iam fleming.for your eyes only-第29部分

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sion？　'Eating　crow'。　It　would　be　an　interesting　mental　exercise　for　him。　He　would　eat　crow　for　five　days　and　not　let　this　damnable　man　interfere　with　what　should　be　a　good　trip。
　〃Well；　feller。　Taking　it　easy？〃　Mr　Krest　was　standing　on　the　boat…deck　looking　down　into　the　well。　〃What　have　you　done　with　that　woman　I　live　with？　Left　her　to　do　all　the　work；　I　guess。　Well；　and　why　not？　That's　what　they're　for；　ain't　it？　Care　to　look　over　the　ship？　Fido's　doin'　a　spell　at　the　wheel　and　I've　got　time　on　my　hands。〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　Mr　Krest　bent　and　lowered　himself　down　into　the　well…deck；　dropping　the　last　four　feet。
　〃Mrs　Krest's　putting　on　some　clothes。　Yes；　I'd　like　to　see　over　the　ship。〃
　Mr　Krest　fixed　Bond　with　his　hard；　disdainful　stare。　〃'Kay。　Well　now；　facts　first。　It's　built　by　the　Bronson　Shipbuilding　Corporation。　I　happen　to　own　ninety　per　cent　of　the　stock；　so　I　got　what　I　wanted。　Designed　by　Rosenblatts　…　the　top　naval　architects。　Hundred　feet　long；　twenty…one　broad；　and　draws　six。　Two　five…hundred…horsepower　Superior　diesels。　Top　speed；　fourteen　knots。　Cruises　two　thousand　five　hundred　miles　at　eight。　Air…conditioned　throughout。　Carrier　Corporation　designed　two　special　five…ton　units。　Carries　enough　frozen　food　and　liquor　for　a　month。　All　we　need　is　fresh　water　for　the　baths　and　showers。　Right？　Now　let's　go　up　front　and　you　can　see　the　crew's　quarters；　and　we'll　work　back。　And　one　thing；　Jim；〃　Mr　Krest　stamped　on　the　deck。　〃This　is　the　floor；　see？　And　the　head's　the　can。　And　if　I　want　someone　to　stop　doing　whatever　they're　doing　I　don't　shout　'belay'　I　shout　'hold　it'。　Get　me；　Jim？〃
　Bond　nodded　amiably。　〃I've　got　no　objection。　She's　your　ship。〃
　〃It's　my　ship；〃　corrected　Mr　Krest。　〃That's　another　bit　of　damned　nonsense；　making　a　hunk　of　steel　and　wood　a　female。　Anyway；　let's　go。　You　don't　need　to　mind　your　head。　Everything's　a　six…foot…two　clearance。〃
　Bond　followed　Mr　Krest　down　the　narrow　passage　that　ran　the　length　of　the　ship；　and　for　half　an　hour　made　appropriate　ments　on　what　was　certainly　the　finest　and　most　luxuriously　designed　yacht　he　had　ever　seen。　In　every　detail　the　margin　was　for　extra　fort。　Even　the　crew's　bath　and　shower　was　full　size；　and　the　stainless　steel　galley；　or　kitchen　as　Mr　Krest　called　it；　was　as　big　as　the　Krest　stateroom。　Mr　Krest　opened　the　door　of　the　latter　without　knocking。　Liz　Krest　was　at　the　dressing…table。　〃Why；　treasure；〃　said　Mr　Krest　in　his　soft　voice；　〃I　reckoned　you'd　be　out　there　fixing　the　drink　tray。　You've　sure　been　one　heck　of　a　time　dressing　up。　Puttin'　on　a　little　extra　Ritz　for　Jim；　eh？〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　Milt。　I　was　just　ing。　A　zip　got　stuck。〃　The　girl　hurriedly　picked　up　a　pact　and　made　for　the　door。　She　gave　them　both　a　nervous　half…smile　and　went　out。
　〃Vermont　birch　panelling；　Corning　glass　lamps；　Mexican　tuft　rugs。　That　sailing…ship　picture's　a　genuine　Montague　Dawson；　by　the　way　。　。　。〃　Mr　Krest's　catalogue　ran　smoothly　on。　But　Bond　was　looking　at　some　thing　that　hung　down　almost　out　of　sight　by　the　bedside　table　on　what　was　obviously　Mr　Krest's　side　of　the　huge　double　bed。　It　was　a　thin　whip　about　three　feet　long　with　a　leather…thonged　handle。　It　was　the　tail　of　a　sting…ray。
　Casually　Bond　walked　over　to　the　side　of　the　bed　and　picked　it　up。　He　ran　a　finger　down　its　spiny　gristle。　It　hurt　his　finger　even　to　do　that。　He　said：　〃Where　did　you　pick　that　up？　I　was　hunting　one　of　these　animals　this　morning。〃
　〃Bahrein。　The　Arabs　use　them　on　their　wives。〃　Mr　Krest　chuckled　easily。　〃Haven't　had　to　use　more　than　one　stroke　at　a　time　on　Liz　so　far。　Wonderful　results。　We　call　it　my　'Corrector'。〃
　Bond　put　the　thing　back。　He　looked　hard　at　Mr　Krest　and　said：　〃Is　that　so？　In　the　Seychelles；　where　the　creoles　are　pretty　tough；　it's　illegal　even　to　own　one　of　those；　let　alone　use　it。〃
　Mr　Krest　moved　towards　the　door。　He　said　indifferently：　〃Feller；　this　ship　happens　to　be　United　States　territory。　Let's　go　get　ourselves　something　to　drink。〃
　Mr　Krest　drank　three　double　bullshots　…　vodka　in　iced　consommé　…　before　luncheon；　and　beer　with　the　meal。　The　pale　eyes　darkened　a　little　and　acquired　a　watery　glitter；　but　the　sibilant　voice　remained　soft　and　unemphatic　as；　with　a　plete　monopoly　of　the　conversation；　he　explained　the　object　of　the　voyage。　〃Ya　see；　fellers；　it's　like　this。　In　the　States　we　have　this　Foundation　system　for　the　lucky　guys　that　got　plenty　dough　and　don't　happen　to　want　to　pay　it　into　Uncle　Sam's　Treasury。　You　make　a　Foundation　…　like　this　one；　the　Krest　Foundation　…　for　charitable　purposes　…　charitable　to　anyone；　to　kids；　sick　folk；　the　cause　of　science　…　you　just　give　the　money　away　to　anyone　or　anything　except　yourself　or　your　dependants　and　you　escape　tax　on　it。　So　I　put　a　matter　of　ten　million　dollars　into　the　Krest　Foundation；　and　since　I　happen　to　like　yachting　and　seeing　the　world　I　built　this　yacht　with　two　million　of　the　money　and　told　the　Smithsonian　…　that's　our　big　natural　history　institution　that　I　would　go　to　any　part　of　the　world　and　collect　specimens　for　them。　So　that　makes　me　a　scientific　expedition；　see？　For　three　months　of　every　year　I　have　a　fine　holiday　that　costs　me　just　sweet　Fatty　Arbuckle！〃　Mr　Krest　looked　to　his　guests　for　applause。　〃Get　me？〃
　Fidele　Barbey　shook　his　head　doubtfully。　〃That　sounds　fine；　Mr　Krest。　But　these　rare　specimens。　They　are　easy　to　find？　The　Smithsonian　it　wants　a　giant　panda；　a　sea…shell。　You　can　get　hold　of　these　things　where　they　have　failed？〃
　Mr　Krest　slowly　shook　his　head。　He　said　sorrowfully：　〃Feller；　you　sure　were　born　yesterday。　Money；　that's　all　it　takes。　You　want　a　panda？　You　buy　it　from　some　goddam　zoo　that　can't　afford　central　heating　for　its　reptile　house　or　wants　to　build　a　new　block　for　its　tigers　or　something。　The　sea…shell？　You　find　a　man　that's　got　one　and　you　offer　him　so　much　goddam　money　that　even　if　he　cries　for　a　week　he　sells　it　to　you。　Sometimes　you　have　a　little　trouble　with　Governments。　Some　goddam　animal　is　protected　or　something。　All　right。　Give　you　an　example。　I　arrive　at　your　island　yesterday。　I　want　a　black　parrot　from　Praslin　Island。　I　want　a　giant　tortoise　from　Aldabra。　I　want　the　plete　range　of　your　local　cowries　and　I　want　this　fish　we're　after。　The　first　two　are　protected　by　law。　Last　evening　I　pay　a　call　on　your　Governor　after　making　certain　inquiries　in　the　town。　Excellency；　I　says；　I　understand　you　want　to　build　a　public　swimming…pool　to　teach　the　local　kids　to　swim。　Okay。　The　Krest　Foundation　will　put　up　money。　How　much？　Five　thousand；　ten　thousand？　Okay；　so　it's　ten　thousand。　Here's　my　cheque。　And　I　write　it　out　there　and　then。　Just　one　little　thing；　Excellency；　I　says；　holding　on　to　the　cheque。　It　happens　I　want　a　specimen　of　this　black　parrot　you　have　here　and　one　of　these　Aldabra　tortoises。　I　understand　they're　protected　by　law。　Mind　if　I　take　one　of　each　back　to　America　for　the　Smithsonian？　Well；　there　s　a　bit　of　a　palaver；　but　seeing　it's　the　Smithsonian　and　seeing　I've　still　got　hold　of　the　cheque；　in　the　end　we　shake　hands　on　the　deal　and　everyone's　happy。　Right？　Well；　on　the　way　back　I　stop　in　the　town　to　arrange　with　your　nice　Mr　Abendana；　the　merchant　feller；　to　have　the　parrot　and　tortoise　collected　and　held　for　me；　and　I　get　talking　about　the　cowries。　Well；　it　so　happens　that　this　Mr　Abendana　has　been　collecting　the　dam'　things　since　he　was　a　child。　He　shows　them　to　me。　Beautifully　kept　…　each　one　in　its　bit　of　cotton　wool。　Fine　condition　and　several　of　those　Isabella　and　Mappa　ones　I　was　asked　particularly　to　watch　out　for。　Sorry；　he　couldn't　think　of　selling。　They　meant　so　much　to　him　and　so　on。　Crap！　I　just　look　at　Mr　Abendana　and　I　say；　how　much？　No　no。　He　couldn't　think　of　it。　Crap　again！　I　take　out　my　chequebook　and　write　a　cheque　for　five　thousand　dollars　and　push　it　under　his　nose。　He　looks　at　it。　Five　thousand　dollars！　He　can't　stand　it。　He　folds　the　cheque　and　puts　it　in　his　pocket　and　then　the　dam'　sissy　breaks　down　and　weeps！　Would　you　believe　it？〃　Mr　Krest　opened　his　palms　in　disbelief。　〃Over　a　few　goddam　sea…shells。　So　I　just　tell　him　to　take　it　easy；　and　I　pick　up　the　trays　of　sea…shells　and　get　the　hell　out　of　there　before　the　crazy　so…and…so　shoots　himself　from　remorse。〃
　Mr　Krest　sat　back；　well　pleased　with　himself。　〃Well；　what'd　you　say　to　that；　fellers？　Twenty…four　hours　in　the　island　and　I've　already　knocked　off　three…quarters　of　my　list。　Pretty　smart；　eh；　Jim？〃
　Bond　said：　〃You'll　probably　get　a　medal　when　you　get　home。　What　about　this　fish？〃
　Mr　Krest　got　up　from　the　table　and　rummaged　in　a　drawer　of　his　desk。　He　brought　back　a　typewritten　sheet。　〃Here　you　are。〃　He　read　out：　〃'Hildebrand　Rarity。　Caught　by　Professor　Hildebrand　of　the　University　of　the　Witwatersrand　in　a　net　off　Chagrin　Island　in　the　Seychelles　group；　April　1925'。〃　Mr　Krest　looked　up。　〃And　then　there's　a　lot　of　scientific　crap。　I　got　them　to　put　it　into　plain　English；　and　here's　the　translation。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　paper。　〃'This　appears　to　be　a　unique　member　of　the　squirrel…fish　family。　The　only　specimen　known；　named　the　〃Hildebrand　Rarity〃　after　its　discoverer；　is　six　inches　long。　The　colour　is　a　bright　pink　with　black　transverse　stripes。　The　anal；　ventral　and　dorsal　fins　are　pink。　The　tail　fin　is　black。　Eyes；　large　and　dark　blue。　If　found；　care　should　be　taken　in　handling　this　fish　because　all　fins　are　even　more　sharply　spiked　than　is　usual　with　the　rest　of　this　family。　Professor　Hildebrand　records　that　he　found　the　specimen　in　three　feet　of　water　on　the　edge　of　the　south…western　reef'。〃　Mr　Krest　threw　the　paper　down　on　the　table。　〃Well；　there　you　are；　fellers。　We're　travelling　about　a　thousand　miles　at　a　cost　of　several　thousand　dollars　to　try　and　find　a　goddam　six…inch　fish。　And　two　years　ago　the　Revenue　people　had　the　gall　to　suggest　that　my　Foundation　was　a　phoney！〃
　Liz　Krest　broke　in　eagerly：　〃But　that's　just　it；　Milt；　isn't　it？　It's　really　rather　important　to　bring　back　plenty　of　specimens　and　things　this　time。　Weren't　those　horrible　tax　people　talking　about　disallowing　the　yacht　and　the　expenses　and　so　on　for　the　last　five　years　if　we　didn't　show　an　outstanding　scientific　achievement？　Wasn't　that　the　way　they　put　it？〃
　〃Treasure；〃　Mr　Krest's　voice　was　soft　as　velvet。　〃Just　supposin'　you　keep　that　flippin'　trap　shut　about　my　p