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They do not stop to tell the worthy ladies at Greenham mon or the marchers in London。〃
〃Nobody tells the protesters in the United States either。〃 Bond watched as his opponent edged even larger numbers of men towards the waiting British guns； and fought a small skirmish along the constant battlefront of the country between Boston and Concord。
〃And yet； if it came； James； what would happen？〃
〃Your guess is as good as mine。 Certainly not the big bang and the mushroom cloud。 More like the bright lights and a very nasty chemical cloud。〃
〃Quite 。 。 。
I challenge from this hex。〃 Holy's arm moved out； to an area between Concord and Lexington； where British troops were now much thinner on the ground。 〃No； it will be neutrons and chemicals。 A lot of death； but little destruction。 Then a confrontation in space； with the Soviets holding the big stick up there。〃
〃Unless the United States and NATO have done something to equalise things。 That's what is going on； isn't it？〃 Why this？ Bond asked himself。 Why talk to me about the balance of power； and the place nuclear weapons play in that balance？
Then he recalled the sound advice always given in classes on interrogation … listen to the words； ignore the orchestration that makes the banal words seem more intelligent； the clever； soaring strings that take your mind from the cheap potency of simple； emotional ideas。
By now it was late January in the game and； at a Challenge； Bond had to reveal there were British forces ringing the far side of Concord。 Jay Autem Holy started to cut them apart with his Colonial Militia； sniping across the winter landscape。 Bond saw how addictive this kind of exercise could bee。 You could almost feel the cold and fatigue which played havoc with men's strength and fighting ability。
You even heard the crack of musket fire； and saw the blood staining the dirty snow in some farmer's field。
Dr Jay Autem Holy was not really talking about the lopsided balance of power。 He was talking about the need to end the whole system which controlled that balance。
〃Would the world not be a better and safer place if the real strength were removed？〃 he asked； making another foray into the bleak Massachusetts winter scene。 〃If the stings were drawn from the superpowers' tails？〃
〃If it were possible； yes；' Bond agreed。 〃It would be better； but I doubt safer。 The world's always been a dangerous place。〃 One more turn and he would have to declare his presence in the hills。
Holy leaned back； temporarily stopping play。 〃We're involved in halting the race to the holocaust … nuclear； neutron or chemical。 To you is entrusted the task of getting that EPOC frequency。 Now； do you yet have a way？〃 As though he did not expect an answer； he played through his turn； concentrating on bringing men well into the British firing zone。
〃I have the makings of a plan。 It will require certain information in advance 〃What kind of information？〃
〃When you need the frequency； I shall have to know； a little ahead of time； exactly who is the Duty Security Officer； for the night in question； at the Foreign Office。
〃That presents no problem。 One man does the job for a whole week； yes？〃
〃As a rule。〃
〃And he is a senior officer？〃 Bond spread the fingers of his right hand； making a rocking movement。 〃Let's say middle management。
〃But you are likely to know him？〃
〃That's why I have to get a name。 If you can't provide it； I shall have to telephone 〃We can。
〃Then； if I know him； I shall still have to make a call。
If he is unknown to me … an unlikely possibility … I'll have to think again。〃
〃If you know him？〃
〃I have a way of getting in。 I should need an hour at the most in his pany。〃 Bond prayed it would work。
He had to have some munication with the outside world。
〃I challenge you here。〃 Bond's finger hovered around the upper reaches of Breed's Hill。
〃But。 。 。 〃 his opponent began； then realised the trap which Bond had sprung。
A few minutes later； as he faced slaughter on the slopes of Bunker's Hill； having lost the majority of his men and arms on Dorchester Heights and Breed's Hill；Jay Autem angrily told Bond that he would have plenty of warning。
〃You'll know who the officer is； that I promise you。〃 He watched as Bond revealed two more cannon to counterattacking militia on the far side of the hill。 〃This is the wrong way round；' he said； barely controlling his rage。
〃And Bunker's Hill shouldn't happen until June。 It's hardly February！〃
〃And this is the fiction；' Bond said。 〃The reality's history … even though a great deal of history happens to be fiction too。〃 He was quite pleased with his showing on this simulation； and allowed imagination to run riot。 The weather for this series of turns was heavy rain； with a cold blustery wind running up from the sea。 The wind raged as men and guns were locked on the barren hill； their cries lost in the cold； while the rebels still in Boston were at the mercy of British guns from Dorchester and Breed's Hill。
Then； suddenly； the storm broke。 Jay Autem Holy's chest seemed to swell； and his cheeks turned from red to crimson。
〃You 。 。 。 You 。 。 。 You 。 。 。〃 The voice rose to a scream。
〃You've beaten me！ ME！〃 One huge hand swept the papers from his playing area； then came down in a fist。
〃How dare you？ How dare you even It was an awesome rage as he spluttered； stamping his feet； kicking the table。 Awesome； and yet funny； as a child's tantrums are amusing yet distressing。 He went on spluttering； blustering； out of control to the extent that Bond thought he would be physically attacked。 The man was； as he had already thought； quite unhinged； with a dangerous； deep…seated madness。
Then； as suddenly as the rage had begun； it stopped。
There was no dusk； no twilight； for sanity appeared to return； and he stood； looking for a brief moment like a chastened child。
〃The Militia could rally yet。〃 The voice was small； throaty。 〃But we've played too long。 I have other things to do。 Better things。
He stood； as though winning or losing a game were now of little consequence to him。 When he spoke again； the tone was pletely normal； as if nothing unusual had taken place； quiet and conversational； making it all the more bizarre。
〃The object of spending this time with you was to hear how your thoughts were shaping up … regarding your part in the operation。 Tell me； if you happen to know the man on duty； how do you propose to get the frequency from him？〃 Bond was amazed to see from his watch that it was eight in the evening。 He began to tell Holy of the method he had prepared。 When he had finished； silence stretched out … the hush in the aftermath of a battle fought with counters instead of men； and on a board and map instead of ground。 As the seconds ticked by； Bond thought perhaps there had been a miscalculation。 Word perfect； he sifted through his mind。 Was there any really weak point？ Anything that Jay Autem Holy could grab at to prove the whole idea an insubstantial fiction … which； certainly； it was。
Then the silence ended； and a laugh began to rise from the tall man's throat； the head nodding in great beaky movements； as if preparing to tear his prey apart； savaging it with that sharp bill。
〃Oh yes； James Bond。 I told them you were the only possible choice。 If you can pull that off we'll all be happy。〃 He appeared to pull himself together； eyes darting around； as though he had been on the brink of an indiscretion。
The laughter subsided； and Bond was aware of movement； noises off。
People were entering the main laboratory area。
〃We have been down here too long；' Holy snapped。 〃I took the trouble to ask Cindy to make up a tray for you。
In your room。 I shall eat later。〃 Superman； thought Bond。 He's telling me that he's a survivor。 Go without food and drink for long periods。
〃In the desert；' Bond said softly； 〃when you were with Zwingli after you jumped from that aeroplane … did you have to go long without food and drink？〃 The green eyes went bitterly cold； all sign of normal human life ebbing from them。
〃Clever； Mr。 Bond。 How long have you known？〃 Realising that he might have overplayed his hand； and not certain why he had done it； Bond said he had not been sure； but had suspected the truth from their first meeting。 〃It just happened that I'd read the old file： they resurrect it from time to time； you know。 I thought I knew your face the moment we met … when I came here with Freddie。 During the evening； I became more convinced； but still not absolutely certain。 After all； if you are Jay Autem Holy； you've been dead a long time。〃
〃And what if you had still been on active service； Mr。 Bond？ Would you have gone running to your superiors？
And why； incidentally； is the file resurrected regularly？〃
〃You know what the Colonial Militia is like；' Bond tried to inject humour into his voice。 〃Your Colonial Militia。 They jump at ghosts。
Spooks。〃 Holy made a growling noise。 〃Tamil was right。 It's a pity we didn't pull you in sooner。 His people tried； against my advice。 You see； I did not wish to deal with yet another hostage； another woman。 You had some woman with you； didn't you？ Anyway； the job was bungled； you were quick and cunning。〃 The tense atmosphere changed yet again。 There were no warnings with Holy。 〃Well； I have work to do。 You stand by； James。 I'm glad we have you now。〃 Everyone was assembling in the main laboratory； all the young bronzed soldiers from Erewhon。 Bond saw that Zwingli was still in deep conversation with Tamil Rahani； as though they had not stopped since lunch。
〃Just see Mr。 Bond up the stairs；' Holy said to Tigerbalm； giving Bond a small pat on the shoulder； as if reassuring himself that all was well。
Tigerbalm went as far as the landing； and watched as Bond walked to his room。 He remembered being told that Jay Autem Holy was a genius of sorts。 Was it Percy who had told him？ The man obviously lived in that odd world of unreality。 If he said he was dead； then that was exactly what the world should believe。 Holy had been genuinely shaken by the idea that others may not be convinced。 Then there was the question of Percy： 〃You had some woman with you； didn't you？〃 Well； everyone said that Holy would not even recognise his own wife。
He opened the door； and there； for the second time since the whole intrigue had started； was Cindy Chalmer； a hard puter disk clutched in one hand； a finger to her lips。 Bond closed the door。 〃More greetings from Percy？〃 he asked softly。
THE BALLOON GAME
〃No； THIS ONE S on me。 She saw the look in Bond's eye； and followed his gaze； for he had suddenly fallen silent； moving quietly around the room； examining every inch。
Softly she spoke again。 〃It's okay； James。 They have visual surveillance and all the military detection gear； but this lot don't seem to have caught up with the deadly little bug。〃
〃You certain？〃 he mouthed。
〃Swept the place myself。 In my first week。 And I've kept abreast of all the security developments since。 If they've put any sound in； I'll turn back into a virgin。〃 The cruel lips didn't tilt into amusement。 There was nothing to be amused about now。 Even though he appeared satisfied； throughout the time they were together in the room all conversation was conducted in a low murmur。 Foolish； he thought； for that would be as audible as yelling should Cindy be proved wrong。
〃The Balloon Game。〃 She held out the hard disk to him； a small flat square； encased in plastic。
So she had got it； the program which would provide a clue … no； more than a clue … to what SPECTRE had proposed to Rahani and Holy。
Stored away on the waler…thin magnetic disk was the answer to all Bond's questions。 Yet he did not move to take it from her。
〃Well； don't just stand there。 At least say thank you。
He remained silent； wishing to draw her out。 The trick was as old as the trade itself practised constantly by case The Balloon Game officers and agent handlers the world over。 Remain silent and let them e to you； tell you all there is to tell。 Only then should you try to fill in the gaps。
〃They've got four back…up copies；' she said at last； 〃and I just hope to heaven the Old Bald Eagle doesn't need to run t