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eabouts； and yours； Mr Bond； we are now in the warehouse of the Hi…speed Trucking Corporation； a formerly respectable concern which I own through nominees and which has been equipped； most thoroughly； as the secret headquarters for the enterprise of which I spoke。 You and Miss Masterton will be confined to these quarters。 Here you will live and work and possibly； though personally I have doubts about Miss Masterton's inclinations in that respect； make love。'
'And what will our work consist of？'
'Mr Bond…' For the first time since Bond had known Goldfinger； the big； bland face； always empty of expression； showed a trace of life。 A look almost of rapture illuminated the eyes。 The finely chiselled lips pursed into a thin； beatic curve。 'Mr Bond； all my life I have been in love。 I have been in love with gold。 I love its colour； its brilliance； its divine heaviness。 I love the texture of gold； that soft sliminess that I have learnt to gauge so accurately by touch that I can estimate the fineness of a bar to within one carat。 And I love the warm tang it exudes when I melt it down into a true golden syrup。 But； above all； Mr Bond； I love the power that gold alone gives to its owner … the magic of controlling energy； exacting labour； fulfilling one's every wish and whim and； when need be； purchasing bodies； minds； even souls。 Yes； Mr Bond； I have worked all my life for gold and； in return； gold has worked for me and for those enterprises that I have espoused。 I ask you；' Goldfinger gazed earnestly at Bond； 'is there any other substance on earth that so rewards its owner？'
'Many people have bee rich and powerful without possessing an ounce of the stuff。 But I see your point。 How much have you managed to collect and what do you do with it？'
'I own about twenty million pounds' worth； about as much as a small country。 It is now all in New York。 I keep it where I need it。 My treasure of gold is like a post heap。 I move it here and there over the face of the earth and； wherever I choose to spread it； that corner blossoms and blooms。 I reap the harvest and move on。 At this moment I am proposing to encourage； to force； a certain American enterprise with my golden post。 Therefore the gold bars are in New York。'
'How do you choose these enterprises？ What attracts you to them？'
'I espouse any enterprise that will increase my stock of gold。 I invest； I smuggle； I steal。' Goldfinger made a small gesture of the hands； opening the palms persuasively。 'If you will follow the simile； regard history as a train speeding along through time。 Birds and animals are disturbed by the noise and tumult of the train's passage； they fly away from it or run fearfully or cower； thinking they hide。 I am like the hawk that follows the train … you have no doubt seen them doing this； in Greece for instance … ready to pounce on anything that may be flushed by the train's passage； by the passage of history。 To give you a simple example： the progress of history produces a man who invents penicillin。 At die same time； history creates a world war。 Many people are dying or afraid of dying。 Penicillin will save them。 Through bribery at certain military establishments on the Continent； I obtain stocks of penicillin。 I water these down with some harmless powder or liquid and sell them at immense profit to those who crave the stuff。 You see what I mean； Mr Bond？ You have to wait for the prey； watch it carefully and then pounce。 But； as I say； I do not search out such enterprises。 I afiow the train of history to flush them towards me。'
'What's the latest one？ What have Miss Masterton and I got to do with it？'
'The latest oney Mr Bond； is the last one。 It is also the biggest。' Goldfinger's eyes were now blank； focused inwards。 His voice became low； almost reverential at what he saw。 'Man has climbed Everest and he has scraped the depths of the ocean。 He has fired rockets into outer space and split the atom。 He has invented； devised； created in every realm of human endeavour； and everywhere he has triumphed； broken records； achieved miracles。 I said in every realm； but there is one that has been neglected； Mr Bond。 That one is the human activity loosely known as crime。 The so…called criminal exploits mitted by individual humans … I do not of course refer to their idiotic wars； their clumsy destruction of each other … are of miserable dimensions： little bank robberies； tiny swindles； picayune forgeries。 And yet； ready to hand； a few hundred miles from here； opportunity for the greatest crime in history stands waiting。 The stage is set； the gigantic prize is offered。 Only the actors are missing。 But the producer is at last here； Mr Bond' … Goldfinger raised a finger and tapped his chest … 'and he has chosen his cast。 This very afternoon the script will be read to the leading actors。 Then rehearsals will begin and； in one week； the curtain will go up for the single； the unique performance。 And then will e the applause； the applause for the greatest extra…legal coup of all time。 And； Mr Bond； the world will rock with that applause for centuries。'
Now a dull fire burned in Goldfinger's big pale eyes and there was a touch of extra colour in his red…brown cheeks。 But it was still calm； relaxed； profoundly convinced。 There's no trace here； reflected Bond； of the madman； the visionary。 Goldfinger had some fantastic exploit in mind； but he had gauged the odds and knew they were right。 Bond said； 'Well； e on。 What is it； and what do we have to do about it？'
'It is a robbery； Mr Bond。 A robbery against no opposition； but one that will need detailed execution。 There will be much paper…work； many administrative details to supervise。 I was going to do this myself until you offered your services。 Now you will do it； with Miss Masterton as your secretary。 You have already been partly remunerated for this work with your life。 When the operation is successfully pleted you will receive one million pounds in gold。 Miss Masterton will receive half a million。'
Bond said enthusiastically； 'Now you're talking。 What are we going to do？ Rob the end of the rainbow？'
'Yes；' Goldfinger nodded。 'That is exactly what we are going to do。 We are going to burgle fifteen billion dollars' worth of gold bullion； approximately half the supply of mined gold in the world。 We are going； Mr Bond； to take Fort Rnox。'
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
HOODS' CONGRESS
'FORT KNOX。' Bond shook his head seriously。 'Isn't that rather a tall order for two men and a girl？'
Goldfinger shrugged impatiently。 'Please put away your sense of humour for one week； Mr Bond。 Then laugh as much as you please。 I shall have under my mand approximately one hundred men and women。 These people will be hand picked from the six most powerful gangster groups in the United States。 This force will amount to the toughest and most pact fighting unit that has ever been assembled in peace time。'
'All right。 How many men guard the vault at Fort Knox？' Goldfinger slowly shook his head。 He knocked once on the door behind him。 The door flicked open。 Oddjob stood on the threshold； crouching； alert。 When he saw that the meeting was still peaceful he straightened himself and waited。 Goldfinger said； 'You will have many qu