johngardner.winloseordie-第7部分

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　Rover　parked　nearhy。　and　four　men　waiting　for　him。　As　Pantano　had　already　suggested；　the　work　of　wiring　up。　fusing　and　fitting　the　Sidewinder　AIM…9J　missile　（one　of　three　stolen　some　four　months　earlier　from　an　RAF　base　in　West　Germany）　to　the　starboard　outer　pylon；　would　only　take　a　very　short　time。　Five　minutes　twenty　seconds　later　Pantano's　Sea　Harrier　was　rising　fast　from　the　trees；　putting　on　forward　speed　and　climbing　away；　back　on　course；　but　increasing　his　air…speed；　going　flat　out。　It　was　essential　for　him　to　catch　up　with　the　lead　aircraft；　piloted　by　Bond；　and　stay　well　ahead　of　the　number　three。
　'I　think　we'd　have　heard　if　the　radar　at　Yeovilton　actually　lost　me　at　any　point；'　he　smiled　confidently　at　Hamarik　who　gave　a　gentle　nod。
　The　Spaniard's　Harrier　had　e　within　three　miles　of　Bond　just　as　the　latter　was　making　his　bombing　run。　'I　locked　on　to　him；　and　let　the　missile　go；〃　he　told　Hamarik。　'After　that　I　was　busy　with　my　own　bombing　run；　and　the　little　bit　of　deviousness　which　followed。'
　Hamarik　shrugged；　making　an　open…handed　gesture。　'I　fear　friend　Bond　escaped；'　he　smiled；　as　if　to　say　'it　is　difficult　to　win　every　battle。〃
　Pantano　gave　a　heavy　sigh；　obviously　annoyed　with　himself。　'I'm　sorry。　I　did　all　1　could。　Damn。　Damn　the　man。'
　'Please　do　not　concern　yourself。　There　is　plenty　of　time　for　us　to　deal　with　Captain　Bond。　A　pity　we　could　not　bine　two　birds　with　the　one　proverbial　stone。　But。　I　promise　you；　Felipe；　he　will　go。　In　fact　that　is　essential。'
　Pantano　smiled；　showing　a　small　goldmine　of　fillings；　before　he　went　through　the　final　phase。　His　bombing　run　had　been　normal　up　to　the　time　when　he　climbed　away。　'I　simply　pulled　into　a　30°　climb　to　show　myself　to　the　radar。　At　1；001　feet　I　let　all　the　flares　go；　switched　off　my　radar　and　banged　on　the　ECM。'　The　ECM　（Ihe　Electronic　Counter　Measures　Pod）　is　used　to　confuse　ground　radar　and　missiles。　'This　was　not　foolproof；　of　course；　but　I　went　down　to　zero　feet　and　set　the　course　you　had　given　me。　It　was　pretty　exciting；　I　can　tell　you。　I　was　just　feet　above　the　water。　There　were　times　when　I　was　getting　salt　spray　on　the　wind　shield；　and　even　with　the　heater　and　wipers　going　full　blast　I　couldn't　budge　all　of　it。　Also；　I　had　Ihe　throttle　banged　wide　open　and　the　altimeter　〃bug'　was　screaming　at　me。　Т　had　it　set　to　minimum　…　one　hundred　feet　…　and　it　went　crazy。　It　was　more　like　a　boat　ride　than　flying。'
　The　Harrier　had　run　right　out　into　the　Atlantic；　then　turned　towards　the　Bay　of　Biscay。　Two　hundred　miles　later。　Pantano　had　slowed　to　a　hover　beside　the　waiting　Estacio　Novo。　There　was　ample　room　to　make　a　vertical　landing；　and　almost　before　he　was　out　of　the　cockpit；　the　crew　had　started　to　erect　false　sides　which　eventually　made　up　the　huge　container　standing　on　the　forward　deck。
　〃Good〃　Hamarik's　oily　smile　greased　over　his　face。　'You　have　done　well。　Now；　all　we　have　to　do　is　make　certain　the　machine　is　fully　fuelled；　overhauled；　and　fitted　with　the　other　weapons。　Then；　you　will　he　ready　for　stage　two　of　your　par！　in　the　operation　we　are　to　call　LOSE。　There　is　meant　to　be　humour　in　that。　Operation　LOSE　means　that　the　major　powers　lose　all　that　is　dear　to　them；　for　what　country　can　function　without　their　personal　gyroscopes？'
　'I　don't　follow　that　part　of　it〃　Pantano　did　not　press　the　point；　though　he　was　obviously　intrigued。
　'You　don't　follow　it　because　you　do　not　know　what　is　really　at　stake。〃　The　greased　smile　again。　Then　Hamarik　rose　from　his　chair。　'e；　let　us　eat　and　talk　of　good　things。　We　have　a　small　gift　for　you　on　board。　She　is　from　Egypt　and；　I　am　told；　enjoys　the　same　kind　of　trivial　pursuit　as　yourself。　Food　first；　for　you　will　require　energy〃
　James　Bond　was　flying　for　most　of　the　Saturday　and　the　wardroom　was　almost　empty　when　he　weni　in　to　dine　at　around　eight　in　the　evening。　He　entered　the　ante…room　and　was　surprised　to　see　Clover；　in　a　smart；　almost　military…looking　dress　…　beige　with　brass　buttons　and　darker　beige　piping　around　the　shoulders　and　collar。
　'How　are　you　tonight；　then。　Clover？'　He　smiled；　as　though　the　fencing　of　the　previous　evening　was　now　well　forgotten。
　〃I'm　fine；　sir〃　She　returned　the　smile　though　she　spoke　formally。　'I　was　wailing　to　iry　and　gel　a　word　with　you。〃
　'Right。　How　about　dinner？'
　〃That's　really　nice。　I'll　get　my　coat；　can　we　。　。　。？〃
　Bond　shook　his　head；　putting　an　arm　out　to　stop　her。　There　are　few　people　in　the　wardroom　on　a　Saturday　nighl。　Clover。　Let's　see　what　they　have　for　us　there。　I　seem　to　remember　that　on　the　ratings'　messdecks　of　a　Saturday　evening；　il　was　always　〃Herrings　in〃。〃　He　recalled　it　well　enough　from　the　days　when；　as　Officer　of　the　Watch；　he　had　to　do　rounds　of　the　messdecks。　'Herrings　in'　was　the　name　they　always　gave　to　the　large　tins　of　herrings　in　tomato　sauce；　a　favourite　among　both　ratings　and　Petty　Officers。　Bond　could　never　understand　il。　The　food　looked　and　smelled　revolting　to　him。　but　there　were　never　any　plaints　on　Saturday　nights。　He　presumed　things　had　changed　since　then。
　The　only　people　dining　in　at　that　time　were　the　Officer　of　the　Watch　and　the　Royal　Marines　Duty　Officer；　who　both　nodded　deferentially　to　Bond　as　he　led　Clover　to　a　couple　of　chairs　distant　to　the　other　two　officers。　The　Wren　stewards　served　them　with　the　only　choice　on　the　Saturday　night　menu　…　smoked　salmon；　followed　by　grilled　steak。　Bond　took　his　steak　rare　and；　refusing　the　pommes　frites。　ordered　a　small　green　salad。
　They　talked　idly；　circling　the　problem　both　knew　existed；　until　the　main　course　had　been　served。　It　was　Clover　Pennington　who　took　　he　lead　…
　'I　wanted　to　apologise　for　last　night〃　She　turned　her　eyes　away　and　blushed　as　she　spoke。
　〃Apologise　for　what？'　Bond　stared　at　her　until　she　had　to　make　eye　contact。
　'I　broke　all　security　regulations；　sir。　I　shouldn't　have　mentioned　either　Invincible　or　Landsea　'89。　I'm　sorry；　it　jusl　seemed　natural；　particularly　as　I　knew　you　were　being　drafted　as　well。'
　'You're　quite　right。'　Bond　was　almost　sharp　with　her。　'To　have　gained　the　rank　of　First　Officer　you　should　really　have　learned　all　ihe　lessons　of　security　by　now。　I　have　to　be　hones！　with　you；　Clover；　I've　always　had　great　reservations　about　young　women　with　either　loud　voices；　or　runaway　tongues。　The　Royal　Navy　isn't　known　as　the　Silent　Service　for　nothing。　We've　〃an　almosi　unblemished　reputation　for　keeping　mouths　closed　and　ears　open。'
　〃I　know；　sir。　I'm　sorry。　I　jusl　thought　that　if　I　got　my　apology　out　of　the　way；　perhaps　。　。　；'
　Bond　could　not　make　up　his　mind　whether　she　was　jusl　a　garrulous　woman；　or　an　upper…class　gold　digger。
　'Perhaps　what？'
　'Well；　last　night　we　。。。〃
　'I　think　you'd　do　well　to　forget　about　last　night…　At　least　until　the　matters　on　your　conscience　are　over。'　In　case　he　was　being　too　harsh。　Bond　gave　her　a　tight　smile。　'Let's　see　how　i（　all　goes。　After　that；　anything's　possible。　We　could　meet　socially。　No　problem　there。'
　Clover　Pennington　looked　suitably　crestfallen；　pushed　her　plate　away；　made　a　muttered　excuse　and　left　the　wardroom。　Bond　quietly　finished　his　meal；　went　into　the　ante…room；　took　a　small　brandy　with　his　coffee；　then　headed　back　to　his　quarters。　Tomorrow　was　a　free　day；　but　for　him　it　would　be　a　full　tine。
　He　left　the　Royal　Naval　Air　Station　jusl　after　eight。　having　eaten　his　usual　breakfast。　Bond　was　beginning　to　realise　what　had　attracted　him　to　the　Navy　in　the　first　place。　He　was　a　man　of　routine；　and　enjoyed　the　privileges　（hat　came　with　rank。　But　now；　rank　was　put　to　one　side。　He　wore　civilian　clothes；　and　drove　the　BMW　with　caution；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　rear…view　mirror。　Even　though　he　was　in　England；　this　was　an　operation　and　any　contact　with　his　real　Service　was　a　clandestine　matter　where　Field　Rules　applied。
　He　drove　to　Cheddar；　pleased　that　on　this　late　autumn　Sunday　there　were　few　other　people　on　the　road。　Certainly　he　appeared　to　be　free　of　any　surveillance　as　he　turned　off　ihe　main　road　and　headed　towards　a　modern　house　on　the　edge　of　an　up…market　estate。
　The　double　garage…doors　were　open　and　Bill　Tanner　stood　by　the　crimson　Lancia　already　drawn　back　from　Ihe　automatic　doors。　It　took　Bond　less　than　a　minute　to　change　cars；　reversing　the　Lancia　out　while　Tanner　nodded　and　drove　the　BMW　inlo　the　garage。　No　other　ears　came　near　and　Bond　crammed　an　unlikely　fishing　hat　on　his　head；　and　slipped　dark　glasses　over　his　eyes。　No　words　were　exchanged；　bul；　as　he　turned　the　Lancia　back　towards　the　main　road。　Bond　saw　the　garage…door　ing　down　to　hide　his　own　car。
　An　hour　later　he　had　negotiated　the　M5　Motorway；　and　taken　the　M4　fork　which　led　him　towards　London。　It　took　about　fifly　minutes　for　him　to　reach　the　Windsor　exit；　after　which　he　circled　the　smaller　roads；　still　watching　for　a　possible　tail。　It　was　a　lengthy；　painstaking　business　so　he　did　not　reach　his　destination　until　after　eleven；　purring　across　the　Windsor…Bagshot　road　and　looking　out　for　the　Squirrel　public　house　on　his　left；　then　the　gateway　of　simple　stone　on　the　right。
　He　turned　the　Lancia　ihrough　the　gateway　lo　see　the　familiar；　well…manicured　drive；　the　screen　of　silver　birch；　beech；　pine　and　oak　trees　which　stood　guard　over　the　rectangular　Regency　manor　house　of　weathered　Bath　stone。
　He　pulled　the　Lancia　around　Ihe　side　of　the　main　house；　parking　so　that　it　would　also　be　screened　by　the　trees　which；　as　he　knew　from　the　past；　were　not　the　only　proteciion　that　guarded　M's　beautiful　country　house　called；　nostalgically。　Quarterdeck。
　His　feet　crunched　on　the　gravel　as　he　approached　the　portico　and　grasped　the　thong　attached　to　the　gleaming　brass　bell；　once　that　of　some　long…forgotten　ship；　and　clanged　it　to　and　fro。　Seconds　later　the　stout　door　was　unbolted　from　inside　and　opened　to　reveal　M's　servant；　Davison。　who　had　replaced　the　faithful　ex…Chief　Petty　Officer　Hammond。
　'And　Mrs　Davison？　She　well？'　Bond　stepped　into　the　hall；　taking　in　the　familiar　scene　…　the　smell　of　polish　from　the　pine　panelling；　the　Victorian　hall　stand；　with　M's　old　Ulster　hanging　from　it；　and　Wellington　boots　set　nearby；　the　table　with　its　wonderfully…detailed　1。〃144　scale　model　of　the　battle　cruiser　Repulse；　M's　last　mand。
　'Mrs　Davison's　fit　as　a　flea；　sir　…　and　twice　as　nippy；　if　you　follow　my　drift。'
　'Indeed　I　do。　Dav