johngardner.rollofhonor-第10章

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　in　the　Salles　Privees。〃　It　was　midafternoon；　and　by　nine　that　evening　they　were　seated　at　the　first　table　in　the　Casino's　most　sacred　of　rooms。　　Bond's　run　of　luck　was　still　high；　though　he　was　now　gambling　with　care；　rarely　going　above　his　winning　stake；　which　had　quadrupled　since　his　arrival；　and　not　betting　on　the　rash　outside　chance；　high…win　options。
　During　the　three　hours　they　played　that　night　he　was　down；　at　one　point；　to　40；000　francs。　　But　the　wheel　started　to　run　in　his　favour；　and　eventually；　by　midnight；　the　stake　had　increased　to　300；000　francs。
　He　waited　for　two　turns　to　pass；　deciding　to　make　the　next　bet　the　last　of　the　night；　when　he　heard　a　sharp　intake　of　breath　from　Percy。
　Glancing　towards　her；　he　saw　the　colour　had　left　her　face；　her　eyes　staring　at　the　entrance。　　It　was　not　so　much　a　look　of　fear　as　of　sudden　surprise。
　〃What　is　it？〃　She　answered　in　a　whisper；　〃Let's　get　out。　　Quickly。
　Over　there。　　Just　e　in　〃Who？〃　Bond's　eyes　fell　on　a　tall；　grizzled　man；　straight…backed；　and　with　eyes　that　swept　the　room　as　though　surveying　a　battlefield。　　He　did　not　really　need　to　hear　her　reply。
　〃The　old　devil。　　And　we　thought　Jay　Autem　had　gone　for　him。
　That's　Rolling　Joe　in　the　flesh。　　Joe　Zwingli's　here；　and　with　a　couple　of　infantry　divisions　by　the　look　of　it！〃　Zwingli　was　moving　into　the　room；　flanked　by　four　other　men；　neat　and　smart　as　officers　on　parade；　and　looking　as　dangerous　as　an　armoured　brigade　about　to　attack　a　Boy　Scout　troop。
　
　
　ROLLING　HOME
　
　GENERAL　ZWiNGLi　had　been　no　chicken　at　the　time　of　his　disappearance。　　He　must　now　be　in　his　mid…seventies。
　Yet；　from　where　Bond　sat；　he　looked　like　a　man　of　sixty　in　good　physical　shape。　　The　four　other　men　were　younger；　heavier　and　not　the　kind　of　people　you　would　be　likely　to　meet　at　Sunday　school　parties。
　For　a　moment；　Bond　sat　calmly　awaiting　the　worst；　convinced　that　Zwingli　and　his　men　were　looking　for　him；　or　possibly　Percy。　　There　had　to　be　a　connection。
　You　didn't　need　a　crystal　ball　to　work　that　out。　　Zwingli　had　been　a　necessary　part　of　the　disappearance　plot。　　If　there　had　been　collusion　at　the　time　of　the　aeroplane　wreck；　there　would　still　be　collusion　now；　for　Dr　Holy　and　General　Zwingli　were　tied　together　for　life　by　a　much　stronger　bond　than　marriage　vows。　　Conspirators　can　rarely　divorce　without　one　partner　seriously　damaging　the　other。
　Bond　smiled　genially。　　〃Don't　stare；　Percy。　　It's　rude。　　It　may　also　call　the　good　General's　attention　to　us　…　if　it's　us　he's　looking　for。〃　His　lips　hardly　moved　as　he　watched　Zwingli　and　his　entourage　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　To　his　relief；　the　General's　craggy　face　broke　into　a　broad　smile。
　He　was　not　looking　in　Bond's　and　Percy's　direction　but　advancing　towards　a　dark…skinned　muscular　man；　possibly　in　his　mid…thirties；　who　had　been　sitting　at　the　bar。　　The　pair　shook　hands　warmly；　and　there　were　greetings　and　introductions　all　round。
　I　think；　to　be　on　the　safe　side；　it　would　be　prudent　for　us　to　take　our　leave　now；'　Bond　muttered。　　〃Be　casual　and　natural。〃　He　went　through　the　business　of　tipping　the　croupier；　gathering　the　chips　together　as　they　rose。　　They　made　their　way　to　the　cashier；　where　Bond　opted　for　cash　rather　than　a　cheque。
　Once　outside；　he　took　Percy's　arm；　leading　her　firmly　back　to　the　hotel。
　〃It　could　simply　be　a　coincidence；　but　I'm　taking　no　chances。　　I　don't　for　a　moment　think　he　could　recognise　you。　　How　well　did　you　know　him；　Percy？〃
　〃Two　or　three　dinner　parties。　　Washington　social　functions。　　I　knew　him；　but　he　always　gave　the　impression　of　plete　non…interest。　　Not　just　in　me；　but　in　all　women。
　It　was　him　all　right；James。　　I've　no　doubt　about　that。〃　During　M's　briefing　Bond　had　studied　a　number　of　photographs；　including　two　series　in　Time　magazine；　when　General　Zwingli　had　made　the　cover　story。　　〃For　someone　who's　been　dead　that　long；　he　looked　in　exceptionally　good　shape。　　No；　the　only　way　he　could　recognise　you　is　if　he　was　forewarned：　if　he　knew　you'd　changed　your。　　。　　。well　。　　。　　。your　image。〃　Percy　giggled。　　〃This　is　my　real　image；　James。　　Mrs。　Jay　Autem　Holy　was　the　disguise。　　I　put　on　weight；　wore　thick　clear…glass　spectacles　and　looked　the　ultimate　frowsy　puter　scientist　〃And　the　nose？〃
　〃Okay；　so　I　had　it　fixed　after　Jay　Autem　went　missing。
　Nobody's　perfect。　　But　you're　right；　I'd　have　had　to　be　fingered　directly　to　Rolling　Joe　for　him　to　know　it　was　me　。
　〃There's　always　the　possibility　that　someone's　fingered　me。〃　Bond　brushed　back　the　lock　of　hair　which　fell；　like　a　ma；　over　his　right　eye。　　They　reached　the　hotel　entrance。　　〃You　recognise　the　fellow　he　met？　　The　swarthy　man　he　seemed　to　be　expecting？〃
　〃The　face　was　familiar。　　I've　seen　him　before　or　a　picture　of　him。　Maybe　he's　on　file。　　You？〃
　〃Same　here。　　I　should　know　him。〃　Bond　continued　to　talk；　telling　her　they　would　have　to　leave　Monte　Carlo。
　〃It　would　be　best　for　us　both　to　get　away　in　the　Bentley。
　We　can　be　in　Paris　by　lunchtime　tomorrow。〃
　〃Wait　until　we're　upstairs；'　she　mumbled。　　When　they　reached　her　room；　Percy　became　adamant。　　〃My　brief　was　to　leave　here　on　my　own。　　I　have　a　car；　and　orders　that　we　go　separately。　　Under　no　circumstances　are　we　to　travel　together。　　Those　are　my　instructions；　and　there's　no　way　I'm　going　to　disobey　them。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃So　I　agree　with　you；　James。　　I　think　it's　merely　a　coincidence。　　It's　also　a　useful　piece　of　information；　knowing　that　Zwingli　is　alive。　　And　I　think　we　should　leave；　the　sooner；　the　better。〃　For　a　while　she　fussed　about　Bond；　like　the　proverbial　mother　hen；　questioning　him　on　all　she　had　taught　him。
　He　lugged　the　cases　containing　the　Terror　Twelve　into　his　own　room；　together　with　the　disk　drives　and　utility　programs　on　disks　that　would　help　him　copy　or　recover　Holy's　listings；　should　he　have　the　chance　to　get　hold　of　any。　　Then　they　went　their　separate　ways　to　pack；　arranging　to　meet　again　for　a　quick　farewell　before　Percy　left　a　good　half　hour　before　Bond。　　They　would　both　be　taking　roughly　the　same　route；　for　Percy　had　to　return　to　the　C。I。A。　　Paris　Station；　while　Bond　faced　the　long　drive　back　to　Calais　and　the　ferry　to　Dover。　　They　met　as　planned　in　the　garage　after　Percy's　luggage　had　been　loaded　into　the　boot　of　her　sporty　little　blue　Dodge　600ES。
　〃You　think　we'll　ever　meet　again？〃　Bond　felt　uncharacteristically　inadequate。
　She　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　looking　into　the　startling　blue　eyes。　　〃We　have　to；　don't　we；　James？〃　He　nodded；　knowing　they　shared　each　other's　private　thoughts。
　〃You　know　how　to　get　in　touch　with　me？〃　It　was　her　turn　to　give　a　small　nod。　　〃Or　you　can　call　me　…　when　all　this　is　over。〃　She　rattled　off　a　Washington　number。　　〃If　I'm　not　there；　they'll　pass　on　a　message；　okay？〃　Percy　put　her　arms　around　his　neck；　kissing　him；　long　and　lovingly　on　the　mouth。　　As　she　started　up　the　Dodge；　she　leaned　out　of　the　window。
　〃Take　care；　James。　　I'll　miss　you。
　Then　she　was　gone；　in　a　smooth；　controlled　acceleration；　along　the　lane　of　parked　cars；　up　the　ramp　and　into　the　streets　of　Monaco　and　the　night　roads　of　France。
　Half　an　hour　later；　Bond　took　the　Mulsanne　Turbo　out　of　the　same　garage。　Within　minutes　he　was　out　of　the　principality；　heading　back　along　the　Moyenne　Corniche　on　the　road　that　would　take　him　on　to　the　main　A8　Paris　Autoroute。
　It　was　on　the　first　leg　of　the　journey　…　at　about　four　in　the　morning　…　that　Bond　suddenly　remembered　the　identity　of　the　man　Zwingli　had　met。　Yes；　there　was　a　file。　　The　thick　dossier　had　been　across　Bond's　desk　on　many　occasions；　and　there　was　a　general　watching　brief　on　Tamil　Rahani。　Part　American；　part　Lebanese；　and　carrying　at　least　two　passports；　Rahani　was　usually　based　in　New　York；　where　he　was　chairman　and　principal　shareholder　of　Rahani　Electronics。　　He　had　made　several　attempts　to　secure　defence　contracts　from　both　the　American　and　British　governments；　mainly　for　aircraft　munications　electronics；　though　there　had　been　some　puterisation　involved。
　Rahani　had　first　approached　the　Service　some　five　years　before；　handed　on　to　them　by　the　American　Service。　　They　had　turned　him　down　flat　because　of　his　many　contacts　with　unfriendly　agencies　and　uncertain　governments。　　He　was　wealthy；　smooth；　sh