if.liveandletdie-第17节

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　away　from　Mr。　Big。　He　expects　me　to　have　all　my　meals　with　him。'　She　looked　at　her　watch。　He　noted　cynically　that　it　was　an　expensive　one　…　diamonds　and　platinum；　Bond　guessed。　'They'll　be　missing　me　in　about　an　hour。　I　waited　until　the　car　had　gone；　then　I　walked　straight　out　again　and　called　you。　Then　I　took　a　cab　downtown。　I　bought　a　toothbrush　and　a　few　other　things　at　a　drugstore。　Otherwise　I've　got　nothing　except　my　jewellery　and　the　mad　money　I've　always　kept　hidden　from　him。　About　five　thousand　dollars。　So　I　won't　be　a　financial　burden。'　She　smiled。　'I　thought　I'd　get　my　chance　one　day。'　She　gestured　towards　the　window。　'You've　given　me　a　new　life。　I've　been　shut　up　with　him　and　his　nigger　gangsters　for　nearly　a　year。　This　is　heaven。'
　The　train　was　running　through　the　unkempt　barren　plains　and　swamps　between　New　York　and　Trenton。　It　wasn't　an　attractive　prospect。　It　reminded　Bond　of　some　of　the　stretches　on　the　pre…war　Trans…Siberian　Railway　except　for　the　huge　lonely　hoardings　advertising　the　current　Broadway　shows　and　the　occasional　dumps　of　scrap…iron　and　old　motor　cars。
　'I　hope　I　can　find　you　something　better　than　that；'　he　said　smiling。　'But　don't　thank　me。　We're　quits　now。　You　saved　my　life　last　night。　That　is；'　he　added　looking　at　her　curiously；　'if　you　really　have　got　second　sight。'
　'Yes；'　she　said；　'I　have。　Or　something　very　like　it。　I　can　often　see　what's　going　to　happen；　particularly　to　other　people。　Of　course　I　embroider　on　it　and　when　I　was　earning　my　living　doing　it　in　Haiti　it　was　easy　to　turn　it　into　a　good　cabaret　act。　They're　riddled　with　Voodoo　and　superstitions　there　and　they　were　quite　certain　I　was　a　witch。　But　I　promise　that　when　I　first　saw　you　in　that　room　I　knew　you　had　been　sent　to　save　me。　I；'　she　blushed；　'I　saw　all　sorts　of　things。'
　'What　sort　of　things？'
　'Oh　I　don't　know；'　she　said；　her　eyes　dancing。　'Just　things。　Anyway；　we'll　see。　But　it's　going　to　be　difficult；'　she　added　seriously；　'and　dangerous。　For　both　of　us。'　She　paused。　'So　will　you　please　take　good　care　of　us？'
　'I'll　do　my　best；'　said　Bond。　'The　first　thing　is　for　us　both　to　get　some　sleep。　Let's　have　a　drink　and　some　chicken　sandwiches　and　then　we'll　get　the　porter　to　put　our　beds　down。　You　mustn't　be　embarrassed；'　he　added；　seeing　her　eyes　recoil。　'We're　in　this　together。　We　have　to　spend　twenty…four　hours　in　a　double　bedroom　together；　and　it's　no　good　being　squeamish。　Anyway；　you're　Mrs。　Bryce；'　he　grinned；　'and　you　must　just　act　like　her。　Up　to　a　point　anyway；'　he　added。
　She　laughed。　Her　eyes　speculated。　She　said　nothing　but　rang　the　bell　below　the　window。
　The　conductor　arrived　at　the　same　time　as　the　Pullman　attendant。　Bond　ordered　Old　Fashioneds；　and　stipulated　'Old　Grandad'　Bourbon；　chicken　sandwiches；　and　decaffeined　'Sanka'　coffee　so　that　their　sleep　would　not　be　spoilt。
　'I　have　to　collect　another　fare　from　you；　Mr。　Bryce；'　said　the　conductor。
　'Of　course；'　said　Bond。　Solitaire　made　a　movement　towards　her　handbag。　'It's　all　right；　darling；'　said　Bond；　pulling　out　his　notecase。　'You've　forgotten　you　gave　me　your　money　to　look　after　before　we　left　the　house。'
　'Guess　the　lady'll　need　plenty　for　her　summer　frocks；'　said　the　conductor。　'Shops　is　plenty　expensive　in　St。　Pete。　Plenty　hot　down　there　too。　You　folks　been　to　Florida　before？〃
　'We　always　go　at　this　time　of　year；'　said　Bond。
　'Hope　you　have　a　pleasant　trip；'　said　the　conductor。
　When　the　door　shut　behind　him；　Solitaire　laughed　delightedly。
　'You　can't　embarrass　me；'　she　said。　'I'll　think　up　something　really　fierce　if　you're　not　careful。　To　begin　with；　I'm　going　in　there；'　she　gestured　towards　the　door　behind　Bond's　head。　'I　must　look　terrible。'
　'Go　ahead；　darling；'　laughed　Bond　as　she　disappeared。
　Bond　turned　to　the　window　and　watched　the　pretty　clapboard　houses　slip　by　as　they　approached　Trenton。　He　loved　trains　and　he　looked　forward　with　excitement　to　the　rest　of　the　journey。
　The　train　was　slowing　down。　They　slid　past　sidings　full　of　〃empty　freight　cars　bearing　names　from　all　over　the　States　…　'Lackawanna'；　'Chesapeake　and　Ohio'；　'Lehigh　Valley'；　'Seaboard　Fruit　Express'；　and　the　lilting　'Acheson；　Topeka　and　Santa　Fe'　…　names　that　held　all　the　romance　of　the　American　railroads。　
　'British　Railways？'　thought　Bond。　He　sighed　and　turned　his　thoughts　back　to　the　present　adventure。
　For　better　or　worse　he　had　decided　to　accept　Solitaire；　or　rather；　in　his　cold　way；　to　make　the　most　of　her。　There　were　many　questions　to　be　answered　but　now　was　not　the　time　to　ask　them。　All　that　immediately　concerned　him　was　that　another　blow　had　been　struck　at　Mr。　Big　…　where　it　would　hurt　most；　in　his　vanity。
　As　for　the　girl；　as　a　girl；　he　reflected　that　it　was　going　to　be　fun　teasing　her　and　being　teased　back　and　he　was　glad　that　they　had　already　crossed　the　frontiers　into　radeship　and　even　intimacy。
　Was　it　true　what　The　Big　Man　had　said；　that　she　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　men？　He　doubted　it。　She　seemed　open　to　love　and　to　desire。　At　any　rate　he　knew　she　was　not　closed　to　him。　He　wanted　her　to　e　back　and　sit　down　opposite　him　again　so　that　he　could　look　at　her　and　play　with　her　and　slowly　discover　her。　Solitaire。　It　was　an　attractive　name。　No　wonder　they　had　christened　her　that　in　the　sleazy　nightclubs　of　Port　au　Prince。　Even　in　her　present　promise　of　warmth　towards　him　there　was　much　that　was　withdrawn　and　mysterious。　He　sensed　a　lonely　childhood　on　some　great　decaying　plantation；　an　echoing　'Great　House'　slowly　falling　into　disrepair　and　being　encroached　on　by　the　luxuriance　of　the　tropics。　The　parents　dying；　and　the　property　being　sold。　The　panionship　of　a　servant　or　two　and　an　equivocal　life　in　lodgings　in　the　capital。　The　beauty　which　was　her　only　asset　and　the　struggle　against　the　shady　propositions　to　be　a　'governess'；　a　'panion'；　a'secretary'；　all　of　which　meant　respectable　prostitution。　Then　the　dubious；　unknown　steps　into　the　world　of　entertainment。　The　evening　stint　at　the　nightclub　with　the　mysterious　act　which；　among　people　dominated　by　magic；　must　have　kept　many　away　from　her　and　made　her　a　person　to　be　feared。　And　then；　one　evening；　the　huge　man　with　the　grey　face　sitting　at　a　table　by　himself。　The　promise　that　he　would　put　her　on　Broadway。　The　chance　of　a　new　life；　of　an　escape　from　the　heat　and　the　dirt　and　the　solitude。
　Bond　turned　brusquely　away　from　the　window。　A　romantic　picture；　perhaps。　But　it　must　have　been　something　like　that。
　He　heard　the　door　unlock。　The　girl　came　back　and　slid　into　the　seat　opposite　him。　She　looked　fresh　and　gay。　She　examined　him　carefully。
　'You　have　been　wondering　about　me；'　she　said。　'I　felt　it。　Don't　worry。　There　is　nothing　very　bad　to　know。　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it　some　day。　When　we　have　time。　Now　I　want　to　forget　about　the　past。　I　will　just　tell　you　my　real　name。　It　is　Simone　Latrelle；　but　you　can　call　me　what　you　like。　I　am　twenty…five。　And　now　I　am　happy。　I　like　this　little　room。　But　I　am　hungry　and　sleepy。　Which　bed　will　you　have？'
　Bond　smiled　at　the　question。　He　reflected。
　'It's　not　very　gallant；'　he　said；　'but　I　think　I'd　better　have　the　bottom　one。　I'd　rather　be　close　to　the　floor　…　just　in　case。　Not　that　there's　anything　to　worry　about；'　he　added；　seeing　her　frown；　'but　Mr。　Big　seems　to　have　a　pretty　long　arm；　particularly　in　the　negro　world。　And　that　includes　the　railroads。　Do　you　mind？'
　'Of　course　not；'　she　said。　'I　was　going　to　suggest　it。　And　you　couldn't　climb　into　the　top　one　with　your　poor　hand。'
　Their　lunch　arrived；　brought　from　the　diner　by　a　preoccupied　negro　waiter。　He　seemed　anxious　to　be　paid　and　get　back　to　his　work。
　When　they　had　finished　and　Bond　rang　for　the　Pullman　porter；　he　also　seemed　distrait　and　avoided　looking　at　Bond。　He　took　his　time　getting　the　beds　made　up。　He　made　much　show　of　not　having　enough　room　to　move　around　in。
　Finally；　he　seemed　to　pluck　up　courage。
　'Praps　Mistress　Bryce　like　set　down　nex'　door　while　Ah　git　the　room　fixed；'　he　said；　looking　over　Bond's　head。　'Nex'　room　goin'　to　be　empty　all　way　to　St。　Pete。'　He　took　out　a　key　and　unlocked　the　municating　door　without　waiting　for　Bond's　reply。
　At　a　gesture　from　Bond；　Solitaire　took　the　hint。　He　heard　her　lock　the　door　into　the　corridor。　The　negro　bumped　the　municating　door　shut。
　Bond　waited　for　a　moment。　He　remembered　the　negro's　name。
　'Got　something　on　your　mind；　Baldwin？'　he　asked。
　Relieved；　the　attendant　turned　and　looked　straight　at　him。
　'Sho'　have；　Mister　Bryce。　Yassuh。'　Once　started；　the　words　came　in　a　torrent。　'Shouldn　be　tellin'　yuh　this；　Mister　Bryce；　but　dere's　plenty　trouble　'n　this　train　this　trip。　Yuh　gotten　yoself　a　henemy　'n　dis　train；　Mister　Bryce。　Yassuh。　Ah　hears　tings　which　Ah　don'　like　at　all。　Cain't　say　much。　Get　mahself　'n　plenty　trouble。　But　yuh　all　want　to　watch　yo　step　plenty　good。　Yassuh。　Certain　party　got　da　finger　'n　yuh；　Mister　Bryce；　'n　dat　man　is　bad　news。　Better　take　dese　hyah；'　he　reached　in　'his　pocket　and　brought　out　two　wooden　window　wedges。　'Push　dem　under　the　doors；'　he　said。　'Ah　cain't　do　nuthen　else。　Git　mah　throat　cut。　But　Ah　don'　like　any　foolin'　aroun'　wid　da　customers　'n　my　cyar。　Nossuh。'
　Bond　took　the　wedges　from　him。　'But。。。'
　'Cain't　help　yuh　no　more；　Sah；'　said　the　negro　with　finality；　his　ha