The Spy by Marc Eden Read Free Book Online Page B

understand you know the countryside of France extremely well, especially that part of the coast of Brittany we are most interested in— Brest , is it?”
    Valerie nodded, she remembered: wearing a proper coat, she had been hiking through long fields of wheat, fiery rows of poppies, bright as Mayfair lipstick .
    â€œYou’re fluent in French, is that right?”
    â€œ Oui ... sir.”
    â€œI see from files that you also have something else going for you, something extremely rare—a photographic memory, is it?”
    â€œYes, sir,” she replied, raising her hand against a rush of sun, “but I never really thought of it as being very important.”
    Click !
    Hamilton turned around, he was holding the pointer. “My dear Sinclair,” said the Navy man, “you must not underrate yourself. It may be necessary to memorize complex formulas—schematics, equations, those sorts of things. It is you , you see, who have exactly what we need, far more than many agents whom we have spent months training.” She thought of the crosscountry. “We have already sent several men, but they’ve been unable to get through, to contact the Underground.” He knew that the “several” were many; and he knew that they had been shot. He had a quick glimpse of the raped and mutilated bodies of female agents, bullet holes through their heads—photos shown him by Seymour. “Female agents, of course, have been out of the question.” He paused to gauge her reaction. When there was none, he continued. “After so many failures, I thought of you, of your young innocent face, your good looks, your fluency in—”
    She beamed.
    â€œCars.”
    â€œBloody RAFs,” she muttered.
    â€œâ€”your loyalty to the Crown.” A bit for officers, that. The fish was in the boat.
    â€œMy country is my life,” she reminded him, recalling she had read it. “I would do anything—”
    â€œExactly. And now you can. When you first came to Southampton to be trained for your job in this office, the people who met you at MI.6 assumed you were a child, dressed in adult clothing.”
    â€œA child?”
    â€œNot in terms of your... efficiency, of course.” He stared at her. “I wish I could have been there to meet you that day, a lot of valuable time might already have been saved.”
    â€œHow kind of them to speak so well of me,” said the girl, with uncertainty. “I can hardly believe they...liked me so much.” She was embarrassed she had looked so young.
    â€œI am sure their praise was well deserved,” amended Hamilton. “I must say, you have a beautiful fair complexion. However, if we darken your skin with our special makeup, a little nip and tuck, as it were, you could easily pass for French.” He stepped back, appraising her like an artist. “Let’s see, a college student or”—gently touching her chin, he turned her face up into the light—“there now, that’s better.” He took a closer look. “Grade school...hmmm?”
    As the plan unfolded, Valerie felt more and more intrigued; although, admittedly, apprehensive. Not for the world, however, would she have let the Commander know.
    Hamilton, as though divining her simplicities, said: “You know, Sinclair, it is entirely up to you whether or not you go on this mission. It is strictly voluntary. I am not saying you must go.” He moved closer to the window and stared out at the docks, as though searching for another candidate. “Should you decide not to of course, we would still like to retain your services in this office, where you have proven yourself to be a most capable assistant to Lieutenant Carrington.” The point was not lost on her.
    â€œSomething, Sinclair?”
    Valerie shook her head.
    Hamilton relaxed a little, but he did not intend to lose. He jabbed at the maps. “It is extremely dangerous,