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the operation we are to call LOSE。 There is meant to be humour in that。 Operation LOSE means that the major powers lose all that is dear to them； for what country can function without their personal gyroscopes？'
'I don't follow that part of it〃 Pantano did not press the point； though he was obviously intrigued。
'You don't follow it because you do not know what is really at stake。〃 The greased smile again。 Then Hamarik rose from his chair。 'e； let us eat and talk of good things。 We have a small gift for you on board。 She is from Egypt and； I am told； enjoys the same kind of trivial pursuit as yourself。 Food first； for you will require energy〃
James Bond was flying for most of the Saturday and the wardroom was almost empty when he weni in to dine at around eight in the evening。 He entered the ante…room and was surprised to see Clover； in a smart； almost military…looking dress … beige with brass buttons and darker beige piping around the shoulders and collar。
'How are you tonight； then。 Clover？' He smiled； as though the fencing of the previous evening was now well forgotten。
〃I'm fine； sir〃 She returned the smile though she spoke formally。 'I was wailing to iry and gel a word with you。〃
'Right。 How about dinner？'
〃That's really nice。 I'll get my coat； can we 。 。 。？〃
Bond shook his head； putting an arm out to stop her。 There are few people in the wardroom on a Saturday nighl。 Clover。 Let's see what they have for us there。 I seem to remember that on the ratings' messdecks of a Saturday evening； il was always 〃Herrings in〃。〃 He recalled it well enough from the days when； as Officer of the Watch； he had to do rounds of the messdecks。 'Herrings in' was the name they always gave to the large tins of herrings in tomato sauce； a favourite among both ratings and Petty Officers。 Bond could never understand il。 The food looked and smelled revolting to him。 but there were never any plaints on Saturday nights。 He presumed things had changed since then。
The only people dining in at that time were the Officer of the Watch and the Royal Marines Duty Officer； who both nodded deferentially to Bond as he led Clover to a couple of chairs distant to the other two officers。 The Wren stewards served them with the only choice on the Saturday night menu … smoked salmon； followed by grilled steak。 Bond took his steak rare and； refusing the pommes frites。 ordered a small green salad。
They talked idly； circling the problem both knew existed； until the main course had been served。 It was Clover Pennington who took he lead …
'I wanted to apologise for last night〃 She turned her eyes away and blushed as she spoke。
〃Apologise for what？' Bond stared at her until she had to make eye contact。
'I broke all security regulations； sir。 I shouldn't have mentioned either Invincible or Landsea '89。 I'm sorry； it jusl seemed natural； particularly as I knew you were being drafted as well。'
'You're quite right。' Bond was almost sharp with her。 'To have gained the rank of First Officer you should really have learned all ihe lessons of security by now。 I have to be hones！ with you； Clover； I've always had great reservations about young women with either loud voices； or runaway tongues。 The Royal Navy isn't known as the Silent Service for nothing。 We've 〃an almosi unblemished reputation for keeping mouths closed and ears open。'
〃I know； sir。 I'm sorry。 I jusl thought that if I got my apology out of the way； perhaps 。 。 ；'
Bond could not make up his mind whether she was jusl a garrulous woman； or an upper…class gold digger。
'Perhaps what？'
'Well； last night we 。。。〃
'I think you'd do well to forget about last night… At least until the matters on your conscience are over。' In case he was being too harsh。 Bond gave her a tight smile。 'Let's see how i（ all goes。 After that； anything's possible。 We could meet socially。 No problem there。'
Clover Pennington looked suitably crestfallen； pushed her plate away； made a muttered excuse and left the wardroom。 Bond quietly finished his meal； went into the ante…room； took a small brandy with his coffee； then headed back to his quarters。 Tomorrow was a free day； but for him it would be a full tine。
He left the Royal Naval Air Station jusl after eight。 having eaten his usual breakfast。 Bond was beginning to realise what had attracted him to the Navy in the first place。 He was a man of routine； and enjoyed the privileges （hat came with rank。 But now； rank was put to one side。 He wore civilian clothes； and drove the BMW with caution； keeping his eyes on the rear…view mirror。 Even though he was in England； this was an operation and any contact with his real Service was a clandestine matter where Field Rules applied。
He drove to Cheddar； pleased that on this late autumn Sunday there were few other people on the road。 Certainly he appeared to be free of any surveillance as he turned off ihe main road and headed towards a modern house on the edge of an up…market estate。
The double garage…doors were open and Bill Tanner stood by the crimson Lancia already drawn back from Ihe automatic doors。 It took Bond less than a minute to change cars； reversing the Lancia out while Tanner nodded and drove the BMW inlo the garage。 No other ears came near and Bond crammed an unlikely fishing hat on his head； and slipped dark glasses over his eyes。 No words were exchanged； bul； as he turned the Lancia back towards the main road。 Bond saw the garage…door ing down to hide his own car。
An hour later he had negotiated the M5 Motorway； and taken the M4 fork which led him towards London。 It took about fifly minutes for him to reach the Windsor exit； after which he circled the smaller roads； still watching for a possible tail。 It was a lengthy； painstaking business so he did not reach his destination until after eleven； purring across the Windsor…Bagshot road and looking out for the Squirrel public house on his left； then the gateway of simple stone on the right。
He turned the Lancia ihrough the gateway lo see the familiar； well…manicured drive； the screen of silver birch； beech； pine and oak trees which stood guard over the rectangular Regency manor house of weathered Bath stone。
He pulled the Lancia around Ihe side of the main house； parking so that it would also be screened by the trees which； as he knew from the past； were not the only proteciion that guarded M's beautiful country house called； nostalgically。 Quarterdeck。
His feet crunched on the gravel as he approached the portico and grasped the thong attached to the gleaming brass bell； once that of some long…forgotten ship； and clanged it to and fro。 Seconds later the stout door was unbolted from inside and opened to reveal M's servant； Davison。 who had replaced the faithful ex…Chief Petty Officer Hammond。
'And Mrs Davison？ She well？' Bond stepped into the hall； taking in the familiar scene … the smell of polish from the pine panelling； the Victorian hall stand； with M's old Ulster hanging from it； and Wellington boots set nearby； the table with its wonderfully…detailed 1。〃144 scale model of the battle cruiser Repulse； M's last mand。
'Mrs Davison's fit as a flea； sir … and twice as nippy； if you follow my drift。'
'Indeed I do。 Dav