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though； in the confined space； it would be a risk。
'Wait！' Hamarik snapped。 'Just shuffle along the wall。 When I'm out into the open； with Israel； I'll tell you to turn and go in front of me。 I shall want you in single file so you block off the entire passage ahead of me。 Okay！ Move！'
They shuffled along the wall； leaving the area in front of the cabin pletely free。 It made things easier for Bond for he now had an excuse to （urn his head towards the cabin door； his eyes seeking the movement in the Russian section。
He had hardly moved his eyes when Hamarik pushed Israel in front of him and came into the open； turning left。 As he came out。 he glanced lo his right and saw what Bond had already spotted。
Standing in the doorway separating Ihe Russian and American quarters； was Nikki Ratnikov； her legs apart and a small automatic pistol held in from of her with both hands。
Hamarik gave a litlle curse； pushed Israel around； trying to get his body between himself and Nikki。 Keeping Israel in a hard neck…choke he pulled in hard； pushing him to the left； and realising he had no option bul （o fire a！ the girl。
The shots crashed out。 echoing like cannon blasts in the confined space。 Both fired twice； and both hit their marks。 Hamarik's left arm dropped from Israel's throat as he cried out； look a pace backwards； tried to lift his pistol again； but was forced to clutch at his righi shoulder which had suddenly spouted blood。 He cried again； dropped the pistol and sank to his knees。 It was Bruce Trimble who got to him first； snatching his own weapon from the deck and holding it at arm's length。 'Stay where you are。 you damned honky fraud！' But Hamarik was already unconscious； keeling over and sprawling onto the deck。
Bond moved forward towards Nikki。 She stood like a statue in the doorway； pistol still extended； arms rigid； and feet apart。 Bul the white roll…neck sweater she wore had turned crimson： a great； ugly spreading slain。
Bond was only two paces from her when he heard the ghastly rattle from her throat； saw the blood gush from her mouth and her body crumple to the deck。 He knelt over the girl； his fingers feeling For a pulse in her neck。 Nothing。 〃She's dead/ Bond said； bleakly。 He had liked Nikki； in spite of some suspicions； and all sudden deaths of young people were sad moments； particularly in this case； for Nikki Ratnikov had put her own life at risk for their lives。
'Well； this bastard's still alive； and I reckon he can be patched up and made to lalk。〃 There was no bitterness in Bruce Trimble's voice as he walked towards the nearest bulkhead telephone to call the Sick Bay。 Over his shoulder he said they would need a marine guard around the clock。
Bond got to his feel。 Take care of it for me。 Bruec。 I've got to see what's going on。' Even in the few minutes of stand off and death； they were all aware that there had been some serious problem on the ship。 The Tannoy had been active； and Sir John Walmsley。 himself； had been issuing some orders。 Bond made his way along the passage； turned the corner and climbed the panionway。 Whatever else had occurred； he now had to break Ihe news of Nikki's death； and the fact that they had a second presumed terrorist on board。
Bassam Baradj scanned the sea with his binoculars。 All being well； Ihe operation would have started by now； and soon he expected to hear what course of action the Captain of Invincible would lake。
He refocused the glasses on the freighter； Estado Novo； which was； al this moment； passing through the Straits of Gibraltar。 The large crate was still in place on the main deck； shielding the stolen Sea Harrier from view； and he knew the pilot； Felipe Pantano； was also aboard。
The freighter had followed instructions to the letter and Baradj had been in constant； ciphered； contact with the ship since it had made its short visit to Oporto。 From there the Estado Novo had passed through the Straits and headed for Tangier； where； with much bribery and considerable ingenuity； Baradj had arranged Tor other cargo to be taken on board： mainly four AIM…9J air…to…air Sidewinder missiles； and a large quantity of 30mm ammunition； belted and ready for installation for use by the two Aden guns already resting in their pods on both port and starboard of the Harrier's fuselage。 They had also taken on a considerable amount of fuel。
By tonight； Baradj thought； the freighter would be in place。 If needed； the stolen Sea Harrier could be airborne； by using the vertical take…off technique； within five minutes of an order being received。
Baradj look one more look； then put the glasses in their case； turned and began to walk quietly back to The Rock Hotel。 Earlier he had looked down on the airport to make certain his private helicopter had arrived safely。 The pilot was to stay with the crafl and Baradj knew it would take pan in the final piece of his plan … the recovery of Ihe huge ransom he expected to pick up from the sea。 Of course the pilot had no idea that he was doomed； just as all members of his brainchild； BAST； were doomed； to the extent that ihey would have done the dangerous and difficult work with no reward。 Twenty…Four； maybe forty…eight hours。 Вitradj smiled； after that he would have a veritable king's ransom。 He would also have disappeared from the face of the earth。 He actually laughed out loud； thinking of ihe fanatics who would have given their souls for an opportunity like this； and how （hey would have wasted the money on guns and bombs； bringing more danger to （heir lives。 He。 Bassam Baradj … or to be truthful； Robert Besaviisky … would use it for a really decent purpose： his own pleasure and security。 Not yet； but in a year or so。 he would emerge； with a new face and identity。 He would own houses； estates； cars； yachts； private jets； panies which might even do some good for （he world。 He would make gifts： a new library here； or a museum there； maybe even scholarships。 Yes。 that was a new idea。 Some good （hings must e out of the great crock of gold that waited for him。 This would only be fair。
The sun shone and Baradj was happy。 The sun was set fair for Gibraltar； though the weather report for the rest of the Spanish coast was not so good。 Never mind； it would be good enough to do whal needed to be done。
'I； for one； Sir John； do not care about what has happened。 This is a unique meeting； and we do need a clear four days to plete our talks。 Do I have to make it plain again？ Four 。 。 。 clear 。 。 。 days。 That is what was arranged； and that is what we all expect。' The Prime Minister looked towards the President of the United States and Secretary Gorbachev。 An interpreter whispered the translation in Gorbachev's ear。 He nodded gravely； the birthmark on his forehead eoming into view as the head bobbed and he repeated。 'Da 。。。 Da 。。。 Da。'
〃Prime Minister；' George Bush spoke quietly。 'I understand the problem； and I see you're anxious because we are your guests。 I agree wholly with you。 We should stay aboard； we've lost almost one hour already。 But I'd like to hear the options again。〃
Sir John Walmsley gave a tiny sigh and nudged James Bond。 who stood beside him。 'I think Captain Bond should give you a little rundown；' he said； his voice thai of a de