〃Not immediately。〃 Bond glowered； like a schoolboy。
And nobody seemed at all concerned about my feelings。
Head of Service didn't appear even to understand why I got annoyed。〃
〃So you resigned？ Just like that？〃
〃More or less。〃
〃It's a very good story。 Tamil Rahani looked pleased。
〃But it will be difficult to prove； if I know anything about government departments。
〃Exceptionally difficult；' Bond agreed。
〃Tell me； what did the files in question contain？〃
〃Ah。〃 Bond tried to look as charming as possible。 〃Now you're really asking me to betray。〃
〃Yes。〃 Rahani was quite matter…of…fact。
〃Mainly updated material on the disposition of Eastern Bloc tactical forces。 One concerned agents on the ground and their proximity to the Eastern bases。〃 Rahani's eyebrows twitched。
〃Sensitive。 I see。 Well； mander； I shall make a few enquiries。 In the meantime； perhaps Simon will show you around Erewhon； and we'll continue to have little talks。〃
〃You mean interrogations？〃 Rahani shrugged。 〃If you like。 Your future career depends on what you tell us now。 Quite painless； I assure you。
As they reached the door； Bond turned back。 〃May I ask you a question； sir？〃
〃Of course。〃
〃You bear a striking resemblance to a Mr。 Tamil Rahani； chairman of Rahani Electronics。 I believe you've been in Monte Carlo recently？〃 Rahani's laugh had all the genuine warmth of an angry cobra。 〃You should know； mander。 You were raising a fair amount of hell at the gaming tables on the Cete d'Azur at the time； I think。〃
〃Touche'； sir。〃 Bond followed Simon out into the sunshine。
They went first to a mess hall where about eighty people were enjoying a lunch of chicken cooked with peppers； onions； almonds and garlic。
Everyone wore the same olive uniform。 Some carried side arms。 There were men and women； mainly young； and from many different countries。
They sat in pairs or teams of four。 That was how the training went； Simon explained。 They worked with a partner or in teams。 Sometimes two teams would be put together； if the work demanded it。 Some of the pairs were training to be loners。
〃Doing what？〃 Bond asked。
〃Oh； we cover the usual spectrum。 Big bang merchants； take away artists； removal men； monopoly teams。 You name it； we do it electricians； mechanics； drivers； all the necessary humdrum jobs too。〃 Bond identified a number of different tongues being spoken in the hall … German； French； Italian。 There were also Israelis； Irish； and even English he was told。 He almost immediately identified a pair of German terrorists whose names and details were on file with his Service； M。I。5 and at Scotland Yard。
〃If you want anonymity； I shouldn't use those two in Europe；' he told Simon quietly。 〃They've both got star billing with our people。〃
〃That's good。 Thank you。 We prefer unknowns； and I had a feeling about that couple。 Everyone has had some field work behind them when they e here； but we don't like faces。〃 Simon gave a knowing grin。
〃We do need them though。 Some have to be lost； you know。 It es in handy during training。〃 Throughout the afternoon； they walked around the well…equipped training area； and Bond experienced the odd sensation of having seen all this before。 It took an hour or so to work out exactly what was wrong。 These men and women were being trained in techniques he had seen used by the S。A。S Germany's G。S。G。9； the French G。I。G。N and several other elite units dealing with anti…terrorist activities。 There was one difference； however。 The trainees at Erewhon were receiving expert tuition on how to counter anti…terrorist action。
Apart from classes in weaponry of all kinds； special attention was paid to hijacking and takeover。 They even had two flight simulators in the pound。 One building was devoted solely to the techniques of bargaining with authorities while holding either hostages or kidnap victims。 The skills were being taught extremely thoroughly。
One of the most spectacular training aids lay around the gutted buildings Bond had noticed earlier。 Here a team of four would be taught how to fight off attempted rescues employing all the known counter…terrorist techniques。 It was disturbing to note that most eventualities appeared to be covered。
That night Bond slept again in the same sparsely furnished room where he had first woken。 On the following day； the interrogation began。 It was conducted on a classic one…to…one basis … Tamil Rahani and James Bond … with Rahani asking seemingly ordinary questions that were； in fact； attempts to ferret out highly sensitive information about Bond's Service。
Rahani began with reasonably harmless stuff； such as organisation and channels of mand。 Soon； detail was being called for； and Bond had to use all his native ingenuity to give the appearance of telling everything； at the same time keeping back really vital information。
Rahani was like a terrier。 Just when Bond thought he had managed to avoid giving some piece of information； Rahani would change tack； going in a circle to return to the nub of the question。 It became all too obvious that once they had milked him dry； Bond would be quietly thrown to the wolves。
On the sixth day Rahani was still hammering away at the same questions concerning details of protection for heads of state； the Prime Minister； the Queen and other members of the Royal Family。 This was no part of Bond's own work； or the work of his Service； but Rahani quite rightly assumed that Bond would know a great deal about it。 He even wanted names； possible weaknesses in those assigned to such duties； and the kind of schedules they worked。 At about five o'clock in the afternoon； a message was brought in。 Rahani read it； then slowly folded the paper and looked at Bond。
〃Well； mander； it seems your days here are numbered。 There is a job for you back in England。 Something very important is at last ing to fruition； and you are to be part of it。 You are on salary as from now。
He picked up one of his telephones and asked for Simon to e over as quickly as possible。 Bond had learnt by now that they used first names at Erewhon for everyone except the Officer manding。
〃mander Bond is with us；' he told Simon。 〃There's work for him； and he leaves for England tomorrow。 You will escort him。〃 An odd look passed between the two men before Rahani continued。 〃But； Simon； we have yet to see the gallant mander in action。 Would it be a good idea to put him through the Charnel House？〃
〃He'd like that； I'm sure； sir。
The Charnel House was a gallows…humour nickname for the gutted buildings they used for training against counter…terrorist forces。
Simon said he would set things up； and they walked the short distance to the area； where Simon left to make the arrangements。 Ten minutes later； he returned； taking Bond inside the house。
Though the place was gutted and bore the marks of many simulated battles； it had been remarkably well built。 There was a large entrance hall inside the solid main door。 Two short passages to left and right led to large rooms； which were uncarpeted； but contained one or two pieces of furniture。 At the top of a solid staircase was a wide landing with one door。 Through this a long passage ran the length of the house with doors on the facing wall leading into two rooms built directly above those on the ground floor。 Simon led Bond upstairs。
〃There will be a team of four。 Blank ammunition； of course； but real flash…bangs。〃 Flash…bangs were stun grenades； not the most pleasant thing to be near on detonation。 〃The brief is that they know you are somewhere upstairs。〃 Simon pulled out the ASP 9mm。 〃Nice weapon； James。 Very nice。 Who would think it has the power of a 。44
Magnum？〃
〃You've been playing with my toys。
〃Couldn't resist it。 There … one magazine of blanks； and one spare。 Use your initiative； James。 Good luck。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃You have three minutes。
Bond quickly reconnoited the building and placed himself in the upper corridor； since it had no windows。
He stayed close to the door which opened on to the landing； but was well shielded by the corridor wall。 He was crouched against the wall when the stun grenades exploded in the