if.themanwiththegoldengun-第17部分

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nding？〃
　〃Thanks；〃　said　Bond；　〃but　my　mother　wouldn't　approve。　Would　you　have　some　rum　sent　over　to　the　band？　These　people　can't　play　dry。〃　He　went　back　to　his　seat。　He　was　hardly　noticed。　The　five　men；　or　rather　four　of　them；　because　Hendriks　sat　impassively　through　the　whole　evening；　were　straining　their　ears　to　catch　the　lewd　words　of　the　Fanny　Hill　version　of　〃Iron　Bar〃　that　were　ing　across　clearly　from　the　soloist。　Four　girls；　plump；　busty　little　animals　wearing　nothing　but　white　sequined　G…strings；　ran　out　on　to　the　floor；　and　advancing　towards　the　audience；　did　an　enthusiastic　belly　dance　that　brought　sweat　to　the　temples　of　Louie　Paradise　and　Hal　Garfinkel。　The　number　ended　amidst　applause；　the　girls　ran　off；　and　the　lights　were　dowsed；　leaving　only　the　circular　spot　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。
　The　drummer；　on　his　calypso　box；　began　a　hasty　beat　like　a　quickened　pulse。　The　service　door　opened　and　shut；　and　a　curious　object　was　wheeled　into　the　circle　of　light。　It　was　a　huge　hand；　perhaps　six　feet　tall　at　its　highest　point；　upholstered　in　black　leather。　It　stood；　half　open　on　its　broad　base；　with　the　thumb　and　fingers　outstretched　as　if　ready　to　catch　something。　The　drummer　hastened　his　beat。　The　service　door　sighed。　A　glistening　figure　slipped　through；　and　after　pausing　in　the　darkness；　moved　into　the　pool　of　light　round　the　hand　with　a　strutting　jerk　of　belly　and　limbs。　There　was　Chinese　blood　in　her；　and　her　body；　totally　naked　and　shining　with　palm　oil；　was　almost　white　against　the　black　hand。　As　she　jerked　round　the　hand　she　caressed　its　outstretched　fingers　with　her　hands　and　arms　and　then；　with　well…acted　swooning　motions；　climbed　into　the　palm　of　the　hand　and　proceeded　to　perform　languorous；　but　explicit　and　ingenious；　acts　of　passion　with　each　of　the　fingers　in　turn。　The　scene；　the　black　hand；　now　shining　with　her　oil　and　seeming　to　clutch　at　the　squirming　white　body；　was　of　an　incredible　lewdness；　and　Bond；　himself　aroused；　noticed　that　even　Scaramanga　was　watching　with　rapt　attention；　his　eyes　narrow　slits。　The　drummer　had　now　worked　up　to　his　crescendo。　The　girl；　in　well…simulated　ecstasy；　mounted　the　thumb；　slowly　expired　upon　it；　and　then；　with　a　last　grind　of　her　rump；　slid　down　it　and　vanished　through　the　exit。　The　act　was　over。　The　lights　came　on　and　everyone；　including　the　band；　applauded　loudly。　The　men　came　out　of　their　separate　animal　trances。　Scaramanga　clapped　his　hand　for　the　bandleader；　took　a　note　out　of　his　case；　and　said　something　to　him　under　his　breath。　The　chieftain；　Bond　suspected；　had　chosen　his　bride　for　the　night！
　After　this　inspired　piece　of　sexual　dumb　crambo；　the　rest　of　the　carbaret　was　an　anticlimax。　One　of　the　girls；　only　after　her　G…string　had　been　slashed　off　with　a　cutlass　by　the　bandleader；　was　able　to　squirm　under　a　bamboo　pole　balanced　just　eighteen　inches　off　the　floor　on　the　top　of　two　beer　bottles。　The　first　girl；　the　one　who　had　acted　as　an　unwitting　pineapple　tree　to　Bond's　William　Tell　act；　came　on　and　bined　an　acceptable　strip…tease　with　a　rendering　of　〃Belly…Lick〃　that　got　the　audience　straining　its　ears　again；　and　then　the　whole　team；　less　the　Chinese　beauty；　came　up　to　the　audience　and　invited　them　to　dance。　Scaramanga　and　Hendriks　refused　with　adequate　politeness　and　Bond　stood　the　two　left…out　girls　glasses　of　champagne　and　learned　that　their　names　were　Mabel　and　Pearl　while　he　watched　the　four　others　being　almost　bent　in　half　by　the　bearlike　embraces　of　the　four　sweating　hoods　as　they　clumsily　cha…cha'd　round　the　room　to　the　now　riotous　music　of　the　half…drunk　band。　The　climax　to　what　could　certainly　class　as　an　orgy　was　clearly　in　sight。　Bond　told　his　two　girls　that　he　must　go　to　the　men's　room　and　slipped　away　when　Scaramanga　was　looking　elsewhere；　but；　as　he　went；　he　noted　that　Hendriks'　gaze；　as　cool　as　if　he　had　been　watching　an　indifferent　film；　was　firmly　on　him　as　he　made　his　escape。
　When　Bond　got　to　his　room；　it　was　midnight。　His　windows　had　been　closed　and　the　air…conditioning　turned　on。　He　switched　it　off　and　opened　the　windows　halfway　and　then；　with　heartfelt　relief；　took　a　shower　and　went　to　bed。　He　worried　for　a　while　about　having　shown　off　with　the　gun；　but　it　was　an　act　of　folly　which　he　couldn't　undo；　and　he　soon　went　to　sleep　to　dream　of　three　black…cloaked　men　dragging　a　shapeless　bundle　through　dappled　moonlight　towards　dark　waters　that　were　dotted　with　glinting　red　eyes。　The　gnashing　white　teeth　and　the　crackling　bones　resolved　themselves　into　a　persistent　scrabbling　noise　that　brought　him　suddenly　awake。　He　looked　at　the　luminous　dial　of　his　watch。　It　said　3：30。　The　scrabbling　became　a　quiet　tapping　from　behind　the　curtains。　James　Bond　slid　quietly　out　of　bed；　took　his　gun　from　under　his　pillow；　and　crept　softly　along　the　wall　to　the　edge　of　the　curtains。　He　pulled　them　aside　with　one　swift　motion。　The　golden　hair　shone　almost　silver　in　the　moonlight。　Mary　Goodnight　whispered　urgently；　〃Quick；　James！　Help　me　in！〃
　Bond　cursed　softly　to　himself。　What　the　hell？　He　laid　his　gun　down　on　the　carpet　and　reached　for　her　outstretched　hands　and　half…dragged；　half…pulled　her　over　the　sill。　At　the　last　moment；　her　heel　caught　in　the　frame　and　the　window　banged　shut　with　a　noise　like　a　pistol　shot。　Bond　cursed　again；　softly　and　fluently；　under　his　breath。　Mary　Goodnight　whispered　penitently；　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　James。〃
　Bond　shushed　her。　He　picked　up　his　gun　and　put　it　back　under　his　pillow　and　led　her　across　the　room　and　into　the　bathroom。　He　turned　on　the　light　and　as　a　precaution；　the　shower；　and；　simultaneously　with　her　gasp；　remembered　he　was　naked。　He　said；　〃Sorry；　Goodnight；〃　and　reached　for　a　towel　and　wound　it　round　his　waist　and　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bath。　He　gestured　to　the　girl　to　sit　down　on　the　lavatory　seat　and　said；　with　icy　control；　〃What　in　hell　are　you　doing　here；　Mary？〃
　Her　voice　was　desperate。　〃I　had　to　e。　I　had　to　find　you　somehow。　I　got　on　to　you　through　the　girl　at　that；　er；　dreadful　place。　I　left　the　car　in　the　trees　down　the　drive　and　just　sniffed　about。　There　were　lights　on　in　some　of　the　rooms　and　I　listened　and；　er〃…she　blushed　crimson…〃I　gathered　you　couldn't　be　in　any　of　them　and　then　I　saw　the　open　window；　and　I　just　somehow　knew　you　would　be　the　only　one　to　sleep　with　his　window　open。　So　I　just　had　to　take　the　chance。〃
　〃Well；　we've　got　to　get　you　out　of　here　as　quick　as　we　can。　Anyway；　what's　the　trouble？〃
　〃A　Most　Immediate　in　Triple…X　came　over　this　evening。　I　mean　yesterday　evening。　It　was　to　be　passed　to　you　at　all　costs。　H。Q。　thinks　you're　in　Havana。　It　said　that　one　of　the　K。G。B。　top　men　who　goes　under　the　name　of　Hendriks　is　in　the　area　and　that　he's　known　to　be　visiting　this　hotel。　You're　to　keep　away　from　him。　They　know　from　A　Delicate　But　Sure　Source〃…Bond　smiled　at　the　old　euphemism　for　cypher…breaking…〃that　among　his　other　jobs　is　to　find　you　and；　er；　well；　kill　you。　So　I　put　two　and　two　together；　and；　what　with　you　being　in　this　corner　of　the　island　and　the　questions　you　asked　me；　I　guessed　that　you　might　be　already　on　his　track　but　that　you　might　be　walking　into　an　ambush；　sort　of。　Not　knowing；　I　mean；　that　while　you　were　after　him；　he　was　after　you。〃
　She　put　out　a　tentative　hand；　as　if　for　reassurance　that　she　had　done　the　right　thing。　Bond　took　it　and　patted　it　absent…mindedly　while　his　mind　chewed　on　this　new　plication。　He　said；　〃The　man's　here　all　right。　So's　a　gunman　called　Scaramanga。　You　might　as　well　know；　Mary；　that　Scaramanga　killed　Ross。　In　Trinidad。〃　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her　mouth。　〃You　can　report　it　as　a　fact；　from　me。　If　I　can　get　you　out　of　here；　that　is。　As　for　Hendriks；　he's　here　all　right；　but　he　doesn't　seem　to　have　identified　me　for　certain。　Did　H。Q。　say　whether　he　was　given　a　description　of　me？〃
　〃You　were　simply　described　as　'the　notorious　secret　agent；　James　Bond。'　But　this　doesn't　seem　to　have　meant　much　to　Hendriks　because　he　asked　for　particulars。　That　was　two　days　ago。　He　may　get　them　cabled　or　telephoned　here　at　any　minute。　You　do　see　why　I　had　to　e；　James？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。　And　thanks；　Mary。　Now；　I've　got　to　get　you　out　of　that　window；　and　then　you　must　just　make　your　own　way。　Don't　worry　about　me。　I　think　I　can　handle　the　situation　all　right。　Besides；　I've　got　help。〃　He　told　her　about　Felix　Leiter　and　Nicholson。　〃You　just　tell　H。Q。　you've　delivered　the　message　and　that　I'm　here　and　about　the　two　C。I。A。　men。　H。Q。　can　get　the　C。I。A。　angles　from　Washington　direct。　Okay？〃　He　got　to　his　feet。
　She　stood　up　beside　him　and　looked　up　at　him。　〃But　you　will　take　care？〃
　〃Sure；　sure。〃　He　patted　her　shoulder。　He　turned　off　the　shower　and　opened　the　bathroom　door。　〃Now；　e　on。　We　must　pray　for　a　stroke　of　luck。〃
　A　silken　voice　from　the　darkness　at　the　end　of　the　bed　said；　〃Well；　the　Holy　Man　just　ain't　running　for　you　today；　mister；　Step　forward　both　of　you。　Hands　clasped　behind　the　neck。〃
　
　11
　Ballcock；　and　Other；　Trouble　
　
　Scaramanga　walked　to　the　door　and　turned　the　lights　on　He　was　naked　save　for　his　shorts　and　the　holster　below　his　left　arm。　The　golden　gun　remained　trained　on　Bond　as　he　moved。
　Bond　looked　at　him　incredulously；　then　to　the　carpet　inside　the　door。　The　wedges　were　still　there；　undisturbed。　He　could　not　possibly　have　got　through　the　window　unaided。　Then　he　saw　that　his　clothes　cupboard　stood　open　and　that　light　showed　through　into　the　next　room。　It　was　the　simplest　of　secret　doors…just　the　whole　of　the　back　of　the　cupboard；　impossible　to　detect　from　Bond's　side　of　the　wall　and；　on　the　other；　probably；　in　appearance；　a　locked　municating　door。
　Scaramanga　came　back　into　the　centre　of　the　room　and　stood　looking　at　them　both。　His　mouth　and　eyes　sneered。　He　said；　〃I　didn't　see　this　piece　of　tail　in　the　lineup。　Where　you　been　keeping　it；　buster？　And　why　d'you　have　to　hide　it　away　in　the　bathroom？　Like　doing　it　under　the　shower？〃
　Bond　said；　〃We're　engaged　to　be　married。　She　works　in　the　British　High　missioner's　Office　in　Kingston。　Cypher　clerk。　She　found　out　where　I　was　staying　from　that　place　you　and　I　met。　She　came　out　to　tell　me　that　my　mother's　in　the　hospital　in　London。　Had　a　bad　fall。　Her　name's　Mary　Goodnight。　What's　wrong　with　that？　And　what　do　you　mean　ing　busting　into　my　room　in　the　middle　of　the　night　waving　a　gun　a