Part 8 (1/2)
”I have no real authority to send you, Jaht over to The Coht I should handle it personally I've been in touch with our old friend Pete Natkowitz, froht just care to drop in on her It's possible, of course, that she is looking for so to her husband's dealings too kindly If she would like safetyWell, why don't you bring her back to London?”
”I'll do all I can, sir”
”Yes” M nodded gravely ”When there's talk of peace, that little country becomes a shade heated, but you've been there before”
”I'll slip off on Friday night”
”To?”
”Don't think that would be wise, sir Don't worry, though, I'll report back to you personally before I bring anyone else into the charmed circle”
”Good, and in return I'll make certain you're covered at this end Get onto the usual nuet hold of Natkowitz?”
”No probleet some rest?”
”I'll have plenty of time to rest in the hereafter, James Stay and talk with ood old naval name, but she has no heart”
As if on cue, Nurse Frobisher appeared with a tray on which she had set tea, three cups, and a plate of biscuits ”It's tiht sht tea wouldn't come amiss”
It soon became obvious to Bond that he was also part of M'sbroad hints that he should stay and talk At one point she said quietly that it would be a good idea to tire her patient so that he would be forced to rest In the end it was after five before he left, heading back to London
As soon as he opened the door to the flat, he knew that Flicka was not in the best of moods
”You didn't even have ti to be out?” she asked, a tincture of acid in her tone
”It was very secure, I'ot that impression from Lady Muck in your office I suppose you do know that she treats everyone as if she's the boss when the boss is away?”
”No, I -”
”Oh, yes Acts like a wife, and has that stupid naure Her skirts have been getting shorter by the day since she took over, but I don't suppose you would notice anything like that?”
”Will you shut up!” Bond shouted at her ”This is i pause, during which they seemed to smolder at each other across the roo to Jerusalee”
Flicka re his explanation of the visit to M, except at the point when he mentioned Nurse Frobisher Under her breath sheabout nurses' uniforht
”No, mid-twenties and very attractive, but I was there to talk with M” He cut her down
”So we tell nobody?” she asked when he had finished relating the entire story
”Not a soul, so you keep your pretty littleup to hi her face to be kissed
Whenever he arrived at Ben Gurion International, Bond felt the sareeted each other with kisses, hugs, and even tears These were people returning to the hoe sense of joy Yet er Every time he flew into this part of the world he felt it like a dark cloud around him, and saw it in the faces of the soldiers and police on duty at the airport It epito like a lion to the small strip of land it called its own, the houre of Pete Natkowitz - thatfroht froood to see you” He e-lost brother, then turned to Flicka
”And you ave her a bearin
”Who in heaven calls enuinely baffled
”James's old boss Called you that over the telephone to me Mind you, it was a secure line”
He led them outside where a car waited to take the David's okay for you, Jah the traffic would take care of itself, for he constantly took his eyes off the road, even turned right around in his seat while traveling at speed
”Still as noisy as ever, I presume?”
”Terrible, but if you build a hotel in the middle of Jerusale David, Flicka?”
”I haven't had that pleasure”
”Oh, then you're in for a treat It's faded Victorian England at its best Well, perhaps not at its best, because it's a sort of ance with a blend of the Orient The pool and Oriental gardens et I' fazes theine they're still living under the British Mandate” He launched into the old story, perfectly true, that while the war of independence was at its height a telephoned bo David was taken with typical British sangfroid - with disastrous results They siuests or take any precautions, but sireat deal of dae and killed dozens of people
Pete waited in the lobby as they were taken up to their rooency Grill, where they could have been eating in the heart of London - the menu was more British than most of the hotel restaurants in the capital of the UK, but by the same token it also included the best of Jewish food
They talked like any old friendsfor the first time in a couple of years, and Pete Natkowitz made certain that Flicka was not left out It was not until they were about to leave that Pete said quietly, ”She's in suite 510 I can provide any help you o back to London with you A very beautiful lady, and her co”
”Coirls she's traveling with They seem to be very close, but they're a pair of stunners”
Natkowitz gave Flicka his char
”I think we should try her straightaway” Bond explained that, with the liht be best to see what Lady Tarn could add to the information they already had in their possession ”If she feels under any threat froht like to know that she has our support”
Flicka siot into the lift, and Bond stood back to let two young woe As the doors closed, he took a quick look in the direction of the two girls; there was so inexplicably familiar about thened pant suits, one in gray, the other scarlet, and both hite silk shi+rts It was only when they all walked out of the lift on the fifth floor that he saw the bandaged hand on the blonde
At the same moment, the brunette spoke in a low, husky voice ”How nice to see you, Mr Bond We thought we'd never ain”
”But we have,” the blonde added ”And with the lovely Flicka as well”
Flicka's mouth dropped open as the truth hit her
”It's really us,” said Cuthbert