Exit, pursued by a bear

by Peter D Wilson

dinner, thank you.

  TONY: My pleasure. I don't often get the chance to offer you one.

  ERIC: Trouble with being away so much. Lose contact with the family. Hilda often complains.

  TONY: It's a pity she couldn't come after all. I haven't seen her for ages.

  ERIC: Can't be helped. Doesn't often have these turns, but they're nasty while they last. Tell you what - come round to us some time next month.

  TONY: Right.

  ERIC: Bad business about your wife, by the way; deuced sorry to hear it.

  TONY: Thanks. Actually, that's really what I wanted to see you about.

  ERIC: I wondered why you were so keen I should come, with or without Hilda. How do I fit in?

  TONY: Well, you know about Anna's background, don't you?

  ERIC: That she was a waif you befriended only to find she was a foreign agent of some kind? Oh yes.

  TONY: But not, perhaps, that it's her controller who's running the Kiev conference. You remember the one in Prague that I went to?

  ERIC: In eighty-one? You wanted all the do's and don'ts. I was off to Singapore and couldn't manage it - put you on to Watkins instead.

  TONY: That's right. Actually, he wasn't all that much help, but no matter.

  ERIC: No, only found out about him later. Just hope he's as useless to his new masters as he was to us. Embarrassing, still.

  TONY: It must have been. Anyway, at the conference Dr. Placek introduced himself, and something I said - goodness knows what - evidently convinced him I was there to make contact with a dissident group. I didn't realise, until he came to see me about the Kiev meeting, but by then nothing would shift him. Of course I knew nothing then about his double role.

  ERIC: Ah. Worried that it's a trap?

  TONY: Not exactly. But I'm not sure how to deal with Placek.

  ERIC: As little as possible, I'd say.

  TONY: That's not quite what I meant. What's the set-up likely to be?

  ERIC: Hm. Intriguing, in both senses.

  TONY: What do you mean?

  ERIC: Chasing dissidents, he'll be Internal Security. No business with agents abroad - Diplomatic Service's pigeon. Not on speaking terms for the past five years - bosses bitterly jealous rivals, at each other's throats - but with a rigid "no poaching" rule. Orders from higher up, I gather. Seems he was right out on a limb.

  TONY: So although their embassy might be keeping tabs on anyone they suspect of meddling in their affairs, Placek wouldn't have access to their reports?

  ERIC: Exactly.

  TONY: Then how did he get on to me? Or rather, the one he mistook me for.

  ERIC: A leak, perhaps. Watkins, getting it wrong as usual?

  TONY: That sounds as likely as anything.

  ERIC: Why so interested?

  TONY: Well, for one thing, if I tipped the wink to their embassy that Placek was stepping out of line, I could really drop him in the mire.

  ERIC: Very likely. But don't do it.

  TONY: Why ever not? You know what he did to Anna -

  ERIC: I don't, actually.

  TONY: When she wouldn't follow his plan to disgrace me, he hinted at her part in it as though he were actually in the dissident group that ... Well, you get the idea.

  ERIC: So that's it. "Revenge is sweet," they say. Maybe for the Latins. I'd say it's a damned sour satisfaction. That's one thing. For another, it's liable to backfire, especially on an amateur. And most important from my angle, one of their senior men breaking their own rules could be too useful to waste on private vengeance.

  TONY: He must be, for you to make a speech like that about it! What do you have in mind?

  ERIC: Nothing, yet. Note for future reference. Just now I'm more worried about what's in your mind.

  TONY: Again, nothing - yet.

  ERIC: Then why bother about embassy reports?

  TONY: Well, I can't just let it rest after he made Anna suffer so much. I must do something. But I'll still have to work with him at the next conference.

  ERIC: And you don't want him to see that you can be as two-faced as he is.

  TONY: That's a bit strong, isn't it?

  ERIC: No more than it sounds.

  TONY: All right. Granted I want to do the dirty on him, and haven't the guts to do it openly, how do I go about it?

  ERIC: You really want my advice?

  TONY: Yes.

  ERIC: Then forget the whole idea.

  TONY: Not blue blinking likely!

  ERIC: Even though he'll suspect Anna told you about him, and be on his guard?

  TONY: That could have been just another of her lies. At least, that's the line I can take if the question arises.

  ERIC: And if it doesn't?

  TONY: You're just making difficulties.

  ERIC: No, you're making difficulties. I'm just pointing them out.

  TONY: If you insist. But I can't simply let him get away with it.

  ERIC: Then stick to an indirect approach.

  TONY: Why?

  ERIC: Put a professional heavyweight in the ring with a man who's never used his fists - blinded by hatred to boot - who would you back?

  TONY: I see your point. But what can I do, then?

  ERIC: Hm. How about this? Placek already thinks you're in with the dissident support groups. Why not join one?

  TONY: Sounds altogether too indirect.

  ERIC: You wanted advice ...

  TONY: I'm sorry, yes. Go on.

  ERIC: Well, then. It'll help his opponents. Do some positive good - more than mere retaliation. Less personal satisfaction, but that's an advantage - you'll keep a cool head. Believe me, you'll need it to deal with this blighter. Doing nothing he doesn't already think he knows, so you can face him with a clear conscience - if that helps.

  TONY: It's a point.

  ERIC: Now, on your visit, take extra care. No unofficial currency transactions. Nothing to link you with any clandestine group, here or there. No religious literature. No photographic magazines ...

  TONY: Oh?

  ERIC: Bound to be something they could label "pornographic" if they had a mind to. And never wander off on your own, particularly with a camera - above all if an inviting opportunity suddenly appears unexpectedly. Need hardly warn you against the usual sexual traps.

  TONY: Good lord, this is getting serious.

  ERIC: Glad you realise it.

  TONY: Hm. Placek said something of the sort.

  ERIC: Even the Devil can tell the truth when it suits him. Remember, you're a marked man now. Assume you're always under observation, and anything they can nail on you, they will. Whether or not you're actually up to anything.

  TONY: Then I may as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb. So where do I find these dissident support organisations?

  ERIC: Officially, nothing known. But don't be surprised if something turns up in a week or so.

  TONY: Right. Thank you. And after all that, how about a whisky?

  ERIC: Don't mind if I do. Thirsty work.

  Tony pours two glasses and hands him one. They clink.

  ERIC: To crime!

  DISSOLVE TO TONY'S ENTRANCE HALL, FEBRUARY 1985.

  A telephone on a stand is ringing persistently. Eventually Tony enters from the kitchen to answer it. The voice on the other end is heard suitably distorted.

  TONY: Hello?

  VOICE: Professor Anderson?

  TONY: Yes, speaking.

  VOICE: It's about the meeting next week.

  TONY: The AGM? Yes, I hadn't forgotten.

  VOICE: You know there's a motion of no confidence in the committee? And it's likely to be passed.

  TONY: Good lord! No, I hadn't heard that. The whole committee?

  VOICE: Yes.

  TONY: Well, I suppose it hasn't covered itself with glory. But where do you get another?

  VOICE: I wondered if you might consider ...?

  TONY: Me? But I've scarcely been in the group five minutes.

  VOICE: Long enough to make a good impression. If I
proposed you as chairman -

  TONY: CHAIRMAN!!! Now that's taking absurdity too far.

  VOICE: Not at all. Williams would be very happy to second you, and there'd be plenty of other support.

  TONY: Oh, so you've been canvassing this already, have you?

  VOICE: Naturally. I don't nominate anyone without being sure he's acceptable.

  TONY: Well, I'm very flattered ...

  VOICE: Flattered be damned. There's a job to be done - an important job -

  TONY: Yes, I know it's important. That's why I'm bothered. We don't want another pig's ear made of it. Why don't you stand?

  VOICE: Too busy. But I've accepted nomination as vice.

  TONY: Well, that should help. Tell you what, I'll think about it.

  VOICE: We've only got a week, you know.

  TONY: Don't push me! The last time I got railroaded into something, the result was a disaster.

  VOICE: This won't be. You don't really need more than a day, do you?

  TONY: All right, I'll sleep on it, and ring you tomorrow. Will that do?

  VOICE: Well enough. But no later!

  TONY: Right. Cheerio.

  He hangs up and collapses into a chair, shaking his head in disbelief.

  TONY: Blimey!

  FADE OUT

  Return to Contents

  FADE UP: A CONFERENCE OFFICE, MAY 1985

  A desk is labelled "CONFERENCE REGISTRATION"; on it are a telephone, various papers and a few clip-on name tags; behind it are stacked a similar number of neatly-filled plastic document wallets. A few chairs are placed around.

  Elena is seated at the desk, checking a list. Tony approaches and coughs discreetly.

  ELENA: Oh, I am sorry, sir, I did not notice you coming in.

  TONY: Quite all right. Anderson, University of ...

  ELENA (ticking the list): Ah yes, Professor Anderson, A. You are not quite the last. I hope that you have had a good journey.

  TONY: Not bad, thank you. Sorry I'm late; there was a bit of a hold-up at the airport.

  ELENA: Yes, many delegates have been delayed - it does not matter.

  She retrieves one of the plastic wallets from behind the desk, with a white envelope attached, and hands it over together with a