johngardner.winloseordie-第13节
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She had e out of the big； sliding glass doors of ihe villa and now stood； smiling； by the poolside。 In the palms and tropical fronds to her right a short； white statue of a young satyr thumbed its mouth and produced almost a mirror…image of the girl；
'Signor Bond；' she said again； the voice jolly and bright； 'wele to Villa Capricciani。 I am Beatrice。' She pronounced it with almost cassata…flavourcd Italian … Beh…ah…Tree…che。 '1 am here to greet you。 Also to look after you。 I am the maid。'
Bond thought he would not like to bet on it。 but strode onto the wide terrace which was covered with a green material so thai in hoi weather you would not barbecue the bare soles of your feet getting to the pool which was now empty and covered。 The villas were never open in the winter； so he wondered how M had pulled off the renting of this one。 The answer probably lay in a close； maybe secret； arrangement with the owner。 M had highly placed friends the world over； and。 Bond suspected； was able to apply pressure when required by circumstances such as these。
As though reading his thoughts。 Beatrice stretched out her hand and took his in an unexpectedly firm grasp。 LThe Signora is away。 She go to Milano for the Natale。 I remain here and guard the house and all the villas entirely。'
？And I wonder if you guard them for BAST； also？' Bond thought。
'e。 I will show you。' Beatrice gave his hand a short lug； like a child leading him into the villa； then stopped。 'Ah； 1 forget。 Already you know。 You have before been here； yes？'
He smiled and nodded； following her into the big white room with arched ceiling and matching sofas and chairs； encased in crearn covers。 There were three glass…topped tables； four lamps with surrounds of white glass shaped like opening lilies； and four paintings … one in the style of Hockney。 an unknown man leaning against the chrome surround of the pool； three others of various garden views which needed no explaining to Bond。
In spite of Beatrice's realisation of the fact thai he already knew the place； she continued to lead him around； almost at breakneck speed； showing off the three large bedrooms … 'You will have trouble in making your mind which to use。 huh？ Or possibly you use them one at a time。 Different each night。 You are alone； huh？ A pity。 One different each night would be enjoyable。' This last was followed by grandsire triples of laughter。
The villa was on one level； just the main room； with doors off to （he three bedrooms； and a narrow passage … neatly contrived to store two refrigerators； food； china； pots； pans and cutlery … leading to the kitchen。 The rear of the main room was arched and； in turn； led to the dining area： the whole beautifully furnished with a clever mix of old and new； each room taking on a style of its own。 Behind the dining area you passed through a pair of french windows on to a second terrace； on the left of which； steps led up to a flat roof； converted into an open…sided room … simply a wood and rush roof； topped by a weathercock； supported by heavy wooden beams and furnished with a long refectory table； making an excellent dining area in summer。 The view looked out towards the little white and grey town of Forio。 with its ancient refurbished church of Our Lady of Succour； brilliant white； built with simple architectural lines； perched on the older grey stone projecting from the headland of Soccorso。
The rain had cleared； and there was a little winter sun which seemed to hit the church； tiny in the distance； then bounce off to sprinkle and glitter on the water。 Bond looked back at the town； with its hills rising above； then returned his gaze to the promontory and the church。
'Is beautiful； eh？' Beatrice stood by his side。 'This is for the help of fishermen； for all who sail。 Our Lady of Soccorso takes care of them。'
'We have a hymn；〃 Bond unexpectedly heard himself say。 'It is a prayer。 〃Oh hear us when we cry to Thee； for those in peril on the sea。〃
〃Is good。〃
She was standing close to him。 and even in the chill of this winter day he could smell the sunshine on her。 A sweetness that seemed to have been trapped in the strong hot weeks of summer； mingled with a scent he could not identify。
He turned and walked back； pausing by the steps to look at this incredible wonder which lay behind the villa。
At one time； the local people had thought the Signora … who； as Beatrice had said； was now in Milan … was mad。 Widow of a great artist she had bought this land： barren rock。 She had arranged for some of it to be blasted away； shaping it into a kind of amphitheatre。 Hard against the side of the rock she had then built a large villa which looked like a grey buttressed fortress。 The four small villas which she rented out in the summer were converted from old structures； once shepherds' huts and barns。 But her greatest achievement had been the garden which was reflected in some of （he pictures back in the Villa Capricci…
an。
She had gathered together men who loved growing things； as she did。 and； with immense toil and frustralion had built this incredible； beautiful place full of cyprus； palm； mountain flowers； （lowering shrubs and bushes； shaded walks； ponds and fountains； water tricks which would hurl liquid into great archways over paths； or imitate a mountain stream pouring endlessly from bare rock into a blue pool from whence it was recycled to create the illusion of constant moving water。 The ponds were peopled by small turtles and goldfish； and even in winter there was colour from hardy plants。 All year round there was some form of natural colour； and the beauly of ihis place stayed in Bond's memory。 Once seen； the garden lived with you； as though it had been implanted in your mind through some magic of its own creation；
He looked up along the stone …encrusted ridge at the far end of the great scooped rock； and allowed his eyes to trace their way along the zig…zag of paths and walks； the trees and bushes bent； growing at angles determined by the harsh winds of winter。 Indeed； this was a work of great love and dedication。 The local people had long since e to understand that the Signora should be treated with awe and reverence。
'Is a great genius； the Signora；' Beatrice said； as though speaking of a saint。
'An amazing lady。' Bond smiled at her。 standing to one side to allow the girl to descend first； as he looked down at the rear terrace。 Since the moment they had met by the pool he had been careful to keep Beatrice in view。 Even when she had e close to him on the open； covered roof…lop； he had made sure his body had always been turned towards her with one hand braced； stiff and tense； to be used as a cutting edge should she make a wrong move。 For alt he knew； the effervescent Beatrice could well be the Cat； Saphii Boudai； or at least one of her messengers。
Once back in the house； she said she would light the stove。 ？It will bee cold tonight； and I do not wish an invalid on my hands。' She gave him a sideways glance as though to imply that she would not mind him on her hands it〃 he were fit and willing。
Bond merely smiled and said he would go down to the car and get his luggage。 'Have you （he keys？' he asked。 'I should lock the gates。'
'Of course。 They are in the kitchen。 In their usual place。' A pause of four or five heartbeats； then； 'Everything is in the kitchen as you expect。' Another pause； slightly shorter。 'Everything； Signor Bond；〃
'Call me James；' he Ihrew back over his shoulder。 If she was on （he side of the devils and not the angels； it would be best to meet her on Christian name terms。 They said that knowing the name of devil or angel always put you at the advantage。
The bunch of seven or eight keys lay on the free…standing kitchen unit。 They were attached to a penlight key…ring and looked as though （hey had just been tossed onto the work…top； even though the smallest key stuck out separately and was aligned with the edge of the unit。 He picked the whole lot up by the small key。 inserting it into the lock on the drawer just below the point where the bunch had been lying。 It turned easily。
Inside the drawer lay one 9mm Browning automatic and three spare ammunition clips。 The action moved slickly； well oiled； and showed there was a round in the chamber。 Later he would strip the weapon down and go through it piece by piece。 'There'll be a pistol in the locked kitchen drawer；' M had said。 Had Beatrice put it there？ Or had she merely been inquisitive and found the secrel？
Bond hefted the pistol in his hand。 The weight seemed right for a fully loaded weapon。 The spare magazines also appeared to be correct； but he knew weapons and ammunition could easily be doctored to feel right。 If that happened； then the last thing you ever knew was that someone had been clever； spiked the firing…pin； mechanism； or even the rounds。
For the time being he simply had to trust； slipping the spare magazines into the pockets of his windcheater； pulling the Browning's safety to 'on'； ami pushing it into his waistband； far to the left so that it was hidden； then pulling the butt down so that the muzzle was screwed lo the left。 This was always advisable。 Movie cops and agents so often jammed a pistol straight into the waistband； risking a shot foot； o
