'Halt!' It was the Hitlerian scream Bond had heard before. The men stood stock still and lowered their staves. 'Kono. Remove those men.' Blofeld pointed7 down at the two casualties. 'And punish Kazama for his incompetence8. Get new teeth for the other one. And enough of this. The man will not speak with ordinary methods. If he can hear, he will not withstand the pressure of the Question Room. Take him there. The rest of the guards can wait in the audience chamber9. Also!Marsch!'
Kono fired off orders to which the guards reacted at the double. Then Kono gestured to Bond with his gun, opened a small doorway10 beside the bookcase and pointed down a narrow stone passage. Now what? Bond licked the blood from the corners of his mouth. He was near the end of his tether. Pressure? He couldn't stand much more of it. And what was this Question Room? He mentally shrugged12. There might still be a chance to get at Blofeld's throat. If only he could take that one with him! He went ahead down the passage, was deaf to the order from Kono to open the rough door at the end, had it opened for him by the guard while the pistol pressed into his spine13, and walked forward into a bizarre room of roughly hewn stone that was very hot and stank14 disgustingly of sulphur.
Blofeld and the woman entered, the door was closed and they took their places in two wooden armchairs beneath an oil lamp and a large kitchen clock whose only unusual feature was that, at each quarter, the figures were underlined in red. The hands stood at just after eleven and now, with a loud iron tick, the minute hand dropped one span. Kono gestured for Bond to advance the twelve paces to the far end of the room where there was a raised stone pedestal-seat with arms. It dripped with drying grey mud and there was the same volcanic16 filth17 on the floor all round it. Above the stone seat, in the ceiling, there was a wide circular opening through which Bond could see a patch of dark sky and stars. Kono's rubber boots squelched18 after him and Bond was gestured to sit down on the stone throne. In the centre of the seat there was a large round hole. Bond did as he was told, his skin flinching19 at the hot sticky surface of the mud. He rested his forearms wearily on the stone arms of the throne and waited, his belly20 crawling with the knowledge of what this was all about.
Blofeld spoke21 from the other end of the room. He spoke in English. He said, in a loud voice that boomed round the naked walls, 'Commander Bond, or number 007 in the British Secret Service if you prefer it, this is the Question Room, a device of my invention that has the almost inevitable23 effect of making silent people talk. As you know, this property is highly volcanic. You are now sitting directly above a geyser that throws mud, at a heat of around one thousand degrees Centigrade, a distance of approximately one hundred feet into the air. Your body is now at an elevation24 of approximately fifty feet directly above its source. I had the whimsical notion to canalize this geyser up a stone funnel25 above which you now sit. This is what is known as a periodic geyser. This particular example is regulated to erupt volcanically26 on exactly each fifteenth minute in every hour.' Blofeld looked behind him and turned back. 'You will therefore observe that you have exactly eleven minutes before the next eruption27. If you cannot hear me, or the translation that will follow, if you are a deaf and dumb Japanese as you maintain, you will not move from that chair and, at the fifteenth minute past eleven, you will suffer a most dreadful death by the incineration of your lower body. If, on the other hand, you leave the seat before the death moment, you will have demonstrated that you can hear and understand and you will then be put to further tortures which will inevitably28 make you answer my questions. These questions will seek to confirm your identity, how you come to be here, who sent you and with what purpose, and how many people are involved in the conspiracy29. You understand? You would not prefer to give up this play-acting? Very well. On the off chance that your papers are perhaps partially30 correct, my chief guard will now briefly31 explain the purpose of this room in the Japanese language.' He turned to the guard. 'Kono sag11' ihm auf japanisch den15 Zweck dieses Zimmers.'
Kono had taken up his position by the door. He now harangued32 Bond in sharp Japanese sentences. Bond paid no attention. He concentrated on regaining33 his strength. He sat relaxed and gazed nonchalantly round the room. He had remembered the final 'hell' at Beppu and he was looking for something. Ah yes! There it was I A small wooden box in the corner to the right of his throne. There was no keyhole to it. Inside that box would undoubtedly34 be the regulating valve for the geyser. Could that bit of knowledge be put to some use? Bond tucked it away and racked his tired brain for some kind of a plan. If only the agonizing35 pulse in his head would stop. He rested his elbows on his knees and gently lowered his bruised36 face into his hands. At least that guard would now be in even worse agony than he!
Kono stopped talking. The clock uttered a deep iron tick.
It ticked nine times more. Bond looked up at the black-and-white clockwork face. It said 11.14. A deep, angry grumble37 sounded from deep down beneath him. It was followed by a hard buffet38 of very hot breath. Bond got to his feet and walked slowly away from the stinking39 stone vent22 until he reached the area of the floor that was not wet with mud. Then he turned and watched. The grumble had become a far-away roar. The roar became a deep howl that swelled40 up into the room like an express train coming out of a tunnel. Then there was a mighty41 explosion and a solid jet of grey mud shot like a gleaming grey piston42 out of the hole Bond had just left and exactly penetrated43 the wide aperture44 in the ceiling.
The jet continued, absolutely solid, for perhaps half a second, and searing heat filled the room so that Bond had to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Then the grey pillar collapsed45 back into the hole and mud pattered on to the roof of the place and splashed down into the room in great steaming gobbets. A deep bubbling and burping came up the pipe and the room steamed. The stench of sulphur was sickening. In the total silence that followed, the tick of the clock to 11.16 was as loud as a gong-stroke.
Bond turned and faced the couple under the clock. He said cheerfully, 'Well, Blofeld, you mad bastard46. I'll admit that your effects man down below knows his stuff. Now bting on the twelve she-devils and if they're all as beautiful as Fraulein Bunt, we'll get Noel Coward to put it to music and have it on Broadway by Christmas. How about it?'
Blofeld turned to Irma Bunt. 'My dear girl, you were right! It is indeed the same Britischer. Remind me to buy you another string of the excellent Mr Mikimoto's grey pearls. And now let us be finished with this man once and for all. It is beyond our bedtime.'
'Yes indeed, lieber Ernst. But first he must speak.'
'Of course, Irmchen. But that can be quickly done. We have already broken his first reserves. The second line of defence will be routine. Come!'
Back up the stone passage! Back into the library! Irma Bunt back to her petit point, Blofeld back to his stance by the mantelpiece, his hand resting lightly on the boss of his great sword. It was just as if they had returned after taking part in some gracious after-dinner entertainment: a game of billiards47, a look at the stamp albums, a dull quarter of an hour with the home movies. Bond decided48: to hell with the Fukuoka miner! There was a writing-desk next to the bookshelves. He pulled out its chair and sat down. There were cigarettes and matches. He lit up and sat back, inhaling49 luxuriously50. Might as well make oneself comfortable before one went for The Big Sleep! He tapped his ash on to the carpet and crossed one knee over the other.
Blofeld pointed to the pile of Bond's possessions on the floor. 'Kono, take those away. I will examine them later. And you can wait with the guards in the outer hall. Prepare the blowlamp and the electrical machine for further examination in case it should be necessary.' He turned to Bond. 'And now -talk and you will receive an honourable51 and quick death by the sword. Have no misgivings52. I am expert with it and it is razor-sharp. If you do not talk, you will die slowly and horribly and you will talk just the same. You know from your profession that this is so. There is a degree of prolonged suffering that no human can withstand. Well?'
Bond said easily, 'Blofeld, you were never stupid. Many people in London and Tokyo know of my presence here tonight. At this moment, you might argue your way out of a capital charge. You have a lot of money and you could engage the best lawyers. But, if you kill me, you will certainly die.'
'Mister Bond, you are not telling the truth. I know the ways of officialdom as well as you do. Therefore I dismiss your story in its entirety and without hesitation53. If my presence here was officially known, a small army of policemen would have been sent to arrest me. And they would have been accompanied by a senior member of the CIA on whose WANTED list I certainly feature. This is an American sphere of influence. You might have been allowed to interview me subsequent to my arrest, but an Englishman would not have featured in the initial police action.'
'Who said this was police action? When, in England, I heard rumours54 about this place, I thought the whole project smelled of you. I obtained permission to come and have a look. But my whereabouts is known and retribution will result if I do not return.'
'That does not follow, Mister Bond. There will be no trace of your ever having seen me, no trace of your entry into the property. I happen to have certain information that fits in with your presence here. One of my agents recently reported that the Head of the Japanese Secret Service, the Koan-Chosa-Kyoku, a certain Tanaka, came down in this direction accompanied by a foreigner dressed as a Japanese. I now see that your appearance tallies55 with my agent's description.'
'Where is this man? I would like to question him.'
'He is not available.'
'Very convenient.'
A red fire began to burn deep in the black pools of Blofeld's eyes. 'You forget that it is not I who am being interrogated56, Mister Bond. It is you. Now, I happen to know all about this Tanaka. He is a totally ruthless man, and I will hazard a guess that fits the facts and that is made almost into a certitude by your crude evasions57. This man Tanaka has already lost one senior agent whom he sent down here to investigate me. You were available, on some business concerned with your profession, perhaps, and, for a consideration, or in exchange for a favour, you agreed to come here and kill me, thus tidying up a situation which is causing some embarrassment58 to the Japanese Government. I do not know or care when you learned that Doctor Guntram Shatterhand was in fact Ernst Stavro Blofeld. You have your private reasons for wanting to kill me, and I have absolutely no doubt that you kept your knowledge to yourself and passed it on to no one for fear that the official action I have described would take the place of your private plans for revenge.' Blofeld paused. He said softly, 'I have one of the greatest brains in the world, Mister Bond. Have you anything to say in reply? As the Americans say, "It had better be good."'
Bond took another cigarette and lit it. He said composedly, 'I stick to the truth, Blofeld. If anything happens to me, you, and probably the woman as an accessory, will be dead by Christmas.'
'All right, Mister Bond. But I am so sure of my facts that I am now going to kill you with my own hands and dispose of your body without more ado. On reflection, I would rather do it myself than have it done slowly by the guards. You have been a thorn in my flesh for too long. The account I have to settle with you is a personal one. Have you ever heard the Japanese expression "kirisute gomen"?'
Bond groaned59. 'Spare me the Lafcadio Hearn, Blofeld!'
'It dates from the time of the samurai. It means literally60 "killing61 and going away". If a low person hindered the
samurai's passage along the road or failed to show him proper respect, the samurai was within his rights to lop off the man's head. I regard myself as a latter-day samurai. My fine sword has not yet been blooded. Yours will be an admirable head to cut its teeth on.' He turned to Irma Bunt. 'You agree, mein Liebchen?'
The square wardress face looked up from its petit point. 'But of course, lieber Ernst. What you decide is always correct. But be careful. This animal is dangerous.'
'You forget, mein Liebchen. Since last January he has ceased to be an animal. By a simple stroke of surgery on the woman he loved, I reduced him to human dimensions.'
The dominant62, horrific figure stood away from the mantelpiece and took up his sword.
'Let me show you.'
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收听单词发音
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1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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2
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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incompetence
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| n.不胜任，不称职 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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sag
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| v.下垂，下跌，消沉；n.下垂，下跌，凹陷，[航海]随风漂流 | |
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12
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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13
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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14
stank
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| n. (英)坝，堰，池塘 动词stink的过去式 | |
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15
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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16
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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17
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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18
squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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19
flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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20
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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21
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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22
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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23
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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24
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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volcanically
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| adv.火山似地，猛烈地 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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28
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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29
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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30
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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32
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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34
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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35
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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36
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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37
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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38
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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39
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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40
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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41
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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42
piston
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| n.活塞 | |
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43
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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44
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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45
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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46
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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47
billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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48
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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49
inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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50
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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51
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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52
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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53
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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54
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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55
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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56
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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57
evasions
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| 逃避( evasion的名词复数 )； 回避； 遁辞； 借口 | |
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58
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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59
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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60
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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61
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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62
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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