By Royal Command (32 page)

‘We can’t stop you, I suppose,’ said Merriot, ‘but we’d
really
rather you didn’t.’

‘They must know that I left with Roan.’

‘An affair of the heart, nothing more.’

Nothing more?

James shook Merriot’s hand.

‘Sometimes,’ said Merriot, ‘we don’t know if what we’re doing is right. But perhaps you have seen enough of what Hitler is up to to know that he’s someone who must be stopped.’

‘Yes,’ said James.

‘Come along,’ said Buchanan. ‘I’d like to be back in time for supper. Can we trust the boy?’

‘Yes,’ said Merriot.

‘Will you come down with us?’ said Nevin.

‘I’ll stay a little while longer,’ said James. ‘And enjoy the last of the sun.’

‘You can sign the papers in the morning before we leave,’ said Buchanan.

‘As you wish,’ said James. ‘But I’ve shaken on it, and that’s really all you need.’

Buchanan grunted and set off back towards the cable-car station. Nevin gave a tip of the hat and followed. Merriot hung back.

‘Goodbye,’ he said. ‘I really shall miss you. But I’m sure we shall meet again, somewhere along the way.’

‘Goodbye,’ said James. ‘Thank you for organising all this. I’m sure it wasn’t as straightforward as you’ve made it seem. I reckon Sir Donald was all for locking me up and throwing away the key.’

Merriot winked.

‘Clever lad,’ he said, and turned to go.

‘One more thing,’ said James.

‘Yes?’

‘Roan? Do you know what her real name was?’

‘Her married name was Roan Cullinan,’ said Merriot. ‘But she never used it, for reasons of security.’

‘And her maiden name?’

‘Turns out she was who she claimed to be. Roan Power. That was her real name all along.’

‘Thank you.’

James watched as Merriot stuck his pipe back into his mouth and set off after the other two with his long loping stride.

James stayed there until he was sure that the others had gone, and then he stayed a while longer, feeling the heat drain out of the day. At last he stood, stretched his aching muscles, and began the walk down to Kitzbühel. He wouldn’t take the cable-car. He wanted time to think, and he thought best when he was walking. The winding track down the mountain would take him a couple of hours, but he was in no hurry.

He remembered that other time, coming down the mountain with Miles Langton-Herring. It seemed a lifetime ago.

He was pleased that Charmian was here. She knew how to make him happy and take his mind off his worries. Maybe she would stay for a while – she would like the Oberhausers, and James could show her the mountains.

He felt lighter and happier already. Perhaps it really was as easy as this. He would sign some pieces of paper and everything would be forgotten as if it had never happened. He would go to his new school, Fettes, and start again. Nobody would know him, nobody would expect anything of him. Except Perry. James smiled. Yes, he’d forgotten that Perry was at Fettes. The place wouldn’t be entirely alien. Oh, some boy would no doubt try to bully him when he got there, to show that he was in charge and James was an insignificant newcomer, but he would deal with that. He hadn’t been scared of mere boys for a long time.

At the first turn of the path he found Hannes Oberhauser waiting for him.

‘I thought you would come this way,’ he said, grinning.

‘You know me too well,’ said James.

Oberhauser put his arm across James’s shoulders and they walked together.

‘I wanted to make sure that you were all right.’

‘I’m all right,’ said James, and he meant it.

‘Helga is making Wiener schnitzel for dinner,’ said Hannes. ‘I know it is one of your favourites.’

‘It is,’ said James.

‘Your aunt will be joining us. I have met her – she seems a lovely woman.’

‘She is,’ said James.

They walked on down the track, and were soon lost among the tall pine trees.

A chamois came out of hiding and looked carefully in the direction they had gone, then, with one bound, he too disappeared.

The mountain was quiet.

Acknowledgements

As this book brings to a close this chapter of James Bond’s life I wanted to properly thank all the people who have helped me in the writing of the series. Some I have thanked before, but it will do no harm to thank them again.

Vicky Fullick

Frank, Jim and Sidney

Kate Jones

Alexandra Cann

Susan Powell

Bernard Fergusson for his book
Eton Portrait

Zoë Watkins

Corinne Turner

Fleur Gooch

Kate Grimond

Lucy Fleming

Matthew Fleming

Rebecca McNally

Amanda Punter

Adele Minchin

Kirsten Grant

Francesca Dow

Lucy Chavasse and all at Colman Getty

Michael Meredith

Nick Baker

All the boys and girls who have read the books

John Cox

Ian Fleming