johngardner.winloseordie-第9章

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　'How　are　you　tonight；　then。　Clover？'　He　smiled；　as　though　the　fencing　of　the　previous　evening　was　now　well　forgotten。
　〃I'm　fine；　sir〃　She　returned　the　smile　though　she　spoke　formally。　'I　was　wailing　to　iry　and　gel　a　word　with　you。〃
　'Right。　How　about　dinner？'
　〃That's　really　nice。　I'll　get　my　coat；　can　we　。　。　。？〃
　Bond　shook　his　head；　putting　an　arm　out　to　stop　her。　There　are　few　people　in　the　wardroom　on　a　Saturday　nighl。　Clover。　Let's　see　what　they　have　for　us　there。　I　seem　to　remember　that　on　the　ratings'　messdecks　of　a　Saturday　evening；　il　was　always　〃Herrings　in〃。〃　He　recalled　it　well　enough　from　the　days　when；　as　Officer　of　the　Watch；　he　had　to　do　rounds　of　the　messdecks。　'Herrings　in'　was　the　name　they　always　gave　to　the　large　tins　of　herrings　in　tomato　sauce；　a　favourite　among　both　ratings　and　Petty　Officers。　Bond　could　never　understand　il。　The　food　looked　and　smelled　revolting　to　him。　but　there　were　never　any　plaints　on　Saturday　nights。　He　presumed　things　had　changed　since　then。
　The　only　people　dining　in　at　that　time　were　the　Officer　of　the　Watch　and　the　Royal　Marines　Duty　Officer；　who　both　nodded　deferentially　to　Bond　as　he　led　Clover　to　a　couple　of　chairs　distant　to　the　other　two　officers。　The　Wren　stewards　served　them　with　the　only　choice　on　the　Saturday　night　menu　…　smoked　salmon；　followed　by　grilled　steak。　Bond　took　his　steak　rare　and；　refusing　the　pommes　frites。　ordered　a　small　green　salad。
　They　talked　idly；　circling　the　problem　both　knew　existed；　until　the　main　course　had　been　served。　It　was　Clover　Pennington　who　took　　he　lead　…
　'I　wanted　to　apologise　for　last　night〃　She　turned　her　eyes　away　and　blushed　as　she　spoke。
　〃Apologise　for　what？'　Bond　stared　at　her　until　she　had　to　make　eye　contact。
　'I　broke　all　security　regulations；　sir。　I　shouldn't　have　mentioned　either　Invincible　or　Landsea　'89。　I'm　sorry；　it　jusl　seemed　natural；　particularly　as　I　knew　you　were　being　drafted　as　well。'
　'You're　quite　right。'　Bond　was　almost　sharp　with　her。　'To　have　gained　the　rank　of　First　Officer　you　should　really　have　learned　all　ihe　lessons　of　security　by　now。　I　have　to　be　hones！　with　you；　Clover；　I've　always　had　great　reservations　about　young　women　with　either　loud　voices；　or　runaway　tongues。　The　Royal　Navy　isn't　known　as　the　Silent　Service　for　nothing。　We've　〃an　almosi　unblemished　reputation　for　keeping　mouths　closed　and　ears　open。'
　〃I　know；　sir。　I'm　sorry。　I　jusl　thought　that　if　I　got　my　apology　out　of　the　way；　perhaps　。　。　；'
　Bond　could　not　make　up　his　mind　whether　she　was　jusl　a　garrulous　woman；　or　an　upper…class　gold　digger。
　'Perhaps　what？'
　'Well；　last　night　we　。。。〃
　'I　think　you'd　do　well　to　forget　about　last　night…　At　least　until　the　matters　on　your　conscience　are　over。'　In　case　he　was　being　too　harsh。　Bond　gave　her　a　tight　smile。　'Let's　see　how　i（　all　goes。　After　that；　anything's　possible。　We　could　meet　socially。　No　problem　there。'
　Clover　Pennington　looked　suitably　crestfallen；　pushed　her　plate　away；　made　a　muttered　excuse　and　left　the　wardroom。　Bond　quietly　finished　his　meal；　went　into　the　ante…room；　took　a　small　brandy　with　his　coffee；　then　headed　back　to　his　quarters。　Tomorrow　was　a　free　day；　but　for　him　it　would　be　a　full　tine。
　He　left　the　Royal　Naval　Air　Station　jusl　after　eight。　having　eaten　his　usual　breakfast。　Bond　was　beginning　to　realise　what　had　attracted　him　to　the　Navy　in　the　first　place。　He　was　a　man　of　routine；　and　enjoyed　the　privileges　（hat　came　with　rank。　But　now；　rank　was　put　to　one　side。　He　wore　civilian　clothes；　and　drove　the　BMW　with　caution；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　rear…view　mirror。　Even　though　he　was　in　England；　this　was　an　operation　and　any　contact　with　his　real　Service　was　a　clandestine　matter　where　Field　Rules　applied。
　He　drove　to　Cheddar；　pleased　that　on　this　late　autumn　Sunday　there　were　few　other　people　on　the　road。　Certainly　he　appeared　to　be　free　of　any　surveillance　as　he　turned　off　ihe　main　road　and　headed　towards　a　modern　house　on　the　edge　of　an　up…market　estate。
　The　double　garage…doors　were　open　and　Bill　Tanner　stood　by　the　crimson　Lancia　already　drawn　back　from　Ihe　automatic　doors。　It　took　Bond　less　than　a　minute　to　change　cars；　reversing　the　Lancia　out　while　Tanner　nodded　and　drove　the　BMW　inlo　the　garage。　No　other　ears　came　near　and　Bond　crammed　an　unlikely　fishing　hat　on　his　head；　and　slipped　dark　glasses　over　his　eyes。　No　words　were　exchanged；　bul；　as　he　turned　the　Lancia　back　towards　the　main　road。　Bond　saw　the　garage…door　ing　down　to　hide　his　own　car。
　An　hour　later　he　had　negotiated　the　M5　Motorway；　and　taken　the　M4　fork　which　led　him　towards　London。　It　took　about　fifly　minutes　for　him　to　reach　the　Windsor　exit；　after　which　he　circled　the　smaller　roads；　still　watching　for　a　possible　tail。　It　was　a　lengthy；　painstaking　business　so　he　did　not　reach　his　destination　until　after　eleven；　purring　across　the　Windsor…Bagshot　road　and　looking　out　for　the　Squirrel　public　house　on　his　left；　then　the　gateway　of　simple　stone　on　the　right。
　He　turned　the　Lancia　ihrough　the　gateway　lo　see　the　familiar；　well…manicured　drive；　the　screen　of　silver　birch；　beech；　pine　and　oak　trees　which　stood　guard　over　the　rectangular　Regency　manor　house　of　weathered　Bath　stone。
　He　pulled　the　Lancia　around　Ihe　side　of　the　main　house；　parking　so　that　it　would　also　be　screened　by　the　trees　which；　as　he　knew　from　the　past；　were　not　the　only　proteciion　that　guarded　M's　beautiful　country　house　called；　nostalgically。　Quarterdeck。
　His　feet　crunched　on　the　gravel　as　he　approached　the　portico　and　grasped　the　thong　attached　to　the　gleaming　brass　bell；　once　that　of　some　long…forgotten　ship；　and　clanged　it　to　and　fro。　Seconds　later　the　stout　door　was　unbolted　from　inside　and　opened　to　reveal　M's　servant；　Davison。　who　had　replaced　the　faithful　ex…Chief　Petty　Officer　Hammond。
　'And　Mrs　Davison？　She　well？'　Bond　stepped　into　the　hall；　taking　in　the　familiar　scene　…　the　smell　of　polish　from　the　pine　panelling；　the　Victorian　hall　stand；　with　M's　old　Ulster　hanging　from　it；　and　Wellington　boots　set　nearby；　the　table　with　its　wonderfully…detailed　1。〃144　scale　model　of　the　battle　cruiser　Repulse；　M's　last　mand。
　'Mrs　Davison's　fit　as　a　flea；　sir　…　and　twice　as　nippy；　if　you　follow　my　drift。'
　'Indeed　I　do。　Davison。'　Bond　inclined　his　head　towards　the　model。　'Much　more　beautiful　than　（he　present　one；　eh？'
　'Don't　know　what　to　make　of　the　Andrew　any　more。　sir。　Carriers　that　aren't　carriers；　and　no　real　ships。　Not　like　in　the　old　days；　anyhow。''2
　The　present　Repulse　is　the　S23。　one　ot　the　Royal　Navy's　first　〃Resolution1　class　SSBN；　Polaris…armed　submarines。
　'Hanyway。　sir；　the　Hadmiral　is　expecting　you。'
　'Good。　Lead　the　way；　Davison。'
　The　former　CPO　knocked　loudly　on　the　thick；　heavy　Spanish　mahogany　door　and　M's　voice　sounded；　sharp；　from　behind　it　…　'e。'
　'Captain　James　Bon；d；　sir。'
　'Permission　to　e　aboard；　sir？'　Bond　smiled；　but　immediately　realised　that　his　smile　was　not　returned。
　M　did　not　open　the　conversation　until　the　door　was　closed　behind　them　but；　in　those　few　seconds。　Bond　took　in　the　entire　room。　It　was　still　as　neat　as　ever。　The　table　near　the　window；　with　water…colour　materials　laid　out　in　what　looked　like　a　parade…ground　precision；　the　old　naval　prints；　neatly　aligned　along　the　walls　and　M's　desk；　with　papers；　an　old　ink…stand。　leather　blotter；　calendar；　the　two　telephones；　one　ivory；　the　other　red；　all　in　perfect　order。
　'Well。'　M　began；　'this　had　better　be　good。　Bond。　There　was　a　specific　arrangement。　No　contacts　unless　you　fired　a　distress　signal。'
'Sir；　I　was　。　。　。'
　'If　you're　going　to　tell　me　someone　had　a　pot　shot　at　you　with　a　missile。　I　know　about　that；　just　as　Т　know　it　could　have　been　an　electronic　fault　in　your　aircraft　。　。　。'
　'With　respect；　sir。　That　was　no　electronic　fault。　There　are　other　matters　also。　I　wouldn't　break　field　rules　if　there　were　no
　reason。'
　M　motioned　to　an　armchair。　Bond　sat；　and　M　took　his　usual　place　behind　the　desk。　'You'd　better　。。。〃　he　was　cut　short　by　the　red　telephone　purring。　He　lifted　it　to　his　ear　saying　nothing。　Then　M　grunted　twice；　nodded　at　the　receiver　and　re…cradled　it。　'There　was　nobody　on　your　back；　anyway。　We're　sure　of　that。　Now；　if　you're　certain　about　the　missile　…　and　I'm　n