HOSTILE TAKEOVER

FOUR

Do not cry because I have gone,

Laugh and joke and remember me. Do not sigh or be sad

Be happy and thankful for the time that we had

 

Do not weep because you miss me

Smile and sing and remember that you kissed me.

You sometimes made me cry and made me sad

 

But you always made me laugh and

That should be me epitaph

 

I love you all near and far

And when you look to the heavens

I am there, watching over you, the brightest twinkling star.

The priest dressed in hypocritical angelic white bowed his head for effect, and then after a brief moment, he continued.

“Due to the secret nature of the intelligence services, it has been difficult to prepare something so personal which I could perhaps share with you all today.” said the Priest.

“I feel however, that it is probably better if somebody who knew her could perhaps come forward and say a few words…” said the Priest looking around the room for someone to come and do his job for him.

People turned to their left and right and looked at each other as nobody wanted to stand up in front of strangers and speak from their heart.

“…Perhaps someone who knew her for a long time. Or maybe someone who had only just met her and that perhaps she had an effect upon them?”

Many of course would have loved to say a few kind words, but they didn’t want to be first to do so, but then Bond stood.

He slowly walked to the front of the room and placed his black gloved hand on top of the coffin lid, then, he bent and kissed it and said goodbye to his mentor and friend.

He turned, and without saying a word, he walked straight out of the church.

As he walked past ancient and forgotten grave stones and the members of the security detail at the entrance, he heard a voice behind him.

“Commander Bond.” said the voice.

He turned but did not recognize the man.

“Commander; Sir Mallory would like you to wait a moment.” said the man.

“Why? What for?” replied Bond.

As he spoke, he could see over the man’s shoulder that Sir Mallory was walking out of the church and heading in their direction.

“Bond. Where you off to now? A bar perhaps to drown your sorrows” said Mallory.

Bond looked at him but did not reply.

He had only met Mallory once before and he seemed to be a great politician, insomuch that he was a liar and a cheat, but he seemed to be as honest a liar and a cheat that you could hope to find working in politics.

He was late fifties and had been a Captain in the Scotts Guards so Bond had heard. Damn good one apparently until he was lured into the cesspit of politics.

“I don’t have time for self-pity Bond. Look, it’s not been made public yet, but I wanted you to know that I have been asked to take over section 6. I would like you to come in for a briefing session next Monday. 10 o’clock is good for me.” said Mallory to Bond.

Bond nodded once and then made his way to his car.

A drink right about now actually sounded like a bloody good idea.

He considered going to the Reform Club, but by the time he arrived back at his London flat, he wasn’t in the mood for any kind of socializing and decided that his only friends this evening would be either Jack or Johnny and he didn’t care which.

He woke with a slight hangover the following morning but was quite satisfied that he had said goodbye to M. He even managed to squeeze a couple of tears out, although he would never let anybody see him cry. To him, it was a sign of weakness that he couldn’t afford. Emotion was for the other guy.