John Gardner - Seafire

"Oh, you did know them."

"Saw them around. His fixer, Maurice Goodwin, told me who they were."

"Well, who did they really work for – Lady Trish or Sir Max?"

"Max, of course. Everybody worked for Max in the long run. All you had to do was send someone really straight down to Sir Max and he'd come back bent as a corkscrew."

"Anything special about Duxford?"

"I think the original plan was for them to fly out of Duxford airfield, though that would have been a bit tricky."

"They managed to do it after Lady Trish's murder." Tanner was standing just behind Flicka. "On that dark night, a corporate jet landed at Duxford just after midnight. Claimed he had a fuel problem. They let him fill up and the pilot made a telephone call. About an hour later, as I understand it, a pair of Land-Rovers turned up and the occupants climbed out and boarded the aircraft. The jet took off, but the radio transmissions were, to say the least, on the sparse side. The general feeling is that money changed hands, but I doubt they'll prove anything."

"That was exactly how they were going to do it the first time." The Minister seemed to have gained a small amount of confidence since Bond's promises. "I think they had a genuine problem with the aircraft that time because, at the last minute, I was told to give them an extra twenty minutes if possible."

"And you were well recompensed for all this, Minister?"

"I took money, yes. I've already told these people that I took money." He made the word "people" sound like an obscenity.

"Max only used money?" Flicka asked.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning what I said. Did Max only use money to bribe people?"

The Minister gave a bitter laugh. "Max used anything available. Money always worked because he paid out beyond people's wildest dreams, but the man has no conscience. Would snuff out his mother if it would do any good, and he'd sleep soundly at night. He was equally at home with blackmail and providing other little favors – women, even boys."

"Anyone we know?"

"He pimped Cathy and Anna for friends. I know that for a fact. When you finally get to him, Bond, wish him well from me just before he dies. You'll certainly not take him alive, I'd put money on that. Without doubt, Max Tarn is the most evil man I have ever known. He's moved through the world like a plague, sowing germs of death disguised as arms and military equipment to anyone willing to pay. He sees nothing wrong in that. In fact he believes that, in the end, the world will accept him because he reckons to have some great plan that will do immeasurable good."

"Didn't I mention that to The Committee?" Bond thought he had told them. "You've no idea what this great boon to mankind actually is?"

"None. Except a code word. SeaFire, he called it. I've heard him laugh and say that when he reveals SeaFire, he will have no enemies in the world."

"Any idea where he's headed next?"

"None. He was in Germany – but, of course, you knew that. You were there."

"And you allowed me to go. You let me talk you into it, and agreed to use that four-day recommendation rule. Now why did you do that?"

"What option did I have? You were pressing me. I thought it was safe -"

"You also thought it would be the end of me, didn't you?'

The Minister did not reply. He just shook his head, indicating this was not the case. Then: "He might still be there, as far as I know. He did say he had a great deal to do."

"Personally," Bond sounded as though he were detached, speaking words that were simply thoughts in his mind, nothing to do with any of those present. "Personally, I think he's headed somewhere completely different." He turned to Tanner. "A word in private. Bill."

Flicka followed the two men out of the room.

"Bill, the old Service? Do we still employ Q Branch?"

"Barely, but the divine Ann Reilly still labors in our vineyard."

"Good, Q'ute's still with us. Can I get to see her?"

"James, I have to be honest about this. Because of all this business, The Committee's going to insist on everything going through them."

"I can live with that. Let's go in and ask them. Oh, and by the way, Bill, I'll need to have a word with M again. How's he doing?"

"Making Nurse Frobisher pretty miserable. You'll be a sight for her sore eyes."

"So shall I," said Flicka firmly. "If he's going to see M, then so am I."

"Whatever you both wish." Bill Tanner prided himself on being a diplomat, so he added that he had organized coffee and sandwiches for The Committee. "Shall we join them?"

As they reached the reading-room door, the new Chairman, Lord Harvey, came up the stairs. Tanner introduced Bond and Flicka.

"Ah, the man of the moment." Harvey was one of the younger peers. In his early forties, he was reckoned to be the catch of the year for any young girl who had aspirations to the upper crust. It was said that whoever married him would be forced to share Harvey with politics and government, as he was reputed to be one of the most able men on the Joint Intelligence Committee. "Glad to see you made it back in one piece. But you've caused me all kinds of problems. I've been reading reports since the crack of dawn. This fellow, Tarn? Is he really as black as he's painted?"

"Blacker, sir. But I think I know how to hook him."

"Really? Then you can be a great help to me here and now. Let's go in and I'll give you the floor."

The members of The Committee rose as they saw their new Chairman come through the door, and he made much of shaking hands with each of them before calling the meeting to order.

"Captain Bond has asked me to allow him to put a proposal to The Committee, so I've promised to let him speak to you first." He smiled his charming smile and gave a deferential bow to Bond.

"As you say, sir, I'd like to make some propositions to The Committee." Bond looked around him belligerently. "More important, I'd like to draw up an order of battle. I mink I know where friend Tarn has gone, and I'd like to follow him there and bring him back. Dead or alive, I don't really care which."

"You're all aware," he started without preamble, not giving anyone a chance to relax. "You're all aware that Max Tarn has known our every move since before the start of this business."

There was a silent nodding of heads, and he noticed Commissioner Wimsey did not look him in the eye, though his face was flushed with anger.

"The police have worked in tandem with the Security Service, while the Minister controlled every action made in the field. Through him, Max Tarn has known the who, why, and when regarding law enforcement, security, and intelligence since long before we even started to take him seriously. He's literally got away with murder, and what's more, he's been playing a game with me, as your authorized agent in the field. In some ways he's been acting as a puppet master. He's led Fräulein von Grüsse and myself on a merry dance, luring us into places where he wanted us to be. In fact, we're very lucky to be alive. I believe it's possible that he wants to make an example of Flicka and myself, and show the world that he's not the diabolical agent we would like people to believe. I'm pretty certain, now, that I know exactly where he is, or at least where he will be within a few days. All I need is The Committee's permission to take certain actions.

"Within a short time, Tarn will be on the island of Puerto Rico," he finally declared. "Through this entire business, he has dropped hints which have put us exactly where he wanted us. I think it follows that he will be expecting me, at least, to be in Puerto Rico either just before or just after him. I believe he has chosen that island as the site for the final – what can I call it? – final showdown? Also some form of demonstration. Max von Tarn is a man desperate to do the trick of suddenly becoming moderately respectable before he announces his bid for political leadership of a new National Socialist Party in Germany. At the same time the world will be told that he has renounced his British citizenship and returned to his rightful place as a German. In simple terms, I need your permission for Fräulein von Grüsse and myself to be there. I know you'll say, why put ourselves in obvious danger?"