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〃camera〃 by its strap over his left shoulder。 〃Now run those wires from the watch up my sleeve and down inside my coat。 Right。 Now these two small plugs go through these holes in my coat pocket and into the two holes in the box。 Got it？ Now we're all fixed。〃 Leiter stood back and posed。 〃Man with a camera and a wrist watch。〃 He unbuttoned the flap of the camera。 〃See？ Perfectly good lenses and all that。 Even a button to press in case you have to seem to take a picture。 But in back of the make…believe there's a metal valve； a circuit； and batteries。 Now take a look at this watch。 And it is a watch。〃 He held it under Bond's eyes。 〃Only difference is that it's a very small watch mechanism and that sweep secondhand is a meter that takes the radioactive count。 Those wires up the sleeve hitch it on to the machine。 Now then。 You're still wearing that old wrist watch of yours with the big phosphorus numerals。 So I walk round the room for a moment to get the background count。 That's basic。 All sorts of things give off radiation of some sort。 And I take an occasional glance at my watch…nervous type； and I've got an appointment ing up。 Now here； by the bathroom； all that metal is giving off something and my watch is registering positive； but very little。 Nothing else in the room and I've established the amount of background interference I'll have to discount when I start to get hot。 Right？ Now I e close up to you and my camera's only a few inches away from your hand。 Here； took a look。 Put your watch right up against the counter。 See！ The sweephand is getting all excited。 Move your watch away and it loses interest。 It's those phosphorus numerals of yours。 Remember the other day one of the watch panies withdrew an air pilots' watch from the market because the Atomic Energy People got fussy？ Same thing。 They thought this particular pilots' watch； with the big phosphorescent numerals； was giving off too much radiation to be good for the wearer。 Of course〃…Leiter patted the camera case…〃this is a special job。 Most types give off a clicking sound； and if you're prospecting for uranium； which is the big market for these machines； you wear earphones to try and pick up the stuff underground。 For this job we don't need anything so sensitive。 If we get near where those bombs are hidden； this damned sweephand'll go right off the dial。 Okay？ So let's go hire ourselves a sixpenny sick and pay a call on the ocean greyhound。〃
13。 〃My Name Is Emilio Largo〃
Leiter's 〃sixpenny sick〃 was the hotel launch； a smart Chrysler…engined speedboat that said it would be 20 an hour。 They ran out westward from the harbor； past Silver Cay； Long Cay； and Balmoral Island and round Delaporte Point。 Five miles farther down the coast； encrusted with glittering seashore properties the boatman said cost ￡400 per foot of beach frontage； they rounded Old Fort Point and came upon the gleaming white and dark blue ship lying with two anchors out in deep water just outside the reef。 Leiter whistled。 He said in an awestruck voice； 〃Boy； is that a piece of boat！ I'd sure like to have one of those to play with in my bath。〃
Bond said； 〃She's Italian。 Built by a firm called Rodrigues at Messina。 Thing called an Aliscafo 。 She's got a hydrofoil under the hull and when she gets going you let this sort of skid down and she rises up and practically flies。 Only the screws and a few feet of the stern stay in the water。 The Police missioner says she can do fifty knots in calm water。 Only good for inshore work of course； but they can carry upwards of a hundred passengers when they're designed as fast ferries。 Apparently this one's been designed for about forty。 The rest of the space is taken up with the owner's quarters and cargo space。 Must have cost damned near a quarter of a million。〃
The boatman broke in。 〃They say on Bay Street that she goin' go after the treasure these next few days or so。 All the people that own share in the gold e in a few days ago。 Then she spen' one whole night doin' a final recce。 They say is down Exhuma way； or over by Watlings Island。 Guess you folks know that's where Columbus make him first landfall on this side of the Atlantic。 Around fourteen ninety somethin'。 But could be anywhere down there。 They's always been talk of treasure down 'mongst the Ragged Islands…even as far as Crooked Island。 Fact is she sail out southward。 Hear her myself； right until her engines died away。 East by southeast； I'da say。〃 The boatman spat discreetly over the side。 〃Must be plenty heap of treasure with the cost of that ship and all the money they throwing 'way。 Every time she go to the Hoiling Wharf they say the bill's five hundred pound。〃
Bond said casually； 〃Which night was it they did the final recce？〃
〃Night after she hoiled。 That'd be two nights ago。 Sail round six。〃
The blank portholes of the ship watched them approach。 A sailor polishing brass round the curve of the enclosed dome that was the bridge walked through the hatch into the bridge and Bond could see him talking into a mouthpiece。 A tall man in white ducks and a very wide mesh singlet appeared on deck and observed them through binoculars。 He called something to the sailor； who came and stood at the top of the ladder down the starboard side。 When their launch came alongside； the man cupped his hands and called down； 〃What is your business； please？ Have you an appointment？〃
Bond called back； 〃It's Mr。 Bond； Mr。 James Bond。 From New York。 I have my attorney here。 I have an inquiry to make about Palmyra； Mr。 Largo's property。〃
〃One moment； please。〃 The sailor disappeared and returned acpanied by the man in white ducks and singlet。 Bond recognized him from the police description。 He called down cheerfully； 〃e aboard； e aboard。〃 He gestured for the sailor to go down and help fend the launch。 Bond and Leiter climbed out of the launch and went up the ladder。
Largo held out a hand。 〃My name is Emilio Largo。 Mr。 Bond？〃
And 。 。 。？〃
〃Mr。 Larkin； my attorney from New York。 Actually I'm English； but I have property in America。〃 They shook hands。 〃I'm sorry to bother you； Mr。 Largo； but it's about Palmyra； the property I believe you rent from Mr。 Bryce。〃
〃Ah； yes； of course。〃 The beautiful teeth gleamed warmth and wele。 〃e on down to the stateroom； gentlemen。 I'm sorry I am not properly dressed to receive you。〃 The big brown hands caressed his flanks； the wide mouth turned down in deprecation。 〃My visitors usually announce themselves on the ship…to…shore。 But if you will forgive the informality 。 。 。〃 Largo allowed the phrase to die on the air and ushered them through a low hatch and down a few aluminum steps into the main cabin。 The rubber…lined hatch hissed to behind him。
It was a fine large cabin paneled in mahogany with a deep wine…Red carpet and fortable dark blue leather club chairs。 The sun shining through the slats of Venetian blinds over the broad square ports added a touch of gay light to an otherwise rather somber and masculine room； its long center table littered with papers and charts； glass…fronted cabinets containing fishing gear and an array of guns and other weapons； and a black rubber underwater diving suit and aqualung suspended； almost like the skeleton in a sorcerer's den； from a rack in one corner。 The air…conditioning made the cabin deliciously cool； and Bond felt his damp shirt slowly freeing itself from his skin。
〃Please take a chair； gentlemen。〃 Largo carelessly brushed aside the charts and papers on the table as if they were of no importance。 〃Cigarettes？〃 He placed a large silver box between them。 〃And now what can I get you to drink？〃 He went to the loaded sideboard。 〃Something cool and not too strong perhaps？ A Planter's Punch？ Gin and tonic？ Or there are various beers。 You must have had a hot journey in that open launch。 I would have sent my boat for you if only I had known。〃
They both asked for a plain tonic。 Bond said； 〃I'm very sorry to barge in like this； Mr。 Largo； No idea I could have got you on the telephone。 We just got in this morning； and as I've only a few days I have to get a move on。 The point is； I'm looking for a property down here。〃
〃Oh； yes？〃 Largo brought the glasses and