iam fleming.for your eyes only-第25部分

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；　a　big　victim　was　required。　I　was　chosen　…　by　Kristatos；　or　by　his　employers。　And　it　is　true　that　if　you　had　been　vigorous　in　your　investigations　and　had　spent　enough　hard　currency　on　buying　information；　you　might　have　discovered　the　story　of　my　operations。　But　each　trail　towards　me　would　have　led　you　further　away　from　the　truth。　In　the　end；　for　I　do　not　underestimate　your　Service；　I　would　have　gone　to　prison。　But　the　big　fox　you　are　after　would　only　be　laughing　at　the　sound　of　the　hunt　dying　away　in　the　distance。〃
　〃Why　did　Kristatos　want　you　killed？〃
　Colombo　looked　cunning。　〃My　friend；　I　know　too　much。　In　the　fraternity　of　smugglers；　we　occasionally　stumble　on　a　corner　of　the　next　man's　business。　Not　long　ago；　in　this　ship；　I　had　a　running　fight　with　a　small　gunboat　from　Albania。　A　lucky　shot　set　fire　to　their　fuel。　There　was　only　one　survivor。　He　was　persuaded　to　talk。　I　learnt　much；　but　like　a　fool　I　took　a　chance　with　the　minefields　and　set　him　ashore　on　the　coast　north　of　Tirana。　It　was　a　mistake。　Ever　since　then　I　have　had　this　bastard　Kristatos　after　me。　Fortunately；〃　Colombo　grinned　wolfishly；　〃I　have　one　piece　of　information　he　does　not　know　of。　And　we　have　a　rendezvous　with　this　piece　of　information　at　first　light　tomorrow　…　at　a　small　fishing…port　just　north　of　Ancona；　Santa　Maria。　And　there；〃　Colombo　gave　a　harsh；　cruel　laugh；　〃we　shall　see　what　we　shall　see。〃
　Bond　said　mildly。　〃What's　your　price　for　all　this？　You　say　my　mission　will　have　been　pleted　tomorrow　morning。　How　much？〃
　Colombo　shook　his　head。　He　said　indifferently：　〃Nothing。　It　just　happens　that　our　interests　coincide。　But　I　shall　need　your　promise　that　what　I　have　told　you　this　evening　is　between　you　and　me　and；　if　necessary；　your　Chief　in　London。　It　must　never　e　back　to　Italy。　Is　that　agreed？〃
　〃Yes。　I　agree　to　that。〃
　Colombo　got　to　his　feet。　He　went　to　the　chest　of　drawers　and　took　out　Bond's　gun。　He　handed　it　to　Bond。　〃In　that　case；　my　friend；　you　had　better　have　this；　because　you　are　going　to　need　it。　And　you　had　better　get　some　sleep。　There　will　be　rum　and　coffee　for　everyone　at　five　in　the　morning。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　Bond　took　it。　Suddenly　the　two　men　were　friends。　Bond　felt　the　fact。　He　said　awkwardly　〃All　right；　Colombo；〃　and　went　out　of　the　saloon　and　along　to　his　cabin。
　
　The　Colombina　had　a　crew　of　twelve。　They　were　youngish；　tough…looking　men。　They　talked　softly　among　themselves　as　the　mugs　of　hot　coffee　and　rum　were　dished　out　by　Colombo　in　the　saloon。　A　storm　lantern　was　the　only　light　…　the　ship　had　been　darkened　…　and　Bond　smiled　to　himself　at　the　Treasure　Island　atmosphere　of　excitement　and　conspiracy。　Colombo　went　from　man　to　man　on　a　weapon　inspection。　They　all　had　Lugers；　carried　under　the　jersey　inside　the　trouser…band；　and　flick…knives　in　the　pocket。　Colombo　had　a　word　of　approval　or　criticism　for　each　weapon。　It　struck　Bond　that　Colombo　had　made　a　good　life　for　himself　…　a　life　of　adventure　and　thrill　and　risk。　It　was　a　criminal　life　…　a　running　fight　with　the　currency　laws；　the　State　tobacco　monopoly；　the　Customs；　the　police　…　but　there　was　a　whiff　of　adolescent　rascality　in　the　air　which　somehow　changed　the　colour　of　the　crime　from　black　to　white　…　or　at　least　to　grey。
　Colombo　looked　at　his　watch。　He　dismissed　the　men　to　their　posts。　He　dowsed　the　lantern　and；　in　the　oyster　light　of　dawn；　Bond　followed　him　up　to　the　bridge。　He　found　the　ship　was　close　to　a　black；　rocky　shore　which　they　were　following　at　reduced　speed。　Colombo　pointed　ahead。　〃Round　that　headland　is　the　harbour。　Our　approach　will　not　have　been　observed。　In　the　harbour；　against　the　jetty；　I　expect　to　find　a　ship　of　about　this　size　unloading　innocent　rolls　of　newsprint　down　a　ramp　into　a　warehouse。　Round　the　headland；　we　will　put　on　full　speed　and　e　alongside　this　ship　and　board　her。　There　will　be　resistance。　Heads　will　be　broken。　I　hope　it　is　not　shooting。　We　shall　not　shoot　unless　they　do。　But　it　will　be　an　Albanian　ship　manned　by　a　crew　of　Albanian　toughs。　If　there　is　shooting；　you　must　shoot　well　with　the　rest　of　us。　These　people　are　enemies　of　your　country　as　well　as　mine。　If　you　get　killed；　you　get　killed。　Okay？〃
　〃That's　all　right。〃
　As　Bond　said　the　words；　there　came　a　ting　on　the　engine…room　telegraph　and　the　deck　began　to　tremble　under　his　feet。　Making　ten　knots；　the　small　ship　rounded　the　headland　into　the　harbour。
　It　was　as　Colombo　had　said。　Alongside　a　stone　jetty　lay　the　ship；　its　sails　flapping　idly。　From　her　stern　a　ramp　of　wood　planks　sloped　down　towards　the　dark　mouth　of　a　ramshackle　corrugated　iron　warehouse；　inside　which　burned　feeble　electric　lights。　The　ship　carried　a　deck　cargo　of　what　appeared　to　be　rolls　of　newsprint；　and　these　were　being　hoisted　one　by　one　on　to　the　ramp　whence　they　rolled　down　under　their　own　momentum　through　the　mouth　of　the　warehouse。
　There　were　about　twenty　men　in　sight。　Only　surprise　would　straighten　out　these　odds。　Now　Colombo's　craft　was　fifty　yards　away　from　the　other　ship；　and　one　or　two　of　the　men　had　stopped　working　and　were　looking　in　their　direction。　One　man　ran　off　into　the　warehouse。　Simultaneously　Colombo　issued　a　sharp　order。　The　engines　stopped　and　went　into　reverse。　A　big　searchlight　on　the　bridge　came　on　and　lit　the　whole　scene　brightly　as　the　ship　drifted　up　alongside　the　Albanian　trawler。　At　the　first　hard　contact；　grappling…irons　were　tossed　over　the　Albanian's　rail　fore　and　aft；　and　Colombo's　men　swarmed　over　the　side　with　Colombo　in　the　lead。
　Bond　had　made　his　own　plans。　As　soon　as　his　feet　landed　on　the　enemy　deck；　he　ran　straight　across　the　ship；　climbed　the　far　rail　and　jumped。　It　was　about　twelve　feet　to　the　jetty　and　he　landed　like　a　cat；　on　his　hands　and　toes；　and　stayed　for　a　moment；　crouching；　planning　his　next　move。　Shooting　had　already　started　on　deck。　An　early　shot　killed　the　searchlight　and　now　there　was　only　the　grey；　luminous　light　of　dawn。　A　body；　one　of　the　enemy；　crunched　to　the　stone　in　front　of　him　and　lay　spread…eagled；　motionless。　At　the　same　time；　from　the　mouth　of　the　warehouse；　a　light　machine　gun　started　up；　firing　short　bursts　with　a　highly　professional　touch。　Bond　ran　towards　it　in　the　dark　shadow　of　the　ship。　The　machine…gunner　saw　him　and　gave　him　a　burst。　The　bullets　zipped　round　Bond；　clanged　against　the　iron　hull　of　the　ship　and　whined　off　into　the　night。　Bond　got　to　the　cover　of　the　sloping　ramp　of　boards　and　dived　forward　on　his　stomach。　The　bullets　crashed　into　the　wood　above　his　head。　Bond　crept　forward　into　the　narrowing　space。　When　he　had　got　as　close　as　he　could；　he　would　have　a　choice　of　breaking　cover　either　to　right　or　left　of　the　boards。　There　came　a　series　of　heavy　thuds　and　a　swift　rumble　above　his　head。　One　of　Colombo's　men　must　have　cut　the　ropes　and　sent　the　whole　pile　of　newsprint　rolls　down　the　ramp。　Now　was　Bond's　chance。　He　leapt　out　from　under　cover　…　to　the　left。　If　the　machine…gunner　was　waiting　for　him；　he　would　expect　Bond　to　e　out　firing　on　the　right。　The　machine…gunner　was　there；　crouching　up　against　the　wall　of　the　warehouse。　Bond　fired　twice　in　the　split　second　before　the　bright　muzzle　of　the　enemy　weapon　had　swung　through　its　small　arc。　The　dead　man's　finger　clenched　on　the　trigger　and；　as　he　slumped；　his　gun　made　a　brief　Catherine…wheel　of　flashes　before　it　shook　itself　free　from　his　hand　and　clattered　to　the　ground。
　Bond　was　running　forward　towards　the　warehouse　door　when　he　slipped　and　fell　headlong。　He　lay　for　a　moment；　stunned；　his　face　in　a　pool　of　black　treacle。　He　cursed　and　got　to　his　hands　and　knees　and　made　a　dash　for　cover　behind　a　jumble　of　the　big　newsprint　rolls　that　had　crashed　into　the　wall　of　the　warehouse。　One　of　them；　sliced　by　a　burst　from　the　machine　gun；　was　leaking　black　treacle。　Bond　wiped　as　much　of　the　stuff　off　his　hands　and　face　as　he　could。　It　had　the　musty　sweet　smell　that　Bond　had　once　smelled　in　Mexico。　It　was　raw　opium。
　A　bullet　whanged　into　the　wall　of　the　warehouse　not　far　from　his　head。　Bond　gave　his　gun…hand　a　last　wipe　on　the　seat　of　his　trousers　and　leapt　for　the　warehouse　door。　He　was　surprised　not　to　be　shot　at　from　the　interior　as　soon　as　he　was　silhouetted　against　the　entrance。　It　was　quiet　and　cool　inside　the　place。　The　lights　had　been　turned　out；　but　it　was　now　getting　brighter　outside。　The　pale　newsprint　rolls　were　stacked　in　orderly　ranks　with　a　space　to　make　a　passageway　down　the　centre。　At　the　far　end　of　the　passageway　was　a　door。　The　whole　arrangement　leered　at　him；　daring　him。　Bond　smelled　death。　He　edged　back　to　the　entrance　and　out　into　the　open。　The　shooting　had　bee　spasmodic。　Colombo　came　running　swiftly　towards　him；　his　feet　close　to　the　ground　as　fat　men　run。　Bond　said　peremptorily：　〃Stay　at　this　door。　Don't　go　in　or　let　any　of　your　men　in。　I'm　going　round　to　the　back。〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer　he　sprinted　round　the　corner　of　the　building　and　down　along　its　side。
　The　warehouse　was　about　fifty　feet　long。　Bond　slowed　and　walked　softly　to　the　far　corner。　He　flattened　himself　against　the　corrugated　iron　wall　and　took　a　swift　look　round。　He　immediately　drew　back。　A　man　was　standing　up　against　the　back　entrance。　His　eyes　were　at　some　kind　of　spyhole。　In　his　hand　was　a　plunger　from　which　wires　ran　under　the　bottom　of　the　door。　A　car；　a　black　Lancia　Granturismo　convertible　with　the　hood　down；　stood　beside　him；　its　engine　ticking　over　softly。　It　pointed　inland　along　a　deeply　tracked　dust　road。
　The　man　was　Kristatos。
　Bond　knelt。　He　held　his　gun　in　both　hands　for　steadiness；　inched　swiftly　round　the　corner　of　the　building　and　fired　one　shot　at　the　man's　feet。　He　missed。　Almost　as　he　saw　the　dust　kick　up　inches　off　the　target；　there　was　the　rumbling　crack　of　an　explosion　and　the　tin　wall　hit　him　and　sent　him　flying。
　Bond　scrambled　to　his　feet。　The　warehouse　had　buckled　crazily　out　of　shape。　Now　it　started　to　collapse　noisily　like　a　pack　of　tin　cards。　Kristatos　was　in　the　car。　It　was　already　twenty　yards　away；　dust　fountaining　up　from　the　traction　on　the　rear　wheels。　Bond　stood　in　the　classic　pistol…shooting　pose　and　took　careful　aim。　The　Walther　roared　and　kicked　three　times。　At　the　last　shot；　at　fifty　yards；　the　figure　crouched　over　the　wheel　jerked　backwards。　The　hands　flew　sideways　off　the　wheel。　The　head　craned　briefly　into　the　air　and　slump