CHAPTER 45
At the end of their meeting with Plasov Hutton and Edrich returned directly to their hotel. The two officers were delighted to find that Sir Walter had just arrived although he was not in the best of tempers because his rail journey had taken nearly a day and a half and he had been unable to sleep during it. Despite the Sir Walter’s tiredness, Edrich proposed that the three men hold a meeting to discuss what had happened at the Foreign Ministry and to decide on their immediate tactics. Sir Walter asked if the meeting could be delayed whilst he had a bath and a change of clothes.
The meeting was further delayed by the lack of hot water available in the hotel. The hotel manager claimed it was too expensive to have hot water available during the day and it was unreasonable and unusual for people to expect that. For the first time Edrich heard Sir Walter lose his temper the result of which was a supply of hot water in remarkably quick time. When Robbins came to the meeting he looked clean, refreshed and in a more than equable frame of mind.
Edrich had selected his own room for the meeting knowing that the only adjoining room was Hutton’s and the one immediately above was Sir Walter’s. He had searched his room three times very methodically and could find no indication that eavesdropping could be undertaken. Bedi was posted outside the room’s door to keep an eye out for spies.
Edrich opened the meeting with a précis of what had been discussed with Plasov. Robbins looked concerned when told about Plasov’s unwillingness to accept the mission as official but perhaps he thought that his very presence would clear that up at the next meeting with the Commissar. Then Edrich described what had happened since his and Hutton’s arrival. The pair had had visits from undoubtedly agent provocateurs and Edrich had noticed, though Hutton had not, that his room had been searched.
‘Did you complain about that?’ When Edrich shook his head Robbins said, ‘on the train here today I met someone I knew and he told me that virtually all the former government officials have been replaced by revolutionaries. I heard that this chap Plasov used to be some sort of engineer. So whilst your reluctance not to complain is understandable these scallywags need to be told about diplomacy.’
‘His hands were those of a common workman,’ interrupted Hutton
‘I'm a politician not a soldier, so he may treat me with more respect than he would soldiers and if he does not, I shall react accordingly. What the hell is that?’
Barely distinguishable shouting could be heard followed by the thunder of boots on the stairs; a thunder, which grew in intensity before the door burst open to admit a burly man in a threadbare Russian uniform followed by six soldiers in a mishmash of uniforms. Bedi whose arm was held in a vice like grip by a soldier had blood pouring from his nose. The burly man obviously the leader screamed at his men and two of the soldiers began to open Edrich’s bags and rummage through them. Robbins argued forcefully with the leader but the only response he got was more shouts and a wave of a piece of paper. Robbins attempted to read the paper but the leader pushed him away and shouted at the four remaining soldiers who left the room pushing Hutton and Robbins before them. As the door opened to allow the men to exit Edrich caught a glimpse of a cowering hotel manager standing in the hall outside with a soldier holding him by the neck. The leader smiled as he stared at Edrich who was watching the other two men as they went roughly through his things.
‘Why is your nose bleeding, Bedi,’ Edrich asked the Indian though he had a good idea how and why it was.
‘I was sitting in at the top of the stairs when these soldiers came in with the hotel manager who pointed me out to this brute of an officer. The officer just came over hit me, grabbed my arm and came straight here to your room. I am sorry, colonel, I was hoping to warn you. It is not too bad,’ he added nasally dabbing at his nose.
‘He obviously knew where our rooms were so in the circumstances you could do nothing to warn us.’ Edrich looked at the officer. ‘Faced with this brute I could have done no better. Bedi, hold your nose with your hand like this,’ Edrich grasped the front of his nose hard with his forefinger and thumb, ‘and then blow that will stop the blood.’ This nose bleed trick Edrich had learned whilst playing rugby where his nose at some stage of every game seemed inevitably to get bloody. Bedi did as he was told and the blood ceased.
Edrich looked at the burly man and snapped, ‘tell him I want his name and the name of his commanding officer.’
When Bedi translated Edrich’s request the burly man just said something and then he and the two soldiers began to laugh.
‘Ivan the Terrible,’ translated Bedi.
Edrich gave the Russian a look of disdain then he and Bedi watched the two soldiers who on finishing rifling through all his cases, without finding the false bottoms, began searching everything else in the room. At one stage one of the soldiers took Edrich’s service revolver out of its holster and showed it to Ivan exchanging a few words with him as he did so. Ivan looked at the revolver carefully then handed it back to the soldier to replace, saying something to him at the same time; the soldier looked at Edrich and grinned. When the search had been completed and Edrich’s things had been thoroughly strewn across the room, Ivan and his two soldiers left. Edrich heard a few shouts and after a short delay, Edrich opened the door to see all the soldiers congregate round the leader and after a brief conversation with him they loudly vacated the hallway. The leader shouted something at Edrich before he disappeared.
‘See you again, imperialist,’ translated Bedi.
Edrich then visited Robbins’ and Hutton’s rooms, which were in the same mess as his. Both men reported that nothing had been stolen and that the search had been perfunctory rather than thorough; Edrich’s opinion also. When Edrich asked about the leader and the piece of paper the latter had waved Robbins said that it was a search warrant issued by the police.
Edrich returned to his room and watched Bedi standing in front of the mirror attempting to look up his bloodied nose.
‘What did those two ruffians say about my revolver, Bedi?’
‘The soldier asked if he could keep the gun and Ivan said not now but in a few days they would return here and then he could have it.’
Once the rooms had been tided the meeting between the three men resumed. Edrich began, ‘this searching of our rooms may be a trick to get us to act in haste and do something stupid. I suggest we plan what we need to do, decide who does what and at all times remain on our guard.’
‘If I may suggest that the first thing we do is to revisit this man Plasov. We can then present my credentials, which unfortunately do not differ from yours, I just hope that my face is recognized and that will smooth the waters. We must, however, protest this searching of our rooms and from what you say also protest the fact that we are being followed by the police wherever we go.’
‘I agree, Sir Walter, I’ll draft a note requesting an immediate meeting and send that to Comrade Plasov. If you and I can see him tomorrow then what I’d like you to do Hutton is to begin to find out about the German and Austrian Prisoners of War numbers.’
‘Any suggestions on how I do that, colonel?’ Hutton then added with a nervous grin, ‘do you want me to go round the streets and count them?’
Edrich laughed as he said, ‘I don’t think so.’ He thought for a moment it was like dealing with a child. ‘Find that Red Cross Swedish officer.’
‘Captain Anders,’ Hutton said quickly.
‘Yes, go and see him. Find out who the name and rank of the officer is in charge of the German Prisoners. Though we are concentrating on the Germans, find out: the total of all Central Powers POWs; the total for each different nationality; how many POWs have joined the Bolos in total and by nationality; and finally why are POWs joining the Bolshevik army. As soon as we know those figures we must get them off to Simla. I am worried that we may be expelled soon, so that is your task.’ Edrich turned to Robbins. ‘Neither Hutton nor I believe there are as many POWs here as we expected to see around the town I’d like to know why.’
> ‘What language should I use with Anders?’ Hutton interrupted
Robbins looked nonplussed at Hutton but Edrich responded, ‘try English first, otherwise use Russian. If our Bolshevik friends hear that you can speak their language then so be it.’ Edrich’s attention switched to Robbins. ‘We decided not to let on that Hutton speaks Russian - thought it might be an ace up our sleeve. Sir Walter, we have not yet made contact with the American consul as we have been awaiting your arrival. Do you think you we should contact him immediately? Perhaps we could meet for dinner this evening?’ Robbins nodded and Edrich looked at his watch,’ gentlemen, may I end the meeting there as I wish to get my notes off to Plasov and Compton.’
The Cotton Spies Page 46