if.goldfinger-第37部分

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e　fifteen　billion　dollars'　worth　of　standard　mint　bars　one　thousand　fine。　Each　bar　is　double　the　size　of　the　one　before　you　and　contains　four　hundred　Troy　ounces；　the　avoirdupois　weight　being　some　twenty…seven　and　a　half　pounds。　These　are　stored　without　wrappings　in　the　partments　of　the　vault。'　Goldfinger　glanced　round　the　table。　'And　that；　gentlemen　and　madam；'　he　concluded　flatly；　'is　all　I　can　tell　you；　and　all　I　think　we　need　to　know；　about　the　nature　and　contents　of　Fort　Knox　Depository。　Unless　there　are　any　questions　at　this　stage；　I　will　proceed　to　a　brief　explanation　of　how　this　depository　may　be　penetrated　and　its　contents　seized。'
　There　was　siknce。　The　eyes　round　the　table　were　rapt；　intent。　Nervously；　Mr　Jack　Strap　took　a　medium…sized　cigar　out　of　his　vest　pocket　and　stuffed　it　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　Pussy　Galore　said　sternly；　'If　you　set　fire　to　that　thing　I　swear　I'll　kayo　you　with　my　gold　brick。'　She　took　a　threatening　hold　of　the　bar。
　'Take　it　easy；　kid；'　said　Mr　Strap　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　Mr　Jed　Midnight　mented　decisively；　'Mister；　if　you　can　heist　that　joint；　you　got　yourself　a　summum　cum　laude。　Go　ahead　and　tell。　This　is　either　a　bust　or　the　Crime　de　la　Crime。'
　Goldfinger　said　indifferently；　'Very　well；　gentlemen。　You　shall　hear　the　plan。'　He　paused　and　looked　carefully　round　the　table　and　into　each　pair　of　eyes　in　turn。　'But　I　hope　you　understand　that　total　security　must　now　prevail。　What　I　have　said　so　far；　if　repeated；　would　be　taken　for　the　maunderings　of　a　lunatic。　What　I　am　about　to　say　will　involve　all　of　us　in　the　greatest　peace…time　conspiracy　in　the　history　of　the　United　States。　May　I　take　it　that　we　are　all　bound　by　an　oath　of　absolute　secrecy？'
　Almost　instinctively；　Bond　watched　the　eyes　of　Mr　Helmut　Springer　from　Detroit。　While　affirmatives　in　various　tones　of　voice　came　from　the　others；　Mr　Springer　veiled　his　eyes。　His　portentous　'You　have　my　solemn　word'　rang　hollow。　To　Bond；　the　candour　was　as　false　as　a　second…hand　motor　salesman's。　Casually　he　drew　a　short　straight　minus　line　beside　Mr　Springer's　name　on　the　agenda。
　'Very　well　then。'　Goldfinger　returned　to　his　seat　at　the　table。　He　sat　down；　picked　up　his　pencil　and　began　talking　to　it　in　a　thoughtful；　conversational　voice。　'First；　and　in　some　ways　most　difficult；　is　the　question　of　disposal。　One　billion　dollars　of　gold　bullion　weighs　approximately　one　thousand　tons。　To　transport　this　amount　would　require　one　hundred　ten…ton　trucks　or　some　twenty　six…wheel　heavy　industry　road　transporters。　I　remend　the　latter　vehicles。　I　have　a　list　of　the　charter　panies　who　hire　out　this　type　of　vehicle　and　I　remend　that；　if　we　are　to　be　partners；　you　should　proceed　immediately　after　this　meeting　to　contracting　with　the　relevant　panies　in　your　territories。　For　obvious　reasons　you　will　all　wish　to　engage　your　own　drivers　and　this　I　must　leave　in　your　hands。　No　doubt'　…　Mr　Goldfinger　allowed　himself　the　ghost　of　a　smile　…'the　Teamsters'　Union　will　prove　a　fruitful　source　for　reliable　men　and　you　will　perhaps　consider　recruiting　ex…drivers　from　the　Negro　Red　Ball　Express　that　served　the　American　armies　during　the　war。　However；　these　are　details　requiring　exact　planning　and　co…ordination。　There　will　also　be　a　traffic　control　problem　and　no　doubt　you　will　make　arrangements　among　yourselves　for　sharing　out　the　available　roads。　Transport　aircraft　will　be　a　subsidiary　source　of　mobility　and　arrangements　will　be　made　to　keep　open　the　north…south　runway　on　the　Godman　Airfield。　Your　subsequent　disposal　of　the　bullion　will；　of　course；　be　your　own　affair。　For　my　part'　…　Goldfinger　looked　coolly　round　the　table　…　'I　shall　initially　be　using　the　railroad　and；　since　I　have　a　bulkier　transport　problem；　I　trust　you　will　allow　me　to　reserve　this　means　of　egress　for　my　own。'　Goldfinger　did　not　wait　for　ment。　He　continued　in　an　even　tone：　'pared　with　this　problem　of　transport；　the　other　arrangements　will　be　relatively　simple。　To　begin　with；　on　D…1；1　propose　to　put　the　entire　population；　military　and　civilian；　of　Fort　Knox　temporarily　out　of　action。　Exact　arrangements　have　been　made　and　only　await　my　signal。　Briefly；　the　town　is　supplied　with　all　drinking　and　other　water…supplies　by　two　wells　and　two　filter　plants　yielding　just　under　seven　million　gallons　per　day。　These　are　under　the　control　of　the　Post　Engineer。　This　gentleman　has　been　pleased　to　accept　a　visit　from　the　Superintendent　and　Deputy　Superintendent　of　the　Tokyo　Municipal　Waterworks　who　wish　to　study　the　workings　of　a　plant　of　this　size　for　installation　in　a　new　suburb　planned　for　the　environs　of　Tokyo。　The　Post　Engineer　has　been　much　flattered　by　this　request　and　the　Japanese　gentlemen　will　be　accorded　all　facilities。　These　two　gentlemen；　who　are；　of　course；　members　of　my　staff；　will　be　carrying　on　their　persons　relatively　small　quantities　of　a　highly　concentrated'　opiate　devised　by　the　German　chemical　warfare　experts　for　just　this　purpose　during　the　last　war。　This　substance　disseminates　rapidly　through　a　volume　of　water　of　this　magnitude；　and；　in　its　consequent　highly　diluted　form；　has　the　effect　of　instant　but　temporary　narcosis　of　any　person　drink　ing　half　a　tumbler　of　the　infected　water。　The　symptoms　are　a　deep　and　instant　sleep　from　which　the　victim　awakens　much　refreshed　in　approximately　three　days。　Gentlemen'　…　Gold…finger　held　out　one　hand　palm　upwards　…　'in　the　month　of　June　in　Kentucky　I　consider　it　out　of　the　question　that　a　single　resident　is　able　to　go　through　twenty…four　hours　without　consuming　half　a　glass　of　water。　There　may　perhaps　be　a　handful　of　confirmed　alcoholics　on　their　feet　on　D…Day；　but　I　anticipate　that　we　shall　enter　a　town　in　which　virtually　the　entire　population　has　fallen　into　a　deep　sleep　where　they　stand。'
　'What　was　that　fairytale？'　Miss　Galore's　eyes　were　shining　with　the　vision。
　'Puss　in　Boots；'　said　Mr　Jack　Strap　in　a　surly　voice。　'Go　ahead；　mister。　This　is　good。　How　do　we　get　into　the　town？'
　'We　e　in；'　said　Goldfinger；　'on　a　special　train　that　will　have　left　New　York　City　on　the　night　of　D…l。　There　will　be　approximately　one　hundred　of　us　and　we　shall　be　attired　as　Red　Cross　workers。　Miss　Galore　will；　I　hope；　provide　the　necessary　contingent　of　nurses。　It　is　to　fill　this　minor　but　important　role　that　she　has　been　invited　to　this　meeting。'
　Miss　Galore　said　enthusiastically；　'Wilco；　Roger；　over　and　out！　My　girls'll　look　sweet　in　starch。　Whaddya　say；　Jacko？'　She　leant　sideways　and　nudged　Mr　Strap　in　the　ribs。
　'I　say　they'd　look　better　in　cement　overcoats；'　said　Mr　Strap　impatiently。　'Whaddya　have　to　keep　on　butting　in　for？　Keep　going；　mister。'
　'At　Louisville；　thirty…five　miles　from　Fort　Knox；　I　myself　and　an　assistant　will　ask　to　be　allowed　to　ride　in　the　leading　diesel。　We　shall　have　delicate　instruments。　We　shall　say　that　it　will　be　necessary　for　us　to　sample　the　air　as　we　approach　Fort　Knox　for；　by　this　time；　news　of　the　mysterious　affliction　that　has　struck　down　the　inhabitants　will　have　reached　the　outer　world　and　there　is　likely　to　be　some　panic　in　the　surrounding　area；　and　indeed　in　the　country　as　a　whole。　Rescue　planes　may　be　expected　to　approach　shortly　after　our　arrival　at　dawn　and　an　early　task　will　be　to　man　the　control　tower　at　Godman　Airfield；　declare　the　base　closed　and　re…route　all　planes　to　Louisville。　But；　to　go　back　for　a　moment；　shortly　after　leaving　Louisville；　my　assistant　and　I　will　dispose　of　the　driver　and　fireman　by　as　humane　methods　as　are　possible'　（I　bet；　thought　Bond）　'and　I　shall　personally　bring　the　train　…　I　may　say　that　I　have　the　requisite　knowledge　of　these　lootives　…　through　Fort　Knox　to　the　bullion　sidings　alongside　the　depository。'　Goldfinger　paused。　He　looked　wijh　slow；　grave　eyes　round　the　circle。　Satisfied　with　what　he　saw；　he　continued　in　the　same　even　tone。　'By　this　time；　gentlemen　and　madam；　your　transport　convoys　should　be　arriving。　The　traffic　controller　will　dispose　them　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　depository　according　to　a　pre…arranged　plan；　the　airport　staff　will　proceed　by　truck　to　Godman　Airfield　and　take　over；　and　we　shall　enter　the　depository；　paying　no　heed　to　the　sleeping　bodies　with　which　the　landscape　will　be　…　er　…　decorated。　Right？'
　Mr　Solo's　dark　eyes　burned　across　the　table。　He　said　softly；　'Sure；　is　right　so　far。　Now　mebbe　you'　…　he　blew　out　his　cheeks　and　gave　a　quick　hard　puff　towards　Goldfinger　…'like　this　and　the　twenty…ton　door　he　fall　down。　Yes？'
　'Yes；'　said　Goldfinger　equably。　'Almost　exactly　like　that。'　He　rose　and　went　to　the　table　under　the　blackboard；　lifted　up　the　big　ungainly　carton　and　carried　it　carefully　back　and　placed　it　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　It　seemed　to　be　very　heavy。
　He　sat　down　and　continued；　'While　ten　of　my　trained　assistants　are　making　preparations　for　the　vault　to　be　opened；　stretcher　teams　will　enter　the　depository　and　remove　to　safety　as　many　of　the　inmates　as　can　be　located。'　Bond　thought　he　noticed　a　treacherous　purr　underlying　Goldfinger's　next　words。　'I　am　sure　you　will　all　agree；　gentlemen　and　madam；　that　all　unnecessary　loss　of　life　should　be　avoided。　Thus　far；　I　hope　you　notice　that　there　have　been　no　casualties　with　the　exception　of　two　employees　of　the　Illinois　Central　Railroad　who　have　received　sore　heads。'　Goldfinger　didn't　wait　for　ment　but　went　on。　'Now；'　he　reached　out　and　placed　his　hand　on　the　carton；　'when　you；　gentlemen；　and　your　associates　have　needed　weapons；　other　than　the　conventional　small　arms；　where　have　you　found　them？　At　military　establishments；　gentlemen。　You　have　purchased　submachine　guns　and　other　heavy　equipment　from　quartermaster　storekeepers　at　nearby　military　bases。　You　have　achieved　this　by　the　use　of　pressure；　blackmail　or　money。　I　have　done　the　same。　Only　one　weapon　would　be　powerful　enough　to　blast　open　the　Bullion　Vault　at　Fort　Knox　and　I　obtained　one；　after　much　seeking；　from　a　certain　allied　military　base　in　Germany。　It　cost　me　exactly　one　million　dollars。　This；　gentlemen；　is　an　atomic　warhead　designed　for　use　with　the　Corporal　Intermediate　Range　Guided　Missile。'
　'Cheesus　Kerist。'　Jed　Midnight's　hands　reached　for　the　edge　of　the　table　beside　Bond　and　gripped　it。
　All　the　faces　round　the　table　were　pale。　Bond　could　feel　the　skin　taut　over　his　own　tensed　jaw。　To　break　his　tension　he　reached　insid