ian fleming.casino royale-第9部分

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ted　to　swim　with　the　shark。　Sitting　directly　opposite；　one　of　these；　whom　Bond　took　to　be　an　American；　had　shown　more　than　the　usual　friendliness　and　pleasure　at　his　share　of　the　winning　streak。　He　had　smiled　once　or　twice　across　the　table；　and　there　was　something　pointed　in　the　way　he　duplicated　Bond's　movements；　placing　his　two　modest　plaques　of　ten　mille　exactly　opposite　Bond's　larger　ones。　When　Bond　rose；　he　too　pushed　back　his　chair　and　called　cheerfully　across　the　table：
　'Thanks　for　the　ride。　Guess　I　owe　you　a　drink。　Will　you　join　me？'
　Bond　had　a　feeling　that　this　might　be　the　CIA　man。　He　knew　he　was　right　as　they　strolled　off　together　towards　the　bar；　after　Bond　had　thrown　a　plaque　of　ten　mille　to　the　croupier　and　had　given　a　mine　to　the　huissier　who　drew　back　his　chair。
　'My　name's　Felix　Leiter；'　said　the　American。　'Glad　to　meet　you。'
　'Mine's　Bond　…　James　Bond。'
　'Oh　yes；'　said　his　panion；　'and　now　let's　see。　What　shall　we　have　to　celebrate？'
　Bond　insisted　on　ordering　Leiter's　Haig…and…Haig　'on　the　rocks'　and　then　he　looked　carefully　at　the　barman。
　'A　dry　martini；'　he　said。　'One。　In　a　deep　champagne　goblet。'
　'Oui；　monsieur。'
　'Just　a　moment。　Three　measures　of　Gordon's；　one　of　vodka；　half　a　measure　of　Kina　Lillet。　Shake　it　very　well　until　it's　ice…cold；　then　add　a　large　thin　slice　of　lemon…peel。　Got　it？'
　'Certainly；　monsieur。'　The　barman　seemed　pleased　with　the　idea。
　'Gosh；　that's　certainly　a　drink；'　said　Leiter。
　Bond　laughed。　'When　I'm　。　。　。　er　。　。　。　concentrating；'　he　explained；　'I　never　have　more　than　one　drink　before　dinner。　But　I　do　like　that　one　to　be　large　and　very　strong　and　very　cold　and　very　well…made。　I　hate　small　portions　of　anything；　particularly　when　they　taste　bad。　This　drink's　my　own　invention。　I'm　going　to　patent　it　when　I　can　think　of　a　good　name。'
　He　watched　carefully　as　the　deep　glass　became　frosted　with　the　pale　golden　drink；　slightly　aerated　by　the　bruising　of　the　shaker。　He　reached　for　it　and　took　a　long　sip。
　'Excellent；'　he　said　to　the　barman；　'but　if　you　can　get　a　vodka　made　with　grain　instead　of　potatoes；　you　will　find　it　still　better。'
　'Mais　n'enculons　pas　des　mouches；'　he　added　in　an　aside　to　the　barman。　The　barman　grinned。
　'That's　a　vulgar　way　of　saying　〃we　won't　split　hairs〃；'　explained　Bond。
　But　Leiter　was　still　interested　in　Bond's　drink。　'You　certainly　think　things　out；'　he　said　with　amusement　as　they　carried　their　glasses　to　a　corner　of　the　room。　He　lowered　his　voice。
　'You'd　better　call　it　the　'Molotov　Cocktail'　after　the　one　you　tasted　this　afternoon。'
　They　sat　down。　Bond　laughed。
　'I　see　that　the　spot　marked　〃X〃　has　been　roped　off　and　they're　making　cars　take　a　detour　over　the　pavement。　I　hope　it　hasn't　frightened　away　any　of　the　big　money。'
　'People　are　accepting　the　munist　story　or　else　they　think　it　was　a　burst　gas…main。　All　the　burnt　trees　are　ing　down　tonight　and　if　they　work　things　here　like　they　do　at　Monte　Carlo；　there　won't　be　a　trace　of　the　mess　left　in　the　morning。'
　Leiter　shook　a　Chesterfield　out　of　his　pack。　'I'm　glad　to　be　working　with　you　on　this　job；'　he　said；　looking　into　his　drink；　'so　I'm　particularly　glad　you　didn't　get　blown　to　glory。　Our　people　are　definitely　interested。　They　think　it's　just　as　important　as　your　friends　do　and　they　don't　think　there's　anything　crazy　about　it　at　all。　In　fact；　Washington's　pretty　sick　we're　not　running　the　show；　but　you　know　what　the　big　brass　is　like。　I　expect　your　fellows　are　much　the　same　in　London。'
　Bond　nodded。　'Apt　to　be　a　bit　jealous　of　their　scoops；'　he　admitted。
　'Anyway；　I'm　under　your　orders　and　I'm　to　give　you　any　help　you　ask　for。　With　Mathis　and　his　boys　here；　there　may　not　be　much　that　isn't　taken　care　of　already。　But；　anyway；　here　I　am。'
　'I'm　delighted　you　are；'　said　Bond。　'The　opposition　has　got　me；　and　probably　you　and　Mathis　too；　all　weighed　up　and　it　seems　no　holds　are　going　to　be　barred。　I'm　glad　Le　Chiffre　seems　as　desperate　as　we　thought　he　was。　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　got　anything　very　specific　for　you　to　do；　but　I'd　be　grateful　if　you'd　stick　around　the　Casino　this　evening。　I've　got　an　assistant；　a　Miss　Lynd；　and　I'd　like　to　hand　her　over　to　you　when　I　start　playing。　You　won't　be　ashamed　of　her。　She's　a　good　looking　girl。'　He　smiled　at　Leiter。　'And　you　might　mark　his　two　gunmen。　I　can't　imagine　he'll　try　a　rough　house；　but　you　never　know。'
　'I　may　be　able　to　help；'　said　Leiter。　'I　was　a　regular　in　our　Marine　Corps　before　I　joined　this　racket；　if　that　means　anything　to　you。'　He　looked　at　Bond　with　a　hint　of　self…deprecation。
　'It　does；'　said　Bond。
　It　turned　out　that　Leiter　was　from　Texas。　While　he　talked　on　about　his　job　with　the　Joint　Intelligence　Staff　of　NATO　and　the　difficulty　of　maintaining　security　in　an　organization　where　so　many　nationalities　were　represented；　Bond　reflected　that　good　Americans　were　fine　people　and　that　most　of　them　seemed　to　e　from　Texas。
　Felix　Leiter　was　about　thirty…five。　He　was　tall　with　a　thin　bony　frame　and　his　lightweight；　tan…coloured　suit　hung　loosely　from　his　shoulders　like　the　clothes　of　Frank　Sinatra。　His　movements　and　speech　were　slow；　but　one　had　the　feeling　that　there　was　plenty　of　speed　and　strength　in　him　and　that　he　would　be　a　tough　and　cruel　fighter。　As　he　sat　hunched　over　the　table；　he　seemed　to　have　some　of　the　jack…knife　quality　of　a　falcon。　There　was　this　impression　also　in　his　face；　in　the　sharpness　of　his　chin　and　cheekbones　and　the　wide　wry　mouth。　His　grey　eyes　had　a　feline　slant　which　was　increased　by　his　habit　of　screwing　them　up　against　the　smoke　of　the　Chesterfields　which　he　tapped　out　of　the　pack　in　a　chain。　The　permanent　wrinkles　which　this　habit　had　etched　at　the　corners　gave　the　impression　that　he　smiled　more　with　his　eyes　than　with　his　mouth。　A　mop　of　straw…coloured　hair　lent　his　face　a　boyish　look　which　closer　examination　contradicted。　Although　he　seemed　to　talk　quite　openly　about　his　duties　in　Paris；　Bond　soon　noticed　that　he　never　spoke　of　his　American　colleagues　in　Europe　or　in　Washington　and　he　guessed　that　Leiter　held　the　interests　of　his　own　organization　far　above　the　mutual　concerns　of　the　North　Atlantic　Allies。　Bond　sympathized　with　him。
　By　the　time　Leiter　had　swallowed　another　whisky　and　Bond　had　told　him　about　the　Muntzes　and　his　short　reconnaissance　trip　down　the　coast　that　morning；　it　was　seven…thirty；　and　they　decided　to　stroll　over　to　their　hotel　together。　Before　leaving　the　Casino；　Bond　deposited　his　total　capital　of　twenty…four　million　at　the　caisse；　keeping　only　a　few　notes　of　ten　mille　as　pocket　money。
　As　they　walked　across　to　the　Splendide；　they　saw　that　a　team　of　workmen　was　already　busy　at　the　scene　of　the　explosion。　Several　trees　were　uprooted　and　hoses　from　three　municipal　tank　cars　were　washing　down　the　boulevard　and　pavements。　The　bomb…crater　had　disappeared　and　only　a　few　passers…by　had　paused　to　gape。　Bond　assumed　that　similar　face…lifting　had　already　been　carried　out　at　the　Hermitage　and　to　the　shops　and　frontages　which　had　lost　their　windows。
　In　the　warm　blue　dusk　Royale…les…Eaux　was　once　again　orderly　and　peaceful。
　'Who's　the　concierge　working　for？'　asked　Leiter　as　they　approached　the　hotel。　Bond　was　not　sure；　and　said　so。
　Mathis　had　been　unable　to　enlighten　him。　'Unless　you　have　bought　him　yourself；'　he　had　said；　'you　must　assume　that　he　has　been　bought　by　the　other　side。　All　concierges　are　venal。　It　is　not　their　fault。　They　are　trained　to　regard　all　hotel　guests　except　maharajahs　as　potential　cheats　and　thieves。　They　have　as　much　concern　for　your　fort　or　well…being　as　crocodiles。'
　Bond　remembered　Mathis's　pronouncement　when　the　concierge　hurried　up　to　inquire　whether　he　had　recovered　from　his　most　unfortunate　experience　of　the　afternoon。　Bond　thought　it　well　to　say　that　he　still　felt　a　little　shaky。　He　hoped　that　if　the　intelligence　were　relayed；　Le　Chiffre　would　at　any　rate　start　playing　that　evening　with　a　basic　misinterpretation　of　his　adversary's　strength。　The　concierge　proffered　glycerine　hopes　for　Bond's　recovery。
　Leiter's　room　was　on　one　of　the　upper　floors　and　they　parted　pany　at　the　lift　after　arranging　to　see　each　other　at　the　Casino　at　around　half　past　ten　or　eleven；　the　usual　hour　for　the　high　tables　to　begin　play。
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