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She allowed him to get close； then； like an unpredictable animal； she opened her mouth and snapped at his lip。 She felt her teeth going in and saw； as he pulled back with a little cry of annoyance； that she had broken the skin。
Blood was running from the lip。
She did not see his hand e up to slap her hard； only feeling the sting of sudden pain as her head was pushed sideways。 〃You bastard；' she spat at him。
〃I like a spirited woman。〃 He gave his warped smile again。 〃A woman with your kind of liveliness is much more fun than some docile bitch who just lies there like a pillow。
I shall enjoy breaking you； Natalya Fyodorovna。
Her eyes opened wide with surprise。 〃How do you know my name？〃 The smile again； this time broader and； therefore； more sinister。
〃You'd be surprised at what I know。。
As he moved towards her again； there was a shrill； piercing alarm which seemed to surround them like some tangible envelope。 She also saw red lights blinking on the roof of the carriage。
He pushed her roughly out of the way and spoke to Ourumov； telling him to stay and watch her。 Then he was running fast towards the next carriage； Xenia； with the little Uzi at the ready； following him。
In the short time Bond had available； he had chosen the best possible point for his ambush on a mile length of straight railway track leading into a short tunnel。
The tank had nearly up…ended itself as he went down the embankment close to the place he wanted to use； but finally he manoeuvred the machine into position； lining up its tracks on the rails so that it faced in the direction from which Trevelyan's armoured train would e。
He opened the hatch； climbed into the gunner's seat and examined the shells in their racks。 The T55 carried three types of shell for the 100mm gun： Smoke； High Explosive and Armour Piercing。 Bond did not have to think twice。 The gun was easy enough to load； and with the engine at idle； he could swing the turret and depress the barrel so that it was pointing directly at where the train would appear。
It was yet another calculated risk； for Trevelyan might easily play things safe and back up as soon as the tank was spotted： a move that could quickly take the train out of range。 He was also gambling on Natalya being held somewhere in the rear of the carriages。 He would only have one chance； one shell to take out the engine； and almost as soon as he had depressed the firing button it would be necessary for him to be up and away through the hatch。
Strangely； the only thing worrying him was the very small amount of ammunition in the machine pistol。 He thought it would now be about six rounds； which were not enough to take out Trevelyan and his lieutenants。
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof。 The Biblical quote came back to him together with familiar scents from the past； the smell of chalk and other boys； of damp grey flannel and the harsh penalties for flouting rules。
Pressing his eye to the forward sight； he saw that the train had already begun to move swiftly into view。
Trevelyan and Xenia had moved forward into the munications Carriage； filled with state…of…the…art puters and munications electronics which would keep them in touch with the entire world if need be。
At the far end a monitor linked them with a camera set high at the front of the engine。 When he saw the tank； stationary on the rails ahead as they closed fast； Trevelyan uncharacteristically sighed； then made a noise which mingled anger with a hint of admiration。 〃Only James Bond；' he muttered。
〃He'll derail us。 We must stop！〃 Xenia showed some panic in her usually calm and cool manner。
〃No！〃 from Trevelyan。
〃What do we do？〃 The question came from up front in the train's cabin； and it was obvious that the driver and his engineer were already slowing slightly。 The brakes had started to pump。
〃Stop that。〃 Trevelyan had snatched at a small microphone attached to the wall。 〃Go for him。 Full speed。 Ram him。〃
〃But。。。〃 came the driver's voice。
〃Ram him； damn you。 You have that damned great battering ram up front。 Now's the time to use it The words and confidence were easy； but the situation had certain very dangerous drawbacks。 Trevelyan was experienced enough to know what was going on。 He too was a gambler。
Whatever happened now； he thought； the train would be wrecked。 Well； that was OK for he would have no difficulty finding an alternative method of transport。 It was an irritation； a minor setback； but they would still get to their destination。
He looked up at the monitor and braced himself in his seat。
Opposite him； Xenia was also straining backwards in her seat； the Uzi held across her lap and her legs straight。 Above them the monitor showed that they were rushing towards the tank at high speed。 About six hundred yards to go and closing very fast
At around two hundred yards Trevelyan began to feel the first nip of fear in the back of his mind。 Then there was a flash； followed by a great heaving as though the carriage were being shaken by an earthquake。
Bond had banged down on the firing button。 The turret bucked under the recoil and the shell penetrated the front of the engine； exploding with a great sheet of flame which seemed to reach out as though trying to devour the tank。
He pulled himself up through the hatch； leaped to the left and rolled away towards the bank； almost at the moment the train's engine hit the tank； the long telescopic buffer buckling under the impact。
Bond dug himself into the earth as the forward momentum of the engine pushed the tank； now on fire； back into the tunnel。
Then came the second explosion： a thunderous clap of noise and a searing heat which even Bond felt； lying on the ground a good distance away。 He raised his head and saw the wide plume of flame and smoke ing from inside the tunnel； the mixture of fuel and explosives rising into the air； as though drawing a deadly question mark。
By the time that happened； Bond was on his feet； the machine pistol in his hand； running full tilt towards the carriages； looking for the easiest way in。
He saw the steps at the door linking the last and middle carriages and threw himself towards them； his hand touching hot metal； his heart set on finishing the business with Trevelyan once and for all。
In the munications Carriage； both Xenia and Trevelyan had been thrown to the ground； equipment had detached itself from walls and desk tops。 Xenia's Uzi had skittered back along the aisle and； worst of all； they were plunged into darkness。
〃Emergency generator！〃 Trevelyan shouted； and Xenia stumbled forward； feeling her way to the large wall switch which would give them power now that the engine had exploded taking with it their normal source of electricity。
She pulled down on the switch and； as the lights came back on 〃Just stay absolutely still。〃 The voice came from behind them。
Trevelyan； half sprawled across a table； did not even bother to look around。 〃James； why can't you just die like any other normal person？' he asked。
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