johngardner.winloseordie-第14部分

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Gibraltar；　with　its　umbilical　road　reaching　towards　Ischia。　Within　ten　minutes　they　were　docking　at　Porta　d'lschia。　and　the　whole　shouting；　jostling　and　yelling　match　began　again。　The　ears　and　lorries　made　their　way　onto　the　very　restricted　area　around　the　berthing　point；　to　the　acpaniment　of　horn　blasts　and　more　shouting。　Planks　wer；e　laid　down　to　assist　some　of　the　heavier　vehicles　and　the　entire　operation　was　made　even　more　hazardous　by　！he　slick　of　rain　on　quayside　and　ramp；　while　the　throng　of　pedestrians　seemed　to　delight　in　walking　directly　in　front　of　the　slow…moving　vehicles。
　He　had　carefully　checked　the　car　before　getting　behind　the　wheel；　for　these　people　of　BAST　did　not　care　about　the　lives　of　innocent　victims。　Then；　after　what　seemed　aneterniiy；　he　finally　negotiated　Ihe　Fiat　off　the　ferry；　around　some　makeshift　Malls　still　selling　tourist　junk　on　the　off…chance　of　catching　some　gullible　holidaymaker　who　had　left　home　and　hearth　to　spend　the　festive　season　here　on　the　undeniably　beautiful　shambles　that　was　Ischia；　the　peaceful　island　that　had　known　the　crack　and　blast　of　history；　and　seen　much　violent　death　as　well　as　happiness　in　its　time。
　He　drove　wesi；　feeling　at　his　most　vulnerable。　I　le　had　carefully　sailed　the　ground　for　whoever　was　supplying　BAST　wiih　information；　declaring　to　a　lot　of　people；　in　and　out　of　the　ward…room　ai　Yeovilton　RNAS。　that　he　was　heading　for　the　Bay　of　Naples；　to　spend　a　quiet　Christmas　alone。
They　knew　that　BAST　was　filching　information　from　Yeovilton：　just　as　they　knew　that；　the　oily　Baradj　had　fingered　him；　putting　the　Cat　…　Saphii　Boudai　…　in　charge。　As　with　Baradj；　Hamarik。　and　Adwan；　there　were　no　photographic　　descriptions　available。　At　best　the　pictures　were　blurred；　photo　ts　provided　by　people　who　had　caught　fleeling　glimpses　of　the　quartet　which　formed　the　leadership　of　BAST。　All　Bond　knew　for　sure　that　the　Cat　was　a　woman；　variously　reported　to　　the　short；　tall；　fat　and　thin；　beautiful　and　repellent；　The　only　feature　was　that　she　had　very　dark　hair。

　He　was　traveling　in　a　rented　car；　which　was　bare　security　to　start　with；　and；　until　he　reached　the　Villa　Capricciani　he　was　unarmed。　It　was　only　alter　M　had　given　the　final　instructions　that　Bond　had　also　realised；　from　memory；　that　the　villa　itself　was　a　security　nightmare。　As　he　drove　the　narrow　dangerous　　security　to　roads　he　constantly　scanned　the　rear…view　mirror　searching　sight　of　vehicles　that　had　been　on　the　ferry　…　a　Volvo　there；　a　VW　there。　But　none　seemed　to　linger；　or　take　any　interes　in　him。
　
　On　the　road　between　Lacco　and　Forio；　respectively　on　the　north　west　and　west　of　the　island；　he　turned　off；　down　the　very　narrow；　metalled　road　which　led　to　the　villa。　Nothing　seemed　to　have　changed　on　the　island；　everything　was　hot　remembered　it；　from　the　destructive；　near　suicidal　driving　to　the　sudden　beautiful　views　that　came；　unexpectedly；　it　turn　in　the　road。　There　were　also　other　aspects：　handful　of　peeling　buildings；　the　open　front　of　a　cluttered　shop；　a　dowdy　petrol　station。　In　summer　these　last　would　seem　romantic。　In　winter　the　they　came　into　clear；　depressing　focus。　Now　he　locked　for　the　gates　set　into　the　high；　grey　stone　wall　to　the　right　hoping　that　nothing　at　the　villa　had　fundamentally　altered。　
　The　gates　were　open；　and　he　swung　the　Fiat　in　to　the　tight　turning　circle　inside；　cut　the　engine　and　got　out。　In　front　of　him　was　a　large　and　beautiful　lily　pond；　bordered　on　the　right　by　another　gate　which；　in　turn；　led　to　steps　overhun；　with　vines　and　greenery。　He　could　see　the　white　dome　of　the　　villa　above　and　was　half　way　up　the　steps　when　a　voice　called。
'Signer　Bond？'

He　shouted　back　an　affirmative；　and；　as　he　reached　the　top　a　young　girl　appeared。　She　was　dressed　in　a　tank　top　and　jeans　that　were　not　so　much　cut…offs　as　rip…offs。　Makin　her　look　as　though　a　pair　of　gorgeous　legs　had　been　grafted　onto　a　small　exquisite　body。　Her　face　could　only　be　described　as　cheeky　Dark　eyes　danced　above　a　snub　nose　and　wide　smiling　mouth；　the　whole　topped　by　a　bubbly　black；　tight…curled　foam　of　hair。
　She　had　e　out　of　the　big；　sliding　glass　doors　of　ihe　villa　and　now　stood；　smiling；　by　the　poolside。　In　the　palms　and　tropical　fronds　to　her　right　a　short；　white　statue　of　a　young　satyr　thumbed　its　mouth　and　produced　almost　a　mirror…image　of　the　girl；
　'Signor　Bond；'　she　said　again；　the　voice　jolly　and　bright；　'wele　to　Villa　Capricciani。　I　am　Beatrice。'　She　pronounced　it　with　almost　cassata…flavourcd　Italian　…　Beh…ah…Tree…che。　'1　am　here　to　greet　you。　Also　to　look　after　you。　I　am　the　maid。'
　Bond　thought　he　would　not　like　to　bet　on　it。　but　strode　onto　the　wide　terrace　which　was　covered　with　a　green　material　so　thai　in　hoi　weather　you　would　not　barbecue　the　bare　soles　of　your　feet　getting　to　the　pool　which　was　now　empty　and　covered。　The　villas　were　never　open　in　the　winter；　so　he　wondered　how　M　had　pulled　off　the　renting　of　this　one。　The　answer　probably　lay　in　a　close；　maybe　secret；　arrangement　with　the　owner。　M　had　highly　placed　friends　the　world　over；　and。　Bond　suspected；　was　able　to　apply　pressure　when　required　by　circumstances　such　as　these。
　As　though　reading　his　thoughts。　Beatrice　stretched　out　her　hand　and　took　his　in　an　unexpectedly　firm　grasp。　LThe　Signora　is　away。　She　go　to　Milano　for　the　Natale。　I　remain　here　and　guard　the　house　and　all　the　villas　entirely。'
　？And　I　wonder　if　you　guard　them　for　BAST；　also？'　Bond　thought。
　'e。　I　will　show　you。'　Beatrice　gave　his　hand　a　short　lug；　like　a　child　leading　him　into　the　villa；　then　stopped。　'Ah；　1　forget。　Already　you　know。　You　have　before　been　here；　yes？'
　He　smiled　and　nodded；　following　her　into　the　big　white　room　with　arched　ceiling　and　matching　sofas　and　chairs；　encased　in　crearn　covers。　There　were　three　glass…topped　tables；　four　lamps　with　surrounds　of　white　glass　shaped　like　opening　lilies；　and　four　paintings　…　one　in　the　style　of　Hockney。　an　unknown　man　leaning　against　the　chrome　surround　of　the　pool；　three　others　of　various　garden　views　which　needed　no　explaining　to　Bond。
In　spite　of　Beatrice's　realisation　of　the　fact　thai　he　already　knew　the　place；　she　continued　to　lead　him　around；　almost　at　breakneck　speed；　showing　off　the　three　large　bedrooms　…　'You　will　have　trouble　in　making　your　mind　which　to　use。　huh？　Or　possibly　you　use　them　one　at　a　time。　Different　each　night。　You　are　alone；　huh？　A　pity。　One　different　each　night　would　be　enjoyable。'　This　last　was　followed　by　grandsire　triples　of　laughter。
　The　villa　was　on　one　level；　just　the　main　room；　with　doors　off　to　（he　three　bedrooms；　and　a　narrow　passage　…　neatly　contrived　to　store　two　refrigerators；　food；　china；　pots；　pans　and　cutlery　…　leading　to　the　kitchen。　The　rear　of　the　main　room　was　arched　and；　in　turn；　led　to　the　dining　area：　the　whole　beautifully　furnished　with　a　clever　mix　of　old　and　new；　each　room　taking　on　a　style　of　its　own。　Behind　the　dining　area　you　passed　through　a　pair　of　french　windows　on　to　a　second　terrace；　on　the　left　of　which；　steps　led　up　to　a　flat　roof；　converted　into　an　open…sided　room　…　simply　a　wood　and　rush　roof；　topped　by　a　weathercock；　supported　by　heavy　wooden　beams　and　furnished　with　a　long　refectory　table；　making　an　excellent　dining　area　in　summer。　The　view　looked　out　towards　the　little　white　and　grey　town　of　Forio。　with　its　ancient　refurbished　church　of　Our　Lady　of　Succour；　brilliant　white；　built　with　simple　architectural　lines；　perched　on　the　older　grey　stone　projecting　from　the　headland　of　Soccorso。
　The　rain　had　cleared；　and　there　was　a　little　winter　sun　which　seemed　to　hit　the　church；　tiny　in　the　distance；　then　bounce　off　to　sprinkle　and　glitter　on　the　water。　Bond　looked　back　at　the　town；　with　its　hills　rising　above；　then　returned　his　gaze　to　the　promontory　and　the　church。
　'Is　beautiful；　eh？'　Beatrice　stood　by　his　side。　'This　is　for　the　help　of　fishermen；　for　all　who　sail。　Our　Lady　of　Soccorso　takes　care　of　them。'
　'We　have　a　hymn；〃　Bond　unexpectedly　heard　himself　say。　'It　is　a　prayer。　〃Oh　hear　us　when　we　cry　to　Thee；　for　those　in　peril　on　the　sea。〃
〃Is　good。〃
　She　was　standing　close　to　him。　and　even　in　the　chill　of　this　winter　day　he　could　smell　the　sunshine　on　her。　A　sweetness　that　seemed　to　have　been　trapped　in　the　strong　hot　weeks　of　summ