Brink-Ford’s eyes were big behind his spectacles.
‘Commander – Mr Morgan … We have a most important task which only you can carry out.’ He paused. ‘You are the only person, because of your – er — association, with Mrs Hapsburg.’ He took an uncomfortable breath. ‘Mr Morgan, it is of the utmost importance that you proceed to Grenada and get to see Anna Hapsburg immediately. That you … win her complete confidence.’ He cleared his throat. ‘And persuade her to come away with you, to a place of safety. In fact, to England.’
Morgan was astonished. Brink-Ford went on:
‘And if for some reason she will not do that voluntarily, you must make her come to England …’
Morgan could not believe his British ears.
‘Good God,’ he said. ‘Abduct her? … Against her will? So you can … extract the information out of her? And if I refuse to be a party to this … kidnapping, you’ll exert a little blackmail on me? Jesus.’ He could not believe it. He got up and walked to the window. He looked out elaborately. He turned back to them. ‘Am I in England? Or Russia?’ He walked back to his chair. He sat down incredulously. ‘Half an hour ago this sanctimonious prick –’ he pointed at Carrington – ‘was telling me that it all served me right for playing with married women – with fire, he said. Now you want to use that …’
‘A different thing entirely. This is for Queen and Country.’
Morgan half-laughed. ‘Now I’ve heard absolutely everything. Seduction and abduction for Queen and Country! …’
Brink-Ford sat forward earnestly. ‘Have you been in touch with Mrs Hapsburg since that incident a year ago?’
Morgan snorted. ‘No, I have not.’
‘Has she attempted to be in touch with you?’
‘No, she has not.’
‘Do you know why not?’
‘I’ve a pretty good idea! Her husband threatened to have me extradited to Grenada to face trial, if she did. And for the same reason I haven’t dared contact her!’
Brink-Ford said: ‘That suggests … Or rather, may I ask – are you still enamoured of Anna Hapsburg?’
Morgan glared at him. ‘You may not. And may I ask what this red-hot information is which I have to extract from her?’
Brink-Ford sat back.
‘First I’ll tell you how we’re going to get you into Grenada.’ He looked at his watch. ‘At this moment American battleships are steaming towards Grenada. Meanwhile troops are being assembled in nearby Barbados. Now, this afternoon you will fly to Barbados on a scheduled flight. With a false passport. You will be met by an officer of the United States Navy – a SEAL officer. That’s their specialized Sea Air Land forces, like our Special Boat Service. He will equip you with the uniform and weapons of an American SEAL.’ He glanced at his file. ‘Your name will be Steven M. Jackson. The M is for Matheson. You will be drilled on your new temporary identity. Family, training courses, military history. He’ll familiarize you with your weapons, et cetera. I’m told you’ve been trained to parachute?’
Morgan was staring at him. ‘Years ago. And I hated every jump.’
‘Well, I believe you may be parachuting into the sea, near the capital of St George’s, to start your search for Anna Hapsburg.’ He paused, collecting his notes. ‘We don’t know where she is. The island is in chaos. The telephones are cut. She may be barricaded in her home. Her parents are deceased, as you probably know. We think she may have fled to Government House. We know that about thirty civilians have taken refuge there, but we don’t know who they are. The governor is a British appointee, a black man called Scoon. Or she may be in one of the embassies. Anyway, you and your squad of SEALs will first look for her in her home. Then you will storm the rabble army that is besieging Government House, get inside and see if she’s there. If she is, you will all simply hold the fort until the invasion is over. Which should only be a matter of two days or so. And you, personally, will stay in Anna Hapsburg’s company all the time.’
Morgan could hardly believe this was happening.
‘And if she isn’t in Government House?’
‘You go back over the wall and look for her,’ Carrington said. ‘First in the obvious places, like foreign embassies. You’ll take some SEALs with you. When you find her, report by radio to Command. If you’re in a safe place, like an embassy, sit tight until the bun-fight’s over. If you’re in a dangerous situation, radio for help.’
Brink-Ford said: ‘Above all, you’ve got to keep Anna Hapsburg safe. Avoid risks as far as possible, avoid confrontation with the enemy, but give nobody the benefit of the doubt. Shoot to kill anybody who looks like endangering her. And the same applies to yourself – it is vital that you stay alive.’
Carrington smiled: ‘We thought you might like that part of it.’
Morgan was in no mood for jokes.
‘So that I can win her confidence for you bastards.’
Brink-Ford said earnestly: ‘For Queen and Country. Mr Morgan, you are the only person who can win her confidence …’
‘And if she doesn’t divulge the information to me, you’ll get it out of her by hook or by crook?’
‘Mr Morgan, the whole purpose in sending you is so that we do not have to get it out of her by hook or by crook. And to get her away from people who would certainly not hesitate to use force to get the information. And then kill her afterwards. Namely, the Russians.’
Morgan stared. He thought, Jesus … ‘And the Americans also want this information?’
‘Indeed. They’re collaborating with us. But only the SEALs in your immediate squad will know that your special assignment is to find Anna Hapsburg. They won’t know why. They’ll ask no questions. And only a couple of people in the whole armed services will know you’ve been put there by us.’
Morgan was grappling with all this.
‘But rather than disguise me as an American soldier, where my true identity may be discovered, why not send me disguised as a British journalist, or diplomat?’
‘Because,’ Carrington said, ‘officially Great Britain is keeping out of this. That’s why we’re asking you to do this unofficially, not serving Call-up papers on you. And because this is a highly military situation, you need the cover and facilities of the military to do the job properly. Journalists can’t run around with machine guns, can they?’
Morgan sat back. And took a deep, tense breath. Bemused. Anna had come back into his life? … And for a moment he felt a flash of anger. ‘You’ll cause endless trouble,’ Janet Nicols had said. She was right. He said: ‘Tell me what information I’m after.’
Brink-Ford sat back. ‘I can tell you only as much as you need to know.’ He paused. ‘You have probably heard of Klaus Barbie?’
Morgan said, wonderingly: ‘Klaus
