johngardner.winloseordie-第17章

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an　to　the　marrow。　His　laugh；　when　ii　came；　lacked　real　humour。　'Julian　Farsee；　though　my　friends　call　me　Tomato。　Play　on　words；　kind　of　thing；　y'see。　Tomato　Farsee。　Tomaies　Fames…the　old　French　stuffed　tomatoes。　See？'
　'What's　bloody　going　on？'　Bond　asked；　his　voice　brittle　and　with　undertones　of　violence。
　'The　quacks　want　to　give　you　a　bit　of　a　going　over。　I　just　dropped　in　to　see　if　you　were　feeling　okay；　and　ready　for　that　kind　of　thing；　right？'
　'And　who　exactly　are　you。　Julian？　Where　are　we；　what　are　you；　and　what's　going　on？'
'Well。　I'm　the　Two　I。〃C　actually。　Right？'　（Two　I。〃C　was　military　forSecond…in…mand；　just　like　Jimmie　The　One；　in　the　Royal　Navy；　stood　for　First　Lieutenant；　who　could　hold　the　rank　of　mander　or　even　Caplain；　depending　on　the　Captain's　rank；　which　could　even　be　Rear…Admiral。　Some　people　found　it　confusing。）
'You're　Second…in…mand　of　what；　exactly？'
'This。〃　Farsee　waved　a　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　window。
　It　was　like　prising　a　grape…pip　from　a　peach。　'And　what　is　this？'
'Nobody　told　you？'
'If　they　had；　1　wouldn't　be　asking　you；　Julian。〃
'Oh；　ya；　right。　We're　slightly　irregular　actually。〃
'How　irregular？'
　'es　under　NATO　installations；　right？　Highly　classified；　you　mighl　say。　Very　highly　classified。　We're　not　even　in　the　book；　as　they　say。　right？'
　'More！'　Bond　almost　shouted。　He　could　stand　Yuppies　up　to　a　point；　but　not　Yuppie　military。
'CO's　American；　right？'
'CO　of　what？'
　'We　sort　of　handle　things。　Hide　folk　away　when　we　don't　want　the　world　to　see　them　…　or　I　should　say　when　some　of　the　intelligence　people　don't　want　the　world　to　sec　them。〃
'Such　as　myself？'
　'Ya。　Oh。　ya。　Right；　Captain　Bond。　Look；　you　ready　for　the　medical　wallahs；　eh？'
Bond　gave　a　long　sigh；　then　nodded。　'Lead　me　to　them。〃
　The　doctors　spent　over　three　hours　going　over　him。　There　was　a　general　examination；　and　a　few　tests。　The　ENT　specialist　said　he　was　lucky。　'Eardrums're　intact。　Miracle　from　whal　I　hear。〃　This　particular　specialist　was　very　much　in　the　military　mould。
　Bond　only　became　angry　when　they　took　him　to　a　room　in　the　hospital　block　that　smelled　strongly　of　psychiatrist。　You　could　tell；　first；　by　the　pictures　on　the　wall；　light…grey　skies　and　calm　landscapes。　Then　there　was　the　abundance　of　plant　life。　You　could　have　been　in　Kew　Gardens；　and　the　young；　very　laid…back　young　man　leaning　in　his　adjustable　Draberl　chair；　had　about　him　an　air　of　calm；　laced　heavily　with　deep　anxiety。　But　it　was　the　Rorschach　lest　that　clinched　it。　In　his　day。　Bond　had　seen　experts　play　with　psychiatrists　when　（hey　brought　out　the　ink　blots。　He　also　knew　the　crazy　and　clever　answers　that　gave　an　analyst　the　Rorschach　protocol。
　'Just　look　at　each　one；　and　tell　me　what　you　see。〃　The　young　man　laid　（he　ink　blots　on　the　desk　one　at　a　time。　A　butterfly　lhat　could　be　a　praying　mantis　if　you　were　dangerous　enough；　a　kissing　couple；　which　might　just　be　a　nasty　weapon。　Each　time　Bond　told　him　the　blot　looked　like　a　woman's　breasts；　so　when　they　finished　the　psychiatrist　smiled　…　'You're　extracting　the　urine；　aren't　you。　Captain　Bond？'
　'In　；i　word…yes。　Look；　doc；　I've　been　through　worse　traumas　than　this　in　my　time。　Yes；　I　feel　as　most　men　do；　after　the　sudden；　destructive　loss　of　a　woman　I'd　e　to　care　about。　But　I　do　know　that　it　was　all　quick。　Too　quick。　Immediately　afterwards　there　was　sorrow；　and　a　little　self…pity。　Shock；　if　you　like。　Now　I　just　feel　very　angry。　Angry　with　myself　for　being　such　u　prat。　Angry　with　them；　for　setting　me　up。　Natural；　isn't　it？'
　The　psychiatrist　smiled　and　nodded。　'On　your　way。　Captain　Bond。　Anger's　the　healthiest　reaction；　so　let's　not　waste　each　other's　time。'
　Bond　did　not　reveal　that　he　had　a　sneaking　suspicion　that　another　few　strands　of　。wool　were　being　pulled　over　his　eyes。　That　would　e　out　in　time。　Give　them　enough　rope；　or　wool　for　that　matier。
　Julian　was　waiting　for　him。　〃CO　would　like　a　word；　1　think；　sir。'
'A　word；　or　several　sentences？'
Julian　whinnied；　'Oh。　ya；　jolly　good。　Right。　Ya。'
　The　buildings　were　quite　long；　brick　structures；　set　as　though　some　designer　had　just　thrown　six　models　at　random　inside　the　perimeter　fencing。　They　were　single　storey　and。　while　there　were　windows　down　each　side。　Bond　had　noted　that　the　interior　rooms　had　no　windows　at　ail。　the　natural　light　flowing　only　into　corridors。　Tn　both　the　living…quarters　and　hospital　ihere　had　been　notices　in　several　languages　manding　people　not　to　talk　in　the　corridors。　The　conclusion　was　obvious。　The　inner　rooms　were　shielded　against　all　types　of　sound…stealing。
As　they　crossed　the　pound；　he　tried　to　identify　the　various　uses　of　the　buildings。　One　for　staff；　one　for　senior　staff；　the　hospital；　one　sprouting　every　kind　of　antenna　known　to　man。　therefore　the　munications　centre；　a　possible　guest　suite　（the　one　in　which　he　was　quartered）　and。　at　the　furthest　point　from　the　entrance；　the　executive　offices。
　It　sounded　about　right…　as　Julian　was　leading　him　towards　this　last　building。　Julian。　Bond　thought；　was　not　such　a　stupid　idiot　as　he　had　first　appeared。
　The　manding　Officer　had　a　large　room　tucked　neatly　in　the　centre　of　a　nest　of　other　rooms　within　the　executive　offices。　Julian　tapped　at　the　door　and　a　voice；　distinctly　American；　possibly　southern；　called　'Okay…'　The　voice　was　as　slow　and　smooth　as　molasses。
　'Captain　James　Bond。　Royal　Navy；　sir〃Julian　brayed。　Bond　painted　a　smile　on　his　face　and　found　himself　alone　in　the　room　with　the　door　closed　and　Julian　left　on　the　outside。
　There　were　no　potted　plants　here；　and　no　soothing　paintings。　Two　maps　covered　one　large　wall…one　of　the　local　Italian　area；　and　another　of　Europe。　The　second　was　highly　detailed　and　contained　a　lot　of　military　symbols。　The　remaining　pictures　were　very　United　States　gung…ho。　Blackhawk　and　Chinook　helicopters　figured　largely；　and　the　Chinooks　had　bat…ready　troops　pouring　out　of　the　doors；　while　mortar　bombs　burst　nearby。
　'e　on　in。　Captain　Bond。　Pleased　to　have　you　here。'　As　he　came　around　the　desk；　the　CO　looked　as　though　he　had　stepped　straight　out　of　a　glossy　ad　from　some　very　smart　magazine　which　sold　clothes　in　the　megadollar　bracket。　The　beige　suit　had　the　look　of　a　genuine　Battistoni。　which　you　cannot　buy　on　army　pay。　and　certainly　not　on　what　you　get　from　any　of　ihe　Intelligence　Services；　the　shirt　was　identifiably　Jermyn　Street　irregular；　the　silk　lie　was　probably　made　up　specially；　maybe　by　Gucci。　in　the　stripes　of　some　United　States　Army　Regiment。　The　shoes　needed　no　second…guessing：　hand…stitched　Gucci。　No　guessing；　one　hundred　out　of　a　possible　fifty。
　The　man　inside　the　clothes　was　short；　sleek；　balding；　and。　as　they　say　in　the　sub…titles；　some　tough　hombre；　even　though　he　was　surrounded　by　a　hint　of　Hermes　cologne。　'Real　good　to　see　you。　Captain。　Sorry　about　your　trouble　earlier　today。　Not　exactly　the　way　to　spend　the　holiday　season；　but　I　guess　in　our　business　we　work；　even　a　few　hours；　on　Christmas　Day。　I　once　heard　some　author　say　he　did　that；　but　maybe　he　was　exaggeratin〃。　Anyways；　wele　to　Northanger。'
'Northanger'。''　Bond　repeated；　his　tone　suggesting　disbelief。
　'That's　what　the　secret　guidebooks　call　us。　Name's　Toby　Lellenberg　by　the　way。'　In　spite　of　his　stature　it　was　like　shaking　hands　with　a　gorilla。　'Sit　down；　Captain；　we　have　a　coupla　things　to　talk　about。'
　Bond　sat。　The　chair　had　been　converted　from　an　FI4　pilot's　sent；　and　he　had　to　admit　it　was　fortable。　'What　kind　of　things；　Mr　。。。　er　。。。〃
　'No　rank。　Langley　don't　really　like　rank。　Just　call　me　Toby。　Anyway；　this　is　one　of　those　sideways　career　offers　…　Officer　manding　Northanger。　All　I　do　is　sit　on　my　butt；　shiver　in　winter；　sweat　in　summer　and　view　the　passing　spies。　You；　Captain；　are　one　of　our　VIP　passing　spies。'
　'I　really　need　some　evidence　of　that；　Toby。　People　can　get　burned　by　being　identified　as　passing　spies；'
'No　problem。　I　call　you　James；　by　the　way？〃
'Why　not？〃
　Toby　went　behind　his　desk　and　tackled　a　large；　solid　steel　filing　cabinet　which　appeared　to　require　three　keys　and　two　digital　touch…pads　to　open　it。　Fora　moment　of　sheer　hellishness。　Bond　had　the　urge　to　sing　'I　did　but　see　a　passing　spy'　to　the　tune　of　'There　was　a　lady　sweet　and　kind。'　He　managed　to　tjuell　the　urge。　The　whole　set…up　in　this　place　was　so　interesting；　and　unlikely；　that　it　helped　to　soothe　any　pain　that　might　still　be　raging　in　his　emotions。
　'There　you　go。　Both　versions。　Cipher　and　the　en　Hair　I　punched　out　on　my　own　little　gizmo　in　that　safe。'
　He　took　the　two　proffered　sheets　and　saw　the　double…check　failsafe　on　the　original　cipher。　It　was；　undoubtedly；　straight　from　M。　The　failsafe　was　unfakeable。　The　text　read　…
FROM　CSSUK　TO　ОС　NORTHANGER　BASE　MESSAGE　CONTINUES　TIIANK　YOU　FOR　ASSISTANCE　REFERENCE　OUR　PREDATOR　STOP　WOULD　APPRECIATE　A　DEBRIEF　COPY　ME　ONLY　STOP　THIS　OFFICER　MUST　BE　KEPT　IN　DOWNLOAD　UNTIL　JANUARY　TWO　STOP　WILL　SIGNAL　HOW　HE　IS　TO　PROCEED　AND　JOIN　HIS　SHIP　ON　JANUARY　THREE　STOP。　CSS　FINIS。
　'Happy　about　that；　James？'　The　smooth　little　IBM〃　was　smiling。
'You　obviously　have　the　facilities　for　a　debrief。'
　〃I　don't　get　the　best　men　in　the　business；　but　we　do　have　a　representative　team　here。　yes。　One　of　your　own　guys：　fella　called　Draycott；　know　him？'
'Heard　of　but　not　known。〃
　'Well；　out　to　grass；　tike　the　two　guys　we　got　from　Langley。　One　of　them's　called　Mac　…　built　like　a　fire…plug　…　and　the　other　one's　just　known　as　Waller。　Walter　knows　where　all　the　bodies're　buried　and　won't　tell　a　soul。　Guess　that's　why　they've　sent　him　here。　When　you　get　a　posting　to　Northanger　don't　expect　to　see　any　further　active　duty。　Backwater。　But　you'll　get　a　good　debrief。〃
'Fine；　as　long　as　Julian's　not　involved。'
　'Ha！〃　Toby　put　a　brown　hand　on　the　corner　of　his　desk；　raised　his　head　and　barked　out　a　one…note　iaugh　of　derision。　'Julian　Tomato。　Ha！'　He　pronounced　it　'Tom…ay…toe'　like　any　other　red…blooded　American；　so　the　play　on　words　did　not　really　work。　'That　Julian。　Y'know　he　couldn't　pour　piss　outa　a　boot；　even　if　th'instructions　was　written　on　the　heel。　You　fancy　some　chow；　James'。'　We're　havin〃　a　full　old…fashioned　Christmas　dinner　tonight。　Turkey　V　all　the　trimmin's。　plum　pudding；　the　entire　works。'
　'Sounds　fun。'　He　looked　at　his　watch。　'But　first　I　should　make　a　call。'
'Yeah？'　Was　the　suspicion　imagined？
'Change　of　contact　code　for　the　day。　It's　past　time。'
　'Of　course　it　is。　Sure；　use　the　'phone　here。'　He　pointed　to　one　of　five　different　coloured　telephones　on　his　desk。　'You　want　me　I〃　leave？'
'Oh；　I　don't　think　that's　necessary。'　Bond　was　already　dialling。
　This　time　London　picked　up　on　the　fourth　ring。　'Predator。'　said　Bond。　'Day　three。'
　'Catclaw；'　the　voice　said　from　the　distant　line。　'Repeat。　Cat…claw。'
　'Acknowledge。'　Bond　was　about　to　put　down　the　receiver　when　the　distant　voice　asked。　'Is　everything　smooth？'
'They　tell　me　it　is。'
'Acknowledge；'　and　the　line　went　dead。　So　they　were　still　being　clever。　But　this　time　the　code　was　very　much　tied　to　the　situation。　Dante's　lines　once　more　went　through　his　head　…
Front　and　centre　here。　Grizzly　and　Hellkin　。　。　。　You　too。　Deaddog。　。　。　Curly　heard；　lake　charge　of　a　squad　of　ten。　Take　Grafler　and　Dragontooth　along　with　you。　Pigfusk。　Catclaw；　Cramper　and　Crazyred。
　'You　want　an　okay　from　me？'　Toby　was　adjusting　his　tie　in　a　wall…mirror　overprinte