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thighs and the enormous hands at his victim's throat. Bond tried to cry out
for Lavender's help as the red mist clouded his brain, but Caber's pressing
fingers prevented him. Only a croak emerged. Then, with the same swiftness of
Caber's attack, the whole situation changed.
The Starlifter's engines, which until now had been only a steady hum in the
background, changed their note, rising and straining in a roar, while the deck
under the struggling men lurched to one side. Bond was conscious of the
aircraft's attitude altering dramatically as he rolled, still locked with
Caber, across the cabin floor. He caught a glimpse of Lavender, all arms and
legs, being flung forward, as a great buffeting of the airframe ensued. Then
the Star-lifter lurched again, wallowing like a great liner plunging in a
heavy sea. This action, followed by yet another sudden and violent change of
attitude, as though they were making a steep downward turn, threw Caber free.
Bond swallowed, his throat almost closed by the pressure of Caber's hands,
then heard Lavender calling that there were aircraft attacking. 'Fighters,'
she yelled. 'They're coming in very close.'
Bond's ears started to pop, and he swallowed painfully again, trying to get to
his feet and stay upright on the unstable deck, which was now angled
downwards, juddering and bucking as though on a rollercoaster ride. He finally
managed to prop himself against the forward door and began to make for the
revolver. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Lavender appeared to have
been thrown some distance, and was lying huddled near her console. There was
no time to do anything for her now. Caber, on his hands and knees near Murik's
console was bracing himself for another attack, an arm stretched out towards
the revolver.
The giant leaped forward, landing unsteadily on the rolling floor, his mask of
fury giving way to a smile of triumph. 'I'd rather do it another way,' he
shouted. 'Not by the bullet. I ken a bullet's too guid for ye.' His hand
almost hid the Python revolver, which pointed directly at Bond's chest,
motioning his victim to the other side of the cabin, towards the large
hatchway marked out in red, and bearing the legend DO NOT ENTER IF RED LIGHT
IS ON.
'Ye'll get over there,' Caber growled, keeping his balance, even though the
aircraft was undoubtedly in a nose-down attitude, descending rapidly.
There was no way to avoid the order without ending up with his chest torn away
by the Python's bullets. Bond crabbed across the cabin towards the hatchway.
'Now' Caber had managed to get close behind him, but not near enough for
Bond to try a tackle 'now ye'll slide that thing open, and hold it until ma
own hand's on it.'
Bond did as he was bidden; felt the revolver barrel jab at his back and saw
Caber's hand take over the weight of the sliding hatchway as, together, they
stepped through into the high sparred and girdered rear of the Starlifter. The
aircraft made another fast and unexpected turn, throwing them apart, so that
Bond banged his right arm against a rising, curved spar.
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'I'm still behind ye, Bond, with the wee shooter, so dinna do anything daft.
There's a wee bit of a lever I have to pull over here.'
The rear loading bay was cold: a bleak airborne hangar of metal, smelling of
oil and that odd plastic scent of air that you get inside aircraft. The
buffeting was worse here, almost below the high tail of the Starlifter. Bond
had to grip hard on the spar to keep his balance, for the big aeroplane seemed
to be turning alternately left and right, still going down, with occasional
terrifying bucketing and noise which Bond now clearly recognised as other
aircraft passing close and buzzing them.
'There we go,' Caber called, and Bond heard the solid sound of a large switch
going down. It was followed by the whine of hydraulics and an increased
reverberation. Bond twisted around, to see Caber leaning against a bulkhead
just inside the hatchway, the revolver still accurately aimed, while his left
hand was raised to an open metal box inside which a two-foot double
knife-switch had just been pulled down and was locked into the 'on' position.
There was another great wallowing as the huge plane dropped a couple of
hundred feet, and both men clung hard to their precious holds. Caber laughed.
'The Laird had some daft idea of pushing ye out an' trailing ye along with the
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