The boom of the guns and the explosion of screeching10 marsh11 birds gave him an approximate fix. He had been born not far away, at Negril, and as a boy he had often used his gins and his slingshot in these marshes12. They held no fears for him. When he came to the approximate point on the riverbank, he turned left into the mangrove13, and conscious that his black-and-blue uniform was desperately14 conspicuous15, stalked cautiously from clump16 to clump into the morass17. He was protected by nothing but his nightstick and the knowledge that to kill a policeman was a capital offence without the option. He only hoped that the good man and the bad man knew this too.
With all the birds gone, there was dead silence. The constable noticed that the tracks of bush rats and other small animals were running past him on a course that converged18 with his target area. Then he heard the rattling19 scuttle20 of the crabs21, and in a moment, from behind a thick mangrove clump, he saw the glint of Scaramanga's shirt. He watched and listened. There was no movement and no sound. He strolled, with dignity, into the middle of the clearing, looked at the two bodies and the guns, and took out his nickel police whistle and blew three long blasts. Then he sat down in the shade of a bush, took out his report pad, licked his pencil, and began writing in a laborious22 hand.
A week later, James Bond regained23 consciousness. He was in a green-shaded room. He was under water. The slowly revolving24 fan in the ceiling was the screw of a ship that was about to run him down. He swam for his life. But it was no good. He was tied down, anchored to the bottom of the sea. He screamed at the top of his lungs. To the nurse at the end of the bed it was the whisper of a moan. At once she was beside him. She put a cool hand on his forehead. While she took his pulse, James Bond looked up at her with unfocused eyes. So this was what a mermaid25 looked like! He muttered "You're pretty," and gratefully swam back down into her arms.
The nurse wrote ninety-five on his sheet and telephoned down to the ward26 sister. She looked in the dim mirror and tidied her hair in preparation for the R.M.O. in charge of this apparently27 Very Important Patient.
The Resident Medical Officer, a young Jamaican graduate from Edinburgh, arrived with the matron, a kindly28 dragon on loan from King Edward VII's. He heard the nurse's report. He went over to the bed and gently lifted Bond's eyelids29. He slipped a thermometer under Bond's armpit and held Bond's pulse in one hand and a pocket chronometer30 in the other, and there was silence in the little room. Outside, the traffic tore up and down a Kingston road.
The doctor released Bond's pulse and slipped the chronometer back into the trouser pocket under the white smock. He wrote figures on the chart. The nurse held the door open, and the three people went out into the corridor. The doctor talked to the matron. The nurse was allowed to listen. "He's going to be all right. Temperature well down. Pulse a little fast, but that may have been the result of his waking. Reduce the antibiotics31. I'll talk to the floor sister about that later. Keep on with the intravenous feeding. Dr. Macdonald will be up later to attend to the dressings32. He'll be waking again. If he asks for something to drink, give him fruit juice. He should be on soft foods soon. Miracle really. Missed the abdominal33 viscera. Didn't even shave a kidney. Muscle only. That bullet was dipped in enough poison to kill a horse. Thank God that man at Sav' La Mar1 recognized the symptoms of snake venom34 and gave him those massive anti-snakebite injections. Remind me to write to him, matron. He saved the man's life. Now then, no visitors of course, for at least another week. You can tell the police and the High Commissioner35's Office that he's on the mend. I don't know who he is, but apparently London keeps on worrying us about him. Something to do with the Ministry36 of Defence. From now on, put them and all other inquiries37 through to the High Commissioner's Office. They seem to think they're in charge of him." He paused. "By the way, how's his friend getting on in Number Twelve? The one the American ambassador and Washington have been on about. He's not on my list, but he keeps on asking to see this Mr. Bond."
"Compound fracture of the tibia," said the matron. "No complications." She smiled. "Except that he's a bit fresh with the nurses. He should be walking with a stick in ten days. He's already seen the police. I suppose it's all to do with that story in the Gleaner38 about those American tourists being killed when the Orange River Bridge collapsed39. But the Commissioner's handling it all personally. The story in the Gleaner's very vague."
The doctor smiled. "Nobody tells me anything. Just as well. I haven't got the tune41 to listen to them. Well, thank you, matron. I must get along. Multiple crash at Halfway42 Tree. The ambulances'll be here any minute." He hurried away. The matron went about her business. The nurse, excited by all this high-level talk, went softly back into the green-shaded room, tidied the sheet over the naked right shoulder of her patient where the doctor had pulled it down, and went back to her chair at the end of the bed and her copy of Ebony.
Ten days later, the little room was crowded. James Bond, propped43 up among extra pillows, was amused by the galaxy44 of officialdom that had been assembled. On his left was the Commissioner of Police, resplendent in his black uniform with silver insignia. On his right was a justice of the Supreme45 Court in full regalia, accompanied by a deferential46 clerk. A massive figure, to whom Felix Leiter, on crutches47, was fairly respectful, had been introduced as "Colonel Bannister" from Washington. Head of Station C, a quiet civil servant called Alec Hill, who had been flown out from London, stood near the door and kept his appraising48 eyes unwaveringly on Bond. Mary Goodnight, who was to take notes of the proceedings49 but also, on the matron's strict instructions, watch for any sign of fatigue50 in James Bond and have absolute authority to close the meeting if he showed strain, sat demurely51 beside the bed with a shorthand pad on her knees. But James Bond felt no strain. He was delighted to see all these people and know that at last he was back in the great world again. The only matters that worried him were that he had not been allowed to see Felix Leiter before the meeting to agree their stories and that he had been rather curtly52 advised by the High Commissioner's Office that legal representation would not be necessary.
The Police Commissioner cleared his throat. He said, "Commander Bond, our meeting here today is largely a formality, but it is held on the Prime Minister's instructions and with your doctor's approval. There are many rumours53 running around the island and abroad, and Sir Alexander Bustamante is most anxious to have them dispelled54 for the sake of justice and of the island's good name. So this meeting is in the nature of a judicial55 inquiry56 having Prime Ministerial status. We very much hope that, if the conclusions of the meeting are satisfactory, there need be no more legal proceedings whatever. You understand?"
"Yes," said Bond-who didn't.
"Now," the Commissioner spoke57 weightily. 'The facts as ascertained58 are as follows. Recently there took place at the Thunderbird Hotel in the Parish of Westmoreland a meeting of what can only be described as foreign gangsters59 of outstanding notoriety, including representatives of the Soviet61 secret service, the Mafia, and the Cuban secret police. The objects of this meeting were, inter62 alia, sabotage63 of Jamaican installations in the cane64 industry, stimulation65 of illicit66 ganja-growing in the island and purchase of the crop for export, the bribery67 of a high Jamaican official with the object of installing gangster-run gambling68 in the island, and sundry69 other malfeasances deleterious to law and order in Jamaica and to her international standing60. Am I correct, Commander?"
"Yes," said Bond, this tune with a clear conscience.
"Now." The Commissioner spoke with even greater emphasis. "The intentions of this subversive70 group became known to the Criminal Investigation71 Department of the Jamaican police and the facts of the proposed assembly were placed before the Prime Minister in person by myself. Naturally the greatest secrecy72 was observed. A decision then had to be reached as to how this meeting was to be kept under surveillance and penetrated73 so that its intentions might be learned. Since friendly nations, including Britain and the United States, were involved, secret conversations took place with the representatives of the Ministry of Defence in Britain and of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States. As a result, expert personnel in the shape of yourself, Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Leiter were generously made available, at no cost to the Jamaican government, to assist in unveiling these secret machinations against Jamaica held on Jamaican soil." The Commissioner paused and looked round the room to see if he had stated the position correctly. Bond noticed that Felix Leiter nodded his head vigorously with the others, but, in his case, in Bond's direction.
Bond smiled. He had at last got the message. He also nodded his agreement.
"Accordingly," continued the Commissioner, "and working throughout under the closest liaison74 and direction of the Jamaican C.I.D., Messrs. Bond, Nicholson, and Leiter carried out their duties in exemplary fashion. The true intentions of the gangsters were unveiled, but alas75, in the process, the identity of at least one of the Jamaica-controlled agents was discovered and a battle royal took place. During the course of this, thanks to the superior gunfire of Commander Bond the following enemy agents- here there will be a list-were killed. Immediately after, thanks to Mr. Letter's ingenious use of explosive on the Orange River Bridge, the following-another list-lost their lives. Unfortunately, two of the Jamaica-controlled agents received severe wounds from which they are now recovering in the Memorial Hospital. It remains77 to mention the names of Constable Percival Sampson of the Negril Constabulary, who was first on the scene of the final battlefield, and Dr. Lister Smith of Savannah La Mar, who rendered vital first aid to Commander Bond and Mr. Leiter. On the instructions of the Prune78 Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, a judicial inquiry was held this day at the bedside of Commander Bond and in the presence of Mr. Felix Leiter to confirm the above facts. These, in the presence of Justice Morris Cargill of the Supreme Court, are now and hereby confirmed."
The Commissioner was obviously delighted with his rendering79 of all this rigmarole. He beamed at Bond. "It only remains" he handed Bond a sealed packet, a similar one to Felix Leiter, and one to Colonel Bannister-"to confer on Commander Bond of Great Britain, Mr. Felix Leiter of the United States, and, in absentia, Mr. Nicholas Nicholson of the United States, the immediate76 award of the Jamaican Police Medal for gallant80 and meritorious81 services to the Independent State of Jamaica."
There was muted applause. Mary Goodnight went on clapping after the others had stopped. She suddenly realized the fact, blushed furiously, and stopped.
James Bond and Felix Leiter made stammered82 acknowledgments. Justice Cargill rose to his feet and, in solemn tones, asked Bond and Leiter in turn, "Is this a true and correct account of what occurred between the given dates?"
"Yes, indeed," said Bond.
"I'll say it is, Your Honour," said Felix Leiter fervently83.
The Judge bowed. All except Bond rose and bowed. Bond just bowed. "In that case, I declare this inquiry closed." The bewigged figure turned to Miss Goodnight. "If you will be land enough to obtain all the signatures, duly witnessed, and send them round to my chambers84? Thank you so much." He paused and smiled. "And the carbon, if you don't mind?"
"Certainly, my lord." Mary Goodnight glanced at Bond. "And now, if you will forgive me, I think the patient needs a rest. Matron was most insistent85. . . ."
Goodbyes were said. Bond called Leiter back. Mary Goodnight smelled private secrets. She admonished86, "Now, only a minute!" and went out and closed the door.
Leiter leant over the end of the bed. He wore his most quizzical smile. He said, "Well, I'll be goddamned, James. That was the neatest wrapup job I've ever lied my head off at. Everything clean as a whistle, and we've even collected a piece of lettuce87."
Talking starts with the stomach muscles. Bond's wounds were beginning to ache. He smiled, not showing the pain. Leiter was due to leave that afternoon. Bond didn't want to say goodbye to him.. Bond treasured his men friends and Felix Leiter was a great slice of his past. He said, "Scaramanga was quite a guy. He should have been taken alive. Maybe Tiffy really did put the hex on him with Mother Edna. They don't come like that often."
Leiter was unsympathetic. "That's the way you limeys talk about Rommel and Donitz and Guderian. Let alone Napoleon. Once you've beaten them, you make heroes out of them. Don't make sense to me. In my book, an enemy's an enemy. Care to have Scaramanga back? Now, in this room, with his famous golden gun on you-the long one or the short one? Standing where I am? One bets you a thousand you wouldn't. Don't be a jerk, James. You did a good job. Pest control. It's got to be done by someone. Going back to it when you're off the orange juice?"
Felix Leiter jeered88 at him. "Of course you are, lamebrain. It's what you were put into the world for. Pest control, like I said. All you got to figure is how to control it better. The pests'll always be there. God made dogs. He also made their fleas89. Don't let it worry your tiny mind. Right?" Leiter had seen the sweat on James Bond's forehead. He limped towards the door and opened it. He raised a hand briefly90. The two men had never shaken hands in their lives. Leiter looked into the corridor. He said, "Okay, Miss Goodnight. Tell matron to take him off the danger list. And tell him to keep away from me for a week or two. Every time I see him a piece of me gets broken off. I don't fancy myself as The Vanishing Man." Again he raised his only hand in Bond's direction and limped out.
Bond shouted, "Wait, you bastard91!" But, by the time Leiter had limped back into the room, Bond, no effort left in him to fire off the volley of four-letter words that were to be his only answer to his friend, had lapsed40 into unconsciousness.
Mary Goodnight shooed the remorseful92 Leiter out of the room and ran off down the corridor to the floor sister.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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wrecking
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| 破坏 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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jauntiness
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| n.心满意足；洋洋得意；高兴；活泼 | |
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screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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mangrove
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| n.(植物)红树，红树林 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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converged
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| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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crabs
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| n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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mermaid
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| n.美人鱼 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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antibiotics
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| n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 ) | |
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dressings
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| n.敷料剂；穿衣( dressing的名词复数 )；穿戴；（拌制色拉的）调料；（保护伤口的）敷料 | |
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abdominal
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| adj.腹（部）的，下腹的；n.腹肌 | |
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venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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gleaner
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| n.拾穗的人；割捆机 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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41
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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46
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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47
crutches
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| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
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appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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49
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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50
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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51
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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52
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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54
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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56
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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57
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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58
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gangsters
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| 匪徒，歹徒( gangster的名词复数 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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Soviet
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| adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃 | |
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62
inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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63
sabotage
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| n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏 | |
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64
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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stimulation
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| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
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66
illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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subversive
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| adj.颠覆性的，破坏性的；n.破坏份子，危险份子 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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73
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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74
liaison
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| n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通 | |
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75
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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76
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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77
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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78
prune
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| n.酶干；vt.修剪，砍掉，削减；vi.删除 | |
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79
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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80
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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81
meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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82
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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84
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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85
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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86
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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87
lettuce
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| n.莴苣；生菜 | |
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88
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
fleas
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| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
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90
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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91
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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92
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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