if.goldfinger-第41部分

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　with　the　senior　physicians　in　the　shape　of　Midnight；　Strap；　Solo　and　Ring。　Nearby　stood　Miss　Galore　with　a　dozen　pale…faced　nurses　who　waited　with　eyes　bent　as　if　they　stood　beside　an　open　grave。　Without　makeup；　their　exotic　hair…do's　tucked　into　dark　blue　Red　Cross　caps；　they　had　been　well　rehearsed。　They　were　giving　an　excellent　performance　…　dutiful；　merciful；　dedicated　to　the　relief　of　human　suffering。
　When　the　Superintendent　saw　Goldfinger　and　his　party　approaching　he　hurried　up。　T》r　Gold？'　his　face　was　grave。　'I'm　afraid　the　news　ing　through　isn't　too　good。　Guess　it'll　all　be　in　the　papers　tonight。　All　trains　held　at　Louisville；　no　reply　from　the　depot　at　Fort　Knox。　But　we'll　get　you　through　all　right。　God　Almighty；　Doctor！　What's　going　on　down　there？　People　ing　through　from　Louisville　are　talking　about　the　Russians　spraying　something　from　the　air。　Of　course'　…　the　Superintendent　looked　keenly　at　Goldfinger　…'I'm　not　believing　that　kind　of　stuff。　But　what　is　it？　Food　poisoning？'
　Goldfinger's　face　was　solemn。　He　said　in　a　kindly　voice；　'My　friend；　that's　what　we've　got　to　find　out。　That's　why　we're　being　rushed　down。　If　you　want　me　to　make　a　guess；　but　mark　you　it's　only　a　guess；　it's　a　form　of　sleeping　sickness　…　trypanosomiasis　we　call　it。'
　'That　so？'　the　Superintendent　was　impressed　by　the　sound　of　the　malady。　'Well；　believe　you　me；　Doctor；　we're　all　mighty　proud　of　you　and　your　folks　of　the　Emergency　Force。'　He　held　out　his　hand；　Goldfinger　took　it。　'Best　of　luck；　Doc；　and　now；　if　you'll　get　your　men　and　the　nurses　on　board；　I'll　have　this　train　on　its　way　just　as　quick　as　may　be。'
　'Thank　you；　Superintendent。　My　colleagues　and　I　will　not　forget　your　services。'　Goldfinger　gave　a　short　bow。　His　contingent　moved　on。
　'Board！'
　Bond　found　himself　in　a　Pullman　with　Tilly　Masterton　across　the　aisle　and　the　Koreans　and　Germans　all　around　them。　Goldfinger　was　in　the　front　of　the　car　talking　cheerfully　with　his　satraps。　Miss　Pussy　Galore　strolled　by。　She　ignored　the　upturned　face　of　Tilly　Masterton　but　gave　Bond　the　usual　searching　glance。　There　was　a　banging　of　doors　being　closed。　Pussy　Galore　stopped　and　rested　an　arm　on　the　back　of　the　seat　in　front　of　Bond。　She　looked　down　at　him。　'Hullo；　Handsome。　Long　time　no　see。　Uncle　doesn't　seem　to　let　you　off　the　lead　much。'
　Bond　said；　'Hullo；　Beautiful。　That　outfit　suits　you　fine。　I'm　feeling　rather　faint。　How　about　doing　a　bit　of　nursing？〃
　The　deep　violet　eyes　examined　him　carefully。　She　said　softly；　'You　know　what；　Mister　Bond？　I　got　a　feeling　there's　something　phoney　about　you。　I　got　instincts；　see？　Just　what　are　you　and　that　doll'　…　she　jerked　her　head　back　…'doing　in　this　outfit？'
　'We　do　all　the　work。'
　The　train　began　to　move。　Pussy　Galore　straightened　herself。　She　said；　'Mebbe　you　do。　But　if　any　little　thing　goes　wrong　with　this　caper；　for　my　money　it'll　be　Handsome　who　knows　why。　Get　me？'
　She　didn't　wait　for　Bond's　answer；　but　moved　on　down　and　joined　the　Chiefs　of　Staff　meeting。
　It　was　a　confused；　busy　night。　Appearances　had　to　be　kept　up　before　the　inquisitive；　sympathetic　eyes　of　the　conductors。　Last…minute　conferences　up　and　down　the　train　had　to　wear　the　appearance　of　serious　medical　conclaves　…　no　cigar　smoking；　no　swearing；　no　spitting。　Jealousies　and　petition　between　the　gangs　had　to　be　kept　under　rigid　control。　The　cold　superiority　of　the　Mafia；　particularly　vis…a…vis　Jack　Strap　and　his　soft；　easy　living　crowd　from　the　West；　might　have　led　to　gunplay　if　the　chiefs　hadn't　been　ready　for　trouble　and　constantly　on　the　lookout　for　it。　All　these　minor　psychological　factors　had　been　foreseen　by　Goldfinger　and　prepared　for。　The　women　from　the　Cement　Mixers　were　carefully　segregated；　there　was　no　drinking　and　the　gang　chiefs　kept　their　men　occupied　with　further　exact　briefings；　dummy　exercises　with　maps　and　lengthy　discussions　about　their　escape　plans　with　the　gold。　There　was　casual　spying　on　each　other's　plans　and　Goldfinger　was　often　called　in　to　judge　who　should　have　which　routes　to　the　Mexican　border；　to　the　desert；　to　Canada。　To　Bond　it　was　amazing　that　a　hundred　of　the　toughest　crooks　in　America；　on　edge　with　excitement　and　greed；　could　be　kept　as　quiet　as　they　were。　It　was　Goldfinger　who　had　achieved　the　miracle。　Apart　from　the　calm；　dangerous　。quality　of　the　man；　it　was　the　minuteness　of　the　planning　and　the　confidence　he　exuded　that　calmed　the　battle　nerves　and　created　some　sort　of　a　team…spirit　among　the　rival　mobs。
　As　the　iron　gallop　of　the　train　stretched　itself　out　through　the　flat　lands　of　Pennsylvania；　gradually　the　passengers　fell　into　an　uneasy；　troubled　sleep。　But　not　Goldfinger　or　Oddjob。　They　remained　awake　and　watchful　and　soon　Bond　gave　up　any　idea　he　might　have　had　of　using　one　of　his　hidden　knives　on　Odd　job　and　making　a　bid　for　freedom　when　the　train　slowed　through　a　station　or　on　an　up…gradient。
　Bond　dozed　fitfully；　wondering；　imagining；　puzzling　over　the　Superintendent's　words。　The　Superintendent　had　certainly　thought　they　were　the　truth；　knew　that　Fort　Knox　was　in　emergency。　Was　his　news　from　Louisville　the　truth　or　part　of　the　giant　cover　plan　that　would　be　necessary　to　get　every　member　of　the　conspiracy　in　the　bag？　If　it　was　a　cover　plan；　how　meticulously　had　it　been　prepared？　Would　someone　slip　up？　Would　there　be　some　ghastly　bungle　that　would　warn　Goldfinger　in　time？　Or　if　the　news　was　true；　if　the　poison　had　been　successful；　what　did　there　remain　for　Bond　to　do？
　Bond　had　made　up　his　mind　on　one　score。　Somehow；　in　the　excitement　of　H…Hour；　he　would　get　close　to　Goldfinger　and　cut　his　throat　with　one　of　his　hidden　knives。　How　much　would　that　achieve　apart　from　an　act　of　private　vengeance？　Would　Goldfinger's　squad　accept　another　man's　order　to　arm　the　warhead　and　fire　it？　Who　would　be　strong　enough；　cool　enough　to　take　over？　Mr　Solo？　。Probably。　The　operation　would　perhaps　be　half　successful；　they　would　get　away　with　plenty　of　gold　…　except　Goldfinger's　men　who　would　be　lost　without　him　to　lead　them。　And　in　the　meantirne；　whatever　else　Bond　could　not　do；　had　sixty　thousand　people　already　died？　Was　there　anything　he　could　have　done　to　prevent　that？　Had　there　ever　been　a　chance　to　kill　Goldfinger？　Would　it　have　done　any　good　to　make　a　scene　at　Pennsylvania　Station？　Bond　stared　at　his　dark　reflection　in　the　window；　listened　to　the　sweet　ting　of　the　grade…crossing　bells　and　the　howl　of　the　windhorn　clearing　their　way；　and　shredded　his　nerves　with　doubts；　questions；　reproaches。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　
　THE　RICHEST　MAN　IN　HISTORY
　
　SLOWLY　THE　red　dawn　broke　over　the　endless　plain　of　black　grass　that　gradually　turned　to　the　famous　Kentucky　blue　as　the　sun　ironed　out　the　shadows。　At　six　o'clock　the　train　began　to　slacken　speed　and　soon　they　were　gliding　gently　through　the　waking　suburbs　of　Louisville　to　e　to　rest　with　a　sigh　of　hydraulics　in　the　echoing；　almost　deserted　station。
　A　small；　respectful　group　was　awaiting　them。　Goldfinger；　his　eyes　black…ringed　with　lack　of　sleep；　beckoned　to　one　of　the　Germans；　picked　up　his　authoritative　little　black　bag　and　stepped　down　on　to　the　platform。　There　was　a　short；　serious　conclave；　the　Louisville　Superintendent　doing　the　talking　and　Goldfinger　interjecting　a　few　questions　and　nodding　gravely　at　the　answers。　Goldfinger　turned　wearily　back　to　the　train。　Mr　Solo　had　been　deputed　to　take　his　report。　He　stood　at　the　open　door　at　the　end　of　the　Pullman。　Bond　heard　Goldfinger　say　sorrowfully；　'I　am　afraid；　Doctor；　the　situation　is　as　bad　as　we　feared。　I　will　now　go　forward　to　the　leading　diesel　with　this；'　he　held　up　the　black　bag；　'and　we　will　proceed　slowly　into　the　infected　area。　Would　you　please　tell　all　personnel　to　be　prepared　to　put　on　their　masks？　I　have　masks　for　the　driver　and　fireman。　All　other　railway　personnel　will　leave　the　train　here。'
　Mr　Solo　nodded　solemnly。　'Right；　Professor。'　He　closed　his　door。　Goldfinger　walked　off　down。the　platform　followed　by　his　German　strong…arm　man　and　the　respectful；　head…shaking　group。
　There　was　a　short　pause　and　then　silently；　almost　reverently；　the　long　train　whispered　its　way　out　of　the　station　leaving　the　little　group　of　officials；　now　reinforced　by　four　rather　shamefaced　conductors；　with　hands　raised　in　benediction。
　Thirty…five　miles；　half　an　hour；　to　go！　Coffee　and　doughnuts　were　brought　round　by　the　nurses；　and　（Goldfinger　thought　of　everything）　for　those　whose　nerves　needed　it；　two　grains　of　dexedrine。　The　nurses　were　pale；　silent。　There　were　no　jokes；　no　smart　remarks。　The　train　was　electric　with　tension。
　After　ten　minutes　there　was　a　sudden　slackening　of　speed　and　a　sharp　hiss　from　the　brakes。　Coffee　was　spilled。　The　train　almost　stopped。　Then　there　was　a　jerk　and　it　gathered　speed　again。　A　new　hand　had　taken　over　on　the　dead　man's　handle。
　A　few　minutes　later；　Mr　Strap　came　hurrying　through　the　train。　'Ten　minutes　to　go！　On　your　toes；　folks！　Squads　A；　B　and　C　get　their　equipment　on。　Everything's　going　fine。　Stay　calm。　Remember　your　duties。'　He　hurried　through　to　the　next　partment　and　Bond　heard　the　voice　repeating　its　message。
　Bond　turned　to　Oddjob。　'Listen；　you　ape；　I'm　going　to　the　lavatory　and　probably　Miss　Masterton　will　too。'　He　turned　to　the　girl。　What　about　it；　Tilly？〃
　'Yes；'　she　said　indifferently；　'I　suppose　I'd　better。〃
　Bond　said；　'Well；　go　ahead。'
　The　Korean　beside　the　girl　looked　inquiringly　at　Oddjob。　Oddjob　shook　his　head。
　Bond　said；　〃Unless　you　leave　her　alone　I'm　going　to　start　a　fight。　Goldfinger　won't　like　that。'　He　turned　to　the　girl。　'Go　ahead；　Tilly。　I'll　see　to　these　apes。'
　Oddjob　uttered　a　series　of　barks　and　snarls　which　the　other　Korean　seemed　to　understand。　The　guard　got　up　and　said；　'Okay；　but　not　locking　the　door。'　He　followed　the　girl　down　the　Pullman　and　stood　and　waited　for　her　to　e　out。
　Oddjob　carried　out　the　same　routine　with　Bond。　Once　inside；　Bond　took　off　his　right　shoe；　slid　out　the　knife　and　slipped　it　down　inside　the　waist…band　of　his　trousers。　One　shoe　would　now　have　no　heel；　but　no　one　was　going　to　notice　that　this　morning。　Bond　washed　himself。　The　face　in　the　mirror　was　pale　and　the　blue…grey　eyes　dark　with　tension。　He　went　out　and　back　to　his　seat。
　Now　there　was　a　distant　shimmer　away　to　the　right　and　a　hint　of　low　buildings　rising　like　a　m