if.liveandletdie-第22部分

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was　saying。　'You'll　get　blanket　orders　from　Washington　just　as　soon　as　I've　spoken　to　them。　I　guarantee　they'll　give　this　top　priority。　Thanks　a　lot。　Much　appreciated。　I'll　be　around。　Okay。'
　He　hung　up。　'Thank　God　they're　co…operating；'　he　said　to　Bond；　who　was　standing　gazing　with　hard　blank　eyes　out　to　sea。　'Sending　a　couple　of　their　men　round　right　away　and　throwing　as　wide　a　net　as　they　can。　While　I　sew　this　up　with　Washington　and　New　York；　get　what　you　can　from　that　old　battle…axe。　Exact　time；　descriptions；　etc。　Better　make　out　it　was　a　burglary　and　that　Solitaire　has　skipped　with　the　men。　She'll　understand　that。　It'll　keep　the　whole　thing　on　the　level　of　the　usual　hotel　crimes。　Say　the　police　are　on　the　way　and　that　we　don't　blame　The　Everglades。　She'll　want　to　avoid　a　scandal。　Say　we　feel　the　same　way。'
　Bond　nodded。　'Skipped　with　the　men？'　That　was　possible　too。　But　somehow　he　didn't　think　so。　He　went　back　to　Solitaire's　room　and　searched　it　minutely。　It　still　smelled　of　her；　of　the　'Vent　Vert'　that　reminded　him　of　their　journey　together。　Her　hat　and　veil　were　in　the　cupboard　and　her　few　toilet　articles　on　the　shelf　in　the　bathroom。　He　soon　found　her　bag　and　knew　that　he　was　right　to　have　trusted　her。　It　was　under　the　bed　and　he　visualized　her　kicking　it　there　as　she　got　up　with　the　guns　trained　on　her。　He　emptied　it　out　on　the　bed　and　felt　the　lining。　Then　he　took　out　a　small　knife　and　carefully　cut　a　few　threads。　He　took　out　the　five　thousand　dollars　and　slipped　them　into　his　pocket…book。　They　would　be　safe　with　him。　If　she　was　killed　by　Mr。　Big；　he　would　spend　them　on　avenging　her。　He　covered　up　the　torn　lining　as　best　he　could；　replaced　the　other　contents　of　the　bag　and　kicked　it　back　under　the　bed。
　Then　he　went　up　to　the　office。
　It　was　eight　o'clock　by　the　time　the　routine　work　was　finished。　They　had　a　stiff　drink　together　and　then　went　to　the　central　dining…room；　where　the　handful　of　other　guests　were　just　finishing　their　dinner。　Everyone　looked　curiously　and　rather　fearfully　at　them。　What　were　these　two　rather　dangerous…looking　young　men　doing　in　this　place？　Where　was　the　woman　who　had　e　with　them？　Whose　wife　was　she？　What　had　all　those　goings　on　meant　that　evening？　Poor　Mrs。　Stuyvesant　running　about　looking　quite　distracted。　And　didn't　they　realize　that　dinner　was　at　seven　o'clock？　The　kitchen　staff　would　be　just　going　home。　Serve　them　right　if　their　food　was　quite　cold。　People　must　have　consideration　for　others。　Mrs。　Stuyvesant　had　said　she　thought　they　were　government　men；　from　Washington。　Well；　what　did　that　mean？
　The　consensus　of　opinion　was　that　they　were　bad　news　and　no　credit　to　the　carefully　restricted　clientele　of　The　Everglades。
　Bond　and　Leiter　were　shown　to　a　bad　table　near　the　service　door。　The　set　dinner　was　a　string　of　inflated　English　and　pidgin　French。　What　it　came　down　to　was　tomato　juice；　boiled　fish　with　a　white　sauce；　a　strip　of　frozen　turkey　with　a　dab　of　cranberry；　and　a　wedge　of　lemon　curd　surmounted　by　a　whorl　of　stiff　cream　substitute。　They　munched　it　down　gloomily　while　the　dining…room　emptied　of　its　oldster　couples　and　the　table　lights　went　out　one　by　one。　Fingerbowls；　in　which　floated　one　hibiscus　petal；　was　the　final　gracious　touch　to　their　meal。
　Bond　ate　silently　and　when　they　had　finished　Leiter　made　a　determined　effort　to　be　cheerful。
　'e　and　get　drunk；'　he　said。　'This　is　the　bad　end　to　a　worse　day。　Or　do　you　want　to　play　bingo　with　the　oldsters？　It　says　there's　a　bingo　tournament　in　the　〃romp　room〃　this　evening。'
　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　they　went　back　to　their　sitting…room　and　sat　gloomily　for　a　while；　drinking　and　staring　out　across　the　sand；　bonewhite　in　the　light　of　the　moon；　towards　the　endless　dark　sea。
　When　Bond　had　drunk　enough　to　drown　his　thoughts　he　said　good　night　and　went　off　to　Solitaire's　room；　which　he　had　now　taken　over　as　his　bedroom。　He　climbed　between　the　sheets　where　her　warm　body　had　lain　and；　before　he　slept；　he　had　made　up　his　mind。　He　would　go　after　The　Robber　as　soon　as　it　was　light　and　strangle　the　truth　out　of　him。　He　had　been　too　preoccupied　to　discuss　the　。case　with　Leiter　but　he　was　certain　that　The　Robber　must　have　had　a　big　hand　in　the　kidnapping　of　Solitaire。　He　thought　of　the　man's　little　cruel　eyes　and　the　pale　thin　lips。　Then　〃he　thought　of　the　scrawny　neck　rising　like　a　turtle's　out　of　the　dirty　sweat…shirt。　Under　the　bedclothes　the　muscles　of　his　arms　went　taut。　Then；　his　mind　made　up；　he　relaxed　his　body　into　sleep。
　He　slept　until　eight。　When　he　saw　the　time　on　his　watch　he　cursed。　He　quickly　took　a　shower；　holding　his　eyes　open　into　the　needles　of　water　until　they　smarted。　Then　he　put　a　towel　round　his　waist　and　went　into　Leiter's　room。　The　slats　of　the　jalousies　were　still　down　but　there　was　light　enough　to　see　that　neither　bed　had　been　slept　in。
　He　smiled；　thinking　that　Leiter　had　probably　finished　the　bottle　of　whisky　and　fallen　asleep　on　the　couch　in　the　living…room。　He　walked　through。　The　room　was　empty。　The　bottle　of　whisky；　still　half　full；　was　on　the　table　and　a　pile　of　cigarette　butts　overflowed　the　ash…tray。
　
　Bond　went　to　the　window；　pulled　up　the　jalousies　and　opened　it。　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　beautiful　clear　morning　before　he　turned　back　into　the　room。
　Then　he　saw　the　envelope。　It　was　on　a　chair　in　front　of　the　door　through　which　he　had　e。　He　picked　it　up。　It　contained　a　note　scribbled　in　pencil。
　
　Got　to　thinking　and　don't　feel　like　sleep。　It's　about　five　a。m。　Going　to　visit　the　worm…and…bait　store。　All　same　early　bird。　Odd　that　trick…shot　artist　was　sitting　there　while　S。　was　being　snatched。　As　if　he　knew　we　were　in　town　and　was　ready　for　trouble　in　case　the　snatch　went　wrong。　If　I'm　not　back　by　ten；　call　out　the　militia。　Tampa　88。　FELIX
　
　Bond　didn't　wait。　While　he　shaved　and　dressed　he　ordered　some　coffee　and　rolls　and　a　cab。　In　just　over　ten　minutes　he　had　got　them　all　and　had　scalded　himself　with　the　coffee。　He　was　leaving　the　cottage　when　he　heard　the　telephone　ring　in　the　living…room。　He　ran　back。
　'Mr。　Bryce？　Mound　Park　Hospital　speaking；'　said　a　voice。　'Emergency　ward。　Doctor　Roberts。　We　have　a　Mr。　Leiter　here　who's　asking　for　you。　Can　you　e　right　over？'
　'God　Almighty；'　said　Bond；　gripped　with　fear。　'What's　the　matter　with　him。　Is　he　bad？'
　'Nothing　to　worry　about；'　said　the　voice。　'Automobile　accident。　Looks　like　a　hit…and…run　job。　Slight　concussion。　Can　you　e　over？　He　seems　to　want　you。'
　'Of　course；'　said　Bond；　relieved。　'Be　there　right　away。'
　Now　what　the　hell；　he　wondered　as　he　hurried　across　the　lawn。　Must　have　been　beaten　up　and　left　in　the　road。　On　the　whole；　Bond　was　glad　it　was　no　worse。
　As　they　turned　across　Treasure　Island　Causeway　an　ambulance　passed　them；　its　bell　clanging。
　More　trouble；　thought　Bond。　Don't　seem　to　be　able　to　move　without　running　into　it。
　They　crossed　St。　Petersburg　by　Central　Avenue　and　turned　right　down　the　road　he　and　Leiter　had　taken　the　day　before。　Bond's　suspicions　seemed　to　be　confirmed　when　he　found　the　hospital　was　only　a　couple　of　blocks　from　Ourobouros　Inc。
　Bond　paid　off　the　cab　and　ran　up　the　steps　of　the　impressive　building。　There　was　a　reception　desk　in　the　spacious　entrance　hall。　A　pretty　nurse　sat　at　the　desk　reading　the　ads　in　the　St。　Petersburg　Times。
　'Dr。　Roberts？'　inquired　Bond。
　'Dr。　which？'　asked　the　girl　looking　at　him　with　approval。
　'Dr。　Roberts；　Emergency　ward；'　said　Bond　impatiently。　'Patient　called　Leiter；　Felix　Leiter。　Brought　in　this　morning。'
　'No　doctor　called　Roberts　here；'　said　the　girl。　She　ran　a　finger　down　a　list　on　the　desk。　'And　no　patient　called　Leiter。　Just　a　moment　and　I'll　call　the　ward。　What　did　you　say　your　name　was？'
　'Bryce；'　said　Bond。　'John　Bryce。'　He　started　to　sweat　profusely　although　it　was　quite　cool　in　the　hall。　He　wiped　his　wet　hands　on　his　trousers；　fighting　to　keep　from　panic。　The　damn　girl　just　didn't　know　her　job。　Too　pretty　to　be　a　nurse。　Ought　to　have　someone　petent　on　the　desk。　He　ground　his　teeth　as　she　talked　cheerfully　into　the　telephone。
　She　put　down　the　receiver。　'I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Bryce。　Must　be　some　mistake。　No　cases　during　the　night　and　they've　never　heard　of　a　Dr。　Roberts　or　a　Mr。　Leiter。　Sure　you've　got　the　right　hospital？'
　Bond　turned　away　without　answering　her。　Wiping　the　sweat　from　his　forehead；　he　made　for　the　exit。
　The　girl　made　a　face　at　his　back　and　picked　up　her　paper。
　Mercifully；　a　cab　was　just　drawing　up　with　some　other　visitors。　Bond　took　it　and　told　the　driver　to　get　him　back　quick　to　The　Everglades。　All　he　knew　was　that　they　had　got　Leiter　and　had　wanted　to　draw　Bond　away　from　the　cottage。　Bond　couldn't　make　it　out；　but　he　knew　that　suddenly　everything　was　going　bad　on　them　and　that　the　initiative　was　back　in　the　hands　of　Mr。　Big　and　his　machine。
　Mrs。　Stuyvesant　hurried　out　when　she　saw　him　leave　the　cab。
　'Your　poor　friend；'　she　said　without　sympathy。　'Really　he　should　be　more　careful。'
　'Yes；　Mrs。　Stuyvesant。　What　is　it？'　said　Bond　impatiently。
　'The　ambulance　came　just　after　you　left。'　The　woman's　eyes　were　gleaming　with　the　bad　news。　'Seems　Mr。　Leiter　was　in　an　accident　with　his　car。　They　had　to　carry　him　to　the　cottage　on　a　stretcher。　Such　a　nice　coloured　man　was　in　charge。　He　said　Mr。　Leiter　would　be　quite　all　right　but　he　mustn't　be　disturbed　on　any　account。　Poor　boy！　Face　all　covered　with　bandages。　They　said　they'd　make　him　fortable　and　a　doctor　would　be　ing　later。　If　there's　anything　I　can。。。'
　Bond　didn't　wait　for　more。　He　ran　down　the　lawn　to　the　cottage　and　dashed　through　the　lobby　into　Leiter's　room。
　There　was　the　shape　of　a　body　on　Leiter's　bed。　It　was　covered　with　a　sheet。　Over　the　face；　the　sheet　seemed　to　be　motionless。
　Bond　gritted　his　teeth　as　he　leant　over　the　bed。　Was　there　a　tiny　flutter　of　movement？
　Bond　snatched　the　shroud　down　from　the　face。　There　was　no　face。　Just　something　wrapped　round　and　round　with　dirty　bandages；　like　a　white　wasps'　nest。
　He　softly　pulled　the　sheet　down　further。　More　bandages；　still　more　roughly　wound；　with　wet　blood　seeping　through。　Then　the　top　of　a　sack　which　covered　the　lower　half　of　the　body。　Everything　soaked　in　blood。
　There　was　a　piece　of　paper　protruding　from　a　gap　in　the　bandages　where　the　mouth　should　have　been。
　Bond　pulled　it　aw