A/N: Clip is a tour of Downing Street with David Cameron as the guide!
The two men appeared identical in every way – middle aged, aristocratic, tall and slim with pomaded black hair and expensively attired in Gieves and Hawkes, chalkstripe business suits highlighted by Old Harrovian ties: a traditional uniform for high rankers in the Civil Service.
In ultra low voices, the Permanent Secretaries to the Foreign and Home Offices stood in close conversation beside the Terracotta State Room's fireplace in 10 Downing Street: ostensibly admiring the portrait of Admiral Sir Cloudesly-Shovell set in the hearth's over large mantel.
Their deliberations were interrupted by the noisy entrance of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence through the concealed door to the neighbouring Small State Room. Mr. Henry Armitage was clearly out of breath and in tetchy mood.
'Ahh! You two have been summoned as well. What the devil is all this about, and why the secrecy for goodness sake? ...Ten minutes ago I received an urgent note from the Cabinet Secretary to drop everything and meet him here right away, making sure nobody knows I am coming, and to enter 'Number Ten' by way of the Foreign Office tunnel instead of the front door, indeed. What's happening, are we planning to invade somewhere?' Armitage fiddled irritably with the 'Jew's Twist' knot in his Wykhamist tie as he scurried across the floor to seat himself heavily in one of the Camel–Back sofa's adjacent to the fireplace. The other two turned to observe this neat and orderly man of smaller stature and less equable disposition than themselves with hands over their mouths to conceal their amusement at his discomposure.
Armitage ignored them, leaning to one side to extract a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and continuing to speak while he wiped his reddened face and neck. 'I suppose it's this damned Brexit business that Gilbert wants to discuss with us. Cameron's Folly I call it, damn the man's eyes. As if we don't have enough to do as it is to keep the country running smoothly?'
The others openly laughed at Defence's discomfiture and moved to sit themselves down with him. Sir Charles Bamforth of the Home Office sat beside Armitage, and Sir Arthur Moore of the Foreign Office sat on the sofa facing him.
'You seem to be especially irate this evening Henry.' Bamforth lightly placed a hand on Armitage's shoulder. 'You must calm yourself. It's not good for your health to be so worked up. Is there something brewing in Defence that we don't know about?'
'We've heard of nothing new in the FCO today,' Moore added, shaking his head.
Armitage exhaled noisily. 'It's this damned Brexit catastrophe. Ireland's the immediate problem should we come out of the EU. If we have to erect border posts between Ulster and the Republic it will be "Goodbye Peace Process". You mark my words.'
He slapped his knees and continued his diatribe. 'Why oh why did the PM call this damned referendum. It was so unnecessary. The man's a congenital loser.'
YOU ARE READING
Where Serpents Slither
Short StoryOn 23rd June 2016 British Prime Minister David Cameron played his greatest political gamble and lost. He called a referendum of the British people, asking them to vote simply 'In' or 'Out' of the European Union and bet they would return him a 'Rem...
