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to allow the Soviet Union to suffer the indignity of being stripped of her assets as well？〃 Jay Autem Holy's mouth opened and closed； like a dying fish。 〃Wha。 。 。？ Wha 。 。 。？ What do you mean； Tamil？ What 。 。 ？〃
〃Watch them！〃 Rahani snapped； and both Simon and the Arab boy appeared to stiffen to his mand。 〃You can begin the return journey； Nick；' Rahani said； so quietly that Bond was amazed he could be heard above the steady motor buzz。
〃I mean； Jay； that long ago I took over as the Chief Executive of SPECTRE。 I mean that we have done what we set out to do。 I even gambled on the pawn； Bond； getting the EPOC frequency。 Down Escalator was always intended simply to deal with the imperialist power of the United States； which we shall now be able to hand on a plate to our friends in the Soviet Union。 You were brought in only to provide the training programs。 We have no use for emotionally motivated fools like Zwingli and yourself。 You understand me？〃 Jay Autem Holy let out a wail of despair echoed only by General Zwingli's roar of anger。
〃You bastard！〃 Zwingli started to move。 〃I wanted my country strong again； by putting Russia and the U。S。A。 on the same footing。 You've sold out … you。 。 。 He launched himself at Rahani。
The Arab boy shot him； once； fast and accurately。 He toppled over without a sound。 While the blast of the boy's weapon continued in a long bell…like boom； echoing in the confined space； Jay Autem Holy leaped towards Rahani； arms outstretched to claw at his throat； his scream turning to a banshee wail of hate。
Rahani； with no room to back off' shot him in mid…leap； firing two rounds from a small hand gun。 But Holy's powerful spring； strengthened by his fury； carried his body on so that he crashed lifeless on top of SPECTRE'S leader； the man who had inherited the throne of the Blofeld family。
〃Get us down；' Bond rapped at the pilot。 〃Just get us down！〃 In the confusion； he made for the nearest target； Simon； who； with his back to the flight deck； was moving towards the tangle of bodies piled across the seats。 Bond landed hard on Simon's back； one arm locking round his neck； the other delivering a mighty chopping blow which connected a fraction below the right ear。
Caught off balance； Simon fell to the left。 His hand； scrabbling for some kind of hold； hit the gondola door's locking device so that the door swung open； bringing in a sudden draught of air。 As Simon went limp； the Arab boy fired at Bond； a fraction of a second late； for the bullet hit Simon's chest。 At the moment of his death； a great power seemed to force itself through his muscles； so that he broke free from Bond's grasp； the body turning as it crumpled； the reflexes closing his hand around the grip and trigger of the Uzi machine pistol。
Half a burst of fire rapped out； cutting the Arab almost in two。
Simon did not let go of the gun； but merely fell backwards。 His hands did not claw air； no sound came from his throat。 He simply fell through the gondola door； through a thousand feet of clear air； his last long journey to hit the water below。
Bond made to grab at the Arab's Walther； now lying on the floor。
He felt the sting of a bullet cutting a shallow furrow along the flesh above his right hip and another sing past his ear。
He reached the Walther； but as he turned instinctively towards where Tamil Rahani should be； his finger on the trigger； he realised the instigator of this whole drama was not there。
〃Parachute；' Nick said calmly。 〃Little bastard had a parachute。
Took the dive。〃 Bond moved to the gondola door and； hanging on to the grab rail； leaned out。
Below； against the blue…grey water of the lake； was the white shape of Rahani's parachute； a light breeze carrying him away from Geneva； towards the French side of the lake。
〃They're bound to pick him up；' Bond said aloud。
〃Could you close the door； please。〃 Nick's voice was as calm as only an experienced pilot's can sound under stress。 〃I've got to find somewhere to drop this blimp。〃 He switched on the flight radio； flicking the dial with finger and thumb； adjusting the headset he had not been allowed to wear throughout the flight。 A few seconds later； he turned his head slightly as Bond slumped into the seat beside him。
〃We can go back to the strip。 Apparently the Swiss military cleared it soon after we left。 Looks as if we've had guardian angels watching over us。
They sat together on the balcony of a private room in the lakeside hotel： M； Bill Tanner； Cindy Chalmer； Percy and Bond； whose side still stung from the long bullet burn； although it was now dressed。
〃You mean；' Bond said with cold anger； 〃that you already knew they had taken over the airstrip？ You knew when you sent me off from London？〃 M nodded。 He had told Bond how； because of the tight security surrounding the Summit Conference； anyone who was authorised had been given identifying ciphers。
On the night Bond had visited the house； off Northumberland Avenue； Bill Tanner's call to the Goodyear people had not elicited the correct sequence。
〃We knew something had gone wrong；' said M calmly。
〃We alerted everyone with need…to…know； arranged with the United States and the Soviet Union that any messages on their current emergency satellite frequencies should be accepted； but not passed on。
Just a precaution。
I mean； you can always be trusted； 007。〃
〃Thank you；' Bond said with icy calm。
〃Now look； 007；' M said sharply。 〃It's no good running away with the idea you're indispensable。〃
〃I was to be thrown to the wolves then；' Bond almost shouted。 〃It wasn't necessary to leave me in outer darkness； as you once so neatly put it； but you let me go； knowing full well 〃e； e。 How dare you reproach your superiors in this way；' M put in tartly。 Suddenly he leaned forward and placed a hand gently on Bond's arm and said in an uncharacteristic tone of paternal concern； 〃It was for your own good as much as ours； James。 After all； you might have found a way of bringing in Holy … or Rahani； e to that。 But that wasn't uppermost in our minds。
We had to find a way of restoring your good name。 Look on it as a sort of rehabilitation。〃
〃Rehabilitation？〃 Bond spat the word out with scorn。
〃You see；' M went on quietly； 〃there had to be some role you could play for the sake of your public image。
The Press could hardly fail to notice high jinks on an airship directly over the place where the Summit talks were going on。 Geneva's been stiff with journalists these past few days。 We told the Swiss authorities they could let a certain amount of reporting through。
Saves us a tricky hushing…up job in a way。 I think you'll be pleased with what the papers say tomorrow。 Might not be a bad idea to get another question tabled in the House。〃 Bond was silent。 He gazed at M； who gave his arm a couple of reassuring pats before withdrawing his hand。
〃I suppose you'll want to take some sick leave because of that scratch；' M said distantly。
Bond and Percy exchanged looks。 〃If it wouldn't inconvenience the Service； ~。 〃A month； then？ Let all this fuss die down。 We can't have the whole Department going public for the sake of your honour； 007