Page 60 - 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

Luk See beckoned to a haughty young girl in a long black cheongsam who came

up the steps towards them.
‘Mr and Ms Man Song Hing. There is a table reserved for them.’
The girl nodded, hardly looking at either Wanda or Tony. She merely
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled them to follow her down the stairs leading first to large bar and James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
gestured
James Bond OO7 - printing disableda
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
dining room, the walls of which were covered in lacquered bamboo and hung
with Chinese works of art, illuminated by concealed spotlights.
The tables were placed well clear of each other, all gleaming with white
cloths and ivory chopsticks. Waiters moved around silently and the

conversation appeared to be conducted almost in whispers, for about three-
quarters of the tables were occupied.
A waiter appeared at the table, placing glasses in front of them.
‘Champagne, compliments of the management.’ He spoke without showing a
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
flicker of interest, banging down an ice bucket containing a bottle buried up to
its neck. He opened the bottle and poured for them – a little in Wanda’s glass
for her to taste. She shook her head. ‘I’m sure it will be fine.’ Long ago she had
learned that this ritual should only be left to experts and much of the wine

tasting that went on in restaurants was laughed at by the waiters.
‘You will not be kept waiting long.’ For the first time, the waiter gave a little
smile and the hint of a bow as he left them.
‘The man at the door . . . ?’ Wanda began to ask.

‘Lee’s chief bouncer. You’ll only see him when the big man is actually here.
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
His name is Lee’s joke, of course.’
‘Luk See?’ Wanda gave a small smile. Her stomach was churning with
anxiety, while her eyes restlessly tried to take everything in. The light above

them radiated from a golden, carved dropped ceiling; at the far end of the
room, a pair of great arched doors were watched over by two burly men in
dinner jackets, and the only time noise intruded into the restaurant was when
these men opened one of the doors to usher someone in or out. For the few

seconds that the door was open, the click of Fan-tan counters and the murmur
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
of an excited gaming house was heard.
She also noticed that there were doors leading to the kitchens to the right of
the long bar which took up almost the entire wall to their left, though at the near

side of the bar she could see another door with yet one more bouncer in front
of it. As she took her second sip of champagne, she saw this door open and the
man on guard lean back to speak to someone. He nodded, then things happened

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