if.liveandletdie-第15节

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ems　to　have　saved　your　bacon。　D'you　think　we　can　use　her？'
　'Could　if　we　could　get　near　her；'　said　Bond。　'I　should　think　he　keeps　her　pretty　close。'
　'We'll　have　to　think　about　that　another　day；'　said　Leiter。　'Now　we'd　better　get　moving。　I'll　hang　up　and　call　you　back　in　a　few　minutes。　First　I'll　get　the　police　surgeon　round　to　you　right　away。　Be　along　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so。　Then　I'll　talk　to　the　missioner　myself　and　sort　out　some　of　the　police　angles。　They　can　stall　a　bit　by　discovering　the　car。　The　F　B　I'll　have　to　tip　off　the　radio　and　newspaper　boys　so　that　at　least　we　can　keep　your　name　out　of　it　and　all　this　Limey　talk。　Otherwise　we　shall　have　the　British　Ambassador　being　hauled　out　of　bed　and　parades　by　the　National　Association　for　the　Advancement　of　Coloured　People　and　God　knows　what　all。　Leiter　chuckled　down　the　telephone。　'Better　have　a　word　with　your　chief　in　London。　It's　about　half　after　ten　their　time。　You'll　need　a　bit　of　protection。　I　can　look　after　the　CIA；　but　the　FBI　have　got　a　bad　attack　of　〃see…here…young…man〃　this　morning。　You'll　need　some　more　clothes。　I'll　see　to　that。　Keep　awake。　We'll　get　plenty　of　sleep　in　the　grave。　Be　calling　you。'
　He　hung　up。　Bond　smiled　to　himself。　Hearing　Leiter's　cheerful　voice　and　knowing　everything　was　being　taken　care　of　had　wiped　away　his　exhaustion　and　his　black　memories。
　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　talked　to　the　Overseas　operator。　'Ten　minutes'　delay；　she　said。
　Bond　walked　into　his　bedroom　and　somehow　got　out　of　his　clothes。　He　gave　himself　a　very　hot　shower　and　then　an　ice…cold　one。　He　shaved　and　managed　to　pull　on　a　clean　shirt　and　trousers。　He　put　a　fresh　clip　in　his　Beretta　and　wrapped　the　Colt　in　his　discarded　shirt　and　put　it　in　his　suitcase。　He　was　half　way　through　his　packing　when　the　telephone　rang。
　He　listened　to　the　zing　and　echo　on　the　line；　the　chatter　of　distant　operators；　the　patches　of　Morse　from　aircraft　and　ships　at　sea；　quickly　suppressed。　He　could　see　the　big；　grey　building　near　Regents　Park　and　imagine　the　busy　switchboard　and　the　cups　of　tea　and　a　girl　saying；　'Yes；　this　is　Universal　Export；'　the　address　Bond　had　asked　for；　one　of　the　covers　used　by　agents　for　emergency　calk　on　open　lines　from　abroad。　She　would　tell　the　Supervisor；　who　would　take　the　call　over。
　'You're　connected；　caller；'　said　the　Overseas　operator。　'Go　ahead；　please。　New　York　calling　London。'
　Bond　heard　the　calm　English　voice。　'Universal　Export。　Who's　speaking；　please？'
　'Can　I　speak　to　the　Managing　Director；'　said　Bond。　'This　is　his　nephew　James　speaking　from　New　York。'
　'Just　a　moment；　please。'　Bond　could　follow　the　call　to　Miss　Moneypenny　and　see　her　press　the　switch　on　the　inter。　'It's　New　York；　Sir；'　she　would　say。　'I　think　it's　007。'
　'Put　him　through；'　M　would　say。
　'Yes？'　said　the　cold　voice　that　Bond　loved　and　obeyed。
　'It's　James；　Sir；'　said　Bond。　'I　may　need　a　bit　of　help　over　a　difficult　consignment。'
　'Go　ahead；'　said　the　voice。
　'I　went　uptown　to　see　our　chief　customer　last　night；'　said　Bond。　'Three　of　his　best　men　went　sick　while　I　was　there。'
　'How　sick？'　asked　the　voice。
　'As　sick　as　can　be；　Sir；'　said　Bond。　'There's　a　lot　of　'flu　about。'
　'Hope　you　didn't　catch　any。'
　'I've　got　a　slight　chill；　Sir；'　said　Bond；　'but　absolutely　nothing　to　worry　about。　I'll　write　to　you　about　it。　The　trouble　is　that　with　all　this　'flu　about　Federated　think　I　will　do　better　out　of　town。'　（Bond　chuckled　to　himself　at　the　thought　of　M's　grin。）　'So　I'm　off　right　away　with　Felicia。'
　'Who？'　asked　M。
　'Felicia；'　Bond　spelled　it　out。　'My　new　secretary　from　Washington。'
　'Oh；　yes。'
　'Thought　I'd　try　that　factory　you　advised　at　San　Pedro。'
　'Good　idea。'
　'But　Federated　may　have　other　ideas　and　I　hoped　you'd　give　me　your　support。'
　'I　quite　understand；'　said　M。　'How's　business？'
　'Rather　promising；　Sir。　But　tough　going。　Felicia　will　be　typing　my　full　report　today。'
　'Good；'　said　M。　'Anything　else？'
　'No；　that's　all；　Sir。　Thanks　for　your　support。'
　That's　all　right。　Keep　fit。　Goodbye。'
　'Goodbye；　Sir。'
　Bond　put　down　the　telephone。　He　grinned。　He　could　imagine　M　calling　in　the　Chief　of　Staff；　'007's　already　tangled　up　with　the　FBI。　Dam'　fool　went　up　to　Harlem　last　night　and　bumped　off　three　of　Mr。　Big's　men。　Got　hurt　himself；　apparently；　but　not　much。　Got　to　get　out　of　town　with　Leiter；　the　CIA　man。　Going　down　to　St。　Petersburg。　Better　warn　A　and　C。　Expect　we'll　have　Washington　round　our　ears　before　the　day's　over。　Tell　A　to　say　I　fully　sympathize；　but　that　007　has　my　full　confidence　and　I'm　sure　he　acted　in　self…defence。　Won't　happen　again；　and　so　forth。　Got　that？'　Bond　grinned　again　as　he　thought　of　Damon's　exasperation　at　having　to　dish　out　a　lot　of　soft　soap　to　Washington　when　he　probably　had　plenty　of　other　Anglo…American　snarls　to　disentangle。
　The　telephone　rang。　It　was　Leiter　again。　'Now　listen；'　he　said。　'Everybody's　calming　down　somewhat。　Seems　the　men　you　got　were　a　pretty　nasty　trio　…　Tee…Hee　Johnson；　Sam　Miami　and　a　man　called　McThing。　All　wanted　on　various　counts。　The　F　B　I's　covering　up　for　you。　Reluctantly　of　course；　and　the　Police　are　stalling　like　mad。　The　FBI　big　brass　had　already　asked　my　Chief　for　you　to　be　sent　home　…　got　him　out　of　bed；　if　you　please　…　mostly　jealousy；　I　guess　…　but　we've　killed　all　that。　Same　time；　we've　both　got　to　quit　town　at　once。　That's　all　fixed　too。　We　can't　go　together；　so　you're　taking　the　train　and　I'll　fly。　Jot　this　down。'
　Bond　cradled　the　telephone　against　his　shoulder　and　reached　for　a　pencil　and　paper。　'Go　ahead；'　he　said。
　'Pennsylvania　Station。　Track　14。　Ten…thirty　this　morning。　〃The　Silver　Phantom〃。　Through　train　to　St。　Petersburg　via　Washington；　Jacksonville　and　Tampa。　I've　got　you　a　partment。　Very　luxurious。　Car　245；　partment　H。　Ticket'll　be　on　the　train。　Conductor　will　have　it。　In　the　name　of　Bryce。　Just　go　to　Gate　14　and　down　to　the　train。　Then　straight　to　your　partment　and　lock　yourself　in　till　the　train　starts。　I'm　flying　down　in　an　hour　by　Eastern；　so　you'll　be　alone　from　now　on。　If　you　get　stuck　call　Dexter；　but　don't　be　surprised　if　he　bites　your　head　off。　Train　gets　in　around　midday　tomorrow。　Take　a　cab　and　go　to　the　Everglades　Cabanas；　Gulf　Boulevard　West；　on　Sunset　Beach。　That's　on　a　place　called　Treasure　Island　where　all　the　beach　hotels　are。　Connected　with　St。　Petersburg　by　a　causeway。　Cabby'll　know　it。
　Til　be　waiting　for　you。　Got　all　that？　And　for　God's　sake　watch　out。　And　I　mean　it。　The　Big　Man'll　get　you　if　he　possibly　can　and　a　police　escort　to　the　train　would　only　put　the　finger　on　you。　Take　a　cab　and　keep　out　of　sight。　I'm　sending　you　up　another　hat　and　a　fawn　raincoat。　The　check's　taken　care　of　at　the　St。　Regis。　That's　the　lot。　Any　questions？'
　'Sounds　fine；'　said　Bond。　'I've　talked　to　M　and　he'll　square　Washington　if　there's　any　trouble。　Look　after　yourself　too；'　he　added。　'You'll　be　next　on　the　list　after　me。　See　you　tomorrow。　So　long。'
　Til　watch　out；'　said　Leiter。　〃Bye。'
　It　was　half…past　six　and　Bond　pulled　back　the　curtains　in　the　sitting…room　and　watched　the　dawn　e　up　over　the　city。　It　was　still　dark　down　in　the　caverns　below　but　the　tips　of　the　great　concrete　stalagmites　were　pink　and　the　sun　lit　up　the　windows　floor　by　floor　as　if　an　army　of　descending　janitors　was　at　work　in　the　buildings。
　The　police　surgeon　came；　stayed　for　a　painful　quarter　of　an　hour　and　left。
　'Clean　fracture；'　he　had　said。　'Take　a　few　days　to　heal。　How　did　you　e　by　it？'
　'Caught　it　in　a　door；'　said　Bond。
　'You　ought　to　keep　away　from　doors；'　mented　the　surgeon。　'They're　dangerous　things。　Ought　to　be　forbidden　by　law。　Lucky　you　didn't　catch　your　neck　in　this　one。'
　When　he　had　gone；　Bond　finished　packing。　He　was　wondering　how　soon　he　could　order　breakfast　when　the　telephone　rang。
　Bond　was　expecting　a　harsh　voice　from　the　Police　or　the　FBI。　Instead；　a　girl's　voice；　low　and　urgent；　asked　for　Mr。　Bond。
　'Who's　calling？'　asked　Bond；　gaining　time。　He　knew　the　answer。
　'I　know　it's　you；'　said　the　voice；　and　Bond　could　feel　that　it　was　right　up　against　the　mouthpiece。　'This　is　Solitaire。'　The　name　was　scarcely　breathed　into　the　telephone。
　Bond　waited；　all　his　senses　pricked　to　what　might　be　the　scene　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。　Was　she　alone？　Was　she　speaking　foolishly　on　a　house…phone　with　extensions　to　which　other　listeners　were　now　coldly；　intently　glued？　Or　was　she　in　a　room　with　only　Mr。　Big's　eyes　bent　carefully　on　her；　a　pencil　and　pad　beside　him　so　that　he　could　prompt　the　next　question？
　'Listen；'　said　the　voice。　I've　got　to　be　quick。　You　must　trust　me。　I'm　in　a　drugstore；　but　I　must　get　back　at　once　to　my　room。　Please　believe　me。'
　Bond　had　his　handkerchief　out。　He　spoke　into　it。　'If　I　can　reach　Mr。　Bond　what　shall　I　tell　him？'
　'Oh　damn　you；'　said　the　girl　with　what　sounded　like　a　genuine　touch　of　hysteria。　'I　swear　by　my　mother；　by　my　unborn　children。　I've　got　to　get　away。　And　so　have　you。　You've　got　to　take　me。　I'll　help　you。　I　know　a　lot　of　his　secrets。　But　be　quick。　I'm　risking　my　life　here　talking　to　you。'　She　gave　a　sob　of　exasperation　and　panic。　'For　God's　sake　trust　me。　You　must。　You　must！'
　Bond　still　paused；　his　mind　working　furiously。
　'Listen；'　she　spoke　again；　but　this　time　dully；　almost　hopelessly。　'If　yo