johngardner.rollofhonor-第16部分

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　When　in　doubt；　do　nothing；　Bond　thought。
　He　went　back　to　the　bed　and　stretched　out；　going　over　the　events　still　fresh　in　his　mind。　　The　attempt　to　get　away　with　the　puter　programs。　Posting　them。　　The　trailing　cars。　　The　wood　and　his　capture。
　The　needle。　　He　was　the　only　one　to　have　fired　a　shot。　　Almost　certainly　he　had　hit　…　probably　killed　…　one　of　them。　　Yet；　apart　from　their　natural　caution；　they　had　been　careful　to　make　sure　that　he　was　unharmed。　　A　connection　between　his　visit　to　Jay　Autem　Holy　and　the　current　situation　was　probable；　though　not　certain。　　Take　nothing　for　granted。　　Wait　for　revelations。　　Expect　the　worst。
　Bond　lay　there；　mentally　prepared；　for　the　best　part　of　twenty　minutes。　At　last　there　came　footsteps　…　muffled；　as　though　boots　crunched　over　earth；　but　the　tread　had　a　decidedly　military　sound。
　Bolts　were　drawn　back　and　the　door　to　Bond's　room　was　unlocked　and　opened。
　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　sand；　low　white　buildings　and　two　armed　men　dressed　in　drab　olive　uniforms。　　A　third　person　stepped　into　the　room。
　He　was　the　one　who　had　administered　the　knock…out　injection　in　the　Oxfordshire　wood。　　Now　he　wore　uniform　…　a　simple　olive　drab　battledress；　smart　with　no　insignia　or　badges　of　rank。　　He　had　on　desert　boots　and　a　revolver　of　high　calibre　holstered　on　the　right　of　his　webbing　belt。　　A　long　sheathed　knife　hung　from　the　belt　on　the　left。　His　head　was　covered　by　a　light　brown；　almost　makeshift；　kafflyeh　held　in　place　by　a　red　band。　　One　of　the　men　outside　reached　in　and　closed　the　door。
　〃Had　a　good　sleep；　Mr。　Bond？〃　The　man's　smile　was　almost　infectious。　　As　he　looked　up；　Bond　remembered　his　feelings　about　the　eyes。
　〃I'd　rather　have　been　awake。〃
　〃You're　all　right；　though？　　No　ill　effects？〃　Bond　shook　his　head。
　〃Right。　　My　name's　Simon。〃　The　man　was　crisp　and　businesslike；　extending　a　hand　which　Bond　did　not　take。
　〃We　hold　no　grudge　over　our　man；'　he　said　after　a　slight　pause。
　〃You　killed　him；　by　the　way。　　But　he　was　being　paid　to　risk　his　life。〃　He　shrugged。　　〃We　underestimated　you；　I　fear。　　My　fault。　　Nobody　thought　you'd　be　carrying　a　gun。　　After　all；　you're　not　in　the　trade　any　more。　I　guessed　that；　if　you　were　armed；　it　would　be　for　old　time's　sake；　and　nothing　as　lethal　as　that　thing。　　It's　unfamiliar　to　us；　incidentally。　What　is　it　exactly？〃
　〃My　name　is　James　Bond；　formerly　mander；　Royal　Navy。　　Formerly　Foreign　Service。　　Now　retired。〃　Simon's　face　creased　into　a　puzzled　look　for　a　moment。
　〃Oh；　yes。　　I　see。　　Name　and　rank。〃　He　gave　a　one…note　laugh。
　〃Sorry　to　disappoint　you；　mander　Bond；　but　you're　not　a　prisoner　of　war。　　When　you　outran　us　in　that　beautiful　motor　car　there　was　no　way　to　let　you　know　we　came　as　emissaries。　　In　friendship。　　A　possible　job。〃
　〃You　could　have　shouted。　　In　the　wood；　you　could　have　shouted；　if　that　was　the　truth。〃
　〃And　would　you　have　believed　us？〃　There　was　silence。
　〃Quite。　　No；　I　think　not；　mander　Bond。　　So　we　had　to　bring　you　in；　alive　and　well；　using　only　minimal　force。〃　Bond　thought　for　a　moment。　〃I　demand　to　know　where　I　am　and　who　you　people　are。〃
　〃In　good　time。　　All　in　〃Where　am　I？〃　Bond　snapped。
　〃Erewhon。〃　Simon　gave　a　low　chuckle。　　〃We　go　in　for　code　names；　cryptonyms。　　For　safety；　security；　and　our　peace　of　mind　…　just　in　case　you　turn　down　the　job；　or　even　prove　to　be　not　quite　the　man　we　want。
　This　place　is　called　Erewhon。　　Now　sir；　the　Officer　manding　would　like　a　word。〃　Bond　slowly　got　off　the　bed；　reached　out　and　grasped　Simon's　left　wrist；　aware　of　the　man's　other　hand　moving　swiftly　to　the　revolver　butt。
　〃mander；　I　wouldn't　advise　〃Okay；　I'm　not　going　to　attack　you。
　I　just　don't　recall　having　applied　for　a　job。　　Not　with　anybody。〃
　〃Oh；　really？　　No；　I　suppose　you　haven't。〃　There　was　mocking　ingenuousness　in　Simon's　voice。　　〃But　you're　out　of　work；　mander　Bond。　　That's　true；　surely？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And；　by　nature；　you're　not　an　idle　man。　　We　wanted　to　…　how　would　you　say　it？　　We　wanted　to　put　something　your　way。
　Bond　eyed　the　man　intently。　　〃Wouldn't　it　have　been　more　civilised　to　make　your　offer　by　invitation　in　England　instead　of　this　abduction？〃　〃The　Officer　manding　Erewhon　wishes　to　talk　to　you；'　Simon　said　with　a　winning　smile；　as　if　that　explained　everything。
　Bond　appeared　to　think　for　a　moment；　then　he　nodded。　　〃I'll　see　your　O。C。　then。〃
　〃Good。〃　Simon　rapped　on　the　door　and　one　of　the　men　outside　opened　up。　As　they　stepped　out；　the　two　guards　took　station　either　side　of　Bond。　He　sniffed　the　air。　　It　was　warm；　but　clear。
　Rare。　　They　must　be　fairly　high　above　sea　level。　　They　were　also　in　a　small　depression；　the　flat　bed　of　a　hollow；　surrounded　by　hills。
　On　one　side　the　hills　were　low；　a　curving　double　mound；　like　a　woman　S　breasts；　but　pitted　with　rock　among　the　dry；　sandy　earth。
　The　rest　of　the　circle　was　more　rugged；　crests　and　peaks；　running　up　several　hundred　feet；　with　outcrops　of　forbidding　rock。　　The　sun　was　high；　almost　directly　above　them。
　Along　the　flat　sand　bottom　of　the　hollow　was　a　series　of　low　white　buildings　…　one　long　rank　with　divisions；　and　another　terrace　with　three　shorter　ranks　at　right　angles；　like　a　large　letter　E。　　Hard　under　the　high　ground　there　were　other；　similar　buildings；　though　not　so　regimented。
　Simon　led　them　across　the　five　or　six　hundred　yards　towards　one　of　these　latter　blocks。
　Smoke　drifted　up　from　some　of　the　smaller　buildings。
　To　Bond's　left　there　was　a　firing　range；　with　a　group　in　uniform　preparing　to　use　it。　　Towards　the　round…topped　hills；　the　sound　of　heavy　explosions　and　small　arms　fire　suddenly　erupted　from　a　clutter　of　gutted　brick　houses；　which　looked　almost　European。　　Figures　dashed　between　these　houses　as　though　fighting　a　street　battle。
　As　he　turned　at　the　noise；　Bond　also　caught　sight　of　some　kind　of　bunker　dug　into　the　rock　towards　the　top　of　one　of　the　hills。　　A　defensive　position；　he　thought；　almost　impossible　to　attack　from　the　air；　though　helicopter　borne　landings　presumably　would　be　feasible。
　〃You　like　our　Erewhon？〃　Simon　asked　cheerfully。
　〃Depends　what　you　do　here。　　You　run　package　tours？〃
　〃Almost。〃　Simon　sounded　quite　amused。
　They　reached　a　building　about　the　size　of　a　modest　bungalow。
　There　was　a　notice；　neatly　executed；　to　the　right　of　the　entrance。
　
　
　OFFICER　MANDING　it　said　in　several　languages；　including　Hebrew　and　Arabic。　　The　front　door　opened　into　a　small；　empty　ante…room。
　Simon　crossed　to　the　one　door　at　the　far　end；　and　knocked。　　A　voice　called　out　〃e'；　and　Simon　gestured；　smartly　barking　out；　〃mander　James　Bond；　sir。〃　With　everything　that　had　been　going　on；　and　with　a　myriad　of　questions　unanswered；　Bond　would　not　have　been　shaken　to　find　General　Zwingli　on　the　other　side　of　the　door；　but　the　identity　of　the　man　seated　behind　the　folding　table　which　dominated　the　large　office　made　him　catch　his　breath　with　surprise。　　There　was　certainly　some　connection　between　this　man　and　Zwingli；　for　the　last　time　Bond　had　seen　him　was　in　the　Salles　Prive'es　at　Monte　Carlo。
　〃e　in；　mander　Bond。　　e　in。　　Wele　to　Erewbon；'　said　Tamil　Rahani。　　〃Do　sit　down。　　Get　the　mander　a　chair；　Simon。
　
　TERROR　FOR　HIRE
　
　THE　ROOM　was　functionally　furnished：　the　folding　table；　four　chairs　and　filing　cabinet　could　have　been　found　in　the　quartermaster's　stores　of　any　army　in　the　world。
　The　furnishings　also　appeared　to　reflect　the　character　of　Tamil　Rahani。　From　a　distance；　when　Bond　had　seen　him　briefly　in　Monte　Carlo；　Rahani　had　looked　like　any　other　successful　businessman　…　sleek；　well…dressed；　needle…sharp　and　confident。　　At　close　quarters；　the　confidence　was　certainly　there；　but　that　sleekness　was　clearly　superficial。　　What　stood　out　was　a　kind　of　dynamism　harnessed；　and　controlled。　　It　was　the　air　of　self…discipline　found　in　most　good　military　leaders；　a　kind　of　quiet　calm；　and　behind　it　an　immense；　unflinching　resolve。　　Rahani　certainly　exhibited　authority　and　a　firm　belief　in　his　own　ability。
　As　Simon　brought　the　chair；　and　took　one　for　himself；　Bond　quickly　glanced　around　the　office。　　The　walls　were　lined　with　maps；　charts；　large　posters　displaying　the　silhouettes　of　aircraft；　ships；　tanks　and　other　armoured　vehicles。　　There　were　also　year…　and　month…planners；　their　red；　green　and　blue　markers　the　only　splashes　of　colour　in　the　austere　room。
　〃Don't　I　know　you；　sir？〃　Bond　was　careful　to　observe　military　courtesy。　An　aura　of　power　and　danger　enveloped　Rahani。
　Rahani　laughed；　throwing　his　head　back　a　little。　　〃You　may　have　seen　photographs　of　me　in　the　newspapers；'　mander；'　he　said　with　a　smile。　〃We　may　speak　about　that　later。　　At　the　moment　I'd　rather　talk　about　you。　　You　have　been　highly　remended　to　us。〃
　〃Really？〃　Rahani　tapped　his　teeth　with　a　pencil。　　The　teeth　were　perfect　…　white　and　regular；　the　mustache　above　them　neatly　trimmed。
　〃Let　me　be　pletely　frank　with　you；　mander。
　Nobody　knows　whether　you　can　be　trusted　or　not。
　Everyone　…　and　by　that　I　mean　most　of　the　major　intelligence　munities　of　the　world　…　knows　that　you　have　been　an　active　officer　of　the　British　Secret　Intelligence　Service　for　a　long　time。　　You　ceased　to　be　either　a　member　or　active　a　short　time　ago。　　It　is　said　that　you　resigned　in　a　fit　of　bitterness。　　He　made　a　small　questioning　noise；　like　a　hum；　in　the　back　of　his　throat。　　〃It　is　also　said　that　nobody　ever　goes　private　from　the　S。I。S　the　C。I。A　Mossad　or　the　K。G。B。　　Is　that　the　correct　term？
　Going　private？〃
　〃So　the　spy　writers　tell　us。　　Bond　maintained　his　attitude　of　indifference。
　〃Well；'　Rahani　continued；　〃quite　a　few　people　wanted　to　find　out　the　truth。　　A　number　of　agencies　would　have　liked　to　approach　you。　　One　very　nearly　did。　　But　they　got　cold　feet。　　They　decided　that　you　would　probably　rediscover　your　loyalty　once　put　to　the　test；　no　matter　how　disaffected　you　felt。〃　There　was　a　pause；　during　which　Bond　remained　poker…faced；　until　the　Officer　manding　spoke　again。
　〃You're　either　an　exceptional　actor；　mander；　working　under　professional　instructions；　or　you　are　genuine。　　What　is　undisputed　is　that　you're　a　man　of　unmon　ability　in　your　field。　　And　you're　out　of　work。
　If　there　is　truth　in　the　rumours　surrounding　your　resignation；　then　it　seems　a　pity　to　allow　you　to　remain　unemployed。　　The　purpose　of　bringing　you　here　is