ian fleming.casino royale-第16章

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t　fall　off　his　arms　on　to　the　floor。
　'Allez；'　said　the　thin　man　with　a　faint　trace　of　impatience。　Bond　looked　him　in　the　eye　and　then　slowly　started　to　take　off　his　shirt。
　Le　Chiffre　came　quietly　back　into　the　room。　He　carried　a　pot　of　what　smelt　like　coffee。　He　put　it　on　the　small　table　near　the　window。　He　also　placed　beside　it　on　the　table　two　other　homely　objects；　a　three…foot…long　carpet…beater　in　twisted　cane　and　a　carving　knife。
　He　settled　himself　fortably　on　the　throne…like　chair　and　poured　some　of　the　coffee　into　one　of　the　glasses。　With　one　foot　he　hooked　forward　the　small　arm…chair；　whose　seat　was　now　an　empty　circular　frame　of　wood；　until　it　was　directly　opposite　him。
　Bond　stood　stark　naked　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　bruises　showing　livid　on　his　white　body；　his　face　a　grey　mask　of　exhaustion　and　knowledge　of　what　was　to　e。
　'Sit　down　there。'　Le　Chiffre　nodded　at　the　chair　in　front　of　him。
　Bond　walked　over　and　sat　down。
　The　thin　man　produced　some　flex。　With　this　he　bound　Bond's　wrists　to　the　arms　of　the　chair　and　his　ankles　to　the　front　legs。　He　passed　a　double　strand　across　his　chest；　under　the　arm…pits　and　through　the　chair…back。　He　made　no　mistakes　with　the　knots　and　left　no　play　in　any　of　the　bindings。　All　of　them　bit　sharply　into　Bond's　flesh。　The　legs　of　the　chair　were　broadly　spaced　and　Bond　could　not　even　rock　it。
　He　was　utterly　a　prisoner；　naked　and　defenceless。
　His　buttocks　and　the　underpart　of　his　body　protruded　through　the　seat　of　the　chair　towards　the　floor。
　Le　Chiffre　nodded　to　the　thin　man　who　quietly　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　There　was　a　packet　of　Gauloises　on　the　table　and　a　lighter。　Le　Chiffre　lit　a　cigarette　and　swallowed　a　mouthful　of　coffee　from　the　glass。　Then　he　picked　up　the　cane　carpet…beater　and；　resting　the　handle　fortably　on　his　knee；　allowed　the　flat　trefoil　base　to　lie　on　the　floor　directly　under　Bond's　chair。
　He　looked　Bond　carefully；　almost　caressingly；　in　the　eyes。　Then　his　wrists　sprang　suddenly　upwards　on　his　knee。
　The　result　was　startling。
　Bond's　whole　body　arched　in　an　involuntary　spasm。　His　face　contracted　in　a　soundless　scream　and　his　lips　drew　right　away　from　his　teeth。　At　the　same　time　his　head　flew　back　with　a　jerk　showing　the　taut　sinews　of　his　neck。　For　an　instant；　muscles　stood　out　in　knots　all　over　his　body　and　his　toes　and　fingers　clenched　until　they　were　quite　white。　Then　his　body　sagged　and　perspiration　started　to　bead　all　over　his　body。　He　uttered　a　deep　groan。
　Le　Chiffre　waited　for　his　eyes　to　open。
　'You　see；　dear　boy？'　He　smiled　a　soft；　fat　smile。　'Is　the　position　quite　clear　now？'
　A　drop　of　sweat　fell　off　Bond's　chin　on　to　his　naked　chest。
　'Now　let　us　get　down　to　business　and　see　how　soon　we　can　be　finished　with　this　unfortunate　mess　you　have　got　yourself　into。'　He　puffed　cheerfully　at　his　cigarette　and　gave　an　admonitory　tap　on　the　floor　beneath　Bond's　chair　with　his　horrible　and　incongruous　instrument。
　'My　dear　boy；'　Le　Chiffre　spoke　like　a　father；　'the　game　of　Red　Indians　is　over；　quite　over。　You　have　stumbled　by　mischance　into　a　game　for　grown…ups　and　you　have　already　found　it　a　painful　experience。　You　are　not　equipped；　my　dear　boy；　to　play　games　with　adults　and　it　was　very　foolish　of　your　nanny　in　London　to　have　sent　you　out　here　with　your　spade　and　bucket。　Very　foolish　indeed　and　most　unfortunate　for　you。
　'But　we　must　stop　joking；　my　dear　fellow；　although　I　am　sure　you　would　like　to　follow　me　in　developing　this　amusing　little　cautionary　tale。'
　He　suddenly　dropped　his　bantering　tone　and　looked　at　Bond　sharply　and　venomously。
　'Where　is　the　money？'
　Bond's　bloodshot　eyes　looked　emptily　back　at　him。
　Again　the　upward　jerk　of　the　wrist　and　again　Bond's　whole　body　writhed　and　contorted。
　Le　Chiffre　waited　until　the　tortured　heart　eased　down　its　laboured　pumping　and　until　Bond's　eyes　dully　opened　again。
　'Perhaps　I　should　explain；'　said　Le　Chiffre。　'I　intend　to　continue　attacking　the　sensitive　parts　of　your　body　until　you　answer　my　question。　I　am　without　mercy　and　there　will　be　no　relenting。　There　is　no　one　to　stage　a　last…minute　rescue　and　there　is　no　possibility　of　escape　for　you。　This　is　not　a　romantic　adventure　story　in　which　the　villain　is　finally　routed　and　the　hero　is　given　a　medal　and　marries　the　girl。　Unfortunately　these　things　don't　happen　in　real　life。　If　you　continue　to　be　obstinate；　you　will　be　tortured　to　the　edge　of　madness　and　then　the　girl　will　be　brought　in　and　we　will　set　about　her　in　front　of　you。　If　that　is　still　not　enough；　you　will　both　be　painfully　killed　and　I　shall　reluctantly　leave　your　bodies　and　make　my　way　abroad　to　a　fortable　house　which　is　waiting　for　me。　There　I　shall　take　up　a　useful　and　profitable　career　and　live　to　a　ripe　and　peaceful　old　age　in　the　bosom　of　the　family　I　shall　doubtless　create。　So　you　see；　my　dear　boy；　that　I　stand　to　lose　nothing。　If　you　hand　the　money　over；　so　much　the　better。　If　not；　I　shall　shrug　my　shoulders　and　be　on　my　way。'
　He　paused；　and　his　wrist　lifted　slightly　on　his　knee。　Bond's　flesh　cringed　as　the　cane　surface　just　touched　him。
　'But　you；　my　dear　fellow；　can　only　hope　that　I　shall　spare　you　further　pain　and　spare　your　life。　There　is　no　other　hope　for　you　but　that。　Absolutely　none。'
　'Well？'
　Bond　closed　his　eyes　and　waited　for　the　pain。　He　knew　that　the　beginning　of　torture　is　the　worst。　There　is　a　parabola　of　agony。　A　crescendo　leading　up　to　a　peak　and　then　the　nerves　are　blunted　and　react　progressively　less　until　unconsciousness　and　death。　All　he　could　do　was　to　pray　for　the　peak；　pray　that　his　spirit　would　hold　out　so　long　and　then　accept　the　long　free…wheel　down　to　the　final　black…out。
　He　had　been　told　by　colleagues　who　had　survived　torture　by　the　Germans　and　the　Japanese　that　towards　the　end　there　came　a　wonderful　period　of　warmth　and　languor　leading　into　a　sort　of　sexual　twilight　where　pain　turned　to　pleasure　and　where　hatred　and　fear　of　the　torturers　turned　to　a　masochistic　infatuation。　It　was　the　supreme　test　of　will；　he　had　learnt；　to　avoid　showing　this　form　of　punch…drunkenness。　Directly　it　was　suspected　they　would　either　kill　you　at　once　and　save　themselves　further　useless　effort；　or　let　you　recover　sufficiently　your　nerves　had　crept　back　to　the　other　side　of　the　parabola。　Then　they　would　start　again。
　He　opened　his　eyes　a　fraction。
　Le　Chiffre　had　been　waiting　for　this　and　like　a　rattlesnake　the　cane　instrument　leapt　from　the　floor。　It　struck　again　and　again　so　that　Bond　screamed　and　his　body　jangled　in　the　chair　like　a　marionette。
　Le　Chiffre　desisted　only　when　Bond's　tortured　spasms　showed　a　trace　of　sluggishness。　He　sat　for　a　while　sipping　his　coffee　and　frowning　slightly　like　a　surgeon　watching　a　cardiograph　during　a　difficult　operation。
　When　Bond's　eyes　flickered　and　opened　he　addressed　him　again；　but　now　with　a　trace　of　impatience。
　'We　know　that　the　money　is　somewhere　in　your　room；'　he　said。　'You　drew　a　cheque　to　cash　for　forty　million　francs　and　I　know　that　you　went　back　to　the　hotel　to　hide　it。'
　For　a　moment　Bond　wondered　how　he　had　been　so　certain。
　'Directly　you　left　for　the　night　club；'　continued　Le　Chiffre；　'your　room　was　searched　by　four　of　my　people。'
　The　Muntzes　must　have　helped；　reflected　Bond。
　'We　found　a　good　deal　in　childish　hiding…places。　The　ball…cock　in　the　lavatory　yielded　an　interesting　little　code…book　and　we　found　some　more　of　your　papers　taped　to　the　back　of　a　drawer。　All　the　furniture　has　been　taken　to　pieces　and　your　clothes　and　the　curtains　and　bedclothes　have　been　cut　up。　Every　inch　of　the　room　has　been　searched　and　all　the　fittings　removed。　It　is　most　unfortunate　for　you　that　we　didn't　find　the　cheque。　If　we　had；　you　would　now　be　fortably　in　bed；　perhaps　with　the　beautiful　Miss　Lynd；　instead　of　this。'　He　lashed　upwards。
　Through　the　red　mist　of　pain；　Bond　thought　of　Vesper。　He　could　imagine　how　she　was　being　used　by　the　two　gunmen。　They　would　be　making　the　most　of　her　before　she　was　sent　for　by　Le　Chiffre。　He　thought　of　the　fat　wet　lips　of　the　Corsican　and　the　slow　cruelty　of　the　thin　man。　Poor　wretch　to　have　been　dragged　into　this。　Poor　little　beast。
　Le　Chiffre　was　talking　again。
　'Torture　is　a　terrible　thing；'　he　was　saying　as　he　puffed　at　a　fresh　cigarette；　'but　it　is　a　simple　matter　for　the　torturer；　particularly　when　the　patient；'　he　smiled　at　the　word；　'is　a　man。　You　see；　my　dear　Bond；　with　a　man　it　is　quite　unnecessary　to　indulge　in　refinements。　With　this　simple　instrument；　or　with　almost　any　other　object；　one　can　cause　a　man　as　much　pain　as　is　possible　or　necessary。　Do　not　believe　what　you　read　in　novels　or　books　about　the　war。　There　is　nothing　worse。　It　is　not　only　the　immediate　agony；　but　also　the　thought　that　your　manhood　is　being　gradually　destroyed　and　that　at　the　end；　if　you　will　not　yield；　you　will　no　longer　be　a　man。
　'That；　my　dear　Bond；　is　a　sad　and　terrible　thought　…　a　long　chain　of　agony　for　the　body　and　also　for　the　mind；　and　then　the　final　screaming　moment　when　you　will　beg　me　to　kill　you。　All　that　is　inevitable　unless　you　tell　me　where　you　hid　the　money。'
　He　poured　some　more　coffee　into　the　glass　and　drank　it　down　leaving　brown　corners　to　his　mouth。
　Bond's　lips　were　writhing。　He　was　trying　to　say　something。　At　last　he　got　the　word　out　in　a　harsh　croak：　'Drink；'　he　said　and　his　tongue　came　out　and　swilled　across　his　dry　lips。
　'Of　course；　my　dear　boy；　how　thoughtless　of　me。'　Le　Chiffre　poured　some　coffee　into　the　other　glass。　There　was　a　ring　of　sweat　drops　on　the　floor　round　Bond's　chair。
　'We　must　certainly　keep　your　tongue　lubricated。'
　He　laid　the　handle　of　the　carpet…beater　down　on　the　floor　between　his　thick　legs　and　rose　from　his　chair。　He　went　behind　Bond　and　taking　a　handful　of　his　soaking　hair　in　one　hand；　he　wrenched　Bond's　head　sharply　back。　He　poured　the　coffee　down　Bond's　throat　in　small　mouthfuls　so　that　he　would　not　choke。　Then　he　released　his　head　so　that　it　fell　forward　again　on　his　chest。　He　went　back　to　his　chair　and　picked　up　the　carpet…beater。
　Bond　raised　his　head　and　spoke　thickly。
　'Money　no　good　to　you。'　His　voice　was　a　laborious　croak。　'Police　trace　it　to　you。'
　Exhausted　by　the　effort；　his　head　sank　forward　again。　He　was　a　little；　but　only　a　little；　exaggerating　the　extent　of　his　physical　collapse。　Anything　to　gain　time　and　anything　to　defer　the　next　searing　pain。
　'Ah；　my　dear　fellow；　I　had　forgotten　to　tell　you。'　Le　Chiffre　smiled　wolfishly。　'We　met　after　our　little　game　at　the　Casino　and　you　were　such　a　sportsman　that　you　agreed　we　would　have　one　more　run　through　the　pack　between　the　two　of　us。　It　was　a　gallant　gesture。　Typical　of　an　English　gentleman。
　'Unfortunately　you　lost　and　this　upset　you　so　much　that　you　decided　to　leave　Royale　immediately　for　an　unknown　destination。　Like　the　gentleman　you　are；　you　very　kindly　gave　me　a　note　explaining　the　circumstances　so　that　I　would　have　no　difficulty　in　cashing　your　cheque。　You　see；　dear　boy；　everything　has　been　thought　of　and　you　need　have　no　fears　on　my　account。'　He　chuckled　fatly。
　'Now　shall　we　continue？　I　have　all　the　time　in　the　world　and　truth　to　tell　I　am　rather　interested　to　see　how　long　a　man　can　stand　this　particular　form　of　。　。　。　er　。　。　。　encouragement。'　He　rattled　the　harsh　cane　on　the　floor。
　So　that　was　the　score；