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"Compound fracture of the tibia," said the matron "No complications" She smiled "Except that he's a bit fresh with the nurses He should be walking with a stick in ten days He's already seen the police I suppose it's all to do with that story in the Gleaner about those Ae collapsed But the Co it all personally The story in the Gleaner's very vague"
The doctor sot the tune to listen to the Multiple crash at Halfway Tree The ambulances'll be here any minute" He hurried away The matron went about her business The nurse, excited by all this high-level talk, went softly back into the green-shaded rooht shoulder of her patient where the doctor had pulled it down, and went back to her chair at the end of the bed and her copy of Ebony
Ten days later, the little roo extra pilloas aalaxy of officialdom that had been assembled On his left was the Commissioner of Police, resplendent in his black uniforht was a justice of the Suprealia, accoure, to whom Felix Leiter, on crutches, was fairly respectful, had been introduced as "Colonel Bannister" frotonHead of Station C, a quiet civil servant called Alec Hill, who had been flown out fro eyes unwaveringly on Bond Mary Goodnight, as to take notes of the proceedings but also, on the ue in Ja if he showed strain, sat demurely beside the bed with a shorthand pad on her knees But Jahted to see all these people and know that at last he was back in the great world again The only matters that worried him were that he had not been allowed to see Felix Leiter before the ree their stories and that he had been rather curtly advised by the High Coal representation would not be necessary
The Police Commissioner cleared his throat He said, "Coely a formality, but it is held on the Prime Minister's instructions and with your doctor's approval There arearound the island and abroad, and Sir Alexander Bustamante is most anxious to have theood na is in the nature of a judicial inquiry having Prime Ministerial status We veryare satisfactory, there need be no s whatever You understand?"
"Yes," said Bond--who didn't
"Now," the Cohtily 'The facts as ascertained are as follows Recently there took place at the Thunderbird Hotel in the Parish of Westangsters of outstanding notoriety, including representatives of the Soviet secret service, the Mafia, and the Cuban secret police The objects of this e of Jamaican installations in the cane industry, sti in the island and purchase of the crop for export, the bribery of a high Jaa in the island, and sundry other malfeasances deleterious to law and order in Ja Am I correct, Commander?"
"Yes," said Bond, this tune with a clear conscience
"Now" The Coreater eroup becaation Department of the Jamaican police and the facts of the proposed assembly were placed before the Prireatest secrecy was observed A decision then had to be reached as to how thiswas to be kept under surveillance and penetrated so that its intentionsBritain and the United States , were involved, secret conversations took place with the representatives of the Ministry of Defence in Britain and of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United StatesAs a result, expert personnel in the shape of yourself, Mr Nicholson and Mr Leiter were generously overnainst Jamaica held on Jamaican soil" The Commissioner paused and looked round the room to see if he had stated the position correctly Bond noticed that Felix Leiter nodded his head vigorously with the others, but, in his case, in Bond's direction
Bond sreely," continued the Cohout under the closest liaison and direction of the Jamaican CID, Messrs Bond, Nicholson, and Leiter carried out their duties in exesters were unveiled, but alas, in the process, the identity of at least one of the Jaents was discovered and a battle royal took place During the course of this, thanks to the superior gunfire of Coents-- here there will be a list--were killed Ienious use of explosive on the Orange River Bridge , the following--another list--lost their lives Unfortunately, two of the Jaents received severe wounds fro in the Memorial HospitalIt remains to ril Constabulary, as first on the scene of the final battlefield, and Dr Lister Smith of Savannah La Mar, who rendered vital first aid to Commander Bond and Mr Leiter On the instructions of the Prune Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, a judicial inquiry was held this day at the bedside of Commander Bond and in the presence of Mr Felix Leiter to confirm the above facts These, in the presence of Justice Morris Cargill of the Supreme Court, are now and hereby confirhted with his rendering of all this rigmarole He beamed at Bond "It only remains" he handed Bond a sealed packet, a similar one to Felix Leiter, and one to Colonel Bannister--"to confer on Commander Bond of Great Britain, Mr Felix Leiter of the United States, and, in absentia, Mr Nicholas Nicholson of the United States, the iallant and meritorious services to the Independent State of Jaht went on clapping after the others had stopped She suddenly realized the fact, blushed furiously, and stopped
Jaill rose to his feet and, in solemn tones, asked Bond and Leiter in turn, "Is this a true and correct account of what occurred between the given dates?"
"Yes, indeed," said Bond
"I'll say it is, Your Honour," said Felix Leiter fervently
The Judge bowed All except Bond rose and bowed Bond just bowed "In that case, I declare this inquiry closed" The bewigged figure turned to Miss Goodnight "If you will be land enough to obtain all the signatures, duly witnessed, and send them round to my chambers? Thank you so much" He paused and smiled "And the carbon, if you don't lanced at Bond "And now, if you will forgive me, I think the patient needs a rest Matron was most insistent"