johngardner.winloseordie-第29章

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'Why；　sir？'
　'I've　got　a　Sea　King　going　off　to　Gib　in　twenty　minutes。　It'll　just　make　it　there　and　back；　if　they　juice　her　up　in　Gib。　They're　bringing　in　Morgan's　replacement。'
〃Desperate　Dan？'
　Walmsley　seemed　to　have　lost　any　humour　that　might　have　lurked　behind　his　cold　blue　eyes。　'I　believe　they　call　him　that。　You　gol　anyone　in　Gib？'
　'Let　me　check　it　out　sir。　If　the　answer's　yes；　I'll　see　he's　brought　back。'
'Let　me　know　before　take…off。　You　only　have　twenty　minutes。'
It　took　Bond　fifteen　minutes　to　make　contaci。　Yes；　they　had
an　interrogation　specialist　with　the　unlikely　name；　for　his　skills；　of　Donald　Speaker　who　would　be　delighted　со　have　a　go。
　So　it　was　that　when　Flight　BA498　landed；　slightly　lale；　al　two　o'clock　lhat　afternoon；　the　Sea　King　from　Invincible　was　sitting；　juiced　up。　on　the　helipad　away　from　the　terminal　building。　Its　crew　of　Ihree　were　aboard；　plus　Donald　Speaker；　a　red…bearded；　casually…dressed　little　man　with　the　sharp　look　of　a　bank　inspector　about　him。
　The　Lieutenant　mander　from　Invincible's　Executive　Officer's　staff　waited　in　the　arrivals'　terminal　…　which；　in　Gibraltar；　is　also　the　departure　terminal。　He　did　nol　notice　that　one　passenger　from　BA498　came　through　the　gates；　lugging　his　flight…bag；　and　made　slraight　for　the　Men's　Room：　while　a　few　seconds　later　another　man　came　out。　carrying　the　same　flight…bag；　and　with　his　passport　in　his　left　hand；　held　over　his　breast　pocket。　To　the　Lieutenanl　mander　this　was　simply　＇he　man　for　whom　he　had　been　waiting；　giving　all　the　signals　…bag　in　righl　hand；　passport　in　left　hand；　held　high　just　under　his　breast　pocket　where　his　boarding　card　stuck　out　almost　a　couple　of　inches。
　The　Lieutenant　mander　smiled　and　approached　the　civilian。　'Mr　Woodward？'
　'Yes；　I'm　Dan　Woodward；'　said　Abou　Hamarik。　'Want　to　see　the　ID？'
　'Better　take　a　quick　shufti。　My　name's　Hallam。　by　the　way。'　the　Lieutenant　mander　grinned。　'Your　diplomatic　status　stamp　looks　damned　impressive。　Well；　wele　aboard　Mr　Woodward。'
'Jusi　call　me　Dan。'
　They　crossed　the　metalled　apron；　walking　quickly　towards　the　Sea　King。　As　they　did　so　they　saw　the　stop　lights　e　on；　and　traffic　grind　to　a　halt　on　the　road　that　ran　straight　across　the　runway。　A　Royal　Air　Force　Tornado　came　hurtling　in　with　its　droops　and　spoilers　fully　extended。　Their　ears　sang　but　cleared　by　the　time　they　reached　the　Sea　King。　The　crewman　helped　them　up。　and　Hallam　introduced　him　to　everyone。　Speaker　just　gave　him　a　nod；　as　though　he　did　not　approve　of　Americans　being　given　free　rides　on　Royal　Navy　helicopters。
　'Great；'　Hallam　said；　just　before　the　rotors　began　to　turn。　'We'll　be　back　in　very　good　time　for　Stewards'　Meeting。'
　'What's　Stewards'　Meeting？'　Speaker　asked。　He　had　a　slight；　unidentifiable　acccnl；　and　a　suspicious　nasal　tone　in　his　voice。
　'I'm　sorry；'　Hallam　turned　to　him　with　a　smile。　〃If　you　don't　know　what　it　is；　you're　not　cleared　for　it。　Righl；　Dan？'
　'Most　definitely　right；'　Abou　Hamarik　said。　Soon；　he　though！；　ihe　whole　world　will　know　about　Stewards'　Meeting。　And　there　will　be　things　the　whole　world　will　not　wish　to　know。
　The　Sea　King　rose　from　the　pad；　lowered　its　nose；　turned　away　from　the　Spanish　mainland；　banked　and　set　course　out　to　sea　and　HMS　Invincible。
　
　
　14
　
Stewards'　Meeting
　
'D'you　hear　there！　D'you　hear　there！　This　is　the　Captain。'　Sir　John　Walmsley's　voice　rang　out　through　the　ship's　Tannoy　system；　and。　as　ever；　all　ranks　stopped　what　they　were　doing　and　raised　their　heads　to　listen。
　Invincible　had　slowed　down　to　a　point　where　she　was　hardly　moving　in　the　light　sea。　Outside；　at　22。00　hours；　it　was　black　as　pitch；　but　the　flight…deck　was　fully　lit　and　an　S　and　R　Sea　King　hovered　off　the　port　side。
　'I　want　all　ranks　to　listen　out；　and　listen　carefully。　We　still　have　the　submarine　wolf　pack　with　us。　though　I　am　assured　that　they　will　in　no　way　impede　our　progress　to　Gibraltar。　Regarding　Exercise　Landsea　'89　there　is　a　political　stalemate；　and　talks　between　various　countries　will　restart　tomorrow　morning。　So　far　no　further　incidents　have　been　reported　within　the　boundaries　of　the　European　continent；　though　our　forces　…　Red　Side　…　are　still　known　to　be　operating　behind　enemy　lines。　That　is　the　report。　and　assessment；　with　regard　to　Landsea　'89。
　'Now　I　must　talk　seriously　about　the　real　world；　and　what　is　happening　aboard　Invincible　tonight。　I　am　standing　down　all　watches　at　this　moment；　except　for　officers　and　ratings　who　have　been　given　special　instructions　to　be　present　on　（he　main　deck；　Flighl　Operations；　and　the　bridge。　This　is　for　security　purposes；　and　anyone　not　ordered　to　be　on　the　main　deck；　in　Flighl　Operations；　or　on　the　bridge　will　meei　with　stiff　penalties　if　found　there。　In　fact　they　could　well　suffer　injury。　Marines　have　been　posted　on　all　panion…ways　and　bulkheads　leading　to　the　prohibited　areas。　They　are　armed　and　there　is　a　password　sequence　known　only　to　those　authorised　to　work　on　the　main　deck。
'You　will　hear　helicopters　landing　and　taking　off。　This　is　because　the　VIP　officers　we've　had　aboard；　since　Landsea　'89　began；　will　be　taking　their　leave　of　us。　However；　other　VIPs　will　be　ing　aboard；　and　this　is　now　classified　information。　Until　you're　informed　of　its　declassincation。　no　officer。　Petty　Officer；　Warrant　Officer；　rating　or　marine　will　speak　of　anything　seen　aboard　Invincible　over　the　next　few　days。　If　anyone　does　talk；　outside　this　ship；　1　should　remind　you　that　to　do　so　will　be　regarded　as　a　breach　of　the　Official　Secrets　Act；　punishable　accordingly。
　To　underline　the　seriousness　of　this　situation；　you　should　know　that；　until　we　reach　Gibraltar；　there　will　be　four　Sea　Harriers；　fully　armed　and　ready　to　fly；　on　and　around　the　ski…ramp；　for'ard。　There　will　be　two　pilots　from　the　Air　Group　at　five　minute　readiness；　twenty…four　hours　a　day；　starting　now。　That　is　all。'
　In　Flight　Operations；　Bond　could　see　that　was　not　all。　for　the　first　two　Sea　Harriers　were　not　only　in　place　but　also　had　pilots　in　the　cockpits　and　their　engines　on　at　idle。　Apart　from　that；　there　was　a　sense　of　deja　vu　in　the　lights　flashing　from　three　helicopters　stacked；　one　behind　the　other；　closing　on　the　stem。　The　cloud　cover　was　high　so　he　could　only　see　the　red　and　green　rotating　lights　against　the　darkness。　But　he　knew；　from　the　mander　（Air）；　that　the　first　chopper　was　about　one　mile　away；　closing　at　a　speed　of　around　fifty　knots；　and　the　other　two　were　stacked　at　one　thousand　feet　intervals。
　The　Sea　King　was　visible　now。　a　shaft　of　light　ing　from　its　nose　as　the　halogen　spot　came　on。　It　closed；　then　hovered　as　the　Flight…Deck　Controller　and　his　men　signalled　it　in　to　land　some　hundred　yards　behind　the　pair　of　back…up　Sea　Harriers；　parked　together　well　behind　the　ski…ramp。
　Nobody　approached　the　Sea　King　as　its　rotors　gently　slowed　down。　They　were　still　whisking　the　air　as　the　US　Navy　helicopter　rolled　in　behind　it；　followed　by　the　big。　twin…finned　Kamov…25　which　nosed　onto　the　deck　with　its　two　huge　contra…rotating　rotors　whirling　fast　and　its　turbines　giving　a　final　dying　roar。
　Bond　just　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　three　VIP　officers；　the　British；　American　and　Russian　Admirals；　being　hustled　towards　their　respective　helicopters。　Then　the　main　deck　lights　went　out；　leaving　only　dim　blue　guiding　lights　leading　from　the　helicopters　to　the　main　bulkhead　doors　in　the　island。
　'Time　you　joined　the　reception　mittee。　Captain　Bond。'　The　mander　glanced　towards　him。　Bond　nodded　and　with　a　'Good　luck！'　left　Flight　Ops；　turning　his　body　sideways；　ratiling　down　the　panion…way；　heading　towards　the　section　of　cabins　recently　vacated　by　the　trio　of　Admirals　and　（heir　bodyguards。
　In　the　hour　that　had　passed　since　he　had　last　been　in　this　part　of　the　ship；　a　great　deal　had　taken　place。　The　passageway　floors　were　now　covered　in　thick　red　carpeting；　and　three　sections　of　the　long　corridor；　which　led　from　James　Bond's　cabin　to　the　turning　into　the　Wrens'　quarters；　had　been　separated　by　neat　wooden　doors；　the　jambs　screwed　into　bulkhead　cross…sections。
　The　doors　were　open；　and　he　could　see　right　down　to　the　end；　where　the　entire　draft　of　Wrens　were　drawn　up。　with　Clover　Pennington　pacing　anxiously。　In　the　middle　portion；　（he　new　Naval　Intelligence　man。　Woodward；　was　acpanied　by　two　armed　marines。　Woodward　gave　Bond　a　wink；　lifting　his　right　hand　and　following　with　a　ihumbs…up；　to　which　Bond　replied　in　kind。　Through　the　door　nearest　to　him　Nikki　Ratnikov　and　Yevgeny　Stura　were　also　acpanied　by　two　Royal　Marines；　while　another　pair；　with　Sergeant　Harvey　in　tow。　waited　patiently　to　one　side　of'Bond's　cabin　door。
　Bond　nodded　to　the　sergeant。　'Any　minute　now。'　he　said；　and　the　words　were　hardly　out　of　his　mouth　when　he　heard　the　sounds　of　feet　on　the　uncarpcted　section　of　the　passageway　leading　to　the　spruced　up　VIP　quarters。
　They　came　al　a　brisk　pace：　Rear…Admiral　Sir　John　Walmsley。　Ted　Brinkley　and　a　civilian　who　could　only　be　from　one　service；　for　he　had　all　the　smooth　and　tough；　alert　looks　of　an　officer　of　the　Special　Branch　Close　Protection　Squad。　At　the　centre　of　this　group。　Bond　saw　the　first　of　the　VIPs　who　had　e　aboard　from　the　helicopter　which　had　picked　up　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould。
　The　Rear…Admiral　stopped　in　front　of　Bond。　'Prime　Minister；'　he　said　to　the　almost　regally　dressed　Mrs　Margaret　Hilda　Thatcher。　'I'd　like　to　present　Captain　James　Bond；　who　is　in　total　charge　of　security　for　Stewards'　Meeting。'
The　Prime　Minister　smiled　and　firmly　shook　Bond's　hand。　'It's　nice　to　see　you　again；　and　congratulations　on　your　promotion。'　She　turned　to　Walmsley。　'Captain　Bond　and　I　are　already　old　friends；'　she　said。　'I　couldn't　have　better　protection；　and　it's　not　generally　known　that　Captain　Bond　was　instrumental　in　saving　not　only　my　life；　but　that　of　ex…President　Reagan；　some　lime　ago。'　Then　back　to　Bond。　Ч　couldn't　be　in　better　hands。　Just　see　that　we're　left　alone　for　a　full　four　days；　Captain　Bond。　We　shall　need　every　minute　of　it。　if　we're　going　to　get　through　a　tough　agenda…　And　it　is　a　very　tough；　and　important　agenda。　I'm　sure　you　are　already　aware　of　lhat。'
　'Yes。　Prime　Minister。　I'll　do　everything　possible。　If　your　people；　require　anything；　they　should　get　in　touch　with　me　personally。'
　'Very　kind　of　you。　Captain　Bond；'　and　with　her　best　electorial　smile；　the　Prime　Minister　of　the　United　Kingdom　marched　away　with　her　retinue。
　Bond's　eyes　followed　her；　and　he　ignored　Sergeant　Harvey's　muttered。　'I　wouldn't　like　to　be　on　her　defaulters'　parade。'
　From　the　far　end　of　the　passageway；　he　heard　the　Rear…Admiral　introduce　the　PM　to　First　Officer　Pennington；　and　then　make　his　excuses。
　He　came　striding　back；　glaring　at　Bond。　'You　said　nothing　about　saving　her　life！　Anything　else　I　should　know？'
　'She　exaggerated；'　Bond　did　not　smile。　〃The　information's　restricted　anyhow；　so　I　shouldn't　let　it　go　any　further；　sir。'
　'Hrrumph！'　Walmsley　said　…　or　something　very　like　it　…　and　went　off　to　meet　the　next　arrival。
　President　George　Herbert　Walker　Bush；　surrounded　by　his　Secret　Service　men　…　Joe　Israel；　Stan　Hare　and　Bruce　Trimble　…　and　with　a　small　man　carrying　a　briefcase　chained　to　his　wrist；　had　been　met　at　the　foot　of　the　panion…way　by　Walmsley。　The　President　was　tall；　smiling；　greying　and　very　open…faced。
　'Captain　Bond。'　he　acknowledged　as　t