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lungs reached bursting point。
Presently； she asked him if he knew this island well。
〃Why？〃
〃Oh； I just had a feeling that you knew where you were going when we were out driving this afternoon。
He lay； silent for a moment。 〃I know it；' he said softly。
〃In some ways I have reason to hate it； but now there is a new reason for me to love it。〃
〃Something sad happened to you here？〃
〃Something I shouldn't talk about； I'm afraid。〃 Once more a long pause。
〃There was a woman； she said； bluntly。 〃It's OK； James。
I'm not jealous about what happened before we met。〃
〃Yes；' he heard the tiny kink in the back of his throat。
〃Yes； there was a woman。 She's alive； but she may never walk again。 We were dealing with a very bad man。〃
〃As bad as Ourumov？〃
〃On a scale of one to ten they'd e out about equal。〃 More silence and the foam surfing up the beach。
〃Kiss me again； James。 Please。 Please take me again。
Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow。
His hands stroked her body； legs； thighs； belly； breasts； neck and shoulders。 〃This is the island I really want to know；' he whispered。
〃Then get to know it；' she said。 〃And to hell with tomorrow。
They came in very low off the sea； crossing the coast and cruising just above the jungle。 The lush greenery below looked impenetrable； but they could occasionally glimpse the odd small clearing。 There was no sign of life。
〃Turn ten degrees south and hold bearing one…eightfour。〃 Natalya had navigated all the way and brought them in right on track。 She was just the kind of girl with whom Bond could have happily spent the rest of his life … smart； plenty of initiative； that sixth sense they called intuition； full of loyalty and a ferocious courage。 She was not just a very attractive face and body； but a woman he could trust In a very short time； she had e to trust him。
They both knew well enough that their lives depended on each other。 They also knew that； within the next few hours； they might die together。
Now； as they skimmed the deep green foliage； their heads and eyes were in constant movement as they searched for something that did not seem to be there even though Natalya insisted it was certainly very close to where they now flew。
He caught a flicker of light some ten miles further on； and headed towards it。 As they drew closer he was sure the light was that of the sun reflecting on water。
Finally there； in the middle of the jungle； was a natural bowl； a huge inland lake； its water like glass； and so deep that you could see no trace of the bottom； except at its very edges where the water lapped against a thin strip of sand； before the ground rose softly into hills of vegetation。
He turned the Piper Archer as they reached the far side of the perfect circle of water； knowing it was inconceivable that this could be nature's doing。 The lake was too flawless； too geometric； to be anything but man…made。
He banked the aircraft within the bowl； one wing very low； almost reaching a rate five turn as he swung through three hundred and sixty degrees and then turned to follow through in the opposite direction。
The little plane lifted over the jungle once more。
〃There's nothing there。 Absolutely nothing；' Natalya said。
〃Let's give it another go。 I'll take her down very close to the drink。 Keep your eyes peeled。〃 He extended the aircraft's flaps to allow himself to fly safely at a slower speed； just over the water； curving around the plete circle； looking down on the wingtip which seemed to be only a foot or so above the smooth blue…green tint of the lake。
Still nothing。 Maybe Wade was right； Bond thought。
He put on power； then retracted the flaps and climbed； crossing the lake diagonally； then； after gaining height； he pulled her round again and began another run。
〃James！ Look out！ James！〃 she screamed。
He saw it at exactly the same moment as she shouted。
It came straight up from the deep water； breaking the placid surface with hardly a ripple； and his immediate reaction was that it was a largish fish。 Now he pushed the yoke hard to the left； his feet firmly on the rudder pedals to keep the nose up in a desperate attempt to avoid what he thought was probably a 140mm rocket； and where there was one of those； more could easily follow as they usually came in distinctive seventeen rocket packs。
He had never yet heard of a launch of this type of rocket from underwater； but it would not be difficult； and the aircraft was probably being targeted electronically by puter even as he banked right； turning the Archer onto an opposite track as the first rocket passed harmlessly to their left。
〃We've got to get out of here；' he shouted； slewing the plane in the other direction。 Wrong！ Another rocket came hurtling from the water as he turned。 It did not explode； but sheared off over half the span of his port wing。
The Piper was too low and everything seemed to happen in slow motion once more。 Bond over…corrected and then went out of control。
He had the elevator； rudder； stabiliser and only one aileron。 It was a matter of pure luck that； as he tried to correct again and bring the nose up； the belly of the aircraft struck the water。
Hitting water in any aircraft is as good as slamming into a brick wall。 They went from around seventy…eight knots to zero in a fraction of a second。 He felt the underside of the plane being torn away … a ragged and horrific cracking noise； then the nose went down； the prop churning water。
The shore line came up to meet them and what was left of the fuselage slid up onto the sand。
Natalya had screamed when they were hit。 Now； as they rose up the strip of sand； Bond threw one arm across her and his other forearm over his own face。
Then the fire gushed from the engine。
He did not recall hauling her from the wreckage； but the next he knew was that he had carried her into the jungle foliage and had put her down gently in a clearing。
Her head lolled back； then her eyelids fluttered。
He spoke her name； urgently； several times； and finally she was awake。 〃You OK？〃
〃I think someone hit me with a hammer。〃 She raised herself from the ground and began to check that she could walk and move her limbs。 Bond did the same。 〃I think we're both in one piece。〃 He flexed his aching shoulders。
〃Or at least the pieces appear to be joined in the right places。〃 She nodded and then lost balance again； collapsing in a heap。
Bond had been vaguely aware of something else going on in the background； but was still disoriented。 Now he realised that a helicopter was hovering low over the clearing； a rope snaking from it and a figure rappelling down very quickly。
At first he thought Jack Wade had been very quick off the mark in sending help。 It was not until he moved towards the rope that he knew he had made a grave mistake。
A boot lashed out and caught him in the face as Xenia Onatopp reached the end of the rope to which she was secured。 He managed to get halfway to his feet before she lashed out at him a