Page 137 - Brokenclaw - John Gardner

James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled

wealthy men, preoccupied with the acquisition of more money. A Biblical text

ran, unbidden, through his head. ‘Unto every one that hath shall be given . . .
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.’ He
always remembered that text. It was the kind of thing he imagined tax
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled the world over had embroidered on samplers and hung over their James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
inspectors
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
desks.
Brokenclaw, who had excused himself at the same time as Chi-Chi, now
returned, carrying a large leather file which he held up proudly. ‘Here is the
information asked for by Beijing Hsia. It’s coded Black Magic, around two

hundred pages in all, but I should imagine Jenny and yourself will authenticate
it quite quickly.’
‘I should imagine so. We know what to look for.’
‘Good. Now, Peter, what are the actual arrangements for you regarding the
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
money? You said that you had the means to collect it. What does this entail?’
‘Nothing difficult, if we are as close to San Francisco as you say we are.’
‘We are between Big Sur and Monterey, well back from the PCH, in pretty
barren country, though we have some trees which afford protection for

transport. You have to go to San Francisco to lay your hands on the money?’
‘We have an arrangement with a bank. They will pay me, and me alone, with
a banker’s draft made out to whoever you like.’
‘Where in the Bay area?’

‘I need to get near to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s not far from there.’
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
Brokenclaw smiled as though supremely happy. ‘Then there is no problem.
One of our vehicles is a helicopter and Ding can accompany you. We have a
working arrangement with a firm called Chopper Views. They maintain two

helipads near the Wharf.’
‘Then, it’s only a fifteen-minute walk, maybe half-an-hour.’ Bond shrugged,
giving the impression that the whole business was of no consequence. ‘If we
don’t get all this stuff dealt with today, I can go down in the morning.’

‘No! No!’ Lee shook his head, his voice, as ever, betraying no sign of
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
agitation. ‘No. I’m certain you’ll get it all done today.’
The heartening thing, Bond reflected, was that Lee gave no indication of
suspicion. He had completely accepted both Bond and Chi-Chi on trust through

the passwords and codes. And why should he not? They had seemingly arrived
by the correct route, called the designated numbers and established their bona
fides correctly. The crunch could only come when H’ang, the unsuspected

James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled James Bond OO7 - printing disabled