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rendered her unconscious and roped her securely to her bunk。 I have now summoned this meeting to acquaint you of this occurrence； which I have already reported to No。 2。〃
Largo was silent。 A threatening； exasperated growl came from round the table。 No。 14； one of the Germans； said through his teeth； 〃And what； Mister No。 1； did No。 2 have to say about this？〃
〃He said we were to carry on。 He said the whole world is full of Geiger counters looking for us。 The secret services of the whole world have been mobilized against us。 Some busybody in Nassau； the police probably； was perhaps ordered to have a radiation search made of all ships in harbor。 Perhaps Miss Vitali was bribed to bring the counter on board。 But No。 2 said that once we have placed the weapon in the target area there will be nothing to fear。 I have had the radio operator listening for unusual traffic between Nassau and the Coast。 The density is quite normal。 If we were suspected； Nassau would be deluged with wireless traffic from London and Washington。 But all is quiet。 So the operation will proceed as planned。 When we are well away from the area； we will dispose of the lead casing of the weapon。 The lead casing will contain Miss Vitali。〃
No。 14 persisted： 〃But you will first obtain the truth from this woman？ It is not pleasant for our future plans to think that we may be under suspicion。〃
〃Interrogation will begin as soon as the meeting is over。 If you want my opinion； those two men who came on board yesterday…this： Bond and the man Larkin…may be involved。 They may be secret agents。 The so…called Larkin had a camera。 I did not look at it closely； but it was similar to that in the possession of Miss Vitali。 I blame myself for not having been more careful with these two men。 But their story was convincing。 On our return to Nassau tomorrow morning； we shall have to be circumspect。 Miss Vitali will have fallen overboard。 I will work out the details of the story。 There will be an inquest。 This will be irritating but nothing more。 Our witnesses will be unshakable。 It will be wise to use the coins as additional alibi for our whereabouts tonight。 No。 5； is the state of erosion of the coins satisfactory？〃
No。 5； Kotze the physicist； said judiciously； 〃It is no more than adequate。 But they will pass examination； a cursory examination。 They are authentic doubloons and Reals of the early seventeenth century。 Sea water has no great effect on gold and silver。 I have used a little acid to pit them。 They will of course have to be handed to the coroner and declared as treasure trove。 It would need a far greater expert than he or the court to pass judgment on them。 There will be no pulsion to reveal the location of the treasure。 We could perhaps give the depth of water…ten fathoms let us say； and an unspecified reef。 I see no means by which our story could be upset。 There is often very deep water outside reefs。 Miss Vitali could have had trouble with her aqualung and could have been seen disappearing over the deep shelf where our echo…sounder gave the depth as a hundred fathoms。 We did our best to dissuade her from taking part in the search。 But she was an expert swimmer。 The romance of the occasion was too much for her。〃 No。 5 opened his hands。 〃There are often accidents of this nature。 Many lives are lost in this way every year。 A thorough search was instituted； but there were shark。 The treasure hunt was broken off and we immediately returned to Nassau to report the tragedy。〃 No。 5 shook his head decisively。 〃I see no reason to be dismayed by this occurrence。 But I am in favor of a most rigorous interrogation。〃 No。 5 turned his head politely in Largo's direction。 〃There are certain uses of electricity of which I have knowledge。 The human body cannot resist them。 If I can be of any service 。 。 。？〃 Largo's voice was equally polite。 They might have been discussing remedies for a seasick passenger。 〃Thank you。 I have means of persuasion that I have found satisfactory in the past。 But I shall certainly call upon you if the case is an obstinate one。〃 Largo looked down the table into the shadowed； ruby faces。 〃And now we will quickly run through the final details。〃 He glanced down at his watch。 〃It is midnight。 There will be two hours' moonlight starting at three a。m。 The first light of dawn will be shortly after five a。m。 We thus have two hours for the operation。 Our course will bring us in towards West End from the south。 This is a normal entry to the islands； and even if our further progress toward the target area is noted by the missile…station radar it will only be assumed that we are a yacht that has strayed slightly off course。 We shall anchor at exactly three a。m。 and the swimming party will leave for the half…mile swim to the laying point。 The fifteen of you who will be taking part in this swim will； as arranged； swim in arrow formation； the Chariot and the sled with the missile in the center。 Formation must be strictly kept to avoid straying。 The blue torch on my back should be an adequate beacon； but if any man gets lost； he returns to the ship。 Is that understood？ The first duty of the escort will be to watch for shark and barracuda。 I will again remind you that the range of your guns is not much more than twenty feet and that fish must be hit in or behind the head。 Any man who is about to fire must warn his neighbor； who will then stand by to give additional fire if required。 However； one hit should be sufficient to kill if the curare is； as we have been informed； not affected by the passage through sea water。 Above all〃…Largo put his hands decisively down on the table before him… 〃do not forget to remove the small protective sheath from the barb before firing。〃 Largo raised his hands。 〃You will forgive me for repeating these points。 We have had many exercises in similar conditions and I have confidence that all will be well。 But the underwater terrain will be unfamiliar and the effect of the dexedrine pills… they will be issued to the swimming party after this meeting…will be to sensitize the nervous system as well as provide the extra stamina and encouragement。 So we must all be prepared for the unexpected and know how to handle it。 Are there any further questions？〃
During the planning stages； months before in Paris； Blofeld had warned Largo that if trouble was caused by any members of his team it was to be expected from the two Russians； the ex…members of SMERSH； No。 10 and No。 11。 〃Conspiracy；〃 Blofeld had said； 〃is their life blood。 Hand in hand with conspiracy walks suspicion。 These two men will always be wondering if they are not the object of some subsidiary plot…to give them the most dangerous work； to make them fall…guys for the police； to kill them and steal their share of the profits。 They will be inclined to inform against their colleagues and always to have reservations about the plans that are agreed upon。 For them； the obvious plan； the right way to do a thing； will have been chosen for some ulterior reason which is being kept hidden from them。 They will need constant reassurance that nothing is being kept hidden from them； but； once they have accepted their orders； they will carry them out meticulously and without regar