johngardner.rollofhonor-第15章

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uction？〃　〃The　Officer　manding　Erewhon　wishes　to　talk　to　you；'　Simon　said　with　a　winning　smile；　as　if　that　explained　everything。
　Bond　appeared　to　think　for　a　moment；　then　he　nodded。　　〃I'll　see　your　O。C。　then。〃
　〃Good。〃　Simon　rapped　on　the　door　and　one　of　the　men　outside　opened　up。　As　they　stepped　out；　the　two　guards　took　station　either　side　of　Bond。　He　sniffed　the　air。　　It　was　warm；　but　clear。
　Rare。　　They　must　be　fairly　high　above　sea　level。　　They　were　also　in　a　small　depression；　the　flat　bed　of　a　hollow；　surrounded　by　hills。
　On　one　side　the　hills　were　low；　a　curving　double　mound；　like　a　woman　S　breasts；　but　pitted　with　rock　among　the　dry；　sandy　earth。
　The　rest　of　the　circle　was　more　rugged；　crests　and　peaks；　running　up　several　hundred　feet；　with　outcrops　of　forbidding　rock。　　The　sun　was　high；　almost　directly　above　them。
　Along　the　flat　sand　bottom　of　the　hollow　was　a　series　of　low　white　buildings　…　one　long　rank　with　divisions；　and　another　terrace　with　three　shorter　ranks　at　right　angles；　like　a　large　letter　E。　　Hard　under　the　high　ground　there　were　other；　similar　buildings；　though　not　so　regimented。
　Simon　led　them　across　the　five　or　six　hundred　yards　towards　one　of　these　latter　blocks。
　Smoke　drifted　up　from　some　of　the　smaller　buildings。
　To　Bond's　left　there　was　a　firing　range；　with　a　group　in　uniform　preparing　to　use　it。　　Towards　the　round…topped　hills；　the　sound　of　heavy　explosions　and　small　arms　fire　suddenly　erupted　from　a　clutter　of　gutted　brick　houses；　which　looked　almost　European。　　Figures　dashed　between　these　houses　as　though　fighting　a　street　battle。
　As　he　turned　at　the　noise；　Bond　also　caught　sight　of　some　kind　of　bunker　dug　into　the　rock　towards　the　top　of　one　of　the　hills。　　A　defensive　position；　he　thought；　almost　impossible　to　attack　from　the　air；　though　helicopter　borne　landings　presumably　would　be　feasible。
　〃You　like　our　Erewhon？〃　Simon　asked　cheerfully。
　〃Depends　what　you　do　here。　　You　run　package　tours？〃
　〃Almost。〃　Simon　sounded　quite　amused。
　They　reached　a　building　about　the　size　of　a　modest　bungalow。
　There　was　a　notice；　neatly　executed；　to　the　right　of　the　entrance。
　
　
　OFFICER　MANDING　it　said　in　several　languages；　including　Hebrew　and　Arabic。　　The　front　door　opened　into　a　small；　empty　ante…room。
　Simon　crossed　to　the　one　door　at　the　far　end；　and　knocked。　　A　voice　called　out　〃e'；　and　Simon　gestured；　smartly　barking　out；　〃mander　James　Bond；　sir。〃　With　everything　that　had　been　going　on；　and　with　a　myriad　of　questions　unanswered；　Bond　would　not　have　been　shaken　to　find　General　Zwingli　on　the　other　side　of　the　door；　but　the　identity　of　the　man　seated　behind　the　folding　table　which　dominated　the　large　office　made　him　catch　his　breath　with　surprise。　　There　was　certainly　some　connection　between　this　man　and　Zwingli；　for　the　last　time　Bond　had　seen　him　was　in　the　Salles　Prive'es　at　Monte　Carlo。
　〃e　in；　mander　Bond。　　e　in。　　Wele　to　Erewbon；'　said　Tamil　Rahani。　　〃Do　sit　down。　　Get　the　mander　a　chair；　Simon。
　
　TERROR　FOR　HIRE
　
　THE　ROOM　was　functionally　furnished：　the　folding　table；　four　chairs　and　filing　cabinet　could　have　been　found　in　the　quartermaster's　stores　of　any　army　in　the　world。
　The　furnishings　also　appeared　to　reflect　the　character　of　Tamil　Rahani。　From　a　distance；　when　Bond　had　seen　him　briefly　in　Monte　Carlo；　Rahani　had　looked　like　any　other　successful　businessman　…　sleek；　well…dressed；　needle…sharp　and　confident。　　At　close　quarters；　the　confidence　was　certainly　there；　but　that　sleekness　was　clearly　superficial。　　What　stood　out　was　a　kind　of　dynamism　harnessed；　and　controlled。　　It　was　the　air　of　self…discipline　found　in　most　good　military　leaders；　a　kind　of　quiet　calm；　and　behind　it　an　immense；　unflinching　resolve。　　Rahani　certainly　exhibited　authority　and　a　firm　belief　in　his　own　ability。
　As　Simon　brought　the　chair；　and　took　one　for　himself；　Bond　quickly　glanced　around　the　office。　　The　walls　were　lined　with　maps；　charts；　large　posters　displaying　the　silhouettes　of　aircraft；　ships；　tanks　and　other　armoured　vehicles。　　There　were　also　year…　and　month…planners；　their　red；　green　and　blue　markers　the　only　splashes　of　colour　in　the　austere　room。
　〃Don't　I　know　you；　sir？〃　Bond　was　careful　to　observe　military　courtesy。　An　aura　of　power　and　danger　enveloped　Rahani。
　Rahani　laughed；　throwing　his　head　back　a　little。　　〃You　may　have　seen　photographs　of　me　in　the　newspapers；'　mander；'　he　said　with　a　smile。　〃We　may　speak　about　that　later。　　At　the　moment　I'd　rather　talk　about　you。　　You　have　been　highly　remended　to　us。〃
　〃Really？〃　Rahani　tapped　his　teeth　with　a　pencil。　　The　teeth　were　perfect　…　white　and　regular；　the　mustache　above　them　neatly　trimmed。
　〃Let　me　be　pletely　frank　with　you；　mander。
　Nobody　knows　whether　you　can　be　trusted　or　not。
　Everyone　…　and　by　that　I　mean　most　of　the　major　intelligence　munities　of　the　world　…　knows　that　you　have　been　an　active　officer　of　the　British　Secret　Intelligence　Service　for　a　long　time。　　You　ceased　to　be　either　a　member　or　active　a　short　time　ago。　　It　is　said　that　you　resigned　in　a　fit　of　bitterness。　　He　made　a　small　questioning　noise；　like　a　hum；　in　the　back　of　his　throat。　　〃It　is　also　said　that　nobody　ever　goes　private　from　the　S。I。S　the　C。I。A　Mossad　or　the　K。G。B。　　Is　that　the　correct　term？
　Going　private？〃
　〃So　the　spy　writers　tell　us。　　Bond　maintained　his　attitude　of　indifference。
　〃Well；'　Rahani　continued；　〃quite　a　few　people　wanted　to　find　out　the　truth。　　A　number　of　agencies　would　have　liked　to　approach　you。　　One　very　nearly　did。　　But　they　got　cold　feet。　　They　decided　that　you　would　probably　rediscover　your　loyalty　once　put　to　the　test；　no　matter　how　disaffected　you　felt。〃　There　was　a　pause；　during　which　Bond　remained　poker…faced；　until　the　Officer　manding　spoke　again。
　〃You're　either　an　exceptional　actor；　mander；　working　under　professional　instructions；　or　you　are　genuine。　　What　is　undisputed　is　that　you're　a　man　of　unmon　ability　in　your　field。　　And　you're　out　of　work。
　If　there　is　truth　in　the　rumours　surrounding　your　resignation；　then　it　seems　a　pity　to　allow　you　to　remain　unemployed。　　The　purpose　of　bringing　you　here　is　to　test　the　story；　and　possibly　to　offer　you　a　job。
　You　would　like　to　work？　　In　intelligence；　of　course？〃
　〃Depends。〃　Bond's　voice　was　flat。
　〃On　what？〃　Rahani　said　sharply；　the　man　of　authority　showing　through。
　〃On　the　job。〃　Bond's　face　relaxed　a　fraction。　　〃Look；　sir。
　I　don't　wish　to　appear　rude；　but　I　was　brought　here　against　my　will。　Also；　my　previous　career　is　nobody　else's　business　but　mine　and；　I　suppose；　the　people's　I　used　to　work　for。　　To　be　honest；　I'm　so　fed　up　with　the　trade　that　I'm　not　at　all　sure　I　want　to　get　mixed　up　in　it　again。〃
　〃Not　even　as　an　adviser？　　Not　even　with　a　very　high　salary？
　With　little　to　do；　and　less　danger　in　doing　it？〃
　〃I　just　don't　know。〃
　〃Then　would　you　consider　a　proposition？〃
　〃I'm　always　open　to　propositions。〃　Rahani　took　a　long　breath　through　his　nose。
　〃An　ine　in　excess　of　a　quarter　of　a　million　pounds　sterling　a　year。　The　occasional　trip　at　short　notice　to　advise　in　another　country。　　One　week　in　every　two　months　giving　a　series　of　lectures　here。〃
　〃Where's　here？〃　For　the　first　time；　Rahani's　brow　puckered　with　displeasure。　　〃In　good　time；mander。　　As　I've　said；　in　good　time。〃　〃Advise　on　what？　　〃Lecture　on　what？〃
　〃Lecture　on　the　structure　and　methods　of　the　British　Secret　Intelligence　Service；　and　the　Security　Service。
　Advise　on　the　intelligence；　and　security　aspects　of　certain　operations。〃
　〃Operations　carried　out　by　whom？〃　Rahani　spread　his　hands。
　〃That　would　depend。　　It　would　also　alter　from　operation　to　operation。
　You　see；　the　organisation　I　mand　bears　no　allegiance　to　any　one　country；　group　of　people　or　ideal。　　We　are　…　a　much…used　word；　but　the　only　one　…　we　are　apolitical。
　Bond　waited；　as　though　not　yet　prepared　to　mit　himself。
　Rahani　finally　gave　in。　　〃I　am　a　soldier。　　I　have　been　a　mercenary　in　my　time。　　I　am　also　a　highly　successful　businessman。　　We　have　certain　things　in　mon；　I　think；　one　of　them　being　a　liking　for　money。　　Some　time　ago；　in　cooperation　with　one　or　two　like…minded　people；　I　saw　the　possibility　of　earning　some　very　profitable　returns　by　going　into　the　mercenary　business。　　Being　apolitical　myself；　owing　nothing　to　ideologies　or　beliefs；　it　was　easy。　　Plenty　of　countries　and　revolutionary　groups　need　specialists。　　A　particular　man　or　a　group　of　men　even　a　planning　group；　and　the　soldiery　to　carry　out　the　plan。〃　〃Rent…a…Terrorist；'　Bond　said；　with　a　touch　of　distaste。
　〃Who　does　not　dare；　hires　someone　else　to　dare　for　them。
　A　truly　mercenary　activity；　in　every　sense。
　〃Well　put。　　But　you'd　be　surprised；　mander　Bond。
　The　terrorist　organisations　are　not　our　only　customers。
　Bona　fide　governments　have　approached　us　too。　　Anyway；　as　a　former　intelligence　officer　you　cannot　allow　yourself　the　luxury　of　politics　or　ideals。〃
　〃I　can　allow　myself　the　luxury　of　opposing　certain　ideals。
　Of　disagreeing；　and　intensely　disliking　them；'　Bond　put　in。
　〃And；　if　our　information　is　to　be　believed；　you　have　an　intense　dislike　for　the　British　and　American　method　of　intelligence　…　yes？〃
　〃Let's　just　say　I'm　disappointed　that　an　official　organisation　can　call　me　to　question　after　so　many　years　of　loyal　service。
　〃Don't　you　ever　feel　that　revenge　could　be　sweet？〃
　〃I'd　be　a　liar　if　I　said　it　hadn't　crossed　my　mind；　but　it's　never　been　an　obsession。
　I　don't　harbour　grudges。〃
　〃We　shall　need　your　cooperation；　and　your　decision。
　Terror　for　Hire　I'll　You　understand　what　I　mean？〃　Rahani　made　the　querying；　humming　noise　again。
　Bond　nodded；　and　said　he　was　no　fool：　having　disclosed　the　existence　and　purpose　of　his　organisation；　Tamil　Rahani　was　mitted　to　making　a　decision　about　Bond。　　If　he　offered　a　job；　and　if　Bond　accepted；　there　would　be　no　problem。　　If；　however；　he　decided　Bond　was　a　risk；　or　his　motives　were　in　doubt；　there　could　be　only　one　answer。
　Rahani　heard　him　out。
　〃You　won't　mind　if　I　ask　a　few　pertinent　questions；　then？〃
　〃What　do　you　call　pertinent？〃
　〃I'd　like　to　know　the　things　you　would　not　discuss　with　the　Press。　　The　real　reason　for　your　resignation；　mander　Bond。　　An　inter…department　disagreement；　I　believe　you　said。
　Accusations；　which　were　withdrawn；　but　taken　most　seriously　by　yourself。〃
　〃If　I　don't　choose　to　tell　you？〃
　〃Then　we　have　to　conclude　that　you　are　not　trustworthy；　my　friend。　　A　conclusion　which　may　have　unpleasant　consequences。〃　Rahani　smiled。
　Bond　went　through　the　process　of　looking　as　though　he　was　giving　the　situation　some　thought。　　With　M　and　Bill　Tanner　he　had　put　together　a　story　that　would　hold　water　up　to　a　point。　　To　prove　or　disprove　it　would　mean　getting　classified　information　from　the　Judicial　Branch；　which　prised　a　number　of　experienced　barristers　retained　by　the　Service；　also　from　three　individuals　working　in　the　Registry；　and　from　someone　who　had　easy　access　to　the　documents　held　by　S　Department。
　After　a　few　moments'　silence　Bond　gave　a　short　nod。　　〃Right。　　If　you　want　the　truth　〃Good。　　Tell　us　then；　mander　Bond。〃　Rahani's　voice　and　manner　were　equally　bland。
　He　told　the　story；　just　as　they　had　concocted　it　in　M's　office。
　Over　a　period　of　some　six　months　it　had　been　discovered　that　se