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CHAPTER I

THE RED CARPET

THERE are ent There are assignments on which he is required to act the part of a very richto efface the er and the shadow of death; and tiuest in the territory of an allied Secret Service

From the moment the BOAC Stratocruiser taxied up to the International Air Terminal at Idlewild, James Bond was treated like royalty

When he left the aircraft with the other passengers he had resigned hiration and Custoht, of overheated, drab-green roouilt and the fear that hangs round all frontiers, fear of those closed doors marked PRIVATE that hide the careful ently to Washington, to the Bureau of Narcotics, Counter Espionage, the Treasury, the FBI

As he walked across the tar over the network: BOND, JAMES BRITISH DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT 0094567, the short wait and the replies co back on the different machines : NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE And then, from the FBI: POSITIVE AWAIT CHECK There would be soence Agency and then: FBI TO IDLEWILD: BOND OKAY OKAY, and the bland official out front would hand him back his passport with a ’Hope you enjoy your stay, Mr Bond’

Bond shrugged his shoulders and followed the other passengers through the wire fence towards the door marked US HEALTH SERVICE

In his case it was only a boring routine, of course, but he disliked the idea of his dossier being in the possession of any foreign power Anonymity was the chief tool of his trade Every thread of his real identity that went on record in any file diminished his value and, ultimately, was a threat to his life Here in Aro whose shadow has been stolen by the witchdoctor A vital part of himself was in pawn, in the hands of others Friends, of course, in this instance, but still…

’Mr Bond?’

A pleasant-looking nondescript man in plain clothes had stepped forward fro

’My name’s Halloran Pleased to meet you!’

They shook hands

’Hope you had a pleasant trip Would you follow me, please?’

He turned to the officer of the Airport police on guard at the door

’Okay, Sergeant’

’Okay, Mr Halloran Be seeing you’

The other passengers had passed inside Halloran turned to the left, away froate in the high boundary fence

’Bye, Mr Halloran’

’Bye, Officer Thanks’

Directly outside a black Buick waited, its engine sighing quietly They cliht suitcases were in front next to the driver Bond couldn’t iine how they had been extracted so quickly froe he had seen onlytrolleyed over to Custoo’

Bond sank back luxuriously as the big lih the Dynaflow gears

He turned to Halloran

’Well, that’s certainly one of the reddest carpets I’ve ever seen I expected to be at least an hour getting through Iration Who laid it on? I’m not used to v i p treatment Anyway, thanks very much for your part in it all’

’You’re very welcoarette from a fresh pack of Luckies ’We want toyou want, just say so and it’s yours You’ve got sotonI don’t myself knohy you’re here but it seeuest of the Governet to your hotel as quickly and as comfortably as possible and then I’ll hand over and be on my way May I have your passport a ave it to him Halloran opened a brief-case on the seat beside hies of Bond’s passport until he canature over the dark blue circle of the Departave it back to him Then he took out his pocket-book and extracted a thick white envelope which he gave to Bond

’There’s a thousand dollars in there, Mr Bond’ He held up his hand as Bond started to speak ’And it’s Communistit back at them and you are asked to co-operate and spend this in any way you like on your present assignment I am advised that it will be considered a very unfriendly act if you refuse Let’s please say no more about it and,’ he added, as Bond continued to hold the envelope dubiously in his hand, ’I ah your hands has the knowledge and approval of your own Chief’

Bond eyed hirinned He put the envelope away in his notecase