if.moonraker-第15部分

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es　to　call　it；　is　a　single…stage　rocket。　It　uses　up　all　its　fuel　shooting　itself　into　the　air　and　then　it　homes　on　to　the　objective。　The　V2's　trajectory　was　more　like　a　shell　fired　from　a　gun。　At　the　top　of　it's　200…mile　flight　it　had　climbed　to　about　70　miles。　It　was　fuelled　with　a　very　bustible　mixture　of　alcohol　and　liquid　oxygen　which　was　watered　down　so　as　not　to　burn　out　the　mild　steel　which　was　all　they　were　allocated　for　the　engine。　There　are　far　more　powerful　fuels　available　but　until　now　we　hadn't　been　able　to　achieve　very　much　with　them　for　the　same　reason；　their　bustion　temperature　is　so　high　that　they　would　burn　out　the　toughest　engine。〃
　The　professor　paused　and　stuck　a　finger　in　Bond's　chest。　〃All　you；　my　dear　sir；　have　to　remember　about　this　rocket　is　that；　thanks　to　Drax's　Columbite；　which　has　a　melting　point　of　about　3500　degrees　Centigrade；　pared　with　1300　in　the　V2　engines；　we　can　use　one　of　the　super　fuels　without　burning　out　the　engine。　In　fact；〃　he　looked　at　Bond　as　if　Bond　should　be　impressed；　〃we　are　using　fluorine　and　hydrogen。〃
　〃Oh；　really；〃　said　Bond　reverently。
　The　Professor　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃So　we　hope　to　achieve　a　speed　in　the　neighbourhood　of　1500　miles　an　hour　and　a　vertical　range　of　about　1000　miles。　This　should　produce　an　operational　range　of　about　4000　miles；　bringing　every　European　capital　within　reach　of　England。　Very　useful；〃　he　added　drily；　〃in　certain　circumstances。　But；　for　the　scientists；　chiefly　desirable　as　a　step　towards　escape　from　the　earth。　Any　questions？〃
　〃How　does　it　work？〃　asked　Bond　dutifully。
　The　Professor　gestured　brusquely　towards　the　diagram。　〃Let's　start　from　the　nose；〃　he　said。　〃First　es　the　warhead。　For　the　practice　shoot　this　will　contain　upper…atmosphere　instruments；　radar　and　suchlike。　Then　the　gyro　passes　to　make　it　fly　straight…pitch…and…yaw　gyro　and　roll　gyro。　Then　various　minor　instruments；　servo　motors；　power　supply。　And　then　the　big　fuel　tanks…30；000　pounds　of　the　stuff。
　〃At　the　stern　you　get　two　small　tanks　to　drive　the　turbine。　Four　hundred　pounds　of　hydrogen　peroxide　mixes　with　forty　pounds　of　potassium　permanganate　and　makes　steam　which　drives　the　turbines　underneath　them。　These　drive　a　set　of　centrifugal　pumps　which　force　the　main　fuel　into　the　rocket　motor。　Under　terrific　pressure。　Do　you　follow　me？〃　He　cocked　a　dubious　eyebrow　at　Bond。
　〃Sounds　much　the　same　principle　as　a　jet　plane；〃　said　Bond。
　The　Professor　seemed　pleased。　〃More　or　less；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　rocket　carries　all　its　fuel　inside　it；　instead　of　sucking　in　oxygen　from　outside　like　the　et。　Well　then；〃　he　continued；　〃the　fuel　gets　ignited　in　the　motor　and　squirts　out　at　the　end　in　a　continuous　blast。　Rather　like　a　continuous　recoil　from　a　gun。　And　this　blast　forces　the　rocket　into　the　air　like　any　other　firework。　Of　course　it's　at　the　stern　that　the　Columbite　es　in。　It's　allowed　us　to　make　a　motor　that　won't　be　melted　by　。the　fantastic　heat。　And　then；〃　he　pointed；　〃those　are　the　tail　fins　to　keep　it　steady　at　the　beginning　of　its　flight。　Also　made　of　Columbite　alloy　or　they'd　break　away　with　the　colossal　air　pressure。　Anything　else？〃
　〃How　can　you　be　certain　it'll　e　down　where　you　mean　it　to？〃　asked　Bond。　〃What's　to　prevent　it　falling　on　The　Hague　next　Friday？〃
　〃The　gyros　will　see　to　that。　But　as　a　matter　of　fact　we're　taking　no　chances　on　Friday　and　we're　using　a　radar　homing　device　on　a　raft　in　the　middle　of　the　sea。　There'll　be　a　radar　transmitter　in　the　nose　of　the　rocket　which　will　pick　up　an　echo　from　our　gadget　in　the　sea　and　home　on　to　it　automatically。　Of　course；〃　the　Professor　grinned；　〃if　we　ever　had　to　use　the　thing　in　wartime　it　would　be　a　great　help　to　have　a　homing　device　transmitting　energy　from　the　middle　of　Moscow　or　Warsaw　or　Prague　or　Monte　Carlo　or　wherever　we　might　be　shooting　at。　It'll　probably　be　up　to　you　chaps　to　get　one　there。　Good　luck　to　you。〃
　Bond　smiled　non…mittally。　〃One　more　question；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　wanted　to　sabotage　the　rocket　what　would　be　the　easiest　way？〃
　〃Any　number；〃　said　the　Professor　cheerfully。　〃Sand　in　the　fuel。　Grit　in　the　pumps。　A　small　hole　anywhere　on　the　fuselage　or　the　fins。　With　that　power　and　at　those　speeds　the　smallest　fault　would　finish　it。〃
　〃Thanks　very　much；〃　said　Bond。　〃It　seems　you've　got　fewer　worries　about　the　Moonraker　than　I　have。〃
　〃It's　a　wonderful　machine；〃　said　the　Professor。　〃She'll　fly　all　right　if　nobody　interferes　with　her。　Drax　has　done　a　sound　job。　Wonderful　organizer。　That's　a　brilliant　team　he　put　together。　And　they'll　do　anything　for　him。　We've　got　a　lot　to　thank　him　for。〃
　Bond　did　a　racing　change　and　swung　the　big　car　left　at　the　Charing　fork；　preferring　the　clear　road　by　Chilham　and　Canterbury　to　the　bottlenecks　of　Ashford　and　Folkestone。　The　car　howled　up　to　eighty　in　third　and　he　held　it　in　the　same　gear　to　negotiate　the　hairpin　at　the　top　of　the　long　gradient　leading　up　to　the　Molash　road。
　And；　he　wondered；　going　back　into　top　and　listening　with　satisfaction　to　the　relaxed　thunder　of　the　exhaust；　and　what　about　Drax？　What　sort　of　a　reception　was　Drax　going　to　give　him　this　evening？　According　to　M。；　when　his　name　had　been　suggested　over　the　telephone；　Drax　had　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　said；　〃Oh　yes。　I　know　the　fellow。　Didn't　know　he　was　mixed　up　in　that　racket。　I'd　be　interested　to　have　another　look　at　him。　Send　him　along。　I'll　expect　him　in　time　for　dinner。〃　Then　he　had　rung　off。
　The　people　at　the　Ministry　had　their　own　view　of　Drax。　In　their　dealings　with　him　they　had　found　him　a　dedicated　man；　pletely　bound　up　in　the　Moonraker；　living　for　nothing　but　its　success；　driving　his　men　to　the　limit；　fighting　for　priorities　in　material　with　other　departments；　goading　the　Ministry　of　Supply　into　clearing　his　requirements　at　Cabinet　level。　They　disliked　his　hectoring　manners　but　they　respected　him　for　his　know…how　and　his　drive　and　his　dedication。　And；　like　the　rest　of　England；　they　considered　him　a　possible　saviour　of　the　country。
　Well；　thought　Bond；　accelerating　down　the　straight　stretch　of　road　past　Chilham　Castle；　he　could　see　that　picture　too　and　if　he　was　going　to　work　with　the　man　he　must　adjust　himself　to　the　heroic　version。　If　Drax　was　willing；　he　would　put　the　whole　affair　at　Blades　out　of　his　mind　and　concentrate　on　protecting　Drax　and　his　wonderful　project　from　their　country's　enemies。　There　were　only　about　three　days　to　go。　The　security　precautions　were　already　minute　and　Drax　might　resent　suggestions　for　increasing　them。　It　was　not　going　to　be　easy　and　a　great　deal　of　tact　would　have　to　be　used。　Tact。　Not　Bond's　long　suit　and　not；　he　reflected；　connected　in　any　way　with　that　he　knew　of　Drax's　character。
　Bond　took　the　short　cut　out　of　Canterbury　by　the　Old　Dover　road　and　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　six…thirty。　Another　fifteen　minutes　to　Dover　and　then　another　ten　minutes　along　the　Deal　road。　Were　there　any　other　plans　to　be　made？　The　double　killing　was　out　of　his　hands；　thank　heaven。　'Murder　and　suicide　while　of　unsound　mind'　had　been　the　coroner's　verdict。　The　girl　had　not　even　been　called。　He　would　stop　for　a　drink　at　the　'World　Without　Want'　and　have　a　quick　word　with　the　innkeeper；　The　next　day　he　would　have　to　try　and　smell　out　the　'something　fishy〃　that　Tallon　had　wanted　to　see　the　Minister　about。　No　clue　about　that。　Nothing　had　been　found　in　Tallon's　room；　which　presumably　he　would　now　be　taking　over。　Well；　at　any　rate　that　would　give　him　plenty　of　leisure　to　go　through　Tallon's　papers。
　Bond　concentrated　on　his　driving　as　he　coasted　down　into　Dover。　He　kept　left　and　was　soon　climbing　out　of　the　town　again　past　the　wonderful　cardboard　castle。
　There　was　a　patch　of　low　cloud　on　top　of　the　hill　and　a　spit　of　rain　on　his　windshield。　There　was　a　cold　breeze　ing　in　from　the　sea。　The　visibility　was　bad　and　he　switched　on　his　lights　as　he　motored　slowly　along　the　coast…road；　the　ruby…spangled　masts　of　the　Swingate　radar　station　rising　like　petrified　Roman　candles　on　his　right。
　The　girl？　He　would　have　to　be　careful　how　he　contacted　her　and　careful　not　to　upset　her。　He　wondered　if　she　would　be　any　use　to　him。　After　a　year　on　the　site　she　would　have　had　all　the　opportunities　of　a　private　secretary　to　'The　Chief　to　get　under　the　skin　of　the　whole　project…and　of　Drax。　And　she　had　a　mind　trained　to　his　own　particular　craft。　But　he　would　have　to　be　prepared　for　her　to　be　suspicious　of　the　new　broom　and　perhaps　resentful。　He　wondered　what　she　was　really　like。　The　photograph　on　her　record…sheet　at　the　Yard　had　shown　an　attractive　but　rather　severe　girl　and　any　hint　of　seductiveness　had　been　abstracted　by　the　cheerless　jacket　of　her　policewoman's　uniform。
　Hair　：　Auburn。　Eyes　：　Blue。　Height：　5　ft　7。　Weight：　9　stone。　Hips：　38。　Waist：　26。　Bust：　38。　Distinguishing　marks　：　Mole　on　upper　curvature　of　right　breast。
　Hm！　thought　Bond。
　He　put　the　statistics　out　of　his　mind　as　he　came　to　the　turning　to　the　right。　There　was　a　signpost　that　said　Kingsdown；　and　the　lights　of　a　small　inn。
　He　pulled　up　and　switched　off　the　engine。　Above　his　head　a　sign　which　said　'World　Without　Want〃　in　faded　gold　lettering　groaned　in　the　salt　breeze　that　came　over　the　cliffs　half　a　mile　away。　He　got　out；　stretched　and　walked　over　to　the　door　of　the　public　bar。　It　was　locked。　Closed　for　cleaning？　He　tried　the　next　door；　which　opened　and　gave　access　to　the　small　private　bar。　Behind　the　bar　a　stolid…looking　man　in　shirt…sleeves　was　reading　an　evening　paper。
　He　looked　up　as　Bond　entered；　and　put　his　paper　down。　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said；　evidently　relieved　to　see　a　customer。
　〃Evening；〃　said　Bond。　〃Large　whisky　and　soda；　please。〃
　He　sat　up　at　the　bar　and　waited　while　the　man　poured　two　measures　of　Black　and　White　and　put　the　glass　in　front　of　him　with　a　syphon　of　soda。
　Bond　filled　the　glass　with　soda　and　drank。　〃Bad　business　you　had　here　last　night；〃　he　said；　putting　the　glass　down。
　〃Terrible；　sir；〃　said　the　man。　〃And　bad　for　trade。　Would　you　be　from　the　Press；　sir？　Had　nothing　but　reporters　and　policemen　in　and　out　of　the　house　all　day　long。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Bond。　〃I've　e　to　take　over　the　job　of　the　fellow　who　got　shot。　Major　Tallon。　Was　he　one　of　your　regular　customers？〃
　〃Never　came　here　but　the　once；　sir；　and　that　was　the　end。　of　him。　Now　I've　been　put　out　of　bounds　for