if.liveandletdie-第41章

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om　his　shoulder。　He　had　forgotten　the　wound；　but　now　it　began　to　throb；　and　when　he　moved　his　arm　the　pain　shot　through　it。　There　was　also　the　thin　stream　of　bubbles　from　the　cylinders；　but　he　hoped　these　were　just　creeping　up　to　burst　unnoticed　at　the　lip　of　the　entrance。
　Even　as　he　drew　back　a　few　inches　into　his　hole；　his　future　was　settled　for　him。
　Above　his　head　there　was　a　single　huge　splash　and　two　negroes；　naked　except　for　the　glass　masks　over　their　faces；　were　on　to　him；　long　daggers　held　like　lances　in　their　left　hands。
　Before　his　hand　reached　the　knife　at　his　belt　they　had　seized　both　his　arms　and　were　hauling　him　to　the　surface。
　Hopelessly；　helplessly；　Bond　let　himself　be　man…handled　out　of　the　pool　on　to　flat　sand。　He　was　pulled　to　his　feet　and　the　zips　of　his　rubber　suit　were　torn　open。　His　helmet　was　snatched　off　his　head　and　his　holster　from　his　shoulder　and　suddenly　he　was　standing　among　the　debris　of　his　black　skin；　like　a　flayed　snake；　naked　except　for　his　brief　swimming…trunks。　Blood　oozed　down　from　the　jagged　hole　in　his　left　shoulder。
　When　his　helmet　came　off　Bond　was　almost　deafened　by　the　shattering　boom　and　stutter　of　the　drums。　The　noise　was　in　him　and　all　around　him。　The　hastening　syncopated　rhythm　galloped　and　throbbed　in　his　blood。　It　seemed　enough　to　wake　all　Jamaica。　Bond　grimaced　and　clenched　his　senses　against　the　buffeting　tempest　of　noise。　Then　his　guards　turned　him　round　and　he　was　faced　with　a　scene　so　extraordinary　that　the　sound　of　the　drums　receded　and　all　his　consciousness　was　focused　through　his　eyes。
　In　the　foreground；　at　a　green　baize　card…table；　littered　with　papers；　in　a　folding　chair；　sat　Mr。　Big；　a　pen　in　his　hand；　looking　incuriously　at　him。　A　Mr。　Big　in　a　well…cut　fawn　tropical　suit；　with　a　white　shirt　and　black　knitted　silk　tie。　His　broad　chin　rested　on　his　left　hand　and　he　looked　up　at　Bond　as　if　he　had　been　disturbed　in　his　office　by　a　member　of　the　staff　asking　for　a　raise　in　salary。　He　looked　polite　but　faintly　bored。
　A　few　steps　away　from　him；　sinister　and　incongruous；　the　scarecrow　effigy　of　Baron　Samedi；　erect　on　a　rock；　gaped　at　Bond　from　under　its　bowler　hat。
　Mr。　Big　took　his　hand　off　his　chin；　and　his　great　golden　eyes　looked　Bond　over　from　top　to　toe。
　'Good　morning；　Mister　James　Bond；'　he　said　at　last；　throwing　his　flat　voice　against　the　dying　crescendo　of　the　drums。　'The　fly　has　indeed　been　a　long　time　ing　to　the　spider；　or　perhaps　I　should　say　〃the　minnow　to　the　whale〃。　You　left　a　pretty　wake　of　bubbles　after　the　reef。'
　He　leant　back　in　his　chair　and　was　silent。　The　drums　softly　thudded　and　boomed。
　So　it　was　the　fight　with　the　octopus　that　had　betrayed　him。　Bond's　mind　automatically　registered　the　fact　as　his　eyes　moved　on　past　the　man　at　the　table。
　He　was　in　a　rock　chamber　as　big　as　a　church。　Half　the　floor　was　taken　up　with　the　clear　white　pool　from　which　he　had　e　and　which　verged　into　aquamarine　and　then　blue　near　the　black　hole　of　the　underwater　entrance。　Then　there　was　the　narrow　strip　of　sand　on　which　he　was　standing　and　the　rest　of　the　floor　was　smooth　flat　rock　dotted　with　a　few　grey　and　white　stalagmites。
　Some　way　behind　Mr。　Big；　steep　steps　mounted　towards　a　vaulted　ceiling　from　which　short　limestone　stalactites　hung　down。　From　their　white　nipples　water　dripped　intermittently　into　the　pool　or　on　to　the　points　of　the　young　stalagmites　that　rose　towards　them　from　the　floor。
　A　dozen　bright　arc　lights　were　fixed　high　up　on　the　walls　and　reflected　golden　highlights　from　the　naked　chests　of　a　group　of　negroes　standing　to　his　left　on　the　stone　floor　rolling　their　eyes　and　watching　Bond；　their　teeth　showing　in　delighted　cruel　grins。
　Round　their　black　and　pink　feet；　in　a　debris　of　broken　timber　and　rusty　iron　hoops；　mildewed　strips　of　leather　and　disintegrating　canvas；　was　a　blazing　sea　of　gold　coin…yards；　piles；　cascades　of　round　golden　specie　from　which　the　black　legs　rose　as　if　they　had　been　halted　in　the　middle　of　a　walk　through　flame。
　Beside　them　were　piled　row　upon　row　of　shallow　wooden　trays。　There　were　some　on　the　floor　partly　filled　with　gold　coin；　and　at　the　bottom　of　the　steps　a　single　negro　had　stopped　on　his　way　up　and　he　was　holding　one　of　the　trays　in　his　hands　and　it　was　full　of　gold　coin；　four　cylindrical　rows　of　it；　held　out　as　if　for　sale　between　his　hands。
　Further　to　the　left；　in　a　corner　of　the　chamber；　two　negroes　stood　by　a　bellying　iron　cauldron　suspended　over　three　hissing　blow…lamps；　its　base　glowing　red。　They　held　iron　skimmers　in　their　hands　and　these　were　splashed　with　gold　half　way　up　the　long　handles。　Beside　them　was　a　towering　jumble　of　gold　objects；　plate；　altar　pieces；　drinking　vessels；　crosses；　and　a　stack　of　gold　ingots　of　various　sizes。　Along　the　wall　near　them　were　ranged　rows　of　metal　cooling　trays；　their　segmented　surfaces　gleaming　yellow；　and　there　was　an　empty　tray　on　the　floor　near　the　cauldron　and　a　long　gold…spattered　ladle；　its　handle　bound　with　cloth。
　Squatting　on　the　floor　not　far　from　Mr。　Big；　a　single　negro　had　a　knife　in　one　hand　and　a　jewelled　goblet　in　the　other。　Beside　him　on　a　tin　plate　was　a　pile　of　gems　that　winked　dully；　red　and　blue　and　green；　in　the　glare　of　the　arcs。
　It　was　warm　and　airless　in　the　great　rock　chamber　and　yet　Bond　shivered　as　his　eyes　took　in　the　whole　splendid　scene；　the　blazing　violet…white　lights；　the　shimmering　bronze　of　the　sweating　bodies；　the　bright　glare　of　the　gold；　the　rainbow　pool　of　jewels　and　the　milk　and　aquamarine　of　the　pool。　He　shivered　at　the　beauty　of　it　all；　at　this　fabulous　petrified　ballet　in　the　great　treasure…house　of　Bloody　Morgan。
　His　eyes　came　back　to　the　square　of　green　baize　and　the　great　zombie　face　and　he　looked　at　the　face　and　into　the　wide　yellow　eyes　with　awe；　almost　with　reverence。
　'Stop　the　drums；'　said　The　Big　Man　to　no　one　in　particular。　They　had　died　almost　to　a　whisper；　a　lisping　beat　right　on　the　pulse　of　the　blood。　One　of　the　negroes　took　two　softly　clanging　steps　amongst　the　gold　coin　and　bent　down。　There　was　a　portable　phonograph　on　the　floor　and　a　powerful　amplifier　leant　beside　it　against　the　rock　wall。　There　was　a　click　and　the　drums　stopped。　The　negro　shut　the　lid　of　the　machine　and　went　back　to　his　place。
　'Get　on　with　the　work；'　said　Mr。　Big；　and　at　once　all　the　figures　started　moving　as　if　a　penny　had　been　put　in　a　slot。　The　cauldron　was　stirred；　the　gold　was　picked　up　and　clicked　into　the　boxes；　the　man　picked　busily　at　his　jewelled　goblet　and　the　negro　with　the　tray　of　gold　moved　on　up　the　stairs。
　Bond　stood　and　dripped　sweat　and　blood。
　The　Big　Man　bent　over　the　lists　on　his　table　and　wrote　one　or　two　figures　with　his　pen。
　Bond　stirred　and　felt　the　prick　of　a　dagger　over　his　kidneys。
　The　Big　Man　put　down　his　pen　and　got　slowly　to　his　feet。　He　moved　away　from　the　table。
　'Take　over；'　he　said　to　one　of　Bond's　guards　and　the　naked　man　walked　round　the　table　and　sat　down　in　Mr。　Big's　chair　and　picked　up　the　pen。
　'Bring　him　up。'　Mr。　Big　walked　over　to　the　steps　in　the　rock　and　started　to　climb　them　slowly。
　Bond　felt　a　prick　in　his　side。　He　stepped　out　of　the　debris　of　his　black　skin　and　followed　the　slowly　climbing　figure。
　No　one　looked　up　from　his　work。　No　one　would　slacken　when　Mr。　Big　was　out　of　sight。　No　one　would　put　a　jewel　or　a　coin　in　his　mouth。
　Baron　Samedi　was　left　in　charge。
　Only　his　Zombie　had　gone　from　the　cave。
　
　CHAPTER　XXI
　'GOOD　NIGHT　TO　YOU　BOTH'
　
　THEY　climbed　slowly　up；　past　an　open　door　near　the　ceiling；　for　about　forty　feet　and　then　paused　on　a　wide　landing　in　the　rock。　Here　a　single　negro　with　an　acetylene　light　beside　him　was　fitting　trays　full　of　gold　coin　into　the　centre　of　the　fish…tanks；　scores　of　which　were　stacked　against　the　wall。
　As　they　waited；　two　negroes　came　down　the　steps　from　the　surface；　picked　up　one　of　the　prepared　tanks　and　went　back　up　the　steps　with　it。
　Bond　guessed　the　tanks　were　stocked　with　sand　and　weed　and　fish　somewhere　up　above　and　then　passed　to　the　human　chain　that　stretched　down　the　cliff　face。
　Bond　noticed　that　some　of　the　waiting　tanks　had　gold　ingots　fitted　in　the　centre；　and　others　a　gravel　of　jewels；　and　he　revised　his　estimate　of　the　treasure；　quadrupling　it　to　around　four　mill