Goodbye to an Old Friend Read Online Free PDF Page A

his return. The baronet would probably suggest his club, but Adrian had already practised the refusal, unwilling to sacrifice the time.
    Anita had stipulated eight o’clock.
    Adrian recognized the turn just before Pulborough and swung in, slowed by the narrowness of the lanes. Like that in which Bennovitch was hidden, only a few miles away, the house had once been a country retreat, lying deep in easily guarded, wooded grounds and now adopted for its specialized purpose, a prison without bars or warders, a place which kept out people instead of detaining them.
    Pavel had been brought there the previous night, by a roundabout route from the house in London where he had been kept for the twenty-four hours since his helicopter flight from the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Adrian knew the men whose responsibility it was to keep Pavel alive, but nevertheless went through the regulation procedure of identification, even having his fingerprints taken and matched against the records already at the house of those half dozen people who were to be allowed access, once all other checks had been passed.
    The routine was followed without any half cynical ‘I’m sorry, but …’ smiles from the men appointed to guard Pavel. The second Russian defector had been allotted the highest security risk rating, ensuring a permanent guard of twenty men, two in constant attendance except for debriefings, even for lavatory visits.
    Pavel was breakfasting when Adrian arrived and the Englishman watched him through one of the observation points fitted into every room. The scientist ate solidly, unconcerned at the security men who sat near the door, silently observing the meal.
    Eggs, thought Adrian. Yellow, crisply fried eggs and toast, with the choice of preserves or marmalade. His stomach felt empty and echoed its hollowness with a belch, which he subdued. He turned away from the observation point, embarrassed.
    â€˜It’s like watching an animal feed, at the zoo,’ he said to the man who stood alongside. The security official shrugged. ‘Your department fixed the classification,’ he said. ‘We just do as we’re told and hope to Christ nothing goes wrong.’
    Adrian didn’t reply. He stood in the hallway until the breakfast was cleared and then gave the scientist ten minutes before moving into the room. The Russian looked up, acknowledging a new face.
    â€˜Good morning,’ said Adrian, smiling, his accent perfect.
    Pavel smiled and ducked his head in appreciation. ‘I speak English,’ he said.
    â€˜As you wish,’ responded Adrian.
    â€˜But I wish my English were as good as your Russian.’
    Adrian smiled at the compliment. ‘Perhaps I have more practice.’
    â€˜Perhaps.’
    Adrian half turned to the security men, who rose together. One nodded and said, ‘Think we’ll take a break.’
    He spoke in Russian, too, and Pavel laughed, aloud. ‘Perhaps I should start awarding marks.’
    Adrian sat in a deep leather armchair bordering the fire, studying the other man, marking the contrasts with Bennovitch. Pavel was medium height, but quite thin, unlike his squat, rotund partner, and the fastidiousness showed. He appeared quite relaxed, hands cupped in his lap, nails clean and well manicured, his suit crisp and pressed and better cut than that of Bennovitch, showing almost Western tailoring. The eyes were blank and unrevealing behind the spectacles, the receding hair separated by a parting that was ruler-straight.
    â€˜You must be one of the important men,’ said Pavel. ‘What would the word be – quizmaster?’
    Adrian felt he was being laughed at. He smiled at the irony. Unusual confidence, he thought. Normally there was more uncertainty. He shrugged, adopting the diffident attitude so necessary to question arrogant men who made mistakes because they thought they dominated the interview.
    â€˜I wouldn’t say that,’ he replied.