johngardner.rollofhonor-第13章

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w　the　numbers　for　a　particular　six…hour　period。　　Even　then；　the　machines　have　to　know　your　voice…print。〃
　〃Visual？〃　Bond　asked。
　〃Quite　a　lot　…　the　main　gates；　large　areas　of　the　walls；　front　and　rear　of　the　house。　　You　can　only　dodge　the　closed…circuit　stuff　at　the　back；　and　then　only　if　you　know　the　pattern。　　They　change　that　with　the　lock　codings；　so　you　really　do　need　to　know　your　six…hour　period　to　get　in　or　out　without　being　detected。　　An　intruder　wouldn't　last　three　minutes。〃
　〃Ever　had　any？〃
　〃Intruders？　　Only　a　tramp；　and　one　false　alarm　…　at　least　they　presume　it　was　a　false　alarm。〃
　〃Weapons？〃
　〃I　was　around　when　the　false　alarm　was　triggered。　　Yes；　one　of　the　guys　on　duty　had　a　hand　gun。　　So　I've　seen　one。
　There　are　probably　more。　　James；　can　I　get　going？　　I　can't　afford　to　get　caught　with　these　disks　on　me。　　There　are　blanks　in　the　cabinets　。
　〃On　your　way；　Cindy；　and　good　luck。　　I'll　see　you　tonight。　　I'm　ing　for　a　little　tournament　with　our　Target。　　By　the　way；　your　friend　Peter　tipped　me　off　about　Jason's　style　of　play　〃He　doesn't　like　to　lose；'　she　said　with　a　grin。　　〃Almost　pathological；　like　a　child。
　It's　a　matter　of　honour　with　him。〃　Bond　did　not　smile。　　〃And　me；'　he　said　softly。　　〃It's　a　matter　of　honour　with　me。〃　It　was　past　three…thirty　in　the　morning。　　Bond　packed　up　the　equipment　and　took　it　down　to　the　car；　locking　it　away　in　the　boot。　　Back　in　his　room；　he　put　the　cloned　programs　in　a　FloppiPak　disk　mailer；　smiling　wryly　at　the　frightful　nomenclature　of　the　trade。　　He　addressed　the　label　to　himself　at　a　Post　Office　box　number；　then　weighed　the　small；　flat　package　in　his　hand；　making　an　intelligent　guess　as　to　weight。　　He　stuck　on　what　he　estimated　to　be　sufficient　postage　from　a　folder　of　stamps　in　his　briefcase。　　He　would　have　liked　to　deliver　the　package　in　person；　but　he　was　not　going　to　leave　anything　to　chance。
　Sitting　at　the　small　dressing　table；　Bond　next　wrote　a　short　note　to　Freddie　on　hotel　paper。
　Gone　to　Oxford　for　the　morning。　　Didn't　want　to　wake　you；　but　will　be　back　for　lunch。　　How　about　a　return　match　this　afternoon？
　Stripping　off；　he　ran　a　cold　shower　and　stepped　under　it；　holding　his　face　against　the　stinging　needle　spray　and　gasping　at　the　initial　shock。　After　a　minute　or　so；　he　added　some　warm　water；　soaped　himself；　then　rubbed　himself　down；　towelling　his　body　briskly。　　Before　shaving　he　climbed　into　his　underwear；　a　pair　of　black　Ted　Lapidus　cords　and　a　black　cotton　rollneck。　　He　strapped　the　ASP　automatic；　in　its　holster；　so　that　it　lay　hard　against　his　right　hip。　　Last；　he　put　on　a　light　suede　jacket　and　pushed　his　feet　into　the　old　favourite　moccasins。
　It　was　just　getting　light；　the　dark　sky　changing　to　grey　and　then　that　cold…washed　pearl　which　heralds　unsettled　weather。　　With　the　detested　FloppiPak　in　his　briefcase　Bond　went　downstairs；　left　his　key　and　the　note　for　Freddie　at　the　deserted　reception　and　went　out　to　the　car。
　The　Bentley's　engine　growled　into　life　at　the　first　turn　of　the　key；　and　he　allowed　it　to　settle　to　its　normal；　gentle　purr；　fastening　the　seatbelt　and　watching　the　red　warning　lights　flick　off　one　by　one。
　Releasing　the　foot　brake；　he　slid　the　selector　into　Drive　and　let　the　car　roll　forward。　　If　he　took　the　Oxford　road；　turned　on　to　the　ring　road；　and　then　headed　for　the　M40　he　could　be　in　London　in　ninety　minutes。
　It　began　to　rain　as　he　reached　the　big　roundabout　on　the　periphery　of　the　ring　road　and　took　the　dual　carriageway；　heading　towards　London。
　He　was　a　mile　or　so　along　this　stretch　when　the　white　Mercedes　of　the　day　before　appeared　in　his　mirror。
　Bond　cursed　silently；　tightened　his　seatbelt　and　moved　his　foot　smoothly　down　on　the　accelerator。　　The　car　slid　forward；　gathering　power；　the　speedometer　rising　to　100；　then　120　miles　per　hour。
　There　was　little　traffic　as　he　slid　neatly　in　and　out　of　the　stray　cars　and　lorries；　mainly　keeping　to　the　fast　lane。
　The　white　Mercedes　held　back；　but　even　at　speed；　Bond　could　not　throw　it　off　altogether。　　Ahead　the　signs　came　up　for　an　exit。
　Flicking　the　indicator　at　the　last　moment；　he　left　the　dual　carriageway　still　well　in　excess　of　the　100　miles　per　hour　mark；　the　Bentley　responding　to　his　light　control；　holding　the　road　during　the　turn。　　The　Mercedes　seemed　to　have　disappeared。　　He　hoped　that　the　driver　had　not　been　able　to　reduce　speed　in　time　to　get　off　the　main　highway。
　Ahead　the　road　narrowed；　fir　trees　shadowing　either　side。　　A　lumbering　heavy　transporter　grumbled　along　at　fifty　behind　a　petrol　tanker。　　The　Bentley's　speed　dropped。　　As　he　rounded　the　next　bend；　Bond　caught　a　flash　of　headlights；　blinking　on　and　off　from　a　lay…by。
　The　next　time　he　looked　there　was　another　Mercedes　hooking　itself　on　to　his　tail。
　They　had　radio　contact；　he　thought；　and　probably　five　or　six　cars　covering　him。　　Taking　the　next　left　turn；　he　picked　up　the　telephone　and；　without　allowing　his　eyes　to　leave　the　road；　punched　out　the　numbers　that　would　raise　the　Duty　Officer　at　the　Regent's　Park　Headquarters　on　a　scrambled　radio　line。
　The　road　narrowed。　　The　second　Mercedes　was　still　there　when　he　negotiated　the　next　turn　just　as　the　Duty　Officer　answered。
　〃Gamesman　flash　for　Dungeonmaster。〃　Bond　spoke　rapidly。　　〃Am　being　followed；　south　of　Oxford。　　Important　package　for　Dungeonmaster。　　Will　attempt　mail。
　Addressed　myself。　　The　Programmer　is　definitely　involved　all　illegal　actions　as　thought。　　Investigate　Balloon　Game。　　Speak　to　the　Goddess。〃
　〃Understood；'　the　Duty　Officer　said；　and　the　line　was　closed。
　As　he　took　the　next　bend；　Bond　saw　a　village　ing　up　and　realised　he　had　outdistanced　the　Mercedes。　　He　pumped　the　footbrake；　slowing　the　Bentley　dramatically；　looking　ahead　and　to　the　left。　　The　car　was　almost　out　of　the　village　before　he　spotted　the　wele　brilliant　red　of　a　post　box。　　The　Bentley　slid　to　a　halt　beside　it；　and　Bond　had　his　seatbelt　off　before　the　car　had　stopped　rolling。
　It　took　less　than　twenty　seconds　to　slip　the　package　into　the　box　and　return　to　the　driving　seat。　　He　did　not　rebuckle　the　belt　until　the　Bentley　was　already　gathering　speed　and　the　Mercedes　had　appeared　again　in　his　driving　mirror。　　He　passed　an　electric　milk　float　doing　the　early　rounds；　then　he　was　once　more　in　open　country。　　As　he　reached　a　wooded　stretch；　Bond　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　picnic　area　sign；　then　saw　two　other　cars　emerge　from　the　trees；　their　bonnets　ing　together　to　form　a　V；　blocking　his　path。
　〃They're　playing　for　keeps；'　he　muttered；　ramming　the　footbrake；　and　hauling　on　the　wheel　with　his　left　arm。
　As　the　Bentley　began　to　slew；　broadside　on；　he　was　conscious　of　the　white　Mercedes　close　behind　him。
　The　speedometer　was　touching　sixty　as　the　Bentley　left　the　road；　plunging　in　among　the　trees。　　Bond　desperately　guided　the　big　car　past　the　trunks；　over　bracken；　zigzagging　wildly　and　trying　to　negotiate　a　path　that　would　bring　him　back　to　the　road。
　The　first　bullet　made　a　grating；　gouging　sound　on　the　root；　and　Bond　could　think　only　of　the　damage　it　would　do　to　the　coach　work。　　The　second　hit　his　rear　offside　tyre；　sending　over　5000　lb　of　custom…built　motor　car　side　on　into　a　tangle　of　bushes。
　Slammed　against　the　seatbelt；　Bond　reached　simultaneously　for　the　automatic　pistol　and　the　electric　window　button。
　
　
　THE　ASP　9mm　is　a　small；　very　lethal　weapon。　　Essentially　a　scaled…down　version　of　the　Smith　&　Weston　Model　39；　it　has　been　in　use　with　United　States　Intelligence　Agencies　for　over　a　decade。　　With　a　recoil　no　greater　than　a　Walther　22；　it　has　the　look　of　a　target　automatic　rather　than　the　deadly　customised　hand　gun　it　really　is。
　Armaments　Systems　and　Procedures；　the　organisation　which　carried　out　the　conversion；　produced　the　weapon　to　exacting　specifications：　ease　of　concealment；　a　minimum　eight…round　capacity；　reliability；　an　ammunition　indicator　using　Lexon　see…through　butt　grips；　and　an　acceptance　of　all　known　9mm　ammunition。
　The　rounds　in　Bond's　magazine　were　particularly　unpleasant　Glaser　Safety　Slugs。　　A　Glaser　is　a　prefragmented　bullet　that　contains　several　hundred　No。　　12　shot　suspended　in　liquid　Teflon。　　The　velocity　of　these　slugs；　fired　from　the　ASP；　is　over　1700　feet　per　second。
　They　will　penetrate　body　armour　before　blowing；　and　a　hit　from　a　Glaser　on　any　vital　area　of　the　body　is　usually　fatal。
　Bond　fired　two　rounds　from　the　lowered　window　almost　before　the　car　had　e　to　a　halt。　　He　kept　both　eyes　open；　looking　down　the　revolutionary　backmounted　Guttersnipe　sight；　its　triangular　yellow　walls　giving　instant　target　recognition。
　Through　the　trees　and　bracken　he　could　see　several　men　leaving　the　cars。　Others　were　trying　to　get　the　vehicles　off　the　road。　　Bond's　rapid　shots　were　aimed　at　the　clear　outline　of　a　tall　man　in　a　dirty…white　raincoat　who　was　making　for　the　Bentley。　　He　did　not　stop　to　find　out　what　happened　to　the　target；　but　opened　the　door　and　rolled　into　the　undergrowth。
　Twigs　and　branches　caught　on　his　clothing　and　scratched　his　face；　but　Bond　kept　moving；　determined　to　get　as　far　away　as　possible　from　the　Mulsanne　Turbo。　　He　rolled　to　the　right；　putting　about　twenty　yards　between　himself　and　the　car。　　Twisting　round；　flat　on　his　belly；　he　brought　the　gun　up　and　ready；　his　eyes　constantly　moving　to　cover　a　wide　sweeping　sight…line。
　The　other　cars　had　been　backed　off　the　road　and　he　guessed　they　now　contained　only　their　drivers。　　Two　figures　were　visible；　but　almost　by　intuition　he　reckoned　there　had　to　be　at　least　four　others　fanning　out；　moving　low　and　trying　to　encircle　him。
　Bond　lay　quite　still；　allowing　his　breathing　to　settle。　　If　his　pursuers　were　methodical　…　and　they　probably　were　they　must　eventually　find　him。　It　was　even　possible　they　could　call　up　reinforcements。
　Certainly　there　had　to　be　more　men　available。　　How　could　they　have　been　certain　of　picking　him　up　on　the　road；　unless　the　Bentley　had　a　location　homer　stuck　on　to　it？　　Who　were　they？　　Some　of　Jay　Autem　Holy's　men？　There　had　to　be　a　connection；　yet　Holy　would　have　had　a　better　opportunity　to　deal　with　him　that　evening；　at　Endor。　　Unless　。。　　。　　unless　Cindy　had　set　him　up；　or　been　caught。　　If　the　latter；　a　watch　had　been　put　on　him　very　quickly。　　At　all　events；　Bond　decided　they　would　find　him　later　rather　than　sooner。　　What　he　needed　was　time　to　make　good　his　escape。
　It　had　begun　raining　quite　hard　and　you　could　hear　the　steady　pattering　from　the　branches。　　To　attempt　a　move　now　would　be　suicidal。
　He　was　at　least　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards　from　the　road；　and　even　if　he　reached　the　other　cars　without　being　intercepted　which　was　unlikely　he　would　still　be　outnumbered　three　to　one。　　He　must　wait；　try　to　follow　their　search；　and　make　sure　nobody　bounced　him　from　behind。
　He　moved　his　head　continually；　looking　from　far　left　to　far　right；　then　gently　turning　to　watch　the　rear；　all　the　time　straining　to　catch　any　sound。　　The　two　men　originally　visible　to　his　front　had　disappeared；　and　the　sounds　of　movement　would　now　be　successfully　blotted　out　by　the　rainfall。
　Bond　had　been　lying　in　cover　for　the　best　part　of　fifteen　minutes　before　he　got　a　positive　fix　on　any　of　his　assailants。　　The　sharp　crack　of　a　dead　branch　and　a　flicker　of　movement　on　the　far　left　caught　his　ear　and　eye　at　the　same　moment。　　Slowly　he　turned　his　head。　　T