johngardner.winloseordie-第36部分

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ustled　towards　their　respective　helicopters。　Then　the　main　deck　lights　went　out；　leaving　only　dim　blue　guiding　lights　leading　from　the　helicopters　to　the　main　bulkhead　doors　in　the　island。
　'Time　you　joined　the　reception　mittee。　Captain　Bond。'　The　mander　glanced　towards　him。　Bond　nodded　and　with　a　'Good　luck！'　left　Flight　Ops；　turning　his　body　sideways；　ratiling　down　the　panion…way；　heading　towards　the　section　of　cabins　recently　vacated　by　the　trio　of　Admirals　and　（heir　bodyguards。
　In　the　hour　that　had　passed　since　he　had　last　been　in　this　part　of　the　ship；　a　great　deal　had　taken　place。　The　passageway　floors　were　now　covered　in　thick　red　carpeting；　and　three　sections　of　the　long　corridor；　which　led　from　James　Bond's　cabin　to　the　turning　into　the　Wrens'　quarters；　had　been　separated　by　neat　wooden　doors；　the　jambs　screwed　into　bulkhead　cross…sections。
　The　doors　were　open；　and　he　could　see　right　down　to　the　end；　where　the　entire　draft　of　Wrens　were　drawn　up。　with　Clover　Pennington　pacing　anxiously。　In　the　middle　portion；　（he　new　Naval　Intelligence　man。　Woodward；　was　acpanied　by　two　armed　marines。　Woodward　gave　Bond　a　wink；　lifting　his　right　hand　and　following　with　a　ihumbs…up；　to　which　Bond　replied　in　kind。　Through　the　door　nearest　to　him　Nikki　Ratnikov　and　Yevgeny　Stura　were　also　acpanied　by　two　Royal　Marines；　while　another　pair；　with　Sergeant　Harvey　in　tow。　waited　patiently　to　one　side　of'Bond's　cabin　door。
　Bond　nodded　to　the　sergeant。　'Any　minute　now。'　he　said；　and　the　words　were　hardly　out　of　his　mouth　when　he　heard　the　sounds　of　feet　on　the　uncarpcted　section　of　the　passageway　leading　to　the　spruced　up　VIP　quarters。
　They　came　al　a　brisk　pace：　Rear…Admiral　Sir　John　Walmsley。　Ted　Brinkley　and　a　civilian　who　could　only　be　from　one　service；　for　he　had　all　the　smooth　and　tough；　alert　looks　of　an　officer　of　the　Special　Branch　Close　Protection　Squad。　At　the　centre　of　this　group。　Bond　saw　the　first　of　the　VIPs　who　had　e　aboard　from　the　helicopter　which　had　picked　up　Sir　Geoffrey　Gould。
　The　Rear…Admiral　stopped　in　front　of　Bond。　'Prime　Minister；'　he　said　to　the　almost　regally　dressed　Mrs　Margaret　Hilda　Thatcher。　'I'd　like　to　present　Captain　James　Bond；　who　is　in　total　charge　of　security　for　Stewards'　Meeting。'
The　Prime　Minister　smiled　and　firmly　shook　Bond's　hand。　'It's　nice　to　see　you　again；　and　congratulations　on　your　promotion。'　She　turned　to　Walmsley。　'Captain　Bond　and　I　are　already　old　friends；'　she　said。　'I　couldn't　have　better　protection；　and　it's　not　generally　known　that　Captain　Bond　was　instrumental　in　saving　not　only　my　life；　but　that　of　ex…President　Reagan；　some　lime　ago。'　Then　back　to　Bond。　Ч　couldn't　be　in　better　hands。　Just　see　that　we're　left　alone　for　a　full　four　days；　Captain　Bond。　We　shall　need　every　minute　of　it。　if　we're　going　to　get　through　a　tough　agenda…　And　it　is　a　very　tough；　and　important　agenda。　I'm　sure　you　are　already　aware　of　lhat。'
　'Yes。　Prime　Minister。　I'll　do　everything　possible。　If　your　people；　require　anything；　they　should　get　in　touch　with　me　personally。'
　'Very　kind　of　you。　Captain　Bond；'　and　with　her　best　electorial　smile；　the　Prime　Minister　of　the　United　Kingdom　marched　away　with　her　retinue。
　Bond's　eyes　followed　her；　and　he　ignored　Sergeant　Harvey's　muttered。　'I　wouldn't　like　to　be　on　her　defaulters'　parade。'
　From　the　far　end　of　the　passageway；　he　heard　the　Rear…Admiral　introduce　the　PM　to　First　Officer　Pennington；　and　then　make　his　excuses。
　He　came　striding　back；　glaring　at　Bond。　'You　said　nothing　about　saving　her　life！　Anything　else　I　should　know？'
　'She　exaggerated；'　Bond　did　not　smile。　〃The　information's　restricted　anyhow；　so　I　shouldn't　let　it　go　any　further；　sir。'
　'Hrrumph！'　Walmsley　said　…　or　something　very　like　it　…　and　went　off　to　meet　the　next　arrival。
　President　George　Herbert　Walker　Bush；　surrounded　by　his　Secret　Service　men　…　Joe　Israel；　Stan　Hare　and　Bruce　Trimble　…　and　with　a　small　man　carrying　a　briefcase　chained　to　his　wrist；　had　been　met　at　the　foot　of　the　panion…way　by　Walmsley。　The　President　was　tall；　smiling；　greying　and　very　open…faced。
　'Captain　Bond。'　he　acknowledged　as　the　Rear…Admiral　made　the　introduction；　'I　know　I'm　in　good　hands。　A　close　friend　of　mine　told　me　what　a　help　you'd　been　to　him。　and　I　believe　we　have　another　friend　in　mon。〃
'We　probably　have；　sir。'
　'Yes。　Felix　served　under　me　when　I　was　DCIA。　A　good　man。　Hope　to　see　more　of　you。　Bond；　but　you'll　appreciate　the　schedule's　tight　as　a　drumskin。　Good　to　meet　you。'
　The　President　of　the　United　States　had　a　firm　handshake；　almost　as　firm　as　Mrs　Thatcher's；　and。　as　he　walked　away；　Sergeant　Harvey　muttered；　'Nor　his。'
'Nor　his　what？'　Bond　said　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
'Wouldn't　like　to　be　on　his　defaulters'　parade　either。'
　'If　you　were；　they'd　call　it　a　masthead。　Sergeant　Harvey。　That's　what　the　US　Navy　call　defaulters　…　just　as　the　Royal　Navy　did　a　long　time　ago。'
　Sir　John　Walmsley　gave　Bond　another　dirty　look　as　he　hurried　past；　again　heading　for　the　panion…way　and　the　final　VIP。
　Mikhail　Sergeyevich　Gorbachev。　General　Secretary　of　the　CPSU　and　President　of　the　Presidium　of　the　Supreme　Soviet　was　dressed　in　a　camel…hair　overcoat　that　he　had　not　bought　at　GUM。　He　held　a　grey　felt　hat。　which　could　have　been　purchased　at　Lock's　in　Jermyn　Street；　and　wore　a　broad　smile。　He　was　neat；　burly；　broad…shouldered；　and　relaxed；　thanks　to　all　the　goodwill　that　seemed　to　flow　out　of　him。
　Watmsley　introduced　them；　and。　to　Bond's　surprise；　Mr　Gorbachev　replied　in　English；　'Captain　Bond；　it　is　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　you。　I　hope　you　mingle　with　those　who　look　after　me　in　a　true　spirit　of　glasnost。'　The　short　man's　handshake　was　positively　bone…crushing　and　left　Bond　speechless　as　the　Russian　passed　on　towards　his　quarters。
　'Ho　dear；　sir。'　Harvey　whispered。　…He　hasn't　brought　Raisa　with　him。　Hope　he's　got　an　Amex　card　as　well。'
　'Be　fair；　Harvey。　The　Prez　hasn't　brought　Barbara；　and　Mrs　T's　without　Denis。　It's　reasonable　enough。'
　Walmsley　returned；　looking　flustered。　'Well；　at　least　one　of　them　didn't　seem　to　know　you。　Bond。'
'I　wouldn't　bet　on　it；　sir。'
　'No。　well　。。。　All　senior　officers；　divisional　officers　and　the　Chief　Regulating　Officer　in　my　day　cabin　in　fifteen　minutes。　We're　not　using　the　PA　to　warn　you；　so　tell　me　now　if　you're　happy　about　arrangements　…　I　mean　happy　enough　to　leave　this　section　of　the　ship　for　an　hour　or　so。'
　Til　be　there；　sir。　if　I'm　at　all　concerned；　I'll　let　you　know；　personally；　and　give　you　my　reasons。'
　The　Rear…Admiral　gave　a　curt　nod　and　left；　his　long；　important　strides　indicating　that　he　was　well　pleased　with　the　final　transfer　of　probably　the　three　most　powerful　people　in　the　world　to　his　ship。
　Bond　thought　this　was　one　hell　of　a　responsibility；　and　Walmsley　should　not　show　any　cockiness　until　it　was　all　safely　over。
Petty　Officer　'Blackie'　Blackstone　looked　at　the　great　turbines　whining　strongly　in　the　Engine　Room　of　Invincible。　When　he　had　first　joined　the　Royal　Navy；　the　Engine　Rooms　were　hot；　dirty；　sweaty　and　noisy　places；　htvincible's　Engine　Room　was　brilliantly　clean；　and　only　a　few　people　were　actually　needed　close　to　the　turbines；　for　they　were　monitored　from　a　separate　room；　full　of　dials；　VDUs　and　switches。
　Blackstone　was　probably　the　only　man　on　Invincible；　outside　the　Captain；　senior　officers　and　security　people；　who　knew　what　was　going　on。　He　did　not　question　how　his　two　'friends'　Harry　and　Bill　had　got　hold　of　the　information；　nor　did　he　have　any　moral　qualms　about　what　he　was　to　do。　After　all。　it　would　get　him　off　the　hook；　both　financially　and　domestically。　In　any　case；　they　had　told　him　it　was　really　a　Greenpeace　operation；　limed　to　cause　great　embarrassment　to　the　Americans　and　Russians；　also　to　the　British　Establishment；　and　'Blackie'　had　always　had　a　lot　of　sympathy　for　Greenpeace。
　He　had　thought　for　a　long　time　about　the　job；　but　once　he　weighed　the　positive　and　negative　sides；　he　realised　there　was　no　real　danger。
　'Blackie'　had　gone　to　a　lot　of　trouble　in　arranging　his　shifts。　The　first　one　just　after　these　nobs　e　aboard；　they　had　told　him。　Then　the　second　one　would　require　action　in　the　middle　of　the　following　forenoon。　'Blackie'　Blackstone　would　have　access　to　the　turbines　on　both　required　shifts。　He　had　seen　to　that；　just　as　he　knew　the　other　men　on　the　watch　were　content　to　let　him　do　the　physical　check　on　the　turbines。　Even　now；　just　after　the　visitors　had　arrived　on　board；　he　was　alone　in　the　Engine　Room；　while　a　Chief　Petty　Officer；　another　Petty　Officer；　like　himself；　and　a　〃Killick〃　…　a　Leading　Seaman；　so　called　because　of　the　anchor…badge　he　wore：　killick　being　the　old　slang　term　for　anchor　…　lounged　their　way　through　the　watch；　occasionally　checking　the　pressures　and　speeds　of　the　turbines。
　The　Second　Engineering　Officer　was；　as　ever；　in　the　officers'　caboose；　just　behind　the　control　room。　Nobody　would　require　him　unless　something　went　terribly　wrong。　Changes　of　speed；　and　other　such　things　could　be　acplished　at　the　touch　of　a　buiton；　or　a　couple　of　clicks　im　the　small　levers　which　acted　as　throttles。　So　the　Lieutenant　who　was　the　Second　Engineering
Officer　was　left　to　do　a　little　'Egyptian　Physical　Training'　as　they　called　it。　In　other　words；　the　Lieutenant　was　slee