Bond was halfway down the stairs when he finally got through to M.
‘You’re still alive, thank God.’ M told him. ‘Any news about the bombs?’
‘Not yet but I soon will have.’ He nudged Hamid on, the AK digging into his back. ‘How far away are the people you’re sending over here?’
‘An hour, the most. We’ve located a landing strip not far from the fort. As soon as you’re outside the main door turn right and keep going for twenty minutes. You’ll see the Scorpion land. The question is, can you get there in one piece?’
‘I’ve taken a hostage who has the information we need. Name is Ali Hamid. He’s Sabah’s right hand man. He’s offered to talk if I spare him.’
‘Good. The Americans informed us that getting the Anti Proton bombs to work is going to be near impossible without the activation codes so at least in that respect we have some time.’
‘I doubt that,’ Bond told him. ‘Something tells me there’s more to all this than meets the eye. Anyway, who’ve you sent?’
‘Gala Richards and one of her husband’s minders. They’re flying a Scorpion.’
Bond thought of Gala, picturing her face inside his mind and a smile touched his lips.
‘She never could resist the taste for danger. I’ll need them take me to an airstrip just outside Imhasini. Dante Stavros had a plane there which I’m going to use to get to Malta. I’ll need you to pull some strings there of course.’
‘No problem. What about this Hamid.’
‘I’ll get the information you need as soon as I reach the airstrip. He’s reluctant to talk right now. Mind you, check out Sabah’s yacht the Prometheus. I’ll bet my life the bombs are on it.’
‘Will do. Call me when you meet up with Richards.’
Bond hung up as they reached the main door.
‘Right, Ali, we need wheels, old boy.’
‘What’s going on, Bond?’
‘We’re just going for a short ride, that’s all. Then you sing or it’ll be a bullet to the head I assure you.’
Fast and thrilling is what to expect.
The pages are going to fly...
THE MOMENT BEFORE YOU DIE
H A R R Y F A W K E S