if.moonraker-第39部分

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Edinburgh　solicitors　before　they'd　opened　Drax's　message　to　the　world。　I　gather　it's　a　terrific　document。　Reads　as　if　it　had　been　written　by　Jehovah。　Vallance　took　it　to　the　Cabinet　last　night　and　stayed　at　No。　10　to　fill　in　the　blanks。〃
　〃I　know；〃　said　Bond。　〃He　kept　on　telephoning　me　at　the　hospital　for　details　until　after　midnight。　I　could　hardly　think　straight　for　all　the　dope　they'd　pushed　into　me。　What's　going　to　happen？〃
　〃They're　going　to　try　the　biggest　cover…up　job　in　history；〃　said　M。　〃A　lot　of　scientific　twaddle　about　the　fuel　having　been　only　half　used　up。　Unexpectedly　powerful　explosion　on　impact。　Full　pensation　will　be　paid。　Tragic　loss　of　Sir　Hugo　Drax　and　his　team。　Great　patriot。　Tragic　loss　of　one　of　HM　submarines。　Latest　experimental　model。　Orders　misunderstood。　Very　sad。　Fortunately　only　a　skeleton　crew。　Next　of　kin　will　be　informed。　Tragic　loss　of　BBC　man。　Unaccountable　error　in　mistaking　White　Ensign　for　Soviet　naval　colours。　Very　similar　design。　White　Ensign　recovered　from　the　wreck。〃
　〃But　what　about　the　atomic　explosion？〃　asked　Bond。　〃Radiation　and　atomic　dust　and　all　that。　The　famous　mushroom…shaped　cloud。　Surely　that's　going　to　be　a　bit　of　a　problem。〃
　〃Apparently　it's　not　worrying　them　too　much；〃　said　M。　〃The　cloud　is　going　to　be　passed　off　as　the　normal　formation　after　an　explosion　of　that　size。　The　Ministry　of　Supply　know　the　whole　story。　Had　to　be　told。　Their　men　were　down　on　the　East　Coast　all　last　night　with　Geiger　counters　and　there's　not　been　a　positive　report　yet。〃　M。　smiled　coldly。　〃The　cloud's　got　to　e　down　somewhere；　of　course；　but　by　a　happy　chance　such　wind　as　there　is　is　drifting　it　up　north。　Back　home；　as　you　might　say。〃
　Bond　smiled　painfully。　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　〃How　very　appropriate。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　continued　M。；　picking　up　his　pipe　and　starting　to　fill　it；　〃there　are　going　to　be　some　nasty　rumours。　They've　begun　already。　A　lot　of　people　saw　you　and　Miss　Brand　being　brought　out　of　the　site　on　stretchers。　Then　there's　the　Bowaters'　case　against　Drax　for　the　loss　of　all　that　newsprint。　There'll　be　the　inquest　on　the　young　man　who　was　killed　in　the　Alfa　Romeo。　And　somebody's　got　to　explain　away　the　remains　of　your　car；　amongst　which；〃　he　looked　accusingly　at　Bond；　〃a　long…barrel　Colt　was　found。　And　then　there's　the　Ministry　of　Supply。　Vallance　had　to　call　some　of　their　men　yesterday　to　help　clean　out　that　house　in　Ebury　Street。　But　those　people　are　trained　to　keep　secrets。　You　won't　get　a　leak　there。　Naturally　it's　going　to　be　a　risky　business。　The　big　lie　always　is。　But　what's　the　alternative？　Trouble　with　Germany？　War　with　Russia？　Lots　of　people　on　both　sides　of　the　Atlantic　would　be　only　too　glad　of　an　excuse。〃
　M。　paused　and　put　a　match　to　his　pipe。　〃If　the　story　holds；〃　he　continued　reflectively；　〃we　shan't　e　out　of　this　too　badly。　We've　wanted　one　of　their　high…speed　U…boats　and　we'll　be　glad　of　the　clues　we　can　pick　up　about　their　atom　bombs。　The　Russians　know　that　we　know　that　their　gamble　failed。　Malenkov's　none　too　firmly　in　the　saddle　and　this　may　mean　another　Kremlin　revolt。　As　for　the　Germans。　Well；　we　all　knew　there　was　plenty　of　Nazism　left　and　this　will　make　the　Cabinet　go　just　a　bit　more　carefully　on　German　rearmament。　And；　as　a　very　minor　consequence；〃　he　gave　a　wry　smile；　〃it　will　make　Vallance's　security　job；　and　mine　for　the　matter　of　that；　just　a　little　bit　easier　in　the　future。　These　politicians　can't　see　that　the　atomic　age　has　created　the　most　deadly　saboteur　in　the　history　of　the　world…the　little　man　with　the　heavy　suitcase。〃
　〃Will　the　Press　wear　the　story？〃　asked　Bond　dubiously。
　M。　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃The　Prime　Minister　saw　the　editors　this　morning；〃　he　said；　putting　another　match　to　his　pipe；　〃and　I　gather　he's　got　away　with　it　so　far。　If　the　rumours　get　bad　later　on；　he'll　probably　have　to　see　them　again　and　tell　them　some　of　the　truth。　Then　they'll　play　all　right。　They　always　do　when　it's　important　enough。　The　main　thing　is　to　gain　time　and　stave　off　the　firebrands。　For　the　moment　everyone's　so　proud　of　the　Moonraker　that　they're　not　inquiring　too　closely　into　what　went　wrong。〃
　There　was　a　soft　burr　from　the　inter；　on　M。's　desk　and　a　ruby　light　winked　on　and　off。　M。　picked　up　the　single　earphone　and　leant　towards　it。　〃Yes？〃　he　said。　There　was　a　pause。　〃I'll　take　it　on　the　Cabinet　line。〃　He　picked　up　the　white　receiver　from　the　bank　of　four　telephones。
　〃Yes；〃　said　M。　〃Speaking。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃Yes；　sir？　Over。〃　M。　pressed　down　the　button　of　his　scrambler。　He　held　the　receiver　close　to　his　ear　and　not　a　sound　from　it　reached　Bond。　There　was　a　long　pause　during　which　M。　puffed　occasionally　at　the　pipe　in　his　left　hand。　He　took　it　out　of　his　mouth。　〃I　agree；　sir。〃　Another　pause。　〃I　know　my　man　would　have　been　very　proud；　sir。　But　of　course　it's　a　rule　here。〃　M。　frowned。　〃If　you　will　allow　me　to　say　so；　sir；　I　think　it　would　be　very　unwise。〃　A　pause；　then　M。's　face　cleared。　〃Thank　you；　sir。　And　of　course　Vallance　has　not　got　the　same　problem。　And　it　would　be　the　least　she　deserves。〃　Another　pause。　〃I　understand。　That　will　be　done。〃　Another　pause。　〃That's　very　kind　of　you；　sir。〃
　M。　put　the　white　receiver　back　on　its　cradle　and　the　scrambler　button　clicked　back　to　the　en　clair　position。
　For　a　moment　M。　continued　to　look　at　the　telephone　as　if　in　doubt　about　what　had　been　said。　Then　he　twisted　his　chair　away　from　the　desk　and　gazed　thoughtfully　out　of　the　window。
　There　was　silence　in　the　room　and　Bond　shifted　in　his　chair　to　ease　the　pain　that　was　creeping　back　into　his　body。
　The　same　pigeon　as　on　Monday；　or　perhaps　another　one；　came　to　rest　on　the　window…sill　with　the　same　clatter　of　wings。　It　walked　up　and　down；　nodding　and　cooing；　and　then　planed　off　towards　the　trees　in　the　park。　The　traffic　murmured　sleepily　in　the　distance。
　How　nearly　it　had　e；　thought　Bond；　to　being　stilled。　How　nearly　there　might　be　nothing　now　but　the　distant　clang　of　the　ambulance　bells　beneath　a　lurid　black　and　orange　sky；　the　stench　of　burning；　the　screams　of　people　still　trapped　in　the　buildings。　The　softly　beating　heart　of　London　silenced　for　a　generation。　And　a　whole　generation　of　her　people　dead　in　the　streets　amongst　the　ruins　of　a　civilization　that　might　not　rise　again　for　centuries。
　All　that　would　have　e　about　but　for　a　man　who　scornfully　cheated　at　cards　to　feed　the　fires　of　his　maniac　ego；　but　for　the　stuffy　chairman　of　Blades　who　detected　him；　but　for　M。　who　agreed　to　help　an　old　friend；　but　for　Bond's　half…remembered　lessons　from　a　card…sharper；　but　for　Vallance's　precautions；　but　for　Gala's　head　for　figures；　but　for　a　whole　pattern　of　tiny　circumstances；　a　whole　pattern　of　chance。
　Whose　pattern？
　There　was　a　shrill　squeak　as　M。's　chair　swivelled　round。　Bond　carefully　focused　again　on　the　grey　eyes　across　the　desk。
　〃That　was　the　Prime　Minister；〃　M。　said　gruffly。　〃Says　he　wants　you　and　Miss　Brand　out　of　the　country。〃　M。　lowered　his　eyes　and　looked　stolidly　into　the　bowl　of　his　pipe。　〃You're　both　to　be　out　by　tomorrow　afternoon。　There　are　too　many　people　in　this　case　who　know　your　faces。　Might　put　two　and　two　together；　when　they　see　the　shape　you're　both　in。　Go　anywhere　you　like。　Unlimited　expenses　for　both　of　you。　Any　currency　you　like。　I'll　tell　the　Paymaster。　Stay　away　for　a　month。　But　keep　out　of　circulation。　You'd　both　be　gone　this　afternoon　only　the　girl's　got　an　appointment　at　eleven　tomorrow　morning。　At　the　Palace。　Immediate　award　of　the　；　George　Cross。　Won't　be　gazetted　until　the　New　Year　of　course。　Like　to　meet　her　one　day。　Must　be　a　good　girl。　As　a　matter　of　fact；〃　M。's　expression　as　he　looked　up　was　unreadable；　〃the　Prime　Minister　had　something　in　mind　for　you。　Forgotten　that　we　don't　go　in　for　those　sort　of　things　here。　So　he　asked　me　to　thank　you　for　him。　Said　some　nice　things　about　the　Service。　Very　kind　of　him。〃
　M。　gave　one　of　the　rare　smiles　that　lit　up　his　face　with　quick　brightness　and　warmth。　Bond　smiled　back。　They　understood　the　things　that　had　to　be　left　unsaid。
　Bond　knew　it　was　time　to　go。　He　got　up。　〃Thank　you　very　much；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃And　I'm　glad　about　the　girl。〃
　〃All　right　then；〃　said　M。　on　a　note　of　dismissal。　〃Well；　that's　the　lot。　See　you　in　a　month。　Oh　and　by　the　way；〃　he　added　casually。　〃Call　in　at　your　office。　You'll　find　something　there　from　me。　Little　memento。〃
　James　Bond　went　down　in　the　lift　and　limped　along　the　familiar　corridor　to　his　office。　When　he　walked　through　the　inner　door　he　found　his　secretary　arranging　some　papers　on　the　next　desk　to　his。
　〃008　ing　back？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　she　smiled　happily。　〃He's　being　flown　out　tonight。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　glad　you'll　have　pany；〃　said　Bond。　〃I'm　going　off　again。〃
　〃Oh；〃　she　said。　She　looked　quickly　at　his　face　and　then　away。　〃You　look　as　if　you　needed　a　bit　of　a　rest。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　get　one；〃　said　Bond。　〃A　month's　exile。〃　He　thought　of　Gala。　〃It's　going　to　be　pure　holiday。　Anything　for　me？〃
　〃Your　new　car's　downstairs。　I've　inspected　it。　The　man　said　you'd　ordered　it　on　trial　this　morning。　It　looks　lovely。　Oh；　and　there's　a　parcel　from　M。's　office。　Shall　I　unpack　it？〃
　〃Yes；　do；〃　said　Bond。
　He　sat　down　at　his　desk　and　looked　at　his　watch。　Five　o'clock。　He　was　feeling　tired。　He　knew　he　was　going　to　feel　tired　for　several　days。　He　always　got　these　reactions　at　the　end　of　an　ugly　assignment；　the　aftermath　of　days　of　taut　nerves；　tension；　fear。
　His　secretary　came　back　into　the　room　with　two　heavy…looking　cardboard　boxes。　She　put　them　on　his　desk　and　he　opened　the　top　one。　When　he　saw　the　grease…paper　he　knew　what　to　expect。
　There　was　a　card　in　the　box。　He　took　it　out　and　read　it。　In　M。's　green　ink　it　said　：　〃You　may　be　needing　these。〃　There　was　no　signature。
　Bond　unwrapped　the　grease…paper　and　cradled　the　shining　new　Beretta　in　his　hand。　A　memento。　No。　A　reminder。　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　slipped　the　gun　under　his　coat　into　the　empty　holster。　He　got　clumsily　to　his　feet。
　〃There'll　be　a　long…barrel　Colt　in　the　other　box；〃　he　said　to　his　secretary。　〃Keep　it　until　I　get　back。　Then　I'll　take　it　down　to　the　range　and　fire　it　in。〃
　He　walked　to　the　door。　〃So　long；　Lil；〃　he　said；　〃regards　to　008　and　tell　him　to　be　careful　of　you。　I'll　be　in　France。　Station　F　will　have　the　address。　But　only　in　an　emergency。〃
　She　smil