if.thespywholovedme-第16部分

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out　of　my　hand　and　all　I　could　do　was　to　get　back　behind　the　counter。
　Still　holding　the　chair；　Sluggsy　came　in　after　me　and；　while　I　stood　facing　him；　with　a　plate　in　each　hand；　the　thin　man　leaned　swiftly　across　the　counter　and　got　hold　of　my　hair。　I　hurled　the　plates　sideways；　but　they　only　clattered　away　across　the　floor。　And　then　my　head　was　being　bent　down　onto　the　counter　top　and　Sluggsy　was　on　me。
　〃Okay；　Horror。　Let　her　go。　This　is　for　me。〃　I　felt　his　powerful　arms　round　me；　crushing　me；　and　his　face　was　against　mine；　kissing　me　brutally；　while　his　hand　went　up　to　the　zip　at　my　neck　and　tore　it　right　down　to　my　waist。
　And　then　came　the　sharp　sound　of　the　buzzer　at　the　front　door；　and　everyone　froze。
　　
　Part　Three：　Him
　Ten：　Whassat？
　
　〃KERIST；　whassat？〃　Sluggsy　had　backed　away；　and　his　hand　was　inside　his　leather　jacket。
　Horror　recovered　himself　first。　There　was　a　cold　snarl　on　his　face。　〃Git　over　behind　the　door；　Sluggsy。　Hold　your　fire　until　I　tell　you。　You；〃…he　spat　the　words　at　me…〃get　yourself　into　shape。　You've　got　to　front　for　us。　If　you　don't　do　it　good；　you're　dead。　Understand？　You'll　be　shot。　Now　get　over　to　that　door　and　find　out　who　it　is。　Tell　'em　the　same　story　you　told　us。　Get　me？　And　take　that　silly　expression　off　your　face。　No　one's　going　to　hurt　you　if　you　do　what　I　say。　Pull　that　zipper　up；　dammit！〃　I　was　struggling　with　the　thing。　It　was　stuck。　〃Well；　hold　the　damn　thing　together　across　your　chest　and　get　moving。　I'll　be　right　behind　you。　And　don't　forget；　one　wrong　word　and　you　get　blasted　through　the　back。　And　the　guy；　too。　Now　scram　over　there。〃
　My　heart　was　beating　wildly。　Somehow；　whatever　happened；　I　was　going　to　save　myself！
　There　was　now　a　loud　knocking　at　the　door。　I　went　slowly　over；　holding　the　top　half　of　my　overalls　together。　I　knew　the　first　thing　I　had　to　do！
　When　I　got　to　the　door；　Sluggsy　leaned　sideways　and　unlocked　it。　Now　everything　depended　on　the　speed　of　my　hands。　I　took　hold　of　the　door　handle　with　my　left　hand　and；　as　I　turned　it；　my　right　hand　let　go　of　the　overalls　and　dived　down　to　the　chain　and　unhooked　it。　Somebody　cursed　softly　behind　me　and　I　felt　the　prod　of　a　gun　in　my　back；　but　then　I　had　swung　the　door　wide　open；　crashing　Sluggsy　against　the　wall　behind　it。　I　had　gambled　that；　without　knowing　if　it　was　perhaps　the　police　or　a　road　patrol；　they　wouldn't　shoot。　They　hadn't。　Now　all　depended　on　the　solitary　man　who　stood　on　the　threshold。
　At　first　glance　I　inwardly　groaned…God　it's　another　of　them！　He　stood　there　so　quiet　and　controlled　and　somehow　with　the　same　quality　of　deadliness　as　the　others。　And　he　wore　that　uniform　that　the　films　make　one　associate　with　gangsters…a　dark…blue　belted　raincoat　and　a　soft　black　hat　pulled　rather　far　down。　He　was　good…looking　in　a　dark；　rather　cruel　way；　and　a　scar　showed　whitely　down　his　left　cheek。　I　quickly　put　my　hand　up　to　hide　my　nakedness。　Then　he　smiled　and　suddenly　I　thought　I　might　be　all　right。
　When　he　spoke；　my　heart　leaped。　He　was　English！　〃I'm　sorry。　I've　got　a　puncture。〃　（An　American　would　have　said　〃a　flat。〃）　〃And　I　saw　the　VACANCY　sign。　Can　I　have　a　room　for　the　night？〃　Now　he　looked　at　me　with　curiosity；　seeing　that　something　was　wrong。
　This　was　going　to　be　tricky！　I　might　easily　get　us　both　killed。　I　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　but　the　motel's　closed。　The　VACANCY　sign　was　on　by　mistake。〃　While　I　said　this；　I　crooked　the　index　finger　of　the　hand　at　my　chest；　inviting　him　in。　He　looked　puzzled。　I　had　to　give　him　a　lead。　〃Is　the　puncture　so　bad　that　you　can't　get　as　far　as　Lake　George？〃
　〃Couldn't　possibly。　I've　already　e　a　mile　on　the　run。　The　cover'll　be　gone　by　now。〃
　I　imperceptibly　jerked　my　head　backward；　bidding　him　to　e　in。　〃Well；　the　insurance　men　are　here　from　the　owner。　I'll　have　to　ask　them。　You　wait　there。〃　Again　I　beckoned　with　my　finger。　Then　I　turned　and　took　two　steps　inside；　keeping　close　to　the　door　so　that　neither　of　them　could　bang　it　shut。　But　they　were　standing　back；　hands　in　their　pockets；　looking　different　kinds　of　hell　at　me。　The　man　in　the　raincoat　had　taken　my　hint；　and　he　was　now　well　inside。　When　he　saw　the　two　men；　his　face　somehow　sharpened；　but　he　said　casually；　〃I　expect　you　heard　all　that。　Any　objection　to　my　spending　the　night　here？〃
　Sluggsy　said　contemptuously；　〃Kerist！　A　limey！　What　is　this；　the　United　Nations？〃
　The　thin　man　said　curtly；　〃No　dice；　friend。　You　heard　the　lady。　The　motel's　closed。　We'll　give　you　a　hand　changing　the　wheel　and　you　can　be　on　your　way。〃
　The　Englishman　said　easily；　〃It's　a　bit　late　at　night　for　that。　I'm　heading　south　and　I　doubt　if　there's　anything　on　this　road　this　side　of　Glens　Falls。　I　think　I'd　prefer　to　stay　here。　After　all；　the　VACANCY　sign's　on。〃
　〃You　heard　me；　mister。〃　Horror's　voice　was　now　tough。　He　turned　to　Sluggsy。　〃C'mon。　We'll　give　the　guy　a　hand　with　his　flat。〃　They　both　took　a　step　toward　the　door。　But　the　Englishman；　bless　him；　stood　his　ground。
　〃It　happens　that　I　have　friends　at　Albany；　quite　important　friends。　You　wouldn't　want　to　lose　your　motel　operator's　license；　would　you？　The　sign　said　VACANCY　and　the　place　is　lit　up。　I'm　tired　and　I　claim　a　room。〃　He　turned　to　me。　〃Would　that　give　you　any　trouble？〃
　I　gushed。　〃Oh；　no！　None　at　all。　It　won't　take　me　a　minute　to　get　a　room　ready。　I'm　sure　Mr。　Sanguinetti　wouldn't　want　to　do　anything　to　lose　his　license？〃　I　turned；　wide…eyed　and　innocent；　toward　the　two　gangsters。　They　looked　as　if　they　were　just　about　to　pull　their　guns；　but　the　thin　man　moved　away；　and　Sluggsy　followed　him；　and　they　talked　for　a　moment　in　whispers。　I　took　the　opportunity　to　nod　urgently　and　appealingly　at　the　Englishman；　and　he　gave　me　another　of　those　reassuring　smiles。
　The　thin　man　turned　round。　〃Okay；　limey。　You　can　have　the　room。　But　just　don't　try　and　lean　on　us　with　that　Albany　guff。　Mr。　Sanguinetti　has　friends　at　the　capital　too。　Mebbe　you　got　a　point　with　that　VACANCY　sign。　But　don't　push　your　luck。　We're　in　charge　here　and　what　we　says　goes。　Right？〃
　〃That's　all　right　with　me。　And　thanks。　I'll　get　my　bag。〃
　He　moved　to　go　out。　I　said　quickly；　〃I'll　give　you　a　hand。〃　I　hurried　ahead　of　him；　tugging　furiously　at　my　zip；　feeling　ashamed　of　how　I　must　have　looked。　Blessedly；　it　suddenly　yielded　and　I　pulled　it　up　to　my　throat。
　He　came　up　with　me。　I　said　urgently；　out　of　the　corner　of　my　mouth…I　was　sure　one　of　them　had　e　to　the　door　and　was　watching　us…〃Thank　you！　And　thank　God　you　came！　They　were　going　to　murder　me。　But　for　God's　sake　look　out。　They're　gangsters。　I　don't　know　what　they　want。　It　must　be　something　bad。　They　shot　at　me　when　I　tried　to　escape。〃
　We　came　to　the　car。　It　was　a　dark　gray　two…seater　Thunderbird　with　a　soft　top　in　cream；　a　beautiful　thing。　I　said　so。　He　said　shortly　that　it　was　hired。　He　said；　〃e　round　the　other　side。　Just　seem　to　be　admiring　the　car。〃　He　leaned　down　and　opened　the　low　door　and　rummaged　inside。　He　said；　〃Are　they　both　armed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　many　guns　each？〃
　〃Don't　know。　The　small　one's　a　crack　shot。　At　twenty　feet　or　so。　Don't　know　about　the　other。〃
　He　pulled　out　a　small　black　suitcase；　rested　it　on　the　ground；　and　snapped　it　open。　He　took　something　from　under　the　clothes　and　slipped　it　into　an　inside　pocket。　He　fiddled　with　one　side　of　the　case；　took　some　thin　black　objects　out　that　I　took　to　be　cartridge　magazines；　and　stowed　them　away。　Then　he　snapped　the　case　shut；　said；　〃Better　have　plenty　of　artillery；〃　banged　the　door　ostentatiously；　and　stood　up。　We　then　both　went　to　the　back　of　the　car　and　knelt　down　to　examine　the　flat　tire。　He　said；　〃How　about　the　telephone？〃
　〃It's　cut　off。〃
　〃Give　me　the　cabin　next　to　yours。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃All　right。　Let's　go。　And　keep　close　to　me；　whatever　they　do　or　say。〃
　〃Yes；　and　thank　you。〃
　He　got　up　and　smiled。　〃Wait　till　we're　out　of　this。〃
　We　walked　back　together。　Sluggsy；　who　had　been　standing　in　the　doorway；　shut　the　door　after　us　and　locked　it。　As　an　afterthought；　he　reached　up　and　switched　off　the　VACANCY　sign。　He　said；　〃Here's　your　key；　limey；〃　and　threw　it　on　a　table。
　I　picked　it　up　and　looked　at　the　number。　Forty；　the　last　one　along　to　the　left。　I　said　firmly；　〃The　gentleman's　going　to　have　Number　10；　next　to　mine；〃　and　walked　over　to　the　desk；　forgetting　that　Sluggsy　had　all　the　other　keys。
　Sluggsy　had　followed　me。　He　grinned。　〃No　dice；　baby。　We　don't　know　nuthin'　about　this　guy。　So　Horror　and　me's　sleepin'　either　side　of　you。　Just　to　see　you're　not　disturbed。　Rest　of　the　keys　is　put　away　ready　for　the　move。　There's　just　this　Number　40　and　nuthin'　else。〃　He　turned　to　the　Englishman。　〃Hey；　limey。　What's　your　name？〃
　〃Bond。　James　Bond。〃
　〃That's　a　pretty　chump　name。　From　England；　huh？〃
　〃That's　right　Where's　the　registry？　I'll　spell　it　out　for　you。〃
　〃Wise　guy；　huh？　What's　your　line　of　business？〃
　〃Police。〃
　Sluggsy's　mouth　opened。　He　ran　his　tongue　over　his　lips。　He　turned　and　called　over　to　Horror；　who　was　sitting　at　his　old　table；　〃Hey；　Horror。　Guess　what！　This　shamus　is　a　limey　dick！　Whadya　know　about　that？　A　gumshoe！〃
　Horror　nodded。　〃Thought　I　smelled　it。　Who　cares？　We　ain't　done　nuthin'　wrong。〃
　〃Yeh；〃　said　Sluggsy　eagerly；　〃that's　right　too。〃　He　turned　to　this　Mr。　Bond。　〃Now　don't　you　go　listening　to　any　crap　from　this　little　hustler。　We're　from　the　insurance；　see。　Assessors；　sort　of。　Work　for　Mr。　Sanguinetti。　He's　a　big　wheel　in　Troy。　Owns　this　outfit。　Well；　there'd　been　plaints　from　the　managers　of　some　cash　missing。　Other　things　too。　So　we　e　up　to　make　an　investigation；　sort　of；　and　when　we　put　the　question　to　this　little　tramp　she　slams　my　friend　with　an　ice…pick　bang　on　the　think…pot。　See　for　yourself。〃　He　waved　in　the　direction　of　Horror。　〃Now　how　d'ya　like　that？　So　we　was　just　restraining　her；　sort　of；　when　you　es　along。〃　He　turned。　〃Ain't　that　right；　Horror？〃
　〃That's　on　the　level。　That's　how　it　was。〃
　I　said　angrily；　〃You　know　that's　a　pack　of　lies。〃　I　walked　over　to　the　back　door　and　pointed　at　the　bent　frame　and　the　splash　of　lead；　〃How　did　that　bullet　hole　get　there？〃
　Sluggsy　laughed　heartily。　〃Search　me；　sister。〃　He　turned　to　Horror。　〃You　seen　any　bullets　flyin'　around？〃
　〃No；　I　ain't。〃　Horror's　voice　was　bored。　He　waved　a　languid　hand　toward　the　floor　round　the　eating　counter。　〃But　I　seen　plenty