knees, ‘I must admit that I find it hard to believe that the humdrum routine of a schoolteacher’s life really suits you.’
Stephen hesitated. This was too close to the truth for comfort. He said, ‘I’m not ideally suited to it. Perhaps I’m not very good at it.’
‘But you were a very good foreign correspondent. Wouldn’t you like to go back to that life?’
‘I have a wife and child to support.’
‘Ah yes. Laura, isn’t it? I seem to remember that she was involved in the anti-Vietnam war protests.’
‘Do you keep tabs on everyone?’
‘Only those who bring themselves to our attention. A war reporter and an anti-war protester. Isn’t that a rather unusual alliance?
‘Not at all. I’ve seen enough of war to hate everything about it.’
‘I take your point. So you will be all the more anxious to help us avoid future conflicts. To get back to my previous point. Wouldn’t you like to get back to what you do best, as a journalist?’
‘Ideally, yes. But no one would employ me now.’
‘Oh, I think that could be arranged. Let me put my cards on the table. We are concerned about developments in Cyprus. We want someone out there who knows the people and speaks the language, someone who was familiar with the old EOKA, who can report back on what these new chaps are intending. How do you fancy being based out there?’
‘We’re not talking about being a foreign correspondent, are we? That’s just a cover.’
‘Yes, but I can promise you that, provided your articles are up to your old standard, they would appear in some prestigiousnewspapers. Of course, you would not be telling the general public quite what you would be telling us, but there would still be plenty of scope for in-depth reporting.’
‘So who would I be working for, really? Military Intelligence again?’
Henshaw shrugged slightly. ‘A rose by any other name … You would be serving your country, and I can promise you that when the assignment was over you would find that there was a generous – what shall I call it – severance settlement. Plus the fact that you would have had the opportunity to re-establish your career.’
‘You are asking me to relocate my family, on a long-term basis. Suppose my wife doesn’t want to go?’
Henshaw sat back with a smile. ‘Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you take her there for a holiday? Easter is in a few weeks’ time. If she likes the place you would be able to work out your notice for the summer term and move permanently in July.’
‘There’s a snag to that. I can’t afford foreign holidays on my pay.’
‘Oh, that won’t be a problem. I’m sure
The Telegraph
would be happy to commission you to produce a report for their Travel section. I believe Cyprus is becoming a popular tourist destination. All expenses paid, naturally.’
Stephen gazed at him. He felt breathless. The chance to get his career back on track; to go back to Cyprus; perhaps to see Ariadne again – He stopped himself sharply. There was no chance of that. She was in Athens, a married woman with children. But all the same, just the chance to be back on that magical island.…
He said, ‘And if I did decide to relocate, in the long term, how am I supposed to be supporting myself? The occasional article in the British papers won’t be enough to convince people.’
‘I suggest you might look for a small business – a shop, a B&B, something that wouldn’t take up too much of your time. There are plenty of ex-pats out there, eking out a living that way.’ Henshaw rose. ‘So, what about it? Do we have a deal?’
Stephen got up too. ‘I’ll have to discuss it with my wife. Notthe real motive behind the move, of course, but the general idea.’
‘Offer her the holiday,’ Henshaw said. ‘That should be enough for now.’
Laura was slumped in an armchair in front of the TV when he got home. A pile of exercise books was on the table beside her, together with a half-empty bottle of wine. Cressida,
Stephen hesitated. This was too close to the truth for comfort. He said, ‘I’m not ideally suited to it. Perhaps I’m not very good at it.’
‘But you were a very good foreign correspondent. Wouldn’t you like to go back to that life?’
‘I have a wife and child to support.’
‘Ah yes. Laura, isn’t it? I seem to remember that she was involved in the anti-Vietnam war protests.’
‘Do you keep tabs on everyone?’
‘Only those who bring themselves to our attention. A war reporter and an anti-war protester. Isn’t that a rather unusual alliance?
‘Not at all. I’ve seen enough of war to hate everything about it.’
‘I take your point. So you will be all the more anxious to help us avoid future conflicts. To get back to my previous point. Wouldn’t you like to get back to what you do best, as a journalist?’
‘Ideally, yes. But no one would employ me now.’
‘Oh, I think that could be arranged. Let me put my cards on the table. We are concerned about developments in Cyprus. We want someone out there who knows the people and speaks the language, someone who was familiar with the old EOKA, who can report back on what these new chaps are intending. How do you fancy being based out there?’
‘We’re not talking about being a foreign correspondent, are we? That’s just a cover.’
‘Yes, but I can promise you that, provided your articles are up to your old standard, they would appear in some prestigiousnewspapers. Of course, you would not be telling the general public quite what you would be telling us, but there would still be plenty of scope for in-depth reporting.’
‘So who would I be working for, really? Military Intelligence again?’
Henshaw shrugged slightly. ‘A rose by any other name … You would be serving your country, and I can promise you that when the assignment was over you would find that there was a generous – what shall I call it – severance settlement. Plus the fact that you would have had the opportunity to re-establish your career.’
‘You are asking me to relocate my family, on a long-term basis. Suppose my wife doesn’t want to go?’
Henshaw sat back with a smile. ‘Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you take her there for a holiday? Easter is in a few weeks’ time. If she likes the place you would be able to work out your notice for the summer term and move permanently in July.’
‘There’s a snag to that. I can’t afford foreign holidays on my pay.’
‘Oh, that won’t be a problem. I’m sure
The Telegraph
would be happy to commission you to produce a report for their Travel section. I believe Cyprus is becoming a popular tourist destination. All expenses paid, naturally.’
Stephen gazed at him. He felt breathless. The chance to get his career back on track; to go back to Cyprus; perhaps to see Ariadne again – He stopped himself sharply. There was no chance of that. She was in Athens, a married woman with children. But all the same, just the chance to be back on that magical island.…
He said, ‘And if I did decide to relocate, in the long term, how am I supposed to be supporting myself? The occasional article in the British papers won’t be enough to convince people.’
‘I suggest you might look for a small business – a shop, a B&B, something that wouldn’t take up too much of your time. There are plenty of ex-pats out there, eking out a living that way.’ Henshaw rose. ‘So, what about it? Do we have a deal?’
Stephen got up too. ‘I’ll have to discuss it with my wife. Notthe real motive behind the move, of course, but the general idea.’
‘Offer her the holiday,’ Henshaw said. ‘That should be enough for now.’
Laura was slumped in an armchair in front of the TV when he got home. A pile of exercise books was on the table beside her, together with a half-empty bottle of wine. Cressida,
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