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The ports were open； but the ining breeze did nothing to disperse the odour he had smelled too many times in his life； and there； sprawled hideously on the bed； was the naked and broken body of Rear Admiral Chuck Farrel。 In death his face was not in repose。 The eyes were fixed on his reflection in the mirror above the bed； his mouth contorted in a wide open grimace as though he had died in some kind of revolting ecstasy。
There seemed to be music drifting into this bizarre scene； and it took a moment for Bond to realise that it was floating in from the French warship he had noted both last night and on his way into the harbour that morning。
He could see the ship dressed overall through one of the ports。
He could also see Manticore's tender rapidly crossing the stretch of sea towards the French ship； and in the tender were two people： Xenia Onatopp and the admiral who lay dead in front of his eyes。
The band on the French naval vessel was playing a selection of sea shanties and； as he peered out； he saw the outline of the helicopter。
In that moment； the fact for which his mind had been searching since the previous night came into focus。 He felt the blood drain from his face and his lips automatically formed one word … Tigre！〃
〃Of course；' he whispered to himself as all the pieces slotted into place。 〃Of course； Tigre！〃 He did not even hear the door open behind him as his brain made several lightning calculations。
The Tigre's A Wonderful Thing There were two of them； dressed like deck hands in striped T…shirts with Manticore across the front； black bellbottomed slacks and soft shoes。 As Bond turned； he did not see them as deck hands。 He recognised the type。
Hoodlums。 Trained hoodlums； the kind the bad old KGB used way back then； in their Boyevaya Gruppa … their 〃bat gangs' that dispensed broken legs and bullets through the backs of heads。 One stood three steps inside the stateroom； the other took one pace inside； moving behind； and to his r。ade's left。
In the back of his mind Bond baptised them。 Tub o' Lard was three steps in； while Big Muscle was behind。
〃e for the body； have you？〃 As he spoke； Bond feinted to the right； trying to bring Big Muscle forward。
It had the desired effect and he came fast as Bond jumped to his left； sticking out his right leg； catching the oning man's ankle。
Momentum carried Big Muscle forward so that he landed； at speed； head first against the foot of the bed。
By this time； Bond had grappled with Tub o' Lard； a head shorter； heavier； fatter version of the same species as Big Muscle； going close in and grasping with both hands at the man's left wrist； bringing his left knee up hard into the groin so that the thug gave a gurgle of pain and doubled over。
〃Makes your eyes water； doesn't it？〃 He jerked with all his strength on Tub o' Lard's left arm； heard the bone crack out of joint in the shoulder； ducked under the now useless limb； bringing it up to the middle of the man's back； bending him even further forward and hoping to blazes that there were not any more like him within earshot because Tub o' Lard was now screaming with agony； great schoolboy bellows of pain interspersed with Russian oaths。
Bond positioned the man so that his head pointed directly at his partner who had managed to get to his feet； dazed a little； but turning in on Bond as he grappled with the screaming； doubled up； incapacitated assailant。 He let go of the wrist； stepped back and brought the hard leading edge of his right hand down in a heavy chop to the back of Tub o' Lard's neck。 There was a whoof of pain which seemed to e from deep within his victim who crumpled up and would have collapsed onto the state…room floor if Bond had not caught him by his belt and the neck of his T…shirt； using him as a battering ram； hurling the body head first directly at Big Muscle's face。
The bullet head caught Big Muscle； covering a large amount of territory。 The various crunches came； Bond thought； from nose； right cheek…bone and mouth。 There was quite a lot of blood。 There was also loss of consciousness for both of them。
〃You should really try to stay ahead of the game； he muttered； turning and leaving the stateroom at speed。 If this did concern the Tigre helicopter sitting on the pad which was the stern of the French vessel； he would have little time to spare。
Manticore was obviously operating with a skeleton crew or some of her crew must be ashore； for there was nobody else on deck。 Bond raced to the stern and pulled at the line which reached out to the motorboat he had seen on his way in。
It took time to get the little craft inboard on the starboard side。 Time and a lot of sweat； but eventually she was there and he was able to slip down the ladder and jump into the cockpit。
The engine started immediately； at the first try； and he swung the boat away from Manticore； pointed it in the direction of the French ship； opened the throttle to full power and； with some relief； felt the craft leap forward and begin to bump across the water。
As he came closer to the warship； he could make out the crowd gathering into a series of raked seats which had been arranged facing the stern and the helicopter。 The machine looked like a larger and more chunky version of the old Cheyenne with a big bulbous nose； a long； sleek cockpit canopy and bigger stubby wings from which hung a very mixed bag of weapons … rockets mainly； though above the wing a couple of large calibre machine guns took care of any close…in firing。
He should have thought about this sooner： the file had been on his desk before leaving for the evaluation in the field。 The Tigre； still officially classified； France's advanced piece of flying hardware； was to be shown off to a load of bigwigs whom the French Navy were hosting at an all…expenses…paid junket in Monte Carlo。
When he reached the side of the ship； Bond had to wait in line while two other tenders discharged officers and their wives。
In the main they were in uniform and were obviously naval or air attach~s or visiting high~ranking diplomats。
Finally； he climbed the ladder and flashed his official card at the young sub。lieutenant。 〃mander Bond。
Royal Navy Intelligence；' he snapped as though he would personally rip the nose off anyone who doubted him。 The young officer did not even query him as he turned towards the quarterdeck and saluted。
He was walking towards the stern； eyes everywhere looking for Ms Onatopp and her 〃Admiral'； but they seemed to have disappeared； or were out of view on the port side。 On the helicopter pad the Tigre's big engines started up； then were eased back into idle； the main rotor blades turning lazily as a ground crew member climbed down from the high canopy。
He was about to find some way across when there was a familiar click from the public address system and a voice began an official wele 〃Ladies and gentlemen； we are about to begin the demonstration of this extraordinary aircraft。〃 The announcement was in French； rapidly repeated in English； German and Italian。
Discreetly； Bond moved through th