The Trinity Six - Charles Cumming [50]
Of course, John and I did not know that our efforts were having any impact at all, but that did not lessen our sense that the work we were doing was of profound importance to the cause.
‘Which cause?’ Gaddis muttered to himself, still coming to terms with what he was seeing. Was this an extract from the memoirs? Why would Neame bother to have copied it out? What value was there in playing such a game?
Neame saw his confusion but gestured at him to continue reading.
During the same period, the Carelian was also able to obtain a list of Luftwaffe squadrons operating in the Kursk area. He became ill, so it fell to me to pass on that information to his handler. I believe that, as a result, fifteen Nazi aerodromes were bombed and 500 planes destroyed. A marvellous coup for which both John and I received The Order of the Red Banner.
‘Christ, is that true? Cairncross and Crane were both decorated?’
Neame nodded. ‘If that’s what it says.’
Gaddis went back to the first page. He pointed to the note: ‘Armour-piercing shells + Tiger tanks’, and asked Neame to elaborate.
‘Elaborate?’ The old man tapped a finger against a dried crust of skin, just beneath the hairline. ‘I believe “The Carelian” was one of the names by which John Cairncross was known to the Russians, yes?’
Gaddis nodded.
‘Well, Eddie recalls that the Soviets were able to develop armour-piercing shells capable of destroying Nazi Tiger tanks at the battle of . . .’ He did not appear to know how to pronounce ‘Kurskaia Douga’, so Gaddis did it for him. ‘Precisely. Again, he credits ULTRA for the intelligence which allowed for this.’
‘I see.’
Gaddis went to the final page, where Neame had written more notes.
1939. Appointed to Soviet counter-espionage at MI5. Gives names of potential Soviet defectors to MANN. Diplomats subsequently withdrawn to Moscow.
Full knowledge of counter-espionage activities in London and beyond. Ditto extent of MI5 infiltration of Communist Party.
Tell Dr SG about diplomatic bags
1943. Guy and E in Casablanca at clandestine talks between Churchill and Roosevelt.
Passed plans for the Allied landing in Sicily and the invasion of the Italian peninsula to MANN.
‘It says here you’re supposed to tell me something about diplomatic bags.’
Neame was sipping his pint. A couple of men had walked into the pub. One of them appeared to know the landlady. Above the noise of their conversation, Neame said: ‘What was that?’
Gaddis leaned forward, pointing at the back page of the manuscript.
‘Something about diplomatic bags, Tom.’
‘Search me.’
Why had the energy gone out of him again, just at the point when he needed Neame to be at his most alert? Was he play-acting, or was age really defeating him?
‘Can I get you something to eat?’
‘That would be very kind.’
Perhaps that was all that it would take. Some bread, some soup to revive his spirits. It took ten minutes for the food to arrive, a period which Neame spent talking about the staff at the nursing home. He was bored, he told Gaddis, bored ‘out of my tiny mind’. That explains your parabolic mood swings, Gaddis thought, and bought himself another pint of lager. When the soup came, Neame took two spoonfuls of it and set the bowl to one side.
‘Did I tell you what happened to Eddie after the war?’
It was instantaneous. He was revived once again. In the space of a few seconds, Neame appeared to have regained his mental and physical acuity. Gaddis was reminded of an actor stepping back into character; it was unnerving to watch. He may have forgotten all about the manuscript, all about the diplomatic bags, preferring to talk about Crane’s experiences after the war, but as far as Gaddis was concerned, that was fine. Let the old man tell his story in his own way and in his own time. Just as long as he tells it.
‘You didn’t mention that, no.’
‘Do you know what, Sam?’
‘What?’
Neame leaned forward, almost slipping on the patched elbows of his tweed jacket. ‘I think Eddie may have experienced what might nowadays be called a nervous breakdown.’
‘Really?