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he large； strong padlock into place。 A last look around and （hey turned back； through the second gate； which Bond locked； and went around the villa to the rear terrace。
'I'll make coffee。' Her tone had something about it ihat you did not argue with； so he unlocked the rear windows； and let her go in first。 When he turned the lights on she said something about the place looking as though gypsies had been camping there。 'You were being pretty thorough。 Anyone ing in here would have made quite я din。'
'That was the general idea；' Bond smiled。 '1 didn't know I had a bodyguard so close。 Why didn't you tell me？'
'Not in my brief；〃 she said； almost curtly and in perfect English。
'I owe you my life。'
〃Then you owe me mine。〃 She turned； smiling； putting the pistol down on one of the tables。 'How can you ever repay me？'
'We'll think of some way。' Bond's mouth was only inches from hers。 He hovered； then turned away。 'Coffee。〃 he said。 'We must stay alert； they could be back。'
'It'll be light soon；' Beatrice said； busying herself in the kitchen。 〃I doubt they'll return in the daytime。'
'How much do you know？'
'That you're here； and （hat there's a contract out on you。'
〃And how much do you know about contracts？'
Tni fully trained。'
'That's not the answer。 I asked how much do you know about contracts？'
'I know it's some crazy terrorist organisation called BAST。 And I've been told that they know where to find you； that they'll go to great lengths 。 。 。'
'Suicidal lengths； Beatrice。 That's why we shouldn't restrict ourselves。 They can try to get me on the street； or here； by day or night。 I'm the magnet； they are the iron filings。 We want one of them。 Alive if possible。 So。 we have to keep our guards up twenty…four hours a day；'
She remained silent for the few minutes it took her to pour boiling water over the freshly ground coffee in the tall cafeiiere。 adjust the lid and push down on the plunger。 〃Are you irttimidated； James？〃 Her eyes did not move from the coffee…pot。 'How intimidated？' 'Because you were given a woman bodyguard。'
Bond laughed； 'Far from it。 Why do some women automatically think that people in our trade are anti…feminist？ Welt…trained women are sometimes better than men in situations like this。 You nearly took one of （hem out tonight。 1 didn't get near。 You were also quicker than I。 No。 Nol guilty to being intimidated。'
'Good。' She raised her head； the dark eyes flashing with something which could have been either pride or power。 'Good。 Because you're in my charge。 I'm the boss； and you do as 。〃 say。 Understand？'
The smile disappeared from Bond's face。 '1 have no orders。 Just act naturally； they said。 We'll have someone watching out for you。 they said。〃
'And that someone is me。' Beatrice was pouring the coffee。 'Black？ Good。 Sugar？'
？No。'
〃Wise choice。 If you're worried about taking orders from a woman； why don't you telephone London。 Give them the day's code for me and they'll tell you。〃 Her eyes met his again and this time they locked。 For half a dozen heartbeats it seemed to be a battle of wills。 Then Bond nodded curtly and crossed the room to the telephone。 He could not speak in clear language； but there were enough double…talk phrases for him to get at the truth。
They picked up on the third ring。 〃Predator for Sunray。〃 His anger betrayed itself in his clipped tone。 He took field orders from M； or。 when necessary。 Bill Tanner。 For Beatrice to reveal that she； as his bodyguard； was in charge scraped at the nerve…ends of his considerable pride。
A second later a voice … that of the Duly Officer … said； 'Sunray。 Yes'。*'
'Contact with Boxcar。' This last was an agreed running cipher for BAST。
'Serious？' the DO asked。
'Serious enough。 Also contact with Hellkin。'
'Good。'
'Request order of battle。 Sunray。'
'Hellkin leads。 You follow。 Predator。〃
Thank you； Sunray。' Bond's face was stiff with anger； but turned away from Bealrice as he recradled ihe telephone。 He shrugged； 'It appears you're right；' He rearranged his face； 'So； Beatrice Hellkin。 what're your orders？'
She nodded toward the large mug placed on the table in front of him。 'First； drink your coffee。' She was sitting on one of the big chairs； her body stretched back and a pleasant； friendly smile playing around her lips。 She was dressed in black jeans and roll…neck； an ensemble that was practical and accentuated her figure。 The jeans were tight； clinging to her long legs； while the roll…neck showed off her breasts； small and firm against the cotton。
'So。 you don't think they'll have another go today？'
She shook her head。 'Not here。 We should watch it when we go out。'
'Co out？1
'Weren't you going to get food as a nice surprise for Christmas？'
'Oh； yes。 Naiate； yes。 What happened to the Italian accent。 Beatrice？' Almost sarcastically he pronounced it Beh…ah…Tree…che。
'Is gone。'
'I noticed。 So what're your orders？'
'I think we should rest。 Then go and do the shopping … behave normally。 They might well try while we're out and about； but I must make a telephone call to get those damned gates fixed。 I also think we should bring in the dogs。'
'Dogs？'
〃We've got two pairs of Rottweilers at our disposal。 They're as vicious as they e； and we can let them loose at night。'
'You're we 11…organised as a bodyguard。 How long have you worked for La SignoraT
She gave an amused little sniff。 'Forty…eight hours。 The Chief has some big pull with her。 She's a pretty well…connected lady； but she moved out for Christmas as a favour to M。 She also moved her staff out。 The couple of guys I mentioned … Franco and Umberto … are extra heavy help。 They were around when we had （hat little brush with the BAST team； bul they're only for support if things get really tricky。 〃Franco and Umberto were at the main villa； she said。 'That's why you can rest easy。 I'll alcrl them now。 They can watch until we're ready to go shopping。'
She rose； in a series of very attractive moves； and walked slowly to the telephone。 Her conversation was short； to the point and in Italian。 The two men should lake over the watch and the dogs should only be fed the minimum this morning。 They would be let out tonight。 In the meantime； would Franco go down and secure the main gates。 New lock and； yes； 'put a screamer on it。'
She left the telephone and paused behind Bond's chair。 'See； I am efficient。'
'Didn't doubt it for a minute。'
She slid forward and sat on the arm of the chair。 Once again Bond smelled that mixture of dry summer and the scent he could not identify。 'I still think you don't like having a woman in charge。'
'What's your real name？' He disregarded her observation。
'Like I told you。 Beatrice。' she pronounced it the Italian way。
'I believe you； but what else？ I mean you're not Dante's angel； Beatrice。 You have other names？'
She giggled。 'They told me you were just a blunt； well…trained instrument。 A hunk。 Now you're talking literature and poetry。 Full name； Beatrice Maria da Ricci。 Italian father。 English mother。 Educated Benenden and Lady Margaret Hall； Oxford。 Father in Italian Foreign Service。 When their marriage broke up； I was handed over to Mama； who was a lush。'
'You're preiiy luscious yourself。'
'Thai