if.thunderball-第39章

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ing　stations；〃　and　almost　at　once　his　bunk　tilted　slightly　and　the　distant　whine　of　the　engines　altered　pitch。　Bond　smiled　grimly　to　himself。　He　slipped　off　the　bunk　and　went　along　and　up　to　the　attack　center。　Felix　Leiter　was　already　there。　The　captain　turned　away　from　the　plot。　His　face　was　tense。　He　said；　〃It　looks　as　if　you　were　right；　gentlemen。　We've　got　her；　all　right。　About　five　miles　ahead　and　two　points　to　starboard。　She's　doing　around　thirty　knots。　No　other　ship　could　be　holding　that　speed；　or　would　be　likely　to。　And　she's　showing　no　lights。　Here；　care　to　have　a　look　through　the　scope？　She's　raising　quite　a　wake　and　kicking　up　plenty　of　phosphorescence。　No　moon　yet；　but　you'll　see　the　white　blur　when　your　eyes　get　used　to　the　dark。〃
　
　Bond　bent　to　the　rubber　eye　sockets。　In　a　minute　he　had　her；　a　white　scut　on　the　horizon　of　the　soft；　feathery　swell。　He　stood　back。　〃What's　her　course？〃
　
　〃Same　as　ours…western　end　of　Grand　Bahama。　We'll　go　deeper　now　and　put　on　a　bit　of　speed。　We've　got　her　on　the　Sonar　as　well；　so　we　shan't　lose　her。　We'll　get　up　parallel　and　close　in　a　bit　later。　The　met。　report　gives　a　light　westerly　breeze　in　the　early　hours。　That'd　be　a　help。　Don't　want　it　too　calm　when　we　unload　the　swimming　party。　The　surface'll　boil　quite　a　bit　as　each　man　goes　out。　Here。〃　He　turned　to　a　powerful…looking　man　in　white　ducks。　〃This　is　Petty　Officer　Fallon。　He's　in　mand　of　the　swimming　party；　under　your　and　Mr。　Leiter's　orders；　of　course。　All　the　top　swimmers　volunteered。　He's　chosen　nine　of　them。　I've　taken　them　off　all　duties。　Maybe　you　gentlemen　would　like　to　get　acquainted　with　your　team。　You'll　want　to　discuss　your　routines。　I　guess　discipline'll　have　to　be　pretty　tight…recognition　signals　and　so　forth。　Okay？　The　sergeant　at　arms　is　looking　after　the　weapons。〃　He　smiled。　〃He's　rustled　up　a　dozen　flick　knives。　Had　some　difficulty　persuading　the　men　to　give　them　up；　but　he's　done　it。　He's　barbed　them　and　sharpened　them　down　almost　to　needles；　then　fitted　them　into　the　tops　of　broom　handles。　Guess　he'll　make　you　sign　an　indent　for　the　brooms　or　he'll　have　the　supply　officer　on　top　of　him　when　we　get　out　of　this。　All　right　then。　Be　seeing　you。　Ask　for　anything　you　want。〃　He　turned　back　to　the　plot。
　
　Bond　and　Leiter　followed　Petty　Officer　Fallon　along　the　lower　deck　to　the　engine　room　and　then　to　the　engine…repair　shop。　On　their　way　they　passed　through　the　reactor　room。　The　reactor；　the　equivalent　of　a　controlled　atomic　bomb；　was　an　obscene　knee…level　bulge　rising　out　of　the　thickly　leaded　deck。　As　they　passed　it；　Leiter　whispered　to　Bond；　〃Liquid　sodium　Submarine　Intermediate　Reactor　Mark　B。〃　He　grinned　sourly　and　crossed　himself。
　
　Bond　gave　the　thing　a　sideways　kick　with　his　shoe。　〃Steam…age　stuff。　Our　Navy's　got　the　Mark　C。〃
　
　The　repair　shop；　a　long　low　room　equipped　with　various　forms　of　precision　machinery；　presented　a　curious　sight。　At　one　end　were　grouped　the　nine　swimmers　clad　only　in　bathing　trunks；　their　fine　bodies　glowing　with　sunburn。　At　the　other；　two　men　in　gray　overalls；　drab　figures　of　the　machine　age；　were　working　in　semi…darkness　with　only　pinpoints　of　bright　light　cast　on　the　whirring　lathes　from　which　the　knife　blades　threw　small　fountains　of　blue　and　orange　sparks。　Some　of　the　swimmers　already　had　their　spears。　After　the　introductions；　Bond　took　one　and　examined　it。　It　was　a　deadly　weapon；　the　blade；　sharpened　to　a　stiletto　and　notched　near　the　top　into　a　barb；　firmly　wired　into　the　top　of　a　long　stout　stave。　Bond　thumbed　the　needle…sharp　steel　and　touched　the　tip。　Even　a　shark's　skin　would　not　stand　up　to　that。　But　what　would　the　enemy　have？　CO2　guns　for　a　certainty。　Bond　looked　the　smiling　bronzed　young　men　over。　There　were　going　to　be　casualties…perhaps　many。　Everything　must　be　done　to　effect　surprise。　But　those　golden　skins　and　his　own　and　Leiter's　paler　skins　would　show　at　twenty　feet　in　the　moonlight…all　right　for　the　guns；　but　well　out　of　range　of　the　spears。　Bond　turned　to　Petty　Officer　Fallon：　〃I　suppose　you　don't　have　rubber　suits　on　board？〃
　
　〃Why　sure；　mander。　Have　to；　for　escape　in　cold　waters。〃　He　smiled。　〃We're　not　always　sailing　among　the　palm　trees。〃
　
　〃We'll　all　need　them。　And　could　you　get　white　or　yellow　numbers；　big　ones；　painted　on　their　backs？　Then　we'll　know　more　or　less　who's　who。〃
　
　〃Sure；　sure。〃　He　called　to　his　men。　〃Hey；　Fonda　and　Johnson。　Go　along　to　the　Quartermaster　and　draw　rubber　suits　for　the　whole　team。　Bracken；　get　a　pail　of　rubber　solution　paint　from　Stores。　Paint　numbers　on　the　backs　of　the　suits。　A　foot　deep。　From　one　to　twelve。　Get　going。〃
　
　Later；　with　the　gleaming　black　suits　hanging　like　giant　bat　skins　along　the　wall；　Bond　called　the　team　together。　〃Men；　we're　going　to　have　one　hell　of　an　underwater　battle。　There'll　be　casualties。　Anyone　care　to　change　his　mind？〃　The　faces　grinned　back　at　him。　〃All　right；　then。　Now；　we'll　be　swimming　at　around　ten　feet　for　a　quarter；　perhaps　half　a　mile。　It'll　be　pretty　light。　The　moon'll　be　up　and　the　bottom's　white　sand　with　some　seagrass。　We'll　take　it　easy　and　go　in　triangle　formation　with　me；　No。　1；　leading　followed　by　Mr。　Leiter　here　as　No。　2；　and　Petty　Officer　Fallon　as　No。　3。　Then　we　broaden　out　behind　like　a　wedge　of　geese。　All　you　have　to　do　is　follow　the　number　in　front　of　you　and　no　one'll　get　lost。　Watch　out　for　isolated　niggerheads。　As　far　as　I　can　gather　from　the　chart　there's　no　true　reef；　only　broken　clumps。　It'll　be　getting　on　for　early　feeding　time　for　the　fish；　so　watch　out　for　anything　big。　But　leave　it　alone　unless　it　gets　too　inquisitive。　Then　three　of　you　take　it　on　with　the　spears。　But　don't　forget　that　it's　most　unlikely　any　fish　will　attack　us。　Close　together　we'll　look　like　one　hell　of　a　big　black　fish　to　anyone　else　and　I　guess　we'll　be　given　a　wide　berth。　Watch　out　for　sea　eggs　on　the　coral　and　mind　the　tips　of　your　spears。　Hold　them　right　up　near　the　blade。　Above　all；　keep　quiet。　We　must　try　and　get　surprise　on　our　side。　The　enemy's　got　CO2　guns；　range　above　twenty　feet。　But　they're　slow　things　to　reload。　If　one's　aimed　at　you；　try　and　give　a　small　target。　Keep　flat　in　the　water。　Don't　put　your　feet　down　and　give　him　a　full…length　target。　As　soon　as　he's　fired；　go　for　him　like　hell　with　your　spear　right　out。　One　jab　of　those　things　in　almost　any　part　of　the　head　or　body　and　your　man's　had　it。　Wounded　men　will　have　to　look　after　themselves。　We　can't　spare　stretcher　bearers。　If　you're　wounded；　back　out　of　the　fight　and　get　away　to　a　coral　clump　and　rest　on　it。　Or　make　for　the　shore　and　shallow　water。　If　you've　got　a　spear　in　you；　don't　try　and　pull　it　out。　Just　hold　it　in　the　wound　until　someone　gets　to　you。　Petty　Officer　Fallon　will　have　one　of　the　ship's　signal　flares。　He'll　release　that　to　the　surface　as　soon　as　our　attack　begins　and　your　captain　will　at　once　surface　and　put　out　an　escape　dinghy　with　an　armed　party　and　the　ship's　surgeon。　Now　then；　any　questions？〃
　
　〃What　do　we　do　as　soon　as　we　get　out　of　the　sub；　sir？〃
　
　〃Try　and　not　make　any　fuss　on　the　surface。　Get　down　quickly　to　ten　feet　and　take　your　place　in　the　formation。　We're　likely　to　get　help　from　a　light　breeze；　but　we're　bound　to　create　turbulence　on　the　surface。　Keep　it　down　as　much　as　you　can。〃
　
　〃What　about　signals　underwater；　sir？　Suppose　a　mask　goes　wrong　or　something。〃
　
　〃Thumbs　down　for　any　kind　of　emergency。　Arm　held　straight　out　for　a　big　fish。　Thumbs　up　means　‘I　understand'　or　‘ing　to　help　you。'　That's　all　you'll　need。〃　Bond　smiled。　〃If　the　feet　go　up；　that's　the　signal　that　you've　had　it。〃
　
　The　men　laughed　various　kinds　of　laugh。
　
　There　came　the　sudden　voice　of　the　P。A。　system。　〃Swimming　party　to　the　escape　hatch。　I　repeat；　swimming　party　to　the　escape　hatch。　Don　equipment；　Don　equipment。　mander　Bond　to　the　attack　center；　please。〃
　
　The　whine　of　the　engines　died　to　a　moan　and　then　was　silent。　There　was　a　slight　bump　as　the　Manta　hit　bottom。
　
　23。　Naked　Warfare
　
　Bond　shot　upward　out　of　the　escape　hatch　in　a　blast　of　pressed　air。　Far　above　him　the　surface　of　the　sea　was　a　glittering　plate　of　quicksilver　bubbling　and　swirling　with　the　small　waves　that　Bond　was　glad　to　see　had　materialized。　The　balloon　of　air　rushed　on　past　him　and　he　watched　it　hit　the　silver　ceiling　like　a　small　bomb。　There　was　a　sharp　pain　in　his　ears。　To　get　depression　he　fought　with　his　fins　and　slowed　down　until　he　hung　suspended　ten　feet　below　the　surface。
　
　Below　him　the　long　black　shape　of　the　Manta　looked　sinister　and　dangerous。　He　thought　of　the　electric　light　blazing　inside　her　and　a　hundred　men　going　about　their　business。　It　gave　him　a　creepy　feeling。　NOW　there　came　a　great　explosion　from　the　escape　hatch　as　if　the　Manta　was　firing　at　Bond；　and　the　black　projectile　of　Leiter　shot　up　at　him　through　the　burst　of　silver　air　bubbles。　Bond　moved　out　of　his　path　and　swam　on　up　to　the　surface。　Cautiously　he　looked　above　the　small　flurry　of　the　waves。　The　Disco　；　still　blacked　out；　lay　stopped　less　than　a　mile　away　to　his　left。　There　were　no　signs　of　activity　on　board。　A　mile　to　the　north　lay　the　long　dark　outline　of　Grand　Bahama　edged　with　the　white　of　sand　and　small　waves。　There　were　small　patches　of　broken　white　on　the　coral　and　niggerheads　in　the　intervening　water。　Above　the　island；　on　top　of　the　tall　rocket　gantries　that　showed　as　indistinct　black　skeletons；　the　red　aircraft　warning　lights　winked　on　and　off。　Bond　got　his　bearings　and　quietly　jackknifed　his　body　down　below　the　surface。　He　stopped　at　about　ten　feet　and；　keeping　his　body　pointed　like　a　pass　needle　along　the　course　he　would　have　to　follow；　lay；　paddling　softly　with　his　fins　to　keep　position；　and　waited　for　the　rest　of　his　team。
　
　***
　
　Ten　minutes　before；　mander　Pedersen's　stolid　calm　had　given　way　to　controlled　excitement。　〃By　gum；　it's　working　out　like　you　said　it　would！〃　he　had　said　wonderingly　when　Bond　came　into　the　attack　center。　〃They　hove　to　just　about　ten　minutes　ago；　and　since　then　the　Sonar　keeps　on　picking　up　odd　noises；　underwater　noises；　just　what　one　would　expect　if　they　were　getting　things　mobilized　in　that　underwater　partment　of　theirs。　Nothing　else　to　go　on；　but　it's　quite　enough。　I　guess　you　and　the　boys　had　better　get　going。　As　soon　as　you're　out　of　the　way；　I'm　going　to　float　up　a　surface　antenna　and　get　a　signal　off　to　Navy　Department；　give　them　a　Sitrep　and　have　the　missile　station　warned　to　stand　by　to　evacuate　if　things　go　wrong。　Then　I'm　going　to　e　up　to　twenty　feet　or　so　and　have　two　tubes　loaded　and　keep　a　periscope　watch。　I'm　issuing　Petty　Officer　Fallon　with　a　second　flare。　I've　told　him　to　keep　out　of　trouble　as　much　as　he　can　and　be　ready　to　let　off　the　second　flare　if　it　looks　as　if　things　are　going　really　bad　for　our　side。　Unlikely；　but　I　can't　take　chances　with　things　as　they　are。　If　that　second　flare　es　up；　I'm　going　to　close　in。　Knock　a　piece　or　two　off　the　Disco　with　the　four…inch　and　then　board　her。　Then　I'm　going　to　be　rough　as　hell　until　that　bomb's　been　recovered　and　rendered　safe。〃　The　captain　shook　his　head　doubtfully。　He　ran　his　hand　over　the　black　iron　filings　of　his　crew…cut。　〃This　is　one　hell　of　a　situation；　mander。　We'll　just　have　to　play　it　by　ear。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃Well。　You'd　better　get　going。　Good　luck。　I　hope　my　boys'll　be