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； and he wondered if somebody was already trying to take evasive action and cut him out of the baby…sitting business。
Clover continued to talk； saying that she wouldn't have said anything if she did not already know he was involved。 'Of course it's classified。' she sounded a shade defensive。 'But security's for those without need…to…know； surely。'
'And I have need…to…know？'
'Your name's on the list。 James。 Of course you have clearance。'
'And these other women。 Who are they？'
'We haven't been told。 All I know is that there are to be other women。'
'Okay； from the top； you tell me all you know。 Clover。'
Bond listened； and became more concerned。 Concerned enough to make a very secure call for a crash meeting with M during the ing weekend。
Ч shouldn't go blabbing about this to all and sundry。 Clover。' he admonished。 'Not even good to lalk to me about it。' he told her when they got back to the Wrcnnery。
'Well； kiss me goodnight； at least； James；' she pouted。
He smiled and gave her a peck on the cheek。 'Not just yet；' he said solemnly。 'Especially if we're going to be shipmates。'
Though he laughed as he drove away； the entire events of the day were more than worrying。 Bond made his crash call to M from a telephone box a mile up the road； off the Base。 The Duty Officer； using a scrambler； arranged the meeting for Sunday。
5
A Sunday in the Country
The search for the Spanish pilot； Felipe Pantano； and his missing Sea Harrier had been called off ai dusk； hut would he resumed in the morning。 Yet。 long before the S and R helicopter teams had clatlered out to look for wreckage and； possibly； a signal…emitting life raft。 Captain Pantano was sitting fortably in the captain's eabin of a small freighter； two hundred miles off the coast of his own country； Spain。
The freighter was registered in Oporto。 Portugal。 Indeed。 Oporto； the harbour city famous for thai most clubbable of wines； was where she was headed； and she sported the name Estado Novo on bows and stern。 Low in the water； the Estado Novu obviously carried a heavy cargo in her hold and a large container secured for'ard taking up the bulk of her deck space。 On the ship's manifest； （he container showed as engineering equipment destined for Gibraltar； from a well…known British firm； and would not be subject to any customs scrutiny in Oporto where they would only stop for twenty…four hours to refuel。
Sitting opposite Pantano in the cabin was not the captain but Abou Hamarik。 the strategist of BAST； who sat smiling and nodding as the swarthy little pilot told of how well the plan had gone。
Tm sure nobody noticed that I had gone off the plot；' Pantano spoke in rapid Spanish； 'and your people were waiting right on time。 It took less than five minutes。' He had taken off as number two in the quartet of Harriers； climbed to the correct height and had been careful to continue on the obligatory course。 The operation had been set up only ten days before； even though there was already a plan to filch the Harrier： in fact that was originally the reason for Pantano being sent on the course。 For weeks； through their carefully planted penetration agents within the Spanish Navy； BAST had forced Pantano onto the Harrier course with the elegant expertise of a theatrical magician making a member of the audience take the Ace of Spades from a clean deck of cards。 The unscheduled addition； to destroy Captain Bond； had only been slipped into place when another of their agents had confirmed what thai officer's role was to be during the all…important Landsea 'X9 exercise。
Just north of Shrewsbury； over a densely wooded area； Pantano had literally dropped his Harrier from the sky； using the vectored thrust of his engine and ing down vertically like an express lift。 No pilot would have faulted his skill； for the Harrier had dropped at the exact； planned point； into a small clearing of trees。 Pantano had only to make minor adjustments … moving forward and sideways … to slow down and gently bring the Harrier to rest in the clearing。 There was a Land Rover parked nearhy。 and four men waiting for him。 As Pantano had already suggested； the work of wiring up。 fusing and fitting the Sidewinder AIM…9J missile （one of three stolen some four months earlier from an RAF base in West Germany） to the starboard outer pylon； would only take a very short time。 Five minutes twenty seconds later Pantano's Sea Harrier was rising fast from the trees； putting on forward speed and climbing away； back on course； but increasing his air…speed； going flat out。 It was essential for him to catch up with the lead aircraft； piloted by Bond； and stay well ahead of the number three。
'I think we'd have heard if the radar at Yeovilton actually lost me at any point；' he smiled confidently at Hamarik who gave a gentle nod。
The Spaniard's Harrier had e within three miles of Bond just as the latter was making his bombing run。 'I locked on to him； and let the missile go；〃 he told Hamarik。 'After that I was busy with my own bombing run； and the little bit of deviousness which followed。'
Hamarik shrugged； making an open…handed gesture。 'I fear friend Bond escaped；' he smiled； as if to say 'it is difficult to win every battle。〃
Pantano gave a heavy sigh； obviously annoyed with himself。 'I'm sorry。 I did all 1 could。 Damn。 Damn the man。'
'Please do not concern yourself。 There is plenty of time for us to deal with Captain Bond。 A pity we could not bine two birds with the one proverbial stone。 But。 I promise you； Felipe； he will go。 In fact that is essential。'
Pantano smiled； showing a small goldmine of fillings； before he went through the final phase。 His bombing run had been normal up to the time when he climbed away。 'I simply pulled into a 30° climb to show myself to the radar。 At 1；001 feet I let all the flares go； switched off my radar and banged on the ECM。' The ECM （Ihe Electronic Counter Measures Pod） is used to confuse ground radar and missiles。 'This was not foolproof； of course； but I went down to zero feet and set the course you had given me。 It was pretty exciting； I can tell you。 I was just feet above the water。 There were times when I was getting salt spray on the wind shield； and even with the heater and wipers going full blast I couldn't budge all of it。 Also； I had Ihe throttle banged wide open and the altimeter 〃bug' was screaming at me。 Т had it set to minimum … one hundred feet … and it went crazy。 It was more like a boat ride than flying。'
The Harrier had run right out into the Atlantic； then turned towards the Bay of Biscay。 Two hundred miles later。 Pantano had slowed to a hover beside the waiting Estacio Novo。 There was ample room to make a vertical landing； and almost before he was out of the cockpit； the crew had started to erect false sides which eventually made up the huge container standing on the forward deck。
〃Good〃 Hamarik's oily smile greased over his face。 'You have done well。 Now； all we have to do is make certain the machine is fully fuelled； overhauled； and fitted with the other weapons。 Then； you will he ready for stage two of your par！ in the operation we are to call LOSE。 There is meant to be humour in that。 Operation LOSE means that th