if.liveandletdie-第14部分

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　That's　all　right。　Keep　fit。　Goodbye。'
　'Goodbye；　Sir。'
　Bond　put　down　the　telephone。　He　grinned。　He　could　imagine　M　calling　in　the　Chief　of　Staff；　'007's　already　tangled　up　with　the　FBI。　Dam'　fool　went　up　to　Harlem　last　night　and　bumped　off　three　of　Mr。　Big's　men。　Got　hurt　himself；　apparently；　but　not　much。　Got　to　get　out　of　town　with　Leiter；　the　CIA　man。　Going　down　to　St。　Petersburg。　Better　warn　A　and　C。　Expect　we'll　have　Washington　round　our　ears　before　the　day's　over。　Tell　A　to　say　I　fully　sympathize；　but　that　007　has　my　full　confidence　and　I'm　sure　he　acted　in　self…defence。　Won't　happen　again；　and　so　forth。　Got　that？'　Bond　grinned　again　as　he　thought　of　Damon's　exasperation　at　having　to　dish　out　a　lot　of　soft　soap　to　Washington　when　he　probably　had　plenty　of　other　Anglo…American　snarls　to　disentangle。
　The　telephone　rang。　It　was　Leiter　again。　'Now　listen；'　he　said。　'Everybody's　calming　down　somewhat。　Seems　the　men　you　got　were　a　pretty　nasty　trio　…　Tee…Hee　Johnson；　Sam　Miami　and　a　man　called　McThing。　All　wanted　on　various　counts。　The　F　B　I's　covering　up　for　you。　Reluctantly　of　course；　and　the　Police　are　stalling　like　mad。　The　FBI　big　brass　had　already　asked　my　Chief　for　you　to　be　sent　home　…　got　him　out　of　bed；　if　you　please　…　mostly　jealousy；　I　guess　…　but　we've　killed　all　that。　Same　time；　we've　both　got　to　quit　town　at　once。　That's　all　fixed　too。　We　can't　go　together；　so　you're　taking　the　train　and　I'll　fly。　Jot　this　down。'
　Bond　cradled　the　telephone　against　his　shoulder　and　reached　for　a　pencil　and　paper。　'Go　ahead；'　he　said。
　'Pennsylvania　Station。　Track　14。　Ten…thirty　this　morning。　〃The　Silver　Phantom〃。　Through　train　to　St。　Petersburg　via　Washington；　Jacksonville　and　Tampa。　I've　got　you　a　partment。　Very　luxurious。　Car　245；　partment　H。　Ticket'll　be　on　the　train。　Conductor　will　have　it。　In　the　name　of　Bryce。　Just　go　to　Gate　14　and　down　to　the　train。　Then　straight　to　your　partment　and　lock　yourself　in　till　the　train　starts。　I'm　flying　down　in　an　hour　by　Eastern；　so　you'll　be　alone　from　now　on。　If　you　get　stuck　call　Dexter；　but　don't　be　surprised　if　he　bites　your　head　off。　Train　gets　in　around　midday　tomorrow。　Take　a　cab　and　go　to　the　Everglades　Cabanas；　Gulf　Boulevard　West；　on　Sunset　Beach。　That's　on　a　place　called　Treasure　Island　where　all　the　beach　hotels　are。　Connected　with　St。　Petersburg　by　a　causeway。　Cabby'll　know　it。
　Til　be　waiting　for　you。　Got　all　that？　And　for　God's　sake　watch　out。　And　I　mean　it。　The　Big　Man'll　get　you　if　he　possibly　can　and　a　police　escort　to　the　train　would　only　put　the　finger　on　you。　Take　a　cab　and　keep　out　of　sight。　I'm　sending　you　up　another　hat　and　a　fawn　raincoat。　The　check's　taken　care　of　at　the　St。　Regis。　That's　the　lot。　Any　questions？'
　'Sounds　fine；'　said　Bond。　'I've　talked　to　M　and　he'll　square　Washington　if　there's　any　trouble。　Look　after　yourself　too；'　he　added。　'You'll　be　next　on　the　list　after　me。　See　you　tomorrow。　So　long。'
　Til　watch　out；'　said　Leiter。　〃Bye。'
　It　was　half…past　six　and　Bond　pulled　back　the　curtains　in　the　sitting…room　and　watched　the　dawn　e　up　over　the　city。　It　was　still　dark　down　in　the　caverns　below　but　the　tips　of　the　great　concrete　stalagmites　were　pink　and　the　sun　lit　up　the　windows　floor　by　floor　as　if　an　army　of　descending　janitors　was　at　work　in　the　buildings。
　The　police　surgeon　came；　stayed　for　a　painful　quarter　of　an　hour　and　left。
　'Clean　fracture；'　he　had　said。　'Take　a　few　days　to　heal。　How　did　you　e　by　it？'
　'Caught　it　in　a　door；'　said　Bond。
　'You　ought　to　keep　away　from　doors；'　mented　the　surgeon。　'They're　dangerous　things。　Ought　to　be　forbidden　by　law。　Lucky　you　didn't　catch　your　neck　in　this　one。'
　When　he　had　gone；　Bond　finished　packing。　He　was　wondering　how　soon　he　could　order　breakfast　when　the　telephone　rang。
　Bond　was　expecting　a　harsh　voice　from　the　Police　or　the　FBI。　Instead；　a　girl's　voice；　low　and　urgent；　asked　for　Mr。　Bond。
　'Who's　calling？'　asked　Bond；　gaining　time。　He　knew　the　answer。
　'I　know　it's　you；'　said　the　voice；　and　Bond　could　feel　that　it　was　right　up　against　the　mouthpiece。　'This　is　Solitaire。'　The　name　was　scarcely　breathed　into　the　telephone。
　Bond　waited；　all　his　senses　pricked　to　what　might　be　the　scene　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。　Was　she　alone？　Was　she　speaking　foolishly　on　a　house…phone　with　extensions　to　which　other　listeners　were　now　coldly；　intently　glued？　Or　was　she　in　a　room　with　only　Mr。　Big's　eyes　bent　carefully　on　her；　a　pencil　and　pad　beside　him　so　that　he　could　prompt　the　next　question？
　'Listen；'　said　the　voice。　I've　got　to　be　quick。　You　must　trust　me。　I'm　in　a　drugstore；　but　I　must　get　back　at　once　to　my　room。　Please　believe　me。'
　Bond　had　his　handkerchief　out。　He　spoke　into　it。　'If　I　can　reach　Mr。　Bond　what　shall　I　tell　him？'
　'Oh　damn　you；'　said　the　girl　with　what　sounded　like　a　genuine　touch　of　hysteria。　'I　swear　by　my　mother；　by　my　unborn　children。　I've　got　to　get　away。　And　so　have　you。　You've　got　to　take　me。　I'll　help　you。　I　know　a　lot　of　his　secrets。　But　be　quick。　I'm　risking　my　life　here　talking　to　you。'　She　gave　a　sob　of　exasperation　and　panic。　'For　God's　sake　trust　me。　You　must。　You　must！'
　Bond　still　paused；　his　mind　working　furiously。
　'Listen；'　she　spoke　again；　but　this　time　dully；　almost　hopelessly。　'If　you　don't　take　me；　I　shall　kill　myself。　Now　will　you？　Do　you　want　to　murder　me？'
　If　it　was　acting；　it　was　too　good　acting。　It　was　still　an　unpardonable　gamble；　but　Bond　decided。　Fie　spoke　directly　into　the　telephone；　his　voice　low。
　'If　this　is　a　double…cross；　Solitaire；　I'll　get　at　you　and　kill　you　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do。　Have　you　got　a　pencil　and　paper？'
　'Wait；'　said　the　girl；　excitedly。　'Yes；　yes。'
　If　it　had　been　a　plant；　reflected　Bond；　all　that　would　have　been　ready。
　'Be　at　Pennsylvania　Station　at　ten…twenty　exactly。　The　Silver　Phantom　to。。。'　he　hesitated。　'。。。　to　Washington。　Car　245；　partment　H。　Say　you're　Mrs。　Bryce。　Conductor　has　the　ticket　in　case　I'm　not　there　already。　Go　straight　to　the　partment　and　wait　for　me。　Got　that？'
　'Yes；'　said　the　girl；　'and　thank　you；　thank　you。'
　'Don't　be　seen；'　said　Bond。　'Wear　a　veil　or　something。'
　'Of　course；'　said　the　girl。　'I　promise。　I　really　promise。　I　must　go。'　She　rang　off。
　Bond　looked　at　the　dead　receiver；　then　put　it　down　on　the　cradle。　'Well；'　he　said　aloud。　'That's　torn　it。'
　He　got　up　and　stretched。　He　walked　to　the　window　and　looked　out；　seeing　nothing。　His　thoughts　raced。　Then　he　shrugged　and　turned　back　to　the　telephone。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　seven…thirty。
　'Room　Service；　good　morning；'　said　the　golden　voice。
　'Breakfast；　please；'　said　Bond。　'Pineapple　juice；　double。　Cornflakes　and　cream。　Shirred　eggs　with　bacon。　Double　portion　of　Cafe　Espresso。　Toast　and　marmalade。'
　'Yes；　Sir；'　said　the　girl。　She　repeated　the　order。　'Right　away。'
　'Thank　you。'
　'You're　wele。'
　Bond　grinned　to　himself。
　'The　condemned　man　made　a　hearty　breakfast；'　he　reflected。　He　sat　down　by　the　window　and　gazed　up　at　the　clear　sky；　into　the　future。
　Up　in　Harlem；　at　the　big　switchboard；　The　Whisper　was　talking　to　the　town　again；　passing　Bond's　description　again　to　all　Eyes　：　'All　de　railroads；　all　de　airports。　Fifth　Avenue　an'　55th　Street　doors　of　da　San　Regis。　Mr。　Big　sez　we　gotta　chance　da　highways。　Pass　it　down　da　line。　All　de　railroads；　all　de　airports。。。'
　
　CHAPTER　X
　THE　SILVER　PHANTOM
　
　BOND；　the　collar　of　his　new　raincoat　up　round　his　ears；　was　missed　as　he　came　out　of　the　entrance　of　the　St。　Regis　Drugstore　on　55th　Street；　which　has　a　connecting　door　into　the　hotel。
　He　waited　in　the　entrance　and　leaped　at　a　cruising　cab；　hooking　the　door　open　with　the　thumb　of　his　injured　hand　and　throwing　his　light　suitcase　in　ahead　of　him。　The　cab　hardly　checked。　The　negro　with　the　collecting…box　for　the　Coloured　Veterans　of　Korea　and　his　colleague　fumbling　under　the　bonnet　of　his　stalled　car　stayed　on　the　job　until；　much　later；　they　were　called　off　by　a　man　who　drove　past　and　sounded　two　shorts　and　a　long　on　his　horn。
　But　Bond　was　immediately　spotted　as　he　left　his　cab　at　the　drive…in　to　the　Pennsylvania　Station。　A　lounging　negro　with　a　wicker　basket　walked　quickly　into　a　call…box。　It　was　ten…fifteen。
　Only　fifteen　minutes　to　go　and　yet；　just　before　the　train　started；　one　of　the　waiters　in　the　diner　reported　sick　and　was　hurriedly　replaced　by　a　man　who　had　received　a　full　and　careful　briefing　on　the　telephone。　The　chef　swore　there　was　something　fishy；　but　the　new　man　said　a　word　or　two　to　him　and　the　chef　showed　the　whites　of　his　eyes　and　went　silent；　surreptitiously　touching　the　lucky　bean　that　hung　round　his　neck　on　a　string。
　Bond　had　walked　quickly　through　the　great　glass…covered　concourse　and　through　Gate　14　down　to　his　train。
　It　lay；　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of　silver　carriages；　quietly　in　the　dusk　of　the　underground　station。　Up　front；　the　auxiliary　generators　of　the　4000　horsepower　twin　Diesel　electric　units　ticked　busily。　Under　the　bare　electric　bulbs　the　horizontal　purple　and　gold　bands；　the　colours　of　the　Seaboard　Railroad；　glowed　regally　on　the　streamlined　lootives。　The　engineman　and　fireman　who　would　take　the　great　train　on　the　first　two　hundred　mile　lap　into　the　south　lolled　in　the　spotless　aluminium　cabin；　twelve　feet　above　the　track；　watching　the　ammeter　and　the　air…pressure　dial；　ready　to　go…It　was　quiet　in　the　great　concrete　cavern　below　the　city　and　every　noise　threw　an　echo。
　There　were　not　many　passengers。　More　would　be　taken　on　at　Newark；　Philadelphia；　Baltimore　and　Washington。　Bond　walked　a　hundred　yards；　his　feet　ringing　on　the　empty　platform；　before　he　found　Car　245　towards　the　rear　of　the　train。　A　Pullman　porter　stood　at　the　door。　He　wore　spectacles。　His　black　face　was　bored　but　friendly。　Below　the　windows　of　the　carriage；　in　broad　letters　of　brown　and　gold；　was　written　'Richmond；　Fredericksburg　and　Potomac'；　and　below　that　'Bellesylvania'；　the　name　of　the　Pullman　car。　A　thin　wisp　of　steam　rose　from　the　couplings　of　the　central　heating　near　the　door。
　'partment　H；'　said　Bond。
　'Mr。　Bryce；　Suh？　Yassuh。　Mrs。　Bryce　just　e　aboard。　Straight　down　da　cyar。'
　Bond　stepped　on　to　the　train　and　turned　down　the　drab　olive　green　corridor。　The　carpet　was　thick。　There　was　the　usual　American　train…smell　of　old　cigar…smoke。　A　notice　said　'Need　a　se