johngardner.winloseordie-第13章

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ence…gathering。　They　imagine　you're　unique；'　the　Old　Man　had　said。　'They　think　your　presence　on　Invincible　is　very　bad　medicine　for　them。'　M　had　made　a　sarcastic　one…note　laugh。　'I　suppose　BAST　and　its　leaders　are　your　fan　club；　007。　You　should　send　them　an　autographed　picture。'
　Bond　shrugged　in　the　dark。　That　was　not　the　pomi。　He　was　the　stalking…horse；　the　tethered　goat　who　might　bring　BAST　to　him。　It　was　a　pity　they　had　obviously　managed　to　spirit　away　the　member　of　the　team　Beatrice　had　winged。　But　it　was　thorough　thinking　on　their　part。　There　was　plenty　of　lime　and　it　would　be　best　to　move　one　injured　man　or　woman　to　safety　before　they　tried　again。　Later　tonight　…　or　morning　as　it　was　now？　He　looked　at　his　watch。　Three…thirty　on　a　cold　and　dangerous　morning；　and　all　was　not　well。
　He　heard　Beatrice　e　down　the　steps；　two　ai　a　time；　but　wonderfully　light　on　her　feet。
　Together　they　wrapped　the　chain　around　the　gates；　securing　the　ground　bolts　which　went　into　metal　and　concrete　holes；　then　clicking　the　large；　strong　padlock　into　place。　A　last　look　around　and　（hey　turned　back；　through　the　second　gate；　which　Bond　locked；　and　went　around　the　villa　to　the　rear　terrace。
　'I'll　make　coffee。'　Her　tone　had　something　about　it　ihat　you　did　not　argue　with；　so　he　unlocked　the　rear　windows；　and　let　her　go　in　first。　When　he　turned　the　lights　on　she　said　something　about　the　place　looking　as　though　gypsies　had　been　camping　there。　'You　were　being　pretty　thorough。　Anyone　ing　in　here　would　have　made　quite　я　din。'
　'That　was　the　general　idea；'　Bond　smiled。　'1　didn't　know　I　had　a　bodyguard　so　close。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？'
　'Not　in　my　brief；〃　she　said；　almost　curtly　and　in　perfect　English。
'I　owe　you　my　life。'
　〃Then　you　owe　me　mine。〃　She　turned；　smiling；　putting　the　pistol　down　on　one　of　the　tables。　'How　can　you　ever　repay　me？'
　'We'll　think　of　some　way。'　Bond's　mouth　was　only　inches　from　hers。　He　hovered；　then　turned　away。　'Coffee。〃　he　said。　'We　must　stay　alert；　they　could　be　back。'
　'It'll　be　light　soon；'　Beatrice　said；　busying　herself　in　the　kitchen。　〃I　doubt　they'll　return　in　the　daytime。'
'How　much　do　you　know？'
'That　you're　here；　and　（hat　there's　a　contract　out　on　you。'
〃And　how　much　do　you　know　about　contracts？'
Tni　fully　trained。'
　'That's　not　the　answer。　I　asked　how　much　do　you　know　about　contracts？'
　'I　know　it's　some　crazy　terrorist　organisation　called　BAST。　And　I've　been　told　that　they　know　where　to　find　you；　that　they'll　go　to　great　lengths　。　。　。'
　'Suicidal　lengths；　Beatrice。　That's　why　we　shouldn't　restrict　ourselves。　They　can　try　to　get　me　on　the　street；　or　here；　by　day　or　night。　I'm　the　magnet；　they　are　the　iron　filings。　We　want　one　of　them。　Alive　if　possible。　So。　we　have　to　keep　our　guards　up　twenty…four　hours　a　day；'
She　remained　silent　for　the　few　minutes　it　took　her　to　pour　boiling　water　over　the　freshly　ground　coffee　in　the　tall　cafeiiere。　adjust　the　lid　and　push　down　on　the　plunger。　〃Are　you　irttimidated；　James？〃　Her　eyes　did　not　move　from　the　coffee…pot。　'How　intimidated？'　'Because　you　were　given　a　woman　bodyguard。'
　Bond　laughed；　'Far　from　it。　Why　do　some　women　automatically　think　that　people　in　our　trade　are　anti…feminist？　Welt…trained　women　are　sometimes　better　than　men　in　situations　like　this。　You　nearly　took　one　of　（hem　out　tonight。　1　didn't　get　near。　You　were　also　quicker　than　I。　No。　Nol　guilty　to　being　intimidated。'
　'Good。'　She　raised　her　head；　the　dark　eyes　flashing　with　something　which　could　have　been　either　pride　or　power。　'Good。　Because　you're　in　my　charge。　I'm　the　boss；　and　you　do　as　。〃　say。　Understand？'
　The　smile　disappeared　from　Bond's　face。　'1　have　no　orders。　Just　act　naturally；　they　said。　We'll　have　someone　watching　out　for　you。　they　said。〃
　'And　that　someone　is　me。'　Beatrice　was　pouring　the　coffee。　'Black？　Good。　Sugar？'
？No。'
　〃Wise　choice。　If　you're　worried　about　taking　orders　from　a　woman；　why　don't　you　telephone　London。　Give　them　the　day's　code　for　me　and　they'll　tell　you。〃　Her　eyes　met　his　again　and　this　time　they　locked。　For　half　a　dozen　heartbeats　it　seemed　to　be　a　battle　of　wills。　Then　Bond　nodded　curtly　and　crossed　the　room　to　the　telephone。　He　could　not　speak　in　clear　language；　but　there　were　enough　double…talk　phrases　for　him　to　get　at　the　truth。
　They　picked　up　on　the　third　ring。　〃Predator　for　Sunray。〃　His　anger　betrayed　itself　in　his　clipped　tone。　He　took　field　orders　from　M；　or。　when　necessary。　Bill　Tanner。　For　Beatrice　to　reveal　that　she；　as　his　bodyguard；　was　in　charge　scraped　at　the　nerve…ends　of　his　considerable　pride。
　A　second　later　a　voice　…　that　of　the　Duly　Officer　…　said；　'Sunray。　Yes'。*'
　'Contact　with　Boxcar。'　This　last　was　an　agreed　running　cipher　for　BAST。
'Serious？'　the　DO　asked。
'Serious　enough。　Also　contact　with　Hellkin。'
'Good。'
'Request　order　of　battle。　Sunray。'
'Hellkin　leads。　You　follow。　Predator。〃
　Thank　you；　Sunray。'　Bond's　face　was　stiff　with　anger；　but　turned　away　from　Bealrice　as　he　recradled　ihe　telephone。　He　shrugged；　'It　appears　you're　right；'　He　rearranged　his　face；　'So；　Beatrice　Hellkin。　what're　your　orders？'
　She　nodded　toward　the　large　mug　placed　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　'First；　drink　your　coffee。'　She　was　sitting　on　one　of　the　big　chairs；　her　body　stretched　back　and　a　pleasant；　friendly　smile　playing　around　her　lips。　She　was　dressed　in　black　jeans　and　roll…neck；　an　ensemble　that　was　practical　and　accentuated　her　figure。　The　jeans　were　tight；　clinging　to　her　long　legs；　while　the　roll…neck　showed　off　her　breasts；　small　and　firm　against　the　cotton。
'So。　you　don't　think　they'll　have　another　go　today？'
　She　shook　her　head。　'Not　here。　We　should　watch　it　when　we　go　out。'
'Co　out？1
　'Weren't　you　going　to　get　food　as　a　nice　surprise　for　Christmas？'
　'Oh；　yes。　Naiate；　yes。　What　happened　to　the　Italian　accent。　Beatrice？'　Almost　sarcastically　he　pronounced　it　Beh…ah…Tree…che。
'Is　gone。'
'I　noticed。　So　what're　your　orders？'
　'I　think　we　should　rest。　Then　go　and　do　the　shopping　…　behave　normally。　They　might　well　try　while　we're　out　and　about；　but　I　must　make　a　telephone　call　to　get　those　damned　gates　fixed。　I　also　think　we　should　bring　in　the　dogs。'
'Dogs？'
　〃We've　got　two　pairs　of　Rottweilers　at　our　disposal。　They're　as　vicious　as　they　e；　and　we　can　let　them　loose　at　night。'
　'You're　we　11…organised　as　a　bodyguard。　How　long　have　you　worked　for　La　SignoraT
She　gave　an　amused　little　sniff。　'Forty…eight　hours。　The　Chief　has　some　big　pull　with　her。　She's　a　pretty　well…connected　lady；　but　she　moved　out　for　Christmas　as　a　favour　to　M。　She　also　moved　her　staff　out。　The　couple　of　guys　I　mentioned　…　Franco　and　Umberto　…　are　extra　heavy　help。　They　were　around　when　we　had　（hat　little　brush　with　the　BAST　team；　bul　they're　only　for　support　if　things　get　really　tricky。　〃Franco　and　Umberto　were　at　the　main　villa；　she　said。　'That's　why　you　can　rest　easy。　I'll　alcrl　them　now。　They　can　watch　until　we're　ready　to　go　shopping。'
　She　rose；　in　a　series　of　very　attractive　moves；　and　walked　slowly　to　the　telephone。　Her　conversation　was　short；　to　the　point　and　in　Italian。　The　two　men　should　lake　over　the　watch　and　the　dogs　should　only　be　fed　the　minimum　this　morning。　They　would　be　let　out　tonight。　In　the　meantime；　would　Franco　go　down　and　secure　the　main　gates。　New　lock　and；　yes；　'put　a　screamer　on　it。'
　She　left　the　telephone　and　paused　behind　Bond's　chair。　'See；　I　am　efficient。'
'Didn't　doubt　it　for　a　minute。'
　She　slid　forward　and　sat　on　the　arm　of　the　chair。　Once　again　Bond　smelled　that　mixture　of　dry　summer　and　the　scent　he　could　not　identify。　'I　still　think　you　don't　like　having　a　woman　in　charge。'
'What's　your　real　name？'　He　disregarded　her　observation。
'Like　I　told　you。　Beatrice。'　she　pronounced　it　the　Italian　way。
　'I　believe　you；　but　what　else？　I　mean　you're　not　Dante's　angel；　Beatrice。　You　have　other　names？'
　She　giggled。　'They　told　me　you　were　just　a　blunt；　well…trained　instrument。　A　hunk。　Now　you're　talking　literature　and　poetry。　Full　name；　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci。　Italian　father。　English　mother。　Educated　Benenden　and　Lady　Margaret　Hall；　Oxford。　Father　in　Italian　Foreign　Service。　When　their　marriage　broke　up；　I　was　handed　over　to　Mama；　who　was　a　lush。'
'You're　preiiy　luscious　yourself。'
　'Thai's　not　funny；'　she　bridled。　'Have　you　ever　had　lo　live　with　a　lush？　It　just　isn'i　amusing。〃
　〃I　apologise　Ms　da　Ricci。'　There　was　no　side…stepping　her　anger。
　'Okay；　I'm　touchy　about　it。　I　read　modern　languages；　and　took　the　Foreign　Office　examination　。　。　。'
'And　failed。'
'Yes。'
　〃Don't　tell　me：　a　man　es　around　and　says　that　perhaps　they　can　offer　you　a　job　within　the　Foreign　Office；　and　before　you　know　it；　you're　mixed　up　with　all　the　paraphernalia　of　espionage。'
　She　nodded；　〃'More　or　less；　but　they　wanted　me　for　languages。　I　took　another　degree　in　puter　sciences　and　found　myself　in　Santa's　Grotto〃
　Bond　nodded。　In　the　basement；　below　the　underground　parking　al　that　building　overlooking　Regent's　Park；　there　was　a　great　sterile　puter　room　they　all　called　Santa's　Grolto。　With　the　advent　of　the　microchip　the　old　Regislry　had　been　relegated　to　a　smaller　area　and　people　were　constantly　transferring　the　paperwork　onto　a　series　of　giant　databases。　Rumour　had　it　that　all　the　work　would　not　be　pleted　from　past　files　until　the　year　2009；　or　thereabouts；　as　the　crow　flies。　Then　they　remembered　you　had　languages；'　he　fillet！　in。
〃Partly。　I　got　sinus　trouble　from　the　air…conditioning。'
'Better　than　a　touch　of　Legionnaires'　Disease。'
'I　asked　for　a　transfer　to　the　real　world。'
　'No　such　thing　in　our　business。　We're　Т　S　Eliot's　〃Hollow　Men〃；　we　are　also　rust…stained　dinosaurs。　Our　day　has　e；　and　gone。　I　give　us　a　decade　more。　After　that；　well　we　could　be　sitting　in　front　of　puter　terminals　all　day　and　most　of　the　night。　It's　known　as　。the　invasion　of　the　killer　tomatoes　syndrome。'
　She　nodded　gravely。　'Yes；　the　days　of　the　Great　Game　are　numbered。'
　〃The　years　are　numbered。　We're　not　down　to　days　yet。　But；　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci；　which　is　a　classy　sort　of　name　anyway；　how　did　a　nice　girl　like　you　end　up　in　a　sordid　bullet…catcher's　job　like　this？'
　She　leaned　over　him；　her　face　a　few　inches　from　his。　'Because　I　am　very　good　at　it；　and　part　of　my　job；　James　Bond；　is　to　keep　you　relaxed　and　happy。'
'Meaning？'
　Their　mouths　met。　Not　simply　lips　brushing；　or　doing　all　the　things　graphically　described　in　romantic　novels　or　those　historical　things　known　in　the　trade　as　'bodice　rippers'。　This　was　real　mouth…to…mouth　resuscitation　of　other　emotions。　After　a　minute　their　bodies　and　hands　also　moved；　and　five　minutes　later　Beatrice　said；　with　a　husky　dryness　that　matched　the　delightful　smell　of　her；　'Would　you　like　to　lie　down　with　me。　Mr　Bond？'
'You're　a　pleasure　to　work　for；　Ms　da　Ricci。'
'I　hope　so。'
'Do　I　get　a　raise　in　salary？'
'I　think　you　already　got　one；　Mr　Bond。'
　They　barely　made　it　to　the　bedroom。　Outside；　the　sun　had　e　up。　Franco　was　working　on　the　main　gates；　fitting　a　new　lock　and　the　electronic　sensors　that　would　scream　an　alarm　should　anyone　tamper　with　them　again。　In　the　rear　bedroom　of　the　Villa　Capricciani　there　were　low　moans　and　little　screams
of　joy。
　In　a　room　high　in　the　main　grey；　fortress…like　villa；　the　other　hood　called　Umberto　stood　back　in　the　shadows　and　scanned　the　garden