Part 9 (1/2)
”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 Emba.s.sy. 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 doc.u.ments 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 s.h.i.+te, but ended up saying, 'dodgy. What I mean is, I wonder is there a secure room here in the Emba.s.sy 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.