the Vice-Regent of Possum. "A pompous ass", thought Bond, to himself, although the aura of his thoughts hung like a cattle rustler's ghost rider in the sky. Women on the plane fainted one after another like dominoes.

The VC squinted his eyes and peered closer at Bond. "Oh, hallo! What say, old chum? Coming out to have a bit of the outback with us are you?" (The VC was NOT from Oz; he was an "old boy", one of Bond's dreaded old schoolmates.)

Just as Bond was about to answer with a swift retort (is there any other kind?), the plane gave a lurch and suddenly tilted sharply to the right, throwing a beautiful redheaded woman onto Bond's lap, where she didn't faint.