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uction？〃 〃The Officer manding Erewhon wishes to talk to you；' Simon said with a winning smile； as if that explained everything。
Bond appeared to think for a moment； then he nodded。 〃I'll see your O。C。 then。〃
〃Good。〃 Simon rapped on the door and one of the men outside opened up。 As they stepped out； the two guards took station either side of Bond。 He sniffed the air。 It was warm； but clear。
Rare。 They must be fairly high above sea level。 They were also in a small depression； the flat bed of a hollow； surrounded by hills。
On one side the hills were low； a curving double mound； like a woman S breasts； but pitted with rock among the dry； sandy earth。
The rest of the circle was more rugged； crests and peaks； running up several hundred feet； with outcrops of forbidding rock。 The sun was high； almost directly above them。
Along the flat sand bottom of the hollow was a series of low white buildings … one long rank with divisions； and another terrace with three shorter ranks at right angles； like a large letter E。 Hard under the high ground there were other； similar buildings； though not so regimented。
Simon led them across the five or six hundred yards towards one of these latter blocks。
Smoke drifted up from some of the smaller buildings。
To Bond's left there was a firing range； with a group in uniform preparing to use it。 Towards the round…topped hills； the sound of heavy explosions and small arms fire suddenly erupted from a clutter of gutted brick houses； which looked almost European。 Figures dashed between these houses as though fighting a street battle。
As he turned at the noise； Bond also caught sight of some kind of bunker dug into the rock towards the top of one of the hills。 A defensive position； he thought； almost impossible to attack from the air； though helicopter borne landings presumably would be feasible。
〃You like our Erewhon？〃 Simon asked cheerfully。
〃Depends what you do here。 You run package tours？〃
〃Almost。〃 Simon sounded quite amused。
They reached a building about the size of a modest bungalow。
There was a notice； neatly executed； to the right of the entrance。
OFFICER MANDING it said in several languages； including Hebrew and Arabic。 The front door opened into a small； empty ante…room。
Simon crossed to the one door at the far end； and knocked。 A voice called out 〃e'； and Simon gestured； smartly barking out； 〃mander James Bond； sir。〃 With everything that had been going on； and with a myriad of questions unanswered； Bond would not have been shaken to find General Zwingli on the other side of the door； but the identity of the man seated behind the folding table which dominated the large office made him catch his breath with surprise。 There was certainly some connection between this man and Zwingli； for the last time Bond had seen him was in the Salles Prive'es at Monte Carlo。
〃e in； mander Bond。 e in。 Wele to Erewbon；' said Tamil Rahani。 〃Do sit down。 Get the mander a chair； Simon。
TERROR FOR HIRE
THE ROOM was functionally furnished： the folding table； four chairs and filing cabinet could have been found in the quartermaster's stores of any army in the world。
The furnishings also appeared to reflect the character of Tamil Rahani。 From a distance； when Bond had seen him briefly in Monte Carlo； Rahani had looked like any other successful businessman … sleek； well…dressed； needle…sharp and confident。 At close quarters； the confidence was certainly there； but that sleekness was clearly superficial。 What stood out was a kind of dynamism harnessed； and controlled。 It was the air of self…discipline found in most good military leaders； a kind of quiet calm； and behind it an immense； unflinching resolve。 Rahani certainly exhibited authority and a firm belief in his own ability。
As Simon brought the chair； and took one for himself； Bond quickly glanced around the office。 The walls were lined with maps； charts； large posters displaying the silhouettes of aircraft； ships； tanks and other armoured vehicles。 There were also year… and month…planners； their red； green and blue markers the only splashes of colour in the austere room。
〃Don't I know you； sir？〃 Bond was careful to observe military courtesy。 An aura of power and danger enveloped Rahani。
Rahani laughed； throwing his head back a little。 〃You may have seen photographs of me in the newspapers；' mander；' he said with a smile。 〃We may speak about that later。 At the moment I'd rather talk about you。 You have been highly remended to us。〃
〃Really？〃 Rahani tapped his teeth with a pencil。 The teeth were perfect … white and regular； the mustache above them neatly trimmed。
〃Let me be pletely frank with you； mander。
Nobody knows whether you can be trusted or not。
Everyone … and by that I mean most of the major intelligence munities of the world … knows that you have been an active officer of the British Secret Intelligence Service for a long time。 You ceased to be either a member or active a short time ago。 It is said that you resigned in a fit of bitterness。 He made a small questioning noise； like a hum； in the back of his throat。 〃It is also said that nobody ever goes private from the S。I。S the C。I。A Mossad or the K。G。B。 Is that the correct term？
Going private？〃
〃So the spy writers tell us。 Bond maintained his attitude of indifference。
〃Well；' Rahani continued； 〃quite a few people wanted to find out the truth。 A number of agencies would have liked to approach you。 One very nearly did。 But they got cold feet。 They decided that you would probably rediscover your loyalty once put to the test； no matter how disaffected you felt。〃 There was a pause； during which Bond remained poker…faced； until the Officer manding spoke again。
〃You're either an exceptional actor； mander； working under professional instructions； or you are genuine。 What is undisputed is that you're a man of unmon ability in your field。 And you're out of work。
If there is truth in the rumours surrounding your resignation； then it seems a pity to allow you to remain unemployed。 The purpose of bringing you here is to test the story； and possibly to offer you a job。
You would like to work？ In intelligence； of course？〃
〃Depends。〃 Bond's voice was flat。
〃On what？〃 Rahani said sharply； the man of authority showing through。
〃On the job。〃 Bond's face relaxed a fraction。 〃Look； sir。
I don't wish to appear rude； but I was brought here against my will。 Also； my previous career is nobody else's business but mine and； I suppose； the people's I used to work for。 To be honest； I'm so fed up with the trade that I'm not at all sure I want to get mixed up in it again。〃
〃Not even as an adviser？ Not even with a very high salary？
With little to do； and less danger in doing it？〃
〃I just don't know。〃
〃Then would you consider a proposition？〃
〃I'm always open to propositions。〃 Rahani took a long breath through his nose。
〃An ine in excess of a quarter of a million pounds sterling a year。 The occasional trip at short notice to advise in another country。 One week in every two months giving a series of lectures here。〃
〃Where's here？〃 For the first time； Rahani's b