if.moonraker-第32部分

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e　seat　beside　him。　The　battle　was　now　in　the　open　and　somehow　the　Mercedes　must　be　stopped。
　Using　the　road　as　if　it　was　Donington；　Bond　rammed　his　foot　down　and　kept　it　there。　Gradually；　with　the　needle　twitching　either　side　of　the　hundred　mark　he　began　to　narrow　the　gap。
　Drax　took　the　left…hand　fork　at　Charing　and　hissed　up　the　long　hill。　Ahead；　in　the　giant　beam　of　his　headlights；　one　of　Bowaters'　huge　eight…wheeled　AEC　Diesel　carriers　was　just　grinding　into　the　first　bend　of　the　hairpin；　labouring　under　the　fourteen　tons　of　newsprint　it　was　taking　on　a　night　run　to　one　of　the　East　Kent　newspapers。
　Drax　cursed　under　his　breath　as　he　saw　the　long　carrier　with　the　twenty　gigantic　rolls；　each　containing　five　miles　of　newsprint；　roped　to　its　platform。　Right　in　the　middle　of　the　tricky　S…bend　at　the　top　of　the　hill。
　He　looked　in　the　driving　mirror　and　saw　the　Bentley　ing　into　the　fork。
　And　then　Drax　had　his　idea。
　〃Krebs；〃　the　word　was　a　pistol　shot。　〃Get　out　your　knife。〃
　There　was　a　sharp　click　and　the　stiletto　was　in　Krebs's　hand。　One　didn't　dawdle　when　there　was　that　note　in　the　master's　voice。
　〃I　am　going　to　slow　down　behind　this　lorry。　Take　your　shoes　and　socks　off　and　climb　out　on　to　the　bonnet　and　when　I　e　up　behind　the　lorry　jump　on　to　it。　I　shall　be　going　at　walking…pace。　It　will　be　safe。　Cut　the　ropes　that　hold　the　rolls　of　paper。　The　left　ones　first。　Then　the　right。　I　shall　have　pulled　up　level　with　the　lorry　and　when　you　have　cut　the　second　lot　jump　into　the　car。　Be　careful　you　are　not　swept　off　with　the　paper。　Verstanden？　Also。　Hals　und　Beinbruch！〃
　Drax　dowsed　his　headlights　and　swept　round　the　bend　at　eighty。　The　lorry　was　twenty　yards　ahead　and　Drax　had　to　brake　hard　to　avoid　crashing　into　its　tail。　The　Mercedes　executed　a　dry　skid　until　its　radiator　was　almost　underneath　the　platform　of　the　carrier。
　Drax　changed　down　to　second。　〃Now！〃　He　held　the　car　steady　as　a　rock　as　Krebs；　with　bare　feet；　went　over　the　windscreen　and　scrambled　along　the　shining　bonnet；　his　knife　in　his　hand。
　With　a　leap　he　was　up　and　hacking　at　the　left…hand　ropes。　Drax　pulled　away　to　the　right　and　crawled　up　level　with　the　rear　wheels　of　the　Diesel；　the　oily　smoke　from　its　exhaust　in　his　eyes　and　nostrils。
　Bond's　lights　were　just　showing　round　the　bend。
　There　was　a　series　of　huge　thuds　as　the　left…hand　rolls　poured　off　the　back　of　the　lorry　into　the　road　and　went　hurtling　off　into　the　darkness。　And　more　thuds　as　the　right…hand　ropes　parted。　One　roll　burst　as　it　landed　and　Drax　heard　a　tearing　rattle　as　the　unwinding　paper　crashed　back　down　the　one…in…ten　gradient。
　Released　of　its　load　the　lorry　almost　bounded　forward　and　Drax　had　to　accelerate　a　little　to　catch　the　flying　figure　of　Krebs　who　landed　half　across　Gala's　back　and　half　in　the　front　seat。　Drax　stamped　his　foot　into　the　floor　and　sped　off　up　the　hill；　ignoring　a　shout　from　the　lorry…driver　above　the　clatter　of　the　Diesel　pistons　as　he　shot　ahead。
　As　he　hurtled　round　the　next　bend　he　saw　the　shaft　of　two　headlights　curve　up　into　the　sky　above　the　tops　of　the　trees　until　they　were　almost　vertical。　They　wavered　there　for　an　instant　and　then　the　beams　whirled　away　across　the　sky　and　went　out。
　A　great　barking　laugh　broke　out　of　Drax　as　for　a　split　second　he　took　his　eyes　off　the　road　and　raised　his　face　triumphantly　towards　the　stars。
　
　CHAPTER　XXI
　
　'THE　PERSUADER'
　
　KREBS　ECHOED　the　maniac　laugh　with　a　high　giggle。　〃A　master…stroke；　mein　Kapit？n。　You　should　have　seen　them　charge　off　down　the　hill。　The　one　that　burst。　Wundersch？n！　Like　the　lavatory　paper　of　a　giant。　That　one　will　have　made　a　pretty　parcel　of　him。　He　was　just　ing　round　the　bend。　And　the　second　salvo　was　as　good　as　the　first。　Did　you　see　the　driver's　face？　Zum　Kotzen！　And　the　Firma　Bowater！　A　fine　paperchase　they　have　got　on　their　hands。〃
　〃You　did　well；〃　said　Drax　briefly；　his　mind　elsewhere。
　Suddenly　he　pulled　into　the　side　of　the　road　with　a　scream　'　of　protest　from　the　tyres。
　〃Donnerwetter；〃　he　said　angrily；　as　he　started　to　turn　the　car。　〃But　we　can't　leave　the　man　there。　We　must　get　him。〃　The　car　was　already　hissing　back　down　the　road。　〃Gun；〃　ordered　Drax　briefly。
　They　passed　the　lorry　at　the　top　of　the　hill。　It　was　stopped　and　there　was　no　sign　of　the　driver。　Probably　telephoning　to　the　pany；　thought　Drax；　slowing　up　as　they　went　round　the　first　bend。　There　were　lights　on　in　the　two　or　three　houses　and　a　group　of　people　were　standing　round　one　of　the　rolls　of　newsprint　that　lay　amongst　the　ruins　of　their　front　gate。　There　were　more　rolls　in　the　hedge　on　the　right　side　of　the　road。　On　the　left　a　telegraph　pole　leant　drunkenly；　snapped　in　the　middle。　Then　at　the　next　bend　was　the　beginning　of　a　great　confusion　of　paper　stretching　away　down　the　long　hill；　festooning　the　hedges　and　the　road　like　the　sweepings　of　some　elephantine　fancy…dress　ball。
　The　Bentley　had　nearly　broken　through　the　railings　that　fenced　off　the　right　of　the　bend　from　a　steep　bank。　Amidst　a　puzzle　of　twisted　iron　stanchions　it　hung；　nose　down；　with　one　wheel；　still　attached　to　the　broken　back　axle；　poised　crookedly　over　its　rump　like　a　surrealist　umbrella。
　Drax　pulled　up　and　he　and　Krebs　got　out　and　stood　quietly；　listening。
　There　was　no　sound　except　the　distant　rumination　of　a　car　travelling　fast　on　the　Ashford　road　and　the　chirrup　of　a　sleepless　cricket。
　With　their　guns　out　they　walked　cautiously　over　to　the　remains　of　the　Bentley；　their　feet　crunching　the　broken　glass　on　the　road。　Deep　furrows　had　been　cut　across　the　grass　verge　and　there　was　a　strong　smell　of　petrol　and　burnt　rubber　in　the　air。　The　hot　metal　of　the　car　ticked　and　crackled　softly　and　steam　was　still　fountaining　from　the　shattered　radiator。
　Bond　was　lying　face　downwards　at　the　bottom　of　the　bank　twenty　feet　away　from　the　car。　Krebs　turned　him　over。　His　face　was　covered　with　blood　but　he　was　breathing。　They　searched　him　thoroughly　and　Drax　pocketed　the　slim　Beretta。　Then　together　they　hauled　him　across　the　road　and　wedged　him　into　the　back　seat　of　the　Mercedes；　half　on　top　of　Gala。
　When　she　realized　who　it　was　she　gave　a　cry　of　horror。　〃Halt's　Maul〃　snarled　Drax。　He　got　into　the　front　seat　and　while　he　turned　the　car　Krebs　leant　over　from　the　front　seat　and　busied　himself　with　a　long　piece　of　flex。　〃Make　a　good　job　of　it；〃　said　Drax。　〃I　don't　want　any　mistakes。〃　He　had　an　afterthought。　〃And　then　go　back　to　the　wreck　and　get　the　number　plates。　Hurry。　I　will　watch　the　road。〃
　Krebs　pulled　the　rug　over　the　two　inert　bodies　and　jumped　out　of　the　car。　Using　his　knife　as　a　screwdriver　he　was　soon　back　with　the　plates；　and　the　big　car　started　to　move　just　as　a　group　of　the　local　residents　appeared　walking　nervously　down　the　hill　shining　their　torches　over　the　scene　of　devastation。
　Krebbs　grinned　happily　to　himself　at　the　thought　of　the　stupid　English　having　to　clean　up　all　this　mess。　He　settled　himself　back　to　enjoy　the　part　of　the　drive　he　had　always　liked　best；　the　spring　woods　full　of　bluebells　and　celandines　on　the　way　to　Chilham。
　They　had　made　him　particularly　happy　at　night。　Lit　up　amongst　the　green　torches　of　the　young　trees　by　the　great　headlamps　of　the　Mercedes；　they　made　him　think　of　the　beautiful　forests　of　the　Ardennes　and　of　the　devoted　little　band　with　which　he　had　served；　and　of　driving　along　in　a　captured　American　jeep　with；　just　like　tonight；　his　adored　leader　at　the　wheel。　Der　Tag　had　been　a　long　time　ing；　but　now　it　was　here。　With　young　Krebs　in　the　van。　At　last　the　cheering　crowds；　the　medals；　the　women；　the　flowers。　He　gazed　out　at　the　fleeting　hosts　of　bluebells　and　felt　warm　and　happy。
　Gala　could　taste　Bond's　blood。　His　face　was　beside　hers　on　the　leather　seat　and　she　shifted　to　give　him　more　room。　His　breathing　was　heavy　and　irregular　and　she　wondered　how　badly　he　was　hurt。　Tentatively　she　whispered　into　his　ear。　And　then　louder。　He　groaned　and　his　breath　came　faster。
　〃James；〃　she　whispered　urgently。　〃James。〃
　He　mumbled　something　and　she　pushed　hard　against　him。
　He　uttered　a　string　of　obscenities　and　his　body　heaved。
　He　lay　still　again　and　she　could　almost　feel　him　exploring　his　sensations。
　〃It's　me；　Gala。〃　She　felt　him　stiffen。
　〃Christ；〃　he　said。　〃Hell　of　a　mess。〃
　〃Are　you　all　right？　Is　anything　broken？〃
　She　felt　him　tense　his　arms　and　legs。　〃Seems　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Crack　on　the　head。　Am　I　talking　sense？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　said　Gala。　〃Now　listen。〃
　Hurriedly　she　told　him　all　she　knew；　beginning　with　the　notebook。
　His　body　was　as　rigid　as　a　board　against　her；　and　he　hardly　breathed　as　he　listened　to　the　incredible　story。
　Then　they　were　running　into　Canterbury　and　Bond　put　his　mouth　to　her　ear。　〃Going　to　try　and　chuck　myself　over　the　back；〃　he　whispered。　〃Get　to　a　telephone。　Only　hope。〃
　He　started　to　heave　himself　up　on　his　knees；　his　weight　almost　grinding　the　breath　out　of　the　girl。
　There　was　a　sharp　crack　and　he　fell　back　on　top　of　her。
　〃Another　move　out　of　you　and　you're　dead；〃　said　the　voice　of　Krebs　ing　softly　between　the　front　seats。
　Only　another　twenty　minutes　to　the　site！　Gala　gritted　her　teeth　and　set　about　bringing　Bond　back　to　consciousness　again。
　She　had　only　just　succeeded　when　the　car　drew　up　at　the　door　of　the　launching…dome　and　Krebs；　a　gun　in　his　hand；　was　undoing　the　bonds　round　their　ankles。
　They　had　a　glimpse　of　the　familiar　moonlit　cement　and　of　the　semi…circle　of　guards　some　distance　away　before　they　were　hustled　through　the　door　and；　when　their　shoes　had　been　torn　off　by　Krebs；　out　on　to　the　iron　catwalk　inside　the　launching…dome。
　There　the　gleaming　rocket　stood；　beautiful；　innocent；　like　a　new　toy　for　Cyclops。
　But　there　was　a　horrible　smell　of　chemicals　in　the　air　and　to　Bond　the　Moonraker　was　a　giant　hypodermic　needle　ready　to　be　plunged　into　the　heart　of　England。　Despite　a　growl　from　Krebs　he　paused　on　the　stairway　and　looked　up　at　its　glittering　nose。　A　million　deaths。　A　million。　A　million。　A　million。
　On　his　hands？　For　God's　sake！　On　his　hands？　With　Krebs's　gun　prodding　him；　he　went　slowly　down　the　steps　on　the　heels　of　Gala。
　As　he　turned　through　the　doors　of　Drax's　office；　he　pulled　himself　together。　Suddenly　his　mind　was　clear　and　all　the　lethargy　and　pain　had　left　his　body。　Something；　an