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anything he could have done to prevent that？ Had there ever been a chance to kill Goldfinger？ Would it have done any good to make a scene at Pennsylvania Station？ Bond stared at his dark reflection in the window； listened to the sweet ting of the grade…crossing bells and the howl of the windhorn clearing their way； and shredded his nerves with doubts； questions； reproaches。
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
THE RICHEST MAN IN HISTORY
SLOWLY THE red dawn broke over the endless plain of black grass that gradually turned to the famous Kentucky blue as the sun ironed out the shadows。 At six o'clock the train began to slacken speed and soon they were gliding gently through the waking suburbs of Louisville to e to rest with a sigh of hydraulics in the echoing； almost deserted station。
A small； respectful group was awaiting them。 Goldfinger； his eyes black…ringed with lack of sleep； beckoned to one of the Germans； picked up his authoritative little black bag and stepped down on to the platform。 There was a short； serious conclave； the Louisville Superintendent doing the talking and Goldfinger interjecting a few questions and nodding gravely at the answers。 Goldfinger turned wearily back to the train。 Mr Solo had been deputed to take his report。 He stood at the open door at the end of the Pullman。 Bond heard Goldfinger say sorrowfully； 'I am afraid； Doctor； the situation is as bad as we feared。 I will now go forward to the leading diesel with this；' he held up the black bag； 'and we will proceed slowly into the infected area。 Would you please tell all personnel to be prepared to put on their masks？ I have masks for the driver and fireman。 All other railway personnel will leave the train here。'
Mr Solo nodded solemnly。 'Right； Professor。' He closed his door。 Goldfinger walked off down。the platform followed by his German strong…arm man and the respectful； head…shaking group。
There was a short pause and then silently； almost reverently； the long train whispered its way out of the station leaving the little group of officials； now reinforced by four rather shamefaced conductors； with hands raised in benediction。
Thirty…five miles； half an hour； to go！ Coffee and doughnuts were brought round by the nurses； and （Goldfinger thought of everything） for those whose nerves needed it； two grains of dexedrine。 The nurses were pale； silent。 There were no jokes； no smart remarks。 The train was electric with tension。
After ten minutes there was a sudden slackening of speed and a sharp hiss from the brakes。 Coffee was spilled。 The train almost stopped。 Then there was a jerk and it gathered speed again。 A new hand had taken over on the dead man's handle。
A few minutes later； Mr Strap came hurrying through the train。 'Ten minutes to go！ On your toes； folks！ Squads A； B and C get their equipment on。 Everything's going fine。 Stay calm。 Remember your duties。' He hurried through to the next partment and Bond heard the voice repeating its message。
Bond turned to Oddjob。 'Listen； you ape； I'm going to the lavatory and probably Miss Masterton will too。' He turned to the girl。 What about it； Tilly？〃
'Yes；' she said indifferently； 'I suppose I'd better。〃
Bond said； 'Well； go ahead。'
The Korean beside the girl looked inquiringly at Oddjob。 Oddjob shook his head。
Bond said； 〃Unless you leave her alone I'm going to start a fight。 Goldfinger won't like that。' He turned to the girl。 'Go ahead； Tilly。 I'll see to these apes。'
Oddjob uttered a series of barks and snarls which the other Korean seemed to understand。 The guard got up and said； 'Okay； but not locking the door。' He followed the girl down the Pullman and stood and waited for her to e out。
Oddjob carried out the same routine with Bond。 Once inside； Bond took off his right shoe； slid out the knife and slipped it down inside the waist…band of his trousers。 One shoe would now have no heel； but no one was going to notice that this morning。 Bond washed himself。 The face in the mirror was pale and the blue…grey eyes dark with tension。 He went out and back to his seat。
Now there was a distant shimmer away to the right and a hint of low buildings rising like a mirage in the early morning ground mist。 They slowly defined themselves as hangars with a squat control tower。 Godman Field！ The soft pounding howl of the train slackened。 Some trim modern villas； part of a new housing development； slid by。 They seemed to be unoccupied。 Now； on the left； there was the black ribbon of Brandenburg Station Road。 Bond craned。 The gleaming modern sprawl of Fort Knox looked almost soft in the light mist。 Above its jagged outline the air was dear as crystal …not a trace of smoke； no breakfasts cooking！ The train slowed to a canter。 On Station Road there had been a bad motor accident。 Two cars seemed to have met head on。 The body of a man sprawled half out of a smashed door。 The other car lay on its back like a dead beetle。 Bond's heart pounded。 The main signal box came and went。 Over the levers something white was draped。 It was a man's shirt。
Inside the shirt the body hung down； its head below the level of the window。 A row of modern bungalows。 A body clad in singlet and trousers flat on its face in the middle of a trim lawn。 The lines of mown grass were beautifully exact until； near the man； the mower had written an ugly flourish and had then e to rest on its side in the newly turned earth of； the border。 A line of washing that had broken when the woman had grasped it。 The woman lay in a white pile at one end of the sagging string of family underclothes； cloths and towels。 And now the train was moving at walking pace into the town and everywhere； down every street； on every sidewalk； there were the sprawling figures … singly； in clumps； in rocking…chairs on the porches； in the middle of intersections where the traffic lights still unhurriedly ticked off their coloured signals； in cars that had managed to pull up and in others that had smashed into shop windows。 Death！ Dead people everywhere。 No movement； no sound save the click of the murderer's iron feet as his train slid through the graveyard。
Now there was bustle in the carriages。 Billy Ring came through grinning hugely。 He stopped by Bond's chair。 'Oh boy！' he said delightedly； 'old Goldie certainly slipped them the Micky Finn！ Too bad some people were out for a ride when they got hit。 But you know what they say about omelettes： can't make 'em without you break some eggs； right？'
Bond smiled tightly。 'That's right。'
Billy Ring made his silent O of a laugh and went on his way。
The train trundled through Brandenburg Station。 Now there were scores of bodies … men； women； children； soldiers。 The platform was scribbled with them； faces upwards to the roof； down in the dust； cradled sideways。 Bond searched for movement； for an inquisitive eye； for a twitching hand。 Nothing！ Wait！ What was that？ Thinly through the closed window there came a soft； mewing wail。 Three perambulators stood against the ticket office； the mothers collapsed beside them。 Of course！ The babies in the perambulators would have drunk milk； not the deadly water。
Oddjob got to his feet。 So did the whole of Goldfinger's team。 The faces of the Koreans were i