GOLDFINGER CHAPTER 11:INTRODUCTION OF ODDJOB

BQ How has the text been structured to interest the reader in the threat presented by Goldfinger? 8 marks

  • What does the writer focus on at the start? How does this establish Goldfinger?What techniques does the writer use? What is interesting about it?
  • How does the focus change in the middle of the extract? What is revealed about Goldfinger? What techniques does the writer use? What is interesting about it?
  • What does the writer focus on at the end of the extract? What is revealed about Goldfinger? What techniques does the writer use? What is interesting about it?

Goldfinger was crossing the floor towards him. Bond lowered his paper and looked up. Goldfinger was carrying a ginger cat tucked carelessly under one arm. He reached the fireplace, bent forward and pressed the bell.

He turned towards Bond. 'Do you like cats?' His gaze was flat, incurious.

'Sufficiently.'

The service door opened. The chauffeur stood in the frame. He still wore his bowler hat and his shiny black gloves. He gazed impassively at Goldfinger. Goldfinger crooked a finger. The chauffeur approached and stood within the circle by the fire.

Goldfinger turned to Bond. He said conversationally, 'This is my handy man.' He smiled thinly. 'That is something of a joke. Oddjob, show Mr Bond your hands.' He smiled again at Bond. 'I call him Oddjob because that describes his functions on my staff.'

The Korean slowly pulled off his gloves and came and stood at arm's length from Bond and held out his hands palm upwards. Bond got up and looked at them. They were big and fat with muscle; the fingers were all the same length. They were very blunt and glinted as if made of yellow bone.

'Turn them over and show Mr Bond the sides.'

There were no finger-nails. Instead there was this same, yellowish carapace. The man turned the hands sideways. Down each edge of the hands was a hard ridge of the same bony substance.

Bond raised his eyebrows at Goldfinger.

Goldfinger said, 'We will have a demonstration.' He pointed at the thick oak banisters that ran up the stairs. The rail was massive. The Korean obediently walked over to the stairs and climbed a few steps. He stood with his hands at his sides, gazing across at Goldfinger like a good retriever. Goldfinger gave a quick nod. Impassively the Korean lifted his right hand high and straight above his head and brought the side of it down like an axe across the heavy polished rail. There was a splintering crash and the rail sagged, broken through the centre. Again the hand went up and flashed down. This time it swept right through the rail leaving a jagged gap. Splinters clattered down on to the floor of the hall. The Korean straightened himself and stood to attention, waiting for further orders. There was no flush of effort in his face and no hint of pride in his achievement.

'Better stand back, Mr Bond.This blow snaps a man's neck like a daffodil.'

Oddjob stood to attention. There was a gleam of triumph in his flat eyes.

Bond looked at the man in deep awe. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, in all his reading, all his experience, to approach what he had just witnessed. This was not a man of flesh and blood. This was a living club, perhaps the most dangerous animal on the face of the earth. Bond had to do it, had to give homage to this uniquely dreadful person. He held out his hand.

'Softly, Oddjob.' Goldfinger's voice was the crack of a whip.

The Korean bowed his head and took Bond's hand in his. He kept his fingers straight and merely bent his thumb. It was like holding a piece of board. He released Bond's hand.

'Forgive me, Mr Bond, and I appreciate your gesture.' Goldfinger's face showed his approval. 'But Oddjob doesn't know his own strength—particularly when he is keyed up. And those hands are like machine-tools. He could have crushed your hand to pulp without meaning to. Now then,' Oddjob was standing respectfully at attention, 'you did well, Oddjob. I'm glad to see you are in training. Here—' Goldfinger took the cat from under his arm and tossed it to the Korean who caught it eagerly—'I am tired of seeing this animal around. You may have it for dinner.' The Korean's eyes gleamed. 'And tell them in the kitchen that we will have our own dinner at once.'

The Korean inclined his head sharply and turned away.

Bond hid his disgust. He realized that all this exhibition was simply a message to him, a warning, a light rap on the knuckles. It said, 'You see my power, Mr Bond. I could easily have killed you. Instead, the cat will be punished in your place.'