if.themanwiththegoldengun-第27部分

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　〃It's　an　Eyes　Only。　Personal　from　M。；〃　she　said　excitedly。　〃About　thirty　groups。〃
　〃Thirty　groups！　Doesn't　the　old　bastard　know　I've　only　got　one　arm　that's　working？　e　on；　Mary。　You　get　cracking。　If　it　sounds　really　hot；　I'll　take　over。〃
　Mary　Goodnight　looked　shocked。　Eyes　Only　was　a　top…sacred　prefix。　But　Bond's　jaw　was　jutting　out　dangerously。　Today　was　not　a　day　for　argument。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　opened　the　machine；　and　took　a　cable　form　out　of　her　bag。　She　laid　her　shorthand　book　beside　the　machine；　scratched　the　back　of　her　head　with　her　pencil　to　help　work　out　the　setting　for　the　day…a　plicated　sum　involving　the　date　and　the　hour　of　dispatch　of　the　cable…adjusted　the　setting　on　the　central　cylinder　and　began　crank…hag　the　handle。　After　each　pleted　word　had　appeared　in　the　little　oblong　window　at　the　base　of　the　machine；　she　recorded　it　in　her　book。
　James　Bond　watched　her　expression。　She　was　pleased。　After　a　few　minutes　she　read　out：
　〃M　PERSONAL　FOR　OHOHSEVEN　EYES　ONLY　STOP　YOUR　REPORT　AND　DITTO　FROM　TOP　FRIENDS　＇a　euphemism　for　the　C。I。A。＇　RECEIVED　STOP　YOU　HAVE　DONE　WELL　AND　EXECUTED　AYE　DIFFICULT　AND　HAZARDOUS　OPERATION　TO　MY　ENTIRE　REPEAT　ENTIRE　SATISFACTION　STOP　TRUST　YOUR　HEALTH　UNIMPAIRED　＇Bond　gave　an　angry　snort＇　STOP　WHEN　WILL　YOU　BE　REPORTING　FOR　FURTHER　DUTY　QUERY。〃
　Mary　Goodnight　smiled　delightedly。　〃I've　never　seen　him　be　so　plimentary！　Have　you；　James？　That　repeat　of　entire！　It's　tremendous！〃　She　looked　hopefully　for　a　lifting　of　the　black　clouds　from　Bond's　face。
　In　fact；　Bond　was　secretly　delighted。　He　knew　what　Mary　couldn't　know…that　M。　was　telling　him　that　he　had　won　his　spurs　back。　But　he　certainly　wasn't　going　to　show　his　pleasure　to　Mary　Goodnight。　Today　she　was　one　of　the　wardresses　confining　him；　tying　him　down。　He　said　grudgingly；　〃Not　bad　for　the　old　man。　But　all　he　wants　is　to　get　me　back　to　that　bloody　desk。　Anyway；　it's　a　lot　of　jazz　so　far。　What　es　next？〃　He　turned　the　pages　of　his　book；　pretending　as　the　little　machine　whirred　and　clicked　not　to　be　interested。
　〃Oh；　James！〃　Mary　Goodnight　exploded　with　excitement。　〃Wait！　I'm　almost　finished。　It's　tremendous！〃
　〃I　know；〃　mented　Bond　sourly。　〃Free　luncheon　vouchers　every　second　Friday。　Key　to　M。's　personal　lavatory。　New　suit　to　replace　the　one　that's　somehow　got　full　of　holes。〃　But　he　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　flitting　fingers；　infected　by　Mary　Goodnight's　excitement。　What　in　hell　was　she　getting　so　steamed　up　about？　And　all　on　his　behalf！　He　examined　her　with　approval。　Perched　there；　immaculate　in　her　white　tussore　shirt　and　tight　beige　skirt；　one　neat　foot　curled　round　the　other　in　concentration；　the　golden　face　under　the　shortish　fair　hair　incandescent　with　pleasure；　she　was；　thought　Bond；　a　girl　to　have　around　always。　As　a　secretary？　As　what？　Mary　Goodnight　turned；　her　eyes　shining；　and　the　question　went；　as　it　had　gone　for　weeks；　without　an　answer。
　〃Now；　just　listen　to　this；　James。〃　She　shook　the　notebook　at　him。　〃And　for　heaven's　sake；　stop　looking　so　curmudgeonly。〃
　Bond　smiled　at　the　word。　〃All　right；　Mary。　Go　ahead。　Empty　the　Christmas　stocking　on　the　floor。　Hope　it's　not　going　to　bust　any　stitches。〃　He　put　his　book　down　on　his　lap。
　Mary　Goodnight's　face　became　portentous。　She　said　seriously；　〃Just　listen　to　this！〃　She　read　very　carefully：
　〃IN　VIEW　OF　THE　OUTSTANDING　NATURE　OF　THE　SERVICES　REFERRED　TO　ABOVE　AND　THEIR　ASSISTANCE　TO　THE　ALLIED　CAUSE　MA　WHICH　IS　PERHAPS　MORE　SIGNIFICANT　THAN　YOU　IMAGINE　MA　THE　PRIME　MINISTER　PROPOSES　TO　REMEND　TO　HER　MAJESTY　QUEEN　ELIZABETH　THE　IMMEDIATE　GRANT　OF　A　KNIGHTHOOD　STOP　THIS　TO　TAKE　THE　FORM　OF　THE　ADDITION　OF　A　KATIE　AS　PREFIX　TO　YOUR　CHARLIE　MICHAEL　GEORGE。〃
　James　Bond　uttered　a　defensive；　embarrassed　laugh。
　〃Good　old　cypherines。　They　wouldn't　think　of　just　putting　K　C　M　G　…Much　too　easy！　Go　ahead；　Mary。　This　is　good！〃
　〃IT　IS　MON　PRACTICE　TO　INQUIRE　OF　PROPOSED　RECIPIENT　WHETHER　HE　ACCEPTS　THIS　HIGH　HONOUR　BEFORE　HER　MAJESTY　PUTS　HER　SEAL　UPON　IT　STOP　WRITTEN　LETTER　SHOULD　FOLLOW　YOUR　CABLED　CONFIRMATION　OF　ACCEPTANCE　PARAGRAPH　THIS　AWARD　NATURALLY　HAS　MY　SUPPORT　AND　ENTIRE　APPROVAL　AND　EYE　SEND　YOU　MY　PERSONAL　CONGRATULATIONS　ENDIT　MAILED…FIST。〃
　James　Bond　again　hid　himself　behind　the　throwaway　line。　〃Why　in　hell　does　he　always　have　to　sign　himself　Mailed…fist　for　M。？　There's　a　perfectly　good　English　word。　Em。　It's　a　measure　used　by　printers。　But　of　course　it's　not　dashing　enough　for　the　Chief。　He's　a　romantic　at　heart　like　all　the　silly　bastards　who　get　mixed　up　with　the　Service。〃
　Mary　Goodnight　lowered　her　eyelashes。　She　knew　that　Bond's　reflex　concealed　his　pleasure…a　pleasure　he　wouldn't　for　the　life　of　him　have　displayed。　Who　wouldn't　be　pleased；　proud？　She　put　on　a　businesslike　expression。　〃Well；　would　you　like　me　to　draft　something　for　you　to　send？　I　can　be　back　with　it　at　six；　and　I　know　they'll　let　me　in。　I　can　check　up　the　right　sort　of　formula　with　the　High　missioner's　staff。　I　know　it　begins　with　'I　present　my　humble　duty　to　Her　Majesty〃　I've　had　to　help　with　the　Jamaica　honours　at　New　Year　and　her　birthday。　Everyone　seems　to　want　to　know　the　form。〃
　James　Bond　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief。　Of　course　he　was　pleased！　But　above　all　pleased　with　M。's　mendation。　The　rest；　he　knew；　was　not　in　his　stars。　He　had　never　been　a　public　figure；　and　he　did　not　wish　to　bee　one。　He　had　no　prejudice　against　letters　after　one's　name；　or　before　it。　But　there　was　one　thing　above　all　he　treasured。　His　privacy。　His　anonymity。　To　bee　a　public　person；　a　person；　in　the　snobbish　world　of　England；　of　any　country；　who　would　be　called　upon　to　open　things；　lay　foundation　stones；　make　after…dinner　speeches；　brought　the　sweat　to　his　armpits。　〃James　Bond！〃　No　middle　name。　No　hyphen。　A　quiet；　dull；　anonymous　name。　Certainly　he　was　a　mander　in　the　Special　Branch　of　the　R。N。V。R。；　but　he　rarely　used　the　rank。　His　C。M。G。　likewise。　He　wore　it　perhaps　once　a　year；　together　with　his　two　rows　of　lettuce；　because　there　was　a　dinner　for　the　Old　Boys…the　fraternity　of　ex…Secret　Service　men　that　went　under　the　name　of　The　Twin　Snakes　Club。　A　grisly　reunion　held　in　the　banqueting　hall　at　Blades；　it　gave　enormous　pleasure　to　a　lot　of　people　who　had　been　brave　and　resourceful　in　their　day　but　now　had　old　men's　and　old　women's　diseases　and　talked　about　dusty　triumphs　and　tragedies。　Tales　which；　since　they　would　never　be　recorded　in　the　history　books；　must　be　told　again　that　night；　over　the　Cockburn　'12；　when　〃The　Queen〃　had　been　drunk；　to　some　next…door　neighbour　such　as　James　Bond　who　was　only　interested　in　what　was　going　to　happen　tomorrow。　That　was　when　he　wore　his　lettuce　and　the　C。M。G。　below　his　black　tie…to　give　pleasure　and　reassurance　to　the　Old　Children　at　their　annual　party。　For　the　rest　of　the　year；　until　May　polished　them　up　for　the　occasion；　the　medals　gathered　dust　in　some　secret　repository　where　May　kept　them。
　So　now　James　Bond　said　to　Mary　Goodnight；　avoiding　her　eyes；　〃Mary；　this　is　an　order。　Take　down　what　follows　and　send　it　tonight。　Right？
　〃Begins：　quote　MAILED…FIST　EYES　ONLY　＇Bond　interjected；　I　might　have　said　Promoneypenny。　When　did　M。　last　touch　a　cypher　machine？＇　STOP　YOUR　＇Put　in　the　number；　Mary＇　ACKNOWLEDGED　AND　GREATLY　APPRECIATED　STOP　AM　INFORMED　BY　HOSPITAL　AUTHORITIES　THAT　EYE　SHALL　BE　RETURNED　LONDONWARDS　DUTIABLE　IN　ONE　MONTH　STOP　REFERRING　YOUR　REFERENCE　TO　AYE　HIGH　HONOUR　EYE　BEG　YOU　PRESENT　MY　HUMBLE　DUTY　TO　HER　MAJESTY　AND　REQUEST　THAT　EYE　MAY　BE　PERMITTED　MA　IN　ALL　HUMILITY　MA　TO　DECLINE　THE　SIGNAL　FAVOUR　HER　MAJESTY　IS　GRACIOUS　ENOUGH　TO　PROPOSE　TO　CONFER　UPON　HER　HUMBLE　AND　OBEDIENT　SERVANT　BRACKET　TO　MAILED…FIST　PLEASE　PUT　THIS　IN　THE　APPROPRIATE　WORDS　TO　THE　PRIME　MINISTER　STOP　MY　PRINCIPAL　REASON　IS　THAT　EYE　DONT　WANT　TO　PAY　MORE　AT　HOTELS　AND　RESTAURANTS　BRACKET。〃
　Mary　Goodnight　broke　in；　horrified。　〃James。　The　rest　is　your　business；　but　you　really　can't　say　that　last　bit。〃
　Bond　nodded。　〃I　was　only　trying　it　on　you；　Mary。　All　right；　let's　start　again　at　the　last　stop。　Write：
　〃EYE　AM　A　SCOTTISH　PEASANT　AND　EYE　WILL　ALWAYS　FEEL　AT　HOME　BEING　A　SCOTTISH　PEASANT　AND　EYE　KNOW　MA　SIR　MA　THAT　YOU　WILL　UNDERSTAND　MY　PREFERENCE　AND　THAT　EYE　CAN　COUNT　ON　YOUR　INDULGENCE　BRACKET　LETTER　CONFIRMING　FOLLOWS　IMMEDIATELY　ENDIT　OHOH…SEVEN。〃
　Mary　Goodnight　closed　her　book　with　a　snap。　She　shook　her　head。　The　golden　hair　danced　angrily。　〃Well　really；　James！　Are　you　sure　you　don't　want　to　sleep　on　it？　I　knew　you　were　in　a　bad　mood　today。　You　may　have　changed　your　mind　by　tomorrow。　Don't　you　want　to　go　to　Buckingham　Palace　and　see　the　Queen　and　the　Duke　of　Edinburgh　and　kneel　and　have　your　shoulder　touched　with　a　sword　and　the　Queen　to　say　'Arise；　Sir　Knight'　or　whatever　it　is　she　does　say？〃
　Bond　smiled。　〃I'd　like　all　those　things。　The　romantic　streak　of　the　S。I。S。…and　of　the　Scot；　for　the　matter　of　that。　I　just　refuse　to　call　myself　Sir　James　Bond。　I'd　laugh　at　myself　every　time　I　looked　in　the　mirror　to　shave。　It's　just　not　my　line；　Mary。　The　thought　makes　me　positively　shudder。　I　know　M。'll　understand。　He　thinks　much　the　same　way　about　these　things　as　I　do。　Trouble　was；　he　had　to　more　or　less　inherit　his　K　with　the　job。　Anyway；　there　it　is　and　I　shan't　change　my　mind；　so　you　can　buzz　that　off；　and　I'll　write　M。　a　letter　of　confirmation　this　evening。　Any　other　business？〃
　〃Well　there　is　one　thing；　James。〃　Mary　Goodnight　looked　down　her　pretty　nose。　〃Matron　says　you　can　leave　at　the　end　of　the　week；　but　that　there's　got　to　be　another　three　weeks'　convalescence。　Had　you　got　any　plans　where　to　go？　You　have　to　be　in　reach　of　the　hospital。〃
　〃No　ideas。　What　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃Well；　er；　I've　got　this　little　villa　up　by　Mona　Dam；　James。〃　Her　voice　hurried。　〃It's　got　quite　a　nice　spare　room　looking　out　over　Kingston　Harbour。　And　it's　cool　up　there。　And　if　you　don't　mind　sharing　a　bathroom。〃　She　blushed。　〃I'm　afraid　there's　no　chaperone；　but　you　know；　in　Jamaica；　people　don't　mind　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　〃What　sort　of　thing？〃　said　Bond；　teasing　her。
　〃Don't　be　silly；　James。　You　know；　unmarried　couples　sharing　the　same　house　and　so　on。〃
　〃Oh　that　sort　of　thing！　Sounds　pretty　dashing　to　me。　By　the　way；　is　your　bedroom　decorated　in　pink；　with　white　jalousies；　and　do　you　sleep　under　a　mosquito　net？〃
　She　looked　surprised。