iam fleming.for your eyes only-第12章

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e　pulled　the　bow　half　taut。　The　arrow　pointed　at　Bond's　feet。　〃Either　you　do　what　I　say　or　you're　going　to　be　sorry。　And　don't　think　I　don't　mean　it。　This　is　a　private　thing　I've　sworn　to　do　and　nobody's　going　to　stop　me。〃　She　tossed　her　head　imperiously。　〃Well？〃
　Bond　gloomily　measured　the　situation。　He　looked　the　ridiculously　beautiful　wild　girl　up　and　down。　This　was　good　hard　English　stock　spiced　with　the　hot　peppers　of　a　tropical　childhood。　Dangerous　mixture。　She　had　keyed　herself　up　to　a　state　of　controlled　hysteria。　He　was　quite　certain　that　she　would　think　nothing　of　putting　him　out　of　action。　And　he　had　absolutely　no　defence。　Her　weapon　was　silent；　his　would　alert　the　whole　neighbourhood。　Now　the　only　hope　would　be　to　work　with　her。　Give　her　part　of　the　job　and　he　would　do　the　rest。　He　said　quietly：　〃Now　listen；　Judy。　If　you　insist　on　ing　in　on　this　thing　we'd　better　do　it　together。　Then　perhaps　we　can　bring　it　off　and　stay　alive。　This　sort　of　thing　is　my　profession。　I　was　ordered　to　do　it　…　by　a　close　friend　of　your　family；　if　you　want　to　know。　And　I've　got　the　right　weapon。　It's　got　at　least　five　times　the　range　of　yours。　I　could　take　a　good　chance　of　killing　him　now；　on　the　patio。　But　the　odds　aren't　quite　good　enough。　Some　of　them　have　got　bathing　things　on。　They'll　be　ing　down　to　the　lake。　Then　I'm　going　to　do　it。　You　can　give　supporting　fire。〃　He　ended　lamely：　〃It'll　be　a　great　help。〃
　〃No。〃　She　shook　her　head　decisively。　〃I'm　sorry。　You　can　give　what　you　call　supporting　fire　if　you　like。　I　don't　care　one　way　or　the　other。　You're　right　about　the　swimming。　Yesterday　they　were　all　down　at　the　lake　around　eleven。　It's　just　as　warm　today　and　they'll　be　there　again。　I　shall　get　him　from　the　edge　of　the　trees　by　the　lake。　I　found　a　perfect　place　last　night。　The　bodyguard　men　bring　their　guns　with　them　…　sort　of　tommy…gun　things。　They　don't　bathe。　They　sit　around　and　keep　guard。　I　know　the　moment　to　get　von　Hammerstein　and　I'll　be　well　away　from　the　lake　before　they　take　in　what's　happened。　I　tell　you　I've　got　it　all　planned。　Now　then。　I　can't　hang　around　any　more。　I　ought　to　have　been　in　my　place　already。　I'm　sorry；　but　unless　you　say　yes　straight　away　there's　no　alternative。〃　She　raised　the　bow　a　few　inches。
　Bond　thought：　'Damn　this　girl　to　hell。'　He　said　angrily：　〃All　right　then。　But　I　can　tell　you　that　if　we　get　out　of　this　you're　going　to　get　such　a　spanking　you　won't　be　able　to　sit　down　for　a　week。〃　He　shrugged。　He　said　with　resignation：　〃Go　ahead。　I'll　look　after　the　others。　If　you　get　away　all　right；　meet　me　here。　If　you　don't；　I'll　e　down　and　pick　up　the　pieces。〃
　The　girl　unstrung　her　bow。　She　said　indifferently：　〃I'm　glad　you're　seeing　sense。　These　arrows　are　difficult　to　pull　out。　Don't　worry　about　me。　But　keep　out　of　sight　and　mind　the　sun　doesn't　catch　that　glass　of　yours。〃　She　gave　Bond　the　brief；　pitying；　self…congratulatory　smile　of　the　woman　who　has　had　the　last　word；　and　turned　and　made　off　down　through　the　trees。
　Bond　watched　the　lithe　dark　green　figure　until　it　had　vanished　among　the　tree…trunks；　then　he　impatiently　picked　up　the　glass　and　went　back　to　his　vantage…point。　To　hell　with　her！　It　was　time　to　clear　the　silly　bitch　out　of　his　mind　and　concentrate　on　the　job。　Was　there　anything　else　he　could　have　done　…　any　other　way　of　handling　it？　Now　he　was　mitted　to　wait　for　her　to　fire　the　first　shot。　That　was　bad。　But　if　he　fired　first　there　was　no　way　of　knowing　what　the　hot…headed　bitch　would　do。　Bond's　mind　luxuriated　briefly　in　the　thought　of　what　he　would　do　to　the　girl　once　all　this　was　over。　Then　there　was　movement　in　front　of　the　house；　and　he　put　the　exciting　thoughts　aside　and　lifted　his　glass。
　The　breakfast　things　were　being　cleared　away　by　the　two　maids。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　girls　or　the　gunmen。　Von　Hammerstein　was　lying　back　among　the　cushions　of　an　outdoor　couch　reading　a　newspaper　and　occasionally　menting　to　Major　Gonzales；　who　sat　astride　an　iron　garden　chair　near　his　feet。　Gonzales　was　smoking　a　cigar　and　from　time　to　time　he　delicately　raised　a　hand　in　front　of　his　mouth；　leant　sideways　and　spat　a　bit　of　leaf　out　on　the　ground。　Bond　could　not　hear　what　von　Hammerstein　was　saying；　but　his　ments　were　in　English　and　Gonzales　answered　in　English。　Bond　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　ten…thirty。　Since　the　scene　seemed　to　be　static；　Bond　sat　down　with　his　back　to　the　tree　and　went　over　the　Savage　with　minute　care。　At　the　same　time　he　thought　of　what　would　shortly　have　to　be　done　with　it。
　Bond　did　not　like　what　he　was　going　to　do；　and　all　the　way　from　England　he　had　had　to　keep　on　reminding　himself　what　sort　of　men　these　were。　The　killing　of　the　Havelocks　had　been　a　particularly　dreadful　killing。　Von　Hammerstein　and　his　gunmen　were　particularly　dreadful　men　whom　many　people　around　the　world　would　probably　be　very　glad　to　destroy；　as　this　girl　proposed　to　do；　out　of　private　revenge。　But　for　Bond　it　was　different。　He　had　no　personal　motives　against　them。　This　was　merely　his　job　…　as　it　was　the　job　of　a　pest　control　officer　to　kill　rats。　He　was　the　public　executioner　appointed　by　M　to　represent　the　munity。　In　a　way；　Bond　argued　to　himself；　these　men　were　as　much　enemies　of　his　country　as　were　the　agents　of　SMERSH　or　of　other　enemy　Secret　Services。　They　had　declared　and　waged　war　against　British　people　on　British　soil　and　they　were　currently　planning　another　attack。　Bond's　mind　hunted　round　for　more　arguments　to　bolster　his　resolve。　They　had　killed　the　girl's　pony　and　her　dog　with　two　casual　sideswipes　of　the　hand　as　if　they　had　been　flies。　They　。　。　。
　A　burst　of　automatic　fire　from　the　valley　brought　Bond　to　his　feet。　His　rifle　was　up　and　taking　aim　as　the　second　burst　came。　The　harsh　racket　of　noise　was　followed　by　laughter　and　hand…clapping。　The　kingfisher；　a　handful　of　tattered　blue　and　grey　feathers；　thudded　to　the　lawn　and　lay　fluttering。　Von　Hammerstein；　smoke　still　dribbling　from　the　snout　of　his　tommy…gun；　walked　a　few　steps　and　put　the　heel　of　his　naked　foot　down　and　pivoted　sharply。　He　took　his　heel　away　and　wiped　it　on　the　grass　beside　the　heap　of　feathers。　The　others　stood　round；　laughing　and　applauding　obsequiously。　Von　Hammerstein's　red　lips　grinned　with　pleasure。　He　said　something　which　included　the　word　'crackshot'。　He　handed　the　gun　to　one　of　the　gunmen　and　wiped　his　hands　down　his　fat　backsides。　He　gave　a　sharp　order　to　the　two　girls；　who　ran　off　into　the　house；　then；　with　the　others　following；　he　turned　and　ambled　down　the　sloping　lawn　towards　the　lake。　Now　the　girls　came　running　back　out　of　the　house。　Each　one　carried　an　empty　champagne　bottle。　Chattering　and　laughing　they　skipped　down　after　the　men。
　Bond　got　himself　ready。　He　clipped　the　telescopic　sight　on　to　the　barrel　of　the　Savage　and　took　his　stance　against　the　trunk　of　the　tree。　He　found　a　bump　in　the　wood　as　a　rest　for　his　left　hand；　put　his　sights　at　300；　and　took　broad　aim　at　the　group　of　people　by　the　lake。　Then；　holding　the　rifle　loosely；　he　leaned　against　the　trunk　and　watched　the　scene。
　It　was　going　to　be　some　kind　of　a　shooting　contest　between　the　two　gunmen。　They　snapped　fresh　magazines　on　to　their　guns　and　at　Gonzales's　orders　stationed　themselves　on　the　flat　stone　wall　of　the　dam　some　twenty　feet　apart　on　either　side　of　the　diving…board。　They　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　lake　and　their　guns　at　the　ready。
　Von　Hammerstein　took　up　his　place　on　the　grass　verge；　a　champagne　bottle　swinging　in　each　hand。　The　girls　stood　behind　him；　their　hands　over　their　ears。　There　was　excited　jabbering　in　Spanish；　and　laughter　in　which　the　two　gunmen　did　not　join。　Through　the　telescopic　sight　their　faces　looked　sharp　with　concentration。
　Von　Hammerstein　barked　an　order　and　there　was　silence。　He　swung　both　arms　back　and　counted　〃Un　。　。　。　Dos　。　。　。　Tres。〃　With　the　'tres'　he　hurled　the　champagne　bottles　high　into　the　air　over　the　lake。
　The　two　men　turned　like　marionettes；　the　guns　clamped　to　their　hips。　As　they　pleted　the　turn　they　fired。　The　thunder　of　the　guns　split　the　peaceful　scene　and　racketed　up　from　the　water。　Birds　fled　away　from　the　trees　screeching　and　some　small　branches　cut　by　the　bullets　pattered　down　into　the　lake。　The　left…hand　bottle　disintegrated　into　dust；　the　right…hand　one；　hit　by　only　a　single　bullet；　split　in　two　a　fraction　of　a　second　later。　The　fragments　of　glass　made　small　splashes　over　the　middle　of　the　lake。　The　gunman　on　the　left　had　won。　The　smoke…clouds　over　the　two　of　them　joined　and　drifted　away　over　the　lawn。　The　echoes　boomed　softly　into　silence。　The　two　gunmen　walked　along　the　wall　to　the　grass；　the　rear　one　looking　sullen；　the　leading　one　with　a　sly　grin　on　his　face。　Von　Hammerstein　beckoned　the　two　girls　forward。　They　came　reluctantly；　dragging　their　feet　and　pouting。　Von　Hammerstein　said　something；　asked　a　question　of　the　winner。　The　man　nodded　at　the　girl　on　the　left。　She　looked　sullenly　back　at　him。　Gonzales　and　Hammerstein　laughed。　Hammerstein　reached　out　and　patted　the　girl　on　the　rump　as　if　she　had　been　a　cow。　He　said　something　in　which　Bond　caught　the　words　'una　noche'。　The　girl　looked　up　at　him　and　nodded　obediently。　The　group　broke　up。　The　prize　girl　took　a　quick　run　and　dived　into　the　lake；　perhaps　to　get　away　from　the　man　who　had　won　her　favours；　and　the　other　girl　followed　her。　They　swam　away　across　the　lake　calling　angrily　to　each　other。　Major　Gonzales　took　off　his　coat　and　laid　it　on　the　grass　and　sat　down　on　it。　He　was　wearing　a　shoulder　holster　which　showed　the　butt　of　a　medium…calibre　automatic。　He　watched　von　Hammerstein　take　off　his　watch　and　walk　along　the　dam　wall　to　the　diving…board。　The　gunmen　stood　back　from　the　lake　and　also　watched　von　Hammerstein　and　the　two　girls；　who　were　now　out　in　the　middle　of　the　little　lake　and　were　making　for　the　far　shore。　The　gunmen　stood　with　their　guns　cradled　in　their　arms　and　occasionally　one　of　them　would　glance　round　the　garden　or　towards　the　house。　Bond　thought　there　was　every　reason　why　von　Hammerstein　had　managed　to　stay　alive　so　long。　He　was　a　man　who　took　trouble　to　do　so。
　Von　Hammerstein　had　reached　the　diving…board。　He　walked　along　to　the　end　and　stood　looking　down　at　the　water。　Bond　tensed　himself　and　put　up　the　safe。　His　eyes　were　fierce　slits。　It　would　be　any　minute　now。　His　finger　itched　on　the　trigger…guard。　What　in　hell　was　the　girl　waiting　for？
　Von　Hammerstein　had　made　up　his　mind。　He　flexed　his　knees　slightly。　The　arms　came　back。　Through　the　telescopic　sight　Bond　could　see　the　thick　hair　over　his　shoulder　blades　tremble　in　a　breeze　that　came　to　give　a　quick　shiver　to　the　surface　of　the　lake。　Now　his　arms　were　ing　forward　and　there　was　a　fraction　of　a　second　when　his　feet　had　left　the　board　and　he　was　still　almost　upright。　In　that　fraction　of　a　second　there　was　a　flash　of　silver　against　his　back　and　then　von　Hammerstein's　body　hit　the　water　in　a　neat　dive。
　Gonzales　was　on　his　feet；　looking　uncertainly　at　the　turbulence　caused　by　the　dive。　His　mouth　was　open；　waiting。　He　did　not　know　if　he　had　seen　something　or　not。　The　two　gunmen　were　more　certain。　They　had　their　guns　at　the　ready。　They　crouched；　looking　from　Gonzales　to　the　trees　behind　the　dam；　waiting　for　an　order。
　Slowly　the　turbulence　subsided　and　the　ripples　spread　across　the　lake。　The　dive　had　gone　deep。
　Bond's　mouth　was　dry。　He　lic