Part 17 (1/2)
Froreen and pleasant land ringed by a shi+ sea As their aircraft approached the rocky beaches, it seeh sculpted onto a wonderful model, surrounded by an unreal emerald sea Puerto Rico - Rich Port - is exactly what this island was for over four centuries: wealthy and powerful, the strategic gateway to the Caribbean, cooled by the gentle trade winds; guarded and nurtured by Spain, but also prey to pirates and acquisitive countries who coveted this staging point to the New World
In the late twentieth century, it has again becoh touris in the port at San Juan, and the new luxury hotels and casinos, which line the shore of San Jose Lagoon, entice holidayh rollers
Yet, side by side with its opulence and natural wonders, this lovely island has a dark side The probles, poverty, and violence lurk, often unhidden, particularly in the old city of San Juan
As they made the final approach into Luis Munoz Marin International, Bond ree strip of bridge that had only recently been cooon They seeh-rise buildings, and Flicka, usually oblivious to approach and landing dangers on commercial aircraft, closed her eyes and waited for the safe buear touched down on what even Bond considered a slightly narroay, a shade close to a long line of trees on their left side
nobody asked to see passports or any other docue from the carousel for them seemed quite happy to summon a taxi, and even happier with his tip The driver of the cab asked if a price of twenty dollars was okay by them Bond nodded, and the side the lagoon, gliers often stay in their hordes for one or two nights either before leaving or at the end of the cruise These se casinos and afast-food joints imported from the United States, were often all visitors saw, except for a quick outing to Old San Juan and the two great forts, Castillo San Felipe del Morro - usually referred to simply as El Morro - and Castillo de San Cristobal Fortifications which rank a
Their driver skirted the old town and finally deposited the the San Juan Cathedral Porters hurried down steps to their left, and after Bond paid for the cab, he turned to see the i entrance to the Gran Hotel El Convento For two hundred and fifty years, El Convento was home to the island's Cared, beautifully refurbished, as a unique caravansary
Once through the ancient doors, they found theht upstairs to their beautiful airy roohost of a nun here?” Flicka laughed ”Isome old holy woman's cell”
”I don't think whoever lived here before would even recognize it The Carmelites are a rather strict order Wouldn't knoork the TV anyway”
They had been told to go through the registration procedure once they had settled in, so Bond went down, coe had arrived for the woman at reception told him mat there were two special cases that would be delivered to the room directly
He was on his way back when an instantly recognizable voice spoke from behind him
”Just in time for a predinner drink, James, old buddy”
”Felix!” He turned and could hardly believe that his old friend, Felix Leiter, stood behind hi stick, a broad s ed, I see Noticed you arrived with a gorgeous lady in tow”
”There's a surprise for you regarding the lady” He looked affectionately at his old friend, who for ency That career had been cut short by an arguh you would hardly know that he had lost both a leg and an arm True, he walked with the aid of a stick, but the prosthetic leg and arm allowed him to live an almost normal life
”You here on business?” Bond stepped close to his old friend
”You never get to leave the business completely, James You should know that They just pulled on ht me back When they told ood, and the food and drink are more than bearable”
”How's Cedar?” Cedar Leiter was Felix's daughter, who had followed in her father's footsteps Much to her father's concern, she had even worked with Bond on a case soetting irl”
”Can you see Cedarman who never had to do a day's work in his life because his daddyin oil, way back when the USA produced all the gas you needed and then some?”
”She'd kno to spend histhat she'd soon find hiuy has all this money and he's never been any further than New York City - and he thinks that den of iniquity is 'cool and awesome' Those were his exact words, and he's over forty years old”
Bond leaned closer, and his lips hardly ?”
”About Apocalypse? Sure, I know most of what you know I've even been across the island to look at the little country place he has here I'll take you over for a look-see toain, eh?”
”I ao and bring your lady down to the Campana Bar Still like your redients?”
”Yes indeed, even though the author of a book called Drink”
Leiter's laugh followed Bond as he took long strides in the direction of the cloistered arches and their roo a pair of heavy aluot in those?” Flicka had already unpacked and showered She sat at the elegant little dressing table putting on her warpaint, as she liked to call it ”They look like camera cases”
”A shade ed codes on the locks of the cases and found the note in the first one he opened Ann Reilly had done her best regarding the larger item for which he had asked
Soet the thing if you really need it
As he went through the weapons, a-crate foam rubber, he told Flicka about Felix Leiter
”You et to meet him at last?” She had heard et to meet him” He lifted the foam rubber from the bottom of the second case to reveal five boxes about six inches long and two across ”She did it,” he muttered ”Little jewels” He wondered how on earth Q'ute had le explosives onto the island
”Where?”
”Not your kind of jewels, darling This kind will blow people to kingdoht?”
”A skirt”
”There you go, then Your favorite Beretta and a thigh holster”
”Oh, your favorite, Ja hihs that he had ever seen - when she had suddenly drawn a pistol from that same type of holster in Switzerland
While she finished dressing, he took a quick shower, changed into slacks, comfortable htweight blazer - e es in her small items of jewelry - and a lot of ”What do you think, James? This one, or this?” - they went down to join Felix in the Campana Bar, where he already had a couple of et too far behind” He gave Flicka a warneur where Bond's girlfriends were concerned
”I'm afraid not with Flicka, Felix” He went on and broke the news to the A at Flicka, ”Tellthis time, but for heaven's sake don't tell anyone They'd whizbullet”
Felix said he was the ton, but this news, of course, called for chane, which he ordered immediately Under cover of the small ceremony by the waiters, he leaned over and spoke quietly to Bond ”There's a face over there I kinda recognize, James You ever seen him before?”
There were only three other people in the bar Two ether, very relaxed and in deep conversation
”The one with the beard?”