if.themanwiththegoldengun-第26部分

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d　been　assembled。　On　his　left　was　the　missioner　of　Police；　resplendent　in　his　black　uniform　with　silver　insignia。　On　his　right　was　a　justice　of　the　Supreme　Court　in　full　regalia；　acpanied　by　a　deferential　clerk。　A　massive　figure；　to　whom　Felix　Leiter；　on　crutches；　was　fairly　respectful；　had　been　introduced　as　〃Colonel　Bannister〃　from　Washington。　Head　of　Station　C；　a　quiet　civil　servant　called　Alec　Hill；　who　had　been　flown　out　from　London；　stood　near　the　door　and　kept　his　appraising　eyes　unwaveringly　on　Bond。　Mary　Goodnight；　who　was　to　take　notes　of　the　proceedings　but　also；　on　the　matron's　strict　instructions；　watch　for　any　sign　of　fatigue　in　James　Bond　and　have　absolute　authority　to　close　the　meeting　if　he　showed　strain；　sat　demurely　beside　the　bed　with　a　shorthand　pad　on　her　knees。　But　James　Bond　felt　no　strain。　He　was　delighted　to　see　all　these　people　and　know　that　at　last　he　was　back　in　the　great　world　again。　The　only　matters　that　worried　him　were　that　he　had　not　been　allowed　to　see　Felix　Leiter　before　the　meeting　to　agree　their　stories　and　that　he　had　been　rather　curtly　advised　by　the　High　missioner's　Office　that　legal　representation　would　not　be　necessary。
　The　Police　missioner　cleared　his　throat。　He　said；　〃mander　Bond；　our　meeting　here　today　is　largely　a　formality；　but　it　is　held　on　the　Prime　Minister's　instructions　and　with　your　doctor's　approval。　There　are　many　rumours　running　around　the　island　and　abroad；　and　Sir　Alexander　Bustamante　is　most　anxious　to　have　them　dispelled　for　the　sake　of　justice　and　of　the　island's　good　name。　So　this　meeting　is　in　the　nature　of　a　judicial　inquiry　having　Prime　Ministerial　status。　We　very　much　hope　that；　if　the　conclusions　of　the　meeting　are　satisfactory；　there　need　be　no　more　legal　proceedings　whatever。　You　understand？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Bond…who　didn't。
　〃Now；〃　the　missioner　spoke　weightily。　'The　facts　as　ascertained　are　as　follows。　Recently　there　took　place　at　the　Thunderbird　Hotel　in　the　Parish　of　Westmoreland　a　meeting　of　what　can　only　be　described　as　foreign　gangsters　of　outstanding　notoriety；　including　representatives　of　the　Soviet　secret　service；　the　Mafia；　and　the　Cuban　secret　police。　The　objects　of　this　meeting　were；　inter　alia；　sabotage　of　Jamaican　installations　in　the　cane　industry；　stimulation　of　illicit　ganja…growing　in　the　island　and　purchase　of　the　crop　for　export；　the　bribery　of　a　high　Jamaican　official　with　the　object　of　installing　gangster…run　gambling　in　the　island；　and　sundry　other　malfeasances　deleterious　to　law　and　order　in　Jamaica　and　to　her　international　standing。　Am　I　correct；　mander？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Bond；　this　tune　with　a　clear　conscience。
　〃Now。〃　The　missioner　spoke　with　even　greater　emphasis。　〃The　intentions　of　this　subversive　group　became　known　to　the　Criminal　Investigation　Department　of　the　Jamaican　police　and　the　facts　of　the　proposed　assembly　were　placed　before　the　Prime　Minister　in　person　by　myself。　Naturally　the　greatest　secrecy　was　observed。　A　decision　then　had　to　be　reached　as　to　how　this　meeting　was　to　be　kept　under　surveillance　and　penetrated　so　that　its　intentions　might　be　learned。　Since　friendly　nations；　including　Britain　and　the　United　States；　were　involved；　secret　conversations　took　place　with　the　representatives　of　the　Ministry　of　Defence　in　Britain　and　of　the　Central　Intelligence　Agency　in　the　United　States。　As　a　result；　expert　personnel　in　the　shape　of　yourself；　Mr。　Nicholson　and　Mr。　Leiter　were　generously　made　available；　at　no　cost　to　the　Jamaican　government；　to　assist　in　unveiling　these　secret　machinations　against　Jamaica　held　on　Jamaican　soil。〃　The　missioner　paused　and　looked　round　the　room　to　see　if　he　had　stated　the　position　correctly。　Bond　noticed　that　Felix　Leiter　nodded　his　head　vigorously　with　the　others；　but；　in　his　case；　in　Bond's　direction。
　Bond　smiled。　He　had　at　last　got　the　message。　He　also　nodded　his　agreement。
　〃Accordingly；〃　continued　the　missioner；　〃and　working　throughout　under　the　closest　liaison　and　direction　of　the　Jamaican　C。I。D。；　Messrs。　Bond；　Nicholson；　and　Leiter　carried　out　their　duties　in　exemplary　fashion。　The　true　intentions　of　the　gangsters　were　unveiled；　but　alas；　in　the　process；　the　identity　of　at　least　one　of　the　Jamaica…controlled　agents　was　discovered　and　a　battle　royal　took　place。　During　the　course　of　this；　thanks　to　the　superior　gunfire　of　mander　Bond　the　following　enemy　agents…　here　there　will　be　a　list…were　killed。　Immediately　after；　thanks　to　Mr。　Letter's　ingenious　use　of　explosive　on　the　Orange　River　Bridge；　the　following…another　list…lost　their　lives。　Unfortunately；　two　of　the　Jamaica…controlled　agents　received　severe　wounds　from　which　they　are　now　recovering　in　the　Memorial　Hospital。　It　remains　to　mention　the　names　of　Constable　Percival　Sampson　of　the　Negril　Constabulary；　who　was　first　on　the　scene　of　the　final　battlefield；　and　Dr。　Lister　Smith　of　Savannah　La　Mar；　who　rendered　vital　first　aid　to　mander　Bond　and　Mr。　Leiter。　On　the　instructions　of　the　Prune　Minister；　Sir　Alexander　Bustamante；　a　judicial　inquiry　was　held　this　day　at　the　bedside　of　mander　Bond　and　in　the　presence　of　Mr。　Felix　Leiter　to　confirm　the　above　facts。　These；　in　the　presence　of　Justice　Morris　Cargill　of　the　Supreme　Court；　are　now　and　hereby　confirmed。〃
　The　missioner　was　obviously　delighted　with　his　rendering　of　all　this　rigmarole。　He　beamed　at　Bond。　〃It　only　remains〃　he　handed　Bond　a　sealed　packet；　a　similar　one　to　Felix　Leiter；　and　one　to　Colonel　Bannister…〃to　confer　on　mander　Bond　of　Great　Britain；　Mr。　Felix　Leiter　of　the　United　States；　and；　in　absentia；　Mr。　Nicholas　Nicholson　of　the　United　States；　the　immediate　award　of　the　Jamaican　Police　Medal　for　gallant　and　meritorious　services　to　the　Independent　State　of　Jamaica。〃
　There　was　muted　applause。　Mary　Goodnight　went　on　clapping　after　the　others　had　stopped。　She　suddenly　realized　the　fact；　blushed　furiously；　and　stopped。
　James　Bond　and　Felix　Leiter　made　stammered　acknowledgments。　Justice　Cargill　rose　to　his　feet　and；　in　solemn　tones；　asked　Bond　and　Leiter　in　turn；　〃Is　this　a　true　and　correct　account　of　what　occurred　between　the　given　dates？〃
　〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　Bond。
　〃I'll　say　it　is；　Your　Honour；〃　said　Felix　Leiter　fervently。
　The　Judge　bowed。　All　except　Bond　rose　and　bowed。　Bond　just　bowed。　〃In　that　case；　I　declare　this　inquiry　closed。〃　The　bewigged　figure　turned　to　Miss　Goodnight。　〃If　you　will　be　land　enough　to　obtain　all　the　signatures；　duly　witnessed；　and　send　them　round　to　my　chambers？　Thank　you　so　much。〃　He　paused　and　smiled。　〃And　the　carbon；　if　you　don't　mind？〃
　〃Certainly；　my　lord。〃　Mary　Goodnight　glanced　at　Bond。　〃And　now；　if　you　will　forgive　me；　I　think　the　patient　needs　a　rest。　Matron　was　most　insistent。　。　。　。〃
　Goodbyes　were　said。　Bond　called　Leiter　back。　Mary　Goodnight　smelled　private　secrets。　She　admonished；　〃Now；　only　a　minute！〃　and　went　out　and　closed　the　door。
　Leiter　leant　over　the　end　of　the　bed。　He　wore　his　most　quizzical　smile。　He　said；　〃Well；　I'll　be　goddamned；　James。　That　was　the　neatest　wrapup　job　I've　ever　lied　my　head　off　at。　Everything　clean　as　a　whistle；　and　we've　even　collected　a　piece　of　lettuce。〃
　Talking　starts　with　the　stomach　muscles。　Bond's　wounds　were　beginning　to　ache。　He　smiled；　not　showing　the　pain。　Leiter　was　due　to　leave　that　afternoon。　Bond　didn't　want　to　say　goodbye　to　him。。　Bond　treasured　his　men　friends　and　Felix　Leiter　was　a　great　slice　of　his　past。　He　said；　〃Scaramanga　was　quite　a　guy。　He　should　have　been　taken　alive。　Maybe　Tiffy　really　did　put　the　hex　on　him　with　Mother　Edna。　They　don't　e　like　that　often。〃
　Leiter　was　unsympathetic。　〃That's　the　way　you　limeys　talk　about　Rommel　and　Donitz　and　Guderian。　Let　alone　Napoleon。　Once　you've　beaten　them；　you　make　heroes　out　of　them。　Don't　make　sense　to　me。　In　my　book；　an　enemy's　an　enemy。　Care　to　have　Scaramanga　back？　Now；　in　this　room；　with　his　famous　golden　gun　on　you…the　long　one　or　the　short　one？　Standing　where　I　am？　One　bets　you　a　thousand　you　wouldn't。　Don't　be　a　jerk；　James。　You　did　a　good　job。　Pest　control。　It's　got　to　be　done　by　someone。　Going　back　to　it　when　you're　off　the　orange　juice？〃
　Felix　Leiter　jeered　at　him。　〃Of　course　you　are；　lamebrain。　It's　what　you　were　put　into　the　world　for。　Pest　control；　like　I　said。　All　you　got　to　figure　is　how　to　control　it　better。　The　pests'll　always　be　there。　God　made　dogs。　He　also　made　their　fleas。　Don't　let　it　worry　your　tiny　mind。　Right？〃　Leiter　had　seen　the　sweat　on　James　Bond's　forehead。　He　limped　towards　the　door　and　opened　it。　He　raised　a　hand　briefly。　The　two　men　had　never　shaken　hands　in　their　lives。　Leiter　looked　into　the　corridor。　He　said；　〃Okay；　Miss　Goodnight。　Tell　matron　to　take　him　off　the　danger　list。　And　tell　him　to　keep　away　from　me　for　a　week　or　two。　Every　time　I　see　him　a　piece　of　me　gets　broken　off。　I　don't　fancy　myself　as　The　Vanishing　Man。〃　Again　he　raised　his　only　hand　in　Bond's　direction　and　limped　out。
　Bond　shouted；　〃Wait；　you　bastard！〃　But；　by　the　time　Leiter　had　limped　back　into　the　room；　Bond；　no　effort　left　in　him　to　fire　off　the　volley　of　four…letter　words　that　were　to　be　his　only　answer　to　his　friend；　had　lapsed　into　unconsciousness。
　Mary　Goodnight　shooed　the　remorseful　Leiter　out　of　the　room　and　ran　off　down　the　corridor　to　the　floor　sister。
　
　17
　Endit
　
　A　week　later；　James　Bond　was　sitting　up　in　a　chair；　a　towel　round　his　waist；　reading　Allen　Dulles'　The　Craft　of　Intelligence　and　cursing　his　fate。　The　hospital　had　worked　miracles　on　him；　the　nurses　were　sweet；　particularly　the　one　he　called　The　Mermaid；　but　he　wanted　to　be　off　and　away。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　Four　o'clock。　Visiting　tune。　Mary　Goodnight　would　soon　be　here；　and　he　would　be　able　to　let　off　his　pent…up　steam　on　her。　Unjust　perhaps；　but　he　had　already　tongue…lashed　everyone　in　range　in　the　hospital；　and　if　she　got　into　the　field　of　fire；　that　was　just　too　bad！　Mary　Goodnight　came　through　the　door。　Despite　the　Jamaican　heat；　she　was　looking　fresh　as　a　rose。　Damn　her！　She　was　carrying　what　looked　like　a　typewriter。　Bond　recognized　it　as　the　Triple…X　decyphering　machine。　Now　what？
　Bond　grunted　surly　answers　to　her　inquiries　after　his　health。　He　said；　〃What　in　hell's　that　for？〃
　〃It's　an　Eyes　Only。　Personal　from　M。；〃　she　said　excitedly。　〃About　thirty　groups。〃
　〃Thirty　groups！　Doesn't　the　old　bastard　know