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〃If you had been exposed as a double； we had the facilities here for losing you。 Permanently。〃
〃So； what's this job you have for me？〃
〃It is a large and plex operation。 But one thing I can tell you。〃 Rahani looked up at Bond； his eyes blank as though made of glass。
〃What is being planned at the moment will be the terrorist coup of the decade； even the century。 If things proceed normally； it will spark off the ultimate revolution。 A unique and plete change in the course of world events。 The beginning of a new age。
And those of us taking part in it will have a privileged position in the society that will emerge。
〃I saw the film。〃 Simon rose and went over to the filing cabinet； where there were a few bottles。 He poured himself a generous glass of wine； then disappeared from view。
〃Scofi； mander Bond。 But I think even you will find this to be an operation without parallel in history。〃
〃And it won't work without me？〃 Bond raised an eyebrow sardonically。
〃I did not say that。 But it may not work without somebody like you。 〃Okay。〃 He leaned back in his chair。 〃So tell me all about it。〃
〃I'm afraid I can't do that。〃 Rahani's cold eyes bored into him； so that； for a second or two； Bond thought the man was trying out some elementary hypnosis。
〃So？〃
〃So； you have to be returned。 You have to go back。
〃Back？ Back to where？〃 Too late Bond felt Simon's presence behind him。
〃Back where you came from； James。〃 Bond was conscious of the small； sharp pinch through his shirt； on his arm just below the right shoulder。
Tamil Rahani continued to speak。
〃We're nOt talking about stories dreamed up by pulp novelists。 No blackmail through concealed nuclear devices hidden in the heart of great Western cities； no plots to kidnap the President； or hold the world to ransom by setting all the major currencies at naught。 We're not talking about extortion； neither 。 。 。 are we 〃 His voice slowly receded； blurred； and then stopped。
THE NUMBERS
RACKET THE SKY WAS grey； almost leaden。 He could see it through the window … the sky and part of an old apple tree。 That was all。
Bond had woken from what seemed to be natural sleep。 He was still fully dressed； and the ASP； plete with holster and one extra clip of ammunition； lay on the bedside table。 The room appeared to be a genuine English bedroom … white gloss paint on the woodwork and Laura Ashley wallpaper； with a contrasting fabric for curtains； only most of the window was bricked up； and the door would not budge when he tried to open it。
There was a depressing sense of deja vu。 He had been along this road before； only last time it was Erewhon。
Rahani had said they had accepted him； but he wondered how and why。 Certainly the long interrogation sessions had been searching … M had instructed him to give away anything they could check on； even if it was highly sensitive。 Fences； his Chief maintained； could be mended later。 But what would be the state of play by the time they came to mend fences？ At Erewhon preparations were going forward for something earth…shattering。
What was it that Rahani had said … 〃A unique and plete change in the course of world events'？ The dream of revolutionaries： to change history； to crush the status quo； to alter it in order to build a new society。
Well； Bond thought； it had been done before； but only within countries： Russia was the prime example； though Hitler's rise in Germany had been a revolution as well。
The problem with revolutions was that the ideal usually fell short because of human frailty。 M often expounded such theories。
Rahani had told him that he； Bond； or somebody like him； would be essential to whatever was about to take place。 They needed someone with the skills； the contacts and the knowledge of an experienced Secret Intelligence field officer。 What part of those skills； or what special knowledge was required？
He was still pondering on these things when somebody knocked at the door and a key turned in the lock。
Cindy Chalmer looked bright and crisp。 She wore a laboratory coat over jeans and shirt； and was carrying a large tray。
〃Breakfast； Mr。 Bond；' she said； beaming at him。
In the background； he could see a tall； muscular man。
Bond nodded towards him。 〃Someone to watch over me？〃
〃And me； I guess。 … She set the tray down on the end of the bed。 〃Can't be too careful with hot shots like you around。 Nobody knew what you'd like； so Dazzle did the full English breakfast … bacon； eggs； sausages； toast； coffee。〃 She lifted the silver cover from the steaming plate； holding the inside towards Bond。 There was a folded paper neatly taped to the inside。
〃That'll do fine。〃 He gave her a nod。 〃Do I call room service when I've finished？〃
〃Don't call us； we'll call you； she said brightly。
〃We shall； Mr。 Bond。 I gather the Professor wants to talk to you later。 Good to see you feeling better。 They said you had a nasty bump when you went off the road。 The Professor was genuinely worried； that's why he persuaded the hospital to let him bring you here。〃
〃Very good of him。〃 She lingered by the door。 〃Well； it's nice to know we'll all be working together。〃
〃Good to have a job in these difficult times；' Bond countered； not knowing how much Cindy knew or believed。
Had they told her he'd been in a motor accident？ That he was being given a job at Endor？ Well； presumably the latter was more or less true。
Bond waited until the key had been pushed home in the lock。 There was no other sound； no retreating footsteps； for the passage outside； like this room was overlaid with thick carpet。
The paper came away easily from the inside of the lid。
Cindy had filled it with small； neat writing and； in spite of the steam； the ink had not run。 The note started abruptly； without any salutation。
I don't know what's happened。 They say you've had a car smash； but I don't know whether to believe them。 They brought your Bentley back here； and there's been a lot of talk about you joining the team as a programmer。 I wondered if they knew you had puter equipment with you； and felt you would not want them to find it。 Very difficult； but 1 got hold of the Bentley's keys and cleaned out the boot。 All your private stuff is now hidden in the garage and not likely to be found； unless we're unlucky。 A good thing I did it straight away； because securitys been tightened for the weekend。 A lot of people are ing down； and from what I've heard； the game I told you about （remember the balloons？） is going to be in use。 It is possible that I may be able to get hold of it。 Do you wish to copy？ Or is that superfluous now that you are One of Us？
So； the place was going to be crowded； the Balloon Game to be used。 Bond was essential。 Therefore； if the Balloon Game was a training simulation for the operation； then Bond and the Game were closely connected。
He tore the message into tiny pieces； and ate them with the bacon and some toast。 He could not stomach the eggs or Sausage； but the coffee was good； and he drank four cupfuls； strong and black。
There was a small bathroom attached to his bedroom。
Set neatly on the glass shelf above the hand basin were h