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[al]

Current day!

M turned from the window. "Sit down. 007 I've got you booked on the 3:00 flight from Heathrow to Cleveland."

"Has there been an upgrade of the American threat level?" asked Bond. He was fully aware of the American Political Convention being held in Boston. Several high ranking members of the Labor Party were attending with full Special Branch guardianship. The American response to the threat from al Queda was a very tight security cordon around the convention. But M was sending him to Cleveland. "Why Cleveland?"

"Well, while every security operative in Europe is preparing for the olympics and the Americans are preparing to protect their politicians, a new threat has come to our attention. We have it on not very reliable means that an offshoot of al Queda, a free lancer, is in fact preparing to attack Innocents in Cleveland. At this weekend's World Children's Games."

"My god, Charles Robinson's niece is there, running one of the footraces." said Bond.

"Yes, and Charles is with her. However we don't have any confirming sources for this data, but a world-wide target against children, al queda could hardly pass it up. Especially in the heartland of the United States. It would be too shocking for the public to contemplate. It would certainly upset their election process, if thousands of children were harmed while they are pontificating. A tragedy like that could give al queda the leverage they have been looking for."

"There are thousands of children there." said Bond.

"Over three thousand athletes, with parents, many countries sent bodyguards, but against a large scale assault they won't be very effective. We need to confirm this threat and stop it. If there is none, then we'll have wasted a few pounds to send you over there, and you'll get to see Charle's niece run. But if the threat is real, you are those children's only hope. You'll have cover as a reporter for Rueters. Good luck, 007."

As Bond sat reading the literature for the games in his flight seat, it appeared that the event that would have the most impact would be the pizza party Sunday night. 20,000 people would be in the small downtown area watching the movie GREASE on the worlds largest JUMBOTRON. He figured that the pizza itself or the Jumbotron might be used as a weapon. But then remembering September 11, Bond realized that above the mall where the thousands of people would be milling was the Terminal tower, 30 stories of concrete and steel, and that might be a weapon also...