if.goldfinger-第22部分

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　'Sufficiently。'
　The　service　door　opened。　The　chauffeur　stood　in　the　frame。　He　still　wore　his　bowler　hat　and　his　shiny　black　gloves。　He　gazed　impassively　at　Goldfinger。　Goldfinger　crooked　a　finger。　The　chauffeur　approached　and　stood　within　the　circle　by　the　fire。
　Goldfinger　turned　to　Bond。　He　said　conversationally；　'This　is　my　handy　man。'　He　smiled　thinly。　'That　is　something　of　a　joke。　Oddjob；　show　Mr　Bond　your　hands。'　He　smiled　again　at　Bond。　'I　call　him　Oddjob　because　that　describes　his　functions　on　my　staff。'
　The　Korean　slowly　pulled　off　his　gloves　and　came　and　stood　at　arm's　length　from　Bond　and　held　out　his　hands　palm　upwards。　Bond　got　up　and　looked　at　them。　They　were　big　and　fat　with　muscle。　The　fingers　all　seemed　to　be　the　same　length。　They　were　very　blunt　at　the　tips　and　the　tips　glinted　as　if　they　were　made　of　yellow　bone。
　'Turn　them　over　and　show　Mr　Bond　the　sides。'
　There　were　no　fingernails。　Instead　there　was　this　same；　yellowish　carapace。　The　man　turned　the　hands　sideways。　Down　each　edge　of　the　hands　was　a　hard　ridge　of　the　same　bony　substance。
　Bond　raised　his　eyebrows　at　Goldfinger。
　Goldfinger　said；　'We　will　have　a　demonstration。'　He　pointed　at　the　thick　oak　banisters　that　ran　up　the　stairs。　The　rail　was　a　massive　six　inches　by　four　thick。　The　Korean　obediently　walked　over　to　the　stairs　and　climbed　a　few　steps。　He　stood　with　his　hands　at　his　sides；　gazing　across　at　Gold…finger　like　a　good　retriever。　Goldfinger　gave　a　quick　nod。　Impassively　the　Korean　lifted　his　right　hand　high　and　straight　above　his　head　and　brought　the　side　of　it　down　like　an　axe　across　the　heavy　polished　rail。　There　was　a　splintering　crash　and　the　rail　sagged；　broken　through　the　centre。　Again　the　hand　went　up　and　flashed　down。　This　time　it　swept　right　through　the　rail　leaving　a　jagged　gap。　Splinters　clattered　down　on　to　the　floor　of　the　hall。　The　Korean　straightened　himself　and　stood　to　attention；　waiting　for　further　orders。　There　was　no　flush　of　effort　in　his　face　and　no　hint　of　pride　in　his　achievement。
　Goldfinger　beckoned。　The　man　came　back　across　the　floor。　Goldfinger　said；　'His　feet　are　the　same；　the　outside　edges　of　them。　Oddjob；　the　mantelpiece。'　Goldfinger　pointed　at　the　heavy　shelf　of　carved　wood　above　the　fireplace。　It　was　about　seven　feet　off　the　ground…six　inches　higher　than　the　top　of　the　Korean's　bowler　hat。
　'Garch　a　har？'
　'Yes；　take　off　your　coat　and　hat。'　Goldfinger　turned　to　Bond。　'Poor　chap's　got　a　cleft　palate。　I　shouldn't　think　there　are　many　people　who　understand　him　beside　me。'
　Bond　reflected　how　useful　that　would　be；　a　slave　who　could　only　municate　with　the　world　through　his　interpreter　…　better　even　than　the　deaf　mutes　of　the　harems；　more　tightly　bound　to　his　master；　more　secure。
　Oddjob　had　taken　off　his　coat　and　hat　and　placed　them　neatly　on　the　floor。　Now　he　rolled　his　trouser　legs　up　to　the　knee　and　stood　back　in　the　wide　well…planted　stance　of　the　judo　expert。　He　looked　as　if　a　charging　elephant　wouldn't　put　him　off　balance。
　'Better　stand　back；　Mr　Bond。'　The　teeth　glittered　in　the　wide　mouth。　'This　blow　snaps　a　man's　neck　like　a　daffodil。〃　Goldfinger　drew　aside　the　low　settee　with　the　drink　tray。　Now　the　Korean　had　a　clear　run。　But　he　was　only　three　long　steps　away。　How　could　he　possibly　reach　the　high　mantelpiece？
　Bond　watched；　fascinated。　Now　the　slanting　eyes　in　the　flat　yellow　mask　were　glinting　with　a　fierce　intentness。　Faced　by　such　a　man；　thought　Bond；　one　could　only　go　down　on　one's　knees　and　wait　for　death。
　Goldfinger　lifted　his　hand。　The　bunched　toes　in　the　polished　soft　leather　shoes　seemed　to　grip　the　ground。　The　Korean　took　one　long　crouching　stride　with　knees　well　bent　and　then　whirled　off　the　ground。　In　mid…air　his　feet　slapped　together　like　a　ballet　dancer's；　but　higher　than　a　ballet　dancer's　have　ever　reached；　and　then　the　body　bent　sideways　and　downwards　and　the　right　foot　shot　out　like　a　piston。　There　came　a　crashing　thud。　Gracefully　the　body　settled　back　down　on　the　hands；　now　splayed　on　the　floor；　the　elbows　bent　to　take　the　weight　and　then　straightened　sharply　to　throw　the　man　up　and　back　on　his　feet。
　Oddjob　stood　to　attention。　This　time　there　was　a　gleam　of　triumph　in　his　flat　eyes　as　he　looked　at　the　three…inch　jagged　bite　the　edge　of　his　foot　had　taken　out　of　the　mantelpiece。
　Bond　looked　at　the　man　in　deep　awe。　And　only　two　nights　ago；　he；　Bond；　had　been　working　on　his　manual　of　unarmed　bat！　There　was　nothing；　absolutely　nothing；　in　all　his　reading；　all　his　experience；　to　approach　what　he　had　just　witnessed。　This　was　not　a　man　of　flesh　and　blood。　This　was　a　living　club；　perhaps　the　most　dangerous　animal　on　the　face　of　the　earth。　Bond　had　to　do　it；　had　to　give　homage　to　this　uniquely　dreadful　person。　He　held　out　his　hand。
　'Softly；　Oddjob。'　Goldfinger's　voice　was　the　crack　of　a　whip。
　The　Korean　bowed　his　head　and　took　Bond's　hand　in　his。　He　kept　his　fingers　straight　and　merely　bent　his　thumb　in　a　light　clasp。　It　was　like　holding　a　piece　of　board。　He　released　Bond's　hand　and　went　to　his　neat　pile　of　clothes。
　'Forgive　me；　Mr　Bond；　and　I　appreciate　your　gesture。'　Goldfinger's　face　showed　his　approval。　'But　Oddjob　doesn't　know　his　own　strength　…　particularly　when　he　is　keyed　up。　And　those　hands　are　like　machine…tools。　He　could　have　crushed　your　hand　to　pulp　without　meaning　to。　Now　then；'　Oddjob　had　dressed　and　was　standing　respectfully　at　attention；　'you　did　well；　Oddjob。　I'm　glad　to　see　you　are　in　training。　Here'　…　Goldfinger　took　the　cat　from　under　his　arm　and　tossed　it　to　the　Korean　who　caught　it　eagerly…'I　am　tired　of　seeing　this　animal　around。　You　may　have　it　for　dinner。'　The　Korean's　eyes　gleamed。　'And　tell　them　in　the　kitchen　that　we　will　have　our　own　dinner　at　once。'
　The　Korean　inclined　his　head　sharply　and　turned　away。
　Bond　hid　his　disgust。　He　realized　that　all　this　exhibition　was　simply　a　message　to　him；　a　warning；　a　light　rap　on　the　knuckles。　It　said；　'You　see　my　power；　Mr　Bond。　I　could　easily　have　killed　you　or　maimed　you。　Oddjob　was　giving　an　exhibition　and　you　got　in　the　way。　I　would　certainly　be　innocent；　and　Oddjob　would　get　off　with　a　light　sentence。　Instead；　the　cat　will　be　punished　in　your　place。　Bad　luck　on　the　cat；　of　course。'
　Bond　said　casually；　'Why　does　the　man　always　wear　that　bowler　hat？'
　'Oddjob！'　The　Korean　had　reached　the　service　door。　'The　hat。'　Goldfinger　pointed　at　a　panel　in　the　woodwork　near　the　fireplace。
　Still　holding　the　cat　under　his　left　arm；　Oddjob　turned　and　walked　stolidly　back　towards　them。　When　he　was　half　way　across　the　floor；　and　without　pausing　or　taking　aim；　he　reached　up　to　his　hat；　took　it　by　the　rim　and　flung　it　sideways　with　all　his　force。　There　was　a　loud　clang。　For　an　instant　the　rim　of　the　bowler　hat　stuck　an　inch　deep　in　the　panel　Gold…finger　had　indicated；　then　it　fell　and　clattered　on　the　floor。
　Goldfinger　smiled　politely　at　Bond。　'A　light　but　very　strong　alloy；　Mr　Bond。　I　fear　that　will　have　damaged　the　felt　covering；　but　Oddjob　will　put　on　another。　He's　surprisingly　quick　with　a　needle　and　thread。　As　you　can　imagine；　that　blow　would　have　smashed　a　man's　skull　or　half　severed　his　neck。　A　homely　and　a　most　ingeniously　concealed　weapon；　I'm　sure　you'll　agree。'
　'Yes；　indeed。'　Bond　smiled　with　equal　politeness。　'Useful　chap　to　have　around。〃
　Oddjob　had　picked　up　his　hat　and　disappeared。　There　came　the　boom　of　a　gong。　'Ah；　dinner！　Shall　we　go　in？'　Goldfinger　led　the　way　to　a　door　concealed　in　the　panelling　to　the　right　of　the　fireplace。　He　pressed　a　hidden　latch　and　they　walked　through。
　The　small　dining…room　matched　the　heavy　wealth　of　the　hall。　It　was　brilliantly　lit　from　a　central　chandelier　and　by　candles　on　a　round　table　that　glittered　with　silver　and　glass。　They　sat　down　opposite　each　other。　Two　yellow…faced　servants　in　white　mess…jackets　brought　dishes　from　a　loaded　serving…table。　The　first　course　was　some　curried　mess　with　rice。　Goldfinger　noticed　Bond's　hesitation。　He　gave　a　dry　chuckle。　'It's　all　right；　Mr　Bond。　Shrimp；　not　the　cat。'
　'Ah。'　Bond's　expression　was　non…mittal。
　'Please　try　the　Moselle。　I　hope　it　will　be　to　your　taste。　It　is　a　Piesporter　Goldtropfchen　'53。　Help　yourself。　These　people　are　as　likely　to　pour　it　into　your　plate　as　your　glass。'
　There　was　a　slim　bottle　in　an　ice　bucket　in　front　of　Bond。　He　poured　some　of　the　wine　and　tasted　it。　It　was　nectar　and　ice　cold。　Bond　congratulated　his　host。　Goldfinger　gave　a　curt　nod。
　'I　don't　myself　drink　or　smoke；　Mr　Bond。　Smoking；　I　find　the　most　ridiculous　of　all　the　varieties　of　human　behaviour　and　practically　the　only　one　that　is　entirely　against　nature。　Can　you　imagine　a　cow　or　any　animal　taking　a　mouthful　of　smouldering　straw　then　breathing　in　the　smoke　and　blowing　it　out　through　its　nostrils？　Pah！'　Goldfinger　showed　a　rare　trace　of　emotion。　'It　is　a/vile　practice。　As　for　drinking；　I　am　something　of　a　chemist　and　I　have　yet　to　find　a　liquor　that　is　free　from　traces　of　a　number　of　poisons；　some　of　them　deadly；　such　as　fusel　oil；　acetic　acid；　ethylacetate；　acetal…dehyde　and　furfurol。　A　quantity　of　some　of　these　poisons　taken　neat　would　kill　you。　In　the　small　amounts　you　find　in　a　bottle　of　liquor　they　produce　various　ill　effects　most　of　which　are　lightly　written　off　as　〃a　hangover〃。'　Goldfinger　paused　with　a　forkful　of　curried　shrimp　half　way　to　his　mouth。　'Since　you　are　a　drinker；　Mr　Bond；　I　will　give　you　one　word　of　good　advice。　Never　drink　so…called　Napoleon　brandy；　particularly　when　it　is　described　as　〃aged　in　the　wood〃。　That　particular　potion　contains　more　of　the　poisons　I　have　mentioned　than　any　other　liquor　I　have　analysed。　Old　bourbon　es　next。'　Goldfinger　closed　his　animadversions　with　a　mouthful　of　shrimp。
　'Thank　you。　I'll　remember。　Perhaps　for　those　reasons　I　have　recently　taken　to　vodka。　They　tell　me　its　filtration　through　activated　charcoal　is　a　help。'　Bond；　dredging　this　piece　of　expertise　out　of　dim　recollections　of　something　he　had　read；　was　rather　proud　of　having　been　able　to　return　Goldfinger's　powerful　serve。
　Goldfinger　glanced　at　him　sharply。　'You　seem　to　understand　something　of　these　matters。　Have　you　studied　chemistry？'
　'Only　dabbled　in　it。'　It　was　time　to　move　on。　'I　was　very　impressed　by　that　chauffeur　of　yours。　Where　did　he　learn　that　fantastic　bat　stuff？　Where　did　it　e