johngardner.rollofhonor-第5章

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smit　information　over　thousands　of　miles　in　a　matter　of　seconds；　which　would　design　your　new　house；　or　allow　you　to　play　plicated　games；　make　music；　or　display　moving　graphics。　　A　miracle　with　an　ever…growing　memory；　but　only　as　good　as　the　program　it　is　given。
　〃I　know　the　theory　…just；'　Bond　said　with　a　smile；　〃but　I　haven't　a　clue　how　it's　all　done　by　the　programmer。〃
　〃That；　as　I　understand　it　from　your　wonderful　old　boss；　is　the　main　reason　we're　here；'　Percy　retorted。
　Bond　was　mildly　surprised　to　hear　M　spoken　of　as　his　wonderful　old　boss。　〃My　job　is　to　teach　you　programming　language；　with　special　reference　to　the　kind　of　thing　my　dark　angel　of　an　ex…husband　used　to　do；　and　probably　is　doing　right　now。　　Oh；　yes；　he　is　an　ex。　　Dead；　missing；　whatever；　I　made　sure　it　was　legal。〃
　〃Would　that　be　difficult？〃　Bond　asked　with　a　show　of　feigned　innocence。　〃Learning　to　program；　I　mean。〃　&　War　Game　〃Depends　on　aptitude。　　It's　like　swimming　or　riding　a　bicycle。　　Once　you've　got　the　knack　it　bees　second　nature。　　Mind　you；　we're　up　against　a　particular　kind　of　genius　when　it　es　to　Jay　Autem　Holy。　　I'm　going　to　have　to　tell　you　a　lot　about　him。　　Seriously；　though；　it's　simply　like　learning　a　new　language；　or　how　to　read　music。〃　Percy　walked　over　to　the　closet　and　hauled　out　a　pair　of　large　customised　cases　heavily　embellished　with　coded　security　locks。　　Between　them　they　contained　a　large；　sophisticated　microputer；　several　types　of　disk　drive；　and　three　metal　boxes　which；　when　opened；　revealed　disks　of　differing　sizes　and　quality。　　She　asked　Bond　to　move　the　television　set　so　that　she　could　plug　in　the　micro。　The　keyboard　was　twice　the　size　of　that　on　an　electronic　typewriter。　　Percy　talked　as　she　set　up　the　equipment。　　This　was　the　same　micro；　she　said；　as　she　guessed　Jay　Autem　would　be　using　now。
　Bond　had　already　noticed　that　she　referred　to　Dr　Holy　simply　as　Jay　Autem　or　the　Holy　Terror。
　〃When　he　went　missing　his　own　micro　disappeared　with　him　…　or；　should　I　say；　at　the　same　time。　　I　guess　he　had　it　stashed　away　somewhere　safe。　In　those　days　we　were　just　beginning　to　see　the　full　development　of　the　micropressor　…　you　know；　the　chip　that　put　a　whole　roomful　of　puter　circuits　on　to　a　5mm…square　piece　of　silicon。
　When　he　built　his　own　machine　we　were　still　mainly　using　tapes。
　Since　then　there've　been　so　many　developments；　and　things　have　bee　much　smaller；　but　I've　tried　to　keep　pace　with　the　technology。
　I　rebuilt　his　Terror　Six　…　that's　what　he　called　his　machine　changing　his　original　design；　doing　my　best　to　keep　one　jump　ahead；　as　he　would　have　done。〃　Bond　stood　peering　over　her　shoulder　as　she　made　final　adjustments。
　〃This；'　she　waved　a　hand　at　the　keyboard；　〃is　my　equivalent　of　what　would　now　be　the　Terror　Twelve。
　Since　Jay　Autem　went；　the　chips　have　gotten　smaller；　but　the　big　leap　forward　has　been　the　incredible　advance　in　the　amount　of　memory　a　little　thing　like　this　can　contain。
　That；　and　the　way　more　realistic　pictures　…　real　video　can　be　used　in　the　kind　of　programs　he's　interested　in。〃
　〃And　what　kind　of　programs　are　those；　Percy？〃
　〃Well　…〃　she　selected　a　disk　from　one　of　the　boxes；　switched　on　a　drive；　inserted　the　disk　and　powered　up　the　machine　…　〃I　can　show　you　the　kind　of　thing　which　used　to　fascinate　him　when　he　was　doing　work　for　the　Pentagon。　　Then　we　can　take　it　a　stage　further。〃　The　television　screen　had　e　alive；　the　disk　drive　whirred　and　rasped；　and　a　series　of　rapid　beeps　emanated　from　the　speaker。　　The　drive　continued　to　sound　after　the　staccato　beeps　finally　stopped　and　the　screen　cleared；　showing　a　detailed　map　of　the　border　between　East　and　West　Germany　…　the　district　around　Kassel：　NATO　country。
　Unaccountably　Bond　suddenly　felt　hot　and　flushed。
　He　started　to　reach　a　hand　out　to　Percy's　shoulder；　but　changed　to　loosen　his　tie　as　she　drew　a　heavy　black　joystick　from　one　of　her　cases　and　plugged　it　into　the　keyboard；　pressing　the　S　key。　　Immediately　a　bright　rectangle　appeared　on　the　map；　which　Bond　saw　was　as　clear　as　a　piece　of　printed　cartography。
　〃Okay；　this　may　look　like　some　weird　game　to　you；　but　I　promise　you；　it's　a　very　advanced　training　aid。〃　Percy　operated　the　joystick　and　the　rectangle　slid　across　the　screen；　moving　the　map　as　it　reached　the　outer　perimeter；　so　that　it　scrolled　up　and　down。　　The　entire　area　covered　was　about　eighty　square　mil　5　of　border　and　below　it　on　the　screen　was　a　blank　oblong　blue　space。
　〃I　type　in　coordinates　and　we　go　immediately　to　that　section　on　the　map。〃　Percy　suited　action　to　word；　and　the　map　jumped　on　the　screen；　the　rectangle　staying　in　place。　　〃Now　we　can　look　at　what's　going　on　in　a　smaller　area。〃　She　positioned　the　rectangle　over　a　village　about　a　mile　from　the　border　and　pressed　the　trigger　on　the　joystick。　　Bond　had　suddenly　bee　aware　of　the　perfume　Percy　was　wearing　but　couldn't　decide　what　it　was。
　He　jerked　his　mind　back　to　the　matter　in　hand。
　It　was　as　if　a　zoom　lens　had　been　applied　to　the　screen；　for　now　he　could　see　detail　…　roads；　trees；　houses；　rocks　and　fields。　　Among　this　detail　Bond　could　pick　out　at　least　six　tanks　and　four　troop　carriers；　while　a　pair　of　helicopters　sat　hidden　behind　buildings；　and　three　Harrier　aircraft　could　be　defined　on　pads　shielded　by　trees。
　〃We　have　to　assume　that　some　form　of　non…nuclear　hostility　exists。〃　Percy　was　typing　mands　into　the　micro；　asking　for　information；　first　on　NATO　forces。　　The　tanks；　troop　carriers；　helicopters　and　Harriers　blinked　in　turn；　as　their　designated　call…signs　and　strength　ribboned　out　on　the　lower　part　of　the　screen。
　Percy　noted　the　call…signs　on　a　pad　at　her　elbow　and　then　typed　a　mand　for　information　about　Warsaw　Pact　forces　in　this　tiny　area。
　They　appeared　to　be　facing　at　least　two　panies　of　infantry；　with　armoured　support。
　〃It'll　only　give　you　available　information；　the　kind　of　thing　intelligence　and　reconnaissance　would　actually　have。〃　Percy　watched　as　the　screen　flashed　up　known　positions；　with　data　concerning　the　enemy　running　out　on　the　blue　space　below。
　Bond　could　not　take　his　eyes　from　the　soft　curl　of　her　hair　on　an　almost　exposed　shoulder　as　she　began　to　input　orders。　　Two　of　the　Harriers　moved　of！　as　though　flying　in　to　attack　the　enemy　armour。　　At　the　same　time；　she　activated　the　NATO　tanks　and　troop　carriers。
　Individual　responses　from　the　tank　and　infantry　manders　came　up　on　the　screen；　while　the　tiny　vehicles　moved　to　her　bidding；　the　tanks　suddenly　ing　under　attack；　indicated　by　shell　bursts　on　the　screen　and　audible　crumps　and　whines。　　Bond　stooped　slightly　for　a　closer　look；　and　found　himself　glancing　sideways　at　Percy's　face；　profiled　and　absorbed　alongside　his。　　He　looked　quickly　back　at　the　screen。
　The　action；　controlled　throughout　by　Percy；　lasted　for　almost　twenty　minutes；　during　which　time　she　was　able　to　gain　a　small　superiority　over　the　enemy　forces　with　the　loss　of　three　tanks；　one　helicopter；　a　Harrier　and　just　under　one　hundred　men。
　Bond　stood　back　a　pace　behind　Percy。　　He　had　found　the　whole　operation　fascinating。　　He　asked　if　this　kind　of　thing　were　used　by　the　military。
　〃This　is　only　a　simple　puter　TEwT。…　Percy　was　talking　about　a　Tactical　Exercise　Without　Troops；　a　technique　used　in　training　officers　and　N。C。O。s。　　〃In　the　old　days；　as　you　know；　they　did　TEWTS　with　boards；　tables；　sand　trays　and　models。　　Now　all　you　need　is　a　micro。　　This　is　very　simple；　but　you　should　see　the　advanced　games　they　use　at　staff　colleges。〃
　〃And　Dr　Holy　was　programming　this　kind　of　thing　for　the　Pentagon？〃　For　the　first　time　Bond　noticed　a　little　mole　on　Percy's　neck。
　〃This；　and　more。　　When　he　disappeared；　Jay　Autem　was　into　some　exceptionally　advanced　stuff。　　Not　only　training　but　specialist　programs；　where　the　puter　is　given　all　the　possible　options　and　works　out　the　one　most　likely　to　be　taken　by　an　opposing　power　under　a　particular　set　of　circumstances。
　〃And　now？　　Given　that　he　really　is　still　alive　。
　〃Oh；　he's　alive；　James。〃　She　flushed　suddenly。　　〃I've　seen　him。
　Don't　doubt　it。　　He's　the　one　I've　already　told　you　about　…　Jason　St。　John…Finnes；　of　Nun's　Cross；　Oxfordshire。　　I　should　know。　　After　all；　I　was　his　watchdog　for　three　and　a　half　lousy　years　〃Watchdog？〃　Her　eyes　really　were　the　most　incredible　colour；　a　subtle　shade　of　grey…blue　that　changed　according　to　the　light。
　Percy　looked　away；　biting　her　lip　in　mock　shame。　　〃Oh；　didn't　they　tell　you？　　I　married　the　bastard　under　orders。
　I'm　a　pany　lady　…　from　Langley。　　Marriage　to　Dr　Holy　was　an　assignment。　　How　else　would　I　know　the　inside　of　this　op？〃
　〃He　wasn't　trusted　then？〃　Bond　tried　not　to　show　surprise；　even　though　the　idea　of　a　C。I。A。　　employee　being　instructed　to　marry　in　order　to　keep　surveillance　on　her　husband　appalled　him。
　〃At　that　time；　with　his　contacts　…　he　had　many　friends　among　the　scientific　munity　in　Russia　and　the　Eastern　Bloc　…　they　couldn't　afford　to　trust　him。　　And　they　were　right。〃
　〃You　think　he's　working　for　the　K。G。B。　　now？〃
　〃No。〃　She　went　to　the　small　chiller　to　get　another　bottle　of　champagne。　〃No；　Jay　Autem　worked　for　Jay　Autem　and　nobody　else。　　At　least　I　discovered　that　about　him。〃　Passing　another　glass　to　Bond；　she　added；　〃There　are　almost　certainly　Soviet　connections　in　what　he's　doing　now；　but　it'll　be　on　a　freelance　basis。　　Jay　Autem　knows　his　business；　but　he's　really　dedicated　only　to　money。
　Politics　is　another　matter。
　〃So　what　sort　of　thing　do　you　reckon　he's　doing？〃　Bond　caught　another　strong　whiff　of　that　strange　perfume　which　he　would　always　now　associate　with　Percy。
　〃As　they　say；　James；　that's　for　him　to　know　and　you　to　find　out。
　And　it's　my　job　to　teach　you　how。　　Tomorrow　morning　we　start　in　earnest。　Eight…thirty　suit　you？〃
　〃Hardly　worth　my　going　back　to　my　own　room。〃　He　glanced　casually　at　his　watch。
　〃I　know；　but　you're　going　all　the　same。　　I'm　to　teach　you　all　I　can　about　how　to　prepare　the　kind　of　programs　Jay　Autem　writes；　and　give　you　a　course　on　how　to　break　into　his　programs；　should　you　be　lucky　enough　to　get　your　hands　on　one。
　Percy　took　hold　of　his　wrist　and　reached　up　to　kiss　him　gently　on　the　cheek。　　Bond　moved　closer；　but　Percy　stepped　away；　wagging　a　finger。
　〃That's　a　no…no；　James。　　But　I'm　a　good　teacher；　and　if　you　prove　to　be　a　diligent　pupil；　I　have　ways　of　rewarding　you　that　you　never　dreamed　of　when　you　were　at　school。　　Eight…thirty　sharp。　　Okay？〃
　〃You　guarantee　results；　Proud　Percy？〃
　〃I　guarantee　to　teach　you；　Bond　James；'　she　said　with　a　wicked　grin；　〃and　about　puter　programming　as　well。〃　Promptly　at　eight…thirty　the　next　morning；　Bond　knocked　on　her　door；　one　arm　hidden　behind　his　back。
　When　she　opened　up；　he　thrust　out　his　hand　to　give　her　a　large　rosy　apple。
　〃For　the　teacher；'　he　said　with　a　broad　smile。
　It　was　the　only　joke　of　the　day；　for　Percy　Proud　proved　to　be　a　hard　and　dedicated　taskmaster。
　
　
　THE　Training　TOOK　a　little　less　than　a　month　and　was　a　tribute　to　Persephone　Proud's　teaching　skill。　　Her　pupil's　capabilities　were　taxed　to　the　limit。　　The　task　had　been　equivalent　to　learning　a　new　language　and　several　plicated　dialects　as　well。　　Indeed；　Bond　could　not　remember　a　time　when　he　had　been　forced　to　call　so　heavily　on　his　mental　reserves；　to　focus　his　mind；　like　a　burning　glass；　on　the　subject　at　hand。