“Just two years, you’ll see,” he whispered as he turned and headed to the car.
“Your father would be proud of you,” said Svobodova, coldly, her damp eyes not moving from the flowers on the shrine.
“No,” Greyson answered, stopping briefly to look sadly back at her over his shoulder before heading finally to his car and to his destiny. “No, he wouldn’t.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
CAPTAIN LINCOLN STONE’S MILITARY CAREER is certainly unusual and, in truth, I am probably guilty of stretching its boundaries a little far. Even if he were a fresh-faced youngster at the time of the Falklands War, he would certainly be in the twilight of his career now, and very unlikely to still be leading troops into combat. While the career progression from Private soldier to Captain could well take place as described, most such promotees would find themselves assigned Quarter Master or administrative duties.
The brief cameo of Captain Stone’s father, the young Corporal Thomas Stone, owes something to anecdotal magic. My own father, also named Thomas, was a Corporal and Signal Gunner in 4RTR (C Squadron), in the Fifties, stationed in Berlin. As a young child, I remember listening with fascination to his tales of his time in the Regiment, and never more intently than when he described the almost supernatural discomfort of sentry duty, when the ghostly calls to ‘Tommy’ came whistling from the East. This story is in part a tribute to him and to the Armed Forces, to whom I offer the utmost respect for their willingness to lay down their lives in defence of others. I am exceptionally grateful to Major General (Retd) Sir Laurence New CB, CBE for his kind correspondence and for taking the time to answer my questions on an oft overlooked period of history. For those interested in finding out more of the historical Royal Tank Regiments, I urge you to visit the website maintained by Sir Laurence, at http://www.4and7royaltankregiment.com.
While the good Captain’s military journey is fictional, the incident for which he drew international derision is based on a real life event which took place in the aftermath of the Kosovo War, which history recorded as ‘The Incident at Pristina Airport’. The incident involved a potential flashpoint between Russian and NATO forces at the airport, with General Sir Mike Jackson, the British CO, famously refusing the order of American NATO Commander, General Wesley Clark, to block the runway, an act which would have served to antagonise the Russians, with the (reported) words, “I’m not going to start Word War Three for you.” I offer Sir Mike my apologies for appropriating his famous words and lending them to Captain Stone.
One of the officers present that day, was a young Captain by the name of James Blunt, who went on in life to make rather serviceable use of his voice. Also present was the current Labour MP for Barnsley, Dan Jarvis; at the time a Major and adjutant to General Sir Mike Jackson. I am extremely grateful to Mr Jarvis for sparing me the time to share his recollections of that day as I researched this book. In the absence of books detailing the incident in depth, interested readers may wish to view the salient facts at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_at_Pristina_airport.
I am grateful as well to journalist and broadcaster, Peter Hitchens, for his kind permission in allowing me to borrow his “Hotel California” reference to Britain’s relationship with the EU. While I profoundly disagree with Mr Hitchens on the European issue, I am open-minded enough to recognise a good soundbite when I hear it.
The fast exit of the film director from the scene, as he realises the severity of the situation, is a nod to a couple of incidents during the real Russian invasion of August 1968. Robert Vaughn, the famous actor and erstwhile Man from UNCLE, was present in the city during that time, filming the movie The Bridge at Remagen. It was during filming that Warsaw Pact forces began the invasion, compelling cast and crew to flee the scene in taxis. Vaughan would himself in later years play himself in a Radio 4 dramatisation of the event.
Likewise, Sixties band The Moody Blues were in Prague at the time, promoting their second album, The Days of Future Passed. Little did they know as they filmed a video for Nights in White Satin on the Charles Bridge, during the afternoon of 20th August, that the Russian tanks were about to roll in. By the evening of the same day, The British Embassy had pulled the band from the City, to be returned home by the RAF. A quick search on YouTube for Moody Blues, Prague, offers an intriguing glimpse of this piece of history.
Williams, MI6’s forgotten man in Prague, owes his name to William the Conqueror, to whom history granted the less than flattering title, ‘William the Bastard’. I wanted a name which reflected such a characteristic, and as Alan B’Stard was taken, I dipped into history instead. I trust His Late Majesty will forgive my impertinence. For the eager traveller, William’s tale of the discovery of the cave system recounted during the interrogation scene is true, and the caves can be visited today. Likewise, the underground tunnels connected to the present day Russian Embassy are genuine and, as Williams again recounted, were utilised in the past by both the Gestapo and the KGB in the maintenance of their networks.
Of less historical note, but just as interesting (at least to me) is the beer garden of the bar in which Stone, Williams and Greyson discuss strategy, and the puma who cameos in the scene. The bar is real as is its occupation by pumas, and both have attained legendary status in the City.
Captain Stone makes reference to Nicholas Winton, in the course of his conversation with the shop assistant, and his story is very much worthy of study, particularly in this new age of refugee crises and immigration bans. Sir Nicholas (as he became), was instrumental in the rescue of 669 mainly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia, on the eve of the Second World War. Eventually dubbed ‘The British Schindler’ by the press years later, Sir Nicholas was keen to acknowledge the role others played in the operation. His story is a fascinating one and those keen to learn more may like to read If it’s not possible… the Life of Sir Nicholas Winton by Barbara Winton.
As I write these words, Europe and the World are at a crossroads, with Nationalism rampant and fear a constant reality for many. Since the Referendum, Britain, with every day that passes, feels less to me like the warm and welcoming home I grew up in, and instead increasingly cold, nasty and an altogether more unpleasant place. As a parent of children with mixed British/Slovak heritage, I fear for the future when, no longer able to blame foreigners for their failures, the Powers that Be look for other groups to scapegoat. Likewise, I will forever lament the opportunities and chances ripped from future generations as a consequence of Brexit, and loathe the lies and deceits peddled to bring about that result.
In a Radio 4 interview, back in 2014, Sir Nicholas Winton opined with regard to humanity that, “I don’t think we’ve learned anything… the world today is in a more dangerous situation than it has ever been.”
With the revived claw of Hard Right Nationalism joining the spirit of anti-intellectualism and fear in scraping across the continent, and the occupant of the White House dangerously unpredictable at best, I am regrettably inclined to agree with him.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I AM INDEBTED to a great many people in the writing of this book, first and foremost my spectacular wife, Miroslava. To her and my children, Timothy and Georgia, I owe sincere thanks for their love, support and for putting up with the cantankerous old grump I become when in the grip of the writing bug. That thanks extends also to the rest of my family who have so often walked on egg shells around me as deadlines drew ever nearer.
For permitting me the usage of names and/or visages, I am eternally grateful to Peter Lowe, Rasti Vojtovic and Lincoln Taylor, and I owe a special thanks to Jamie Marshall, for his steadfast support and superb photographic efforts.
Many have given me invaluable assistance in the research of this book, for which I am extremely grateful. In particular, I express my gratitude to Major General (Retired) Sir Laurence New CB, CBE, former Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, and a former Colonel Commandant of The Royal Tank Regiment, for his very kind and informative correspondence about life in 4RTR in the
Fifties. Thanks also to Dan Jarvis MP, for taking the time to discuss with me his recollections of a fateful incident in the aftermath of the Kosovo War. I am grateful also to journalist and broadcaster Peter Hitchens for kindly permitting my appropriation of his ‘Hotel California’ remark.
For sharing with me their personal memories of the Russian Invasion of 1968, I offer my thanks to Suzanne Bojtos and Jirka M. Similarly, I offer sincere thanks to those friends and associates in the Armed Forces, who have taken the time to share their experiences and motivations with me: Richard McAvoy, Pete Barrett, Pete Jefferson and Darren Bell. Thank you all.
No list of acknowledgements could be complete without including my writing comrades in Urbane Publications, and its Founder, Matthew Smith. At Urbane, I am daily thrilled to be part of a genuinely supportive collective of writers, all of whom I respect and admire, and grateful for the trust, respect and support shown me by Matthew. Cheers boss.
And thanks also to you, for picking up and opening this book; it really does make the whole thing worthwhile. I hope you enjoy…
Years after marvelling at the stories of the 1968 Spring and the Velvet Revolution, James found himself sat in a Prague Blues Bar falling in love with the city in person. A graduate of Politics and Modern History, and a long-standing blues DJ for Modradiouk. net, James’s affection for the atmospheric, dark and seedy Cold War thrillers of old was reawakened by his growing affection for this cobbled land of gothic secrets and his writing bone began to itch. James’s career has covered a myriad of roles across the public and private sectors including high level technical recruitment and business development, to his current role within HR Consultancy; and it was a bad day at the office which persuaded him to finally act upon his long-held dream of writing. The result was his 2015 debut novel Escape to Perdition, which reflected his love both of central Europe and the espionage genre and was met with wide spread acclaim. James has also written for The Prague Times and his work has been featured by Doctor Who Worldwide and travel site An Englishman in Slovakia. He is currently developing a number of projects across a variety of media. A diehard Whovian, Man City fan, rum drinker and Christian, James is an unrepentant member of the 48%.
ESCAPE TO PERDITION
PAPERBACK, £8.99,
ISBN: 978-1909273795
“Readers who enjoy intelligently written, tautly plotted and disturbingly executed political thrillers will love ‘Escape to Perdition’ and may well find themselves affected by it as did I”
Linda’s Book Bag
PRAGUE 2015. Herbert Biely, aged hero of the Prague Spring, stands on the brink of an historic victory, poised to reunite the Czech and Slovak Republics twenty-six years after the Velvet Revolution. The imminent Czech elections are the final stage in realising his dream of reunification, but other parties have their own agendas and plans for the fate of the region. A shadowy collective, masked as an innocuous European Union Institute, will do anything to preserve the status quo. The mission of Institute operative Peter Lowes is to prevent reunification by the most drastic of measures. Yet Peter is not all that he seems. A deeply troubled man, desperate to escape the past, his resentment towards himself, his assignment and his superiors deepens as he questions not just the cause, but his growing feelings for the beautiful and captivating mission target. As alliances shift and the election countdown begins, Prague becomes the focal point for intrigue on an international scale. The body count rises, options fade, and Peter’s path to redemption is clouded in a maelstrom of love, deception and murder. Can he confront his past to save the future? This is a high-quality page turning thriller and perfect for fans of Le Carré.
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The Prague Ultimatum Page 29
