The Fourth Estate

“As I have already explained,” continued the major, “there’s no need for you to make an immediate decision.” He tapped the brown envelope. “I can easily wait for a few more days before I inform Mr. Schultz of his good fortune.”

* * *

“I’ve some good news for you, Dick,” said Colonel Oakshott when Armstrong reported to HQ the following morning. “Your demob papers have been processed at last, and I can see no reason why you shouldn’t be back in England within a month.”

The colonel was surprised that Armstrong’s reaction was so muted, but he assumed he must have other things on his mind. “Not that Fors

dyke will be pleased to learn you’re leaving us so soon after your triumph with Major Tulpanov.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t rush back quite so quickly,” said Armstrong, “now that I have a chance to build up a relationship with the KGB.”

“That’s damned patriotic of you, old chap,” said the colonel. “Shall we just leave it that I won’t hurry the process along until you tip me the wink?” Armstrong’s English was as fluent as that of most officers in the British Army, but Oakshott was still able to add the occasional new expression to his vocabulary.

Charlotte continued to press him on when they might hope to leave Berlin, and that evening she explained why it was suddenly so important. When he heard the news, Dick realized that he could not prevaricate much longer. He didn’t go out that night, but sat in the kitchen with Charlotte, telling her all about his plans once they had set up home in England.

The next morning he found an excuse to visit the Russian sector, and following a long briefing from Forsdyke, he arrived outside Tulpanov’s office a few minutes before lunch.

“How are you, Lubji?” asked the KGB man as he rose from behind his desk. Armstrong nodded curtly. “And more importantly, my friend, have you come to a decision as to which side you are going to open the batting for?”

Armstrong looked puzzled.

“To appreciate the English,” said Tulpanov, “you must first understand the game of cricket, which cannot commence until after the toss of a coin. Can you imagine anything more stupid than giving the other side a chance? But have you tossed the coin yet, Lubji, I keep asking myself. And if so, have you decided whether to bat or bowl?”

“I want to meet Mrs. Lauber before I make a final decision,” said Dick.

The major walked around the room, his lips pursed, as if he were giving serious thought to Armstrong’s request.

“There is an old English saying, Lubji. Where there’s a will…”

Armstrong looked puzzled.

“Another thing you must understand about the English is that their puns are dreadful. But for all their sense of what they call fair play, they are deadly when it comes to defending their position. Now, if you wish to visit Mrs. Lauber, it will be necessary for us to make a journey to Dresden.”

“Dresden?”

“Yes. Mrs. Lauber is safely ensconced deep in the Russian zone. That can only be to your advantage. But I don’t think we should visit her for a few days.”

“Why not?” asked Armstrong.

“You still have so much to learn about the British, Lubji. You must not imagine that conquering their language is the same as knowing how their minds work. The English love routine. You return tomorrow and they will become suspicious. You return some time next week and they won’t give it a second thought.”

“So what do I tell them when I report back?”

“You say I was cagey, and that you’re ‘still testing the water’.” Tulpanov smiled again. “But you can tell them that I asked you about a man called Arbuthnot, Piers Arbuthnot, and whether it’s true that he’s about to take up a post in Berlin. You told me that you’d never heard of him, but that you would try to find out.”

Armstrong returned to the British sector later that afternoon and reported most of the conversation to Forsdyke. He expected to be told who Arbuthnot was and when he would be arriving in Berlin, but all Forsdyke said was, “He’s just trying you out for size. He knows exactly who Arbuthnot is and when he’s taking up his post. How soon can you find a convincing excuse to visit the Russian sector again?”

“Next Wednesday or Thursday I’ve got my usual monthly meeting with the Russians on paper supplies.”

“Right, if you just happen to drop in and see Tulpanov, tell him you couldn’t get a word out of me on Arbuthnot.”

“But won’t that make him suspicious?”

“No, he would be more suspicious if you were able to tell him anything about that particular man.”

* * *

Over breakfast the following morning, Charlotte and Dick had another row about when he expected to return to Britain.