Page 27 (1/2)

Bond looked casually up Two small cases were on the rack beside his suitcase He took her hand He said, 'Thank God you're safe'

Souilt, as he adirl than the machine, reassured her She kept his hand in hers and sank contentedly back in her corner

The train screeched slowly round Seraglio Point The lighthouse lit up the roofs of the dreary shacks along the railway line With his free hand Bond took out a cigarette and lit it He reflected that they would soon be passing the back of the great billboard where Krilencu had lived–until less than twenty-four hours ago Bond saw again the scene in every detail The white cross roads, the two h the purple lips

The girl watched his face with tenderness What was this rey-blue eyes that soht before his passion had burned out in her arht Was he worrying about the about their safety? If only she could tell hi to fear, that he was only her passport to England–hiiven her that evening in the office The Director had said the saland, Corporal,' he had said cheerfully 'Look' He had unzipped the bag: 'A brand new Spektor Be certain not to open the bag again or let it out of your colishman will take it away from you and throw you on the dust-heap It is this machine they want Do not let them take it from you, or you will have failed in your duty Understood?'

A signal box loomed up in the blue dusk outside theTatiana watched Bond get up and pull down theand crane out into the darkness His body was close to her She moved her knee so that it touched him How extraordinary, this passionate tenderness that had filled her ever since she had seen hi naked at the , his arms up to hold the curtains back, his profile, under the tousled black hair, intent and pale in theof their eyes and their bodies The flame that had suddenly lit between theether from eneainst the country of the other, antagonists by profession, yet turned, and by the orders of their governments, into lovers

Tatiana stretched out a hand and caught hold of the edge of the coat and tugged at it Bond pulled up theand turned He smiled down at her He read her eyes He bent and put his hands on the fur over her breasts and kissed her hard on the lips Tatiana leant back, dragging him with her

There came a soft double knock on the door Bond stood up He pulled out his handkerchief and brusquely scrubbed the rouge off his lips 'That'll be my friend Kerim,' he said 'I must talk to him I will tell the conductor toI shall be outside the door' He leant forward and touched her hand and looked at her wide eyes and at her rueful, half-open lips 'We shall have all the night to ourselves First I must see that you are safe' He unlocked the door and slipped out

Darko Keri on the brass guard-rail, s moodily out towards the Sea of Mar train snaked away from the coast and turned inland and northwards Bond leaned on the rail beside him Kerim looked into the reflection of Bond's face in the darkHe said softly, 'The news is not good There are three of thele ran up Bond's spine

'It's the three strangersin that roolanced sharply sideways 'That makes her a double Or doesn't it?'

Bond's irl had been bait And yet, and yet No, da It wasn't possible The cipher'Wait a minute,' he said He turned and knocked softly on the door He heard her unlock it and slip the chain He went in and shut the door She looked surprised She had thought it was the conductor come to make up the beds

She smiled radiantly 'You have finished?'

'Sit down, Tatiana I've got to talk to you'

Now she saw the coldness in his face and her smile went out She sat down obediently with her hands in her lap

Bond stood over her Was there guilt in her face, or fear? No, only surprise and a coolness to match his own expression

'Now listen, Tatiana,' Bond's voice was deadly 'So and see if the machine is there'

She said indifferently 'Take it down and look' She exa to co to take the machine and throw her aside, perhaps have her put off the train Oh God! Thisto do that to her

Bond reached up and hauled down the heavy case and put it on the seat He tore the zip sideways and looked in Yes, a grey japanned metal case with three rows of squat keys, rather like a typewriter He held the bag open towards her 'Is that a Spektor?'