planned over the preceding months. Branson had every reason to be feeling agreeably pleased with himself.
Branson, as he stepped down from the rear coach, looked neither pleased nor displeased. Things had gone as he had expected them to and that was that. His followers had often remarked, although never in his hearing, on Branson's almost staggering self-confidence: on the other hand they had to admit that he had never, as yet, failed to justify his utter trust in himself. Of Branson's permanent nucleus of eighteen men, nine of them had spent various times in various penitentiaries up and down the country reflecting upon the vagaries of fortune. But that was before they had been recruited by Branson. Since then not one of the eighteen had even got as far as a court-room far less the prison walls: when it was taken into account that those included such semi-permanent guests of the United States Government as Parker this record could be regarded as an achievement of no little note.
Branson walked forward to the Presidential coach. Van Effen was standing in the doorway. Branson said: 'I'm moving the lead coach ahead a bit. Tell your driver to follow me'
He moved into the lead coach and with Yonnie's help dragged clear the slumped driver behind the wheel. He slid into the vacant seat, started the engine, engaged gear, straightened out the coach and eased it forward for a distance of about fifty yards, bringing k to a halt with the use of the hand-brake. The Presidential coach followed, pulling up only feet behind them.
Branson descended and walked back in the direction of the south tower. When he came to the precise middle of the bridge-the point at which the enormous suspension cables were at their lowest - he looked behind him and again in front of him. The fifty yards of the most central section of the bridge, the sections where the helicopter rotors would be most unlikely to be fouled by the cables, even if subjected to the unseen and unforeseen vagaries of wind, was clear. Branson walked clear of the area and waved to the two machines (Shattering overhead. Johnson and Bradley brought their naval helicopters down easily and with the minimum of fuss. For the first time in its long and august history the Golden Gate Bridge was in use as a helipad.
Branson boarded the Presidential coach. Everyone there was instinctively aware that 'he was the leader of their kidnappers, the man behind their present troubles, and their reception of him did not even begin to border on the cordial The four oil men and Cartland looked at him impassively: Hansen, understandably, was more jittery and nervous than ever, his hands and eyes for ever on the rapid and,almost furtive move: Muir was his usual somnolent self, his eyes half-closed as if he were on the verge of dropping off to sleep: Mayor Morrison, who had won so many medals in the Second World War that he could scarcely have found room for them even on his massive chest, was just plain furious: and so, indisputably, was the President: that expression of kindly tolerance and compassionate wisdom which 'had endeared him to the hearts of millions 'had for the moment been tucked away in the deep freeze.
Branson said without preamble but pleasantly enough: 'My name is Branson. Morning, Mr President. Your Highnesses. I would like -'
'You would like!' The President was icily angry but he had the expression on his face and the tone in his voice under control: you don't have two hundred million people call you President and behave like an unhinged rock star. 'I suggest we dispense with the charade, with the hypocrisy of empty politeness. Who are you, sir?'
'I told you. Branson. And I see no reason why the normal courtesies of life should not be observed. It would be pleasant if we were to begin our relationship - an enforced introduction on your side, I agree - on a calmer and more reasonable basis. It would make things so much more pleasant if we behaved in a more civilized
Branson, as he stepped down from the rear coach, looked neither pleased nor displeased. Things had gone as he had expected them to and that was that. His followers had often remarked, although never in his hearing, on Branson's almost staggering self-confidence: on the other hand they had to admit that he had never, as yet, failed to justify his utter trust in himself. Of Branson's permanent nucleus of eighteen men, nine of them had spent various times in various penitentiaries up and down the country reflecting upon the vagaries of fortune. But that was before they had been recruited by Branson. Since then not one of the eighteen had even got as far as a court-room far less the prison walls: when it was taken into account that those included such semi-permanent guests of the United States Government as Parker this record could be regarded as an achievement of no little note.
Branson walked forward to the Presidential coach. Van Effen was standing in the doorway. Branson said: 'I'm moving the lead coach ahead a bit. Tell your driver to follow me'
He moved into the lead coach and with Yonnie's help dragged clear the slumped driver behind the wheel. He slid into the vacant seat, started the engine, engaged gear, straightened out the coach and eased it forward for a distance of about fifty yards, bringing k to a halt with the use of the hand-brake. The Presidential coach followed, pulling up only feet behind them.
Branson descended and walked back in the direction of the south tower. When he came to the precise middle of the bridge-the point at which the enormous suspension cables were at their lowest - he looked behind him and again in front of him. The fifty yards of the most central section of the bridge, the sections where the helicopter rotors would be most unlikely to be fouled by the cables, even if subjected to the unseen and unforeseen vagaries of wind, was clear. Branson walked clear of the area and waved to the two machines (Shattering overhead. Johnson and Bradley brought their naval helicopters down easily and with the minimum of fuss. For the first time in its long and august history the Golden Gate Bridge was in use as a helipad.
Branson boarded the Presidential coach. Everyone there was instinctively aware that 'he was the leader of their kidnappers, the man behind their present troubles, and their reception of him did not even begin to border on the cordial The four oil men and Cartland looked at him impassively: Hansen, understandably, was more jittery and nervous than ever, his hands and eyes for ever on the rapid and,almost furtive move: Muir was his usual somnolent self, his eyes half-closed as if he were on the verge of dropping off to sleep: Mayor Morrison, who had won so many medals in the Second World War that he could scarcely have found room for them even on his massive chest, was just plain furious: and so, indisputably, was the President: that expression of kindly tolerance and compassionate wisdom which 'had endeared him to the hearts of millions 'had for the moment been tucked away in the deep freeze.
Branson said without preamble but pleasantly enough: 'My name is Branson. Morning, Mr President. Your Highnesses. I would like -'
'You would like!' The President was icily angry but he had the expression on his face and the tone in his voice under control: you don't have two hundred million people call you President and behave like an unhinged rock star. 'I suggest we dispense with the charade, with the hypocrisy of empty politeness. Who are you, sir?'
'I told you. Branson. And I see no reason why the normal courtesies of life should not be observed. It would be pleasant if we were to begin our relationship - an enforced introduction on your side, I agree - on a calmer and more reasonable basis. It would make things so much more pleasant if we behaved in a more civilized
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