Lana Barbey was a researcher employed by the Cuban firm, Industrias Scolopendra, at one of their island wildlife sanctuary and research centres. The character served as a minor ally in Steve Cole's 2016 Young Bond novel, Heads You Die.
Biography[]
Lana Barbey, sister of CIP operative, Valentine Barbey, was employed at a research centre operated by biologist Audacto Solares (calling himself "Scolopendra"). He owned several of such research stations on private islands such as Cayo Esqueleto, Cayo Iguana and Cayo Soledad. During 1934, Barbey's centre was conducting research on scolopendra deltadromeus, a variety of centipede recently discovered by Solares. Unbeknownst to the staff at the sanctuary, their employer was conducting clandestine poison trials on them - introduced via poisoned-laced playing cards. Unaware of the true cause of their mysterious illnesses, the team destroyed all the centipede specimens as a precaution and were quarantined whilst Scolopendra's supposedly benevolent physicians experimented on them. Living for days before succumbing, Lana kept a journal of events on the island; her final ominous entry hoped that she'll feel better tomorrow. Scolopendra told her next of kin that she had been "tragically lost at sea" - a lie which her intelligence operative brother did not buy. As a result, he started an investigation into Scolopendra's suspicious activities.
Trivia[]
- CIP operative Valentine Barbey and his sister Lana are references to, and likely intended to be relatives of, the character Fidele Barbey in Fleming's short story, The Hildebrand Rarity (1960).
