if.goldfinger-第38节

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　Bond　told　her。　He　said；　'Of　course　it　all　sounds　ridiculous　and　I　daresay　a　few　questions　and　answers　will　show　these　gangsters；　if　they　don't　show　Goldfinger；　that　the　whole　thing's　impossible。　But　I　don't　know。　Goldfinger's　an　extraordinary　man。　From　what　I　know　about　him；　he　never　moves　unless　the　odds　are　right。　And　I　don't　think　he's　mad　…　at　least　not　madder　than　other　kinds　of　geniuses　…　scientists　and　so　on。　And　there's　no　doubt　he's　a　genius　in　his　particular　field。'
　'So　what　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？'
　Bond　lowered　his　voice。　He　said；　'What　are　we　going　to　do　about　it；　you　mean。　We　are　going　to　play　along。　And　to　the　hilt。　No　shirking　and　no　funny　business。　We're　going　to　be　greedy　for　the　money　and　we're　going　to　give　him　absolutely　top…notch　service。　Apart　from　saving　our　lives；　which　mean　less　than　nothing　to　him；　it's　the　only　hope　we；　or　rather　I　because　that's　my　line　of　country；　can　have　of　a　chance　to　queer　his　pitch。'
　〃How　are　you　going　to　do　that？〃
　'I　haven't　the　faintest　idea。　Something　may　turn　up。'
　'And　you　expect　me　to　go　along　with　you？'
　'Why　not？　Any　other　suggestions？'
　She　pursed　her　lips　obstinately。　'Why　should　I　do　what　you　say？'
　Bond　sighed。　'There's　no　point　in　being　a　suffragette　about　this。　It's　either　that　or　get　yourself　killed　after　breakfast。　It's　up　to　you。'
　The　mouth　turned　down　with　distaste。　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　She　said　ungraciously；　'Oh；　all　right　then。'　Suddenly　her　eyes　flared。　'Only　don't　ever　touch　me　or　I　shall　kill　you。'
　There　came　the　click　of　Bond's　bedroom　door。　Bond　looked　mildly　down　at　Tilly　Masterton。　'The　challenge　is　attractive。　But　don't　worry。　I　won't　take　it　up。'　He　turned　and　strolled　out　of　the　room。
　One　of　the　Koreans　passed　him　carrying　the　girl's　breakfast。　In　his　room　another　Korean　had　brought　in　a　typist's　desk　and　chair　and　a　Remington　portable。　He　arranged　them　in　the　corner　away　from　the　bed。　Oddjob　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　He　held　out　a　sheet　of　paper。　Bond　went　up　to　him　and　took　it。
　It　was　a　foolscap　memo　sheet。　The　writing；　with　a　ball　point；　was　neat；　careful；　legible；　undistinguished。　It　said：
　Prepare　ten　copies　of　this　agenda。
　Meeting　held　under　the　chairmanship　of　Mr　Gold
　Secretaries：　　　　　J。　Bond
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Miss　Tilly　Masterton
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Present
　Helmut　M。　Springer　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Purple　Gang。　Detroit
　Jed　Midnight　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Shadow　Syndicate。　Miami　and　Havana
　Billy　（The　Grinner）　Ring　　　　　　　　The　Machine。　Chicago　Jack　Strap　The　Spangled　Mob。　Las　Vegas
　Mr　Solo　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Unione　Siciliano
　Miss　Pussy　Galore　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Cement　Mixers。　Har　lem。　New　York　City　Agenda
　A　project　with　the　code　name　OPERATION　GRAND　SLAM。　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（Refreshments。）
　At　the　end　of　this　was　written；　'You　and　Miss　Masterton　will　be　fetched　at　2。20。　Both　will　be　prepared　to　take　notes。　Formal　dress；　please。5
　Bond　smiled。　The　Koreans　left　the　room。　He　sat　down　at　the　desk；　slipped　paper　and　carbons　into　the　typewriter　and　set　to。　At　least　he　would　show　the　girl　that　he　was　prepared　to　do　his　stint。　Gosh；　what　a　crew！　Even　the　Mafia　had　e　in。　How　had　Goldfinger　persuaded　them　all　to　e？　And　who　in　heaven's　name　was　Miss　Pussy　Galore？
　Bond　had　the　copies　finished　by　two　o'clock。　He　went　into　the　girl's　room　and　gave　them　to　her　together　with　a　shorthand　notebook　and　pencils。　He　also　read　her　Goldfinger's　note。　He　said；　'You'd　better　get　these　names　in　your　head。　They　probably　won't　be　hard　to　identify。　We　can　ask　if　we　get　stuck。　I'll　go　and　get　into　my　formal　dress。〃　He　smiled　at　her。　'Twenty　minutes　to　go。'
　She　nodded。
　　
　Walking　down　the　corridor　behind　Oddjob；　Bond　could　hear　the　sounds　of　the　river　…　the　slapping　of　water　on　the　piles　below　the　warehouse；　the　long　mournful　hoot　of　a　ferry　clearing　her　way；　the　distant　thump　of　diesels。　Somewhere　beneath　his　feet　a　truck　started　up；　revved　and　then　growled　away　presumably　towards　the　West　Side　Highway。　They　must　be　on　the　top　tier　of　the　long　two…tiered　building。　The　grey　paint　in　the　corridor　smelled　new。　There　were　no　side　doors。　Light　came　from　bowls　in　the　ceiling。　They　reached　the　end。　Oddjob　knocked。　There　was　the　sound　of　a　Yale　key　being　turned　and　two　lots　of　bolts　being　pulled　and　they　walked　through　and　into　a　large　bright　sunlit　room。　The　room　was　over　the　end　of　the　warehouse　and　a　wide　picture　window；　filling　most　of　the　facing　wall；　framed　the　river　and　the　distant　brown　muddle　of　Jersey　City。　The　room　had　been　dressed　for　the　conference。　Goldfinger　sat　with　his　back　to　the　window　at　a　large　round　table　with　a　green　baize　cloth；　carafes　of　water；　yellow　scratch…pads　and　pencils。　There　were　nine　fortable　armchairs　and　on　the　scratch…pads　in　front　of　six　of　them　were　small　oblong　white　parcels　sealed　with　red　wax。　To　the　right；　against　the　wall；　was　a　long　buffet　table　gleaming　with　silver　and　cut　glass。　Champagne　stood　in　silver　coolers　and　there　was　a　row　of　other　bottles。　Among　the　various　foods　Bond　noticed　two　round　five…pound　tins　of　Beluga　caviar　and　several　terrines　of　foie　gras。　On　the　wall　opposite　the　buffet　hung　a　blackboard　above　a　table　on　which　there　were　papers　and　one　large　oblong　carton。
　Goldfinger　watched　them　e　towards　him　across　the　thick　wine…red　carpet。　He　gestured　to　the　chair　on　his　left　for　Tilly　Masterton　and　to　the　one　on　the　right　for　Bond。　They　sat　down。
　'The　agenda？'　Goldfinger　took　the　copies；　read　the　top　one　and　handed　them　back　to　the　girl。　He　gave　a　circular　wave　of　the　hand　and　she　got　up　and　distributed　the　copies　round　the　table。　He　put　his　hand　beneath　the　table　and　pressed　a　hidden　bell。　The　door　at　the　back　of　the　room　opened。　One　of　the　Koreans　came　in　and　stood　waiting。　'Is　everything　ready？'　The　man　nodded。　'You　understand　that　no　one　is　to　e　into　this　room　but　the　people　on　your　list？　Good。　Some　of　them；　perhaps　all；　will　bring　a　panion。　The　panions　will　remain　in　the　anteroom。　See　that　they　have　everything　they　wish。　The　cards　are　there　and　the　dice？　Oddjob。'　Gold…finger　glanced　up　at　the　Korean　who　had　remained　behind　Bond's　chair。　'Go　and　take　up　your　position。　What　is　the　signal？'　Oddjob　held　up　two　fingers。　'Right。　Two　rings　on　the　bell。　You　may　go。　See　that　all　the　staff　carry　out　their　duties　to　perfection。'
　Bond　said　casually；　'How　many　staff　have　you　got？'
　'Twenty。　Ten　Koreans　and　ten　Germans。　They　are　all　excellent　men；　hand　picked。　Much　goes　on　in　this　building。　It　is　like　below…decks　in　a　man…of…war。'　Goldfinger　laid　his　hands　flat　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　'And　now；　your　duties。　Miss　Masterton；　you　will　take　notes　of　any　practical　points　that　arise；　anything　that　is　likely　to　require　action　by　me。　Do　not　bother　with　the　argument　and　chatter。　Right？'
　Bond　was　glad　to　see　that　Tilly　Masterton　now　looked　bright　and　businesslike。　She　nodded　briskly；　'Certainly。'
　'And；　Mr　Bond；　I　shall　be　interested　in　any　reactions　you　may　have　to　the　speakers。　I　know　a　great　deal　about　all　these　people。　In　their　own　territories　they　are　paramount　chiefs。　They　are　only　here　because　I　have　bribed　them　to　e。　They　know　nothing　of　me　and　I　need　to　persuade　them　that　I　know　what　I　am　talking　about　and　will　lead　them　to　success。　Greed　will　do　the　rest。　But　there　may　be　one　or　more　who　wish　to　back　out。　They　will　probably　reveal　themselves。　In　their　cases　I　have　made　special　arrangements。　But　there　may　be　doubtful　ones。　During　the　talk；　you　will　scribble　with　your　pencil　on　this　agenda。　Casually　you　will　note　with　a　plus　or　a　minus　sign　opposite　the　names　whether　you　consider　each　one　for　or　against　the　project。　I　shall　be　able　to　see　what　sign　you　have　made。　Your　views　may　be　useful。　And　do　not　forget；　Mr　Bond；　that　one　traitor　among　them；　one　backslider；　and　we　could　quickly　find　ourselves　either　dead　or　in　prison　for　life。'
　〃Who　is　this　Pussy　Galore　from　Harlem？'
　'She　is　the　only　woman　who　runs　a　gang　in　America。　It　is　a　gang　of　women。　I　shall　need　some　women　for　this　operation。　She　is　entirely　reliable。　She　was　a　trapeze　artiste。　She　had　a　team。　It　was　called　〃Pussy　Galore　and　her　Abrocats〃。'　Gold…finger　did　not　smile。　'〃Die　team　was　unsuccessful；　so　she　trained　them　as　burglars；　cat　burglars。　It　grew　into　a　gang　of　outstanding　ruthlessness。　It　is　a　Lesbian　organization　which　now　calls　itself　'The　Cement　Mixers'。　Even　the　big　American　gangs　respect　them。　She　is　a　remarkable　woman。'
　A　buzzer　sounded　very　softly　beneath　the　table。　Goldfinger　straightened　himself。　The　door　at　the　end　of　the　room　opened　briskly　and　five　men　came　in。　Goldfinger　rose　in　his　chair　and　ducked　his　head　in　wele。　He　said；　'My　name　is　Gold。　Will　you　please　be　seated。'
　There　was　a　careful　murmur。　Silently　the　men　closed　round　the　table；　pulled　out　chairs　and　sat　down。　Five　pairs　of　eyes　looked　coldly；　warily　at　Goldfinger。　Goldfinger　sat　down。　He　said　quietly；　'Gentlemen；　in　the　parcels　before　you　you　will　find　one　twenty…four…carat　gold　bar；　value　fifteen　thousand　dollars。　I　thank　you　for　the　courtesy　of　your　attendance。　The　agenda　is　self…explanatory。　Perhaps；　while　we　wait　for　Miss　Galore；　I　could　run　through　your　names　for　the　information　of　my　secretaries；　Mr　Bond　here；　and　Miss　Masterton。