Part 27 (1/2)
”They don't know what I'm doing here,” he said defensively.
”All I told Natasha was that we were making a film.”
”To h.e.l.l with that. Listen, Rick. You know the score. We're on a military telephone exchange, for f.u.c.k's sake. One look at the number must have told them where we are.
To ease my feelings I started walking up and down.
”Things aren't looking good for you,” I said.
”This is the third time you've screwed up. I told you before and that was a last warning. I've got a feeling you're on your way home. And if this doesn't end in your getting RTU'd I'll be b.l.o.o.d.y amazed.”
He started to say something, but I cut him short.
”Don't b.l.o.o.d.y well argue! There'll be time for that back in the UK. Get down to the armoury and tell Sasha I'm not coming out with the team this morning. I'm going to have to stay here and sort this mess out. In fact, you can ask Sasha to put am hour's delay on the start today. If any of our lads are down there already, bring them back. Tell them I'm holding a meeting immediately.”
He'd hardly disappeared before I made up my mind. Yes he'd have to go. He'd already done serious damage, and was too great a liability.
I called the Emba.s.sy, asked for the Charge, and got put through to Kate, the red-headed secretary.
”Is David there?” I asked.
”Not yet. He had to pick something up on his way in.”
”Could you do us a favour, then?”
”I can try.”
”Thanks. It's just that we need to get someone back to UK soonest. I want him on a plane today. Could you be an angel and book a ticket?”
”Return?”
”No one way.
”What's the pa.s.senger's name?”
”Ellis. Richard Ellis.”
”What flight shall I go for?”
”Any flight the earliest he can catch. He'll have to get from here to the airport, that's all.”
”All right, then. I'll call you back.”
I urgently needed to speak to the CO in Hereford, but the time there was still only 6:30 a.m.” so I decided to wait until he came into his office.
When Kate rang back, she gave me another jolt.
”I'm sorry, she said, ”I can't get through to any of the airlines. The reservation lines are all jammed.”
”Is that normal?”
”Certainly not. I phoned a friend in the Lufthansa cargo department, and she says there's some sort of a panic on. People are trying to get out of Moscow in a hurry. There are no seats available before next Thursday.”
”Jesus! It must be this thing about the American Amba.s.sador.”
”That's right. There's a lot of really nervous talk coming out of the FCO.”
”Like what?”
”The international situation deteriorating, that sort of thing' ”Well, listen. I really need this guy on a plane as soon as possible. Can you keep trying?”
”Of course.
Ten minutes later she rang again and said, ”I got through in the end, but no luck. I tried BA, Aeroflot and Lufthansa, and they're all fully booked. There are no seats available before next week. The only chance is to send him first cla.s.s. Lufthansa may have a seat at 1520 this afternoon, but it's via Berlin, I'm afraid.”
”That'll do,” I said.
”Take it.” Privately I was thinking, I don't care if he goes via Timbucf.u.c.kingtoo, as long as I get him off my hands. The idea of Rick sipping champagne in a first-cla.s.s seat gave me a royal pain in the a.r.s.e. But then I consoled myself by thinking, If he's getting binned, back to the Green Army, it's the last time he'll be travelling like that for a while.
”I'll charge it to the Emba.s.sy for now,” Kate was saying.
”Then we'll send the bill to Hereford. He'll have to collect the ticket from the Lufthansa desk at the airport. He needs to be there by 1400 at the latest.”
”No bother. I'm very grateful to you. Has David appeared yet?”
”Just this moment. D'you want a word?”
”Yes please.
I hung on, then heard AlIway say, ”Good morning.”
”Good morning,” I went.
”Can you fill me in on what's happening?”
”The situation's pretty confused at the moment.”
”What's causing the panic?”
”Clinton said something about Russia being on the point of becoming ungovernable.”
”Don't you feel that's exaggerated?”
”Personally, yes.
”So what line's London taking?”
”No special line yet. But Was.h.i.+ngton is advising Americans to leave unless they have urgent business here. Are you people all right out at Balas.h.i.+ka?”
”For the time being. Everything's been going fine. I don't know how this will affect things, though.”