Liz Carlyle - 07 - The Geneva Trap by Stella Rimington Read Free Book Online Page A

not know what country it is that is doing this. But my Government and those higher in my Service do, and they have decided not to inform your Government. Or the Americans. They are holding on to the information for whatever use they can make of it.’
    ‘I see,’ said Liz, though she was beginning to feel rather confused. ‘Let me just be clear what you are saying. A third country – you do not know which – has mounted an operation to infiltrate a US/UK top-secret development programme called Operation Clarity. Have I got that right?’
    ‘Yes. Those are the bones of it.’
    ‘My Government will be interested to hear this, Alexander, and very grateful to you. But I’m sure you’ll understand that they will also want to know why you are telling us this. Particularly as you say that the authorities in your country have decided not to pass on the information. You are taking a big risk. Why are you doing that?’
    ‘I am not a traitor.’ He was looking straight at her now and she could see his face clearly for the first time. Age lines were etched deeply into the pallid skin; his eyes were intense and beneath them dark pouches of skin sagged. ‘I disagree with the hard-line elements in my Service who are advising our Government. To these people the potential disruption of Western military communications would be a positive thing. But they have not thought it through. If the kind of cyber-attack that is intended took place, Russia might well be suspected. We could have another Cold War, or even worse – some kind of cyber-war, where each country is trying to disable the infrastructure of the others. That would not be in Russia’s or anyone’s interest.’
    Liz had heard versions of this statement before. It was the classic rationale of the spy, the double agent, as he justified his actions to himself. She knew that her role was to listen while he worked out his sense of betrayal to his own satisfaction. So she merely nodded and stayed silent. He went on.
    ‘I love my country. But I love the world even more and I cannot see any value in keeping this information from you. On the contrary, I think it could cause very real harm and possibly bring about conflict between our countries. And if anyone could survive such a conflict, it would not be Russia. That is why I am here. Not as a traitor, but a patriot.’
    He stopped talking and slumped back on the bench as though he had exhausted himself. Sweat was standing out on his forehead and he brushed his hand back over his balding crown.
    ‘Yes,’ said Liz. ‘Now I understand.’ She paused. She had to go carefully here. She must get more out of him, but it was quite clear he was in a fragile state and it would be easy to say the wrong thing and send him away dissatisfied. ‘You are right about the importance of preventing this plot, Alexander. Is there anything more you can tell me that might help us do that? Do you know how they are acquiring the information? You said they have infiltrated the team. Have you any more information about that?’
    ‘All I know is that there is an agent based in the Ministry of Defence in London who is relaying critical information about the software that will control the satellite.’
    ‘Do you know what nationality he is?’
    ‘No. But I do know he is not British or American.’
    That would help track down this infiltrator – Liz couldn’t believe many foreigners could be working in the MOD, but surely none would have access to such sensitive information.
    Sorsky was looking at his watch nervously. ‘Have you got to go soon?’ she asked.
    ‘I am due at the theatre in twenty minutes – it’s an evening with other colleagues and their wives, so I could not avoid it. And I must not draw any attention to myself.’
    ‘Of course not. But we’ll want to meet you again. In the meantime …’
    He finished her sentence. ‘In the meantime, I will try and find out which country this threat is coming from. That is what you need to