johngardner.winloseordie-第44章

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choke　he　pulled　in　hard；　pushing　him　to　the　left；　and　realising　he　had　no　option　bul　（o　fire　a！　the　girl。
　The　shots　crashed　out。　echoing　like　cannon　blasts　in　the　confined　space。　Both　fired　twice；　and　both　hit　their　marks。　Hamarik's　left　arm　dropped　from　Israel's　throat　as　he　cried　out；　look　a　pace　backwards；　tried　to　lift　his　pistol　again；　but　was　forced　to　clutch　at　his　righi　shoulder　which　had　suddenly　spouted　blood。　He　cried　again；　dropped　the　pistol　and　sank　to　his　knees。　It　was　Bruce　Trimble　who　got　to　him　first；　snatching　his　own　weapon　from　the　deck　and　holding　it　at　arm's　length。　'Stay　where　you　are。　you　damned　honky　fraud！'　But　Hamarik　was　already　unconscious；　keeling　over　and　sprawling　onto　the　deck。
　Bond　moved　forward　towards　Nikki。　She　stood　like　a　statue　in　the　doorway；　pistol　still　extended；　arms　rigid；　and　feet　apart。　Bul　the　white　roll…neck　sweater　she　wore　had　turned　crimson：　a　great；　ugly　spreading　slain。
　Bond　was　only　two　paces　from　her　when　he　heard　the　ghastly　rattle　from　her　throat；　saw　the　blood　gush　from　her　mouth　and　her　body　crumple　to　the　deck。　He　knelt　over　the　girl；　his　fingers　feeling　For　a　pulse　in　her　neck。　Nothing。　〃She's　dead/　Bond　said；　bleakly。　He　had　liked　Nikki；　in　spite　of　some　suspicions；　and　all　sudden　deaths　of　young　people　were　sad　moments；　particularly　in　this　case；　for　Nikki　Ratnikov　had　put　her　own　life　at　risk　for　their　lives。
　'Well；　this　bastard's　still　alive；　and　I　reckon　he　can　be　patched　up　and　made　to　lalk。〃　There　was　no　bitterness　in　Bruce　Trimble's　voice　as　he　walked　towards　the　nearest　bulkhead　telephone　to　call　the　Sick　Bay。　Over　his　shoulder　he　said　they　would　need　a　marine　guard　around　the　clock。
Bond　got　to　his　feel。　Take　care　of　it　for　me。　Bruec。　I've　got　to　see　what's　going　on。'　Even　in　the　few　minutes　of　stand　off　and　death；　they　were　all　aware　that　there　had　been　some　serious　problem　on　the　ship。　The　Tannoy　had　been　active；　and　Sir　John　Walmsley。　himself；　had　been　issuing　some　orders。　Bond　made　his　way　along　the　passage；　turned　the　corner　and　climbed　the　panionway。　Whatever　else　had　occurred；　he　now　had　to　break　Ihe　news　of　Nikki's　death；　and　the　fact　that　they　had　a　second　presumed　terrorist　on　board。
Bassam　Baradj　scanned　the　sea　with　his　binoculars。　All　being　well；　Ihe　operation　would　have　started　by　now；　and　soon　he　expected　to　hear　what　course　of　action　the　Captain　of　Invincible　would　lake。
　He　refocused　the　glasses　on　the　freighter；　Estado　Novo；　which　was；　al　this　moment；　passing　through　the　Straits　of　Gibraltar。　The　large　crate　was　still　in　place　on　the　main　deck；　shielding　the　stolen　Sea　Harrier　from　view；　and　he　knew　the　pilot；　Felipe　Pantano；　was　also　aboard。
　The　freighter　had　followed　instructions　to　the　letter　and　Baradj　had　been　in　constant；　ciphered；　contact　with　the　ship　since　it　had　made　its　short　visit　to　Oporto。　From　there　the　Estado　Novo　had　passed　through　the　Straits　and　headed　for　Tangier；　where；　with　much　bribery　and　considerable　ingenuity；　Baradj　had　arranged　Tor　other　cargo　to　be　taken　on　board：　mainly　four　AIM…9J　air…to…air　Sidewinder　missiles；　and　a　large　quantity　of　30mm　ammunition；　belted　and　ready　for　installation　for　use　by　the　two　Aden　guns　already　resting　in　their　pods　on　both　port　and　starboard　of　the　Harrier's　fuselage。　They　had　also　taken　on　a　considerable　amount　of　fuel。
　By　tonight；　Baradj　thought；　the　freighter　would　be　in　place。　If　needed；　the　stolen　Sea　Harrier　could　be　airborne；　by　using　the　vertical　take…off　technique；　within　five　minutes　of　an　order　being　received。
Baradj　look　one　more　look；　then　put　the　glasses　in　their　case；　turned　and　began　to　walk　quietly　back　to　The　Rock　Hotel。　Earlier　he　had　looked　down　on　the　airport　to　make　certain　his　private　helicopter　had　arrived　safely。　The　pilot　was　to　stay　with　the　crafl　and　Baradj　knew　it　would　take　pan　in　the　final　piece　of　his　plan　…　the　recovery　of　Ihe　huge　ransom　he　expected　to　pick　up　from　the　sea。　Of　course　the　pilot　had　no　idea　that　he　was　doomed；　just　as　all　members　of　his　brainchild；　BAST；　were　doomed；　to　the　extent　that　ihey　would　have　done　the　dangerous　and　difficult　work　with　no　reward。　Twenty…Four；　maybe　forty…eight　hours。　Вitradj　smiled；　after　that　he　would　have　a　veritable　king's　ransom。　He　would　also　have　disappeared　from　the　face　of　the　earth。　He　actually　laughed　out　loud；　thinking　of　ihe　fanatics　who　would　have　given　their　souls　for　an　opportunity　like　this；　and　how　（hey　would　have　wasted　the　money　on　guns　and　bombs；　bringing　more　danger　to　（heir　lives。　He。　Bassam　Baradj　…　or　to　be　truthful；　Robert　Besaviisky　…　would　use　it　for　a　really　decent　purpose：　his　own　pleasure　and　security。　Not　yet；　but　in　a　year　or　so。　he　would　emerge；　with　a　new　face　and　identity。　He　would　own　houses；　estates；　cars；　yachts；　private　jets；　panies　which　might　even　do　some　good　for　（he　world。　He　would　make　gifts：　a　new　library　here；　or　a　museum　there；　maybe　even　scholarships。　Yes。　that　was　a　new　idea。　Some　good　（hings　must　e　out　of　the　great　crock　of　gold　that　waited　for　him。　This　would　only　be　fair。
　The　sun　shone　and　Baradj　was　happy。　The　sun　was　set　fair　for　Gibraltar；　though　the　weather　report　for　the　rest　of　the　Spanish　coast　was　not　so　good。　Never　mind；　it　would　be　good　enough　to　do　whal　needed　to　be　done。
'I；　for　one；　Sir　John；　do　not　care　about　what　has　happened。　This　is　a　unique　meeting；　and　we　do　need　a　clear　four　days　to　plete　our　talks。　Do　I　have　to　make　it　plain　again？　Four　。　。　。　clear　。　。　。　days。　That　is　what　was　arranged；　and　that　is　what　we　all　expect。'　The　Prime　Minister　looked　towards　the　President　of　the　United　States　and　Secretary　Gorbachev。　An　interpreter　whispered　the　translation　in　Gorbachev's　ear。　He　nodded　gravely；　the　birthmark　on　his　forehead　eoming　into　view　as　the　head　bobbed　and　he　repeated。　'Da　。。。　Da　。。。　Da。'
　〃Prime　Minister；'　George　Bush　spoke　quietly。　'I　understand　the　problem；　and　I　see　you're　anxious　because　we　are　your　guests。　I　agree　wholly　with　you。　We　should　stay　aboard；　we've　lost　almost　one　hour　already。　But　I'd　like　to　hear　the　options　again。〃
　Sir　John　Walmsley　gave　a　tiny　sigh　and　nudged　James　Bond。　who　stood　beside　him。　'I　think　Captain　Bond　should　give　you　a　little　rundown；'　he　said；　his　voice　thai　of　a　desperate　man。　'He　is　in　plete　control　of　your　security；　so　he；　as　it　were；　carries　the　can。'
　'Oh　yes？'　Bond　thought　before　he　spoke。　'I　think　Sir　John's　explained　it　very　clearly。'　He　kept　his　voice　deliberately　low；　and　slow　enough　for　the　translator　to　do　his　work　for　Chairman　Gorbachev。　This　morning；　one　of　the　main　turbines　which　drive　this　ship；　had　a　serious　malfunction。　One　man；　a　Petty　Officer；　was　killed　and　there　was　no　further　damage。　The　turbine　has　been　inspected　and；　so　far。　there　are　no　signs　of　sabotage。　One　thing　is　clear；　（hough　…　we　should　not　attempt　to　make　Gibraltar　without　getting　the　turbine　running　again。　Also；　because　the　other　turbines　were　produced　at　the　same　（ime　as　the　one　which　blew；　it　is　essential　that　they　have　a　plete　overhaul。　This　will　take　several　days。'　He　paused　to　let　all　this　sink　in。　and　Mrs　Thaicher　showed　slight　annoyance；　looking　at　him　as　if　to　say；　'Gel　on　with　it；　man。'
　'There　is　a　US　Naval　Base；　near　Cadiz；　and　within　a　few　hours'　sailing　time　Trom　here；　but　there　are　problems　about　this　place　。　。　。'
'You're　talking　about　Rota？'　the　PM　asked。
　'Precisely；　Prime　Minister。　Until　a　few　years　ago　Rota　was　a　base　for　US　ships。　In　particular　for　the　nuclear　submarine　fleets。　However；　this　was　discontinued　at　the　request　of　（he　Spanish　Government。　Now　it　is　solely　used　ior　Spanish　ships；　though　the　United　States　use　it　as　an　airfield　…　to　support　the　US　Navy；　as　a　staging　post　for　US　personnel　returning　home；　or　going　to　other　NATO　bases　in　Europe。　It　is　also；　I　am　told；　used　for　more　sensilive　matters。'
　'So　what　are　you　telling　us。　Captain　Bond？'　President　Bush　asked；　a　little　sharply。
　'Permission　has　been　given　for　Invincible　to　put　into　Rota。　In　fact　it　has　now　been　included　in　the　exercise　in　which　we　are　supposed　to　be　engaged。　Landsea　'89。　A　new　turbine　is　being　flown　out。　in　several　sections；　and　a　special　team　of　engineers　are　ing　in　from　Rolls…Royce。　The　problem　there　is　that　we　shall　he　called　upon　to　allow　more　civilians　on　board　。　。　。'
　〃Can