Chapter 4 – Reputation
2pm
Bond has visited the members only area at various formula one race tracks before, a memorable time he had spent in the paddock at Monte Carlo with M, much at M’s insistence too, meeting Jackie Stewart at the height of his fame, he won the race that time in thrilling style and also was named as the drivers champion over the year. He has also been a talented amateur in the racing world, if his other duties had not demanded so much time and attention, then the skills could have blossomed into a career. In the pit Jackie and Bond shared a warm hearted drink before the race, Bond talked of his Scottish heritage and instantly Stewart was interested.
Bond too admired the fearless man, driving at speeds Bond has not and with a skill that would be useful in Bonds hands. Bond has always been a kind motorist and in his work speed is often essential for success, Jackie agreed to assist Bond to advanced training session once they were both in England. A session which Bond was more than pleased to partake, during the time on the race track Bond improved his driving skills immensely and Jackie said so, Jackie was not a man to mince his words either and with a fierce passion for all things automotive, saying that petrol flowed through his family. Bond got the feeling that he wasn’t the only agent to receive training from Stewart, Jackie was knowledgeable about MI6 and friendly with M, he smiled at the thought and the logic behind it.
Inside the pit lane garages at the race tracks teams of engineers worked on the machines up to the point before the race and often during too, littered around the garages were piles of spare parts and tools, the engineers were the kind of men who stand proud of their work and always share a congratulatory cigar once a job is done well. The scene presented in front of his eyes is not too different, just as he was entering mechanics were busy preparing the boat for its test firing. The machine had its first intake of fuel; just enough to fire the engine for 1 minute during which time a number of tests will be performed. After this any last minute repairs shall commence if required and then the tank shall be filled up to the specifications preset by the engineering team.
The boat itself is a marvel of perfect design, a similar feeling to the one Bond shared the first time seeing the Moonraker, here the boat is shaped like a bullet much alike to the Moonraker with two air intakes on either side of the pilots position and out runners to add buoyancy to the craft, although here it’s horizontal, suspended from the ceiling of the structure with the engineers wearing green overalls rush around it, tinkering with calibrations. The hull of the boat is much like that of vast majority of vessels and also rarely seen just like the undercarriage of a duck. The shape is striking, it is long and thin, with enough space for one man to sit and no passenger, the power is provided by the jet engine situated behind the cockpit, a fearsome looking beast, Bonds eyes follow the path of the bullet shaped boat to the wall behind which is scorched black.
Suddenly James remembers himself, and tried not to look too in awe of the machine, that would give him away he needs to control himself and focus on the task since every second counts here as Berkut is speeding away in front of him, just less than two hours ago he was sharing a drink with this man and now he is on course to share a bullet with him. Then the engine fired as part of the build up to the record attempt, a broadcast about the American boat was drained out by the eardrum shattering roar of the engine, James is familiar with engines himself but has not been this close to a jet engine and can only imagine the conditions when inside that cockpit. Jet fighter pilots need to have regular hearing tests before declared fit to control the planes and this is much the same, and then he is instructed by an engineer that the engine is perfect and it is time for the final fuelling and for James to enter the boat.
James is handed ear protection which is also a radio transmitter and mouth piece, the control team are expecting constant details about the running of the multi million pound super boat and the pride of Europe, more precisely both England and France is riding on the success of this machine. News is broadcast that the American boat has broke the speed limit and set the speed of 286.289 mph, the previous speed record is 285.213 mph and held by the American Lee Taylor just 2 years ago, he was due to be driving today and Bond wonders if he is dead and the concern passes after a second and he knows he must go faster to catch his target. The engine is switched off again, and the fuelling has been completed, then the hydraulic crane carefully positions the craft into the still waters of Lake Geneva and it’s time for Bond to come aboard his new vessel.
The machine fits him perfectly, it could have been designed for him, and he takes a second to view the controls of the ship, strangely simple on the inside, most importantly is the kill switch to the engine, this would be vital if anything were to go wrong when at there on the lake. Other controls are a jet fighter like stick for movement not the wheel he is used to or expected, he takes time to recall the help that Jackie gave to him about the force of the speed during turning and regarding breathing to reduce the effect of G on his body. This should be simple and straight forward trip, the only concern is catching Berkut. The engine is switched on and then the man Bond left in the showers burst into the structure followed by armed guards, bond must go now, the roar of the engine shocks the staff as the boat lurches forward, a wave covers the personal and Bond leaves the safety of the garage. Voices in his head yell at him over the radio and no response is given, Bond is on a mission and nothing can stop him from getting his target, his age, he condition, his sadness for the loss of his old friend all have to be put out of his mind now and only one thing matters, getting one bullet into Berkut mind.
He takes the boat as quickly as he can in the harbour, he knows he can open the throttle fully once out into the lake, the helicopter flies him trying to stir him off course and the instructions are still yelled over the intercom for him to return the vessel. He heads to the open Lake Geneva, viewing the mountains in the distance, as the boat passes the walls of the harbour Bond pushes down hard and releases the full power of the jet engine, the roar rings in his ears, his body is subjected to a massive force of acceleration that pushes him back into the seat, unable to breath because of the pressure no air can enter his lungs, easing up on the throttle brings air rushing back into his system and Bond feels the thrill and excitement he experienced with Stewart.
The speed was recorded then as 100mph and he is barely out of the harbour, guiding the craft carefully with the nose pointing at the gentle curve of the lake, he again lets the engine free and this time James if ready for the violent pressure, the machine is exhilarating, youth floods back to him as the thrill of the speed brings life back into Bonds world, reminding him of what he has missed for the past 4 years. Speeding to 200mph with little effort the machine powers Bond towards his meeting with Berkut as the hills around Geneva disappear in the distance behind him and in front the Swiss Alps grow out of the horizon. He follows the curve of the lake and now it’s the right time to break the record for England, over the radio he hears Rene’s voice,
‘James, Berkut stopped the boat at Montruex after that we lost him, you have to get there fast’
‘Roger that Rene’
‘James, break that record too’
The clouds can be seen covering the tips of the alps, and at the base of Rochers de Naye lies Montruex, Bond guesses that Berkut will have a vehicle waiting for as part of his escape until the mountains, which means he must get there fast, find a chase vehicle and he guesses that he needs to be there within 4 minutes to have any hope of achieving this.
The speed is reading at 220mph, small villages on the banks of the lake fly past and Bond has no time to see them, his vision is trained on the Alps, the boat is cutting through the lake with ease as the pin in the dial moves past 230mph, faster then bond has driven before, his eyes are straining to focus, his muscles forcing the boat to stay on the course, and acceleration beating his body with heavy lungs struggling to take air. The boat has reached 250mph in a matter of seconds and shows no signs of slowing down, so Bond pushes even harder, rage beginning to fill his mind as he thinks about the cowardly Berkut killing his friend with a bomb, no way for a great man to go, furious at himself for not seeing the signs this morning, Bond channels this rage to give his body more strength and determination that failure is not an option, he must avenge M and regain self respect.
Moving across the crystal clear waters, the wake of the boat rippling the once pristine reflections on the water’s surface as the boat reaches 260, cameras on the following helicopter recording the attempt and measuring the speed of the boat too. The voice over the radio is asking for information about the running of the boat, as back at the garage hopes are rising for the record to be set by a European, bond replies to the questions positively as the speed is now reading 275mph, just 10 short of the record and he has travelled half of the lake in the past two minutes, once the jet powers the boat to past 280 it begins to slow down acceleration, is this all the machine has, how much more can Bond get out of it, with all his strength focused into the engine, Bond pushes forward on the stick once more.
Growling the jet reaches 283mph, as bond passes markers which signal the safe breaking distance, Jackie told Bond these have a 20% added as an extra safety precaution so he knows he can make one final push before truly having to brake and that is what happens, as Montruex is increasingly visible the speed is recorded at 284 quickly moving into 285mph more is needed make the recorded attempt, bond stops looking at the speed and calculates the breaking distance, passing the limit at Stewart advised by another 10%, James pulls back hard on the brake, grinding the metal of the machine, as it cries out with pressure, Bond is crushed by the force, he pushes the kill switch, and the momentum of the boat is still carrying him forward, every bone and muscle in this body screams out at the stress of G and with the effort of pulling on the brake.
The boat is under control again, as James can relax his arms and glide the machine safely past the startled onlookers who had been watching and listening to the events over radios. The police are already converging on the boat, bond passes the American boat, which Berkut didn’t land properly and is basically a wreck. Quickly departing his vessel once it has run aground and ignoring the shouting over the radio.
He sees a tyre marks leading to a car speeding away in the distance, without a moment to spare Bond spies a biker parking his machine, swiftly running up apologising in advance to the biker he slams the helmet into the bikers head and takes the bike giving pursuit to the racing Aston martin in the distance. The disgust that Berkut choose an Aston is not lost on Bond, could this be another game, design to insult Bond, how much could the KGB and Berkut know about him, what is contained with the files there, the flow of information should be tight and how much danger is Bond in? Punching the engine of the BMW up the slopes of the mountain, now car can ever outrun a bike, Stanislav will know this as well as James does, so he will be using all the tricks he can to escape.
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