Read Online WC02 - Never Surrender by Michael Dobbs - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael Dobbs
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Minister that many, and perhaps most, did not want.
"They will render me their bloody hands, and swear unto me their loyalty, assure me of their constancy, even as they march to the fields of Philippi .. ."
"What?" Bracken spluttered in surprise beside him.
"Shakespeare, you ill-educated louse. They cheered Caesar, then watched him die at the hands of Brutus. After which they cheered Brutus, before watching him die at the hands of Mark Antony."
"Thought he committed suicide."
"Don't quibble, man!"
They passed the sandstone obelisk of the Cenotaph, the memorial to the fallen. Churchill raised his hat in respect then clamped it forcefully back on his head. "They want Neville back," he growled. "Even those who voted against him declare they never wanted Neville out; they intended only to shake him up a little, not to shake him right out of Downing Street. He's not even Caesar's ghost; he'll be sitting right beside me this afternoon, watching, waiting."
"For what?"
"For calamity, which may not be far away. For all his faults, Neville is an excellent party man and he still holds the majority in Parliament in the palm of his hands. One wink from him and the House will fall down upon me more certainly than if Goering had sent over every last one of his bombers."
Churchill strode on, his cane flying out in front of him, revealing remarkable energy. Although Bracken was more than a quarter of a century younger, he was having trouble keeping the pace.
"Can it be that bad, Winston?"
"You yourself reminded me of the doleful circumstance that I have not a single friend in my own War Cabinet and precious few in the Government as a whole."
"There have been a few mutters, of course. Some of the old sods saying that if they're forced to share power with socialists then the war's already been lost, that sort of nonsense. But'
"I know, I've heard. But I thought you were supposed to keep me informed of such things," Churchill accused.
"I thought you had more important matters on your mind. Where did you hear?"
"It is not widely known and it must not become widely known that Mr. Chamberlain had a most suspicious mind. Didn't trust his colleagues, not a bit. So he had their phones tapped."
"Bastard," Bracken exclaimed in appreciation.
"It is, of course, illegal, unethical and entirely inappropriate. It is also unfortunate that he left office in such a hurry that he forgot to cancel the phone taps. As a result, yesterday evening I, as his successor, received a large file of transcripts."
"Must have made entertaining reading."
"They made most depressing reading," Churchill snapped. "Most of my Ministers appear to have the loyalty of maggots. It appears I run a Government worthy of little more than being fed to the fishes. Incidentally, I have withdrawn the tap on your own phone'
"What?"
"And instructed that your substantial file be condemned to the fire."
Bracken's face grew ashen. He was perhaps the most private of politicians, an enthusiastically unmarried man who revelled in the intrigue surrounding others' private lives while using his considerable personal fortune to protect his own. But phone taps? For how long? And how much did they know? In a pace he had resolved never to trust his life to the telephone again.
"You look as though you've seen a ghost," Churchill growled, amused at his friend's discomfort.
"Have to say I feel a little like Brutus."
"Ah, but it is I who must go to the marketplace and address the mob."
"What will you say?"
"I have never been more uncertain. I pray for inspiration .. ."
They stood on the edge of Parliament Square waiting for the traffic to clear. The edges of the pavement were daubed with thick white paint to make them visible in the blackout, and the traffic lights stood obscured, showing nothing but faint crosses on their lenses. Three elderly women were waiting with them and they turned to wish him well; automatically he raised his hat once more.
"We're with you, Winnie," a passing
"They will render me their bloody hands, and swear unto me their loyalty, assure me of their constancy, even as they march to the fields of Philippi .. ."
"What?" Bracken spluttered in surprise beside him.
"Shakespeare, you ill-educated louse. They cheered Caesar, then watched him die at the hands of Brutus. After which they cheered Brutus, before watching him die at the hands of Mark Antony."
"Thought he committed suicide."
"Don't quibble, man!"
They passed the sandstone obelisk of the Cenotaph, the memorial to the fallen. Churchill raised his hat in respect then clamped it forcefully back on his head. "They want Neville back," he growled. "Even those who voted against him declare they never wanted Neville out; they intended only to shake him up a little, not to shake him right out of Downing Street. He's not even Caesar's ghost; he'll be sitting right beside me this afternoon, watching, waiting."
"For what?"
"For calamity, which may not be far away. For all his faults, Neville is an excellent party man and he still holds the majority in Parliament in the palm of his hands. One wink from him and the House will fall down upon me more certainly than if Goering had sent over every last one of his bombers."
Churchill strode on, his cane flying out in front of him, revealing remarkable energy. Although Bracken was more than a quarter of a century younger, he was having trouble keeping the pace.
"Can it be that bad, Winston?"
"You yourself reminded me of the doleful circumstance that I have not a single friend in my own War Cabinet and precious few in the Government as a whole."
"There have been a few mutters, of course. Some of the old sods saying that if they're forced to share power with socialists then the war's already been lost, that sort of nonsense. But'
"I know, I've heard. But I thought you were supposed to keep me informed of such things," Churchill accused.
"I thought you had more important matters on your mind. Where did you hear?"
"It is not widely known and it must not become widely known that Mr. Chamberlain had a most suspicious mind. Didn't trust his colleagues, not a bit. So he had their phones tapped."
"Bastard," Bracken exclaimed in appreciation.
"It is, of course, illegal, unethical and entirely inappropriate. It is also unfortunate that he left office in such a hurry that he forgot to cancel the phone taps. As a result, yesterday evening I, as his successor, received a large file of transcripts."
"Must have made entertaining reading."
"They made most depressing reading," Churchill snapped. "Most of my Ministers appear to have the loyalty of maggots. It appears I run a Government worthy of little more than being fed to the fishes. Incidentally, I have withdrawn the tap on your own phone'
"What?"
"And instructed that your substantial file be condemned to the fire."
Bracken's face grew ashen. He was perhaps the most private of politicians, an enthusiastically unmarried man who revelled in the intrigue surrounding others' private lives while using his considerable personal fortune to protect his own. But phone taps? For how long? And how much did they know? In a pace he had resolved never to trust his life to the telephone again.
"You look as though you've seen a ghost," Churchill growled, amused at his friend's discomfort.
"Have to say I feel a little like Brutus."
"Ah, but it is I who must go to the marketplace and address the mob."
"What will you say?"
"I have never been more uncertain. I pray for inspiration .. ."
They stood on the edge of Parliament Square waiting for the traffic to clear. The edges of the pavement were daubed with thick white paint to make them visible in the blackout, and the traffic lights stood obscured, showing nothing but faint crosses on their lenses. Three elderly women were waiting with them and they turned to wish him well; automatically he raised his hat once more.
"We're with you, Winnie," a passing
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