if.liveandletdie-第15章

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　my　little　mechanical　toy　is　a　sound　technical　achievement。　Moreover；　as　no　doubt　you　rightly　surmise；　it　would　be　a　nuisance　for　me　to　have　a　lot　of　busy…bodies　around　here　asking　questions　about　the　disappearance　of　yourself　and　your　friend　Mr。　Leiter。　Not　more　than　a　nuisance；　but　for　various　reasons　I　wish　to　concentrate　on　other　matters　at　the　present　time。
　'So；'　Mr。　Big　looked　at　his　watch；　'I　decided　to　leave　my　card　upon　each　of　you　and　to　give　you　one　more　solemn　warning。　You　must　leave　the　country　today；　and　Mr。　Leiter　must　transfer　to　another　assignment。　I　have　quite　enough　to　bother　me　without　having　a　lot　of　agents　from　Europe　added　to　the　considerable　strength　of　local　busybodies　with　which　I　have　to　contend。
　'That　is　all；'　he　concluded。　'If　I　see　you　again；　you　will　die　in　a　manner　as　ingenious　and　appropriate　as　I　can　devise　on　that　day。
　'Tee…Hee；　take　Mister　Bond　to　the　garage。　Tell　two　of　the　men　to　take　him　to　Central　Park　and　throw　him　in　the　ornamental　water。　He　may　be　damaged　but　not　killed　if　he　resists。　Understood？'
　'Yassuh；　Boss；'　said　Tee…Hee；　giggling　in　a　high　falsetto。
　He　undid　Bond's　ankles；　then　his　wrists。　He　took　Bond's　injured　hand　and　twisted　it　right　up　his　back。　Then　with　his　other　hand　he　undid　the　strap　round　his　waist。　He　yanked　Bond　to　his　feet。
　'Giddap；'　said　Tee…Hee。
　Bond　gazed　once　more　into　the　great　grey　face。
　'Those　who　deserve　to　die；'　he　paused；'　die　the　death　they　deserve。　Write　that　down；'　he　added。　'It's　an　original　thought。〃
　Then　he　glanced　at　Solitaire。　Her　eyes　were　bent　on　the　hands　in　her　lap。　She　didn't　look　up。
　'Git　goin；'　said　Tee…Hee。　He　turned　Bond　round　towards　the　wall　and　pushed　him　forward；　twisting　Bond's　wrist　up　his　back　until　his　forearm　was　almost　dislocated。　Bond　uttered　a　realistic　groan　and　his　footsteps　faltered。　He　wanted　Tee…Hee　to　believe　that　he　was　cowed　and　docile。　He　wanted　the　torturing　grip　to　ease　just　a　little　on　his　left　arm。　As　it　was；　any　sudden　movement　would　only　result　in　his　arm　being　broken。
　Tee…Hee　reached　over　Bond's　shoulder　and　pressed　on　one　of　the　books　in　the　serried　shelves。　A　large　section　opened　on　a　central　pivot。　Bond　was　pushed　through　and　the　negro　kicked　the　heavy　section　back　into　place。　It　closed　with　a　double　click。　From　the　thickness　of　the　door；　Bond　guessed　it　would　be　sound…proof。　They　were　faced　by　a　short　carpeted　passage　ending　in　some　stairs　that　led　downwards。　Bond　groaned。
　'You're　breaking　my　arm；'　he　said。　'Look　out。　I'm　going　to　faint。'
　He　stumbled　again；　trying　to　measure　exactly　the　negro's　position　behind　him。　He　remembered　Leiter's　injunction：　'Shins；　groin；　stomach；　throat。　Hit　'em　anywhere　else　and　you'll　just　break　your　hand。'
　'Shut　yo　mouf；'　said　the　negro；　but　he　pulled　Bond's　hand　an　inch　or　two　down　his　back。
　This　was　all　Bond　needed。
　They　were　half　way　down　the　passage　with　only　a　few　feet　more　to　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Bond　faltered　again；　so　that　the　negro's　body　bumped　into　his。　This　gave　him　all　the　range　and　direction　he　needed。
　He　bent　a　little　and　his　right　hand；　straight　and　flat　as　a　board；　whipped　round　and　inwards。　He　felt　it　thud　hard　into　the　target。　The　negro　screamed　shrilly　like　a　wounded　rabbit。　Bond　felt　his　left　arm　e　free。　He　whirled　round；　pulling　out　his　empty　gun　with　his　right　hand。　The　negro　was　bent　double；　his　hands　between　his　legs；　uttering　little　panting　screams。　Bond　whipped　the　gun　down　hard　on　the　back　of　the　woolly　skull。　It　gave　back　a　dull　klonk　as　if　he　had　hammered　on　a　door；　but　the　negro　groaned　and　fell　forward　on　his　knees；　throwing　out　his　hands　for　support。　Bond　got　behind　him　and　with　all　the　force　he　could　put　behind　the　steel…capped　shoe；　he　gave　one　mighty　kick　below　the　lavender…coloured　seat　of　the　negro's　pants。
　A　final　short　scream　was　driven　out　of　the　man　as　he　sailed　the　few　feet　to　the　stairs。　His　head　hit　the　side　of　the　iron　banisters　and　then；　a　twisting　wheel　of　arms　and　legs；　he　disappeared　over　the　edge；　down　into　the　well。　There　was　a　short　crash　as　he　caromed　off　some　obstacle；　then　a　pause；　then　a　mingled　thud　and　crack　as　he　hit　the　ground。　Then　silence。
　Bond　wiped　the　sweat　out　of　his　eyes　and　stood　listening。　He　thrust　his　wounded　left　hand　into　his　coat。　It　was　throbbing　with　pain　and　swollen　to　almost　twice　its　normal　size。　Holding　his　gun　in　his　right　hand；　he　walked　to　the　head　of　the　stairs　and　slowly　down；　moving　softly　on　the　balls　of　his　feet。
　There　was　only　one　floor　between　him　and　the　spread…eagled　body　below。　When　he　reached　the　landing；　he　stopped　again　and　listened。　Quite　close；　he　could　hear　the　high…pitched　whine　of　some　form　of　fast　wireless　transmitter。　He　verified　that　it　came　from　behind　one　of　the　two　doors　on　the　landing。　This　must　be　Mr。　Big's'munications　centre。　He　longed　to　carry　out　a　quick　raid。　But　his　gun　was　empty　and　he　had　no　idea　how　many　men　he　would　find　in　the　room。　It　could　only　have　been　the　earphones　on　their　ears　that　had　prevented　the　operators　from　hearing　the　sounds　of　Tee…Hee's　fall。　He　crept　on　down。
　Tee…Hee　was　either　dead　or　dying。　He　lay　spread…eagled　on　his　back。　His　striped　tie　lay　across　his　face　like　a　squashed　adder。　Bond　felt　no　remorse。　He　frisked　the　body　for　a　gun　and　found　one　stuck　in　the　waistband　of　the　lavender　trousers；　now　stained　with　blood。　It　was　a　Colt　。38　Detective　Special　with　a　sawn　barrel。　All　chambers　were　loaded。　Bond　slipped　the　useless　Beretta　back　in　its　holster。　He　nestled　the　big　gun　into　his　palm　and　smiled　grimly。
　A　small　door　faced　him；　bolted　on　the　inside。　Bond　put　his　ear　to　it。　The　muffled　sound　of　an　engine　reached　him。　This　must　be　the　garage。　But　the　running　engine？　At　that　time　of　the　morning？　Bond　ground　his　teeth。　Of　course。　Mr。　Big　would　have　spoken　on　the　inter　and　warned　them　that　Tee…Hee　was　bringing　him　down。　They　must　be　wondering　what　was　holding　him。　They　were　probably　watching　the　door　for　the　negro　to　emerge。
　Bond　thought　for　a　moment。　He　had　the　advantage　of　surprise。　If　only　the　bolts　were　well…oiled。
　His　left　hand　was　almost　useless。　With　the　Colt　in　his　right；　he'　tested　the　first　bolt　with　the　edge　of　his　damaged　hand。　It　slipped　easily　back。　So　did　the　second。　There　remained　only　a　press…down　handle。　He　eased　it　down　and　pulled　the　door　softly　towards　him。
　It　was　a　thick　door　and　the　noise　of　the　engine　got　louder　as　the　crack　widened。　The　car　must　be　just　outside。　Any　further　movement　of　the　door　would　betray　him。　He　whipped　it　open　and　stood　facing　sideways　like　a　fencer　so　as　to　offer　as　small　a　target　as　possible。　The　hammer　lay　back　on　his　gun。
　A　few　feet　away　stood　a　black　sedan；　its　engine　running。　It　faced　the　open　double　doors　of　the　garage。　Bright　arc…lights　lit　up　the　shining　bodywork　of　several　other　cars。　There　was　a　big　negro　at　the　wheel　of　the　sedan　and　another　stood　near　him；　leaning　against　the　rear　door。　No　one　else　was　in　view。
　At　sight　of　Bond　the　negroes'　mouths　fell　open　in　astonishment。　A　cigarette　dropped　from　the　mouth　of　the　man　at　the　wheel。　Then　they　both　dived　for　their　guns。
　Instinctively；　Bond　shot　first　at　the　man　standing；　knowing　he　would　be　quickest　on　the　draw。
　The　heavy　gun　roared　hollowly　in　the　garage。
　The　negro　clutched　his　stomach　with　both　hands；　staggered　two　steps　towards　Bond；　and　collapsed　on　his　face；　his　gun　clattering　on　to　the　concrete。
　The　man　at　the　wheel　screamed　as　Bond's　gun　swung　on　to　him。　Hampered　by　the　wheel　the　negro's　shooting　hand　was　still　inside　his　coat。
　Bond　shot　straight　into　the　screaming　mouth　and　the　man's　head　crashed　against　the　side　window。
　Bond　ran　round　the　car　and　opened　the　door。　The　negro　sprawled　horribly　out。　Bond　threw　his　revolver　on　to　the　driving…seat　and　yanked　the　body　out　on　to　the　ground。　He　tried　to　avoid　the　blood。　He　got　into　the　seat　and　blessed　the　running　engine　and　the　steering…wheel　gear…lever。　He　slammed　the　door；　rested　his　injured　hand　on　the　left　of　the　wheel　and　crashed　the　lever　forward。
　The　hand…brake　was　still　on。　He　had　to　lean　under　the　wheel　to　release　it　with　his　right　hand。
　It　was　a　dangerous　pause。　As　the　heavy　car　surged　forward　out　of　the　wide　doors　there　was　the　boom　of　a　gun　and　a　bullet　hammered　into　the　bodywo