johngardner.rollofhonor-第17章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
uition Bond was able first to detect the routine and then remove it； line by line。
Then he matched up his virgin disk in a format to copy exactly the original。 The work took over an hour； but at the end he had a true clone of Holy's training program for the Kruxator robbery。 He spent a further twenty minutes returning the protect program to the original disk。
The second of Cindy's disks was a similar training program； this time； they presumed； for the hijacking of an aircraft。 As in fact there had been a monumental hijack of a specially chartered freight plane carrying newly printed money from the Royal Mint printers to several countries； the chances were that this was the blueprint for it。
Once more； the cloning process began； but this time with more urgency； for Cindy had bee anxious about her return。
〃There is one other thing；' she said； looking tired and concerned。
〃Yes？〃 Bond grunted； not taking his eyes off the screen。
〃Something very big's going on now。 Not a robbery； I'm pretty sure of that； but a criminal； probably violent operation。 There have been callers in the night； and I've heard several references to a special program。〃
〃What kind of special program？〃
〃I've heard the name only … they call it the Balloon Game； and there seem to be specialists involved。〃 Bond was concentrating； writing back the protect program on to the hijack simulation original。 〃They're all specialists； Cindy。〃
〃No； I've seen some of these guys。 They're not all hoods and heavies。
Some are like 。 。 。 are like pilots and parsons。
〃Parsons？〃
〃Well； not exactly。 Doctors and dentists； if you like。
Upright。 Professional。〃
〃The Balloon Game？〃
〃I heard Tigerbalm use the expression； and one of the others … talking to Old Bald Eagle。
Will you report it； please？ I think it's something nasty。〃 Bond said he would be getting the copies of these two programs to London quickly。
He'd mention the Balloon Game at the same time。
〃You think they're using it now？ Training on it？〃
〃Positive。〃
〃If we could get a copy。
〃Not a chance。 Not yet； anyway。
He fell silent； finishing off the job in hand。 Presently he rattled off a description of RollingJoe Zwingli。 〃Ever see anyone like him around Endor？〃 he asked。
〃General Zwingli。 I recognise the description； and the answer's no。 I had some garbled message from Percy that he's alive。〃 She paused； adding that this seemed incredible。
Bond pleted his tasks and returned the original disks to Cindy and asked about the routine at the house。
Did Jason and Dazzle ever go out？ Or away？ How many security people did they have around？
Yes； he went away for a couple of days about once a month。 Always left and returned at night。 Never left the house during the day； never showed his face in the village。 Cindy invariably referred to Jay Autem as the Target； or Old Bald Eagle。
〃Very cagey； our Target。 Dazzle's out and about a great deal … in the village； over to Oxford； London； taking trips abroad。 I suspect she's the liaison officer。〃
〃Where abroad？〃
〃Middle East； Europe。 All over。 Percy's got the list。 I try to keep a track； mainly from hotel book matches or flight labels。 But she's cagey as well。 Gets rid of a lot of stuff before she es home。〃 As for the household； there was one Filipino boy and four security men。 〃He has six genuine sales reps who wouldn't suspect a thing。 But they're on the outside。 The four security men double as reps and staff。 It's very good cover。 Would have had me fooled if I hadn't known better。 They're all quiet； efficient guys … two cars between them； out and about a lot； managing the telephones； taking orders； distributing the genuine Gunfire Simulations packages。 But two of them never leave the house。 They work on the security in a strict rota。 The electronics are highly sophisticated。 Breakable； but clever。 I mean； you have to know the system to fiddle it。
What's more； as I've already told you； they alter the codings for every shift。 You can only get in and out if you know the numbers for a particular six…hour period。 Even then； the machines have to know your voice…print。〃
〃Visual？〃 Bond asked。
〃Quite a lot … the main gates； large areas of the walls； front and rear of the house。 You can only dodge the closed…circuit stuff at the back； and then only if you know the pattern。 They change that with the lock codings； so you really do need to know your six…hour period to get in or out without being detected。 An intruder wouldn't last three minutes。〃
〃Ever had any？〃
〃Intruders？ Only a tramp； and one false alarm … at least they presume it was a false alarm。〃
〃Weapons？〃
〃I was around when the false alarm was triggered。 Yes； one of the guys on duty had a hand gun。 So I've seen one。
There are probably more。 James； can I get going？ I can't afford to get caught with these disks on me。 There are blanks in the cabinets 。
〃On your way； Cindy； and good luck。 I'll see you tonight。 I'm ing for a little tournament with our Target。 By the way； your friend Peter tipped me off about Jason's style of play 〃He doesn't like to lose；' she said with a grin。 〃Almost pathological； like a child。
It's a matter of honour with him。〃 Bond did not smile。 〃And me；' he said softly。 〃It's a matter of honour with me。〃 It was past three…thirty in the morning。 Bond packed up the equipment and took it down to the car； locking it away in the boot。 Back in his room； he put the cloned programs in a FloppiPak disk mailer； smiling wryly at the frightful nomenclature of the trade。 He addressed the label to himself at a Post Office box number； then weighed the small； flat package in his hand； making an intelligent guess as to weight。 He stuck on what he estimated to be sufficient postage from a folder of stamps in his briefcase。 He would have liked to deliver the package in person； but he was not going to leave anything to chance。
Sitting at the small dressing table； Bond next wrote a short note to Freddie on hotel paper。
Gone to Oxford for the morning。 Didn't want to wake you； but will be back for lunch。 How about a return match this afternoon？
Stripping off； he ran a cold shower and stepped under it； holding his face against the stinging needle spray and gasping at the initial shock。 After a minute or so； he added some warm water； soaped himself； then rubbed himself down； towelling his body briskly。 Before shaving he climbed into his underwear； a pair of black Ted Lapidus cords and a black cotton rollneck。 He strapped the ASP automatic； in its holster； so that it lay hard against his right hip。 Last； he put on a light suede jacket and pushed his feet into the old favourite moccasins。
It was just getting light； the dark sky changing to grey and then that cold…washed pearl which heralds unsettled weather。 With the detested FloppiPak in his briefcase Bond went downstairs； left his key and the note for Freddie at the deserted reception and went out to the car。
The Bentley's engine growled into life at the first turn of the key； and he allowed it to settle to its normal； gentle purr； fastening the seatbelt and watching the red warning lights flick off one by one。
Releasing the foot brake； he slid the selector into Drive and let the car roll forward。 If he took the Oxford road； turned on to the ring road； and then headed for the M40 he could be in London in ninety minutes。
It began to rain as he reached the big roundabout on the periphery of the ring road and took the dual carriageway； heading towards London。
He was a mile or so along this stretch when the white Mercedes of the day before appeared in his mirror。
Bond cursed silently； tightened his seatbelt and moved his foot smoothly down on the accelerator。 The car slid forward； gathering power； the speedometer rising to 100； then 120 miles per hour。
There was little traffic as he slid neatly in and out of the stray cars and lorries； mainly keeping to the fast lane。
The white Mercedes held back； but even at speed； Bond could not throw it off altogether。 Ahead the signs came up for an exit。
Flicking the indicator at the last moment； he left the dual carriageway still well in excess of the 100 mile
