Not ‘Your Wife’. Bond turned to Honeychile. Her eyes were wide and staring. She said quietly, “A Coca-Cola, please.”
Bond felt a moment of relief. At least she was not being got down by the performance. Bond said, “And I would like a medium Vodka dry Martini-with a slice of lemon peel. Shaken-and not stirred, please. I would prefer Russian or Polish vodka.”
Doctor No gave his thin smile an extra crease. “I see you are also a man who knows what he wants. On this occasion your desires will be satisfied. Do yoju not find that it is generally so? When one wants a thing one gets it? That is my experience.”
“The small things.”
“If you fail at the large things it means you have not large ambitions. Concentration, focus-that is all. The aptitudes come, the tools forge themselves. ‘Give me a fulcrum and I will move the world’-but only if the desire to move the world is there.” The thin lips bent minutely downwards in deprecation. “But this is chatter. We are making conversation. Instead, let us talk. Both of us, I am sure, prefer talk to conversation. Is the Martini to your liking? You have cigarettes-enough and the right sort to cosset your cancer? So be it. Sam-sam, put the shaker beside the man and another bottle of Coca-Cola beside the girl. It should now be eight-ten. We will have dinner at nine o’clock precisely.”
Doctor No sat slightly more upright in his chair. He inclined himself forward, staring at Bond. There was a moment’s silence in the room. Then Doctor No said, “And now Mister James Bond of the Secret Service, let us tell each other our secrets. First, to show you that I hide nothing, I will tell you mine. Then you will tell me yours.” Doctor No’s eyes blazed darkly. “But let us tell each other the truth.” He drew one steel claw out of the wide sleeve and held it upwards. He paused, “I shall do so. But you must do the same. If you do not, these,” he pointed the claw at his eyes, “will know that you are lying.”
Doctor No brought the steel claw delicately in front of each eye and tapped the centre of each eyeball.
Each eyeball in turn emitted a dull ting. “These,” said Doctor No, “see everything.”
XV
PANDORA’S BOX
James Bond picked up his glass and sipped at it thought-fully. It seemed pointless to go on bluffing. His story of representing the Audubon Society was anyway a thin one which could be punctured by anyone who knew about birds. It was obvious that his own cover was in shreds. He must concentrate on protecting the girl. To begin with he must reassure her.
Bond smiled at Doctor No. He said, “I know about your contact in King’s House, Miss Taro. She is your agent. I have recorded the fact and it will be divulged in certain circumstances”-Doctor No’s expression shewed no interest-“as will other facts. But, if we are to have a talk, let us have it without any more stage effects. You are an interesting man. But it is not necessary to make yourself more interesting than you are. You have suffered the misfortune of losing your hands. You wear mechanical hands. Many men wounded in the war wear them. You wear contact lenses instead of spectacles. You use a walkie-talkie instead of a bell to summon your servant. No doubt you have other tricks. But, Doctor No, you are still a man who sleeps and eats and defecates like the rest of us. So no more conjuring tricks, please. I am not one of your guano diggers and I am not impressed by them.”
Doctor No inclined his head a fraction. “Bravely spoken, Mister Bond. I accept the rebuke. I have no doubt developed annoying mannerisms fromliving too long in the company of apes. But do not mistake these mannerisms for bluff. I am a technician. I suit the tool to the material. I possess also a range of tools for working with refractory materials. However,” Doctor No raised his joined sleeves an inch and let them fall back in his lap, “let us proceed with our talk. It is a rare pleasure to have an intelligent listener and I shall enjoy telling you the story of one of the most remarkable men in the world. You are the first person to hear it. I have not told it before. You are the only person I have ever met who will appreciate my story and also-” Doctor No paused for the significance of the last words to make itself felt-“keep it to himself.” He continued, “The second of these considerations also applies to the girl.”