if.liveandletdie-第10章

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ad　e　instead　to　keep　the　streets　free　of　their　usual　crowds。　Leiter　and　Bond　moved　with　the　trickle　of　couples　on　the　sidewalk。　The　looks　they　got　were　mostly　contemptuous　or　frankly　hostile。　One　or　two　men　spat　in　the　gutter　when　they　had　passed。
　Bond　suddenly　felt　the　force　of　what　Leiter　had　told　him。　They　were　trespassing。　They　just　weren't　wanted。　Bond　felt　the　uneasiness　that　he　had　known　so　well　during　the　war；　when　he　had　been　working　for　a　time　behind　the　enemy　lines。　He　shrugged　the　feeling　away。
　'We'll　go　to　Ma　Frazier's；　further　up　the　Avenue；'　said　Leiter。　'Best　food　in　Harlem；　or　at　any　rate　it　used　to　be。'
　As　they　went　along　Bond　gazed　into　the　shop　windows。
　He　was　struck　by　the　number　of　barbers'　saloons　and　'beauticians'。　They　all　advertised　various　forms　of　hair…straightener　…　'Apex　Glossatina；　for　use　with　the　hot　b'；　'Silky　Strate。　Leaves　no　redness；　no　burn'　…　or　nostrums　for　bleaching　the　skin。　Next　in　frequency　were　the　haberdashers　and　clothes　shops；　with　fantastic　men's　snakeskin　shoes；　shirts　with　small　aeroplanes　as　a　pattern；　peg…top　trousers　with　inch…wide　stripes；　zoot　suits。　All　the　book　shops　were　full　of　educational　literature　…　how　to　learn　this；　how　to　do　that　…　and　ics。　There　were　several　shops　devoted　to　lucky　charms　and　various　occultisms　…　Seven　Keys　to　Power；　'The　Strangest　book　ever　written'；　with　sub…titles　such　as：　'If　you　are　CROSSED；　shows　you　how　to　remove　and　cast　it　back。'　'Chant　your　desires　in　the　Silent　Tongue。'　'Cast　a　Spell　on　Anyone；　no　matter　where。'　'Make　any　person　Love　you。'　Among　the　charms　were　'High　John　the　Conqueror　Root'；　'Money　Drawing　Brand　Oil'；　'Sachet　Powders；　Uncrossing　Brand'；　Tncense；　Jinx　removing　Brand'；　and　the　'Lucky　Whamie　Hand　Charm；　giving　Protection　from　Evil。　Confuses　and　Baffles　Enemies'。
　Bond　reflected　it　was　no　wonder　that　the　Big　Man　found　Voodooism　such　a　powerful　weapon　on　minds　that　still　recoiled　at　a　white　chicken's　feather　or　crossed　sticks　in　the　road　…　right　in　the　middle　of　the　shining　capital　city　of　the　Western　world。
　'I'm　glad　we　came　up　here；'　said　Bond。　'I'm　beginning　to　get　the　hang　of　Mr。　Big。　One　just　doesn't　catch　the　smell　of　all　this　in　a　country　like　England。　We're　a　superstitious　lot　there　of　course　…　particularly　the　Celts　…　but　here　one　can　almost　hear　the　drums。'
　Leiter　grunted。　'I'll　be　glad　to　get　back　to　my　bed；'　he　said。　'But　we　need　to　size　up　this　guy　before　we　decide　how　to　get　at　him。'
　Ma　Frazier's　was　a　cheerful　contrast　to　the　bitter　streets。　They　had　an　excellent　meal　of　Little　Neck　Clams　and　Fried　Chicken　Maryland　with　bacon　and　sweet　corn。　'We've　got　to　have　it；'　said　Leiter。　'It's　the　national　dish。'
　It　was　very　civilized　in　the　warm　restaurant。　Their　waiter　seemed　glad　to　see　them　and　pointed　out　various　celebrities；　but　when　Leiter　slipped　in　a　question　about　Mr。　Big　the　waiter　seemed　not　to　hear。　He　kept　away　from　them　until　they　called　for　their　bill。
　Leiter　repeated　the　question。
　'Sorry；　Sah；'　said　the　waiter　briefly。　'Ah　cain't　recall　a　gemmun　of　dat　name。'
　By　the　time　they　left　the　restaurant　it　was　ten…thirty　and　the　Avenue　was　almost　deserted。　They　took　a　cab　to　the
　Savoy　Ballroom；　had　a　Scotch…and…soda；　and　watched　the　dancers。
　'Most　modern　dances　were　invented　here；'　said　Leiter。　'That's　how　good　it　is。　The　Lindy　Hop；　Truckin'；　the　Susie　Q；　the　Shag。　All　started　on　that　floor。　Every　big　American　band　you've　ever　heard　of　is　proud　that　it　once　played　here　…　Duke　Ellington；　Louis　Armstrong；　Cab　Galloway；　Noble　Sissle；　Fletcher　Henderson。　It's　the　Mecca　of　jazz　and　jive。'
　They　had　a　table　near　the　rail　round　the　huge　floor。　Bond　was　spellbound。　He　found　many　of　the　girls　very　beautiful。　The　music　hammered　its　way　into　his　pulse　until　he　almost　forgot　what　he　was　there　for。
　'Gets　you；　doesn't　it？'　said　Leiter　at　last。　'I　could　stay　here　all　night。　Better　move　along。　We'll　miss　out　Small's　Paradise。　Much　the　same　as　this；　but　not　quite　in　the　same　class。　Think　I'll　take　you　to　〃Yeah　Man〃；　back　on　Seventh。　After　that　we　must　get　moving　to　one　of　Mr。　Big's　own　joints。　Trouble　is；　they　don't　open　till　midnight。　I'll　pay　a　visit　to　the　washroom　while　you　get　the　check。　See　if　I　can　get　a　line　on　where　we're　likely　to　find　him　tonight。　We　don't　want　to　have　to　go　to　all　his　places。'
　Bond　paid　the　check　and　met　Leiter　downstairs　in　the　narrow　entrance　hall。
　Leiter　drew　him　outside　and　they　walked　up　the　street　looking　for　a　cab。
　'Cost　me　twenty　bucks；'　said　Leiter；　'but　the　word　is　he'll　be　at　The　Boneyard。　Small　place　on　Lenox　Avenue。　Quite　close　to　his　headquarters。　Hottest　strip　in　town。　Girl　called　G…G　Sumatra。　We'll　have　another　drink　at　〃Yeah　Man〃　and　hear　the　piano。　Move　on　at　about　twelve…thirty。'
　The　big　switchboard；　now　only　a　few　blocks　away；　was　almost　quiet。　The　two　men　had　been　checked　in　and　out　of　Sugar　Ray's；　Ma　Frazier's　and　the　Savoy　Ballroom。　Midnight　had　them　entering　'Yeah　Man'。　At　twelve…thirty　the　final　call　came　and　then　the　board　was　silent。
　Mr。　Big　spoke　on　the　house…phone。　First　to　the　head　waiter。
　'Two　white　men　ing　in　five　minutes。　Give　them　the　Z　table。'
　'Yes；　Sir；　Boss；'　said　the　head　waiter。　He　hurried　across　the　dance…floor　to　a　table　away　on　the　right；　obscured　from　most　of　the　room　by　a　wide　pillar。　It　was　next　to　the　Service　entrance　but　with　a　good　view　of　the　floor　and　the　band　opposite。
　It　was　occupied　by　a　party　of　four；　two　men　and　two　girls
　'Sorry　folks；'　said　the　head　waiter。　'Been　a　mistake。　Table's　reserved。　Newspaper　men　from　downtown。'
　One　of　the　men　began　to　argue。
　'Move；　Bud；'　said　the　head　waiter　crisply。　'Lofty；　show　these　folks　to　table　F。　Drinks　is　on　the　house。　Sam；'　he　beckoned　to　another　waiter；　'clear　the　table。　Two　covers。'　The　party　of　four　moved　docilely　away；　mollified　by　the　prospect　of　free　liquor。　The　head　waiter　put　a　Reserved　sign　on　table　Z；　surveyed　it　and　returned　to　his　post　at　his　table…plan　on　the　high　desk　beside　the　curtained　entrance。
　Meanwhile　Mr。　Big　had　made　two　more　calls　on　the　house…phone。　One　to　the　Master　of　Ceremonies。
　'Lights　out　at　the　end　of　G…G's　act。'
　'Yes；　Sir；　Boss；'　said　the　MC　with　alacrity。
　The　other　call　was　to　four　men　who　were　playing　craps　in　the　basement。　It　was　a　long　call；　and　very　detailed。
　
　CHAPTER　VI
　TABLE　Z
　
　At　twelve　forty…five　Bond　and　Leiter　paid　off　their　cab　and　walked　in　under　the　sign　which　announced　'The　Boneyard'　in　violet　and　green　neon。
　The　thudding　rhythm　and　the　sour…sweet　smell　rocked　them　as　they　pushed　through　the　heavy　curtains　inside　the　swing　door。　The　eyes　of　the　hat…check　girls　glowed　and　beckoned。
　'Have　you　reserved；　Sir？'　asked　the　head　waiter。
　'No；'　said　Leiter。　'We　don't　mind　sitting　at　the　bar。'
　The　head　waiter　consulted　his　table…plan。　He　seemed　to　decide。　He　put　his　pencil　firmly　through　a　space　at　the　end　of　the　card。
　'Party　hasn't　shown。　Guess　Ah　cain't　hold　their　res'vation　all　night。　This　way；　please。'　He　held　his　card　high　over　his　head　and　led　them　round　the　small　crowded　dance…floor。　He　pulled　out　one　of　the　two　chairs　and　removed　the　'Reserved'　sign。
　'Sam；'　he　called　a　waiter　over。　'Look　after　these　gem…mums　order。'　He　moved　away。
　They　ordered　Scotch…and…soda　and　chicken　sandwiches。
　Bond　sniffed。　'Marihuana；〃　he　mented。
　'Most　of　the　real　hep…cats　smoke　reefers；'　explained　Leiter。　'Wouldn't　be　allowed　most　places。'
　Bond　looked　round。　The　music　had　stopped。　The　small　four…piece　band；　clarinet；　double…bass；　electric　guitar　and　drums；　was　moving　out　of　the　corner　opposite。　The　dozen　or　so　couples　were　walking　and　jiving　to　their　tables　and　the　crimson　light　was　turned　off　under　the　glass　dance…floor。　Instead；　pencil…thin　lights　in　the　roof　came　on　and　hit　coloured　glass　witchballs；　larger　than　footballs；　that　hung　at　intervals　round　the　wall。　They　were　of　different　hues；　golden；　blue；　green；　violet；　red。　As　the　beams　of　light　hit　them；　they　glowed　like　coloured　suns。　The　walls；　varnished　black；　mirrored　their　reflections　as　did　the　sweat　on　the　ebony　faces　of　the　men。　Sometimes　a　man　sitting　between　two　lights　showed　cheeks　of　different　colour；　green　on　one　side；　perhaps；　and　red　on　the　other。　The　lighting　made　it　impossible　to　distinguish　fe