johngardner.winloseordie-第5章

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ods　…　another　lesson　of　the　Falklands　where　chaff　had　been　stuffed　in　bundles　inside　the　airbrakes。
　The　neep…neeping　was　still　there；　quickening　as　the　missile　gained　on　the　Harrier。　He　lifted　the　nose；　jinked　again　and；　at　a　thousand　feet；　performed　a　rale　five　turn；　pulling　a　lot　of　G；　then　rolling　and　putting　the　Harrier　into　a　second　dive。　His　body　felt　like　lead；　his　throat　was　dust…dry　and　the　controls　fell　stiff　as　he　pushed　（he　Harrier　to　its　limit。
　He　had　the　aircraft　right　down　almost　to　sea　level　before　the　growling　signal　suddenly　stopped。　There　was　a　flash　far　off　to　（he　starboard；　in　the　direction　of　the　target　range。　Bond　took　a　deep　breath；　lifted　the　Harrier's　nose；　reset　his　course　and　climbed　to　30；000　feet　with　the　throttle　right　forward。　As　he　went　up　so　he　switched　his　radio　to　transmit　…　'Bluebird　to　Homespun。　Some　idiot　almost　put　a　Sidewinder　up　my　six。〃　Taking　the　points　of　a　standard　clock；　'six'meant　directly　behind。
　'Say　again。　Bluebird。'
　Bond　repeated　and　Yeovilton　asked　him　to　confirm　no　damage；　which　he　did。　adding　that　it　was　more　luck　than　judgment。　Of　the　four　aircraft　detailed　for　the　bombing　range　that　afternoon；　no　one　carried　anything　but　cluster…bombs。　The　range；　however；　belonged　to　the　RAF；　though　its　use　and　timings　were　strictly　monitored。　It　was　just　possible　that　a　Royal　Air　Force　jet　had　accidentally　been　scheduled　and　had　arrived　either　early　or　late。
　'Bluebird；　are　you　certain　it　was　a　missile？'
　'Chased　me　all　around　the　sky。　Of　course　I'm　sure。〃
　Bond　reached　Yeovilton　without　further　incident　and；　once　landed　and　out　of　his　flying　gear；　he　stormed　into　the　office　of　mander　（Air）　…　known　to　most　as　Wings　…　set　in　the　control　tower。
　'Who　was　the　fool？'　Bond　snapped；　then　he　stopped；　for　mander　Bernic　Brazier；　an　experienced　officer；　looked　both　angry　and　shaken。　He　motioned　Bond　to　sit。　'There'll　be　an　investigation；　sir。'　His　eyes　had　the　weary　look　of　a　man　who　had　seen　iiall　and　never　really　got　used　toil。　'There's　a　problem。　Nobody　from　here　was　carrying　missiles；　and　the　RAF　say　they　were　not　using　the　range　today。　We're　checking　your　Harrier　for　possible　malfunction　of　detection　electronics。'
　That　wasn't　a　malfunction；　for　God's　sake。　It　was　a　real　missile；　Bernie。　I'm　filing　a　report　to　thai　effecl　and　heaven　help　the　cretin　who　loosed　one　off　in　my　direction。'
　mander　Brazier　still　looked　unhappy。　Quietly　he　said；　'There's　another　problem。'
　〃What？'
　'We've　lost　an　aircraft。'
　〃Who？'
　'Captain　Pantano。　The　Spanish　officer。　He　was　second　away；　bombed　on　time　then　went　off　the　radar　during　his　climb　out。　Nobody's　reported　seeing　him　go　down　and　we've　got　S　and　R　out　looking　for　him。　or　wreckage。'
　'Perhaps　a　Sidewinder　popped　him。'　There　was　a　large　segment　of　sarcasm　in　Bond's　voice。
　'There　were　no　missile…carrying　aircraft　around；　sir；　as　I've　already　told　you。'
　'Well；　what　do　you　think　the　one　up　my　backside　was；　Wings？　A　Scotch　mist？'　Now。　quite　angry；　James　Bond　turned　on　his　heel　and　left。
　In　the　wardroom　bar　that　night　before　dinner；　the　atmosphere　was　only　slightly　subdued。　It　was　always　a　bit　of　a　shaker　losing　a　pilot；　but　the　strange　circumstances　surrounding　this　loss；　coupled　with　（he　fact　that　the　Spanish　pilot　had　not　been　a　natural　mixer；　helped　to　calm　what　often　causes　a　slight　twitch　among　young　pilots。
　So；　when　Bond　entered　the　wardroom；　the　bar　hummed　with　near　enough　the　usual　high…spirited　pre…dinner　chatter。　He　was　about　to　go　over　and　join　two　of　the　other　Navy　pilots　from　the　course；　when　his　eyes　landed　on　someone　he　had　been　watching　from　afar　since　reporting　to　RNAS　Ycovilton。　She　was　tall　and　very　slim；　a　WRNS　Firsl　Officer　（Women's　Royal　Naval　Service　…　'Wrens'　as　they　were　referred　to）　who　was　always　much　in　demand；　as　she　had　the　kind　of　looks　and　figure　that　make　middle…aged　men　regret　their　lost　youth：　a　sloe…eyed　bination　of　self…confidence；　together　with　a　hint　of　plete　indif　ference　to　the　many　officers　who　paid　court　to　her；　'Like　hornets　around　a　honeypot；'　as　one　crusty　old　visiting　Admiral　mented。　Her　name　was　Clover　Pennington；　though　she　was　known　to　many；　in　spite　of　her　upbringing　in　the　bosom　of　a　well…connected　west　country　family；　as　'Irish　Penny'。
　Now　this　dark…haired；　black…eyed　beauty　had　the　usual　quota　of　three　young　Lieutenants　toasting　her；　but。　on　seeing　Bond；　she　stepped　away　from　the　bar　towards　him。　'I　hear　you　had　a　near…miss　today；　sir。'　Her　smile　lacked　the　cautious　deference　her　rank　demanded　when　approaching　a　much　senior　officer。
　'Not　as　close　as　our　Spanish　pilot　it　would　seem。　Miss　。　。　。　er。　First　Officer　。　。　。'　Bond　let　it　trail　nff。　Recently；　he　had　not　been　given　the　chance　of　spending　much　of　his　time　with　women；　a　fact　which　would　have　gladdened　M's　heart。
　'First　Officer　Pennington；　sir。　Clover　Pennington。'
　'Well。　Miss　Pennington；　how　about　joining　me　tor　dinner？　The　name's　Bond；　by　the　way；　James　Bond。'
　'Delighted；　sir。'　She　gave　him　a　dazzling　smile　and　turned　towards　the　wardroom。　Daggers　were　invisibly　hurled　in　Bond's　direction　from　the　eyes　of　the　ihree　young　officers　still　at　the　bar。
　Tonight　was　not　a　formal　wardroom　dinner；　so　Bond　seized　the　chance　while　it　was　on　offer。　'Not　here。　First　Officer　Pennington。'　His　hand　brushed　her　uniformed　arm　with　Ihe　three　blue　stripes；　denoting　her　rank；　low　on　the　sleeve。　'I　know　a　reasonable　restaurant　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour's　drive　away；　near　Wedmorc。　Give　you　ten　minutes　to　change。'
　Another　smile　which　spoke　of　a　more　than　usually　pleasant　evening；　'Oh；　good；　sir。　I　always　feel　better　out　of　uniform。'
　Bond　thought　unpardonable　thoughts　and　followed　her　from　the　bar。
　He　gave　her　twenty　minutes；　knowing　the　ways　of　women　when　changing　for　an　evening　out。　In　any　case；　Bond　also　wanted　to　get　into　civilian　clothes；　even　though　it　would　have　to　be　almost　another　kind　of　uniform；　Dunhill　slacks　and　blazer　plete　with　RN　crest　on　the　breast　pocket。
　Before　laking　up　his　new　duties；　M　had　advised；　'Shouldn't　take　that　damned　great　Bentlcy　with　you。　Ш7。'
　〃How　am　I　supposed　to　get　around；　sir？'　he　had　asked。
　'Oh；　take　something　upmarket　from　the　car　pool　…　they've　a　nice　litlle　BMW　520i。　in　an　unobtrusive　dark…blue；　free　al　（he　moment。　Use　that　as　your　runabout　until　you　set　sail　for　distant　shores。'　M。　Bond　would　have　sworn；　was　humming　'Drake's　Drum〃　as　he　left　the　office。
　So　it　was　that　the　dark…blue　BMW　pulled　up　in　front　of　the　officers'　Wrennery；　as　the　women's　quarters　were　known；　twenty　minutes　later。　To　Bond's　surprise　she　was　there；　waiting　outside　wearing　a　fetching　trench…coat　over　civilian　clothes。　The　coat　was　tightly　belted；　showing　off　the　neal　waist　and　adding　a　touch　of　sensuality。　She　slid　into　the　passenger　sea！　nexl　to　him。　her　skirt　riding　up　to　expose　around　four　inches　of　thigh。　As　Bond　swung　the　car　out　through　the　Wrennery　gates　he　noticed　lhat　she　did　not　even　bother　to　adjust　the　coat　and　skirt　as　she　pulled　on　the　obligatory　seat…belt。
　'So　where're　we　going。　Captain　Bond？'　（Did　he　imagine　the　throatiness　of　her　voice；　or　had　it　always　been　there？）
　'Little　puh　I　know。　Good　food。　The　owner's　wife　is　French　and　they　do　a　very　passable　boeuf　Beauceronne。　almost　like　the　real　thing。　Off　duty；　the　name's　James；　by　the　way。〃
　He　heard　the　smile　hi　her　voice。　'You　have　a　choice　…　James。　My　nickname's　〃Irish　Penny　〃。so　most　of　the　girls　call　me　Penny。　I　prefer　my　real　name。　Clover。'　'Clover　it　is。　then。　Nice　name。　Unusual。'　'My　father　always　used　to　say　（hat　mother　was　frightened　by　a　bull　in　a　clover　field　when　she　was　carrying　me。　but　I　prefer　the　more　romantic　version。'　'Which　was'。〃'
　Again；　the　smile　in　her　voice；　〃That　I　was　conceived　in　a　patch　of　clover…and　my　father　a　respectable　clergyman　at　that。'
　'Still　a　nice　name；'　Bond　paused　to　negotiate　a　long　bend。　'Only　heard　it　once　before；　and　。she　was　married　to　someone　very　big　in　intelligence　matters。'　The　reference　to　Mrs　Allan　Dulles　was　a　calculated　e…on：　almost　a　code　to　attract　Clover　into　the　light　in　case　they　were　both　in　the　same　business。　M　had　said　there　would　be　other　officers　around；　on　this　deep　cover　assignment。　But　Clover　Pennington　did　not　rise　to　the　bait。
　'Is　it　true　about　this　afternoon；　James？'
　'Is　what　true？〃
　'That　someone　tried　to　put　a　Sidewinder　up　your　six。'
　'Felt　that　way。　How　did　you　e　to　hear　about　it？　The　incident's　supposed　to　be　low…profile。'
　'Oh；　didn't　you　know？　I'm　in　charge　of　the　girls　who　maintain　the　Harriers。'　On　most　stone　frigates；　as　shore　stations　are　called　by　the　Royal　Navy；　maintenance　and　arming　was。　to　a　large　extent；　performed　by　Wrens。　'Bernie　…　Wings　lhat　is　…　passed　me　a　curt　little　memo。　He　writes　memos　rather　as　he　speaks；　words　of　one　syllabic；　especially　to　the　Wrens。　1　always　imagine　he　regards　us　as　having　very　limited　vocabularies。　We're　checking　on　all　your　aircraft's　electronics；　just　to　be　sure　you　weren't　getting　some　odd　feedback。'
　'It　was　a　missile。　Clover。　I've　been　at　the　receiving　end　of　those　bloody　things　before　today。　I　know　what　they　sound　like。'*1
　'We　have　to　check。　You　know　what　the　mander　（Air）　is　like：　always　accusing　us　of　infesting　his　precious　Harriers　with　Wrenlins。'　She　laughed。　Throaty　and　infectious。　Bond　thought；　something　he　would　not　really　mind　catching　himself。
　'Wrenlins；'　he　repeated　half　aloud。　He　had　almost　forgotten　that　old　Fleet　Air…Arm　slang；　culled　and　altered　from　the　RAF's　〃gremlins〃。　Today's　young　people；　he　presumed；　would　take　for　granted　that　gremlins　were　creatures　conjured　from　Spielberg's　brain　for　a　popular；　if　zany；　movie。
　Fifteen　minutes　later；　they　were　sitting　at　a　table　in　the　quiet；　neat　restaurant　ordering　the　pate　and　the　boeuf　Beauceronne　…that　delightful　and　simple　dish　of　rump　steak　cooked　with　bacon；　potatoes　and　onions。　Within　an　hour　they　were　talking　like　old　friends；　and。　indeed　knew　people　in　mon；　for　it　turned　out　that；　while　Clover's　father　had　been　what　she　called　'a　humble　man　of　the　cloth'；　his　elder　brother　was　Sir　Arthur　Penninglon；　Sixth　Baronet　and　master　of　Pennington　Nab；　a　stately　home　which　Bond　had　enjoyed；　in　more　ways　than　one。　'Oh；　you'll　know　my　cousins。　Emma　and　Jane；　then？'　Clover　asked；　looking　up　sharply。
　'Intimately；'　Bond　replied　flatly；　and　with　a　pletely　straight　face。
　Clover　let　it　pass　and　they　discussed　everything　from　the　Hunt　Balls　at　Pennington　Nab；　to　life　in　the　Royal　Navy；　taking　in；　on　the　way；　jazz　…　〃My　bro〃。　Julian；　introduced　me　to　trad　jazz　when　he　was　up　at　Cambridge　and　I've　been　an　addict　ever　since'　…　fishing　in　the　Caribbean；　a　favourite　tor　both　of　them：　skiing；　and。　finally；　the　novels　of　Eric　Ambler　and　Graham　Greene…
　'I　feef　I've　known　you　for　a　lifetime；　James；'　she　said　as　they　drove　slowly　back　towards　the　RNAS；
　It　was。　Bond　thought；　a　somewhat　trite　remark；　but　possibly　one　of　invitation。　He　pulled　the　BMW　into　a　lay…by　and　cut　the　engine。
　〃The　feeling's　mutual。　Clover；　my　dear。'　He　reached　for　her　in　the　darkness　and　she　responded　to　his　first　rough　kiss；　though　pulled　away　when　he　began　to　move　in　closer。
　'No。　James。　No；　not　yet。　It　might　bee　difficult；　particularly　as　we're　going　to　be　shipmates。'
　'What　d'you　mean；　shipmates？'　Bond　nuzzled　her　hair。
　'Invincible；　of　course。〃