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'All sticks stand by；' the pilot said。 Again the jumpmaster signalled and the further two groups of five men took up their places。
'Stand by stick one。 Stick one go。'
The jumpmaster's hand came down and the first ten men launched themselves； al ten…second intervals； into space。
The Hercules banked sharply to the left。
'Stand by stick two。 Stick two go。'
Anolher signal and five men glided down towards the film of darkness below as the Hercules banked right。 Stick three went out smack on lime； at the jumpmaster's signal。 The cargo doors closed as the aircraft turned and climbed steeply； heading back to its secret home。
The hang…gliders fell away； dropping for 1；000 feet or so until the wings bit into the air； and their pilots shifted their bodies so that they slowed； made contact with other members of their particular stick； then； in a loose formation； began to glide towards the first slreaks of dawn below。 The men's bodies seemed to hang motionless in the thin air； and； during the early slages of the descent they were all forced to bring up their gloved hands to wipe the ice and rime From their goggles； altimeters and passes。 It was an exhilarating business； but they were hardly aware of the motion until they passed through the 10；000… feet level。 There； the air thickened and they all had greater control of their flimsy craft。
The Son of Takashum had no warning。 True； the radar operator caught a sprinkle of minute blips on his screen； but they meant nothing to him。 Birds possibly； or specks of dust or static on the screen。
At exactly 1。000 feet above the tanker； the three groups brought their hang…gliders into the attack position。 The two men armed with grenade launchers were well to the rear of the tanker； hanging in their harnesses； hands free to manipulate weapons。 Two grenades arched from the air； one smashing its way into the bridge； the other exploding further down the superstructure； leaving a gaping hole。
The explosion on the bridge was like a sudden blast of white hot flame。 Everyone died instantly。
Seaman Ogawu； one of the gunners on the superstructure； could not believe his eyes and ears。 He heard the double explosion； felt the ship quake under him； then saw。 for'ard。 two creatures that looked like prehistoric birds approaching the hows… Flame leaped from them and he saw one of the deck gun crews scattered like a nest of mice hit by a shotgun blast。 He squeezed the Browning's trigger almost as a reflex action； and his mind registered surprise as he watched ihe two ining birds turn into mangled flesh； blood and shattered canvas as the heavy bullets tore them apart。
The two men who had started everything； exactly as planned； by releasing the grenades had also e to grief。 Once they had established hits on the superstructure； both men dropped the launchers into the sea and。 swinging violently； undipped Skorpion sub…machine…guns from their chests。 In a matter of seconds they were streaking down towards the Son of Takash…ani〃s stern； manoeuvring their gliders； pulling them into a more shallow and slower descent； ready to release their harness the moment their rubber…soled hoots struck the deck。 They were only some fifty feet away from landing when a short burst of fire from another part of the superstructure took off the legs of the man on the right。 He sagged in his harness and the wings above him tilled so that the entire glider side…slipped into his partner。
This second man was thrown to one side； knocked unconscious； swinging out of control so thai the angle of attack of his wings increased sharply； and he smashed into the stern of the tanker。
The initial shock and surprise were gone in less than iwo minutes。 The gunners who were left； both on deck and in the battered superstructure； were now assessing the situation。 The drills that the Master had insisted on paid off。 None of the crew of the Son of Takashani showed regard for his own safely。 Several big hang…gliders； spitting flame and death； circled the ship； looking for openings to land on the main deck while desperately trying to maintain height。 Two swooped in from starboard； knocking out another heavy machine…gun crew as they came； only to be mangled and ripped apart from fire directed from the superstructure。 Four men actually managed to land safely on the stern； seeking what cover they could abafl the superstructure； unhooking grenades from their webbing equipment。 Three more died as they rode the air down onto the port side。
Both the gun crews for'ard on the deck were now out of action； and； with a withering fire； another pair of hang…gliders reached the deck。 The remainder were now either blasted out of the sky。 or killed by smashing into the ship's hull。 The seven who remained fought on。
Smoke grenades gave some cover to the trio who had landed on the for'ard part of the deck； while the four men who were attacking from the stern managed； with grenade and gun； to gain a foothold in the superstructure itself。
The fighting lasted for almost half an hour。 At the end of that bloody dawn there were several bodies of the glider…borne force strewn around the tanker； eighteen officers and men of the Son of Takashani were dead； and a further seven wounded。
The radio officer had continued to put out a distress signal throughout the whole battle； but it was an hour later before a US Navy frigate arrived at the scene； and by then； the Japanese…being an orderly people； had tipped the bodies of the attackers overboard； washed down the deck； seen to their own dead and wounded； and reorganised the tanker so that it could continue on its way。
The most senior officer； twenty…two year old Zenzo Yamuda； who had taken the place of the dead Master； was able to give the American frigate's captain a graphic； blow by blow account of the action。 The American officer was perturbed by the lack of evidence left by the Japanese crew； but Yamada did not appear to be worried。 'I helped one of them die；' he told the frigate's captain。
'How？' The US officer was thirty years of age； a Lieutenant…mander called Ed Potts； and a man who appreciated order himself。
'He was dying。 I finish him off。'
The American nodded。 'He say anything？'
'One word； only。'
'Yeah？'
'He say； win。〃 The Japanese officer laughed at the thought。
'Win； huh？ Well； he didn't； did he？'
'Man not win。 He lost； and died。' The Japanese officer laughed again； as though it was the funniest thing fie had heard in a long time。
Later； others did not find it so amusing。
2
Voices from the Air
The repercussions which sprang from the strange attack on the tanker； Son of Tukashani； were predictable。 Japan accused first Iran； then Iraq。 Both countries denied plicity。 No terrorist organisation owned up。 though the Intelligence munities of the West kept their eyes and ears open。
Much of the traffic concerning the Japanese tanker passed across James Bond's desk in that faceless building overlooking Regent's Park where he was。 to his fruslration； chained to an administrative job。 He could not know that he would； eventually； bee deeply involved in the business；
In these days of high…tech clecironics。 it is not unusual for people； who should know beli