johngardner.rollofhonor-第13节

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　Lovely　meeting　you。
　Jason　did　not　even　apologise；　merely　smiling　benignly　and　shrugging。　Freddie　gave　Bond　a　broad　wink　as　the　two　ladies　left　the　room。　　As　he　turned　back　to　the　table；　he　caught　Cindy　looking　at　him　again；　in　the　same　almost　conspiratorial　way；　tinged　this　time　with　jealousy。
　Or　did　he　imagine　it？
　Jason　had　hardly　paused。　　〃Naturally；　you're　conversant　with　flowcharting　a　puter　program；James？〃　Bond　nodded；　recalling　the　hours　spent　in　Monaco　drawing　the　plex　charts　which　showed　exactly　what　you　wanted　the　puter　to　do。　　Once　more；　with　the　memory　came　that　odd　sense　of　Percy's　presence。　　He　dragged　himself　back；　for　Jason　was　still　speaking。
　〃Before　we　prepare　a　detailed　flowchart；　we　have　to　find　out　what　we　want　to　chart。　　So　we　begin　to　plan　the　simulation　by　playing　it　on　a　large　table。　　This　acts　as　our　graphics　guide；　and　we　have　counters　for　units；　troops；　ships；　cannon；　plus　cards　for　the　random　possibilities：　weather　cards；　epidemics；　unexpected　gains　or　losses；　hazards　of　war。〃　Peter　took　over。　　〃From　this　we　learn　the　scope　of　the　program　task。　So；　when　we've　played　the　campaign。
　〃About　a　million　times；'　Cindy　added。　　〃It　seems　like　a　million；　anyway。
　Peter　nodded　〃。　　。　　。　　We're　ready　to　begin　flowcharting　the　various　sections。　　You　have　to　be　dedicated　in　this　job。〃
　〃e　down　to　the　laboratory。〃　Jason's　voice　became　manding。　　〃We'll　show　James　the　board　we're　working　on　now。　　Who　knows；　he　may　get　interested　and　return　to　battle　it　out　with　me。　　If　you　do；'　he　said；　looking　intently　at　Bond；　〃make　sure　you　have　plenty　of　time。　　Campaigns　cannot　be　fought　in　five　minutes。〃　Behind　these　seemingly　pleasant　words　there　was　a　hint　of　obsession　that　Bond　found　disturbing。
　As　they　left　the　room；　he　was　conscious　of　Cindy　brushing　against　him。　He　felt　her　hand　touch　his　right　hip　lightly；　just　where　the　ASP　9mm　was　holstered。　　Had　that　been　accidental；　or　was　she　carrying　out　a　subtle　search？　　Whatever　the　answer；　Cindy　Chalmer；　at　least；　knew　that　he　was　armed。
　They　went　through　the　main　hall；　where　Jason　produced　a　bunch　of　keys　attached　to　a　thin　gold　chain；　unlocking　a　door　which；　he　said；　had　once　been　the　way　down　to　the　cellars。
　〃We've　made　a　few　changes；　naturally。〃
　〃Naturally；'　responded　Bond；　unprepared　for　the　nature　of　the　alterations。　　Below　the　house　there　were　three　large；　well…equipped；　puter　rooms；　with　models　of　all　the　best…known　micros　sitting　in　front　of　their　visual　display　units。　　In　a　fourth　room；　Jason's　office；　Bond's　heart　leapt　as　he　spotted　a　machine　that　looked　almost　exactly　like　the　Terror　Twelve　now　safe　outside　in　the　Bentley's　boot。
　From　his　office　Jason　led　the　way　into　a　long　chamber；　lit　from　above　by　at　least　thirty　spotlights。　　The　walls　were　covered　with　charts　and　maps　and　in　the　centre　was　a　large　table。　　Almost　entirely　covering　the　table　and　overlaid　with　a　thick　plastic　grid　was　a　detailed　map　of　the　eastern　seaboard　of　America；　centred　on　Boston　as　it　was　in　the　1　770s。　　The　main　municating　roads　and　natural　features　were　clearly　marked　in　colour。　　In　the　centre　of　the　grid　stood　a　rectangular　framework　made　of　black　plastic；　the　size　and　shape　of　a　large　television　screen；　while　two　small　easels　had　been　placed　at　the　far　end。　　Two　trays；　on　opposite　sides　of　the　table；　contained　packs　of　white　three…by…five　cards。　　There　was　a　chair　in　front　of　each　tray　and　a　desk　top　to　each　player's　right；　well…stocked　with　paper；　maps　and　printed　forms。
　Peter　and　Cindy　began　to　explain　the　nature　of　the　game；　and　how　it　was　used　to　build　up　all　the　details　of　the　simulation　before　anything　was　mitted　to　a　puter　program。　　The　black　plastic　frame　moved　both　vertically　and　horizontally　across　the　map。
　〃That　is　the　area　a　player　will　eventually　see　on　his　screen；　when　we　have　built　the　game；'　said　Jason。　　His　manner　had　bee　less　warm；　as　though　the　professional　had　suddenly　ousted　the　friendly　side　of　his　nature。　　He　explained　how　they　could　slot　close…ups　of　the　terrain　into　the　rectangle。　　〃When　we've　got　the　game　on　puter；　you'll　be　able　to　scroll　around　this　whole　map；　but　see　only　one　section　at　a　time；'　he　said。　　〃However；　there's　a　zoom　facility。　　You　press　the　Z　key；　and　the　screen　will　give　you　a　blow…up　of　the　section　you've　moved　to。〃　Cindy　explained　that　the　two　easels　contained　a　calendar　and　the　weather　cards；　each　month's　cards　were　shuffled　separately　before　play　began。
　〃Weather　restricts　or　enhances　movement。〃　She　demonstrated　how　the　British　patrols　could　move　five　spaces；　on　good　days；　but　in　heavy　rain　only　three；　and　in　snow；　two。
　Looking　at　the　map；　Bond　tried　to　remember　the　history　of　that　period；　learned　too　long　ago　now　in　dusty　schoolrooms。　　He　thought　of　the　frustration　among　officers　of　the　Colonial　Militia；　of　the　British　inability　to　protect　the　cities　and　towns；　of　the　unrest；　then　rebellion　and　open　hostility。
　Then　there　was　a　general　（was　it　General　Gage？）　caught　between　his　situation　on　the　ground　and　having　to　await　orders　from　England。　　There　were　the　patrols　searching　for　the　rebels'　arms　caches；　Paul　Revere's　warning　ride　and　the　militia's　weapons　being　moved　out　of　Concord；　then　the　skirmishes　around　that　town　and　Lexington。　　The　British　had　withdrawn　into　Boston　and　fought　at　Bunker's　Hill；　remembered　as　a　kind　of　Dunkirk　by　the　Americans；　for　the　British　garrison　had　won　the　battle；　but　with　such　terrible　losses　that　they　had　to　retreat　by　sea　to　Halifax。
　Bond　thought　of　these　things　as　Jason；　warming　to　his　theme；　explained　the　way　the　simulation　was　played；　with　the　players　taking　turns　to　issue　orders　and　move　forces。　　Some　of　the　moves　could　be　secret；　and　had　to　be　noted　on　paper。　　Later　came　challenging　and；　possibly；　skirmishing。
　〃The　thing　I　find　interesting　is　that　you　can　alter　history。　　I　am；　personally；　very　attached　to　the　idea　of　changing　history。〃　Again；　a　hint　of　that　obsession；　verging　〃on　dangerous　madness。　　〃Perhaps　I　shall　alter　history；'　Jason　went　on　in　a　menacing　whisper。　　〃A　dream？
　Maybe；　but　dreams　can　turn　into　reality　if　one　man　with　a　brilliant　mind　is　put　to　proper　use。　　You　think　my　spark　of　genius　is　put　to　proper　use？　　No？〃　He　expected　no　answer；　and　his　next　words　really　concerned　something　far　beyond　the　simulation。　　〃Perhaps；　James；　we　could　look　at　this　in　more　detail　…　even　play　a　few　rounds　…　say；　tomorrow？〃　Bond　said　he　would　like　that；　sensing　more　than　an　ordinary　challenge。　　St。　John…Finnes　continued　to　talk　of　revolution；　change；　and　the　plexity　of　war　games。
　Cindy　made　an　excuse　to　leave；　nodding　at　Bond　and　remarking　that　she　hoped　they　would　meet　again。
　〃Oh；　I'm　certain　you　will。〃　Jason　appeared　to　be　very　sure　of　himself。　〃I'm　inviting　James　to　have　another　look。
　Shall　we　say　six　tomorrow　evening？〃　Bond　accepted；　noticing　that　Jason　did　not　even　smile。
　As　they　left；　Jason　walked　on　ahead；　but　Peter　lingered　to　the　rear　with　Bond；　taking　the　opportunity　to　whisper；　〃If　you　do　play　with　him；　lie　likes　to　win。　　Bad　loser；　and　plays　according　to　history。　　He　always　thinks　his　opponent　will　re…enact　the　actual　events。　　The　man's　a　paradox。〃　He　gave　Bond　a　wink；　making　it　all　too　clear　that　Peter　Amadeus　was　not　particularly　fond　of　his　boss。
　Upstairs；　Dazzle　awaited　them；　having　driven　Freddie　back　to　the　Bull。　〃She　seemed　very　tired。　　Said　you　had　dragged　her　all　round　the　countryside　this　afternoon；　Mr。　Bond。　　You　really　shouldn't　subject　her　to　so　much　physical　exercise。　　She's　very　much　a　town　mouse；　you　know。〃　Bond　had　his　own　thoughts　about　this。　　He　too　could　do　with　a　good　night's　sleep；　but　accepted　the　offer　of　a　nightcap　from　his　host。
　Cindy　had　gone　to　bed　and　Peter　and　Dazzle　made　their　excuses；　leaving　the　two　men　alone。
　After　a　short　silence；　Jason　raised　his　glass。　　〃Tomorrow；　he　said；　the　green　eyes　like　glass。　　〃Maybe　we　won't　play　games；　James。
　But；　I　would　wele　the　chance　of　taking　you　on。　　Who　knows？
　puters；　yes　He　was　away　again；　in　some　world　of　his　own　with　a　different　time；　place　and　set　of　values。　　〃puters　are　either　the　greatest　tool　mankind　has　invented；　the　most　magnificent　magic；　capable　of　the　construction　of　a　new　age；'　he　laughed；　one　sharp　rising　note；　〃or　they're　the　best　toy　God　has　provided。〃　In　a　couple　of　seconds　the　more　familiar；　benign　Jason　seemed　to　return。　　〃Can　I　share　my　thoughts　about　you；　James？　　I　think　。　　。　　。　　〃Jason　was　not　waiting　for　Bond's　reply　or　consent；　〃I　think　that　you　are　a　small　fraud；　Mr。　Bond。　　That　you　know　very　little　about　the　art　of　puter　programming。　　Some；　but　not　as　much　as　you　pretend。　　Am　I　right？〃
　〃No。〃　Bond　was　firm。　　〃No；　you're　not　right。　　I've　taken　the　standard　courses　they　give　people　like　me。　　I　reckon　that　I'm　adequate。　　Not　in　your　class；　maybe；　but　who　is？〃
　〃Plenty　of　people。〃　Jason's　voice　was　quiet。　　〃Young　Cindy；　and　Peter；　to　name　two。　　It's　a　young　people's　profession；　and　future；　James。　　Yes；　I　have　a　lot　of　knowledge；　and　some　flair　for　strategy。
　But　young　people　who　are　brought　up　with　the　machines　acquire　flair　very　quickly。　　You　know　the　age　of　the　biggest；　richest　software　tycoon　in　the　United　States？〃
　〃Twenty…eight。〃
　〃Right。　　Twenty…eight　years　old；　and　some　of　the　really　advanced　programmers　are　younger。