johngardner.winloseordie-第26章

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　'It　might　be　just　that　little　bit　safer。〃　Bond　said；　allowing　his　tone　to　take　on　a　grave…side　seriousness。　'But　we　cannot　be　one　hundred　per　cent　sure。'
'Give　me　the　odds。'
　That　an　attempt　will　be　made　to　promise　Stewards'　Meeting？'
Walmsley　nodded。
　'Fifty…fifty。　If　I　get　the　killer　or　not。　sir；　it's　always　been　fifty…fifty。　We　don't　know　enough　about　this　damned　group　BAST。　We　never　have。　The　seriousness　of　a　threat　has　always　been　high。　I　mean；　if　our　people　arc　right；　BAST　lost　men；　and　spent　a　great　deal　of　money　organising　some　form　of　assault。　We've　assumed　it　was　aimed　at　Stewards〃　Meeting；　but　we　can't　be　sure。〃
　Sir　John　Walmsley　waited　for　a　minute　or　so。　'If　you　get　the　person　who　killed　Morgan；　and　if　he　can　be　interrogated；　it　will　help？'
　'If　it's　who　I　think；　then　I　would　imagine　interrogation　isn't　going　to　be　of　much　assistance。　If。　as　i　suspect；　it's　a　BAST　job；　done　to　protect　their　own；　on　board　this　ship；　then　the　culprit　will　be　highly　trained。　Won't　break　under　any　normal　interrogation。　。And　there　will　just　not　be　time　to　bring　in　any　specialists。　In　any　case。　sir。　I　would　suspect　that　the　killer　knows　very　little。　BAST　appears　to　be　well　drilled。　If　so。　they'll　work　in　the　usual　manner　of　terrorist　groups：　cells；　cut…outs；　all　that　kind　of　thing。　It'll　all　be　very　much　need…to…know。'
　Walmsley　stood　up　and　paced　the　small　cabin。　'Will　you；　won't　you；　will　you；　won't　you；　will　you　join　the　dance？　I'll　tell　you。　Bond。　Unless　something　es　up　…　hard　intelligence；　I　mean　…　I　shall　go　ahead　with　Stewards'　Meeting　once　you　have　the　killer　under　lock　and　key。　I　can't　afford　to　abort。'
　'As　you　say。　sir。　But；　if　I　might　suggest　that　all　parties　are　given　some　kind　of　warning　。　；　。'
　'They've　already　had　the　main　warning。　Bond。　They　already　know　these　BAST　elowns　might　just　make　some　kind　of　attempt　to　promise　the　operation。　All　three　parties　have　stated　that　the　risk　is　calculated。　In　other　words；　they　all　want　Stewards'　Meeting　to　go　ahead　as　arranged。'
'They　know　about　Morgan？'
　Walmsley　gave　an　unspoken　'No'；　shaking　his　head　and　pursing　his　lips。
'Then　on　their　own　heads　be　it。'
　'Easy　to　say。　Bond。　But　people　like　that　tend　to　lash　out　if　something　does　happen。　And　if　your　worst　fears　are　realised；　then　it　will　be　our　balls　they'll　cut　off。　We　both　know　that/
Bond　grunted。
　'We're　on　a　hiding　to　nothing。　Captain　Bond。　Whatever　steps　we　take；　they'll　have　us　for　breakfast　…　fried；　with　a　little　tomato　and　bacon；　I　suspect。'
　〃Then　I'd　best　get　on　with　putting　my　one　suspect　away；　then　doing　some　grilling　of　my　own　…　without　bacon　and　tomato。'
　'Let　me　know。'　Walmsley's　tone　became　belligerent　again。　Must　let　me　know　the　results。　But；　after　five；　local；　this　afternoon　all　bets　are　off。　We　go　ahead。'
　'Aye…Aye；　sir。'　Bond　left　the　cabin。　Time　to　see　the　lovely　Nikki　Ratnikov；　and　the　Wren　who　was　not　a　Wren；　Sarah　Deeley。
'James；　can　call　you　James；　yes？'　Nikki　Ratnikov　shook　her　head。　The　shining　ash…blonde　hair　swirled　and　settled　naturally；　with　not　a　strand　out　of　place。　Bond　coutd　see　why　other　women　would　take　a　natural　dislike　to　Nikki。
'Yes。'　he　said。　'Yes；　call　me　James。'
　'I　am　a　Hide　…　detresse　。　。　。　distraite。　Oh；　that　is　French。　How　you　say　it　in　English？'
'Distressed？　Upset？'
　'Yes；　ihis　is　so。　1；　James；　have　seen　many　bad　things　in　my　time。　Many；　you　cannot　do　my　kind　of　work　and　avoid　these　things。　But　this　was　like　maniac。　This　was　like　your　old　English　Jim　the　Ripper；　is　right？'
？Jack。'　Bond　corrected。　'Jack　the　Ripper。'
　'Unnecessary　violence。　That　poor　man。　He　looked　as　though　head　had　been　removed；　decapitalised？　Yes？'
'Decapitated。'
　'So。　Decapitated。　And　the　blood；　it　was　all　so　sudden。　Frightening。'
'Right；　Nikki。　Tell　me。　Tell　me　exactly　what　happened。'
　In　spite　of　ihe　protestations　of　being　upset　and　distressed；　Nikki　Ratnikov　was　very　lucid：　matter…of…fact。　'So。　Yes。　I　wake　up。　I　do　not　look　at　the　lime。　I　just　wake　up。　Not　much　sleep　I　am　getting　with　the　noise。　But　I　wake　up　and　realise　I　need　to　go　to　。。。　I　need　the　bathroom；　yes？'
'Yes。'
　'Good。　I　put　on　my　robe　and　leave　my　cabin。　I　am　a　little　asleep　still；　James；　you　understand？'
'Yes；　Nikki。　Right；　Nikki。　I　understand/
　'I　get　to　the　bathrooms。　I　am　looking　at　my　feet　to　climb　over　the　little　step。'
'To　climb　over　the　bulkhead；　yes。'
　'My　foot　is　lifted　even；　then　I　look　up　and　there　is　red　water　on　the　floor。　Then　I　see　the　Navy　girl　and　the　body。　My　God；　it　is　shock。　I　move　back　and　scream。〃
'You　screamed　a　lot；　Nikki。'
　'It　was　so　sudden；　the　horrible　wound　and　all　the　blood　on　the　floor。　Then　ihe　Navy　girl　start　to　also　scream。'
　Bond　had　collected　the　clues　as　they　were　presented　to　him。　'Tell　me　exactly　what　you　saw；　Nikki。'　The　body　had　been　face　down　when　he　had　arrived　with　the　marine　and　Clover　Pennington。　'Exactly。'
　The　Navy　girl　…　what　do　you　call　them　the　Jenny　Wren。　yes？〃
'Wren　will　do。'
　'Okay。　The　Wren　was　leaning　over　this　poor　man。　She　had　one　hand　on　his　shoulder　pushing　him　back；　as　if　she　had　just　found　him。　His　head　was　back　and　I　could　see　the　terrible　gash。　Red。　and　the　throat　slashed　…　is　that　so；　slashed？'
Bond　nodded　her　on。
　'It　was　horrible。　She　saw　me　and　let　go　of　the　man's　shoulder。　He　fell　on　his　face；　then　I　think　she　began　screaming。'
'What　was　she　wearing；　the　Wren？'
　'She　had　the　sleeping　clothes　on；　and　a　white　robe。　Like　made　from　towels；　yes？'
'Did　she　not　get　blood　on　the　robe？　If　she　was　leaning　。　。　。？'
　'She　was　like；　how　you　say；　squatting。　She　had　the　robe　pulled　up　so　it　would　not　gel　in　the　blood。'
'And　what　happened　next？'
　'We　were　both　screaming；　and　a　man　came；　then　the　Wren　officer。　She　was　telling　me　to　go　to　my　cabin；　and　the　other　girl　to　e　out　quickly。'
'You　saw　her　ing　out？'
'Yes。'
？Remember　anything　in　particular？'
？No。　Then　I　left。'
　Think。　Nikki。　Did　you　notice　anything　else　at　all？　How　did　she　e　out？　Did　she　lift　up　her　robe　so　that　it　wouldn't　trail　in　the　blood？'
　'Yes。　that　I　remember。　She　came　oat　with　it　lifted　up；　but　it　was　strange　。　。　。　There　was　blood　on　it。　She　had　blood　on　the　chest。　On　the　front　of　the　robe。　High　up。'
'Ah。　Good。　You　would　recognise　this　girl　again；　Nikki？'
'Of　course。　Anywhere　I　would　recognise　her。'
'Right。　Just　wait　one　moment；　please。'
　'For　you。　James；　much　more　than　one　moment。〃
　He　ignored　the　obvious　pass；　went　over　to　the　cabin　door　and　beckoned　the　marine　on　duty　outside。
　'I　want　you　to　take　Miss　Ratnikov　into　the　passage。　Then　go　and　find　Leading　Wren　Deeley。'
？Sir。'
　'Nikki；'　he　turned　back　to　the　Russian　girl。　'I　want　you　to　wait　outside　until　you　see　（his　marine　ing　back　down　the　passage　with　the　Wren。　If　it　is　the　girl　you　saw　last　night；　you　will　smile　at　her。　If　not；　look　away。　You　understand？'
　〃Is　not　difficult。　Smile　if　I　recognise。　Ignore　if　I　don't　recognise？'
　'Right；'　he　turned　to　the　marine。　'When　you　bring　Leading　Wren　Deeley　in　here　you　either　say　〃Yes'　or　〃No〃。　〃Yes'　if　Miss　Ratnikov　smiles。　〃No'　if　she　doesn't。　Get　it？'
'Yes；　sir。　No　difficulty。'
'Go　ahead；　then。'
　Bond　laid　a　hand　on　Nikki's　shoulder。　'Go　now；　and　please；　Nikki。　get　it　right。'
　'Is　no　problem。　I　smile　or　look　away。　Thank　you；　James。'　Before　he　could　stop　her。　Nikki　had　reached　up　and　kissed　his　cheek　before　leaving　the　cabin。　For　some　reason　he　thought　of　Beatrice　and　the　kiss　she　had　first　given　him。　How　it　had　seemed　to　burn　his　cheek。　A　tiny　black　cloud　of　depression　came　into　his　mind；　and　he　shook　his　head；　as　though　trying　to　rid　himself　of　the　last　picture　he　had　of　Beatrice　da　Ricci。　The　smoke；　flash　and　explosion　that　had　left　very　little　of　her　alive。
　The　picture　would　not　go　away；　even　when　he　picked　up　the　telephone　and　asked　for　the　Master…ai…Anns　…　the　'Jaundy'　as　they　called　him：　the　senior　non…missioned　officer　who　had　ulmost　the　power　of　God　over　ihe　ratings；　for；　in　some　ways；　he　was　the　ship's　chief　of　police。　Bond　gave　him　some　quick；　crisp　orders　and　put　the　telephone　down。
　It　was　not　until　he　heard　the　knock　on　his　cabin　door　（hat　Bond　realised　that　he　should　really　have　had　Clover　present；　but　it　was　loo　late　now。
The　marine　opened　the　door　to　Bond's　〃e。〃
　'Yes。　sir。'　he　said。　So　Nikki　had　identified　the　girl　as　being　the　Wren　who　was　with　the　body　in　the　heads。
　'Leading　Wren　Deeley。　sir。'　The　marine　announced；　and　the　gir！　came　through　the　cabin　door　which　closed　behind　her。
　'You　wanted　to　see　me；　sir？'　She　was　on　the　short　side。　Stocky　and　obviously　h't。　Her　face　remained　placid　and　her　eyes　centred　on　Bond　in　full　contact。　He　took　in　the　face；　not　pretty：　slightly　angular；　oddly　masculine。
　'Yes。　Leading　Wren　Sarah　Deeley。'　He　paused。　〃That　is　your　name　and　rank？'
〃Yes　sir。'　She　showed　no　trace　of　fear。
'And　your　division　and　number？'
'Plymouth。　762845。　sir。'
　'Right。　Can　you　tell　me；　Deeley；　why　there　is　no　record　of　you　as　a　member　of　the　Women's　Royal　Naval　Service？1
'I　don't　understand；　sir。'
　'Well　you'd　best　understand；　and　quickly。　Deeley。　There　is　no　record　of　you。　Further　。　。　。'　He　rose　and　began　to　walk　around　the　small　desk。　'I　have　seni　for　the　Master…at…Arms。　You　will　regard　yourself　as　under　arrest。'
Her　face　did　not　allcr；　'Under　arrest　for　what；　sir？'
　'For　the　murder　of　Edgar　Morgan；　a　member　of　the　United　States　Seerel　Service/
　He　did　not　even　see　her　hand　move。　He　was　aware　only　of　the　quick　glint；　and　the　knife　flicking　upwards；　raised　above　her。　Even　then；　all　that　registered　was　the　hatred　in　her　eyes。
　
　13
　
　Desperate　Dan
　
For　Bond　it　was　pure　instinct　and　training。　Deeley's　movement　had　been　so　fast　that　the　flash　of　the　blade　just　registered。　Then　he　moved　automatically。　The　girl's　arm　had　passed　across　her　body；　the　knife；　blade　outwards；　ready　to　slash　across　his　throat。　As　his　left　arm　came　up　to　block　the　stroke；　he　even　registered　that　the　knife　was　a　US　Marines　K…Bar　with　a　seven…inch　razor…sharp　blade。
　Who　would　have　thought　a　small　woman　like　this　would　have　so　much　strength？　Their　forearms　met　as　he　blocked　the　slash；　and　it　was　like　banginj》　his　own　arm　against　a　steel　rod。　She　was　closing　now。　stepping　right　forward　into　his　body；　twisting　her　arm　to　free　herself。
　If　she　managed　it；　the　next　knife　stroke　would　e　fast；　and　from　another　direction。　For　a　second　her　eyes；　blazing　with　a　fanatical　anger；　locked　with　Bond's。　She　pushed　in　hard；　then　stepped　away；　leaving　herself　free　for　the　second　slroke：　it　was　the　old　close…bat　trick；　using　her　opponent's　body　for　leverage；　and　Bond　should　not　have　fallen　for　it。　This　time　she　had　turned　the　blade；　so　that　the　knife　protruded　from　the　thumb　end　of　her　fist；　ready　to　e　from　below　in　the　classic　knife…fighting　manner。
　She　came　slowly；　weaving　in　the　confined　space　of　the　cabin；　side…stepping　and　whipping　in　from　Bond's　open　left　flank。
　He　blocked　her　again；　with　his　left　forearm；　bringing　his　right　hand　across　to　grasp　her　wrist；　pushing　down；　twisting　the　wrist；　in　an　attempt　to　force　her　to　drop　the　weapon；　but　she　pulled　down　on　his　thumb；　her　strength　so　great　that　his　right　hand　slipped　away　as　though　it　had　been　smeared　with　butter。
Now　she　was　weaving　again。　Two　steps　back；　a　feint　with　a　third　step；　changing　to　a　jump　to　her　right；　then　another　feint　to　the　left　and　straight　in