johngardner.winloseordie-第41部分

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o　a　recce　about　an　hour　before　you　go　in。　They　can　see　through　any　thing…and　it's　going　to　be　dark　tonight：　low　cloud。　We　should　at　least　get　a　clear　idea　of　where　the　sentries　are　posted　on　deck；　and　who's　in　the　island。'
　'I　wish　you'd　said　that　before；'　Bond　snapped。　'What'll　you　do？　Overfly　and　then　do　a　square　to　cover　all　sides'。''
'Something　like　that。　！　need　to　know　a　time。〃
　'Quarter　to　four　in　the　morning；　03。45。　Nice　and　dark。　Time　for　births　and　deaths。　Lowest　ebb　for　those　under　stress。　Okay？'
They　all　nodded。
　'See　whal　I　can　do；　then。'　Carter　left　and　they　began　getting　down　10　details。　Bond　asked　if　they　slill　had　the　panionway　down　to　a　boat　deck；　at　sea　level。
　They　took　it　up　after　clearing　the　mess　off　the　main　deck；'　the　USMC　man　said。　'That　Harrier　pilot　knew　what　he　was　doing。　They　said　fireworks　and　he　gave　us　the　Fourth　of　July。'
　'Or　Guy　Fawkes　day；'　the　SBS　officer　added；　not　wanting　the　Brits　to　be　left　out。
　？Well；　he　won't　do　it　again；'　Bond　said；　a　shade　huffily。　'Now。　down　to　cases；'
　They　went　into　the　operalion　in　great　detail；　covering　all　conlingencies：　agreeing；　disagreeing　and　finally　promising　on　one　or　two　matters。　When　they　had　the　whole　business　sorted　out；　Beatrice　asked　why　she　had　been　left　out。
　'You'll　be　in　Gibraltar；　my　dear。'　Bond　gave　her　a　long　look。　'When　we've　done　the　daring　rescue　bit；　if　we　succeed；　I'm　ing　to　join　you　…　providing　I'm　still　alive。　Then；　together　we're　going　to　finish　the　job　and　take　Baradj　in。'
'Dead　or　alive？'
　'Alive　if　possible。　Enough　folk　will　die　tonight；　and　I　am　slowly　ing　to　（he　conclusion　that　too　much　killing　is　bad　for　the　health。'
　'If　you　say　so。　James。　But　I　bel　Baradj　isn't　one　who'll　give　in　easily。'
　'Let's　get　this　little　show　out　of　the　way　first。'　Ignoring　the　others；　he　leaned　over　and　kissed　her　on　each　cheek；　then　on　her　lips。
The　P36　had　brought　back　some　very　pretty　pictures　with　its　sophisticated　equipment；　a　lot　of　which　relied　on　infra…red　which　picked　up　the　heat　of　human　bodies。
They　had　been　almost　right。　There　were　three　guards　on　the　main　deck；　one　for'ard。　one　aft；　and　a　third　amidships。　They　also　knew　that　there　were　three；　not　two。　people　on　the　bridge；　and　two　in　Flight　Operations；　and　at　least　one　in　munications。　They　agreed　that　they　had　been　blind　to　that　one。　There　had　to　be　someone　in　munications。
　'Clover'11　be　the　third　bod　on　the　bridge；'　Bond　thought。　It　was　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　they　were　all　galhered　by　two　mall　black　inflatables。　One　for　the　USMC　contingenl　and　one　for　the　SBS。　Bond　would　travel　with　the　SBS；　and　they　had　arranged　some　distractions　to　go　down　at　zero　hour；　03。45。　All　were　dressed　in　black　and　with　blackened　faces；　the　weaponry　slung　about　them　from　black　webbing　harnesses。
　They　made　their　approach　on　the　ship's　relatively　blind　side；　the　porl　quarter。　It　took　half　an　hour　of　steady；　quiet　paddling　to　bring　them　under　the　darkness　of　the　ship's　hull；　keeping　close　together；　only　parting　pany；　moving　fore　and　aft　once　they　reached　the　ship。
　The　men　in　both　inflatables　now　put　on　their　respirators；　and　readied　the　other　equipment；　waiting；　glancing　at　their　luminous　watches；　for　the　distraction　to　start。　The　first　huge　flash　and　thump　came　right　on　time　from　about　half　a　mile　away；　in　the　direction　of　the　other　members　of　the　Task　Force。　The　explosions　were　made　to　cause　maximum　glare　and　minimum　noise。　They　were　very　bright；　and　a　lot　of　magnesium　was　being　used　up。　The　US　marines　and　SBS　people　kept　their　eyes　down；　but　reckoned　that　nobody　either　on　the　open　deck；　bridge；　or　Flight　Ops　of　Invincible　eould　possibly　keep　their　eyes　off　the　flashes。
　There　was　hardly　any　sound　from　the　spring…loaded　launchers　which　fired　a　total　of　four　grappling　hooks；　each　wrapped　and　swaddled　in　sacking；　from　the　inflatabies。　Each　hook　had　heavy　knotted　rope　attached；　and　the　irons　thudded　up　onto　the　guard　rails　with　little　or　no　noise。　It　was　merely　luck　which　caused　the　irons　to　be　fired　at　the　same　time　as　another　of　the　explosions　out　at　sea。
Bond　was　the　first　tip　the　for'ard　rope。　He　knew　the　whole　invading　parly　could　make　it　to　the　main　deck　in　less　than　three　minutes；　so　he　moved；　at　speed；　but　silenlly；　keeping　low。　seeing　the　girl　on　watch　near　the　bows；　outlined　againsi　ihe　sky。　There　was　no　time　for　sentiment。　The　girl　would　kill　him　as　soon　as　look　at　him；　so　Bond　put　her　down　fast　and　efficiently；　using　the　blade　of　a　Sykcs…Fairbairn　knife；　taking　her　in　a　choke　hold　and　letting　the　blade　slice　through　the　side　of　her　neck；　at　the　prescribed　place。　She　went　down　without　a　sound。
　At　Ihe　same　moment；　the　other　two　girls　on　deck　watch　went　down　…　one　by　knife；　the　other　by　a　vicious　karate　chop　that　broke　her　neck。
　Bond　joined　two　of　the　SBS　men　who　were　standing　on　either　side　of　the　Crew　Room　bulkhead。　He　entered　first；　the　other　two　covering　him；　and　moved　through　into　the　passageway；　deep　inside　the　island；　turning　left　to　take　the　panionway　up　past　Flight　Operations；　then　along　the　catwalk　leading　to　the　bridge。
　They　reached　the　top　of　the　panionway；　and　were　about　to　move　on　to　the　catwalk　when　quick　clicking　footsteps　came　from　their　right。　All　three　men　sank　into　the　darkness　as　a　Wren　hurried　past　ihem。　obviously　on　her　way　to　the　bridge。
　Bond　motioned　them　Ш　follow　him　and　they　moved；　like　silent　shadows　behind　the　hurrying　Wren。　By　（he　main　bulkhead　to　Ihe　bridge；　they　paused。
'They've　really　agreed？'　It　was　Clover　Pennington's　voice；
　'The　message　says　Scratch；　Ma'am。　You　said　that　was　agreement；　and　that　we　should　stand　by…　If　they　try　anything　funny　when　Viper　moves　in；　we'll　get　Desecrate；　and。　once　he's　picked　up　the　money；　it'll　be　Off　Caps；　which　means　we　get　out　as　planned。'
　'Well　。　。　。'　Clover　began。　Then　Bond　nodded；　tossed　a　stun　grenade　onto　the　bridge；　waited　for　its　disorientating；　but　non…lethal　flash　and　bang；　and　then　sprang　in；　the　two　SBS　men　at　his　heels。
　The　girls　over　by　one　of　the　open　screens；　covering　the　deck　below；　whirled　around；　their　machine…pistols　ing　up；　as　though；　in　spite　of　the　flash…bang；　they　had　reacted　automatically。　There　were　four　phud…phud　sounds；　and　both　girls　dropped　their　weapons　reeling　back　against　the　screen　before　falling　heavily　on　the　deck。
The　Wren　from　munications　took　two　bullets　in　the　neck；　and　Bond　was　on　Clover；　spinning　her　around　and　jamming　his　pistol　in　her　side。　'Right。　Clover。　You　take　us　lo　them；　or　you're　meat；　like　the　others。　The　whole　ship's　covered。　We're　everywhere。'　He　pushed　her　towards　the　bulkhead；　catehing　the　glint　of　sudden　fear　in　her　eyes　as　she　nodded；　and；　al　that　moment；　all　hell　broke　loose。
　The　tear…gas　grenades　had　gone　down　the　panionways　as　they　had　arranged；　and　the　remaining　members　of　the　assault　force　were　sweeping　the　passageways　clear。　Bond　pushed　Clover　along　the　calwalk。　There　was　a　US　marine　standing　by　the　Flight　Ops　bulkhead；　and　you　could　glimpse　a　body　on　the　deck。　The　marine　nodded　and　followed　up　Bond's　party。
　'You　lead。　Tell　me　where　they　are；'　Bond　muttered　as　they　went　down　the　panion…way。
　'Probably　dead；'　Clover　choked。　'My　orders　to　Deeley　were　to　chop　them　if　anything　happened。'
'Well　get　a　move　on。'
　At　the　bottom　of　the　panionway；　an　SBS　man　loomed　out　of　the　tear…gas；　motioning　Ihem　to　avoid　the　body　that　lay　sprawled　across　the　narrow　passageway。　Bond　had　to　push　Clover　on　as　she　was　righting　for　air　in　（he　stinging　choking　tear…gas；　but　there　was　no　doubt　of　their　destination。　They　were　heading　for　the　Briefing　Room　in　which　the　secrel　summit　had　been　held。
　'Watch　for　the　next　corner！'　Bond　shouted；　knowing　it　would　angle　around　into　the　area　which　led　to　the　Briefing　Room。　There　would　be　at　least　one　girl　on　watch　there。
　One　of　the　SBS　men　leaped　forward；　and　fired　twice　with　a　silenced　H　&　K。　They　followed　to　see　that　another　Wren　had　gone　down；　directly　in　front　of　the　Briefing　Room　bulkhead。
　They　were　half…way　down　the　passage　when　there　came　a　crack　and　thump　from　the　far　end。　One　of　the　SBS　men　was　flung　against　the　metal　wall；　along　which　he　seemed　to　spin　three　times　before　sprawling　on　his　back。　Bul　before　the　casualty　even　hit　the　deck；　the　American　Marine　fired；　four　times　in　quick　succession。　Peering　through　the　smoke。　Bond　saw　that　the　unspeakable　Donald　Speaker　had　said　his　last　word。
　They　were　at　the　Briefing　Room　bulkhead　door　now　and　Bond　signalled　a　cover　from　both　sides。　Then；　his　hand　slammed　down　on　the　heavy　door　handle　and。　as　Ihe　metal　swung　back；　so　he　pushed　Clover　inside。
　*No！　Sarah！　No；　it's　。　。　。'　She　was　thrown　back　by　a　burst　of　fire　from　inside；　then　the　marine　leaped　forward　and　aimed　two　precise　shots。
　Bond　came　from　behind　him。　just　in　lime　to　see　Sarah　Deeley　catapull　back　against　the　metal　wall；　hitting　it　with　a　thump　which　must　have　broken　bones；　and　sliding　down　it。　taking　a　smear　of　blood　with　her。
　Lying　on　camp　beds；　set　in　a　neat　row　in　front　of　where　Deeley　had　been　standing；　were　the　silent；　still　figures　of　President　Bush；　Chairman　Gorbachev；　and　Prime　Minister　Thatcher。
　Bond　moved　forward；　and　fell　each　neck　in　turn。　They　were　alive；　and；　it　seemed；　unharmed。　M　S　Gorbachev　was　actually　snoring。
　The　US　Marine　Corps　Major　came　into　the　room。　'We　have　control　of　the　ship；　Caplain　Bond。'　he　reported。
　？Well；　you'd　best　wake　up　Rear…Admiral　Sir　John　Walmslcy；　and　organise　some　way　of　getting　these　rather　important　hostages　off　the　ship　and　back　to　their　own　countries　without　any　Press　interference。　I've　got　a　date　in　Gibraltar。'
　
　19
　
　Tunnels　of　Love？
　
Bassam　Baradj　had　not　slept　well。　The　telephone　call　had　e　in　at　around　three　in　the　morning；　and　he　had　gone　out　onto
the　balcony；　feeling　elated。
　For　the　first　time　since　the　operation　started　he　broke　radio　silence　with　his　wonderful　girls　on　Invincible。　Even　then；　he　did　it　by　tape　on　the　short…wave；　high…frequency　transceiver　which　had　stood　by　his　bed　since　his　arrival　at　The　Rock　Motel；
　He　tuned　to　the　correct　frequency；　and　then　chose　the　righl　tape。　The　Scratch　tape；　which　would　tell　them　that　the　three　countries　had　accepted　his　terms　and　ultimatum。　The　girls　would　still　listen　out。　and　remain　very　alert；　for　had　he　not　（old　the　Americans；　Russians；