johngardner.winloseordie-第15部分

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e　broke　up；　I　was　handed　over　to　Mama；　who　was　a　lush。'
'You're　preiiy　luscious　yourself。'
　'Thai's　not　funny；'　she　bridled。　'Have　you　ever　had　lo　live　with　a　lush？　It　just　isn'i　amusing。〃
　〃I　apologise　Ms　da　Ricci。'　There　was　no　side…stepping　her　anger。
　'Okay；　I'm　touchy　about　it。　I　read　modern　languages；　and　took　the　Foreign　Office　examination　。　。　。'
'And　failed。'
'Yes。'
　〃Don't　tell　me：　a　man　es　around　and　says　that　perhaps　they　can　offer　you　a　job　within　the　Foreign　Office；　and　before　you　know　it；　you're　mixed　up　with　all　the　paraphernalia　of　espionage。'
　She　nodded；　〃'More　or　less；　but　they　wanted　me　for　languages。　I　took　another　degree　in　puter　sciences　and　found　myself　in　Santa's　Grotto〃
　Bond　nodded。　In　the　basement；　below　the　underground　parking　al　that　building　overlooking　Regent's　Park；　there　was　a　great　sterile　puter　room　they　all　called　Santa's　Grolto。　With　the　advent　of　the　microchip　the　old　Regislry　had　been　relegated　to　a　smaller　area　and　people　were　constantly　transferring　the　paperwork　onto　a　series　of　giant　databases。　Rumour　had　it　that　all　the　work　would　not　be　pleted　from　past　files　until　the　year　2009；　or　thereabouts；　as　the　crow　flies。　Then　they　remembered　you　had　languages；'　he　fillet！　in。
〃Partly。　I　got　sinus　trouble　from　the　air…conditioning。'
'Better　than　a　touch　of　Legionnaires'　Disease。'
'I　asked　for　a　transfer　to　the　real　world。'
　'No　such　thing　in　our　business。　We're　Т　S　Eliot's　〃Hollow　Men〃；　we　are　also　rust…stained　dinosaurs。　Our　day　has　e；　and　gone。　I　give　us　a　decade　more。　After　that；　well　we　could　be　sitting　in　front　of　puter　terminals　all　day　and　most　of　the　night。　It's　known　as　。the　invasion　of　the　killer　tomatoes　syndrome。'
　She　nodded　gravely。　'Yes；　the　days　of　the　Great　Game　are　numbered。'
　〃The　years　are　numbered。　We're　not　down　to　days　yet。　But；　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci；　which　is　a　classy　sort　of　name　anyway；　how　did　a　nice　girl　like　you　end　up　in　a　sordid　bullet…catcher's　job　like　this？'
　She　leaned　over　him；　her　face　a　few　inches　from　his。　'Because　I　am　very　good　at　it；　and　part　of　my　job；　James　Bond；　is　to　keep　you　relaxed　and　happy。'
'Meaning？'
　Their　mouths　met。　Not　simply　lips　brushing；　or　doing　all　the　things　graphically　described　in　romantic　novels　or　those　historical　things　known　in　the　trade　as　'bodice　rippers'。　This　was　real　mouth…to…mouth　resuscitation　of　other　emotions。　After　a　minute　their　bodies　and　hands　also　moved；　and　five　minutes　later　Beatrice　said；　with　a　husky　dryness　that　matched　the　delightful　smell　of　her；　'Would　you　like　to　lie　down　with　me。　Mr　Bond？'
'You're　a　pleasure　to　work　for；　Ms　da　Ricci。'
'I　hope　so。'
'Do　I　get　a　raise　in　salary？'
'I　think　you　already　got　one；　Mr　Bond。'
　They　barely　made　it　to　the　bedroom。　Outside；　the　sun　had　e　up。　Franco　was　working　on　the　main　gates；　fitting　a　new　lock　and　the　electronic　sensors　that　would　scream　an　alarm　should　anyone　tamper　with　them　again。　In　the　rear　bedroom　of　the　Villa　Capricciani　there　were　low　moans　and　little　screams
of　joy。
　In　a　room　high　in　the　main　grey；　fortress…like　villa；　the　other　hood　called　Umberto　stood　back　in　the　shadows　and　scanned　the　garden　and　the　rocky　skyline　above　them。　If　anything　were　going　to　happen；　it　would　probably　e　from　that　direction　and　not　the　main　gates。　A　frontal　attack　had　proved　dangerous。　He　wondered　if　his　new　boss；　the　girl　who　was　very　much　in　charge；　and　whom　he　had　met　for　the　first　time　a　couple　of　days　ago；　was　vulnerable　to　a　frontal　attack。　He　guessed　she　was　…but　not　from　the　hired　help。
Far　away；　in　Plymouth；　three　men　had　spent　the　night　indulging　in　the　sins　of　the　flesh。　They　had　drunk　a　great　deal；　and　one　of　them　had　been　with　a　tall　black　girl　who　had　done　things　to；　and　for　him；　that　had；　until　now；　only　been　fantasies。
'It's　time　for　the　deadline。'　Harry　said　to　tht：　Petty　Officer
they　called　Blackie。
〃Time　to　sell　your　soul　and　save　all　of　us；'　added　Bill。
　'Oh。　Gawd。'　Blackie　had　been　pulling　off　the　evil　day；　stalling　for　time　and　knowing　time　was　a　modity　he　had　run　out　of　long　ago。　It　was　Christmas　Eve　and　he　had　the　rail…ticket　in　his　pocket　to　return　to　the　wife　and　kids　for　two　weeks'　leave。
'It's　serious。'　Bill's　face　was　set；　engraved　with　concern。
　'It　was　serious　when　we　first　told　you；　Now　we're　all　in　a　mess　。　。　。'
'I　know；　I　know　。　。　。'
　'All　debts　settled　and　one　hundred　thousand　pictures　of　Her　Majesty　just　for　you。　Blackie。'
'Yeah。　I　just　。　。　。'
'Look；　Blackie；〃　Bill　had　wrapped　his　large　strong　fingers　around　the　Petty　Officer's　wrist；　making　the　man　wince　with　pain。　〃Look；　it's　not　as　though　you　were　being　asked　to　steal　anything。　These　people　need　a　few　hours；　that's　all。'
　'Iknow　。　。　。'he　paused；　his　bleary　eyes　movingslowly　around　the　room。　'I　know；　and　1　ain't　got　no　option；　have　I？'
'Not　really。'　Harry　was　quiet；　soft…spoken　and　persuasive。
The　Petty　Officer　nodded；　'Okay。　I'll　do　it。'
That's　a　solemn　promise？'　from　Bill。
'On　my　mother's　grave。'
　'They'll　give　you　lime；　place　and　the　equipment　before　you　leave。　If　it　happens；　you'll　get　the　money　and　the　slate's　wiped　clean。　If　you　chickenout。　。　。　well。　I　wouldn't　fancy　your　chances。　Harry　and　me？　Well；　we　can　always　do　a　runner。　Tough；　but　we　could　do　it　…　just。　You　have　nowhere　to　hide；　Blackie；　and　they'd　e　looking；　fast　as　a　swarm　of　hornets　and　a　lot　more　painful。'
　〃I　said　I'd　do　it。'　The　Petty　Officer　was　very　convincing。　But；　then；　he　was　not　lying。　As　far　as　he　was　concerned；　all　other　options　had　run　out。
A　9mm　Browning　automatic　pistol　is　not　the　easiest　thing　to　conceal　about　your　person。　This　is　why　the　'close　protection'　experts　advise　smaller；　lighter　weapons　which　will　do　just　the　same　job。　Beatrice　carried　her　pistol　in　a　shoulder…bag；　Bond　used　the　shoulder…holster；　adjusted　so　that　the　pistol　lay　directly　behind　his　left　shoulder　blade。
　Franco　and　Umberto。　who　had　both　stayed　well　out　of　sight；　were　left　to　look　after　matters　while　Bond　and　Beatrice　went　off　into　Forio　on　their　shopping　expedition。　On　this　Saturday　the　little　town；　with　its　narrow　streets　and　limited　parking　facilities；　stricily　controlled　by　the　local　polizia；　was　crowded　with　people　doing　their　last　odds　and　ends　of　Christmas　shopping。
They　found　a　place　to　park　legally　and　Beatrice；　who　had　made　a　list　of　food　and　other　good　things　that　would　allow　them　a　pleasant；　somewhat　gluttonous　day。　led　the　way　to　the　nearest　market　where　she　shuffled　Bond　from　aisle　to　aisle；　knowing　instinctively　where　the　various　items　were　to　be　found。　They　filled　one　large　wire　trolley；　with　a　mind　of　its　own。　in　a　matter　of　twenty　minutes　and　Bond　noticed；　to　his　pleasure；　that　Beatrice　hardly　looked　at　the　shelves　at　all。　She　would　murmur　where　he　should　go　next；　and　reel　off　the　list　of　required　items；
but　her　eyes　were　alertly　stabbing　around　the　crowded　market；　and　she　kept　one　hand　inside　her　shoulder…bag。
　Bond　felt　ihat　he　had　found　the　pleat　pro　in　Ms　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci；　Everything　she　did　adhered　to　best　security　practice；　and　she　appeared　to　have　eyes　in　the　back　of　her　head。　At　one　point；　while　facing　away　from　him。　she　murmured；　'No；　James。　Not　the　Belgian　ones。　Take　the　French；　they're　a　few　lire　more；　but　one　hundred　per　cent　better。'　Or；　again；　in　similar　circumstances；　'The　boitles；　not　the　tins。　Once　you　open　a　tin　you　have　to　use　the　whole　lot。　The　bottles　will　seal　again。'
　They　even　bought　a　small　tree　and　some　gaudy　baubles。　'A　Christmas　to　remember。'　She　smiled　at　him；　the　black　eyes　inviting　him　to　return　immediately　to　the　delights　of　the　morning。　It　was　the　one　time　during　the　expedition　that　she　actually　looked　at　Bond。
　They　loaded　their　purchases　into　ihe　car。　and　Bond　insisted　on　going　on　his　own　to　make　a　secret　transaction。　She　did　not　like　it；　but　agreed　to　stand　guard　in　front　of　the　shop　…　a　jeweller's　in　which　he　bought　an　exquisite　gold　clasp；　shaped　like　a　scutum　…　the　old　oblong　or　oval　shield　used　by　the　early　Roman　army　…　with　a　large　diamond　centre；　and　an　edging　of　smaller　diamonds。　It　cost　a　ransom；　but　they　took　Amex　and　he　would　pay　for　it　with　his　private　money。　The　little　jeweller　smiled　a　lot　and　gift…wrapped　the　piece　with　exaggerated　care。　It　was　only　when　he　was　back　on　the　street　again　that　Bond　realised　it　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　had　bought　such　an　extravagant　gift　for　a　woman：　particularly　one　he　had　known　for　less　than　twenty…four　hours。　Could　it　really　happen　like　this？　he　wondered。　Women　had　e　easily　to　him。　but　his　own　expertise；　and　the　exigencies　of　his　service　life；　had　usually　held　him　back　from　any　deep　involvement。　Had　he　really　broken　the　rule　of　years？
　He　drove；　with　Beatrice　giving　instructions。　They　finally　reached　an　intersection　where　the　traffic　was　blocked；　held　at　bay　or　waved　on　by　a　tall；　unhappy…looking　police…officer。
　Beatrice　had　her　pistol　on　her　lap。　hand　wound　round　the　butt；　her　eyes　moving　everywhere　at　once；　darting　constantly　to　the　vanity　mirror　on　the　sun…visor　which　she　had　pulled　down。
Slowly　the　traffic　crept　towards　the　white　stop…marker　until　it　was　the　little　Fiat's　turn。　Bond　had　his　eyes　on　the　cop；　waiting　for　the　quick　hand…signal　that　would　wave　him　on。　when　suddenly　he　sensed　other　eyes　on　him　to　the　right　and　direclly　ahead；　He　moved　and　saw。　with　a　sense　of　shock；　a　girl　turn　away　quickly　and　start　to　walk　ai　speed　with　her　back　to　him。　But　he　recognised　her　in　thai　one　fast　glance；　and　the　movemenl　of　her　body；　as　she　stepped　along　the　pavement。
　There　was　a　parping　of　motor　horns；　and　Beatrice　testily　snapped。　'He's　waving　you　on。　James。　For　heaven's　sake；　move。'
　He　slid　the　clutch　out　and　negotiated　the　turn；　the　traffic　cop　making　a　gesture　with　his　eyes　and　head　which　indicated　that　this　driver　ought　not　to　be　allowed　on　the　road　at　all。
　He　drove　back　to　the　Villa　Capricciani　with　a　troubled　mind；　wondering　what　in　heaven's　name　First　Officer　Clover　Pcnning…ton；　of　the　RNAS　Yeovilton　was　doing　on　Ischia：　particularly　what　she　was　doing　in　the　town　of　Forio；　not　five　miles　from　where　he　was　staying。


8
All　the　Other　Demons

For　a　few　seconds；　James　Bond　wondered　if　it　was　guilt　gnawing
at　his　conscience。　He　had　certainly　shown；　at　the　least；　a　sexual　attraction　to　Clover；　but　this　had　gone　cold　when　she　proved　to　be