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be forced to accept a way of life which will drop him into a dark and bitter well of misery。 Freedom； even the promise freedom which exists now； will be erased from our existence；' M had declaimed in a rare burst of almost Churchillian oratory。
〃Seatbelt； James。〃 He opened his eyes。 Jay Autem Holy was shaking his shoulder。 〃We're ing in to land。〃 Bond smiled back； sheepishly； as though he had really been deeply asleep。
〃Landing？ Where？〃 Perhaps in Geneva； at the airport； he could get away； raise the alarm。
〃Berne； Switzerland。 You remember we're flying into Switzerland？〃 Of course。 They wouldn't do anything like trying to go into Geneva； which would be bristling with security。
Berne！ Bond smiled inwardly。 These people had the whole business tied up。 Berne； cars； a swift drive over to the Lake of Geneva and the Goodyear airstrip。 All formalities would be already dealt with under the auspices of the huge international pany they appeared to represent。
He glanced at his watch。 It was already four in the morning。 As the aircraft banked on its final approach he saw out of the cabin window that the sky was beginning to brighten； a dark grey colour wash streaked with light。
No； he had to go all the way。 Try to spike the plan from the inside as it got under way。
〃Nice place； Berne；' he observed casually； and Holy nodded。
〃We go on by car。 It'll take us an hour … an hour and a half。
There'll be plenty of time。 Our job does not start until eleven。〃 They came in with engines throttled back； then there was a final short burst of power to lift them over the threshold； and hardly a bump as the wheels touched down； before the final fiery roar of reverse thrust。
As he had suspected； the transfer was swift and acplished with the bined efficiency of Swiss bureaucracy and SPECTRE'S cunning。
The aircraft was parked well away from the main terminal。 Two Audi Quattros and a police car were drawn up alongside。
From the window； Bond saw the transaction take place … the small pile of passports handed over； inspected and returned； with a salute。
There would be no customs inspection； he thought。 The Goodyear jet must have been running in and out of Berne and Geneva for a month or so now。 They would have the formalities cut down to the fine art of mutual trust。
Then General Zwingli eased his bulk down the aisle first； giving Bond a friendly nod as he passed。 They left the aircraft in single file； with Bond hemmed in neatly by the Arab boy and Simon。 Nobody threatened him； but it was implicit in their looks that any false move would be countered。 The police car； with its immigration officers on board； was already slowly disappearing back towards the terminal。
The Audis had Goodyear V。I。P。 stickers on the windscreens and rear windows。 Bond recognised both drivers； in their grey uniforms； as men he had seen in Erewhon。
Within minutes； he was sitting next to Holy in the rear of the second car as they swept away from the airport in the half light of dawn。 The houses on Berne's outskirts still slept； while others appeared to be just waking lights ing on； green shutters open。
Always； in Switzerland； Bond thought； you knew you were in a small； rich country； for all the buildings looked as though they had been assembled in some sterile room from a plastic kit； plete with small details of greenery and flowers。
They took the most direct route … straight to Lausanne； then along the lake road； following the line of the toy…like railway。 Holy was quiet for most of the journey； but Simon； sitting in the front passenger seat； occasionally turned back to make small talk。
〃You know this part of the world； James？ Fairytale country； isn't it？〃 Bond remembered； for no apparent reason； that the first time he had visited the Lake of Geneva was when he was sixteen。 He had spent a week with friends in Montreux； had had a youthful holiday affair with a waitress from a lakeside cale； and had developed a taste for Campari…soda。
The Magic Carpet Between Lausanne and Morges the cars stopped at a lighted lakeside restaurant。 Simon and the Arab boy； in turns； brought out coffee and rolls to the cars。 The sheer normality of their actions grated on Bond's nerves； like a probe on a raw tooth。 Half of his mind and body urged him to take drastic action now： the other more professional half told him to wait； bide his time and use the moment when it came。
〃Where are we heading？〃 he asked Holy soon after the breakfast break。
〃A few kilometres this side of Geneva。〃 Holy remained relaxed and confident。 〃We turn off the lake road。
There's a small valley and an airstrip。 The team from Erewhon will be waiting for us。 Have you ever flown in an airship； James？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then it will be a new experience for us both。 I'm told it's rather fantastic。〃 He peered from the windows。 〃And it looks as though we'll have a clear day for it。 The view should be wonderful。〃 They went through Nyon； the houses clustered together on the lake as though clinging to each other to save themselves from falling in。 Soon afterwards； Geneva came into view at the western end of the lake； a misty blur of buildings with a toy steamer ploughing a lone furrow of spray； chugging across the water。 It all looked as peaceful as ever。
They also met the first police checkpoint； the cars slowing almost to a standstill before the sharp…eyed uniformed men waved them on。
There was a second road block just before they turned inland。 A car and two policemen on motorcycles started to flag them down； until they spotted the Goodyear stickers。 They were waved on with smiles。
As Bond looked back； he saw one of the men talking into a radio。
As he had imagined； the police were assisting innocently in the events planned to take place over the lake in a few hours' time。
The great cleft in the mountains seemed to widen as they climbed away。 The sun was up now； and you could clearly see tiny farmhouses on the slopes。 Then suddenly the valley floor and the tiny landing strip appeared just below them； the grass a painted green； the control tower； hangar and one other building as neat and unreal as a film set。 Out on the grass； two mountain rescue aircraft stood like stranded birds。 At the far end of the field the sausage shape of the Goodyear airship Europa swung lazily； tethered to her low portable masthead。
Then the road dipped； the airfield disappeared； and they were twisting through the S…bends which would carry them to the final destination。
Before the two cars reached the valley floor and the airstrip two more police checkpoints were negotiated。
The Swiss police had certainly snapped into action。
London； Bond decided； would feel very satisfied； content that nothing untoward could now happen by the peaceful lakeside。
There were no less than three police cars at the airstrip entrance； which was little more than a metal gateway set into an eight…foot chain…link fence； encircling the entire area。 In the distance； a police car patrolled the perimeter slowly and as thoroughly as only the Swiss perform their official duties。
As the Audis drew up； Bond saw two more faces which he recognised from Erewhon。 This time；