iam fleming.for your eyes only-第7部分

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　Maria　whom　she　was　training　as　second　housemaid。　Mrs　Havelock　said：　〃It's　time　we　started　bottling；　Agatha。　The　guavas　are　early　this　year。〃
　Agatha's　face　was　impassive。　She　said：　〃Yes'm。　But　we　done　need　more　bottles。〃
　〃Why？　It　was　only　last　year　I　got　you　two　dozen　of　the　best　I　could　find　at　Henriques。〃
　〃Yes'm。　Someone　done　mash　five；　six　of　dose。〃
　〃Oh　dear。　How　did　that　happen？〃
　〃Couldn't　say'm。〃　Agatha　picked　up　the　big　silver　tray　and　waited；　watching　Mrs　Havelock's　face。
　Mrs　Havelock　had　not　lived　most　of　her　life　in　Jamaica　without　learning　that　a　mash　is　a　mash　and　that　one　would　not　get　anywhere　hunting　for　a　culprit。　So　she　just　said　cheerfully：　〃Oh；　all　right；　Agatha。　I'll　get　some　more　when　I　go　into　Kingston。〃
　〃Yes'm。〃　Agatha；　followed　by　the　young　girl；　went　back　into　the　house。
　Mrs　Havelock　picked　up　a　piece　of　petit…point　and　began　stitching；　her　fingers　moving　automatically。　Her　eyes　went　back　to　the　big　bushes　of　Japanese　Hat　and　Monkeyfiddle。　Yes；　the　two　male　birds　were　back。　With　gracefully　cocked　tails　they　moved　among　the　flowers。　The　sun　was　low　on　the　horizon　and　every　now　and　then　there　was　a　flash　of　almost　piercingly　beautiful　green。　A　mocking…bird；　on　the　topmost　branch　of　a　frangipani；　started　on　its　evening　repertoire。　The　tinkle　of　an　early　tree…frog　announced　the　beginning　of　the　short　violet　dusk。
　Content；　twenty　thousand　acres　in　the　foothills　of　Candlefly　Peak；　one　of　the　most　easterly　of　the　Blue　Mountains　in　the　county　of　Portland；　had　been　given　to　an　early　Havelock　by　Oliver　Cromwell　as　a　reward　for　having　been　one　of　the　signatories　to　King　Charles's　death　warrant。　Unlike　so　many　other　settlers　of　those　and　later　times　the　Havelocks　had　maintained　the　plantation　through　three　centuries；　through　earthquakes　and　hurricanes　and　through　the　boom　and　bust　of　cocoa；　sugar；　citrus　and　copra。　Now　it　was　in　bananas　and　cattle；　and　it　was　one　of　the　richest　and　best　run　of　all　the　private　estates　in　the　island。　The　house；　patched　up　or　rebuilt　after　earthquake　or　hurricane；　was　a　hybrid　…　a　mahogany…pillared；　two…storeyed　central　block　on　the　old　stone　foundations　flanked　by　two　single…storeyed　wings　with　widely　overhung；　flat…pitched　Jamaican　roofs　of　silver　cedar　shingles。　The　Havelocks　were　now　sitting　on　the　deep　veranda　of　the　central　block　facing　the　gently　sloping　garden　beyond　which　a　vast　tumbling　jungle　vista　stretched　away　twenty　miles　to　the　sea。
　Colonel　Havelock　put　down　his　Gleaner。　〃I　thought　I　heard　a　car。〃
　Mrs　Havelock　said　firmly：　〃If　it's　those　ghastly　Feddens　from　Port　Antonio；　you've　simply　got　to　get　rid　of　them。　I　can't　stand　any　more　of　their　moans　about　England。　And　last　time　they　were　both　quite　drunk　when　they　left　and　dinner　was　cold。〃　She　got　up　quickly。　〃I'm　going　to　tell　Agatha　to　say　I've　got　a　migraine。〃
　Agatha　came　out　through　the　drawing…room　door。　She　looked　fussed。　She　was　followed　closely　by　three　men。　She　said　hurriedly：　〃Gemmun　from　Kingston'm。　To　see　de　Colonel。〃
　The　leading　man　slid　past　the　housekeeper。　He　was　still　wearing　his　hat；　a　panama　with　a　short　very　up…curled　brim。　He　took　this　off　with　his　left　hand　and　held　it　against　his　stomach。　The　rays　of　the　sun　glittered　on　hair…grease　and　on　a　mouthful　of　smiling　white　teeth。　He　went　up　to　Colonel　Havelock；　his　outstretched　hand　held　straight　in　front　of　him。　〃Major　Gonzales。　From　Havana。　Pleased　to　meet　you；　Colonel。〃
　The　accent　was　the　sham　American　of　a　Jamaican　taxi…driver。　Colonel　Havelock　had　got　to　his　feet。　He　touched　the　outstretched　hand　briefly。　He　looked　over　the　Major's　shoulder　at　the　other　two　men　who　had　stationed　themselves　on　either　side　of　the　door。　They　were　both　carrying　that　new　holdall　of　the　tropics　…　a　Pan　American　overnight　bag。　The　bags　looked　heavy。　Now　the　two　men　bent　down　together　and　placed　them　beside　their　yellowish　shoes。　They　straightened　themselves。　They　wore　flat　white　caps　with　transparent　green　visors　that　cast　green　shadows　down　to　their　cheekbones。　Through　the　green　shadows　their　intelligent　animal　eyes　fixed　themselves　on　the　Major；　reading　his　behaviour。
　〃They　are　my　secretaries。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　took　a　pipe　out　of　his　pocket　and　began　to　fill　it。　His　direct　blue　eyes　took　in　the　sharp　clothes；　the　natty　shoes；　the　glistening　fingernails　of　the　Major　and　the　blue　jeans　and　calypso　shirts　of　the　other　two。　He　wondered　how　he　could　get　these　men　into　his　study　and　near　the　revolver　in　the　top　drawer　of　his　desk。　He　said：　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　As　he　lit　his　pipe　he　watched　the　Major's　eyes　and　mouth　through　the　smoke。
　Major　Gonzales　spread　his　hands。　The　width　of　his　smile　remained　constant。　The　liquid；　almost　golden　eyes　were　amused；　friendly。　〃It　is　a　matter　of　business；　Colonel。　I　represent　a　certain　gentleman　in　Havana〃　…　he　made　a　throw…away　gesture　with　his　right　hand。　〃A　powerful　gentleman。　A　very　fine　guy。〃　Major　Gonzales　assumed　an　expression　of　sincerity。　〃You　would　like　him；　Colonel。　He　asked　me　to　present　his　pliments　and　to　inquire　the　price　of　your　property。〃
　Mrs　Havelock；　who　had　been　watching　the　scene　with　a　polite　half…smile　on　her　lips；　moved　to　stand　beside　her　husband。　She　said　kindly；　so　as　not　to　embarrass　the　poor　man：　〃What　a　shame；　Major。　All　this　way　on　these　dusty　roads！　Your　friend　really　should　have　written　first；　or　asked　anyone　in　Kingston　or　at　Government　House。　You　see；　my　husband's　family　have　lived　here　for　nearly　three　hundred　years。〃　She　looked　at　him　sweetly；　apologetically。　〃I'm　afraid　there　just　isn't　any　question　of　selling　Content。　There　never　has　been。　I　wonder　where　your　important　friend　can　possibly　have　got　the　idea　from。〃
　Major　Gonzales　bowed　briefly。　His　smiling　face　turned　back　to　Colonel　Havelock。　He　said；　as　if　Mrs　Havelock　had　not　opened　her　mouth：　〃My　gentleman　is　told　this　is　one　of　the　finest　estancias　in　Jamaica。　He　is　a　most　generous　man。　You　may　mention　any　sum　that　is　reasonable。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　said　firmly：　〃You　heard　what　Mrs　Havelock　said。　The　property　is　not　for　sale。〃
　Major　Gonzales　laughed。　It　sounded　quite　genuine　laughter。　He　shook　his　head　as　if　he　was　explaining　something　to　a　rather　dense　child。　〃You　misunderstand　me；　Colonel。　My　gentleman　desires　this　property　and　no　other　property　in　Jamaica。　He　has　some　funds；　some　extra　funds；　to　invest。　These　funds　are　seeking　a　home　in　Jamaica。　My　gentleman　wishes　this　to　be　their　home。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　said　patiently：　〃I　quite　understand；　Major。　And　I　am　so　sorry　you　have　wasted　your　time。　Content　will　never　be　for　sale　in　my　lifetime。　And　now；　if　you'll　forgive　me。　My　wife　and　I　always　dine　early；　and　you　have　a　long　way　to　go。〃　He　made　a　gesture　to　the　left；　along　the　veranda。　〃I　think　you'll　find　this　is　the　quickest　way　to　your　car。　Let　me　show　you。〃
　Colonel　Havelock　moved　invitingly；　but　when　Major　Gonzales　stayed　where　he　was；　he　stopped。　The　blue　eyes　began　to　freeze。
　There　was　perhaps　one　less　tooth　in　Major　Gonzales's　smile　and　his　eyes　had　bee　watchful。　But　his　manner　was　still　jolly。　He　said　cheerfully；　〃Just　one　moment；　Colonel。〃　He　issued　a　curt　order　over　his　shoulder。　Both　the　Havelocks　noticed　the　jolly　mask　slip　with　the　few　sharp　words　through　the　teeth。　For　the　first　time　Mrs　Havelock　looked　slightly　uncertain。　She　moved　still　closer　to　her　husband。　The　two　men　picked　up　their　blue　Pan　American　bags　and　stepped　forward。　Major　Gonzales　reached　for　the　zipper　on　each　of　them　in　turn　and　pulled。　The　taut　mouths　sprang　open。　The　bags　were　full　to　the　brim　with　neat　solid　wads　of　American　money。　Major　Gonzales　spread　his　arms。　〃All　hundred　dollar　bills。　All　genuine。　Half　a　million　dollars。　That　is；　in　your　money；　let　us　say；　one　hundred　and　eighty　thousand　pounds。　A　small　fortune。　There　are　many　other　good　places　to　live　in　the　world；　Colonel。　And　perhaps　my　gentleman　would　add　a　further　twenty　thousand　pounds　to　make　the　round　sum。　You　would　know　in　a　week。　All　I　need　is　half　a　sheet　of　paper　with　your　signature。　The　lawyers　can　do　the　rest。　Now；　Colonel；〃　the　smile　was　winning；　〃shall　we　say　yes　and　shake　hands　on　it？　Then　the　bags　stay　here　and　we　leave　you　to　your　dinner。〃
　The　Havelocks　now　looked　at　the　Major　with　the　same　expression　…　a　mixture　of　anger　and　disgust。　One　could　imagine　Mrs　Havelock　telling　the　story　next　day。　〃Such　a　mon；　greasy　little　man。　And　those　filthy　plastic　bags　full　of　money！　Timmy　was　wonderful。　He　just　told　him　to　get　out　and　take　the　dirty　stuff　away　with　him。〃
　Colonel　Havelock's　mouth　turned　down　with　distaste。　He　said：　〃I　thought　I　had　made　myself　clear。　Major。　The　property　is　not　for　sale　at　any　price。　And　I　do　not　share　the　popular　thirst　for　American　dollars。　I　must　now　ask　you　to　leave。〃　Colonel　Havelock　laid　his　cold　pipe　on　the　table　as　if　he　was　preparing　to　roll　up　his　sleeves。
　For　the　first　time　Major　Gonzales's　smile　lost　its　warmth。　The　mouth　continued　to　grin　but　it　was　now　shaped　in　an　angry　grimace。　The　liquid　golden　eyes　were　suddenly　brassy　and　hard。　He　said　softly：　〃Colonel。　It　is　I　who　have　not　made　myself　clear。　Not　you。　My　gentleman　has　instructed　me　to　say　that　if　you　will　not　accept　his　most　generous　terms　we　must　proceed　to　other　measures。〃
　Mrs　Havelock　was　suddenly　afraid。　She　put　her　hand　on　Colonel　Havelock's　arm　and　pressed　it　hard。　He　put　his　hand　over　hers　in　reassurance。　He　said　through　tight　lips：　〃Please　leave　us　alone　and　go；　Major。　Otherwise　I　shall　municate　with　the　police。〃
　The　pink　tip　of　Major　Gonzales's　tongue　came　out　and　slowly　licked　along　his　lips。　All　the　light　had　gone　out　of　his　face　and　it　had　bee　taut　and　hard。　He　said　harshly。　〃So　the　property　is　not　for　sale　in　your　lifetime；　Colonel。　Is　that　your　last　word？〃　His　right　hand　went　behind　his　back　and　he　clicked　his　fingers　softly；　once。　Behind　him　the　gun…hands　of　the　two　men　slid　through　the　opening　of　their　gay　shirts　above　the　waistbands。　The　sharp　animal　eyes　watched　the　Major's　fingers　behind　his　back。
　Mrs　Havelock's　hand　went　up　to　her　mouth。　Colonel　Havelock　tried　to　say　yes；　but　his　mouth　was　dry。　He　swallowed　noisily。　He　could　not　believe　it。　This　mangy　Cuban　crook　must　be　bluffing。　He　managed　to　say　thickly：　〃Yes；　it　is。〃
　Major　Gonzales　nodded　curtly。　〃In　that　case；　Colonel；　my　gentleman　will　carry　on　the　negotia