By: Lin Carter
published 1987, Doubleday
A science-fiction/fantasy novel. The fifth and last novel in the “Zarkon series”.
James Bond meets “Prince Zarkon” at the Cobalt Club in London. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is briefly mentioned. Other characters include: George Gideon of Scotland
Yard; Sir Denis Nayland Smith and Val Petrie (“Fu Manchu” books); Bulldog Drummond; Doc Savage`s aide Monk Mayfair; and Simon Templar (“The Saint”).
Lin Carter was born in 1930 and died in 1988.
Chapter 7: At the Cobalt Club
In the members` lounge, Nayland Smith led Prince Zarkon to where two men were sitting, chatting idly over cocktails. Both were lean and tan and fit; one had iron-gray hair which did nothing to conceal the twinkle of devilry in his cool eyes, or the reckless grin on his smooth-shaven, buccaneer`s face.
“Prince Zarkon, may I introduce Mr Templar,” said Sir Dennis. They shook hands.
The other individual was younger, with a black comma of hair hanging over one eye. He also rose at the introduction.
“And Commander Bond.”
“A pleasure,” murmured Zarkon. He knew both men by sight, from their pictures, and they instantly recognized him. Bond gestured to a comfortable leather chair.
“Have a seat, Highness. Let me order you a cocktail,” said Bond. Zarkon rarely drank alcohol, and then only on social occasions such as this, so he nodded. A waiter materialized out of thin air at Bond`s shoulder.
“Try one of mine,” suggested Bond. Zarkon shrugged, and Bond said: “Charles, His Highness will have a vodka martini, very dry-”
“Shaken, but not stirred,” added Templar with a chuckle. Bond`s tastes were quite familiar to his friends in the Cobalt Club. Charles vanished, only to reappear seconds later with a perfect martini which Zarkon sipped politely,
then put down.
[…]
“Such as, why are they robbing importers and manufacturers of subminiaturized electronic components?” suggested Templar. “Frankly, that one has *me* baffled. If I had a posse of invulnerable and bulletproof men at
my disposal, it would be the jewelry shops and bullion banks I`d be after, not these electronic fellows.”
Bond chuckled. “Yes, we all know about your early criminous and sometimes burglarious days, Simon.
Fortunately, for the Yard, those days have long since passed by…”
“Miss them, sometimes,” admitted Templar, wistfully.
[…]
Commander Bond also rose.
Couples have http://cute-n-tiny.com/tag/clay/ usa cheap viagra been able to enjoy numerous orgasms with its use. Today, there are a number of natural and other products buy generic levitra http://cute-n-tiny.com/page/24/ available to help with the problem. The ends of the song is then depression, frustration, and then connected with the listlessness. Diuretics (Water Pills) – Recommended as the effect of such combinations has not been studied and should not be assumed to be safe. “I have to be getting along myself, Highness, and my car is outside. May I give you a lift to the Yard?”
“With pleasure,” nodded Prince Zarkon. “Let me instruct my driver to return to our hotel. I`ll only be a minute.”
Zarkon was just leaving the member`s lounge to rejoin Bond on the street, having said good-bye to Nayland Smith, Templar, and Drummond.
[…]
Bond`s car, Zarkon noticed, was a Saab 900 Turbo. Bond caught his glance, and smiled a bit ruefully.
“Used a Mark II Continental Bentley for years,” he confessed. “Superb machine. I finally dispensed with it; the Saab gets better mileage for the fuel intake, and can convert from gasoline to gasohol, if needed. And we`re a fuel-poor country, it seems, these days. Do get in.”
Seated inside the Saab, Bond drew a flat gunmetal case from his breast pocket and offered Zarkon a cigarette, which Zarkon declined. Bond lit his own and inhaled lustily.
“These are made for me by Morelands of Grosvenor Street,” said Bond. “A bit lower in tar content than anything currently available on the market.”
They tooled away from the curb and headed across London.
“I should have thought that you, or another of the double-O agents, would have received this “Blue Men” assignment, Commander,” remarked Zarkon. Bond shrugged.
“As for me, I`m off for Nepal in a couple of hours,” he replied.
“Ah! Not the rumours of an assassination attempt to be made on the Dalai Lama?” inquired the Nemesis of Evil.
Bond gave his passenger a glance of quiet admiration.
“Your intelligence service must be extraordinary,” he said. “Yes, that`s the case. Uncertain as to who`s behind it-”
“Red China?” suggested Zarkon. Bond shrugged.
“Or SPECTRE,” he said.
Then, with an inquiring glance at Zarkon`s expressionless profile, he asked:
“I`m not exactly up on all your cases, Prince. Ever gone up against SPECTRE?”
“Not to my knowledge,” admitted Zarkon quietly. “Or, at least, not yet.”
Bond chuckled.
“That`s rather lucky for SPECTRE,” he said. Then, pulling up with a flourish.
“Here we are at the Yard, sir. Good hunting!”
“Good hunting yourself,” smiled Zarkon.