categorised as “desertion”. As I remember, it was “compassionate leave” to start with, then “disability”, sorted out with decent discretion – as he bloody well deserved.’
‘It wasn’t the same at Gough after he’d gone. We never had the same control over our agents. He was wrecked when he went.’
‘Yes, indeed, but he’s had long enough to climb off the rocks and refloat himself.’
‘I think I know this, but what does he bring to the party?’
She grimaced. ‘He’s ruthless, focused, committed to the cause. To hell with the Davies girl. You put in the best man.’
‘The best man?’
‘For what’s at stake.’
‘Malachy Riordan, son of the unlamented Padraig Riordan, a weapons shipment that would be the equivalent of scattering paraffin on old embers. It’s attractive. I quite like your reasoning . . . and there are other agendas.’
‘For God’s sake, Matthew, get into the serious league. Hoist yourself up to high table.’
‘Help me.’
The Dragon did. She was at his desk, pushed his wheeled chair aside, squatted in front of his screen and typed rapidly. He thought she used a password and digits that were beyond his security classification. The picture came up, and the name.
‘That’s high table.’ Bentinick bent forward.
‘I’d say so. I’d also say that you don’t have a handler who isn’t up to his chin in affairs that count. None of them, anyway, would match Vagabond.’
‘But would he come?’
‘Of course he would. Those people who think they’ve quit, they wait a year for the call to come back. The hallmark of the lonely ones is that the work is never out of their system. A bit of protest, which you ignore. They dream of being wanted. It won’t be a problem.’
‘Find him for me. Dig him out of wherever he ran for cover.’
She killed the screen, blew him a kiss and left him. He thought he’d brought ‘fun’ to her day, which she’d value.
Matthew Bentinick remembered the call-sign of Vagabond, could picture the face and recall the fury he’d felt when the man had walked out on him – the best man he’d ever had.
He drove steadily and well. Dusty had done the usual fine job of engine-tuning. There were no clouds on Danny Curnow’s horizons, and he felt good. The next day he would walk again with heroes.
It was what they always did on the last evening before the journey to France. Their bags would be packed and the little padlocks fastened. They would have told the neighbours where they were going and been uncertain whether the visit to the battlefields and the graves was a holiday or a pilgrimage.
By now they’d have taken the dog to the kennels or to their daughter’s.
And word would have been passed from those who had used Sword Tours before that the driver was excellent, reticent but knowledgeable and full of respect for the places he would take them to. Those who had been with Mr Curnow spoke of an inspirational experience with him.
Matthew Bentinick looked her in the eye. ‘It won’t be nailed down until tomorrow, Gaby. The position is this. Other sections answering to different priorities are unwilling at such short notice to proffer a replacement for Woolmer so I have to look elsewhere. There’s a fellow we once used a bit, and—’
‘He’ll be my back-up?’
‘A good job description. Back-up and general support.’
‘It’s my show.’
‘How could it be otherwise, Gaby?’
Silly little cow, so naïve.
‘Thank you, Matthew.’
‘Good luck.’
She let herself out. He imagined that she would not have been five paces down the corridor before she’d punched the air. The message came onto his screen. The Dragon told him where he would find the man who had used the call-sign of Vagabond, but he’d be changed.
He chewed hard, then reached for the phone.
It was wet, which was usual for the little port and marina of Honfleur. There wasn’t a cruise liner in and the streets were almost deserted, the
‘It wasn’t the same at Gough after he’d gone. We never had the same control over our agents. He was wrecked when he went.’
‘Yes, indeed, but he’s had long enough to climb off the rocks and refloat himself.’
‘I think I know this, but what does he bring to the party?’
She grimaced. ‘He’s ruthless, focused, committed to the cause. To hell with the Davies girl. You put in the best man.’
‘The best man?’
‘For what’s at stake.’
‘Malachy Riordan, son of the unlamented Padraig Riordan, a weapons shipment that would be the equivalent of scattering paraffin on old embers. It’s attractive. I quite like your reasoning . . . and there are other agendas.’
‘For God’s sake, Matthew, get into the serious league. Hoist yourself up to high table.’
‘Help me.’
The Dragon did. She was at his desk, pushed his wheeled chair aside, squatted in front of his screen and typed rapidly. He thought she used a password and digits that were beyond his security classification. The picture came up, and the name.
‘That’s high table.’ Bentinick bent forward.
‘I’d say so. I’d also say that you don’t have a handler who isn’t up to his chin in affairs that count. None of them, anyway, would match Vagabond.’
‘But would he come?’
‘Of course he would. Those people who think they’ve quit, they wait a year for the call to come back. The hallmark of the lonely ones is that the work is never out of their system. A bit of protest, which you ignore. They dream of being wanted. It won’t be a problem.’
‘Find him for me. Dig him out of wherever he ran for cover.’
She killed the screen, blew him a kiss and left him. He thought he’d brought ‘fun’ to her day, which she’d value.
Matthew Bentinick remembered the call-sign of Vagabond, could picture the face and recall the fury he’d felt when the man had walked out on him – the best man he’d ever had.
He drove steadily and well. Dusty had done the usual fine job of engine-tuning. There were no clouds on Danny Curnow’s horizons, and he felt good. The next day he would walk again with heroes.
It was what they always did on the last evening before the journey to France. Their bags would be packed and the little padlocks fastened. They would have told the neighbours where they were going and been uncertain whether the visit to the battlefields and the graves was a holiday or a pilgrimage.
By now they’d have taken the dog to the kennels or to their daughter’s.
And word would have been passed from those who had used Sword Tours before that the driver was excellent, reticent but knowledgeable and full of respect for the places he would take them to. Those who had been with Mr Curnow spoke of an inspirational experience with him.
Matthew Bentinick looked her in the eye. ‘It won’t be nailed down until tomorrow, Gaby. The position is this. Other sections answering to different priorities are unwilling at such short notice to proffer a replacement for Woolmer so I have to look elsewhere. There’s a fellow we once used a bit, and—’
‘He’ll be my back-up?’
‘A good job description. Back-up and general support.’
‘It’s my show.’
‘How could it be otherwise, Gaby?’
Silly little cow, so naïve.
‘Thank you, Matthew.’
‘Good luck.’
She let herself out. He imagined that she would not have been five paces down the corridor before she’d punched the air. The message came onto his screen. The Dragon told him where he would find the man who had used the call-sign of Vagabond, but he’d be changed.
He chewed hard, then reached for the phone.
It was wet, which was usual for the little port and marina of Honfleur. There wasn’t a cruise liner in and the streets were almost deserted, the
Similar Books
