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1 - “Can I Help You?”
The Secret Service holds much that is kept secret even froanization Only M and his Chief of Staff know absolutely everything there is to know The latter is responsible for keeping the Top Secret record known as The War Book so that, in the event of the death of both of them, the whole story, apart from what is available to individual Sections and Stations, would be available to their successors
One thing that James Bond, for instance, didn't knoas thewith the public, whether friendly or otherwise--drunks, lunatics, bona fide applications to join the Service, and eneents with plans for penetration or even assassination
On that cold, clear wheels in motion
The girl at the switchboard at the Ministry of Defence flicked the switch to HOLD and said to her neighbour, “It's another nut who says he's James Bond Even knows his code number Says he wants to speak to M personally”
The senior girl shrugged The switchboard had had quite a few such calls since, a year before, James Bond's death on a mission to Japan had been announced in the press There had even been one pestiferous woes froot stuck while awaiting entry into heaven She said, “Put hih to Liaison, Pat”
The Liaison Section was the first cog in the ot back on the line: “Just a moment, sir I'll put you on to an officer who may be able to help you”
Jae of his bed, said, “Thank you”
He had expected some delay before he could establish his identity He had been warned to expect it by the chare of him for the past few months after he had finished his treatment in the luxurious Institute on the Nevsky Prospekt in LeningradACan I help you?” ,
James Bond spoke slowly and clearly “This is Co Nuh to M, or his secretary, Miss MoneypennyI want to make an appointment”
Captain Walker pressed two buttons on the side of his telephone One of them switched on a tape recorder for the use of his department, the other alerted one of the duty officers in the Action Room of the Special Branch at Scotland Yard that he should listen to the conversation, trace the call, and at once put a tail on the caller It was now up to Captain Walker, as in fact an extreator fro for as near five minutes as possible He said, “I'm afraid I don't know either of these two people Are you sure you've got the right number?”
Jaent number which was the ether with so otten it, but Colonel Boris had known it and had e of his forged British passport that said his name was Frank Westmacott, company director
“Yes,” said Captain Walker syht But I'm afraid I can't place these people you want to talk to Who exactly are they? This Mr Eot anyone of that name at the Ministry”
“Do you want me to spell it out? You realize this is an open line?”
Captain Walker was rather impressed by the confidence in the speaker's voice He pressed another button, and, so that Bond would hear it, a telephone bell rang He said, “Hang on a moment, would you? There's soot on to the head of his Section “Sorry, sir I've got a chap on who says he's James Bond and wants to talk to M I know it sounds crazy and I've gone through the usual motions with the Special Branch and so on, but would youfor a minute? Thank you, sir”
Two rooms away a harassed man, as the Chief Security Officer for the Secret Service, said “Blast!” and pressed a switch A microphone on his desk came to life The Chief Security Officer sat very still He badly needed a cigarette, but his room was now live to Captain Walker and to the lunatic who called himself “Jath “I'm so sorry Now then This man Mr Em you want to talk to I'm sure we needn't worry about security Could you be more specific?”
James Bond frowned He didn't know that he had frowned, and he wouldn't have been able to explain why he had done so He said, and lowered his voice, again inexplicably, “Admiral Sir Miles Messervy He is head of a department in your Ministry The nuhth floor He used to have a secretary called Miss Moneypenny Good-looking girl Brunette Shall I give you the Chief of Staff's name? No? Well, let's see, it's Wednesday Shall I tell you what'll be the main dish on the ”