johngardner.winloseordie-第25节

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paper　and　possibly　his　face；　with　a　little　help　from　a　plastic　surgeon。　Now　he　was　nearly　at　the　most　sensitive　point　in　his　operation；　for　he　alone　…　outside　of　the　tiny　circle　of　Navy　and　intelligence　officers　…　knew　the　secret　of　what　they　called　Stewards'　Meeting。　Apart　from　the　dupe　Petty　Officer　whom　his　men　had　enlisted；　Baradj　had　at　leas！　two　agents　aboard　Invincible。　One　had　provided　the　essential　clue　to　Stewards'　Meeting；　the　other　had　people　who　would　obey　during　ihe　plot　thai　lay　ahead。　Once　the　clock　began　to　run　on　his　operation。　Baradj　considered　the　entire　business　would　take　only　forty…eight　hours；　maybe　sixty　al　the　outside；　for　the　Superpowers　would　cave　in　very　quickly。　After　that。　Baradj　would　cease　to　exist；　and　BAST　would　be　penniless。
　When　he　had　abandoned　Northanger。　Baradj　had　gone　to　Rome　for　a　couple　of　days。　From　Rome　he　flew　into　London。　Gatwiek　as　a　transfer　passenger　to　Gibraltar。　There。　Abou　Hamarik。　'The　Man'；　waited　for　him　al　that　British　home　from　home。　The　Rock　Hotel。　For　once　the　men　did　not　exchange　the　BAST　password；　'Health　depends　on　strength'　…　a　password　taken　very　seriously　by　all　BAST　members　except　Baradj　who　thought　it　to　be　gobbledegook。　and　did　not；　therefore；　realise　thai　it　was　one　of　the　tiny　dues　thai　had　leaked　to　Intelligence　and　Security　services　world…wide；　who　also　took　it　seriously：　to　the　point　of　analysing　variations　on　its　possible　meaning。
　But。　this　time；　for　no　other　reason　than　laxity；　the　words　were　not　exchanged；　therefore　none　of　the　listening…post　puters　picked　it　up。　The　advent　of　a　pair　of　high…ranking　members　of　BAST　went　undetected　in　Gibraltar。　Tf　they　had　exchanged　this　profoundly　nonsensical　form　of　greeting　things　might　well　have　been　different。
James　Bond　saw　Clover　Pennington　for　the　first　time　since　their　meeting　over　Christmas；　in　the　wardroom　of　Invincible。　Certain　sea…going　regulations　had　been　altered　to　allow　the　Wrens　and　their　officer　to　do　their　job　with　ease；　and　First　Officer　Pennington　was；　as　the　bearded　Sir　John　Walmsley　put　it；　'A　delightful　adornment　to　our　ship's　pany。'　Not　one　officer　in　the　wardroom　missed　the　slightly　lascivious　look　in　the　Captain's　eyes　as　he　gallantly　kissed　Clover's　hand　and　lingered　over　releasing　it。　Eventually。　Clover　escaped　from　the　senior　officers　and　came　over　to　Bond。　who　was　nursing　a　glass　of　Badoit；　having　forsworn　alcohol　until　the　operation　had　been　successfully　concluded。　She　looked　fit；　relaxed　and　very　fetching　in　the　trousers　and　short　jacket　Wren　officers　wore；　for　the　sake　of　modesty；　when　on　harbour　or　shipboard　duty；　and　aircraft　maintenance。
　'You　all　right；　sir？'　Clover　smiled　al　him；　her　dark　eyes　wide　and　stirring　with　pleasure；　leaving　no　doubt　that　she　was　happy　to　see　him。
〃Fine；　Clover。　Ready　for　the　fray'。''
　'！　hope　it's　not　going　to　be　a　fray。　I　just　want　it　all　over　and　done　with。　I　gather　that　I　defer　to　you　in　all　security　matters。'
　'Thiit's　what　the　rules　say。　They　also　say　it　to　the　Americans　and　the　Russians；　though　I　really　can't　see　either　of　them　deferring　to　anyone。　The　Old　Man　tells　me　he's　going　to　make　it　plain　to　the　whole　lot。　They　might　well　obey　for　the　first　part；　but。　when　we　e　to　Stewards'　Meeting。　I　don't　see　them　budging　from　their　respective　charges　and　telling　me　anything。'　The　cipher。　Stewards'　Meeting；　was。　as　far　as　invincible　was　concerned；　known　only　to　Sir　John　Walmsley。　Clover　Pennington。　James　Bond；　the　three　visiting　Admirals　and　their　bodyguards；　to　whom　the　information　was　essential。　Even　when　they　got　to　thai　particular　phase　the　present　circle　of　knowledge　would　not　be　considerably　widened。　The　entire　ship's　pany　mieht　see　things；　and　guess　others；　but　would　never　be　formally　told。
'We　know　who　the　minders　are。　Jame　。　。　。　sir？'　He　nodded；　glaneing　around　as　officers　drifted　in　to　dinner。　'Our　people're　easy；　just　a　pair　of　heavies　from　the　Branch　…both　ex…Navy　and　done　up　as　Flag　Officers；　the　Yanks've　got　their　Secret　Service　bodyguards。　Four　of　them。　As　for　the　Russians；　almost　certainly　K。GB。　four　in　all。　including　a　woman　who's　described　as　a　Naval　Attache。'　'Any　names？'
　'Yes。　All　unmemorable；　apart　from　the　Russian　lady　who's　called　Nikola　Ratnikov。　a　name　to　conjure　with　。　。　。'
　'I've　already　marked　her　card；　sir。'　Clover　gave　him　a　wide…eyed　look　of　innocence。　'Whatever　she's　like。　I'll　think　of　her　as　〃NikkiThe　Rat〃。'
　Bond　allowed　her　one　of　his　neon…sign　smiles：　on　and　off。　'Let's　eat。'　he　said　'I've　a　feeling　it's　going　to　be　a　long　hard　night。'
One　of　the　Sea　Kings　hovered　off　the　port　bow。　This　was　normal　operational　practice　during　Hying　operations。　One　helicopter
was　always　airborne　to　act　as　a　search…and…rescue　machine　should　an　aircraft　end　up　m　the　drink；
　From　Flight　Operations；　high　on　the　superstructure　known　to　all　as　the　island；　Bond　could　see　the　helicopter's　warning　lights　blinking　as　it　drifted　forward　keeping　in　station　with　the　ship。
　'Here　they　e。'　The　mander　in　charge　of　Flight　Ops　snapped　his　night　glasses　up　and　swept　the　sky　behind　the　stern。　'Our　man's　leading　them　in；'
　You　could　see　them　with　the　naked　eye　…　not　their　shapes；　hut　the　warning　lights　of　three　helis　stacked　from　around　five　hundred　feet；　at　a　good　thousand…yard　intervals；　up　to　about　a　thousand　feet。
　'Rulers　of　their　own　nay…vee…s；'　Bond　parodied　the　Gilbert　and　Sullivan　song　from　IIMS　Pinafore。
　A　young　officer　chuckled；　and；　as　the　first　chopper；　another　Sea　King；　came　in　and　put　down；　taxiing　forward　at　the　instructions　from　the　deck…handling　officer；　the　mander　joined　in。　singing；　'For　they　are　monarchs　of　the　sea。'
　The　second　machine　touched　the　deck；　it　was　a　big　Mil　Mi…14　in　the　Soviet　Naval　livery　of　white　and　grey　（NATO　designation　Haze）　making　a　din　they　could　hear　up　on　the　bridge　above　Flight　Operations。　Bond　repeated　his　line。　'Rulers　of　their　own　Nay…vec…s。〃　adding。　'I　think　that　one　really　has　brought　along　all　of　his　sisters；　and　his　cousins；　and　his　aunts。'
　As　the　rotors　slowed　to　idle；　so　the　final　craft　did　a　rather　fancy　rolling…landing；　touching　down　right　on　the　stern　threshold。　This　looked　like　an　update　of　the　Bell　model　212。　and　carried　US　markings；　but　no　designation　and　no　Wavy　Sivery。　Nobody　in　Flight　Operations　had　seen　anything　like　it。　'I　want　those　choppers　off　my　deck　fast；'　the　mander　barked　at　the　young　officer　acting　as　munications　link　with　the　deck…handling　officer。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Bond。　'We've　got　two　Sea　Harriers　out　there；　fully　juiced　and　carrying　operational　equipment：　real　bangs。　Sidewinders。　50mm　cannon；　the　works。　Don't　know　what's　behind　it。　but　the　Captain　gave　the　orders。　Round　the　clock　readiness；　with　a　four…minute　ability　lo　switch　them　for　unarmed　I　larriers。　Bloody　dangerous　if　you　ask　me。'
The　three　helicopters　were　discharging　their　passengers　with　speed；　each　machine　being　met　by　a　senior　officer；　a　bosun；　and　several　ratings：　the　senior　officer　to　salute；　the　bosun　to　pipe　the　admiral　aboard；　and　ihe　ratings　to　secure　any　luggage。　Admiral　of　the　Fleet　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould；　Admiral　Edwin　Gudeon。　United　States　Navy；　and　Admiral　Sergei　Yevgenne…vich　Pauker；　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Soviet　Navy；　together　with　their　staffs　and　bodyguards　were　aboard　invincible。
　Half　an　hour　later。　Bond　was　ushered　into　the　Captain's　day　cabin。　The　three　admirals　were　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin；　each　nursing　a　drink；　and　Rcar…Admiral　Sir　John　Walmsley　greeted　Bond　with　a　smile；　turning　to　the　assorted　brass　from　the　Royal　Navy。　United　States　Navy　and　the　Soviet　Navy。　〃Gentlemen；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　Captain　Bond　who　is　in　charge　of　your　security　arrangements　while　you're　aboard　invincible。　Bond；　this　is　Admiral　of　the　Fleet。　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould。'　Bond　stood　to　attention　in　front　of　the　smooth…looking；　impeccable　officer。　'Captain　Bond。'　Gould　had　a　voice　which　matched　his　looks：　he　was　one　of　those　people　who　always　look　neat　and　freshly　barbered。　'I'm　sure　we'll　all　be　safe　in　your　care。　1　have　two　Flag　Officers　who　have　had　experience　in　these　matters　。　。　。'
　〃Gentlemen；　Captain　Bond　is　to　meet　your　personal　staff；　as　soon　as　I've　introduced　him　to　you；'　Walmsiey　broke　in　quickly。　'I　must　stress　that　while　you　are　guests　aboard　my　flagship；　your　people　will　take　their　orders　directly　from　Captain　Bond。　This　is　essential　to　your　well…being；　and　the　safety　of　those　who　will；　eventually；　be　part　of　Stewards'　Meeting。〃
　'Sure；　if　that's　the　way　you　want　to　play　it。　But　I've　got　four　guys　with　me；'　Admiral　Gudeon's　voice　was　the　unpleasant　growl　of　a　cantankerous　man　who　always　liked　his　own　way；　and　was　never　wrong。　'I　guess　they'll　be　able　to　look　after　me　without　you　doin'　much　to　help　them。'　Bond　did　not　know　if　the　Admiral　meant　to　be　rude；　or　whether　it　was　merely　a　long…cultivated　manner。　'Bond？　。　。　。　Bond　。　。　。'。'〃　the　American　continued。　'1　knew　a　Bond；　way　back　at　Annapolis。　You　got　any　American　relatives？'
　'I　think　not。　sir。　Many　friends；　but　no　relatives　…　not　as　far　as　I　know；　anyway。'　Rear…Admiral　Walmsley　moved　a　foot；　kicking　Bond's　ankle　sharply。　But　Gudeon　seemed　oblivious　to　the　tongue…in…cheek　answer。
　'And；'　Walmsley　quickly　pushed　Bond　along　the　line；　'our　mosl　senior　officer　here。　Admiral　Sergei　Pauker；　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Sovie