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Then for ten minutes there was silence except for the occasional boom of voices up the ventilator shaft as the three men moved about down on the steel floor round the exhaust pit。 Bond smiled to himself at the thought of the rage and consternation on Drax's face； the miserable Krebs wilting under the lash of Drax's tongue； the bitter accusation in Walter's eyes。 Then the door burst open beneath him and Krebs was calling urgently to the leader of the guards。 A man detached himself from the semi…circle and ran up。
〃Die Engl？nder；〃 Kreb's voice was almost hysterical。 〃Escaped。 The Herr Kapit？n thinks they may be in one of the ventilator shafts。 We are going to take a chance。 The dome will be opened again and we will clear out the fumes from the fuel。 And then the Herr Doktor will put the steam hose up each shaft。 If they're there it will finish them。 Choose four men。 The rubber gloves and firesuits are down there。 We'll take the pressure off the heating。 Tell the others to listen for the screams。 Verstanden？〃
〃Zu Befehl！〃 The man doubled smartly back to his troop and Krebs； the sweat of anxiety on his face； turned and disappeared back through the door。
For a moment Bond lay motionless。
There was a heavy rumble above their heads as the dome divided and swung open。
The steam hose！
He had heard of mutinies in ships being fought with it Rioters in factories。 Would it reach forty feet？ Would the pressure last？ How many boilers fed the heating？ Among the fifty ventilator shafts； where would they choose to begin？ Had Bond or Gala left any clue to the one they had climbed？
He felt that Gala was waiting for him to explain。 To do something。 To protect them。
Five men came doubling from the semi…circle of guards。 They passed underneath and disappeared。
Bond put his mouth to Gala's ear。 〃This may hurt；〃 he said。 〃Can't say how much。 Can't be helped。 Just have to take it。 No noise。〃 He felt the answering tentative pressure from her arms。 〃Bring your knees up。 Don't be shy。 This is no time to be maidenly。〃
〃Shut up；〃 whispered Gala angrily。 He felt one knee creep up until it was locked between his thighs。 His own knee followed suit until it would go no further。 She squirmed furiously。 〃Don't be a bloody fool；〃 whispered Bond； pulling her head in close to his chest so that it was half covered by his open shirt。
He overlay her as much as possible。 There was nothing to be done about their ankles or his hands。 He pulled his shirt collar up as far over their heads as possible。 They held tightly to each other。
Hot； cramped； breathless。 Waiting； it suddenly occurred to Bond； like two lovers in the undergrowth。 Waiting for the footsteps to go by so that they could start again。 He smiled grimly to himself and listened。
There was silence down the shaft。 They must be in the engine room。 Walter would be watching the hose being coupled to the outlet valve。 Now there were distant noises。 Where would they start？
Somewhere； not far away； there was a soft； long…drawn…out whisper； like the inefficient whistle of a distant train。
He drew his shirt collar back and stole a look out through the grating at the guards。 Those he could see were looking straight at the launching…dome； somewhere to his left。
Again the long harsh whisper。 And again。
It was getting louder。 He could see the heads of the guards pivoting towards the grating in the wall which hid him and Gala。 They must be watching； fascinated； as the thick white jets of steam shot out through the gratings high up in the cement wall； wondering if this one； or that one； or that one； would be acpanied by a double scream。
He could feel Gala's heart beating against his。 She didn't know what was ing。 She trusted him。
〃It may hurt；〃 he whispered to her again。 〃It may burn。 It won't kill us。 Be brave。 Don't make a sound。〃
〃I'm all right；〃 she whispered angrily。 But he could feel her body press closer in to his。
Whoosh。 It was getting closer。
Whoosh！ Two away。
WHOOSH！！ Next door。 A suspicion of the wet smell of steam came to him。
Hold tight； Bond said to himself。 He smothered her in towards him and held his breath。
Now。 Quick。 Get it over； damn you。
And suddenly there was a great pressure and heat and a roaring in the ears and a moment of blazing pain。
Then dead silence； a mixture of sharp cold and fire on the ankles and hands； a feeling of soaking wet and a desperate； choking effort to get pure air into the lungs。
Their bodies automatically fought to withdraw from each other； to capture some inches of space and air for the areas of skin that were already blistering。 The breath rattled in their throats and the water poured off the cement into their open mouths until they bent sideways and choked the water out to join the trickle that was oozing under their soaking bodies and along past their scalded ankles and then down the vertical walls of the shaft up which they had e。
And the howl of the steam pipe drew away from them until it became a whisper and finally stopped； and there was silence in their narrow cement prison except for their stubborn breathing and the ticking of Bond's watch。
And the two bodies lay and waited； nursing their pain。
Half an hour…half a year…later； Walter and Krebs and Drax filed out below them。
But； as a precaution； the guards had been left behind in the launching dome。
CHAPTER XXIV
ZERO
〃THEN WE'RE all agreed？〃
〃Yes； Sir Hugo；〃 it was the Minister of Supply speaking。 Bond recognized the dapper； assured figure。 〃Those are the settings。 My people have checked them independently with the Air Ministry this morning。〃
〃Then if you'll allow me the privilage；〃 Drax held up the slip of paper and made to turn towards the launching…dome。
〃Hold it； Sir Hugo。 Just like that； please。 Arm in the air。〃 The bulbs flashed and the bank of cameras whirred and clicked for the last time and Drax turned and walked the few yards towards the dome； almost； it seemed to Bond； looking him straight in the eye through the grating above the door of the site。
The small crowd of reporters and cameramen dissolved and straggled off across the concrete apron； leaving only a nervously chatting group of officials to wait for Drax to emerge。
Bond looked at his watch。 11。45。 Hurry up； damn you； he thought。
For the hundredth time he repeated to himself the figures Gala had taught him during the hours of cramped pain that had followed their ordeal by steam； and for the hundredth time he shifted his limbs to keep the circulation going。
〃Get ready；〃 he whispered into Gala's ear。 〃Are you all right？〃
He could feel the girl smile。 〃Fine。〃 She shut her mind to the thought of her blistered legs and the quick rasping descent back down the ventilator shaft。
The door clanged shut beneath them followed by the click of the lock and； preceded by the five guards； the figure of Drax appeared below striding masterfully towards the group of officials； the slip of lying figures in his hand。
Bond looked at his watch。 11。47。 〃Now；〃 he whispered。
〃Good luck；〃 she whispered back。
Slither； scrape； rip。 His shoulders carefully expanding and contracting； blistered； bloodstained feet scrabbling for the sharp kn