iam fleming.for your eyes only-第28部分

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d　for　them　to　go　down。　A　breath　of　what　seemed　to　Bond　to　be　almost　freezing　air　struck　him　as　he　went　through　and　down　a　few　steps　into　the　lounge。
　The　lounge　was　empty。　It　was　not　a　cabin。　It　was　a　room　of　solid　richness　and　fort　with　nothing　to　associate　it　with　the　interior　of　a　ship。　The　windows　behind　the　half…closed　venetian　blinds　were　full　size；　as　were　the　deep　armchairs　round　the　low　central　table。　The　carpet　was　the　deepest　pile　in　pale　blue。　The　walls　were　panelled　in　a　silvery　wood　and　the　ceiling　was　off…white。　There　was　a　desk　with　the　usual　writing…materials　and　a　telephone。　Next　to　the　big　gramophone　was　a　sideboard　laden　with　drinks。　Above　the　sideboard　was　what　looked　like　an　extremely　good　Renoir　…　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　pretty　dark…haired　girl　in　a　black　and　white　striped　blouse。　The　impression　of　a　luxurious　living…room　in　a　town　house　was　pleted　by　a　large　bowl　of　white　and　blue　hyacinths　on　the　central　table　and　by　the　tidy　range　of　magazines　to　one　side　of　the　desk。
　〃What　did　I　tell　you；　James？〃
　Bond　shook　his　head　admiringly。　〃This　is　certainly　the　way　to　treat　the　sea　…　as　if　it　damned　well　didn't　exist。〃　He　breathed　in　deeply。　〃What　a　relief　to　get　a　mouthful　of　fresh　air。　I'd　almost　forgotten　what　it　tastes　like。〃
　〃It's　the　stuff　outside　that's　fresh；　feller。　This　is　canned。〃　Mr　Milton　Krest　had　e　quietly　into　the　room　and　was　standing　looking　at　them。　He　was　a　tough；　leathery　man　in　his　early　fifties。　He　looked　hard　and　fit；　and　the　faded　blue　jeans；　military…cut　shirt　and　wide　leather　belt　suggested　that　he　made　a　fetish　of　doing　so　…　looking　tough。　The　pale　brown　eyes　in　the　weather…beaten　face　were　slightly　hooded　and　their　gaze　was　sleepy　and　contemptuous。　The　mouth　had　a　downward　twist　that　might　be　humorous　or　disdainful　…　probably　the　latter　…　and　the　words　he　had　tossed　into　the　room；　innocuous　in　themselves　except　for　the　patronizing　'feller'　had　been　tossed　like　small　coin　to　a　couple　of　coolies。　To　Bond　the　oddest　thing　about　Mr　Krest　was　his　voice。　It　was　a　soft；　most　attractive　lisping　through　the　teeth。　It　was　exactly　the　voice　of　the　late　Humphrey　Bogart。　Bond　ran　his　eyes　down　the　man　from　the　sparse　close…cropped　black　and　grey　hair；　like　iron　filings　sprinkled　over　the　bullet　head；　to　the　tattooed　eagle　above　a　fouled　anchor　on　the　right　forearm；　and　then　down　to　the　naked　leathery　feet　that　stood　nautically　square　on　the　carpet。　He　thought：　this　man　likes　to　be　thought　a　Hemingway　hero。　I'm　not　going　to　get　on　with　him。
　Mr　Krest　came　across　the　carpet　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃You　Bond？　Glad　to　have　you　aboard；　sir。〃
　Bond　was　expecting　the　bone…crushing　grip　and　parried　it　with　stiffened　muscles。
　〃Free…diving　or　aqualung？〃
　〃Free；　and　I　don't　go　deep。　It's　only　a　hobby。〃
　〃Whadya　do　the　rest　of　the　time？〃
　〃Civil　Servant。〃
　Mr　Krest　gave　a　short　barking　laugh。　〃Civility　and　Servitude。　You　English　make　the　best　goddam　butlers　and　valets　in　the　world。　Civil　Servant；　you　say？　I　reckon　we're　likely　to　get　along　fine。　Civil　Servants　are　just　what　I　like　to　have　around　me。〃
　The　click　of　the　deck　hatch　sliding　back　saved　Bond's　temper。　Mr　Krest　was　swept　from　his　mind　as　a　naked　sunburned　girl　came　down　the　steps　into　the　saloon。　No；　she　wasn't　quite　naked　after　all；　but　the　pale　brown　satin　scraps　of　bikini　were　designed　to　make　one　think　she　was。
　〃'Lo；　treasure。　Where　have　you　been　hiding？　Long　time　no　see。　Meet　Mr　Barbey　and　Mr　Bond；　the　fellers　who　are　ing　along。〃　Mr　Krest　raised　a　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　girl。　〃Fellers；　this　is　Mrs　Krest。　The　fifth　Mrs　Krest。　And　just　in　case　anybody　should　get　any　ideas；　she　loves　Mr　Krest。　Don't　you；　treasure？〃
　〃Oh　don't　be　silly；　Milt；　you　know　I　do。〃　Mrs　Krest　smiled　prettily。　〃How　do　you　do；　Mr　Barbey。　And　Mr　Bond。　It's　nice　to　have　you　with　us。　What　about　a　drink？〃
　〃Now　just　a　minute；　treas。　Suppose　you　let　me　fix　things　aboard　my　own　ship；　hein？〃　Mr　Krest's　voice　was　soft　and　pleasant。
　The　woman　blushed。　〃Oh　yes；　Milt；　of　course。〃
　〃Okay　then；　just　so　we　know　who's　skipper　aboard　the　good　ship　Wawekrest。〃　The　amused　smile　embraced　them　all。　〃Now　then；　Mr　Barbey。　What's　your　first　name；　by　the　way？　Fidele；　eh？　That's　quite　a　name。　Old　Faithful；〃　Mr　Krest　chuckled　bonhomously。　〃Well　now；　Fido；　how's　about　you　and　me　go　upon　the　bridge　and　get　this　little　old　skiff　moving；　hein？　Mebbe　you　better　take　her　out　into　the　open　sea　and　then　you　can　set　a　course　and　hand　over　to　Fritz。　I'm　the　captain。　He's　the　mate；　and　there　are　two　for　the　engine…room　and　pantry。　All　three　Germans。　Only　darned　sailors　left　in　Europe。　And　Mr　Bond。　First　name？　James；　eh？　Well；　Jim；　what　say　you　practise　a　bit　of　that　civility　and　servitude　on　Mrs　Krest。　Call　her　Liz；　by　the　way。　Help　her　fix　the　canapés　and　so　on　for　drinks　before　lunch。　She　was　once　a　Limey　too。　You　can　swap　yarns　about　Piccadilly　Circus　and　the　Dooks　you　both　know。　Okay？　Move；　Fido。〃　He　sprang　boyishly　up　the　steps。　〃Let's　get　the　hell　outa　here。〃
　When　the　hatch　closed；　Bond　let　out　a　deep　breath。　Mrs　Krest　said　apologetically：　〃Please　don't　mind　his　jokes。　It's　just　his　sense　of　humour。　And　he's　a　bit　contrary。　He　likes　to　see　if　he　can　rile　people。　It's　very　naughty　of　him。　But　it's　really　all　in　fun。〃
　Bond　smiled　reassuringly。　How　often　did　she　have　to　make　this　speech　to　people；　try　and　calm　the　tempers　of　the　people　Mr　Krest　had　practised　his　'sense　of　humour'　on？　He　said：　〃I　expect　your　husband　needs　a　bit　of　knowing。　Does　he　go　on　the　same　way　back　in　America？〃
　She　said　without　bitterness：　〃Only　with　me。　He　loves　Americans。　It's　when　he's　abroad。　You　see；　his　father　was　a　German；　a　Prussian　really。　He's　got　that　silly　German　thing　of　thinking　Europeans　and　so　on　are　decadent；　that　they　aren't　any　good　any　more。　It's　no　use　arguing　with　him。　It's　just　a　thing　he's　got。〃
　So　that　was　it！　The　old　Hun　again。　Always　at　your　feet　or　at　your　throat。　Sense　of　humour　indeed！　And　what　must　this　woman　have　to　put　up　with；　this　beautiful　girl　he　had　got　hold　of　to　be　his　slave　…　his　English　slave？　Bond　said：　〃How　long　have　you　been　married？〃
　〃Two　years。　I　was　working　as　a　receptionist　in　one　of　his　hotels。　He　owns　the　Krest　Group；　you　know。　It　was　wonderful。　Like　a　fairy　story。　I　still　have　to　pinch　my　self　sometimes　to　make　sure　I'm　not　dreaming。　This；　for　instance；〃　she　waved　a　hand　at　the　luxurious　room；　〃and　he's　terribly　good　to　me。　Always　giving　me　presents。　He's　a　very　important　man　in　America；　you　know。　It's　fun　being　treated　like　royalty　wherever　you　go。〃
　〃It　must　be。　He　likes　that　sort　of　thing；　I　suppose？〃
　〃Oh　yes。〃　There　was　resignation　in　the　laugh。　〃There's　a　lot　of　the　sultan　in　him；　He　get's　quite　impatient　if　he　doesn't　get　proper　service。　He　says　that　when　one's　worked　very　hard　to　get　to　the　top　of　the　tree　one　has　a　right　to　the　best　fruit　that　grows　there。〃　Mrs　Krest　found　she　was　talking　too　freely。　She　said　quickly：　〃But　really；　what　am　I　saying？　Anyone　would　think　we　had　known　each　other　for　years。〃　She　smiled　shyly。　〃I　suppose　it's　meeting　someone　from　England。　But　I　really　must　go　and　get　some　more　clothes　on。　I　was　sunbathing　on　deck。〃　There　came　a　deep　rumble　from　below…deck　amidships。　〃There。　We're　off。　Why　don't　you　watch　us　leave　harbour　from　the　afterdeck；　and　I'll　e　and　join　you　in　a　minute。　There's　so　much　I　want　to　hear　about　London。　This　way。〃　She　moved　past　him　and　slid　open　a　door。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　if　you're　sensible；　you'll　stake　a　claim　to　this　for　the　nights。　There　are　plenty　of　cushions；　and　the　cabins　are　apt　to　get　a　bit　stuffy　in　spite　of　the　air…conditioning。〃
　Bond　thanked　her；　and　walked　out　and　shut　the　door　behind　him。　It　was　a　big　well…deck　with　hemp　flooring　and　a　cream…coloured　semicircular　foam　rubber　settee　in　the　stern。　Rattan　chairs　were　scattered　about　and　there　was　a　serving…bar　in　one　corner。　It　crossed　Bond's　mind　that　Mr　Krest　might　be　a　heavy　drinker。　Was　it　his　imagination；　or　was　Mrs　Krest　terrified　of　him？　There　was　something　painfully　slavish　in　her　attitude　towards　him。　No　doubt　she　had　to　pay　heavily　for　her　fairy　story。　Bond　watched　the　green　flanks　of　Mahe　slowly　slip　away　astern。　He　guessed　that　their　speed　was　about　ten　knots。　They　would　soon　be　at　North　Point　and　heading　for　the　open　sea。　Bond　listened　to　the　glutinous　bubble　of　the　exhaust　and　idly　thought　about　the　beautiful　Mrs　Elizabeth　Krest。
　She　could　have　been　a　model　…　probably　had　been　before　she　became　a　hotel　receptionist　…　that　respectable　female　calling　that　yet　has　a　whiff　of　the　high　demi…monde　about　it　…　and　she　still　moved　her　beautiful　body　with　the　unselfconsciousness　of　someone　who　is　used　to　going　about　with　nothing；　or　practically　nothing；　on。　But　there　was　none　of　the　chill　of　the　model　about　her　…　it　was　a　warm　body　and　a　friendly；　confiding　face。　She　might　be　thirty；　certainly　not　more；　and　her　prettiness；　for　it　was　not　more　than　that；　was　still　immature。　Her　best　feature　was　the　ash…blonde　hair　that　hung　heavily　to　the　base　of　her　neck；　but　she　seemed　pleasantly　lacking　in　vanity　about　it。　She　didn't　toss　it　about　or　fiddle　with　it；　and　it　occurred　to　Bond　that　she　didn't　in　fact　show　any　signs　of　coquetry。　She　had　stood　quietly；　almost　docilely；　with　her　large；　dear　blue　eyes　fixed　almost　the　whole　time　on　her　husband。　There　was　no　lipstick　on　her　mouth　and　no　lacquer　on　her　fingernails　or　toenails；　and　her　eyebrows　were　natural。　Did　Mr　Krest　perhaps　order　that　it　should　be　so　…　that　she　should　be　a　Germanic　child　of　nature？　Probably。　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。　They　were　certainly　a　curiously　assorted　couple　…　the　middle…aged　Hemingway　with　the　Bogart　voice　and　the　pretty；　artless　girl。　And　there　was　tension　in　the　air　…　in　the　way　she　had　cringed　as　he　brought　her　to　heel　when　she　had　offered　them　drinks；　in　the　forced　maleness　of　the　man。　Bond　toyed　idly　with　the　notion　that　the　man　was　impotent　and　that　all　the　tough；　rude　act　was　nothing　more　than　exaggerated　virility…play。　It　certainly　wasn't　going　to　be　easy　to　live　with　for　four　or　five　days。　Bond　watched　the　beautiful　Silhouette　Island　slip　away　to　starboard　and　made　a　vow　not　to　lose　his　temper。　What　was　that　American　expression？　'Eating　crow'。　It　would　be　an　interesting　mental　exercise　for　him。　He　would　eat　crow　for　five