A Matter of Honour Read Online Free PDF Page B

Romanov had won the
Lenin language medal and the junior gymnastics prize and despite the Director’s
attempts to undermine young Alex’s achievements, most members of the school
board recognised Romanov’s potential and ensured that he was still allowed to
take up a place at university. As an undergraduate he continued to excel in
languages, specialising in English, French and German. Natural flair and hard
work kept him near the top of every subject he specialised in.
    Zaborski picked up the phone by his side. “I
asked to see Romanov,” he said curtly.
    “He was completing his morning work-out at
the gymnasium, Chairman,” replied the secretary. “But he left to change the
moment he heard you wanted to see him.”
    The Chairman replaced the phone and his eyes
returned to the file in front of him. That Romanov could be found in the
gymnasium at all hours came as no surprise: the man’s athletic prowess had been
acknowledged far beyond the service.
    During his first year as a student, Romanov
had continued diligently with his gymnastics and even gone on to represent the
State side until the university coach had written in bold letters across one of
his reports, “This student is too tall to be considered for serious Olympic
competition.” Romanov heeded the coach’s advice and took up judo. Within two
years, he had been selected for the 1958 Eastern Bloc games in Budapest and
within a further two years found other competitors preferred not to be drawn
against him on his inevitable route to the final. After his victory at the
Soviet games in Moscow the Western press crudely described him as ‘The Axe’.
Those who were already planning his long-term future felt it prudent not to
enter him for the Olympics.
    Once Romanov had completed his fifth year at
the university and obtained his diploma (with distinction), he remained in
Moscow and joined the diplomatic service.
    Zaborski had now reached the point in the
file at which he had first come across the self-confident young man. Each year
the KGB were able to second from the diplomatic
service any person they considered to be of exceptional talent. Romanov was an
obvious candidate. Zaborski’s rule, however, was not to enlist anyone who didn’t
consider the KGB to be the elite. Unwilling candidates never made good
operatives and sometimes even ended up working for the other side. Romanov
showed no such doubt. He had always wanted to be an officer of the KGB. During
the next six years he carried out tours at their embassies in Paris, London,
Prague and Lagos. By the time he had returned to Moscow to join the
headquarters staff he was a sophisticated operative who was as relaxed at an
ambassadorial cocktail party as he was in the gymnasium.
    Zaborski began to read some of the comments
he himself had added to the report during the last four years – in particular
how much Romanov had changed during his time on the Chairman’s personal staff.
As an operative, he had reached the rank of major, having served successfully
in the field before being appointed head of a department. Two red dots were
placed by his name indicating successful missions. A defecting violinist
attempting to leave Prague and a general who had thought he was going to be the
next head of a small African state. What impressed Zaborski most about his
protege’s efforts was that the Western press thought the Czechs were
responsible for the first and the Americans for the second. Romanov’s most
significant achievement, however, had been the recruitment of an agent from the
British Foreign Office whose parallel rise had only assisted Romanov’s career.
Romanov’s appointment as head of a department had surprised no one, himself
included, although it soon became clear to Zaborski that he missed the raw
excitement of field work.
    The Chairman turned to the last page, a
character assessment, in which the majority of contributors were in accord:
ambitious, sophisticated, ruthless, arrogant but not