A Gathering of Spies Read Free

another drink?”
    â€œI won’t refuse.”
    â€œI didn’t think you would. So, old chap, still teaching?”
    â€œYou must know that I’m not.”
    â€œI do know that, as a matter of fact. But I’ve been unable to discover exactly what it is that you are doing.”
    â€œVery little,” Winterbotham said. “Locking myself in the library with my books, for the most part. Except when I’m being mysteriously interrupted during my bath and dragged out into the countryside.”
    â€œThat’s a shame,” Taylor said. “A bloody shame.”
    He had fetched the bottle; now he refilled the mugs and then sat again, looking at Winterbotham contemplatively.
    â€œIt’s a waste of talent, is what it is,” he said. “England could use you. Now more than ever.”
    â€œThe way she uses you?”
    â€œMm,” Taylor said.
    â€œIt does seem to agree with you—whatever it is that you’re doing.”
    â€œMm.”
    â€œBringing your extensive knowledge of the classics to bear on the Nazis,” Winterbotham said. “What scares them the most, Andrew? Chaucer? Or is it Shakespeare?”
    â€œYou’re digging,” Taylor said, smiling.
    â€œI’m curious. I don’t understand exactly how elderly professors like ourselves are of service to His Majesty in wartime, I’ll admit.”
    â€œHow curious are you?”
    â€œMildly.”
    â€œCurious enough to want to know more?”
    â€œI wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
    â€œHonestly, old chap, I wish I could tell you everything I’m doing. But I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
    â€œYet you didn’t bring me out here just for a game of chess.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen why?”
    Taylor chewed on his lip for a moment. “There was a time,” he said slowly, “when you were not eager about this war.”
    Winterbotham said nothing.
    â€œYou were rather vocal with your opinions,” Taylor said. “ Extremely vocal, as I recall. What was it you called Churchill?”
    â€œYou know very well,” Winterbotham said crisply.
    â€œOf course I do. You called him a warmonger. You don’t have many friends in my sphere, old chap, I’ll tell you that. Do you know what they call you?”
    â€œI could hazard a guess.”
    â€œGo ahead.”
    â€œSomething along the lines of an appeaser.”
    â€œRight again,” Taylor said. “You’d have been happy to sit back and watch Hitler take all of Europe, they say, just as long as we were left out of it. Let Germany and Russia take care of each other.”
    Winterbotham looked at the chessboard, at Taylor’s king resting on its side. He took a long drink from the mug in his hand. A dark shadow crossed his face.
    â€œWe all make mistakes,” he murmured.
    â€œThat we do.”
    â€œPerhaps that was one of mine.”
    â€œPerhaps it was.”
    â€œAre you telling me, Andrew, that you can’t tell me what you do because of my politics?”
    â€œI’m telling you that I need to be very careful with what I tell you, old chap, because of your politics. In fact, I’m taking quite a risk just by meeting with you.”
    â€œSo I should be flattered.”
    â€œYou should be.”
    â€œThen I am. I’m sincerely flattered. Now, tell me: What can I do for you?”
    â€œSame old Winterbotham,” Taylor said. “Too impatient for his own good.”
    â€œSame old Taylor,” Winterbotham answered. “Too fond of games for the sake of games.”
    â€œWe’re living in a new age now, Harry. We’re fighting a new kind of war. Games are what we do.”
    Winterbotham waited for elaboration.
    â€œWe’re always looking for qualified men,” Taylor said, “to help us win the games we play.”
    â€œWhat sort of games, exactly?”
    â€œAh!” Taylor smacked his