if.themanwiththegoldengun-第2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！


the　name　of　Mr。　Rob…son　would　have　given　him　the　full　intimidation　treatment　…harsh；　bullying　interrogation；　threats　of　imprisonment　for　false　representation；　and　God　knows　what　else；　and；　perhaps；　if　he　had　shown　signs　of　hostility　or　developing　a　nuisance　value；　a　little　judicious　roughing…up　in　the　basement。
　Such　was　the　ultimate　sieve　which　sorted　out　the　wheat　from　the　chaff　from　among　those　members　of　the　public　who　desired　access　to　the　Secret　Service。　There　were　other　people　in　the　building　who　dealt　with　the　letters。　Those　written　in　pencil　or　in　multicoloured　inks；　and　those　enclosing　a　photograph；　remained　unanswered。　Those　which　threatened　or　were　litigious　were　referred　to　the　Special　Branch。　The　solid；　serious　ones　were　passed；　with　a　ment　from　the　best　graphologist　in　the　business；　to　the　Liaison　Section　at　Headquarters　for　〃further　action。〃　Parcels　went　automatically；　and　fast；　to　the　Bomb　Disposal　Squad　at　Knightsbridge　Barracks。　The　eye　of　the　needle　was　narrow。　On　the　whole；　it　discriminated　appropriately。　It　was　an　expensive　setup；　but　it　is　the　first　duty　of　a　secret　service　to　remain　not　only　secret　but　secure。
　There　was　no　reason　why　James　Bond；　who　had　always　been　on　the　operative　side　of　the　business；　should　know　anything　about　the　entrails　of　the　service；　any　more　than　he　should　have　understood　the　mysteries　of　the　plumbing　or　electricity　supply　of　his　flat　in　Chelsea　or　the　working　of　his　own　kidneys。　Colonel　Boris；　however；　had　known　the　whole　routine。　The　secret　services　of　all　the　great　powers　know　the　public　face　of　their　opponents；　and　Colonel　Boris　had　very　accurately　described　the　treatment　that　James　Bond　must　expect　before　he　was　cleared　and　was　allowed　access　to　the　office　of　his　former　chief。
　So　now　James　Bond　paused　before　he　replied　to　Major　Townsend's　question　about　how　he　could　be　of　help。　He　looked　at　the　Soft　Man　and　then　into　the　fire。　He　added　up　the　accuracy　of　the　description　he　had　been　given　of　Major　Townsend's　appearance；　and　before　he　said　what　he　had　been　told　to　say；　he　gave　Colonel　Boris　ninety　out　of　a　hundred。　The　big；　friendly　face；　the　wide…apart；　pale…brown　eyes；　bracketed　by　the　wrinkles　of　a　million　smiles；　the　military　moustache；　the　rimless　monocle　dangling　from　a　thin　black　cord；　the　brushed…back；　thinning　sandy　hair；　the　immaculate　double…breasted　blue　suit；　stiff　white　collar　and　brigade　tie…it　was　all　there。　But　what　Colonel　Boris　hadn't　said　was　that　the　friendly　eyes　were　as　cold　and　steady　as　gunbarrels　and　that　the　lips　were　thin　and　scholarly。
　James　Bond　said　patiently：　〃It's　really　quite　simple。　I'm　who　I　say　I　am。　I'm　doing　what　I　naturally　would　do；　and　that's　report　back　to　M。〃
　〃Quite。　But　you　must　realize〃…a　sympathetic　smile…　〃that　you've　been　out　of　contact　for　nearly　a　year。　You've　been　officially　posted　as　'missing　believed　killed。'　Your　obituary　has　even　appeared　in　The　Times；　Have　you　any　evidence　of　identity？　I　admit　that　you　look　very　much　like　your　photographs；　but　you　must　see　that　we　have　to　be　very　sure　before　we　pass　you　on　up　the　ladder。〃
　〃A　Miss　Mary　Goodnight　was　my　secretary。　She'd　recognize　me　all　right。　So　would　dozens　of　other　people　at　H。Q。〃
　〃Miss　Goodnight's　been　posted　abroad。　Can　you　give　me　a　brief　description　of　H。Q。；　just　the　main　geography？〃
　Bond　did　so。
　〃Right。　Now；　who　was　a　Miss　Maria　Freudenstadt？〃
　〃Was？〃
　〃Yes；　she's　dead。〃
　〃Thought　she　wouldn't　last　long。　She　was　a　double；　working　for　K。G。B。　Section　One　Hundred　controlled　her。　I　wouldn't　get　any　thanks　for　telling　you　any　more。〃
　Major　Townsend　had　been　pruned　with　this　very　secret　top　question。　He　had　been　given　the　answer；　more　or　less　as　Bond　had　put　it。　This　was　the　clincher。　This　had　to　be　James　Bond。　〃Well；　we're　getting　on　fine。　Now；　it　only　remains　to　find　out　where　you've　e　from　and　where　you've　been　all　these　months　and　I　won't　keep　you　any　longer。〃
　〃Sorry。　I　can　only　tell　that　to　M。　personally。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Major　Townsend　put　on　a　thoughtful　expression。　〃Well；　just　let　me　make　a　telephone　call　or　two　and　I'll　see　what　can　be　done。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃Seen　today's　Times？〃　He　picked　it　up　and　handed　it　to　Bond。　It　had　been　specially　treated　to　give　good　prints。　Bond　took　it。　〃Shan't　be　long。〃
　Major　Townsend　shut　the　door　behind　him　and　went　across　the　passage　and　through　the　door　marked　〃A；〃　where　he　knew　that　〃Mr。　Robson〃　would　be　alone。　〃Sorry　to　bother　you；　Fred。　Can　I　use　your　scrambler？〃　The　chunky　man　behind　the　desk　grunted　through　the　stem　of　his　pipe　and　remained　bent　over　the　midday　Evening　Standard　racing　news。
　Major　Townsend　picked　up　the　green　receiver　and　was　put　through　to　the　laboratory。　〃Major　Townsend　speaking。　Any　ment？〃　He　listened；　carefully；　said　thank　you；　and　got　through　to　the　Chief　Security　Officer　at　Headquarters。　〃Well；　sir；　I　think　it　must　be　007。　Bit　thinner　than　his　photographs。　I'll　be　giving　you　his　prints　as　soon　as　he's　gone。　Wearing　his　usual　rig…dark…blue　single…breasted　suit；　white　shirt；　thin　black　knitted　silk　tie；　black　casuals…　but　they　all　look　brand…new。　Raincoat　bought　yesterday　from　Burberry's。　Got　the　Freudenstadt　question　right；　but　says　he　won't　say　anything　about　himself　except　to　M。　personally。　But　whoever　he　is；　I　don't　like　it　much。　He　fluffed　on　his　special　cigarettes。　He's　got　an　odd　sort　of　glazed；　sort　of　faraway　look；　and　the　'scope'　shows　that　he's　carrying　a　gun　inhis　right…hand　coat　pocket…curious　sort　of　contraption；　doesn't　seem　to　have　got　a　butt　to　it。　I'd　say　he's　a　sick　man。　I　wouldn't　personally　remend　that　M。　should　see　him；　but　I　wouldn't　know　how　we're　to　get　him　to　talk　unless　he　does。〃　He　paused。　〃Very　good；　sir。　I'll　stay　by　the　telephone。　I'm　on　Mr。　Robson's　extension。〃
　There　was　silence　in　the　room。　The　two　men　didn't　get　on　well　together。　Major　Townsend　gazed　into　the　gas　fire；　wondering　about　the　man　next　door。　The　telephone　burred。　〃Yes；　sir？　Very　good；　sir。　Would　your　secretary　send　along　a　car　from　the　pool？　Thank　you；　sir。〃
　Bond　was　sitting　in　the　same　upright　posture；　The　Times　still　unopened　in　his　hand。　Major　Townsend　said　cheerfully；　〃Well；　that's　fixed。　Message　from　M。　that　he's　tremendously　relieved　you're　all　right　and　he'll　be　free　in　about　half　an　hour。　Car　should　be　here　in　ten　minutes　or　so。　And　the　Chief　of　Staff　says　he　hopes　you'll　be　free　for　lunch　afterwards。〃
　James　Bond　smiled　for　the　first　time。　It　was　a　thin　smile　which　didn't　light　up　his　eyes。　He　said；　〃That's　very　kind　of　nun。　Would　you　tell　him　I'm　afraid　I　shan't　be　free。〃
　
　2　
　Attentat！
　
　The　Chief　of　Staff　stood　in　front　of　M。's　desk　and　said　firmly；　〃I　really　wouldn't　do　it；　sir。　I　can　see　him；　or　someone　else　can。　I　don't　like　the　smell　of　it　at　all。　I　think　007's　round　the　bend。　There's　no　doubt　it's　him　all　right。　The　prints　have　just　been　confirmed　by　Chief　of　Security。　And　the　pictures　are　all　right…and　the　recording　of　his　voice。　But　there　are　too　many　things　that　don't　add　up。　This　forged　passport　we　found　in　his　room　at　the　Ritz；　for　instance。　All　right。　So　he　wanted　to　e　back　into　the　country　quietly。　But　it's　too　good　a　job。　Typical　K。G。B。　sample。　And　the　last　entry　is　West　Germany；　day　before　yesterday。　Why　didn't　he　report　to　Station　B　or　W？　Both　those　Heads　of　Station　are　friends　of　his；　particularly　016　in　Berlin。　And　why　didn't　he　go　and　have　a　look　at　his　flat？　He's　got　some　sort　of　a　housekeeper　there；　Scotswoman　called　May；　who's　always　sworn　he　was　still　alive　and　has　kept　the　place　going　on　her　savings。　The　Ritz　is　sort　of　stage　Bond。　And　these　new　clothes。　Why　did　he　have　to　bother？　Doesn't　matter　what　he　was　wearing　when　he　came　in　through　Dover。　Normal　thing；　if　he　was　in　rags；　would　have　been　to　give　me　a　ring…he　had　my　home　number…　and　get　me　to　fix　him　up。　Have　a　few　drinks　and　run　over　his　story　and　then　report　here。　Instead　of　that　we've　got　this　typical　penetration　approach　and　Security　worried　as　hell。〃
　The　Chief　of　Staff　paused。　He　knew　he　wasn't　getting　through。　As　soon　as　he　had　begun；　M。　had　swivelled　his　chair　sideways　and　had　remained；　occasionally　sucking　at　an　unlighted　pipe；　gazing　moodily　out　through　the　window　at　the　jagged　skyline　of　London。　Obstinately；　the　Chief　of　Staff　concluded；　〃Do　you　think　you　could　leave　this　one　to　me；　sir？　I　can　get　hold　of　Sir　James　Molony　in　no　time　and　have　007　put　into　The　Park　for　observation　and　treatment。　It'll　all　be　done　very　gently。　V。I。P。　handling　and　so　on。　I　can　say　you've　been　called　to　the　Cabinet　or　something。　Security　says　007's　looking　a　bit　thin。　Build　him　up。　Convalescence　and　all　that。　That　can　be　the　excuse。　If　he　cuts　up　rough；　we　can　always　give　him　some　dope。　He's　a　good　friend　of　mine。　He　won't　hold　it　against　us。　He　obviously　needs　to　be　got　back　in　the　groove…if　we　can　do　it；　that　is。〃
　M。　slowly　swivelled　his　chair　round。　He　looked　up　at　the　tired；　worried　face　that　showed　the　strain　of　being　the　equivalent　of　Number　Two　in　the　Secret　Service　for　ten　years　and　more。　M。　smiled。　〃Thank　you；　Chief　of　Staff。　But　I'm　afraid　it's　not　as　easy　as　all　that。　I　sent　007　out　on　his　last　job　to　shake　him　out　of　his　domestic　worries。　You　remember　how　it　all　came　about。　Well；　we　had　no　idea　that　what　seemed　a　fairly　peaceful　mission　was　going　to　end　up　in　a　pitched　battle　with　Blofeld。　Or　that　007　was　going　to　vanish　off　the　face　of　the　earth　for　a　year。　Now　we've　got　to　know　what　happened　during　that　year。　And　007's　quite　right。　I　sent　him　out　on　that　mission；　and　he's　got　every　right　to　report　back　to　me　personally。　I　know　007。　He's　a　stubborn　fellow。　If　he　says　he　won't　tell　anyone　else；　he　won't。　Of　course　I　want　to　hear　what　happened　to　him。　You'll　listen　in。　Have　a　couple　of　good　men　at　hand。　If　he　turns　rough；　e　and　get　him。　As　for　his　gun〃…M。　gestured　vaguely　at　the　ceiling…〃I　can　look　after　that。　Have　you　tested　the　damned　thing？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　It　works　all　right。　But。　。　。　。〃
　M。　held　up　a　hand。　〃Sorry；　Chief　of　Staff。　It's　an　order。〃　A　light　winked　on　the　inter。　〃That'll　be　him。　Send　him　straight　in；　would　you？〃
　〃Very　good；　sir。〃　The　Chief　of　Staff　went　out　and　closed　the　door。
　James　Bond　was　standing　smiling　vaguely　down　at　Miss　Moneypenny。　She　looked　distraught。　When　James　Bond　shifted　his　gaze　and　said　〃Hullo；　Bill〃　he　still　wore　the　same　d