if.moonraker-第40部分

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　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　smiled　at　him。　〃How　much　of　an　emergency？〃　she　asked。
　Bond　gave　a　short　laugh。　〃Any　invitation　to　a　quiet　game　of　bridge；〃　he　said。
　He　limped　out　and　shut　the　door　behind　him。
　The　1953　Mark　VI　had　an　open　touring　body。　It　was　battleship　grey　like　the　old　4　1/2　litre　that　had　gone　to　its　grave　in　a　Maidstone　garage；　and　the　dark　blue　leather　upholstery　gave　a　luxurious　hiss　as　he　climbed　awkwardly　in　beside　the　test　driver。
　Half　an　hour　later　the　driver　helped　him　out　at　the　corner　of　Birdcage　Walk　and　Queen　Anne's　Gate。　〃We　could　get　more　speed　out　of　her　if　you　want　it；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃If　we　could　have　her　back　for　a　fortnight　we　could　tune　her　to　do　well　over　the　hundred。〃
　〃Later；〃　said　Bond。　〃She's　sold。　On　one　condition。　That　you　get　her　over　to　the　ferry　terminal　at　Calais　by　tomorrow　evening。〃
　The　test　driver　grinned。　〃Roger；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　take　her　over　myself。　See　you　on　the　pier；　sir。〃
　〃Fine；〃　said　Bond。　〃Go　easy　on　A20。　The　Dover　road's　a　dangerous　place　these　days。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　sir；〃　said　the　driver；　thinking　that　this　man　must　be　a　bit　of　a　cissy　for　all　that　he　seemed　to　know　plenty　about　motor…cars。　〃Piece　of　cake。〃
　〃Not　every　day；〃　said　Bond　with　a　smile。　〃See　you　at　Calais。〃
　Without　waiting　for　a　reply；　he　limped　off　with　his　stick　through　the　dusty　bars　of　evening　sunlight　that　filtered　down　through　the　trees　in　the　park。
　Bond　sat　down　on　one　of　the　seats　opposite　the　island　in　the　lake　and　took　out　his　cigarette…case　and　lit　a　cigarette。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　Five　minutes　to　six。　He　reminded　himself　that　she　was　the　sort　of　girl　who　would　be　punctual。　He　had　reserved　the　corner　table　for　dinner。　And　then？　But　first　there　would　be　the　long　luxurious　planning。　What　would　she　like？　Where　would　she　like　to　go？　Where　had　she　ever　been？　Germany；　of　course。　France？　Miss　out　Paris。　They　could　do　that　on　their　way　back。　Get　as　far　as　they　could　the　first　night；　away　from　the　Pas　de　Calais。　There　was　that　farmhouse　with　the　wonderful　food　between　Montreuil　and　Etaples。　Then　the　fast　sweep　down　to　the　Loire。　The　little　places　near　the　river　for　a　few　days。　Not　the　chateau　towns。　Places　like　Beaugency；　for　instance。　Then　slowly　south；　always　keeping　to　the　western　roads；　avoiding　the　five…star　life。　Slowly　exploring。　Bond　pulled　himself　up。　Exploring　what？　Each　other？　Was　he　getting　serious　about　this　girl？
　〃James。〃
　It　was　a　clear；　high；　rather　nervous　voice。　Not　the　voice　he　had　expected。
　He　looked　up。　She　was　standing　a　few　feet　away　from　him。　He　noticed　that　she　was　wearing　a　black　beret　at　a　rakish　angle　and　that　she　looked　exciting　and　mysterious　like　someone　you　see　driving　by　abroad；　alone　in　an　open　car；　someone　unattainable　and　more　desirable　than　anyone　you　have　ever　known。　Someone　who　is　on　her　way　to　make　love　to　somebody　else。　Someone　who　is　not　for　you。
　He　got　up　and　they　took　each　other's　hands。
　It　was　she　who　released　herself。　She　didn't　sit　down。
　〃I　wish　you　were　going　to　be　there　tomorrow；　James。〃　Her　eyes　were　soft　as　she　looked　at　him。　Soft；　but；　he　thought；　somehow　evasive。
　He　smiled。　〃Tomorrow　morning　or　tomorrow　night？〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；〃　she　laughed；　blushing。　〃I　meant　at　the　Palace。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　afterwards？〃　asked　Bond。
　She　looked　at　him　carefully。　What　did　the　look　remind　him　of？　The　Morphy　look？　The　look　he　had　given　Drax　on　that　last　hand　at　Blades？　No。　Not　quite。　There　was　something　else　there。　Tenderness？　Regret？
　She　looked　over　his　shoulder。
　Bond　turned　round。　A　hundred　yards　away　there　was　the　tall　figure　of　a　young　man　with　fair　hair　trimmed　short。　His
　。　back　was　towards　them　and　he　was　idling　along；　killing　time。
　Bond　turned　back　and　Gala's　eyes　met　his　squarely。
　〃I'm　going　to　marry　that　man；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Tomorrow　afternoon。〃　And　then；　as　if　no　other　explanation　was　needed；　〃His　name's　Detective…Inspector　Vivian。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Bond。　He　smiled　stiffly。　〃I　see。〃
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence　during　which　their　eyes　slid　away　from　each　other。
　And　yet　why　should　he　have　expected　anything　else？　A　kiss。　The　contact　of　two　frightened　bodies　clinging　together　in　the　midst　of　danger。　There　had　been　nothing　more。　And　there　had　been　the　engagement　ring　to　tell　him。　Why　had　he　automatically　assumed　that　it　had　only　been　worn　to　keep　Drax　at　bay？　Why　had　he　imagined　that　she　shared　his　desires；　his　plans？
　And　now　what？　wondered　Bond。　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　to　shift　the　pain　of　failure…the　pain　of　failure　that　is　so　much　greater　than　the　pleasure　of　success。　The　exit　line。　He　must　get　out　of　these　two　young　lives　and　take　his　cold　heart　elsewhere。　There　must　be　no　regrets。　No　false　sentiment。　He　must　play　the　role　which　she　expected　of　him。　The　tough　man　of　the　world。　The　Secret　Agent。　The　man　who　was　only　a　silhouette。
　She　was　looking　at　him　rather　nervously；　waiting　to　'be　relieved　of　the　stranger　who　had　tried　to　get　his　foot　in　the　door　of　her　heart。
　Bond　smiled　warmly　at　her。　〃I'm　jealous；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　other　plans　for　you　tomorrow　night。〃
　She　smiled　back　at　him；　grateful　that　the　silence　had　been　broken。　〃What　were　they？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　was　going　to　take　you　off　to　a　farmhouse　in　France；〃　he　said。　〃And　after　a　wonderful　dinner　I　was　going　to　see　if　it's　true　what　they　say　about　the　scream　of　a　rose。〃
　She　laughed。　〃I'm　sorry　I　can't　oblige。　But　there　are　plenty　of　others　waiting　to　be　picked。〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　so；〃　said　Bond。　〃Well；　goodbye；　Gala。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。
　〃Goodbye；　James。〃
　He　touched　her　for　the　last　time　and　then　they　turned　away　from　each　other　and　walked　off　into　their　different　lives。



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