Disorderly Elements by Bob Cook Page B

Beaufort Street, and that arrangements had been made for him to visit MI6 headquarters that afternoon. The attaché was unaware of the precise nature of Rawls’ visit, but he did know that the true reason was being kept secret from the British.
    Rawls left his suitcase with the attaché, and he was given a car to take him to MI6 headquarters. He was driven down Park Lane and Grosvenor Place, then through Victoria Street and into Parliament Square. After negotiating some heavy traffic, the driver took him over Westminster Bridge and stopped at County Hall, the headquarters of the Greater London Council.
    Britain’s intelligence-gathering organization has a variety of names. Publicly, it is known as MI6, or the SIS. Privately, it is known as the “Firm”, or simply “Six”. Its headquarters lie in the middle of a large roundabout connecting Lambeth Palace Road, York Road and Westminster Bridge Road. The building looks like a sawn-off step pyramid, and is known as the Ziggurat. It has been carefully elevated so that access from the roundabout is impossible. The only way in for visitors is by an enclosed walkway several floors up, linking the Ziggurat with the south block of County Hall.
    Rawls entered County Hall and waved some impressive docu ments at the receptionist. He was taken upstairs and over into the Ziggurat, where he was introduced to an arid official.
    â€œHow do you do,” the man drawled. “My name’s Parfitt.”
    â€œPleased to meet you,” Rawls said.
    â€œI understand that you’d like to visit GCHQ.”
    â€œAmong other things. I’m with Anglo-US Liaison, as you know. At the moment, I’m involved with the preparations for the arms limitation talks. I’ve been sent over here to take soundings on how the British want us to handle the talks, and to find out what’s been happening in the way of Warsaw Pact troop movements in Europe.”
    Rawls was referring to the next round of arms talks between the Americans and the Russians, to be held in Geneva the following July. The Russians were claiming that current US policy was aggressive and uncooperative, and that major concessions would be required if any sort of progress was to be made.
    The Americans were replying that the Russians were indulging in more than their fair share of aggression, and they backed their case with lengthy accounts of Warsaw Pact exercises, as well as the setting-up of a new batch of rocket installations in Eastern Europe. GCHQ in Cheltenham was monitoring many of these new developments, and Rawls ostensibly wished to see their findings at first hand.
    â€œI see,” Parfitt said. “Well, that should provide no difficulties. We’ll give you a permit to visit Cheltenham as from tomorrow. Is there anything else you would like?”
    â€œYeah, there’s one more thing. We’re particularly interested in what’s happening in the DDR right now, especially in the southwest. I understand you’ve got a department here in London that specializes in DDR affairs, run by a guy called Owen.”
    â€œThat’s right. In fact, the area you’re talking about is the speciality of a chap called Wyman, who works for Owen. If you like, I’ll ask Wyman to prepare a report on the area for you, and we’ll have it ready for you by the time you’ve returned from Cheltenham.”
    â€œNo need, no need,” Rawls said affably. “If it’s okay, I’ll speak to Wyman myself. It shouldn’t take long.”
    â€œI don’t see why not,” Parfitt said. “They don’t often get house-calls, so it should make a pleasant change for them. I’ll fix up an appointment with Owen.”
    â€œGreat,” Rawls said.
    They chatted amicably for another twenty minutes, and Parfitt prepared Rawls’ permit to visit Cheltenham. The American then left the Ziggurat and drove back to Grosvenor Square.

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