if.goldfinger-第35节

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　Bond　decided　it　was　time　to　stop　talking。　It　was　time　to　start　winding　up　the　mainspring　of　will…power　that　must　not　run　down　again　until　he　was　dead。　Bond　said　politely；　'Then　you　can　go　and　　yourself。'　He　expelled　all　the　breath　from　his　lungs　and　closed　his　eyes。
　'Even　I　am　not　capable　of　that；　Mr　Bond；'　said　Goldfinger　with　good　humour。　'And　now；　since　you　have　chosen　the　stony　path　instead　of　the　smooth；　I　must　extract　what　interest　I　can　from　your　predicament　by　making　the　path　as　stony　as　possible。　Oddjob；　grade　two。'
　The　lever　on　the　table　moved　across　iron　teeth。　Now　Bond　could　feel　the　wind　of　the　saw　between　his　knees。　The　hands　came　back。
　Bond　counted　the　slowly　pounding　pulse　that　utterly　possessed　his　body。　It　was　like　the　huge　panting　power　plant　in　the　other　part　of　the　factory　but；　in　his　case；　it　was　slowly　decelerating。　If　only　it　would　slow　down　quicker。　What　was　this　ridiculous　will　to　live　that　refused　to　listen　to　the　brain？　Who　was　making　the　engine　run　on　although　the　tank　was　dry　of　fuel？　But　he　must　empty　his　mind　of　thought；　as　well　as　his　body　of　oxygen。　He　must　bee　a　vacuum；　a　deep　hole　of　unconsciousness。
　Still　the　light　burned　red　through　his　eyelids。　Still　he　could　feel　the　bursting　pressure　in　his　temples。　Still　the　slow　drum　of　life　beat　in　his　ears。
　A　scream　tried　to　force　its　way　through　the　clamped　teeth。
　Die　damn　you　die　die　damn　you　die　damn　you　die　damn　you　die　damn　you　die。。。
　
　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　
　THE　LAST　AND　THE　BIGGEST
　
　THE　WINGS　of　a　dove；　the　heavenly　choir；　Hark　the　Herald　Angels　Sing　…　what　else　ought　he　to　remember　about　Paradise？　It　was　all　so　exactly　like　what　he　had　been　told　in　the　nursery　…　this　sensation　of　flying；　the　darkness；　the　drone　of　the　million　harps。　He　really　must　try　and　remember　the　dope　about　the　place。　Let's　see　now；　one　got　to　the　Pearly　Gates。。。
　A　deep　fatherly　voice　said；　almost　in　his　ear；　'This　is　your　captain　speaking。'　（Well；　well。　Who　was　this。　Saint　Peter？）　'We　are　ing　in　to　land　now。　Will　you　please　fasten　your　seat　belts　and　extinguish　your　cigarettes。　Thank　you。'
　There　must　be　a　whole　lot　of　them；　going　up　together。　Would　Tilly　be　on　the　same　trip？　Bond　squirmed　with　embarrassment。　How　would　he　introduce　her　to　the　others；　to　Vesper　for　instance？　And　when　it　came　to　the　point；　which　would　he　like　the　best？　But　perhaps　it　would　be　a　big　place　with　countries　and　towns。　There　was　probably　no　more　reason　why　he　should　run　into　one　of　his　former　girl　friends　here　than　there　had　been　on　earth。　But　still　there　were　a　lot　of　people　he'd　better　avoid　until　he　got　settled　in　and　found　out　the　form。　Perhaps；　with　so　much　love　about；　these　things　wouldn't　matter。　Perhaps　one　just　loved　all　the　girls　one　met。　Hm。　Tricky　business
　With　these　unworthy　thoughts　in　his　mind；　Bond　relapsed　into　unconsciousness。
　The　next　tiling　he　knew　was　a　gentle　sensation　of　swaying。　He　opened　his　eyes。　The　sun　blinded　them。　He　closed　them　again。　A　voice　above　and　behind　his　head　said；　'Watch　it；　bud。　That　ramp's　steeper　than　it　looks。'　Almost　immediately　there　was　a　heavy　jolt。　A　surly　voice　in　front　said；　'Cheesus；　you're　telling　me。　Why　in　hell　can't　they　put　down　rubber。'
　Bond　thought　angrily；　that's　a　fine　way　to　talk　up　here。　Just　because　I'm　new　and　they　think　no　one's　listening。
　There　was　the　bang　of　a　swing　door。　Something　hit　Bond　sharply　on　a　protruding　elbow。　He　shouted　'Hey！'　and　tried　to　reach　his　elbow　and　rub　it；　but　his　hands　wouldn't　move。
　'Whaddya　know。　Hey；　Sam；　better　call　the　doc。　This　one's　e　round。'
　'Sure！　Here；　put　him　alongside　the　other。'　Bond　felt　himself　being　lowered。　It　was　cooler　now。　He　opened　his　eyes。　A　big　round　Brooklyn　face　was　bent　over　his。　The　eyes　met　his　and　smiled。　The　metal　supports　of　the　stretcher　touched　the　ground。　The　man　said；　'How　ya　feelin'；　mister？'
　'Where　am　I？'　Now　there　was　panic　in　Bond's　voice。　He　tried　to　rise　but　couldn't。　He　felt　the　sweat　break　out　on　his　body。　God！　Was　this　still　part　of　the　old　life？　At　the　thought　of　it；　a　wave　of　grief　poured　through　his　body。　Tears　burned　his　eyes　and　trickled　down　his　cheeks。
　'Hey；　hey！　Take　it　easy；　mister。　You're　okay。　This　is　Idlewild；　New　York。　You're　in　America　now。　No　more　troubles；　see。'　The　man　straightened　up。　He　thought　Bond　was　a　refugee　from　somewhere。　'Sam；　get　movin'。　This　guy's　in　shock。'
　'Okay；　okay。'　The　two　voices　receded；　mumbling　anxiously。
　Bond　found　he　could　move　his　head。　He　looked　round。　He　was　in　a　white…painted　ward　…　presumably　something　to　do　with　the　health　department　of　the　airport。　There　was　a　row　of　tidy　beds。　Sun　poured　down　from　high　windows；　but　it　was　cool；　air…conditioned。　He　was　on　a　stretcher　on　the　floor。　There　was　another　one　next　to　it。　He　strained　his　head　sideways。　It　was　Tilly。　She　was　unconscious。　Her　pale　face；　framed　in　black　hair；　pointed　at　the　ceiling。
　The　door　at　the　end　of　the　ward　sighed　open。　A　doctor　in　a　white　coat　stood　and　held　it。　Goldfinger；　looking　brisk；　cheerful；　walked　swiftly　down　between　the　beds。　He　was　followed　by　Oddjob。　Bond　wearily　closed　his　eyes。　Christ！　So　that　was　the　score。
　Feet　gathered　round　his　stretcher。　Goldfinger　said　breezily；　'Well；　they　certainly　look　in　good　shape；　eh；　Doctor？　That's　one　of　the　blessings　of　having　enough　money。　When　one's　friends　or　one's　staff　are　ill　one　can　get　them　the　very　best　medical　attention。　Nervous　breakdowns；　both　of　them。　And　in　the　same　week！　Would　you　believe　it？　But　I　blame　myself　for　working　them　both　too　hard。　Now　it's　my　duty　to　get　them　back　on　their　feet　again。　Dr　Foch　…　he's　the　best　man　in　Geneva；　by　the　way　…　was　quite　definite。　He　said；　〃They　need　rest；　Mr　Goldfinger。　Rest；　rest　and　again　rest。〃　He　gave　them　sedatives　and　now　they're　on　their　way　to　the　Harkness　Pavilion　at　the　Presbyterian。'　Goldfinger　chuckled　fatly。　'Sow　and　you　shall　reap；　eh；　Doctor？　When　I　gave　the　Harkness　a　million　dollars'　worth　of　X…ray　equipment；　I　certainly　never　expected　anything　back。　But　now？　I　only　had　to　put　through　a　call　and　they've　got　two　fine　rooms　waiting　for　them。　Now　then'　…　there　was　a　rustle　of　notes　…'thank　you　for　all　your　help　with　Immigration。　Fortunately　they　both　had　valid　visas　and　I　think　Immigration　was　satisfied　that　Mr　Auric　Goldfinger　was　a　sufficient　guarantee　that　neither　of　them　wants　to　overthrow　the　United　States　Government　by　force；　what？'
　'Yes　indeed；　and　thank　you　Mr　Goldfinger。　Anything　I　can　do。。。　I　understand　you　have　a　private　ambulance　waiting　outside。'
　Bond　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　at　where　the　doctor's　voice　came　from。　He　saw　a　pleasant；　serious　young　man　with　rimless　glasses　and　a　crew…cut。　Bond　said　quietly　and　with　desperate　sincerity；　'Doctor；　there　is　absolutely　nothing　wrong　with　me　or　this　girl。　We　have　been　drugged　and　brought　here　against　our　will。　Neither　of　us　works　or　has　ever　worked　for　Goldfinger。　I　am　warning　you　that　we　have　been　kidnapped。　I　demand　to　see　the　Chief　of　Immigration。　I　have　friends　in　Washington　and　New　York。　They　will　vouch　for　me。　I　beg　of　you　to　believe　me。'　Bond　held　the　man's　eyes　in　his；　willing　him　to　believe；
　The　doctor　looked　worried。　He　turned　to　Goldfinger。　Goldfinger　shook　his　head　…　discreetly　so　that　Bond　would　not　be　insulted。　A　surreptitious　hand　went　up　and　tapped　the　side　of　his　head　away　from　Bond。　Goldfinger　raised　helpless　eyebrows。　'You　see　what　I　mean；　Doctor？　It's　been　like　this　for　days。　Total　nervous　prostration　bined　with　persecution　mania。　Dr　Foch　said　they　often　go　together。　It　may　need　weeks　at　the　Harkness。　But　I'm　going　to　pull　him　round　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do。　It's　the　shock　of　these　unfamiliar　surroundings。　Perhaps　a　shot　of　intraval　sodium。。。'
　The　doctor　bent　to　his　black　bag。　'I　guess　you're　right；　Mr　Goldfinger。　So　long　as　Harkness　is　looking　after　the　case。'　There　came　the　tinkle　of　instruments。
　Goldfinger　said；　'It's　terribly　sad　to　see　a　man　break　down　so　utterly；　a　man　who　has　been　one　of　my　best　assistants。'　He　bent　a　sweet；　fatherly　smile　on　Bond。　There　was　a　catch　in　his　voice。　'You'll　be　all　right；　James。　Just　relax　and　have　a　nice　sleep。　I　was　afraid　the　flight　might　be　too　much　for　you。　Just　relax　and　leave　everything　to　me。'　。
　Bond　felt　the　swab　on　his　arm。　He　heaved。　Against　his　will；　a　shower　of　curses　poured　from　his　lips。　Then　he　felt　the　needle　and　opened　his　mouth　and　screamed　and　screamed　while　the　doctor　knelt　beside　him　and　delicately；　patiently；　wiped　away　the　sweat　from　his　forehead。
　Now　it　was　a　grey　painted　box　of　a　room。　There　were　no　windows。　Light　came　from　a　single　lamp　inset　in　the　centre　of　the　ceiling。　Round　the　lamp　were　concentric　slits　in　the　plaster　and　there　was　the　neutral　smell　and　faint　hum　of　air…conditioning。　Bond　found　he　could　sit　up。　He　did　so。　He　felt　drowsy　but　well。　He　suddenly　realized　that　he　was　ravenously　hungry　and　thirsty。　When　had　he　last　had　a　meal？　Two；　three　days　ago？　He　put　his　feet　down　on　the　floor。　He　was　naked。　He　examined　his　body。　Oddjob　had　been　careful。　There　was　no　sign　of　damage　save　for　the　group　of　needle…。marks　on　his　right　forearm。　He　got　up；　conquering　dizziness；　and　took　a　few　steps　in　the　room。　He　had　been　lying　on　a　ship's　type　bunk　with　drawers　under　it。　The　only　other　furniture　in　the　room　was　a　pl