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！
had no idea of the status of the pen that the crazy little puter specialist was waving in Natalya's face。 He lashed out with one arm； sending Trevelyan's gun up and out of the man's hand。 He then brought his foot up in a kick boxer's stance； kicking Boris' wrist and sending the pen arcing into the air。 For a precious second it seemed to remain stationary in mid air； then dropped； exploding just as it hit the spreading pool of fuel。
The explosion and sudden leap of fire around them made hands and arms e up： all trying to cover their eyes from the sheet of flame which shot up the stairs and wall back to its original source。
The first fuel tank exploded。 As it did so； Bond grabbed Natalya by the arm and pulled her towards the elevator on their left。 As he banged the door closed； they both almost felt the thud of bullets hitting the sliding doors。
〃Can he really break your codes？〃 Bond asked。 He was aware of the urgency in his own voice。
〃It's possible；' she said almost casually。
〃Then we'll have to destroy the transmitter。〃 His head tilted up； watching the numbers rise。 He could only presume this would take them right to the top of the damned thing。
〃That would be natural。〃 She lifted one eyebrow。 〃By the way； thank you； I'm fine。〃
〃Good。〃 The elevator stopped at the base of the catwalk which led to the transmitter cradle they had seen as the whole structure rose from the lake。 An armed guard turned towards the opening doors and saw the woman slumped on the floor。 He immediately ran in to her； dropping his machine pistol on the way in his hurry to help her。 As he began to kneel down beside the unconscious body； Bond dropped from the roof； where he had lodged himself； using shoulders and feet； like a climber in a chimney rock formation。
First his feet hit the guard's back； then he chopped viciously at the man's neck which gave off a horrible cracking sound as he fell； spread…eagled； to the floor。
Natalya was on her feet again as Bond removed the guard's pistol and threw it to her。 He picked up the machine pistol； and； as he did so； they both heard the rumbling of explosions from far below。
〃You know how to use one of these？〃 Looking at the gun he had handed to Natalya。
She nodded； checking the slide movement； ejecting the magazine and making sure it was full。 〃Yes；' she said。
〃Good。 Just keep out of sight and get off the dish。 I'm going to scupper that antenna。 That will do the trick； won't it？〃
〃Just get up there to the maintenance hatch。 There's probably a simple chain device which works the mechanism to turn the antenna。 The best thing for you to do is remove all the fuses from the maintenance room。 Go。 Go now。
Quickly。〃 From below； more explosions rattled the dish and the superstructure as Bond kissed her on the cheek and started the long climb up to the maintenance room high above the antenna。
The climb was daunting； and by the time Bond reached halfway； he could make out the structures more clearly。
When he was some forty feet up； he glanced down and saw Natalya making a dash up to the edge of the dish； climbing over the latticework to the ground and running into the protection of the jungle。
Originally he had intended to stop at the catwalk which crossed the triangle some ten feet above the big metal maintenance room which； in turn； was set directly above the housing from which the long icicle of the antenna reached down； ending around ten feet from the dish。 Now he saw that there was another large chamber； high above； set into the very apex of the triangle。 Cables and wires sprouted downwards from this room； and he began to get the whole picture of how the antenna was operated。
The wires and cables； leading from the top of the triangle； undoubtedly had a part to play in the way the great silver finger was moved。 Some went directly down； through the maintenance chamber and from there into what could only be the true mechanism for repositioning the antenna； yet there seemed to be another set of thicker cables。
These went over a series of pulleys and wheels。
He was thirty feet from the top of the structure when he saw that these wires ran to the far side of the dish and supported a cable car which could be taken from dish level up to the catwalk。
He cursed； wishing he had known about the cable car for it would have cut precious minutes off his journey。
From far below； he still caught the sound of occasional explosions ing from deep within the earth beyond the dish。
In the control plex； the fuel tanks were still exploding。
sending balls of fire up to the roof above the top section。
Guards raced back and forth with CO2 extinguishers； but nobody was in doubt that the roof was starting to weaken。
Tiles and pieces of insulation had already begun to fall； and Trevelyan's men kept their eyes on this danger point； as though trying to divine the moment when they would have to give up and evacuate the plex。
The only person who seemed oblivious to the dangers was Boris who sat at his keyboard； focused wholly on the job of regaining control over the satellite。
Trevelyan stood over him； watching his every move as the younger man worked； almost feverishly； at the programme。
〃How long's it going to take？〃 Trevelyan was looking around and starting to take in the possible hopelessness of the situation。
Boris snapped back that it was nearly done。 〃Two minutes three at the most〃 Trevelyan suddenly frowned； remembering Bond who could blow out the all important antenna if he had a mind to。 If he knew Q； and if Bond still had explosives with him； he might find a way of overriding the electronic remotes。 He turned to the guard who was standing beside him。 〃Watch him；' he pointed to Boris。 〃If he moves； shoot him。
He was away and running towards the exit； pushing firefighters out of the way； heading for the cable car that would take him as far as the catwalk above the maintenance room。
Within a couple of minutes he was in the little cage and beginning his slow ascent up the structure。
In front of Boris the countdown clock read Time to Re…entry： 09：41。
As Trevelyan began the journey to the catwalk； so Bond had reached the chamber at the top of the framework。
It had been fashioned into a square； metal room； and Bond was forced to move carefully between two different sets of machinery。 On one side； he could see； there was a series of large； cogged wheels around which cables ran out and downwards。 As he entered； the wheels began to move； the mechanism starting up。 Someone was in the cable car； which meant he had little time left。
Immediately beside the door was a great oblong structure which pulsed with sound。 There seemed to be no way into it； but it did not take much imagination for Bond to realise that this was the generator and probably the first stage in controlling the antenna。
During the climb； he had already thought of trying to use the last of Q's mines。 These were strictly remote controlled units； but there was a way he could set them on a timer。 His real problem was that the