johngardner.winloseordie-第7节

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'll　know　my　cousins。　Emma　and　Jane；　then？'　Clover　asked；　looking　up　sharply。
　'Intimately；'　Bond　replied　flatly；　and　with　a　pletely　straight　face。
　Clover　let　it　pass　and　they　discussed　everything　from　the　Hunt　Balls　at　Pennington　Nab；　to　life　in　the　Royal　Navy；　taking　in；　on　the　way；　jazz　…　〃My　bro〃。　Julian；　introduced　me　to　trad　jazz　when　he　was　up　at　Cambridge　and　I've　been　an　addict　ever　since'　…　fishing　in　the　Caribbean；　a　favourite　tor　both　of　them：　skiing；　and。　finally；　the　novels　of　Eric　Ambler　and　Graham　Greene…
　'I　feef　I've　known　you　for　a　lifetime；　James；'　she　said　as　they　drove　slowly　back　towards　the　RNAS；
　It　was。　Bond　thought；　a　somewhat　trite　remark；　but　possibly　one　of　invitation。　He　pulled　the　BMW　into　a　lay…by　and　cut　the　engine。
　〃The　feeling's　mutual。　Clover；　my　dear。'　He　reached　for　her　in　the　darkness　and　she　responded　to　his　first　rough　kiss；　though　pulled　away　when　he　began　to　move　in　closer。
　'No。　James。　No；　not　yet。　It　might　bee　difficult；　particularly　as　we're　going　to　be　shipmates。'
　'What　d'you　mean；　shipmates？'　Bond　nuzzled　her　hair。
　'Invincible；　of　course。〃
　'What　about　Invincibte　？〃　He　gently　backed　off。
　'Well；　we're　both　being　drafted　there　for　Landsea　'89；　aren't　we？'
　'First　I've　heard　of　it。'　Bond's　voice　remained　steady；　while　a　snake　of　worry　began　to　curl　around　his　stomach。　'First　I've　heard　of　Wrens　going　to　sea　as　well　…　particularly　during　an　exercise　like　Landsea　'89。'
　'Well；　it's　all　over　the　place。　In　fact　I've　been　told　officially。　Fifteen　of　us。　Me；　and　fourteen　ratings　…　apart　from　the　other　ladies　who'll　be　on　board。'
　'And　what　about　me？'　Deep　within　him。　Bond　was　more　than　concerned　now。　If　it　was　mon　knowledge　that　he　was　being　drafted　to　Invincible　it　would　not　take　much　intelligence　for　the　unscrupulous　to　put　two　and　two　together；　particularly　if　they　had　got　hold　of　the　information　that　three　senior　Admirals；　including　the　C…in…C　of　the　Russian　Navy；　were　going　to　be　aboard。　His　mind　jumped　back　to　the　near…miss　that　afternoon；　and　he　wondered　if　somebody　was　already　trying　to　take　evasive　action　and　cut　him　out　of　the　baby…sitting　business。
　Clover　continued　to　talk；　saying　that　she　wouldn't　have　said　anything　if　she　did　not　already　know　he　was　involved。　'Of　course　it's　classified。'　she　sounded　a　shade　defensive。　'But　security's　for　those　without　need…to…know；　surely。'
　'And　I　have　need…to…know？'
　'Your　name's　on　the　list。　James。　Of　course　you　have　clearance。'
　'And　these　other　women。　Who　are　they？'
　'We　haven't　been　told。　All　I　know　is　that　there　are　to　be　other　women。'
　'Okay；　from　the　top；　you　tell　me　all　you　know。　Clover。'
　Bond　listened；　and　became　more　concerned。　Concerned　enough　to　make　a　very　secure　call　for　a　crash　meeting　with　M　during　the　ing　weekend。
　Ч　shouldn't　go　blabbing　about　this　to　all　and　sundry。　Clover。'　he　admonished。　'Not　even　good　to　lalk　to　me　about　it。'　he　told　her　when　they　got　back　to　the　Wrcnnery。
　'Well；　kiss　me　goodnight；　at　least；　James；'　she　pouted。
　He　smiled　and　gave　her　a　peck　on　the　cheek。　'Not　just　yet；'　he　said　solemnly。　'Especially　if　we're　going　to　be　shipmates。'
　Though　he　laughed　as　he　drove　away；　the　entire　events　of　the　day　were　more　than　worrying。　Bond　made　his　crash　call　to　M　from　a　telephone　box　a　mile　up　the　road；　off　the　Base。　The　Duty　Officer；　using　a　scrambler；　arranged　the　meeting　for　Sunday。
　
　5
　A　Sunday　in　the　Country
　
　The　search　for　the　Spanish　pilot；　Felipe　Pantano；　and　his　missing　Sea　Harrier　had　been　called　off　ai　dusk；　hut　would　he　resumed　in　the　morning。　Yet。　long　before　the　S　and　R　helicopter　teams　had　clatlered　out　to　look　for　wreckage　and；　possibly；　a　signal…emitting　life　raft。　Captain　Pantano　was　sitting　fortably　in　the　captain's　eabin　of　a　small　freighter；　two　hundred　miles　off　the　coast　of　his　own　country；　Spain。
　The　freighter　was　registered　in　Oporto。　Portugal。　Indeed。　Oporto；　the　harbour　city　famous　for　thai　most　clubbable　of　wines；　was　where　she　was　headed；　and　she　sported　the　name　Estado　Novo　on　bows　and　stern。　Low　in　the　water；　the　Estado　Novu　obviously　carried　a　heavy　cargo　in　her　hold　and　a　large　container　secured　for'ard　taking　up　the　bulk　of　her　deck　space。　On　the　ship's　manifest；　（he　container　showed　as　engineering　equipment　destined　for　Gibraltar；　from　a　well…known　British　firm；　and　would　not　be　subject　to　any　customs　scrutiny　in　Oporto　where　they　would　only　stop　for　twenty…four　hours　to　refuel。
　Sitting　opposite　Pantano　in　the　cabin　was　not　the　captain　but　Abou　Hamarik。　the　strategist　of　BAST；　who　sat　smiling　and　nodding　as　the　swarthy　little　pilot　told　of　how　well　the　plan　had　gone。
　Tm　sure　nobody　noticed　that　I　had　gone　off　the　plot；'　Pantano　spoke　in　rapid　Spanish；　'and　your　people　were　waiting　right　on　time。　It　took　less　than　five　minutes。'　He　had　taken　off　as　number　two　in　the　quartet　of　Harriers；　climbed　to　the　correct　height　and　had　been　careful　to　continue　on　the　obligatory　course。　The　operation　had　been　set　up　only　ten　days　before；　even　though　there　was　already　a　plan　to　filch　the　Harrier：　in　fact　that　was　originally　the　reason　for　Pantano　being　sent　on　the　course。　For　weeks；　through　their　carefully　planted　penetration　agents　within　the　Spanish　Navy；　BAST　had　forced　Pantano　onto　the　Harrier　course　with　the　elegant　expertise　of　a　theatrical　magician　making　a　member　of　the　audience　take　the　Ace　of　Spades　from　a　clean　deck　of　cards。　The　unscheduled　addition；　to　destroy　Captain　Bond；　had　only　been　slipped　into　place　when　another　of　their　agents　had　confirmed　what　thai　officer's　role　was　to　be　during　the　all…important　Landsea　'X9　exercise。
　Just　north　of　Shrewsbury；　over　a　densely　wooded　area；　Pantano　had　literally　dropped　his　Harrier　from　the　sky；　using　the　vectored　thrust　of　his　engine　and　ing　down　vertically　like　an　express　lift。　No　pilot　would　have　faulted　his　skill；　for　the　Harrier　had　dropped　at　the　exact；　planned　point；　into　a　small　clearing　of　trees。　Pantano　had　only　to　make　minor　adjustments　…　moving　forward　and　sideways　…　to　slow　down　and　gently　bring　the　Harrier　to　rest　in　the　clearing。　There　was　a　Land　Rover　parked　nearhy。　and　four　men　waiting　for　him。　As　Pantano　had　already　suggested；　the　work　of　wiring　up。　fusing　and　fitting　the　Sidewinder　AIM…9J　missile　（one　of　three　stolen　some　four　months　earlier　from　an　RAF　base　in　West　Germany）　to　the　starboard　outer　pylon；　would　only　take　a　very　short　time。　Five　minutes　twenty　seconds　later　Pantano's　Sea　Harrier　was　rising　fast　from　the　trees；　putting　on　forward　speed　and　climbing　away；　back　on　course；　but　increasing　his　air…speed；　going　flat　out。　It　was　essential　for　him　to　catch　up　with　the　lead　aircraft；　piloted　by　Bond；　and　stay　well　ahead　of　the　number　three。
　'I　think　we'd　have　heard　if　the　radar　at　Yeovilton　actually　lost　me　at　any　point；'　he　smiled　confidently　at　Hamarik　who　gave　a　gentle　nod。
　The　Spaniard's　Harrier　had　e　within　three　miles　of　Bond　just　as　the　latter　was　making　his　bombing　run。　'I　locked　on　to　him；　and　let　the　missile　go；〃　he　told　Hamarik。　'After　that　I　was　busy　with　my　own　bombing　run；　and　the　little　bit　of　deviousness　which　followed。'
　Hamarik　shrugged；　making　an　open…handed　gesture。　'I　fear　friend　Bond　escaped；'　he　smiled；　as　if　to　say　'it　is　difficult　to　win　every　battle。〃
　Pantano　gave　a　heavy　sigh；　obviously　annoyed　with　himself。　'I'm　sorry。　I　did　all　1　could。　Damn。　Damn　the　man。'
　'Please　do　not　concern　yourself。　There　is　plenty　of　time　for　us　to　deal　with　Captain　Bond。　A　pity　we　could　not　bine　two　birds　with　the　one　proverbial　stone。　But。　I　promise　you；　Felipe；　he　will　go。　In　fact　that　is　essential。'
　Pantano　smiled；　showing　a　small　goldmine　of　fillings；　before　he　went　through　the　final　phase。　His　bombing　run　had　been　normal　up　to　the　time　when　he　climbed　away。　'I　simply　pulled　into　a　30°　climb　to　show　myself　to　the　radar。　At　1；001　feet　I　let　all　the　flares　go；　switched　off　my　radar　and　banged　on　the　ECM。'　The　ECM　（Ihe　Electronic　Counter　Measures　Pod）　is　used　to　confuse　ground　radar　and　missiles。　'This　was　not　foolproof；　of　course；　but　I　went　down　to　zero　feet　and　set　the　course　you　had　given　me。　It　was　pretty　exciting；　I　can　tell　you。　I　was　just　feet　above　the　water。　There　were　times　when　I　was　getting　salt　spray　on　the　wind　shield；　and　even　with　the　heater　and　wipers　going　full　blast　I　couldn't　budge　all　of　it。　Also；　I　had　Ihe　throttle　banged　wide　open　and　the　altimeter　〃bug'　was　screaming　at　me。　Т　had　it　set　to　minimum　…　one　hundred　feet　…　and　it　went　crazy。　It　was　more　like　a　boat　ride　than　flying。'
　The　Harrier　had　run　right　out　into　the　Atlantic；　then　turned　towards　the　Bay　of　Biscay。　Two　hundred　miles　later。　Pantano　had　slowed　to　a　hover　beside　the　waiting　Estacio　Novo。　There　was　ample　room　to　make　a　vertical　landing；　and　almost　before　he　was　out　of　the　cockpit；　the　crew　had　started　to　erect　false　sides　which　eventually　made　up　the　huge　container　standing　on　the　forward　deck。
　〃Good〃　Hamarik's　oily　smile　greased　over　his　face。　'You　have　done　well。　Now；　all　we　have　to　do　is　make　certain　the　machine　is　fully　fuelled；　overhauled；　and　fitted　with　the　other　weapons。　Then；　you　will　he　ready　for　stage　two　of　your　par！　in　the　operation　we　are　to　call　LOSE。　There　is　meant　to　be　humour　in　that。　Operation　LOSE　means　that　th