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！
They went forward at a jog trot。 ‘Remember we have no spare ammunition。 If they start shooting； make every round count。〃 Bond checked the Colt； and saw Fredericka glance down at the handgun she had taken from Charles。
On reaching the door leading on to the gantry they paused； Bond telling her to move as quietly as possible。 Then they crossed through into darkness； standing for a few seconds to allow their eyes to adjust。
Below them； far off to the left there was noise and action from the Globe Theatre exhibit near which they had been stopped by Charles。
Slowly they traversed the catwalk； very much aware that they were suspended； dangerously high； above the vast cavern that was the museum。
Bond's eyes were quickly conditioned to the darkness； and he led the way； feeling the safety bar to his left； trying to judge the distance to the metal ladder that would take them down； close by the Broadway musical exhibit。 He counted four chained…off ladder sections； stopping when he came to the fifth； turning and whispering to Fredericka； making downward motions with his hands。
He saw her nod； then he swung out on to the ladder； slipping the Colt into his waistband； momentarily wondering how she would cope with her weapon。 The narrow rungs were cool and firm to the touch and he gradually increased his speed； descending rapidly into the blackness below； waiting at the bottom for Fredericka to join him； gesturing with his arm towards where he considered the exhibit to be。
They were behind a high curving stone wall； the cyclorama at the back of the display。 Silently they moved； crabbing their way to the end of the wall。
Bond nodded to her； took a deep breath and they plunged forward。
Neither of them was prepared for the effects which suddenly assaulted all their senses。 As they stepped into the dark area； so it became alive。 For a few seconds they were almost blinded by the light and deafened by the noise： it was as though they had walked through some magic looking…glass on to a stage full of prancing； dancing figures； lit by floods and full battens of theatrical lighting； and singing their hearts out： ‘There's no business like show business。〃 The figures moved with precision following a set pattern of dance steps； the men in white tie and tails； the girls in silver tail coats； top hats and abbreviated spangled briefs。 The noise was deafening； and Bond could just see an orchestra conductor through the glaring light。
Close up； the dancing automata had a bizarre appearance with sparkling staring eyes； rouged cheeks； set smiling faces； their mouths opening and closing like ventriloquists' dummies； the dance steps prescribed by the patterns set in their puterized； robotic brains。
The impact of the whole slowed both Bond and Fredericka who lost precious moments as they stood； almost confused by the spectacle。
Then the shooting began。
A male automaton was lifted off its feet； almost at Bond's side as two bullets ripped in from somewhere beyond in the darkness。 He had been aware of the muzzle flashes from the darkness； and fired twice in the general direction from which the shots had e as he blundered forward； nudging one of the female dancers so that the robot was pushed out of alignment and continued to go through her dance steps moving away from the other females。
He saw and heard Fredericka fire into the black hole behind the lights and thought he heard a screech of pain above the din of music and singing。 Another bullet cracked past his head； and the face of a second male robot disintegrated into wires and microchips as Bond leaped forward through the lights and into the cavern of darkness beyond。 The music and singing did not stop； but he was aware of the robotic confusion now reigning on the stage。 From the corner of his eye he saw Fredericka jump across what was supposed to be the orchestra pit； firing as she went。 Then he was also on the far side of the lights looking at Charles； spreadeagled on the ground； his shirtfront a bloody gushing mess where one of their bullets had struck him。
‘There！〃 Fredericka shouted； swivelling to the right and getting off two rounds； aimed at the fleeing figure of William who ran； clattering along the walkway。
Bond followed and； on reaching the metal path with Fredericka close on his heels； the din of the Broadway show cut off； the music suddenly silenced and the lights going off as they crossed the invisible electronic eyes which operated the display。 Now the only sound was of William's feet on the metal as he ran from the fight。
They followed； Fredericka slightly behind Bond； who fired once at the retreating man just as he momentarily activated another of the displays…a modern play； set on a proscenium arched stage。
Dialogue and movement began and was then stopped as William reached the far side of the display。
The scene came alive again as Fredericka and Bond went past； then； ahead； they saw the stocky little William run into the next exhibit as though he were trying to make it to the area behind the displays。
Again there was noise； a huge overpowering burst of music recognizable immediately as Wagner's Sieried。 William was attempting to get across the stage which was a full…sized model of the famous opera house Richard Wagner's great dream theatre at Bayreuth； built especially for the performance of the poser's gargantuan operas。
Bond stopped； legs parted； the Colt an extension of his arm； sighting it on the figure of William as he blundered forward towards the automaton of Siegfried singing his microchip heart out and raising the legendary magic sword which is such an integral part of the massive Ring Cycle of operas。
He fired once and saw William lifted off his feet as the bullet struck him； sending him curving towards the half rising sword； then； in a flurry of arms and legs； William crashed down upon the operatic automaton。 Sparks flew from under his body； and a small burst of smoke immersed both man and robot for a few seconds。 When the smoke lifted； William lay impaled on the sword； while the opera continued； the tapes playing on even though the reproduction of Wagner's stage remained still； with the macabre bundle of corpse and electronics at its centre； the very real sword reaching bloodily up through William's back。
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A RIDE IN THE COUNTRY
‘Don't you think we should wait for Maeve？
Sweat her？〃 Fredericka stood in the great hall。 They had seen this part of the castle on their arrival； therefore only getting an impression of a heavily decorated Victorian…like entrance。 Now； for the first time； they noticed the long minstrels' gallery； high above。
‘That's how we heard the Dragonfly talking to his sister。〃 Bond pointed to the balustraded U shape above them。
‘Yes； but don't you think we should wait？〃 ‘No； for one thing I don't particularly want to do any explaining concerning two dead bodies。 Also； if we're to catch up with Dragonpol； we should head for Milan。 That's his first stop； isn't it？〃 ‘According to the notes； yes。
But； James； how do we set about finding him？〃 ‘We might have to get a little help； Flick。 What I do know is that the longer we hang around here； the more time