johngardner.rollofhonor-第2节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　simple　confidential　courier　job　…　to　alleviate　the　drudgery　of　those　hot　months。
　Then；　early　in　the　following　November；　came　the　legacy。　　It　arrived　in　a　thick　manila　envelope　with　a　Sydney　postmark；　falling　literally　out　of　the　blue　with　a　heavy　plop　through　his　letter　box。
　The　letter　was　from　a　…firm　of　solicitors　who　for　many　years　had　acted　for　the　younger　brother　of　Bond's　father；　an　uncle　whom　Bond　had　never　seen。　　Uncle　Bruce；　it　appeared；　had　died　a　wealthy　man；　leaving　every　penny　of　his　estate　to　his　~　nephew　James；　who　hitherto　had　enjoyed　little　private　money。　　Now　his　fortunes　were　drastically　changed。
　The　whole　settlement　came　to　around　a　quarter　of　a　　million　sterling。　There　was　one　condition　to　the　will。　　Old　　Uncle　Bruce　had　a　sense　of　humour　and　decreed　that　his　　nephew　should　spend　at　least　？100；000　within　the　first　　four　months；　in　〃a　frivolous　manner'。
　Bond　did　not　have　to　think　twice　about　how　he　might　i　best　ply　with　such　an　eccentric　proviso。　　Bentley　　motor　cars　had　always　been　a　passion；　and　he　had　sorely　w　　resented　getting　rid　of　the　early　models　which　he　had　　owned；　driven　and　loved。　　During　the　last　year　he　had　lusted　after　the　brand　new　Bentley　Mulsanne　Turbo。
　《　When　the　will　was　finally　through　probate；　he　took　　himself　straight　down　to　Jack　Barclay's　showrooms　in　Berkeley　Square　and　ordered　the　hand…built　car　…　in　his　old　favourite　colour；　British　Racing　Green；　with　a　magnolia　interior。
　One　month　later；　he　visited　the　Rolls…Royce　Car　Division　at　Crewe　and　spent　a　pleasant　day　with　the　Chief　Executive。　　He　explained　that　he　wanted　no　special　technology　built　into　the　car　apart　from　a　small　concealed　weapon　partment　and　a　long…range　telephone　which　would　be　provided　by　the　security　experts　at　C。C。S。　　The　Mulsanne　Turbo　was　delivered　in　the　late　spring；　and　Bond；　having　put　down　the　full　price　with　the　order；　was　happy　to　get　rid　of　the　remaining　？30；000　plus　by　spending　it　on　friends；　mainly　female；　and　himself　in　a　spree　of　high　living　such　as　he　had　not　enjoyed　for　years。
　But　007　was　not　so　easily　brought　out　of　the　doldrums。
　He　longed　for　some　kind　of　action　…　a　craving　that　he　tried　to　curb　with　too　many　late　nights；　the　excitement　of　the　gaming　tables；　and　a　lukewarm　affair　with　a　girl　he　had　known　for　years；　a　small　romance　that　sputtered　out　like　a　candle　flame　after　a　few　months。　　His　period　of　lotus…eating　failed　miserably　to　remove　the　unsettled　edgy　sense　that　his　life　had　lost　both　purpose　and　direction。
　There　was　one　week；　in　the　late　spring；　when　he　found　some　pleasure　with　the　Q　Branch　Armourer；　Major　Boothroyd；　and　his　delectable　assistant　Q'ute；　testing　a　handgun　the　Service　was　toying　with　using　on　a　regular　basis。　　Bond　found　the　ASP　9mm；　a　bat　modification　of　the　9mm　Smith　&　Weston；　to　be　one　of　the　most　satisfying　weapons　he　had　ever　used。　　But　then　the　ASP　had　been　constructed　to　specifications　supplied　by　the　United　States　Intelligence　and　Security　Services。
　In　the　middle　of　August；　when　London　was　crowded　with　tourists；　and　a　torpor　appeared　to　hang　over　the　Regent's　Park　Headquarters；　there　was　a　summons　from　M's　secretary；　the　faithful　Miss　Moneypenny；　and　Bond　found　himself　in　his　chief's　office；　with　Bill　Tanner　in　attendance。　　It　was　here；　on　the　ninth　floor；　overlooking　the　hot；　dusty　park；　that　M　surprised　Bond　by　bringing　up　the　matter　of　the　Australian　legacy。
　Moneypenny　was　far　from　her　usual；　flirtatious　self　while　Bond　waited　in　the　outer　office。　　She　gave　the　distinct　impression　that；　whatever　the　cause　of　M's　summons；　the　news　could　not　be　good。　　The　feeling　was　heightened　once　he　was　allowed　into　the　main　office。　　Bill　Tanner　was　present；　and　both　the　Chief…of…Staff　and　M　looked　wary；　M's　eyes　not　even　meeting　Bond's　and　Tanner　hardly　turning　to　acknowledge　his　presence。
　〃We　have　a　pair　of　Russian　ambulance　chasers　in　town；'　M　stated　baldly　and　without　emphasis　once　Bond　was　seated　in　front　of　his　desk。
　〃Sir。〃　There　was　no　other　possible　response　to　this　opening　gambit。
　〃New　boys　to　us；'　M　continued。　　〃No　diplomatic　cover；　French　papers；　but　definitely　high　quality　ambulance　chasers。〃　The　Head　of　Service　was　talking　about　Russian　operatives　whose　specific　task　was　to　recruit　potential　informants　and　double　agents。
　〃You　want　me　to　put　them　on　the　first　aircraft　back　to　Moscow；　sir？〃　Bond's　spirits　rose　a　little；　for　even　that　simple　chore　would　be　better　than　sitting　around　the　office　shuffling　papers。
　M　ignored　the　offer。　　Instead　he　looked　at　the　ceiling。
　〃e　into　money；　007？　　That's　what　I　hear。〃
　〃A　small　legacy　Bond　found　himself　almost　shocked　by　M's　remark。
　M　raised　his　eyebrows　quizzically；　muttering；　〃Small？〃
　〃The　ambulance　chasers　are　high…powered　professionals。〃　Bill　Tanner　spoke　from　the　window。　　〃They've　both　had　some　success　in　other　parts　of　the　world　…　Washington；　for　instance　…　though　there's　never　been　hard　evidence。　　Washington　and　Bonn。　　These　fellows　got　in　very　quietly　on　both　occasions；　and　nobody　knew　about　them　until　it　was　too　late。　　They　did　a　lot　of　damage　in　Washington。　　Even　more　in　Bonn。〃
　〃The　orders　to　expel　arrived　after　the　birds　had　flown；　M　interjected。
　〃So；　now　you　know　they're　here　in　the　U。K。　　and　you　want　some　solid　evidence？〃　An　unpleasant　thought　had　crept　into　Bond's　mind。
　Bill　Tanner　came　over；　dragging　a　chair　with　him　so　that　he　could　sit　close　to　Bond。　　〃Fact　is；　we've　got　wind　at　an　early　stage。　　We　presume　they　think　we　don't　know　about　them。　　Our　brothers　at　Five　have　been　cooperative　for　once　〃They're　here　and　active　then？〃　Bond　tried　to　remain　calm；　for　it　was　not　like　M　or　Tanner　to　beat　about　the　bush。
　〃You　want　hard　evidence？〃　he　asked　again。
　Tanner　took　in　a　deep　breath；　like　a　man　about　to　unburden　his　soul。　　〃M　wants　to　mount　a　dangle；'　he　said　quietly。
　〃Tethered　goat。　　Bait；'　M　growled。
　〃Me？〃　Bond　slipped　a　hand　into　his　breast　pocket　withdrawing　his　gunmetal　cigarette　case。
　〃By　all　means'　said　M　in　acknowledgment　that　Bond　might　smoke；　and　he　lit　one　of　his　H。　　Simmons　specials；　bought　in　bulk　from　the　old　shop　in　the　Burlington　Arcade　where　they　were　still　to　he　had。
　〃Me？〃　Bond　repeated。　　〃The　tethered　goat？〃
　〃Something　like　that。〃
　〃With　respect；　sir；　that's　like　talking　of　a　woman　being　slightly　pregnant。　　He　gave　a　bleak　smile。　　〃Either　I'm　to　be　the　bait；　or　I'm　not。
　〃Yes。〃　M　cleared　his　throat；　plainly　embarrassed　by　what　he　was　about　to　suggest。　　〃Well　。　　。　　。　　it　really　came　to　us　because　of　your　your　little　windfall。〃　He　stressed　the　word　〃little'。
　〃I　don't　see　what　that's　got　to　do　with　it　。　　。　　〃Let　me　put　a　couple　of　questions　to　you。〃　M　fiddled　with　his　pipe。　　〃How　many　people　know　you've　er；　e　into　money？〃
　〃Obviously　those　with　need…to…know　in　the　Service；　sir。
　Apart　from　that　only　my　solicitor；　my　late　uncle's　solicitor　and　myself。　〃Not　reported　in　any　newspapers；　not　bandied　about；　not　public　knowledge？〃
　〃Certainly　not　public　knowledge；　sir。〃　M　and　Tanner　exchanged　glances。　〃You　have　been　living　at　a　somewhat　extravagant　pace；　007；'　said　M；　scowling。
　Bond　remained　silent；　waiting　for　the　news　to　be　laid　on　him。　　As　he　had　thought；　it　was　not　good。
　Tanner　took　up　the　conversation。　　〃You　see；　James；　there's　been　some　talk。　　Gossip。　　People　notice　things　and　the　word　around　Whitehall　is　that　mander　Bond　is　living　a　shade　dangerously　…　gambling；　the　new　Bentley；　er。　　。　　。　　ladies；　money　changing　hands　〃So？〃　Bond　was　not　going　to　make　it　any　easier　for　them。
　〃So；　even　our　gallant　allies　in　Grosvenor　Square　have　been　over　asking　questions　…　they　do；　when　a　senior　officer　suddenly　changes　his　habits。〃
　〃The　Americans　think　I'm　a　security　risk？〃　Bond　bridled。
　〃Damned　cheek。〃　M　rapped　on　the　desk。　　〃Enough　of　that；　007。　　They　have　every　right　to　ask。　　You　have　been　acting　the　playboy　recently；　and　that　kind　of　thing　always　makes　them　suspicious。〃
　〃And　if　they　get　touchy；　then　there's　no　knowing　what　thoughts　are　running　through　the　minds　of　those　watching　from　Kensington　Gardens；'　said　Tanner　with　a　forced　smile。
　〃Rubbish；'　Bond　almost　spat。　　〃They　know　me　too　well。
　They'll　ferret　out　the　legacy　in　no　time　…　if　they're　interested。
　〃Oh；　they're　interested　all　right；'　Tanner　continued。
　〃You　haven't　noticed　anything？〃　Bond's　brow　creased　as　he　shook　his　head。
　〃No？　　Well；　why　should　you？　　They've　been　very　discreet。　　Not　a　twenty…four…hour　surveillance　or　anything　like　that；　but　our　people　on　the　street　have　reported　that　you're　under　observation。　　Odd　days；　occasional　nights；　questions　in　unlikely　places。
　Bond　swore　silently。　　He　felt　foolish。　　Even　at　home；　behave　as　though　you　〃re　in　the　field；　they　taught。　　Elementary；　and　he　had　not　even　noticed。　　〃Where's　this　leading；　then？〃　he　asked；　dreading　the　answer。
　〃To　the　dangle。〃　Tanner　gave　a　half…smile。　　〃To　a　small　charade；　with　you　as　the　central　character；　James。〃　Bond　nodded。　　〃Like　I　said；　I'm　going　to　be　the　bait。
　〃It　seems　reasonable　enough。〃　M　turned　his　attention　to　his　pipe。
　〃The　situation　is　ideal　。　　。
　This　time　Bond　did　explode；　voicing　his　feelings　with　some　force。
　It　was　the　most　stupid　ploy　he　had　ever　heard　of。　　No　recruiting　officer　from　any　foreign　agency　would　seriously　consider　him　…　a