if.moonraker-第16部分

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　〃Never　came　here　but　the　once；　sir；　and　that　was　the　end。　of　him。　Now　I've　been　put　out　of　bounds　for　a　week　and　the　public　has　got　to　be　painted　from　top　to　bottom。　But　I　will　say　that　Sir　Hugo　has　been　very　decent　about　it。　Sent　me　fifty　quid　this　afternoon　to　pay　for　the　damage。　He　must　be　a　fine　gentleman　that。　Made　himself　well　liked　in　these　parts。　Always　very　generous　and　a　cheery　word　for　all。〃
　〃Yes。　Fine　man；〃　said　Bond。　〃Did　you　see　it　all　happen？〃
　〃Didn't　see　the　first　shot；　sir。　Serving　a　pint　at　the　time。　Then　of　course　I　looked　up。　Dropped　the　ruddy　pint　on　the　floor。〃
　〃What　happened　then？〃
　〃Well；　everybody's　standing　back　of　course。　Nothing　but　Germans　in　the　place。　About　a　dozen　of　them。　There's　the　body　on　the　floor　and　the　chap　with　the　gun　looking　down　at　him。　Then　suddenly　he　stands　to　attention　and　sticks　his　left　arm　up　in　the　air。　'Eil！'　he　shouts　like　the　silly　bastards　used　to　do　during　the　war。　Then　he　puts　the　end　of　the　gun　in　his　mouth。　Next　thing；〃　the　man　made　a　grimace；　〃he's　all　over　my　ruddy　ceiling。〃
　〃That　was　all　he　said　after　the　shot？〃　asked　Bond；　〃Just　'Heil'？〃
　〃That's　all；　sir。　Don't　seem　to　be　able　to　forget　the　bloody　word；　do　they？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Bond　thoughtfully；　〃they　certainly　don't。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XI
　
　POLICEWOMAN　BRAND
　
　FIVE　MINUTES　later　Bond　was　showing　his　Ministry　pass　to　the　uniformed　guard　on　duty　at　the　gate　in　the　high　wire；　fence。
　The　RAF　sergeant　handed　it　back　to　him　and　saluted。　〃Sir　Hugo's　expecting　you；　sir。　It's　the　big　house　up　in　the　woods　there。〃　He　pointed　to　some　lights　a　hundred　yards　further　on　towards　the　cliffs。
　Bond　heard　him　telephoning　to　the　next　guard　point。　He　motored　slowly　along　the　new　tarmac　road　that　had　been　laid　across　the　fields　behind　Kingsdown。　He　could　hear　the　distant　boom　of　the　sea　at　the　foot　of　the　tall　cliffs　and　from　somewhere　close　at　hand　there　was　a　high…pitched　whine　of　machinery　which　grew　louder　as　he　approached　the　trees。
　He　was　stepped　again　by　a　plain…clothes　guard　at　a　second　wire　fence　through　which　a　five…bar　gate　gave　access　to　the　interior　of　the　wood；　and　as　he　was　waved　through　he　heard　the　distant　baying　of　police　dogs　which　suggested　some　form　of　night　patrol。　All　these　precautions　seemed　efficient。　Bond　decided　that　he　wouldn't　have　to　worry　himself　with　problems　of　external　security。
　Once　through　the　trees　the　car　was　running　over　a　flat　concrete　apron　the　limits　of　which；　in　the　bad　light；　were　out　of　range　even　of　the　huge　twin　beams　of　his　Marchal　headlamps。　A　hundred　yards　to　his　left；　on　the　edge　of　the　trees；　there　were　the　lights　of　a　large　house　half…hidden　behind　a　wall　six　feet　thick；　that　rose　straight　up　off　the　surface　of　the　concrete　almost　to　the　height　of　the　house。　Bond　slowed　the　car　down　to　walking　pace　and　turned　its　bonnet　away　from　the　house　towards　the　sea　and　towards　a　dark　shape　that　suddenly　glinted　white　in　the　revolving　beams　of　the　South　Goodwin　Lightship　far　out　in　the　Channel。　His　lights　Cut　a　path　down　the　apron　to　where；　almost　on　the　edge　of　the　cliff　and　at　least　half　a　mile　away；　a　squat　dome　surged　up　about　fifty　feet　out　of　the　concrete。　It　looked　like　the　top　of　an　observatory　and　Bond　could　distinguish　the　flange　of　a　joint　running　east　and　west　across　the　surface　of　the　dome。
　He　turned　the　car　back　and　slowly　ran　it　up　between　what　he　now　assumed　to　be　a　blast…wall　and　the　front　of　the　house。　As　he　pulled　up　outside　the　house　the　door　opened　and　a　manservant　in　a　white　jacket　came　out。　He　smartly　opened　the　door　of　the　car。
　〃Good　evening；　sir。　This　way　please。〃　He　spoke　woodenly　and　with　a　trace　of　accent。　Bond　followed　hint　into　the　house　and　across　a　fortable　hall　to　a　door　on　which　the　butler　knocked。　〃In。〃
　Bond　smiled　to　himself　at　the　harsh　tone　of　the　well…remembered　voice　and　at　the　note　of　mand　in　the　single　monosyllable。
　At　the　far　end　of　the　long；　bright；　chintzy　living…room　Drax　was　standing　with　his　back　to　an　empty　grate；　a　huge　figure　in　a　plum…coloured　velvet　smoking…jacket　that　clashed　with　the　reddish　hair　on　his　face。　There　were　three　other　people　standing　near　him；　two　men　and　a　woman。
　〃Ah；　my　dear　fellow；〃　said　Drax　boisterously；　striding　forward　to　meet　him　and　shaking　him　cordially　by　the　hand。　〃So　we　meet　again。　And　so　soon。　Didn't　realize　you　were　a　ruddy　spy　for　my　Ministry　or　I'd　have　been　more　careful　about　playing　cards　against　you。　Spent　that　money　yet？〃　he　asked；　leading　him　towards　the　fire。
　〃Not　yet；〃　smiled　Bond。　〃Haven't　seen　the　colour　of　it。〃
　〃Of　course。　Settlement　on　Saturday。　Probably　get　the　cheque　just　in　time　to　celebrate　our　little　firework　display；　。　what？　Now　let's　see。〃　He　led　Bond　up　to　the　woman。　〃This　is　my　secretary；　Miss　Brand。〃
　Bond　looked　into　a　pair　of　very　level　blue　eyes。　〃Good　evening。〃　He　gave　her　a　friendly　smile。　There　was　no　answering　smile　in　the　eyes　which　looked　calmly　into　his。　No　answering　pressure　of　her　hand。　〃How　do　you　do；〃　she　said　indifferently；　almost；　Bond　sensed；　with　hostility。
　It　crossed　Bond's　mind　that　she　had　been　well…chosen。　Another　Loelia　Ponsonby。　Reserved　efficient；　loyal；　virginal。　Thank　heavens；　he　thought。　A　professional。
　〃My　right…hand　man；　Dr　Walter。〃　The　thin　elderly　man　with　a　pair　of　angry　eyes　under　the　shock　of　black　hair　seemed　not　to　notice　Bond's　outstretched　hand。　He　sprang　to　attention　and　gave　a　quick　nod　of　the　head。　〃Valter；〃　said　the　thin　mouth　above　the　black　imperial；　correcting　Drax's　pronunciation。
　〃And　my…what　shall　I　say…my　dogsbody。　What　you　might　call　my　ADC；　Willy　Krebs。〃　There　was　the　touch　of　a　slightly　damp　hand。　〃Ferry　pleased　to　meet　you；〃　said　an　ingratiating　voice　and　Bond　looked　into　a　pale　round　unhealthy　face　now　split　in　a　stage　smile　which　died　almost　as　Bond　noticed　it。　Bond　looked　into　his　eyes。　They　were　like　two　restless　black　buttons　and　they　twisted　away　from　Bond's　gaze。
　Both　men　wore　spotless　white　overalls　with　plastic　zip　fasteners　at　the　sleeves　and　ankles　and　down　the　back。　Their　hair　was　close…cropped　so　that　the　skin　shone　through　and　they　would　have　looked　like　people　from　another　planet　but　for　the　untidy　black　moustache　and　imperial　of　Dr　Walter　and　the　pale　wispy　moustache　of　Krebs。　They　were　both　caricatures…a　mad　scientist　and　a　youthful　version　of　Peter　Lorre。
　The　colourful　ogreish　figure　of　Drax　was　a　pleasant　contrast　in　this　chilly　pany　and　Bond　was　grateful　to　him　for　the　cheerful　roughness　of　his　wele　and　for　his　apparent　wish　to　bury　the　hatchet　and　make　the　best　of　his　new　security　officer。
　Drax　was　very　much　the　host。　He　rubbed　his　hands　together。　〃Now；　Willy；〃　he　said；　〃how　about　making　one　of　your　excellent　dry　Martinis　for　us？　Except；　of　course；　for　the　Doctor。　Doesn't　drink　or　smoke；〃　he　explained　to　Bond；　returning　to　his　place　by　the　mantelpiece。　〃Hardly　breathes。〃　He　barked　out　a　short　laugh。　〃Thinks　of　nothing　but　the　rocket。　Do　you；　my　friend？〃
　The　Doctor　looked　stonily　in　front　of　him。　〃You　are　pleased　to　joke；〃　he　said。
　〃Now；　now；〃　said　Drax；　as　if　to　a　child。　〃We　will　go　back　to　those　leading　edges　later。　Everybody's　quite　happy　about　them　except　you。〃　He　turned　to　Bond。　〃The　good　Doctor　is　always　frightening　us；〃　he　explained　indulgently。　〃He's　always　having　nightmares　about　something。　Now　it's　the　leading　edges　of　the　fins。　They're　already　as　sharp　as　razor　blades…hardly　any　wind　resistance　at　all。　And　he　suddenly　gets　it　into　his　head　that　they're　going　to　melt。　Friction　of　the　air。　Of　course　everything's　possible；　but　they've　been　tested　at　over　3000　degrees　and；　as　I　tell　him；　if　they're　going　to　melt　then　the　whole　rocket　will　melt。　And　that's　just　not　going　to　happen；〃　he　added　with　a　grim　smile。
　Krebs　came　up　with　a　silver　tray　with　four　full　glasses　and　a　frosted　shaker。　The　Martini　was　excellent　and　Bond　said　so。
　〃You　are　ferry　kind；〃　said　Krebs　with　a　smirk　of　satisfaction。　〃Sir　Hugo　is　ferry　exacting。〃
　〃Fill　up　his　glass；〃　said　Drax；　〃and　then　perhaps　our　friend　would　like　to　wash。　We　dine　at　eight　sharp。〃
　As　he　spoke　there　came　the　muffled　wail　of　a　siren　and　almost　immediately　the　sound　of　a　body　of　men　running　in　strict　unison　across　the　concrete　apron　outside。
　〃That's　the　first　night　shift；〃　explained　Drax。　〃Barracks　are　just　behind　the　house。　Must　be　eight　o'clock。　We　do　everything　at　the　double　here；〃　he　added　with　a　gleam　of　satisfaction　in　his　eye。　〃Precision。　Lot　of　scientists　about；　but　we　try　to　run　the　place　like　a　military　establishment。　Willy；　look　after　the　mander。　We'll　go　ahead。　Gome　along；　my　dear。〃
　As　Bond　followed　Krebs　to　the　door　through　which　he　had　entered；　he　saw　the　other　two　with　Drax　in　the　lead　make　for　the　double　doors　at　the　end　of　the　room　which　had　opened　as　Drax　finished　speaking。　The　manservant　in　the　white　coat　stood　in　the　entrance。　As　Bond　went　out　into　the　hall　it　crossed　his　mind　that　Drax　would　certainly　go　into　the　dining…room　ahead　of　Miss　Brand。　Forceful　personality。　Treated　his　staff　like　children。　Obviously　a　born　leader。　Where　had　he　got　it　from？　The　Army？　Or　did　it　grow　on　one　with　millions　of　money？　Bond　followed　the　slug…like　neck　of　Krebs　and　wondered。
　The　dinner　was　excellent。　Drax　was　a　genial　host　and　at　his　own　table　his　manners　were　faultless。　Most　of　his　conversation　consisted　in　drawing　out　Dr　Walter　for　the　benefit　of　Bond；　and　it　covered　a　wide　range　of　technical　matters　which　Drax　took　pains　to　explain　briefly　after　each　topic　had　been　exhausted。　Bond　was　impressed　by　the　confidence　with　which　Drax　handled　each　abstruse　problem　as　it　was　raised；　and　by　his　immense　grasp　of　detail。　A　genuine　admiration　for　the　man　gradually　developed　in　him　and　overshadowed　much　of　his　previous　dislike。　He　felt　more　than　ever　inclined　to　forget　the　Blades　affair　now　that　he　was　faced　with　the　other　Drax；　the　creator　and　inspired　leader　of　a　remarkable　enterprise。
　Bond　sat　between　his　host　and　Miss　Brand。　He　made　several　attempts　to　engage　her　in　conversation。　He　failed　pletely。　She　answered　with　polite　monosyllables　and　would　hardly　meet　his　eye。　Bond　became　mildly　irritated。　He　found　her　physically　very　attractive　and　it　annoyed　him　to　be　unable　to　extract　the　smallest　response。　He　felt　that　her　frigid　indifference　was　overacted　and　that　security　would　have