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Clover told the two girts to get on with their other duties。 Til call for you in about five minutes。 I want this one nicely locked away in the cells；' She went behind the Captain's desk and sat。 looking at him。 'You see how easy it is for women to do the job of men？' The smile was still attractive； without menace； or phoney evil。 The snarl and leer were strictly for the movies。 Clover looked like any other； nice； well…brought…up girl with a future。
There's nobody around； that's obvious。' Bond's mind hovered between thoughts of what he could do； and how in heaven's name First Officer Pennington had managed to take over the ship。 'There are over two thousand people on this ship。' He tried a winning smile。 'How do fourteen girls manage to lake over； as you appear to have done？'
Two thousand and eighteen to be correct。 Oh； and fifteen girls。 We sprang Sarah Decley。 She's a psycho； of course； but useful if it es to any really distasteful jobs。'
'How？' he asked again。
'Because il was very well planned； and we were in a prime position to pull it off。 My girls had jobs everywhere … including plete access to the galleys。'
The food？'
She nodded； 'And drink。 You should not really have got off the ship。 James。 I was a little cross about that。 Didn't you feel very thirsty this morning？'
He remembered chug…a…lugging the orange juiee on the base； and the unusual need to drink。 'Ah。'
Again the nice…girl smile。 'Ah。 indeed。 Every morsel of food； every beverage； yesterday contained a substance that would make every man jack feel thirsty this morning。 A craving thirst。'
'And this morning？'
This morning you had nothing to drink before you went off to Rota。 If you had taken a swig of coffee you would have bee disoriented within twenty minutes； and dropped asleep within the half…hour。 We called it Operation Sleeping Beauty。 There were minor problems； of course … you were one of them … but my girls had ways of dealing with it all。 Everyone； but you。 is cosily tucked away。 Fast asleep。'
'How dangerous is this stuff？'
'Stuff？ Oh； the Mickey Finn we popped into the food and drink。 Kick like a mule； James。 Knocks people out cold。 There's a lot of that old stand…by； chloral hydrate； in it； but it's been refined； （he smell removed； also the after…effects are negative。 The 'Viper' put a lot of money into having the stuff made to the highest standards … Oh。 and there's little or no danger。〃
The 〃Viper〃 sounds a right little charmer。'
'He is。 as it happens。 Anyway； James； the whole pany of this ship will be out cold for at least three days。'
'And the object of the exercise？'
'Money。 Money to continue putting the world； and society to rights。'
〃A lot of money？'
'Two hundred billion for each of the VIPs 。 。 。'
Bond started to laugh。 'Clover； is Bassam Baradj that na'ivc？'
？What d'you mean？'
'Doesn't he realise that this isn't the ultimate hostage situation？'
'Why not'。' Three of the world'smost powerful politicians 。 ； 。'
〃Quite。 You wanl money for them； and there's no way you'll get it。 Sure； the countries concerned will probably chase all of you to the ends of the earth and back； but nobody's going to pay that kind of money to get politicians hack。 Don't you see that？ Ii'll be Ei in。 Brute？ time。 Nights of the long knives time。 The Russians will shrug their shoulders and the anil…glasnost team'll be in。 The Americans will do something stupid； like letting the Vice…President in for a while and then starting the circus again。 The British？ Well； Mrs Т has her supporters； but 。 。 。 well； the Cabinei will hold little crisis meetings。 Then they'll just announce a new PM。 America and us Brits never give in to hostage situations anyway； and a lot of powerful people will see it as a God…sent opportunity for a change in leadership。' Bond （nought for a moment and added。 'But then； perhaps not/
She had gone a little pale； he thoughi。 Well； he was only lulling her the truth。 'Eventually； dcalh。 Yes。 We have a few aces up our sleeves； If…the Governments don't meet our requirements by 15。00 hours this afternoon； our time； we'll show some power。 If anyone tries an assauli on the ship； Sarah wilt deal with the hostages。 One at a time； of course。 So far it's between us and the Governments； but Т don't see that lasting if they miss our first deadline。' She looked at her watch。 'Three hours to go。 I don'l know what's planned； but we've all been （old to stay off the main deck and the island。'
'You can't win。 There's no way。 Clover； how in God's name； did someone like you get into a situation like this？'
'Don't talk to me like a cleric patronising a whore！' she shouted。 Then very quietly she said； 'Because the world's a rotten place； run by rotten people。 Our kind of anarchy is positive。 We want a fair and open society throughout the globe 。 。 。'
'You're just like all those pipe dreamers。 Clover。 There'll never be a fair； free and open society in this world。 You see； people get in the way。 Ideals are for idealists； and all idealists fall from grace。 No ideal works； simply because human beings cannot cope with it。 The man said it all…Power tends to corrupt； and absolute power corrupts absolutely。 Lord Acton； wasn't it？ Said it all。'
'You don't think 。 。 。？' she began。 'No。 No； you're trying the old hostage rapport trick。 Time for you to go quietly on your way。 James。' Even before she had said it； there was an urgent knocking at the door。 She called oui and one of the Leading Wrens； who had taken him on the main deck； came in。 She was a tall； angular blonde； but with the unfortunate lire and fervour of belief in her eyes。 'All three countries have turned us down。 Ma'am。 'Viper' says everyone is to stay below at 15；00 hours。 He thinks that by going public we'll force their hands。'
Clover nodded； then cocked her head towards Bond。 'You can take him down to the cells。 Lock him up tight。'
'I don't have to keep the bracelets on； do 1； Clover？ I mean the cells are pretty secure。'
She gave it a moment's thought。 'Make sure he's banged up tightly。 Take one of the other girls down with you … armed。 The cuffs can go。'
Bond went quietly。 He knew his only hope would be to get up onto the main deck。 and。 with tuck； get off in the first Sea Harrier which was on the ski…ramp； juiced up and heavy with weaponry。 When in this kind of situation； go along with them。 The entire business was crazy anyhow； for he fully believed all that BAST had done was to present an unexpected political bonus to those who opposed Gorbachev； Thatchcr and Bush。
Another Wren joined them； cradling an H & К МР5 SD3； with which she prodded Bond。 He could not but admire （he organisation。 Baradj might have chosen a stupid； negative target； but the operation and its methods had been excellent。
The cells were a little cluster of six。 barred cubicles； deep within the ship。 In a world of technology they were a tad old…fashioned。 The barred doors slid back by hand and they were equipped wiih straightforward deadlocks。 Nobody else occupied the cells and they just pushed him into the first one available。
'What about the handcuffs？' he asked； as ihe Leading Wren seemed about to lock him up。
'Oh。 yes。 Frisk him。 Daphne。' The blonde with the feverish eyes