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 fumbling1 under the bonnet2 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 spotted3 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 fishy4, but the new man said a word or two to him and the chef showed the whites of his eyes and went silent, surreptitiously touching5 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 auxiliary6 generators7 of the 4000 horsepower twin Diesel8 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 locomotives. The engineman and fireman who would take the great train on the first two hundred mile lap into the south lolled in the spotless aluminium9 cabin, twelve feet above the track, watching the ammeter and the air-pressure dial, ready to go-It was quiet in the great concrete cavern10 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.
'Compartment11 H,' said Bond.
'Mr. Bryce, Suh? Yassuh. Mrs. Bryce just come 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 second pillow? For any extra comfort ring for your Pullman Attendant. His name is,' then a printed card, slipped in : 'Samuel D. Baldwin.'
H was more than half-way down the car. There was a respectable-looking American couple in E, otherwise the rooms were empty. The door of H was closed. He tried it and it was locked.
'Who's that?' asked a girl's voice, anxiously.
'It's me,' said Bond.
The door opened. Bond walked through, put down his bag and locked the door behind him.
She was in a black tailor-made. A wide-mesh veil came down from the rim12 of a small black straw hat. One gloved hand was up to her throat and through the veil Bond could see that her face was pale and her eyes were wide with fear. She looked rather French and very beautiful.
'Thank God,' she said.
Bond gave a quick glance round the room. He opened the lavatory13 door and looked in. It was empty.
A voice on the platform outside called 'Board!' There was a clang as the attendant pulled up the folding iron step and shut the door and then the train was rolling quietly down the track. A bell clanged monotonously14 as they passed the automatic signals. There was a slight clatter15 from the wheels as they crossed some points and then the train began to accelerate. For better or for worse, they were on their way.
'Which seat would you like?' asked Bond.
'I don't mind,' she said anxiously. 'You choose.'
Bond shrugged16 and sat down with his back to the engine. He preferred to face forwards.
She sat down nervously17 facing him. They were still in the long tunnel that takes the Philadelphia lines out of the city.
She took off her hat and unpinned the broad-mesh veil and put them on the seat beside her. She took some hairpins18 out of the back of her hair and shook her head so that the heavy black hair fell forward. There were blue shadows under her eyes and Bond reflected that she too must have gone without sleep that night.
There was a table between them. Suddenly she reached forward and pulled his right hand towards her on the table. She held it in both her hands and bent19 forward and kissed it. Bond frowned and tried to pull his hand away, but for a moment she held it tight in both of hers.
She looked up and her wide blue eyes looked candidly20 into his.
'Thank you,' she said. 'Thank you for trusting me. It was difficult for you.' She released his hand and sat back.
'I'm glad I did,' said Bond inadequately21, his mind trying to grapple with the mystery of this woman. He dug in his pocket for his cigarettes and lighter22. It was a new pack of Chesterfields and with his right hand he scrabbled at the cellophane wrapper.
She reached over and took the pack from him. She slit23 it with her thumb-nail, took out a cigarette, lit it and handed it to him. Bond took it from her and smiled into her eyes, tasting the hint of lipstick24 from her mouth.
'I smoke about three packs a day,' he said. 'You're going to be busy.'
'I'll just help with the new packs,' she said. 'Don't be afraid I'm going to fuss over you the whole way to St. Petersburg.'
Bond's eyes narrowed and the smile went out of them.
'You don't believe I thought we were only going as far as Washington,' she said. 'You weren't very quick on the telephone this morning. And anyway, Mr. Big was certain you would make for Florida. I heard him warning his people down there about you. He spoke25 to a man called "The Robber", long distance. Said to watch the airport at Tampa and the trains. Perhaps we ought to get off the train earlier, at Tarpon Springs or one of the small stations up the coast. Did they see you getting on the train?'
'Not that I know of,' said Bond. His eyes had relaxed again. 'How about you? Have any trouble getting away?'
'It was my day for a singing lesson. He's trying to make a torch singer out of me. Wants me to go on at The Bone-yard. One of his men took me to my teacher as usual and was due to pick me up again at midday. He wasn't surprised I was having a lesson so early. I often have breakfast with my teacher so as to get away from Mr. Big. He expects me to have all my meals with him.' She looked at her watch. He noted26 cynically27 that it was an expensive one - diamonds and platinum28, Bond guessed. 'They'll be missing me in about an hour. I waited until the car had gone, then I walked straight out again and called you. Then I took a cab downtown. I bought a toothbrush and a few other things at a drugstore. Otherwise I've got nothing except my jewellery and the mad money I've always kept hidden from him. About five thousand dollars. So I won't be a financial burden.' She smiled. 'I thought I'd get my chance one day.' She gestured towards the window. 'You've given me a new life. I've been shut up with him and his nigger gangsters29 for nearly a year. This is heaven.'
The train was running through the unkempt barren plains and swamps between New York and Trenton. It wasn't an attractive prospect30. It reminded Bond of some of the stretches on the pre-war Trans-Siberian Railway except for the huge lonely hoardings advertising31 the current Broadway shows and the occasional dumps of scrap-iron and old motor cars.
'I hope I can find you something better than that,' he said smiling. 'But don't thank me. We're quits now. You saved my life last night. That is,' he added looking at her curiously32, 'if you really have got second sight.'
'Yes,' she said, 'I have. Or something very like it. I can often see what's going to happen, particularly to other people. Of course I embroider33 on it and when I was earning my living doing it in Haiti it was easy to turn it into a good cabaret act. They're riddled34 with Voodoo and superstitions35 there and they were quite certain I was a witch. But I promise that when I first saw you in that room I knew you had been sent to save me. I,' she blushed, 'I saw all sorts of things.'
'What sort of things?'
'Oh I don't know,' she said, her eyes dancing. 'Just things. Anyway, we'll see. But it's going to be difficult,' she added seriously, 'and dangerous. For both of us.' She paused. 'So will you please take good care of us?'
'I'll do my best,' said Bond. 'The first thing is for us both to get some sleep. Let's have a drink and some chicken sandwiches and then we'll get the porter to put our beds down. You mustn't be embarrassed,' he added, seeing her eyes recoil36. 'We're in this together. We have to spend twenty-four hours in a double bedroom together, and it's no good being squeamish. Anyway, you're Mrs. Bryce,' he grinned, 'and you must just act like her. Up to a point anyway,' he added.
She laughed. Her eyes speculated. She said nothing but rang the bell below the window.
The conductor arrived at the same time as the Pullman attendant. Bond ordered Old Fashioneds, and stipulated37 'Old Grandad' Bourbon, chicken sandwiches, and decaffeined 'Sanka' coffee so that their sleep would not be spoilt.
'I have to collect another fare from you, Mr. Bryce,' said the conductor.
'Of course,' said Bond. Solitaire made a movement towards her handbag. 'It's all right, darling,' said Bond, pulling out his notecase. 'You've forgotten you gave me your money to look after before we left the house.'
'Guess the lady'll need plenty for her summer frocks,' said the conductor. 'Shops is plenty expensive in St. Pete. Plenty hot down there too. You folks been to Florida before?"
'We always go at this time of year,' said Bond.
'Hope you have a pleasant trip,' said the conductor.
When the door shut behind him, Solitaire laughed delightedly.
'You can't embarrass me,' she said. 'I'll think up something really fierce if you're not careful. To begin with, I'm going in there,' she gestured towards the door behind Bond's head. 'I must look terrible.'
'Go ahead, darling,' laughed Bond as she disappeared.
Bond turned to the window and watched the pretty clapboard houses slip by as they approached Trenton. He loved trains and he looked forward with excitement to the rest of the journey.
The train was slowing down. They slid past sidings full of "empty freight cars bearing names from all over the States - 'Lackawanna', 'Chesapeake and Ohio', 'Lehigh Valley', 'Seaboard Fruit Express', and the lilting 'Acheson, Topeka and Santa Fe' - names that held all the romance of the American railroads.
'British Railways?' thought Bond. He sighed and turned his thoughts back to the present adventure.
For better or worse he had decided38 to accept Solitaire, or rather, in his cold way, to make the most of her. There were many questions to be answered but now was not the time to ask them. All that immediately concerned him was that another blow had been struck at Mr. Big - where it would hurt most, in his vanity.
As for the girl, as a girl, he reflected that it was going to be fun teasing her and being teased back and he was glad that they had already crossed the frontiers into comradeship and even intimacy39.
Was it true what The Big Man had said, that she would have nothing to do with men? He doubted it. She seemed open to love and to desire. At any rate he knew she was not closed to him. He wanted her to come back and sit down opposite him again so that he could look at her and play with her and slowly discover her. Solitaire. It was an attractive name. No wonder they had christened her that in the sleazy nightclubs of Port au Prince. Even in her present promise of warmth towards him there was much that was withdrawn40 and mysterious. He sensed a lonely childhood on some great decaying plantation41, an echoing 'Great House' slowly falling into disrepair and being encroached on by the luxuriance of the tropics. The parents dying, and the property being sold. The companionship of a servant or two and an equivocal life in lodgings42 in the capital. The beauty which was her only asset and the struggle against the shady propositions to be a 'governess', a 'companion', a'secretary', all of which meant respectable prostitution. Then the dubious43, unknown steps into the world of entertainment. The evening stint44 at the nightclub with the mysterious act which, among people dominated by magic, must have kept many away from her and made her a person to be feared. And then, one evening, the huge man with the grey face sitting at a table by himself. The promise that he would put her on Broadway. The chance of a new life, of an escape from the heat and the dirt and the solitude45.
Bond turned brusquely away from the window. A romantic picture, perhaps. But it must have been something like that.
He heard the door unlock. The girl came back and slid into the seat opposite him. She looked fresh and gay. She examined him carefully.
'You have been wondering about me,' she said. 'I felt it. Don't worry. There is nothing very bad to know. I will tell you all about it some day. When we have time. Now I want to forget about the past. I will just tell you my real name. It is Simone Latrelle, but you can call me what you like. I am twenty-five. And now I am happy. I like this little room. But I am hungry and sleepy. Which bed will you have?'
Bond smiled at the question. He reflected.
'It's not very gallant,' he said, 'but I think I'd better have the bottom one. I'd rather be close to the floor - just in case. Not that there's anything to worry about,' he added, seeing her frown, 'but Mr. Big seems to have a pretty long arm, particularly in the negro world. And that includes the railroads. Do you mind?'
'Of course not,' she said. 'I was going to suggest it. And you couldn't climb into the top one with your poor hand.'
Their lunch arrived, brought from the diner by a preoccupied46 negro waiter. He seemed anxious to be paid and get back to his work.
When they had finished and Bond rang for the Pullman porter, he also seemed distrait47 and avoided looking at Bond. He took his time getting the beds made up. He made much show of not having enough room to move around in.
Finally, he seemed to pluck up courage.
'Praps Mistress Bryce like set down nex' door while Ah git the room fixed48,' he said, looking over Bond's head. 'Nex' room goin' to be empty all way to St. Pete.' He took out a key and unlocked the communicating door without waiting for Bond's reply.
At a gesture from Bond, Solitaire took the hint. He heard her lock the door into the corridor. The negro bumped the communicating door shut.
Bond waited for a moment. He remembered the negro's name.
'Got something on your mind, Baldwin?' he asked.
Relieved, the attendant turned and looked straight at him.
'Sho' have, Mister Bryce. Yassuh.' Once started, the words came in a torrent49. 'Shouldn be tellin' yuh this, Mister Bryce, but dere's plenty trouble 'n this train this trip. Yuh gotten yoself a henemy 'n dis train, Mister Bryce. Yassuh. Ah hears tings which Ah don' like at all. Cain't say much. Get mahself 'n plenty trouble. But yuh all want to watch yo step plenty good. Yassuh. Certain party got da finger 'n yuh, Mister Bryce, 'n dat man is bad news. Better take dese hyah,' he reached in 'his pocket and brought out two wooden window wedges. 'Push dem under the doors,' he said. 'Ah cain't do nuthen else. Git mah throat cut. But Ah don' like any foolin' aroun' wid da customers 'n my cyar. Nossuh.'
Bond took the wedges from him. 'But…'
'Cain't help yuh no more, Sah,' said the negro with finality, his hand on the door. 'Ef yuh ring fo me dis evenin', Ah'll fetch yo dinner. Doan yuh go lettin' any person else in the room.'
His hand came out to take the twenty-dollar bill. He crumpled50 it into his pocket.
'Ah'll do all Ah can, Sah,' he said. 'But dey'll git me ef Ah don' watch it. Sho will.' He went out and quickly shut the door behind him.
Bond thought for a moment then he opened the communicating door. Solitaire was reading.
'He's fixed everything,' he said. 'Took a long time about it. Wanted to tell me all his life-story as well. I'll keep out of your way until you've climbed up to your nest. Call me when you're ready.'
He sat down next door in the seat she had left and watched the grim suburbs of Philadelphia showing their sores, like beggars, to the rich train.
No object in frightening her until it had to be. But the new threat had come sooner than he expected, and her danger if the watcher on the train discovered her identity would be as great as his.
She called and he went in.
The room was in darkness save for his bed-light, which she had turned on.
'Sleep well,' she said.
Bond got out of his coat. He quietly slipped the wedges firmly under both doors. Then he lay down carefully on his right side on the comfortable bed and without a thought for the future fell into a deep sleep, lulled51 by the pounding gallop52 of the train.
A few cars away, in the deserted53 diner, a negro waiter read again what he had written on a telegraph blank and waited for the ten-minute stop at Philadelphia.
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1
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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fishy
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| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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generators
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| n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司 | |
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diesel
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| n.柴油发动机，内燃机 | |
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aluminium
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| n.铝 (=aluminum) | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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lavatory
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| n.盥洗室，厕所 | |
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monotonously
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| adv.单调地，无变化地 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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18
hairpins
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| n.发夹( hairpin的名词复数 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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inadequately
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| ad.不够地；不够好地 | |
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22
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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23
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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lipstick
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| n.口红，唇膏 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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cynically
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| adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地 | |
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platinum
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| n.白金 | |
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gangsters
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| 匪徒，歹徒( gangster的名词复数 ) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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embroider
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| v.刺绣于(布)上；给…添枝加叶，润饰 | |
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34
riddled
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| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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40
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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43
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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44
stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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45
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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46
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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47
distrait
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| adj.心不在焉的 | |
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48
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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49
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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50
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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51
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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52
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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53
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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