johngardner.rollofhonor-第26章

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　〃Be　with　you　before　midnight。
　Bond　sounded　relieved；　but　the　line　was　closed　long　before　he　took　the　handset　from　his　ear。
　〃First　hurdle。〃　Holy　jabbed　down　on　the　recorder's　stop　button。
　〃Now；　you　have　to　be　convincing　when　you　get　there。〃
　〃So　far；　it's　playing　to　packed　houses。〃　Tamil　Rahani　sounded　pleased。　〃The　dispatch　rider　brings　the　frequency　up　from　Cheltenham　at　around　eleven　forty…five？〃
　〃If　the　U。S。　　President　is　away　from　his　own　country；　yes。
　Bond　held　the　man's　eyes；　trying　to　discern　his　state　of　mind。
　Rahani　laughed。　　〃Oh；　he's　out　of　the　country。　　No　doubt　about　that；　mander　Bond。　　No　doubt　at　all。〃
　〃If　you　leave　here　at　nine　forty…five　you　should　make　it　with　time　to　spare。〃　Holy　removed　his　headset。　　〃We'll　be　with　you　all　the　way；　James。　　All　the　way。〃
　
　DOWN　ESCALATOR
　
　THE　METAL　FORESTS　of　antennae　which　rise　above　the　massive　pile　of　government　buildings　running　from　Downing　Street　along　Whitehall　and　Parliament　Street；　conjure　up　thoughts　of　munications　flying　through　the　night；　of　telephones　waking　ministers；　calling　them　to　deal　with　some　important　crisis；　or　the　fabled　telegrams　crossing　the　airwaves　from　distant　embassies。
　In　fact；　only　open　messages　run　into　those　government　offices。
　Sensitive　signals　and　urgent　messages　are　usually　routed　through　the　G。C。H。Q。　　plex　outside　Cheltenham；　or　one　of　its　many　satellites。
　From　Cheltenham　they　are　passed　to　the　mysterious　building　known　as　Century　House；　or　to　the　Regent's　Park　Headquarters。
　Ciphers　for　the　Foreign　Office　go　only　then；　not　to　Whitehall　and　Parliament　Street；　but　to　an　unimposing；　narrow；　four…storey　house　off　Northumberland　Avenue。
　They　are　sent　by　a　variety　of　methods　ranging　from　the　humble　dispatch　rider　to　teleprinter　by　land…line；　or　even　through　a　closed　telephone　circuit；　often　linked　to　a　puter　modem　programmed　for　deciphering。
　If　the　romantically　minded　were　to　imagine　that　someone　with　the　title　of　Duty　Security　Officer；　Foreign　Office；　prowls　the　great　corridors　of　power　with　flashlight　and　uniformed　acplices；　they　would　be　wrong。　The　D。S。O。F。O。　　does　not　prowl。　　He　sits　in　the　house　off　Northumberland　Avenue；　and　his　job　is　to　ensure　that　all　ciphers　for　Foreign　Office　remain　secure　and　get　to　the　right　person。　　He　also　deals　with　a　whole　mass　of　restricted　information　concerning　munications　from　abroad；　both　from　British　sources；　and　from　those　of　foreign　powers。　　Leaders　of　friendly　foreign　powers；　in　particular；　look　for　assistance　from　the　Foreign　Office。
　They　usually　find　it　with　the　D。S。O。F。O。
　It　was　to　the　little…noticed　turning　off　Northumberland　Avenue　that　James　Bond　was　now　heading　in　the　Mulsanne　Turbo。
　They　had　taken　him　out　to　the　garage　shortly　after　nine…thirty；　made　sure　he　had　money；　credit　cards；　his　ASP；　and　petrol　in　the　tank。
　Holy；　Rahani　and　Zwingli　had；　in　turn；　clasped　his　hand；　Zwingli　muttering；　〃Good　to　have　you　on　the　team；'　and　promptly　at　nine　forty…five　the　Bentley　had　eased　its　bulk　on　to　the　gravel　turning　circle；　flashed　its　lights　once；　and　swept　on　its　stately　way；　up　the　drive　and　on　to　the　road　to　Banbury。
　From　Banbury；　Bond　followed　the　route　they　had　ordered　him　to　take　…　straight　to　the　M4　motorway；　and　so　into　London。
　He　did　not　spot　any　shadows；　but　had　no　doubt　that　they　would　be　there。　It　did　not　worry　him。　　The　street　where　he　would　finally　stop　would　be　cleared　of　all　but　authorised　vehicles　so　there　was　little　chance　of　him　being　observed　once　the　car　had　been　parked。
　Risking　the　wrath　of　police　patrols；　Bond　made　the　journey　at　high　speed。　　From　numerous　telltale　signs　and　bumps　he　was　certain　Peter　Amadeus　had　managed　to　let　himself　into　the　boot。　　The　little　programmer　would　by　now；　be　suffering　considerable　disfort。　　Bond　stopped　once；　at　the　service　station　near　Heathrow　Airport；　to　fill　the　tank。　　There　he　was　able　to　let　a　little　air　into　the　boot　and　to　satisfy　himself　that　Amadeus　was　indeed　alive　and　well。　　In　a　whisper；　he　explained　that　release　just　then　was　impossible；　but　it　would　not　be　long　now。
　Less　than　forty　minutes　later；　Amadeus　was　freed；　speechless　and　stiff　from　the　cramped　ride；　but　all　the　same　duly　grateful。
　〃Well；　this　is　where　you　show　your　gratitude。〃　Bond　took　his　arm　firmly；　leading　him　towards　the　lighted　doorway　of　the　terraced　house。
　Swing　doors　opened　on　to　a　marble…tiled　hallway　with　a　lift　which　took　them　to　the　second　floor　and　a　minuscule　landing；　watched　over　by　a　muscular　government　messenger；　who　half　rose　from　his　desk　to　ask　what　they　required。
　〃Predator；'　Bond　snapped　at　him。　　〃Tell　them；　Predator　and　friend。〃　He　did　not　smile。
　Less　than　a　minute　later；　they　were　led　quickly　through　a　passage　and　into　a　larger　room。　　The　red　velvet　curtains　were　drawn。　　A　portrait　of　the　Queen　hung　over　the　Adam　fireplace　and　another　of　Winston　Churchill　adorned　the　opposite　wall。　　A　long　gleaming　boardroom　table　occupied　a　large　portion　of　the　available　space。
　Six　faces　turned　as　one。　　M　was　at　the　head　with　Bill　Tanner　on　his　right　and　another　officer　Bond　recognised　to　the　left。　　Major　Boothroyd；　the　Armourer；　Head　of　Q　Section；　sat　to　Tanner's　right　with　Lady　Freddie　Fortune　next　to　him。
　Bond　did　not　have　time　to　be　surprised　at　Freddie's　presence；　for　the　sixth　member　of　the　reception　mittee　left　her　chair　almost　at　a　run。
　〃James；　darling。　　Oh；　it's　so　good　to　see　you。
　Percy　Proud；　oblivious　to　the　officialdom；　held　him　close；　as　though　she　would　never　let　go　again。
　〃mander　Bond！　　Miss　Proud！〃　M　was　genuinely　embarrassed。　　〃I；　er；　think　we　have　important　work　to　do。〃　He　detached　himself　from　Percy；　acknowledged　the　others；　and　introduced　Peter。　　〃I　think　Dr　Amadeus　will　be　able　to　contribute。〃　Bond　kept　glancing　suspiciously　at　Freddie　Fortune　…　so　often　that　M　finally　said；　〃Lady　Freddie's　been　on　the　team　for　some　years。　　Done　good　work；　infiltrating。　　Sound　woman；　007。　　Very　deep　cover。
　Forget　you've　ever　seen　her　here。〃　Bond　caught　Freddie's　steady　gaze；　returning　it　with　a　sardonic　smile　and　cocked　eyebrow。　　Then；　M　drew　the　conference　to　order。
　〃I　trust　you've　gone　into　Endor；　sir　〃　Bond　started。
　〃Yes；　007。　　Yes；　we　went　in　about　an　hour　after　you　drove　out；　but　the　birds　had　flown。　　I　don't　think　many　were　left　when　you　departed。
　The　rest　have　vanished　into　thin　air。　　Bag　and　baggage。　　We　thought　you　could　tell　us　…　〃I'm　instructed　to　return　there；　by　the　same　route　as　I　came。〃　Bond　recalled　the　deserted　feel　of　the　place　that　morning；　and　the　fact　that　he　had　seen　only　Cindy　and　the　Arab　first　thing；　and　Tigerbalm；　Holy；　Rahani　and　Zwingli　later。
　〃The　cars　were　there。〃　He　felt　it　was　a　lame　ment。
　〃Three　of　them；　still　in　the　garage。〃
　〃Two　when　our　people　arrived。〃　The　officer　Bond　recognised　but　could　not　name　was　obviously　running　liaison。
　〃How　about　my　girl？　　How　about　Cindy？〃　Percy　touched　his　sleeve；　and　Bond　could　not　meet　her　eyes。
　〃I'm　not　certain。　　She　was　a　great　deal　of　help；　last　night。　　Even　tried　to　steal　a　copy　of　their　main　program　the　simulation　of　whatever　they're　doing。〃　He　turned　to　M。　　〃It's　on　SPECTRE'S　instructions；　this　business；　sir；　did　you　know？〃
　〃Is　it；　indeed？〃　M　could　administer　the　iceberg　treatment　when　he　had　a　mind　to。　　〃That　villainous　outfit　is　on　the　warpath　again；　eh？〃
　〃You　still　haven't　told　me　about　Cindy。〃　Percy　had　her　hand　tightly　on　his　arm　now。
　〃Just　don't　know；　Percy。　　No　idea。〃　He　told　her　about　the　previous　night；　leaving　out　all　that　happened　after　he　got　back　to　her　room；　but　repeating　the　conversation　with　Holy　in　the　morning。
　〃So　we　have　no　ideas　abut　this　simulation？〃　M　sucked　at　his　pipe。
　〃If　I　could　have　a　word。〃　They　all　turned　towards　Amadeus。　　〃I've　seen　the　simulation　running。　　It　was　a　couple　of　weeks　ago。　　The　wee　small　hours。　　Couldn't　sleep。　　I　went　down　to　the　laboratory；　and　Jason　was　in　what　we　call　the　War　Room　…　Mr。　Bond　knows：　it's　at　the　far　end。
　Jason　was　engrossed。　　Just　didn't　hear　me。〃　He　passed　a　hand　across　his　forehead。　　〃That　was　before　all　those　great　oafs　…　gun…happy　boys　turned　up。　　Before　I　got　nervous　about　being　there。
　M　looked　unfortable；　spluttering　over　his　pipe。
　〃Well；　thinks　I；　have　a　look；　Pete。　　See　what　the　crooks　are　after　next。　They　refer　to　it　as　the　Balloon　〃The　Balloon　Game；　yes；'　Bond　interrupted。
　〃I've　seen　it　and　you　haven't。　　I　have　the　floor；　Mr。　Bond；　please。〃　He　looked　around　him　revelling　in　the　attention　he　was　getting。　　〃As　I　was　saying；　they　call　it　the　Balloon　Game；　but　it's　to　do　with　something　they've　named　Operation　Down　Escalator。〃　M's　brow　creased　as　he　repeated　the　words　under　his　breath。
　〃The　simulation　…　Amadeus　raised　his　voice　appears　to　be　set　in　a　mercial　airport。　　Not　large。
　I　didn't　recognise　it；　but　that's　nothing　to　go　by。　　The　scenario　begins　in　an　office　plex　just　to　the　left　of　the　main　terminal　building。　There's　a　lot　of　stuff　with　cars；　and　positioning　men。　　As　far　as　I　could　see；　the　idea　was　to　lift　one　man。
　〃Lift？〃　M　enquired。
　〃Kidnap；　sir；'　explained　Bond。
　Amadeus　shot　them　a　glance；　then　scowled；　letting　them　know　he　did　not　like　being　interrupted。　　〃They　lift　this　chap；　and　there's　a　lot　of　changing　around　in　cars　you　know；　he's　taken　to　one　point；　then　switched　to　another　car。
　Then　the　location　alters　to　a　smaller　field　an　airfield。　　It's　tiny；　with　a　mini　control　tower　and　one　main　building；　a　hangar；　and　guess　what？　　An　airship。〃
　〃Airship？〃　Bond　repeated　in　surprise。
　〃Hence　Balloon　Game。　　They　get　on　to　this　field　using　the　man　they've　lifted。　　It　does　appear　to　be　terribly　clever　…　there　are　three　cars　twelve　men；　and　the　hostage；　if　that's　what　he　is。　　Result？　　They　take　over　the　whole　shooting　match。　　There　is　a　final　scenario　and　that's　to　do　with　flying　the　airship　somewhere。　　It　got　very　technical　and　〃Chief　of　Station　almost　shouted。　　〃Go　and　check　it　out。　　We　know　the　thing's　there；　because　it's　on　the　itinerary。　　Saw　it　myself。　　They　cleared　it　with　the　President's　people；　the　Prime　Minister　and　the　Russians。
　Doing　a　sort　of　fly…past　tomorrow　morning。〃　Bill　Tanner　was　out　of　the　room　before　he　finished。
　Bond　looked　at　his　chief　the　questions　clear　on　his　face。　　〃Sir；　I　haven't　seen；　or　heard；　any　news　lately。　　They　even　immobilised　the　car　radio。　　Could　you　？〃
　〃Yes；'　M　leaned　back。　　〃At　least　we've　now　got　a　small　idea　of　what　it's　about。　　We　know　where；　and　how。　　What？
　Well；　that's　a　very　different　matter。〃
　〃Sir；'　Bond　prompted。
　〃It's　been　kept　under　wraps　for　some　time　…　a　good　few　months　in　fact〃　M　began。　　〃These　things　always　take　the　devil　of　a　time　to　organise；　and　the　participants　wanted　it　to　remain　very　low　profile。
　Tonight；　members　of　a　Summit　Conference　are　to　arrive　in　Geneva。
　In　fact；　the　first　main　session　is　this　very　night。　　They've　taken　over　the　whole　of　Le　Richemond　Hotel　for　three　days　〃Who；　sir？〃
　〃Russia；　the　United　States；　Britain；　France　and　West　Germany。　　The　President　of　the　United　States；　the　French　President；　the　Chairman　of　the　U。S。S。R　the　German　Chancellor；　and　our　Prime　Minister　…　with　all　advisers；　secretaries；　military；　the　entire　circus。　　The　discussions　will　be　on　arms　control　and　a　more　positive　and　prosperous　future。　　The　usual　pie…in…the…sky。〃
　〃The　airship？〃　Bond's　he