johngardner.winloseordie-第17节

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s　Eve　and　he　had　the　rail…ticket　in　his　pocket　to　return　to　the　wife　and　kids　for　two　weeks'　leave。
'It's　serious。'　Bill's　face　was　set；　engraved　with　concern。
　'It　was　serious　when　we　first　told　you；　Now　we're　all　in　a　mess　。　。　。'
'I　know；　I　know　。　。　。'
　'All　debts　settled　and　one　hundred　thousand　pictures　of　Her　Majesty　just　for　you。　Blackie。'
'Yeah。　I　just　。　。　。'
'Look；　Blackie；〃　Bill　had　wrapped　his　large　strong　fingers　around　the　Petty　Officer's　wrist；　making　the　man　wince　with　pain。　〃Look；　it's　not　as　though　you　were　being　asked　to　steal　anything。　These　people　need　a　few　hours；　that's　all。'
　'Iknow　。　。　。'he　paused；　his　bleary　eyes　movingslowly　around　the　room。　'I　know；　and　1　ain't　got　no　option；　have　I？'
'Not　really。'　Harry　was　quiet；　soft…spoken　and　persuasive。
The　Petty　Officer　nodded；　'Okay。　I'll　do　it。'
That's　a　solemn　promise？'　from　Bill。
'On　my　mother's　grave。'
　'They'll　give　you　lime；　place　and　the　equipment　before　you　leave。　If　it　happens；　you'll　get　the　money　and　the　slate's　wiped　clean。　If　you　chickenout。　。　。　well。　I　wouldn't　fancy　your　chances。　Harry　and　me？　Well；　we　can　always　do　a　runner。　Tough；　but　we　could　do　it　…　just。　You　have　nowhere　to　hide；　Blackie；　and　they'd　e　looking；　fast　as　a　swarm　of　hornets　and　a　lot　more　painful。'
　〃I　said　I'd　do　it。'　The　Petty　Officer　was　very　convincing。　But；　then；　he　was　not　lying。　As　far　as　he　was　concerned；　all　other　options　had　run　out。
A　9mm　Browning　automatic　pistol　is　not　the　easiest　thing　to　conceal　about　your　person。　This　is　why　the　'close　protection'　experts　advise　smaller；　lighter　weapons　which　will　do　just　the　same　job。　Beatrice　carried　her　pistol　in　a　shoulder…bag；　Bond　used　the　shoulder…holster；　adjusted　so　that　the　pistol　lay　directly　behind　his　left　shoulder　blade。
　Franco　and　Umberto。　who　had　both　stayed　well　out　of　sight；　were　left　to　look　after　matters　while　Bond　and　Beatrice　went　off　into　Forio　on　their　shopping　expedition。　On　this　Saturday　the　little　town；　with　its　narrow　streets　and　limited　parking　facilities；　stricily　controlled　by　the　local　polizia；　was　crowded　with　people　doing　their　last　odds　and　ends　of　Christmas　shopping。
They　found　a　place　to　park　legally　and　Beatrice；　who　had　made　a　list　of　food　and　other　good　things　that　would　allow　them　a　pleasant；　somewhat　gluttonous　day。　led　the　way　to　the　nearest　market　where　she　shuffled　Bond　from　aisle　to　aisle；　knowing　instinctively　where　the　various　items　were　to　be　found。　They　filled　one　large　wire　trolley；　with　a　mind　of　its　own。　in　a　matter　of　twenty　minutes　and　Bond　noticed；　to　his　pleasure；　that　Beatrice　hardly　looked　at　the　shelves　at　all。　She　would　murmur　where　he　should　go　next；　and　reel　off　the　list　of　required　items；
but　her　eyes　were　alertly　stabbing　around　the　crowded　market；　and　she　kept　one　hand　inside　her　shoulder…bag。
　Bond　felt　ihat　he　had　found　the　pleat　pro　in　Ms　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci；　Everything　she　did　adhered　to　best　security　practice；　and　she　appeared　to　have　eyes　in　the　back　of　her　head。　At　one　point；　while　facing　away　from　him。　she　murmured；　'No；　James。　Not　the　Belgian　ones。　Take　the　French；　they're　a　few　lire　more；　but　one　hundred　per　cent　better。'　Or；　again；　in　similar　circumstances；　'The　boitles；　not　the　tins。　Once　you　open　a　tin　you　have　to　use　the　whole　lot。　The　bottles　will　seal　again。'
　They　even　bought　a　small　tree　and　some　gaudy　baubles。　'A　Christmas　to　remember。'　She　smiled　at　him；　the　black　eyes　inviting　him　to　return　immediately　to　the　delights　of　the　morning。　It　was　the　one　time　during　the　expedition　that　she　actually　looked　at　Bond。
　They　loaded　their　purchases　into　ihe　car。　and　Bond　insisted　on　going　on　his　own　to　make　a　secret　transaction。　She　did　not　like　it；　but　agreed　to　stand　guard　in　front　of　the　shop　…　a　jeweller's　in　which　he　bought　an　exquisite　gold　clasp；　shaped　like　a　scutum　…　the　old　oblong　or　oval　shield　used　by　the　early　Roman　army　…　with　a　large　diamond　centre；　and　an　edging　of　smaller　diamonds。　It　cost　a　ransom；　but　they　took　Amex　and　he　would　pay　for　it　with　his　private　money。　The　little　jeweller　smiled　a　lot　and　gift…wrapped　the　piece　with　exaggerated　care。　It　was　only　when　he　was　back　on　the　street　again　that　Bond　realised　it　had　been　a　long　time　since　he　had　bought　such　an　extravagant　gift　for　a　woman：　particularly　one　he　had　known　for　less　than　twenty…four　hours。　Could　it　really　happen　like　this？　he　wondered。　Women　had　e　easily　to　him。　but　his　own　expertise；　and　the　exigencies　of　his　service　life；　had　usually　held　him　back　from　any　deep　involvement。　Had　he　really　broken　the　rule　of　years？
　He　drove；　with　Beatrice　giving　instructions。　They　finally　reached　an　intersection　where　the　traffic　was　blocked；　held　at　bay　or　waved　on　by　a　tall；　unhappy…looking　police…officer。
　Beatrice　had　her　pistol　on　her　lap。　hand　wound　round　the　butt；　her　eyes　moving　everywhere　at　once；　darting　constantly　to　the　vanity　mirror　on　the　sun…visor　which　she　had　pulled　down。
Slowly　the　traffic　crept　towards　the　white　stop…marker　until　it　was　the　little　Fiat's　turn。　Bond　had　his　eyes　on　the　cop；　waiting　for　the　quick　hand…signal　that　would　wave　him　on。　when　suddenly　he　sensed　other　eyes　on　him　to　the　right　and　direclly　ahead；　He　moved　and　saw。　with　a　sense　of　shock；　a　girl　turn　away　quickly　and　start　to　walk　ai　speed　with　her　back　to　him。　But　he　recognised　her　in　thai　one　fast　glance；　and　the　movemenl　of　her　body；　as　she　stepped　along　the　pavement。
　There　was　a　parping　of　motor　horns；　and　Beatrice　testily　snapped。　'He's　waving　you　on。　James。　For　heaven's　sake；　move。'
　He　slid　the　clutch　out　and　negotiated　the　turn；　the　traffic　cop　making　a　gesture　with　his　eyes　and　head　which　indicated　that　this　driver　ought　not　to　be　allowed　on　the　road　at　all。
　He　drove　back　to　the　Villa　Capricciani　with　a　troubled　mind；　wondering　what　in　heaven's　name　First　Officer　Clover　Pcnning…ton；　of　the　RNAS　Yeovilton　was　doing　on　Ischia：　particularly　what　she　was　doing　in　the　town　of　Forio；　not　five　miles　from　where　he　was　staying。


8
All　the　Other　Demons

For　a　few　seconds；　James　Bond　wondered　if　it　was　guilt　gnawing
at　his　conscience。　He　had　certainly　shown；　at　the　least；　a　sexual　attraction　to　Clover；　but　this　had　gone　cold　when　she　proved　to　be　an　uncertain　security　risk。　There　had　been　something　not　quite　right　about　First　Officer　Pennington。　Now　her　geographic　proximity　to　him　triggered　anxiety。　He　would　tell　Beatrice　when　the　moment　was　right；　later。
　The　gates　were　open　at　the　Villa　Capricciani；　and　a　short；　stocky　young　man　stood　near　the　steps。　He　wore　jeans　and　a　T…shirt　which　proclaimed　The　Man　Who　Dies　With　The　Most　Toys　Wins。　His　hair　was　golden…bleached　by　the；　now　departed；　summer　sun。　and　the　muscles　visible　on　his　arms　were　toned　to　an　awesome　strength。　Take　off　ihe　T…shirt；　Bond　thought；　and　his　body　would　give　an　impression　of　sixteenth…century　armour；　plete　with　breastplate；　vambraces　and　pauldrons。　Even　from　this　distance；　you　could　mark　him　down　as　a　trained　minder。　'Franco。'　Beatrice　explained。
　He　started　to　unload　the　car　while　Beatrice　spoke　in　a　soft　murmur　to　Franco；　who　eventually　came　down；　closed　the　gates；　locked　them　and；　with　a　conspiratorial　wink；　handed　a　key　to　Bond。　He　also　pointed　to　a　tiny　switch　set　in　the　wall；　all　but　covered　by　ivy。　In　almost　tedious　dumb　show。　Franco　activated　the　switch；　indicating　that　if　anyone　fiddled　with　the　gates　or　lock；　the　'screamers'　would　begin　wailing。
　Then　they　all　went　up　to　the　villa；　and　Franco　disappeared　through　the　rear　french　windows　on　his　way　back　to　the　big　villa。　He　looked　like　a　man　who　would　not　need　to　use　the　doors；　but　could　walk　straight　through　the　walls；　pausing　only　to　shake　brick…dust　from　his　hair。
Leaving　Beatrice　to　deal　with　the　food　and　drink；　Bond　went　down　the　steps　again；　locked　the　car；　made　it　secure；　and　returned；　locking　（he　inner　gate　behind　him。
　'They're　not　going　to　like　it。'　Beatrice　came　to　him；　holding　him　gently　in　her　arms　and　pressing　herself　against　his　body。
'They're　not　going　lo　gel　it。〃　Bond　smiled　down　al　her。
She　sighed。　'Oh。　James；　he　your　age。'
　'I　usually　am。'　He　was　genuinely　surprised　to　have　used　such　an　old　schoolboy　piece　of　repartee。　Beatrice　seemed　to　have　wrought　an　unexpected　change　in　him。
　'Listen　to　me。　Poor　old　Franco　and　Umberto　will　have　to　spend　this　Christmas　as　watchers。　The　Rottweilers　will　prowl　the　grounds；　and　I'm　not　going　to　let　you。　my　darling　James；　out　of　my　sight；　unless　the　bloody　BAST　people　have　another　go。'
〃Eat　your　hearts　out。　Franco　and　Umberto。'
　？Mmmm；'　she　nodded。　'I'm　going　up　to　the　big　villa　now。　Give　them　instructions。　Make　an　obligatory　'phone　call。　Then　I'll　be　back　and　the　celebrations　can　mence。'　She　gave　him　a　gentle　kiss　on　the　cheek；　and　he　fell　that　his　face　had　never　yet　been　kissed　like　this。　Beatrice　had　the　art　of　kissing　a　cheek；　as　though　it　were　his　moulh；　or　even　his　deepest　secret　being。　Kissing；　he　considered；　was　a　lost　art　in　this　crumbling；　shuck…ridden　world。　Beatrice　had　rediscovered　it。　and　now　practised　the　craft　in　a　way　ihai　had　been　hidden　for　centuries。　He　stood　on　the　rear　terrace；　listening　to　her　footsteps　on　the　stone　path；　wondering　what　had　happened　to　him。　He　had　never　been　one　for　quick；　serious　decisions　of　the　heart。　Quick；　serious　dec