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. MrMorgan, 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
‘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. MrMorgan, 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
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