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his fuss die down。 We can't have the whole Department going public for the sake of your honour； 007。〃 Cindy spoke for the first time。 〃What about Dazzle？
Mrs。 St。 John…Finnes？〃 Tanner told them there had been no trace of the lady who called herself Dazzle； just as Rahani had disappeared into thin air。 A launch picked up his 〃chute。 He had drifted well inshore； on the French side。
〃Damn。 I wanted a little time alone with that bastard。〃 The delightful Cindy Chalmer could be lethal when roused。
Percy gave her a wicked smile。 〃You； Cindy； are going straight back to Langley。 The order came through this morning。〃 Cindy pouted； and Bond tried hard not to catch her eye。 〃And what about Dr Amadeus？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； we're taking care of him；' Bill Tanner said a little earnestly。 〃We've always room for good puter men in the Service。
Anyway； Dr Amadeus turned out to be a brave young man。
〃There is something else；' M grunted。 〃The Chief of Staff did not know this but in checking back through the files when you alerted us to Rahani； 007； we found some interesting information。 You recall we've been keeping surveillance on him for some time？〃 Bond nodded as M slid a matt black and white print from the folder on his lap。
〃Interesting？〃 The photograph showed Tamil Rahani locked in an embrace with Dazzle St。 John…Finnes。 〃Looks as though they had plans for the future。〃 Bond asked about Erewhon and was told that the Israelis had pinpointed the site。 〃Nobody there。 Deserted。 But they're keeping an eye on it。 I doubt if Rahani will visit it again。
But he'll probably show up somewhere。〃
〃Yes。〃 Bond's voice was flat。
〃Yes； I don't think we've heard the last of him； sir。 After all； he boasted that he was Blofeld's successor。
〃e to think of it；' M mused； 〃I wonder if you should forgo that leave； 007。 It may be vital to follow up。。。
〃He's got to rest； sir； for a short time at least。〃 Percy was almost ordering M。 This was something the Head of Service rarely experienced。 He looked at the willowy ash…blonde； astonishment on his face。
〃Yes。 Yes。 Well； if you put it like that 。 。 。 I suppose Yes。〃
END OF THE AFFAIR
THEY first FLEW to Rome； and stayed for a week at the Villa Medici。 Percy had never been to Rome and Bond enjoyed showing her as much as one can fit into seven short days。
From Rome they travelled to Greece； to take an island…hopping tour； starting in the Aegean with a couple of nights on Naxos。 They stayed only one night on Rhodes； because of the tourist hordes； and then doubled back； spending a night here； two nights there。
Another week took them to the ionian sea； where they managed to find some secluded beaches and tavernas； off the package…holiday routes。
It was a time of distant voices from the past。 The couple exchanged life…stories； told the long tales of their youth； made their separate confessions； and became totally immersed in each other's bodies。 For Percy and Bond； the world became young again and time stood still； as only time can within the dark； secret mysteries of the Greek islands。
They ate lobster fresh from the sea and drank their fill of retsina。 Sometimes the evenings ended with them dancing with the waiters under the vines of a roadside taverna； arm…stretching and calf…slapping。 They discovered； as many have before； that the taverna…owners of the islands recognise the signs of love and take lovers to their hearts。
And during all their joy； Bond kept a wary eye on strangers； assuming that Percy； being a lady of the same trade； was doing likewise。
They did not spot the same face or even the same jewellery； which can he more important once。 Vehicles； even motorcycles； did not show up twice。 They were free。
But SPECTRE s teams were numerous and clever。
Neither James Bond nor Percy Prnud could know of shadows creeping in around them。
The teams were usually five strong； and they changed daily； never using the same car twice； always having a tail ready to follow on to the next island。 A girl in one place； a happy Greek boy in another； first a student； then a middle…aged English couple； old Volkswagens； brand new Hondas； staid Peugeos。 It was all the same to them。
The leader's orders were clear； and when the right moment came； he too arrived。
Bond and Percy spoke much of the future； yet； in the last week； while heading for Corfu； from where they planned to fly to London direct； they still could not e to any decision even though they had talked of marriage。
As the trip drew to an end they found a small bungalow hotel； away from beehive modern glass and concrete palaces。 It was close to a secluded beach； which could be reached only by clambering over rocks。
Their room looked out on a slope of dusty olive trees and oddly Victorian…looking scrub。
Each day； in the late afternoon； they would return to their room； and； as dusk closed in and the cicadas began their endless song； the couple would make love； long and tender； with a rewarding fulfilment of a kind neither remembered experiencing before。
On their last night； with their packing to be done； and a special dinner ordered at the taverna； they followed their usual pattern； walking hand in hand up the slope from the beach； entering their room from the scrubby End of the olive grove； and leaving the windows open and the blinds drawn。
They soon became lost in each other； murmuring the sweet adolescent endearments； enjoying a private island of physical pleasure。
They were hardly aware of the darkness or the song of the night ing from the cicadas。 Neither of them heard Tamil Rahani's car pull up quietly on the road below the hotel。 Nor were they aware of his emissary； who moved； sure…footed in rope…soled sandals up from the road； treading softly through the olives until he reached the window。
Tamil Rahani； the successor to the Blofelds； had decreed they should both die； and he would be in at the death。 His only regret was that it must be quick。
The short； sallow…faced man who was the most acplished of SPECTRE'S silent killers； peered through the lattice of the blinds； smiled and carefully withdrew a six…inch ivory blowpipe。 With even greater care he loaded the tiny wax dart filled with deadly pure nicotine and began to slide the end of the pipe through the lattice。
Percy lay； eyes closed； nearest the window。
Her reaction was conceived in long training； for she was like an animal in her instinct for danger。 With a sudden move； she slid from under a startled Bond； one hand going for the floor and the small revolver that always lay at her side of the bed。
She fired twice； rolling naked on the floor as she did so … a textbook kill； the man clearly outlined through the blinds lifting back as though in slow motion； his dying breath expelling the wax dart into the air。
Bond was beside her in a second； the ASP in his hand。
As they emerged into the night air； they heard the sound of Rahani's car on the road below the hotel。 They needed no telling who it was。
Later； when the body had been removed； calls made to London and Washington； and police and other authorities were satisfied； Bond and Percy drove into Corfu Town itself； to spend the n