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ese slugs； fired from the ASP； is over 1700 feet per second。
They will penetrate body armour before blowing； and a hit from a Glaser on any vital area of the body is usually fatal。
Bond fired two rounds from the lowered window almost before the car had e to a halt。 He kept both eyes open； looking down the revolutionary backmounted Guttersnipe sight； its triangular yellow walls giving instant target recognition。
Through the trees and bracken he could see several men leaving the cars。 Others were trying to get the vehicles off the road。 Bond's rapid shots were aimed at the clear outline of a tall man in a dirty…white raincoat who was making for the Bentley。 He did not stop to find out what happened to the target； but opened the door and rolled into the undergrowth。
Twigs and branches caught on his clothing and scratched his face； but Bond kept moving； determined to get as far away as possible from the Mulsanne Turbo。 He rolled to the right； putting about twenty yards between himself and the car。 Twisting round； flat on his belly； he brought the gun up and ready； his eyes constantly moving to cover a wide sweeping sight…line。
The other cars had been backed off the road and he guessed they now contained only their drivers。 Two figures were visible； but almost by intuition he reckoned there had to be at least four others fanning out； moving low and trying to encircle him。
Bond lay quite still； allowing his breathing to settle。 If his pursuers were methodical … and they probably were they must eventually find him。 It was even possible they could call up reinforcements。
Certainly there had to be more men available。 How could they have been certain of picking him up on the road； unless the Bentley had a location homer stuck on to it？ Who were they？ Some of Jay Autem Holy's men？ There had to be a connection； yet Holy would have had a better opportunity to deal with him that evening； at Endor。 Unless 。。 。 unless Cindy had set him up； or been caught。 If the latter； a watch had been put on him very quickly。 At all events； Bond decided they would find him later rather than sooner。 What he needed was time to make good his escape。
It had begun raining quite hard and you could hear the steady pattering from the branches。 To attempt a move now would be suicidal。
He was at least a hundred and fifty yards from the road； and even if he reached the other cars without being intercepted which was unlikely he would still be outnumbered three to one。 He must wait； try to follow their search； and make sure nobody bounced him from behind。
He moved his head continually； looking from far left to far right； then gently turning to watch the rear； all the time straining to catch any sound。 The two men originally visible to his front had disappeared； and the sounds of movement would now be successfully blotted out by the rainfall。
Bond had been lying in cover for the best part of fifteen minutes before he got a positive fix on any of his assailants。 The sharp crack of a dead branch and a flicker of movement on the far left caught his ear and eye at the same moment。 Slowly he turned his head。 There； not more than twenty paces away； a man crouched against a tree； looking to the right of where Bond lay。
From the economical； alert manner； the way he kept low； using the bottom of the tree trunk for cover； the small revolver held steady in the right hand against left shoulder； the man looked like a professional； a well trained soldier。 He was searching in the calm； cautious manner of a hunter； examining every square foot of ground within a specified arc。 That meant there was probably another like him to his left； or right； or both。
What was more； it could only be a matter of time before his eyes came to rest on the ground where Bond lay。
The searcher wore olive green denim trousers and shirt； and a military…style jacket。 Moving each limb about half an inch at a time； Bond began to turn。 He wanted to get at least one shot in before anyone closed on him。
There was another movement； this time to the right。
Bond's reflexes and intuition warned of danger； and he brought the ASP up in the direction of this new threat。
The triple yellow walls； which angle to form the Guttersnipe sight； fell automatically into their pattern； right on target； showing another figure running low between the trees； and much too close for fort。 From the corner of his eye； he saw the first man bringing his revolver up in a two…handed grip。 Then he heard the unmistakable click of a revolver hammer being drawn back； very close behind him。 The sharp burning cold of a muzzle touched the side of his neck gently。
〃Drop it； Mr。 Bond。 Please don't try anything silly。 Just drop the gun。
Bond had no desire to get himself killed at this point in his career。 He tossed the ASP on to the ground。
〃Good。〃 The voice was soft； slightly lilting。 〃Now； hands on the head； please。〃 The two men who had been in Bond's sights were now standing； ing forward； the one to his left with arms outstretched； holding a snub…nosed revolver in the two handed grip； the arms steady as iron bars。 His eyes never left the captive。 Bond was in no doubt that two bullets would reach him fast if he made any wrong move。 The other came in quickly； scooping up the fallen ASP like a predatory bird swooping on to its prey。
〃Right； now get to your feet very slowly；' the voice continued； the gun muzzle detaching itself from just behind Bond's ear。 There was the sound of feet shuffling as the man stepped back。 〃That manoeuvre was rather good； wasn't it？ We knew roughly where you had gone to ground； so it was just a matter of showing you someone with stealth and another with speed。 The lads went through that little farce three times before they found the right place。 It's the kind of fieldcraft we teach。 Please turn around。〃
〃Who teaches？〃 Bond demanded as he turned and faced a tall； well…built man in his mid…thirties with tight； curly hair； dark above matching jet eyes； a square face； a large nose and full lips。 Women would find him attractive； Bond thought。 The dark plexion was overlaid with a hard； sunbaked tan。 It was the eyes that really gave him away。 They had that particular look； as it； for years； they had searched horizons for the telltale sign of dust； or the sky for a speck； or an outcrop of rock for movement； or doorways and windows for muzzle flashes。
Those eyes had probably been doing that kind of thing since childhood。 Nationality？ Who could tell？ One of the Middle Eastern countries； but whether he came from Jerusalem； Beirut or Cairo was impossible to tell。 Possibly a hybrid； Bond thought。
〃Who teaches？〃 he asked again。
The young man lifted an eyebrow。 〃You might get to find out； Mr。 Bond。 Who knows？〃 The smile was not unfriendly。 〃Now；' he said； 〃we have to move you； and I cannot be certain you'll sit still。〃 He gave a short laugh。
〃I rather think my superiors want you alive and in one piece； so would you take off your jacket and roll up your sleeve？〃 Two more figures rose from the bushes as the senior man holstered his weapon； reaching into a hip pocket to bring out a hard oblong box。
One of the newers helped