"Colonel?"
"Please call me Anna."
"Anna, then. Can you explain what our official status is going to be? I mean, what basis will we be here on?"
Her face, which had been set rather hard, softened into a smile.
"Don't worry. It's all above board. You'll be here as guests of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior, jointly."
"Does anyone outside the armed forces know we're coming?"
"No. There has been no official announcement. Our aim is to protect you from possible interference by criminal elements."
"You mean the Mafia?"
She nodded.
"They would hardly welcome the idea of foreign experts coming to train the new unit.~ "So it's important that we don't get seen or recognised coming and going, or outside the camp?"
"Precisely."
"In that case, what about transport? One or two of us are going to have to liaise with the Embassy. I imagine we'll be coming in and out."
"That's no problem. We'll make a couple of civilian cars available. The only thing is, you'll need driving licences. If you give me your names and details, I'll arrange that."
"Thanks. What if we get stopped by the traffic police?"
"The GAl? There will be no difficulty, provided your documents are in order. We'll fix you up with whatever you need for each vehicle licence, insurance and so on. And I shall give you a number to ring in case any problem arises.
"What about your own involvement? Will you be available in the camp?"
"Of course!" She gave another brief smile.
"At your service."
"Will you sit in on training sessions?"
"I don't know about sitting. I'm planning to take part pretty actively."
"Great. We're going to need you."
The meeting went so smoothly that it lasted only half an hour.
Soon after 4:30, Allway was ushering us out into the courtyard, where a gardener was sweeping up leaves.
"Your English is fantastic," I told Anna as she was departing.
"Where did you learn it so well?"
"I give you three guesses.
"University?"
"Well partly. But really in London. I worked for two years at the Intourist main office in Piccadilly."
"Ah! When were you there?"
"Early eighties. Eighty-two to -three."
A sudden thought came to me.
"No chance of your having supper with us tonight?"
"I'm sorry." She gave a little shake of her head.
"I have a date already."
"Oh well I just thought you could fill us in on background."
"When you're over again, maybe."
"Definitely. I'll look forward to that."
She made for the Fiat, shoe-horned herself neatly into the driving seat and set off "Well," said Aliway.
"So far, so good."
"Yes thanks."
I'd been looking at the old stables at the back of the yard, and they'd given me an idea.
"There's one other thing..."
"Yes?"
"The security on our accommodation block is..." I was on the point of saying it was shite, but ended up saying, 'dodgy. What I mean is, I wonder is there a secure room here in the Embassy that we could use for storage? A garage or something?"
AlIway looked up and said, "What would you want to store?"
"Maybe some of our com ms equipment. On these team tasks we generally have some fairly sensitive kit with us."
"Well as it happens, we've just cleared out part of the cellar, over there." He pointed into one corner.
"It's a bit rough really just a garage.
"As long as it can be locked up ..
"Oh yes it's got a steel door. I'll get the key and show you.
He disappeared into the office, came out again, and took us across to a steep ramp leading down to an up-and-over door.
"Ideal," I said after a quick look. The cellar had no windows or other exit and, considering that it was below ground level, it felt remarkably dry.
"This'll be perfect."
"OK then." Allway grinned.
"I'll do my best to keep it empty for you. People and things around here have a habit of expanding to fill any space that becomes available."
We thanked him again and set off to tab back over the bridge to the hotel.
"I give you lift," said Sasha, pointing to his car.
"Thanks," I told him, 'but I'd rather walk."
"Then I say goodbye."
"We'll see you on Sunday morning. And thanks for all you've done for us.
"It is nothing."
With smiles all round, he got into his car and drove off As soon as we were clear of the Embassy gates I said to Whinger, "Anna. Former KGB, for sure. She must have been spying in London. Most of the Russians in England were on the KGB payroll. Certainly most of the diplomats were spies."
Whinger didn't argue.
"Nice try, Geordie," he said.
"What d'you mean?"
"Your eyes were all over her like a rash."
"Piss off, mate," I told him. But secretly I was annoyed with myself for having let my interest show.
Having scored a point, Whinger was relentless.
"On yer bike," he said with a sneer.
"Come again?"
"She's a dyke."
"Could be," I agreed.
"But I don't care what she is. I'm keeping this on a professional basis."
FIVE.
Two days later we were on the training range at LATA, the Langwern Army Training Area just inside Wales, when my bleeper went off Beep, beep, beep. I immediately recognised the number that came up in the little window. It was Bill, the adjutant.
Mal might as well carry on," I told Whinger.
"I'll be back in a minute."
As I walked away to the range hut, short bursts rattled out behind me, so I closed the door and dialled camp.
"Hi, Geordie," Bill said.
"Where are you at?"
"Down at LATA."
"OK. The boss wants an immediate meeting. How soon can you be back up here?"
"Half an hour. Just me, is it?"
"No-the whole team.~ "Bill is something wrong?"
"No, no," he went.
"Everything's fine."
"Has the job been pulled?"
"Not at all. It's definitely on. We'll talk when you get here."
"Where's the meeting, then?"
"In your briefing room.
"OK. I'll see you in half an hour."
The lads grumbled a bit at being dragged off the range, especially Pete Pascoe, whose feelings were always near the surface. I kept thinking there was something strange about the way Bill had said, "It's definitely on." I got the impression that the job was on, but that it had changed.
Ever since our recce party landed back from Moscow, it had been all singing and dancing. I'd put in a positive report, saying that everybody in Moscow was on net, and that, although conditions in the camp at Balashika were primitive, we'd been given a really good hand by the Russians and by the Embassy.
Since then we'd faxed across the names and details of the team, for driving licences and other documentation. We'd also lined up a load of extra stores, and everything seemed to be under control. Thanks to Whinger, Rick's reputation as an instant Russian leg over specialist had gone all round the team: he'd had a lot of stick, but he'd taken it well.
Now what?
When I saw the line-up in the wing, I knew for certain that it was something heavy. The Regiment was represented not only by the CO and the ops officer, but also by the Director -a brigadier who must have made a special trip down from London, leaving at dawn. From the Firm came Edgar, but with him was an older and evidently senior man who was introduced as Mr. Laidlaw.
The CO a small, spare man with a bony face and receding hair spoke first, and I could tell from the pitch of his voice that he was tensed up. Normally he talked at a deliberate pace, but now he had gone up a gear.
He began with the usual spiel about the secrecy of our operation.