靠谱电子书 > 经管其他电子书 > johngardner.rollofhonor >

第26部分

johngardner.rollofhonor-第26部分

小说: johngardner.rollofhonor 字数: 每页4000字

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!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



ntrenched Militia。
 〃One hopes that any change can only be for the good; and that lives are not put at risk;' Bond said after a pause。
 〃Lives are always at risk。〃 The Master of Endor found himself losing four caches of weapons and ammunition in a farmhouse on the far side of Lexington。  He realised that Bond had also begun to move his forces on Concord。  He shrugged。  〃But; as for your own life; I know there is no point in threatening you with sudden death。  Any threat to your person is of little importance。
 〃I wouldn't say that。〃 Bond found himself smiling。  〃We all like life。 The thought of being separated from it is as good a lever as any。
 The date on the calendar easel showed them almost at the end of December; and the weather was against both sides。  All either of them could do now was consolidate openly; or by using the clandestine option。 Bond decided to divide his forces; encircling the road between Lexington and Concord; while his remaining troops continued to fortify the hills and heights。  Jay Autem Holy appeared to be playing a more devious game; sniping at British patrols and; Bond suspected; moving forces on to the high ground already occupied by the British。  They played; turn after turn as the weather grew worse and movement was constantly restricted。 Throughout this phase; the Master of Endor carried on a conversation that appeared to have little to do with the simulated battle。
 〃Your part in our mission。  。  。  he took out five of Bond's men 〃 。
 is of exceptional importance; and you will undoubtedly have to use much fiction and illusion to acplish it。〃
 〃Yes。  I've been giving it a lot of thought。〃
 〃Have you given thought to the way governments mislead their gullible peoples?〃
 〃How do you mean?〃 Bond now had sizeable forces on all three sections of ground overlooking Boston。
 〃The obvious; of course; is the so…called balance of power。  The United States does not draw attention to the fact that it is outnumbered in space by Russian satellites … not to mention things like the fractional orbital bombing system; in which the Soviets hold a monopoly of seventeen to zero。
 〃The figures are there for anybody to see。〃 Bond would soon have to make a serious challenge from the high ground; as Colonial forces struggled upwards in increasing numbers; restricted by both the climb and the weather。
 〃Oh yes; but neither side makes a big thing about figures。〃 Holy scanned the board; brow creased。  〃Except when Russia takes umbrage at the deployment of Cruise and Pershings in Europe。  Even when she can more than adequately match them。  But James; what is the real conspiracy here?  The British government ties up many policemen controlling anti…nuclear protesters。  Yet nobody says to these well…meaning people; 〃If it happens; brothers and sisters; it's not going to happen with the big nuclear bang。  Cruise and Pershing are only for rattling。
 What could occur would be ten thousand times worse。
 They do not stop to tell the worthy ladies at Greenham mon or the marchers in London。〃
 〃Nobody tells the protesters in the United States either。〃 Bond watched as his opponent edged even larger numbers of men towards the waiting British guns; and fought a small skirmish along the constant battlefront of the country between Boston and Concord。
 〃And yet; if it came; James; what would happen?〃
 〃Your guess is as good as mine。  Certainly not the big bang and the mushroom cloud。  More like the bright lights and a very nasty chemical cloud。〃
 〃Quite 。  。  。
 I challenge from this hex。〃 Holy's arm moved out; to an area between Concord and Lexington; where British troops were now much thinner on the ground。  〃No; it will be neutrons and chemicals。  A lot of death; but little destruction。  Then a confrontation in space; with the Soviets holding the big stick up there。〃
 〃Unless the United States and NATO have done something to equalise things。  That's what is going on; isn't it?〃 Why this?  Bond asked himself。  Why talk to me about the balance of power; and the place nuclear weapons play in that balance?
 Then he recalled the sound advice always given in classes on interrogation … listen to the words; ignore the orchestration that makes the banal words seem more intelligent; the clever; soaring strings that take your mind from the cheap potency of simple; emotional ideas。
 By now it was late January in the game and; at a Challenge; Bond had to reveal there were British forces ringing the far side of Concord。  Jay Autem Holy started to cut them apart with his Colonial Militia; sniping across the winter landscape。  Bond saw how addictive this kind of exercise could bee。  You could almost feel the cold and fatigue which played havoc with men's strength and fighting ability。
 You even heard the crack of musket fire; and saw the blood staining the dirty snow in some farmer's field。
 Dr Jay Autem Holy was not really talking about the lopsided balance of power。  He was talking about the need to end the whole system which controlled that balance。
 〃Would the world not be a better and safer place if the real strength were removed?〃 he asked; making another foray into the bleak Massachusetts winter scene。  〃If the stings were drawn from the superpowers' tails?〃
 〃If it were possible; yes;' Bond agreed。  〃It would be better; but I doubt safer。  The world's always been a dangerous place。〃 One more turn and he would have to declare his presence in the hills。
 Holy leaned back; temporarily stopping play。  〃We're involved in halting the race to the holocaust … nuclear; neutron or chemical。  To you is entrusted the task of getting that EPOC frequency。  Now; do you yet have a way?〃 As though he did not expect an answer; he played through his turn; concentrating on bringing men well into the British firing zone。
 〃I have the makings of a plan。  It will require certain information in advance 〃What kind of information?〃
 〃When you need the frequency; I shall have to know; a little ahead of time; exactly who is the Duty Security Officer; for the night in question; at the Foreign Office。
 〃That presents no problem。  One man does the job for a whole week; yes?〃
 〃As a rule。〃
 〃And he is a senior officer?〃 Bond spread the fingers of his right hand; making a rocking movement。  〃Let's say middle management。
 〃But you are likely to know him?〃
 〃That's why I have to get a name。  If you can't provide it; I shall have to telephone 〃We can。
 〃Then; if I know him; I shall still have to make a call。
 If he is unknown to me … an unlikely possibility … I'll have to think again。〃
 〃If you know him?〃
 〃I have a way of getting in。  I should need an hour at the most in his pany。〃 Bond prayed it would work。
 He had to have some munication with the outside world。
 〃I challenge you here。〃 Bond's finger hovered around the upper reaches of Breed's Hill。
 〃But。  。  。  〃 his opponent began; then realised the trap which Bond had sprung。
 A few minutes later; as he faced slaughter on the slopes of Bunker's Hill; having lost the majority of his men and arms on Dorchester Heights and Breed's Hill;Jay Autem angrily told Bond that he would have plenty of warning。
 〃You'll know who the officer is; that I promise you。〃 He watched as Bond revealed two more cannon to counterattacking militia on the far side of the hill。  〃This is the wrong way round;' he said; barely controlling his rage。
 〃And Bunker's Hill shouldn't happen until June。  It's hardly February!〃
 〃And this is the fiction;' Bond said。  〃The reality's history … even though a great deal of history happens to be fiction too。〃 He was quite pleased with his showing on this simulation; and allowed imagination to run riot。  The weather for this series of turns was heavy rain; with a cold blustery wind running up from the sea。  The wind raged as men and guns were locked on the barren hill; their cries lost in the cold; while the rebels still in Boston were at the mercy of British guns from Dorchester and Breed's Hill。
 Then; suddenly; the storm broke。  Jay Autem Holy's chest seemed to swell; and his cheeks turned from red to crimson。
 〃You 。  。  。  You 。  。  。  You 。  。  。〃 The voice rose to a scream。
 〃You've beaten me!  ME!〃 One huge hand swept the papers from his playing area; then came down in a fist。
 〃How dare you?  How dare you even It was an awesome rage as he spluttered; stamping his feet; kicking the table。  Awesome; and yet funny; as a child's tantrums are amusing yet distressing。  He went on spluttering; blustering; out of control to the extent that Bond thought he would be physically attacked。  The man was; as he had already thought; quite unhinged; with a dangerous; deep…seated madness。
 Then; as suddenly as the rage had begun; it stopped。
 There was no dusk; no twilight; for sanity appeared to return; and he stood; looking for a brief moment like a chastened child。
 〃The Militia could rally yet。〃 The voice was small; throaty。  〃But we've played too long。  I have other things to do。  Better things。
 He stood; as though winning or losing a game were now of little consequence to him。  When he spoke again; the tone was pletely normal; as if nothing unusual had taken place; quiet and conversational; making it all the more bizarre。
 〃

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的