if.goldfinger-第28章

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d　luck　on　the　cat；　of　course。'
　Bond　said　casually；　'Why　does　the　man　always　wear　that　bowler　hat？'
　'Oddjob！'　The　Korean　had　reached　the　service　door。　'The　hat。'　Goldfinger　pointed　at　a　panel　in　the　woodwork　near　the　fireplace。
　Still　holding　the　cat　under　his　left　arm；　Oddjob　turned　and　walked　stolidly　back　towards　them。　When　he　was　half　way　across　the　floor；　and　without　pausing　or　taking　aim；　he　reached　up　to　his　hat；　took　it　by　the　rim　and　flung　it　sideways　with　all　his　force。　There　was　a　loud　clang。　For　an　instant　the　rim　of　the　bowler　hat　stuck　an　inch　deep　in　the　panel　Gold…finger　had　indicated；　then　it　fell　and　clattered　on　the　floor。
　Goldfinger　smiled　politely　at　Bond。　'A　light　but　very　strong　alloy；　Mr　Bond。　I　fear　that　will　have　damaged　the　felt　covering；　but　Oddjob　will　put　on　another。　He's　surprisingly　quick　with　a　needle　and　thread。　As　you　can　imagine；　that　blow　would　have　smashed　a　man's　skull　or　half　severed　his　neck。　A　homely　and　a　most　ingeniously　concealed　weapon；　I'm　sure　you'll　agree。'
　'Yes；　indeed。'　Bond　smiled　with　equal　politeness。　'Useful　chap　to　have　around。〃
　Oddjob　had　picked　up　his　hat　and　disappeared。　There　came　the　boom　of　a　gong。　'Ah；　dinner！　Shall　we　go　in？'　Goldfinger　led　the　way　to　a　door　concealed　in　the　panelling　to　the　right　of　the　fireplace。　He　pressed　a　hidden　latch　and　they　walked　through。
　The　small　dining…room　matched　the　heavy　wealth　of　the　hall。　It　was　brilliantly　lit　from　a　central　chandelier　and　by　candles　on　a　round　table　that　glittered　with　silver　and　glass。　They　sat　down　opposite　each　other。　Two　yellow…faced　servants　in　white　mess…jackets　brought　dishes　from　a　loaded　serving…table。　The　first　course　was　some　curried　mess　with　rice。　Goldfinger　noticed　Bond's　hesitation。　He　gave　a　dry　chuckle。　'It's　all　right；　Mr　Bond。　Shrimp；　not　the　cat。'
　'Ah。'　Bond's　expression　was　non…mittal。
　'Please　try　the　Moselle。　I　hope　it　will　be　to　your　taste。　It　is　a　Piesporter　Goldtropfchen　'53。　Help　yourself。　These　people　are　as　likely　to　pour　it　into　your　plate　as　your　glass。'
　There　was　a　slim　bottle　in　an　ice　bucket　in　front　of　Bond。　He　poured　some　of　the　wine　and　tasted　it。　It　was　nectar　and　ice　cold。　Bond　congratulated　his　host。　Goldfinger　gave　a　curt　nod。
　'I　don't　myself　drink　or　smoke；　Mr　Bond。　Smoking；　I　find　the　most　ridiculous　of　all　the　varieties　of　human　behaviour　and　practically　the　only　one　that　is　entirely　against　nature。　Can　you　imagine　a　cow　or　any　animal　taking　a　mouthful　of　smouldering　straw　then　breathing　in　the　smoke　and　blowing　it　out　through　its　nostrils？　Pah！'　Goldfinger　showed　a　rare　trace　of　emotion。　'It　is　a/vile　practice。　As　for　drinking；　I　am　something　of　a　chemist　and　I　have　yet　to　find　a　liquor　that　is　free　from　traces　of　a　number　of　poisons；　some　of　them　deadly；　such　as　fusel　oil；　acetic　acid；　ethylacetate；　acetal…dehyde　and　furfurol。　A　quantity　of　some　of　these　poisons　taken　neat　would　kill　you。　In　the　small　amounts　you　find　in　a　bottle　of　liquor　they　produce　various　ill　effects　most　of　which　are　lightly　written　off　as　〃a　hangover〃。'　Goldfinger　paused　with　a　forkful　of　curried　shrimp　half　way　to　his　mouth。　'Since　you　are　a　drinker；　Mr　Bond；　I　will　give　you　one　word　of　good　advice。　Never　drink　so…called　Napoleon　brandy；　particularly　when　it　is　described　as　〃aged　in　the　wood〃。　That　particular　potion　contains　more　of　the　poisons　I　have　mentioned　than　any　other　liquor　I　have　analysed。　Old　bourbon　es　next。'　Goldfinger　closed　his　animadversions　with　a　mouthful　of　shrimp。
　'Thank　you。　I'll　remember。　Perhaps　for　those　reasons　I　have　recently　taken　to　vodka。　They　tell　me　its　filtration　through　activated　charcoal　is　a　help。'　Bond；　dredging　this　piece　of　expertise　out　of　dim　recollections　of　something　he　had　read；　was　rather　proud　of　having　been　able　to　return　Goldfinger's　powerful　serve。
　Goldfinger　glanced　at　him　sharply。　'You　seem　to　understand　something　of　these　matters。　Have　you　studied　chemistry？'
　'Only　dabbled　in　it。'　It　was　time　to　move　on。　'I　was　very　impressed　by　that　chauffeur　of　yours。　Where　did　he　learn　that　fantastic　bat　stuff？　Where　did　it　e　from？　Is　that　what　the　Koreans　use？'
　Goldfinger　patted　his　mouth　with　his　napkin。　He　snapped　his　fingers。　The　two　men　cleared　away　the　plates　and　brought　roast　duckling　and　a　bottle　of　Mouton　Rothschild　1947　for　Bond。　When　they　had　withdrawn　into　immobility　at　each　end　of　the　serving…table；　Goldfinger　said；　'Have　you　ever　heard　of　Karate？　No？　Well　that　man　is　one　of　the　three　in　the　world　who　have　achieved　the　Black　Belt　in　Karate。　Karate　is　a　branch　of　judo；　but　it　is　to　judo　what　a　Spandau　is　to　a　catapult。'
　'I　could　see　that。'
　'The　demonstration　was　an　elementary　one。　Mr　Bond'　…Goldfinger　held　up　the　drumstick　he　had　been　gnawing　…　'I　can　tell　you　that　if　Oddjob　had　used　the　appropriate　single　blow　on　any　one　of　seven　spots　on　your　body；　you　would；now　be　dead。'　Goldfinger　bit　at　the　side　of　the　drumstick　with　relish。
　Bond　said　seriously；　'That's　interesting。　I　only　know　five　ways　of　killing　Oddjob　with　one　blow。'
　Goldfinger　seemed　not　to　hear　the　ment。　He　put　down　his　drumstick　and　took　a　deep　draught　of　water。　He　sat　back　and　spoke　while　Bond　went　on　eating　the　excellent　food。　'Karate；　Mr　Bond；　is　based　on　the　theory　that　the　human　body　possesses　five　striking　surfaces　and　thirty…seven　vulnerable　spots　…　vulnerable；　that　is；　to　an　expert　in　Karate　whose　finger…tips；　the　side　of　the　hands　and　the　feet　are　hardened　into　layers　of　corn；　which　is　far　stronger　and　more　flexible　than　bone。　Every　day　of　his　life；　Mr　Bond；　Oddjob　spends　one　hour　hitting　either　sacks　of　unpolished　rice　or　a　strong　post　whose　top　is　wound　many　times　round　with　thick　rope。　He　then　spends　another　hour　at　physical　training　which　is　more　that　of　a　ballet　school　than　of　a　gymnasium。'
　'When　does　he　practise　tossing　the　bowler　hat？'　Bond　had　no　intention　of　succumbing　to　this　psychological　warfare。
　Goldfinger　frowned　at　the　interruption。　'I　have　never　inquired；'　he　said　without　humour。　'But　I　think　you　can　take　it　that　Oddjob　keep　his　eye　in　at　all　his　skills。　However；　you　were　asking　where　Karate　originated。　It　originated　in　China　where　wandering　Buddhist　priests　became　an　easy　prey　for　footpads　and　bandits。　Their　religion　did　not　allow　them　to　carry　weapons；　so　they　developed　their　own　form　of　unarmed　bat。　The　inhabitants　of　Okinawa　refined　the　art　to　its　present　form　when　the　Japanese　forbade　them　to　carry　weapons。　They　developed　the　five　striking　surfaces　of　the　human　body　…　the　fist；　the　edge　of　the　hand；　the　fingertips；　the　ball　of　the　foot　and　the　elbows　…　and　toughened　them　until　they　were　enveloped　in　layers　of　corn。　There　is　no　follow…through　in　a　Karate　blow。　The　entire　body　is　stiffened　at　the　moment　of　impact；　with　the　emphasis　on　the　hips；　and　then　instantly　relaxed　so　that　balance　is　never　lost。　It　is　astonishing　what　Oddjob　can　do。　I　have　seen　him　hit　a　brick　wall　with　his　entire　force　and　not　hurt　his　hand。　He　can　split　three　half…inch　thick　boards；　piled　one　upon　the　other；　with　one　blow　of　the　hand。　You　have　seen　what　he　can　do　with　his　foot。'
　Bond　took　a　deep　draught　of　the　delicious　claret。　'All　this　must　be　rather　hard　on　your　furniture。'
　Goldfinger　shrugged。　'I　have　no　more　use　for　this　house。　I　thought　a　demonstration　would　amuse　you。　I　hope　you　agree　that　Oddjob　earned　his　cat。'　The　X…ray　eyes　blazed　briefly　across　the　table。
　'Does　he　train　on　cats？'
　'He　regards　them　as　a　great　delicacy。　He　acquired　the　taste　during　a　famine　in　his　country　when　he　was　young。'
　Bond　thought　it　was　time　to　delve　rather　more　deeply。　'Why　do　you　need　such　a　man？　He　can't　be　very　good　pany。'
　'Mr　Bond'　…　Goldfinger　snapped　his　fingers　for　the　two　servants　…　'it　happens　that　I　am　a　rich　man；　a　very　rich　man；　and　the　richer　the　man　the　more　he　needs　protection。　The　ordinary　bodyguard　or　detective　is　usually　a　retired　policeman。　Such　men　are　valueless。　Their　reactions　are　slow；　their　methods　old…fashioned；　and　they　are　open　to　bribery。　Moreover；　they　have　a　respect　for　human　life。　That　is　no　good　if　I　wish　to　stay　alive。　The　Koreans　have　no　such　feelings。　That　is　why　the　Japanese　employed　them　as　guards　for　their　prison　camps　during　the　war。　They　are　the　cruellest；　most　ruthless　people　in　the　wo