if.liveandletdie-第41节

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　first　tears　since　his　childhood　came　into　James　Bond's　blue…grey　eyes　and　ran　down　his　drawn　cheeks　into　the　bloodstained　sea。
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII
　PASSIONATE　LEAVE
　
　LIKE　dangling　emerald　pendants　the　two　humming…birds　were　making　their　last　rounds　of　the　hibiscus　and　a　mocking　bird　had　started　on　its　evening　song；　sweeter　than　a　nightingale's；　from　the　summit　of　a　bush　of　night…scented　jasmine。
　The　jagged　shadow　of　a　man…of…war　bird　floated　across　the　green　Bahama　grass　of　the　lawn　as　it　sailed　on　the　air　currents　up　the　coast　to　some　distant　colony；　and　a　slate…blue　kingfisher　chattered　angrily　as　it　saw　the　man　sitting　in　the　chair　in　the　garden。　It　changed　its　flight　and　swerved　off　across　the　sea　to　the　island。　A　brimstone　butterfly　flirted　among　the　purple　shadows　under　the　palms。
　The　graded　blue　waters　of　the　bay　were　quite　still。　The　cliffs　of　the　island　were　a　deep　rose　in　the　light　of　the　setting　sun　behind　the　house。
　There　was　a　smell　of　evening　and　of　coolness　after　a　hot　day　and　a　slight　scent　of　peat…smoke　that　came　from　cassava　being　roasted　in　one　of　the　fishermen's　huts　in　the　village　away　to　the　right。
　Solitaire　came　out　of　the　house　and　walked　on　naked　feet　across　the　lawn。　She　was　carrying　a　tray　with　a　cocktail　shaker　and　two　glasses。　She　put　it　down　on　a　bamboo　table　beside　Bond's　chair。
　'I　hope　I've　made　it　right；'　she　said。　'Six　to　one　sounds　terribly　strong。　I've　never　had　Vodka　Martinis　before。'
　Bond　looked　up　at　her。　She　was　wearing　a　pair　of　his　white　silk　pyjamas。　They　were　far　too　large　for　her。　She　looked　absurdly　childish。
　She　laughed。　'How　do　you　like　my　Port　Maria　lipstick？'　she　asked；　'and　the　eyebrows　made　up　with　an　HB　pencil。　I　couldn't　do　anything　with　the　rest　of　me　except　wash　it。'
　'You　look　wonderful；'　said　Bond。　'You're　far　the　prettiest　girl　in　the　whole　of　Shark　Bay。　If　I　had　some　legs　and　arms　I'd　get　up　and　kiss　you。'
　Solitaire　bent　down　and　kissed　him　long　on　the　lips；　one　arm　tightly　round　his　neck。　She　stood　up　and　smoothed　back　the　ma　of　black　hair　that　had　fallen　down　over　his　forehead。
　They　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment；　then　she　turned　to　the　table　and　poured　him　out　a　cocktail。　She　poured　half　a　glass　for　herself　and　sat　down　on　the　warm　grass　and　put　her　head　against　his　knee。　He　played　with　her　hair　with　his　right　hand　and　they　sat　for　a　while　looking　out　between　the　trunks　of　the　palm　trees　at　the　sea　and　the　light　fading　on　the　island。
　The　day　had　been　given　over　to　licking　wounds　and　cleaning　up　the　remains　of　the　mess。
　When　Quarrel　had　landed　them　on　the　little　beach　at　Beau　Desert；　Bond　had　half　carried　Solitaire　across　the　lawn　and　into　the　bathroom。　He　had　filled　the　bath　full　of　warm　water。　Without　her　knowing　what　was　happening　he　had　soaped　and　washed　her　whole　body　and　her　hair。　When　he　had　cleaned　away　all　the　salt　and　coral　slime　he　helped　her　out；　dried　her　and　put　merthiolate　on　the　coral　cuts　that　striped　her　back　and　thighs。　Then　he　gave　her　a　sleeping　draught　and　put　her　naked　between　the　sheets　in　his　own　bed。　He　kissed　her。　Before　he　had　finished　closing　the　jalousies　she　was　asleep。
　Then　he　got　into　the　bath　and　Strangways　soaped　him　down　and　almost　bathed　his　body　in　merthiolate。　He　was　raw　and　bleeding　in　a　hundred　places　and　his　left　arm　was　numb　from　the　barracuda　bite。　He　had　lost　a　mouthful　of　muscle　at　the　shoulder。　The　sting　of　the　merthiolate　made　him　grind　his　teeth。
　He　put　on　a　dressing…gown　and　Quarrel　drove　him　to　the　hospital　at　Port　Maria。　Before　he　left　he　had　a　Lucullian　breakfast　and　a　blessed　first　cigarette。　He　fell　asleep　in　the　car　and　he　slept　on　the　operating　table　and　in　the　cot　where　they　finally　put　him；　a　mass　of　bandages　and　surgical　tape。
　Quarrel　brought　him　back　in　the　early　afternoon。　By　that　time　Strangways　had　acted　on　the　information　Bond　had　given　him。　There　was　a　police　detachment　on　the　Isle　of　Surprise；　the　wreck　of　the　Secatur；　lying　in　about　twenty　fathoms；　was　buoyed　and　the　position　being　patrolled　by　the　Customs　launch　from　Port　Maria。　The　salvage　tug　and　divers　were　on　their　way　from　Kingston。　Reporters　from　the　local　press　had　been　given　a　brief　statement　and　there　was　a　police　guard　on　the　entrance　to　Beau　Desert　prepared　to　repel　the　flood　of　newspapermen　who　would　arrive　in　Jamaica　when　the　full　story　got　out　to　the　world。　Meanwhile　a　detailed　report　had　gone　to　M；　and　to　Washington；　so　that　The　Big　Man's　team　in　Harlem　and　St。　Petersburg　could　be　rounded　up　and　provisionally　held　on　a　blanket　gold…smuggling　charge。
　There　were　no　survivors　from　the　Secatur；　but　the　local　fishermen　had　brought　in　nearly　a　ton　of　dead　fish　that　morning。
　Jamaica　was　aflame　with　rumours。　There　were　serried　ranks　of　cars　on　the　cliffs　above　the　bay　and　along　the　beach　below。　Word　had　got　out　about　Bloody　Morgan's　treasure；　but　also　about　the　packs　of　shark　and　barracuda　that　had　defended　it；　and　because　of　them　there　was　not　a　swimmer　who　was　planning　to　get　out　to　the　scene　of　the　wreck　under　cover　of　darkness。
　A　doctor　had　been　to　visit　Solitaire　but　had　found　her　chiefly　concerned　about　getting　some　clothes　and　the　right　shade　of　lipstick。　Strangways　had　arranged　for　a　selection　to　be　sent　over　from　Kingston　next　day。　For　the　time　being　she　was　experimenting　with　the　contents　of　Bond's　suitcase　and　a　bowl　of　hibiscus。
　Strangways　got　back　from　Kingston　shortly　after　Bond's　return　from　hospital。　He　had　a　signal　for　Bond　from　M。　It　read：
　PRESUME　YOU　HAVE　FILED　CLAIM　TO　TREASURE　IN　YOUR　NAME　BEHALF　UNIVERSAL　EXPORT　STOP　PROCEED　IMMEDIATELY　WITH　SALVAGE　STOP　HAVE　ENGAGED　COUNSEL　TO　PRESS　OUR　RIGHTS　WITH　TREASURY　AND　COLONIAL　OFFICE　STOP　MEANWHILE　VERY　WELL　DONE　STOP　FORTNIGHT'S　PASSIONATE　LEAVE　GRANTED　ENDIT
　'I　suppose　he　means　〃passionate〃；'　said　Bond。
　Strangways　looked　solemn。　'I　expect　so；'　he　said。　'I　made　a　full　report　of　the　damage　to　you。　And　to　the　girl；'　he　added。
　'Hm；'　said　Bond。　'M's　cipherenes　don't　often　pick　a　wrong　group。　However。'
　Strangways　looked　carefully　out　of　the　window　with　his　one　eye。
　'It's　so　like　the　old　devil　to　think　of　the　gold　first；'　said　Bond。　'Suppose　he　thinks　he　can　get　away　with　it　and　somehow　dodge　a　reduction　in　the　Secret　Fund　when　the　next　parliamentary　estimates　e　round。　I　expect　half　his　life　is　taken　up　with　arguing　with　the　Treasury。　But　still　he's　been　pretty　quick　off　the　mark。'
　'I　filed　your　claim　at　Government　House　directly　I　got　the　signal；'　said　Strangways。　'But　it's　going　to　be　tricky。　The　Crown　will　be　after　it　and　America　will　e　in　somewhere　as　he　was　an　American　citizen。　It'll　be　a　long　business。'
　They　had　talked　some　more　and　then　Strangways　had　left　and　Bond　had　walked　painfully　out　into　the　garden　to　sit　for　a　while　in　the　sunshine　with　his　thoughts。
　In　his　mind　he　ran　once　more　the　gauntlet　of　dangers　he　had　entered　on　his　long　chase　after　The　Big　Man　and　the　fabulous　treasure；　and　he　lived　again　through　the　searing　flashes　of　time　when　he　had　looked　various　deaths　in　the　face。
　And　now　it　was　over　and　he　sat　in　the　sunshine　among　the　flowers　with　the　prize　at　his　feet　and　his　hand　in　her　long　black　hair。　He　clasped　the　moment　to　him　and　thought　of　the　fourteen　tomorrows　that　would　be　theirs　between　them。
　There　was　a　crash　of　broken　crockery　from　the　kitchen　at　the　back　of　the　house　and　the　sound　of　Quarrel's　voice　thundering　at　someone。
　'Poor　Quarrel；'　said　Solitaire。　'He's　borrowed　the　best　cook　in　the　village　and　ransacked　the　markets　for　surprises　for　us。　He's　even　found　some　black　crabs；　the　first　of　the　season。　Then　he's　roasting　a　pitiful　little　sucking　pig　and　making　an　avocado　pear　salad　and　we're　to　finish　up　with　guavas　and　coconut　cream。　And　mander　Strangways　has　left　a　case　of　the　best　champagne　in　Jamaica。　My　mouth's　watering　already。　But　don't　forget　it's　supposed　to　be　a　secret。　I　wandered　into　the　kitchen　and　found　he　had　almost　reduced　the　cook　to　tears。'
　'He's　ing　with　us　on　our　passionate　holiday；'　said　Bond。　He　told　her　of　M's　cable。　'We're　going　to　a　house　on　stilts　with　palm　trees　and　five　miles　of　golden　sand。　And　you'll　have　to　look　after　me　very　well　because　I　shan't　be　able　to　make　love　with　only　one　arm。'
　There　was　open　sensuality　in　Solitaire's　eyes　as　she　looked　up　at　him。　She　smiled　innocently。
　'What　about　my　back？'　she　said。
　　　1　This　terrifying　gambling　case　is　described　in　the　author's　Casino　Royale。

2　This；　one　of　the　great　travel　books；　is　published　by　John　Murray　at　253。
？？

？？

？？

？？




1