johngardner.winloseordie-第34章

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　'Right；　Clover。　After　spending　time　with　me　at　Northanger　you　went　back　io　Yeovilton　and　collected　your　girls。　Girls　you'd　already　worked　with。'
'Yes。〃
　'Then　how　do　you　explain　Leading　Wren　Deeley？　The　girl　who　found　friend　Morgan's　body？'
　She　took　another　sip　of　coffee；　then　said；　'James；　I　just　can't　explain　her。　Those　last　few　weeks　at　Yeovilton　were　spent　going　through　all　the　drills　with　the　girls　…　all　the　stuff　we　would　have　to　do　for　Stewards'　Meeting。　I　came　back　from　Northanger　and　one　of　my　Leading　Wrens　had　gone　sick。　They　had　simply　put　Deeley　in　her　place。　I　had　a　bit　of　a　row　with　the　Executive　Officer　about　it。　I　also　had　to　go　through　the　training　with　Deeley　on　her　own。　Thank　God；　she's　smart　and　a　quick　study；　as　they　say　in　the　theatre。〃
　Bond　looked　into　her　eyes。　They　were　steady　and　nothing　stirred　or　moved　within　them。　'You　baby…sat　me　in　Ischia　with　a　team；　right？'
'You　know　it's　right。〃
'And　you're　still　watching　my　back　here；　in　Invincible？
'Part　of　my　orders；　yes。　It　isn't　easy；　James。〃
　He　let　the　pause　hang　between　them　for　almost　a　minute。　Tve　checked　you　out。　Clover。　You　appear　to　be　absolutely　clean。'
'What　d'you　mean？　Checked　me　out？'
　'I've　been　onto　our　records　in　London　with　a　list　of　names。　You　e　out　clean；　and　you've　done　all　the　courses　for　my　particular　service。〃
　'Of　course　I　have。　Damn　it。　I've　been　in　the　Royal　Navy　for　six　years。〃
Then　why　didn't　you　run　a　check　on　Deeley？'
'I　didn't　think　it　。　。〃
　Bond　hit　the　desk　with　the　flat　of　his　palm；　'Who　do　you　think　was　responsible　for　Ed　Morgan's　death？'
　She　gave　a　long　sigh；　'Nikki　the　Rat。　She　arrived　in　the　heads　very　conveniently；　just　after　Deeley　found　the　body。〃
'Don't　be　naive。　Clover。　You　saw　the　state　of　those　heads；　they　were　awash　with　blood。　We　made　one　hell　of　a　mess　in　the　corridors　just　getting　the　body　looked　at　and　moved。　Footprints　all　over　the　place。　When　we　arrived　…　you；　me　and　the　marine　…　there　was　one　set　of　smudged　footprints　leading　out。　Deeley；　you　say；　found　the　body；　followed　quickly　by　Nikki　Ratnikov。　Deeley　actually　went　into　the　heads；　yes？〃
'Yes。'　A　very　small　voice。
　'Nikki　stood　outside　the　bulkhead　and　screamed　her　head　off；　right？1
She　nodded。
　'Then　Deeley　came　out。　In　a　state？　You　haven't　told　me　any　of　this；　yet。　But　I'm　presuming　it。　Am　1　right？'
　She　took　a　long　sip　of　coffee。　'The　screaming　woke　me。　After　all。　my　cabin's　almost　opposite　the　heads。'
'Yes？'
'I　came　out　and　there　was　Nikki　screaming　。　。　。'
'Standing　just　outside　the　bulkhead？'
'Yes。'
'And　Deeley　was　inside；　with　her　feet　paddling　in　blood？'
　A　quick；　almost　reluctant；　nod。　'She　was　in　a　state。　Just　standing　there　looking　at　the　body　and　the　blood。　Frozen　there。　I　thought　she'd　have　hysterics。　She　could　have　caught　them　quite　easily　from　the　Russian；　who　was　making　one　hell　of　a　din/
Then？'
　'The　marine　guard　came　running。　He　said　something　about　reporting　to　you。〃
　'Which　he　did；　with　you　on　his　heels。　You　got　to　me　a　couple　of　minutes　after　him。　What　happened　in　that　couple　of　minutes？'
'Nikki　faded　away；　sobbing　her　heart　out；'
'And　you　told　Deeley　to　e　out？'
'Yes。'　Again　the　little　nod。
　'You　saw　she　was　dripping　blood　all　over　the　place　from　her　feet？'
　Ч　told　her　to　wait　a　minute　and　got　a　towel　from　my　cabin。　She　wiped　off　her　feet　and　I　told　her　to　get　back　to　her　cabin。　I　said　I'd　talk　to　her　later。'
'And　have　you？'
　'Yes；　I've　seen　her。　She　seems　to　be　in　shock。　There　are　three　other　girls　in　her　cabin；　they're　helping　to　calm　her　down。　Actually　I　got　the　doc　to　give　her　something。　Sedative。'
　'You　realise　that；　unless　the　killer　got　out　very　quickly；　Deetey's　your　main　suspect？　One　set　of　smudged；　bloody　footprints；　which　ended　suddenly　along　the　passage；　when　we　got　there。　De…elcy's。　we　presume；　with　her　feet　wiped　off　with　your　towel。　What　was　she　wearing？'
　'A　robe。　Towelling　robe；　most　of　the　girls　find　those　convenient。'
'Carrying　anything？'
'No。'
　〃Then　there's　another　problem。　We　haven't　recovered　the　murder　weapon。　Somewhere；　someone's　got　a　very　sharp　knife。　And　there's　the　other　matter　of　you　not　having　Deeley　security　cleared　when　they　gave　her　to　you　at　Yeovilton。〃
　'She　was　Grade　3　cleared。　On　her　documents。　She's　been　working　on　classified　stuff　at　Reel　HQ。　Northwood。'
'It　actually　says　that？1
'You　want　to　see　it？'
'Later。　It's　all　a　forgery　anyway。'
'What　。　。　。？'
　He　didn't　let　her　finish。　'Leading　Wren　Sarah　Deeley　does　not　exist。　Clover。'
'What　d'you　。　。　。'
　Again　he　stopped　her；　by　pleting　the　question。　'What　do　I　mean？　I　mean　what　1　say。　No　Leading　Wren　Deeley　exists　in　your　branch　of　the　service。　I've　had　it　from　London。　She's　a　plant；　and　I　suspect　that　Ed　Morgan　knew　it。　or；　at　least　suspected　it。　He　had　other　suspicions　as　well。'
'This　is　crazy！'
　'No。　you've　made　a　terrible　mistake。　Clover。　You　were　in　charge。　You　should　have　personally　seen　to　it　that　all　security　clearances　matched　up　and　were　for　real。'
　〃Oh；　my　God。'　There　was　no　denying　the　shock　in　her　voice　and　on　her　face。　'What　do　we　do。　James？'
'You　mean　what　do　/　do？　I'll　tell　you。'　He　spoke　for　ten　minutes；　saying　that　he　would　feel　safer　if　she　was　out　of　the　way。　Til　arrange　a　marine　guard　and　have　you　kept　somewhere　out　of　sight。　It'll　make　mailers　easier。　Then　I　want　to　talk　to　the　Captain。　After　that；　I'll　see　Nikki　Ratnikov。　1　want　an　independent　identification　of　the　Deeley　girl。　Then　I'll　question　her；　and　she'll　probably　be　taken　into　custody　and　held　until　it's　all　over　and　we're　in　Gib。　I'm　not　going　to　bother　my　people　as　yet。　More　secure　to　do　it　directly　from　Gib。　Okay？1
'Whatever　you　say；　James。〃
　As　he　rose；　so　she　came　towards　him；　one　hand　reaching　out　and　grasping　his　sleeve。　〃James；　my　career's　at　risk。　I've　played　everything　by　the　book；　even　saved　your　life　from　that　wretched　girl　who。　I'm　certain；　was　going　to　see　you　dead　before　Christmas　Day　was　out。　You　owe　me　。　。　。'
　'And　you。　Clover；　owe　me　now。　I'll　do　whatever　I　can　for　you。'
She　came　closer；　her　young　body　thrusting　against　his。
　Bond　pulled　away；　holding　her　ai　arm's　length。　'Later；　Clover。　When　it's　all　over　we'll　talk。　Just　wait。'　He　went　to　the　cabin　door；　opened　it　and　spoke　ю　the　marine　on　duty。　While　they　waited；　the　Tannoy　blasted　out　…　the　Captain　saying　thai　they　had　now　cleared　the　English　Channel。　'There　are　slill　submarines　shadowing　us；〃　he　boomed；　'but　they　tell　me　they've　been　ordered　not　to　attack。　The　political　situation　is　that　both　sides　are　talking；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　seven　NATO　air　bases　on　the　European　Continent　were　attacked；　with　varying　degrees　of　damage　and　success；　during　the　night。　I'm　going　to　stand　down　Red　Watch　for　two　hours；　but　you　are　all　on　an　immediate　response　alert。　1　shall　keep　you　informed　of　any　change　in　the　situation。'
　The　click　that　ended　the　message　coincided　with　the　knock　on　his　cabin　door。　It　was　the　marine　sergeant　Harvey。　The　man　was　tired；　like　everyone　else　on　board；　and　it　showed。　Bond　lost　no　time　asking　questions　and　then　issuing　orders　…　'Have　you　anywhere　we　can　stow　First　Officer　Pennington　while　I　make　a　couple　of　enquiries？'
　'Yes。　sir。　The　duty　marine　sergeant's　cabin。　I'm　still　there　for　the　next　hour　or　so。'
　〃Right；　take　her　there；　and　make　sure　she's　under　guard。　There's　the　possibility　she　could　be　attacked；　like　our　American　friend　last　night　…　at　least　until　I've　finished　my　job。'
　'If　you'll　e　with　me。　Ma'am；'　Sergeant　Harvey　appeared　to　be　very　considerate。　To　Bond　he　said。　Til　see　she's　guarded　every　minute；　sir。'
Clover　gave　Bond　a　weak　smile；　the　look　of　someone　with　a　lot　on　her　mind；　and　departed　with　the　sergeant。　Before　he　could　close　the　cabin　door；　a　ynung　midshipman　appeared　in　the　corridor；　which；　like　all　the　other　passageways　below　the　flight　deck；　was　only　wide　enough　for　two　people　to　pass　by　brushing　against　each　other。　In　the　US　Navy。　Bond　remembered；　they　called　them　'knee…touchers'。
　'Captain's　pliments；　sir。　Could　you　join　him　in　his　day　cabin　as　quickly　as　possible？'
　Tell　him　I'm　on　my　way。　I　wanted　to　see　him　in　any　case。'　Bond　turned　back　into　his　cabin；　opened　up　the　little　cupboard　which　stowed　away　a　small　handbasin　and　mirror。　He　looked　unshaven；　but　t