if.liveandletdie-第21章

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　that　it　works。　I　don't　think　it　would　work　on　me　because　I　stopped　being　afraid　of　the　dark　when　I　was　a　child　and　I'm　not　a　good　subject　for　suggestion　or　hypnotism。　But　I　know　the　jargon　and　you　needn't　think　I　shall　laugh　at　it。　The　scientists　and　doctors　who　wrote　the　books　don't　laugh　at　it。'
　Solitaire　smiled。　'All　right；'　she　said。　'Then　all　I　need　tell　you　is　that　they　believe　The　Big　Man　is　the　Zombie　of　Baron　Samedi。　Zombies　are　bad　enough　by　themselves。　They're　animated　corpses　that　have　been　made　to　rise　from　the　dead　and　obey　the　mands　of　the　person　who　controls　them。　Baron　Samedi　is　the　most　dreadful　spirit　in　the　whole　of　Voodooism。　He　is　the　spirit　of　darkness　and　death。　So　for　Baron　Samedi　to　be　in　control　of　his　own　Zombie　is　a　very　dreadful　conception。　You　know　what　Mr。　Big　looks　like。　He　is　huge　and　grey　and　he　has　great　psychic　power。　It　is　not　difficult　for　a　negro　to　believe　that　he　is　a　Zombie　and　a　very　bad　one　at　that。　The　step　to　Baron　Samedi　is　simple。　Mr。　Big　encourages　the　idea　by　having　the　Baron's　fetish　at　his　elbow。　You　saw　it　in　his　room。'
　She　paused。　She　went　on　quickly；　almost　breathlessly：　'And　I　can　tell　you　that　it　works　and　that　there's　hardly　a　negro　who　has　seen　him　and　heard　the　story　who　doesn't　believe　it　and　who　doesn't　regard　him　with　plete　and　absolute　dread。　And　they　are　right；'　she　added。　'And　you　would　say　so　too　if　you　knew　the　way　he　deals　with　those　who　haven't　obeyed　him　pletely；　the　way　they　are　tortured　and　killed。'
　'Where　does　Moscow　e　in？'　asked　Bond。　'Is　it　true　he's　an　agent　of　SMERSH？'
　'I　don't　know　what　SMERSH　is；'　said　the　girl；　'but　I　know　he　works　for　Russia；　at　least　I've　heard　him　talking　Russian　to　people　who　e　from　time　to　time。　Occasionally　he's　had　me　in　to　that　room　and　asked　me　afterwards　what　I　thought　of　his　visitors。　Generally　it　seemed　to　me　they　were　telling　the　truth　although　I　couldn't　understand　what　they　said。　But　don't　forget　I've　only　known　him　for　a　year　and　he's　fantastically　secretive。　If　Moscow　does　use　him　they've　got　hold　of　one　of　the　most　powerful　men　in　America。　He　can　find　out　almost　anything　he　wants　to　and　if　he　doesn't　get　what　he　wants　somebody　gets　killed。'
　'Why　doesn't　someone　kill　him？'　asked　Bond。
　'You　can't　kill　him；'　she　said。　'He's　already　dead。　He's　a　Zombie。'
　'Yes；　I　see；'　said　Bond　slowly。　'It's　quite　an　impressive　arrangement。　Would　you　try？'
　She　looked　out　of　the　window；　then　back　at　him。
　'As　a　last　resort；'　she　admitted　unwillingly。　'But　don't　forget　I　e　from　Haiti。　My　brain　tells　me　I　could　kill　him；　but。。。'　She　made　a　helpless　gesture　with　her　hands。　'。。。　my　instinct　tells　me　I　couldn't。'
　She　smiled　at　him　docilely。　'You　must　think　me　a　hopeless　fool；'　she　said。
　Bond　reflected。　'Not　after　reading　all　those　books；'　he　admitted。　He　put　his　hand　across　the　table　and　covered　hers　with　it。　'When　the　time　es；'　he　said；　smiling；　'I'll　cut　a　cross　in　my　bullet。　That　used　to　work　in　the　old　days。'
　She　looked　thoughtful。　'I　believe　that　if　anybody　can　do　it；　you　can；'　she　said。　'You　hit　him　hard　last　night　in　exchange　for　what　he　did　to　you。　She　took　his　hand　in　hers　and　pressed　it。　'Now　tell　me　what　I　must　do。'
　'Bed；'　said　Bond。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　ten　o'clock。　'Might　as　well　get　as　much　sleep　as　we　can。　We'll　slip　off　the　train　at　Jacksonville　and　chance　being　spotted。　Find　another　way　down　to　the　Coast。'
　They　got　up。　They　stood　facing　each　other　in　the　swaying　train。
　Suddenly　Bond　reached　out　and　took　her　in　his　right　arm。　Her　arms　went　round　his　neck　and　they　kissed　passionately。　He　pressed　her　up　against　the　swaying　wall　and　held　her　there。　She　took　his　face　between　her　two　hands　and　held　it　away；　panting。　Her　eyes　were　bright　and　hot。　Then　she　brought　his　lips　against　hers　again　and　kissed　in　him　long　and　lasciviously；　as　if　she　was　the　man　and　he　the　woman。
　Bond　cursed　the　broken　hand　that　prevented　him　exploring　her　body；　taking　her。　He　freed　his　right　hand　and　put　it　between　their　bodies；　feeling　her　hard　breasts；　each　with　its　pointed　stigma　of　desire。　He　slipped　it　down　her　back　until　it　came　to　the　cleft　at　the　base　of　her　spine　and　he　let　it　rest　there；　holding　the　centre　of　her　body　hard　against　him　until　they　had　kissed　enough。
　She　took　her　arms　away　from　around　his　neck　and　pushed　him　away。
　'I　hoped　I　would　one　day　kiss　a　man　like　that；'　she　said。　'And　when　I　first　saw　you；　I　knew　it　would　be　you。'
　Her　arms　were　down　by　her　sides　and　her　body　stood　there；　open　to　him；　ready　for　him。
　'You're　very　beautiful；'　said　Bond。　'You　kiss　more　wonderfully　than　any　girl　I　have　ever　known。'　He　looked　down　at　the　bandages　on　his　left　hand。　'Curse　this　arm；'　he　said。　'I　can't　hold　you　properly　or　make　love　to　you。　It　hurts　too　much。　That's　something　else　Mr。　Big's　got　to　pay　for。'
　She　laughed。
　She　took　a　handkerchief　out　of　her　bag　and　wiped　the　lipstick　off　his　mouth。　Then　she　brushed　the　hair　away　from　his　forehead；　and　kissed　him　again；　lightly　and　tenderly。
　'It's　just　as　well；'　she　said。　'There　are　too　many　other　things　on　our　minds。'
　The　train　rocked　him　back　against　her。
　He　put　his　hand　on　her　left　breast　and　kissed　her　white　throat。　Then　he　kissed　her　mouth。
　He　felt　the　pounding　of　his　blood　softening。　He　took　her　by　the　hand　and　drew　her　out　into　the　middle　of　the　little　swaying　room。
　He　smiled。　'Perhaps　you're　right；'　he　said。　'When　the　time　es　I　want　to　be　alone　with　you；　with　all　the　time　in　the　world。　Here　there　is　at　least　one　man　who　will　probably　disturb　our　night。　And　we'll　have　to　be　up　at　four　in　the　morning　anyway。　So　there　simply　isn't　time　to　begin　making　love　to　you　now。　You　get　ready　for　bed　and　I'll　climb　up　after　you　and　kiss　you　good　night。'
　They　kissed　once　more；　slowly；　then　he　stepped　away。
　'We'll　just　see　if　we　have　pany　next　door；'　he　said。
　He　softly　pulled　the　wedge　away　from　under　the　municating　door　and　gently　turned　the　lock。　He　took　the　Beretta　out　of　its　holster；　thumbed　back　the　safety…catch　and　gestured　to　her　to　pull　open　the　door　so　that　she　was　behind　it。　He　gave　the　signal　and　she　wrenched　it　quickly　open。　The　empty　partment　yawned　sarcastically　at　them
　Bond　smiled　at　her　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　'Call　me　when　you're　ready；'　he　said　and　went　in　and　closed　the　door。
　The　door　to　the　corridor　was　locked。　The　room　was　identical　with　theirs。　Bond　went　over　it　very　carefully　for　vulnerable　points。　There　was　only　the　air…conditioning　vent　in　the　ceiling　and　Bond；　who　was　prepared　to　consider　any　possibility；　dismissed　the　employment　of　gas　in　the　system。　It　would　slay　all　the　other　occupants　of　the　car。　There　only　remained　the　waste　pipes　in　the　small　lavatory　and　while　these　certainly　could　be　used　to　insert　some　death…dealing　medium　from　the　underbelly　of　the　train；　the　operator　would　have　to　be　a　daring　and　skilled　acrobat。　There　was　no　ventilating　grill　into　the　corridor。
　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。　If　anyone　came；　it　would　be　through　the　doors。　He　would　just　have　to　stay　awake。
　Solitaire　called　for　him。　The　room　smelled　of　Balmain's　'Vent　Vert'。　She　was　leaning　on　her　elbow　and　looking　down　at　him　from　the　upper　berth。
　I　he　bedclothes　were　pulled　up　round　her　shoulder。　Bond　guessed　that　she　was　naked。　Her　black　hair　fell　away　from　her　head　in　a　dark　cascade。　With　only　the　reading…lamp　on　behind　her；　her　face　was　in　shadow。　Bond　climbed　up　the　little　aluminium　ladder　and　leant　towards　her。　She　reached　towards　him　and　suddenly　the　bedclothes　fell　away　from　her　shoulders。　x
　'Damn　you；'　said　Bond。　'You。。。'
　She　put　her　hand　over　his　mouth。
　'　〃Allumeuse〃　is　the　nice　word　for　it；'　she　said。　'It　is　fun　for　me　to　be　able　to　tease　such　a　strong　silent　man。　You　burn　with　such　an　angry；　flame。　It　is　the　only　game　I　have　to　play　with　you　and　I　shan't　be　able　to　play　it　for　long。　How　many　days　until　your　hand　is　well　again？'
　Bond　bit　hard　into　the　soft　hand　over　his　mouth。　She　gave　a　little　scream。
　'Not　many；'　said　Bond。　'And　then　one　day　when　you're　playing　your　little　game　you'll　suddenly　find　yourself　pinned　down　like　a　butterfly。'
　She　put　her　arms　round　him　and　they　kissed；　long　and　passionately。
　Finally　she　sank　back　among　the　pillows。
　'Hurry　up　and　get　w