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ut； in your former job； this must have been a constant problem。〃 Bond secretly took three more cannon towards Breed's Hill； and a section of thirty men in a final move to the top of Dorchester Heights； while showing more patrols on the ground along the Boston Concord line。 〃Yes。〃 Be truthful； he thought； 〃Yes； I have lived a fictitious life within a reality。 It is the daily bread of field agents。〃
〃I trust you are living in reality now； friend Bond。 I say that because what is being planned in this house can also change the course of history。〃 Holy revealed two strong bodies of the Colonial Militia along the road； attacking the British patrols so fiercely that Bond lost almost twenty men and was forced to withdraw and regroup。 Secretly； though； he still poured men； and weapons on to the dominating ground。
The Battle of Bunker's Hill … if it ever came … would be pletely reversed； with the British forces in a strong and dominant position； defending instead of attacking under the withering fire of the entrenched Militia。
〃One hopes that any change can only be for the good； and that lives are not put at risk；' Bond said after a pause。
〃Lives are always at risk。〃 The Master of Endor found himself losing four caches of weapons and ammunition in a farmhouse on the far side of Lexington。 He realised that Bond had also begun to move his forces on Concord。 He shrugged。 〃But； as for your own life； I know there is no point in threatening you with sudden death。 Any threat to your person is of little importance。
〃I wouldn't say that。〃 Bond found himself smiling。 〃We all like life。 The thought of being separated from it is as good a lever as any。
The date on the calendar easel showed them almost at the end of December； and the weather was against both sides。 All either of them could do now was consolidate openly； or by using the clandestine option。 Bond decided to divide his forces； encircling the road between Lexington and Concord； while his remaining troops continued to fortify the hills and heights。 Jay Autem Holy appeared to be playing a more devious game； sniping at British patrols and； Bond suspected； moving forces on to the high ground already occupied by the British。 They played； turn after turn as the weather grew worse and movement was constantly restricted。 Throughout this phase； the Master of Endor carried on a conversation that appeared to have little to do with the simulated battle。
〃Your part in our mission。 。 。 he took out five of Bond's men 〃 。
is of exceptional importance； and you will undoubtedly have to use much fiction and illusion to acplish it。〃
〃Yes。 I've been giving it a lot of thought。〃
〃Have you given thought to the way governments mislead their gullible peoples？〃
〃How do you mean？〃 Bond now had sizeable forces on all three sections of ground overlooking Boston。
〃The obvious； of course； is the so…called balance of power。 The United States does not draw attention to the fact that it is outnumbered in space by Russian satellites … not to mention things like the fractional orbital bombing system； in which the Soviets hold a monopoly of seventeen to zero。
〃The figures are there for anybody to see。〃 Bond would soon have to make a serious challenge from the high ground； as Colonial forces struggled upwards in increasing numbers； restricted by both the climb and the weather。
〃Oh yes； but neither side makes a big thing about figures。〃 Holy scanned the board； brow creased。 〃Except when Russia takes umbrage at the deployment of Cruise and Pershings in Europe。 Even when she can more than adequately match them。 But James； what is the real conspiracy here？ The British government ties up many policemen controlling anti…nuclear protesters。 Yet nobody says to these well…meaning people； 〃If it happens； brothers and sisters； it's not going to happen with the big nuclear bang。 Cruise and Pershing are only for rattling。
What could occur would be ten thousand times worse。
They do not stop to tell the worthy ladies at Greenham mon or the marchers in London。〃
〃Nobody tells the protesters in the United States either。〃 Bond watched as his opponent edged even larger numbers of men towards the waiting British guns； and fought a small skirmish along the constant battlefront of the country between Boston and Concord。
〃And yet； if it came； James； what would happen？〃
〃Your guess is as good as mine。 Certainly not the big bang and the mushroom cloud。 More like the bright lights and a very nasty chemical cloud。〃
〃Quite 。 。 。
I challenge from this hex。〃 Holy's arm moved out； to an area between Concord and Lexington； where British troops were now much thinner on the ground。 〃No； it will be neutrons and chemicals。 A lot of death； but little destruction。 Then a confrontation in space； with the Soviets holding the big stick up there。〃
〃Unless the United States and NATO have done something to equalise things。 That's what is going on； isn't it？〃 Why this？ Bond asked himself。 Why talk to me about the balance of power； and the place nuclear weapons play in that balance？
Then he recalled the sound advice always given in classes on interrogation … listen to the words； ignore the orchestration that makes the banal words seem more intelligent； the clever； soaring strings that take your mind from the cheap potency of simple； emotional ideas。
By now it was late January in the game and； at a Challenge； Bond had to reveal there were British forces ringing the far side of Concord。 Jay Autem Holy started to cut them apart with his Colonial Militia； sniping across the winter landscape。 Bond saw how addictive this kind of exercise could bee。 You could almost feel the cold and fatigue which played havoc with men's strength and fighting ability。
You even heard the crack of musket fire； and saw the blood staining the dirty snow in some farmer's field。
Dr Jay Autem Holy was not really talking about the lopsided balance of power。 He was talking about the need to end the whole system which controlled that balance。
〃Would the world not be a better and safer place if the real strength were removed？〃 he asked； making another foray into the bleak Massachusetts winter scene。 〃If the stings were drawn from the superpowers' tails？〃
〃If it were possible； yes；' Bond agreed。 〃It would be better； but I doubt safer。 The world's always been a dangerous place。〃 One more turn and he would have to declare his presence in the hills。
Holy leaned back； temporarily stopping play。 〃We're involved in halting the race to the holocaust … nuclear； neutron or chemical。 To you is entrusted the task of getting that EPOC frequency。 Now； do you yet have a way？〃 As though he did not expect an answer； he played through his turn； concentrating on bringing men well into the British firing zone。
〃I have the makings of a plan。 It will require certain information in advance 〃What kind of information？〃
〃When you need the frequency； I shall have to know； a little ahead of time； exactly who is the Duty Security Officer； for the night in question； at the Foreign Office。
〃That presents no problem。 One man does the job for a whole week； yes？〃
〃As a rule。〃
〃And he is a senior of