فصل 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Vesper visited Bond each day. Soon he was well enough to leave the hospital. But he did not want to go to one of the big hotels in Royale.

‘I’ll find you somewhere outside of the town,’ said Vesper.

The next day, she came with his clothes, a hired car and a driver.

‘Where are we going,’ asked Bond.

‘Wait and see,’ she said.

Vesper was quiet as they drove along the coast road. Once or twice Bond saw her look into the driver’s mirror.

‘Is something wrong,’ he asked.

‘It’s nothing,’ she said quickly, it’s silly. I thought that we were being followed.’ She looked behind them. ‘Oh, look!’

Bond turned and looked through the back window. About half a kilometre away, he saw a black car. It was moving fast.

Bond laughed. ‘We can’t be the only people using this road,’ he said. ‘Nobody is following us. We’re not doing anything wrong. Stop worrying, Vesper.’

‘I expect you’re right,’ she said. ‘And we’re nearly there.’

She sat quietly and looked out of the window. But Bond knew that she was nervous. After a few minutes, they came to a small road that went down to the sea.

‘Drive down there and stop,’ Bond told the driver.

The driver slowed the car and turned off the coast road. He stopped the car behind some trees. Bond and Vesper watched through the back window.

Vesper held Bond’s arm tightly. They saw the other car getting closer. It went past and a man’s face looked quickly towards them.

Vesper’s face was white with fear.

‘He looked at us,’ she said, I knew that he was following us.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ said Bond. ‘He was looking at that sign.’

Bond pointed to a sign on the corner of the road. The sign read, Fresh Fruit for Sale.

There’s probably a fruit farm further down this road,’ he said.

‘Oh, yes,’ said Vesper. ‘Of course, you must be right. I’m sorry.’

‘Forget it,’ said Bond. ‘The sun’s shining and this is our holiday. The job is finished and there’s nothing to worry about. Is there?’

‘No, of course there isn’t,’ said Vesper. She smiled again. ‘We’re almost there. I hope that you like it.’

After a few minutes they saw the sea. Then a small, brightly-painted hotel appeared between the trees.

‘It’s not very big,’ said Vesper. ‘But it’s very clean and the food is wonderful.’ She looked at Bond. ‘Will it be all right?’

‘I love it,’ he told her.

The car stopped behind the hotel. After a moment, the owner came out to meet them. Monsieur Versoix was about fifty years old.

Versoix took Bond and Vesper to their rooms. Bond’s room was on the corner of the building. The window looked out onto the sea. Vesper’s room was next door. There was a bathroom between the two rooms.

Everything was clean and comfortable.

‘Dinner will be at seven-thirty,’ Versoix told them. ‘I’m sorry we’re so quiet. More people will come at the weekend.’

They were speaking outside of Vesper’s room. After Versoix left them, Bond pushed Vesper into her room and closed the door. He kissed her gently.

‘This is wonderful,’ Bond said.

Vesper’s eyes were shining and she put her hand on his arm. They held each other close for a moment. Then Bond kissed her again. He kissed her harder this time, and she fell back on to the bed.

He sat beside her and they looked at each other. Bond put his arm round her. Then she got up and walked over to the window.

‘It’s going to take some time to get ready for dinner,’ Vesper said. ‘Go for a swim. I’ll unpack your clothes for you.’

Bond came and stood close against her. He put his arms round her.

‘Not now,’ she said quietly.

Bond kissed her neck.

‘All right, Vesper,’ he said. He walked over to the door and looked back at her. She had not moved. Then he went out and shut the door.

Bond walked along to his room and sat down on the bed. He could not decide what to do. Have a sleep? Go for a swim? Alter a moment, he put on his swimming shorts and went downstairs. He went out on to the terrace and down to the beach.

He walked along the edge of the water until he could not see the hotel. Then he went into the sea. It was nearly seven o’clock and the sun was setting. Soon it would disappear.

Bond thought about Vesper as he swam. He knew that he wanted to sleep with her. She was a very secretive person, and there were things that she would never tell him. Bond found this secrecy very exciting.

After some time, Bond came out of the water. He lay on the beach until his body was dry. Then he walked back to the hotel.