johngardner.winloseordie-第17章

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er…clever。　He　seemed　to　recall　thai　Hellkin　was　one　of　the　twelve　fork…bearing　lesser　demons　of　Dante's　Inferno。　Hellkin　…　Alchino。　ihe　Allurer。　Well。　Beh…ah…Tree…che　was　certainly　alluring。
　She　was　back　with　him　now；　holding　up　a　Browning　similar　to　his。
'Cover　me；'　he　whispered　again　as　he　moved　along　the　wall；　flattening　himself　at　the　corner；　then　going　around　it　fast；　pistol　up　ready　to　take　out　anyone　skulking　near　Ihe　kitchen　door。
　Nobody…　He　moved　on　along　the　wall；　back　Hat　to　the　stucco　again；　glancing　behind　to　see　that　Beatrice　was　following。　He　could　make　out　the　dark　shape　against　the　white　wall；　inching　forward；　hands　locked　around　the　pistol；　elbows　bent　so　that　the　weapon　came　level　with　her　forehead。
　The　next　turning　of　the　wall　would　bring　them　to　the　front　of　the　villa：　to　the　terrace　and　winter…covered　pool。　Bond　threw　himself　forward；　rolled　across　the　tarmac；　arms　strciched　out　and　pistol　at　the　ready。
　He　saw　（he　movement　close　lo　the　gate　at　the　foot　of　the　steps　and　shouted；　'Halt！　Halt；　we're　armed。'
　Whoever　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　gate　imagined　they　were　in　with　a　chance；　for　two　bullets　ripped　through　the　water　lilies　and　palms；　gouging　hunks　out　of　the　green　floor　covering　of　the　terrace；　all　a　little　close　lo　Bond　for　fort。　He　could　see　nothing　now；　but　heard　Ihe　quick　double　bark　of　Beatrice's　Browning　and　a　ery；　like　an　animal　mewing　with　pain。
　Bond　spun　around　｜ust　in　time　to　see　Beatrice　e　pounding　out　of　the　shadows　in　pursuit　of　whoever　had　been　hit　on　the　other　side　of　the　gate。　He　shouted　to　her　to　stop；　seeing　the　dangers　that　could　lurk　below　the　steps。　They　would　not　simply　send　one　man　to　deal　with　him。　Unless　he　was　greatly　mistaken；　a　whole　hil　team　would　be　operational　and；　if　anything；　Beatrice　had　probably　winged　the　locksmith　who　had　not　even　got　through　the　single；　second；　gate。
　He　followed　her；　trying　to　keep　close　to　the　wall　in　the　darkness；　wincing　in　anticipation　of　the　fatal　burst　of　machine…gun　fire　that　would　surely　e　at　any　moment。　Somewhere　from　outside；　a　fair　way　off；　he　heardthestutterof　a　car　ignition；　then　the　grind　of　gears。
　Bciitrice　had　reached　the　gate　without　any　further　shots　ing　out　of　the　night；　turning　her　head　and　calling；　low…voiced。　'The　keys。　James。　You　have　the　keys。'
　He　already　had　them　out　on　the　penlight　ring　in　his　left　hand；　running　his　fingers　through　them　10　select　the　key　to　the　inner　gate。
Beatrice　had　stopped　with　her　back　to　the　wall；　trying　to　find　cover　in　the　slim　stem　of　a　vine　as　Bond　passed　her；　fumbling　with　the　keys。　It　took　around　twenty　seconds　which　seemed　like　an　hour；　but。　when　the　key　turned；　there　was　Beatrice　at　his　back；　preparing　to　give　covering…fire。
　Nobody。　No　movement。　No　sudden　fire　slashing　through　the　night。　Only　wet　spots　of　blood　around　the　gate；　showing　dark；　like　oil；　in　the　small　beam　from　the　penlight。
　They　spread　out；　Bond　moving　left　to　the　car；　the　girl　lo　the　right；　crouching　and　ready；　heading　for　ihe　main　gates。
　It　took　thirty　seconds　to　give　the　Fiat　a　perfunctory　going　over。　It　was　locked　and　untouched。　They　both　reached　the　gates；　and　saw　that　they　had　been　breached　with　a　lock…pistol；　the　bolt　of　which　had　smashed　out　the　flat　oblong　mechanism；　as　it　was　propelled　at　high　speed　by　a　carbon　dioxide　cartridge。
　Together　they　even　ventured　into　the　road。　Bond　crossing　first　while　Beatrice　covered　him。　For　ten　minutes　or　so　they　offered　themselves　as　targets。　Nothing。　Had　the　team　been　frightened　off　so　easily？　To　the　girl　he　said　they　should　try　and　secure　the　gate。　She　nodded；　'I　have　a　chain　and　padlock。　I'll　get　them　now。'　She　moved　quickly　back　into　the　turning　circle　within　the　gates；　and　sped　up　the　steps　towards　the　villa。
　Bond　looked　over　the　Fial　again；　then　leaned　against　the　wall。　Why　all　this　trouble　for　me？　he　asked　himself。　Certainly　the　supposedly　undercover　job　on　Invincible　had　responsibilities。　But　taking　out　one　man。　himself；　would　make　no　lasting　difference：　someone　would　take　his　place。　He　recalled　NTs　words　about　their　intelligence…gathering。　They　imagine　you're　unique；'　the　Old　Man　had　said。　'They　think　your　presence　on　Invincible　is　very　bad　medicine　for　them。'　M　had　made　a　sarcastic　one…note　laugh。　'I　suppose　BAST　and　its　leaders　are　your　fan　club；　007。　You　should　send　them　an　autographed　picture。'
　Bond　shrugged　in　the　dark。　That　was　not　the　pomi。　He　was　the　stalking…horse；　the　tethered　goat　who　might　bring　BAST　to　him。　It　was　a　pity　they　had　obviously　managed　to　spirit　away　the　member　of　the　team　Beatrice　had　winged。　But　it　was　thorough　thinking　on　their　part。　There　was　plenty　of　lime　and　it　would　be　best　to　move　one　injured　man　or　woman　to　safety　before　they　tried　again。　Later　tonight　…　or　morning　as　it　was　now？　He　looked　at　his　watch。　Three…thirty　on　a　cold　and　dangerous　morning；　and　all　was　not　well。
　He　heard　Beatrice　e　down　the　steps；　two　ai　a　time；　but　wonderfully　light　on　her　feet。
　Together　they　wrapped　the　chain　around　the　gates；　securing　the　ground　bolts　which　went　into　metal　and　concrete　holes；　then　clicking　the　large；　strong　padlock　into　place。　A　last　look　around　and　（hey　turned　back；　through　the　second　gate；　which　Bond　locked；　and　went　around　the　villa　to　the　rear　terrace。
　'I'll　make　coffee。'　Her　tone　had　something　about　it　ihat　you　did　not　argue　with；　so　he　unlocked　the　rear　windows；　and　let　her　go　in　first。　When　he　turned　the　lights　on　she　said　something　about　the　place　looking　as　though　gypsies　had　been　camping　there。　'You　were　being　pretty　thorough。　Anyone　ing　in　here　would　have　made　quite　я　din。'
　'That　was　the　general　idea；'　Bond　smiled。　'1　didn't　know　I　had　a　bodyguard　so　close。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？'
　'Not　in　my　brief；〃　she　said；　almost　curtly　and　in　perfect　English。
'I　owe　you　my　life。'
　〃Then　you　owe　me　mine。〃　She　turned；　smiling；　putting　the　pistol　down　on　one　of　the　tables。　'How　can　you　ever　repay　me？'
　'We'll　think　of　some　way。'　Bond's　mouth　was　only　inches　from　hers。　He　hovered；　then　turned　away。　'Coffee。〃　he　said。　'We　must　stay　alert；　they　could　be　back。'
　'It'll　be　light　soon；'　Beatrice　said；　busying　herself　in　the　kitchen。　〃I　doubt　they'll　return　in　the　daytime。'
'How　much　do　you　know？'
'That　you're　here；　and　（hat　there's　a　contract　out　on　you。'
〃And　how　much　do　you　know　about　contracts？'
Tni　fully　trained。'
　'That's　not　the　answer。　I　asked　how　much　do　you　know　about　contracts？'
　'I　know　it's　some　crazy　terrorist　organisation　called　BAST。　And　I've　been　told　that　they　know　where　to　find　you；　that　they'll　go　to　great　lengths　。　。　。'
　'Suicidal　lengths；　Beatrice。　That's　why　we　shouldn't　restrict　ourselves。　They　can　try　to　get　me　on　the　street；　or　here；　by　day　or　night。　I'm　the　magnet；　they　are　the　iron　filings。　We　want　one　of　them。　Alive　if　possible。　So。　we　have　to　keep　our　guards　up　twenty…four　hours　a　day；'
She　remained　silent　for　the　few　minutes　it　took　her　to　pour　boiling　water　over　the　freshly　ground　coffee　in　the　tall　cafeiiere。　adjust　the　lid　and　push　down　on　the　plunger。　〃Are　you　irttimidated；　James？〃　Her　eyes　did　not　move　from　the　coffee…pot。　'How　intimidated？'　'Because　you　were　given　a　woman　bodyguard。'
　Bond　laughed；　'Far　from　it。　Why　do　some　women　automatically　think　that　people　in　our　trade　are　anti…feminist？　Welt…trained　women　are　sometimes　better　than　men　in　situations　like　this。　You　nearly　took　one　of　（hem　out　tonight。　1　didn't　get　near。　You　were　also　quicker　than　I。　No。　Nol　guilty　to　being　intimidated。'
　'Good。'　She　raised　her　head；　the　dark　eyes　flashing　with　something　which　could　have　been　either　pride　or　power。　'Good。　Because　you're　in　my　charge。　I'm　the　boss；　and　you　do　as　。〃　say。　Understand？'
　The　smile　disappeared　from　Bond's　face。　'1　have　no　orders。　Just　act　naturally；　they　said。　We'll　have　someone　watching　out　for　you。　they　said。〃
　'And　that　someone　is　me。'　Beatrice　was　pouring　the　coffee。　'Black？　Good。　Sugar？'
？No。'
　〃Wise　choice。　If　you're　worried　about　taking　orders　from　a　woman；　why　don't　you　telephone　London。　Give　them　the　day's　code　for　me　and　they'll　tell　you。〃　Her　eyes　met　his　again　and　this　time　they　locked。　For　half　a　dozen　heartbeats　it　seemed　to　be　a　battle　of　wills。　Then　Bond　nodded　curtly　and　crossed　the　room　to　the　telephone。　H