johngardner.winloseordie-第15章

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ned　back　into　the　villa　and　dialled　London。
　The　number　in　England　picked　up；　as　usual；　on　the　third　ring。　'Predator；'　said　Bond。　'Day　two。'
　'Dragontooth；'　the　voice　was　clear　from　the　distant　line。　'Repeat。　Dragontooth。'
　'Acknowledge。'　Bond　put　down　the　receiver。　So；　some　of　the　intelligentsia　who　burrowed　away　in　the　Regent's　Park　office　were　trying　to　be　clever。　In　his　extreme　youth。　Bond　had　read　much；　and　his　memory　was　almost　photographic。　He　called　back　the　lines　now；　from　Dante's　Inferno　from　The　Divine　edy。
Front　and　centre　here；　Grizzly　and　Hellkin　。　。　。　You　too；　Deaudog　。　。　。　Curlybeard；　lake　charge　of　a　squad　of　ten。　Take　Grafter　and　Dragoniooih　along　with　you。　Pigfusk；　Catciaw。　Cramper　and　Crazyred。
　They　were　some　of　the　named　demons　with　forked　claws　and　rakes　who　tended；　and　goaded；　the　damned　in　their　cauldron　of　boiling　pitch。　So。　those　at　headquarters　were　now　deeply　influenced　by　the　strange　mystic　concept　of　the　Brotherhood　of　Anarchy　and　Secret　Terrorism　…　BAST；　the　three…headed　monster　who　rode　on　a　viper。
　'Dragontooth；　James。'　He　had　not　even　heard　her　e　in　through　the　trench　windows　behind　him。　She　had　been　as　silent　as　a　cat。　'Correct。　Dragontooth；'　he　said；　thinking；　'Cat'。　Could　the　Pennington　girl　be　the　Cat　of　BAST　…　Saphii　Boudai？
'Dragontooih；'　he　said　again；　giving　Beatrice　a　sad　smile。　Behind　the　smile　his　brain　worked　at　the　equation。　Saphii　Boudai's　file　showed　her　as　a　dedicated　terrorist　from　her　teens。　The　British　authorities　had　been　close　to　her　on　two　occasions；　yet　she　remained；　like　the　other　members　of　the　BAST　hierarchy；　a　ghost；　an　insubstantial；　if　deadly；　figure　with　no　true　form　or　shape；　of　which　there　was　no　real　description。　The　Pennington　girl　had　a　history。　A　good　family。　He　even　knew　her　uncle；　Sir　Arthur　Pennington；　Master　of　Pennington　Nab　in　the　West　Country。　Her　cousins　had　both　been　close　to　him　at　one　lime　or　another。　The　background　was　impeccable。　Or　was　it？　Another　thought　struck　him。
　〃What's　wrong；　James？'　Beatrice　had　e　to　him；　wrapping　her　arms　around　his　neck　and　looking　into　his　face　with　her　hypnotic　black　eyes。　The　eyes　seemed　almost　to　weaken　him；　and　their　bottomless　darkness　drew　him　into　her　brain　so　that　all　he　could　sec　was　a　possible　future　with　her：　a　future　free　from　danger　and　responsibility　…　except　to　her。
　Bond　drew　back；　holding　Beatrice　at　arm's　length。　'I　saw　someone　in　Forio。　Someone　who　shouldn't　be　there。'
　Her　face　underwent　a　change。　Just　a　slight　twitch　of　concern；　but　enough　to　reveal　that　this　delightful　girl　had　Ihe　tough　inner　resources　required　by　people　in　their　mutual　trade。　She　drew　him　over　to　the　couch　and　started　to　question　him　…　her　queries　all　aimed　a！　the　heart　of　the　problem；　the　reason　he　was　here。　in　the　villa　on　Ischia。　It　was　plain　that；　as　well　as　everything　else；　Beairice　was　a　skilled　interrogator。
　He　told　her　everything；　in　its　chronological　sequence。　First　Officer　Pennington　at　YeXwilton；　her　lax　sense　of　security；　and　the　fact　that　she　was　to　be　in　charge　of　a　section　of　Wrens　on　draft　to　Invincible…　something　very　much　out　of　the　norm　for　the　Royal　Navy。
〃And　she　knew　of　your　drafting？'　Beatrice　asked。
　To　where？'　he　countered；　still　in　control　of　his　own　sense　of　need…to…know；　the　central　pin　of　all　security　matters。
　'Invincible；　of　course；　James；　you　don't　think　they　would　have　pui　me　in　charge　of　this　assignment　without　a　plele　briefing。　She　knew　you　were　to　be　in　Invincible　for　Landsea　'89　…　the　Pennington　girl…　I　mean？'
　He　nodded。　〃Yes；　and　she　didn't　seem　to　think　it　was　something　she　had　to　keep　quiet　about。　Clover　had　access　to　all　the　draft　orders。　It　was　like　giving　classified　information　to　a　gossip　columnist。　She　had　as　much　idea　of　security；　and　keeping　her　mouth　shut；　as　a　（own　crier。'
　'Mmmm。'　Beairice　frowned；　and　Bond　thought　she　even　looked　attractive　when　her　face　became　ге…pailerned　with　anxiety。　'Look。　James。'　she　laid　a　hand　on　his　thigh；　which　seemed　to　pass　a　current　of　signals　to　alert　his　most　basic　physical　needs。　'Look；　I　have　a　secure　radio…link　back　to　the　big　villa。
This　is　something　I　should　report　now。　before　it's　too　late。　It
won't　take　long。　Are　you　up　to　some　menial　chores；　like　doing　vegetables　for　tomorrow's　dinner？〃
　Bond　rarely　bothered　himself　with　the　preparation　of　food。　For　years　it　had　always　been　something　others　did　for　you。　But　he　simply　nodded；　and　went　into　the　liltte　kitchen　while　Beatrice　left　the　Villa　Capricciani；　hurrying；　her　face　reflecting　the　fact　that　she　considered　Clover　Pennington's　presence　on　the　island。　and　nearby；　to　be　something　of　grave　concern。
　In　the　kitchen。　Bond　began　to　prepare　the　vegetables；　smiling　wryly　and　thinking　how　M　would　love　to　see　him　now。　He　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　learn　that　M　had　given　Beatrice　Maria　da　Ricci　instructions　to　Tut　Bond　in　his　place。'　He　could　hear　the　Old　Man　telling　her　that　（M）7　was　sometimes　a　shade　too　conscious　of　his　class　for　his　own　good。　'Get　him　to　do　some　physical　jobs；　like　swabbing　the　decks　of　that　villa。〃　It　was　the　kind　of　devilment　in　which　M　would　revel。
In　England　ihat　Christmas　Eve；　M　was　down　at　Quarterdeck；　but　not　at　ease。　An　extra　secure　telephone　link　had　been　installed　so　thai　he　could　get　information　concerning　Bond　and　his　situation　within　seconds　of　it　ing　in　to　Headquarters。
　Though　M　was　naturally　a　solitary　person；　he　did　have　relatives：　a　daughter；　now　married　to　an　academic　who　worked　on　inprehensible　and　obscure　pieces　of　European　history　at　Cambridge。　They　had　provided　M　with　two　grandchildren；　a　boy　and　girl；　whom　he　adored　and　spoiled　in；　for　him；　a　most　uncharacteristic　manner。
　The　tree　was　trimmed；　Mrs　Davison　had　everything　ready；　and；　during　the　previous　week；　M　had　gone；　with　her　husband；　on　a　spend　ing…spree；　most　of　the　purchases　being　extravagant　playthings　for　the　grandchildren。　At　Christmas。　M　seemed　to　turn　in　to　the　reformed　Scrooge…in　facl；　part　oft　he　Quarterdeck　Christmas　ritual　was　a　reading　from　Dickens'　A　Christmas　Carol。　But；　this　year；　M　did　not　seem　to　have　his　heart　in　the　preparations。　He　sat　in　his　study；　unmoved　by　the　Nine　Lessons　and　Carols；　broadcast　live　each　year　from　King's　College。　Cambridge。　This；　in　itself；　was　also　unusual；　for；　in　spite　of　his　crusty；　sharp　manner；　and　weather…beaten　features；　Christmas　usually　brought　out　a　drop　of　sentiment　in　M。
His　hand　seemed　to　leap　to　the　telephone　a　second　before　it
rang；　and　he　answered　with　a　crisp；　'M。'
　Bill　Tanner　was　at　the　other　secure　end。　'Something's　e　through；　sir。'
　M　nodded；　not　even　speaking　into　the　instrument。　There　was　a　brief　pause；　then　Tanner　continued；　'Today　we've　had　two　contacts。　The　usual　change　of　cipher。　Then　another　one。　A　Flash。〃
'Serious？'
　〃Not　sure；　sir。　It's　a　report　from　Dragontooth。　It　looks　as　though　the　Cat；　or　one　of　her　lieutenants；　is　there　and　very　much　on　the　prowl。　The　query　is　should　we　pull　her；　or　wait　for　her　to　move？'
'No　idea　how　big　her　（earn　is？'
　？Impossible　lo　id！；　sir。　Maybe　three。　Possibly　more。　Certainly　one　was　wounded　in　the　not　over…zealous　attempt　we　know　about。'
　M　sal。　silent；　for　a　full　minute。　'We　need　hard　intelligence。　Chief　of　Staff。　Hard　as　nails。　But；　if　it　serves　the　purpose；　tell　Dragontooth　to　be　utterly　ruthless。　Our　contacts　with　the　Italians　are　still　holding　up？'
'No　problem　there；　sir。'
　'Right。　Ruthless　if　necessary。　And　there's　another　order　。　。　。'　He　spoke　to　Tanner　for　ten　minutes；　giving　him　detailed　instructions。　Then；　with　a　sharp。　'Keep　me　informed；'　M　closed　the　line；　wondering　why；　of　all　the　agents　under　his　mand；　he　worried　most　about　007。　Was　he　the　son　the　old　man　had　always　wanted？　Difficult。　Something　not　to　be　dwelt　upon。
　Behind　the　rise　and　fall　of　Wassail。'　Wassail！　he　heard　his　daughter's　car　crunch　on　（he　gravel　outside。　Banishing　all　thoughts　of　what　was　probably　going　on　far　away　in　Ischia；　M　fashioned　a　smile　of　greeting　and　went　to　the　door。
They　trimmed　the　little　tree　with　the　cheap　and　gaudy　things　bought　in　the　Forio　market；　prepared　everything　for　tomorrow's　dinner　and　settled　down　for　a　light　snack　of　a　soup　that　Beatrice　had　put　together　quickly；　and　allowed　to　simmer　while　they　were　dealing　with　the　tree。　There　was　also　bread　and　a　choice　of　a　dozen　cheeses；　washed　down　with　a　bottle　of　good　local　wine。　Afterwards；　Bond　stretched　out　in　an　easy　chair；　with　Beatrice　resting　her　back　against　his　legs；　while　his　arm　caressed　her　shoulder；　occasionally　dropping　to　finger　one　of　her　breasts。
　He　had　purposely　not　asked　her　anything　about　her　contact　with　London。　Now　he　thought　the　time　was　right。　'What　was　their　reaction？'
'Whose？'
'London's　reaction　to　the　Pennington　girl　being　around。'
　She　twisted　her　body　so　that　she　could　look　up　at　him。　'Better　you　shouldn't　know。　It'll　all　be　taken　care　of。　James。　It's　under　control。'
　He　nodded；　trying　to　explain　that　all　this　was　new　to　him。　'Normally　it's　me　doing　the　protection　and　giving　the　orders。'
　'Well。〃　her　voice　took　on　the　husky　tone　he　had　e　to　know　and　appreciate　from　the　previous　night；　and　what　had　passed　between　them　during　the　morning。　'Well；　James；　there　are　some　orders　you　can　give　me。〃
　'I　hadn't　noticed　it。　You're　a　pretty　dominant　young　woman。　Even　。　。　。〃
　'Even　in　bed？　I　know；　but　1　can　change　all　that。　You　want　to　try？'
　'Soon。〃　He　sounded　very　relaxed。　'You　know；　Beatrice。　I　think　…　barring　anything　going　wrong　…　this　is　going　to　be　one　of　the　happiest　Christmases　ever。〃
　She　took　his　hand　from　her　shoulder　and　drew　it　down　to　her　mouth；　kissing　it。　nibbling　at　the　vortex　between　thumb　and　forefinger；　then　gently　sucking　each　linger　in　turn。　At　last　she　asked；　'Until　now；　what's　the　best　Christmas　you　can　remember？'
　Bond　grunted　and　stretched。　'I　think　the　last　Christmas　I　spent　with　my　parents〃　His　voice　also　changed；　the　sentences　delivered　haltingly；　as　though　he　found　it　difficult　to　discuss。　Tm　a　mongrel　as　well。　Bea。　Scottish　father　and　Swiss　mother。　Christmas　in　a　little　chalet　on　Lago　Lugano〃　He　gave　a　laugh；　'Odd　that　it　was　the　best；　because　I　was　ill　…　just　recovering　anyway。　Chickenpox；　measles；　that　sort　of　thing。〃〃
'Why　was　it　the　best？'
　He　gave　an　almost　schoolboyish　smile。　〃I　got　everything　I　asked　for。　They　indulged　me。　There　was　an　air…pistol；　as　I　recall　it〃
'What　else？'
'I　had　to　stay　in　bed；　but　my　father　opened　the　window　and
put　some　tin　cans　on　the　ledge。　Let　me　pot　away　at　them　for　half　an　hour　or　so。　In　the　evening　they　both　stayed　in　my　room　and　ate　Christmas　dinner　from　trays。　It　was　different。　A　final　taste　of　love。　I'll　never　forget　it。'
'Final？　Why　final？'
'My　parents　were　killed；　climbing；　a　few　weeks　later。'
　〃Oh；　James。'　She　seemed　shocked；　as　though　regretting　she　had　asked。
　　LA　long　time　ago　Beatrice。　Your　turn。　Your　best　Christmas　ever？'
　She　twisted　around　and　pulled　him　down　from　the　chair；　close　to　her。　on　the　floor。　'This　Christmas。　I　never　had　great　Christmases；　James；　and　I've　never　had　things　happen　to　me　so　quickly　before。　It's　。　。　。　it's　all　strange。　I　don't　entirely　believe　it。'　She　took　his　hand　and　placed　it　intimately　against　her。
　Bond　fumbled　in　his　pocket　and　brought　out　the　gift…wrapped　package。　'Merry　Christmas；　Beatrice。'
　She　opened　it　like　a　child；　tearing　the　pape