See Charlie Run Read Free Page A

haven’t got any choice. From the caution he’s showing, I think Kozlov is genuine. He’s got a wife, Irena. Also KGB. And also stationed in Tokyo. The deal – Kozlov’s deal – is that he’ll go over to the Americans and the wife comes over to us.’
    â€˜Why?’ demanded Charlie, even more confused.
    â€˜He’s openly told the Americans he doesn’t expect them to keep the promises they’re making, in their eagerness to get them over,’ took up Harkness. ‘The Americans have treated defectors badly in the past: milked them dry and then dumped them. And he knows it. Kozlov is taking out insurance, to see he gets everything. There’s to be no complete re-union until they’ve got all they’re asking for. Which would seem to be quite a lot …’ The neat man coughed, finishing his tea and placing it on the edge of the Director’s desk. ‘If they both went across to the Americans,’ resumed Harkness, ‘they’d only be guaranteed one income. Kozlov is demanding separate payments and pension arrangements, his from the Americans, his wife’s from us …’
    â€˜Which we’ll pay, of course: the lot,’ said the Director.
    â€˜They could be apart for years!’ said Charlie.
    â€˜A further part of the deal,’ expanded the Director. ‘Conjugal visits, every month, on neutral territory, under our joint protection.’
    â€˜I don’t like it,’ said Charlie. ‘It doesn’t feel right.’
    â€˜Kozlov claims to have worked in England,’ announced Wilson.
    â€˜Any trace?’ demanded Charlie. Whatever the uncertainties, it was obviously something they had to go for: go all the way.
    â€˜Not under that name,’ said Wilson. ‘Doesn’t mean it isn’t true.’
    â€˜We’re going to share everything with the Americans: they tell us what Kozlov says and we tell them what Irena says?’ asked Charlie.
    â€˜That’s what the Americans are promising,’ said Harkness.
    â€˜They won’t,’ insisted Charlie, at once. ‘They’re getting the better part of the deal, with Kozlov himself. They’ll just want us to get the woman out. From Kozlov we’ll only get the scraps.’
    Wilson smiled, wolfishly. ‘Unless he tells us himself.’
    Charlie answered the smile. ‘We snatch him, once they’re both across?’
    â€˜It depends,’ said Wilson. ‘I’d prefer to convince him it would be better for them both to come to us in the first place.’
    â€˜The CIA will try to do the same,’ said Charlie.
    â€˜Of course they will,’ agreed Wilson. ‘I never thought it was going to be easy. That’s why it’s got to be you, Charlie. I want someone who can think dirtier. And quicker.’
    â€˜Thanks for the character reference!’ said Charlie.
    â€˜It’s the game, Charlie,’ reminded Wilson. ‘And there’s to be limited contact with the British embassy …’
    â€˜To reduce any embarrassment if anything goes wrong?’ anticipated Charlie. How many times had he heard that?
    â€˜It’s the same game,’ said Wilson. ‘Embassy for communication, nothing else.’ He slid a photograph of a young-looking man towards Charlie. ‘Richard Cartright. Young fellow, third posting. We’ll advise your arrival …’
    â€˜I’ll need some assistance,’ insisted Charlie.
    â€˜There’ll be everything you want, once you’ve decided it’s absolutely genuine,’ said Wilson. ‘Until then, you’re on your own.’
    Charlie worked to rules – his rules, not anything written in triplicate in manuals marked Eyes Only – and an absolutely essential rule was to have someone to hold the shielding umbrella if the shit hit the fan. Which in his experience it nearly always did and this time looked inevitable. He said: