if.thespywholovedme-第28部分

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　I　ran　to　the　right　and　across　the　road；　keeping　the　lobby　building　between　me　and　the　end　cabin；　and　scrambled　in　among　the　trees。　Once　again　they　tore　and　scratched　at　me；　but　now　I　had　proper　shoes　on；　and　the　material　of　the　overalls　was　tough。　I　got　well　inside　the　wood　and　then　began　working　along　to　the　left。　When　I　thought　I　had　gone　far　enough　I　crept　down　toward　the　light　from　the　flames。　I　ended　up　where　I　had　wanted　to；　just　inside　the　first　line　of　trees　with　the　black　sedan　about　twenty　yards　away　on　the　other　side　of　the　road　and　a　fairly　clear　view　of　the　flickering　battlefield。
　All　this　while；　the　moon　had　been　dodging　in　and　out　through　the　scudding　clouds…in　turns　lighting　everything　brightly　and　then　switching　itself　off　and　leaving　only　the　changing　glare　that　came　mostly　from　the　blazing　left　half　of　the　lobby　block。　Now　the　moon　came　fully　out　and　showed　me　something　that　almost　made　me　scream。　The　thin　man；　crawling　on　his　stomach；　was　worming　his　way　up　the　north　side　of　the　lobby　block；　and　the　moonlight　glinted　on　the　gun　in　his　hand。
　James　Bond　was　where　I　had　left　him；　and；　to　keep　him　there；　Sluggsy　now　kept　up　a　steady　stream　of　single　shots　that　flicked　every　few　seconds　at　the　angle　of　the　wall　toward　which　the　thin　man　was　worming　his　way。　Perhaps　James　Bond　guessed　the　significance　of　this　steady　fire。　He　may　have　known　that　it　was　meant　to　pin　him　down；　because　now　he　began　moving　along　to　the　left；　toward　the　burning　half　of　the　building。　And　now　he　was　running；　bent　low；　out　across　the　browned　grass　and　through　the　billowing　smoke　and　sparks　toward　the　charred；　flickering　ruins　of　the　left…hand　line　of　cabins。　I　caught　a　brief　glimpse　of　him　diving　through　one　of　the　carports　at　around　Number　15；　and　then　he　was　gone；　presumably　into　the　trees　at　the　back　to　work　his　way　up　and　take　Sluggsy　in　the　rear。
　I　watched　the　thin　man。　He　was　nearly　at　the　corner　of　the　building。　Now　he　was　there。　The　single　shots　ceased。　Without　taking　aim；　and　firing　with　his　left　hand；　the　thin　man　edged　his　gun　round　the　corner　and　sprayed　a　whole　magazine；　blind；　down　the　front　wall　where　James　and　I　had　been　standing。
　When　no　answering　fire　came；　he　jerked　his　head　round　the　corner　and　back　again；　like　a　snake；　and　then　got　to　his　feet　and　made　a　sweeping　motion　with　his　hand　to　show　that　we　had　gone。
　And　now　there　came　two　quick　shots　from　the　direction　of　cabin　Number　1；　followed　by　a　bloodcurdling　scream　that　stopped　my　heart；　and　Sluggsy　came　backing　out　onto　the　lawn；　firing　from　the　hip　with　his　right　while　his　left　hand　dangled　down　at　his　side。　He　continued　to　run　backward；　screaming　with　pain；　but　still　firing　his　machine　gun　in　short　bursts；　and　then　I　saw　a　flicker　of　movement　in　one　of　the　carports　and　there　came　the　deep　answering　boom　of　the　heavy　automatic。　But　Sluggsy　switched　his　aim；　and　James　Bond's　guns　went　silent。　Then　they　began　again　from　another　place；　and　one　of　the　shots　must　have　hit　the　machine　gun　because　Sluggsy　suddenly　dropped　it　and　began　to　run　toward　the　black　sedan；　where　the　thin　man　was　crouching；　giving　long…range　covering　fire　with　two　guns。　James　Bond's　hit　on　the　sub…machine　gun　must　have　jammed　the　mechanism；　for　it　went　on　firing；　jerking　round　like　a　flaming　Catherine　wheel　in　the　grass　and　spraying　bullets　all　over　the　place。　And　then　the　thin　man　was　in　the　driving　seat；　and　I　heard　the　engine　catch；　and　a　spurt　of　smoke　came　from　the　exhaust；　and　he　flung　open　the　side　door　and　Sluggsy　got　to　it　and　the　door　was　slammed　on　him　by　the　forward　leap　of　the　car。
　I　didn't　wait　for　James。　I　ran　out　into　the　road　and　began　blazing　away　at　the　back　of　the　car　and　heard　some　of　my　bullets　wham　into　the　metal。　Then　the　hammer　clicked　on　nothing；　and　I　stood　and　swore　at　the　thought　of　them　getting　away。　But　then　came　the　steady　crash　of　James's　gun　from　the　far　side　of　the　lawn；　while　fire　spat　back　from　the　front　window　of　the　car。　Until　all　of　a　sudden　the　black　sedan　seemed　to　go　crazy。　It　made　a　wide　swerve　and　looked　to　be　heading　across　the　lawn　straight　for　James。　For　a　moment　he　was　caught　in　its　great　lights　as　he　stood　there；　the　sweat　gleaming　on　his　naked　chest；　and　fired；　in　the　classic　stance　of　the　dueler；　as　if　at　a　charging　animal。　I　thought　he　was　going　to　be　mown　down　and　I　began　to　run　across　the　grass　toward　him；　but　then　the　car　veered　away　and；　its　engine　roaring　in　bottom　gear；　made　straight　for　the　lake。
　I　stood　and　watched；　fascinated。　Thereabouts　the　lawn　was　cut　to　the　edge　of　a　low　cliff；　about　twenty　feet　high；　below　which　is　a　fishing　pool；　and　there　were　some　rough…hewn　benches　and　tables　for　people　to　sit　and　picnic。　The　car　tore　on；　and　now；　whether　or　not　it　hit　a　bench；　its　speed　would　certainly　get　it　to　the　lake。　But　it　missed　all　the　benches　and；　as　I　put　my　hand　up　to　my　mouth　in　horrified　excitement；　it　took　off　over　the　edge　and　landed　flat　on　the　water　with　a　giant　splash　and　crash　of　metal　and　glass。　Then；　quite　slowly；　it　sank；　nose　down；　in　a　welter　of　exhaust　gas　and　bubbles；　until　there　was　nothing　left　but　the　trunk　and　a　section　of　the　roof　and　rear　window　slanting　up　toward　the　sky。
　James　Bond　was　still　standing；　gazing　at　the　lake；　when　I　ran　up　to　him　and　threw　my　arms　round　him。　〃Are　you　all　right？　Are　you　hurt？〃
　He　turned　dazedly　toward　me　and　put　his　arm　round　my　waist　and　held　me　tight。　He　said　vaguely；　〃No。　I'm　all　right。〃　He　looked　back　toward　the　lake。　〃I　must　have　bit　the　driver；　the　thin　man。　Killed　him；　and　his　body　jammed　the　accelerator。〃　He　seemed　to　e　to　himself。　He　smiled　tautly。　〃Well；　that's　certainly　tidied　up　the　situation。　No　ragged　edged　to　clean　up。　Dead　and　buried　all　in　one　go。　Can't　say　I'm　sorry。　They　were　a　couple　of　real　thugs。〃　He　let　go　of　me　and　thrust　his　gun　up　into　its　holster。　He　smelled　of　cordite　and　sweat。　It　was　delicious。　I　reached　up　and　kissed　him。
　We　turned　away　and　walked　slowly　across　the　grass。　The　fire　was　only　burning　fitfully　now；　and　the　battlefield　was　almost　dark。　My　watch　said　it　was　three…thirty。　I　suddenly　felt　utterly；　absolutely　finished。
　As　if　echoing　my　thoughts；　James　said；　〃That's　worked　the　Benzedrine　off。　How　about　getting　a　little　sleep？　There　are　still　four　or　five　cabins　in　good　shape。　How　about　2　and　3？　Are　they　desirable　suites？〃
　I　felt　myself　blushing。　I　said　obstinately；　〃I　don't　mind　what　you　think；　James；　but　I'm　not　going　to　leave　you　tonight。　You　can　choose　either　2　or　3。　I'll　sleep　on　the　floor。〃
　He　laughed　and　reached　out　and　hugged　me　to　him。　〃If　you　sleep　on　the　floor；　I'll　sleep　on　the　floor　too。　But　it　seems　rather　a　waste　of　a　fine　double　bed。　Let's　say　Number　3。〃　He　stopped　and　looked　at　me；　pretending　to　be　polite。　〃Or　would　you　rather　have　Number　2？〃
　〃No。　Number　3　would　be　heavenly。〃
　　
　Fourteen：　Bimbo
　
　CABIN　Number　3　was　airless　and　stuffy。　While　James　Bond　collected　our　〃luggage〃　from　among　the　trees；　I　opened　the　glass　slats　of　the　windows　and　turned　down　the　sheets　on　the　double　bed。　I　should　have　felt　embarrassed；　but　I　didn't。　I　just　enjoyed　housekeeping　for　him　by　moonlight。　Then　I　tried　the　shower　and　found　miraculously　that　there　was　still　full　pressure；　though　farther　down　the　line　many　stretches　of　the　pipes　must　have　melted。　The　top　cabins　were　nearer　to　the　main。　I　stripped　off　all　my　clothes　and　made　them　into　a　neat　pile　and　went　into　the　shower　and　opened　a　new　cake　of　Camay　（〃Pamper　your　Guests　with　Pink　Camay…With　a　scent　like　costly　French　Perfume。。。　blended　with　Fine　Cold　Cream〃　I　remembered；　because　it　sounded　so　succulent；　it　said　on　the　packet）　and　began　to　lather　myself　all　over；　gently；　because　of　the　bruises。
　Through　the　noise　of　the　shower；　I　didn't　hear　him　e　into　the　bathroom。　But　suddenly　there　were　two　more　hands　washing　me　and　a　naked　body　was　up　against　mine　and　I　smelled　the　sweat　and　the　gunpowder　and　I　turned　and　laughed　up　into　his　grimy　face　and　then　I　was　in　his　arms　and　our　mouths　met　in　a　kiss　that　seemed　as　if　it　would　never　end　while　the　water　poured　down　and　made　us　shut　our　eyes。
　When　my　breath　was　almost　exhausted；　he　pulled　me　out　from　under　the　shower　and　we　kissed　again；　more　slowly；　while　his　hands　wandered　over　my　body　and　desire　came