johngardner.goldeneye-第27部分

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　a　young　man　who　had　CIA　written　all　over　him；　and　who　took　them　through　immigration　and　customs　with　a　minimum　amount　of　bother。　　The　young　man；　who　was　stocky；　built　like　a　fireplug　and　answered　to　the　name　Mac；　had　their　new　luggage　with　him。　　He　appeared　to　be　very　taken　with　Natalya。
　
　He　drove　them　to　a　luxurious　beach　house　in　an　equally　luxurious　BMW　which　he　said　was　for　their　use　while　they　were　on　the　island。
　
　The　following　afternoon　found　them　on　the　road；　exploring　the　island；　away　from　all　the　tourist　haunts　in　San　Juan。
　
　〃You　don't　know　what　this　means　to　me。〃　Natalya's　hair　was　ruffled　by　the　warm　breeze　as　they　negotiated　empty　roads　far　off　the　normal　guided　tour　routes。　　〃You　know；　James；　all　my　life　I　wanted　to　e　to　the　Caribbean。　　I　even　had　a　picture　of　one　of　the　islands　…　St。　Thomas；　think　…　at　my　work…station　at　Severnaya。　　Dreamed　about　it　since　I　was　a　small　girl；　and　I　can't　believe　I'm　here。〃
　〃I'm　glad　we　had　the　opportunity　of　making　your　dreams　e　true。〃　Bond　smiled　at　her。　　〃I　just　hope　we　don't　end　up　in　a　nightmare。
　
　She　ignored　the　last　remark；　sighed；　lying　her　head　on　his　shoulder。　〃Here　we　are；　on　a　beautiful　island　and　not　another　human　being　in　sight。〃　As　she　said　it；　so　a　loud　beeping　came　from　the　radio　panel。
　
　〃That　could　be　our　wake…up　call。〃　Bond　stabbed　at　one　of　the　pre…set　buttons　on　the　radio　and　a　panel　dropped　down　to　reveal　a　small　radar　screen　with　one　green　blip　showing　each　time　the　sweep　line　circled　the　display。　　〃It　appears　that　we　have　pany。〃　Bond's　brow　wrinkled；　and　from　far　away；　over　the　noise　of　the　car；　they　both　became　aware　of　the　sound　of　an　approaching　aircraft。
　
　He　saw　it　in　the　rear…view　mirror；　and　Natalya　turned　to　look　back；　giving　a　little　squeak　of　surprise；　ducking　low　down　in　her　seat　just　as　a　neat　little　Piper　Archer　passed　low　over　their　heads；　flaps　fully　extended；　so　that　it　could　land　on　the　road　in　front　of　them。
　
　〃You　were　saying？〃　Bond's　face　showed　nothing；　but　his　hand　slipped　inside　his　blazer　and　he　placed　an　automatic　pistol　on　the　console　between　them。
　
　The　Archer　taxied　on　up　the　road　and　finally　turned　left；　going　through　a　gap　in　the　trees　and　ing　to　a　stop　in　an　empty　field。
　
　〃Do　you　work　at　attracting　trouble　with　anything　that　moves？〃　Natalya　looked　puzzled。　　〃It's　my　natural　charm。〃　He　still　showed　no　emotion。
　
　〃That；　bined　with　a　weakness　for　causing　mayhem　and　often　a　lot　of　violence。〃　He　braked　and　turned　into　the　field；　drawing　up　close　to　the　Archer　which　had　the　name　Lord　Geoff！　　stencilled　on　its　nose。
　
　As　they　came　to　a　halt；　Jack　Wade　clambered　down　from　the　passenger　seat；　carrying　a　small　briefcase。
　
　〃Jimbo！〃　he　greeted　Bond。
　
　〃I　told　you　never　to　call　me　that。　　And　while　we're　at　it；　what're　you　doing　here？〃
　〃You　wanted　the　job　of　finishing　off　Janus；　and　I　bring　tidings　from　your　boss。　　She　says　you're　to　go　ahead。
　
　Tomorrow；　in　fact。　　Oh；　this　is　a　present　from　what's　his　name　N？　R？　A？'　〃That's　the　one。〃　He　handed　over　the　briefcase；　sniffing　at　the　air。　〃Ah；　Banyan　trees。〃　He　paused　and　then；　〃Incidentally；　I'm　not　here；　capish？　　The　Agency　has　absolutely　nothing　to　do　with　this。
　
　No　knowledge。　　Nothing　to　do　with　your　insertion　into　Cuba。　　OK？〃　Bond　nodded。
　
　〃I　borrowed　this　little　baby　from　a　friend　of　mine　in　the　Drugs　Enforcement　Agency。　　It'll　be　waiting　for　you；　all　ready　to　go；　at　the　private　aircraft　parking　at　San　Juan　Dominicci；　first　light　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃We'll　be　there。〃　Dominicci　is　San　Juan's　domestic　airport　at　which　shuttles　depart　and　arrive　all　day　from　the　outlying　towns　on　the　island。
　
　〃Just　climb　aboard　and　give　your　call　sign；　Smiley　One。
　
　Now。。。〃　He　walked　them　to　the　door　of　the　aircraft　and　took　some　papers　from　the　seat。　　〃We've　covered　you　in　every　possible　way。
　
　Coast　Guard；　Federal　Aviation　Authority　and　Southern　Military　mand　are　all　in　the　loop；　and　when　I　said　first　light；　I　meant　it。　You'll　be　cleared　at　06。00。〃　He　handed　over　a　large　manila　envelope。　〃This　is　the　latest　Satint　from　the　Puzzle　Palace。　　They　say　you　should　be　OK　as　long　as　you　stay　at　under　six　hundred　feet。〃　Natalya's　hand　shot　forward；　plucking　the　envelope　from　Bond's　hand。　　〃Five　hundred　feet；'　she　smiled　like　a　nice；　well　brought…up　Russian　girl。
　
　〃Who　is　this？〃　Wade　cocked　his　head　on　one　side；　looking　quizzically　at　Natalya；　as　though　he　had　never　met　her。
　
　〃I　should've　introduced　you。　　You　brought　her　clothes　in　Petersburg；　remember？〃
　〃Ah；　yes；　I　remember　it　well。　　Natalya　Simonova。
　
　Natalya　looked　from　under　half　closed　lids　as　she　ripped　the　envelope　open　and　began　studying　its　contents　of　maps　and　satellite　photographs。　I　have　been　promoted。　　Now　I'm　a　deputy　sheriff　of　Mr。　Bond's　posse。〃　She　gave　Wade　an　enormous　smile。　　〃You　have　a　very　weird　taste　in　certain　more　intimate　garments；　Mr。　Wade。〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　　I　hope　they　were　the　right　size。
　
　〃Perfect。〃　Bond　looked　at　them　with　innocence　written　all　over　his　face。
　
　〃This　Russian　girl　here？　　You　check　her　out？〃
　〃From　head　to　toe；　Jacko。'　〃Please　don't　call　me。。。〃　He　stopped　as　he　saw　Natalya　scrutinising　the　satellite　maps。　　Leaning　over　her；　he　pointed。
　
　〃You'll　be　looking　for　a　satellite　dish　the　size　of　a　football　field；　I　presume？　　Well；　it　just　doesn't　exist
　
　Nobody　can　light　up　a　cigar　in　Cuba　without　the　boys　at　the　National　Security　Agency　knowing　about　it。　　It　just　is　not　there。〃　Natalya　gave　him　a　cheeky　smile。　　〃Mr。　Wade；　I　know　it's　there。　　It's　an　exact　replica　of　the　one　at　Severnaya。〃　Bond　interrupted　them。　　〃What　if　we　need　backup；　Jack？〃
　〃There's　a　transmitter　in　the　plane。　　He　indicated　an　area　among　the　instruments　in　front　of　the　pilot；　who　remained　silent　and　did　not　even　look　in　their　direction。
　
　〃It'll　send　a　warning　if　the　plane　es　unstuck。　　Either　way；　if　you're　in　trouble；　just　squawk　and　I'll　send　in　the　Marines。〃　For　the　first　time；　the　pilot　leaned　down；　gesturing　to　Wade　to　hurry　up。　　〃My　chauffeur's　getting　anxious。〃　He　clapped　Bond　on　the　shoulder　and　kissed　Natalya　on　the　cheek。　　〃Just　hang　a　right　at　the　end　of　the　runway。　It's　only　a　short　ride　to　Cuba　from　there。　　Good　luck。　　I'll　pick　up　the　BMW　at　Dominicci　in　the　morning。
　
　〃Well；　try　not　to　touch　any　odd　buttons　in　it。〃
　〃I　was　just　going'　to　bomb　around　in　it　for　a　while。
　
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃James；　you　can　take　Janus　out。　　I　have　all　the　faith　in　the　world；　because　you　know　all　that　guy's　moves。〃
　〃The　problem　is　that　he　knows　all　of　mine　as　well。　　We　worked　together　for　a　very　long　time。'　〃You'll　still　take　him；　Jimbo。〃　Wade　leaped　out　of　the　range　of　Bond's　closed　fist　and　climbed　back　into　the　Piper　Archer；　which　slowly　began　to　taxi　away。
　
　That　night；　Bond　checked　out　Q's　briefcase　in　the　privacy　of　the　beach　house。　　It　contained　a　new　watch　and　six　small　magnetic　charges　which　could　be　controlled　by　it。
　
　He　packed　them　away　among　the　kit　he　would　be　wearing　the　next　morning。
　
　Outside；　on　the　beach　he　sat　down　near　the　surf；　wrapped　in　thought　as　he　was　lulled　by　the　noise　of　the　sea。　　He　thought　of　all　the　years　he　had　spent　living　in　secret　yet　enjoying　everything　that　his　hedonistic　life　had　to　offer。
　
　What　had　he　bee；　he　asked　himself。　　Was　he　just　a　killing　machine？　Did　his　superiors　let　him　get　away　with　all　kinds　of　excesses　both　on　and　off　missions　because　they　understood　the　kind　of　strain　his　work　produced？　　He　knew　that　some　people　turned　a　blind　eye　to　certain　aspects　of　his　way　of　life；　just　as　he　knew　that　they　paid　him　more　than　most　of　the　regular　officers　of　the　Secret　Intelligence　Service。
　
　He　went　back　over　so　much　of　his　life　that　he　wondered　if　he　were　getting　maudlin　about　things；　like　a　drunk　ready　to　cry　into　his　beer。
　
　He　really　had　to　snap　out　of　this；　it　was　not　doing　any　good。
　
　Natalya　came　barefoot　across　the　sand；　turning　her　face　towards　the　sea　breeze　as　she　stood　close　to　him。　　Presently　she　reached　down　and　tousled　his　hair；　but　he　did　not　move；　and　even　seemed　unaware　of　her　presence　until　she　spoke；　squatting　on　the　sand　next　to　him。
　
　〃Janus　was　your　friend；　wasn't　he？〃　he　asked。
　
　〃Several　lifetimes　ago；　yes。
　
　〃And　now　he　is　your　enemy。　　So　tomorrow　you'll　go　and　kill　him。
　
　It's　that　simple；　yes？〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　drew　in　breath　through　her　nostrils。
　
　The　sound　made　him　look　at　her　and　he　saw　the　anger　in　her　eyes。
　
　〃No；　James。　　No；　it's　not　that　easy。〃　She　tried　to　get　up　from　the　sand；　but　he　grabbed　her　arm　and　drew　her　back　to　him。
　
　〃I　hate　you；'　she　spat　like　an　angry　cat。　　〃I　hate　you。　　I　hate　all　of　you。　　Your　kind've　caused　so　much　grief　all　over　the　world；　with　your　guns　and　your　instruments　of　death。〃　She　began　hitting　at　him；　pummelling　his　chest　　He　enveloped　her　in　his　arms；　holding　her　tightly　as　her　fighting　became　less　violent　and　she　began　to　cry　softly。　　〃So　many　of　my　friends；'　she　sobbed。　　〃My　friends；　members　of　my　family。　　So　many　have　died　because　of　people　like　you。
　
　〃There　have　to　be　people　like　me。〃　He　hugged　her　close。
　
　〃I　do　a　necessary　job。　　If　I　didn't　do　it；　someone　else　would。
　
　I　simply　have　to　level　things　off　so　that　one　day　there　will　be　some　true　kind　of　peace　in　the　world。〃　After　a　while；　her　sobbing　stopped；　and　he　helped　her　to　her　feet。　　Together　they　walked　back　to　the　house。
　
　Inside；　the　air　was　cooled　by　two　overhead　fans；　the　lights　were　turned　down　to　a　pleasant　dusk…like　glow；　the　stereo　was　playing　the　late　Miles　Davis'　evergreen　〃Sketches　of　Spain'：　the　soft　lush　sound　of　the　waves　breaking　on　the　beach　outside　counterpointing　the　music。
　
　They　stood　close　together；　all　senses　merging；　hands　touching；　their　nostrils　gathering　up　the　pleasant　smell　of　island　flowers　bining　with　faintly　aromatic　scents　of　the　dish；　which　Bond　had　set　to　cook　slowly　in　the　kitchen。
　
　When　he　kissed　her；　he　tasted　the　aftermath　of　sweet　fruit。　　When　she　kissed　him　back；　her　tongue　sliced　into　his　mouth；　caressing　the　inside　of　his　cheeks；　ing　away　with　the　slight　tang　of　the　champagne　he　had　sipped　less　than　an　hour　before。
　
　He　took　her　by　the　hand　and　she　followed　him；　eyes　downcast　as　though　she　were　plete