Distant Annihilation. (Tarquin Collingwood Adventures Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

feel unable to give such a commitment, then in all candour I would advise you to fly back to London first thing tomorrow.”
    Guy seemed to be labouring under the misapprehension that I had come here on a whim.
    “Andrew and I have been friends since we met at school. He and I joined the army, and served together in the same regiment if you please. We served together in the Balkans during the break up of Yugoslavia. He saved my life on that tour through his own bravery and initiative. I am aware of the dangers. I’m not afraid to die,” I concluded decisively.
    Guy recogni sed that I had taken umbrage at what he had said, “Please forgive me. It was not my intention to cause offence. I shall do everything I can,” Guy said as sincerely as I have ever heard a man say anything, “Our ambassador has just arrived,” he said looking from the corner of his eye to the far end of the room, “He is with someone who may be of use to us.”
     
    I glanced at the other end of the room where a middle aged man with silver hair in black tie was entering the room accompanied by a slightly taller man and a young woman. She was wearing a cream evening dress with a plunging neckline, which was graced with an elegant necklace of pearls. Her brunette hair was gathered in a bundle at the back of her head, her face was simply the epitome of beauty itself with delicate chiselled features. She was in her mid twenties, five foot seven in height, with an admirably “contoured” body and slim figure. Guy confirmed that the silver haired man was the British ambassador – Sir Nigel Caltrop, I assumed as much, as many other guests had respectfully stopped to acknowledge him with a greeting.
    “So who ’s the man with him?” I asked
    “That’s Simon Hurd. He’s an Under Secretary at the Embassy .”
    “How ’s he going to help us?” I asked.
    Guy looked at me puzzled. He then smiled and with a slight laugh said, “You misunderstand. I wasn’t referring to him but to the girl. Her name is Olivia Beaumont Cecil. She is Sir Nigel’s niece.”
    And as if Guy had sensed my incredulity he explained that she spoke fluent Russian, having read it at Cambridge and had recently joined M16. I glanced towards her, sipped my champagne and reflected that things had just got interesting!
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5 – INDUCTION AND GIFTS.
     
    I did not get to meet any of the triumvirate that entered the ballroom that evening. Realising that I would meet them the next day, I made my excuses to Guy and left as I was feeling rather tired. The following morning I had a hearty breakfast and then caught a taxi to the British Embassy on Smolenskaya nab 10 overlooking the Moscow River. It was a grand enough building. The entrance hall was adorned with a large portrait of the Queen by Annigoni, of which I thoroughly approved. After the necessary formalities I was ushered into a comfortable office where Guy and Simon Hurd were expecting me.
     
    Guy introduced me to Simon and we shook hands.
    “Mr Collingwood or perhaps I should say Captain Collingwood, I know how you military types are sticklers for your titles,” sneered Hurd, “I should tell you that I and the ambassador would have preferred it had you stayed in England. This expedition of yours is dangerous. If the Russians got wind of it our relations with them would deteriorate further - god only knows it’s already rather egregious. This would be one occasion when I could entirely understand the Russian point of view. Therefore if you get caught, injured, kill or are killed, we will feign ignorance of your presence here. We will do nothing more for you than we would for any other British citizen, unfortunate or foolish enough to need our assistance. You can understand that it would place Her Majesty’s government in a difficult position.”
    There was nothing that Hurd had said to which I could object. Although I would have much rather have preferred it, had he been more amicable in his