johngardner.rollofhonor-第3部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　It　was　the　most　stupid　ploy　he　had　ever　heard　of。　　No　recruiting　officer　from　any　foreign　agency　would　seriously　consider　him　…　and；　if　any　did；　their　masters　would　put　a　blight　on　it　in　ten　seconds　flat。
　〃You're　not　really　serious　about　this；　are　you？〃　he　ended　lamely。
　〃Absolutely；　007。　　1　agree；　on　the　face　of　it　they'll　steer　clear　of　you。　　But　we　have　to　look　at　the　facts　…　they　are　more　than　interested　already　。
　〃Never　in　a　thousand　years　。　　。　　。　　Bond　started　again。
　〃We've　already　formulated　the　plan；　007；　and　we're　proceeding　with　it。　Do　I　have　to　remind　you　that　you're　under　my　orders？〃　There　were　no　options；　and　Bond；　feeling　the　whole　business　was　sheer　madness；　could　only　sit　and　listen　to　the　dialogue　as　M　and　Tanner　outlined　the　bare　bones　of　the　scheme；　like　a　pair　of　theatrical　directors　explaining　motivation　to　a　rather　dull　actor。
　〃At　an　appropriate　moment　we　haul　you　in；　said　M　with　a　sour　smile。
　〃Enquiry　in　camera；　counterpointed　Bill　Tanner。
　〃Making　certain　the　Press　are　tipped　off。〃
　〃Questions　in　the　House。〃
　〃Hints　of　scandal。　　Corruption　in　the　Service。
　〃And　you　resign。〃
　〃Giving　the　impression　that；　in　reality；　we've　cast　you　into　outer　darkness。　　And　if　that　doesn't　lure　the　ambulance　chasers；　then　there's　something　else　in　the　wind。
　Wait　and　do　as　I　say；　007。〃　And　so　it　had　happened　…　though　not　because　of　the　ambulance　chasers；　as　they　had　told　him。　　Rumours　ran　along　the　corridors　of　power；　there　was　gossip　in　the　clubs；　tattle　in　the　powder　rooms　of　government　departments；　hints　to　the　Press；　hints　by　the　Press；　even　questions　in　the　House　of　mons；　and　finally　the　resignation　of　mander　James　Bond。
　
　
　IN　THE　MONTH　before　the　Kruxator　robbery　Bond　himself　had　been　following　a　hedonistic　routine。　　He　stayed　in　bed　until　noon　and　ventured　forth　only　in　the　evenings；　to　restaurants；　clubs　and　gaming　houses；　usually　with　a　pretty　girl　in　tow。　　Since　the　Paymaster　General's　lamentable　performance　in　the　House；　attempting　to　make　light　of　certain　scandals　associated　with　one　of　the　Foreign　Office's　field　operators　and　to　dismiss　Opposition　charges　of　a　security　cover…up；　the　Press　had；　perhaps　surprisingly；　hardly　approached　Bond　again。　　He　had　no　contact　at　all　with　his　former　employers。　　In　fact；　they　went　out　of　their　way　to　avoid　him。　　One　evening　he　found　himself　at　the　Inn　on　the　Park　seated　only　two　tables　from　Anne　Reilly；　the　attractive　and　talented　assistant　to　the　Armourer　in　Q　Branch。　　Bond　caught　her　eye　and　smiled　but　she　merely　looked　through　him　as　though　he　did　not　exist。
　Then；　towards　the　end　of　April；　around　noon　one　mild；　bright　Thursday；　the　telephone　rang　in　Bond's　flat。
　Bond；　who　had　been　shaving；　grabbed　at　the　handset；　as　though　he　would　have　liked　to　strangle　the　trilling。
　〃Yes？〃　he　growled。
　〃Oh！〃　The　voice　was　female；　and　surprised。　　〃Is　that　59
　Dean　Street？　　The　Record　Shop？〃
　〃It's　not　59　anything。〃　Bond　did　not　even　smile。
　〃But　I'm　sure　I　dialled　734　8777　。
　〃Well；　you　didn't　get　it。〃　He　slammed　the　receiver　back；　irritated　by　what　appeared　to　be　a　misrouted　call。
　Later　in　the　afternoon；　he　telephoned　his　date；　a　favourite　blonde　stewardess　with　British　Airways；　to　cancel　their　evening　out。　　Instead　of　dinner　for　two　at　the　Connaught；　Bond　went　alone　to　Veeraswamy's；　that　most　excellent　Indian　restaurant　in　Swallow　Street；　where　he　ate　a　chicken　vindaloo　with　all　the　trimmings；　lingered　over　his　coffee；　then　paid　the　bill　and　left　on　the　dot　of　nine…fifteen。　　The　magnificent　uniformed　and　bearded　doorman　gave　him　a　quivering　salute；　then　loudly　hailed　a　cab。　　Bond　tipped　the　doorman　and　gave　the　driver　his　home　address；　but　at　the　top　of　St。　James's　he　paid　off　the　taxi　and　set　out　on　foot；　to　follow　an　apparently　aimless　route；　turning　into　side　streets；　crossing　roads　suddenly；　doubling　back　on　himself　a　number　of　times；　loitering　at　corners；　making　certain　he　was　not　being　followed。
　Eventually；　clinging　to　this　devious　routine；　he　ended　up　in　a　doorway　near　St。　Martin's　Lane。　　For　two　minutes　Bond　stood　looking　up　at　a　lighted　window　across　the　road。　　At　precisely　ten　o'clock　the　oblong　of　light　turned　black；　then　lit　again；　went　black；　lit　and　stayed　on。
　Quickly　Bond　crossed　the　road。　　He　disappeared　through　another　doorway；　took　a　narrow　flight　of　stairs；　went　across　a　landing　and　up　four　more　steps　to　a　door　labelled　Rich　Photography　Ltd。　　Models　available。　　When　he　pressed　the　small　button　to　the　right　of　the　lintel　the　chimes　associated　with　a　well…known　brand　of　cosmetics　ding…donged　from　far　away　inside。　　There　were　faint　footsteps　and　the　click　of　bolts　being　drawn。
　The　door　opened　to　reveal　Bill　Tanner　who　nodded；　indicating　that　Bond　should　enter。　　He　followed　Tanner　along　a　small　passage；　its　paint　work　peeling　and　with　a　cloying　smell　of　cheap　scent　hanging　in　the　air；　and　through　the　door　at　the　far　end。　　The　room　was　very　small　and　cluttered。　A　bed　partially　masked　by　a　hideously　patterned　coverlet　stood　in　one　corner；　and　a　mangy　teddy　bear　lounged　on　a　bright　orange；　heart…shaped　imitation　silk　nightdress　case。　　A　small　wardrobe　faced　the　bed；　its　door　half　open；　displaying　a　pathetic　row　of　women's　clothes。　　The　tiny　dressing　table　was　crammed　with　bottles　and　jars　of　cosmetics。　　Above　a　popping　gas　fire；　a　print　of　The　Green　Lady　looked　down　from　a　plastic　frame　upon　a　pair　of　easy　chairs　which　would　not　have　been　out　of　place　in　a　child's　Wendy　house。
　〃e　in；　007。　　Glad　to　see　you　can　do　simple　mathematics。〃　The　figure　in　one　of　the　chairs　turned；　and　Bond　found　himself　looking　into　the　familiar　cold　grey　eyes　of　his　Head　of　Service。
　Tanner　closed　the　door　and　crossed　to　a　table　on　which　were　set　several　bottles　and　glasses。
　〃Good　to　see　you；　sir；'　Bond　said　with　a　smile；　holding　out　a　hand。　〃Seven　and　three　equals　ten。　　Even　I　can　manage　that。〃
　〃Nobody　in　tow？〃　the　Chief…of…Staff　asked　anxiously；　sidling　towards　the　window　which　Bond　had　viewed　from　the　far　side　of　the　street。
　〃Not　unless　they've　got　a　team　of　a　hundred　or　so　footpads　and　about　twenty　cars　on　me。　　The　traffic's　as　thick　as　treacle　tonight。
　Always　bad　on　Thursdays　…　late　night　shopping；　and　the　muters　staying　up　to　meet　their　wives　and　girlfriends。〃　The　telephone　gave　a　good　old…fashioned　ring　and　Tanner　got　to　it　in　two　strides。
　〃Yes；'　he　said；　then；　again；　〃Yes　。　　。　　。　　Good　Right。〃　Replacing　the　receiver；　he　looked　up　with　a　smile。　　〃He's　clear；　sir。　　All　the　way。〃
　〃I　told　you　。　　。　　。　　〃　Bond　began；　but　Tanner　cut　him　short　with　an　invitation　to　take　a　gin　and　tonic　with　them。　　Bond　scowled；　shaking　his　head。　　〃I've　had　enough　alcohol　to　float　several　small　ships　in　the　past　few　weeks。
　〃So　we　all　noticed；　M　grunted。
　〃Your　instructions；　sir。　　I　could　remind　you　that　I　said　at　the　outset　nothing　would　e　of　it。　　Nobody　in　our　business　would　even　begin　to　believe　I'd　left　the　Service；　just　like　that。　　The　silence　has　been　deafening。〃　M　grunted　again。　　〃Sit　down；　007。　　Sit　down　and　listen。
　The　silence　has　not　been　so　deafening。　　On　the　contrary；　the　isle　is　full　of　noises；　only　you　have　been　on　a　different　frequency。　　I'm　afraid　we've　kept　you　in　the　dark；　but　it　was　necessary　…　that　is；　until　we　had　established　to　the　various　intelligence　munities　that　you　were　persona　non　grata　as　far　as　we're　concerned。　　Forget　what　we　told　you　during　our　last　meeting。　　Now　we　have　the　real　target。　　Look　at　this　picture　…　and　at　this；　and　this。〃　Like　an　experienced　poker　player；　M　laid　out　three　photographs；　of　one　man　and　two　women。
　〃The　man；'　he　said　at　last；　〃is　presumed　dead。　　His　name　was　Dr　Jay　Autem　Holy。〃　M's　finger　touched　one　photograph；　then　moved　on　to　the　next。　　〃This　lady　is　his　widow；　and　this'　…　the　finger　prodded　towards　the　third　photograph　…　〃this　is　the　same　lady。　　Looks　so　different　that　should　her　husband　e　back　from　the　dead；　which　is　on　the　cards；　he　would　never　recognise　her。〃　M　picked　up　the　final　photograph。　　〃She　will　give　you　the　details。　　In　fact；　she'll　give　you　a　little　training　as　well。
　She　answers　to　the　name　of　Proud。　　Persephone　Proud。
　His。〃　Proud　was　plump；　with　mousy　brown　hair；　thick　lensed　spectacles；　thin　lips　and　a　sharp　nose　too　big　for　her　rather　chubby　face。　　At　least　that　was　how　she　looked　in　the　photograph　taken　some　years　ago　when　she　was　married　to　Jay　Autem　Holy。　　M　maintained　that　Bond　would　not　recognise　her　now　either。　　That　did　not　surprise　him　when　he　studied　the　third　photograph。
　You're　sending　me　on　another　course？〃　Bond　mused　rather　absently　without　looking　up。
　〃Something　like　that。　　She's　waiting　for　you　now。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃In　Monaco。　　Monte　Carlo。　　Hotel　de　Paris。　　Now　listen　carefully；　007。　There's　a　good　deal　for　you　to　absorb；　and　I　want　you　on　the　road　early　next　week。　　You　must；　naturally；　still　consider　yourself　as　one　cast　into　outer　darkness。　　But　this　is　what　we；　together　with　our　American　cousins；　planned　from　the　start。
　M　talked　earnestly　for　about　fifteen　minutes；　allowing　no　interruptions；　before　Bond　was　escorted　through　another　elaborate　security　routine　to　get　him　safely　clear　of　the　building　and　on　his　way　home　in　a　taxi　without　being　followed。　　Not　for　the　first　time；　Bond　had　been　given　another　life；　a　double　ide