Colonel Berry

44. Debriefing the Ambassador

As David guided Maria down the curved staircase toward the foyer, she asked, "Are you going to tell him about the interrogation?"

"Yes, but not during lunch."

"I had hoped you would see it that way." She squeezed his arm and smiled. "Not an appropriate topic while eating."

As they entered the anteroom half a minute later, they were greeted by John Wallinger and Henry Picot, the latter asking, "What news on the gasworks?"

"Success. Great success. But let's wait for the Ambassador, so I won't need to repeat myself. What's the latest on the injured prisoners?"

"Preparations are now complete at Château-d'Œx, staff are assembled, and we're waiting for the first trainload."

"Finally!" Maria raised her arms, shaking her fists in a cheer. "The first will arrive this week."

"No, unfortunately." Picot sighed. "Another week. Maybe two."

"If all is ready, why the delay?"

"Haggling over the selection process. Idiots. Self-centred idiots, theirs, ours, the whole lot –"

"Who're idiots, Henry?" the Ambassador asked as he escorted Edith into the room.

"Those selecting which of the injured prisoners are the first."

"Being petty again?"

"They are, Sir. Back to the dispute between rank and degree of need."

The Ambassador scowled and shook his head, then turned to David. "Another successful trip?"

"Overall, it was, Sir."

"Fill us in with what happened with the gasworks. There are still no details in the papers, nor in the intelligence reports."

"They destroyed eight of them, Sir. One had a –"

"Eight! Brilliant, David."

"The ninth had a maintenance crew working near where the charges needed to be placed, and it was too dangerous to approach."

"And the men? They've now all made it back?"

David winced. "One still missing, Sir."

"Apprehended?"

"I don't think so. Greg had made his way south to Offenburg with Otto on Wednesday, and he was to cross the border on Thursday. We suspect he fell into bad hands, not into official ones."

The Ambassador nodded, then acknowledged the signal from the steward. "Let's continue at the table."

When they had settled into their chairs, Evelyn resumed, "And what progress with the tunnel, David?"

"Gerrard estimates another five or six weeks. Completion around the fifteenth or twentieth of June. Bethia gave notice to the renters to be out at the end of this month."

"What new missions do you see it supporting?"

"Mainly as a conduit for explosives to the French sympathisers in the Alsace and Lorraine. They continue slowing trains and road convoys."

"And your team's mission?"

"It's far too dangerous to approach any site of strategic value. After our success last week, they immediately mounted guards, even at sites with no interest to us. They've moved thousands of soldiers from fighting at the Front to guarding their rear. Better now left to aerial bombers."

"So, your mission?"

"Subverting the thinking of their women."

"Pardon? I don't follow."