[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
accented. Franco, Bond thought.
'Harmless, but could be useful. I can always do with a little intelligent
muscle. Caber is good, but rarely puts his brain into gear before working. You
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
have to give him orders like a dog.'
'This man . . .?'
'A mercenary out for hire. I shouldn't think he has many scruples. We met by
accident at Ascot . . .' 'You have him checked out?' 'You think I'm that much
of a fool? He says his name's Bond. I have the number and details of the car -
very smart. It'll give us an address and by tomorrow night I shall know
everything I need about Mr James Bond.'
Bond smiled, knowing that M had him very well covered. Any enquiries coming
from passport number, driving licence, car registration, or other means, would
be nicely blocked off. All Murik could learn would come from the cover dossier
- the service record of one Major James Bond, a Guards officer who had
probably served with the SAS, and performed certain dubious duties since
leaving the armed forces under a slight cloud six years previously.
Murik was still speaking. '. . . but I smell the need for money. Mercenaries
are good earners, if they live, yet they all have that tendency to spend as
though tomorrow did not exist. Or they turn to crime.'
'You must keep sights on all strangers until they are proved.'
'Oh, I'm testing him. He'll give us some interesting sport.' The laugh was
unpleasant. 'At least we'll see what he's made of. But, my dear Franco, you're
leaving shortly, and I want to get things finalised.'
'Everything in my head. Clear as day. You know me well now, Warlock. The teams
ready in England, France and Germany. No trouble. They are on call. Listening
the whole time. There is only America, and my people wait there for me.'
'And you'll be in the States by tomorrow night?'
'Afternoon.'
There was a long pause and a rustling of paper before Murik spoke again.
'You're quite certain of your American people?'
'The same as the others.'
'Willing to expend themselves in the cause?'
'Absolutely. They expect death. I have said it is not likely for them to
survive. This is good psychology. Yes?'
'I agree. Though as long as they do exactly as they're told, there'll be no
risk. That's the beauty of it. First, the fact that we only need to place four
men in each station to secure themselves within the control rooms and take
orders from me alone. Second, that they refuse to maintain contact with anyone
outside-no hostage-taking, nothing to distract them. Third, that I make it
plain to the governments concerned that they have twenty-four hours only, from
the moment of takeover. The twenty-four hours runs out . . . then Boom:
England, France, Germany and the United States have big problems on their
hands for many years to come problems, if all the scientists are correct,
that will not be confined to the four countries concerned. The death toll and
damage could cover almost half of the world. This is the one time that
governments will have no choice but to give in to blackmail.'
'Unless they do not believe you.'
'Oh, they'll believe me,' Murik chuckled. They'll believe me because of the
facts. That's why it's all-important that your people go in at the same
moment. Now, your Americans. How long will it take to brief them?'
There was another pause, as though Franco was trying to make up his mind.
'Twenty-four hours. One day at the most.'
'For both lots? For Indian Point Unit Three, and San Onofre Unit One?'
'Both. No problems.'
'It's the San Onofre that's going to scare the wits out of them.'
'Yes, I've studied papers. Still active, even though the authorities know how
close it is to a fault. A seismic fault - is that how you say it?'
'Yes. America will press Europe. They just won't be able to take the risk. As
long as your American people know what is expected and do only what I tell
them. You must stress - as you have done in Europe - that if they obey orders,
nobody can get at them for a minimum of twenty-four hours. By that time
Meltdown will all be over anyway. So I see no reason why Meltdown cannot go
ahead at twelve noon British Summer Time on Thursday, as planned.'
Page 40
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
'There's one thing . . .'
'Yes?' Murik's voice, sharp.
'How are you to give the signals-pass on the instructions - without
detection?'
A slight chuckle, subdued and humourless. 'Your people have the receivers. You [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
accented. Franco, Bond thought.
'Harmless, but could be useful. I can always do with a little intelligent
muscle. Caber is good, but rarely puts his brain into gear before working. You
Page 39
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
have to give him orders like a dog.'
'This man . . .?'
'A mercenary out for hire. I shouldn't think he has many scruples. We met by
accident at Ascot . . .' 'You have him checked out?' 'You think I'm that much
of a fool? He says his name's Bond. I have the number and details of the car -
very smart. It'll give us an address and by tomorrow night I shall know
everything I need about Mr James Bond.'
Bond smiled, knowing that M had him very well covered. Any enquiries coming
from passport number, driving licence, car registration, or other means, would
be nicely blocked off. All Murik could learn would come from the cover dossier
- the service record of one Major James Bond, a Guards officer who had
probably served with the SAS, and performed certain dubious duties since
leaving the armed forces under a slight cloud six years previously.
Murik was still speaking. '. . . but I smell the need for money. Mercenaries
are good earners, if they live, yet they all have that tendency to spend as
though tomorrow did not exist. Or they turn to crime.'
'You must keep sights on all strangers until they are proved.'
'Oh, I'm testing him. He'll give us some interesting sport.' The laugh was
unpleasant. 'At least we'll see what he's made of. But, my dear Franco, you're
leaving shortly, and I want to get things finalised.'
'Everything in my head. Clear as day. You know me well now, Warlock. The teams
ready in England, France and Germany. No trouble. They are on call. Listening
the whole time. There is only America, and my people wait there for me.'
'And you'll be in the States by tomorrow night?'
'Afternoon.'
There was a long pause and a rustling of paper before Murik spoke again.
'You're quite certain of your American people?'
'The same as the others.'
'Willing to expend themselves in the cause?'
'Absolutely. They expect death. I have said it is not likely for them to
survive. This is good psychology. Yes?'
'I agree. Though as long as they do exactly as they're told, there'll be no
risk. That's the beauty of it. First, the fact that we only need to place four
men in each station to secure themselves within the control rooms and take
orders from me alone. Second, that they refuse to maintain contact with anyone
outside-no hostage-taking, nothing to distract them. Third, that I make it
plain to the governments concerned that they have twenty-four hours only, from
the moment of takeover. The twenty-four hours runs out . . . then Boom:
England, France, Germany and the United States have big problems on their
hands for many years to come problems, if all the scientists are correct,
that will not be confined to the four countries concerned. The death toll and
damage could cover almost half of the world. This is the one time that
governments will have no choice but to give in to blackmail.'
'Unless they do not believe you.'
'Oh, they'll believe me,' Murik chuckled. They'll believe me because of the
facts. That's why it's all-important that your people go in at the same
moment. Now, your Americans. How long will it take to brief them?'
There was another pause, as though Franco was trying to make up his mind.
'Twenty-four hours. One day at the most.'
'For both lots? For Indian Point Unit Three, and San Onofre Unit One?'
'Both. No problems.'
'It's the San Onofre that's going to scare the wits out of them.'
'Yes, I've studied papers. Still active, even though the authorities know how
close it is to a fault. A seismic fault - is that how you say it?'
'Yes. America will press Europe. They just won't be able to take the risk. As
long as your American people know what is expected and do only what I tell
them. You must stress - as you have done in Europe - that if they obey orders,
nobody can get at them for a minimum of twenty-four hours. By that time
Meltdown will all be over anyway. So I see no reason why Meltdown cannot go
ahead at twelve noon British Summer Time on Thursday, as planned.'
Page 40
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
'There's one thing . . .'
'Yes?' Murik's voice, sharp.
'How are you to give the signals-pass on the instructions - without
detection?'
A slight chuckle, subdued and humourless. 'Your people have the receivers. You [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]