johngardner.rollofhonor-第29章

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ies。
　As　the　Audis　drew　up；　Bond　saw　two　more　faces　which　he　recognised　from　Erewhon。　　This　time；　though；　the　men　were　dressed　in　smart　suits　and　smiled　broad；　almost　ingratiating　smiles　as　the　two…vehicle　convoy　came　to　a　halt。　　They　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the　senior　policeman　on　the　gate；　and　the　cars　were　waved　forward。
　One　man　got　into　each　car。
　The　man　who　entered　Holy's　car　was　a　German；　fair…haired；　suspicious；　and　with　features　cut　from　a　solid　block　of　rough　stone。
　He　appeared　to　be　in　his　mid…twenties；　and　the　smart　suit　bulged　around　the　breast　pocket。　　Bond　did　not　like　the　look　of　him。　　He　liked　him　even　less　when　the　talking　started。
　Holy　confined　himself　to　the　most　pertinent　questions；　and　was　given　precise；　military　answers　in　an　American　accent。
　Posing　as　the　Goodyear　head　of　PR；　Rudi；　the　German；　had　taken　the　call　from　Bill　Tanner；　which　he　now　described　in　detail；　saying　the　man　was　certainly　English；　and　also　undoubtedly　represented　one　of　the　major　British　security　agencies。　　The　police；　he　said；　began　to　arrive　within　half　an　hour　of　his　call。
　Jay　Autem　then　asked　about　times；　and　you　could　tell　from　His　expression　he　had　already　worked　out　that　the　enquiries　had　begun　while　Bond　was　in　the　Foreign　Office　house　off　Northumberland　Avenue。
　〃James；　you　didn't　say　anything　indiscreet　when　you　were　with　your　friend　Anthony　Denton？〃　The　two　cars　were　heading　not　for　the　little　office　building　but　for　the　hangar；　with　its　two　slab…winged　observation…rescue　Pilatus　aircraft　sitting　outside。
　〃Me？〃　Bond　looked　surprised　and　startled；　as　though　he　had　not　been　paying　attention　to　the　conversation。
　〃Indiscreet？　　How？　　Why？〃　Holy　looked　at　him；　a　shadow　of　concern　crossing　his　face。
　〃You　see；　James；　Tamil's　people　took　over　this　airstrip；　and　the　whole　organisation　here；　in　the　early　hours　of　yesterday　morning。
　Nobody　suspected；　there　was　no　trouble。　　Not　until　last　night；　when　you　were　closeted　with　the　D。S。O。F。O　obtaining　the　EPOC　frequency　for　us。
　Why；　I　ask　myself；　should　the　authorities　begin　to　take　an　interest　at　that　time　of　night？〃　Bond　shrugged；　indicating　that　he　had　no　idea；　and；　in　any　case；　it　was　nothing　to　do　with　him。
　The　cars　came　to　a　halt。　　〃I　do　hope　you've　given　us　the　correct　frequency；　James。　　If　you　haven't　Well；　I've　already　warned　you　of　the　consequences；　consequences　for　the　entire　world；　my　friend　〃That's　the　current　EPOC　frequency。　　Have　no　doubt；　Dr　Holy；'　he　snapped　back。
　Holy　winced　at　the　sound　of　his　real　name；　then　nodded　as　he　leaned　forward　to　open　the　door。
　Bond　was　left　with　the　Arab　boy；　who　watched　him　with　alert　bright　eyes；　a　small　Walther　automatic　clutched　in　his　right　hand。　　The　safety　catch；　Bond　noticed；　was　off。
　Simon；　Holy　and　the　German；　Rudi；　were　joined　by　Rahani　and　General　Zwingli　…　a　little　procession　walking　spryly　towards　the　hangar。　Rahani's　men　were　everywhere；　Bond　now　saw；　spread　out；　half　concealed　by　what　cover　they　could　find；　with　a　full　armament　of　carbines　and　automatic　weapons。　　There　were　even　two　guards　on　the　small　door　inserted　in　one　of　the　great　sliding　doors　of　the　hangar。
　The　door　was　opened；　and　the　party　stepped　inside。
　Two　minutes　later；　Simon　came　out；　walking　quickly　to　the　car。
　〃Colonel　Rahani　wants　you　inside。〃　His　manner　was　one　of　indifference；　the　attitude　of　a　man　who　does　not　wish　to　bee　involved　with　anyone　outside　his　own　tight　radeship。　　Bond　recognised　the　psychology。　　He　had　studied　the　whole　subject　of　terrorist　mentality　and　he　knew　they　had　e　to　some　cut…off　point。
　Simon　was　not　willing　to　have　any　kind　of　relationship　with　Bond　now。
　It　could　be；　he　thought；　as　they　walked　the　few　paces　towards　the　hangar；　that　this　really　is　the　end。　　They've　decided　I've　talked；　and　there　can　be　no　trust　from　now　on。　　Curtain　time　…　the　fiction　meeting　the　reality。
　The　little　group　of　senior　men　stood　just　inside　the　door；　and　it　was　Tamil　Rahani　who　greeted　him。〃
　〃Ah；　mander　Bond。　　We　thought　you　should　see　this。〃　He　gestured　towards　the　centre　of　the　hangar。
　About　forty　men　sat　close　together　on　the　floor；　held　in　a　tight　knot　by　three　tripod…mounted　machine　guns　trained　on　them；　each　with　a　crew　of　four。
　〃These　are　the　good　men　from　Goodyear。〃　He　split　the　Good…year；　as　though　trying　a　pun。　　〃They　will　remain　here　until　our　mission　is　pleted。　　They　will　be　quickly　dispatched　…　all　of　them　…　if　one　person　makes　an　attempt　to　break　out。　　They　are　being　fed　and　looked　after　by　the　other　team。〃　He　indicated　four　men　placed　between　the　guns。　〃It　is　unfortable　for　them。　　But　if　all　goes　well；　they　will　be　released　unharmed。　　You　will　notice　there　is　one　lady。〃　From　the　middle　of　the　group；　Cindy　Chalmer　gave　Bond　a　wan　smile；　and　Tamil　Rahani　lowered　his　voice。
　〃Between　ourselves；　mander　Bond；　I　think　the　delightful　Miss　Chalmer　does　not　have　much　chance　of　surviving。　　But　we　want　no　bloodshed　yet；　not　even　your　blood。　　You　see；　it　was　SPECTRE'S　intention　that　you　should　be　put　with　this　group　of　prisoners　once　you'd　fulfilled　your　mission。　　The　representative　from　SPECTRE　did　not　trust　you　from　the　start；　and　is　not　at　all　happy　with　you　now。
　However。　　。　　。〃　His　lips　drew　back；　not　into　a　smile；　but　rather　in　a　straight　thin　slash　across　his　face。
　〃However；　I　think　you　can　be　of　use　in　the　airship。　　You　can　fly；　can't　you？　　You　have　a　pilot's　licence？〃　Bond　nodded；　adding　that　he　had　no　experience　of　airships。
　〃You'll　only　be　the　copilot。　　The　one　who　sees　to　it　that　the　pilot　does　as　he's　told。　　There'll　be　a　nice　irony　in　it；　if　by　any　chance　you　have　doubled　on　us；　mander　Bond。　　e！〃　They　returned　to　the　cars　and　drove　swiftly　over　the　few　hundred　yards　to　the　office　building。　Inside；　around　forty　of　Rahani's　trained　men　from　Erewhon　were　sitting　around；　smoking　and　drinking　coffee。
　〃Our　handling　team；　mander　Bond。　　They　have　learned　by　simulation。　At　Erewbon。　　It　was　something　we　did　not　show　you；　but　they　are　very　necessary　when　we　weigh　out　the　airship　before　takeoff　and；　to　a　great　extent；　when　we　get　back　from　our　short　excursion。〃　The　only　man　who　was　out　of　place　sat　at　a　table　just　inside　the　door。　　He　wore　a　navy　blue　pilot's　uniform；　and　his　peaked　cap　lay　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　One　of　Rahani's　men　sat　opposite；　well　clear　of　the　table；　with　an　Uzi　machine　pistol　ready　to　blow　the　man's　stomach　out　should　he　make　a　fuss。
　〃You　are　our　pilot；　I　presume？〃　Rahani　smiled　politely　at　the　man；　who　looked　at　him　coldly　and　said　he　was　a　pilot；　but　he　would　not　fly　under　duress。
　〃I　think　you　will；'　Rahani　said　confidently。　　〃What　do　we　call　you？〃
　〃You　call　me　Captain；'　the　pilot　replied。
　〃No。　　We're　all　friends　here。　　Informal。〃　Rahani　added　in　a　manding　snap：　Your　first　name。
　The　pilot　realised　it　would　be　foolhardy　to　remain　too　stubborn。
　He　cocked　his　head　on　one　side。
　〃Okay；　you　can　call　me　Nick。〃
　〃Right；　Nick　。　　。　　。　　〃　Tamil　Rahani　carefully　explained　what　was　going　to　happen。　　Nick　was　to　fly　the　airship；　just　as　he　would　have　done　under　normal　circumstances。
　Up　to　Geneva　and　along　the　lake　front。　　After　that　he　would　change　course；　cutting　straight　over　Le　Richemond　Hotel　…　〃Where　the　Summit　Conference　is　in　progress。　　You　will　stay　over　the　hotel　for　approximately　four　minutes。〃　Rahani　spoke　like　an　officer　used　to　being　obeyed。　　〃Four　minutes　at　the　outside。　　No　more。　　Nothing　will　happen。
　Nobody　will　be　hurt　as　long　as　you　do　what　you're　told。　　After　that；　you　will　bring　the　airship　back　here　and　land。　　You　may　then　leave　unharmed。〃
　〃Damned　if　I　will。〃
　〃1　think　you　will；　Nick。　　Someone　else　will　do　it　if　you　don't。　　This　gentleman　here；　for　instance。〃　He　touched　Bond's　shoulder。　　〃He's　a　pilot；　without　airship　experience；　but　he　will　do　it　if　we　give　him　enough　encouragement。　　Our　encouragement　to　you　is　that　we　kill　you　straight　away；　here　and　now；　if　you　don't　agree。〃
　〃He　means　it；　Nick；'　Bond　interrupted。　　In　a　couple　of　minutes　you'll　just　be　a　lump　of　meat。　　Useless　to　anyone。
　Best　do　as　he　says。
　The　pilot　thought　for　a　moment；　recognising　his　inescapable　position。
　〃Okay。　　Okay；　I'll　fly　the　blimp。
　〃Good；　Nick。　　And　thank　you；　mander　Bond。〃　Rahani　went　on　in　a　level　voice；　〃Now　I'll　tell　you　what　we　have　in　store　for　mander　Bond。　　He　is　to　be　your　copilot。　　You　will　tell　him　now　about　the　differences　between　flying　an　aircraft　and　handling　an　airship。　　We　shall　give　him　one　round　of　ammunition　for　his　automatic　pistol。　　One　round　only。　　He　can　wound　or　kill　only　one　person　with　that；　and　there'll　be　five　of　us　on　board；　five；　not　counting　mander　Bond　and　yourself。　　Bond　here　will　do　exactly　as　I　tell　him。　　If　you　try　to　be　clever；　I　shall　tell　him　to　kill　you。　　If　he　does　not　kill　you；　one　of　us　will　do　it　for　him；　and　force　him　to　take　over。　　If　he　still　resists；　then　we'll　kill　him　too；　and　manage　the　best　we　can。　　I　understand　that　this　airship　is　filled　with　helium　and　ballasted　so　that　it　will　stay　up；　unassisted；　for　some　time；　and　is　difficult　to　crash。　　Yes？〃
　〃Guess　you're　right。〃
　〃Well；　mander　Bond　will　look　after　you；　and　we'll　all　have　a　pleasant　trip。　　How　long　will　it　take？
　Half　an　hour？〃
　〃About　that。　　Maybe　three…quarters。
　〃mander　Bond；　talk　to　your　pilot。　　Learn　from　him。　　We　have　things　to　get　on　board　the　gondola。　　He　gave　Bond　a　hard　knock　on　the　shoulder。　〃Learn；　and　do　as　you　are　bidden；　eh？〃　Bond　lowered　his　head　as　he　sat　down；　letting　it　e　near　the　pilot's；　his　lips　hardly　moving。　　〃I'm　working　under　some　duress　as　well。　　Just　help　me。　　We　have　to　stop　them。〃　Then　he　said　aloud；　〃Okay　Nick；　just　tell　me　about　this　ship。〃　The　pilot　looked　up；　puzzled　for　a　moment；　but　Bond　nodded　encouragement；　and　he　began　to　talk。
　Around　them；　Rahani's　men　were　carrying　equipment　out　of　the　office。　Among　the　hardware　was　one　powerful　shortwave　transmitter　and　a　micro。　Bond　listened　attentively　as　Nick　told　him　that　flying　the　airship　was　more　or　less　the　same　as　handling　an　aircraft。
　〃Yoke；　rudder　pedals；　same　flight　instruments；　throttles　for　the　two　little　engines。　　The　only　difference　is　in　trimming。〃　He　explained　how　the　two　small　balloons；　fore　and　aft　in　the　helium…filled　envelope；　could　be　inflated　with　air；　or　have　the　air　valved　off。　　〃It's　more　or　less　the　same　principle　as　a　balloon；　except；　with　the　air…filled　ballonets；　you　don't　have　to　bleed　off　expensive　gas。　　You　just　take　on　or　dump　air。　　The　ballonets　take　care　of　the　gas　pressure；　give　you　extra　lift；　or　allow　you　to　trim　up　or　down。　　The　only　tricky　bit　is　knowing　when　to　dump　the　pressure　as　you　e　in　to　land；　positioning　the　blimp；　so　that　the　ground　crew　can　grab　at　the　guy　ropes。　　You　need　to　bleed　it　all　off　at　that　point；　like　dumping　ballast；　so　nobody　gets　lifted　off　the　ground。〃　It　was　all　technically　straightforward；　and　Nick　even　made　a　little　drawing　to　show　Bond　where　the　valves　lay；　above　the　forward　windshield；　and　how　the　ballonets　were　filled　with　air　from　scoops　below　the　small　engines。
　He　had　hardly　finished　when　Simon　came　over；　glancing　at　his　watch。　They　looked　up；　to　find　the　office　almost　deserted。
　〃You're　both　needed　at　the　ship。〃　He　held　up　one　round　of　9mm　ammunition；　and　Bond　saw　that　it　was　one　of　his　original　Glaser　slugs。
　〃You　get　this　when　we're　abo