John Gardner (23 page)

“James,’ he called, his eyes pleading. “Haul me up. For heaven’s sake … for old times’ sake, haul me up.”

“Go to hell!” Bond shouted and released Trevelyan who hit the antenna and, screaming, dropped all the way down to the dish.

At the same moment the apex of the triangle blew out.

The mine had detonated, and the entire structure swayed, pieces of metal and wiring beginning to detach themselves and fall.

Over the noise, Bond thought he could hear a helicopter. Hanging precariously, he saw the gunship, heading straight for him, and as it hovered as near as was feasible, his eyes widened.

The pilot was manoeuvring the gunship closer and closer. Behind him, Natalya stood with her pistol pushed into the side of the terrified man’s head. He was acting under her instructions, which, because of the skeletal edifice they were approaching, were not always practical.

After a minute’s jigging from side to side, he brought the craft’s port landing skid to a point just in front and below where Bond hung.

It was his only chance, for everything appeared to be collapsing around him. He swung himself out and grabbed hold of the skid at the moment the chopper backed off and started to move away.

In the centre of the dish, Trevelyan regained consciousness. His eyes opened and the pain that swept over him, combined with the blood in his mouth, told him that he was near death.

He heard the noises coming from above, cracks, creaks, the clank of falling metal. Looking up, the last thing he saw was the long silver spike that was the antenna detach itself and come hurtling down to impale him.

In the control complex, Boris still raved, but realised that most of the guards were either dead or had disappeared. He seemed to be the only one left alive, and he rushed up to the middle gallery. As he reached the mainframe room, so the liquid coolants suddenly exploded, sending a freezing white mist flying through the shuttered doors.

For a second, Boris knew what was happening as the mist enveloped him, then he felt himself seizing up. After that he died, standing, a frozen statue inside the doomed building.

The gunship came down gently into the clearing. Bond dropped thankfully to the ground and stretched out, his eyes closed.

Inside, Natalya spoke in rapid Russian, telling the pilot that if he tried no tricks, he could leave, then she ran back and jumped from the main door onto the earth next to Bond.

The gunship, with a thankful pilot at the controls, lifted off as she spoke softly. “James ? James ? Are you OK? James, oh please speak to me.” He opened one eye and pulled her down to him. “Yes, he said. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

“You devil,’ she laughed and he pulled her close so that their mouths touched and he rolled on top of her.

“James, no. Not here, James, somebody might see.”

“Don’t be silly, Natalya.” He looked at her lovingly.

“There’s nobody left to see anything.” He only had eyes for Natalya, so could not see Jack Wade rise from the bushes, nor the forty or so marines, in camouflage, appear from the jungle to stand smiling with pleasure.

From far away came the sound of Marine Cougar helicopters bringing in reinforcements.

Bond needed no backup at this particular time.