按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
n。 It was a majestic haul in area Intelligence。 He had the ball！ Could he live to touch down with it？ God； for a drink！ He put his ear back to the hot base of the glass。
There was silence。 When it came； the voice of Hendriks was cautious； indecisive。 He obviously wanted to say 〃I pass〃…with the corollary； 〃until I've talked to my Zentrale； isn't it？〃
He said； 〃Mister S。 Is difficult pizzness； yes？ My superiors are not disliking the profitable involvements； but； as you will be knowing； they are most liking the pizzness that has the political objective。 It was on these conditions that they instructed me to ally myself with your Group。 The money； that is not the problem。 But how am I to explain the political objective of opening casinos in Jamaica？ This I am wondering。〃
〃It'll almost certainly lead to trouble。 The locals'll want to play…they're terrific gamblers here。 There'll be incidents。 The native's will be turned away from the doors for one reason or another。 Then the opposition party'll get hold of that and raise hell about colour bars and so on。 With all the money flying about； the unions'll push wages through the roof。 It can all add up to a fine stink。 The atmosphere's too damn peaceful around here。 This'll be a cheap way of raising plenty of hell。 That's what your people want； isn't it？ Give the islands the hot foot one after another？〃
There was another brief silence。 Mr。 Hendriks obviously didn't like the idea。 He said so； but obliquely： 〃What you are saying； Mister S。； is very interesting。 But is it not that these troubles you envisage will endanger our monies？ However； I will report your inquiry and inform you at once。 It is possible that my superiors will be sympathetic。 Who can be telling？ Now there is this question of a new Number Seven。 Are you having anyone in mind？〃
〃I think we want a good man from South America。 We need a guy to oversee our operations in British Guiana。 We oughta get smartened up in Venezuela。 How e we never got further with that great scheme for blocking the Maracaibo strait？ Like robbing a blind man； given a suitable block ship。 Just the threat of it would make the oil panies shell out…that's a joke by the way…and go on shelling by way of protection。 Then； if this narcotics spiel is going to be important； we can't do without Mexico。 How about Mr。 Arosio of Mexico City？〃
〃I am not knowing this gentleman。〃
〃Rosy？ Oh； he's a great guy。 Runs the Green Light Transportation System。 Drugs and girls into L。A。 Never been caught yet。 Reliable operator。 Got no affiliates。 Your people'll know about him。 Why not check with them； and then we'll put it up to the others？ They'll go along with our say…so。〃
〃Is good。 And now； Mister S。 Have you anything to report about your own employer？ On his recent visit to Moscow； I understand that he expressed satisfaction with your efforts in this area。 It is a matter for gratification that there should be such close cooperation between his subversive efforts and our own。 Both our chiefs are expecting much in the future from our union with the Mafia。 Myself I am doubting。 Mr。 Gengerella is undoubtedly a valuable link； but it is my impression that these people are only being activated by money。 What is it that you are thinking？〃
〃You've said it； Mr。 Hendriks。 In the opinion of my chief； the Mafia's first and only consideration is the Mafia。 It has always been so and it always will be so。 My Mister C。 is not expecting great results in the States。 Even the Mafia can't buck the anti…Cuban feeling there。 But he thinks we can achieve plenty in the Caribbean by giving them odd jobs to do。 They can be very effective。 It would certainly oil the wheels if your people would use the Mafia as a pipeline for this narcotics business。 They'll turn your million…dollar investment into ten。 They'll grab the nine out of it； of course。 But that's not peanuts； and it'll tie them in to you。 Think you could arrange that？ It'll give Leroy G。 some good news to report when he gets home。 As for Mister C。； he seems to be going along all right。 Flora was a body…blow； but； largely thanks to the Americans leaning on Cuba the way they do； he's kept the country together。 If the Americans once let up on their propaganda and needling and so forth； perhaps even make a friendly gesture or two； all the steam'll go out of the little man。 I don't often see him。 He leaves me alone。 Likes to keep his nose clean； I guess。 But I get all the cooperation I need from the D。S。S。 Okay？ Well let's go see if the folks are ready to move。 It's eleven…thirty and the Belle of Bloody Bay is due to be on her way at twelve。 Guess it's going to be quite a fun day。 Pity our chiefs aren't going to be along to see the limey eye get his chips。〃
〃Ha！〃 said Mr。 Hendriks nonmittally。 James Bond moved away from the door。 He heard Scaramanga's passkey in the lock。 He looked up and yawned。 Scaramanga and Mr。 Hendriks looked down at him。 Their expressions were vaguely interested and reflective。 It was as if he were a bit of steak and they were wondering whether to have it done rare or medium rare。
13
Hear the Train Blow！
At twelve o'clock they all assembled in the lobby。 Scaramanga had added a broad…brimmed white Stetson to his immaculate tropical attire。 He looked like the smartest plantation owner in the South。 Mr。 Hendriks wore his usual stuffy suit； now topped with a grey Homburg。 Bond thought that he should have grey suede gloves and an umbrella。 The four hoods were wearing calypso shirts outside their slacks。 Bond was pleased。 If they were carrying guns in their waistbands； the shirts would hinder the draw。 Cars were drawn up outside； with Scaramanga's Thunderbird in the lead。 Scaramanga walked up to the desk。 Nick Nicholson was standing washing his hands in invisible soap and looking helpful。 〃All set？ Everything loaded on the train？ Green Island been told？ Okay； then。 Where's that sidekick of yours； that man Travis？ Haven't seen him around today。〃
Nick Nicholson looked serious。 〃He got an abscess ia his tooth； sir。 Real bad。 Had to send him in to Sav' La Mar to have it out。 He'll be okay by this afternoon。〃
〃Too bad。 Dock him half a day's pay。 No room for sleepers on this outfit。 We're shorthanded as it is。 Should have had his choppers attended to before he took the job on。 Okay？〃
〃Very good； Mr。 Scaramanga。 I'll tell him。〃
Scaramanga turned to the waiting group。 〃Okay； fellows； here's the picture。 We drive a mile down the road to the station。 We get aboard this little train。 Quite an outfit； that。 Fellow by the name of Lucius Beebe had it copied for the Thunderbird pany from the engine and rolling stock on the little old Denver； South Park and Pacific line。 Okay。 So we steam along this old cane…field line about twenty miles to Green Island Harbour。 Plenty birds； bush rats； crocs in the rivers。 Maybe we get a little hunting。 Have some fun with the hardware。 All you guys got your guns with you？ Fine； fine。 Champagne lunch at Green Island and the girls and the music'll be there to keep us happy。 After lunch we get aboard the Thunder Bird big Chris…craft； and take a cruise along to Lucea； that's a little township up the coast； and see if we can catch our dinner。 Those that don't w