if.liveandletdie-第16章

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　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　bodywork。　He　tore　the　wheel　round　right…handed　and　there　was　another　shot　that　missed　high。　Across　the　street　a　window　splintered。
　The　flash　came　from　low　down　near　the　floor　and　Bond　guessed　that　the　first　negro　had　somehow　managed　to　reach　his　gun。
　There　were　no　other　shots　and　no　sound　came　from　the　blank　faces　of　the　buildings　behind　him。　As　he　went　through　the　gears　he　could　see　nothing　in　the　driving…mirror　except　the　broad　bar　of　light　from　the　garage　shining　out　across　the　dark　empty　street。
　Bond　had　no　idea　where　he　was　or　where　he　was　heading。　It　was　a　wide　featureless　street　and　he　kept　going。　He　found　himself　driving　on　the　left…hand　side　and　quickly　swerved　over　to　the　right。　His　hand　hurt　terribly　but　the　thumb　and　forefinger　helped　to　steady　the　wheel。　He　tried　to　remember　to　keep　his　left　side　away　from　the　blood　on　the　door　and　window。　The　endless　street　was　populated　only　by　the　little　ghosts　of　steam　that　wavered　up　out　of　the　gratings　in　the　asphalt　that　gave　access　to　the　piped　heat　system　of　the　city。　The　ugly　bonnet　of　the　car　mowed　them　down　one　by　one；　but　in　the　driving…mirror　Bond　could　see　them　rising　again　behind　him　in　a　diminishing　vista　of　mildly　gesticulating　white　wraiths。
　He　kept　the　big　car　at　fifty。　He　came　to　some　red　traffic　lights　and　jumped　them。　Several　more　dark　blocks　and　then　there　was　a　lighted　avenue。　There　was　traffic　and　he　paused　until　the　lights　went　green。　He　turned　left　and　was　rewarded　by　a　succession　of　green　lights；　each　one　sweeping　him　on　and　further　away　from　the　enemy。　He　checked　at　an　intersection　and　read　the　signs。　He　was　on　Park　Avenue　and　116th　Street。　He　slowed　again　at　the　next　street。　It　was　115th。　He　was　heading　downtown；　away　from　Harlem；　back　into　the　City。　He　kept　going。　He　turned　off　at　Goth　Street。　It　was　deserted。　He　switched　off　the　engine　and　left　the　car　opposite　a　fire　hydrant。　He　took　the　gun　off　the　seat；　shoved　it　down　the　waistband　of　his　trousers　and　walked　back　to　Park　Avenue。
　A　few　minutes　later　he　flagged　a　prowling　cab　and　then　suddenly　he　was　walking　up　the　steps　of　the　St。　Regis。
　'Message　for　you；　Mr。　Bond；'　said　the　night　porter。　Bond　kept　his　left　side　away　from　him。　He　opened　the　message　with　his　right　hand。　It　was　from　Felix　Leiter；　timed　at　four　a。m。　'Call　me　at　once；'　it　said。
　Bond　walked　to　the　elevator　and　was　carried　up　to　his　floor。　He　let　himself　into　21：00　and　went　through　into　the　sitting…room。
　So　both　of　them　were　alive。　Bond　fell　into　a　chair　beside　the　telephone。
　'God　Almighty；'　said　Bond　with　deep　gratitude。　'What　a　break。'
　
　CHAPTER　IX
　TRUE　OR　FALSE？
　
　BOND　looked　at　the　telephone；　then　he　got　up　and　walked　over　to　the　sideboard。　He　put　a　handful　of　wilted　icecubes　into　a　tall　glass；　poured　in　three　inches　of　Haig　and　Haig　and　swilled　the　mixture　round　in　the　glass　to　cool　and　dilute　it。　Then　he　drank　down　half　the　glass　in　one　long　swallow。　He　put　the　glass　down　and　eased　himself　out　of　his　coat。　His　left　hand　was　so　swollen　that　he　could　only　just　get　it　through　the　sleeve。　His　little　finger　was　still　crooked　back　and　the　pain　was　vicious　as　it　scraped　against　the　cloth。　The　ringer　was　nearly　black。　He　pulled　down　his　tie　and　undid　the　top　of　his　shirt。　Then　he　picked　up　his　glass；　took　another　deep　swallow；　and　walked　back　to　the　telephone。
　Leiter　answered　at　once。
　'Thank　God；'　said　Leiter　with　real　feeling。　'What's　the　damage？〃
　'Broken　finger；'　said　Bond。　'How　about　you？'
　'Blackjack。　Knocked　out。　Nothing　serious。　They　started　off　by　considering　all　sorts　of　ingenious　things。　Wanted　to　couple　me　to　the　pressed…air　pump　in　the　garage。　Start　on　the　ears　and　then　proceed　elsewhere。　When　no　instructions　came　from　The　Big　Man　they　got　bored　and　I　got　to　arguing　the　finer　points　of　Jazz　with　Blabbermouth；　the　man　with　the　fancy　six…shooter。　We　got　on　to　Duke　Ellington　and　agreed　that　we　liked　our　band…leaders　to　be　percussion　men；　not　wind。　We　agreed　the　piano　or　the　drums　held　the　band　together　better　than　any　other　solo　instrument　…　Jelly…roll　Morton；　for　instance。　Apropos　the　Duke；　I　told　him　the　crack　about　the　clarinet　…　〃an　ill　woodwind　that　nobody　blows　good〃。　That　made　him　laugh　fit　to　bust。　Suddenly　we　were　friends。　The　other　man　…　The　Flannel；　he　was　called　…　got　sour　and　Blabbermouth　told　him　he　could　go　off　duty；　he'd　look　after　me。　Then　The　Big　Man　rang　down。'
　'I　was　there；'　said　Bond。　'It　didn't　sound　so　hot。'
　'Blabbermouth　was　worried　as　hell。　He　wandered　round　the　room　talking　to　himself。　Suddenly　he　used　the　blackjack；　hard；　and　I　went　out。　Next　thing　I　knew　we　were　outside　Bellevue　Hospital。　About　half　after　three。　Blabbermouth　was　very　apologetic；　said　it　was　the　least　he　could　have　done。　I　believe　him。　He　begged　me　not　to　give　him　away。　Said　he　was　going　to　report　that　he'd　left　me　half　dead。　Of　course　I　promised　to　leak　back　some　very　lurid　details。　We　parted　on　the　best　of　terms。　I　got　some　treatment　at　the　Emergency　ward　and　came　home。　I　was　worried　to　Hell　an'　gone　about　you；　but　after　a　while　the　telephone　started　ringing。　Police　and　FBI。　Seems　The　Big　Man　has　plained　that　some　fool　Limey　went　berserk　at　The　Boneyard　early　this　morning；　shot　three　of　his　men　…　two　chauffeurs　and　a　waiter；　if　you　please　…　stole　one　of　his　cars　and　got　away；　leaving　his　overcoat　and　hat　in　the　cloakroom。　The　Big　Man's　yelling　for　action。　Of　course　I　warned　off　the　dicks　and　the　FBI；　but　they're　madder'n　hell　and　we've　got　to　get　out　of　town　at　once。　It'll　miss　the　mornings　but　it'll　be　splashed　all　over　the　afternoon　blatts　and　Radio　and　TV'll　have　it。　Apart　from　all　that；　Mr。　Big　will　be　after　you　like　a　nest　of　hornets。　Anyway；　I've　got　some　plans　fixed。　Now　you　tell；　and　God；　am　I　glad　to　hear　your　voice！'
　Bond　gave　a　detailed　account　of　all　that　had　happened。　He　forgot　nothing。　When　he　had　finished；　Leiter　gave　a　low　whistle。
　'Boy；'　he　said　with　admiration。　'You　certainly　made　a　dent　in　The　Big　Man's　machine。　But　were　you　lucky。　That　Solitaire　dame　certainly　seems　to　have　saved　your　bacon。　D'you　think　we　can　use　her？'
　'Could　if　we　could　get　near　her；'　said　Bond。　'I　should　think　he　keeps　her　pretty　close。'
　'We'll　have　to　think　about　that　another　day；'　said　Leiter。　'Now　we'd　better　get　moving。　I'll　hang　up　and　call　you　back　in　a　few　minutes。　First　I'll　get　the　police　surgeon　round　to　you　right　away。　Be　along　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so。　Then　I'll　talk　to　the　missioner　myself　and　sort　out　some　of　the　police　angles。　They　can　stall　a　bit　by　discovering　the　car。　The　F　B　I'll　have　to　tip　off　the　radio　and　newspaper　boys　so　that　at　least　we　can　keep　your　name　out　of　it　and　all　this　Limey　talk。　Otherwise　we　shall　have　the　British　Ambassador　being　hauled　out　of　bed　and　parades　by　the　National　Association　for　the　Advancement　of　Coloured　People　and　God　knows　what　all。　Leiter　chuckled　down　the　telephone。　'Better　have　a　word　with　your　chief　in　London。　It's　about　half　after　ten　their　time。　You'll　need　a　bit　of　protection。　I　can　look　after　the　CIA；　but　the　FBI　have　got　a　bad　attack　of　〃see…here…young…man〃　this　morning。　You'll　need　some　more　clothes。　I'll　see　to　that。　Keep　awake。　We'll　get　plenty　of　sleep　in　the　grave。　Be　calling　you。'
　He　hung　up。　Bond　smiled　to　himself。　Hearing　Leiter's　cheerful　voice　and　knowing　everything　was　being　taken　care　of　had　wiped　away　his　exhaustion　and　his　black　memories。
　He　picked　up　the　telephone　and　talked　to　the　Overseas　operator。　'Ten　minutes'　delay；　she　said。
　Bond　walked　into　his　bedroom　and　somehow　got　out　of　his　clothes。　He　gave　himself　a　very　hot　shower　and　then　an　ice…cold　one。　He　shaved　and　managed　to　pull　on　a　clean　shirt　and　trousers。　He　put　a　fresh　clip　in　his　Beretta　and　wrapped　the　Colt　in　his　discarded　shirt　and　put　it　in　his　suitcase。　He　was　half　way　through　his　packing　when　the　telephone　rang。
　He　listened　to　the　zing　and　echo　on　the　line；　the　chatter　of　distant　operators；　the　patches　of　Morse　from　aircraft　and　ships　at　sea；　quickly　suppressed。　He　could　see　the　big；　grey　building　near　Regents　Park　and　imagine　the　busy　switchboard　and　the　cups　of　tea　and　a　girl　saying；　'Y