johngardner.winloseordie-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ng　a　woman　who's　described　as　a　Naval　Attache。'　'Any　names？'
　'Yes。　All　unmemorable；　apart　from　the　Russian　lady　who's　called　Nikola　Ratnikov。　a　name　to　conjure　with　。　。　。'
　'I've　already　marked　her　card；　sir。'　Clover　gave　him　a　wide…eyed　look　of　innocence。　'Whatever　she's　like。　I'll　think　of　her　as　〃NikkiThe　Rat〃。'
　Bond　allowed　her　one　of　his　neon…sign　smiles：　on　and　off。　'Let's　eat。'　he　said　'I've　a　feeling　it's　going　to　be　a　long　hard　night。'
One　of　the　Sea　Kings　hovered　off　the　port　bow。　This　was　normal　operational　practice　during　Hying　operations。　One　helicopter
was　always　airborne　to　act　as　a　search…and…rescue　machine　should　an　aircraft　end　up　m　the　drink；
　From　Flight　Operations；　high　on　the　superstructure　known　to　all　as　the　island；　Bond　could　see　the　helicopter's　warning　lights　blinking　as　it　drifted　forward　keeping　in　station　with　the　ship。
　'Here　they　e。'　The　mander　in　charge　of　Flight　Ops　snapped　his　night　glasses　up　and　swept　the　sky　behind　the　stern。　'Our　man's　leading　them　in；'
　You　could　see　them　with　the　naked　eye　…　not　their　shapes；　hut　the　warning　lights　of　three　helis　stacked　from　around　five　hundred　feet；　at　a　good　thousand…yard　intervals；　up　to　about　a　thousand　feet。
　'Rulers　of　their　own　nay…vee…s；'　Bond　parodied　the　Gilbert　and　Sullivan　song　from　IIMS　Pinafore。
　A　young　officer　chuckled；　and；　as　the　first　chopper；　another　Sea　King；　came　in　and　put　down；　taxiing　forward　at　the　instructions　from　the　deck…handling　officer；　the　mander　joined　in。　singing；　'For　they　are　monarchs　of　the　sea。'
　The　second　machine　touched　the　deck；　it　was　a　big　Mil　Mi…14　in　the　Soviet　Naval　livery　of　white　and　grey　（NATO　designation　Haze）　making　a　din　they　could　hear　up　on　the　bridge　above　Flight　Operations。　Bond　repeated　his　line。　'Rulers　of　their　own　Nay…vec…s。〃　adding。　'I　think　that　one　really　has　brought　along　all　of　his　sisters；　and　his　cousins；　and　his　aunts。'
　As　the　rotors　slowed　to　idle；　so　the　final　craft　did　a　rather　fancy　rolling…landing；　touching　down　right　on　the　stern　threshold。　This　looked　like　an　update　of　the　Bell　model　212。　and　carried　US　markings；　but　no　designation　and　no　Wavy　Sivery。　Nobody　in　Flight　Operations　had　seen　anything　like　it。　'I　want　those　choppers　off　my　deck　fast；'　the　mander　barked　at　the　young　officer　acting　as　munications　link　with　the　deck…handling　officer。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Bond。　'We've　got　two　Sea　Harriers　out　there；　fully　juiced　and　carrying　operational　equipment：　real　bangs。　Sidewinders。　50mm　cannon；　the　works。　Don't　know　what's　behind　it。　but　the　Captain　gave　the　orders。　Round　the　clock　readiness；　with　a　four…minute　ability　lo　switch　them　for　unarmed　I　larriers。　Bloody　dangerous　if　you　ask　me。'
The　three　helicopters　were　discharging　their　passengers　with　speed；　each　machine　being　met　by　a　senior　officer；　a　bosun；　and　several　ratings：　the　senior　officer　to　salute；　the　bosun　to　pipe　the　admiral　aboard；　and　ihe　ratings　to　secure　any　luggage。　Admiral　of　the　Fleet　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould；　Admiral　Edwin　Gudeon。　United　States　Navy；　and　Admiral　Sergei　Yevgenne…vich　Pauker；　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Soviet　Navy；　together　with　their　staffs　and　bodyguards　were　aboard　invincible。
　Half　an　hour　later。　Bond　was　ushered　into　the　Captain's　day　cabin。　The　three　admirals　were　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin；　each　nursing　a　drink；　and　Rcar…Admiral　Sir　John　Walmsley　greeted　Bond　with　a　smile；　turning　to　the　assorted　brass　from　the　Royal　Navy。　United　States　Navy　and　the　Soviet　Navy。　〃Gentlemen；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　Captain　Bond　who　is　in　charge　of　your　security　arrangements　while　you're　aboard　invincible。　Bond；　this　is　Admiral　of　the　Fleet。　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould。'　Bond　stood　to　attention　in　front　of　the　smooth…looking；　impeccable　officer。　'Captain　Bond。'　Gould　had　a　voice　which　matched　his　looks：　he　was　one　of　those　people　who　always　look　neat　and　freshly　barbered。　'I'm　sure　we'll　all　be　safe　in　your　care。　1　have　two　Flag　Officers　who　have　had　experience　in　these　matters　。　。　。'
　〃Gentlemen；　Captain　Bond　is　to　meet　your　personal　staff；　as　soon　as　I've　introduced　him　to　you；'　Walmsiey　broke　in　quickly。　'I　must　stress　that　while　you　are　guests　aboard　my　flagship；　your　people　will　take　their　orders　directly　from　Captain　Bond。　This　is　essential　to　your　well…being；　and　the　safety　of　those　who　will；　eventually；　be　part　of　Stewards'　Meeting。〃
　'Sure；　if　that's　the　way　you　want　to　play　it。　But　I've　got　four　guys　with　me；'　Admiral　Gudeon's　voice　was　the　unpleasant　growl　of　a　cantankerous　man　who　always　liked　his　own　way；　and　was　never　wrong。　'I　guess　they'll　be　able　to　look　after　me　without　you　doin'　much　to　help　them。'　Bond　did　not　know　if　the　Admiral　meant　to　be　rude；　or　whether　it　was　merely　a　long…cultivated　manner。　'Bond？　。　。　。　Bond　。　。　。'。'〃　the　American　continued。　'1　knew　a　Bond；　way　back　at　Annapolis。　You　got　any　American　relatives？'
　'I　think　not。　sir。　Many　friends；　but　no　relatives　…　not　as　far　as　I　know；　anyway。'　Rear…Admiral　Walmsley　moved　a　foot；　kicking　Bond's　ankle　sharply。　But　Gudeon　seemed　oblivious　to　the　tongue…in…cheek　answer。
　'And；'　Walmsley　quickly　pushed　Bond　along　the　line；　'our　mosl　senior　officer　here。　Admiral　Sergei　Pauker；　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Soviel　Navy。'
　〃An　honour；　sir。'　Bond　looked　the　man　straight　in　the　eyes。　Pauker　had　the　rosy　cheeks　of　a　Mr　Pickwick；　but　there　the　likeness　ended。　The　eyes　were　grey　and　cold；　showing　no　emotion。　Dead　eyes；　overhung　by　frosty　eyebrows。　He　had　a　small　mouth；　but　it　did　form　itself　into　a　surprisingly　friendly　smile。　The　main　feature　of　the　face；　ruddy　cheeks　apart；　was　a　huge　aquiline　nose。
　'Bond。'　he　pronounced　it　'Bound'。　'I　think　somewhere　I　have　heard　the　name　before。　Have　you；　perhaps；　served　in　your　embassy　in　Moscow？'　He　spoke　excellent　English。
　'Not　exactly　in　the　embassy；　sir。'　Bond　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　smile。
'But　you　are　known　there。　I　think。　In　Moscow；　I　mean。'
'It　wouldn't　surprise　me。　sir。'
　？Good。　Good。'　The　humour　disappeared　from　his　face　and　the　eyes　g！a。〃ed　over。
　There　was　no　offer　of　a　drink；　and　Rear…Admiral　Walmsley　ushered　Bond　out　of　the　room；　like　a　farmer　getting　an　errant　sheep　into　a　van。　'The　security　people　are　in　Briefing　One；'　he　whispered。
　Briefing　One　was　the　primary　Air…Group　Briefing…Room　on　the　port　side；　amidships　and　two　decks　below　the　officers'　quarters。　It　had　been　cleared　for　an　hour；　so　that　the　security　teams　could　get　together；　and　Bond　entered　it　quickly；　going　straight　into　his　prepared　routine。　'My　name's　Bond。　James　Bond。　Captain。　Royal　Navy；'　he　began；　then　stopped　abruptly。　The　one　woman　among　the　ten　large　men。　was　enough　to　stop　anyone　or　anything。　She　also　spoke　before　anyone　else。　'Captain　Bond。　I　am　First　Naval　Attache　to　Admiral　Pauker。　My　name　is　Nikola　Ratnikov。　My　friends　call　me　Nikki。　I　hope　you　are　to　be　my　friend。'
You　could　feel　the　unsettling　tension　spark　through　the　room；　and　it　was　obvious　that　Nikola　Ratnikov　had　been　showing　the　cold…shoulder　to　the　rest　of　her　colleagues；　which　must　have　been　irritating　to　say　the　least。　rade　Attache　Ratnikov　would　have　given　a　tweak　to　the　loins　of　even　a　devout　monk；　and　it　would　not　matter　whether　the　monk　was　Roman　Catholic；　Protestant；　Buddhist；　or　Russian　Orthodox。　She　had　that　indefinable　quality　about　her　manner；　features　and　body　which　made　all　heterosexual　men　turn　to　look　twice；　and。　possibly　a　third　time；　if　they　had　the　energy　left。
　Nikki　Ratnikov　wore　a　well…tailored　Soviet　Naval　Woman　Officer's　uniform；　which　is　not　flattering　to　all。　There　again；　Nikki　could　have　made　sackcloth　and　ashes　look　like　Dior。　When　she　moved　towards　him。　hand　extended；　even　Bond　felt　his　knees　tremble　slightly。　She　had　short；　ash…blonde　hair；　cut　in　what　used　to　be　called　a　pageboy　style；　but；　from　where　he　stood；　it　looked　like　a　tempting　golden　helmet；　framing　a　face　of　classic　beauty。　It　was　not　the　kind　of　face　that　Bond　usually　went　for。　He　preferred　slightly　blemished　good　looks；　but　Nikki's　eyes　held　his　for　almost　a　minute；　and　it　was　longer　before　he　let　go　of　her　hand。
　'Hallo；　Captain　Bond；　we've　met　before。'　It　was　one　of　the　Special　Branch　men。　all　done　up　in　a　Lieutenant's　uniform；　plete　with　the　gold　trimmings　of　a　Flag　Officer。　'Brinkley。'　he　added。
'Yes；　of　course。　Yes。　I　remember　you。　Ted　Brinkley。　right？'
　'On　the　button；　sir。'　The　Special　Branch　man　looked　for　al！　the　world　like　a　Special　Branch　man　in　fancy　dress；　as　did　his　partner。　Martin　…　'My　friends　call　me　'Moggy〃　…Camm。
　He　did　the　rounds　of　the　other　security　men。　Few　had　resorted　to　the　bad　disguises　of　the　Branch　men；　and　they　looked　like　a　very　heavy　team。　The　Americans　introduced　themselves　as　Joe。　Stan；　Edgar　and　Bruce。　Bruce　was　a　very　tall　black　officer　with　an　exceptionally　bone…crushing　handshake；　and　looked　as　though　he　could　probably　stop　a　tank　with　his　chest。　。loe　and　Stan　seemed　to　be　made…to…measure；　off　the　peg；　standard　issue　'bullet　catchers'。　Edgar　…　'Call　me　Ed'　…　was　in　a　different　mould：　lean；　mean；　tense　with　obvious　staying　power　and　taut　muscles；　he　had　the　battered　good　looks　of　one　who　had　seen　plenty　of　action　in　his　time。　Bond　had　him　down　as　the　brains　of　the　outfit。
The　other　three　Russians　were　simply　Ivan。　Yevgeny　and　Gennady。　Three　nice　boys。　The　kind　of　nice　boys　you　saw　popping　in　and　out　of　KGB　facilities；　looking　after　more　senior　officers。　Bond　had　once　seen　a　trio　like　this　ing　out　of　a　building　after　six　men　had　died　…　none　of　them　through　natural　causes。
　He　tried　to　engage　all　of　them　in　polite　conversation；　unveiling　a　plan　that　had　been　set　up　on　an　easel；　showing　exactly　where　they　were　to　be　stationed；　in　relation　to　their　charges。　Outside；　three　Petty　Officers　stood　by　with　cards　giving　details　of　the　several　decks；　and　their　geographic　relationship　to　those　parts　of　Invincible　tagged　for　the　visiting　VTPs　and　the　bodyguards。　Bond　explained　this　to　them；　went　through　the　emergency　drills；　making　certain　the　Russian…speakers　understood；　then　wished　them　a　good　night's　rest；　and　began　to　hand　them　over　to　the　POs。
　A　light　hand　rested　on　his　sleeve。　'1　think；　me　you　lake　to　my　quarters。　Captain　Bond？'　Nikki　stood　beside　him；　close　enough　for　him　to　catch　the　him　of　Bal　de　Versailles　she　wore。
　'You。　I　think；　get　special　treatment。　rade　Attache　…Nikki。'
　She　gave　him　a　glittering　smile　and　he　noticed　her　perfect　teeth　and　the　inviting　mquth。　'Yes；　you're　quite　near　my　quarters　as　it　happens。　I　have　to　hand　you　over　to　one　of　the　lady　officers　we　have　on　board；　but　it's　a　nice　little　walk　up　to　my　cabin。'　He　turned。
　〃I'm　so　sorry　I'm　late；　sir。'　Clover　Pennington　stood　by　the　door；　her　face　looking　like　the　wrath　of　God。　Ч　have　instructions　to　escort　the　rade　Attache　lo　her　quarters。　Show　her　the　ropes；　sir。'
　'Which　ropes？'　Nikkfs　voice　sounded　as　though　she　was　genuinely　puzzled。
　'An　English　saying。　Means　she's　going　to　show　you　the　way　around　the　ship。　This　is　First　Officer　Pennington；　Nikki。　She'll　see　that　you're　well　looked　after。'
　'Oh。　but　Captain　Bond；　I　was　thinking　you　could　look　after　me。'
　'Not　in　a　million　years；'　muttered　Clover　so　thai　Bond　could　hear。
　'Best　go　with　her。　Nikki。　Protocol；　really。　Perhaps　we　can　talk　later　on。'
'I　also　would　like　that。　In　your　cabin；　maybe；　yes？'　Reluctantly；　she　allowed　Clover　to　guide　her　towards　the　p