Ian Fleming Bond 10 (1962) The Spy Who Loved Me

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one of those affiliations.
And all this trouble to send up you fellows to count the spoons and turn off
the electric light and so on." James Bond looked sympathetic. "Just crossed my
mind that the business might be on the rocks. Too bad if it is. Nice set-up
here, and a fine site."
The red fleck that I had seen once, terribly, before was now in the thin man's
eyes. He said softly, "Just suppose you bag your lip, mister. I ain't standin'
for no more limey cracks, get me? You suggestin' this ain't legit? Mebbe you
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think we set one up, huh?"
"Now don't burn yourself up, Mr. Horowitz. No need to sing the weeps." James
Bond smiled broadly. "You see, I know the lingo too." His smile suddenly went.
"And I also know where it comes from. Now, do you get me?"
I suppose he meant this was gangster, jailbird language. The thin man
certainly thought so. He looked startled, but now he had conquered his anger
and he just said, "Okay, wise guy. I've got the photo. You gumshoes are all
the same looking for dirt where there ain't none. Now, where in hell's that
pal of mine? C'mon. Let's hit the sack."
As we filed out through the back door, the lights went out. James Bond and I
stopped, but the thin man went on along the covered way as if he could see in
the dark. Sluggsy appeared round the corner of the building carrying two
oil-lamps. He handed one to each of us. His naked face, yellow in the light,
split into a grin. "Happy dreams, folks!"
James Bond followed me over to my cabin and came inside. He shut the door.
"Damned if I know what they're up to, but the first thing to do is see that
you're properly closed down for the night. Now then, let's see." He prowled
round the room, examining the window fastenings, inspecting the hinges on the
door, estimating the size of the ventilator louvers. He seemed satisfied. He
said.
"There's only the door. You say they've got the master key. We'll wedge the
door, and when I've gone, just move the desk over as an extra barricade." He
went into the bathroom, tore off strips of lavatory paper, moistened them, and
made them into firm wedges. He rammed several under the door, turned the
handle, and pulled. They held, but could have been shaken loose by ramming. He
took the wedges out again and gave them to me. Then he put his hand to the
belt of his trousers and took out a short, stumpy revolver. "Ever fired one of
these things?"
I said I'd shot at rabbits with a long-barreled .22 target pistol when I was
young.
"Well, this is a Smith and Wesson Police Positive. A real stopper. Remember to
aim low. Hold your arm out straight like this." He showed me. "And try to
squeeze the trigger and not snatch at it. But it won't really matter. I'll
hear it and I'll come running. Now remember. You've got absolute protection.
The windows are good solid stuff, and there's no way of getting in between the
glass slats, short of smashing them." He smiled. "Trust these motel designers.
They know all there is to know about break-ins. These hoodlums won't take a
shot at you through them in the dark, but, just in case, leave your bed where
it is and make up a camp bed with some cushions and bedding in that far corner
on the floor. Put the gun under your pillow. Pull the desk in front of the
door and balance the television set on the edge of it so that if anyone barges
the door they knock it off. That'll wake you, and then you just fire a shot
through the door, close to the handle, where the man will be standing, and
listen for the squawk. Got it?"
I said yes, as happily as I could, and wished he would stay in the room with
me. But I hadn't the guts to ask him, and anyway he seemed to have his own
plans.
He came up to me and kissed me gently on the lips. I was so surprised I just
stood there. He said lightly, "I'm sorry, Viv, but you're a beautiful girl. In
those overalls you're the prettiest garage-hand I've ever seen. Now don't you
worry. Get some sleep. I'll keep an eye on you."
I threw my arms round his neck and kissed him back hard, on the lips. I said,
"You're the most wonderful man I've ever met in my life. Thank you for being
here. And please, James. Be careful! You haven't seen them like I have.
They're really tough. Please
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don't get hurt."
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