattered　down　on　to　the　pavement　outside。　Bottles　slowly　toppled　off　the　shelves　behind　the　bar。　Then　there　were　screams　and　a　stampede　for　the　door。
　'Stay　there；'　said　Mathis。
　He　kicked　back　his　chair　and　hurtled　through　the　empty　window…frame　on　to　the　pavement。
　
　
　CHAPTER　6　…　TWO　MEN　IN　STRAW　HATS
　When　Bond　left　the　bar　he　walked　purposefully　along　the　pavement　flanking　the　tree…lined　boulevard　towards　his　hotel　a　few　hundred　yards　away。　He　was　hungry。
　The　day　was　still　beautiful；　but　by　now　the　sun　was　very　hot　and　the　plane…trees；　spaced　about　twenty　feet　apart　on　the　grass　verge　between　the　pavement　and　the　broad　tarmac；　gave　a　cool　shade。
　There　were　few　people　abroad　and　the　two　men　standing　quietly　under　a　tree　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　boulevard　looked　out　of　place。
　Bond　noticed　them　when　he　was　still　a　hundred　yards　away　and　when　the　same　distance　separated　them　from　the　ornamental　porte　cochère　of　the　Splendide。
　There　was　something　rather　disquieting　about　their　appearance。　They　were　both　small　and　they　were　dressed　alike　in　dark　and；　Bond　reflected；　rather　hot…looking　suits。　They　had　the　appearance　of　a　variety　turn　waiting　for　a　bus　on　the　way　to　the　theatre。　Each　wore　a　straw　hat　with　a　thick　black　ribbon　as　a　concession；　perhaps；　to　the　holiday　atmosphere　of　the　resort；　and　the　brims　of　these　and　the　shadow　from　the　tree　under　which　they　stood　obscured　their　faces。　Incongruously；　each　dark；　squat　little　figure　was　illuminated　by　a　touch　of　bright　colour。　They　were　both　carrying；　square　camera…cases　slung　from　the　shoulder。
　And　one　case　was　bright　red　and　the　other　case　bright　blue。
　By　the　time　Bond　had　taken　in　these　details；　he　had　e　to　within　fifty　yards　of　the　two　men。　He　was　reflecting　on　the　ranges　of　various　types　of　weapon　and　the　possibilities　of　cover　when　an　extraordinary　and　terrible　scene　was　enacted。
　Red…man　seemed　to　give　a　short　nod　to　Blue…man。　With　a　quick　movement　Blue…man　unslung　his　blue　camera…case。　Blue…man；　and　Bond　could　not　see　exactly　as　the　trunk　of　a　plane…tree　beside　him　just　then　intervened　to　obscure　his　vision；　bent　forward　and　seemed　to　fiddle　with　the　case。　Then　with　a　blinding　flash　of　white　light　there　was　the　ear…splitting　crack　of　a　monstrous　explosion　and　Bond；　despite　the　protection　of　the　tree…trunk；　was　slammed　down　to　the　pavement　by　a　bolt　of　hot　air　which　dented　his　cheeks　and　stomach　as　if　they　had　been　made　of　paper。　He　lay；　gazing　up　at　the　sun；　while　the　air　（or　so　it　seemed　to　him）　went　on　twanging　with　the　explosion　as　if　someone　had　hit　the　bass　register　of　a　piano　with　a　sledgehammer。
　When；　dazed　and　half…conscious；　he　raised　himself　on　one　knee；　a　ghastly　rain　of　pieces　of　flesh　and　shreds　of　blood…soaked　clothing　fell　on　him　and　around　him；　mingled　with　branches　and　gravel。　Then　a　shower　of　small　twigs　and　leaves。　From　all　sides　came　the　sharp　tinkle　of　falling　glass。　Above　in　the　sky　hung　a　mushroom　of　black　smoke　which　rose　and　dissolved　as　he　drunkenly　watched　it。　There　was　an　obscene　smell　of　high　explosive；　of　burning　wood；　and　of；　yes；　that　was　it　…　roast　mutton。　For　fifty　yards　down　the　boulevard　the　trees　were　leafless　and　charred。　Opposite；　two　of　them　had　snapped　off　near　the　base　and　lay　drunkenly　across　the　road。　Between　them　there　was　a　still　smoking　crater。　Of　the　two　men　in　straw　hats；　there　remained　absolutely　nothing。　But　there　were　red　traces　on　the　road；　and　on　the　pavements　and　against　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　and　there　were　glittering　shreds　high　up　in　the　branches。
　Bond　felt　himself　starting　to　vomit。
　It　was　Mathis　who　got　to　him　first；　and　by　that　time　Bond　was　standing　with　his　arm　round　the　tree　which　had　saved　his　life。
　Stupefied；　but　unharmed；　he　allowed　Mathis　to　lead　him　off　towards　the　Splendide　from　which　guests　and　servants　were　pouring　in　chattering　fright。　As　the　distant　clang　of　bells　heralded　the　arrival　of　ambulances　and　fire…engines；　they　managed　to　push　through　the　throng　and　up　the　short　stairs　and　along　the　corridor　to　Bond's　room。
　Mathis　paused　only　to　turn　on　the　radio　in　front　of　the　fireplace；　then；　while　Bond　stripped　off　his　blood…flecked　clothes；　Mathis　sprayed　him　with　questions。
　When　it　came　to　the　description　of　the　two　men；　Mathis　tore　the　telephone　off　its　hook　beside　Bond's　bed。
　'。。。　and　tell　the　police；'　he　concluded；　'tell　them　that　the　Englishman　from　Jamaica　who　was　knocked　over　by　the　blast　is　my　affair。　He　is　unhurt　and　t