johngardner.rollofhonor-第18章

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　It　just　shows　that　our　informants　were　correct。
　They　walked　down　the　stairs　and　out　into　the　warm　air；　which　felt　very　good。　　Bond　had　a　feeling　that　he　was；　indeed；　lucky　to　be　alive。
　He　also　wondered　if　his　luck　was　merely　a　stay　of　execution。
　〃And　if　I　had　died　in　there？〃　Rahani　did　not　smile　at　the　question。　〃Then；　mander　Bond；　we　would　have　had　only　one　body　to　bury　instead　of　four。　　You　lived；　you　showed　us　your　reputation　is　well…deserved。　Here　life　and　death　is　of　equal　importance　in　that　it　is　only　survival　that　matters。〃
　〃And　it　was；　as　Simon　said；　a　challenge？　　A　test？〃
　〃More　of　a　test。〃　They　had　dined　alone；　the　three　of　them。　　Now　they　sat　in　Tamil　Rahani's　office。
　〃Please　believe　me。〃　The　Officer　manding　Erewhon　made　an　open　gesture　with　his　hands。　　〃I　would　not　have　put　you　through　this　ordeal　had　it　been　up　to　me。〃
　〃It's　your　organisation。　　You　were　offering　me　a　job。〃　Rahani　did　not　look　him　in　the　eye。
　〃Well；'　he　said；　his　voice　low；　〃I　have　to　be　perfectly　frank　with　you。　Yes；　the　founding　of　an　organisation　which　rents　out　mercenary　terrorists　was　originally　my　idea。　　Unhappily；　as　so　often　happens　in　cases　like　this；　I　needed　specialist　assistance。　　That　meant　taking　in　partners。　　The　result　is　I　get　a　large　return；　but　。　　。　　。　　well；　I　take　my　orders　from　others。〃
　〃And　in　this　case　your　orders　were？〃
　〃To　see　if　you　were　trustworthy　and　could　be　used；　or　merely　an　undercover　plant。
　To　obtain　information　from　you　that　we　could　easily　test；　and　then　…　if　that　was　okayed　…　to　put　you　up　against　a　real　challenge；　to　see　if　you　could　survive　a　potentially　lethal　situation。
　〃And　I've　passed　on　all　points？〃
　〃Yes。　　We　are　well　satisfied。
　Now；　you　can　be　returned　to　our　planners。　　It　was　true　when　I　said　there　was　a　job　waiting　for　you。　　There　has　been　from　the　word　go。　That　is　why　you　were　brought　here；　where　we　have　facilities。
　You　see；　once　here；　if　you　had　turned　out　to　be　what　do　you　people　say？　A　double？　　Is　that　right？〃　Bond　nodded。
　〃If　you　had　been　exposed　as　a　double；　we　had　the　facilities　here　for　losing　you。　　Permanently。〃
　〃So；　what's　this　job　you　have　for　me？〃
　〃It　is　a　large　and　plex　operation。　　But　one　thing　I　can　tell　you。〃　Rahani　looked　up　at　Bond；　his　eyes　blank　as　though　made　of　glass。
　〃What　is　being　planned　at　the　moment　will　be　the　terrorist　coup　of　the　decade；　even　the　century。　　If　things　proceed　normally；　it　will　spark　off　the　ultimate　revolution。　　A　unique　and　plete　change　in　the　course　of　world　events。　　The　beginning　of　a　new　age。
　And　those　of　us　taking　part　in　it　will　have　a　privileged　position　in　the　society　that　will　emerge。
　〃I　saw　the　film。〃　Simon　rose　and　went　over　to　the　filing　cabinet；　where　there　were　a　few　bottles。　　He　poured　himself　a　generous　glass　of　wine；　then　disappeared　from　view。
　〃Scofi；　mander　Bond。　　But　I　think　even　you　will　find　this　to　be　an　operation　without　parallel　in　history。〃
　〃And　it　won't　work　without　me？〃　Bond　raised　an　eyebrow　sardonically。
　〃I　did　not　say　that。　　But　it　may　not　work　without　somebody　like　you。　〃Okay。〃　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　　〃So　tell　me　all　about　it。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I　can't　do　that。〃　Rahani's　cold　eyes　bored　into　him；　so　that；　for　a　second　or　two；　Bond　thought　the　man　was　trying　out　some　elementary　hypnosis。
　〃So？〃
　〃So；　you　have　to　be　returned。　　You　have　to　go　back。
　〃Back？　　Back　to　where？〃　Too　late　Bond　felt　Simon's　presence　behind　him。
　〃Back　where　you　came　from；　James。〃　Bond　was　conscious　of　the　small；　sharp　pinch　through　his　shirt；　on　his　arm　just　below　the　right　shoulder。
　Tamil　Rahani　continued　to　speak。
　〃We're　nOt　talking　about　stories　dreamed　up　by　pulp　novelists。　　No　blackmail　through　concealed　nuclear　devices　hidden　in　the　heart　of　great　Western　cities；　no　plots　to　kidnap　the　President；　or　hold　the　world　to　ransom　by　setting　all　the　major　currencies　at　naught。　　We're　not　talking　about　extortion；　neither　。　　。　　。　　are　we　〃　His　voice　slowly　receded；　blurred；　and　then　stopped。
　
　THE　NUMBERS
　
　RACKET　THE　SKY　WAS　grey；　almost　leaden。　　He　could　see　it　through　the　window　…　the　sky　and　part　of　an　old　apple　tree。　　That　was　all。
　Bond　had　woken　from　what　seemed　to　be　natural　sleep。　　He　was　still　fully　dressed；　and　the　ASP；　plete　with　holster　and　one　extra　clip　of　ammunition；　lay　on　the　bedside　table。　　The　room　appeared　to　be　a　genuine　English　bedroom　…　white　gloss　paint　on　the　woodwork　and　Laura　Ashley　wallpaper；　with　a　contrasting　fabric　for　curtains；　only　most　of　the　window　was　bricked　up；　and　the　door　would　not　budge　when　he　tried　to　open　it。
　There　was　a　depressing　sense　of　deja　vu。　　He　had　been　along　this　road　before；　only　last　time　it　was　Erewhon。
　Rahani　had　said　they　had　accepted　him；　but　he　wondered　how　and　why。　Certainly　the　long　interrogation　sessions　had　been　searching　…　M　had　instructed　him　to　give　away　anything　they　could　check　on；　even　if　it　was　highly　sensitive。　　Fences；　his　Chief　maintained；　could　be　mended　later。　But　what　would　be　the　state　of　play　by　the　time　they　came　to　mend　fences？　　At　Erewhon　preparations　were　going　forward　for　something　earth…shattering。
　What　was　it　that　Rahani　had　said　…　〃A　unique　and　plete　change　in　the　course　of　world　events'？　　The　dream　of　revolutionaries：　to　change　history；　to　crush　the　status　quo；　to　alter　it　in　order　to　build　a　new　society。
　Well；　Bond　thought；　it　had　been　done　before；　but　only　within　countries：　Russia　was　the　prime　example；　though　Hitler's　rise　in　Germany　had　been　a　revolution　as　well。
　The　problem　with　revolutions　was　that　the　ideal　usually　fell　short　because　of　human　frailty。　　M　often　expounded　such　theories。
　Rahani　had　told　him　that　he；　Bond；　or　somebody　like　him；　would　be　essential　to　whatever　was　about　to　take　place。　　They　needed　someone　with　the　skills；　the　contacts　and　the　knowledge　of　an　experienced　Secret　Intelligence　field　officer。　　What　part　of　those　skills；　or　what　special　knowledge　was　required？
　He　was　still　pondering　on　these　things　when　somebody　knocked　at　the　door　and　a　key　turned　in　the　lock。
　Cindy　Chalmer　looked　bright　and　crisp。　　She　wore　a　laboratory　coat　over　jeans　and　shirt；　and　was　carrying　a　large　tray。
　〃Breakfast；　Mr。　Bond；'　she　said；　beaming　at　him。
　In　the　background；　he　could　see　a　tall；　muscular　man。
　Bond　nodded　towards　him。　　〃Someone　to　watch　over　me？〃
　〃And　me；　I　guess。　　…　She　set　the　tray　down　on　the　end　of　the　bed。　〃Can't　be　too　careful　with　hot　shots　like　you　around。　　Nobody　knew　what　you'd　like；　so　Dazzle　did　the　full　English　breakfast　…　bacon；　eggs；　sausages；　toast；　coffee。〃　She　lifted　the　silver　cover　from　the　steaming　plate；　holding　the　inside　towards　Bond。　　There　was　a　folded　paper　neatly　taped　to　the　inside。
　〃That'll　do　fine。〃　He　gave　her　a　nod。　　〃Do　I　call　room　service　when　I've　finished？〃
　〃Don't　call　us；　we'll　call　you；　she　said　brightly。
　〃We　shall；　Mr。　Bond。　　I　gather　the　Professor　wants　to　talk　to　you　later。　Good　to　see　you　feeling　better。　　They　said　you　had　a　nasty　bump　when　you　went　off　the　road。　　The　Professor　was　genuinely　worried；　that's　why　he　persuaded　the　hospital　to　let　him　bring　you　here。〃
　〃Very　good　of　him。〃　　She　lingered　by　the　door。　　〃Well；　it's　nice　to　know　we'll　all　be　working　together。〃
　〃Good　to　have　a　job　in　these　difficult　times；'　Bond　countered；　not　knowing　how　much　Cindy　knew　or　believed。
　Had　they　told　her　he'd　been　in　a　motor　accident？　　That　he　was　being　given　a　job　at　Endor？　　Well；　presumably　the　latter　was　more　or　less　true。
　Bond　waited　until　the　key　had　been　pushed　home　in　the　lock。　　There　was　no　other　sound；　no　retreating　footsteps；　for　the　passage　outside；　like　this　room　was　overlaid　with　thick　carpet。
　The　paper　came　away　easily　from　the　inside　of　the　lid。
　Cindy　had　filled　it　with　small；　neat　writing　and；　in　spite　of　the　steam；　the　ink　had　not　run。　　The　note　started　abruptly；　without　any　salutation。
　I　don't　know　what's　happened。　　They　say　you've　had　a　car　smash；　but　I　don't　know　whether　to　believe　them。　　They　brought　your　Bentley　back　here；　and　there's　been　a　lot　of　talk　about　you　joining　the　team　as　a　programmer。　　I　wondered　if　they　knew　you　had　puter　equipment　with　you；　and　felt　you　would　not　want　them　to　find　it。　　Very　difficult；　but　1　got　hold　of　the　Bentley's　keys　and　cleaned　out　the　boot。　　All　your　private　stuff　is　now　hidden　in　the　garage　and　not　likely　to　be　found；　unless　we're　unlucky。　　A　good　thing　I　did　it　straight　away；　because　securitys　been　tightened　for　the　weekend。　　A　lot　of　people　are　ing　down；　and　from　what　I've　heard；　the　game　I　told　you　about　（remember　the　balloons？）　is　going　to　be　in　use。　　It　is　possible　that　I　may　be　able　to　get　hold　of　it。　　Do　you　wish　to　copy？　　Or　is　that　superfluous　now　that　you　are　One　of　Us？
　So；　the　place　was　going　to　be　crowded；　the　Balloon　Game　to　be　used。　Bond　was　essential。　　Therefore；　if　the　Balloon　Game　was　a　training　simulation　for　the　operation；　then　Bond　and　the　Game　were　closely　connected。
　He　tore　the　message　into　tiny　pieces；　and　ate　them　with　the　bacon　and　some　toast。　　He　could　not　stomach　the　eggs　or　Sausage；　but　the　coffee　was　good；　and　he　drank　four　cupfuls；　strong　and　black。
　There　was　a　small　bathroom　attached　to　his　bedroom。
　Set　neatly　on　the　glass　shelf　above　the　hand　basin　were　his　razor　and　his　favourite　cologne。　　Already　he　had　seen　his　weekend　case　beside　the　small　wardrobe。　　On　examination　he　discovered　his　clothes　had　all　been　washed　and　neatly　pressed。
　Don't　believe　it　all；　he　told　himself。　　On　the　face　of　it；　he　was　trusted；　his　weapon；　shaving　kit　and　clothes　were　intact。　　But　they　kept　the　door　locked　and　there　was　no　easy　way　out　of　the　window。　　It　was　possible　that　they　only　wanted　him　to　believe　he　had　been　accepted。
　He　showered；　shaved　and　changed；　putting　on　fresh　casual　clothes　that　allowed　him　to　move　easily　and　fast。
　Even　the　ASP　was　strapped　to　his　right　hip　by　the　time　a　second　knock　and　the　turning　of　the　key　announced　the　arrival　of　two　muscular　men　whose　faces　were　familiar　from　Cindy's　description　…　Tigerbalm　Balmer　and　Happy　Hopcraft。
　〃Morning；　Mr。　Bond。〃　Tigerbalm　greeted　him　with　a　smile；　his　eyes　not　meeting　Bond's　but　sliding　around　the　room；　as　though　measuring　it　up　for　a　robbery。
　〃Hallo；　James；　nice　ter　meecher。〃　Happy　stuck　out　a　hand；　but　Bond　pretended　not　to　notice。
　〃Balmer　and　Hopcraft；'　Tigerbalm　said。　　At　your　service。　　The　Professor　wants　a　word。〃　C。　　Behind　the　expensive　mohair　suits　and　the　cheerful　bonhomie　lay　a　hint　of　menace。　　Just　by　looking　at　them；　you　could　see　that　this　pair　would　have　your　head　stuffed　and　mounted　if　it　suited　them；　or　they　had　instructions　from　anyone　paying　them　enough。
　〃Well；　if　the　Professor　calls；　we　must　answer。　　Bond　looked　at　the　key　clutched　in　Tigerbalm's　hand。　　〃That　really　necessary？〃
　〃Orders；'　Happy　said。
　〃Let's　go　and　see　the　Professor　then。〃　They　did　not　exactly　crowd　him　as　they　went　downstairs　to　the　working　area。　　There　was　no　pushing　or　frogmarching；　but　their　presence　had　a　certain　intimidating　effect。
　Bond　felt　that　one　false　move　…　any　inclination　to　go　in　another　direction　…　would　bring　about　a　fast；　restraining　action。　　There　was　no　sign　of　Cindy　or　Peter。
　But　St。　John…Finnes　sat　at　his　desk；　the　large　puter　keyboard　in　front　of　him　and　the　V。D。U。　　giving　Out　a　glow　of　colour。