Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  Andy said, “Thank you, sir. I’ll get that report done immediately.” Flying Officer Goodhew left him to it.

  Out in the North Sea, the Ivor Noventsky was steaming for the Baltic. Captain Petrovsky had orders to return to base. It was clear that British intelligence had found out about the plan to take the klystron and had foiled it. One up to British intelligence but it was not all over. Moscow would try again. The Royal Naval vessel, that had shadowed the Russian trawler, returned to its normal patrol duties. Major Garasov was preparing a report for his superior in Moscow, noting that the disruptions to their intelligence work had started after a ‘Corporal Hill’ had joined the RAF unit evaluating the Red Hawk SAM system. He noted that this person appeared to be more than an administrative corporal and was understood to have been connected in the past with other operations against USSR activities.

  ***

  Oleg Berin, alias William Enderby, was squatted down on the sea wall looking at RAF West Sanby through hooded binoculars. He noted activity on the northern side of the airfield in the form of foundations being prepared for a building. Other services were being connected to the site. He slid down out of sight and walked south toward Parfleet St Peter. Not much to report but there could be soon.

  It was 16.30 hours and at Wensley Electronics the RAF team packed up their gear for the day and headed out to their bus for the trip to RAF Ouston. The three friends sat together and talked about the move and its implications. Since Lance and Andy were meeting the twins, Dan decided to ‘phone Margaret and see if he could meet her that evening as well as on Saturday. Time would now be short for them all. The thought of having an unexpected weekend on Tyneside pleased Andy. He thought that he had better see if he could visit his parents but he also wanted to spend time with Alice. They would have to discuss it that evening.

  As the bus neared RAF Ouston, Alice and her father were getting into the car to drive home to Corbridge. On the way, she asked him if he had read the day’s ‘Daily Mail’ and he said he had glanced through it. “Did you see the article and photograph of a police operation at Scotch Corner? One of the men in the photo looked like Andy.”

  John Walton gave his daughter a sideways look and said, “It’s highly unlikely that it would be Andy. Trucks have been stolen or broken into at Scotch Corner quite a few times. The man in the photo would be a plain-clothes policeman who happens to look like Andy.” Alice accepted the answer but her intuition told her differently. She decided not to say anything to Andy. John spoke again, “What do you two plan to do this evening?” Alice said that nothing had been decided. They hadn’t expected Andy would still be here. “Well, if he is here early, he could have dinner with us. Then the two of you could go for a drink, if you wanted to,” he suggested.

  “Thanks, Dad. We’ll see what time he gets here and decide then,” replied Alice. Anne had planned to stay in Hexham and Lance would meet her there and they would go for a meal. That evening Anne would learn of Lance’s impending departure.

  In the quiet countryside of Buckinghamshire, MI5 had a special house that was used for holding and interrogating special prisoners. Here, Hamilton met with colleagues to discuss the progress of the interrogation of the two prisoners. The driver of the Ford Consul had given his name as Leonard Bailey and he gave an address in Blackley in Manchester. Checks showed him to be telling the truth. There had been no identification papers on him — only some money. He was genuinely frightened by his situation but wouldn’t admit to an association with the other prisoner or that he had been following the Brennan Transport pantechnicon. His story was that he was driving to Newcastle to see a relative and had a break at Scotch Corner. When he started to leave, the other man jumped into the car and pulled a gun on him and made him drive off. They couldn’t change it. At this rate they would have to let him go. It would be difficult to make any charges hold up in court. An examination of the burnt-out wreck revealed no more than that he was the owner of the vehicle. They got even less out of the other prisoner. He wouldn’t give his name or anything but insisted that he have a lawyer.

  “I suggest that we let Bailey go but keep him under surveillance to see who he might lead us to or what we can find out,” said Hamilton. The others agreed. “If he was associated with the Russians, he could end up being killed by them to prevent him talking. We know that the Russian Consulate in Manchester was involved in planning this attempted theft of the klystron. I think it was Major Garasov that was involved but I can’t prove that. Do we ask for a “persona non grata” on him or are we better off keeping the one we know?” asked Hamilton. The team had a brief discussion on the question and decided to let him be.

  One of the others asked, “Now what do we do with this other prisoner? We are pretty sure that he’s Russian. If he is, the Russians will react by arresting one of our people or an innocent British citizen and accuse them of spying. We don’t want that if we can avoid it.”

  One of the others agreed and said, “I think we should pass it back to the chief and suggest he discreetly contact his opposite number with a view to doing a deal and handing him back through Berlin, if he is one of theirs. That would avoid a lot of bad publicity and headaches. They won’t send him back here again.” After discussing the alternatives, they all agreed on this suggestion and Hamilton headed for the office and the telephone.

  Leonard Bailey was informed that he would be taken back to his home in Manchester and released. He was asked about insurance on his car and, since it was insured, he should put a claim in. A note was made of the insurer. Bailey was visibly relieved at this outcome but he was warned that if evidence was found to implicate him with the attempted theft then he would be arrested and charged.

  Hamilton returned from the office and said it was all under control. He was going home for the night and would go back to Newcastle in the morning. Hamilton wondered about Corporal Hill. He was already a marked man and there had been one attempt on his life recently. After that photograph in the ‘Daily Mail’ there would most likely be another. Perhaps the deal to return the Russian could include leaving Corporal Hill alone. He headed out to the car.

  ***

  Lance drove into Corbridge with his two colleagues-cum-friends in the car with him. They drove down to the Waltons’ house where Andy got out and Margaret Muir got in. Dan had been able to contact her and she was delighted to be able to go out for a meal with him. Alice was standing outside the house with a big smile of welcome.

  “We’ll pick you up about ten on the way back,” said Lance. “See you later.” The car drove off, heading for Hexham. Alice greeted Andy with a kiss on the cheek and, putting her arm through his, led him into the house. She led him into the lounge where her parents were sitting.

  “You’ll join us for dinner, Andy?” queried Judith Walton.

  “I’d be delighted,” he replied.

  “Good,” said Judith. They all moved into the dining room for the meal.

  “How long is the unexpected stay for, do you know?” asked John Walton.

  “We move on Monday,” said Andy. “The work here is complete so the equipment will be taken down to Lincolnshire and the whole detachment goes down too.”

  “Oh! So you have the weekend here?” asked Judith.

  “Mummy!” exclaimed Alice, a little put out that she wasn’t the one asking the questions.

  John Walton cut in, “The reason we are asking is that I spoke with Andy’s father yesterday and we renewed our acquaintanceship. We plan to get together for a meal, possibly in Morpeth.”

  Andy responded, “I was hoping to see them sometime this weekend but I wanted to discuss it with Alice first.”

  John replied, “That’s fine. You two discuss it later and let us know what you decide.” Andy nodded and they all got on with the meal.

  Later, Andy and Alice went for a walk. She led him westward, away from the town, towards the site of the Roman ruins. They walked without speaking for a while, just enjoying the warmth of each other’s company. Alice ha
d put her arm through his and snuggled as close to him as she could, he shortening his pace so that they walked comfortably in step with each other. It was a cool autumn evening with a clear sky and, as they left the street lights behind, more stars became visible. There was rustling in the hedgerow as they walked, some bird or other creature disturbed by their passing. They turned in through the gate to the Roman ruins and Alice stopped and turned to face Andy. She tilted her face up to his and her eyes invited him to make a response. Andy bent forward and kissed her. Alice went up on tip-toe and put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Time seemed to stop still and their surrounds seemed to melt away. For a very long moment they seemed to float into an ethereal world. Alice ended the kiss and looked up into Andy’s face with sparkling eyes and a smile that seemed to say, “We belong to each other.” She wasn’t the first young woman he had kissed but why did this seem so different? Andy looked back at her wonderingly and turned his head and looked up at the sky. A shooting star seemed to flash earthwards. He turned his head to look at her face again and Alice pulled his head down so that their lips met again. When they ‘came up for breath’, Andy suggested that they walk a little. Inwardly, he wanted to try and sort out his emotions. This wasn’t just something physical and it filled him with wonder. They walked back through the gate and continued down the road. The moon came up behind them and Andy raised the question of the weekend. He said that he ought to try and visit his parents in Alnwick.

  “Can I come with you,” was the quick response from Alice.

  Why wasn’t he surprised at that and also his promptly given “Yes?” Before Andy could say anything, Alice asked if they could go up on the Saturday. He said that he would have to check with his parents.

  “If we walked back home now, we could telephone them, couldn’t we?” asked Alice. “I suppose so,” Andy replied. “They don’t go to bed early.” They turned round and headed back, Alice eager to get to the ‘phone. As they walked, Andy got his handkerchief out and wiped the lipstick off his face and Alice giggled as she watched him do it. “I don’t think my parents would disapprove if they saw it,” she said.

  “Let’s keep a good impression,” Andy replied.

  Going into the house, Alice stuck her head round the lounge door and said, “We’re going to use the ‘phone. Andy needs to telephone his parents about this weekend.”

  She led Andy to the telephone stand in the hall. Andy dialled the operator, gave the number in Alnwick and was quickly connected to his parents’ home. His father answered, “Hill here!”

  “Hi, Dad, it’s Andy. I’ve got a weekend up here unexpectedly. Okay if I come up on Saturday to see you both?”

  Andy’s father said, “Yes, but we expect to be out for dinner in the evening with the Waltons, the parents of that young lady you met.” Andy suggested he come up in the morning and then asked if he could bring Alice Walton with him. His father hurrumphed and said, “Better talk to your mother,” and called for his wife. “It’s Andy on the ‘phone and wants to come up on Saturday and bring a girl with him.”

  Andy’s mother raised her eyebrows at his father and took the telephone. “This is a surprise, dear. We didn’t expect to see you until you could get leave. Who is this young lady you want to bring? She must be important.”

  “It’s Alice Walton, John Walton’s daughter.”

  His mother gave a long, drawn out, “O-o-h!” and said, “That’s all right, then. When will you come up?”

  Andy said, “We’d like to come up in the morning, if that’s okay. We can leave before you go out to dinner.” Alice gave an exclamation of delight.

  Intuitively, Andy’s mother asked, “Where are you telephoning from, dear?”

  “I’m at the Waltons’, with Alice beside me,” he replied.

  Back came the question, “Is Mrs Walton in? If so, can I speak to her?” Andy replied that he would get her. While he went to the sitting room, Alice took the ‘phone and introduced herself to his mother. Andy knocked on the sitting room door and entered the room, explaining that his mother wanted to speak to Alice’s mother.

  Judith Walton replied, “I’ll take it on the lounge extension. You can hang up when you hear me speak.” Judith walked over and picked up the telephone and spoke. “Judith Walton here, Margaret. How are you?” Andy went out of the room and signalled for Alice to hang up and she put the receiver down. They went into the kitchen as it seemed the mothers wanted to talk privately. Alice was excited and wanted to know how early they could go up.

  “I was thinking of hiring a car,” said Andy. “That would give us freedom of travel and flexibility of time.” Alice thought it a good idea. She wanted to know where his home was in Alnwick, having been to the town before.

  A call from the sitting room door stopped the conversation. “Alice, Andy! Can you come down to the lounge?” They hurried into the lounge.

  When they went into the sitting room, John Walton motioned to them to sit down. “On Saturday we’ll be having dinner with your parents, Andy. That will be in Morpeth. Would you two like to join us?” Andy and Alice looked at each other. They had thought they would be having a meal on their own.

  Andy thought it better to be honest and said, “We had planned to have the evening together before I brought Alice home.”

  Judith Walton responded, “Your mother would have liked you to spend the weekend with them, if you could, and suggested that Alice could stay the weekend if we agreed. However, it would be nice if both parents had the chance to share time with you both as well.” Alice had mixed feelings. She wanted to meet Andy’s parents but she also wanted time alone with Andy. Alice guessed that the mothers were being protective of her. Judith picked up on her daughter’s thoughts and said, “Come to dinner with us on Saturday evening. You could go off by yourselves for a while after we’ve eaten because we’ll want to sit and reminisce over drinks.”

  Alice responded with, “That sounds a good idea, Mummy. We’ll come to the dinner.” John and Andy glanced at each other as if to say, “They’ve made all the decisions without us.” Alice continued, “Andy is thinking of hiring a car for the weekend. Who would you recommend, Dad?” John replied that he would think about it and let Andy know.

  “Thanks, Mr Walton. That would be great,” said Andy. He continued, “Would you mind if Alice and I go down to the ‘local’ for a drink? It will be another hour before the others are back.”

  John nodded his approval. “Sure, Andy.” The young couple got up and Andy thanked them very much as he and Alice left the room. When they had gone, John said to his wife, “I don’t think you will need to worry about that young man and our daughter. He’s pretty level-headed and also he’ll respect her.”

  Judith sighed and said, “I guess you are right. They’ve grown up too quickly.” Out in the hall, Alice put a coat on against the cool night air and she and Andy left the house.

  Walking down the drive, Alice was excited at the thought of having a weekend away with Andy, even if it was to visit his parents. He wasn’t so sure. He felt that he had been swept along by the turn of events and not really in control of what was happening. He was beginning to feel sure of his feelings for Alice. In some ways the speed of it happening made him feel a little alarmed but in other ways it gave a huge sense of satisfaction. They walked down towards the centre of the town and turned down St. Helens Street to the ‘Wheatsheaf.’ They went into the comfortable lounge room which had a log fire blazing away. Alice wanted a Bacardi and Coke and Andy settled for a Mackeson. They found a vacant table not far from the fire and happily chatted away until it was time to return to the house. As they were turning into the drive, a car slowed down and they were bathed in headlights. It was the other two couples returning in Lance’s car. They moved to one side and waved as the car went passed them. It turned out that they had dropped Margaret off at her home. They escorted the twins into the house and said goodnight to the Waltons. Then it was back to the car and back to Ouston. All three felt that it had b
een a good evening and they were all looking forward to the weekend. Andy got a bit of ribbing about having his ‘feet under the table’ already but it was all good-humoured. Back at base they soon headed for bed.

  ***

  Thursday morning (29th) and the RAF bus was on its way to the works. It was going down the Stamfordham Road past Blakelaw, a large sprawling council estate built after the Second World War. Each of the men on the coach was busy with his thoughts. Only two more days of this and then a final bus trip on the Monday morning to Central Station to get the train south. Higgins was looking forward to the end of the detachment and his return to Acklington where he would be much closer to his girlfriend. Others, like ‘Sarge’, looked forward to being closer to loved ones when they moved south. There was none of the usual chatter between them. They saw the usual sights as the bus headed into town, past Fenham Barracks and the Leazes Park; past St. James football ground and through Gallowgate; past Grey’s Monument towering over the other buildings, its stonework almost black from the years of industrial pollution in the air. It was a slow trip through the city with the rush hour traffic and the large numbers of council buses, all a bright yellow, helping to clog the streets. So, on to Wensley Electronics and their second last day there. Once there they all settled into their work, dismantling and packing equipment and preparing it to be picked up by RAF transport the next day. All the test results and settings were gone through with the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) representative and staff from Wensley Electronics. The company was in the process of building a second prototype under Air Ministry orders. It would use all the settings agreed from the trials and testing so far. Andy was completing his work and also giving others a hand as it was needed. Flying Officer Goodhew had him in his office and they went through the work that Andy had done on the analysis and recording system.