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〃Is good。〃
She was standing close to him。 and even in the chill of this winter day he could smell the sunshine on her。 A sweetness that seemed to have been trapped in the strong hot weeks of summer； mingled with a scent he could not identify。
He turned and walked back； pausing by the steps to look at this incredible wonder which lay behind the villa。
At one time； the local people had thought the Signora … who； as Beatrice had said； was now in Milan … was mad。 Widow of a great artist she had bought this land： barren rock。 She had arranged for some of it to be blasted away； shaping it into a kind of amphitheatre。 Hard against the side of the rock she had then built a large villa which looked like a grey buttressed fortress。 The four small villas which she rented out in the summer were converted from old structures； once shepherds' huts and barns。 But her greatest achievement had been the garden which was reflected in some of （he pictures back in the Villa Capricci…
an。
She had gathered together men who loved growing things； as she did。 and； with immense toil and frustralion had built this incredible； beautiful place full of cyprus； palm； mountain flowers； （lowering shrubs and bushes； shaded walks； ponds and fountains； water tricks which would hurl liquid into great archways over paths； or imitate a mountain stream pouring endlessly from bare rock into a blue pool from whence it was recycled to create the illusion of constant moving water。 The ponds were peopled by small turtles and goldfish； and even in winter there was colour from hardy plants。 All year round there was some form of natural colour； and the beauly of ihis place stayed in Bond's memory。 Once seen； the garden lived with you； as though it had been implanted in your mind through some magic of its own creation；
He looked up along the stone …encrusted ridge at the far end of the great scooped rock； and allowed his eyes to trace their way along the zig…zag of paths and walks； the trees and bushes bent； growing at angles determined by the harsh winds of winter。 Indeed； this was a work of great love and dedication。 The local people had long since e to understand that the Signora should be treated with awe and reverence。
'Is a great genius； the Signora；' Beatrice said； as though speaking of a saint。
'An amazing lady。' Bond smiled at her。 standing to one side to allow the girl to descend first； as he looked down at the rear terrace。 Since the moment they had met by the pool he had been careful to keep Beatrice in view。 Even when she had e close to him on the open； covered roof…lop； he had made sure his body had always been turned towards her with one hand braced； stiff and tense； to be used as a cutting edge should she make a wrong move。 For alt he knew； the effervescent Beatrice could well be the Cat； Saphii Boudai； or at least one of her messengers。
Once back in the house； she said she would light the stove。 ？It will bee cold tonight； and I do not wish an invalid on my hands。' She gave him a sideways glance as though to imply that she would not mind him on her hands it〃 he were fit and willing。
Bond merely smiled and said he would go down to the car and get his luggage。 'Have you （he keys？' he asked。 'I should lock the gates。'
'Of course。 They are in the kitchen。 In their usual place。' A pause of four or five heartbeats； then； 'Everything is in the kitchen as you expect。' Another pause； slightly shorter。 'Everything； Signor Bond；〃
'Call me James；' he Ihrew back over his shoulder。 If she was on （he side of the devils and not the angels； it would be best to meet her on Christian name terms。 They said that knowing the name of devil or angel always put you at the advantage。
The bunch of seven or eight keys lay on the free…standing kitchen unit。 They were attached to a penlight key…ring and looked as though （hey had just been tossed onto the work…top； even though the smallest key stuck out separately and was aligned with the edge of the unit。 He picked the whole lot up by the small key。 inserting it into the lock on the drawer just below the point where the bunch had been lying。 It turned easily。
Inside the drawer lay one 9mm Browning automatic and three spare ammunition clips。 The action moved slickly； well oiled； and showed there was a round in the chamber。 Later he would strip the weapon down and go through it piece by piece。 'There'll be a pistol in the locked kitchen drawer；' M had said。 Had Beatrice put it there？ Or had she merely been inquisitive and found the secrel？
Bond hefted the pistol in his hand。 The weight seemed right for a fully loaded weapon。 The spare magazines also appeared to be correct； but he knew weapons and ammunition could easily be doctored to feel right。 If that happened； then the last thing you ever knew was that someone had been clever； spiked the firing…pin； mechanism； or even the rounds。
For the time being he simply had to trust； slipping the spare magazines into the pockets of his windcheater； pulling the Browning's safety to 'on'； ami pushing it into his waistband； far to the left so that it was hidden； then pulling the butt down so that the muzzle was screwed lo the left。 This was always advisable。 Movie cops and agents so often jammed a pistol straight into the waistband； risking a shot foot； or worse … 'testicide' as one leathery weapons instructor had called it。
He locked the drawer again and went out of the kitchen door； which contained a glass panel。 On his way down； he went through the whole catastrophe of the Villa Capricciani's security。 The main gates； and the gate at the foot of the steps； could be taken out quickly enough； either by sealing； or the use of a lock…gun。 The pair of sliding doors which led from the villa to the front terrace would be a noisy job； but could be acplished quickly。 The kitchen door was simplicity； particularly with the one pane of glass； while the rear french windows offered easy access using a jemmy。 Ninety seconds at the most for any of them； he reckoned as he secured the bolts on the main gate； and look his heavy case from the car。
He locked the second gate behind him and went up the stairs and in through the main sliding doors。 Beatrice was standing by the telephone； checking the meter which would monitor all outgoing calls。 She looked up and gave him her cheeky smile； reading off the numbers and asking him to agree them。
'Now； I show you what food is here。' Another smile as she led him towards the kitchen。 'You found all you needed？' Over her shoulder with eye…contact and the same smile。
Bond nodded。 She loves me？ She loves me not？
She opened the refrigerator with a flourish； and began to reel off all the provisions she had bought。 Chicken； veal； eggs； butter； cheese； milk； three bottles of wine； bacon； sausage； pate； pasta。 In the other small fridge set into the opposite units of cupboards and drawers there were vegetables。
'Is enough until tomorrow？'
'Only if I've got an army staying overnight。'
'Tomorrow is last proper shopping before Nutate。' Tomorrow was Saturday and Christmas Eve。
'Yes。' Bond mused。 〃Christmas is a'ing and the goose is getting fat 。 。 。'
'You wish for goose？'
He shook his head。 'Old English children's rhyme。 No； Beatri