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'I need answers to a couple of questions before I talk to the girl。 Deeley 。 。 。' Bond began。
'Yes？' the Rear…Admiral snapped。 'If I'm allowed to answer； I'll co…operate。 Go ahead。'
'First； there's one thing I have to know about Edgar Morgan。'
'He wasn't US Secret Service； but I presume you know that already。'
'Yes； I realise he wasn't just part of the normal bodyguard service。 I'm pretty certain he was Naval Intelligence； and came aboard with a special brief。' Bond had not shown all his cards。
'That's true。'
'Can you tell me anything about the special brief？1
Walmsley pretended to think for a moment。 'Well； he had authority to go through the records of everyone aboard this ship。'
'Was there time for him to do that？'
'Mmmm/ It was non…mittal； but the Rear…Admiral was playing Bond。 Walmsley was the kind of man who liked showing his authority and； had the truth been known； he looked forward to a very rapid promotion if the Operation called Stewards' Meeting went off without a hitch。 Finally； he decided it would be safer to tell the truth。 'He came aboard two days before Landsea '89 started。'
'Two days？'
Walmsley nodded。 'He left the ship shortly before you arrived。 Then came on with Gudeon and the others。 But。 in those two days； he went through all the files。 He was very interested in you。 Captain Bond。 Very interested。'
'And he carried on looking through the individual dossiers on his return？'
'He did。 Now； anything else？'
'Yes； sir。 I've been told that the Americans are sending a replacement。 True or false？'
True。 He'll be here before Stewards' Meeting/
'We have a name？'
'Dan Woodward。 US Naval Intelligence。 As you would expect； he's known to his friends and colleagues as Desperate Dan。 Now； Captain Bond； anything eise？'
'Only a minor point。 The Wren detachment aboard。〃
'Damned women in the ship； 1 didn't approve of it。'
'Sir； we both know why they're here。 We know it'll make things easier when Stewards' Meeting gets under way。 Until then； could I ask you。 sir； what duties have been assigned to them？'
'This because one of them turned out to be a dummy？'
'Partly。'
'Why not ask their officer； what's her name？ First Officer Pennington？'
'Because I'd rather have an independent source。〃
Rear…Admiral Walmsley sucked his teeth。 'You know they're
all cleared at a very high security level？'
'I do； sir。 and it worries me。 The one intruder came in through them。 I know London says they're all cleared； but 1 want to check it out again/
'Right。 We're making good use of them； Bond。 They're doing everything they've been Irained to do。 We've allotted them shifts in munications； in writers' departments； and； jus！ to keep their domestic hands in。 some are daily assigned to galley duties。 1 made thai a condition of the draft ing aboard。 Now； anything else？'
Bond shook his head。 So； the Wrens wen。… all over the place。 In the galleys； munications； and writers。 A writer is Royal Navy for clerk or secretarial duties。
〃Good； because we're still very much a part of Landsea '89； and we've still got three nuclear subs shadowing us。 I have to get back to work。 Can't leave it all to Jimmy the One/
Afler leaving ihe Rear…Admiral。 Bond sought out Joe Israel； who was resting in the cabin occupied by the three US Secret Service men。 В nice Trimble was with him； while Stan Hare had taken over normal b'odyguard duties to Admiral Gudeon。
'You know who's taking Ed Morgan's place'。〃' he asked the pair of them。
'Another guy from Naval Int；' Israel said； sounding none too pleased。
'Name of Woodward。 Dan Woodward。' Trimble grinned。 'They call him Desperate Dan； we hear。'
〃You hear？'
'The Admiral sent a signal to Washington last night … after Ed's death。 The reply was very fast。 1 guess Desperate Dan must be in London。 He's close by anyhow； because they're expecting him by early evening。'
'You know him1？1 Bond asked。
The name only。 Never worked with him；〃 from Israel。
'You？' to Trimble who shook his head。
'What about Stan？'
'What about Stan？' Israel laughed。
'Does he know the Woodward fellow？'
'No。 None of us know him。'
'Okay；' Bond pinched the top of his nose between thumb and forefinger。 'I would suggest； when he does e aboard； that you do a little verbal check on him。 Usual kind of things。 Americana； people in Washington； people any of you know in Naval Intelligence。'
'You don't think he's clean？'
'I've no idea；' Bond shrugged。 'I just think we should take precautions； that's all。'
In his room at The Rock Hotel； Gibraltar； Bassam Baradj was receiving blow…by…blow accounts of what was going on in Invincible。 His short…wave radio； with a recording device attached； picked up signals from his main source aboard the ship； though the final news； which had e through in the early hours of the morning； made him wonder if this flow of intelligence would last out much longer。 He knew of （he death of the American N1 officer； and of the possible consequences。 He also knew that the Americans had signalled to Washington and that Washington's return signal referred them to the Embassy in London。 Since then there had been no other signal and he feared the worst。 The only other source connected with BAST was one Engineer Petty Officer； and Barad） knew that everything really lay with this one blackmailed man。
Immediately he hud listened in to the message concerning the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square。 London。 Baradj had taken the only course of action available to him。 A long telephone call to London was followed by a lengthy meeting with his colleague； Abou Hamarik。 Together they decided the risk was worth the final reward； even though Hamarik had no idea thai Baradj had no plans to cut him。 or any other member of BAST； in on the eventual riches。
It would not have mattered either way； for Baradj had already set the plan in motion； and it was essential for him to use Hamarik。 He thought it was a lucky decision that had made him choose 'The Man' … Abou Hamarik … for the work in Gibraltar。 Ali Al Adwan。 his only other possible choice； had been seen already by the man Bond； at the camp they had called Northanger。 In all； Baradj was happy。 The two men he had in London were both good； and well equipped to carry out what had to be done。
Daniel Woodward had a pleasant flat in Knightsbridge。 Nothing luxurious； but。 with his pay as Assistant Naval Attache （Intelligence） to the Embassy； he could afford it。 He also found it was an address which stood well with the ladies he dated regularly。 It was as though they felt quite safe going back with him to the Knightsbridge address。
The one beside him in bed at three in the morning； only grumbled in her sleep when the telephone rang。 She grumbled even more when he woke her to say he had to report to the Embassy immediately。
〃Oh； God。 what's the time； darling。' She was a stunning redhead who worked in Ihe Embassy Secretariat。
'It's fifteen after three。 I'm sorry； honey； but I'm gonna have to take you home。 I don't know how long I'm gonna be away。 They said I should bring a bag with me； which means I'm probably going Stateside。 Sorry； but I just can't leave you here。 You know what Embassy instructions〃re like about people leaving their property wit