iam fleming.for your eyes only-第31部分

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ls；　see？〃　Mr　Krest　turned　to　Bond。　〃Here；　Jim。　You　go　on　out　and　keep　watch。　See　the　darned　fish　don't　vamoose。　Fido　and　I'll　bring　the　stuff　out　there〃　…　he　pointed　up…current　from　the　vital　area。　〃I'll　let　go　the　Rotenone　when　you　say　the　word。　It'll　drift　down　towards　you。　Right？　But　for　lands　sakes　get　the　timing　right。　I've　only　got　a　five…gallon　tin　of　this　stuff。　'Kay？〃
　Bond　said　〃All　right；〃　and　walked　slowly　down　and　into　the　water。　He　swam　lazily　out　to　where　he　had　stood　before。　Yes；　everyone　was　still　there；　going　about　his　business。　The　moray's　pointed　head　was　back　again　at　the　edge　of　its　hole；　the　langouste　again　queried　him。　In　a　minute；　as　if　it　had　a　rendezvous　with　Bond；　the　Hildebrand　Rarity　appeared。　This　time　it　swam　up　quite　close　to　his　face。　It　looked　through　the　glass　at　his　eyes　and　then；　as　if　disturbed　by　what　it　had　seen　there；　darted　out　of　range。　It　played　around　among　the　rocks　for　a　while　and　then　went　off　into　a　mist。
　Slowly　the　little　underwater　world　within　Bond's　vision　began　to　take　him　for　granted。　A　small　octopus　that　had　been　camouflaged　as　a　piece　of　coral　revealed　its　presence　and　groped　carefully　down　towards　the　sand。　The　blue　and　yellow　langouste　came　a　few　steps　out　from　under　the　rock；　wondering　about　him。　Some；　very　small　fish　like　minnows　nibbled　at　his　legs　and　toes；　tickling。　Bond　broke　a　sea…egg　for　them　and　they　darted　to　the　better　meal。　Bond　lifted　his　head。　Mr　Krest；　holding　the　flat　can；　was　twenty　yards　away　to　Bond's　right。　He　would　soon　begin　pouring；　when　Bond　gave　the　sign；　so　that　the　liquid　would　get　a　good　wide　spread　over　the　surface。
　〃Okay？〃　called　Mr　Krest。
　Bond　shook　his　head。　〃I'll　raise　my　thumb　when　he's　back　here。　Then　you'll　have　to　pour　fast。〃
　〃Okay；　Jim。　You're　at　the　bomb…sight。〃
　Bond　put　his　head　down。　There　was　the　little　munity；　everyone　busied　with　his　affairs。　Soon；　to　get　one　fish　that　someone　vaguely　wanted　in　a　museum　five　thousand　miles　away；　a　hundred；　perhaps　a　thousand　small　people　were　going　to　die。　When　Bond　gave　the　signal；　the　shadow　of　death　would　e　down　on　the　stream。　How　long　would　the　poison　last？　How　far　would　it　travel　on　down　the　reef？　Perhaps　it　would　not　be　thousands　but　tens　of　thousands　that　would　die。
　A　small　trunk…fish　appeared；　its　tiny　fins　whirring　like　propellers。　A　rock　beauty；　gorgeous　in　gold　and　red　and　black；　pecked　at　the　sand；　and　a　pair　of　the　inevitable　black　and　yellow　striped　sergeant…majors　materialized　from　nowhere；　attracted　by　the　scent　of　the　broken　sea…egg。
　Inside　the　reef；　who　was　the　predator　in　the　world　of　small　fishes？　Who　did　they　fear？　Small　barracuda？　An　occasional　bill…fish？　Now；　a　big；　a　fully　grown　predator；　a　man　called　Krest；　was　standing　in　the　wings；　waiting。　And　this　one　wasn't　even　hungry。　He　was　just　going　to　kill　…　almost　for　fun。
　Two　brown　legs　appeared　in　Bond's　vision。　He　looked　up。　It　was　Fidele　Barbey　with　a　big　creel　strapped　to　his　chest；　and　long…handled　landing…net。
　Bond　lifted　his　mask。　〃I　feel　like　the　bomb…aimer　at　Nagasaki。〃
　〃Fish　are　cold…blooded。　They　don't　feel　anything。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？　I've　heard　them　scream　when　they're　hurt。〃
　Barbey　said　indifferently：　〃They　won't　be　able　to　scream　with　this　stuff。　It　strangles　them。　What's　eating　you？　They're　only　fish。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know。〃　Fidele　Barbey　had　spent　his　life　killing　animals　and　fish。　While　he；　Bond；　had　some　times　not　hesitated　to　kill　men。　What　was　he　fussing　about？　He　hadn't　minded　killing　the　sting…ray。　Yes；　but　that　was　an　enemy　fish。　These　down　here　were　friendly　people。　People？　The　pathetic　fallacy！
　〃Hey！〃　came　the　voice　of　Mr　Krest。　〃What's　goin　on　over　there？　This　ain't　no　time　for　chewing　the　fat。　Get　that　head　down；　Jim。〃
　Bond　pulled　down　his　mask　and　lay　again　on　the　surface。　At　once　he　saw　the　beautiful　red　shadow　ing　out　of　the　far　mists。　The　fish　swam　fast　up　to　him　as　if　it　now　took　him　for　granted。　It　lay　below　him；　looking　up。　Bond　said　into　his　mask：　〃Get　away　from　here；　damn　you。〃　He　gave　a　sharp　jab　at　the　fish　with　his　harpoon。　The　fish　fled　back　into　the　mist。　Bond　lifted　his　head　and　angrily　raised　his　thumb。　It　was　a　ridiculous　and　petty　act　of　sabotage　of　which　he　was　already　ashamed。　The　dark　brown　oily　liquid　was　pouring　out　on　to　the　surface　of　the　lagoon。　There　was　time　to　stop　Mr　Krest　before　it　was　all　gone　…　time　to　give　him　another　chance　at　the　Hildebrand　Rarity。　Bond　stood　and　watched　until　the　last　drop　was　tilted　out。　To　hell　with　Mr　Krest！
　Now　the　stuff　was　creeping　slowly　down　on　the　current　…　a　shiny；　spreading　stain　which　reflected　the　blue　sky　with　a　metallic　glint。　Mr　Krest；　the　giant　reaper；　was　wading　down　with　it。　〃Get　set；　fellers；〃　he　called　cheerfully。　〃It's　right　up　with　you　now。〃
　Bond　put　his　head　back　under　the　surface。　Every　thing　was　as　before　in　the　little　munity。　And　then；　with　stupefying　suddenness；　everyone　went　mad。　It　was　as　if　they　had　all　been　seized　with　St　Vitus's　dance。　Several　fish　looped　the　loop　crazily　and　then　fell　like　heavy　leaves　to　the　sand。　The　moray　eel　came　slowly　out　of　the　hole　in　the　coral；　its　jaws　wide。　It　stood　carefully　upright　on　its　tail　and　gently　toppled　side　ways。　The　small　langouste　gave　three　kicks　of　its　tail　and　turned　over　on　its　back；　and　the　octopus　let　go　its　hold　of　the　coral　and　drifted　to　the　bottom　upside　down。　And　then　into　the　arena　drifted　the　corpses　from　up…stream　…　whitebellied　fish；　shrimps；　worms；　hermit　crabs；　spotted　and　green　morays；　langoustes　of　all　sizes。　As　if　blown　by　some　light　breeze　of　death　the　clumsy　bodies；　their　colours　already　fading；　swept　slowly　past。　A　five…pound　bill…fish　struggled　by　with　snapping　beak；　fighting　death。　Down…reef　there　were　splashes　on　the　surface　as　still　bigger　fish　tried　to　make　for　safety。　One　by　one；　before　Bond's　eyes；　the　sea…urchins　dropped　off　the　rocks　to　make　black　ink…blots　on　the　sand。
　Bond　felt　a　touch　on　his　shoulder。　Mr　Krest's　eyes　were　bloodshot　with　the　sun　and　glare。　He　had　put　white　sunburn　paste　on　his　lips。　He　shouted　impatiently　at　Bond's　mask；　〃Where　in　hell's　our　goddam　fish？〃
　Bond　lifted　his　mask。　〃Looks　as　if　it　managed　to　get　away　just　before　the　stuff　came　down。　I'm　still　watching　for　it。〃
　He　didn't　wait　to　hear　Mr　Krest's　reply　but　got　his　head　quickly　under　water　again。　Still　more　carnage；　still　more　dead　bodies。　But　surely　the　stuff　had　passed　by　now。　Surely　the　area　was　safe　just　in　case　the　fish；　his　fish　because　he　had　saved　it；　came　back　again！　He　stiffened。　In　the　far　mists　there　was　a　pink　flash。　It　had　gone。　Now　it　was　back　again。　Idly　the　Hildebrand　Rarity　swam　towards　him　through　the　maze　of　channels　between　the　broken　outposts　of　the　reef。
　Not　caring　about　Mr　Krest；　Bond　raised　his　free　hand　out　of　the　water　and　brought　it　down　with　a　sharp　slap。　Still　the　fish　came。　Bond　shifted　the　safe　on　his　harpoon…gun　and　fired　it　in　the　direction　of　the　fish。　No　effect。　Bond　put　his　feet　down　and　began　to　walk　towards　the　fish　through　the　scattering　of　corpses。　The　beautiful　red　and　black　fish　seemed　to　pause　and　quiver。　Then　it　shot　straight　through　the　water　towards　Bond　and　dived　down　to　the　sand　at　his　feet　and　lay　still。　Bond　only　had　to　bend　to　pick　it　up。　There　was　not　even　a　last　flap　from　the　tail。　It　just　filled　Bond's　hand；　lightly　pricking　the　palm　with　the　spiny　black　dorsal　fin。　Bond　carried　it　back　under…water　so　as　to　preserve　its　colours。　When　he　got　to　Mr　Krest　he　said　〃Here；〃　and　handed　him　the　small　fish。　Then　he　swam　away　towards　the　shore。
　
　That　evening；　with　the　Wawekrest　heading　for　home　down　the　path　of　a　huge　yellow　moon；　Mr　Krest　gave　orders　for　what　he　called　a　'wingding'。　〃Gotta　celebrate；　Liz。　This　is　terrific；　a　terrific　day。　Cleaned　up　the　last　target　and　we　can　get　the　hell　out　of　these　goddam　Seychelles　and　get　on　back　to　civilization。　What　say　we　make　it　to　Mombasa　when　we've　taken　on　board　the　tortoise　and　that　goddam　parrot？　Fly　to　Nairobi　and　pick　up　a　big　plane　for　Rome；　Venice；　Paris　…　anywheres　you　care　for。　What　say；　treasure？〃　He　squeezed　her　chin　and　cheeks　in　his　big　hand　and　made　the　pale　lips　pout。　He　kissed　them　drily。　Bond　watched　the　girl's　eyes。　They　had　shut　tight。　Mr　Krest　let　go。　The　girl　massaged　her　face。　It　was　still　white　with　his　finger…marks。
　〃Gee；　Milt；〃　she　said　half　laughing；　〃you　nearly　squashed　me。　You　don't　know　your　strength。　But　do　let's　celebrate。　I　think　that　would　be　lots　of　fun。　And　that　Paris　idea　sounds　grand。　Let's　do　that；　shall　we？　What　shall　I　order　for　dinner？〃
　〃Hell　…　caviar　of　course。〃　Mr　Krest　held　his　hands　apart。　〃One　of　those　two…pound　tins　from　Hammacher　Schlemmer　…　the　grade　ten　shot　size；　and　all　the　trimmings。　And　that　pink　champagne。〃　He　turned　to　Bond。　〃That　suit　you；　feller？〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　square　meal。〃　Bond　changed　the　subject。　〃What　have　you　done　with　the　prize？〃
　〃Formalin。　Up　on　the　boat…deck　with　some　other　jars　of　stuff　we've　picked　up　here　and　there　…　fish；　shells。　All　safe　in　our　home　morgue。　That's　how　we　were　told　to　keep　the　specimens。　We'll　airmail　that　damned　fish　when　we　get　back　to　civilization。　Give　a　Press　conference　first。　Should　make　a　big　play　in　the　papers　back　home。　I've　already　radioed　the　Smithsonian　and　the　news　agencies。　My　accountants'll　sure　be　glad　of　some　Press　cuttings　to　show　those　darned　revenue　boys。〃
　Mr　Krest　got　very　drunk　that　night。　It　did　not　show　greatly。　The　soft　Bogart　voice　became　softer　and　slower。　The　round；　hard　head　turned　more　deliberately　on　the　shoulders。　The　lighter's　flame　took　increasingly　long　to　relight　the　cigar；　and　one　glass　was　swept　off　the　table。　But　it　showed　in　the　things　Mr　Krest　said。　There　was　a　violent　cruelty；　a　pathological　desire　to　wound；　quite　near　the　surface　in　the　man。　That　night；　after　dinner；　the　first　target　was　James　Bond。　He　was　treated　to　a　soft…spoken　explanation　as　to　why　Europe；　with　England　and　France　in　the　van；　was　a　rapidly　diminishing　asset　to　the　world。　Nowadays；　said　Mr　Krest；　there　were　only　three　powers　…　America；　Russia　and　China。　That　was　the　big　poker　game　and　no　other　country　had　either　the　chips　or　the　cards　to　e　into　it。　Occasionally　some　pleasant　little　country　…　and　he　admitted　they'd　been　pretty　big　league　in　the　past　…　like　England　would　be　lent　some　money　so　that　they　could