Spy Story by Len Deighton Page A

forty and gathering speed, but she still had the same melancholy beauty that had kept her photo in the society columns since she was a deb. She wore a long yellow and orange dress of marbled satin. I heard Marjorie’s sharp intake of breath. Teresa knew how to spend money, there was no doubt of that.
    Ferdy took my coat and handed it to someone off-stage.
    Teresa took Marjorie’s arm and walked her off. She must have seen the storm warnings.
    â€˜I’m so glad you’re here,’ said Ferdy.
    â€˜Yes …’ I said. ‘Well … good.’
    â€˜You left early and there was a bit of a scene right after.’ He turned to a servant who was standing motionless with a tray of champagne. ‘Put the tray on the hall stand,’ said Ferdy.
    â€˜A tray of champagne,’ I said. ‘Now that’s what I call hospitality.’
    Ferdy picked up two glasses and pushed one upon me. ‘Schlegel was rude,’ said Ferdy. ‘Damned rude.’
    I took the top off my champagne. I could see I was going to need it. ‘What happened?’ I said.
    And out it came: all the anxieties and resentments that Ferdy had been storing for goodness knows how long hit me in one long gabble of plaintive bewilderment.
    â€˜He doesn’t have to come over the speaker with it, does he?’
    â€˜No,’ I said. ‘But perhaps you’d better take it from the beginning.’
    â€˜Schlegel came through on the yellow phone, as soon as I put those MADs into the Kara. Did I mean the Barents, kid. No, Kara, I said. You know where the Kara is, Ferdy kid, he says. You know where the Kara is.’
    Ferdy sipped some of his champagne, smiled, and as he continued slipped into his devastating impression of Schlegel’s accent. ‘And those Mallow flying boats – you’re making crushed ice out there, sweetheart, that’s all you’re doing – check those ice-limits, baby, and take another look at the Kara. Will you do that for me.’
    Again Ferdy sipped his drink, by which time I’d almost drained mine. Ferdy said, ‘I didn’t reply. Schlegel came through on the loudspeaker, shouting, Are you reading me, Foxwell kid, because if you’re giving me that old time limey high-hat treatment I’ll move your tail out of that chair so fast your tootsies won’t touch the ground, got me.’
    I said, ‘Schlegel was probably getting a bad time from those CINCLANT admirals.’
    Ferdy putting those huge flying boats down on the ice was probably what was really worrying Schlegel. If the big computer showed them as landing safely, a lot of the Arctic strategy would have to be rethought, but meanwhile, Ferdy might wipe the floor with Schlegel’s two VIPs.
    â€˜What would you have done?’ asked Ferdy.
    â€˜Kicked him in the crutch, Ferdy.’
    â€˜Zap! Pow! Wallop!’ he said doubtfully. ‘Yes, look here, drink up.’ He took a glass of champagne off the hall stand and handed it to me.
    â€˜Good health, Ferdy.’
    â€˜Cheers. No, the little swine was angry because we got a contact. And because he was being such a little bastard I put three atomic depth charges in a tripod off the coast of Novaya Zemlya. I wiped out two subs. Schlegel was so angry that he tore the print-out off the machine and stalked out of the Control Room without saying goodnight.’ Ferdy spilled some of his drink without noticing. I realized he was a bit drunk.
    â€˜What will happen now, Ferdy?’
    â€˜There you are. I’m dashed if I know. I’m expecting the little swine any minute.’ He leaned over to pat the dachshund. ‘Good Boudin! There’s a good little chap.’ But the dog backed under the hall stand, baring its teeth, and Ferdy almost overbalanced.
    â€˜Here?’
    â€˜Well, what was I supposed to do – run after him and cancel the invitation?’ He spilled some champagne on his hand and kissed away the