johngardner.rollofhonor-第7章

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　The　steering　on　the　Mulsanne　Turbo　is　so　light　and　accurate　that　Bond　did　not　have　to　wrench　at　the　wheel。
　Using　a　very　light　touch　of　his　fingers；　he　eased　the　Bentley　into　the　narrow　gap　between　lorry　and　car。　　More　control　to　the　left。
　Straight。　　Hard　left。　　A　fraction　to　the　right。　　Then　his　foot　went　down；　and　they　were　hurtling　forward；　passing　the　front　of　the　car；　but　with　less　than　an　inch　to　spare　between　the　lorry　on　the　left　and　the　rock　face　to　the　right。
　Quite　suddenly；　they　were　through；　back　on　the　empty　road　downhill　into　Monaco。
　〃Hoods？〃　He　could　feel　Percy　quivering　beside　him　though　her　voice　betrayed　no　sign　of　fear。
　〃You　mean　our　kind？〃　She　nodded；　her　mouth　forming　a　small　〃Yes。〃
　〃Don't　think　so。　　Looked　like　a　team　out　to　take　our　money；　and　anything　else　they　could　grab。　　There's　always　been　plenty　of　that　along　this　coast。　In　the　north　of　England　they　have　a　saying：　where　there's　muck　there's　brass。　　You　can　change　that　to　where　there's　money　there's　lice。
　Bond　knew　he　was　lying。　　It　was　just　possible　that　the　axe　men　were　a　group　of　gangsters。　　But　the　set…up　had　been　deadly　in　its　professionalism　and　sophistication。　　He　would　report　it　as　soon　as　he　could　get　a　safe　line　to　London。　　He　told　Percy　that　he　would　do　just　that。
　〃So　shall　I。〃　They　said　nothing　more　until　they　got　to　her　room。
　After　that；　neither　of　them　would　ever　be　able　to　say　what　started　it。
　〃The'y　were　pros；'　she　said。
　〃Yes。
　〃I　don't　like　it；　James。　　I'm　pretty　experienced；　but　I　can　still　get　frightened。〃　She　moved　closer　to　him；　and　in　a　second　his　arms　were　around　her。　　Their　lips　met　as　though　each　was　trying　to　breathe　fresh　energy　into　the　other。　　Her　mouth　slid　away　from　him　and　her　cheek　lay　alongside　his　neck　as　she　clung　on；　whispering　his　name。
　So　they　became　lovers；　their　needs　and　feelings　erupting；　adding　urgency　to　every　moment　of　the　day　and　night。　　With　this　new　mental　and　physical　intermingling　came　a　fresh　anxiety；　so　that　they　worked　harder　than　ever　towards　the　final　goal　of　preparing　Bond　to　meet　Percy's　former　husband。
　By　the　start　of　the　third　week；　as　he　was　really　beginning　to　master　the　intricacies　of　micro　programs；　Percy　suddenly　called　a　halt。
　〃I'm　going　to　show　you　the　kind　of　thing　that　Jay　Autem　could　well　be　writing　now；'　she　announced；　switching　off　the　Terror　Twelve　and　removing　the　normal　disk　drives　which　Bond　had　just　been　using。
　In　their　place　she　fitted　a　large；　hard…disk　laser　drive　and；　powering　up　the　system；　booted　a　program　into　the　puter　…　〃booting'　being　the　technical　term　for　placing　a　program　in　the　puter's　memory。
　If　Bond　had　found　the　puter　TEWT　fascinating；　it　was　as　child's　play　to　the　program　he　was　about　to　witness。　　What　appeared　on　the　screen　now　was　not　the　standard　puter　graphics　he　had　bee　used　to；　even　in　their　highest　form；　but　genuine　pictures；　real　and　in　natural　colour　and　texture；　like　a　controllable　movie。
　〃Video；'　Percy　explained。　　〃A　camera　interfaced　with　a　hard　laser　puter　disk。　　Now　watch。
　She　manipulated　the　joystick；　and　it　was　as　though　they　were　driving　along　a　city　street　in　heavy　traffic。
　Certainly　the　human　forms　she　produced　were　less　realistic　than　the　background　against　which　she　made　them　move；　run；　fight　and　take　action。　But　there　was　a　new　and　almost　frightening　conviction　about　this　presentation。　　It　was　more　a　simulation　than　a　game。
　〃I　call　it　Bank　Robbery；'　she　said；　and　there　was　no　doubt　about　its　effectiveness。　　By　the　clever　juxtaposition　of　real　film　and　graphics　you　could　play　at　robbing　a　real　bank；　dealing　with　every　possible　emergency　that　might　arise。　　Bond　was　more　than　impressed。
　〃When　I've　taught　you　how　to　process　and　copy　Jay　Autem's　work；　you'll　have　the　Terror　Twelve　and　three　types　of　drive　to　take　with　you；　James。　Don't　say　I　havn't　provided　you　with　all　the　essential　creature　forts。〃　Until　later　that　evening；　Bond　applied　himself　to　the　work；　but　remained　introspective；　his　mind　hovering　between　the　tasks　on　hand　and　the　appalling　potential　for　evil　of　the　tool　that　Jay　Autem　Holy　…　or　indeed　anyone　with　the　necessary　knowledge　…　had　at　his　disposal。
　It　should　have　been　obvious；　of　course。　　If　there　were　programs　to　assist　the　military　in　learning　strategy　and　tactics；　there　had　to　be　the　potential　there　for　unscrupulous　people　to　learn　the　best　way　to　rob；　cheat　and　even　kill。
　〃And　you　really　believe　training　programs；　like　the　one　you　showed　me　today；　are　being　used　by　criminals？〃　he　asked　much　later；　when　they　were　in　bed。
　〃I'd　be　very　surprised　if　they　weren't。〃　Percy's　face　was　grave。
　〃Just　as　I'd　be　amazed　if　Jay　Autem　were　not　training　criminals；　or　even　terrorists；　in　his　nice　Oxfordshire　house。〃　She　gave　a　humourless　little　laugh。　　〃I　doubt　if　it's　called　Endor　by　accident。
　The　Holy　Terror　has　a　dark　sense　of　humour。〃　Bond　knew　that　she　was　almost　certainly　right。　　Every　two　days　he　received　a　report　from　England；　via　Bill　Tanner：　a　digest　of　the　information　ing　from　the　surveillance　team　that　had　been　set　up　with　exceptional　discretion；　officers　being　changed　every　forty…eight　hours；　in　the　village　of　Nun's　Cross。　　He　asked　Percy　what　she　thought　had　actually　happened　on　the　night　Dr　Holy　went　missing。
　〃Well；　he　certainly　didn't　go　by　himself。　　Dear　old　Rolling　Joe　Zwingli　must　have　gone　with　him；　and　that　guy　was　as　mad　as　a　hatter。
　They　had　a　file　as　long　as　your　arm　on　him　at　Langley。〃
　〃Dealt　with　the　poor　pilot；　then　jumped；　I　suppose？〃　Bond　was　almost　speaking　to　himself。　　Percy　nodded；　then　shrugged。　　〃And　did　away　with　Zwingli　when　it　suited　him。〃　During　the　final　days　of　study；　Bond　mastered　the　art　of　copying　all　types　of　program　protected　by　every　method　Percy　knew　to　be　used　by　Dr　Holy。　　They　saved　the　last　two　days　for　themselves。
　〃You're　an　enchantress；'　Bond　told　Percy。　　〃I　know　of　nobody　else　who　could　have　taught　me　so　much　in　such　a　short　time。〃
　〃You've　given　me　a　few　wrinkles　as　well；　and　I　don't　mean　on　my　face。〃　She　put　her　head　back　on　the　pillow。
　〃e　on；　James；　darling；　one　more　time；　as　the　jazz　men　say；　then　we'll　have　a　fabulous　dinner　and　you　can　really　show　me　how　to　play　those　tables　in　the　Salles　Privees。〃　It　was　midafternoon；　and　by　nine　that　evening　they　were　seated　at　the　first　table　in　the　Casino's　most　sacred　of　rooms。　　Bond's　run　of　luck　was　still　high；　though　he　was　now　gambling　with　care；　rarely　going　above　his　winning　stake；　which　had　quadrupled　since　his　arrival；　and　not　betting　on　the　rash　outside　chance；　high…win　options。
　During　the　three　hours　they　played　that　night　he　was　down；　at　one　point；　to　40；000　francs。　　But　the　wheel　started　to　run　in　his　favour；　and　eventually；　by　midnight；　the　stake　had　increased　to　300；000　francs。
　He　waited　for　two　turns　to　pass；　deciding　to　make　the　next　bet　the　last　of　the　night；　when　he　heard　a　sharp　intake　of　breath　from　Percy。
　Glancing　towards　her；　he　saw　the　colour　had　left　her　face；　her　eyes　staring　at　the　entrance。　　It　was　not　so　much　a　look　of　fear　as　of　sudden　surprise。
　〃What　is　it？〃　She　answered　in　a　whisper；　〃Let's　get　out。　　Quickly。
　Over　there。　　Just　e　in　〃Who？〃　Bond's　eyes　fell　on　a　tall；　grizzled　man；　straight…backed；　and　with　eyes　that　swept　the　room　as　though　surveying　a　battlefield。　　He　did　not　really　need　to　hear　her　reply。
　〃The　old　devil。　　And　we　thought　Jay　Autem　had　gone　for　him。
　That's　Rolling　Joe　in　the　flesh。　　Joe　Zwingli's　here；　and　with　a　couple　of　infantry　divisions　by　the　look　of　it！〃　Zwingli　was　moving　into　the　room；　flanked　by　four　other　men；　neat　and　smart　as　officers　on　parade；　and　looking　as　dangerous　as　an　armoured　brigade　about　to　attack　a　Boy　Scout　troop。
　
　
　ROLLING　HOME
　
　GENERAL　ZWiNGLi　had　been　no　chicken　at　the　time　of　his　disappearance。　　He　must　now　be　in　his　mid…seventies。
　Yet；　from　where　Bond　sat；　he　looked　like　a　man　of　sixty　in　good　physical　shape。　　The　four　other　men　were　younger；　heavier　and　not　the　kind　of　people　you　would　be　likely　to　meet　at　Sunday　school　parties。
　For　a　moment；　Bond　sat　calmly　awaiting　the　worst；　convinced　that　Zwingli　and　his　men　were　looking　for　him；　or　possibly　Percy。　　There　had　to　be　a　connection。
　You　didn't　need　a　crystal　ball　to　work　that　out。　　Zwingli　had　been　a　necessary　part　of　the　disappearance　plot。　　If　there　had　been　collusion　at　the　time　of　the　aeroplane　wreck；　there　would　still　be　collusion　now；　for　Dr　Holy　and　General　Zwingli　were　tied　together　for　life　by　a　much　stronger　bond　than　marriage　vows。　　Conspirators　can　rarely　divorce　without　one　partner　seriously　damaging　the　other。
　Bond　smiled　genially。　　〃Don't　stare；　Percy。　　It's　rude。　　It　may　also　call　the　good　General's　attention　to　us　…　if　it's　us　he's　looking　for。〃　His　lips　hardly　moved　as　he　watched　Zwingli　and　his　entourage　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　To　his　relief；　the　General's　craggy　face　broke　into　a　broad　smile。
　He　was　not　looking　in　Bond's　and　Percy's　direction　but　advancing　towards　a　dark…skinned　muscular　man；　possibly　in　his　mid…thirties；　who　had　been　sitting　at　the　bar。　　The　pair　shook　hands　warmly；　and　there　were　greetings　and　introductions　all　round。
　I　think；　to　be　on　the　safe　side；　it　would　be　prudent　for　us　to　take　our　leave　now；'　Bond　muttered。　　〃Be　casual　and　natural。〃　He　went　through　the　business　of　tipping　the　croupier；　gathering　the　chips　together　as　they　rose。　　They　made　their　way　to　the　cashier；　where　Bond　opted　for　cash　rather　than　a　cheque。
　Once　outside；　he　took　Percy's　arm；　leading　her　firmly　back　to　the　hotel。
　〃It　could　simply　be　a　coincidence；　but　I'm　taking　no　chances。　　I　don't　for　a　moment　think　he　could　recognise　you。　　How　well　did　you　know　him；　Percy？〃
　〃Two　or　three　dinner　parties。　　Washington　social　functions。　　I　knew　him；　but　he　always　gave　the　impression　of　plete　non…interest。　　Not　just　in　me；　but　in　all　women。
　It　was　him　all　right；James。　　I've　no　doubt　about　that。〃　During　M's　briefing　Bond　had　studied　a　number　of　photographs；　including　two　series　in　Time　magazine；　when　General　Zwingli　had　made　the　cover　story。　　〃For　someone　who's　been　dead　that　long；　he　looked　in　exceptionally　good　shape。　　No；　the　only　way　he　could　recognise　you　is　if　he　was　forewarned：　if　he　knew　you'd　changed　your。　　。　　。well　。　　。　　。your　image。〃　Percy　giggled。　　〃This　is　my　real　image；　James。　　Mrs。　Jay　Autem　Holy　was　the　disguise。　　I　put　on　weight；　wore　thick　clear…glass　spectacles　and　looked　the　ultimate　frowsy　puter　scientist　〃And　the　nose？〃
　〃Okay；　so　I　had　it　fixed　after　Jay　Autem　went　missing。
　Nobody's　perfect。　　But　you're　right；　I'd　have　had　to　be　fingered　directly　to　Rolling　Joe　for　him　to　know　it　was　me　。
　〃There's　always　the　possibility　that　someone's　fingered　me。〃　Bond　brushed　back　the　lock　of　hair　which　fell；　like　a　ma；　over　his　right　eye。　　They　reached　the　hotel　entrance。　　〃You　recognise　the　fellow　he　met？　　The　swarthy　man　he　seemed　to　be　expecting？〃
　〃The　face　was　familiar。　　I've　seen　him　before　or　a　picture　of　him。　Maybe　he's　on　file。　　You？〃
　〃Same　here。　　I　should　know　him。〃　Bond　continued　to　talk；　telling　her　they　would　have　to　leave　Monte　Carlo。
　〃It　would　be　best　for　us　both　to　get　away　in　the　Bentley。
　We　can　be　in　Paris　by　lunchtime　tomorrow。〃
　〃Wait　until　we're　upstairs；'　she　mumbled。　　When　they　reached　her　room；　Percy　became　adam