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olger； and from there we went out to dinner。
‘And you were back in Zurich on the Friday night？〃 ‘About ten； yes。 You wish to see my records？〃 ‘I think； David； the police might just want to see them。〃 * ‘He was in all four cities； Flick。 He made no bones about it。 Rome； London； Paris； Washington。 All the sites of those four assassinations。 He was there。
‘But a day late； yes？ And why do you keep calling me Flick？〃 ‘Because Fredericka was a horse。〃 ‘A horse？〃 ‘My Friend Fredericka a movie horse。〃 ‘Oh my God； then call me Freddie。〃 ‘I prefer Flick； Flick。〃 She gave a resigned sigh。 ‘But I am right； yes？
He was in all four cities； but a day late？〃 ‘Mainly only hours late。 Hours after the assassinations。 If he's telling the truth； he followed those murders as if he was chasing them。〃 It was past midnight； and he had just been through Dragonpol's schedule with Fredericka； sitting close to her on the couch in the East Turret。
‘You looked like a ghost when you came out of the dining…room；' she had said as soon as they were alone； and had as a precaution…checked that the elevator was now working。 He had even joked about it with Dragonpol when the actor had shown the couple back to the elevator to wish them goodnight。 Hort had disappeared a little earlier； making the excuse that she had some household duties to which she had to attend。
Once in their suite she had immediately asked what was wrong； and Bond sketched in the entire conversation with Dragonpol。
‘It can't be coincidence。 The roses are hers。 His European jaunt。 His presence in every city。 He says that he has all the paperwork； but that kind of thing could be fiddled。〃 ‘You think it's safe for us to stay here？〃 And risk being the next recipients of the Bleeding Heart award？〃 ‘It had crossed my mind。〃 ‘He was very open about everything。 I didn't really have to jog his memory。 He just told me。
Even said I wouldn't like it when I heard where he was at the time of Laura's death。 Though I fail to see his point； because； if he's telling the truth； he got to Zurich after she died and Interlaken's quite a trek from Zurich。 No； if his schedule turns out to be exactly as he's told me； he arrived everywhere just after the deaths。 But he did visit each city； which is quite extraordinary。〃 ‘As though he followed a trail of blood？〃 ‘Exactly。 Did you get anything more from Hort？〃 ‘She talked roses and the family。 Boring to say the least； though there was one thing ‘Yes？〃 ‘The little tough； what's his name； Charles？〃 ‘What about him？〃 ‘He served the coffee and made a great show of having to speak privately with her。 She excused herself and went out of the room with him。 They had quite a long conversation。 ‘Which you listened to。
‘Not all。 It wasn't safe； though she left the door open a little。
They spoke in almost whispers until she seemed to lose her temper。
Anyway； she raised her voice。 Just for a moment。
‘And said？〃 ‘Something to the effect that Charles was a buffoon。
That he should know better。 I heard bits of that。 Then she said； quite clearly； 〃They'll be gone by tomorrow night； but for God's sake； don't make that kind of mistake again。 The telephone's only there to keep him from fussing。 You don't let him use it； and you make sure it's cut off when nobody's with him。 You know all this。 Pray heaven he hasn't used it。〃 That's pretty much word for word。〃 ‘Perhaps they were talking about me us。〃 He indicated the white； reproduction antique telephone which sat on one of the marble tables。
‘We haven't tried to use it； but maybe we should。〃 He rose and crossed to the telephone。 Picking up the instrument he put it to his ear； then pulled a face。 ‘Dead。 Disconnected。 I guess that's what the conversation was about。〃 Fredericka bit her lip。
‘Scared？〃 ‘Just a lot； James dear。 Just bloody petrified。〃 ‘Then maybe you're right。 Maybe we should get out while the going's good…or at least in the small hours。〃 They spent an hour getting themselves ready； dressing warmly in jeans； rollnecks and light shoes： packing their remaining clothes with care； Bond cursing from time to time that he had not e armed； but neither had Fredericka。 After all； she was temporarily suspended from duty。 ‘It's like the Dirty Harry movies；' she said in the one moment of humour。 ‘You have to turn in your gun and badge。
At almost two in the morning； they had everything prepared； their two cases stood beside the elevator； and Bond was just about to press the button to summon the cage； when Fredericka touched his arm。 ‘Sorry； James。 I have to use the bathroom again。〃 ‘Well； for heaven's sake hurry。〃 She disappeared； and a few seconds later he heard her voice calling； agitated： ‘James； quickly。
Quick； e and look。〃 He ran up the big stairs； through the bedroom to the bathroom where she stood； in the dark； on tiptoe peering out of the window。
‘He said nobody could use the tower。 That it was unsafe。〃 Bond swore under his breath。 Looking out across the low roof； they had the same clear picture of the tower they had seen in daylight； only now； in the pitch darkness of a moonless night； the whole structure was illuminated from within； its huge clear windows lit up from top to bottom。 Behind the windows figures moved people ran and gestured。
‘Let's get out now； Flick。 Something's really screwed up here。〃 Quickly they went back to the sitting…room； and Bond was reaching out for the elevator button when suddenly they heard the clunk and whine of the machinery。 The cage was on its way up。
‘Stand back； Flick。 Get to one side。〃 The cage stopped and the doors opened。
‘Mr Dragonpol is sorry for this intrusion； but he needs to see you now； quickly； in the library。〃 Lester stepped into the room。 In his right hand he carried a Colt 。45 automatic。 The safety was off； and he held the weapon like someone who was used to handling these things。
‘He says now！ He needs you in a hurry！〃 The wicked eye of the pistol moved slightly； beckoning them into the cage。
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE TIME MACHINE
‘Do you think we should take our luggage with us？〃 Bond spoke as though oblivious to the big automatic with which Lester was still gesturing。
‘I hardly think that would be appropriate； sir。〃 Even with the pistol； Lester retained the snobbish servility of the plete English butler。
As he asked about the luggage； Bond turned slightly； reaching down as if to pick up his garment bag。 Now； frozen； with his hand on the bag； he gave a small shrug； as though acquiescing to Lester's suggestion。 Then； in a blur； his fingers curved around the handle； lifting the bag and flinging it； with all his strength； straight at Lester's groin。
He heard the man grunt loudly in pain； beginning to double over； but his right hand came up and Bond saw that the big automatic was still very steady； with Lester's finger moving on the trigger。
Then； Fredericka moved。 It was the first time he had seen her do anything violent。 She closed on Lester； ing face to face； body to body； with him； slamming her left arm over his right with great force； crushing it against her raised left knee。
Lester's arm snapped audibly and there was a double cry of pain as her knee sw