Page 71 - 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

‘Right. Now, if you’ll all be good enough to follow me.’ He strode towards

the door. Ed Rushia raised an eyebrow at Bond and they all trooped out after
M with a great show of courtesy towards Chi-Chi at the door.
Chi-Chi stopped as both Rushia and Bond stood back to make way for her.
James Bond OO7 - printing disabledbe treated like anyone else.’ Her manner was very much that of the James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
‘I’d like to
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
liberated woman, though Bond was glad to note, without those abrasive bad
manners so often used to force women’s rights down the throats of men who
exhibited a particular kind of chauvinism. ‘I am one of a team,’ she continued,
much to M’s irritation as he waited outside the door. ‘I don’t wish you to think

of me as a woman.’
‘That’s a very tall order, Chi-Chi.’ Bond tilted an eyebrow.
‘Huh!’ she grunted and marched through the door, though Bond thought he
detected a tiny flash of pleasure from both her lips and eyes.
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
‘Guess you’ll have to watch yourself, James,’ Rushia muttered. ‘You’ve got
a little ball of fire there.’
‘Happily, I agree with you.’ Bond gave him a smile of profound satisfaction.
‘And she’d better learn that we’re two of a team.’

They followed M through one of the companion ways and down metal steps
into a corridor which led to the ship’s hospital – a series of spacious cabins
with ample room for any medical emergency. At last he plunged through one of
the doors and Bond found to his astonishment that a number of very old friends

were seated around a large conference table.
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
‘Surprise, James, my dear.’ The first greeting in the form of a hug and kiss
was from the doughty, tall, elegant, leggy Ann Reilly, assistant to the Armourer,
Head of Q Branch, and nicknamed Q’ute by every red-blooded man in the

Service.
‘Well.’ Bond disengaged himself from Q’ute who, he saw with some
pleasure, still affected a somewhat severe style to her sleek, straw-coloured
hair. ‘Old home week, eh?’ as he went from person to person shaking hands,

reflecting that it was good to know he had a familiar and well-tested backup.
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
Bill Tanner, M’s Chief of Staff was present, together with Bill Orr, the
Witchdoctor, and a short, quiet man with piercing eyes who was known to the
cognoscenti as the Scrivener. His real name was Brian Cogger and his

specialty was what they called ‘paper’, namely forged documents. It was said
that the Scrivener could create a new personality for you in a matter of hours,
and his work would fool even the most diligent scrutiny.

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