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ou？〃 Well； everyone said that Holy would not even recognise his own wife。
He opened the door； and there； for the second time since the whole intrigue had started； was Cindy Chalmer； a hard puter disk clutched in one hand； a finger to her lips。 Bond closed the door。 〃More greetings from Percy？〃 he asked softly。
THE BALLOON GAME
〃No； THIS ONE S on me。 She saw the look in Bond's eye； and followed his gaze； for he had suddenly fallen silent； moving quietly around the room； examining every inch。
Softly she spoke again。 〃It's okay； James。 They have visual surveillance and all the military detection gear； but this lot don't seem to have caught up with the deadly little bug。〃
〃You certain？〃 he mouthed。
〃Swept the place myself。 In my first week。 And I've kept abreast of all the security developments since。 If they've put any sound in； I'll turn back into a virgin。〃 The cruel lips didn't tilt into amusement。 There was nothing to be amused about now。 Even though he appeared satisfied； throughout the time they were together in the room all conversation was conducted in a low murmur。 Foolish； he thought； for that would be as audible as yelling should Cindy be proved wrong。
〃The Balloon Game。〃 She held out the hard disk to him； a small flat square； encased in plastic。
So she had got it； the program which would provide a clue … no； more than a clue … to what SPECTRE had proposed to Rahani and Holy。
Stored away on the waler…thin magnetic disk was the answer to all Bond's questions。 Yet he did not move to take it from her。
〃Well； don't just stand there。 At least say thank you。
He remained silent； wishing to draw her out。 The trick was as old as the trade itself practised constantly by case The Balloon Game officers and agent handlers the world over。 Remain silent and let them e to you； tell you all there is to tell。 Only then should you try to fill in the gaps。
〃They've got four back…up copies；' she said at last； 〃and I just hope to heaven the Old Bald Eagle doesn't need to run the fourth； because this is it。〃 Bond remained silent。 He did not smile。
〃I thought they'd buried it； locked it behind steel and sprinkled man…eating spiders in the vault。〃 She stared back at Bond； who did not move。
〃All five disks have been kept in the chief's safe … the one in his office that does have everything except the man…eating spiders。〃 Once more she held it out。 〃But today it's all systems go； and they're using it all the time。
As often happens Peter and I have been banished from the lab。 But the guards have got used to us going up and down。 I guess you beat him at his own game？〃
〃Yes；' Bond said flatly； as though there had been no pleasure in it。
〃Heard some of it。 Now perhaps you'll believe he's insane。 Had one of his tantrums。 I heard that as well。〃
〃How did you get down？〃
〃Looked as though I belonged。 Clip…board under one arm。 I just walked past the young thugs on the door。
They've seen me before。 You were with Bald Eagle。 Like a lot of people who bee paranoid about security； he has a blind spot。 The safe was left open。 I did a swift switch and tucked this up my shirt。〃 It was all he was going to get。 〃You haven't seen it run； then？〃 She shook her head。 Her negative gestures； he noticed； were always performed with the head tilted slightly to the right … a distinctive mannerism； a flourish； like the way some people curl the last letter of their signature； underlining the name to give it more importance。 It was a habit they should have caught during training； where the mohair…suited psychiatrists note and eradicate idiosyncracies。 He waited again。
〃There's been no way； James。 Only' the inner circle have seen it； played with it … if that's the right word。〃 At last Bond took the disk。
〃Trained on it；' he corrected her。 〃And there's little chance of us having a look…see。 Where's my gear？〃
〃In the garage； under a pile of rubbish … tyres； old tins； tools： odds and ends。 In one corner。 I had to improvise； and it was better to hide it there than let them find it in the car。 It's not safe by any means； so we just have to hope nobody goes rooting around。〃 He seemed to give the situation a lot of thought。
〃Well； I don't fancy trying to unlock this；' he touched the disk。
〃What's on it is big； and I suspect dangerous。 I just hope you're right … that the disk iSn't missed； and that nobody goes rooting through the garage and tumbles over my hoard of electronics。〃
〃So what good's it going to do？ You want me to try and get it out？〃 Bond went over to the window； where the chintz curtains had been drawn。 The promised supper tray was on a table near by； and he noticed it had been set for two … prawns in little glasses； cold chicken and tongue； salads； bread rolls； a bottle of wine。 Did anybody get hot food at Endor when the heat was on？ he wondered。 He still clutched the disk in his hand。 Better if he kept it close。 Yet there were so few hiding places。 In the end； he banked on there being no search； walked over to the wardrobe and pushed it among his clothes。 The whole process seemed to take several minutes of silence。
〃There are friends；' he confided at last。 〃Quite near。 I would have thought that by now No； you don't move from the house。 Nobody tries to get out except me。〃 Bond turned； and dropped quietly into a chair； signalling she should also sit。 He nodded towards the wardrobe。
not taking any risks； not with that。 It's like a time bomb。
〃We just sit； and wait until the cavalry arrive？〃 Cindy was perched on the end of the bed； her skirt riding up to show a slice of smooth； tantalising thigh。
〃Something like that。〃 Bond was trying to reckon how much time they might have； whether the team with their cameras； log books and directional microphones had advised M that something important was happening at Endor。 Would M let them sweat it out？ Possibly。 The cautious； diplomatic intriguer had waited before； almost until the last moment。
〃I want an educated guess from you； Cindy。 You've been here before … I mean when they've prepared for some caper。
She had been at Endor before； when the hard men had e and spent hours training down in the converted cellars。
〃This is the biggest gathering yet？〃 Since she had been here； it was。
〃In your estimation； Cindy； what's the timing？ How long have we got before things start to roll？〃 In his mind the question was really； how long have I got before they ask me to filch the EPOC frequency？
〃It can only be a guess； but I'd say forty…eight hours maximum。〃
〃And your little playmate； Peter？〃 She sprang to Peter's defence like a sister； often at loggerheads with her brother； but always ready to stand up for him。 〃Peter's okay。 He's a brilliant worker； dedicated 。
〃Would you trust him？ Really trust him； when the chips are down； as they say？〃 She gnawed her upper lip。 〃Only in a real emergency。
Nothing against him。 He can't stand St。 John…Finnes or Dazzle。
He's been looking for a different job。 Says this place is too claustrophobic for him。〃
〃I expect it'll be even more claustrophobic soon；' Bond said。 〃I'd say you； Peter and myself are destined for oblivion … particu