johngardner.goldeneye-第22部分

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run　Ourumov　to　earth　…　literally。
　
　What　he　had　not　bargained　for　was　the　lack　of　vision　through　the　forward　slit。　　Somewhere　within　reach　there　was　probably　a　periscope　so　that　he　could　view　the　rear；　but；　for　the　time　being；　he　needed　all　his　concentration　to　learn　how　to　handle　a　T55。　　It　always　looked　so　easy　when　you　saw　those　tank　battles　in　movies；　but　he　had　quickly　discovered　that　unless　you　knew　what　you　were　doing；　the　tank　had　a　tendency　to　drive　you　rather　than　the　other　way　around。
　
　He　had　also　not　taken　in　the　noise　factor。　　Inside　the　brute　there　was　a　bone　jarring　vibration　from　the　tracks；　and　the　noise　was　amplified　by　the　interior　which　seemed　to　act　as　an　acoustic　chamber。
　
　One　of　the　first　things　he　had　done　on　hitting　the　street　was　to　reach　for　the　driver's　headphones　and　clamp　them　on；　then　hit　the　search　button　on　the　radio　in　the　hope　of　locking　on　the　police　band。　His　Russian　would　probably　be　enough　to　follow　any　chatter　concerning　road　blocks　and　the　like。　　The　rest　was　…　in　the　words　of　an　old　sergeant　major　he　had　once　known　〃Brute　force　and　ignorance'。
　
　As　well　as　controlling　the　tank；　dealing　with　the　extreme　noise　and　vibration；　not　to　mention　the　limited　sight　lines；　he　had　to　watch　for　the　unexpectedly　high　volume　of　traffic　which　was　out　in　force　this　evening。　　Twice　he　had　almost　squashed　a　couple　of　cars；　now　he　saw　Ourumov's　car　take　a　right　and　he　followed；　cutting　the　corner　at　an　angle　so　that　the　tank's　hull　lifted　and　there　was　an　unpleasant　buckling　and　crunching　sound　as　he　flattened　a　row　of　parked　cars。　　As　the　hull　came　down　again；　Bond　saw　the　car　had　hit　an　intersection　crammed　with　traffic　and　was　reversing　rapidly；　touching　the　sides　of　other　parked　cars　as　it　went；　sending　sparks　from　the　bodywork　as　it　weaved　backwards；　then　taking　another　right　turn　into　an　alleyway。
　
　He　gunned　the　motor　and；　this　time；　made　a　perfect　right　turn；　tapping　the　brakes　and　hitting　the　accelerator　with　the　control　column　hard　over。　　Too　late　he　saw　that；　while　the　alley　was　big　enough　for　the　car；　it　certainly　gave　no　leeway　to　the　tank。　　He　was　mitted；　though；　so　he　straightened　up　and　increased　speed。
　
　It　was　a　bumpy　ride　as　the　alley　was　some　six　feet　too　narrow　for　the　T55。　　This　was　where　the　brute　force　and　ignorance　came　into　play；　and　to　his　surprise；　he　found　that　if　the　alleyway　were　too　narrow；　the　tank　took　care　of　it；　cutting　a　swathe　of　brick；　dust　and　rubble　from　the　buildings　on　either　side；　jerking　and　heaving　its　way　along　the　old　cobbled　narrow　street；　finally　bursting　out　onto　a　wider　road　…　a　T…junction　with　a　wide　canal　facing　him。
　
　There　was　nothing　he　could　do　but　pull　the　tank　around　to　the　left；　in　a　series　of　jerks　and　motor　noise。
　
　The　car　had　squealed　left；　and　then　right；　onto　a　bridge　crossing　the　canal；　turning　right。　　He　started　to　make　the　right　turn　onto　the　bridge　when　he　realised　that　it　was　impossible。　　The　T55　had　carved　its　way　through　the　alley　without　any　problems；　but　he　could　now　see；　through　the　smoke　and　brick　dust　filtering　through　the　narrow　driving　slit；　the　bridge　was　a　delicate　and　beautiful　structure；　built　to　take　normal　traffic；　but　a　serious　hazard　for　the　tank；　the　weight　of　which　it　could　not　possibly　carry。
　
　He　was　pointing　in　the　wrong　direction；　the　hull　swivelled　to　the　right　several　feet　from　the　entrance　to　the　bridge。
　
　Aloud；　he　said；　〃Let's　see　how　you　can　manage　a　oneeighty；'　touching　brakes；　holding　the　control　column　far　over　to　the　right；　then　putting　his　left　foot　hard　down　on　the　accelerator。
　
　It　was　like　a　fairground　ride。　　The　tank　swung　around　on　its　own　axis；　doing　a　perfect　180　turn；　and　as　it　pleted　the　manoeuvre；　he　saw　that　the　military　were　already　chasing　him　…　a　pair　of　the　jeep…like　vehicles　and　two　BTU…152us；　fully　loaded　with　troops　who　seemed　to　be　sitting　to　attention　in　the　long　open　back。
　
　The　two　little　jeeps　had　no　chance。　　Their　drivers；　blinded　by　the　dust　and　smoke；　could　not　even　see　as　they　shot　out　of　the　alley　exit　and　ploughed　straight　ahead；　seeing　the　canal　too　late。　　They　both　tried　to　fly；　which　is　not　a　good　option　in　small　jeep…like　vehicles。
　
　They　remained　airborne　for　a　few　seconds；　then　smashed　hard　into　the　dirty　water　of　the　canal；　their　occupants　leaping　and　scattering　into　the　water。
　
　The　pair　of　BTUs　made　the　left　turns；　very　close　to　each　other　and　were　on　top　of　Bond's　tank　before　they　knew　it。　　He　tried　to　weave　out　of　the　way；　but　hit　one　of　the　BTUs　head　on；　swerved　and　just　touched　the　side　of　the　other　vehicle　…　which　was　enough　to　push　the　troop　carrier　aside。　As　he　moved　forward　at　full　speed；　Bond　was　aware　of　men　yelling　as　they　were　thrown　from　their　stricken　six…wheeler。
　
　〃Road　hog；'　Bond　muttered；　craning　forward　to　see　Ourumov's　car　ahead　of　him；　moving　in　the　same　direction；　but　on　the　far　side　of　the　canal。
　Inside　the　car；　the　General　was　panicking。　　〃For　God's　sake　it's　only　a　slow　old　tank。　　Outrun　him。〃
　〃I'm　doing　my　best；　sir。〃　The　driver　was　about　as　happy　as　the　general。
　
　In　the　back　seat；　Natalya　glanced　through　the　rear　window　and　saw　that　the　tank　was　making　steady　progress；　almost　running　parallel　with　them　on　the　opposite　bank。
　
　She　smiled　with　glee；　then　turned　and　gave　Ourumov　a　wolfish　grin。
　
　The　general　caught　her　look；　did　a　double　take；　his　face　crimson　with　anger。　　〃Shut　up！〃　he　barked　at　her；　then　saw　they　were　approaching　another　bridge　to　their　right。　　〃Over　that　bridge；'　he　screamed　at　the　driver。　　〃Cut　in　front　of　him。　　Over　the　bridge　and　straight　on。　　He　won't　have　time　to　turn　quickly。　　We　can　lose　him。〃　Natalya's　smile　faded　as　she　saw　six　police　and　military　cars　racing　up　behind　the　tank　on　the　far　side。　　The　police　cars　were　making　no　secret　of　their　presence　…　lights　flashing　and　sirens　wailing。　　The　military　vehicles；　Armoured　Personnel　Carriers　（APCs）；　were　bristling　with　weapons。
　
　Bond　saw　Ourumov's　car　pull　right；　onto　the　bridge。
　
　He　floored　the　accelerator　but　the　tank　seemed　to　be　already　at　its　maximum　speed　and　he　could　see　that　he　could　not　expect　to　catch　the　car　before　it　exited　from　the　bridge　and；　presumably；　head　on　down　a　road　to　his　right。
　
　He　knew　other　transport　was　chasing　him；　even　though　he　could　not　see　them。　　The　wail　of　the　sirens；　though　faint　in　his　ears；　was　detectable　and　lord　knew　what　else　was　out　there：　he　pictured　APCs　with　anti…tank　missiles　which　could　easily　blow　him　to　fragments。
　
　The　car　shot　off　the　bridge；　straight　in　front　of　him。
　
　Bond　slowed；　stick　hard　over　and　his　feet　moving　between　accelerator　and　brake。　　This　time　he　had　plete　control　and　the　tank　turned　accurately　into　the　street。　　Ahead　he　saw　the　car；　held　up；　waiting　to　traverse　a　roundabout　in　the　centre　of　which　stood　a　huge　gleaming　statue　of　Czar　Nicholas　on　a　great　winged　horse。
　
　For　a　moment；　Bond　thought　he　was　going　to　catch　up　and　be　able　to　ram　Ourumov's　car；　but　as　he　approached；　so　the　car　made　its　turn　into　the　traffic　flow。
　
　〃He　who　hesitates。〃　Bond　muttered　and　took　the　tank　straight　on　and　right　across　the　roundabout。　　Inside　his　metal　capsule；　he　clearly　heard　the　scream　of　braking　cars　and　trucks　desperately　trying　to　avoid　hitting　the　tank；　and　he　mouthed　a　curse　when　the　right　track　sliced　into　the　front　of　a　beer　lorry。　　Some　of　the　load　bounced　in　front　of　the　driver's　slit　and　he　wondered　what　the　final　damage　might　be。
　
　But；　by　this　time；　he　was　across　the　middle　of　the　roundabout　and　felt　the　crushing　bump　as　the　hull　hit　the　base　of　the　statue；　depositing　the　Czar　Nicholas；　still　astride　his　winged　horse；　neatly　over　the　long　muzzle　of　the　100mm　main　gun。
　
　From　the　back　of　the　car；　Ourumov　saw　what　seemed　to　be　an　avenging　angel　bearing　down　on　him。　　For　the　first　time　in　years　the　general　made　the　Orthodox　sign　of　the　cross；　his　eyes　wide　with　fear。
　
　Back　at　the　roundabout；　beer　cans　littered　the　road　a　temptation　which　proved　too　much　to　many　of　the　drivers　and　pedestrians　who　leaped　into　the　street　to　indulge　in　a　feeding　frenzy；　grabbing　at　the　cans；　filling　shopping　baskets；　or　using　pullovers　and　skirts　as　makeshift　bags　to　carry　as　many　of　the　coveted　beer　cans　as　possible。
　
　Traffic　was　at　a　standstill　and　the　entire　scene　was　filled　with　a　cacophony　of　horns　and　shouts　from　frustrated　drivers：　including　the　police　and　military。
　
　For　a　while；　at　least；　Bond　was　free　of　the　pursuing　authorities；　but　it　could　not　last　　More　by　his　instinct　than　the　sirens；　he　realised　that；　somehow；　more　police　had　got　behind　him。
　
　If　he　could　have　seen　the　convoy　from　the　air；　he　would　have　known　that　the　T55　was　close　behind　the　general's　car；　and　three　police　cars　were　fast　gaining　on　the　tank。
　
　Bond　was　getting　more　experienced　at　handling　the　machine　with　every　minute。　　He　took　a　long；　wide　bend　to　the　left　and　glimpsed　a　low　bridge　directly　in　front　of　him；　about　fifty　yards　away；　with　Ourumov's　car　putting　on　speed；　just　passing　under　it。
　
　He　tried　for　more　power；　saw　the　arch　e　up；　heard　the　mighty　crunch　and　the　bang　as　the　statue　hit　the　overhang；　rolling　back　into　the　direct　path　of　the　pursuit　cars。
　
　By　now　he　was　starting　to　pick　up　munications　on　the　police　band。　There　was　talk　of　setting　up　a　road　block　with　anti…tank　weapons　and　a　lot　of　firepower；　though　he　had　no　idea　where　this　was　being　done。　　It　was　obvious　that　it　had　to　be　somewhere　along　the　route　of　the　general's　car；　which　he　saw；　too　late；　was　making　a　fast　right…hand　turn。
　
　He　slowed；　but　was　too　late　and　rumbled　past　the　street　down　which　the　car　had　now　disappeared。　　They　were　on　the　city's　outskirts　and　the　housing　was　starting　to　thin　out；　but　he　slowed；　preparing　to　take　the　next　right　turn；　hoping　against　hope　that　he　would　find　himself　running　parallel　to　Ourumov's　car。
　
　Piling　on　the　power；　listening　to　the　instructions　regarding　the　road　block　and　trying　to　maintain　control　of　the　tank；　Bond　realised　that　the　next　intersection　was　ing　up　fast　　He　slowed　and　turned　right；　anxious　to　see　if　he　would　be　able　to　sight　Ourumov's　car。　　As　he　took　the　right　into　a　wide　street；　he　saw　to　his　frustration　that　this　was　a　dead　end。　　Facing　hi