johngardner.winloseordie-第35章

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　found　it　a　strange；　and　unnatural　trait　in　the　British　that　they　allowed　one　pair　of　them　to　be　called　Charles　and　Di；　and　another　twosome；　Andy　and　Fergie。　This　was　almost　treason　to　the　British　Royal　Family。　Baradj　considered。　He　had　a　great　love　of　the　British　Royal　Family　…　which　meant　that　Baradj　would　really　have　liked　to　have　been　born　into　a　different　kind　of　background。　It　also　meant　that　he　was　trying　to　buy　himself　into　the　aristocracy：　via　terrorist　activities。
　Well；　he　thought；　the　balloon　would　go　up　soon　enough。　They　would　see。　in　less　than　two　hours　now；　that　they　weren't　playing　with　any　old　terrorist　outfit。　Oh。　he　thought；　the　books　are　correct：　it　is　very　lonely　at　the　top　of　the　chain　of　mand；　One　of　his　great　troubles　at　this　moment　was　that　he　had　nobody　to　talk　to。　He　had；　in　fact；　been　reduced　to　making　quick；　almost　nonsensical　calls　to　other　members　of　the　organisation；　uninvolved　in　the　present　operation。
　Finally；　Baradj　decided　to　call　in　his　last　lieutenant；　Ali　Al　Adwan　whom　he　had　left　quietly　in　Rome。　The　call　was　to　be　his　undoing；　for　the　monitors　in　the　whole　area　of　Spanish　coastal　waters；　had。　as　the　jargon　would　say；　unwaxed　their　ears：　which　meant　they　were　listening　out　with　extreme　diligence。
'Pronto；'　Adwan　answered　the　telephone　in　his　Rome　hotel。
'Health　depends　on　strength；'　said　Bassam　Baradj。
　They　picked　up　Ali　Al　Adwan　an　hour　later　outside　the　hotel；　on　his　way　to　the　airport。
　It　was　decided；　at　very　high　level；　to　let　Baradj　remain　as　a　sleeping　dog。　After　all；　they　could　monitor　his　telephone　calls；　and　even　run　plete　surveillance　on　him。
James　Bond　had　decided　his　only　chance　was　to　make　a　move　when　they　brought　his　food。　If　he　ate　or　drank　anything　it　would　be　curtains；　or　at　least　some　heavy　gauze　that　would　leave　him　junked　out　for　a　few　days。
　It　was　going　to　be　very　dangerous；　for　they　would　never　think　of　sending　a　girl　down　on　her　own。　There　would　be　a　guard；　and　he　would　have　to　deal　with　ihe　situation　on　the　hoof。　Time　ticked　away：　half　an　hour；　an　hour。　Then；　at　14。30。　he　heard　the　lock　on　the　outer　door　click　open。
　〃Room　Service。'　It　was　the　unpleasant　voice　of　Donald　Speaker；　who。　a　second　later；　appeared　in　front　of　the　bars；　a　tray　in　one　hand；　keys　and　a　Browning　9mm　in　the　other。　Bond　though！　it　was　probably　his　own　Browning。　On　the　tray　was　a　plate　of　cold　cuts　and　salad；　with　a　large　mug　of　steaming　coffee　next　to　ii。
'I　might　have　known　you'd　turn　coat。'
　'Oh。　I　had　it　turned　a　long　time　ago；　James　Bond。　Money　isn't　everything；　but　it　helps　the　world　go　round。　I'm　not　a　political　traitor：　just　avaricious。'　He　skilfully　operated　the　key　in　（he　lock　and　Bond　relaxed；　trying　to　work　out　the　best；　and　safest；　move。
　？Anyway。〃　Speaker　continued；　'you　can't　expect　these　girls　to　do　it　all。　Girls　can't　do　a　man's　job。'　He　slid　back　the　barred　entrance　and　stood　in　the　opening；　the　tray　held　by　his　left　hand　and　balanced　on　his　righl　wrist；　the　Browning　held　tightly　and　pointing　directly　at　Bond；　a　mite　too　steadily　for　fort。　'Just　step　right　back　against　the　wall。　Move　fast　if　you　like；　ll　would　be　a　great　pleasure　to　kill　you。'
　Til　do　it　slowly　and　correctly；'　Bond　smiled。　Tin　not　quite　ready　for　the　chop　yet。'　He　took　one　short　step　backwards；　then　made　his　move。　Swivelling　to　his　right；　out　of　the　Browning's　deadly　eye；　he　turned　and　brought　his　left　leg　up　in　a　shattering　kick　al　the　tray。
His　aim　was　slightly　off。　but　the　effect　was　what　he　wanted　for　the　kick　lifted　the　tray　at　almost　the　correct　point；　bringing　the　steaming　mug　of　coffee　up　in　a　scalding　spray；　straight　over　Speaker's　face。
　The　interrogator's　reaction　was　one　of　the　most　natural　things　Bond　had　ever　seen。　First；　he　dropped　both　tray　and　gun；　second　his　hands　flew　up　to　his　face；　third；　and　concurrent　with　Ihe　first　two。　Speaker　screamed　…　loudly　and　painfully。
　Bond　stepped　in；　grabbing　at　the　Browning；　twisting　as　he　did　so。　aiming　a　heavy　chop　with　ihe　gun　butt　at　the　base　of　Speaker's　skull。
　'Coffee；'　Bond　whispered　to　himself；　〃can　insiantly　damage　your　health。'　He　was　outside；　sliding　the　gate　closed；　locking　it　and　removing　the　keys。
　He　went　through　the　outer　door　wiih　care。　There　was　nobody　in　the　passageway；　so　he　locked　the　door；　and　moved　along　the　passage　until　he　came　to　the　first　panion…way　which　he　went　up　at　speed。　He　had　one　great　advantage　over　the　Wrens：　one　of　the　first　things　any　officer　does　when　reporting　aboard　a　new　ship　is　to　make　certain　he　knows　the　lay…out；　and　the　best　and　quickest　route　to　follow　between　any　two　points。　Bond　had　spent　almost　an　entire　day　learning　the　passages；　bulkheads；　panionways　and　catwalks　of　Invincible。　He　knew　the　way　to　the　nearest　heads　which　had　ports　above　sea　level；　and　he　made　this　his　first　stop；　unscrewing　the　tugs　on　one　of　the　ports　and　hurling　the　key　to　the　cells　far　out　into　the　sea。
　He　moved　as　quickly　as　possible；　taking　great　pains；　stopping　from　time　to　time　to　listen　for　any　sign　of　life。　Wrens；　he　thought；　should　normally　be　identifiable　at　distance；　but　Clover　Pennington's　Wrens　had　obviously　been　subjected　to　special　training。　There　were　also　only　fifteen　of　them；　and　they　would　have　to　be　well　spread　out　across　the　ship。
　He　was　making　his　way　to　the　Crew　Room　in　the　for'ard　part　of　the　island；　at　main　deck　level。　He　moved　by　the　fastest　means；　by…passing　the　more　obvious　places　where　Clover　would　have　people　posted。　It　was　now　14。45；　so。　with　luck；　they　would　all　be　below　the　main　deck　and　off　the　island；　as　they　had　been　instructed。
　It　was　as　though　the　entire　ship　was　deserted；　for　he　saw　nobody　in　his　journey；　and　it　was　only　when　he　got　to　the　Crew　Room　that　he　realised　Clover　had　left　one　girl　on　deck；　though；　he　figured；　she　would　have　to　get　below　on　the　dot　of　three。
The　door　to　the　main　deck　was　open；　and　the　girl　had　her　back　Inwards　him。　It　was　the　tall；　tough　blonde　Leading　Wren　who　had　taken　him　to　the　cells；　and　it　was　obviously　her　turn　with　the　H　&　К　МР5　SD3。　She　held　it　as　though　it　was　her　child；　which　was　a　bad　sign　with　terrorists。　Women　of　this　persuasion　were　taughi　to　regard　their　personal　weapon　as　their　child：　and　that　was　not　just　terrorism　according　to　the　top　people's　espionage　novelist。　It　was　for　real。
　He　looked　around　the　Crew　Room　and　finally　found　a　G…suit　and　helmet　which　were　roughly　his　size。　Two…fifty　in　the　afternoon。　From　the　bulkhead　door　he　could　still　see　the　Leading　Wren；　and　behind　her　the　Sea　Harriers；　the　first　of　the　four　aircraft　right　on　the　ski…ramp；　with　one　machine　behind　it；　and　a　pair　of　others　parked　abreast。　They　were　all　obviously　ready　and　armed；　for　the　ribbons　hung　from　the　Sidewinders；　slung　under　the　wings。
　Standing　to　one　side　of　the　bulkhead；　his　hack　to　the　deck。　Bond　put　up　the　visor　of　his　helmet　and　whistled　loudly。
　There　was　movement　from　the　deck；　so　the　Leading　Wren　had　heard　and　been　alerted。　He　whistled；　shrilly　again；　and　heard　the　answerhig　footsteps　as　she　crossed　towards　the　Crew　Room　door。　The　footsteps　stopped；　and　he　could　imagine　that　she　was　standing；　uncertain；　the　H　&　К　tucked　into　her　hip　and　the　safety　off。
　When　she　came；　she　moved　quickly　and　was　inside　the　Crew　Room　almost　before　Bond　was　ready　for　her。　The　only　piece　of　luck　that　came　his　way　was　the　fact　that　she　moved　to　the　right　first；　which　is　normal　in　right…handed　people；　and　exactly　why　Bond　had　staked　himself　to　the　left；　from　her　viewpoint　on　the　main　deck。
　His　arm　went　around　her　neck。　This　was　one　of　those　times　when　it　did　not　pay　to　be　squeamish；　or　to　even　think　about　what　he　was　doing。　He　only　wished　that　it　had　been　the　psycho；　Deeley。
She　dropped　the　machine　pistol；　trying　to　claw　at　his　arms；　but　Bond　had　already　done　the　damage。　Left　arm　around　the　neck　from　behind；　push　in　hard；　reach　over　and　grasp　the　left　biceps　with　the　right　hand；　so　that　his　right　forearm　went　across　her　forehead。　Now　the　pressure：　fast；　very　hard；　and　lethal。　He　heard　the　neck　go；　and　felt　her　weight　in　sudden　death。　Then　　he　grabbed　at　the　H　&　К　and　ran　out　onto　the　deck；　slipping　ihe　H　&　К　to　Safe；　ducking　under　the　wings　of　the　aircraft　until　he　reached　（he　one　on　the　ski…ramp。　He　went　right　around　the　aircraft；　checking　all　control　surfaces　were　free；　nipping　（he　warning　ribbons　from　the　Sidewinders；　and　pulling　the　caps　off　the　front　of　the　Aden　gun　pods。
　The　generator　was　in　place；　plugged　in。　He　paused　for　a　second；　undecided。　He　could　leave　it　in　and　be　certain　that　he　could　start　the　engine　first　lime；　or　unplug　and　hope　to　hell　there　was　enough　charge　on　board。　If　he　took　the　first　option；　there　was　danger　in　the　iake…off；　with　the　generator　cable　still　attached。　He　took　the　second　way　and　unplugged　the　cord；　then　ran　around　the　aircraft；　climbing　into　the　cockpit。　As　he　lowered　himself　into　the　seat　he　imagined　he　could　hear　the　sound　of　another　aircraft。　He　clipped　the　straps　on　and　hauled　down　so　that　he　was　tighily　secured。　He　lowered　the　canopy；　and　pressed　ihe　ignition；　going　through　the　рге…take…off　drill　in　his　head。
　As　he　pressed　the　ignition；　so　there　was　a　huge　roar。　Flame　speared　up　from　somewhere　behind　him。　and　he　could　hear　the　heavy　thump　of　30mm　shells　hitting　parked　aircraft　and　the　deck　around　him。
　As　the　engine　fired；　so　（he　shape　crossed　directly　over　him。　A　Sea　Harrier；　very　low。　almosl　hugging　the　sea　as　it　did　a　tighl　turn；　pulling　a　lot　of　G；　to　circle　and　e　in　again。
　
　18
　
　In　at　the　Kill

He　did　not　really　know　if　this　was　a　full；　co…ordinated　attack　on　Invincible；　but；　in　the　last　seconds；　logic　told　him　exactly　what　it　was　…　the　fireworks　promised　by　BAST　if　the　15。00　hours　deadline　was　not　met。
　Take…off　check：　brakes　on；　flaps　OUT；　ASI　'bug'　to　lift…off　speed。　As　always；　the　aircraft　was　alive；　trembling　to　the　idling　of　the　Rolls…Royce　turbofan。
　Nozzle　lever　set　to　short　take…off　position　at　the　50〃　stop　mark；　throttle　to　fifty…five　per　cent　RPM；　brakes　off；　throttle　banged　into　fully　open；　and　there　it　was；　the　giant　hand　pressing　at　his　chest　and　face。
　The　Sea　Harrier　snarled　off　the　ramp。　Gear　'Up'…　ASI　'bug'　flashing　and　beeping：　nozzles　to　horizontal　flight；　flaps　to　IN。　The　HUD　showing　the　climbing　angle；　right　on　60°；　and　a　speed　of　f》40　knots。
　Bond　broke　left；　standing　on　one　wing　as　he　pulled　a　seven　G　turn；　the　nose　dropping　slightly；　then　ing　up　with　a　twitch　of　the　rudder。　One　thousand　feet；　and　to　his　right　he　saw　Invincible；　the　aircraft　and　helicopters　on　her　deck　ablaze。　Gas　tanks　going　up　to　produce　spectacular　blooms　of　fire；　and　the　other　aircraft；　low；　almost　down　to　the　water；　then　putting　her　nose　up　and　pulling　into　a　hard；　left　turn。
　Bond　reached　the　outer　edge　of　the　turn；　flipped　the　aircraft　into　a　right…hand　break；　harder　this　time；　his　left　foot　pushing　down　on　the　rudder　to　keep　level；　then　back　on　the　stick　to　gain　height　as　a　bleep　started　to　pulse　loud　in　his　headphones；　and　the　trace　on　the　radar　showing　another　aircraft　locking　on　behind　him　…　behind　and　above。
He　pulled　back　on　the　stick；　put　the　nose　towards　the　sky；　and　heard　the　rasping　noise　that　warned　a　missile　had　been　released。　His　mind　grabbed　at　the　recent　past；　and　the　missile　fired　at　him　near　the　bombing　range　close　to　the　Isle　of　Man。　That　could　have