Page 130 - Brokenclaw - John Gardner

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‘How?’ Bond asked.

Brokenclaw laughed. ‘How? Oh, with a great deal of technology.’
He began to explain to Bond that they were in fact within a house that did
not exist at all.
‘But I saw it. I saw its bulk last nig
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabledht when we arrived.’ James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
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‘You saw a house. But not this house. Did you notice the name of the
company on whose executive jet you travelled?’
‘Silver something . . .’
‘Silver Service.’ Chi-Chi, dressed in a robe, had entered, Frozen Stalk Pu at

her elbow.
‘Lady walk about. I bring her straight to you,’ Pu said.
‘Good,’ Brokenclaw gave another of his beaming smiles. ‘Go and bring
coffee and more toast for the lady, Pu. You will take breakfast, Jenny? Yes, I
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may call you Jenny?’
‘Of course, and of course. I guess I must be disorientated. I could have
sworn I saw the Blue Ridge Mountains from the windows of the guest suite.’
‘Come on in, darling.’ Bond crossed to her, kissing her cheek. ‘I left you to

sleep.’
‘And I awoke and found you gone. So I came looking.’
‘Just in time. Mr Lee has been explaining why you can see the Blue Ridge,
but I still don’t understand him. He says we are in a house that does not exist.’

‘Silver Service, Inc. That was on the side of the Gulfstream,’ she said, as
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though contributing something of immense value. ‘Am I right?’
‘Completely.’ Brokenclaw was still smiling the sly, want-to-know-a-secret
smirk. ‘Silver Service, Inc. is a company which can never, never in a hundred

years be tied to me. I own it, naturally, but nobody can ever prove that, if only
because my name does not appear in any of its records. Like a number of
companies I own, much is done on trust. Trust, and, well, I suppose you could
say, fear.’

They moved back to the table as Frozen Stalk reappeared, carrying fresh
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coffee and toast. Lee gave orders to have the chafing dishes checked and asked
what Ms Mo would like to eat. She said that toast would be just fine. ‘Toast
and some preserves.’

They all took more coffee and, when Pu had left, Brokenclaw carried on his
explanation.
‘The house you caught a glimpse of in the early hours of this morning,

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