Robert Kennedy looked up at the kitchen worker and whispered, ‘Is everybody safe, okay?’
The worker replied in the soft rising and falling tones of Hispanic English, ‘Yes, yes, everything is going to be okay.’
Flashbulbs were popping like mad. The young Hispanic took a rosary from around his neck and wove the beads through Bobby’s fingers. More flashbulbs popped. Catesby now saw that the blood was real and forming a widening pool beneath Kennedy’s head.
London. December, 1974
The brush pass had been carried out with cool and practiced professionalism. The touch was light, sure and almost unnoticed. And the conditions were perfect: an Oxford Street crowded with Christmas shoppers. At first, Catesby thought he must have imagined it. He vainly tried to spot a courier slipping away in the crowd as he shifted his shopping bag to his left hand. No one looked at all suspicious. But as Catesby reached deep into his overcoat pocket he touched the firm edges of an envelope that had not been there before.
Catesby smiled to himself and continued shopping. He would leave the letter until later. He had spent the day lecturing a new intake of field officers on ‘tradecraft’, especially covert exchanges such as dead letter drops. Catesby assumed that one of the recruits had played a prank. It had happened before.
The first thing that Catesby did when he got back to the flat in Pimlico was to light the gas fire and make a cup of tea. He was now in his late forties and life as a permanent bachelor seemed the most likely outcome. He limited himself to a single Huntley & Palmers digestive biscuit with his cup of tea. He liked being fit and had taken up long distance running again – and didn’t want to carry an excess ounce on his long runs through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. To keep himself company on his runs he recited poetry – an eccentricity that got him noticed by passers-by. But he was reaching an age where it had begun not to matter. Catesby had lately become fond of Charles Sorley, a soldier poet who was killed in 1915 serving with the Suffolk regiment. He recited the verses again as compensation for not having a second digestive biscuit:
We swing ungirded hips,
And lightened are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare …
‘I suppose,’ said Catesby. He looked hard at someone who wasn’t there. The imaginary conversations had become a customary feature of his lonely evenings. ‘I suppose, Henry, that you find this poem a load of sentimental tosh. But I like it, so up yours.’
Catesby tidied away the tea things and got out the Christmas wrapping paper. The most important present were the records for his sister. He knew that she liked Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel. He also knew they were the sort of composers that Henry Bone called ‘purveyors of maudlin slush’. Catesby imagined Bone’s thin lips curled in disdain and spoke aloud again, ‘That’s your opinion – and it’s tedious.’
As Catesby began to unroll the wrapping paper, he noticed that he hadn’t hung up his overcoat. When he picked up the coat, he remembered the letter. He found the envelope and removed it from the right pocket. Nothing was written on it, but he could see that it wasn’t standard British stationery. He opened it. As soon as he saw the Cyrillic letters his heart skipped a beat. There was a photo too. It slipped out of the letter and fell face up on the carpet. Catesby’s hands shook as he bent down to recover the photo. He knew who it was. His own eyes stared back at him. The eyes also belonged to a gawky girl of eleven who was trying hard not to smile. He held the photo as if it were the most precious thing in the world and began to read the letter.
Dear William,
Your daughter’s name is Irina. The name means ‘peace’. I hope you approve.
Irina is a lucky girl: she has three fathers. She bears Zhenka’s name, Alekseeva; she was created by your seed – and my husband gives her the same love he gives our own children. Irina has two half-brothers.
Children. Their staring eyes so frightful. The running beat of new feet on wooden floors as you wait tensed for a tumble into tears that you can’t prevent. The eternal disorder. The tired respite of evening when they whisper in semi-sleep. The paintings of birds and trams and sheep – and the stick insect witch I know is me. Waiting for their tender teasing riddles to unfold.
But now is evening so there is time for us. Moscow is frozen solid. The town is fixed in crystal – just like us. But I do not find this mysterious non-meeting a desolate one. When I listen to your unspoken phrases and silent words, I still hear your voice. You are a page that was not read, but I sensed its rage. In human closeness there is a secret edge that needs no words.
Until we meet again,
Katya
Acknowledgements
The first person I want to thank is Julia for her support, patience and understanding. Her son, Edward Manton, should be acknowledged for unwittingly contributing a visual image, which adds to the novel’s appearance. I am also grateful to Frank Wilson. My big brother, who saw active service as both sailor and naval officer during every decade of the Cold War, supplied me with details and recollections that I am sure contribute to this book’s historical authenticity.
Once again, I must give high praise to Angeline Rothermundt for her excellence as an editor. I also feel fortunate and grateful to have the support of Gary Pulsifer, Daniela de Groote and Andrew Hayward at Arcadia Books. All of you have made me feel valued as an author. Thank you.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the following books and sources. I would, however, like to single out the George Washington University National Security Archive as being especially helpful.
Aerospaceweb.org. ‘Nedelin Disaster’
Akhmatova, Anna (ed. Roberta Reeder). The Complete Poems of Anna Akhmatova. Zephyr Press; Exp Upd Su edition, 2000.
Aldrich, Richard J. The Hidden Hand: Britain, America and Cold War Secret Intelligence. The Overlook Press, Woodstock and New York, 2002.
Bamford, James. Body of Secrets. Doubleday, New York, 2001.
Cuba Journal. The Mafia in Cuba (1902–1958) Source: www. cubamafia.info.
Davies, Barry; Gordievsky, Oleg; Tomlinson, Richard. The Spycraft Manual: The Insider’s Guide to Espionage Techniques. Zenith Press, 2005.
Dobbs, Michael. One Minute to Midnight. Arrow, 2009.
Epstein, Edward Jay. ‘James Jesus Angleton: the Orchid Man’ from Epstein’s Diary dated March 19, 1975.
Ford, Trowbridge H. Anatoliy Golitsyn: The KGB’s Most Dangerous Defector. Codshit.com, Tuesday, 27 January 2004.
Fursenko, Aleksandr; Naftali, Timothy. The Secret History of the Cuban Missile Crisis: ‘One Hell of a Gamble’. John Murray, London, 1997.
George Washington University. The National Security Archive. The following documents were accessed:
USSR, Memorandum, A. Adzhubei’s Account of His Visit to Washington to the CC CPSU, March 12, 1962. (in original Russian with English translation)
CIA, Minutes, SECRET, “Meeting with the Attorney General of the United States Concerning Cuba,” 19 January 1962 (Richard Helms)
DOD, Memorandum, TOP SECRET, “Cover and Deception Plans for Caribbean Survey Group,” 19 February 1962 (Operation Northwoods).
Brig. Gen. Edward Lansdale, “Review of OPERATION MONGOOSE,” Phase One, July 25, 1962.
“National Security Action Memorandum No. 181,” Presidential Directive on actions and studies in response to new Soviet Bloc Activity in Cuba, August 23, 1962.
CIA, Minutes, TOP SECRET, “Minutes of Meeting of the Special Group (Augmented) on Operation Mongoose,” 4 October 1962.
Chronology Compiled for The President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB), “Chronology of Specific Events Relating to the Military Buildup in Cuba,” Undated [Excerpt].
DOD, Transcripts, SECRET, “Notes taken from Transcripts of Meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, October-November 1962: Dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis.”
CIA Special National Intellige
nce Estimate, “Major Consequences of Certain U.S. Courses of Action on Cuba,” October 20, 1962.
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, military briefing, “Notes on October 21, 1962 Meeting with the President.”
USSR, directive, TOP SECRET, Malinovsky’s Order to Pliyev, October 22, 1962.
“Radio-TV Address of the President to the Nation from the White House,” October 22, 1962.
Dillon group discussion paper, “Scenario for Airstrike Against Offensive Missile Bases and Bombers in Cuba,” October 25, 1962.
Prime Minister Fidel Castro’s letter to Premier Khrushchev, October 26, 1962.
CIA daily report, “The Crisis USSR/Cuba,” October 27, 1962.
Cable received from U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Raymond Hare to State Department regarding Turkish missiles, October 26, 1962.
DOJ, Memorandum, TOP SECRET, “Memorandum for the Secretary of State from the Attorney General,” on Robert Kennedy’s October 27 Meeting with Dobrynin, October 30, 1962. USSR, Cable, TOP SECRET, Dobrynin Report of Meeting with Robert Kennedy on Worsening Threat, October 27, 1962.
U.S. Navy, TOP SECRET/SECRET/FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY, Charts/deck logs of anti-submarine warfare operations related to USSR submarine B-59, October 1962.
USSR, Memoir, “Recollections of Vadim Orlov (USSR Submarine B-59): We will Sink Them All, But We will Not Disgrace Our Navy,” (2002).
Aspectos importantes contenidos en los informes ofrecidos por los jefes militares reunidos el día 24 de octubre de 1962 en el Estado Mayor General con el Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro.
USSR, draft directive, Directive to the Commander of Soviet Forces in Cuba on transfer of Il-28s and Luna Missiles, and Authority on Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons, September 8, 1962.
USSR, Directive, TOP SECRET, Prohibition on Use of Nuclear Weapons without Orders from Moscow, October 27, 1962, 16:30.
USSR, Directive, TOP SECRET, CC CPSU Presidium Instructions to Pliyev in Response to His Telegram, October 27, 1962.
USSR, Letter, from Chairman Khrushchev to Prime Minister Castro, October 28, 1962.
Cuba, Letter, from Prime Minister Castro to Chairman Khrushchev, October 28, 1962.
White House, “Post Mortem on Cuba,” October 29, 1962.
USSR, Letter, from Chairman Khrushchev to Prime Minister Castro, October 30, 1962.
Cuba, Letter, from Prime Minister Castro to Chairman Khrushchev, October 31, 1962.
Bromley Smith, “Summary Record of NSC Executive Committee Meeting,” November 2, 1962.
Bromley Smith, “Summary Record of NSC Executive Committee Meeting,” November 5, 1962.
USSR, Memorandum of Conversation between Mikoyan and Cuban Leaders, TOP SECRET, November 5, 1962 (Evening).
USSR, Telegrams from Malinovsky to Pliyev, TOP SECRET, Early November (circa 5 November) 1962.
USSR, Ciphered Telegram from Mikoyan to CC CPSU, TOP SECRET, November 6, 1962.
President Kennedy’s letter to Premier Khrushchev, November 6, 1962.
General Maxwell Taylor, “Chairman’s Talking Paper for Meeting with the President,” November 16, 1962.
Cuba, Order, TOP SECRET, Authorizing Anti-Aircraft Fire, November 17, 1962.
Cuba, Order, TOP SECRET, Rescinding Authorization to Initiate Anti-Aircraft Fire November 18, 1962.
USSR, Instructions from CC CPSU Presidium to Mikoyan, TOP SECRET, November 22, 1962.
Hungary, Embassy, Havana, Telegram, TOP SECRET, “The Essence of Soviet-Cuban Divergences of Opinion,” December 1, 1962.
Great Britain, Dispatch, CONFIDENTIAL, British Ambassador in Cuba to Foreign Office, “The Cuban Crisis – Chapters I and II,” November 10, 1962 (with minutes from FO’s American Department as cover).
Greene, Graham. Our Man in Havana. Penguin Books, London, 1962.
Hamrick, S.J. Deceiving the Deceivers: Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, and Guy Burgess. Yale University Press, New Haven, 2004.
Hennessy, Peter. Having it so Good: Britain in the Fifties. Penguin Allen Lane, London, 2006.
Hepburn, James. Farewell America: The Plot to Kill JFK. Penmarin Books, April 2002.
The Independent: Obituaries. ‘Aleksandr Feklisov: Spy handler for the KGB’. Saturday, 8 December 2007.
LiveLeak. ‘The Nedelin Disaster’.
Mailer, Norman. Harlot’s Ghost. Michael Joseph, London, 1991.
Mayakovsky, Vladimir. The Bedbug and Selected Poetry. John Wiley & Sons, 1975.
The Miami Herald. ‘A nuclear secret in ‘62 Cuba crisis 100 Soviet warheads undetected by U.S.’ By Juan O. Tamayo, 1998.
The National Post (Canada). ‘Charade in Havana: Documents show Canadian diplomats gathered intelligence about Cuba for the U.S.’ by Isabel Vincent, 25 January 2003.
New York Review of Books. ‘Castro’s Cuba: An Exchange’. Maurice Halperin, Carlos Ripoll, and Mark N. Kramer, reply by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. May, 28 1992.
The New York Times. ‘Chief of Rockets Killed in Soviet; Moscow Reports Death of Nedelin in Plane Crash’, October 26, 1960.
Presidential Studies Quarterly. ‘Who ever believed in the ‘’missile gap?”: John F. Kennedy and the politics of national security.’ 1 December 2003.
Orwell, George. 1984. Penguin Books, London, 1990.
RussianSpaceWeb.com. ‘Rockets: R-16 family: Nedelin disaster.’
Third World Traveler. Operation Paperclip Casefile, 8 August 1997.
Wilson, Edward. The Darkling Spy. Arcadia Books, London, 2010.
Wilson, Edward. The Envoy. Arcadia Books, London, 2008.
Wilson, Jim. Launch Pad UK: Britain and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Pen & Sword Aviation, 2008.
Wright, Peter. Spy Catcher. Viking Penguin, New York, 1987.
A number of real historic events are mentioned in this book and real places are mentioned. A few real names are used, but no real people are portrayed. This is a work of fiction. When I have used official titles and positions, I do not suggest that the persons who held those positions in the past are the same persons portrayed in the novel or that they have spoken, thought or behaved in the way I have imagined.
About the Author
EDWARD WILSON is a native of Baltimore. He studied International Relations on a US Army scholarship. He later served as a Special Forces officer in Vietnam. He was decorated for his part in rescuing wounded Vietnamese soldiers from a minefield. After leaving the Army, Wilson became an expatriate and gave up US nationality to become a British citizen. He has also lived and worked in Germany and France. He is the author of three novels, A River in May, The Envoy and The Darkling Spy, all published by Arcadia Books. The author now lives in Suffolk where he taught English and Modern Languages for thirty years.
Copyright
First published in 2011
by Arcadia Books Books,
15-16 Nassau Street,
London, W1W 7AB
This ebook edition first published in 2011
All rights reserved
© Edward Wilson, 2011
The right of Edward Wilson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978-1-908129-84-0
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