if.thunderball-第34章

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RE。　If　we　interfere　with　him　now；　this　moment；　arrest　the　ship　on　some　excuse；　put　a　watch　on　her；　prevent　her　sailing；　there　will　only　be　a　delay　in　the　SPECTRE　plan。　Only　Largo　and　his　men　know　where　the　bombs　are　hidden。　If　the　plane　has　gone　for　them；　it　will　be　keeping　contact　with　the　Disco　by　radio。　If　there's　any　hitch；　the　plane　can　leave　the　bombs　at　the　hiding　place　or　at　another；　dump　them　in　shallow　water　anywhere；　and　return　for　them　when　the　trouble　has　blown　over。　Even　the　Disco　could　be　taken　off　the　job　and　some　other　ship　or　plane　used　any　time　in　the　future。　SPECTRE　headquarters；　wherever　they　are；　will　inform　the　Prime　Minister　that　there　has　been　a　change　of　plan；　or　they　can　say　nothing　at　all。　Then；　perhaps　weeks　from　now；　they　will　send　another　munication。　And　this　time　there　will　perhaps　be　only　twenty…four　hours'　notice　for　the　money　to　be　dropped。　The　terms　will　be　tougher。　And　we　shall　have　to　accept　them。　So　long　as　those　bombs　are　still　lost　to　us；　the　threat　is　there。　You　see　that？〃　〃Yes。　So　what　is　to　be　done？〃　The　voice　was　harsh。　The　girl's　eyes　glittered　fiercely　as　they　looked　at　and　through　Bond　toward　some　distant　target…not；　he　thought；　at　Largo　the　great　conspirator；　but　at　Largo　who　had　had　her　brother　killed。
　
　〃We　have　got　to　know　when　those　bombs　are　on　board　the　Disco　。　That　is　all　that　matters。　Then　we　can　act　with　all　our　weight。　And　we　have　one　great　factor　on　our　side。　We　are　pretty　sure　that　Largo　feels　secure。　He　still　believes　that　the　wonderful　plan；　and　it　is　wonderful；　is　going　exactly　as　it　was　meant　to　do。　That　is　our　strength　and　our　only　strength。　You　see　that？〃
　
　〃And　how　are　you　to　know　when　the　bombs　e　on　board　the　yacht？〃
　
　〃You　must　tell　us。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　The　monosyllable　was　dull；　indifferent。　〃But　how　am　I　to　know？　And　how　am　I　to　tell　you？　This　man　is　no　fool。　He　is　only　foolish　in　wanting　his　mistress〃…she　spat　the　word　out…〃when　so　much　else　is　at　stake。〃　She　paused。　〃These　people　have　chosen　badly。　Largo　cannot　live　without　a　woman　within　reach。　They　should　have　known　that。〃
　
　〃When　did　Largo　tell　you　to　e　back　on　board？〃
　
　〃Five。　The　boat　is　ing　to　fetch　me　at　Palmyra。〃
　
　Bond　looked　at　his　watch。　〃It　is　now　four。　I　have　this　Geiger　counter。　It　is　simple　to　use。　It　will　tell　at　once　if　the　bombs　are　on　board。　I　want　you　to　take　it　with　you。　If　it　says　there　is　a　bomb　on　board；　I　want　you　to　show　a　light　at　your　porthole…switch　the　lights　on　in　your　cabin　several　times；　anything　like　that。　We　have　men　watching　the　ship。　They　will　be　told　to　report。　Then　get　rid　of　the　Geiger　counter。　Drop　it　overboard。〃
　
　She　said　scornfully；　〃That　is　a　silly　plan。　It　is　the　sort　of　melodramatic　nonsense　people　write　about　in　thrillers。　In　real　life　people　don't　go　into　their　cabins　and　switch　on　their　lights　in　daylight。　No。　If　the　bombs　are　there；　I　will　e　up　on　deck…show　myself　to　your　men。　That　is　natural　behavior。　If　they　are　not　there；　I　will　stay　in　my　cabin。〃
　
　〃All　right。　Have　it　your　own　way。　But　will　you　do　this？〃　〃Of　course。　If　I　can　prevent　myself　killing　Largo　when　I　see　him。　But　on　condition　that　when　you　get　him　you　will　see　that　he　is　killed。〃　She　was　entirely　serious。　She　looked　at　him　with　matter…of…fact　eyes　as　if　he　were　a　travel　agent　and　she　were　reserving　a　seat　on　a　train。
　
　〃I　doubt　if　that　will　happen。　I　should　say　that　every　man　on　board　will　get　a　life　sentence　in　prison。〃
　
　She　considered　this。　〃Yes。　That　will　do。　That　is　worse　than　being　killed。　Now　show　me　how　this　machine　works。〃　She　got　to　her　feet　and　took　a　couple　of　steps　up　the　beach。　She　seemed　to　remember　something。　She　looked　down　at　the　bracelet　in　her　hand。　She　turned　and　walked　down　to　the　edge　of　the　sea　and　stood　for　a　moment　looking　out　across　the　quiet　water。　She　said　some　words　that　Bond　couldn't　hear。　Then　she　leaned　back　and　with　all　her　strength　threw　the　gold　chain　far　out　over　the　shoal　into　the　dark　blue。　The　chain　twinkled　briefly　in　the　strong　sun　and　there　was　a　small　splash。　She　watched　the　ripples　widen　and；　when　the　smashed　mirror　was　whole　again；　turned　and　walked　back　up　the　sand；　her　small　limp　leaving　footmarks　of　uneven　depth。
　
　Bond　showed　her　the　working　of　the　machine。　He　eliminated　the　wrist…watch　indicator　and　told　her　to　depend　entirely　on　the　telltale　clicking。　〃Anywhere　in　the　ship　should　be　all　right；〃　he　explained。　〃But　better　near　the　hold　if　you　can　get　there。　Say　you　want　to　take　a　photograph　from　the　well　deck　aft　or　something。　This　thing's　made　up　to　look　like　a　Rolleiflex。　It's　got　all　the　Rolleiflex　lenses　and　gadgets　on　the　front；　lever　to　press　and　all。　It　just　hasn't　got　a　film。　You　could　say　that　you'd　decided　to　take　some　farewell　pictures　of　Nassau　and　the　yacht；　couldn't　you？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　The　girl；　who　had　been　listening　attentively；　now　seemed　distracted。　Tentatively　she　put　out　a　hand　and　touched　Bond's　arm。　She　let　the　hand　fall。　She　looked　up　at　him　and　then　swiftly　away。　She　said　shyly；　〃What　I　said；　what　I　said　about　hating　you。　That　is　not　true。　I　didn't　understand。　How　could　I…all　this　terrible　story？　I　still　can't　quite　believe　it；　believe　that　Largo　has　anything　to　do　with　it。　We　had　a　sort　of　an　affair　in　Capri。　He　is　an　attractive　man。　Everyone　else　wanted　him。　It　was　a　challenge　to　take　him　from　all　these　other　smart　women。　Then　he　explained　about　the　yacht　and　this　wonderful　trip　looking　for　treasure。　It　was　like　a　fairy　tale。　Of　course　I　agreed　to　e。　Who　wouldn't　have？　In　exchange；　I　was　quite　ready　to　do　what　I　had　to　do。〃　She　looked　briefly　at　him　and　away。　〃I　am　sorry。　But　that　is　how　it　is。　When　we　got　to　Nassau　and　he　kept　me　ashore；　away　from　the　yacht；　I　was　surprised　but　I　was　not　offended。　The　islands　are　beautiful。　There　was　enough　for　me　to　do。　But　what　you　have　told　me　explains　many　small　things。　I　was　never　allowed　in　the　radio　room。　The　crew　were　silent　and　unfriendly…they　treated　me　like　someone　who　was　not　wanted　on　board；　and　they　were　on　curious　terms　with　Largo；　more　like　equals　than　paid　men。　And　they　were　tough　men　and　better　educated　than　sailors　usually　are。　So　it　all　fits。　I　can　even　remember　that；　for　a　whole　week　before　last　Thursday；　Largo　was　terribly　nervous　and　irritable。　We　were　already　getting　tired　of　each　other。　I　put　it　down　to　that。　I　was　even　making　plans　for　flying　home　by　myself。　But　he　has　been　better　the　last　few　days　and　when　he　told　me　to　be　packed　and　ready　to　e　on　board　this　evening；　I　thought　I　might　just　as　well　do　as　he　said。　And　of　course　I　was　very　excited　over　this　treasure　hunt。　I　wanted　to　see　what　it　was　all　about。　But　then〃…she　looked　out　to　sea…〃there　was　you。　And　this　afternoon；　after　what　happened；　I　had　decided　to　tell　Largo　I　would　not　go。　I　would　stay　here　and　see　where　you　went　and　go　with　you。〃　For　the　first　time　she　looked　him　full　in　the　face　and　held　his　eyes。　〃Would　you　have　let　me　do　that？〃
　
　Bond　reached　out　and　put　his　hand　against　her　cheek。　〃Of　course　I　would。〃
　
　〃But　what　happens　now？　When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃
　
　This　was　the　question　Bond　had　dreaded。　By　sending　her　back　on　board；　and　with　the　Geiger　counter；　he　was　putting　her　in　double　danger。　She　could　be　found　out　by　Largo；　in　which　case　her　death　would　be　immediate。　If　it　came　to　a　chase；　which　seemed　almost　certain；　the　Manta　would　sink　the　Disco　by　gunfire　or　torpedo；　probably　without　warning。　Bond　had　added　up　these　factors　and　had　closed　his　mind　to　them。　He　kept　it　closed。　He　said；　〃As　soon　as　this　is　over。　I　shall　look　for　you　wherever　you　are。　But　now　you　are　going　to　be　in　danger。　You　know　this。　Do　you　want　to　go　on　with　it？〃　She　looked　at　her　watch。　She　said；　〃It　is　half　past　four。　I　must　go。　Do　not　e　with　me　to　the　car。　Kiss　me　once　and　stay　here。　Do　not　worry　about　what　you　want　done。　I　will　do　it　well。　It　is　either　that　or　a　stiletto　in　the　hack　for　this　man。〃　She　held　out　her　arms。　〃e。〃　Minutes　later　Bond　heard　the　engine　of　the　MG　e　to　life。　He　waited　until　the　sound　had　receded　in　the　distance　down　the　Western　Coast　Road；　then　he　went　to　the　Land　Rover　and　climbed　in　and　followed。
　
　A　mile　down　the　coast；　at　the　two　white　obelisks　that　marked　the　entrance　to　Palmyra；　dust　still　hung　in　the　driveway。　Bond　sneered　at　his　impulse　to　drive　in　after　her　and　stop　her　from　going　out　to　the　yacht。　What　in　hell　was　he　thinking　of？　He　drove　on　fast　down　the　road　to　Old　Fort　Point；　where　the　police　watchers　were　housed　in　the　garage　of　a　deserted　villa。　They　were　there；　one　man　reading　a　paperback　in　a　canvas　chair　while　the　other　sat　before　tripod　binoculars　that　were　trained　on　the　Disco　through　a　gap　in　the　blinds　of　a　side　window。　The　khaki　walkie…talkie　set　was　beside　them　on　the　floor。　Bond　gave　them　the　new　briefing　and　got　on　the　radio　to　the　Police　missioner　and　confirmed　it　to　him。　The　missioner　passed　two　messages　to　him　from　Leiter。　One　was　to　the　effect　that　the　visit　to　Palmyra　had　been　negative　except　that　a　servant　had　said　the　girl's　baggage　had　gone　on　board　the　Disco　that　afternoon。　The　boathouse　was　pletely　innocent。　It　contained　a　glass…bottomed　boat　and　pedallo。　The　pedallo　would　have　made　the　tracks　they　had　seen　from　the　air。　The　second　message　said　that　the　Manta　was　expected　in　twenty　minutes。　Would　Bond　meet　Leiter　at　the　Prince　George；　Wharf；　where　she　would　dock。
　
　***
　
　The　Manta　；　ing　with　infinite　caution　up…channel；　had　none　of　the　greyhound　elegance　of　the　conventional　submarine。　She　was　blunt　and　thick　and　ugly。　The　bulbous　metal　cucumber；　her　rounded　nose　shrouded　with　tarpaulin　to　hide　the　secrets　of　her　radar　scanner　from　the　Nassavians；　held　no　suggestion　of　her　speed；　which　Leiter　said　was　around　forty　knots　submerged。　〃But　they　won't　tell　you　that；　James。　That's　Classified。　I　guess　we're　going　to　find　that　even　the　paper　in　the　can　is　Classified　when　we　go　aboard。　Watch　out　for　these　Navy　guys；　Nowadays　they're　so　tight…lipped　they　think　even　a　belch　is　a　security　risk。〃
　
　〃What　else　do　you　know　about　her？〃
　
　〃Well；　we　won't　tell　this　to　the　captain；　but　of　course　in　C。I。A。　we　had　to　be　taught　the　basic　things　about　these　atom　subs；　so　we　could　brief　agents　on　what　to　look　for　and　recognize　clues　in　their　reports。　She's　one　of　the　George　Washington　Class；　about　four　thousand　tons；　crew　of　around　a　hundred；　cost　about　a　hundred　million　dollars。　Range；　anything　you　want　until　the　chow　runs　out　or　until　the　nuclear　reactor　needs　topping　up…say　every　hundred　thousand　miles　or　so。　If　she　has　the　same　armament　as　the　George　Washington；　she'll　have　sixteen　vertical　launching　tubes；　two　banks　of　eight；　for　the　Polaris　solid…fuel　missile。　These　have　a　range　of　around　twelve　hundred　miles。　The　crews　call　the　tubes　the　‘Sherwood　Forest'　because　they're　painted　green　and　the　missile　partment　looks　like　rows　of　great　big　tree　trunks。　These　Polaris　jobs　are　fired　from　way　down　below　the　surface。　The　sub　stops　and　holds　dead　steady。　They　have　the　ship's　exact　position　at　all　times　through　radio　fixes　and　star　sights　through　a　tricky　affair　called　a　star…tracker　periscope。　All　this　dope　is　fed　into　the　missiles　automatically。　Then　the　chief　gunner　presses　a　button　and　a　missile　shoots　up　through　the　water　by　pressed　air。　When　it　breaks　surface　the　solid…fuel　rockets　ignite　and　take　the