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〃Gentlemen； Captain Bond is to meet your personal staff； as soon as I've introduced him to you；' Walmsiey broke in quickly。 'I must stress that while you are guests aboard my flagship； your people will take their orders directly from Captain Bond。 This is essential to your well…being； and the safety of those who will； eventually； be part of Stewards' Meeting。〃
'Sure； if that's the way you want to play it。 But I've got four guys with me；' Admiral Gudeon's voice was the unpleasant growl of a cantankerous man who always liked his own way； and was never wrong。 'I guess they'll be able to look after me without you doin' much to help them。' Bond did not know if the Admiral meant to be rude； or whether it was merely a long…cultivated manner。 'Bond？ 。 。 。 Bond 。 。 。'。'〃 the American continued。 '1 knew a Bond； way back at Annapolis。 You got any American relatives？'
'I think not。 sir。 Many friends； but no relatives … not as far as I know； anyway。' Rear…Admiral Walmsley moved a foot； kicking Bond's ankle sharply。 But Gudeon seemed oblivious to the tongue…in…cheek answer。
'And；' Walmsley quickly pushed Bond along the line； 'our mosl senior officer here。 Admiral Sergei Pauker； mander…in…Chief of the Soviel Navy。'
〃An honour； sir。' Bond looked the man straight in the eyes。 Pauker had the rosy cheeks of a Mr Pickwick； but there the likeness ended。 The eyes were grey and cold； showing no emotion。 Dead eyes； overhung by frosty eyebrows。 He had a small mouth； but it did form itself into a surprisingly friendly smile。 The main feature of the face； ruddy cheeks apart； was a huge aquiline nose。
'Bond。' he pronounced it 'Bound'。 'I think somewhere I have heard the name before。 Have you； perhaps； served in your embassy in Moscow？' He spoke excellent English。
'Not exactly in the embassy； sir。' Bond gave an almost imperceptible smile。
'But you are known there。 I think。 In Moscow； I mean。'
'It wouldn't surprise me。 sir。'
？Good。 Good。' The humour disappeared from his face and the eyes g！a。〃ed over。
There was no offer of a drink； and Rear…Admiral Walmsley ushered Bond out of the room； like a farmer getting an errant sheep into a van。 'The security people are in Briefing One；' he whispered。
Briefing One was the primary Air…Group Briefing…Room on the port side； amidships and two decks below the officers' quarters。 It had been cleared for an hour； so that the security teams could get together； and Bond entered it quickly； going straight into his prepared routine。 'My name's Bond。 James Bond。 Captain。 Royal Navy；' he began； then stopped abruptly。 The one woman among the ten large men。 was enough to stop anyone or anything。 She also spoke before anyone else。 'Captain Bond。 I am First Naval Attache to Admiral Pauker。 My name is Nikola Ratnikov。 My friends call me Nikki。 I hope you are to be my friend。'
You could feel the unsettling tension spark through the room； and it was obvious that Nikola Ratnikov had been showing the cold…shoulder to the rest of her colleagues； which must have been irritating to say the least。 rade Attache Ratnikov would have given a tweak to the loins of even a devout monk； and it would not matter whether the monk was Roman Catholic； Protestant； Buddhist； or Russian Orthodox。 She had that indefinable quality about her manner； features and body which made all heterosexual men turn to look twice； and。 possibly a third time； if they had the energy left。
Nikki Ratnikov wore a well…tailored Soviet Naval Woman Officer's uniform； which is not flattering to all。 There again； Nikki could have made sackcloth and ashes look like Dior。 When she moved towards him。 hand extended； even Bond felt his knees tremble slightly。 She had short； ash…blonde hair； cut in what used to be called a pageboy style； but； from where he stood； it looked like a tempting golden helmet； framing a face of classic beauty。 It was not the kind of face that Bond usually went for。 He preferred slightly blemished good looks； but Nikki's eyes held his for almost a minute； and it was longer before he let go of her hand。
'Hallo； Captain Bond； we've met before。' It was one of the Special Branch men。 all done up in a Lieutenant's uniform； plete with the gold trimmings of a Flag Officer。 'Brinkley。' he added。
'Yes； of course。 Yes。 I remember you。 Ted Brinkley。 right？'
'On the button； sir。' The Special Branch man looked for al！ the world like a Special Branch man in fancy dress； as did his partner。 Martin … 'My friends call me 'Moggy〃 …Camm。
He did the rounds of the other security men。 Few had resorted to the bad disguises of the Branch men； and they looked like a very heavy team。 The Americans introduced themselves as Joe。 Stan； Edgar and Bruce。 Bruce was a very tall black officer with an exceptionally bone…crushing handshake； and looked as though he could probably stop a tank with his chest。 。loe and Stan seemed to be made…to…measure； off the peg； standard issue 'bullet catchers'。 Edgar … 'Call me Ed' … was in a different mould： lean； mean； tense with obvious staying power and taut muscles； he had the battered good looks of one who had seen plenty of action in his time。 Bond had him down as the brains of the outfit。
The other three Russians were simply Ivan。 Yevgeny and Gennady。 Three nice boys。 The kind of nice boys you saw popping in and out of KGB facilities； looking after more senior officers。 Bond had once seen a trio like this ing out of a building after six men had died … none of them through natural causes。
He tried to engage all of them in polite conversation； unveiling a plan that had been set up on an easel； showing exactly where they were to be stationed； in relation to their charges。 Outside； three Petty Officers stood by with cards giving details of the several decks； and their geographic relationship to those parts of Invincible tagged for the visiting VTPs and the bodyguards。 Bond explained this to them； went through the emergency drills； making certain the Russian…speakers understood； then wished them a good night's rest； and began to hand them over to the POs。
A light hand rested on his sleeve。 '1 think； me you lake to my quarters。 Captain Bond？' Nikki stood beside him； close enough for him to catch the him of Bal de Versailles she wore。
'You。 I think； get special treatment。 rade Attache …Nikki。'
She gave him a glittering smile and he noticed her perfect teeth and the inviting mquth。 'Yes； you're quite near my quarters as it happens。 I have to hand you over to one of the lady officers we have on board； but it's a nice little walk up to my cabin。' He turned。
〃I'm so sorry I'm late； sir。' Clover Pennington stood by the door； her face looking like the wrath of God。 Ч have instructions to escort the rade Attache lo her quarters。 Show her the ropes； sir。'
'Which ropes？' Nikkfs voice sounded as though she was genuinely puzzled。
'An English saying。 Means she's going to show you the way around the ship。 This is First Officer Pennington； Nikki。 She'll see that you're well looked after。'
'Oh。 but Captain Bond； I was thinking you could look after me。'
'Not in a million years；' muttered Clover so thai Bond could hear。
'Best go with her。 Nikki。 Protocol； really。 Perhaps we can talk later on。'
'I also would