johngardner.winloseordie-第47节
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ap over one shoulder； and his camera over the other。 He was ready。 The maid could keep the pyjamas； and there was nothing to incriminate him。 Another pigskin shaving…bag would cost him a great deal less than the hotel bill； so why pay the hotel bill？
It was hard to believe this was February。 The sun shone and the sky was blue。 A faint brce/。e stirred the flowers。 But all was well with the world； and he had spotted no familiar figures in the hotel foyer。 It must have been his imagination。 So。 he could walk。 Walking was good。 and。 in the end。 faster than facing the crammed Gibraltar traffic。
He started away from the hotel； with the sheer rock face on his right。 Bassam Baradj was less than three minutes into his stride when the hair at the nape of his neck began to prickle。 There were steady footsteps behind him。 Not just the footsteps of idle tourists； but official footsteps。
He glanced over his shoulder and saw them： a man and a woman in jeans about ten paces from him。 The man wore a leather bomber…jacket； the woman had a short canvas jacket。 Then he made eye contact with the man。 it was a face he knew。 A face from the files。 He had ordered this man dead on at least three occasions。 The man was James Bond。
Bond saw that Baradj had made him so he acted quickly； his hand going for the Browning behind his right hip； covered by the bomber…jacket； his legs moving apart to take up the shooting stance。 But he was not quick enough。 By the time the pistol was out； Baradj had leaped up the low rock face and clambered out of sight。
If I am to lake this man。 Baradj thought； then I shall do it on my own terms。
Back on the narrow road； Beatrice also had a pistol out and was speaking rapidly into a walkie…talkie； calling up the police and SAS reserves。 Bond had insisted on going in alone。 'I want to bring this guy back alive；' he had said。
'Careful； James！' Beatrice called as he jumped from the road into the rocks。 Boulders like sculpture； huge and rough； were strewn everywhere up the slope； bui he could see no sign of Baradj。
Beatrice joined him and they fanned out； watching each other's backs。 In this terrain it would be relatively simple for Baradj to outflank them and take a shot from behind。 But； when the shot came； it was from high up。 and nothing thumped or ricocheted near either Bond or Beatrice。
Still spread out； they moved forward until they came to a wide…arched opening； like a man…made cave in the face of the rock。 It had been barred by a large iron gate； fastened with a padlock。 The padlock had been shot away； and one of the gates was half open。
'The tunnels！1 Beatrice whispered； and Bond nodded； 'Yes； the tunnels； and we have no idea how well he knows them。'
〃What about you？'
Bond shook his head； whispering； Tve only ever been in the galleries open to the public。 But。 where he goes we'll have to follow。'
The phrase 'As Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar' is a misnomer； for the great Rock is； in reality； like a huge； giant ants' nest of tunnels。 All of them were military in nature； and the public were allowed to see the first Irue feats of engineering … the Upper and Middle Galleries； built under the instruction of Sergeant Major Ince of the Sappers in the 178（》s。 These faced Spain； were installed with cannon； and were largely responsible for holding the Rock during the Great Siege。 Bul thai was far from the end of the story。 Later tunnelling played a key role during World War Two。 and sections of the tunnels were still very much in use now。 Unless you knew the way； you could get lost very easily inside the Rock of Gibraltar。
Bond and Beatrice edged their way in。 trying not to allow their bodies to be highlighted against the exterior。
Inside； the lights； drilled into the ceiling； were on； and they found themselves in a high； curved vault； big enough to take a Ihree…lane highway。
They spread out。 one taking each side of the rough…chiselled wall； their eyes straining ahead for any sign of movement。 There was none； and ＇he lights seemed lo go on lor ever。
They stopped beside two curved nissen huts； built into a cavern carved from the rock…face。 Bul they were locked and empty； so they continued； moving slowly； very aware of the fact that； should Baradj find a hiding…place … some dug…out in the rock … he could pick them off as easy as shooting fish in a barrel。
The lunnel branched off； and within a hundred yards Bond and Beatrice found themselves in the remains of what had once been a field hospital。 Parts of tiled operating theatres remained； the sluices and lavatories were intact。 Bul ihe hospilal led nowhere and。 in minutes； they were back in the wide main route。
Bond remembered now。 that these tunnels were once full of men。 tanks； lorries； field guns； and jeeps。 Indeed； they had been used as one of the main staging posts for Operation Torch。 the allied invasion of French North Africa in 1942。 the force manded by Eisenhower。 way back when he was still only a Lieutenant…Genera＇。 There were many ghosts in this dank and cold place； and Bond could feel them all closing in on him now as water dripped from the roof of this incredible stone highway。
'Over here。〃 Beairice whispered； and he saw that there was another lunnel leading off； only large enough to drive a jeep into； and possibly reverse out again。 They stopped； listened and wem down the branch lunnel。 The far end was blanked off by a high metal wall； into which a door had been set。 Bond tried the door and it swung open easily。 Beatrice covered him while he leaped inside and was mel by such an incredible sight that he almost forgot to follow the routine。 He heard Beatrice gasp as she passed through the door； then the shot； echoing through this incredible place； and the bullet shattering only inches from Beatrice。 They both dived for cover； and there was plenty of that。
They appeared to be in natural light； on what could have been a large film set； only the place as it appeared was so real it would be easy lo imagine you were dreaming。 There were streets； houses； shops； even a church in the distance。
It took Bond a few moments to realise what it was。 for he had heard of this place； though never seen it before。 Graffiti was daubed on walls。 Jibes at the police and military。
It was all so real that it took time for the truth to sink in。 This was a training ground for troops resting in Gibraltar。 A place where they could practise street righting； the kind of work lhat was so often required in times of civil unrest。 He had heard a rumour that some members of the quick…response teams； police and army； were sometimes flown here for training。
They were lying on a pavement； sheltering behind a wall which was part of The King's Head； a pub that looked so real you could almost smell the beer。
Bond tried to assess where the shot had e from。 'You work left。' he whispered。 Til cross the street and go right。 Yell if you see him； or if he fires at you。 Give it ten minutes。' He held up his watch。 'Then we meet back here。'
She nodded； and crouching low； scuttled along the wall； while Bond readied himself and made a crouching run for it； across the street to the far side； along the blank wall of Jack Berry； Family Butcher。 The shop front； in the main street； was decorated with meat； carcasses hanging inside。 He was almost at the angle of the wall on the tar side； when two bullets came down； flinging shards off the pavement。 He thought he saw the muzzle flash； from a doorway； three houses up the cramped； terraced street； and。 still running； he fired； two lots of two shots； from the hip。 Bond was sure he had seen a figure duck back into the doorway。
He was panting； his back fiat against the wall； working out the next move。 If he went behind the butcher's shop he should be able to make his way down the back of the parallel street。 and head for the rear door opposite the house from which he thought Baradj had last fired。
Keeping his back against the wall； he edged himself behind the shop； and along the rear of the terraced houses。 One。 Two。 He tried the handle on the mean little door of the third house。 It moved and he stepped into a long dark passage。 There were stairs going up to the right。 He leaned his right shoulder against the stairs； listening； wondering if he should try the front door ahead of him； then decided to move left； into what would be the little front room。 He heard nothing before the door crashed open； and two shots ripped against the stairs； one of them clipping his Browning； sending pain dancing up his arm and the pistol flying。
He waited for death to e quickly； looking up at the figure of Bassarn Baradj； silhouetted in the doorway。
？Captain Bond；' Baradj said。 'I am sorry about this； but in other ways pleased that the honour of being your executioner falls to me。 Goodbye。 Captain Bond。' The pistol came up in the two…handed grip； and Bond winced at the shot； but felt nothing。 Tense； unable to move； he stared at Baradj who still appeared to be looking at him。 his arms outstretched； the gun aimed。
Then； as in a dream sequence； Bassam Baradj buckled at the knees and toppled forward into the narrow passage。
Bond lei out a deep； long breath and heard Beatrice's sneakers ihudding across the road。 She stopped in the door
